Ice Hunter

As you may have noticed from previous posts, it’s that time of year when I turn my attention to things that are frozen.  Knowing that we have had high winds blowing across Lake Superior, I figured that there would be fresh ice to discover so off I went in search of new work.  My first stop was
Stoney Point, a favorite of many who travel up the north shore of Lake Superior.  I was rewarded with many small pockets of ice that formed wonderful abstract patterns.  I spent over two hours wandering around on the ledge rock photographing as many as I could before all my batteries succumbed to the cold.

Advertisements

A Lovely Day at the Beach

There’s nothing like a little sun, a lot of water and some time to wander the shoreline.  Even in the cold of northern Minnesota there is reason to explore the nooks and crannies of the rocky shore of Lake Superior.  Being an ice hunter, I go searching for the creations of nature while they persist, but knowing that what exists today will be gone tomorrow.  However, in it’s place will be new creations formed by wind, water and cold.

Frozen In Time

When you get too close to Lake Superior in winter, you run the risk of being frozen in place till warmer weather releases you.

Merger

The Temperance River flows into Lake Superior.  The clouds on the horizon warn of an incoming snow squall that will make driving interesting as I head back to Duluth.

Temperance River

A view of the Temperance River just before it begins it’s fall toward Lake Superior.

Below this point it funnels through a narrow gorge with several waterfalls and swirling pools.

Shovel Point

Tettegouche State Park is home to some wonderful hiking trails and a favorite of mine is the trail to Shovel Point.  It does require climbing some stairs, but the hiker will be rewarded with wide open vistas of Lake Superior and the north shore.

Adjustments

For the fourth year in a row, I had made a plan to take part in the “Opt Outside” movement started by REI.  It has grown over the years to include many other businesses.  In Minnesota, all the state parks are open to the public for free on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
However, as the day drew nearer, I became concerned about the weather due to the extended forecast calling for freezing rain on Friday and I had hoped to travel up the north shore of Lake Superior to visit Cascade River State Park.  In the event travel wasn’t possible on Friday, I chose to take my trip on the day before Thanksgiving and opted to only go as far as Temperance River State Park.  I also made stops at Gooseberry Falls State Park and Tettegouche State Park.
As it turned out, not only did it not rain till much later in the day Friday, the temps were in the low forties.  Over the three days around Thanksgiving I managed to get in three very nice hikes. The day up the shore, through the woods and on the shore of Park Point and on the Superior Hiking Trail above Duluth.  Not once did I think about wanting to go shopping!  (Except for some thoughts of getting some new hiking boots.)

Here are a few memories from the last three days.  If you stare at the black & white image for awhile, it morphs in to all kinds of strange things.