Ice Caves near Apostle Islands

It all stated with an e-mail last weekend from UW-Waukesha Continuing Education, asking if anyone was interested in a day trip the next Sunday to the Ice Caves of Wisconsin should the park rangers determine that conditions are safe enough to open them.  The caves don't freeze over every year and it was not an opportunity we wanted to miss despite the long bus ride.

The photos, news videos, and information I reviewed before coming today didn't come close to the beauty and magnificence of Mother Nature.

Let's begin with the ice on Lake Superior.

Frozen waterfalls lined the sandstone cliffs where a combination of water dripping from the layers of the cliff combined with the waves of the sea forming incredible ice creations.  Some of the formations have a pink hue from the sandstone that was washed down the cliff sides with the water whereas others are blue (ice where bubbles do not interfere with the passage of light.

The clouds were also amazing.

What better place to paint...

A few other unique things:

Trip stats:  We left at 6:00 a.m. from UW-Waukesha, arrived at the caves around 2:00 p.m., left around 5:00 p.m. arriving back at UW-Waukesha around 12:40 a.m.  It was about 14 hours in the bus and three hours on the ice.  Temperatures were in the low 20s with a mild wind (which feels much colder in an open area like Lake Superior.  It was mostly cloudy on the way up but beautiful blue skies when we arrived with a few clouds moving in towards the end of our time on the ice.

We bought ICEtrekkers for our feet which were amazing for walking on ice especially with the assistance of our hiking poles..

Finally, the day wouldn't be complete without a little poetry.

Lake Superior, March 1, 2015

By Rebecca Klamert

The sun’s radiance peeks from behind wispy clouds,

taking a bite out of the Canadian wind

We travel over compacted snow,

polished by wind, and

marked by souls of many

Rolling ripples flow over smooth surfaces as

rough waves etch a path to shore

Clear glass, a window to the sand and rock below 

contrasts frosted panes providing shelter for fish

Minuscule soda straws surround cracks

that at times expand with a loud croak

Shelves of ice, all sizes and shapes,

form detailed mosaics,

enlarged molecules as viewed through a microscope, and

tiny veins branching out from a larger artery

Snow dust skims across, a water droplet in a hot pan,

performing a delicate dance

Along the shore chunks of ice mix with soft snow

Piles of broken shards crunch with the weight of my boots

Taps of hiking poles play a soft symphony, 

a xylophone marking their rhythm

The sun dips lower in the sky

and angel rays stream through the clouds

Thursday, July 15, 2011 - A day of waterfalls and a few other things near Munising, MI

With me home this month between jobs, we thought it was a great time for a road trip especially when we found some great hotel rates.

We left early this morning for to the Upper Peninsula, MI.  Our first stop was Peninsula Point in the Hiawatha National Forest.  We visited the Peninsula Point Lighthouse and had a picnic lunch there.  It was a beautiful day with a high of about 72 degrees. All that remains of the lighthouse is the tower but you can climb it and you have a great view of Lake Michigan from the top.  This lighthouse is also off the beaten path and so it is quiet and peaceful.

Peninsula Point Lighthouse

From there we drove up towards Munising, MI, stopping at a variety of waterfalls and scenic overlooks.  Our first stop was Au Train Falls, a waterfall we happen to see as we were driving.  There is an upper falls and a lower falls and these falls are used to generate power.  The upper falls can be seen from the parking lot and the lower falls are a short walk from the parking lot and well worth it.

Autrain Falls

Autrain Falls

Our next stop was a scenic overlook along Lake Superior which turned out to be a beautiful, quiet beach with white sand and very few rocks.  If we didn't have so many other places we wanted to see, I could have spent the entire afternoon here.  We were the only ones on the beach.  The water was a bit cold though.  I wouldn't recommend swimming but I did enjoy walking along the water.








After the beach, we continued through Munising to Munising Falls.  These falls are well worth it.  It is only a short walk to the falls with a climb on both sides of the falls to get another view.  These falls are fairly popular but on a Friday in July it wasn't that busy.

Munising Falls

While in Munising, we stopped at the spring fed Horseshoe Falls.  These falls are very touristy.  It costs money to visit them which includes a trout pond and plants with labels along your walk to the falls.  The one good thing about this falls is that the walk to the falls is nice and cool.  It is in the shade and along the spring fed stream.

Horseshoe Falls

On our way to Wagner Falls, we drove by Alger Falls which can be seen from the highway.  I didn't get any pictures of Alger Falls because there wasn't a good place to stop but here are some pictures of Wagner Falls which was probably my favorite falls today.  

Wagner Falls

Wagner Falls

After Wagner Falls, we were ready to check in the hotel and relax for the evening.  We stayed at the Econolodge in Escanaba, MI which was a great hotel for the price.  It was under $50 a night (AAA rate) including taxes but included breakfast and was clean and quiet.