Hump Day Highpoint - Michigan

Ah, the state of Michigan; home to glittering Detroit. In 1805 the city of Detroit was leveled by a giant fire....this was when the city got its motto "Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus" (We hope for better things, it shall rise from the ashes). The veracity of this motto endures today as Michigan has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation and the Lions are still terrible.

Speaking of mottos, Michigan as a whole also has a terrible one: "Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice." Despite many false cognates in the Latin, this motto has nothing to do with circumcision. It translates as, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you." By this point you may be thinking somewhat less of Michiganders (not related to salamanders) but you must remember that these are the same people who hurl live octopuses (or octopi or octopodes) onto the ice at Red Wings games:

Of course it is easy to forget reading the official motto that there are not one, but two peninsulas in the state of Michigan. We must not forget the mysterious Upper Peninsula; the piece from my 50 state puzzle that used to cause me great consternation. These two pieces of the state weren't even connected until the opening of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957. The few people who live in the Upper Peninsula are known as Yoopers, a play on the abbreviation UP. Yoopers are somewhat isolated from the rest of the state and it is said they refer to normal Michiganders as 'trolls' since they live 'under the bridge.' This playful attitude doubtlessly stems from the fact that Yoopers are generally fans of the Green Bay Packers, thus avoiding the lifelong torment of the Lions franchise. 3% of the population live in the UP despite it being about a third of the state's area. Tourism is a large industry driven by people trying to get as far away from Detroit as possible during their Michigan vacation. But the crowning glory of the UP is Mount Arvon.

Mt. Arvon is the highpoint of the state, though at 1,979 ft it doesn't make much of a mountain. In the summertime a drive through twisting and labyrinthine logging roads will get you there. In the winter you'd better be prepared for snow as the Upper Peninsula will be covered in it. A snowmobile would be a fun option. The choice is yours but remember, what's good for the Michigoose is good for the Michigander.