Tenderfoot Pub Final

tenderfoot

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a novice guide + love letter
to Northern Michigan

CO NTE NT

P EDITOR’S LETTER 4
A 6
G IF YOU SEEK A PLEASANT 12
E PENINSULA 16
GONE FISHING 26
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LET’S COVER THE BASICS
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mitten state of mind

E D ITO R ’ S P
L E TTE R A
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A LOVE LETTER TO MICHIGAN E

When I found out I was moving out west, the very first thing I thought about was Northern 5
Michigan summers. I mourned losing something that has been part of my life since before I could
walk. Growing up fishing on my grandparents dock, collecting rocks along Lake Michigan shoreline,
and showering away sand after a long day at the beach. I remembered the pure adrenline rush
of hearing a twig snap outside of your tent in the middle of the night. Or running into the lake
butt naked with a group of friends all a little tipsy on some craft Michigan beers. I mourned my
grandparents cabin I won’t be able to visit all the time. The forest green exterior and A-frame
shape. My grandpa sitting on the porch with a cigar and identifying every single bird at the bird
feeding. Staying still and quiet enough for a hummingbird to sit down next to us. Going for walks on
trails only my grandma knows about and floating down the river with her in our water shoes. All the
books I’ve read, fish I’ve caught, cherries pits I’ve spit, sunburns I’ve endured and memories I made.
I love Northern Michigan and I’m going to miss it dearly. I can’t wait to return someday but until
then, I’ll mourn the loss and cherish the memories.

MIA WALLACE

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P LAKE MICHIGAN WILDERNESS
A RECRE ATION A RE A S TATE PA RK
G
E 15 MILES SOUTH OF MANISTEE 11 MILES WEST OF MACKINAW CITY

10 This rustic campground is perched on the shores Camp right on the beach and enjoy over 26
of Lake Michigan and just north of the Nordhouse miles of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline.
T Dunes. The area creates an incredible setting There are 20-plus miles of trails, a designated
E with a scenic overlook of the lake and a sandy swimming and pet-friendly beach. The park is
N swimming beach. also a designated dark sky preserve offering
D stellar views of the sky park.
E FAQ
R NO CELL RECEPTION FAQ
F FLUSH AND VAULT TOILETS PET FRIENDLY
O WATER PUMP VAULT TOILETS
O WATER PUMP
T TO E AT
NORTH CHANNEL BREWING CO. TO E AT
MANISTEE BEVERAGE COMPANY AUDIE’S RESTAURANT
TJ’S PUB RUSTED SPOKE BREWING CO.
BIÈRE DE MAC BREW WORKS
TO DO
HIKE NORDHOUSE DUNE TRAIL LOOP TO DO
WATCH THE SUNSET ON THE BEACH HIKE THE SWAMP LINE, STURGEON BAY,
GO FOR A DIP IN LAKE MICHIGAN AND WAUGOSHANCE POINT LOOP
STARGAZE

INTERLOCHEN SLEEPING BEAR P
S TATE PA RK DUNES LAKESHORE A
G
15 MILES SOUTH WEST OF TRAVERSE CITY 15 MILES SOUTH WEST OF TRAVERSE CITY E

Situated between two well-known fishing and Four different campgrounds make up the 35 miles of 11
swimming lakes: Green Lake and Duck Lake undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline. Miles of white
and adjacent to the National Music Camp. sand beach, towering bluffs, and unique wildlife make this
Enjoy fishing, swimming and listening to music Michigan’s natural playground. You’ll be sure to visit time
move across the lake all day long. and time again.

FAQ FAQ
VAULT TOILET VAULT OR FLUSH TOILETS
EXCELLENT CELL RECEPTION WATER PUMP
WATER PUMP RUSTIC CAMPGROUNDS

TO E AT TO E AT
BUD’S ART’S TAVERN
LITTLE FLEET CHERRY REPUBLIC
RARE BIRD THE MANITOU

TO DO TO DO
TAKE A DIP IN DUCK LAKE HIKE TREAT FARM TRAIL
FISH IN GREEN LAKE SPEND A DAY ON THE DUNES
TAKE A DAY TRIP TO TRAVERSE CITY FLOAT DOWN THE PLATTE RIVER

GONE
FISHING

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P FISHING IN
A MICHIGAN
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E The great lakes state offers abundant
fishing opportunities for expert anglers
14 and first timers alike. Nowhere is that
more apparent than the Northwest Lower
T Peninsula. Nearly every species of game
E fish can be found in this region in a variety
N of settings. You can also hire a charter
D captain to ply the big waters in search of
E the coveted King Salmon or wait patiently
R for its run into the rivers in the fall.
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BASS LAKE BOARDMAN PL AT TE L A K E
RIVER

This picturesque lake is nearly This river makes its way through grand This quiet backwater is part lake part
undeveloped. It is great place to target traverse county and runs through the marshland. The shallow reedy lake is
largemouth bass and northern pike heart of downtown Traverse City. It is a brimming with life and that makes it a
although its real beauty in its crystal-clear multi-species delight, with nearly every great place for kids to master the art of
water and easy to access serenity. You can gamefish in Michigan calling it home. catching panfish. While you are fishing
fish from your boat or from the trails that Catch Smallmouth during the summer and make sure to keep your eyes peeled for
circumnavigate the lake. Steelhead all spring! the dozens of species of native wildlife
that depend on Little Platte’s unique
ecosystem.

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IT’S
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PACKING LIST

PITCH A TENT

BUILD A FIRE

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THE PACKING LIST

Camping is fun but packing can be overwhelming. The obvious things you will need to bring with you include your tent, sleeping bag,
sleeping pad and some folding chairs. For the not so obvious, check out my list below that helps me always be prepared for whatever
camping may throw my way.

COO KI NG SURVIVING THRIVING

STOVE + PROPANE TOILET PAPER EAR PLUGS P
Our Coleman two burner propane stove When nature calls, be prepared. Don’t let bumps in the night keep you A
has been passed down from generation to from getting your beauty sleep. G
generation POOPER SCOOPER E
When nature calls, be EXTRA prepared. HAND WARMERS
PAN If you are camping anytime other than the 19
LANTERN month of July to August, you better get
ME TAL TONGS some hand warmers on deck.
Avoid the plastic tongs and opt for metal SUNSCREEN
when they will inevitably be used in the LAUNDRY LINE
firepit. TOOTH PASTE When camping, always assume you and
your clothes will get wet.
SOLO STOVE BU G S PR AY
Fits perfectly in a backpack and gets Hell hath no mercy like a black fly in July HAND SANITIZER
ripping hot and water boiling in under 5 in Northern Michigan Don’t get pink eye from those vault
minutes. potty’s.
BAG LINER
SPORK Give yourself an extra layer of protection. CARDS
Two for the price of one. What is camping in Michigan without
WATER BOT TLE some Euchre.
SOAP + SPONGE 48oz. or bust. Get the biggest water
Get yourself some biodegradable suds and bottle possible so you don’t have to spend B E A R S PR AY
don’t let your pans get grimey. all day running back and forth to the water You are in the great outdoors, don’t you
pump. forget that!
STEAK SEASONING
Perfeclty combination of seasonings all in LIGHTER TENT LIGHTS
one little bottle. Duh. Do it for the gram. Get you some
solar powered string lights to decorate
TIN FOIL KNIFE your adorable campsite with and make
For chopping food, fire or your enemies. everyone else jealous.
MUGS
Food? Coffee? Whiskey? Put it in a mug. HAMMOCK

TRASH BAGS HEAD LIGHT
Free up those hands and say goodbye to
PAPER TOWEL flashlights
Use ‘em for your hands, use ‘em for when
the fire ain’t starting quick.

ROASTING FORKS
Mallows. Dogs. These are an essential.

COFFEE PRESS
Don’t be a dingus and use instant coffee.
Be a classy outdoorsman and use a coffee
press. There is nothing like breathing in
that clean outdoor air with a fresh cup o’
joe in the morning.

EGG HOLDER
Soggy cardboard is not a vibe.

TENT SETUP

When the sunrise comes streaming through the tent window after you slept soundly through a gale-force night, you’ve got yourself a
well-pitched shelter. If you’ve never set up a tent before, it’s been a while since your last campout or you’d just like a few ideas on how you
can smooth out the process, this article can help.

PRE-TRIP PREP CAM PS I TE S E L E CTI O N

P BEFORE YOU HIT THE TRAIL, LE AVE NO TR ACE
A SE T YOUR TENT UP AT HOME In well-traveled areas, seek out existing campsites. Always camp
G Home offers a low-stress environment for you to master the at least 200 feet from lakes and streams. Keep campsites small.
E pitching process for a new tent. The worst time for learning is after Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent. In pristine
you’ve finished a long day of hiking, the sun has set and the rain is areas, disperse use to prevent the creation of new campsites.
20 coming down sideways.
WIND AND R AIN STR ATEG IE S
T READ THE INSTRUCTIONS To prevent wind-related issues, look for natural windbreaks: a
E C A R E F U L LY A N D I N V E N T O RY stand of trees or a hill between you and the prevailing breeze.
N THE PARTS Avoid camping near damaged trees or limbs. Place the side that
D Reading instructions, rather than grabbing things and winging it, is has the strongest pole structure facing the wind.
E a great way to prevent confusion and damage to tent parts. And if
R a piece is missing, you’ve built in the time to get it before your trip. To prevent water-related issues, seek higher, drier ground so you
F And don’t forget to pack along a copy of the instructions. have less moisture in the air to form condensation inside the tent.
O Look for sites under trees because it produces lower levels of
O YOUR FOOTPRINT STR ATEGY condensation. Avoid camping in low areas between high areas. To
T Though tent floors are heavy duty to stand up to water, abrasion prevent rain from blowing in, orient doors away from the wind.
and wear, the ground is a formidable foe. You can combat this
problem by buying a tarp.

Footprints are sized smaller than your tent floor so they don’t
catch and pool rainwater under your tent. If you bring a full tarp,
fold it under so that no part extends beyond the floor perimeter.

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PITCHING TIPS STAKE OUT TAC TIC S
You’ll get maximum holding power in most types of soil if the stake
CLEAR DEBRIS FROM YOUR is fully vertical as you drive it into the ground. Leave just enough
TENT SITE stake exposed to allow you to slip a tie-down cord over it. Pack
Your goal is to protect the tent floor and remove things that can extra stakes in case some hidden rock pretzels one of yours.
poke you in the backside. Pick another site if you feel like yours
needs major work. R A I N F LY W R A P S
On the underside of the rainfly on most tents you’ll find several
I F IT ’ S W I N DY, S TA K E D OW N Velcro wraps near tent poles; securing each of these around the
TENT CORNERS nearby pole will help stabilize and strengthen your tent.
A strong wind can make laying out your tent feel more like flying
a kite. MASTER THE ART OF
F LY T E N S I O N I N G
GO SLOW WITH THE POLES A well-pitched tent has a taut rainfly. Most rainflys have straps
During setup, poles can get tweaked or chipped, so take a few you can cinch at the tent corners. Snug these evenly and recheck
extra moments to unfurl and seat each pole section with care. fly tension periodically, especially before crawling in each night,
because changing weather affects tautness.

P HOW TO BUILD 1. FIRE RING
A A CAMPFIRE
G Build fires only in designated fire rings,
E For many, the campfire is a beloved and grills or fireplaces. Most developed
indispensable outdoor tradition—a kinetic, campgrounds have some version of these.
22 luminous, dreamlike force of nature that for Using a fire ring will lesson your impact and
generations has served as the centerpiece of keep your fire contained.
T backwoods gatherings.
E
N 2. GATHER WOOD
D
E To burn a successful fire, you’ll need three
R types fuel: tinder, kindling and firewood.
F
O Tinder includes small twigs, dry leaves,
O needles or forest duff.
T
Kindling consists of small sticks, typically
less than one inch around.

Firewood is any larger piece of wood and is
what will keep your fire going long into the
night.

Use only local firewood. Nearby stores often
carry firewood, and sometimes campground
hosts offer bundles of firewood or kindling
for sale.

Do not bring wood with you if you’re
traveling from more than 50 miles away to
avoid introducing troublesome insects into a
forest.

3. BUILD CON E P
LOG A
Cone: Start with a small cone of kindling CAB I N G
around a few handfuls of tinder that are E
loosely piled in the center of the fire
ring. Once the fire is going strong and the 23
temperature increases, you can add larger
logs a few at a time as needed.

Log cabin: Place two larger pieces of
firewood parrallel to each other and with
some room in between to form the base of
your structure. Then, turn 90 degrees and
place two slightly smaller pieces on top and
perpendicular to form a square. Place plenty
of tinder inside the square. Continue adding
a few more layers of firewood around the
perimeter, getting a little bit smaller with
each layer. Finish with a layer of kindling
and tinder across the top. Remember to
leave space between logs so the fire can get
plenty of oxygen.

Upside down (pyramid): Start with three or
four of your largest logs side-by-side on the
bottom layer. Turn 90 degrees and then add
a second layer of slightly smaller logs on
top. Continue alternating a few more layers
in this manner, getting smaller as you go.
Place your kindling and tinder on top.

4. LIGHT THE FIRE

Light the tinder with a match or lighter. U PS I D E
Using fire starter that is designed to easily DOWN
ignite can help the tinder catch the flame.
(Be sure to carry waterproof matches and
f i r e s t a r te r.)

After lighting the tinder, blow lightly at the
base of the fire to provide oxygen, which
will help increase the intensity of the flame
and further ignite the wood.

As the fire burns, move embers to the
center to burn them completely. Ideally,
you should reduce them to white ash.

AND, A
REMEMB

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NGUISH
FIRE.

GOODB

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S EAT.

P BU RGER N’ TOTS H OBO
A
G INGREDIENTS This is the meal preppers dream. Get everything together before you head out
E on your trip, folded and plop her into the cooler. So, when you get to the site, all
1lb ground beef you got to do is make the fire and set throw the baby in.
28 4 cubed potatoes
The concept of the hobo pack is genius in it’s simplicity. You really can’t mess this
T 1 diced pepper recipe up. Apparently there is a whole camp cooking subculture that deals with
E 1 diced onion the myriad recipe possibilities that involve shoving random eats into a packet of
N foil, some bordering on being downright gourmet. But whenever we make our
D steak seasoning, to taste hobo packs, we keep it simple with good ol’ fashioned meat and potatoes.
E 1 cup shredded cheese
R hot sauce, to taste A great tip that will help immensely is once you have wrapped it in your tinfoil,
F get a sheet of newspaper and soak it in water. Wrap the wet newspaper around
O the tinfoil dinner and then do another layer of tinfoil. This steams your food
O inside and prevents them from getting your food burned on the edges! You do
T have to cook about 10 minutes longer but it’s worth it

INSTRUCTIONS P
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Get your camp fire started and let it burn down for about an hour. You G
want glowing embers, not a crackling fire. E

Use a large square piece of aluminum foil for each tin foil dinner. Spray 29
foil with nonstick cooking spray.

Separate ground beef into 4 equal patties and place in the center of each
piece of foil.

Divide potatoes, peppers, and onion evenly between all 4 dinners and
place on top of meat. Sprinkle with steak seasoning, to taste. Pour a few
dashes of hot sauce on top of each dinner and fold foil up tightly around
the entire meal.

Lay another layer of doubled up aluminum foil over the top and wrap
them up by turning in and pinching the corners. I fold each edge down
two or three times and then dog ear the corners.

Place the pack on the embers and surround with coals. You should hear
these bad boys sizzling in no time.

Let them cook for 30 to 40 minutes. Again, this depends on how big the
packs are, and how hot your campfire is.

Open foil carefully and top with more hot sauce and shredded cheese.

CAMPFIRE VEGETARIAN NACHOS

A beloved happy hour classic, now being served at a campground near you. What better way to end the day outside than
with a cold beer, warm campfire, and a big plate full of cheesy nachos?

As irresistible bar food and/or lazy weeknight dinner, nachos seem ideally suited to be a camping staple. These Campfire Nachos can be
made from a variety of fresh and/or canned ingredients, doesn’t require any specific culinary expertise to pull off, and can be eaten with
your hands.

By using a cast iron Dutch oven with a lid, you can make nachos no matter where you are. With a Dutch oven, you can place coals or
embers on top as well as underneath, allowing you to cook your meal from both sides. However, with nachos, it’s even possible to do the
whole thing on the camp stove or over a fire. So long as you include a little bit of liquid in the bottom (perhaps from your tomatoes, beans,
or black olives) the steam created will melt the cheese and soften the chips slightly. The end result is tender chips, loaded with melted
cheese and toppings.

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INGREDIENTS P
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1 tbs neutral oil G
1/2 lb tortilla chips E
1 can hot tomato sauce
1 cup shredded cheese 31

1 can black beans
1 large avocado

4-5 green onions, sliced
handful of cilantro
1 small lime

EQUIPMENT

4 qt dutch oven
chimney starter
dutch oven parchment liners

INSTRUCTIONS

With neutral oil, lightly oil the bottom of a large dutch oven, to prevent
the nachos from sticking.
For the first layer, evenly spread ⅓ of the chips into the dutch oven,
topped with ¼ can El Pato, ¼ can black beans, ¼ cup cheese, and a
handful of avocado, green onions, and cilantro.
Repeat for the second layer.
For the third and final layer, use the remaining ⅓ portion of chips, ½ can
El Pato, ½ can black beans, ½ cup cheese, and the remaining avocado,
onion, and cilantro.
Cover the dutch oven and place on a metal grill over your campfire
for about 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Serve with the lime
wedges.

P INGREDIENTS FI VE CAN CH I LI
A
G 1 medium onion, chopped There’s nothing like gathering around a fire at night with a heaping bowl of chili
E 1 tbs olive oil in hand. Especially as the weather starts to cool, there’s something comforting
about a meal that can bring the heat in more ways than one.
32 14 oz can black beans
14 oz can red kidney beans While this classic cowboy stew got its start in the American southwest, it has
T become a cornerstone of camp cooking all over. Visit any campground in the US
E 14 oz can diced tomatoes and there’ll be at least one person cooking up a pot of chili.
N 1 can chipotle peppers
D 12 oz can beer Turns out we have a pretty high tolerance for heat in our chili! We’ve noted a
E 2 tsp sea salt few variations so that you can make this recipe to suit your spice preference.
R 1 tsp garlic powder For a milder chili, just use the adobo sauce that chipotles come in. You can add
F 1 tsp cumin additional peppers as desired - be sure to scrape out the ribs & seeds before
O adding them to the pot.
O
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INSTRUCTIONS P
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Begin by prepping the chipotles. G
Most of the heat in the peppers are E
housed in the seeds and ribs, so I
strongly recommend scraping out 33
all of the seeds before adding the
peppers to the chili, especially if
using the entire can.

Using a fork, remove the desired
number of peppers from the can.
Reserve the adobo sauce. Slice
them open, and then using the back
of your knife, scrape out and discard
the seeds & ribs. Roughly chop the
peppers and set them aside.

In a large dutch oven, heat the
olive oil over medium heat until
shimmering.

Add the onions and saute until
they begin to soften and turn
translucent.

Add the drained kidney and black
beans, tomatoes and their juices,
chopped chipotles and the adobo
sauce, beer, salt and spices. Stir to
combine.

Cook the chili until thickened to
your liking, about 20 minutes was
perfect for us. Serve immediately
with your choice of toppings
(cheese, avocado, green onions, etc)
and cornbread on the side

P B OTTO MUSP
A
G TWO HEARTED ALE TENNESSEE HONEY
E B E L L’ S B R E W E R Y J A C K D A N I E L’ S

34 We aren’t camping unless we got a pack of Two When the sun goes down and you’re gathered
Hearted. Named after the Two Hearted River around the campfire, with bit of a nip in the
T in the Yoop, this beer wears the IPA crown. air and nothing warms you up better than a
E Easy sipping packed with citrus and fruity nip of Jack. Whether mixing it in coke, cider
N notes. It’s high alcohol percentage, clean taste, or just straight out of the flask, this is a go-to
D and reliability make this a go-to. for camping when the nights get a little more
E frigid.
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ICHABOD T R A I L LY T E
NEW HOLLAND ARBOR BREWING CO.

New Holland’s seasonal beer is perfect for fall If Ichabod is the beer for fall, this is the beer
camping, a lil spooky, pumpkin-y mix. It sets for summer. This fruity, fresh number is low
for the mood for the season and pairs perfectly in calories and ABV, meaning you can sip on
with falling leaves and a campfire. them all day long on the beach without feeling
weighed down.

IF YOU

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ABOUT A
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Bye Bye Michigan

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tenderfoot