Friday, 8:30 AM. 17 degrees,a veritable heat wave. Wind E, calm. Fog obscures the Island, and fluffy flakes of snow are falling steadily. We may have an accumulation of a few inches.
Lucky and I were pioneers this morning, the first to trod the new fallen snow through the woods. There were no fresh tracks of any kind. The hemlocks, white pines, white spruce and balsam fir were all robbed in their characteristic mantles of snow, each clothed a bit differently in their snowy attire because of their dissimilar needle and branching structures. I noticed again how narrow the trail is in the snow…only a foot or so wide. It forces one to put one foot precisely in front of the other, as we used to say as kids, “Indian style.” If one steps off the narrow path you may sink over your boots in the snow. I have heard it said, and it seems to make sense, that in the old days a white man’s trail was always distinguishable from an Indian’s because the toes pointed outward, as if accustomed to carrying a heavy load, while the Indian’s toes pointed inward, unencumbered by any burden except the barest essentials of hunting and war. This knowledge probably comes from watching endless Saturday afternoon cowboy and Indian pictures at the Grace Theater in West Allis, Wisconsin. I have no idea whether any of this makes sense but it seems a harmless observation.
Which brings me to an update for resident and visitor alike: Howard Paap, local author and expert on Ojibwa Indian lore, is giving a slide lecture presentation at 2:00 PM at the Historical Society on traditional Ojibwa maple sugaring. It will be very good, I am sure, since Howard is a retired sociology professor and author of several books, the latest being “Raspberry River,” a a collection of short stories about contemporary Ojibwa life, and an excellent read.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
2/28/08
Thursday, 8:30 AM. –5 degrees, wind SE, calm. Skies are sunny, but turning partly cloudy. It’s a nippy but pleasant morning. I have begun observing red maple tree (Acer rubrum) flower buds, which are a harbinger of spring as good as pussy willow buds and flowers. The purple flower buds of the native red maple tree, not to be confused with the red-leaved Norway maple cultivars, are now well swollen but not yet opening. In New York they flower by this date or a week or so latter, but will probably not flower here for another three or four weeks.
We are less than a month from calendar spring, so need to be watching for such signs (I will watch for pussy willow buds to open down at the Sioux River beach). Of course, the surest signs of spring, nursery catalogs, are now arriving in the mail daily.
I noticed yesterday that there was a large puddle of water on the Bayfield approach to the ice road. I doubt this means that the demise of the ice road is imminent, but it does mean the sun is getting pretty high. I also noticed this morning on our walk that the morning shadows of the woodland trees are much shorter than they were a few
weeks ago, meaning that the sun has been moving relentlessly northward, just as it should be doing. Easter is early this year, but even so it is a sure sign of spring. There will still be lots of snow banks to hide the colored eggs in (children of the Northland are a hardy lot, though), and Easter bonnets may need ear muffs.
We are less than a month from calendar spring, so need to be watching for such signs (I will watch for pussy willow buds to open down at the Sioux River beach). Of course, the surest signs of spring, nursery catalogs, are now arriving in the mail daily.
I noticed yesterday that there was a large puddle of water on the Bayfield approach to the ice road. I doubt this means that the demise of the ice road is imminent, but it does mean the sun is getting pretty high. I also noticed this morning on our walk that the morning shadows of the woodland trees are much shorter than they were a few
weeks ago, meaning that the sun has been moving relentlessly northward, just as it should be doing. Easter is early this year, but even so it is a sure sign of spring. There will still be lots of snow banks to hide the colored eggs in (children of the Northland are a hardy lot, though), and Easter bonnets may need ear muffs.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
2/27/08
Wednesday, 3:30 PM. 12 degrees, barometer predicts sunny skies. Wind E, calm to very light. Skies blue with a few high puffy clouds.
Got back from the ice caves at 1230 PM, in time for a 1:00 PM meeting. Left at 9:00 AM, at 4 degrees on the back, porch, but it was much colder at Myers Beach, I’ll guese –5 degrees with a bit of a biting NE wind. Parking was $1.50 with my Golden Eagle Parks pass (there have to be some advantages to the aging process). I had on Yak Traks, Erik did not but both wore good boots and had ski poles. We had show shoes along but they weren’t needed. The path along the beach was well trod but a bit slippery. The lake ice was extremely rough, even jagged, so than was not an option. The walk was pleasant once we warmed up to the walk, and it got a lot warmer into the morning. The caves are great, some even awesome. One cave room has a height of at least 60 feet and is almost as wide. There are many smaller caves, many interconnected, and it is easy to see how kayakers are tempted into their recesses and get trapped in them by strong surf. Unfortunately this seems to happen every year, often with fatal results. Anyway, the ice allowed us good access. The ice formations are quite interesting and some very pretty, appearing like stalactites and stalagmites, some like frozen waterfalls. The sandstone cliffs are very colorful and if it weren’t for the cold one could easily imagine oneself somewhere in the American Southwest.
We were the first visitors at 9:30 AM, soon followed by a bus full of Bayfield students (lucky kids) and a few others, photographers and just sightseers.
When you go, be sure to walk well past the first few caves, as the best are farther on. Walk at least beyond the obvious point of land at the east end of the bay. I estimate the walk out and back at 3 miles.
Dress sensibly, especially footgear, wear a hat and take a walking stick or ski poles, other than nothing is needed except your camera.
I will post some photos later, as I still am stuck outside the digital realm and rely on film.
Lucky and Morgan didn’t go along, being happy to stay on their respective couches and dream whatever dogs dream about on a cold winter day.
I am guessing the ice will be good for weeks, so come and enjoy, best early in the week if crowds are not to your liking, although you will find everyone friendly and in a festive mood. Best photo light is mid afternoon on a sunny day.
Got back from the ice caves at 1230 PM, in time for a 1:00 PM meeting. Left at 9:00 AM, at 4 degrees on the back, porch, but it was much colder at Myers Beach, I’ll guese –5 degrees with a bit of a biting NE wind. Parking was $1.50 with my Golden Eagle Parks pass (there have to be some advantages to the aging process). I had on Yak Traks, Erik did not but both wore good boots and had ski poles. We had show shoes along but they weren’t needed. The path along the beach was well trod but a bit slippery. The lake ice was extremely rough, even jagged, so than was not an option. The walk was pleasant once we warmed up to the walk, and it got a lot warmer into the morning. The caves are great, some even awesome. One cave room has a height of at least 60 feet and is almost as wide. There are many smaller caves, many interconnected, and it is easy to see how kayakers are tempted into their recesses and get trapped in them by strong surf. Unfortunately this seems to happen every year, often with fatal results. Anyway, the ice allowed us good access. The ice formations are quite interesting and some very pretty, appearing like stalactites and stalagmites, some like frozen waterfalls. The sandstone cliffs are very colorful and if it weren’t for the cold one could easily imagine oneself somewhere in the American Southwest.
We were the first visitors at 9:30 AM, soon followed by a bus full of Bayfield students (lucky kids) and a few others, photographers and just sightseers.
When you go, be sure to walk well past the first few caves, as the best are farther on. Walk at least beyond the obvious point of land at the east end of the bay. I estimate the walk out and back at 3 miles.
Dress sensibly, especially footgear, wear a hat and take a walking stick or ski poles, other than nothing is needed except your camera.
I will post some photos later, as I still am stuck outside the digital realm and rely on film.
Lucky and Morgan didn’t go along, being happy to stay on their respective couches and dream whatever dogs dream about on a cold winter day.
I am guessing the ice will be good for weeks, so come and enjoy, best early in the week if crowds are not to your liking, although you will find everyone friendly and in a festive mood. Best photo light is mid afternoon on a sunny day.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
2/26/08
Tuesday, 8:30 AM. Temperature 14 degrees, barometer predicts partly sunny weather. Wind W, calm. Fog obscures the Island, the sky is overcast, and a very light snow I falling. The fog is rising, condensing and coming down as snow. Huge, fluffy flakes like miniature parachutes, which fall down, up and all around. Joan says it is like being inside a child’s snow globe that has been shaken up.
The birds are flocking to the feeders this morning: chickadees, goldfinches, bluejays, female downy woodpecker, juncos, white breasted nuthatches, chipping sparrow and tree sparrow. The white pines in the backyard are alive with small birds.
It is a very quiet morning, absolutely silent in the woods, only the voice of a distant crow breaking the stillness. The deer are beginning to be active in the woods, and there are several well-trod trails crossing the walking path.
The birds are flocking to the feeders this morning: chickadees, goldfinches, bluejays, female downy woodpecker, juncos, white breasted nuthatches, chipping sparrow and tree sparrow. The white pines in the backyard are alive with small birds.
It is a very quiet morning, absolutely silent in the woods, only the voice of a distant crow breaking the stillness. The deer are beginning to be active in the woods, and there are several well-trod trails crossing the walking path.
Monday, February 25, 2008
2/25/08
Monday, 8:30 AM. 16 degrees, barometer down, wind calm, fog over the channel.
Sky partly cloudy. The warm spell continues, which means melting snow and damp, foggy mornings.
Joan and I drove out to Meyers Beach off Hwy. 13 after church yesterday to gage the ice cave visitation. We counted 100 cars. The Ranger said they had 500-600 visitors a day over the weekend.
The birds either had an early breakfast or are sleeping in, since there is no activity at the feeder presently.
Sky partly cloudy. The warm spell continues, which means melting snow and damp, foggy mornings.
Joan and I drove out to Meyers Beach off Hwy. 13 after church yesterday to gage the ice cave visitation. We counted 100 cars. The Ranger said they had 500-600 visitors a day over the weekend.
The birds either had an early breakfast or are sleeping in, since there is no activity at the feeder presently.
2/24/08
: Sunday, 8:00 AM. Temp 15 degrees, barometer still down. Wind calm. Sky cloud covered, and fob obscures the Island.
Bought 50 pounds of sunflower seed and some fresh suet cakes at Northern Migrations in Washburn yesterday. The birds are returning but absent from the feeders at the moment.
Bought 50 pounds of sunflower seed and some fresh suet cakes at Northern Migrations in Washburn yesterday. The birds are returning but absent from the feeders at the moment.
2/23/08
Saturday, 9:00 AM. 15 degrees, barometer predicts snow. Wind calm. Skies clear but a bit hazy. Wonderful morning.
Went for a walk with Lucky, accompanied by his two pals, Morgan and Roxy, all seemed happy to see each other.
I talked with Erik yesterday and we are going to hike to the ea caves off Myers Beach sometime in the coming week. I have seen them by boat but never in the winter, when they become the “ice caves.” Mike from seagull Bay Motel says there are a lot of visitors this year, as the ice is safe, and some years it is not.
This morning it is off to the recycle center, and then perhaps to the Larsen’s farm to check things out, as Maple Sugarin’ time will soon be here. They intend to tap on May 14, weather permitting.
Went for a walk with Lucky, accompanied by his two pals, Morgan and Roxy, all seemed happy to see each other.
I talked with Erik yesterday and we are going to hike to the ea caves off Myers Beach sometime in the coming week. I have seen them by boat but never in the winter, when they become the “ice caves.” Mike from seagull Bay Motel says there are a lot of visitors this year, as the ice is safe, and some years it is not.
This morning it is off to the recycle center, and then perhaps to the Larsen’s farm to check things out, as Maple Sugarin’ time will soon be here. They intend to tap on May 14, weather permitting.
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