FIELD GUIDE
True Grit
Exploring Michigan: Tips, trends, and tidbits
ON THE RUN: A February ruling by a California federal court returned gray wolves, including those in Michigan, to the federal list of endangered species. Gray wolves previously were removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in the lower 48 states in 2021. The Michigan DNR supported that move at the time because the state’s wolf population had, for years, surpassed federal and state goals for recovery. As a result of the new ruling, two Michigan laws governing the ability to kill wolves preying on livestock, pets, and hunting dogs were suspended. Michigan wolves remain a protected game species and it’s illegal to kill a wolf. michigan.gov/wolves NATURE TALES: The Michigan DNR’s “Wildtalk” podcast, available on the first of every month, spotlights guests talking about wildlife habitat efforts around the state, wildlife species updates, listener questions, and a wildlife quiz. The program is available on Apple and Google podcasts. – Compiled by Ron Garbinski Have news that pertains to Michigan travel and exploration? Send a note to MSwoyer@Hour-Media.com.
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Marathon canoeist and dogsled musher Lynne Witte goes the distance — over and over again By Susan R. Pollack
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ynne Witte of Cheboygan is as much at home paddling all night in the stern of a tandem canoe in the AuSable River Canoe Marathon as she is standing on the rear of a dogsled, racing through the snow with her team of 10 Alaskan huskies. When she’s not challenging herself in grueling long-distance races, the retired second-grade teacher is training for them all year long. As her 68th birthday approaches, she’s hailed as the only woman to complete both the renowned AuSable River Canoe Marathon and Canada’s 300mile Yukon Quest dogsled race. “It’s a way of life for me,” says Witte, who’s preparing for her 42nd AuSable marathon — and hoping to break her own record 39 finishes. “It never occurs to me to stop,” she says. “It’s still exciting and I still love it. As long as I’m healthy, why not?” Now in its 74th year, northern Michigan’s all-night canoe marathon is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. July 30 in Grayling. It begins with a mad dash to the river by dozens of canoe-toting, two-person teams. Depending on their paddling prowess, the 120-mile race will end the next day — typically some 14 to 18 hours later — in Oscoda, under the bridge near where the AuSable empties into Lake Huron. Along the sometimes foggy, windy, dark, and buggy way, paddlers will exit their canoes to portage six dams, running or hobbling on stiff, cramped legs. Back in their narrow racing boats, some — foiled by hidden river rocks or logs, or the vagaries of Mother Nature — may tip and lose valuable minutes in the water. That’s happened just a few times to Witte, who has started every AuSable Riv-
er Canoe Marathon and racked up a boatload of records since her first race in 1980, more than four decades ago. Her marathon feats include the most consecutive starts, 41; most partners, 34 (some men, some women); and most top-10 finishes by a female paddler. From 1995 to 2012, Witte also held the record for the most consecutive finishes, at 18 — considered an amazing accomplishment by paddlers, according to Ryan Matthews, the marathon’s historian and statistician. Witte’s best finish was fourth place in 1988, when she and her partner, Jim Myers, set a mixed division record — 15:05:26 — that lasted 29 years, until 2017. “Lynne’s endurance is exceptional,” Lynne Witte andthe her5-foot-2, partner in130-pound No. Matthews says of 54 race to the finish line in a previous athlete who saw her first AuSable maraAuSable Rive Canoe Marathon. thon as a teenager and went on to become a female trailblazer, role model, and fan favorite. “Between canoe racing and dogsledding, she seems to always be pushing herself,” he says, praising her dedication, passion, and grit. As if the canoe marathon wasn’t enough, Witte became interested in sleddog racing 22 years ago while teaching in Mount Clemens, where she also coached middle school cross country and track. After working as a volunteer in Alaska’s famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, she acquired the first of her many dogs and soon got hooked on mushing competitions. Finding the world of dogsled racing a perfect cold-weather complement to canoe racing, she became more involved after retiring from teaching in 2016, her age notwithstanding. This winter, in addition to her own 11 dogs, Witte cared for another 14 dogs on 300 acres near Cheboygan. The labori-
PHOTO COURTESY OF LYNNE WITTE
FEATHER FRIENDS: The Great Lakes section of the Audubon website features expanded resources for those interested in learning more about birding in Michigan. It showcases stories sure to inspire bird-watchers, and includes photo galleries, events, bird guides, a look at specific birds of interest, and lists of sites around the Great Lakes where you’re likely to spot numerous kinds of birds. There’s something for every level of birding enthusiast. gl.audubon.org
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