"Explore the Keweenaw" this weekend along with the Michigan Nature Association, with a series of field trips which will gather at the Americinn in Calumet. The treks include a hike to Bare Bluff, led by Dennis Sotala, and an excursion to Estivant Pines with your guide Jim Rooks of Copper Harbor. Other trips to Great Sand Bay and Brockway Mountain will be included.

Of special interest in the weekend activities, tomorrow afternoon there will be a dediction of the Dr. Robert Thorson Brown Environmental Education Center at Lake Perrault Bog. Dr. Brown, who passed away last month, was a very supportive PastyNET member, known by many as one of the founders of the MTU biological sciences department.

Tonight at 7pm the weekend will be kicked off by Charlie Eshbach with a slide show at the Americinn in Calumet.

Great pic from Bare Bluff! Is that Smith's Fishery's and the Mouth of the Montreal River in the background? I was just up at the Mouth a few weeks ago - it was darn beautiful up there!!
I've never been to the top of Bare Bluff, but I'd like to make it up there someday.

Very pretty Scott. Is Bare Bluff the stamp sand bluff by Gay? I have walked out there and taken in that view at sunrise and it takes your breath away. Was that sand being loaded onto boats at some point to be taken away and used for something or was it just the copper that went out of Gay by boat? I would be interested in the story of Gay.
Fred,

is this a picture of the actual "tip" of the peninsula? if not where was it taken?

What does the writing on the far left bottom of the sign say?

Glad to hear of the Dr. Brown Environmental Education Center. He was a pretty wonderful man. His wife is special also. Hey JAD/mom, I have no idea what the sign says on the left corner. I tried enlarging the photo, but still can't read it. I believe it is "...... 75 miles".

Good grief, I hope that doesn't say "75 miles"... since the word there appears to be "Parking"! :-) Quite a hike for a 3-mile loop, eh?

I think it says ".75 mi."

There is not a more beautiful view than from the Bare Bluff, of course it is on the Bete Gris, south side of the Peninsula. It is really a beautiful ride out to the old Smith Fisheries in the winter on snomobile. Guess one can say that I am partial to the South Side,,namely Bete Gris. Yes, John it does appear to be Smith Brothers Fishery and then on to the Montreal.

Tis is uh putiful few.. uf da keweenaw an efreting
I tink dat der is kno place inda whol weye world is pritty is tis.

-Sven

The parking lot is 3/4 of a mile from this spot.

Yes that is Smith Fisheries in the distance along with the Mouth of the Montreal River and further in the distance Keystone Bay. When I took these pictures it was difficult to decide what pictures to send in. Took many that day, including looking to the south east towards Bete Grise and the Mendota Lighthouse. Like I said it was hard to decide what to send in. I would like to encourage people to make this journey to Bare Bluff. The road off of Smiths Fisheries road has been widened and improved with a large parking lot 3/4 of a mile from the head of the trail(.75 from parking lot to sign in the pic.

hey, Sven, what'd ya say, we climb that thing (Bare Bluff) together someday!!! we can bring muttihon with us, too!

yeah, me and Jeandub should head up there
w/ Sven. Get some butts going, little bit
of Rodge going. get a little escapade w/
Slippy and this and that.

Hey - great picture! My husband and I were married in the Sleeping Bear Dunes on June 29th and spent the next 2 weeks camping in the UP. We spent 3 days around Copper Harbor and loved it. Hiked out to the mouth of the Montreal, which I think was the high point of the whole trip for me. Somehow we missed Bare Bluffs - is the road off of the Smith Fisheries road marked? How do I find it? We would love to go up there on our next trip up (hopefully soon!!).

we are truely blessed to view the daily scenery in the u.p.thru pasty cam. much to be learned and enjoyed thru photos /messages, concerning its history here. GOD bless and continue your excellent service to humanity.

That is a beautiful shot of the "tip" of Keweenaw peninsula! Keystone Point and Keweenaw Point both visible here. Excellent view,indeed!

Darn, missed the "Explore the Keeweenaw" by one
week! My lady and I will be heading for the UP on
the 21st/22nd this month, doing a UP-based
motorhome photo shoot and story for MotorHome
magazine. This is her first trip there (she's an
Oregon girl) and just one of many for me (also an
Oregonian). We're both coming from the west coast,
will meet in Indiana and head north. She's excited
about trying her first Pasty -- is Lawry's still
in business? -- and I'm eager to show her the
unbounded beauty of the UP. Should be a fun t

get them from the still waters home and area in calumet, they're the best

Regarding pasties, if your hunger pangs won't wait for you to get to Calumet, Lehto's pasties is a must stop. They are about 10 miles west of the Mackinaw Bridge on U.S. #2 and they will probably make you do an abrupt U-turn to go back for more. Still Waters and Lehto's make outstanding pasties and I've never found any that are better.

I always thought Bare Bluff was Bear Bluff although having been there (I think) the "Bare" does make sense. So is Bare (or Bear) Bluff where Mel Jones took the Gitche Gumee campers on one of his many famous hikes? And if so, why didn't we just park in the parking lot? It seems to me it would've been easier and he wouldn't have had such a hard time turning the bus around. Of course then it wouldn't have been such an "adventure". :-)

I like the "Bread of Life" pasties from Bessemer, or the Methodist church women in Ontonagon, but you have to get your order in beforehand!

PASTY CORNER
in Iron River
iz d'best....

I was always partial to my own

I'm with you kab, home made venison pasties can't be beat!

to Fred, lower MI,
No, Bare Bluff is not on the stamp sands at Gay, but about 10-15 miles NE of there (never actually measured). The sands at Gay are the remnants of the copper processing plants that were in Gay during the boom. I like the sands, too, but they are actually one big dump from the old days. There is a nice little book about Gay that gives a bit of a history overview, though not comprehensive, called "The Gay, Michigan Story" by Clarence Monette. You can find it around in the Copper Country shops or maybe the book shops at Finlandia Univ. It's very inexpensive. You might try some of the gift shops listed here on Pasty.com sponsor page for starters. Good luck! I'm partial to the place myself, as my family has a lot of history there.

Does anyone know about how long of a walk it is from the fisheries to the Montreal? It's been years since I walked out there and I would like to take my wife and children, but I'll have a baby on my back...
Also, I was told years ago by someone I met on the other side of the river that you can drive almost right to the mouth on the other side-this true, anyone know the way?? Thanks in advance!

Forget Lehto's. If I remember correctly, they were more expensive. Get your pasties at Lawrey's outside of Ishpeming as you pass by. In my opinion, they are the best. We always bring home a bunch to enjoy once we are home. It is no fun to come home but at least we can enjoy a taste of the U.P. for a few days after we return.(Can't speak for Still Waters as I have never tried theirs).

You can order some of the best pasties in the world right here online. Unlike most of the other local pasty shops across the U.P., Still Waters pasties are made under USDA inspection. Strictly speaking, USDA compliance is the only way any organization can legally ship pasties to purchasers in other areas. If you ever order pasties online or by phone, be sure to verify that the provider is USDA inspected.

We'll haveta go up dere someday and do alittle escapade and sorts!!! Whadya say dere Sven? A little Rodge with Hekki and da feelers

Going to visit area in October.
Can anyone give me directions to take the hike at Bare Bluff?
thanks so much.

Ken in Saginaw

Lefty, sven, juss, heikki, you all wouldn't find it with rodge, dodge, slip and slappy. yu all need mikko from mio to guide.

I have tried pasties everywhere and Lehto's Pasties are still the best around. For 50 some years they have never let me down.