Palmer Woods Bicycle Trails

Events Calendar

new Palmer Woods trail (photo by Pat S.)

from Singletracks.com

It took seven years, but the full 24-mile trail system at Palmer Woods in Leelanau County, Michigan, was completed in 2025.

The Leelanau Conservancy has spent about $10 million to build these trails with ecological restoration and sustainability in mind. The money came entirely from local sources. The land was acquired from a timber company where logging had taken place for 40 years. The Conservancy purchased the 1,155 acres which is surrounded on three sides by Sleeping Bear Dunes.

The forest will be preserved and the majority of the trails are dedicated to mountain biking. It's being hailed as one of the best singletrack bike trails in Michigan.

The bicycle trails are machine-built, and range from beginner loops to "white knuckle" as described by Justin Simpson, Director of Progressive Trails for West Michigan Mountain Biking Association. The intermediate trails are mostly one way, with the direction of travel alternating on successive days.

Caleb Garone, Land Steward for the Leelanau Conservancy, says "the Lion’s Mane Trail has a lot of really interesting dirt jump shapes. There’s [been] quite a bit of rock added for some downhill kickers."

Separate trails for hiking and cross-country skiing have also been built, ensuring that no user group's expectations will be compromised. The Conservancy emphasises that there is a strong commitment to ecological sustainability and diversity.

See maps at the Leelanau Conservancy


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Featured - Grass River Natural Area

Events Calendar

boardwalk at Grass River Natural Area (photo from Grass River website)

from Grass River Natural Area

Grass River Natural Area in Antrim County, Michigan, features both accessible and single-track trails, with considerable lengths of boardwalk through marsh areas.

The 0.3-mile Sedge Meadow Boardwalk from the Grass River Center to markers 16, 17, and the Dock is now an ADA accessible boardwalk and opened in fall 2024. An additional 0.25 mile loop from markers 15, 18, 13, and 14 was replaced in 2018. Packed gravel trails provide access from the Grass River Center to the boardwalks. In late summer of 2025 replacement of the remainder of the Sedge Meadow Boardwalk Loop was completed. Fern Boardwalk Loop will be rebuilt in 2026.

Seven miles of trails weave through the natural area and all provide easy walking. Gravel trails around the Grass River Center provide easy access to the Center. Boardwalks covering the Sedge Meadow and Fern Trails provide accessibility to wetland flora and fauna and are wheelchair friendly. The Woodland, Chippewa, Nipissing, Algonquin, and Rail Trails are upland forested dirt footpaths.

Pets and bicycles are allowed only on some of the trails.

There are paddling opportunities on the Grass River, Lake Bellaire, and Clam Lake.

Some trails are groomed for skiing in winter and the main parking lot is plowed in winter.

An all-natural playground for children opened in 2025.

See maps and more info at Grass River Natural Area


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Local Couple Create Trail at Sparta Sports Complex

Tim Shelton scouting trail (photo by Katy Shelton)

from a conversation with Katy Shelton

Looking for stories to feature on this blog, I was reading about a recently created trail around the perimeter of Sparta Sports Complex, Sparta, Michigan. Imagine my surprise when scanning the article, to realize that I know the people responsible for creating this trail.

Katy and Tim Shelton, active North Country Trail hikers and volunteers, decided they wanted a trail near their home where they could get in 5K (three miles).

"We wanted to create a trail for the residents of Sparta that was nearby and easily accessible. Hopefully walking on our trail will inspire them to continue their hiking adventures and seek out other trails, farther away. They will soon discover all the neat trails that are out there for everyone to explore."

Starting two years ago in dense woods full of "pricker bushes" and undergrowth, the couple began pounding in orange stakes to determine a suitable route for the new trail. "We hammered in over 300 of them," Katy told me.

"I don't like long pants," Katy says. "That first year was brutal. We plotted a course and chopped out a trail through woods and wild raspberry bushes with LOTS of thorns and over a TON of trippable roots." Tim's trousers would be covered in sharp, prickly seed pods. Katy's legs took a real beating! But they persisted. They got help from other community volunteers, and this fall (2025) the 3.5-mile trail opened.

At first the couple carried all their tools in by wagon, but eventually the Sports Park loaned them the use of a golf cart which made the logistics much easier.

Signs are in place and locator maps will be installed. KAty explained there is currently a small detour where a river improvement project is underway, but the trail is still useable.

Katy said, "I'm working to get it on AllTrails, but that's a work on progress."

The park also features ball fields and a disc golf course.

See Sparta Sports Park
See Fox 17 news report on the project


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Hager Park's US Map Feature Restored

Events Calendar

Hager Park USA map from Google Imagery

compiled from various sources

Centered in Hager Park in Jenison, Michigan, is a terrain map of the United States large enough to easily be seen in Google imagery. The outline is obvious, some of the rivers are sculpted in, and even some of the relief features.

The park and playground were built in the 1990s, but the map recently got a facelift in the summer of 2025. This was the work of Eagle Scout Wyatt Nance. He recruited over 75 other people to help with the project. Overgrown with weeds and eroded, the map was hardly discernible any more. Wyatt raised funds, repaired the boundaries, hardened the edges with stone for accessibility, and recreated the borders of the states.

At the very bottom of the picture the oddly shaped structure is a wooden playground, a portion of which is built to look like a ship.

In addition to the map and playground there is a picnic area and about three miles of hiking trails which connect to nearby neighborhoods.

See map of Hager Park
Read WZZM article about Wyatt's project


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Portions of the Dragon Trail Groomed for Winter Use

map of groomed trails (from Mecosta County)

compiled from several sources

The 45-mile Dragon Trail around Hardy Dam Pond in Newaygo and Mecosta Counties, Michigan, has a total of 13 miles that are groomed for multi-use winter adventures. The trail remains open for hikers, bicyclists, skiers and snowshoes. As such, the grooming is not focused on one user group.

Bikes should have tires a minimum of 3.8" wide (fat tire bikes). Hikers should stay to the side of the trail. Showshoes and skis are welcome on the groomed trail.

Sections that are groomed are shown highlighted in green on the graphic, which includes the Brower Loop and Section 5 which runs between Mecosta County's Brower Park and Davis Bridge Park. Parking areas of each of these parks are plowed and will be maintained on weekdays throughout the winter. Vault Toilets are available at both locations, with a hand water pump available for use at Davis Bridge.

For parking at Newaygo and Mecosta County Parks, a permit is required. Each county has its own permit. One permit does NOT cover all parking along the loop. 2026 annual Vehicle Permits are now available! Standard vehicle permits are $35 each with regional passes available for $60 each. Stop by to purchase a permit in person at the Parks Administration office in Paris, MI, Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00, or call 231-832-3246 to purchase over the phone! Or drop your fee in the fee pipe at Brower or Davis Bridge Parks and your permit will be mailed out to you!


See the complete rules for Trail Etiquette


See the main website for The Dragon Trail

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Grand Traverse Commons Proposed Trail Expansion

view within Grand Traverse Commons (photo from Garfield Township Plan)

compiled from various sources

The Grand Traverse Commons Recreation and Natural Area is a 140-acre park that is overseen by the City of Traverse City and Garfield Charter Township Recreational Authority. Miles of unpaved trails, many covered with woodchips, wander up, down, and around wooded hillsides, streams, meadows, and wetlands. The park is a part of the overall Grand Traverse Commons Redevelopment District and was originally a part of the former State Psychiatric Hospital.

Parking and trailheads to the Natural Area exist on North Long Lake Road, near the intersection of Medical Campus and Orange Drives, near the Barns area, on the west side of the TBA Administrative building, and on the northernmost side of the Copper Ridge development.

Adjacent to the park on the west is a 38-acre wooded parcel owned by the State of Michigan that is also available for public use.

The Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association is working to improve and expand the trail system. There will be trails optmiized for mountain biking, and others will remain for hiking. Additional trailheads may be built.

Key points of the NMMBA plans are:
• Preserve existing trails wherever possible
• 3+ miles of professional machine-built trails
• Sessional 'hubs' with flow trail loop
• Clay, stone and Wooden materials
• New maps and signage

For an excellent map of the proposed trails, scroll down at The Commons Bike Project


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NCT Hillsdale County Data Book Available

sign near the Michigan/Ohio border on the North Country Trail (photo by jhy)

by jhy

Because the portion of the North Country Trail in southeast Michigan is often considered to be impossible to hike unsupported, my first effort at creating a data book was directed toward this area. What I learned is that if you hike between September 11 to May 14 (when it is legal to camp in the Lost Nation State Game Area- or any Michigan SGA), and are willing to pay for an occasional motel, you can easily make it through Hillsdale County.

In fact, if you continue north, you would probably need someone to serve as a trail angel in Homer, Michigan, but that is the only stop it would be impossible to find legal lodging at reasonable hiking-day intervals. By reasonable, I mean under 15 miles. If you are willing to hike 22 miles, you can make it from the Litchfield Village campsite to the city of Albion, in Calhoun County.

This data sheet is the first of what I hope will become a series for Michigan, but there is no projected timeline for completion. This is an entirely volunteer effort, and my time and resources are limited. It includes a basic guide, mileages, water sources, lodging options, other resources, land ownership, and USGS topo quads.

It is presented along with the fledgling web site that is another of my unrealistic projects, www.exploreNCT.info. This site is added to as I have time and inspiration, but I hope to grow it into a fun and valuable resource.

You can find the link to the Hillsdale County data book under Hillsdale County on the Lower Michigan page. See ExploreNCT Lower Michigan

I hope you might check out the other pages that are currently available on the site, even if they are currently few.

See ExploreNCT
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Nordhouse Dunes Trail Guide Updated

Nordhouse Lake (photo by jhy)

By Joan H. Young

The guide to Nordhouse Dunes trails (Mason County, Michigan) on the companion site to this blog has been updated.

The trails within this designated wilderness area were previously unnamed and unsigned. Recently, the trails were given names which adds a bit of character to the site. Some of the names are simply descriptive: "Nordhouse Lake Trail," but a couple of them invite further exploration of their meanings, such as: "Nippising," and "Algoma Ridge."

Surprisingly, signposts have been placed at many of the trail junctions. Generally, signage within Wilderness areas is not allowed. However, the minimal information is welcome. There are enough trails that it's nice for hikers to actually be able to know where they are.

on the Lake Michigan Trail (photo by jhy)

What is now called the Algoma Ridge Trail had been completely blocked by a straight-line wind event several years ago that filled a portion of its valley route. The Forest Service chose not to clear the way, because of the time involved to cut through the large blowdown with hand tools (no power tools are allowed in wilderness), and because wilderness areas are generally allowed to change naturally, which includes blowdowns. This trail has now been re-routed to join the Lake Michigan Trail at a slightly different location. The re-route is a good solution, as it encourages people to reach the Lake Michigan Trail by a sustainable route rather than climbing straight up the bluff when they reach the tangled trees.

I was pleased to note that a number of damaged hillsides and braided trails have begun to regenerate plant cover and heal. In recent years, overuse and abuse by people scrambling everywhere has caused a significant amount of damage. Perhaps having certain trails named and designated is encouraging hikers to remain on the established pathways.

Responsible recreation by the many users of Nordhouse will be the key to preventing the establishment of quotas by the Forest Service in the future.

Nordhouse is a highly popular destination with 3450 acres of open and forested dune ecosystem. Lake Michigan is to the west and the area includes the small kettle lake, Nordhouse Lake. It is located within the Manistee National Forest, and dispersed camping is allowed. Parking permit required.

The Get Off the Couch web site map for Nordhouse has been updated, along with all trail descriptions to reflect the new names and re-routes.

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Sites Added to Getoffthecouch.info

Gale's Pond

by jhy

Recently four additional locations for quiet outdoor recreation have been added to the main Get Off The Couch website.

Get Off The Couch was developed to give people detailed information on places to go for quiet sport and enjoyment in Mason, Manistee, Oceana and Lake Counties in Michigan. Since it generates very little income (many businesses which offer services for low-impact recreation have not yet appreciated the value of the internet), the site grows slowly.

Yet, it is still my dream to offer complete information, and to keep it updated.

In Oceana County, Gale's Pond is found just east of Hart. This is a little-known gem, with a lot of high-quality plant material around the small pond. A half-mile trail encircles the water. There is a small picnic area.

The hiking opportunity can be extended by walking around the corner on a dirt road and adding the 3/8 mile of trail in Doolittle Memorial Forest.

The two additional locations are in Manistee County.

For a great scenic view, one of the best in the Lower Peninsula, stop off at the Arcadia Bluffs overlook on the Manistee/Benzie County line off M-22. There is an observation platform to climb (plus a fully accessible level with good views too), and a telescopic viewer in the summer.

Magoon Creek

Another wonderful area, with a number of ecosystems, hiking, swimming, and picnic opportunities is Magoon Creek. Located just south of Manistee, there are 1.5 miles of trail and over 40 interpreted locations.

All information is free of charge, and based on personal visits to the sites. The date of my last visit is always shown on the page, giving a user some idea of how accurate it may be.

If you have a product or service related to quiet recreation, and would like to advertise, there are many levels of commitment available. In addition, non-profit organizations with similar interests can advertise for a minimum of $10 per year.

Feel free to look the site over, and contact me at events@getoffthecouch.info




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based on a news article at Firehouse.com

Crockery Township (Ottawa County) Fire Chief, Gary Dreyer, reported that a hiker was rescued on Monday, September 26. The man, in his 40's, had been hiking in the Crockery Creek Natural Area. He apparently fell and hit his head on a log. The hiker and a friend were following a deer trail into a ravine. One man stepped on a rotting log and lost his footing, falling on another log.

Fortunately the friend was able to call 911. Although the Natural Area is not far from "civilization," the shortest route to reach the injured hiker was through heavy brush. Dreyer described the extraction as "labor intensive." He also cited recent rains as creating difficult and slippery conditions.

It was impossible to get an ATV to the scene, so the man was carried out on a stretcher, the old-fashioned way. The injured man was taken to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids to be checked out, but was conscious and alert by that time.



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Hudsonville Hiker Dies in New Hampshire

Wilfred Chalut (photo from obituary notice)

based various news stories, and the obituary

Will Chalut, age 64, of Hudsonville, MI, is described by friends as fun-loving and generous, but he died October 1, in a tragic accident in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Chalut was hiking Friday afternoon in Waterville Valley, along Sabbaday Falls on the Swift River. It was raining, and the trails were slick. He slipped into the river, and was carried out of sight by the current.

Fish and Game Department spokesman, Lt. Jim Goss, reported that they were unable to find the man, but his body was recovered the following day, caught in brush near the middle of the river.

Fox 17 News spoke with Chalut's son who said, "The fact that he was enjoying life to its fullest when he died is the only comfort we have in this moment of profound shock and tragedy."

See Hudsonville Man Dies In New Hampshire
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Grand Traverse Center Road Natural Area Has New Trails

trail volunteers (photo by JHY)

if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
based on a news article in the Grand Traverse Herald

Center Road Natural Area in Peninsula Township near Traverse City has several new trails. Volunteers from the Grand Traverse Hikers Club persevered, and after two rain dates finally were able to work this past Sunday.

Trails were added through the former orchard on the property. A year ago, voters approved the purchase and creation of a park which will be managed by the township. In addition to the orchard the property "includes a bowl-shaped meadow, a climax hemlock forest, varied animal habitat and undeveloped East Bay frontage." Parking has been added, and nearby homeowners have indicated that they will simply walk to the property.

Dick Naparala, familiar in North Country Trail circles, said "Basically, a trail gives people an opportunity for recreation or for exercise. I live on the Peninsula and I think it's a wonderful thing to have another (quiet) area, it's kind of a little oasis in all this busyness."

Thousands of volunteer hours have already been logged putting in fencing and boundary markings. All the volunteer time saves taxpayers money.

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has partnered with the township and friends of the project to acquire the land. Other supporters include Hagerty Insurance, TC Rentals, and the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments.

See Grand Traverse Hiking Club
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Hiking, Biking Trail Proposed Around Hardy Dam Pond

Hardy Dam Pond is an impoundment of the Muskegon River, roughly between Stanton and Newaygo (Google Maps)

based on a news article on M-Live

Hardy Dam Pond was created in 1937 when the dam was constructed on the Muskegon River to provide hydroelectric power. Typically, surrounding land was purchased to prevent other utilities from building additional dams. But in the 1960s when hydro-electric projects were brought under federal licensing rules, the area was opened to public use. This has primarily meant that boaters and anglers had access to the water. The land itself receives little use.

That is about to change. A shoreline trail for hiker and mountain bikers may be built creating a loop around the 3,900-acre lake. Most of the property is owned by Consumers Energy. The trail is the brain child of Big Prairie Township supervisor David Wright, and enthusiastic backpacker. He is working with local business interests, the Michigan State University Extension and Consumers Energy to develop the project.

Wright says the land has hills, ravines and wetland areas, and claims that it is "some of the best forest hiking to be found south of Ontario."

Backpacking would be encouraged, although overnights would need to be spent in the developed campsites. Consumers Energy does not have the resources to police backcountry camping.

Consumers Energy is forwarding the proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Wright predicts that the trail can be built for less than $50,000, using volunteers to do much of the work. Local governments, businesses and foundations have expressed interest in aiding with funding. If the project is federally approved, trail construction could begin as early as summer 2010.

Hardy Dam Pond is an impoundment of the Muskegon River where it runs northeast to southwest roughly between Stanton and Newaygo.

See Newaygo State Park
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Belmont Man Dies Hiking in Colorado

based on a news article in the Chicago Tribune

A Belmont, Michigan, man died while hiking near Vail, Colorado.

57-year-old Patrick O'Brien was hiking with his son in the mountains when he died of heart disease. An autopsy was performed by the Eagle County (Colorado) coroner's office. The sheriff's office is not investigating the death, saying it was totally due to natural causes.

Father and son were only about a half-mile from the trailhead at the time of the death.
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Equinox Fun in Newaygo Sept 19

Loda Lake (photo by John Winkleman)

based on information from Newaygo County Tourism

Do you like hiking, biking, kayaking, geocaching, star gazing, or even some bluegrass music? If so, the place to be on September 19, 2009 is Newaygo!

A kid's camp will run all day, from 8am to 5:30 pm. Kids can be signed in and picked up at any time, and will include basic camp activities.

Hikes will include a 9-mile guided trek around Loda Lake, well known for its wildflowers. Paddling events will begin both morning and afternoon. Bicyclists can enjoy a road ride, or choose from several trail rides. A geocache event is scheduled for the afternoon.

40 lucky participants will get to try a high ropes course, 20 in the morning, and 20 in the afternoon.

In the evening, everyone can enjoy the Green Sky Bluegrass concert at the Dogwood Center, Fremont, followed by stargazing at the Stephen Wessling Observatory.

All proceeds will benefit polio research and the Camp Henry Scholarship Fund.

See Newaygo County Tourism
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Mountain Bikers vs. Equestrians

(photo by Hamilton Conservation Authority

based on a news article in the Detroit Examiner, "Trail conflicts between mountain bikers and equestrians," by Diane Ursu, July 1, 2009

Conflicts between trail users have always existed, but recently the mountain bikers and horseback riders have been facing off in the Fort Custer Recreation Area near Battle Creek, Michigan.

User groups with different levels of technology generally prefer their own trails. With diminishing resources, management authorities have sought to combine user groups on multi-use trails.

Recently, equestrians in the Lower Peninsula have proposed legislation to allow riding access on all public trails that have any history of equestrian use. If this bill passes, it would override any recommendations by the DNR concerning environmental impact.

At Fort Custer, the land manager has allowed horseback riders access to all of the mountain biking trails. Serious erosion problems have arisen from the added impact of the horses hooves. The Michigan Mountain Biking Association asserts that the trails were built by bikers, for biking. They point to the fact that many public lands have specific "friends" groups who maintain and fund facilities for certain activities. These groups feel betrayed and frustrated when other users impose their recreational desires on these facilities.

It is interesting to note that hikers feel many of these same frustrations when trails historically used for hiking are opened to bicyclists.

Read the full story at the Detroit Examiner
See Sharing Our Trails- A Guide to Trail Etiquette
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Tom Funke- NCT Hiker- To Talk About UP Hikes

based on a news article submitted to various news services

Tom Funke is no stranger in North Country Trail circles. He has hiked over 1500 miles of the NCT, including all of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. He will present a program based on his book, "50 Hikes in Michigan's Upper Peninsula," on June 10, 2009.

Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek will welcome Funke, who is currently director of conservation of the Michigan Audubon Society, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. The program will focus on selected hikes from Funke’s book, featuring commentary on the natural history of each area to go along with the topography, elevation, and hike difficulty.

Funke has spent most of his life exploring the outdoors. He grew up in Bangor, Michigan, roaming the fields, forests, and swamps on his parent’s rural 25-acre hobby farm. “I basically spent my entire childhood chasing frogs, climbing trees and exploring streams,” said Funke. He went on to study biology and environmental studies at Western Michigan University.

From Western, he was employed by the Binder Park Zoo as an education intern. He progressed to become director of conservation education, before taking his current position with Michigan Audubon.

See the Battle Creek Enquirer
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Solo Hike Paddle Loops

Pere Marquette loop follow link below for full size

from Alan Fark

If you're paddling Michigan rivers, you know it's a hassle to shuttle your own kayak or canoe back-and-forth from the start and end point, and you need a buddy to help you do it.

Here are some circuits which can be done without shuttling, and which combine hiking and paddling. They can be done solo. Most are on the North Country Trail. These are day trips, not overnights.

Either drop your canoe or kayak off at the upstream portion (lock it with a bicycle lock or hide it in weeds, and don't forget to leave paddles and life vest away from the boat), drive to your endpoint, hike upstream and paddle back to your car. You can also obviously just start paddling from the upstream point and walk back upstream to your car after leaving your boat at the "bottom." This latter strategy runs the risk of missing the bend in the river where you're supposed to stop, if you're unfamiliar with the landing spot.

Alan has provided maps and some info for five different loops. There is a 6th possibility for a short trip, on the map above. You can begin at Upper Branch Bridge, hike the NCT and Sulak Access Road and then paddle down to Upper Branch. This makes a short day trip... nice for families.

See Hike-Paddle Loops
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National Outdoor Book Award Winners for 2008

Winner of a National Outdoor Book Award in the Natural History category

a news release of National Outdoor Book Awards

A stubborn band of optimists who fought and refused to let the magnificent American chestnut tree slip into extinction. One man's life-long obsession with hiking the hidden-away corners of the Grand Canyon. A young mother rebuilding her life after the death of her husband in a mountaineering accident.

These are some of the themes found among the winners of the 2008 National Outdoor Book Awards.

"What a year it was," said Ron Watters, professor emeritus at Idaho State University. "The writing in the outdoor field has always been good, but it just keeps getting better -- and this year it was outstanding." Watters is the chairman of the National Outdoor Book Awards, a nonprofit program sponsored by the NOBA Foundation, Idaho State University and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education.

As an example of outstanding writing, Watters points to the winner of the Natural History category, “American Chestnut: The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree.” Authored by nature writer Susan Freinkel, it tells the story of the American chestnut tree which at one time stretched in vast numbers from Georgia to Maine.

The American chestnut tree had long been a part of the landscape of the eastern United States, but in a short 40-year time span, an estimated 4 billion trees were killed off by an imported blight fungus. Only a handful of trees remained in California and the Pacific Northwest. In an absorbing mix of natural and human history, Freinkel chronicles the century-long struggle by a few individuals who set out to save this American cultural icon.

A beautifully composed memoir won the Outdoor Literature category. Written by Jennifer Lowe-Anker, “Forget Me Not: A Memoir” tells of the struggle to rebuild her life after her husband and famous mountaineer, Alex Lowe dies on an expedition in the Himalayas. Remarkably candid, it's a story of adventure, passion, and hope reborn.

The History-Biography Category has two winners. One is a new, exhaustively researched but eminently readable “Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering” by Maurice Isserman and Stewart Weaver.

The other is entitled “Grand Obsession.” Written by Elias Butler and Tom Myers, it is the biography of Harvey Butchart, an author of Grand Canyon hiking guidebooks. Butler and Myers do wonders with this book, taking what seems at first glance a prosaic subject, and fashioning it into a fascinating portrait of a man hopelessly addicted to a place.

Complete reviews of these and the other 2008 winners may be found at National Outdoor Book Award Web site at: www.noba-web.org.

Here is a list of winners.

Natural History Literature. Winner. “The American Chestnut: The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree.” By Susan Freinkel. University of California Press, Berkeley. ISBN 9780520247307

Outdoor Literature Category. Winner. “Forget Me Not: A Memoir.” By Jennifer Lowe-Anker. The Mountaineers Books, Seattle. ISBN 1594850828.

History/Biography Category. Winner. “Grand Obsession: Harvey Butchart and the Exploration of the Grand Canyon.” By Elias Butler and Tom Myers. Puma Press, Flagstaff, Ariz. ISBN 0970097344.

History/Biography Category. Winner. “Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes.” By Maurice Isserman and Stewart Weaver. Yale University Press. New Haven, Conn. ISBN 9780300115017.

Classic Category. Winner. “Through the Grand Canyon from Wyoming to Mexico.” By Ellsworth L. Kolb. Grand Canyon Association, Grand Canyon, Ariz. (Originally published by MacMillan in 1914). ISBN 0938216961

Classic Category. Winner. The “Pacific Crest Trail” (Series). In three volumes: Southern California, Northern California and Oregon &Washington. Authors include Thomas Winnett, Ben Schifrin, Jeffrey Schaffer, Ruby Johnson Jenkins, and Andy Selters. Wilderness Press, Berkeley. ISBN's: 9780899973166, 9870899973173, 9780899973753.

Children's Category. Winner. “The Pole.” By Eric Walters. Puffin Canada/Penguin Group, Toronto. ISBN 9780143167914.

Nature and the Environment. Winner. “The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World.” Photographs by Steven Kazlowski. Braided River Books, an imprint of The Mountaineers Books, Seattle. ISBN 9781594850592.

Nature and the Environment. Winner. “The Great Lakes: The Natural History of a Changing Region.” By Wayne Grady. Greystone Books, Vancouver. ISBN 9781553651970.

Design and Artistic Merit. Winner. “Surfboards” by Guy Motil. Falcon Guides, Guilford, Conn. ISBN 9780762746217.

Design and Artistic Merit. Winner. “Bruce Aiken's Grand Canyon: An Intimate Affair.” Paintings by Bruce Aiken. Text by Susan Hallsten McGarry. Grand Canyon Association, Grand Canyon, Ariz. ISBN 9780938216933

Design and Artistic Merit. Honorable Mention. “Soul of the Heights: 50 Years Going to the Mountains.” Photographs and text by Ed Cooper. Falcon Guides, Guilford, Conn. ISBN 9780762745272

Nature Guidebooks. Winner. “Birds of Peru.” By Tomas S. Schulenberg, Douglas F. Stotz, Daniel F. Lane, John P. O'Neill, and Theodore A. Parker III. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J. ISBN 9780691049151.

Outdoor Adventure Guidebook. Winner. “Florida Keys Paddling Atlas.” By Bill and Mary Burnham. Falcon Guides, Guilford, Conn. ISBN 9780762738571.

Instructional Category. Winner. “Road Bike Maintenance.” By Guy Andrews. Falcon Guides, Guilford, Conn. ISBN 9780762747467.

Instructional Category. Honorable Mention. “Whitewater Kayaking: The Ultimate Guide.” By Ken Whiting and Kevin Varette. Heliconia Press. Beachburg, Ontario. ISBN 9781896980300.

More information on the awards program is found on the National Outdoor Book Award website
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"Planet Backpacker" Release and Book Signing Today!

excerpted from the Traverse City Record-Eagle, "Book Review: Trek brings world into view," by Tom Carr, Nov 2, 2008

"It had always been my dream to travel around the world," said Bob Downes, 56, of Traverse City. "I didn't want to be on my death bed thinking I never did that," he added.

Bob Downes pedaled a 20-year-old mountain bike throughout Europe and Asia about a year ago and wrote a book about his experiences. "Planet Backpacker," published by The Wandering Press, is due out early this month. The book will retail for $13.95.

Downes made the trek alone with a backpack and a backpack-size guitar to experience parts of the world he'd never visited. He took four-and-a-half months to make the trip from September 2007 to January 2008.

He says he wrote the book in 100 Internet cafes around the world and he writes of his experiences and of the interesting people he met throughout the trip.

He found there were "thousands of backpackers in the Third World, but practically no Americans. It was kind of a shocking thing," he added.

Downes publishes a newspaper called Northern Express, Northern Michigan's largest newsweekly.

There will be a book release party at 5 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Right Brain Brewery. He will have a book-signing and presentation from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 29 at Horizon Books.

See Northern Express
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