Barb Bouwkamp sent in these photos last week, saying they were taken on a nice, sunny, freezing day, as she was headed to their place at Traverse. She added there was nothing spectacular, except maybe a few, but then again Barb is used to the drive past Rice Lake and out to Traverse, so maybe it doesn't seem as spectacular anymore, like it does to those that don't get to see these scenes often enough.

She wasn't exactly sure what was going on in the first two photos on Rice Lake, saying that even the Rice Lake people were wondering what those folks were doing out there, having a winter ritual perhaps? Then someone said they were ice fishing, which actually is a ritual for some people. But there were no shanties or people sitting on buckets with their line in the lake. Barb thought maybe they were all gathered to watch someone fishing or maybe out there just because the ice was thick enough and safe to go out on, because they went out there all in a row like ants marching in a line. Interesting mystery…perhaps what happens at Rice Lake, stays at Rice Lake and we may never know for sure.

The next picture with the snowy lump is the infamous "Gull Rock" which is on the north end of Rice Lake. If you aren't familiar with this rock, it's a popular gathering place for the seagulls who have whitewashed it with their droppings.

After passing by Rice Lake, Barb headed out towards Big Traverse Bay, down what she called a "white road to whiteness". It took her to the whiteness around the Big Lake at Traverse, to the snowed in boat landing there and around to the irons that go out into Lake Superior at Traverse Bay. Once she got there, she spotted something strange in the sky, shining brightly…is that…why yes, I think it's the sun!

Footnote: Over the weekend, the Keweenaw experienced a thaw, with sunshine, 40° temperatures and some rain along with the warmth, so conditions have changed a bit from these photos here today.

The photos are all very nice-especially Big Traverse
boat landing in the winter.

Beautiful Wintertime.

Awesome pictures!! Looks like somebody had a good
time building a snowman out there. THAT must have
been fun!!!

Thanks for showing us the wintry side of these spots
that we see so often during the summer.

Looks like fun. Not much ice fishing going on in our neck of the woods this year.

Beautiful photos. Thank you Barb! I just love
being outside at this time of year, when we get
these calm sunny days and everything is so
brilliant and pure!

Beautiful shots!!

There sure is a lot of white in those pictures. It looks like the snowman is an ice fisherman sitting down and patiently waiting for a bite. Snowman have no shortage of patience so he should be successful. By the sounds of things in the descriptions gull rock is just as white in the summer as it is in the winter. Thanks for sharing the different views of winter.