It's a waterfall color tour today from the archives. Autumn at two of the well known U.P. Falls that appeared in the past 19 years of photos here on the Pasty Cam, starting with a shot from Matt Behrens when he made a visit to Tahquamenon Falls, near Paradise, back in 2000. Not so much color, as rushing water over the falls here in this photo, but the brush in the foreground is bursting with fall hues.

Our next waterfall stop is at Bond Falls in Ontonagon County, back in 2005. Tom Cook made a stop there and captured the fall colors reflected in the running water of the falls. Even though you can't see the actual trees and leaves, the mirrored colors are pretty amazing in the flowing water.

The last photo was snapped this past Sunday at the Sturgeon River Gorge area, by Judy Byykkonen. She and a group of lady friends took a morning hike to check out the colors and flowage there and you can see from her photo that they found what they were looking for. Check out the foam in the right-hand corner of the photo, that's a good sign that the water is really raging along, creating air bubbles in the water that in turn makes natural foam form like this.

Today's video adventure takes us to the Upper Bond Falls, back in 2014. I can't decide what I enjoyed more, the beautiful colors surrounding the cascade or the magical sound of the water rushing over the falls there. One thing for sure, together they make the visit outstanding.

Very pleasant falls review today. Just a follow-up from yesterday, FRNash had posted the Time Lapse link to the MTU webcam which captured the extreme fog yesterday morning. First thing today I watched it, and captured this still shot as the fog was rolling through. What a magical sight :o)

Can't beat those pix and that short, but sweet video...remember to full-screen it and pump up the volume. And the bridge shot...excellent.

Waterfalls......My favorite of Mother Nature's offerings. It is hard to pick a favorite, they are all great photos. Took the time to drop a line in each place and caught my limit. Fishing season is always open for dreamers.

Charlie at Pasty Central (Chopper):
"… Just a follow-up from yesterday, FRNash had posted the Time Lapse link to the MTU webcam which captured the extreme fog yesterday morning. First thing today I watched it, and captured this still shot as the fog was rolling through. What a magical sight :o)"

Thanks Charlie, for posting that still shot so early today (06:54 am by my clock on MST), so that folks can have a chance to see it. No way could I have posted in such a timely manner unless after an "all-nighter".

As further follow up from yesterday, I noticed the bridge was lowered at ≈10:00AM and raised at ≈2:00PM on Tuesday October 10 (in the October 10 time lapse video at 25 sec. & 36 sec. respectively). I wonder what that was all about, it didn't seem to be related to any boat traffic.

Does anyone have a clue?

One could spend an entire Summer trying to visit all the U.P. falls. In Baraga last week, I had the pleasure to meet Phil Stagg at the Baraga Visitor Center. He's written a half dozen illustrated books on the waterfalls of just Michigan.

Speaking of misty web cams, there was a day back on May 19th that I captured that could have been taken from a Stephen King movie.

College Avenue Cam - May 19, 2017

Same day from the Lift Bridge cam. Pay special notice to the Moon rise right at the beginning and surprise of window washers at the end.

Lift Bridge Cam - May 19, 2017

FRNash,
I suspect the answer to your question rests in the movements of ATVers. They will lower the bridge at specified times or with an appointment with the local law enforcement that provide and escort. You can see some movement on the lower deck. It is left all the way down during Winter to accommodate snow mobiles. Other mysterious movements can be due to maintenance. The operators must periodically grease and oil moving parts. If there has been no boat or ATV traffic but an “oil and grease” is due they will move the bridge to satisfy the maintenance requirement after applying the grease.

D. A. (Midwested):
"… FRNash,
I suspect the answer to your question rests in the movements of ATVers. They will lower the bridge at specified times or with an appointment with the local law enforcement that provide and escort. You can see some movement on the lower deck. It is left all the way down during Winter to accommodate snow mobiles. …"

Thanks, D.A.:
I was aware of the snowmobiles, but I didn't realize that they also accommodate the ATVers. I guess I "shoulda knowed dat". 'Tis nice that they do!