It's a THREE mile walk one way (or drive, we walked) on ice across this part of Lake Superior on Hwy 2 from Bayfield Wisconsin to Madeline Island, the only one of of the 23 Apostle Islands that is inhabited.
The Highway Department maintains this Ice Road (US 2, it's on the maps) after the Ferry can no longer operate, until the ice is unsafe again in the Spring. Notice the discarded Christmas trees that mark the way every 1/10 mile...because the visibility can instantly become zero feet if a wind kicks up and there is blowing snow. It can be a risky trip even on a clear day. People have gotten lost and driven into open water miles away, or stuck out in the middle when they drove off the plowed road into deep snow.
We bundled up warm, to shield us from the wind and took food and water with us. On Madeline Island we went to a restaurant and had lunch. When we started to walk back across the ice road we discovered they had closed the road because of dangerous ice conditions. BUT we had no other way to return and it was getting dark, so we went anyway. Then it was even more uncomfortable when a car passed (people drove anyway). But we made it and it was a very pleasant days 6 mile walk.
When walking to the island... when a car approaches, you can see and feel a "wave" approaching the same as if it was unfrozen water. As you stand there you can hear the ice cracking under your feet and feel the Ice rise and fall about 6 inches and see the wave of ice leaving when the car passes...a very uncomfortable feeling standing over 300 feet deep water, miles from shore... even worse if it's a bus or truck. You can easily see the huge cracks in the ice and occasionally ice ridges occur so they must sometimes re-route the road slightly.
In winter, the population of the 18 mile long island drops to about 200 people. During the period after the ferry can no longer plow thru the ice, but before the ice road is safe, children take the air-boat (Ice boat / ice sled) to and from school each day in the city of Bayfield (A "boat" with an airplane engine and propeller).
Too cold for me! I'd have to drive it...wonder if my winter driving skills are up to the task.
ReplyDeleteThree Tanuki
I don't like the cold.
ReplyDeleteTo see my 2+1=3
http://mrsrh.multiply.com/journal/item/277 and then the bog story with photos behind the scene of my entry. http://mrsrh.multiply.com/journal/item/279
awesome
ReplyDeletelovely
ReplyDeletehttp://guazzetto25.multiply.com/journal/item/315/picture_perfect_three?replies_read=31
I can never get over my amazement at seeing cars drive over lakes.
ReplyDeleteWow, interesting pic and info.... no way would I do it tho, lol!
ReplyDeletehttp://laniebg.multiply.com/journal/item/1300/Picture_Perfect_Three
That's fascinating, but I'm not sure I'd want to try it. Certainly not drive across!! Great shot.
ReplyDeletehttp://mitchylr.multiply.com/journal/item/281/Picture_Perfect_THREE
*shudders* Brrrr! LOL Amazing how so many are willing to go out there in the cold!
ReplyDeleteEmpress S's PP "3"
wow you are brave! looks very scary! great pic and story
ReplyDeleteThis is a great interpretation of the theme Bert! It reminded me of watching the Ice Road Truckers on the telly back in England. How scary... certainly not for the faint-hearted! You're a braver chicken than I thought, hardly "chicken" at all! ;)
ReplyDeleteI've managed to choose one for this week too Bert. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://mousepotato66.multiply.com/journal/item/362/Picture_Perfect_Three
That is awesome, I didn't know we had anything here like that on Superior! That would be freaky to walk on the ice and feel it move when a car came along, especially when the road has been "closed". Brave souls you is. Neat photo! Do the trees sink into the water when the ice melts, to create fish habitat, do you know?
ReplyDeleteNow that's an amazing image! :)
ReplyDeleteBRRRRRR...cold enought to freeze a huge lake! wow, what an awesome pic.
ReplyDeletehttp://kimmychanl967.multiply.com/journal/item/16/THREE_funny_hats?replies_read=28
Very interesting entry.
ReplyDeletehttp://djdx.multiply.com/journal/item/456/Picture_Perfect_Three
I think I'd be too scared to even step out on it, let alone drive on it! Fantastic photo, tho :-)
ReplyDeletehttp://joanne7111.multiply.com/journal/item/320/Picture_Perfect_-_Three
I'm sitting here with my mouth open in amazement!!! Wow....I'm really speechless for once.
ReplyDeleteCherie (standing in for Heather who can't get logged in)
Reminds me of all the Garrison Keillor stories about the ice fishing houses up your way!
ReplyDeleteAnd the bet locals make to see who's car is the first to drop into the lake!
Everyone - (Thanks for visitiing and see the link below)
ReplyDeleteand Duchamp -
How's this for an ice fishing house that sunk, on it's way out to Madeline Island . . ? ? ? ?
http://www.rockybarker.com/house.html
What the story didn't mention is that after the house sank, they weighted it down by putting sandbags inside the house on the floor so it wouldn't drift away and become a navigation hazzard... but when they began to raise it from the bottom, they forgot to remove the sandbags, therefore the bottom of the house ripped off and stayed on the bottom.
That's crazy - I don't think I could deal with that. I'm a confirmed SoCal boy.
ReplyDeletehttp://recoveringteacher.multiply.com/journal/item/29/Picture_Perfect_-_Three
Bert, that is quite the story!
ReplyDeleteGreat!
ReplyDeleteYou are a brave couple! That would make me feel very uncomfortable. Have you seen that TV show about the ice road trcukers in the NorthWest Territories? My son knew quite a few of the people involved from his stay in the North. It was fun to watch it with him last year.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteienvan - Yes I have seen that trucker show... very similar, the effect is the same, except this is not so remote, quite civilized. Those truckers earn their money, quite a challenging job.