By John Russell

Our vacation was planned for months.

The time was planned to coincide with the maximum autumn colors, and the best weather possible.

The planning took place, a vehicle was rented, rooms were reserved, and the weather forecasts were all scanned and showed great autumn forecasts.

Congress was the unknown factor.

For hundreds of vacationers to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the shutdown of government facilities was something that did not fit into the advanced planning.

Dotted with state and federal parks and attractions, the Upper Peninsula has peak fall color in early October. It seemed like the perfect time for us to visit the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

Unless they are closed due to a government shutdown.

At the Pictured Rocks, east of nearby Munising, the barricades went up on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Alger County Road H-11, leading to Miner's Castle, a popular overlook at the western end of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, was blocked with three plastic barrels and yellow caution tape.

Numerous times, the tape was ripped off and vehicles continued on to the site. Some idrivers were warned and even ticketed for trespassing, according to local residents who did not want their names published due to fear of government reprisals.

One local business that appeared to benefit from the closures was the Pictured Rocks Boat Tours, who suddenly found reservations jumping and full shiploads of visitors. The boats travel east along the 14-mile-long Pictured Rocks, offering great viewing of the unique and ever-changing rock cliffs, waterfalls, and beaches.

We also found the roads closed to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. The visitor's center darkened and locked.



The attractions offered by the State of Michigan, including Kith-iti-kipi spring at Palm Books State Park, numerous Alger County waterfalls, and a drive to Tahquamenon Falls were all crowded, as disgruntled visitors explored ways to fill the gap caused by the unavailable federal parks and lakeshores.

John Russell owns Great Lakes Images in Traverse City and works as a freelance photojournalist for The Associated Press.