Picture of the Day for February 16, 2020

The higher than average snowfall around Lake Superior this year makes great a snowshoeing season. But instead of snowshoeing for fun, it was a major method of travel in the winter for Father Frederic Baraga, who spent nearly 40 years traveling throughout Wisconsin and Michigan beginning in 1830 and became known as the Snowshoe Priest. In summer, his travel was often by canoe and in 1846 after learning of an epidemic afflicting the Ojibwe village in Grand Portage, he set out from Madeline Island. An unexpected storm pushed his canoe more than 100 miles off course and landed at the mouth of what is now the Cross River, a name bestowed in honor of the small wooden cross Father Baraga and his guide erected shortly after their safe landing. This granite cross replaced the original tree branch cross.

The Snowshoe Priest

The Snowshoe Priest

Picture of the Day for February 15, 2020

There was a big change in temperature from yesterday’s -20 temperature to today reaching just above freezing. And even though there was several cold days, January was warmer than normal so there hasn’t been a solid ice layer on Lake Superior near the sea caves. The lack of stable thick ice has prevented access to visit the ice caves this year so far, but I prefer the warmer temperatures even if that means no icy formation sightseeing.

Escaping from the Ice Monster

Escaping from the Ice Monster