February 27, 2003

savage stupidity and rank behavior

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During my walk this morning, I stopped at Doucette Bridge just south of the village of Au Train, when I noticed an unusual hole in the ice covering the Au Train River.  I thought everyone learned as children that ice-covered rivers are never to be trusted?  Due to the strong current, the Au Train River rarely freezes over.  Even when it does, one must always assume that ice conditions and thicknesses vary widely as a result of the current.  It seems that every year some folks learn the lesson the hard way.  It looks like this incident is our reminder for 2003.  I inquired at the grocery and no one there has any knowledge of the incident.  Based on the presence of so many animal tracks, it looks like some of the local wildlife also checked it out.

You need only look at this photo to understand why National Park administrators and environmental groups seek limits and restrictions on snowmobiling.  (And no, the smoke and exhaust you see is not from a nearby woodburning stove or fireplace!)

 New Slide Show!

U.P. 200 Sled Dog Championship (15 Pictures)

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However, I'll readily admit that a great deal of savage stupidity and rank behavior have attached themselves to hunting and fishing whether at game farms or tournament killing, the mechanization of hunting by all-terrain vehicles, or the sheer hoggery of fishing tourists . . . Man has an inexhaustible ability to beshit his environment, with politicians well in the lead.

Jim Harrison, beloved Michigan poet and novelist,
from his memoir titled Off to the Side.

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