U. P. over Thanksgiving

[PM3579]

DW and I are looking to camp in the U.P. of Mich.near the Soo over thanksgiving.We would really like an elec site with showers. Any body have any experiance or suggestions for this area?  :usflag:

[ForestCreature]

DW and I are looking to camp in the U.P. of Mich.near the Soo over thanksgiving.We would really like an elec site with showers. Any body have any experiance or suggestions for this area?  :usflag:

It may be hard to find a place open this time of year especially in the U.P. with the exception of Tahquamenon. Most shut down the restrooms in late Oct if they're open. Here's a snip from the MI DNR...

[size=-1] Both Mitchell and Traverse City have heated restrooms available in the winter.  The other eight are:  Algonac, Bay City State Park, Fort Custer, Ludington, North Higgins Lake State Park , Rifle River Recreation Area, Tahquamenon Falls and Waterloo Recreation Area-Portage campground.[/size]

[PM3579]

It may be hard to find a place open this time of year especially in the U.P. with the exception of Tahquamenon. Most shut down the restrooms in late Oct if they're open. Here's a snip from the MI DNR...

[size=-1] Both Mitchell and Traverse City have heated restrooms available in the winter.  The other eight are:  Algonac, Bay City State Park, Fort Custer, Ludington, North Higgins Lake State Park , Rifle River Recreation Area, Tahquamenon Falls and Waterloo Recreation Area-Portage campground.[/size]

Thanks ForestCreature,but right now we are looking at Crooked River RV park in Alanson. We had planned on going over to Ontario a couple of times over the weekend. If we end up that far south we may only go over once. Thanks again :usflag:

[haroldPE]

a snow shovel

Any body have any ...suggestions for this area?

[rccs]

An ice chisel.

[flyfisherman]

A few years back (2003?) we were doing a trout season closing which was eariler in the fall in that part of the country and what they called a "Canadian Front" came through. What had started out as a beautiful fall day, maybe 70 degrees, a big dark cloud formation approached and it started to rain big time. Before it was all done, temp dropped 40 degrees and the rain turned into sleet & snow. The next morning the PU looked it came out of the deep freeze, icicles hanging from both bunk ends and along the bottom of both side of the PU.

Lucky for me there were a couple of other popup campers there who told me to run into town and get a couple of those plastic tarps to cover the bunk ends (which I did) and managed to last the storm in reasonable comfort. I've since included using Reflectix insulation sheets with the tarps for colder weather camping.

But I have heard that big snow storms can come up in that part of the country in November.


Fly

[4Campers]

A few years back (2003?) we were doing a trout season closing which was eariler in the fall in that part of the country and what they called a "Canadian Front" came through. What had started out as a beautiful fall day, maybe 70 degrees, a big dark cloud formation approached and it started to rain big time. Before it was all done, temp dropped 40 degrees and the rain turned into sleet & snow. The next morning the PU looked it came out of the deep freeze, icicles hanging from both bunk ends and along the bottom of both side of the PU.

Lucky for me there were a couple of other popup campers there who told me to run into town and get a couple of those plastic tarps to cover the bunk ends (which I did) and managed to last the storm in reasonable comfort. I've since included using Reflectix insulation sheets with the tarps for colder weather camping.

But I have heard that big snow storms can come up in that part of the country in November.


Fly

I had the same experience in the 70's when deer hunting in northern Michigan near Alpena. When we went to bed it was dry and upper 40's, woke up to 8" of snow and temps in the 20's. It was funny to have to sweep the snow off the ends so we could fit in under the bunk.

[PM3579]

Straits SP in St.Ignace. We were the only ones in the cg. The showers and heated restrooms were shut down but the vault toilets were very clean. We dodged the bullet on weather. All the snow and ice melted off the pu on saturday and we put it away for the winter dry on sunday. Gizmos and reflectixs are amazing. They are a must for late season camping :usflag:

[4Campers]

You must be a hearty bunch of campers. Glad all went well. I love that part of the country, Tahquamenon Falls, Paradise, St. Ignace etc.