Camping Story with a Happy Ending

A story out of Michigan earlier this month caught my attention. I tend to pay close attention to just about anything relating to camping and outdoor stuff in general. And because there was a larger story about families and tragedy–near tragedy, in this case–wrapped around the story which took place in State Park with a family on a camping trip, it seemed doubly-news worthy to this outdoor enthusiast.

I’m not sure that it garnered very much attention from folks who–like me–live here in the Southeastern US and so I’m passing it along today.

The Niemi family was camping in Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Their eight year old son, Nante, had gone off to collect firewood in the early afternoon and promptly got lost.

Before long, search and rescue teams comprised of over 150 Rangers, Law Enforcement professionals and volunteers joined the family’s search but were unable to find Nante by the time the sun rose the next morning. And when morning broke on the second day, they still had not been able to find him.

This story made quite an impression on me and I invite you to take a closer look and see it through to the end. Suffice it to say, it was the best story I’d discovered on the internet all month.


“Bulldog Ben” Basile

© 2023 Ben Lawrence Basile