Two years ago there was 20 inches of snow on the ground.Two years ago I met a lot of wonderful people. Two years ago I had more hope.

Where did the last two years go? Last hunting season feels like yesterday.

I haven’t heard of any change in the U.S. Forest Service’s decision. The leases still expire on January 1st and 90 days after that anything left in the forest becomes the property of the USFS.

I went out to Camp Woodtick with my Dad and Justin a couple weeks ago to clean up around the camp and haul stuff out. It’s a shame how it looks cleaner and better than it has in years because we have to take it out. Most of the decorations my mom made are now gone and my deceased uncle’s fly fishing gear packed up and put in storage. The deer skull that Dad and Justin cleaned and hung on the wall in the film is now sitting on my porch.  The stoves, generator and what’s left will be hauled out after deer season. And then we will close the door and leave. Camp Woodtick will remain until the USFS comes in and removes it themselves.

Surprisingly I didn’t take any photos of the camp. I guess I wasn’t in the mood to. I’ll let the photos and video footage from 2 years ago be my memories. Not photos of any empty shell.

I did take some photos of my brother-in-law Dan’s camp when we went for our annual fall trip in October. We managed to take a group photo with the camera timer.

Next fall we will start a new tradition. Dan, Justin and my Uncle Lawrence bought a piece of property north of Trout Creek to build a new hunting camp. So far the outhouse is built. I will say this outhouse is 10 times better smelling than the one at Camp Woodtick which is used by porcupines more than humans. This camp won’t be the same or nearly as adventurous as the other two as it has a gravel driveway you can drive a car in. I’m sure it will be utilized more than the last because of the ease of access.

My thoughts are with all the camps I went to and the camps I didn’t have a chance to see this hunting season. I’m sorry the film wasn’t enough to create awareness and make a change to the “policy”. It was the best I could do. As I drove home Friday night I thought about everyone coming up and getting ready for hunting season, for many the last one in these camps. I thought about my Dad and how he still has hope. I stopped on my road to dry the tears in my eyes so I didn’t walk in the house crying and Justin wondering who died.

There are still 138 days. Make the most out of them and this hunting season. Take photos, tell stories, make memories, drink a few beers (if you do), laugh and if you need to shed a few tears, do it and don’t be ashamed.

On a positive note, the weather forecast looks much better than 2014. I leave hunting season to the guys and stay home and take care of the dogs. Justin just built me an awesome new blind on our property. Good luck hunting!

In case you need a little cheering up now, here is a video of bloopers and outtakes from the making of “UP a River.”

If you're on the east end of the U.P. and you're looking for something to do on Saturday, September 17th at 11:30 am (besides bird hunting) "UP a River" will be screened at the Soo Theatre as part of the Soo Film Festival. For more information and advance tickets go to http://www.soofilmfestival.org/

It finally got into a film festival! My first one! I'm excited but saddened I cannot make the festival. It's the same day as the Channel 12 (my employer) 50th Anniversary Reunion Party. Since I am one of the key planners of the event it might look bad if I don't show up! I'm sure some would understand though. If you are going let me know! I need a t-shirt!!

If you're on the northwest end, there is another screening on Thursday, October 13th at 2:00pm and 6:00pm at the Finnish-American Heritage Center in Hancock. I will be at this one to introduce the film and do a Q&A after each screening.

I will also be showing a 5 minute extended trailer with a Q&A during the Fresh Coast Film Festival in Marquette on Friday and Saturday, October 14th and 15th. Exact times to be determined yet. The festival looks to be a good one plus there are outdoor adventures available throughout the Marquette area that weekend! I hope to try one! You can keep up to date on that festival at http://freshcoastfilm.com/

Hopefully I can find more venues to screen the film this fall. With everyone thinking about hunting season and the lease expiration close at hand, it's important for everyone to see it. Yesterday I cut the film down to 90 minutes before I submit it to a few more festivals. I'll call it the "festival version". I know the length must be an issue. I've been cutting it down in my head for awhile now. I finally had the time to sit down and do it. The least strong sound bites/stories/visuals hit the cutting room floor and I shortened the beginning immensely. It actually might flow better! DVD's are still my full 110 minute "directors cut"!

I hope everyone has a chance to get out to camp and enjoy the changing season!

So why did I buy the DVD? Because you wanted to watch it before today. Because you would rather watch it on your HDTV (or old tube TV if you still have one) than on your computer or smartphone. Although my office chair is a Sealy, my couch is much better suited for watching 2 hour films. Because like me you live out in the sticks and watching a 2 hour film online will eat up all your data for the month.

I received my final rejection letter from the last film festival I was hoping to get into. Many film festivals don't allow films that have been publicly broadcast or available online in their entirety. I really was hoping for this film to make a festival run. It didn't. So now I made it available for the whole word to see. And that is who I want to see it. Being a 2 hour film, it really isn't suited for the average internet video audience. Those who really want to watch it will. Those interested in documentaries will. And maybe someone might stumble upon it and the subject matter sparks their interest.

Maybe someone who stumbles upon it might think it's well done and commission me to make another documentary.

DVD sales and shirt sales have also paid for this documentary to be streamed online. Much of the music in the film is from an online database that I purchased rights to use for festivals and DVDs. What I paid did not include internet. That was an additional $160 dollars a song. Multiple that times 10 songs.

I may still submit it to another couple film festivals after a little cutting down. Length I know is an issue. I may also cut it down to half yet in hopes PBS might air it.

For now watch the film on the homepage of upariver.net or Vimeo

But who's counting?

There are still 94 active leases in the Ottawa National Forest. 94 camps that 90 days after January 1, 2017 have to be removed. Or the United States Forest Service will remove them after that. 94 plus families whose traditions will go up in smoke or smashed into pieces.

Some camps are moveable. If you can and have a new piece of property to put it on, that’s great! I know it won’t be the same though. It’s all about location, location, location. The lucky few who could move theirs are “encouraged to work with the local District Ranger to discuss plans and make arrangements for any special or unique access needs.” Meaning if you need to cut down trees or improve trails to haul your camp out let them know. Maybe you can bulldoze a road 3 miles out to your camp!

The above statement comes from the letter sent out to leaseholders last week detailing the fact that the leases will expire Jan 1, 2017 and the USFS has no authority to extend them or issue any new lease. That once you have removed your camp and cleaned up the area you need to contact the Forest Service for an inspection and the lease to be closed. They want you to remove your camp so they don’t have to.

Letter is posted below.

My thoughts. The leases “close” on Jan 1, 2017. Why “close” it sooner. Enjoy one more deer season. I’ve heard this has been the decision of many camps. Do what you are going to do to your camp next winter. Burn it. Tear it down. Leave it stand for the Forest Service to remove. 90 days after the 1st anything left in the woods is USFS property. One can argue that if you leave your camp, the taxpayers will have to pay for the removal. I’ll gladly let my tax dollars go toward their removal. Probably better than some ways my tax dollars are spent. What about the tax dollars our counties will lose once these camps are gone?

One term of the lease is to maintain and keep the grounds around the camp clean. I know the USFS will uphold that term in their final inspection. So whatever you decide to do keep that in mind. If you burn it and leave the remains, cleaning up what you can, that should be fine. Do what you feel is best.  
If by some miracle new permits are granted and the camps are allowed to stay. If someone with some authority takes up our plight and wins. What then? I can almost guarantee that if you “close” your lease they will not let you rebuild. Maybe the longer these camps stand the better chance they have. Or that could be wishful thinking.

Environmentalists in our local area have come out of the woodwork to express their opinion on our camps. They have contacted Senator Peters office as well. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. It’s when the opinion of one group is given more weight than the other there is a problem. I believe everyone should have an equal say in what happens with our public land.

These camp owners care about the environment. Probably more than the so-called “environmentalists”. These camp owners care about it and enjoy it, not from a distance, but up close and personal. That is the best way to enjoy nature. Not look at it from afar and treat it like a glass slipper. Those who oppose the camps don’t like the way we enjoy nature, our traditions or values. When you live in a town completely surrounded by 1 million acres of national forest what do you do? You use it. You enjoy it. The way you have for decades.

I’ll go back to the USFS argument that these camps are keeping the general public from accessing these small areas of the forest. I met a couple recently in Grand Rapids and the woman had never heard of the U.P. until she moved to Michigan. Who are we keeping out??? The people who don’t even know we exist. I believe they also mentioned they were part of the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club by the way also doesn’t like our camps. I’m sure many members of environmentalist groups don’t know the U.P. exists but once they hear of our plight will say “oh no you can’t be in the woods!!” Woods they never knew of, never stepped foot in, never experienced “goin’ to camp” in.

It looks like a beautiful day to go for a drive. Quick blog to tell everyone I’m taking a drive across the U.P., over the Straits of Mackinac and down to Grand Rapids. Well first north of Detroit to pick up my date, my cousin Jamie, and then tomorrow I’ll be in Grand Rapids. “UP a River” was nominated for a West Michigan Eclipse Award for Best Documentary. The award ceremony is tomorrow, Thursday April 28th at 7:30 (est). It will be broadcast live on WKTV in Grand Rapids. Not in Grand Rapids? It will be streamed live at theeclipseaward.com.  

I’m honored to be nominated. It’s an affirmation to me that I am a filmmaker. And that you can be a filmmaker anywhere. Even in a rural town in the U.P.  It will be nice to meet other Michigan film and video makers since being in the U.P. I don’t have direct access to that community of like-minded people. Some of my college professors will be there too so I’m looking forward to seeing them as well. Here I am 12 years after college and made my first film. And it’s nominated for an award! Better late than never.

If nothing else it will be fun to put on a fancy dress and walk on a red carpet. You don’t wear too many formal dresses living out in the boonies. People look at you funny. I’d rather wear jeans and my UP a River sweatshirt any day though. I can’t trip over that. It’s packed just in case.

In case you missed it here is a link to this weekend’s episode of Michigan Out of Doors featuring “UP a River” and yours truly.

Michigan Out of Doors T.V. #1614

Jimmy really focused on why the camps have to be removed and the Forest Service’s reasoning. And how leaseholders plan to remove or destroy their camps. This is of urgent importance right now. Time is ticking fast. January 1, 2017 will be here before we know it. That was really stressed in the 14 minute segment of Michigan Out of Doors.

For those who haven’t seen the 110 minute film, the majority of it focuses on what “goin’ to camp” is like and the camp dweller’s memories and traditions. The film circles back often to the fact that these idyllic camps have to be removed; either tore down, hauled out of the woods or burned to the ground. And why the USFS won’t renew the leases or grandfather the camps under special use permits.

Thank you Jimmy Gretzinger and the Michigan Out of Doors team for putting together a solid segment about the film and the cause. Since the show airs throughout Michigan and parts of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois it really spread the word. And that’s what we need. Maybe someone who knows someway to convince the U.S.F.S. to change the policy will see it.

I know it spread the word because the petition got almost 200 more signatures since Thursday. I love reading all the comment people have written in support of these camps. These people understand. The government does not.

I also put together 39 packages today to ship tomorrow. 40 DVD’s plus numerous t-shirts and a few sweatshirts. People are optimistic spring will arrive. It snowed a few inches today while I turned my dining room into a packaging center. Thank you everyone for your order! Don’t mind my array of various shipping boxes and envelopes. It’s what’s inside that counts. And it’s good to recycle. Please let me know if your DVD’s are damaged in any way. I do worry about that. The US Postal Service (who is also benefiting from your orders) has been doing a great job and I have only had one damaged DVD returned.

I just checked my email and found 2 more DVD orders. Back to the dining room!

I haven’t felt like blogging. Mainly because I feel there hasn’t been much to tell. Unfortunately I’m at a standstill and unsure the next move for “UP a River”.

This past week I checked my email every 15 minutes hoping for acceptance letters to the Ann Arbor Film Festival and the Capital City Film Festival in Lansing. I had a gut feeling the film wasn’t going to be accepted into either and I was right. With hundreds of entries received at each festival, mine didn’t make the cut. I think I know the problem.

It’s too long.

I don’t regret making it long.

I spoke with documentary filmmaker and retired NMU Sociology Professor Michael Loukinen about a month ago. I sent him a copy of the film and he enjoyed it and said it expressed the culture of the U.P. and hunting camps wonderfully. We had a nice hour long chat about my film, his films and U.P. traditions. He also noted that the film is too long for a general audience. If I want more people to see it, I have the option to edit it down. PBS length is 56:46, almost half the length the film is now. If I want to try to edit it down to that and air it on PBS he could help. Loukinen is finishing his 18th film. This is my first. I should take his advice.

That’s a lot of work.

 Having watched it a hundred times I know I could cut out some. There is some repetition and removing some could drive the story forward faster. Half is heart breaking. And stressful to think about.

Maybe I’ll just work on the short versions of camps that didn’t make the final cut. We’ll see.

I thought maybe if it got into film festivals it would garner more attention and I could get more people to see it and hear our cry. I’ll find another way.

I won’t arm myself and occupy any Forest Service buildings and demand everyone in the country watch my film before I leave. Like those in Oregon seeking to take back federal land. That’s a little extreme but did get national attention.

There is another screening coming up in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The first screening outside of Ontonagon County! It will be screened at ArtStart (68 S. Stevens St) on Sunday, March 6th at 1:00 central time. Admission is free. There will be refreshments available. I will also have DVD’s for sale there. Tell your friends.

I also just sold 75 DVD’s.

All those attending one of the Michigan United Conservation Club’s Sportsmans Caucuses next month will receive a DVD courtesy of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. I can thank Shorty Gleason of Tomorrow Camp for that. Hopefully that will result in 75+ more supporters.
 
You can find some of Michael Luokinen’s work at folkstreams.net. Here is a direct link to one titled “Finnish American Lives” http://www.folkstreams.net/pub/FilmPage.php?title=35

"You relax the minute you decide you're going to camp." ~ Bob Rinne ("UP a River")

I think everyone that has a camp knows that feeling. I'm going to camp on Saturday for the night. I can't wait. I'm stepping away from my phone, email, Facebook and just going to relax.  If anyone wants to visit they are more than welcome!

Yesterday Justin and I took U.S. Senator Gary Peters' U.P. Regional Director Elise Matz on a camp tour. We visited the Bluff Creek Camp, Adams Camp, Altoon's Alehouse, Yellow Dog Hunt Camp and the Rinne Camp. Camps that are accessible by truck although it was a beautiful day and could have taken her out on ATV. You never know what the weather will be.

Elise was very interested and asked a bunch of questions and we discussed ways of allowing these camps to remain, what hurdles we have encountered and future hurdles. She will submit a report to Senator Peters office in D.C. and I hope that they will take further action.

Someone emailed me and said "you might consider getting historic status placed on the buildings and see if that changes the FS decision, but it might only prevent them being taken down.  Talk to the state office in charge of historic preservation." Elise thought that was a good idea and we will look further into that. I feel there is both historic and cultural value to these camps.

In discussing the option of Recreational Residences, if the U.S.F.S succumbs to grandfathering them into this program, Elise asked if leaseholders would be willing to pay the annual permit fee which I think is now up to $1500 per year. I believe many would and I asked my Dad last night and he said he would pay that much to keep Camp Woodtick.

Elise also said she would ask around the community if the people in the area support these camps and to find out if there are any people that believe the camps should be removed (that haven't had the courage to voice their opinions to their neighbors). Peters office wants to make sure before they move forward that the majority of the people in our communities are in favor of leaving these camps in the forest. I have not had anyone tell me they disagree with my push to save these camps, however I'm sure there are some that do. If you have time, please write to Elise and our other lawmakers to tell them that you support leaving the camps in the Ottawa and why. I think this is especially important for local businesses to voice their opinion as these camps help our local economy. I've added a list of emails to my CONTACTS page. Also signing the petition shows how many support the camps.

What happens after January 1, 2017 if we cannot change this? Some leaseholders are under the impression if they do not remove their camps and other buildings that they will be fined by the U.S.F.S for the removal of them. There is nothing in place to fine anyone for not removing the camp. When I talked to Linda Jackson earlier this year she said they are "encouraging" people to remove their camps. So they don't have to. If they do, they plan to burn them down.

The 25 year lease that was signed in 1992 with UPPCO states that "Upon the termination of this Lease, whether by expiration of the term or for any other reason whatsoever, the LESSEE shall have the right for the period of 90 days after said termination, unless extended in writing, to remove from the aforesaid premises any buildings or structures erected or maintained thereon, and title to all such buildings or structures remaining upon the aforesaid premises after the expiration of such period of 90 days shall thereafter vest in and become the property of the LESSOR, its successors and assigns, without specific conveyance thereof."

Nothing in the lease says that the LESSEE has to remove the structures and return the area to its natural state. If you cannot remove your camp due to physical limitations or because it's so remote and overgrown around it, an option is to remove what you want and leave the structure.

There is always so much hearsay and someone told someone this and someone told someone else that. When I first started researching, I was confused and a lot didn't make sense. I hope to get everyone on the same page. Therefore I made a new Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/Save-Our-Camps-426275210903140/

I will also keep this page updated with information and feel free to post your own comments and share any ideas and insights you may have!

And if you have the opportunity to show others your camp, whether they be lawmakers or someone curious about our situation, I encourage you to do so. Seeing firsthand how remote and rustic they are, how they create access to the rivers and woods rather than impede access, helps people understand why they are so important to us.

When you make a film, it’s not over once the final edit is complete. This one won’t be over until January  1, 2017. Hopefully longer. Now I need to get more people to see it and sound off about it.

The screenings at Twilly’s Sports Bar and the Ontonagon Theater had great turnouts. I don’t know how many people attended Twilly’s but well over 100. I do know she sold 92 pasties for sure. I counted 55 at the Ontonagon Theater. I was happy to see many leaseholders in attendance. Some I hadn’t seen in over a year when I drove up to their camp and met them for the first time to interview them. I even received a 2015 season camp shirt from the Yellow Dog Hunt Club. It’s a little big. They don’t order ladies shirts at that camp. I love it though and hope it’s not the last season shirt they make.

Now I need to show the film outside of Ontonagon County. I’ve submitted it to a dozen film festivals across the country; Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Lansing, Seattle, San Francisco, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in North Carolina. And one in the UK for the heck of it.

 In researching festivals the main one I want to get my film in now is the American Film Institute’s Documentary Film Festival held in Washington D.C. in June. Part of the festival’s mission states “While numerous festivals exist to exhibit the art of documentary films, AFI DOCS takes the festival experience to another level by providing filmmakers with unprecedented access to government officials. This landmark festival shines a light on some of the most critical issues of our time and gives filmmakers the education and support needed to engage with leaders, advocate for a cause and take the steps towards changing policy.” This is where my film needs to be shown. All I can do is apply and hope that they accept my film into the festival.

If you know of any small festivals or venues to show the film please give me a shout. Use the contact page or find me on Facebook.

The film will be seen outside of Michigan soon. Every day there is a new DVD order in my email inbox. Today I mailed out DVD’s across the state and country: Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Arizona. Watch it, share it and spread the word about it. Please. I need some help in the marketing department.
I’ve sold, sent to lawmakers and leaseholders, 200 DVD’s. Many more than I expected to at this point. Don’t worry if you haven’t received your DVD yet. I’m making more! Click here to order one! I also put some out for sale at the Settler’s Feed Mill, Twilly’s Sports Bar and Big Valley Ford. The Feed Mill sold 22 already!

The day before the opener of gun deer season (Nov 14) I threw some DVD’s in the back of the ATV and my friend (aka “grip/production assistant”) Kara and I took a ride down the Middle Branch between Bond Falls and Agate Falls and visited some of the camps in the film. It was great visiting the camps and the guys I met while filming the documentary; catching up, drinking a beer and hearing tales of last year’s wintery deer season. Bittersweet you might say as some mentioned it may be the last hunting season in their camp. I wish I would have visited more and I had time to visit all the camps I met over the past year. I hope to see you all again.

If you have any comments about the film please write them below. Or tweet @UPaRiverFilm  or post it at facebook.com/ojamedia.

I received this letter earlier this month as did any other leaseholder who contacted Congressman Dan Benishek's office. I wanted to throw it in our fireplace. It is disheartening. Benishek gave up. That doesn't mean we have to.

I have run into very few people who disagree with the camps being in the Ottawa National Forest. If they do disagree, they hold their tongues. Everyone who has seen my film agrees that these camps hurt nothing and they are a benefit to the area.

When Benishek's letter states "I also hope that you continue to enjoy the land for the remaining time and take joy in the fact that now many others will be afforded the same opportunity" is completely wrong. After the camps are gone, the trails to these secluded parts of the rivers and woods will be inaccessible. I'm sure the USFS has no desire to maintain these trails or allow a majority of them to be used by ATV. The removal will close this land off. The only ones who will see it are those young and fit enough to hike miles into the woods. No one will be able to hunt those areas as they are too far to hike in the winter (remember we got over 2 feet of snow last deer season!) or drag a deer out from. The DNR and other agencies also use these trails to access parts of the river for studies, fish stocking, etc. I'm sure they would like these areas accessible as well.

Now that the film is complete I can focus more on being an activist than a filmmaker. If anyone has any ideas of our next step please let me know. I'm open to suggestion. This is a new arena for me. I'm going to try to push the petition more online and get as many signatures as possible.

With the help of Senator Casperson and his staff the State Senate passed a resolution urging the U.S.F.S to allow the camps to stay. This is a federal issue though. What it does though is raise exposure on the issue and encourage them to change their policy to work with property owners. It’s the best that can be done on the state legislative level. 

I hope to hear back from Senator Gary Peters local office soon to see what they plan to do to help these camps. They were given the green light from Peter's D.C. office to look into it.

So right now all I can think of is to continue to raise exposure about these camps and make everyone aware of our situation.

Here are a few other contacts if you would like to write letters expressing your thoughts on why these camps should be allowed to remain in the Ottawa National Forest.

U.S.F.S. Forest Chief Thomas Tidwell
ttidwell@fs.fed.us
U.S.F.S. Eastern Region – Regional Forester Kathleen Atkinson
katkinson@fs.fed.us
Senator Debbie Stabenow, United States Senate
Jeremy_hosking@stabenow.senate.gov
Linda Jackson, Forest Supervisor, Ottawa National Forest
lljackson@fs.fed.us
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Jeremy_hosking@stabenow.senate.gov
Linda Jackson, Forest Supervisor, Ottawa National Forest
lljackson@fs.fed.us
Congressman Dan Benishek, United States Congress
mholland@fs.fed.us
State Representative Scott Dianda
http://housedems.com/contact-rep-dianda
Senator Gary Peters, United States Senate
https://www.peters.senate.gov/contact/email-gary