Wild Yooper
The U.P. is nature’s paradise. We get to enjoy it.
Who doesn’t love a good challenge?
I’ve always enjoyed exploring, drawn to what’s over the hill and around the bend. For years, I daydreamed of hiking from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan through the raw wilderness of the U.P. One day I thought, “why not get it done?” so I planned a route and the journey began.
Call of the Yooper is all about encouraging people to “reconnect with nature.” It’s good food for the soul. I truly believe time in nature is essential for humankind. Below are three strikingly different and thrilling bucket-list adventures in the Upper Peninsula. They are out there waiting for you. Take the full challenge, or just dip your toes the water.
Go on a crazy adventure.
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Tour Da Yoop, Eh
There are all kinds of incredible biking opportunities in the U.P., the biggest and baddest of all them all being the 10 day, 1,200 mile challenge known as Tour Da Yoop, Eh (translates as “Come ride around the U.P. with me, OK”) . Sign up for the ride on our new website and learn how you can become a Plaid Jersey-wearing legend.
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From Superior to Michigan—In a Canoe
Did you know that it is possible to canoe the entire distance from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan in just two days? This was a college adventure that neither neither I nor my buddy will ever forget. This is for all the river junkies out there that want a crazy adventure. Pick up your paddle and set sail.
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From Superior to Michigan—Over the Land
Rain, sleet, snow, bears, wolves and coyotes… this trip from Superior to Michigan had it all. No man made trails. No roads. The journey between great lakes was filled with rewarding challenges and life-lasting accomplishments. This is for the survivalists; the risk takers. Grab your gear and get hiking.
Learn how to go exploring.
You’ve seen the stories of people venturing off into the woods and getting lost for weeks. Yep, it can happen. When I was a kid, there was a period where I was exploring some woods near my home in Manistique, Michigan. BB gun in hand and compass in pocket, I felt like a little Davy Crockett. Each day I’d venture further into the forest, making sure I always knew how to get back out. After weeks of scouting and exploring, I discovered something that forever removed my fear of getting lost: a road.
As big as some woods are, they all eventually have a boundary. With maps and some simple—and essential—tools and skills, a lifetime of exploring followed. Be respectful of the woods and nature, but don’t be afraid. Learn the basics of what it takes to survive in the U.P. and venture off the beaten path.
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Survive in the U.P.
TV shows like Man Vs. Wild and Naked and Afraid have encouraged more people than ever before to get out and explore. When I went downstate for college I was scared out of my mind I’d get lost in the city and never find my way back. I suppose that’s how some people feel about the woods.
This section will help you discover the tools you need to explore with confidence and safety.
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Animals in the U.P.
The U.P. is chock-full of wild animals. Some of them can seem a little scary to some people. Don’t let the possibility of a wolf sighting keep you out of the woods. Instead, get to know animals and their natural behaviors. Let your encounters with wild animals become exhilarating memories.
This section will teach you about some of the UP’s wild animals and give you tools to look for and respect them.
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Fishing in the U.P.
I hope you’re not afraid of fish. That said, every time a six-foot sturgeon swims past my legs while trout fishing, my heart skips a beat. The UP is full of outstanding fishing opportunities. (Trout is my personal favorite.)
This section will teach you about some fish and how to finally eat smoked whitefish without having to spit the bones!
Do you have an adventure to share? I’d love to hear about it.
Thinking of getting out and exploring? I’d love to help.
— James Studinger
Don’t understand the lingo?
Yoopers have a few nicknames for tourists.
Troll - Pretty straightforward. If you live below the Mackinac bridge (i.e., in the lower peninsula), you're a troll.
Fudgie - Ever been to Mackinac Island? It's full of delicious fudge, and finds itself on store shelves across the U.P. and to some stretches of the lower. Most summer tourists can be classified as a Fudgie.
Smelt Dipper - Although the sport is not as bountiful as years past, the name still applies for the spring sportsman.
Newly Wed or Nearly Dead - Maybe a bit on the morbid side, but it identifies the age demographics of the many travelers that visit the fall colors.
Sugar Beeter or Apple Knocker - This is for all the Trolls who drive North for deer season carrying a truckload of bait.
Also, here’s a tip: a pastie is pronounced as “pass-tee.” Saying “paste-ee” is a sure giveaway you aren’t from around here.