I don’t recall too many years (of the five I have stayed here) that actually had Spring-like weather during Spring break! But, weather gods have been unusually kind this time around and granted near +50 F (yes, +ve sign is a hint that we go on the -ve side too) temperatures as the break started. Not to misuse such rare conditions, here’s what I did over the break - while CPUs were churning out some important numbers for my research.

Part One: McLain State Park, MI

Located just about 10 miles from our town, this state park on the shores of Lake Superior is one my personal favorite places to watch/shoot Sunset. Thanks to a buddy of mine, Bharat, carrying my camera and its accessories through the often knee-deep snow was relatively easier. We were rewarded with a pretty gorgeous view as Sun went down. Here’s one of the pictures and rest of them may be found here.

Sunset at McLain State Park

Part Two: Houghton’s Old Fire Hall

While at Victoria’s Kitchen on another Spring like morning with buddies Kyle and Kevin, Kim offered take us into the Old Fire Hall. Well, if you are in Houghton, this is one of the buildings you pass while driving/biking/walking along Montezuma Avenue but usually taken for granted and/or conveniently ignored. Thanks to Kim, we got to shoot the interiors of this restricted-access building - a.k.a. paradise for abstract photography. Couple of the pictures are here and rest of them are here.

Basement of Old Fire Hall in Houghton

Broken Piano, still produces some tones; Old Fire Hall in Houghton

Part Three: Porcupine Mountains & Misery Bay, MI

Eager to see how Porcupine Mountains looked in winterish conditions, I drove out with a bunch of friends only to realize that the last seven miles leading up to the Lake of Clouds were closed Needless to say everyone was quite disappointed but we spent sometime near the shores as well as quite a bit of time at the base of ski hill. For whatever reason, I am not a big fan of skiing (cross-country and/or downhill) but it was nevertheless fun to shoot pictures of downhill skiers trying to slow down - something I had never done before!

Downhill skier in Porcupine Mountains

As even the South Boundary Road (which is the gateway to many a heavenly waterfalls) was closed, I drove to Misery Bay on the way back to Houghton. God knows who named this place Misery Bay and why so, when all one can have here is pure fun! Being in this neck of the woods, Sun doesn’t always set at the same place at all times and this day was no exception either. Walking on a frozen river and fooling around on a snow covered beach was fun too. Other pictures from this outing are here.

Misery Bay Sunset

Part Four: Hiking, Snow Shoeing in Keweenaw Peninsula, MI

Road closures around Porcupine Mountains forced yours-truly and Dr. Nadler to think of alternate ways/places to spend a blue-sky day. First destination that was more than obvious — Hungarian Falls. It was here, thanks to Walter, that I got to try Snow Shoeing (it’s not just shoeing in snow, but a different, more wider/longer shoe boards - kinda skate boards - that get strapped to the regular shoes; and due to better weight distribution, it makes walking on snow quite easy). After the usual hiking in the area, we set out to drive along the eastern coast - witnessing huge ice plates, snow dunes… formed on the surface of Lake Superior.

Ice Plates on Lake Superior; Tobacco River Beach

Some of these ice plates were as big as 8×10 feet and several inches thick while from the picture below, you can imagine the height of snow dunes…

Walter and Snow dunes on Lake Superior; Tobacco River Beach

Undoubtedly, this ~300 feet hiking ON Lake Superior is one of my most daring (and sometimes nerve wracking) acts and wouldn’t have done it but for snow shoes. Risk was definitely worth when I think about what I got to see and shoot and experience. On our drive back to Houghton along the western coast of Keweenaw, we were greeted by a deer herd near Eagle River…

Deer in Eagle River

And if you are wondering, rest of the pictures can be found here.

All in all, every outing had something interesting and turned out to be quite an experience in one way or the other. Looking forward to a similar such break sometime soon