Danielle and Ryan Mahoney were out exploring the breakwall at the Marquette Upper Harbor, which provides us today with a beautiful view of the central portion of Lake Superior. But they also stumbled upon the Warning sign that visitors should heed if the Big Lake is stirred up. The opening line on the placque states: The awesome beauty of Lake Superior's waves have their dark and tragic side. The tremendous force of the waves and the frigid water can overpower even the strongest swimmers. It seems it's an unselfish tribute by the friends and/or family of two young men, warning others of the dangers that exist along with the Lake's beauty. Don't throw caution to the wind.

good day

good morning ALL

Good morning everyone

Same with Entry and the lighthouse near McLain....I have seen the waves break and the water blow over a 100 feet during November.

Good morning from "cool" West Texas...66 degrees.We ship my fine husband to Virginia for a new job. Sadly I remain in Texas to finish school and hope to rejoin our family on the East Coast next summer. Mary, isn't your son in Va. also? We will be settling in the Hampton Roads area. Luckily he will be back to Texas to fly every 5 weeks or so. Missing the start of fall in the U.P.

GOOD MORNIN'!We had a pretty nice double rainbow west of the harbor this morning.That was a nice way to start the day.

4 days until I breath clean air!!!!!!!! Can't wait!!

Good Morning.
The big lake is beautiful, inspiring and full of life. She is also part of mother nature and is fierce, wicked and deadly when not respected.
I gaze upon her from shore and feel the power of her current run over my feet, the strength in her waves and her breath on my face.
I dare not anger her and pray for the fearless caught in her quick temper.

I lived just a few doors down in Gant Hall at NMU and knew both if these guys, they loved being outdoors in the U.P !!!! Too bad that it's awesome beauty got the best of them.
They were true Yoopers at heart - even though they came to NMU from lower Michigan.

I have seen the fury of the Big Lake aboard the EDMUND FITZGERALD in 1958..If large items were not tied down they went over the side. I will include the article that I had published a few years ago for those who have not seen it.
http://www.boatnerd.com/fitz/firstseason.htm

Just got home last evening after nine days camping on the Traprock River just outside of Lake Linden. Wish we were still there. Be back in the spring as soon as the kids are out of school, can't wait.

I just returned home from a week in Twin Lakes. Awesome. We will be going back up in October, then snowmobile season starts. Can't wait. Later, Skylar.

P.S. The pics from the bridge yesterday were really cool!

Yes, Lake Superior is an awesome force that can come as a surprise to anyone. I used to live near the Calumet Waterworks in the 1950's and when those dark clouds would come rolling across the lake from Canada, look out. Superior can turn from calm to crashing in minutes. Anyone who needs proof of Superior's power can visit the Waterworks where a large dock of concrete and steel is now broken and at a 45 degree angle. I can remember late autumn storms with huge white waves exploding against that dock. It was mesmerizing. Maybe I can consider those experiences as training for Hurricane Charley which we went through two weeks ago.

The roaring of the inland sea - Superior will put you in your place. She inspires awe and respect. She can provide you with a good time when she is playing nice.

I was at Presque Isle on November 10, 1975 - during the storm that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald. The waves were washing over the breakwall like it wasn't even there... it was exhilarating to watch, but there is no way you could have made it onto the breakwall even if you wanted to...

Morning from Houston!

Back in the dark ages when I was a student at NMU, we used to trek out to the end of the breakwall with monotonous regularity...in good weather, of course....Now, I might go as far as where the rocks start, but I have an almighty respect for the moods of Gitchee Gumee and won't venture any further than that! (cluck, cluck, cluck) Isn't it wonderful to see such clear water?

There are no words to describe the majesty of Superior. Anyone living near her should be grateful every day, as should all of us who benefit from the pictures on this awesome site.

Superior has always amazed me, in all her moods. She deserves all the respect she can get.... and if she feels she's not getting it, she'll let you know!

If anyone else is curiously squinting, I think the rest of the plaque reads: "Shane Kulchyski was hit by a wave and swept off the breakwall during high waves on October 4, 1988. Kurt Buffington attempted to rescue him. They drowned in turbulent waters next to the breakwall. Both young men were freshmen at Northern Michigan University. This memorial and warning was donated by the students of Northern Michigan University and the families and friends of Kurt and Shane as a warning to others. May whoever is drawn to the breakwall when waves are high heed this warning so that no other lives will be lost."

Good morning everyone!
I just got into work this morning (it's just about 8:00 Pacific Time). First day of classes here. Looks like it's going to be a busy day!

Thank you, Katrina! I was wishing I could read the rest. Whoa!! Good wishes to their families.

BE CAREFUL ON THAT BREAKWALL!

Hey Ed

Nice story on the Fitz She has always been my favorite ship. I remember that november storm as i was drive along the huron river to our deer camp in oscoda. The weather sure did change quick that night. Ive followed the readings on her all these years. Nice to hear from someone who actually sailed on her.

Joe

By Audrey, San Jose, CA BUT currently in Lake Linden! on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 11:31 am:

Hello from Lake Linden! Would you believe I'm sitting at Mary Drew's computer posting this message?! This is just so unreal!

Spent yesterday driving around Hancock/Houghton, did the Covered Road Drive (beautiful!!), had a late lunch at the Superior View Restaurant in Freda, dinner at the Library in Houghton. Still have NOT had our pasty- Toni's was closed yeterday and we got to Suomi too late. Today we'll finally get to try them at both places.

That's it for now. Bye from a cloudy, sorta rainy Keweenaw day.

Anyone see the interesting pic of the red helicopter on the airport cam?

Boy, talk about real-time. After I read the posting about the helicopter, I went back to look at it. There it was. I clicked on the pic to enlarge it and it was gone.

Only five more days til I have have one of Grandma's pasties at the Minnesota State Fair.

Have a great day.

Years ago, I went on a guided hike at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, from Hurricane River campground to the Big Sable Point lighthouse. The ranger talked about shipwrecks and the local conditions that caused them. It happened that day the lake was like glass. One couple was from England; the man remarked that it was hard to imagine large waves on Lake Superior. Needless to say, lots of Michiganders in the crowd were quick to put him right. It is sadly easy for the inexperienced not to know that you have to respect the Big Lake.

By non commercial message man on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 12:11 pm:

Audrey/San Jose

I remember Toni's being closed on Monday too. Go to Stillwater's and buy some frozen, we all like them better anywho.Don't forget the sauce!

Thanks for the plug, NC Message Man, and don't forget you can also get a HOT Pasty Central pasty at the Tamarack Inn in Copper Harbor.

Sorry, Katrina for making you squint! The only thing I don't like about my camera (Canon Digital Elph S200) is that it can be hard to tell how far I am zoomed in on things due to the small viewfinder. A new camera is one of the things Ryan and I intend to shop for once I can locate new employment. (Though unemployment has its perks - like extra vacation time in the U.P.! Just got back from a week up there and I miss it already.)

On a side note, I remember back when these two kids fell off the breakwall, and now what strikes me most about the memory was just how sad it made the whole community when the news hit. Everyone talked about it, and how sad that two young people lost their lives to the Big Lake. My dad has always been an avid boater, so we learned early on how unpredictable Superior can be - calm and smooth one minute, but if the wind switches, those waves sure stir things up in a hurry!

I didn't see the helicopter at the airport, but I did see a reddish or maybe orangish color helicopter buzzing up the canal towards MTU on my way back to work. Wonder if it is a Coast Guard helicopter on a training mission? Do they land at the airport or at the station in Dollar Bay??

If anyone wants to see some pics taken the day the Fitz sunk you can go to my gallery (Pete Wilberding) They were taken on the north shore just about exactly halfway between Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor near the telephone office.

Hello Pete

Put a link here for other to follow

Joe

Pete's Lake Superior - 11/10/75 album

Hi Ed... Thanks for the great story on the Edmund Fitzgerald. I'm sure you probably know that it was owned by Northwestern Mutual Life Ins.Co.and that it was named after one of our past presidents. I had a little over 4 years with NML when it happened and I will never forget the day. What an absolute day of sorrow it was around here!!! And now with over 33+ years at NML, I am reminded daily as I come into work because there are pictures of the Fitz on numerous walls. Pictures that constantly keep our memories refreshed and maybe thats the way it should be. It was an awesome ship and no one around here actually believed it could go down in a storm. How wrong we were!!!

Awesome pictures, Pete. I too remember that storm. Was still living in Ironwood at that time. We had an ice storm that night - all was encased in crystals the following morning when we heard the news of the Fitzgerald. Tragedy in the face of beauty, all thanks to the mighty Superior.

Good Morning all!

Here in Vancouver the longitude is close to that of the Copper Country and on this cool, grey overcast morning fragrances reminicent to the Copper Country are heavy. Combinding this with a quick check of the Lift Bridge Cam I am transported back to the mid-sixties when the Pykonen Family spent waining summer days visiting relatives in Atlantic Mine.

I enjoy the daily fixx from Pasty Central and look forward to the day I return to my second homeland.

Best wishes.

Ed Chaput;

RE: your mention of the Bradley sinking, The tale of one of the two survivors of that day, Frank Mays is now available in a book. "If we make it 'til Daylight"

http://www.greatlakes.net/~divelog/images/Book_Covers/Books.htm

My grandfather and cousin watched the storm that took down the Fitz from the beach in Marquette. I have seen some doozies on that lake, but can't imagine what that night was like... Waves crashing over Picnic Rocks like they weren't even there!

-=kt=-

(I only lived in Marquette for a year, but my heart belongs to Lake Superior forevermore!)

Hey Audrey-

Worn any tank tops and shorts yet? HA HA

Shelly Hope your having a great time!!!

Shelly...
NO!!! Wearing pants, socks, sneakers and sweatshirts!! It's COLD here! At least it's not raining (right now). but, we're having a great time. So good to be HERE!

Finally tried a pasty - shared one at Toni's, one at Suomi. Enjoyed both!

Gotta run... so funny to be posting here in the UP!

Audrey-

It's so neat to see you posting from da U.P. eh?

Can't wait to hear all about your trip when you get back to Caly forn yah. :)

Shelly

How do I post a pic from my computer to here? I saved a pic from the airport cam this morning of the red helicopter. Thought it might be interesting for others to see.

Bek from Fond du Lac...are you in FDL, WI or in MN?

pk,
Sorry for the delay, I stepped away for few seconds. FDL, WI....hi neighbor!

Audrey, are you originally from the UP? Just curious because you seem so familiar with everything up there. Aren't Toni's pasties fantastic?

Pete in WI

Your photo album of the lake in 75 is beautiful! Have you thought about putting the song with the pic's for an awesome slide show?

Liz, MI,

Try this procedure:
In the "Add a Message" box below, just type in \ image{xx} (with a title for the picture instead of xx) to upload. The preview page shows a temporary graphic labelled "Your Image Here", then when you click "Post this Message" it asks you to browse for the image on your hard disk, and it uploads it to this page, (replacing the temporary graphic in your message).

Make sure your image is no wider than 560 pixels, and it should be in .jpg format.

If that doesn't work, you can email it to gallery@pasty.com

Did anyone see the big freighter come through the Portage Waterway last night? I heard about it, but was still returning to Houghton from Hemlock (by Saginaw, MI) when it went through. My informant speculated the ship was bringing in salt for winter. Any more info out there?

All of our family (Julie and I, kids, dogs and guinea pig) is/are now living in our new home in West Houghton. We pulled off a return to the Copper Country. Hurray! Stop in and see me at the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton when you have a chance.

my mother is a mahoney from the chesning mahoneys via canada and ireland

Mom and I are coming to Copper Harbor Sept 16. I was going to camp at the Fort but Mom really wanted to see CC again; she hadnt been back since she and Dad drove through some 20 years ago. Dad is gone, so it is my pleasant duty to take her around and show her the sights. We will stay at the Eagle Lodge. Some warm weather would be nice as she is 87 and feels the cold in her bones.

Hey Jimmer, I am orginally from Merrill (next to Hemlock). I live in Ontonagon now and I love it in the Upper Peninsula. I have been here for just over 4 years. How do you and your family like it here? It's grand isn't it??
I still have family left in Merrill!

I hear the guys at the airport just like parking vehicles in front of the web cam. I guess the truck that just landed proves it.

I thought that they parked the trucks there to protect the idenity of the passengers. In all these weeks of the airport cam, I have yet to see a single person get on or off the plane. ( Of course, I don't watch every moment of the day either.)

Karen, Tampa; Did you ever make it back from the
Upper Peninsula and the Lower Michigan/Milford
area? Haven't seen any messages from you on Pasty.
Com. Please respond.

Thank you, Mary! I will give it a try.

downstate don, yes, I've written a couple times. (Yesterday and the day before and maybe more.) I thought you fell off the map. Did you ever make it north to the UP this summer? We had a great time and plan to return one day. It would have to be in the summer months, that's a given. Go back a couple days and read through. It wouldn't be nice to bore everyone again. LOL.

Lake Superior is beautiful but it can be vicious. It can be calm one minute & furious the next. You could go on the breakwall while it is calm & before you got back to shore it could be whipping. Too many times curiousity can cost lives. College kids think of it as being challenging to walk the rocks but they've paid the price. Beware of the warning, it was placed there for a reason. Two boys lost their lives there & we don't want any more. Lake Superior doesn't give up her dead, I know, I lost my father on the Edmund Fitzgerald. Let's respect the big lake. Admire her but be cautious of her.

Does anyone have any pictures of Lake Superior from the evening of August 18 (04) just a couple weeks ago when we had the gale force winds? We went to Agate Beach and watched the waves roll in. It was really awesome. Unfortunately, the memory card in my camera was bad and all the pictures I took were lost. I had hoped to add them to my photo gallery but now I will have to wait until next summer's visit and hope for another big wind!

Julie, we were in Baraga that exact night. Wasn't that wind something???!!! We didn't take any pictures that night, sorry.

cheryl mi, I'm sorry you lost your father in such a tragic way, he died a courageous hero!

I was a student at NMU when these two young men drowned. How tragic.

Julie, I have some pictures of those waves on August 18th. We left Copper Harbor that day to drive down to Silver City. Those waves were much more amazing in person than in my pictures, but you can see a few that I took in my gallery (http://pasty.com/pcam/Melladie They are in the album titled "Porcupine Mountains and Surrounding Area". I also just added a couple of movie clips. They will take a while to load if you are not on a fast connection, but you may be interested in seeing those. I took several pictures but the wind was blowing so hard I couldn't hold the camera still even with a tripod.

Pretty ironic, been sitting here reading the post's and listening to the online radio. As I'm looking at the photo's that Pete WI had in the gallery about the storm that sank the Fitzgerald, the song came on, made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

As an NMU student I spent countless hours out at Presque Isle, on the breakwall, diving, swimming, running, mtn biking, exploring... great place. In fact I was a senior there when that tragedy happened. The lake is a powerful force to be sure... image {surfsUP}

but it can also be fun if treated with respect...

JK

Cindy: I had heard they feed the bears in Silver City. Do you mean that the bear in your picture is in a pen? You've got some really super photos in your gallery!

Thanks Cindy in St Clair Shores for the link to your album. I agree, you had to be there in person to really appreciate the wind and waves. I did shoot some video at our cottage on Sandy Lake that day and the background sounds like the newscasts from hurricaines with the wind gusts and all. My kids were pretty excited to see all the waves, even on our small inland lake. We don't usually get white caps. The wind would pick up the top of the waves and the spray would fly across the water. I hadn't seen anything like that on Sandy Lake in many years.

I think that bear's cousin is visiting the cottages on Sandy Lake! We had both a bear visit and a bat visit on the same night! Didn't really need that bat swooping over my bed. And grandpa is getting tired of fixing the screening on the porch everytime the bear comes around. There wasn't even any food or garbage out that would have attracted him. They must be pretty hungry this year.

Thanks for the great movie clip, Cindy -- it's an awesome lake to be sure.

ready for take off

John Dee says, "Goodnight from the Keweenaw". I'll say, "Goodnight from Atlanta". Gee! Which one sounds a tad more appealing?

Karen; Went back and read yesterday's message.
Glad you had a good time, and that your back safe
and sound. Did not get up there Aug.l6-20th. Only
fourth of July week. Wrote you a couple of messages awhile back. No response so I figured you
were still there or in Milford. Unusually cool
summer thoughout Michigan this past summer. Take
care.

Cheryl this is your Dads cousin and i have a picture of your dad and my Brothers and other cousin but your E-mail won't let me in .
yes that song when i hear it bring tears to my eyes as it was sad.
this is Therese Dulong Dimet and my E-mail is here so get in touch with me
Edward chaput are you Arthur chaput brother as i know the family when we lived in Hubbell

hey cheryl forgot to but the E-mail address so here Theresedimet@a1access.net

Marsha, there is a little restaurant in Silver City where they feed the bears. There is a high fence up against the parking lot, but the yard is open to the woods in the back where the bears can wander in. The bear in my picture is absolutely huge. When he walked in, all of the other bears scattered including a momma bear and her two cubs who went up the tree. He sat by the back door and the lady from the restaurant came out and hand fed him lots and lots of treats. No wonder he's so fat!

Julie, I would rather get a picture of a bear in the wild than one that is lured in by food that is set out, but I'm not sure I'd want him on my porch. I'd probably rather have the bear than the bats, however. They give me the creeps!

Candy, I'm glad you liked the movie clip. The sound of the waves was so loud all night long from our room at the Americinn in Silver City. It was really something.

Cindy,
That restaurant is called The Rainbow Restaurant,They also own the Rainbow Motel. I was just there on Sunday night. I live in Ontonagon and have been there before!! It is quite awesome. There was a mother bear and her two cubs and there was a male not too far off. There has been more bears there than that at one time or another.
It is something to see if you ever get out that way. I believe they will be closing for the summer. So I believe the feeding might stop then.

As a good friend in Copper Harbor told me this summer, "You
can play on Lake Superior, but don't play with it; it'll come back
on ya in a heartbeat." Oh so true!

Cheryl, MI

Please let me know by email (mdrew@pasty.com) if you received either of my emails sent to you yesterday (Aug. 30th)! Thanks!

Mary, I'll try to add a picture also.
\ image{Puppy Picture}

It didn't work. Maybe there's no space before the word image. I'll try again.

Jim, Twin Cities: I found " Grandma's Pasties" at the fair and they are delicious !!! Spoke with some young guy that was working there. He said his Grandma lived in Houghton, told him I was born & raised in Lake Linden.

Pete Wilberding: I remember babysitting for Wilberdings from Lake Linden that lived on the corner of 1st Street & Schoolcraft many years ago...

Hey! Nice pics, Danielle!

Dan in Fenton............what a cute little puppy!!!! He/she is just gorgeous.

Thanks Pete!

Dan in Fenton: CUTE puppy, what breed is it?

Helen and Danielle, it's a German Shorthaired Pointer. One of ten puppies at our house. Here are a few more of them, in the back yard the other day, eating all that their mom will give them! They didn't know what to make of their first time on grass, but their mom made them feel better.

Dan in Fenton, MI

My neighbor has a German Shorthaired Pointer. It's like a deer...jumping over six foot high fences from a sitting position, no running start even. It amazes me every time it does that! :->

Hi Mary. Yes, they're quite vertical with those long legs and they have energy to spare! I also really like their fun nature and ability to be trained. Mine end up real polite. The pups dive-bomb my feet whenever I feed, clean, or work with them.

Dan,

My neighbor had a German Shorthaired Pointer. She was a good natured dog. If I lived any closer I would come and get one of them!!!! LOL............I have two dogs of my own. They are they greatest when I come home. They ask for nothing but unconditional love. They are the greatest.
I know you have your hands full, but they are worth all of it!!!

Hi Helen. Some of us have gone to the dogs! You're right, pups are a lot of work, and you almost have to like pups to do it.

We plan to meet some yoopers later this month, and send a dog North with them. If anyone else buys a pup, we'll probably send it along also.

Hi Dan. There is nothing wrong with some of us have gone to the dogs!!! Alot more worse things someone could think of!!! That is great you play to meet some Yoopers later this month. Some of the best people around are Yoopers!!
The dogs will go to good home then!!!

Nothing like a Yooper dog, especially a well trained German Short Hair. Lots of bird hunting there in the Copper Country.
Good job Dan.

Here, along the North Shore of Superior we are situatied high enough to watch the many moods of the lake. Respect? Oh yes!! I am always amazed to see the smaller boats taking off, heading out into the lake. Either the occupants are very
learned fishermen who have spent their lives here, or they are newcomers and tourists who do not realize the sudden changes that can happen on our big lake. It is always a great experience to spend time conversing with the folks who fished the lake years ago as a living !! They had courage...plus.
There is no place like it....we are aging and should, I suppose, be looking for an apt in a large city for the sake of medical care and ease of life. I rather think not !! Leaving here would mean having to pull far too many roots that have become connected to nature and the good folks who have lived here for so many years, facing the elements and still enjoying the beauty that is here year round.