Home Archive by category "Rivers" (Page 3)

Category: Rivers

Back To Work

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After having over a week off, today is back to work day. I still have two weeks worth of time off to kill before the end of year.
Anyway, yesterday I headed up into the Keweenaw, mainly to check out the waves. The Keweenaw had a lake shore flooding warning and a high wind warning, so I thought it would be a good day to get some photos of the waves, well that was a bust. The winds were a little too southerly, and so there really wasn’t any big waves crashing. I did get a few shots in of waves, but haven’t gone through them yet to see if they are any good.
I did go up on Brockway Mountain to check out the Autumn colors though. I would say by the end of this week the colors will be at peak up there. Man was it busy on Brockway, even for it being Sunday. Along the way I also stopped at Ten Foot Falls along the Eagle River. These falls are an easy stop right along the road. Normally there can be a nice color, with reflections in the water, looking up stream, but a large pine tree has fallen across the river blocking the view.

I have quite a few photos to go through from the past few days, so I guess I’ll filter them in in other postings.

Ten Foot Falls – Eagle River

Brockway Mountain View

 

Out Color and Waterfall Trippin’

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Yesterday I went out for what turned out to be a long drive, over 8 hours of mostly two-tracks. I headed out Arvon road again, but this time I took a couple left turns to an area I saw on Google Earth that looked like some nice rapids along the Slate River. Along the way I noticed a waterfall on my GPS that I had never been to, so at the location I stuck my head out the window while driving very slow, and sure enough there was the sound of rushing water. I didn’t see anyplace where others had parked to see the falls, so I just pulled off as best I could. Knowing the river was only abut 200 feet from the road, I figured I’d be able to walk in to see the falls without much problem with my legs. Victory Falls, they are a nice falls, not a large drop to them, but on a wide part of Slate River. After spending a little time at the falls, I (we, Eli and I) drove onward. After driving a ways, a marker on my GPS that said “rapids and falls” came into view, I must have mark this a long time ago. So, I went to that spot, and sure enough I remembered being there a few years ago and marked it to come back again. At this place to, I was able to park pretty close so the walk in wasn’t far. I didn’t end up exploring the river (still the Slate River) quite a bit, and it put my legs through some pain, but it was worth it, it’s a beautiful area. Onward we went. I followed the road we were on, but little did I know it lead to Peshekee Grade Road. I figured what the hell, let’s continue on down. Peshekee Grade Road is a pretty drive even if the road gets really rough near the end where there is pavement, really old frost heaved pavement. Ha, to my surprise, about half of the old pavement had been redone with new blacktop. Well, after arriving in Michigamme it was time to head back home. All in all, it was a good day.

Victory Falls – Slate River

Slate River – The spot marked “rapids and falls”

Peshekee River

Peshekee Grade Road View

Quickish Outing

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Yesterday was quite cloudy for most the day, so I thought it would be a good day to get a few things done around the house, then around 2:00 PM the clouds broke. After being at the house for too many days, Eli and I took off for a quick drive. I drove out Arvon Rd. to see if any color was coming out that way, not much yet due to many Oak trees. I stopped at the Slate River to let Eli out and to see how one of my favorite falls was flowing, and also to see if I was able to walk/hike to them because of my issues with my legs. The hike back to the falls went okay, though my legs started to hurt on the way back. Funny thing though, I can stand for ever and not feel any pain, it’s the walking. After spending some time enjoying the peacefulness of the river and falls, we headed onward. I followed another trail that I haven’t been on, which happens to be an old railroad grade. Was a nice drive that came out near Dynamite Hill Rd., so from there we headed on home.

I had my camera, but didn’t bring anything else, such as filters and such and the sun was shining strong at the river, that’s something that is not good for taking waterfall pics., but I think this one turned out pretty good.
This is a 6 image (oriented in portrait) panorama.

Grand Staircase Falls – Slate River

Hunt For Autumn Colors

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Went out yesterday looking to Autumn colors, starting on Covered Road. Covered Road runs from a little outside of Houghton on to Redridge, it’s a pretty drive, but I don’t see how the colors would show due to it being too covered with very tall trees. I then drove into Freda, turned around and took Freda Crosscut Road which heads south east toward Toivola. I took quite a few two-tracks off of the Crosscut Rd., got lost a little, then made it back to M-26. From there I went a little more south and turned on Emily Lake Rd which turns into Pike Lake Rd. Along Pike Lake Rd. I took quite a few stops at the numerous lakes to get some photos. Then on home the back way via Baraga Plains Rd to Menge Creek Rd.
During the day’s drive, I came upon an interesting farm building. A local I know on Facebook to me this about the build…
“This is in the Toivola area near the former Heikkinen School. Barn is typical of southeastern Finland near the Russian border and Karelia which I believe now is a part of Russia but once was a part of Finland.”
At the end of this post is a video of the drive from Baraga Plains Rd down Mange Creek Rd to home.

Farm Building

Farm Building and Barn

Clear Lake Autumn Colors

Clear Lake Autumn Colors

Clear Lake Autumn Colors

Headwaters of Pike Lake

Keweenaw

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Not knowing where I wanted to go today, I headed for the Keweenaw. At first I was thinking of heading south/southwest, but thought I would wait for the Autumn color to kick in. We, Eli and I, sat on the shore of Lake Superior for a good hour just watching the waves and enjoying the late summer sun.

Lake Superior Shore

Big Betsy River

Northwestern Road Round Trip

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Not knowing where I wanted to go yesterday, I decided to head out onto Northwestern Road again. I enjoy taking this road, it’s very remote with some challenging rocky hills and deep forests. The only wildlife I saw was a couple deer, though I was hoping for moose because someone was just on this road and got a photo of one. Oh well. At one of the rustic bridges, over Cedar Creek I believe, the water was flowing over the bridge due to either a beaver damming it up or just debris blocking the flow under the bridge.
Other than the nice drive out in the woods, not much else going. Today I’m just taking it easy, but plan to head out again tomorrow somewhere.

Pea Can Falls

Pea Can Falls

Water Over The Bridge

Yard Sale

 

Forest Road Truckin’

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Headed out this morning with Eli to hit some more of the Forest Service Roads in Southern Baraga and Southern Houghton counties. The roads south of me seem to be never ending, there many many roads to explore, and most of them are in really good shape. Many of the woods through this area have some nice large old growth trees, making the drive real enjoyable, just driving through the woods. Along with coming across river, lakes and such, this time I found a couple tidbits of history. One such bit of history is that there were 5 WWII POW camps in the UP, this I did not know. I came across one of the POW camps today, Camp Pori.

“POW Camp Pori – 215 POWs; 2 Officers; 39 Enlisted Men
An unusual activity here was the establishment of a Zoo. The POWs captured mice, squirrels, snakes and other small animals. It was not their only activity. The 16 piece orchestra was often heard. The education at this camp was strong. Classes in English, German, French, math, shorthand and music history were offered allowing the men to increase their work skills. To this end, workshops were offered for machine construction, technical drawing, electrical skills, and agriculture development.”

The rivers and swamps I came across all have a very low water level, some of the swamps are dried up.

Anyway, was good to get out again, as I’ve been staying at home too much lately.

Sturgeon River – Very Low Water

Bob Lake

Pori CCC Camp/POW Camps and Wild Blue Phlox

Old Railroad

Saturday and Sunday

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I did end up going for a little drive Saturday, it was too damn hot to stay home. Eli has been having a hard time with the heat, panting and panting, and it seems he’s missing Griz quite a bit, so I thought getting him in the cool car would help a little. We headed out Herman Nestoria Rd, again, thinking I might see some more wildflowers. I did see some flowers, but the deer and horse flies were horrendous, so I couldn’t get out to take any photos. After coming out to the highway I turned toward home, but saw a two-track to the left and took it. After driving for a little bit, and after passing a nice large pond, I came across another old concrete bridge. The bridge crosses the Tioga River. When I first saw the bridge I couldn’t get out due to the flies again, but once on the bridge they let up a little, so I hopped out with enough time to take a couple photos of the river. We continued on down the road, but it ended shortly due to a large pond/swamp that had swallowed up the trail. Turned around and headed for home.
I want to go back to this area once the bugs have died off.
Sunday I didn’t due much of anything, with the exception of some work on a step leading up the front deck. This one step has bugged the shit out of me because one of the boards is raised higher than the board next to it, and could be a trip hazard. Well, I started out just looking at it to see what was wrong with it, big mistake, now I had to fix it. Hard to explain how fucked up it was, but I got it done and it’s now in a proper placement.
Later in the day I got some pretty cool photos of a White-spotted Sawyer Beetle that was crawling on the deck.

First sight of the concrete bridge

On the bridge

Tioga River

Tioga River

White-spotted Sawyer Beetle

White-spotted Sawyer Beetle

White-spotted Sawyer Beetle