• Wednesday-What'sUP September 15 - 05:44 am

Having lived here in the Keweenaw my entire life, I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I've only been to the Porcupine Mountains once and that was about 30 years ago. But thanks to a backpacking trip by Carl Shroeder, we can all still get a view of the Lake of the Clouds, along with what I think is the Big Carp River starting it's way from the mountain lake to the Big Lake. Thinking about the trek the river makes from the tops of the mountains to where it runs into Lake Superior, gets me to wondering what the elevation differences in the start and the end of the river might be? Most shots of this beautiful western Upper Peninsula attraction, in the Porcupine Mountain State Park, are taken from the lookout, so this is a unique angle taken from somewhere on the trails. If you click on over to Carl's slideshow, you can take your own virtual hike along the trail surrounding the Lake. Very scenic!

Thanks for the great pics & slideshow!

Beautiful stars this morning in a clear UP sky. Good Morning all!

Great pictures, love the lake!

Good morning from Mishawaka IN. Now thats some beautiful scenery! Thanks Carl for sharing.

I lived there how long and I too have not been to the Porcupine Mountains. Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing!

being a former res. of that area,Lake of the Clouds has always been a favorite of mine.It's so hard to believe that the big lake is so close.Looking at those breath taking shots makes me appreicate Pasty cam. thank you

Don't feel bad, Iv'e lived here all my life and haven't been there either. Now it's on my list of things to do. Sure looks beautiful!

I cant believe the earlier posts saying they had not been up there.I strongly urge anyone who has not been there to go as soon as they can. It is important to show that we the public appreciate these special places and they deserve protection and funding so as to last for generations to come.

My hubby and I took a cruise up to the Porkies once this summer. It was the first time in a long time. Just as enjoyable now as it was as a child. There is a little cave on the left side of the road as you are heading to the porkies that we always stop at at too. We used to call it the bat cave as kids. Anyone ever been in there?

Quit being embarrassed, Mary, and get back there at peak color! We usually spend one day of our color tour in the Keweenaw and one day towards the Porkies. After going up to the overlook last year, I think we took the road by the gift shop (do go in there and look at all the interesting hibernation displays, etc.) and then kept going on that road. The colors were amazing and it's one of the best roads for color in the UP. Beautiful! We'll be up in about a week and a half.

I have been is the little cave to the left. It goes in about 100 feet then there is a 4 foot high wall built. Water from a spring in the cave fills it to the top of the wall. The water is clear and cold. Bring a flashlight it is a bit dark in there.

Ever seen the the Devil's Washtub? It's between Copper Harbor & Eagle Harbor. It's a rock formation that some of Lake Superior goes into & the water splashes around in. It looks like & sounds like when a child is in a bathtub splashing water all around. But you have to look down at it & I'm afraid of height so was always nervous when we stopped there. When I was little I really thought the devil was in there.! Maybe that was my real fear hey! haha

I've got a picture from years ago in my gallery (Marsha Galbraith). I can't believe I let my daughter walk there with my husband. It's hard to find now, because it isn't marked, but we did find it last year. I think it used to be marked.

Mary, you were wondering about the elevation between lake of the clouds and lake superior? I have an answer...

Lake of the Clouds: 1082 ft.
Lake Superior: 602 ft.
Elevation difference: 480 ft.

Also the roadside cave along M-107 is actually an old mine adit. I believe it is the Cuyahoga Mine that was dug in the 1850's, but was abandoned because it was unprofitable. In all the years I lived in the Keweenaw, I was never able to find the Devil's Washtub to get some pictures. I guess I never asked the right people where it was, hehe.

Marsha,
Great pics of the Devil Washtub...I had never heard of that location, until today. Also, I loved the pic of the Ambasador pizza in your photo album. That deserves a WOW! As in WOW am I ever hungry now that I looked at the pic. ;)

Mary,
Don't feel bad about not getting to the Porcupines that often. Years ago, we used to go all the time...but then after discovering the Keweenaw in the late 80's, we just don't get out to the Porkies that often, anymore.
One of the differences that I noticed when we went just a few years ago...compared to going in the 80's...is that the tree growth along the incline up the mountains, now blocks out your assent, and you can't look over the edge and see how high up you are going.

Dr. & Capt.: Now you know the right people!

Sur5er: My pizza picture did turn out good, but people must have thought I was really weird (and a tourist) to be photographing my food!

Marsha,
That's not weird taking a pic of an Amabasador pizza...because their pizzas are art...right. So you were taking a pic of a piece of art ;)

Beautiful shots.

The Porkies are definitely worth the trip. I have tried to make it there for Fall colors the last few years, and hope to keep it as close to an annual tradition as I can. The pictures were taken from the Escarpment Trail, which is one of my favorite hikes anywhere. I, myself, don't mind the round trip hike, but it would be nice if there was some way for visitors who aren't able to handle the entire round trip to park at the Lake of the Clouds overlook parking lot, catch a shuttle down M-107 to the trail spur that connects to the Escarpment Trail, and walk back to their cars.

The Washtub is a pretty good spot for jumping; down the road a few miles is one even better. I'll never forget last July when we were all gathered on the rocks, waiting for this one kid to jump, and suddenly an old grandma came out of nowhere and plunged into the water. It took us all by surprise. After that, you knew that anyone can jump from the Washtub.

Speaking of age, I downloaded last weeks pictures from the camera memory card using drive E and then saved to a folder labeled Sept 05 and then reformatted the card and replaced it in the camera. Good. no BAD, the new folder was also in drive E! And last weeks pictures are in cyber space. And I am in my good wife's doghouse.

Lol, that's why I'm still considered archaic; I still use 35mm film cameras only. That way, if I scan pictures in and they get lost in cyberspace, I can just re-scan them in :-) Plus I think the quality is better, but I suppose that's just me.

One of these days I should set up a photo album on Pasty and post my pictures, although most people think they're boring; lots of geology/mineral shots of the UP......

Do it Capt. Paul & Dr. Nat! I'll bet lots of us
won't find them boring.

YOOPER...Where you be????

Cherylmi: I can identify with you! I also am afraid of heights. I saw the Devil's Washtub the first time as a small child and it scairt me something fierce! Had a few nightmares about it. Went back to look at it as an adult and I didn't have any nightmares, but could understand a child's fears. The name alone could make you uncomfortable as well as the fear of falling into it! HeeHee

Jumping into the Devil's Washtub? NO WAY, JOSE! Unless you're talking about a different washtub. There is no way to climb out. Anyhow, I think the Devil's Washtub is now private property. When leaving Copper Harbor, after you're past the Brockway Mt. road, the road turns right. When it turns left and you're going parallel to the shore, the washtub is near the end of the guard rail. You really have to be careful if you haven't been there before, 'cause it's possible to come right out to a place where the only way is down into the thing. Scary thought. There used to be a trail to it through the brush. Just a word of caution. I have some pix of the place if I can figure out how to get 'em from the cd to a folder and how to e-mail them.

I've never been to the Porkies but the Devil's Washtub was always a spot to stop at. Was there 22 yrs ago and told my fiancee (at that time) "NEVER TURN YOUR BACK TOWARD THE WASHTUB". Well he didn't listen to me and got wet. Needless to say between MOUNTAIN DRIVE AND THE WASHTUB, he drank almost a case of beer before we got back to Eagle River. I really cherish those memories.

I would suggest that everybody who hasn't been to the Porkies, go there right away. I spent 3 nights there last spring, in a different cabin each night. I stayed in Speakers and Buckshot cabins on Lake Superior, and it's a great opportunity to own a piece of paradise, if only for one day. The cabins cost about $60 a night. There's no electricity, and each cabin comes with a wood burning stove and a saw. They have pots and pans and utinsels so you don't have to haul that stuff in. They have from 2-8 bunks with mattresses. Each cabin has a little diary where the renters post comments and tell stories of their stays. The pit toilets are a luxury considering where you are!
Campfires, deer, bears, hikes through beautiful woodlands. The porkies has it all, and you don't have to sleep in a tent! My personal favorite was the Section 17 cabin. Very secluded with a short 1.5 mile hike along a beautiful stream in beautiful old growth cedar.