Apostle Islands Ice Caves may open soon!

[WindOnHisNose]

Jeff Russell (WI) directed me to this beautiful wonder of winter nature in 2015. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a beautiful place to kayak in the summer, and a beautiful place to see in the winter. We have not had enough ice in recent years to be able to enjoy this, but we are on the verge, folks, of having access to this again.

We need to stay 0.25 statute miles away from the shore, but that is a really easy walk. I flew my super cub there, put on Trax on my snowboots and saw a wonderul display of nature's beauty. I hope we will be able to be out there very soon!

Stay tuned into the Park Service Facebook page to learn when it will be opened/closed. This is a great day trip from the Twin Cities.

Lat/Long 46.9084, -91.0244

https://www.facebook.com/apostleisl...-b03f7vzeIZG-4u_NFnoWsM2DHBWIeuhUeJ0Y&fref=nf

Randy

 

[C130jake]

I really want to fly out and see the caves.

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[SteveE]

Cool deal Randy Bob


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[G44]

How thick was the ice in 2015 where you were landing?

 

[aktango58]

Citified living seems easily amused with natures normal activities. In Juneau right now you can enter the ice cave and walk under the glacier. We used to do that here in Haines up one valley. Might still be there but hard to get to.

Cool shots for sure, but hard to believe that many people come to see ice on cliffs.

 

[SteveE]

Cool shots for sure, but hard to believe that many people come to see ice on cliffs.

That many people come to see me....you ought to try it sometime. [emoji41]



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[aktango58]

Actually, they go to visit Linda... you are just the lesser part of the package:lol:

Speaking of cold and great places, this is shot close to home, about 20 miles from the house.

https://vimeo.com/249579173

 

[C130jake]

Citified living seems easily amused with natures normal activities. In Juneau right now you can enter the ice cave and walk under the glacier. We used to do that here in Haines up one valley. Might still be there but hard to get to.

Cool shots for sure, but hard to believe that many people come to see ice on cliffs.

Not just ice on cliffs, lots of caves that can only be accessed when the largest freshwater lake on the planet freezes over and the ice is stable enough to walk out there....or fly. I am sure the locals around Ashland and Bayfield take it for granted.

Many folks are in awe of things they were never exposed to....glaciers, mountains, fjords may be common to SE Alaska or Norway but most folks on the planet only see pictures which we all know never can capture the real thing.

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[aktango58]

Good point on access Jake.

I forget that folks in WI drive all over the lakes in the winter, but often don't have the boats to get there in the summer.

What type of rock formations created the caves? some look big enough to use as hangars!

 

[C130jake]

I think the wave action and softer limestone and sandstone.

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[C130jake]

Kayaks and canoe trips to see see the caves in the summer. The wave action and cold make some amazing ice formations but if the lake doesn't cooperate, they are not accesable in the winter.

Need a long cold snap with lite or no wind to get ice that's walkable/landable. I grew up on the north shore of lake superior which is geologically different from the south shore where the caves are. I have seen 20ft high pressure ridges when the wind brings the ice in and miles of open water the next day with a wind shift.

I will fly over if we get good landable ice. Need some ice screws for tie downs.

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[joemcd]

How thick was the ice in 2015 where you were landing?

The ice was at least 18" when I landed there. Not only was it thick, it was clear as can be. I used ice screws, the same device that ice climbers use, to tie the plane down. It may sound odd, but the ice was really slick and as hard as granite. Yaktrax were nearly worthless. I was happy to have my traction devices with points on them. The 1/4 mile boundary is usually marked with old Christmas trees. As is required, I landed just outside of the 1/4 mile mark.

Even with the ice so thick, I think the caves were closed for the season just a little over a week after I visited. A storm came and moved all of that ice out. It was frozen solid from the mainland caves all the way out to Eagle and Sand Islands. If you have the conditions to make the trip, don't delay. The season is generally short lived.

 

[WindOnHisNose]

Caves in summer...

We had a great time kayaking there. The first year we went were with a kayak class and we were paired up in two person kayaks. After a couple of hours we understood why the kayaks were referred to as "divorce boats"! We graduated shortly thereafter to single person kayaks, and it was much more fun!

Randy