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February 23, 2001

Blue Ice On Union Bay

	My phone rang off the hook after high winds shattered and heaped ice on Union Bay into huge piles, exposing the exquisite cyan color of the edges. Everyone traveling to the Porcupine Mountains Ski Area was treated to a fairly close view of these spectacular windrows.   I was sorely tempted to step off the mounds of ice close to shore and get a closer look, but realized that I'd likely not be able to climb back up to shore, even if I didn't fall through the pieces that lay farther out to sea. (Click the photos for a larger view. Use your "Back" button to return here)
	Here is a view from shore that gives a reference of distance, and shows the big leap necessary to access the blue ice in the foreground. (Click the photos for a larger view. Use your "Back" button to return here)
	An adamantine shard of crystalline Lake Superior water reflecting the clear blue sky above.

February 18, 2001

The Strange "Ice Cones"

	I was exploring my property on the Big Iron River near Silver City, and spotted some "ice cones" in the middle of the river. These little volcanoes form at the base of rapids and are usually composed of the foam generated by air and dissolved tannins in the water. The foam bubbles through the center of the cone, then freezes to build it higher. It seems they form in only the coldest weather, and melt very quickly in any kind of thaw. The largest I have ever seen was eight feet tall! These are only about a foot high, but cute. (Click the photos for a larger view. Use your "Back" button to return here)
	One of these cones is made of more or less solid ice. The others are made of frozen foam, as the one in the foreground. Below you can (barely) see the bubbles responsible for making the cones and generating the foam.
	There's more to this story. Remember, I said the cones were in the middle of the river, and in an area of numerous rapids. It took quite an effort to thread my way along the high (and dry) spots to get near them. It all went without incident after all, but it was quite a thrill to ski over the churning water buried beneath the snow. Much credit to faithful dog Cosmo who had better sense and stayed on shore while I did my work. I appreciate a partner who lets me concentrate on my creativity - and survival.

February 3, 2001

The Wolf's Call

There have been numerous sightings of Eastern Timber Wolves in the vicinity of Silver City and White Pine. We see them on the roadsides, and they pause and look back at us. Around midnight a couple weeks back, I was walking across the yard and heard their howls coming from the western edge of Silver City. My best guess is that they are keeping an eye on the deer that have located themselves in an area of timber harvest. I am reminded how fortunate I am to have things wild quite literally at my doorstep. By the way, this photo isn't real. It was assembled digitally from three photos; one shot in the afternoon on the Mineral River, the another of the moon and Venus a week before, and the wolf lifted from a photo on Lake Superior. It is the only "doctored" image on the QuietlyWild site, but it turned out so well I had to share it anyway.