Ice Mounds and Range Lights

The other day I braved the snowy elements for a double lakeshore snowshoe loop.

First I headed to Ft. Juniper.  Good thing I did because Mr. Sun and his rays were out causing trouble.  I had to patch up quite a few holes that went all the way through.  The patching snow was nice and white, perfect for reflecting those rays if they came back.  I also laid in it for a while.

Although I have spent countless hours building, rebuilding and patching that thing, it is so worth it every time I lay in it and listen to the wind without being in the wind.  Ah, laying by the Big Lake in the wintertime.  That is priceless.

But you know what?  I am the only person who has ever been there!  I better bring a buddy sometime... as long as they know the secret password!

I continued along the Lake Superior shore where the wind whipped me from behind.  I hadn't been out there for at least a week, and I was elated at what I found.  The ice that built up toward the shore built up in layers of mounds.  I walked out to the first set, traversed the crunchy ice, climbed the second set, crunched over more ice then to the third set where I realized I probably shouldn't go any farther!

Here is a video of that adventure.  You can really hear how the wind was blowing the whole time too.  Good thing I wasn't going the other way!

Since I was just walking along the shore, I saw the range light behind the trees.  I usually only see it from the Lighthouse across the bay.

Range Light number one.

When I got past this one, I saw the second one!  (Imagine that).  It was much bigger, so I went inside and got a video for you.  Pretty neat, hey?

From there I went onto Lake Fanny Hooe and laid in the middle for a while.  I do still love to lay in the middle of that lake, but I sure could have used a snow fort in that wind!  I had to crawl back into the woods to make it home somewhat comfortably.

And the last two days have been sunny.  I went for a nice cross country ski today in the sunshine on freshly groomed tracks.  The sunshine is nice when I can get out in it.  But it is only February, so LET IT SNOW!!!