We share another H Donn de Yampert adventure, this time UP North in the Keweenaw, just south of the little town of Phoenix, off US-41. The Cliff Drive, featuring the massive cliffs of the bluff in the area and the Old Cliff Mine Site. The Cliff Mine and the town of Clifton were established around 1844, with the peak population of the town at 700 in 1877. The Cliff Mine was the first successful copper mine in the Copper Country and the most productive copper mine in the United States from 1845 through 1854. It was 1,080 feet deep and produced 825 tons of copper in 1875. All that remains are a few old foundations and rock piles that folks still peruse, hoping to find bits of copper in the piles there.

We have an interesting video from North 02 about the Old Copper Culture of North America, which covers some of the history of copper back to it’s beginnings in the Great Lakes region. It’s just over 16 minutes long, but the history contained is fascinating.

Very nice pictures with such lush
greens. Very good information,
too. I didn't know that. I've been
up there and loved the experience.

Very nice pictures with such lush
greens. Very good information,
too. I didn't know that. I've been
up there and loved the experience.

How cool is that tree growing out of the rock? That
thing got SISU.

Cool vid!

One of my favorites places in the Keweenaw - we have forded that water hole! The cemeteries are very interesting and historic.

Thanks H Donn de Yampert (very interesting name BTW). Like many, Cliff Drive is a favorite of mine.

That "water hole" is actually the West Branch of the Eagle River.

I can't remember the source but I once read that more prehistoric man hours were spent extracting copper from Isle Royale and the Keweenaw that those that built the pyramids of Egypt.

Donna,
Here's another view of that lonely tree:

And even though that tree look lonely, it's not alone. That's it on the far right with several more hanging on in the cracks next door and below.

Alone, but never lonely…I can relate.
I drove the Cliff Drive several times on
the Wing, but the road was very rough
and I had to pay attention to cracks and
potholes and missed most of the scenery.
And speaking of copper, does anyone
remember the skit on Johnny Carson called
“The Copper Clapper Caper”? Look it up on
YouTube, it’s hilarious.

I do indeed Alex. With the guy from Dragnet. Johnny could barely keep a straight face. It WAS hilarious!