About Us

James Studinger grew up in Manistique Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He has a burning passion for all things outdoors and getting others outside to explore. He founded calloftheyooper.com to highlight some of his favorite things to do in the UP. The company motto “Reconnect With Nature” represents James’s belief that too many people have become removed from the wild and the origin of things, and now is the time to rekindle our connection.

James went blind in one eye in his early 40s and adopted another motto: “To see more with one eye than I ever did with two”. He vows to live up to that each day. By going out and embracing fun challenges, he hopes it encourages others to explore. He hiked from Miners Beach Lake Superior to the shores of Lake Michigan; his only rule was that he couldn’t use a man-made trail or road other than to cross it. He canoed from the Lake Superior beach of Autrain to Little Bay de Noc of Lake Michigan.

In 2018 James decided to bike 1,200 miles around the perimeter of the UP to showcase its amazing and safe biking possibilities. He sent out an impromptu Facebook notice asking if anyone wanted to join him. A total of 16 people, doing different sections, joined in on the adventure and Tour Da Yoop, Eh (TDY) was founded.

The riders of TDY know that James likes challenges and has planted plenty of them within the routes. He knows the 1,200 mile ride isn’t easy, but he is okay with that. “I want people to succeed. Sometimes you have to dig deep. Everyone else is going through the same difficulty, inspiration is everywhere. When the ride is done, they’ll know what it took for them to accomplish this.”

James owns a financial planning firm. He is currently living downstate with his wife, two boys, and two dogs.