DISCOVERING | Exploring the History of Sylvania Wilderness


Subscribe:


Episode 130 - The history of the Sylvania Wilderness is fascinating. Once known as the Sylvania Club, it was a haven for rich iron mine and steel industrialists of the early 20th century. Today it's 18,000 acres of old-growth forests and pristine lakes located on the western edge of the Upper Peninsula, and it's public land. I have a lot more to explore here, but before I do that, here's some of the history of how this place was protected.

*There's a lot more history to unpack, especially about the original Sylvania Club members. More on that another day!

*Also I said there are 30 named lakes, there are 34.

Resources:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ottawa/recarea/?recid=12331

https://landolakeshistory.org/

Discover the U.P.

Video Length: 20:17


See More Videos


Cover image

20:11

DISCOVERING - Deer Camp Stories

Episode 009 - It's almost firearm deer season in the U.P. and that means it's time for a camp visit. Sit back and listen to stories from 93-year-ol...

November 14, 2022


Cover image

13:05

Mackinac Island in the Winter

What is it like living on Mackinac Island in the winter? How do you get around? By snowmobile! What is open and what is there to see and do? I get ...

January 10, 2023


Cover image

20:17

DISCOVERING | Big Buck Night 2023

Episode 60 - It's that time of the year! Michigan's gun deer season is 6 days in and we hit up a couple of BIG BUCK events over the weekend; Hardco...

November 20, 2023


Cover image

20:18

DISCOVERING | Lake Superior Smelt Decline & 1800's Log Dam Trout Habitat

Episode 34 - Tonight we talk to experts about the decline of the rainbow smelt population in Lake Superior, the consumption advisory on them and wh...

May 16, 2023


Cover image

20:17

DISCOVERING | Lake Gogebic Jumbo Perch, Big Bucks, VFW Deer Feed

Episode 121 - Three stories tonight! First we go ice fishing for jumbo yellow perch, aka teeter pigs, on Lake Gogebic with guide Justin Soffa. Then...

February 3, 2025


Cover image

20:18

DISCOVERING | 2023 Deer Harvest

Episode 72 - I sit down with Chad Stewart of the MI-DNR Wildlife Division and a few sportsmen to talk about the 2023 Deer Harvest which could very ...

February 12, 2024


Cover image

20:17

DISCOVERING | Rabbit Hunting with Beagles

Episode 71 - It's the dog days of winter and we're on the hunt for rabbits. Meet the beagles of Devils Creek Kennel in the Western U.P., beagler Ja...

February 5, 2024


Cover image

20:17

DISCOVERING | Anatomy of a Deer Camp

Episode 59 - John Voelker had a deer camp. John Voelker was a Michigan Supreme Court Justice, lawyer, avid fly fisherman, and author of "Anatomy of...

November 13, 2023


Cover image

20:17

DISCOVERING | U.P. Deer Hunting at Risk

Episode 101 - I sit down with retired DNR Wildlife Biologist Jim Hammill to talk about whitetail deer management and biology here in the U.P. and t...

September 16, 2024


Cover image

20:17

DISCOVERING | Rocking Chair Deer Camp: 45 Deer Seasons Later

Episode 113 - A visit to the Rocking Chair Camp, a traditional U.P. deer camp set in the heart of Michigan deer camp country, with almost 90 years ...

December 9, 2024


See All Videos »