Led by board members Demaris Brinton and Bob Durfey, this was another successful walk. It seems like everybody has a good time, and the coffee and cookies were a big hit. Thanks to Grandon Harris, for the great photos!

It was a foggy morning in Bayfield on Friday, August 22nd, the last of six summer Board Walks to BRC protected areas. Ten people met for coffee and treats at the BRC office about 9:00 A.M., eager to embark on a visit to a near-by Lake Superior Forest Easement despite the weather.  Following introductions with Phil Freeman, chair of BRC’s lands committee and former US Forest Service employee, a caravan drove to the property just outside of Bayfield to meet landowner Steve Oberle. Karen A’Lero sold her land to Steve with a conservation easement attached to the bill of sale. “Use this hemlock stand as an example,” stated the forest management plan.

Steve has been busy rediscovering the attributes of an old apple orchard and partner Connie, the lavender that could fuel a small enterprise for them. Participants were interested in lavender production and a garter snake encountered in the orchard. It was clear that Steve’s 78 acres was worthy of protection, but in the eyes of the visitors the land became even more valuable when Steve pointed out a hole next to an apple tree; a notable winter den for bears.