Who gives a Yooper?
The place you’ve been searching for
Isabelle Wellman
There’s no question that Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a peculiar fable; from the array of the 3% of the population that lives there, the acclaimed Pasty’s (pass-tees) that fuel them, and endless opportunity to lose oneself among the captivating pines and hypnotizing shorelines.
Having grown up in the Upper Peninsula, I’ve considered myself a Yooper my entire life, until I moved to Colorado, where “Yooper” wasn’t something that anyone had ever heard of. Traditionally, Michigan was separated by the Straits of Mackinac (pronounced Mac-in-aw), where one of the longest suspension bridges, the Mackinac Bridge, was opened in 1957, ready to connect them. If one is to be conceived below the bridge, truth be told you are a “Troll”, and you guessed it- if you’re born above the bridge, you’re a “Yooper”. Quirky? Perhaps. Another way to identify a true Michigander is noticing how quickly into their introduction they swiftly throw up their hands to show you where they’re from, assuming that you’ll automatically imagine the invisible name of their historic town printed onto their skin as they point. If those indicators aren’t enough, you’ll quickly catch yourself wondering where they are visiting from, typically assuming Canada, Massachusetts, Minnesota due to the heavy Canadian like ascent. This we can fall back on our ancestors for answers; most residents having French Canadian somewhere along their vast bloodline.
Yoopers are proud of what makes living “Up North” a specialty, and eating hand kneeded Pasties (pass-tees) packed full of beef, rutabaga, onions, and potatos, are an old time staple to all bellies alike. This magnificant, calorie combustion of a meal was brought over from Europe to the Upper Peninsula in the 1840’s by the English
immigrants of Cornwall, bringing their knowledge of mining to help further develop the industy across the state. Men would spend significantly long hours down within the mines searching for Iron Ore and Copper, making this meal a perfect remedy for the freshness and warmth they deserved. These days, being a Miner isn’t the only way you can get your hands on these beloved meat pies; from school Pasty fundrasiers, local Pasty shops, or an elder’s old recipe, you will not leave the U.P disappointed. Speaking of a buzzing place to pick up this delightful phenomenon, a trip to Gram’s Pasties in my home town of Escanaba, MI will satisfy any amount of curiosty. Endulging oneself in a tradtional rutabaga Pasty is always my reccommendation to start. On the other hand, it would be even more of a tragedy to miss out on the unbeatable pizza pasty, ooey-gooey mac and cheese pasty, and furthermore, the legendary twice baked potato pasty that is only revealed once or twice yearly.
Growing up, it was no question that I’d evolve into a young outdoor enthusiast that was endlessly on the hunt for the next stroll into the beckoning unknown. My fondest memories often begin to flash across my mind as the damp smell of moss nostalgically collects in my nasal cavity, also inviting in the adventure of hiking The Memorial Falls in Munising, MI late one crisp, winter afternoon with a dear friend. During the late summer to winter, these “twin falls” have a reduced flow, whereas in late spring, the snowmelt creates an ideal opportunity to catch the true magnitude of the pine surronded George.
Another bucketlist to-do while in Munising would be to take advice from a born and bred Yooper to point you in the right direction of how to admire the 15 miles of vibrant sandstone Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has to offer. A great start to a full day would be brewing up a hot cup of joe to watch the sunrise over an ocean-like view, and if warm enough, spending the day beaching at Paradise Point. Alternatively, one could lose themselves along the hundreads of easy-going to moderately-intense hiking trails, such as the Chapel Basin, which gives the option to make this a two or ten mile round trip. After all the fun is had, end the night gathered around loved ones, watching the sunset from a fishing dock with a tasty craft beer in hand to truly reminisce on a day well spent. Whichever way you decide to tap into your own supply of outdoor enthusiasm, you’ll lay in bed that night wishing you could re-do it all over again.
So it goes; your Upper Peninsula vacation is coming to an end. Leaving you with the captivating smell of campfire woven into your appropriately overworn flannel, inevitably sore cheek muscles from endless smiling, and a deeper appreciation for the more unknown places that surround us. Needless to say, you will now believe you’re a Yooper, insisting friends and family that they’ve never witnessed the kind of elusive magic that comes from biting into a Pasty, and how one truly must get lost along the way to experience the delicacy of the Great Up North.