Confluence

The Bailey Generating Station borders Cowles Bog, marking the confluence of man and nature. Looking west, one sees industry, looking all other directions- nature.

Following a two mile hike through wetland, woods and dunes, the tail opens up to the beach and Lake Michigan. Known as Boater's Beach, this remote shoreline is mainly accessed by pleasure boaters who anchor just off shore to enjoy a quiet, almost deserted beach. It's a bit too long of a walk for someone wishing to arrive by car with umbrella, cooler and chairs - and just as long back to the parking lot.

Along the trails, you will experience swamps, prairie, woods, oak savanna, conifer forest and beach - including some plant life mostly found in warmer climates such as prickly pear cactus.

The generating station spoils the view in one direction, but it's not difficult to ignore it, and find yourself lost in a time when the entire Indiana shore of Lake Michigan was unspoiled dune.

Overcast River Walk

A heavy, wet snow fell overnight, following an afternoon of rain showers. The wet snow, and lack of wind resulted in snow that covered every branch of every tree.
This is the DuPage River in Naperville, Illinois.

Incoming Snow Clouds

Light snow showers were falling shortly after these clouds rolled in, but no accumulation was expected.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Siblings

The inner and outer lights of the St. Joseph, Michigan range lights. Located at the end of a 1000 foot long pier, at the mouth of the St. Joseph River.

Ice is forming on the base of the catwalk supports and the outer light.

Iced Supports

Heavy surf creates ice on the support structure for the catwalk leading to the St. Joseph, Michigan inner light. Waves frequently washed over the pier on this day, making it dangerous to walk out to the lighthouse, and deadly to walk past the inner light to the outer light. The waves could easily wash a person over the side and into the 33 degree water.

Sparkles

The constant splashing of Lake Michigan covered the railings of the St. Joseph, Michigan pier with a coating of ice. Two feet thick in some places, but here, just a small amount formed. The sunlight sparkles in the water below.

Frigid Waters

Waves batter the pier as cold temperatures cause the spray to freeze on the 35 foot tall outer range light and the catwalk. I had hopes of walking out to the tower, but they soon faded as I saw the waves crashing over the pier.

Forming Ice

Mid February cold weather and wind are finally in the process of creating a thick layer of ice on the outer range light. The waves were much too high to risk walking out on the pier, so we had to walk part way out on the opposite pier.

Wind and Waves

Wind and waves take their toll on St. Joseph's outer light. 45 mile per hour winds, 15 foot waves, and splashes up to 70 feet in the air, contribute to the ice build up on the lighthouse.

Sunk

Only a small portion of this rusted barge is visible after it was left to sink and rust in the steamboat basin of the Illinois and Michigan Canal just off of the Illinois River in LaSalle, Illinois.

Just a short walk along the muddy bank of the steamboat basin, past the official end of the I and M Canal trail.

Slope Revealed

Winter reveals the true contour of the dunes along Lake Michigan's Indiana shore. There is quite a difference between the contour of the ground and the treetops. Water and nutrients collect in the small valleys between the dunes, and the trees benefit from this extra moisture, growing taller and stronger. Trees near the top of the dunes appear to be a bit more stressed, from the lack of moisture, nutrients and the elements.

Franklin Street Bridge

Built in 1932, the Franklin Street Bridge crosses Michigan City's Trail Creek, allowing easy access to Washington Park. The bridge has a 213 foot span and has its original railings - unusual for bridges of this age. Unlike the many Chicago bascule bridges which utilize truss construction, this bridge used plate girders, making this a significant Indiana bridge.

Artist's Easel

A quick project for my nephew Tom, who's becoming quite interested in fine art. He needed an easel for drawing and painting. This one is made from poplar, stands 7 feet tall, with two adjustable clamps that will hold canvas or boards as large as four feet tall.


It's built using pocket screws - screws drilled in on an extreme angle to join two flat boards of wood.

Constant Bombardment

High winds and waves batter the 108 year old South Haven, Michigan lighthouse. It's been a warm winter so far, and any ice that builds up from splashes like these soon melts.

Most years, ice builds up from windy days in December, and remains until February or March.

Shrouded

Waves crash into the pier of the St. Joseph, Michigan lighthouse, shrouding the outer light in a cape of water spray.

The lighthouse is 35 feet tall, at the end of a 1000 foot pier.

A fellow photographer braves the elements to get his perfect shot.

70 Foot Splash

A windy afternoon created some big waves on Lake Michigan, and some huge splashes on the St. Joseph, Michigan lighthouse. The outer light tower is 35 feet tall, and this splash is at least twice that height.

While the temperature was in the mid 30s, the wind made the hike to the beach difficult, and standing out on the exposed dune was almost impossible- freezing bare skin in minutes. Next time, I'll bring gloves.

West Beach Snow

A fresh blanket of snow covers the Marram Grass growing on the slopes of the sand dunes of West Beach.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Ghost Barge

At the confluence of the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal and the Illinois River, in LaSalle, Illinois, a rusted out barge sits in the middle of the steamboat basin, blocking the waterway. Apparently, this is no longer navigable, and it was easier to simply let the barge sit and rust where it was last used. There's another barge a few yards away that is almost unrecognizable, and barely visible in the water.

A rather insignificant end to the canal that ran over 90 miles from Chicago to LaSalle.

Giant Snowball

Tired of getting hit by snowballs, Dan gets revenge on his older brother with the biggest snowball of the day. He managed to sneak up on him and get a bulls eye.

Back to the Top

Boys climb back up to the top of a sand dune to get ready to sled down the snowy face of the dune. Sledding is not allowed at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, I guess they didn't see any Park Rangers around.

At least these kids weren't sledding toward Lake Michigan.