Lake Michigan Ice Shelf

This is the second year we've had little to no snow in December.  I won't say I'm complaining, but I am starting to miss that white fluffy stuff just a little bit.

To reminisce, I looked back through my photo files (remember when we had albums?!) and came across these gems from 2010.   For those of you who live in warmer climates or near oceans, we get lake ice like nothing else imaginable.  Lake Michigan is huge- even sea-like.  Many people have a hard time believing it's fresh water, which unlike salt water, will freeze after a long spell of subfreezing temperatures.  The wave motion of the water creates a large ice shelf or bank along the beach, and all types of interesting formations develop.  VERY cautiously, and this is highly debatable as people are often injured, you can walk along the ridges closest to the beach and get some great photos.  As a disclaimer- this is risky!  There can be snow covered air pockets that drop you right into the frigid water underneath, or a warm spell can soften the ice.  Ice floes can look like solid spots, until you notice the very slight wave motion within them.  We generally carry very long sticks and test the ice before we walk. 

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 For a moment in time, it feels like a hike through the Arctic.  Turn your back to the land and look out over the water and you expect a whale to blow or seal to surface at any time.  It's easy to get the feeling a polar bear isn't too far behind you....

You're welcome to come back anytime now, Winter.