Shanty Boy LbNA #16488
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Add Location| Owner: | Wisconsin Hiker  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jul 5, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Crystall Falls |
| County: | Iron |
| State: | Michigan |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Sella Pass |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jun 13, 2014 |
| Status: | FFaFFFFFaFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | May 15, 2016 |
Last found/checked: 9-JUL-08 (Thanks to Triclops and Papeseed for providing clue updates to reflect current conditions!)
Location: State Park 4 miles west of Crystal Falls
Time: 60-90 minutes
Terrain: variety of surfaces, trail through woods with some hills
Note: You will need a vehicle sticker to park in this area. 2005 fees are: Daily: $6/$8 for non-resident or Annual: $24/$29.
During Michigan’s lumbering era, thousands of men, better known as “shanty boys”, cut down the dense forests that covered the state. Other men, called lumber barons, made great fortunes by operating companies that cut the trees. The logs were transported to sawmills, cut into lumber “boards,” and shipped all across the Midwest. It was the white pine that made Michigan the nation’s leading lumber-producing state from 1860 until 1910.
The first establishment of a settlement in this area was in the year 1880. Logging operations in the Crystal Falls area expanded rapidly and, by the time the village was incorporated in 1889, lumbering of the vast stands of pine in the vicinity was carried on by crews from 30 camps. During its first year as a village, Crystal Falls had 27 saloons doing a busy trade with the clientele of miners and lumberjacks.
To find the whereabouts of one of these shanty boys, park your vehicle in the “car only” area of the boat launch parking lot. If there aren’t any spots available, park in the main lot and walk over. Head northwest along the roadway and as the road begins to turn you’ll notice a trail into the woods on your left. You also might hear some loons calling! Along the trail you’ll see some nice views of the lake and will pass a resting spot for the shanty boys. Stay on the main path until you see a sign for the lumber camp when you head west. (Going further south will get you into trouble.) You’ll pass another resting spot on a hilltop and pass lots of fallen birch (naturally fallen, not cut by the boys). Next you will be traveling on a ridge and the birch will change to pine. Take a well-deserved rest at the next obvious spot and enjoy the forest views.
From immediately behind the resting spot, go 20 paces at 230 degrees. Then go 32 paces at 210 degrees to an 8" diameter off-white colored round rock next to a large tree. Go 8 paces due south and look under a fallen tree's bark to find the resting shanty boy. Please rehide him carefully since he would like to continue using this as a bunkhouse before he heads out for those long days with his ax.
You can now either retrace your steps, or continue on for a loop hike. For the loop, continue in the direction you were heading, crossing a bridge along the way. At the end of the path, follow the road into camp until you reach #126 and continue until you see the fences where the teams of horses might be kept. Pass through the fences and look for a path near some boulders and logs in the SE corner. Walk through the forest again until you reach a road. Then walk along the road to #39. Take a path near the back of this bunk area and head east through the woods to find the neighboring camp. Then head north through camp until you reach #74 and a sign directing you to Fortune Lake. (If you had good fortune today, you met the Shanty Boy!). When you reach the lake, head NE and return to your vehicle.
The lumbering industry still plays a major role in the economy of Iron County. Since the 1930s, forest conservation measures and better forest management, such as the selective harvesting of the vigorous second-growth timber, have assured the industry’s continued vitality.
We hope you enjoyed your hunt and since we don’t live in the area we would really appreciate an update on the status of the box if you find it. We won’t be able to check on it very often…
Hike length: 2-3 miles
Location: State Park 4 miles west of Crystal Falls
Time: 60-90 minutes
Terrain: variety of surfaces, trail through woods with some hills
Note: You will need a vehicle sticker to park in this area. 2005 fees are: Daily: $6/$8 for non-resident or Annual: $24/$29.
During Michigan’s lumbering era, thousands of men, better known as “shanty boys”, cut down the dense forests that covered the state. Other men, called lumber barons, made great fortunes by operating companies that cut the trees. The logs were transported to sawmills, cut into lumber “boards,” and shipped all across the Midwest. It was the white pine that made Michigan the nation’s leading lumber-producing state from 1860 until 1910.
The first establishment of a settlement in this area was in the year 1880. Logging operations in the Crystal Falls area expanded rapidly and, by the time the village was incorporated in 1889, lumbering of the vast stands of pine in the vicinity was carried on by crews from 30 camps. During its first year as a village, Crystal Falls had 27 saloons doing a busy trade with the clientele of miners and lumberjacks.
To find the whereabouts of one of these shanty boys, park your vehicle in the “car only” area of the boat launch parking lot. If there aren’t any spots available, park in the main lot and walk over. Head northwest along the roadway and as the road begins to turn you’ll notice a trail into the woods on your left. You also might hear some loons calling! Along the trail you’ll see some nice views of the lake and will pass a resting spot for the shanty boys. Stay on the main path until you see a sign for the lumber camp when you head west. (Going further south will get you into trouble.) You’ll pass another resting spot on a hilltop and pass lots of fallen birch (naturally fallen, not cut by the boys). Next you will be traveling on a ridge and the birch will change to pine. Take a well-deserved rest at the next obvious spot and enjoy the forest views.
From immediately behind the resting spot, go 20 paces at 230 degrees. Then go 32 paces at 210 degrees to an 8" diameter off-white colored round rock next to a large tree. Go 8 paces due south and look under a fallen tree's bark to find the resting shanty boy. Please rehide him carefully since he would like to continue using this as a bunkhouse before he heads out for those long days with his ax.
You can now either retrace your steps, or continue on for a loop hike. For the loop, continue in the direction you were heading, crossing a bridge along the way. At the end of the path, follow the road into camp until you reach #126 and continue until you see the fences where the teams of horses might be kept. Pass through the fences and look for a path near some boulders and logs in the SE corner. Walk through the forest again until you reach a road. Then walk along the road to #39. Take a path near the back of this bunk area and head east through the woods to find the neighboring camp. Then head north through camp until you reach #74 and a sign directing you to Fortune Lake. (If you had good fortune today, you met the Shanty Boy!). When you reach the lake, head NE and return to your vehicle.
The lumbering industry still plays a major role in the economy of Iron County. Since the 1930s, forest conservation measures and better forest management, such as the selective harvesting of the vigorous second-growth timber, have assured the industry’s continued vitality.
We hope you enjoyed your hunt and since we don’t live in the area we would really appreciate an update on the status of the box if you find it. We won’t be able to check on it very often…
Hike length: 2-3 miles