Across the U.P. there are some vantage points that are higher UP than others. Today we feature a few of them from various heights. Back in 2003, Jon Cadwell was UP on Quincy Hill in the Tram Car that takes you down the hill before you get off the Tram to head into the mine. Beautiful view from UP there, too.

The next photo is looking at the observation tower at the Seney Wildlife Refuge. Marsha Galbraith snapped that one, back in 2011. I can just imagine the view of the refuge you must have from that height there. Pretty much a "bird's eye view" and just think of the exercise climbing all those steps…Whew!

We're back closer to the ground for the last photo, taken by my niece, Sarah Drew just a few days ago. I'm not sure where she was standing to snap this shot of the Ranger heading under the Lift Bridge on her way back from Isle Royale, but it's almost the same vantage point of the Bridge Cam. Maybe a little lower and closer, too.

For our feature video today, we're back on the Quincy Mine Tram car. We get to ride along as they head down that 54% grade to get to the bottom of the hill where the entrance to the mine is. Hold on tight folks!

Great pictures and a fun tram ride. Thanks!!

How cool...thanks for the ride!
Did anyone else feel the urge to raise their hands in the air, or am I alone in this?

Great photos and videos this morning! Thanks
all!

About the observation tower at the Seney
National Wildlife Refuge, Mary says "I can just
imagine the view of the refuge you must have
from that height there". Hey, no need to strain
your imagination! Get a real-time view every
day using this link the the Midwest Haze Cam
webcam mounted up there:

https://www.mwhazecam.net

It's one of many webcams I visit every day to
keep in touch with what's going on all over the
upper Great Lakes. Beautiful images through all
the seasons!

Thanks Dunerat! That webcam will be added to my list too. Beautiful view!

Alex, you're braver than i! I'd be hanging on for dear life, if you could get me into the tram car to start with!!

Nice pictures with some neat perspectives. The steepest part the cog train goes down looks to be about a 35 Percent grade;)

jbuck (Jbuck):
"… I'd be hanging on for dear life, if you could get me into the tram car to start with!!"

I wouldn't have a problem with the tram car, but that Seney Observation Tower? That looks worse than the ol' Cut River Bridge and its "231 STEPS TO THE BOTTOM". (From the south side, a 231-step staircase descends all the way down to the Cut River and the beach along Lake Michigan.)

I remember crossing the bright shiny new Cut River Bridge shortly after it was built (built in 1947), and hiking down (and back!) several years later, in my early teens. Boy talk about cardio exercise! I couldn't do either that or the Seney Observation Tower now!

Alex, I would do the wave.... It is just with my vertigo, I would hate to be the person sitting in front of me...

Wow FR...that was amazing! The technology is mind-blowing and every bit as entertaining as drone-technology. Thanks for the link.

Back in '97 me, my sister and our Dad took that tram car ride down to the entrance of the mine. I think that's the part of the mine that was being used during the Civil War. Cap'n Paul, why is there no water coming out from down there? Or is it below that level? My great-grandfather, my grandfather and my dad worked at Quincey #2 and Quincey #6. They didn't like being underground. My great grandfather worked long enough to get $ for a farm in Paavola. People at the time thought he was well off because he had two barns and that three story house. After their divorce my Mom and us 3 kids lived in that house. Mom didn't like it much 'cause there was no electricity or running water. The outhouse was over near one of the barns. I don't think kids today realize how lucky they are not to have to go to the outhouse in the rain or the winter. There was a pitcher pump at the kitchen sink for water. Were those the 'good old' days? Whoops, kinda long, sorry.

If you were there in '97, the water hadn't made it to the 7th level yet. Once it did in 2000, the water started flowing out the east adit where the tours go in today.

Speaking of water, I was hoping to see someone at the bottom of the tram ride throwing buckets of water on passengers...kinda like the Snake River Falls ride at Cedar Point.