Although I haven’t seen that the ice road between Bayfield and Madeline Island is officially open, I have noticed on the webcam, a number of vehicles driving across the ice. The 1.9 mile ice road is an extension of County Highway H during most winters, which is lined by Christmas trees and crosses Lake Superior. It is a different feeling traveling across the ice road listening to the cracking of the ice.
Temporary County Road H
The ferries between Bayfield and Madeline Island stopped running last week and until the ice is thick enough to drive on, the transportation across Lake Superior is provided by wind sleds. Wind sleds are powered by two big fans to propel across the ice. This 24 seat wind sled, Ice Angel IV, carries supplies and people back and forth from the island. At least there is some wind protection but I imagine it is a cold two mile ride in the sub-zero temperatures.
Ice Angel IV
This white church blends into the white snow after nearly two feet of snow and more snow is on the way, but it makes a pretty scene (if you don’t have to shovel a path to the door).
Church in the Snow
Sunday morning arrived with another snow dusting and sounds like more snow tomorrow morning too. So far it has just been the nuisance kind and not a lot at one time so no deep snow drifts yet to wade through to church.
Church in Winter Snow
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
It is another chilly Sunday morning and this church sits empty during the winter as there are few visitors in the area during the cold months to hold services.
Empty on a Cold Sunday Morning
The frozen winter time brings changes to the landscape and activities. Summer visitors have vanished as well as the summertime jobs and duties. And for the tugboat, Eclipse, the weekend is a long one since it does not have to report to work on a Monday since its workplace is frozen and no open water to assist boats in the harbor.
Frozen in Place
On Oct. 1, 1665, Jesuit Father Claude Allouez and Father Jacques Marquette arrived on Chequamegon Bay, La Pointe, and established the mission of the Holy Spirit. This was the first Catholic church/chapel anywhere on the North American continent north of New Mexico and west of Lake Huron.
On July 17, 1835, Fr. Frederic Baraga, the famed “snowshoe priest”, came to La Pointe on Madeline Island and re-established the Catholic mission, at the site of the La Pointe Indian Cemetery. Although the mission building is no longer extant, the old cemetery that remains is the burial place of Chief Buffalo, an important Chippewa leader.
With a congregation dating back to 1838, it is the oldest continuous Catholic parish in Wisconsin. The first St. Joseph church was built of logs and burned down in 1901 and the current church was rebuilt in 1902.
St. Joseph’s Church on Madeline Island
With the economy these days, I know budget cuts need to be made, but poor little Johnny could get hurt if he jumped off the dock.
No Lifeguard
