Sounds of Northern Michigan: On the Banks of Twenty-Two Creek Artwork

Nature Is My Jam

If you’re like me, then you love the sounds of nature. From the dawn chorus of birds that rings in the start of another day to the howl of coyotes in the dark of night, these sounds ignite curiosity, excitement and a deep appreciation for our planet. You’re listening to Nature is my Jam, a show that explores the rich kaleidoscope of nature sounds and the art of capturing pristine audio in remote wilderness locations. Hello. I’m Darrin and I document the hidden corners of the world through sound, filmmaking, and photography. Each week, I will take you along with me as I create natural soundscapes. We will discuss how I record these sounds, but the star of each show will be nature itself. A high-quality audio immersion providing a brief respite from your hectic day. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode and I look forward to continuing this conversation with you soon.

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Nature Is My Jam

Sounds of Northern Michigan: On the Banks of Twenty-Two Creek

October 27, 2022 • Darrin Wassom • Season 1 • Episode 21

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This episode is for a friend that is fighting the occasional sleepless night. The last episode (wind noise) didn’t help him so I thought I’d record some creeks sounds, in the hopes it does the trick. Here’s to the original hobbit hailing from Lowell by way of East Kentwood and East Lansing. A brother, friend and fellow Spartan.

Welcome to episode 21 of the Nature is my Jam podcast! As always, I’m happy to see you again. This week, we are on the banks of Twenty-Two Creek in my hometown of Traverse City, Michigan. Twenty-Two Creek is a shallow and meandering creek that runs along the North Country Scenic Trail and is a prominent feature in the Valley of the Giants. Its gentle gurgling sounds are the backdrop for views of stunning trees that are hundreds of years old.

While not a simple place to find if you aren’t familiar with the area, I am still surprised that more people don’t know about this amazing section of trail. I can access the trail from Scharmen Road where the NCT crosses. It is less than a mile from the road to get to this section of creek, which sits at the bottom of the Valley of the Giants. It is a beautiful hike and there will be a bench waiting for you where the creek intersects with the trail.

If the name sound familiar, it is because we were at the same location back in July for Episode 7. It is surprising how a few months can change the soundscape of an area so much. In July, the creek greeted us with the sounds of a Winter Wren, only in Michigan during their breeding season. In this episode, the wrens are gone, but we can hear Owls, as well as a persistent voice that I don’t recognize.

I will be in Mexico when this episode gets published and am planning on coming back with some glorious sounds to share with you. Have a great week and look forward to chatting when I return.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and hope you enjoy this episode. Thanks again for your continued support!

Recording Summary: