Frosted and Frozen

Frosted and Frozen

A closer view of the outer light of the St. Joseph, Michigan range lights. The ice and snow give the lighthouse the look of cake frosting.

This week, the temperature climbed up near 60 degrees, so I'm assuming the ice no longer covers the lighthouses of lower Lake Michigan. Temperatures are falling today, so perhaps a fresh batch of ice will be clinging to this tower soon.

Beneath the Points of Ice

Beneath the Points of Ice

One can't help but notice the thick ice on the lighthouses of the Great Lakes in winter, but a closer look often yields some very interesting formations. While carefully moving toward the windward side of the outer light - through an arch created by the ice hanging between the tower and a cable - I captured the view up toward the lantern.

The tons of ice hanging above created an interesting "room" resembling the interior of a cave, complete with stalactites and stalagmites.

Ice Blowing in the Wind

Ice Blowing in the Wind

Not really, but as it formed, the winds pushed the water away from the North to form what looks like fresh, white laundry blowing in the wind.

So many different ice formations occur around the St. Joseph, Michigan pier. The long icicles hanging from the catwalk and light tower, mounds of ice like stalactites sit near the lighthouse, drift ice in the water, and pancake ice slowly spinning in Lake Michigan.

In person, this area appears to be an alien world, especially when viewing the lake and lighthouse from the end of the pier, on the other side of this lighthouse. Maybe not alien, but truly a different world.

The Ice Monster, from the Edge

The Ice Monster, from the Edge

It wouldn't be a trip to the icy lighthouses of lower Michigan, without trying to get around the lighthouse at the end of the pier. This is the windward side of the outer range light, the side that receives the most wind, water, and ice. Crawling through the arch created by the ice, I carefully made my way around the outer light, to the end of the pier. With a 33 degree Lake inches behind me, I captured the least viewed side of this icy mass. It's not even recognizable as a lighthouse really.

The tower is 35 feet tall, but now encased in ice that is a few feet thick at the base.

Frozen Sentinel



It's been almost two years since I've seen a Michigan lighthouse covered in ice. Last year, the unusually warm temperatures prevented ice from forming on the southeastern part of Lake Michigan. Following a week of extremely cold temperatures and high winds, the St. Joseph, Michigan outer lighthouse is encased in a thick layer of ice.

It's always amazing to see the patterns and shapes created by the ice; they're never quite the same from year to year, or storm from storm.

The Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter

The Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter

Although they are millions of miles apart, the Moon and Jupiter appear only a few degrees apart tonight, January 21, 2013. This conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon is the closest they will appear until 2026.

It was worth standing in the 8 degree cold for a few moments to capture this image.

Weeds and Bokeh

Weeds and Bokeh

Not much growing during this time of year, but interesting things can often be found if you look around. These wildflowers dried out a long time ago, but still dot the landscape.

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Preserve.

Another test for the new lens....

Little Red Schoolhouse

Little Red Schoolhouse

Built in 1886, this one room schoolhouse served the local residents of Palos Park, Illinois for decades. Around 1915, the landscape changed from mostly agriculture to forest as the Cook County Forest Preserve was established. The number of pupils declined until the school was closed, and tuned into a nature learning center.

Today, a modern facility stands a few feet away, and this building stands empty once again. I hope the future includes a school museum, with exhibits outlining the daily lives of the school teachers and children of the Little Red Schoolhouse.

January Sky

January Sky

Overcast skies and dim, flat light create a high contrast image of the leafless trees on the margin of the beach at Mt. Baldy.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Smile

Smile

A waxing moon on a cold, January night. Shot between periods of haze as a test for my new camera and lenses. Pretty satisfied! The low light capability of the camera body is incredible.

Dune Blowout

Dune Blowout

An unusually warm January day! The perfect day for a trip to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

This particular dune continues to see a lot of erosion, not only from the wind, and the waves of Lake Michigan, but from the small stream that runs at its foot. Marram Grass refuses to grow (or, it's not being allowed) on the windward side of the dune. The sand doesn't stay in place long enough for the grass to take hold, and if it does begin to grow, the stream undermines the foot of the dune causing a collapse and mini landslide, dragging the grass down to the lake.

After a couple of days of 40 and 50 degree weather, ice remained in some shaded blowouts along the stream.

A few hours later, temperatures dropped and sleet began to fall, reminding us that winter was still in control.

Winter at Sag Quarries

Winter at Sag Quarries

Over 365 days have passed since the last snowfall of one inch or more fell in most of the Chicago area. A small amount of snow dusts the frozen lake, enough to keep a temporary record of those who ventured onto the ice.

A couple of brave ice fishermen took their chances on the newly formed ice, in an attempt to bring home a fresh supply of fish.