Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

Decided to fly up to the Apostle Islands Lakeshore yesterday to see the ice caves that I have been hearing so much about. Last year they became quite the rage with over 138,000 people going to see them. They opened for this season yesterday.

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/3689857-thousands-flock-apostle-islands-ice-caves-opening-day

We dilly dallied around in the morning and didn't get in the air until almost noon. Luckily we had a tailwind so the 270 SM trip only took a little over 3 hours not including a stop in Phillips WI for fuel.

This a truly a special trip and one that I will remember for a long long time. The cliffs and ices caves we saw yesterday were truly some of most beautiful natural wonders we have ever seen. I am glad we ended up pulling the trigger to make the trip even that late in the day. With changing ice conditions, variable weather, and an unpredictable personal schedule, we figured that now was that time as it may not come again until next year or worse.





As we hit Lake Superior the ice looked suitable for landing.





Rounding the tip of the peninsula we got this shot of the Raspberry Island Lighthouse



Lots of people on the ice trekking down to the caves. We had a plan to land and tie down just west of the parking area then walk the same one to two mile hike that everyone else was doing. Luckily we got a pirep from a airplane just departing the caves while we were still on our way up. He had parked just offshore of the caves, a bit more than the 1/4 mile park boundary. This was excellent info as it saved us a bunch of time hiking. Not that we couldn't use a hike, but with our late start, we were going to run out of daylight.



Iceboat racers call this "Hollywood" ice



Screwing in the ice screws with help from Rico







I have seen lots of discussion on ice screws on dot org but I can now also say that these things are the cat's ass. It was a nice cold day so they held great.



More pictures to come after dinner.............

Jeff, These look even better on my computer than the $50 screen in your hangar. SC calendar pics for sure. Jeff

Once again---NICE PHOTOS---Thanks for posting---perfect day

Very nice and no worry about Black Bugs.

Very cool, did they have the old Christmas tree's marking the 1/4 mile boundary from the lakeshore? I may try to get up there this week. Thanks for the pictures!

LandCub said:

Very cool, did they have the old Christmas tree's marking the 1/4 mile boundary from the lakeshore? I may try to get up there this week. Thanks for the pictures!

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Yes they did.....I think they were Charlie Brown Christmas trees..........

All tied down and ready for the short hike to shore. I'll save the story about taxiing on glare ice in fifteen knots of wind for another time.



Heading in to the shore.



The closer we get, the better the scenery.




Even without ice on them, the cliffs are stunning.




Absolutely beautiful!




Inside one of the shallow caves






Beautiful ice crystals









...this looks interesting.....



Belly crawling through a passage from one cave to another.











The small dot in the middle of the shot is my airplane







Looking straight up......



I call this one Snotsicle



Waterfall



The moon was looking down on us all day and also for the flight home in the dark



Another waterfall



Stunning beauty



Gotta start thinking about heading back....





We live on a lake so Rico is familiar with clear smooth ice and he does not like it. All four paws like to go in independent directions. "I think I'll stay on the rough ice thank you"



Hollywood ice!



Nearing the end of a spectacular day with Rico staying on the less slippery areas. He is almost 12 years old and probably smarter than me.



Packing up for home.....

Jeff
Where did you find that beautiful model with Rico in all the pictures?







The last 2 are "Calendar Worthy" for certain!

Lou

Awesome post, Jeff. Thank you. A fantastic Cub, beautiful wife, and great dog. Dude, you are living the dream!

Great photos. Thanks again.

Bill

Amazing trip. Thanks for posting the pictures!

... wow, awesome footage thanks for posting

Thanks for the nice comments guys. It was a memorable day for us and I enjoy sharing it.

All sorts of people were belly crawling in the caves. Even plumbers.

I also like this shot.

What a fantastic trip Jeff. That is an amazing place that you've brought to us through some excellent images.

I don't think I have ever seen so much glare ice. Does the lake freeze there every year or is this one an exception?

That must have been a full back seat for your wife with a big dog and engine cover.

Jeff, what an awesome post! Great shots and what a fun day to have an airplane!

sj

Really nice work Jeff!

Nice, Jeff!

Nice pics!

Nice Jeff, how much ice out there

Tim said:

Nice Jeff, how much ice out there

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It looked somewhere over 30". Clear black ice, the strongest there is. You lay the tracks, I'll drive the train.

Interesting link. I had found a better one years ago but cannot find it now.

http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/WaterControl/Districts/MVP/Reports/ice/ice_load.html

Just found another good one.

http://www.almanac.com/content/ice-thickness-safety-chart

Wow, very nice post

Amazing photos, thank you for posting them.

I know what we will likely be doing this weekend...

Thanks, Jeff!

Randy

Randy,

Make certain to call the Apostle Islands Ice Line and check their FB page for updates. The caves will be closing today to hopefully reopen on Thursday due to a storm. If lake conditions don't look good for a landing, land at the Cornucopia Airstrip and walk to the highway. I'm sure you could thumb or beg a ride from there. Cornucopia is listed as private but is owned by the township and using it is no problem.

Jeff, would you mind if I put a few of your pic's on my Facebook page? Maybe the plane out on the ice and a couple good ones in the caves.

Great pictures thanks Jeff! You just gave me a great idea of a winter destination. I've been to the islands in July. Love them.

What a wonderful day of exploring! Thanks for posting those gorgeous pictures, Jeff!

Anne.

180Marty said:

Jeff, would you mind if I put a few of your pic's on my Facebook page? Maybe the plane out on the ice and a couple good ones in the caves.

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Feel free Marty. You should be able to grab them of of Photobucket. If not, let me know.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff.

Very nice! I flew up to see the caves last year, but was in a rental nosedragger, so I didn't dare land out on the ice, instead flying into Ashland, renting a car, and staying up there for a couple days to explore the caves. I was hoping to make it up there this year on skis, but it would've been a long trip and work interfered (even though it has me stuck in Houghton all week, which is less than 100 nm away). If the ice is in good shape, taking a lap out around Devil's Island and Sand Island will capture some spectacular scenery, with feelings of aloneness like nothing else I've ever experienced in Wisconsin.

Lighthouse at Devil's Island:


Alaska?


West side of Devil's:


Ice cliffs on Sand Island(?):


A couple snowmobilers out in the park:


The famous sea caves of Squaw Bay:


Well-trodden trail to the caves:


Went out for some night photography:


Is this even allowed on this forum?


ed: My apologies for posting such tiny versions of the photos. Full-sized images can be found here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106986214856177472023/LakeSuperiorIceCaves2014?noredirect=1