All photos by Jonathan Schechter at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
July 15th and 16th, 2011
(No filters used, not images edited of altered.)
Mother Nature at her finest~!


Long ago in the land that is now Wisconsin, a mother bear and her two cubs were driven into Lake Michigan
by a raging forest fire. They swam and swam but soon the two cubs tired and lagged far behind. Mother
bear finally reached the opposite shore and climbed to the top of the bluff to watch and wait
 for her offspring. But the cubs drowned.
Today, "Sleeping Bear", a solitary dune in Michigan
overlooking Lake Michigan, marks the spot where mother bear waited.
 Her lost cubs are the two Manitou Islands.
---an Anishinaaabek Indian Legend  (reprinted from National Park Service brochure)

Detailed information on Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore: www.nps.gov/slbe

Sleeping Bear is a rugged and dramatic landscape, a masterpiece of ice, wind and weather.
My favorite time to explore and camp in the park's back country remains autumn and winter.
But even in the heat of the summer when the dunes are simmering with heat and tourist flood the roads
 even a short walk will set you free in the ever changing scene of this Michigan wonderland.

The rugged dunes of Pyramid Point, a personal favorite.

A nothern river otter with fish dinner in Good Harbor Bay

Curious fawn near Platte River Point

Full moon over Glen Lake (camera steadied with mini-tripod)

Sunset from Empire Bluff  1

Sunset from Empire Bluff 2

Sunset from Empire Bluff 3

A spider on Empire Bluff prepares for a night hunt against the red sunset

Sunrise  at Platte River Point

Red fox track along the sands of Platte Bay (I followed for 1/8 of a mile)

The Platte River a few hundred yards from Lake Michigan

On the trail down from Empire Bluff.

A reminder to the public on bears.  Bears are common at Sleeping Bear.
A few cougars have roamed the dunes. Wolves may be at the doorsteps.

Even in summer an early morning walk brings solitude in the land of the sleeping bear.