Trace The Mitten
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Michigan Lighthouses
    • Historic Sites
    • Day Rides >
      • Michigan
      • Indiana
      • City Signs
    • Tours >
      • Trace the Mitten 2011
      • Trace the Mitten 2012
      • Great Lakes Relaxed
      • Great Lake to Lake Inaugural
      • Michigander 2017
      • Michigander 2018
      • Michigander 2019
    • Equipment
  • Links
  • Blog

Happenings, Reflections, Ideas, Analysis

TRACE THE MITTEN

On to the Porcupine Mountains

1/11/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ontonagon is at the mouth of the Ontonagon River at Lake Superior.
Picture
Ontonagon Lightouse is now on the National Register of Historical Places. As ship traffic increased on Lake Superior lighthouses became more important. In 1847 this was commissioned.
Picture
Part way between Houghton and Ontonagon another lighthouse was needed. This was called the Fourteen Mile Point. It was built in 1890 and was in service for 50 years.
In  1984 a fire gutted the building and I see it is for sale for  $795,000 with  surrounding acreage. Have you ever thought of living in a lighthouse.
Picture
Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park. 60,000 acres makes it the State's largest . Ninety miles of hiking trails.
Picture
What a nice spot to set up the tent.
Picture
The Lake in the Clouds.
Picture
Presque Isle River Corridor.
Picture
Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are popular too.
0 Comments

The Keweenaw Peninsula: Copper Country

1/10/2021

0 Comments

 
In the 1840 the copper rush started and this area built up from the boom.  The area is recreational now and you will see places vacated for many years. 
Picture
I decided to head east and go along the eastern shore and come back by the US 41.
Picture
No one could tell me the story behind the name.
Picture
Dollar Bay is a small inlet on Portage Lake that you see here. The far end of the lake was opened to flow into Lake Superior.
Picture
Some times you see a sign and just shake your head.
Picture
The Brockway Mountain Drive, 8.8 miles, has several nice vista spots to enjoy the scene.
Picture
Picture
The Copper Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1866.
Picture
Fort Wilkins is a restored military post in a State Park. Originally built in 1844 to keep order in the area as the copper mining was booming.
Picture
Painedale like many of the towns started because of the mining. This town named after William A. Paine who was part of this mine operation, but a founder of the Paine Webber brokerage. These saltbox houses are from the glory days.
Picture
A copper mine as it is going in the good days.
Picture
Through this area we see old shafts no longer in service.
Picture
Some mines are open for a tour.
0 Comments

Going to the next big town, Houghton and Hancock

1/8/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Moving out of the wilderness and on to the highway with a good road with a shoulder.
Picture
This area there is lake effect snow from the moisture picked up from Lake Superior due to the proximity.
Picture
I am entering the Keweenaw Peninsula which is an obvious protrusion into Lake Superior when you are looking at a US map.
Picture
Picture
From my map it looks like there is a channel across the peninsula that would allow ships and boats to go across. This bridge span goes up to allow the passage of taller vessels.
In research, I discovered that this is called the Keweenaw Waterway .  It was first dredged in 1860 and has a depth of 25 feet. Locally the area north is known as Copper Island because it is not connected to the Upper Peninsula.  Only way across is by US 41/ M-26.
Picture
The dark line across the lakes indicates the border with Canada. The island in the upper left is Isle Royal, a US national park.
Picture
Picture
Hancock is consistently noted as the 3rd snowiest city in the US by The Weather Channel.
0 Comments

From Munising to Marquette through mountains and to Houghton/Hancock

1/5/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Check out the many vacation homes you can rent in this area.
Picture
We are getting close to Marquette the biggest town in the UP.
Picture
The charm of a small town and conveniences of a bigger town. People some from far away to take advantage of the businesses.
Picture
This was taken in warmer weather. I have a friend who takes an annual January 1 dip in Lake Superior. The lake can always be cold for those not prepared.
Picture
Marquette is a major port for iron ore. In 1844 iron ore was discovered. Marquette is the large city of the UP with over 21,000 residents.
Picture
This is the birds eye view of the Huron Mountain. This is a very rugged and wild area. If this is your thing, Most peaks do not have names. Mount Arvon at 1980 feet is the tallest spot in Michigan and Mount Curwood is second at 1979 feet. This area gets much lake effect snow. It is estimated that snowfall will exceed 200 inches per winter.
0 Comments

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

1/3/2021

0 Comments

 
From Grand Marais I took the unimproved roads through the park land.  I wanted to experience the woods and maybe get a view of the lake. These sandstone cliffs are weathered primarily by Lake Superior.  Beautiful colors are vivid in the sunshine.  You will also find sandy beaches, waterfalls, and forest paths.
Picture
Picture
Doing a water approach by boat or kayak provides the best view of some spots.
Picture
Picture
Picture
There are 42 miles of shore, 15 miles of cliffs, and 5 miles of sandy dunes. This photo shows Miner River entering the lake and you see part of the beach.
Picture
You will find other waterfalls: Munising, Miners Mosquito, Chapel, and Spray.  It is recommended that you bring a map since GPS does not always work. 
Picture
Ice climbing is popular in the winter. Some areas are closed and check the website
Picture
Picture
The rear range light at Munising.
0 Comments

To Grand Marais

12/31/2020

0 Comments

 
Grand Marais is French for "bid marsh."  Michigan has many marshy areas through both peninsulas.  There are several points of interest in this area to see before I move on.  Look further to see the Pickle Barrel House, the harbor light, Au Sable light house, Light Keeper House Museum, Grand Marais Ranger Station, and the Sable Falls
Picture
Picture
The Pickle Barrel House is on the US National Registry of Historical Places.
Picture
Picture
An aerial view of the harbor at Grand Marais.
Picture
The range light at the end of the sea wall.
Picture
Au Sable light station.
Picture
Lightkeepers House Museum
Picture
Grand Marais Ranger Station. Several other places existed along the Superior shore that were bases the the lifesaving corps.
Picture
Au Sable Falls which are part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Before I moved on to the Pictured Rocks, I had to stop at the beach to look at the colorful agates.
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    I love my riding days and look to find interesting and informative items to share.

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Route 66 Virtual Tour
    Sites During Rides
    Upper Peninsula
    Virtual Tour Yellowstone

    RSS Feed

Home  |   About  |  Contact  |  Blog  |  Gallery  |  Links  |  Tours  |  Rides   
Trace the Mitten - Footer Icons
Proudly powered by Weebly
TraceTheMitten.com © 2014
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Michigan Lighthouses
    • Historic Sites
    • Day Rides >
      • Michigan
      • Indiana
      • City Signs
    • Tours >
      • Trace the Mitten 2011
      • Trace the Mitten 2012
      • Great Lakes Relaxed
      • Great Lake to Lake Inaugural
      • Michigander 2017
      • Michigander 2018
      • Michigander 2019
    • Equipment
  • Links
  • Blog