A Little Slice of da Harbor...: The Shores of Red Ridge

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Shores of Red Ridge

When I got the chance to hike Lake Superior's shore in Red Ridge, I couldn't resist. Another view of Her Majesty? Let me have it! I even convinced a couple other friends and my pup to venture out with the trekkers group on this journey.

Here are some pictures of the artwork along the shore.

I was glad to have all the people in this shot, so you could really see how huge these ice drips were. Ooh, look at all the different colors!

And here is a whole icicle cave! Your room is around the corner.

I suppose this is why it's called "Red Ridge." The ridge is red! What beautiful cliff bands.

And let's get a closer look at the frozen waterfall, shall we? Oh yes. That's what I'm talking about.

This crystal clear chunk of ice was about the size of a bowling ball! The shore was littered with these gems.

Here's a view to the southwest as people (and dogs) marched along the shore into the sunset.

Not too shabby for not da Harbor!

3 comments:

AnonymousMarch 8, 2011 at 10:36 PM
Thanks for the beautiful pictures. Enjoy your writings which I just discovered two weeks ago.
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Tom KiereinMarch 9, 2011 at 5:58 PM
Hi Amanda... love the dramatic ice formations! Thanks for making the effort to get there and for sharing your wonderful photos!
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AmandaMarch 15, 2011 at 6:14 PM
Thanks for following me on a Southward journey! Lake Superior has surprises on every inch of shore.
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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

“If you’ve never been there, you wouldn’t understand” is a quote printed above an outlined picture of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on a t-shirt sold in gift shops in the area. Some people cock their heads in bewilderment of what this could mean. Well, if you’ve never been there (to da U.P.), then you wouldn’t understand.

It’s simple really. Where are you guaranteed to see more trees than people on any drive or walk? Where can you sit in a bar in April and know everybody’s name? Where can you wear flannel and Carharts anytime of the year without a flinch from a passerby? Where can you end most of your sentence with the colloquialism eh, eh? Where can you go to truly get away from the civilized world? If you answered “da U.P.” to all of these questions, why, you must have been there.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula makes up one third of the state’s land mass, but only 3% of its entire population. It’s no wonder the average number of people per square mile is 19.3. Nineteen people per square mile! Its lack of inhabitants combined with a plethora of wilderness, unique geographical features and an abundance of water is a big part of what makes the U.P. so unique. In fact, it was included in the Sherman Travel worldwide “Top 10 Places to Go in 2005."

And unique in itself, at the most northern tip in the Keweenaw Peninsula sits the little village of Copper Harbor. “Tops in Michigan,” “the beginning of the road” and quite frankly, the hardest place to leave once your soul has found its peace. It’s the least visited and most revisited place in America. Returning visitors make an appearance at least once a year, no matter what gas prices are. And when they’re back at home, they dream of their next visit to the end of the world.

Why would people want to return to a place where their cell phones don’t work and they can’t get a Big Mac for at least 54 miles? Once you drive through the one and only blinking stop light in town, you are 99% guaranteed not to see any authorities. The town can take care of itself for the most part, and people respect each other and each other’s property.

To the local residents and the handfuls of returning tourists (of which some have been adopted), Copper Harbor is the only place where they can be themselves -- completely and shamelessly (at least until the next morning). Fashion does not exist, but comfort is a must. Possessions mean nothing, but attitude means the world. Loitering is encouraged, and talk is ceaseless. Fresh air is plentiful, and serenity is down the block on Lake Superior’s shore. Ahhh.

Only 90 people can bear to live there year-round (good thing because the post office only has 130 mailboxes), but the population peaks around 250 in the busy summer months when people reopen their business or their summer home.

Copper Harbor and the rest of the Keweenaw Peninsula average 270 inches of snow each season. Whether it falls consistently throughout the winter or all in one dump, it’s guaranteed to fall if it isn’t drilling sideways. Only four businesses stay open through these long months because sometimes, there’s just nobody there.

U.S. Highway 41, which runs all the way to Miami, Florida, begins in Copper Harbor, and yes, it gets plowed the whole way up. A half mile north, six miles east and five miles south of this landmark puts you in magical Lake Superior. I know it’s magical because I’ve caught myself and many other people staring, mesmerized by its pure vastness, undulations and crashing waves.

When you can enjoy every breath of Lake Superior air, wear clothing soley for funtion and not mind seeing the same people day after day after day after day, then, my friend, then, you’ll understand.

A Little Slice of da Harbor...

Copper Harbor, That is!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Shores of Red Ridge

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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