• Tuesday-What'sUP September 24 - 09:26 am

If you've been keeping up with the Pasty Cam pages over the past couple weeks, you know we had quite the storm here in the Keweenaw two weeks ago. It was described as a nor'easter with high winds and heavy rain. We featured photos on September 13th of the huge waves that were crashing onto shore in Copper Harbor the day of the storm.

Today's photos from Brandi Rivest show us the aftermath and damage caused by the waves at McLain State Park. She walked down the road behind the campground where the cabins are with her family to check it out first-hand. All the wash outs and damage to the road you see in the photos here today, are a result of that storm. I'm sure earlier storms helped set the stage for the impending damage, but that storm was the one that "broke the camel's back", so to speak.

The accumulation of wood that washed ashore on McLain's beach came from people's docks, support walls, staircases; one camp even lost their pump house to the storm. The waves washed away the beach in front of many of the camps and homes along Lake Superior's shore.

The beauty of this Lake is part of the allure of the U.P., but one also has to be aware of and respect the power within her waters when the weather stirs her up. It's hard to imagine that much power in the wind or the water, but combine them together and it becomes an imposing force. Let's hope Lady Superior stays on the calmer side for a while now.

These are awesome! I've seen pictures like this from my cousin. Unbelievable what that storm did! Don't mess with Mother Superior! Thanks for sharing those with us!

They really are amazing photos. I had no idea how bad that storm
must have been. Those who have sailed Superior's waters in a
storm must stand in awe of the power of her waves. Thanks for the
story of the storm's damage in pictures, Brandi, and thank you,
Mary, for providing such thoughtful words to go with the pictures.

That lake kicked some of the garbage out of her too.
I peeked at the mess over in L'Anse....lots of
plastic in that mix! It's gross...folks..please, put
your garbage where it belongs, and please...have
everyone you know do the same. THANK YOU!!

And plant MINT for erosion! I remember hearing that
way back when....once Mint takes root....

I didn't know that about mint, hmmmmm. Learn something every day....

I remember as a child I used to like storms - lots of lightning, thunder, wind, rain - it all just fascinated me. But as an adult I worry about getting struck by lightning, wind damage, flooding or, how will my kids and their kids fare in all the chaos.... seems that growing up takes all the fun out of it.

McLain Park's beach really gets the brunt of Lake Superior storms. It's been slowly being eroded. There used to be campsites years ago that now would be out in the lake. Last time I was there, that road had a nice grassy area on the lake side, which are now obviously also gone.
Thanks for the photos/update to the shoreline there.

Lake Superior...she's large and in charge!

These photos are amazing! I was there the week of the storm and the waves were bad enough on Big Traverse Bay that day, but the open waters of Lake Superior must have been unbelievable! We were at McLain State Park two days before the storm, and it's hard to believe the difference in just 48 hours. Then two days after the storm, there were beautiful skies and calm water.

No fair...Where are all the road warning signs? When damage like that occurs in SE-MI, they get out the red barrels and you're stuck in 10-mile traffic back-ups :-(

The Big Lake (inner ocean) is about 12-18 inches higher this year. I sent Charlie photos I had taken of the same area last year. The erosion is astonishing. Consider: the oceans getting higher by 12-18 inches and the damage done. Nuf said.

Have to add: McLain Park is the "best deal around." It's used year-round for hiking, snow-shoeing, XC skiing, wind-surfing, kite sailing, swimming, not to mention the camping, and the sunsets are spectacular. Regarding the erosion, my daughter used to camp on the lake side of the road where there is now water. I've taken photos over the years and the difference between 2013 and today's photos is astonishing. I have speculated (tongue in cheek)on how long it would be before the shores of Bear Lake would be reached. Several years ago I asked about plans to move the campground area to the west end of the park where the beach house is. The Ranger told me it was LACK OF MONEY--that they were actually delaying improvements to the shower house because of a possible move. It would help if folks who used the park and do not pay the $10 annual fee for use would consider the value it has for recreation for the Keweenaw folks.

Nature's fury!

WOW the Power of the big lake.is unmatched ...nice
fotos brandi.!!!