• Friday-What'sUP July 18 - 09:40 pm

When Chris Gariepy and his friends decide to go for a Jet Ski ride, they really go for a ride. A few of them recently made the trip from Lac La Belle, north to Mantiou Island, which is about three miles off the tip of the Keweenaw. Chris estimates the trip was about 18-20 miles from Lac La Belle to the Island. Luckily, Lake Superior was pretty calm that day and the trip took just over an hour one way.

While they were there, they checked out the Manitou Island Light Station on the eastern tip of the Island and were able to walk around the grounds there.
The shoreline photos Chris took caught my eye, thinking about how many agates must be just sitting there waiting to be picked, since the Island is only accessible by water, the shores most likely are not over-picked already. An agate pickers paradise!

They also were able to get up close to the Gull Rock Lighthouse that sits on a tiny island a half mile off the western tip of Mantiou. It sure looks like they had a perfect day to take a ride and explore an island.

Looks like quite an adventure! Love the rustic Gull Rock Light.

Never actually stepped foot on Manitou Island, but have fished around it several times and flew over it with Neil a couple years ago! ;-)

Looks like a fun way to take in the sights.

I always have had a soft spot in my heart for the Gull Rock Light, it looks so sad unemployed.

I remember seeing these lighthouses on a lighthouse tour a
few years back. There was a photographer for "Michigan
Outdoors" on board also. My daughter, who was young then,
said he must be a bad photographer because the captain of
the Keeweenaw Star circled several times for him to take
pictures!

Great photos. I have never been to Manitou Island.It
is lovely!

up close

Great photos! It's so great to see this up close. Thanks for sharing your photos, Chris. It looks like a very interesting place.

What fun!!!

Good pictures, especially the lighthouses.

In case anyone is wondering, the Keweenaw Land
Trust now owns the 93 acres on the eastern end
that includes the lighthouse. Everything except
the buildings are open to the public, assuming
you can get there. I'd love to make the trip
someday. According to the info in this link I can
hire Brian Helminen (Sand Point Charters, Lac
La Belle). Brian's taken my family fishing in the
past.

http://tinyurl
.com/osc2tu4

Since there's no deer or moose the browse is
untouched leaving additional forms of plant life
not seen on the mainland.

I drooled at the rocks too, Mary. Just
imagine....holy wha!

I was in the Coast Guard stationed at the old Portage Station (next to McLain) when Manitou and the other lighthouses were manned. Could tell some stories about how the Coasties spent their time on the islands, particularly Manitou......some of them came ashore to Copper Harbor for a little visit now and then to conquer the boredom!