Lake Superior goes through a tug of war each spring. The daytime temperatures rise, the nighttime temperatures fall....thus breaking apart the icy shoreline only to freeze up again. Looks like Roger Kangas was out near Gay, MI, spotting these crystal-like chunks piled and floating about. The ice floes suspended in the water, a light dusting of snow on the trees in the distance and the Gay smokestack peeking out above them, makes for a chilling, yet inviting shot!

Good morning to all, I can not wait untill summer is here!

Roger looks like you have been busy taking some very nice pictures. Nice pic.

I took the dogs yesterday to Sturgeon Bay, on Lk Michigan just south of the Straits. Still ice to the horizon, but along the shoreline the Spring melt is beginning up in the woods, and as the water seeps down through the sand to the lake, it melts the snow above and opens a thin crescent of water along the shore. Bare sand and open water, what joy! Grady and Tucker ran through the water, happy to get their feet wet, while I marveled at the absolute silence: no birds, no waves, no wind. In a few weeks the ice will begin to break up and it will be a lot noisier.

I have to admit to being jealous. I'm in the UK this week and have to drive from London to Scotland this afternoon through what they call here "gales", complete with winds gusting up to 65-75 mph. Wish I were in the Keweenaw...

Nice picture! It makes me want to drop everything and hit the road!

We here in West Texas are experiencing mid summer temps in the high 80's and sunshine. Every now and again I will engage the pasty.com and "cool off" with those snowy scenes that are still common this time of year. I can honestly say it was a good feeling to get outside and ride the bike under those superb conditions:)

My brother spotted a large freighter about a mile out of Copper Harbor last evening. Kind of early isn't it?

I believe the Paul Tregurtha is headed to Marquette from Duluth/Superior with a load of coal for the Shiras Power Plant downtown, the Soo Locks do not open until the 25th.

Nice shot Roger. You are making us all anxious for spring to arrive! It's been a long cold winter. For some reason a poem my sweet ol' granny used to recite comes to mind:"Spring has sprung, Fall has fell, Winter is here and it is colder than usual." ;>)

Does anyone know if the Gladiators won last night in the boys basketball game?

Greg: Yes they did. Ontonagon 67 Bark River Harris 59.

At the risk of having to endure the wrath of the boss, I'm going to take a quick station break here and wish Charlie Hopper a Happy Birthday, and many more!

Well, since everyone is doing the "weather" this morning, I guess I will chime in. It has been in the 80's for the last 4 or 5 days down here in Orlando and along the Atlantic coast. This displaced (temporarily) Yooper is loving it. Haven't had socks on for I don't know how many days. Think we will run over to Blue Spring State Park and look for manatees today. A guy could get used to this!

Happy Birthday Charlie!! Mine was yesterday and I wasn't one either. I became a senior citizen! Have a great one!

Happy Birthday Charlie. I always send family members to the 3-19-2003 archive to see the Paul Bunyan Chair. We were all just kids visiting Grandpa (Henry Pietila) when the chair was on Bumbletown Hill.

Greetings from Pompano Beach, Florida.
I really do not miss the snow, cold and ice, but I do like to look at the pictures; some are very beautiful. Sometimes it makes me want to come back....Naaaaaw
I think I will go to the beach instead...
All kidding aside, I think the pictures are very nice; eh?

Boy, what a familiar sight, the Gay smokestack! Brought back many memories of the area. When I looked at the photo, that was the first thing I focused on! Whether seeing it from land or off the lake, we always got our "bearings" when it came into view.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Charlie. My twin sister will celebrate her birthday tomorrow. I'm just waiting for the picture from your house of the first boat of the year to go past Eagle River.
Hope to see you all this summer again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARLIE! PUT A CANDLE IN ONE OF THOSE AWESOME PASTIES AND EAT IT TO YOUR HEALTH, AND MANY MORE BIRTHDAYS!

Yep, here in West Tex (AMA) we are with the windows open and the grandkids on Spring Break. They are roving up and down the block on their new bikes. We probably won't see anything like snow for a couple of seasons now. We needed a bunch because we have been in such a drought. Love to check in to Pasty cam each day a remember back when. Then I fix the panhandle folks who say we have a lake and send 'em a few of Superior---That's a lake.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Mary, How about some springtime pictures next week to get us in the mood.

I have mentally "checked out" of winter and am ready for warmth and green

Good morning in the U.P. from texas. Paul what a great picture with the Gay smokestack in it. Reminded me of going smelting on the tabacco river when we were young. Then the big smelt fry the next day,making my mouth water. Have great day & thank you.

RGG - Cedar Rapids ,

I'll be happy to post some springtime pictures, when we start having some springtime weather! It's kind of hard to get current pictures of springlike scenes with two feet of snow on the ground!
Did you forget, this is the U.P.? Spring actually doesn't arrive here the same time as the rest of the country! :->

Just what I've been wondering about-- how the Big Lake is looking this time of year.
Beautiful Superior- playing the edge- between winter and spring. Someday I hope to be UP there to see the breakup of the ice.

And to those "hurrying" the seasons along- soon enough we'll be complaining how sticky and hot it is!! Our lives are flying by fast enough!

Hey, Charlie! Hope you have a great day!
Know what I miss almost as much as Pasties? Fresh smelt! Suppose you could find a way to add them to your Still Waters product line? Then for a couple of weeks a year we could really have some fun!

By Marsha, Genesee and Aura on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 12:55 pm:

Just saw a bluebird right out my backdoor in Genesee (near Flint). Where was the Paul Bunyon chair in Bumbletown? We used to hike up the hill and sit on an old couch when visiting my brother-in-law. Can't wait to get back to Aura!

Ahh, the old smokestack, sentinel of Gay. It has beckoned home many a weary wind and wave tossed mariner over the years, offering safe haven and respite from the tempestuous moods of ol' Lady Superior.

Hello from sunny central California. It will be 85 degrees today. We are having a Blue Angels Airshow this weekend at Naval Air Station Lemoore. It is nice to have it in March for a change. They normally schedule us for June or July when the temps are 120+ at the airfield.

Can't wait for our trip to the UP in August to visit family. Looking forward to being at our camp on Lake Shore Drive, sitting on the beach, looking out at Lake Superior.

OH MY! That's the Gay Smokestack... The one I played in when I was a kid! Oh the memories that brings back! Man, I wish I were there again! At first, I thought it was a lighthouse... Then I looked closer!

WE NEED A DAILY PHOTO OF THE SMOKESTACK POSTED!

Weather seems to be a topic today so I will ad my $.02. Here in North FL about 80 with blue skys. The weekend is more of the same. First seafood festival of the year at the beach is tomorrow. We will go out eat shrimp, crabs etc listen to live bands then walk down the beach and watch all the folks from up north try to swim in the ocean and then coming running out yelling "OH GOSH THAT IS COLD". They seem to think just cause the sun is shining and the temp is in the 80's so is the water. Right now the water temp is about 58 still not like the big lake but still cold.
Charlie "Happy Birthday"

Hey, Charlie, Happy Birthday! I remember when we were kids out at camp. My you could tickle those ivories!
Great photo, per usual. I was thinking that it was sort of spooky, in a way....a beautiful way.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR CHARLIE...........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU......................

WISHING YOU THE BEST...


EAGLE HARBOR!

gEORGE IN milw Boy do I reemember the smoke stack in Gay There was a bunch of us kids from Gay Lake Linden and Hubbell and we made smoke come out of the top of the stack and got in troulbe, not to much but those memories.

Charlie,
I don't know you, but I wholeheartedly appreciate you. Happy Birthday!

Just went grocery shopping...what did I find in the bread aisle? Bunny Buns!!!!(no bread though)

Major chain....I did a double-take! H. B. to Charlie!! ;)

The Big Lake looks pretty much open, are the smaller inland lakes starting to break up yet?????

Years ago on the fourth of july someone would build a fire in the bottom of Gay smokestack and black smoke would come pouring out of the top.We could see it from out on the lake while fishing.It was a kind of tradition at the time.

Weather here in Central Forida is in the 80's. 45 more days before we point the Motor Home toward the Copper County. Can hardly wait!

Happy Birthday Charlie!!Hope you have a GREAT day.We all apreciate you.

Love the Picture

hows the deer making out this year with all that
snow have not heard anything regarding same thanks

The deer are doing fine. I wish the big deer would teach the little deer to look both ways before crossing a highway.

Kosko,
are you the Kosko from CHS class of 1977?

Hi, I have a non-picture related question... we're coming to the UP this summer for vacation and were wondering what it's like flying into Houghton/Hancock airport. Are the planes teeny-tiny, or full sized planes? Any one know? Any info would be helpful. And, if we don't fly into Houghton/Hancock, any other recommendations? Thanks!!!
BTW... beautiful picture!!

Sue,SF
The Houghton/Hancock airport is a fine, full service, full sized airport! And it's the only one in the Keweenaw. I've landed there in winter and summer, and there's no problem!

The plane that flies into CMX i think is a 26 passenger turbo prob, it,s not a bad ride in fact I like the ride, took it many times from detroit.

Happy Birthday Charlie! May you have many more!

It's like flying in a soup can with the sound effects of being in a 10 gallon drum being rolled down a gravel road but you get there.

Thanks for the info... what other airports are in the area?
And what's the closest "major" airport (closer than Minneapolis), if we wanted to do it that way.

to Non Freq flyer... if you're not being funny, that certainly isn't very appealing.

Can't wait to do in again, but from florida it takes along time to get there,alot of plane changes and layovers. but it's worth it , love being down the camp.

Sue, Non-freq isn't kidding. Flying into the UP is an ADVENTURE! The other closest airport of any size is Marquette. Of course there is always Detroit and Mpls, but then there is the drive...
Make sure that your shoes are warm, or bring socks as you never know if your are going to be in the prop, the other planes are only bigger tin cans, but a bit warmer:) Plus if there is ground fog, well ya just never know if ya might end up in Marquette anyway. However, the pilots are great....and very adventuresome;)

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! My most memorable birthday was a few years back when I had lunch with The Gipper:

Thanks again, I think! :-) My main concern is getting motion-sick from a small plane, which is why I'm concerned about small airports. Not the best way to start a vacation when you're feeling queasy from flying!

THANKS FOR THE INFO ON THE DEER SITUATION AS I HUNT AROUND ALSTON

Sue in SF, you can also fly Northwest into Traverse City or Pellston in the Lower Peninsula. I think they both still have 727s or something on that order. It's a long drive to Keweenau, though, about 6-8 hours from Pellston, another one-two from TC, depending on how fast you drive. Better to avoid the hassle and fly into Houghton. I sympathize with the airsickness problem. It has kept me on the ground for the last 15 years at least when I flew into Philly in a bad storm with unbelievable turbulence all the way in; then on the flight home I had a cold and ruptured an eardrum. Haven't seen England since 1984, but until they build a bridge I will have to visit only in memories.

Thanks, Therese! Where is "just below the bridge"

Sue-Try Green Bay. I imagine they have jet service there. The Keweenaw is about a 4 hr drive from Green Bay.

It's about a six & half hour drive from Minneapolis St. Paul airport to the Copper Country

THere is jet service into Marquette on American Eagle--small jet but nice ride.

Thank you everybody for your input. Thinking maybe I should take some Dramamine and fly into Houghton!

Gary, checked that, but too many connections.

Good airport at Escanaba - three hours to Houghton by car, in good weather.

Walter P. You hunt around Alston? You must know where the Slim Buck is then. How about the China Road just to the west of Nisula?

Sue Judging by my wifes reaction to flying out of The Houghton County Airport, you should take something that will make you unconcious.

Sue in SF, We can confirm the above stories about flights into Hancock airport. Would like to add, if you're considering it at all, please check EARLY for good rates. Since they're "smaller passenger" planes i.e. fewer customers, rates rise quickly as seats fill up. Recently checked rates so Grandma could come for MTU graduation day in May only to find them out of our price range from Detroit to Hancock. Not a problem in the end for us tho, as Grandma was taken back by the idea of flying in and missing the beautiful scenery, even tho for us it's a 10 hour drive,,,,without Grandma...12-13 with. Turns out none of us would miss it!

Boy if only we could get Republic/North Central back Sue. DC9s/CV580s. And some of the best pilots around. Oh the Good Ole days.

RCW, People didn't know how lucky they were in those days. Top notch in all ways. It is a shame we lost them. When my Mom died we left here in the morning and flew direct to Chicago.Had a short stop there then on to Houghton. They picked us up and we were at Plowe's at 7p.m.

It is ridiculous the prices it costs for a round trip ticket from DTW (detroit) to CMX (Houghton Co.)...
I can fly ANYWHERE in the United States, and even some internatonal destinations from Detroit CHEAPER than it costs me for a ticket to Houghton Co.
And what did they do a few months ago ?
They cut the flights from DTW to CMX. Now I have to fly to Minneaplolis & change flights to get to CMX. And of course with that, the price went even higher.
The Copper Country will never be able to attract ant signifiant business interests to "open shop" there with the cost of flight service presently being charged.

My

So what is a small airplane to Sue......about 26 souls plus the folks in front.....A small airplane to me is 4 seats, 200 mph, and about two hours from Detroit. The airlink into CMX is nothing to worry about. They fly non-flyers in everyday and nobody has a problem. I find that the best part of my vacation is flying my own airplane to CMX, and last year was a real treat. I had the wife screaming in one ear while Minneapolis Center was trying to vector me thru some weather. I told the wife she was acting like a 4 year old, and she hissed "just wait till we get on the ground". We did, no problem, and no hard feelings. Every pilot knows that if he or she takes very good care of themselves in the air, that the folks in the back seat will be just fine..................Have fun

Charlie Hopper you have a sense of humor. I'm willing to bet President Reagan didn't have much to eat at that lunch at all.

Sue SF,

As a frequent [southern] CA to Copper Country traveler, I can give you a little advice.
The flight from MSP to CMX is less than an hour in the air and generally not a problem. The flights from DTW to CMX were MUCH longer. I have flown to Green Bay and Appleton and driven up, but that makes for a really long day. Plus you'll end up on a turbo prop about half the time to/from MSP anyway.
You'll want to leave yourself some time to get to/from the commuter section of MSP to the gates that the jets use. The moving sidewalks help, but it is quite a haul. Also, I don't know if was just bad luck, but the last two times I've flown I would have missed connections if I hadn't chosen a longer (2+ hour!!!) layover at MSP. With flights being full these days, you can't count on getting on the 'next flight'.
The Saab 340's that Mesaba operates seem quieter and more comfortable than the Dash-8's they used to fly, but maybe I'm just getting so old that I don't care. :)

My $.02.
Dave

FRAN , Yup, Thats what deregulation did for us.

Sue in SF,

Weather is sometimes a problem flying into CMX, particularly in the winter. But if you're planning a summer visit, that probably won't be an issue.

Several years ago I flew there (or at least tried to) in early December. The flight was scheduled to land around sunset, and it was a bit foggy, not nice weather. We circled a bit, made a pass over the airport, and then continued on to the east.

Someone, don't know if it was the pilots or someone else, decided that it wasn't safe to land at CMX, so on we went to Marquette. IMO, not being a pilot or anything, the conditions in Marquette were just about the same as in Hancock.

Well, I'm not going to question pilot judgement, and I'd rather be late and alive than some other options. I had reserved a rental car w/ Enterprise at CMX at a pretty reasonable rate.

So I went to the Enterprise counter in Marquette, and they insisted that I would have to pay a very high rate because I had no advance reservation, and wanted a one way rental (Marquette to Hancock). Fortunately, I had brought the local phone number for Enterprise at CMX, not just the national 800 number that's in St. Louis or someplace.

Called the agent at CMX, and she put me on hold and contacted a supervisor somewhere, and arranged for me to get a car in Marquette at the same rate that I had originally booked, with no extra charge for one way. Drove to Houghton, giving a ride to a family from east Houghton that was similarly stranded.

Worst thing was, I missed about half the Tech hockey game that I had planned to attend that night.

Regarding ticket prices, as others have noted, Northwest usually charges very high rates. I'd suggest checking into the cost to Minneapolis as well as Houghton/Hancock, and then seeing what it would cost to rent a car. I have some friends in Alaska, who are originally from the Keeweenaw, and they save quite a bit of money by only flying to MSP, and then driving the rest of the way. They're a family of four.

Cheers, Bill

Sue... check prices to Hancock. I just purchased a round-trip ticket from Hancock to Orlando for a mere $296.70. Flying into our little airport is not a problem. I've been doing it for years. Good Luck.

Hey out there, this is for all the "warm weather people" you can have it!! What are you tring to do... make us youpers jealous by telling us the temps all the time...YEA RIGHT!!! like I said, you can have it!! Who cares what the temps are in Florida, and Calf. and else where, we don't, we are happy being UP here, cold or not it's the ONLY place to be!!!


<Toivo>: current temps - -

Punta Gorda, FL - - 68
Sun City, AZ - - 73
San Diego, CA - - 64
Lake Linden, MI - - 12

Good Night from the Keweenaw!!

up mi. You said a mouthful, and what about the comments: I HATE TO TELL you its so blah blah here. why even bring it up, we don't care, do we?!!

<Toivo>: On September 13, 1922, El Azizia, Libya reached a blistering 136° F

I can't even get my sauna that hot tonite!!

To answer Sue's question about where is "just below the bridge".....That would be the Mackinac Bridge connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. Pellston is located about half an hour or less south/west of the Bridge.

Night is almost gone...but HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE...won't be too long and will be haeding up that way. About the plane....I have only flown up and back (from Sarasota, Fl). The plane is samll (I have been on a 10 seater and thought the pilot was dragging his feet) BUT for a small plane it is comfortable and the people are great. Don't forget they want to get there as much as you do AND.. it sure beats the risks on I-75 from Fl to MI with trucks, dopers, sleepers, and stupid drivers. You not going to "leave" here anyhow until the Good Lord says so...so quit worrying and make a 2 nite trip(from here)_to a few hours. Happy flying.

see Nov 2, 2003 Shoebox Memory

Toured the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier docked at the Pensacola Naval Air Station today along with 10,000 others. 80 degrees... COOL picture of Lake Superior.... Enjoy PastyCam visit this site everyday.

To Sue from SF: 'Just below the bridge' is about 20 miles south of Mackinac Straits, in the woods between Harbor Springs and Pellston. God lives in the UP but He vacations here. It helps ease the anguish of being a Troll.

Old Flyboy: I can remember 'em flying over Mackinac Island when I was a child. When we went to Petoskey I would always look to see if one was at the airport in Pellston. After flying in one of the little 6 seat Cessna's that flew to the Island in the winter they looked huge. We also called 'em the "blue goose" or the "ruptured duck".

Here in Houston, TX. It is 82 degrees here in Houston. Trying to move back to Munising where I grew up. Took the girls to the Guadalupe River for spring break where they and friends tubed the Guadalupe at the horseshoe. Water was cold (not like Lake Superior)trout fishing was terrible. I was turned on to pasty.com by sister in Munising and have enjoyed it for past 2 months. Outstanding pictures and great website. Continue the great work and maybe be home again soon.

jrh s laird rd just beyond da bar but been to da store in lovely downtown nisula manytimes do you know the almli boys

to: rcw, yea we don't care at all!!!! the U.P. is the only place to be!!!!!