Hike and Seek: HNP – Koppernick

We had such gorgeous weather here in Metro Detroit for late October.  Clear, sunny skies coupled with being in peak color season right now.  Saturday I had to get out for a bit so I went and hiked the Koppernick section of the Holliday Nature Preserve.  I’ve been here a bajillion times over the last almost 30 years (gasp!).

I love this huge old maple that greets you on the way in.  His trunk has to be at least five feet in diameter.

This is the site of what used to be a pavilion. Many moons ago, when there was still a wooden roof, I lugged a rake and other garden tools back in through here and spent hours moving away all the branches and logs that local dipshits were using to build fires.  Yes, under a wooden roof.  My payment for that day? Poison ivy up both arms.  I was in college at the time and remember sitting in class with my arms wrapped in calamine lotion and gauze under my sleeves.

The roof fell down and not long ago, it was all hauled away. Now it’s four steel posts in the middle of the woods. I walked to the far edge of the concrete (yes, there is concrete under all the leaves) and took a pic facing the trail.  If you can zoom in on this pic, I don’t know what happened, but random portions of the photo are grayed out.  If there are any photo experts out there that can explain what happened, please comment. NONE of the pics in this post were edited in any way, not even for brightness. And all taken with my cell phone. This is the only one that turned out this way.

Moss AND mushrooms in one pic!  Yes please.

I went off trail for a bit for the below five pics. Most of this stretch of woods have yellowing leaves, but there was a patch of this brilliant orange, almost pink/peach color. With the blue sky peeking through, I just stood and marveled for a moment.

More moss and some fern.

On the return loop, I noticed another foot path I went down for a bit. This scene had a Blair Witchy feel and I had to grab a pic.

On my way out, I took another pic of the memorial plaque which I’m amazed someone hasn’t stolen. (The others have been.) Arthur Richardson was a local philanthropist who left money in his will to Wayne County on the condition a park was established in the name of his uncle and mentor, William Holliday. The park was much bigger than it is now and had many amenities, bridges, pavilions and bathroom buildings, until the locals had to destroy everything in the 60s and 70s. We’re lucky to still have the park, which its main trail stretches 11 miles. Next season, I hope to hike the entire stretch, staging a car at one end.

On my way out, several deer came close to the parking area. This is zoomed in and not great quality, but it’s nice to see so many there.