Frozen Before Thanksgiving

A recent arctic weather pattern turned the Midwest very cold and windy - the perfect ingredients for iced lighthouses!  This is the earliest I can remember, where the 35 foot tall outer lighthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan was completely covered in ice. As a rule, mid to late December was the typical time for icing -cold, windy, and the lake is still liquid.  Any later, and Lake Michigan tends to freeze over, and the splashing and spray are suppressed, and the lighthouses don't ice up.

Beating the forecast for warm weather and rain, I headed out to photograph the lighthouse before the ice melted, and before the skies turned to rain. Following an hour or two capturing images from shore, I headed out on the iced pier only to find the railings completely ice covered.  While this is nothing new, the ice also covered the only space between the rails allowing me to walk to the inner and outer lights. I considered climbing over, but the return was certainly not as easy, and not safe.



After a time photographing the pier and inner light, a familiar face came walking down the pier.  It was Tim, a local man who regularly studies bird migrations from the pier. I've run into Tim for the last six or seven years here, no matter what day I venture out to photograph the lighthouse from the end of the icy pier.  Today, he was armed with an axe, and ready to chop the ice away from a portion of the railing so he could get out to the outer light.



He worked at chopping the ice for almost an hour, as I watched along with two fishermen and a few photographers. He finally made enough progress to safely climb over the rail. Tim held my camera gear as I climbed over to fasten a rope to the first catwalk upright, then back to the rail for a handhold in case we needed it on the return trip. Once over, I assisted a fellow photographer over the rail, and we made our way out past the inner lighthouse, to the outer light.  We were the first people this season to access the frozen outer light, and also to photograph it from the pier.



I remained on the pier for quite a while afterward, photographing the light, and conversing with Tim as he set up his gear. We were joined soon after by another photographer. It was a great opportunity to meet some photographers and talk about our love for this lighthouse, especially in winter.

Sandhill Crane Migration

Each year, thousands of sandhill cranes migrate from the northern United States to their winter habitat in Florida. One stop along the way is in north central Indiana, at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area.  At times, over 10,000 birds stop for a rest on their long migration.  This week, officials estimated the number around 8,000.



The birds stand over three feet tall, with a wing span of seven feet, and are quite vocal as they "kite" down to the marsh to feed and mingle. They arrive around an hour before sunset, from late September through mid December, but peak numbers are usually in mid November. Just before sunset, groups of three to twenty fly in from every direction, in formation, one after another, until the marsh takes on the blue color of their feathers.



Keeping just far enough away from the human spectators, they congregate until morning - the second best time to see them, as they take off to find food in the nearby farm fields.

People from all around visit the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area just to see the birds.  There is a raised platform with spotting scopes available to visitors, as well as ample parking.  This weekend, was cold, yet moderately crowded, as birdwatchers and photographers attempted to get their best look at the cranes.  During the morning hours, just after sunrise, the few dozen remaining sandhill cranes were only a hundred feet away from the viewing stand, allowing photographers to snap away.

On our return that evening, we parked amid the cars and buses - yes, tour buses of people wishing to view the cranes. Unfortunately, this evening, the birds were far in the distance, and not easily seen. Even though they were too far away to photograph, it was still exciting to see thousands of birds landing in the distance, flying in from every direction, almost constantly.  In the cold evening air, friendly park employees heated water on a propane stove, and offered hot chocolate and cookies to the visitors - an unexpected and welcome treat.

Autumn Yard Work

There's nothing like the smell of burning leaves in the Fall. Even more than the colors that dot the landscape, the aroma of burning leaves confirms the season. Growing up in Chicago, we didn't get to experience the Autumn tradition of burning leaves, in fact, it was illegal. Besides, we probably only had 200 leaves to rake up and throw in the trash - or bury in the garden. Now my sons help my dad rake and burn the leaves before they are buried by the early snowfall.

It's great to get out to the country where burning is legal and experience the smell of burning leaves in the cool, Fall air. It just wouldn't seem like Fall without it.  Plus, the ashes are great for the garden.

Resting Kayaks

On our return trip, we stopped at the beach - it's dark so early now, we figured we could enjoy gazing at the stars between the clouds.  It was very windy, so the clouds appeared as white smears across the sky, but it seemed to add some interest to the images I was able to capture.

The lights from the city of Chicago generally wash out most of the stars from this vantage point, however, the low cloud cover over the lake seemed to block some of that light from reaching these stars.  The light did, however, create some interesting viewing over the lake (see Saturday's post), making the image appear to have been taken over many hours, yet it was a single 20 second exposure.

Our viewing lasted only a few minutes before the low clouds arrived from Chicago, completely blocking out the stars all around us. Camera put away, we explored the beach in the darkness - a totally different experience for the senses.

Day into Night

The night sky on the Indiana shore of Lake Michigan is polluted by light from the city of Chicago.  The city is 50 miles across the lake at this point, yet the light completely washes out the stars over the city.

On this evening, the city light not only washed out the stars, but it illuminated the low clouds, making the horizon appear like sunset, yet sunset was two hours prior. High winds prevented my from taking very long exposures (the camera kept moving slightly when gusts hit), but the exposure did bring out the movement of the clouds and the waves.

This image appears to be a composite of sunset and the night sky, however, it is a single exposure, and image. The light pollution from Chicago is responsible for the yellow on the horizon.  If you look closely, you'll notice some lights from the buildings themselves.

Prepare to Get Your Feet Wet

A small wave washes over the pier at the St. Joseph, Michigan lighthouse. Things began to calm down following some extremely windy conditions on Lake Michigan. These small waves would only get your feet wet - maybe wet to your knees, nothing like the waves that crashed into the pier a day earlier.  Those waves would wash you into the lake with little effort.

The catwalk would protect the lighthouse keepers from such waves, but during certain storms, they wouldn't stay dry. The waves would almost reach the catwalk, and the spray would certainly tower over them, getting the keepers soaked with freezing water.

St Joseph Range Lights

A beautiful, sunny morning on Tiscornia Beach.  The sun illuminates the two lighthouses that comprise the St. Joseph range lights.

Range lights - also known as leading lights- help ships find the harbor entrance from a distance, especially at night.  In this case, the two lighthouses are set in line, a few hundred feet apart on a single pier.  The inner lighthouse is taller, so it can be seen over the outer lighthouse.  As ships approach the harbor, they steer so the two range lights are vertically in line, the inner light directly above the outer light.  Keeping these lights in vertical alignment, the helmsman is able to head directly toward them, and into the harbor in times of low visibility.

Range lights also assist ships in determining their position, even if they're not heading to port. Finding a bow or beam bearing may prove difficult using only one distant light or object, since the ship needs to be at an exact angle to take a sucessful bearing.  By lining up the two range lights, the navigator knows the ship is in line with the marker, and the bearing is accurate.

Even in these days of modern navigation systems, it's reassuring to see these sister lighthouses on the horizon, guiding ships to safe harbor.

High and Dry

While not as intense as a day previous, the waves at the St. Joseph, Michigan lighthouse were high enough to crash onto the pier, keeping visitors off - well, most of them.



Not to pass up an opportunity for fun, we walked out to the end of the railed off section of the pier - this is quite a bit safer than the rest of the pier. Although, on this day, if I were alone, I probably would have ventured out to the lighthouses, keeping my eye on the approaching waves, and clinging to the catwalk supports if the waves crashed.  The waves weren't high enough to wash me into the lake, and it's only water, and not cold enough to keep me away.

The boys managed to jump onto the supports as the pier filled with water, making a game out of it. The only danger they faced was the possibility of wet shoes.



Soon, cold temperatures will bring ice, and walking on the pier could be treacherous, and games such as these will be off limits.

All Washed Up

"The gales of November came early" - a day early, on Halloween, and caused quite a mess on area beaches.  This pile of debris was pushed ashore on West Beach, part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and pushed up quite a distance from the usual waterline.  The debris included kayaks, sailboat pieces, logs (some 30 inches in diameter), surfboards, and all of the items generally found aboard small vessels.

Not only did beaches receive piles of debris, they also lost plenty of sand.  Many of the dunes close to the beaches were undercut, and partially collapsed into the lake. A natural process that deposits sand down the beach, but alarming to some because the dune appears damaged.

And so it goes, Fall, on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Relentless

Relentless Lake Michigan waves crash into the St. Joseph, Michigan outer lighthouse, on a windy, Fall afternoon. It's amazing how much stress these structures can endure. For over 100 years, high winds, pounding surf, and tons of ice, have battered this lighthouse, and yet it remains standing.

This is one in a series of 16 of my recent photographs featured on the Weather Channel's weather.com site:
Lighthouse Battered by 20-Foot Waves

Not only do the photos show the waves the lighthouses often experience, but also the process of how they become covered in ice in winter months.  It's this wave action combined with freezing temperatures that produces the interesting ice formation on the lighthouses.

Last year, the Weather Channel featured 28 of my iced lighthouses in a gallery entitled,
Breathtaking Frozen Lighthouses

They also produced a video of my images during the polar vortex:
Beautiful Icy Lighthouse Art

Soon the temperatures will drop low enough for the ice to form once again, and only time will tell if the formations will be as captivating as in past years.

Grosse Point Light Through the Trees

Plenty of colorful trees surround the tower of the Grosse Point lighthouse in Evanston, Illinois. Just a few short minutes from the Chicago lakefront, the noise and pace of the big city disappear as you walk the shady grounds of this historic lighthouse.  One of only five lighthouses on the Great Lakes to receive a second order Fresnel lens - the largest order on any lighthouse of the Great Lakes.



A major restoration of the lighthouse and keeper's house took place in 2013, giving new life to this historic structure.

Autumn at Grosse Point

Set amidst old maple trees, and well-maintained gardens, the Grosse Point lighthouse is located in a beautiful, park-like setting on the shore of Lake Michigan.  Add the colors of Fall, and the proximity to the lake, the grounds become magical.  Built in 1873, the 112 foot tall concrete and brick tower rises above other homes in suburban Evanston, Illinois.



Built to aid ships travelling on Lake Michigan, the citizens of Evanston petitioned Congress for a lighthouse on Grosse Point following several shipwrecks off the shore. The collision of the Lady Elgin and a lumber schooner in 1860, (300-400 people lost) was a catalyst in the decision to petition for a lighthouse.  The process was delayed by the Civil War, but construction eventually began in 1872, and the lantern, with it's second order Fresnel lens, was first lit in March of 1874.

The grounds are open year-round, free of charge. Tours of the tower are offered May - September on weekends, and currently cost $6.

Looking Up

A warm, 70 degree Fall day concluded with clear skies and no moon.  Without the moon, the stars were clearly visible, even with the light pollution from nearby urban areas.  I remember nights like these when I would head out onto the lake in a rowboat or canoe, and just lay back and look at the stars. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I was able to see what appeared to be clouds - gas and dust? Or just clusters of stars?  I'm not sure, but in this photo, you can see a bit of the cloud-like band I viewed on dark summer nights.

Growing up in Chicago, I rarely saw more than 10 or 20 stars in the night sky.  Looking up while walking rural LaPorte County, Indiana on a dark night, is certainly a treat.

Evening at Cloud Gate

On an unusual evening visit to Chicago's Art Institute - voted the World's best museum by TripAdvisor users, we walked around Millenium Park and took in the sights of the city.

Chicago's famous sculpture Cloud Gate by British artist Anish Kapoor is often called "the Bean" by locals. The Bean offers visitors and locals alike a unique view of Chicago reflected by the highly polished, stainless steel sculpture, resting in the heart of Millenium Park. The sculpture begs visitors to touch their reflections and photograph their distorted likeness, while walking beneath the sculpture provides a twisted view of those gathered below.

Even though I grew up in Chicago and remain a suburban resident, I'm more inclined to explore and visit natural sites rather than urban ones. Chicago's architecture is outstanding, the sites interesting, and the museums world-class. However, the  parking fees, and infinite web of cash-making traffic cameras will keep me in my comfort zone - the Southeastern Lake Michigan sand dunes.

Michigan City Waves

Winds were at the correct angle to drive the waves of Lake Michigan into the Michigan City East Pierhead lighthouse. This lighthouse tends not to get as drenched as it's cousin in St. Joseph, Michigan, yet during certain storms, the waves batter the pier and lighthouse.  During these conditions, it's easy to see why there are catwalks to many of the lighthouses on the Great Lakes. Even on the catwalk, the lighthouse keeper would get drenched with water as the waves broke against the pier.

With temperatures in the low 40s, one generally would not want to wander anywhere near the water. However, there are a few who brave the elements for a bit of adventure - kite surfers.  There were two kite surfers on this morning, skimming across the waves at high speed, propelled by the winds over Lake Michigan.



At times, the surfers would use the waves as ramps and jump many feet into the air, pulled and guided by their parachute-like kites fastened to them. Looks like a lot of fun to me, but I'd be a bit concerned with the proximity of the pier and lighthouse.



I'll see many kite surfers through the winter - as long as the lake is still liquid and not frozen over, they'll brave the elements for a one of a kind thrill ride.

Gulls and Waves

The fall around the Great Lakes brings high winds and cold temperatures. This week was no exception, as the winds and waves battered the southeastern shore of Lake Michigan.

Waves exceeding 8 feet crashed into the St. Joseph, Michigan pier and lighthouses. The wind combined with the geometry of the pier, seem to enhance the size, frequency, and height of the waves, as the water is pushed into the corner of the pier and beach, then sent backward into the lake again only to crash into more waves.  When this combination occurs, the waves build to great heights, as seen on the video in my previous post

These conditions are extremely hazardous for boaters and swimmers. I don't think a person would have much of a chance in the rough, cold waters north of the pier.  South of the pier is a different story - kite surfers and kayaks often brave the wind and waves for a challenging surf or paddle.

For me, every visit to Lake Michigan is an experience, and unique.  The wave action is never the same twice, the splashes on the lighthouses are never the same, and in winter, the ice formations are spectacular.  This is something one needs to experience first-hand.

Waves at St. Joseph

A windy day with lake-effect rain prevented us from hiking too far, yet I didn't mind standing in the wind and rain to capture a few hundred photos of the waves crashing into the lighthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan. Waves appeared to reach 10 feet (perhaps more) as they pounded the pier and lighthouse. This particular area catches waves and pushes the water back out to the lake, creating much higher waves at times as they crash into each other next to the lighthouse.



I shot a bit of quick video to show how the waves on Lake Michigan are treacherous.  The rather compact size of the lake (22,000 square miles) keeps the waves churning back and forth.  The frequency of the waves seems much greater than that of the ocean. The waves seen here reach a height of around 12 feet.

In colder weather, this is what creates the unusual and beautiful ice formations on the lighthouses.  The spray freezes each time a wave hits the pier, and many hours later, the lighthouse is covered in a thick layer of ice.

Color Around the Bend

A gloomy Fall morning on the Hennepin Canal near Geneseo, Illinois; Very near peak color for this area. This particular area just west of Lock 24 is much wider than most of the canal - perhaps this was a turning basin or an area where canal boats gathered before going through the locks. The much reduced flow of the canal has allowed sediment to collect, and lotus plants have taken over some of this area. The familiar beehive-looking seed pods rise above the fading plants. The seed pods are often seen in potpouri and crafts.  the seeds themselves are used for medicine and foods in Eastern cultures. I'm not certain if these are the same variety, so I refrained from tasting them!

One can only imagine the view the operators of the canal boats had in Autumn back in the early 1900s, with the colorful leaves reflecting in the canal.

WaterFall Color

Exploring a new area (for me), Geneseo, Illinois, on a dim, Fall morning. Plenty of color, but not much sun to make it really stand out. This is Lock 24 of the Hennepin Canal, an historic canal cut between the Illinois River and the Mississippi River - making it possible to move freight from the Mississippi to Chicago, prior to major roads and rail.  The first concrete canal project in America, the Hennepin Canal was first conceived in 1834, but wasn't started until 1892. Once completed in 1904, the canal was effectively obsolete when it opened.

The 75 mile long main canal and 29 mile long feeder canal are used today for recreation. A bike/walking path run alongside the canal, providing interesting views of the remaining locks.

No longer in operation, some locks still have wooden gates (cut to allow water to flow through), and the gears that once opened the locks, providing a glimpse into Illinois' transportation past.

Autumn Road

An Autumn drive through rural Indiana yields some beautiful colors along the road less traveled. Actually, I parked and walked about 4 miles round trip, because it was not possible to park anywhere along the road.

This road runs between the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Indiana Dunes State Park, and is relatively quiet this time of year. The intensity of Fall color varies annually, but with the bright sunshine, the trees didn't disappoint this year - although I've seen better on this stretch of road. Perhaps the colors will intensify soon, before the leaves disappear for the long winter.