The upside of winter

[DannyS]

We're smack dab in the middle of winter up here in the great white north. This time of year always get me thinking of boating season, but winter is really beautiful and adventurous if you go looking for it. On Lake Superior, we have amazing sea caves that are only accesible by boat in the summer. Some winters, when it's really cold, the lake will freeze enough to allow people to see these caves via a half hour hike over the ice. This is the first year in the past 5 that the lake has allowed access to these caves and it's worth the hike! I'm heading up there in a couple of weeks but I was there the last time the lake froze so I thought I'd share some photos of my home crusing grounds.
I envy those of you that are still in the water and sailing, but I do love the changing seasons and the beauty that winter brings us up here in the frozen north.

 

[DannyS]

more images

nm

 

[seadaddler]

Amazing

That is Amazing and what a nice view.
Nick

 

[dive7mmwet]

Some day I got to get back up there, thank you for the great photos! too far to make it from our port but may do a rental as Bayfield is such a great GREAT! boating area!
The ice I see is frozen over so on the news I see folks walk over to see the caves,

I have a video from Supper 8mm to digital now of a group of friends doing the island tour in the mid 70's and camping on many of the islands in the Bayfield area and making the tour in a 16' boat!! with gas cans, camping gear, provisions and of course the best shot in the movie is them thinning down the Jim Beam with ICE COLD Lake Superior water! priceless!!
TO ME This winter is getting old, with the cold I just don't like to get out as much as I should and do have several projects to wrap up on da boat before fitting out day!
stay warm!

 

[kloudie1]

Nice photos, Danny. The National news showed some of the beautiful ice formations and crystals around the caves .. Really some neat stuff.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Very cool pics! Thanks for sharing!

 

[walt]

Beautiful..

Im seriously ready for spring but some things about winter are still good. I often sail on a lake at 8600 feet el in Colorado and it gets snow covered so makes for a nice hike using touring ski's. These pictures were from last weekend. There is about 30 inches of ice on the lake now. I can walk and sometimes ski to where these pictures are taken from the house.

 

[DannyS]

Walt, are you talking about Lake Dillon? Believe it or not, I learned to sail on Lake Dillon back in 2001. I grew up on the lakes in Minnesota but never spent any time in a sailboat. I had to move to the mountains to learn to sail. Hopped a ride on a friend's boat out there and two weeks later, I owned my own boat. The next summer, after 8 years in the mountains, I moved back to the midwest to sail Lake Superior.

 

[walt]

Lake Dillon - I wish.. I actually think that would be a great place to spend the summer. Squirrely wind (as Im sure you know) but you get used to it. When the forecast says 5 to 15, is doesn’t mean it will be around 10 for a while, it means it will blow 5 for a few minutes in one direction, then blow 15 for a few minutes in another direction, then change again..

The place where my pictures are taken are Elevenmile res which is about 55 miles SE of Dillon. Dillon is over 9000 feet, this place is slightly lower. Both get the screwy wind. This place is about half way between Colorado Springs and Buena Vista in the real "South Park". Not as cool at Dillon (or expensive) but very peaceful.

 

[DannyS]

Ah, the Dream Stream! I used to fly fish between Spinney and Elevenmile. I know the area well, I lived in Fairplay, kayaked all over down that-a-way, but only sailed Lake Dillon.

 

[walt]

You will know exactly where these pictures were taken. I was on Elevenmile sailing - getting shocked on anything metal. Outboard would not start, lightning all over the place. This is looking directly at where the dream stream comes into Elevenmile. Spinney is in the background but you cant see it since its a little higher.

This was in August 2008 and fortanetly extremely rare (serious bad timing on my part). More than likely some fly fishermen got a real close look at this thing.

Some pictures of that area during the year http://analogengineering.com/elevenmile/lake_shots/2012_2013.html

 

[DannyS]

Whoa! That's a bit too close for comfort! I'll tell ya, sailing Lake Superior for the last 10 years and the most scared I've ever been in a sailboat was on Lake Dillon. Winds probably 25 to 30 knots, I'm on my Cal 20, flying full sails and running for my life but running out of room. Complete rookie mistake but I learned alot from that experience.

 

[DannyS]

Wow, I just heard a story on NPR about the ice caves!

 

[shemandr]

I finally googled Bayfield WI, and no I didn't know where it is. Looks like a great cruising area. Are there charter companies there? Where are the ice caves? Best anchorages? For folks who cruise there, where do most come from?

 

[DannyS]

Here's a screen shot from Google Earth. The untitled push pins show some of the most popular anchorages but there are many more little nooks and cranny's to tuck into. The mainland sea caves near Cornucopia are the ones accessible right now. The Devil's Island sea caves are the most notable and extensive caves in the islands. There are many photos in Google Earth, have a look there.
Superior Charters is the biggest charter company and I've heard they're pretty good though I have no first hand experience with them. They have a nice fleet of Jeanneau's, up to 55'.
I'd say at least half, but probably up to 75% of the cruisers up there live in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul region.

 

[shemandr]

Thanks - that's great to know. Could be a nice summer refuge from hot & humid.

 

[DannyS]

It's beautiful! Though we don't want word to get out too much because then everyone would be here. I like your thoughts on escaping the heat and humdity, summer in the deep south must be like winter up here where instead of running from heated box to heated box, you're running from air conditioned box to air conditioned box.