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UP Waterfalls Series: Laughing Whitefish Falls LbNA #3641

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:May 10, 2003
Location:
City:Sundell
County:Alger
State:Michigan
Boxes:1
Planted by:gaia
Found by: TJ_Mich
Last found:Aug 23, 2013
Status:FFFFaOFFFFFFFFFaaFFa
Last edited:May 10, 2003
General Information: According the Michigan DNR interpretive panel at the Laughing Whitefish Falls Park trailhead, the LWF site was established in 1965 thanks to a donation by Celotex Corporation of 100 acres including the 100-foot falls. Additional land was acquired through the years bringing the park total to 960 acres.

The sign also says that 360 acres within the site were subsequently dedicated as a Natural Area under the Michigan Wilderness and Natural Area Act. The additional designation aimed to permanently protect the site's sandstone outcroppings, forest, and plant diversity.

The Laughing Whitefish River flows into Lake Superior at Laughing Whitefish Point. According to the sign, the point was so named because the rocks at the tip of the point resembled a laughing fish when viewed from the water.

The hike to the Falls (and the box)is about 0.6 miles. If you like to hike, there is a connector trail (1.95 miles)that accesses the North Country National Scenic Trail (ND to NY, about 3200 miles).

Clues:

Goosey, Goosey Gander,
Where shall I wander?
Upstairs, downstairs, in my lady's chamber?
There I met an old man who bade me say my prayers.
I took him by the left leg
And threw him down the stairs...[but then again, he wasn't going to the letterbox...]
(poem courtesy of Mother Goose)

1. After you've enjoyed the stairs and lower overlooks of the falls, find yourself at the top, overlooking the falls. Follow the fence to its westerly end. There you'll see a faint trail tracing the top edge of the canyon. Follow the trail (it's brushy, with downfallen trees) about 29 paces (2 steps/pace, about 5 feet).

2. Find yourself beside a big white pine beside Laughing Whitefish Falls Gorge. Six more paces along the trail will bring you to your next landmark.

3. The hemlock leans deeply to see the falls. Look toward 324 degrees to the hollow stump (about 6 paces away).

4. Standing to the right of the stump, you'll see Big Mama Hemlock (at about 315 degrees, about 3 paces away), overlooking the Hidden Valley.

5. Find a knee and follow it to the base of Big Mama. LWF Letterbox is beneath the root, behind 2 rocks and covered with leaf litter, pine cones, and other debris.

Notes: Hope you'll enjoy finding this box -- it's the first we have planted. Check back frequently as this season we aim to get a good start on planting an extensive U.P. Waterfalls Series! Thanks! (I last verified its condition on 8/14/2005.)