The Lumberman's Monument overlooks the Cooke Pond and
Horseshoe Island on the Au Sable River. The two RV Gypsies were surprised
to learn that they had to go down a bunch of stairs to a Wanigan,
so they decided to get some exercise and tackle the 272 steps down
and then the same 272 steps back up for a total of 544 steps. It was
worth the effort. The Au Sable River was once a major logging thoroughfare.
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Below: Lee and Karen Duquette on different sections
of the 272 step Stairway to Cooke Pond and Horseshoe Island on the
Au Sable River.
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Over one-hundred years ago,
the sand bluffs (seen on the right side in the photo below) were used
for rollaways. Imagine being on the bank and hearing the words "BREAK
OUT!" Then the avalanche of hurtling logs thunder down the
sand bluff into the swollen Au Sable River.
(There is a link below to the page for the Lumberman's Monument
to learn about rollaways). |
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Below: Views of small streams
and woods as seen from the stairway. |
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Below: A replica of a Wanigan
- a Lumberman's floating kitchen and supply area |
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Below: Lee Duquette inside the Wanigan. |
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Below: Lee Duquette checked
out the rudder on the Wanigan and the Au Sable River |
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Below: Looking
at the sand bluffs from the Wanigan (the same sand bluff seen from the
rest stop on the stairs; as shown earlier on this page). |
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Below: The
water beside the Wanigan was very clear, so Karen Duquette photographed
a tree stump in the water. |
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AFTER
you have seen all eleven (11) sections above, 
