Journey to the Grand Canyon: Grand Mere State Park Hike

Saturday March 17, 2012 - Grand Mere State Park (12 miles)

StairMaster on Steroids

A 12.5 mile hike may not seem like much to the experienced hiker. Although, add massive sand dunes to the equation and the scenario changes. Today, my dad and I hiked at Grand Mere State Park, a beautiful lakefront park located near Stevensville, Michigan. It was really beautiful. We got to hike in the woods, up and down the dunes, and along Lake Michigan.

We met, at 9:00am, with our hiking team at the pavilion before the hike and Coach Gunn and Mr. Janssen gave us some instructions about trekking poles, strength training and Hours on Feet (HOF). Coach Gunn and Mr. Janssen really explained why trekking poles are useful and showed us how to hold and use them so we wouldn’t tighten up our bodies and waste energy. After the lecture I told my dad that I was still not sold on the idea…because I like to have my hands free. But now that I have hiked some real hills and narrow trails I think I will work with my dad to figure out a way to attach them to my pack…so I can have my hands free when I want…but still have them available when I need them.

Coach Gunn told us that this hike would be somewhat like hiking in the Grand Canyon, minus all the sand. The hike was two laps long with one part being in the woods and the other over the dunes and along the beach. My dad and I had talked about the importance of staying fueled and hydrated a few days before this hike…he says I get crabby when I get thirsty…he shouldn’t complain much because he’s really grumpy when he gets hungry. So, we decided to take a break and eat something and drink one of our water bottles on each loop that we completed. This worked out really well. We both felt good at the end of the hike and I never felt like I was running low on energy…even when we climbed over all the dunes.

There was this one dune that was a monster. They had an alternate trail that you could take but my dad and I decided that we would do it…and believe me…you had to DECIDE that you were going to make it or half way up you’d probably change your mind.

My dad loved Coach Gunn’s saying right before you got to the dune…my dad and I kept chanting “Suck it up!” as we climbed the monster. When we got to the top the view was awesome.

You could see the hidden lake behind the dunes from the top. And coming down the backside of the dune was a blast. We started out slow and then just let it rip…it was like running on the moon and in mushy marshmallows at the same time.

Each step you felt like you were kind of floating and then the dune would suck your leg in to the middle of your shins and then grab hold. Then you had to yank your leg out and then you would kind of float until you hit the dune again. It was really cool! We conquered that monster twice during this hike.

Unlike most of the hikes that we have done the second lap went the faster. I think this was because we were really trying to stay hydrated and fueled throughout the hike. I really liked this hike. Next month, Papa, my grandfather from Tennessee, is coming to visit and my dad and I are going to take him on the first part of this hike. I can’t wait to show him this trail. He hikes with a hiking group in Tennessee and always takes us for hikes when we visit during Christmas break…so, it will be neat to take him on a cool hike when he comes up to visit next month. I think he will be really surprised. Below are some other pictures from our hike at Grand Mere State Park.