With temperatures finally above freezing, I was able to create “rivers” in my driveway like I used to do as a kid to drain the puddles away. The predicted warm week just might melt the snow and have rivers running again but it is too early for the trees to leaf out yet.
Downstream from Lost Creek Falls
Yesterday there were over 11,300 people at the ice caves near Cornucopia on the Lake Superior shore and probably more visitors coming today. That is way too crowded for me so smaller out of the way places would be more fun for me so it is quiet enough to hear the water trickling down the frozen slope.
Quiet Stream Leaving Devil’s Punchbowl
Many people are headed to the most northern city in Wisconsin with a post office to visit the ice caves near Cornucopia and by 8 am, a thousand visitors have started the hike across the ice this morning and will only get busier this weekend with the short window this year to see the caves. (There were 5,000 people by 1 pm).
When it comes to nature and beautiful scenery, I have to admit I don’t like to share the experience with thousands of people as it gets way too crowded for this country gal. So yesterday I took my mom to the Devil’s Punchbowl to see some ice formations (and even there, we weren’t alone but a less than a dozen people is better than thousands).
And while it didn’t take miles of walking to reach the destination, it did involve some slippery slopes and 111 or so very icy stair steps but we made it down and back without landing on our butts (but one college student wasn’t as lucky).
I normally try to take nature scenes without people, but then you don’t always realize the scale without a reference point (as my mom picks on me for shooting a very close up tickle of water running down the driveway because it looked like a huge river) so this shot has my mom in the picture for scale.
Devil’s Punchbowl Ice Formations
The wind blew some pine cones down with the last snow and of course they didn’t land on bare ground, but instead they enjoyed a free amusement ride from the snow blower when I cleared the snow from the driveway.
Fallen Pine Cone
Even with another night in the minus teens, the weathermen are finally predicting some warmer temperatures and tomorrow the freezing mark will feel warm. And maybe some of the small little streams, like in Houghton Falls State Natural Area, will start flowing again as winter gives up its winter grip.
Holding Frozen at Houghton
The leaves were blowing on the tree yesterday, but not pretty autumn colors or summer green maple leaves, as it was only some hardly brown oak leaves on one small tree refusing to let go and join the blowing snow.
Summertime Maple Leaves
Ahead of the snow, the wispy clouds rolled in yesterday to cover the afternoon sun.
Before the Snow
Meteorological spring started yesterday and even though it is sunny today, it definitely is not spring yet as the pond is frozen and no dragonflies buzzing around. And it won’t look or feel like spring the next few days with the predicted snow and below zero temperatures so winter hasn’t released its hold yet.
Brief Rest Stop for Dragonfly
People sometimes take a Sunday drive to enjoy the scenery at a slower pace, but for me, a Sunday drive isn’t as appealing during a cold winter day as a summer day. But there one drive you can’t do in the summer as part of County Road H disappears when the ice melts! For a short span in the winter when the ice forms a thick layer over Lake Superior, the two miles of ice road between Bayfield and Madeline Island connects the two land masses. The six lane Highway H across the frozen ice is lined by Christmas trees to help see where the road is when the snow blows across the flat surface.
Sunday Drive on the Ice Road
By 8 am this morning, people have braved the cold temperatures and had hiked over two miles to see the ice caves which opened today after the ice pack was determined to be thick enough for visitors. In the summer, kayakers will paddle through the arch opening (when the waves aren’t not too high) but for a brief period during some winters, hikers can walk through the opening instead.
Winter Sea Arch
