Helios Series

This 7-box series at Muskegon State Park was originally planted for the Lazy Days of Summer Mini-Gathering held in July 2005. I had originally intended to move the boxes to other locations after the event, but never found a better place so have decided to leave them where they are. The clues have been until now available only WOM and they have been found by several area letterboxers, but since the boxes are not being moved, I’ve decided to list them so they can be enjoyed by all.

The section of trail that you will need to hike to collect these boxes is approximately 2 miles one way. Although the trail is well-marked, it is rough in places – a narrow, rutted, rooted footpath with several hills, a couple of them quite steep. Once you have finished the series, you will need to backtrack, or find an alternate trail, to get back to your vehicle. It is highly recommended that you obtain a park map to aid you in this series.

Getting There…

Follow Memorial Drive west toward Muskegon State Park. About a mile before Memorial Drive ends at Lake Michigan, you will come to a large Muskegon State Park sign on the right side of the road. The entrance to Snug Harbor is across from this. Enter the park and go to your right toward the picnic shelter.

Clues…

The boxes have been placed in a linear fashion as you make your way from Snug Harbor to the Blockhouse. After crossing Memorial Drive, your strategy will be to follow the letters found on the trail markers up the alphabet, unless instructed to do otherwise.

Ancient Sun…

As you leave Snug Harbor and cross Memorial Drive, be a hearty hiker and head up the hill through an area of woodland debris. Watch your step as the trail levels off – don’t trip on that stump-knot! A short distance after you step across, stop at the tree with the blown-out belly. At 25 degrees find the Ancient Sun within the sinewy shreds of a broken tree.

Spiral Sun…

As you continue along the trail, watch for a tall straight pole which looks unmistakably like a utility pole. What it is doing out here is anybody’s guess. Alas, it is not a lone phenomenon; there are others. When you reach the second utility pole on your right, stop for a closer look. Then sight 35 degrees and find the Spiral Sun hiding in a broken tree.

Native Sun…

Your assigned strategy becomes doubly important when you reach the place of choosing and soon you are on your way again along a very pretty section of trail – one of my favorites. I know, you are looking around and seeing all kinds of hollow stumps and logs (this place is a letterboxer’s dream), wondering why I didn’t just use these places instead of pushing you further up the trail. But stay with me here… we are going somewhere. Heed the warning at the next signpost and stay your course. When you reach the lettered post by heading up and left, again recall your assigned strategy. Eventually you will come to a large sandy area. In the sand sits a stump resembling a clenched fist, with a lone finger pointing upward. 150 degrees from the finger, find a holey tree. The Native Sun hides down low.

Terra Cotta Sun…

Continue on toward the next letter. As the trail skirts the edge of another large sandy area, you will be treated to a glimpse of Lake Michigan through the trees in the west. Oh, an intersection – “G” which way? No cheating! At the next trail post, sight 305 degrees to a hollow log and find the Terra-Cotta Sun (good thing you followed your strategy and didn’t try to take a short-cut or you would have missed this beauty!).

Carefree Sun…

Upon reaching the next letter (Finally), divert from your strategy and head to “X” to view the lake. Follow the trail a short distance to your right to the place where sticks and logs and other forest debris lay on both sides of you. On your right lies a large fallen tree… follow this tree back up to the trail you came down on. Go there. Now follow this log down a few steps to the place where 2 trees stand beside it. Find the Carefree Sun tucked under the log between these two trees.

Aztec Sun…

Head back up to the main trail and resume your strategy. As you make your way toward the next letter, come to a clearing where a dead tree stump stands besides its fallen limbs. 130 degrees from here, the Aztec Sun hides in the eye of the needle.

Mosaic Sun…

Continuing on your way, you will come to a large sandy area with several trails heading in various directions. There, across the sandy area is your final letter. Look straight ahead to find the continuation of your trail heading west and don’t be tempted by imposter pathways. 100 paces past the sandy area, roots snake across the path as a trail breaks off to your right. Follow this pathway down into a leaf-filled gulley. Where the trail splits and heads up to the Blockhouse parking area, jog left and find a small cut log laying off to your left. It may not appear hollow from the trail, but check again to find the Mosaic Sun.

Sugarbowl

Site Notes…

At the entrance to Muskegon State Park stands a large sand dune, known locally as the “Sugarbowl.” In the winter it is a favorite sliding hill for area young people, although it is quite a hike back up the hill between trips! Don’t worry, you don’t have to climb the hill (well, at least not the whole way up)!

This box is located in Muskegon State Park. A Michigan State Parks vehicle pass is required for entry and can be purchased at the park. Please check the park web site for dates and hours of operation.

Getting There…

Follow Memorial Drive west toward Muskegon State Park. Where Memorial Drive ends at Lake Michigan, turn left. Across from the guard station at the entrance is a small turn-out, with a large sand hill visible in the distance. You will need to pick up the trail at the turn-out, however it is posted, “no parking” here. Parking is available just up the road in the beach lot.

Clues…

“Hey let’s go sliding after school,” Ralphie caught up with me in the lunchroom, as an early winter snowstorm gusted outside the window and dumped fluffy white stuff on top of the couple inches that had fallen the day before.

“Do you think there is enough snow on the hill?” I asked, referring to the infamous Sugarbowl, a huge sand hill at the State Park where the local kids went sliding.

“Yeh, I heard some kids saying they were there last night and it was great!”

“Okay, but I have a few chores to do first before my mom will let me go.”

Ralphie made a face and said, “Well I’ll meet you there then, at 4:00.”

“Okay, where do you want to meet?”

“Meet me at that tree that kind of stands there all by itself, in the middle, at the bottom of the big hill,” Ralphie said.

“Okay…” I answered a bit hesitantly. Being new to the area just last year, I had only been to the Sugarbowl a couple of times, and wasn’t quite sure I knew the tree Ralphie was talking about. I remembered that there were three hills, with the big hill in the back being the one everyone went sliding on, but it seemed to me it was a bit tricky how to get back there without climbing up and down the front two hills.

“Remind me how to get there,” I said.

“Take the trail from the turn-out, up along the left ridge of the front hill. When you get to the tree that’s twisty like a pretzel stick, go down into the woods and follow the trail that runs in the valley all the way around the back of the first hill and along the edge of the second hill. You’ll see the tree from there; just follow the path down the back of the second hill into the clearing to get there.”

“Sounds easy enough,” I answered confidently. Although I couldn’t quite picture it in my mind, I was sure it would make sense once I got there. “I’ll meet you there at 4:00,” I said as the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch hour.

I hurried home from school and completed my chores as quickly as possible, anxious to get to the hill. “Mom, I’m going sliding,” I called as I headed out to the garage to get my sled down from the wall brace where it had hung all summer.

Ralphie’s directions ran through my head as I arrived at the park and started down the path from the turn-out… I followed the ridge to my left along the edge of the front bowl and immediately saw the twisty-trunk tree up ahead. Taking the path down into the trees, I picked up the trail that headed to my right along the valley. After a bit, the trail broke out of the trees and wrapped around the back of the front hill, where it turned to the left toward the middle hill. It was all beginning to look familiar now. I could see the meeting tree in the distance and I anxiously walked up along the ridge of the middle hill to the path that led down the back side. Up ahead, past the tree, the big hill was filled with kids and sleds and even a couple of dogs.

I arrived at the meeting tree promptly at 4:00 p.m. Ralphie was not there yet, and I sat down on my sled to rest for a minute, looking anxiously around, hoping that I was at the right tree. Spotting another, bigger tree standing kind of by itself, just north of where I was, I headed across the path about 30 paces to wait there.

As I waited impatiently for Ralphie, I noticed a lot of commotion up on the ridge of the hill, 100 degrees from where I was sitting. Tired of waiting, I hiked over to see what was going on. As I neared the bank of the hill, I asked a man what had happened.

“There was a kid racing a big guy in a red snowsuit down the hill, and they collided and came sliding right up the side of the hill here into the trees. The kid is all tangled up in the roots of that tree up there.” The man answered, pointing ahead into the crowd of onlookers, to a tree, whose gnarly roots clung to the ridgeline, with several inches protruding over the path, creating a tangled mess of roots and hollow cavities.

I pushed my way in past the crowd, and there was Ralphie, wedged in a tight crevice between two thick fingers of root.

Big Bear

Site Notes…

This hike will take you along the southern part of the Dune Ridge Trail, through a series of dunes that lie between Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake. This is a great family hike, although the trail is steep in a few places and kids will have an easier time than adults. The kids will love the sand hills and adults will enjoy the spectacular views of the lakes on both sides. Although a trail map is not necessary for this hike, you may find it helpful, especially if you plan to go on past the box, as there are an abundance of unofficial, unmarked trails in the area. Trail maps can be obtained at any of the ranger stations within the park.

This box is located in Muskegon State Park. A Michigan State Parks vehicle pass is required for entry and can be purchased at the park. Please check the park web site for dates and hours of operation.

Getting There…

Follow Memorial Drive west toward Muskegon State Park. Where Memorial Drive ends at Lake Michigan, turn left. Follow the drive past the beach parking areas to the channel parking lot, located just before the entrance to the South Channel Campground.

Clues…

Pick up the Dune Ridge Trail at post VII, through the opening in the fence across the road from the parking lot. Follow the trail posts toward V and then IV. After a while, the trail will dip down and back up the other side of a sandy passage. Ahead of you, see Muskegon Lake in the distance beyond an enormous sand-faced blowout. The next trail marker you pass stands directly across from two sprawling oaks, perfect for climbing. Take a minute to let the kids climb while you rest, because up ahead the trail steeply ascends to a spectacular view of both Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake.

But, heads up! Your trail turns to the right shortly before you reach the summit. The trail dips slightly before heading back up and toward the trees. As you skirt the edge of the forest, the trail will make a slight decline, about halfway between the next 2 trail markers. Here you will find an oak growing immediately to the right of the path. From this tree, proceed 25 paces at 80 degrees and find the Big Bear hiding in a fallen log.

Kiss ‘n Tell

Site Notes…

Built in 1984, the luge track at Muskegon State Park’s Winter Sports Complex is one of only four luge tracks in the United States. The upper track in 720 feet long and has a 79-foot vertical drop, although few people are allowed to start at the very top, rather most participants begin at “the bridge” and complete the 330 feet, 50-foot vertical drop course at speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Although the wooden banked track built against the side of a hill back in the trees doesn’t rival it’s Olympic counterparts in Lake Placid, NY, and Park City, UT, it does offer people the chance to experience the thrill and speed of an Olympic sport usually reserved only for a chosen few athletes.

But don’t sell the Muskegon track short. Olympic medalist Mark Grimmette got his start in Muskegon, which is a source of immense pride to local luge enthusiasts. The fact that Michigan has two of the four luge tracks in the U.S. (the other being the Negaunee track at Northern Michigan University in the Upper Peninsula), has given the state an advantage in producing successful lugers. Some of the best teenagers competing at the junior level are from Michigan.

There are two tracks at the site, a beginner course (lower track) and the main run (upper track). Both tracks, and the regularly scheduled races, are open to the general public, to anyone over 6 years old. The tamer beginner track is 500 feet long and has a top speed of 15 mph. After a few successful runs on the beginner track, on site luge instructors will certify lugers for the main track, although only experienced competitors are allowed to start all of the way at the top. On winter weekends, serious athletes, long-time lugers and first-timers stand side-by-side as they await their chance to careen down the track. The first bank of the lower run has been appropriately nicknamed, “Kiss ‘n Tell” by luge enthusiasts who share their harrowing adventures as they lug their 30-40 pound sleds back up the starting gate to wait in line for their next 10 second run down the icy track.

This box is located in Muskegon State Park. A Michigan State Parks vehicle pass is required for entry and can be purchased at the park. Please check the park web site for dates and hours of operation.

Getting There…

Follow Memorial Drive west toward Muskegon State Park. Where Memorial Drive ends at Lake Michigan, turn right. The Winter Sports Complex is located along Scenic Drive, past the Blockhouse, across from the Lake Michigan campground, approximately 1 mile south of Giles Road.

Clues…

Follow the path past the lower track and along the right side of the main track to the stairs. Cross over the bridge at “Frank’s Bank,” then up 13 and 4 steps more. Proceed straight ahead, over the wooden platform and around Grimette’s Peak, where a trail turns off to your right and runs along the back side of the luge. The path will slowly descend and after joining with another trail, will curve to the left. Turn into the clearing on your right and walk toward the luge structure. A few steps before you reach the wooden frame, a narrow path turns into the trees on your left. Follow this path 15 paces and locate the double oaks growing right next to the track behind the first turn. The finger marks the spot.

NOTE… Although this box is located behind turn #1, which is not generally used, and the luge structure itself will hide your activity from spectators at the track, it is not recommended that you visit this box in the height of the snowy season as there are just too many people around to allow for discretion.

Muskegon Pier Light

History…

In 1851, the first Muskegon Harbor Lighthouse was constructed on shore, and consisted of a keepers dwelling with an integrated roof-mounted tower. This lighthouse bore a close resemblance to the Old Mission Light near Traverse City. In 1903, the existing Muskegon South Pier Light, a cast iron cylindrical tower, standing 53 feet tall, was constructed. The current light is still in operation and is located on the south side of the entrance to the channel connecting Muskegon Lake to Lake Michigan. The tower sits in front of the old Muskegon Coast Guard station, which now houses the NOAA research team, and a seasonal Coast Guard rescue crew. The city of Muskegon has recently turned the site of the original Muskegon Harbor Light into a small park, aptly named, Lighthouse Park.

Site Notes…

This box is located in Muskegon State Park. A Michigan State Parks vehicle pass is required for entry and can be purchased at the park. Please check the park web site for dates and hours of operation.

Getting There…

Follow Memorial Drive west toward Muskegon State Park. Where Memorial Drive ends at Lake Michigan, turn left and enter the park. Park in the beach parking area just past the entrance.

Clues…

Near the southern end of a beach between two rocky breakwalls, find a sandy hollow in the eastern ridgeline. Walk up the backside of this bowl — at 208 degrees see the tip of the lighthouse, at 220 degrees find additional colored navigational aids. 48 paces and 100 degrees from the lonely little pin oak standing on the eastern rim of the hollow beyond you at 60 degrees find a pair of dying popples with stones at their feet. This was where the box was originally hidden, but I kept finding it laying in the open, so you’re not quite done yet…

Proceed 85 paces at 40 degrees beyond the headless tree standing on the hill ahead at 40 degrees. Here you will find a small clump of trees; you will find the box in a detached, broken arm.