The 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Adventures

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Wild Side of the Lake




























We've had a couple of big snowstorms
already this winter, and when that first 'lake effect' snow flies, I'm reminded of how the lake influences our weather and precipitation. I also think back to the first day I hiked with my son, Lucas, and how a storm had the lake all wild and riled with huge waves and howling wind. This was back in early April.

The photos at the top were taken on the same stretch of shoreline as the photo at the top of this blog. If you look closely, you'll see a vertical marker and a smaller, triangular one on the beach. These markers show just how far the lake was pushed up on the shoreline this day.

This was -- no contest -- the toughest day I hiked on the Lake Trek. Headwinds were sustained at 35mph and gusted to much stronger. We only did 5 miles that day, but it felt like 25.

2 comments:

  1. Are we (Michigan) the wild side? Sure feels like it! I won't be going to the beach today: even your April day's whitecaps look fierce, along with your huddled walking stance.

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  2. Hi Pamela,

    The lake does seem to get more agitated on the Michigan side. These photos are from the Saugatuck/Douglas area. When we finished hiking that day, climbed up a 5-story staircase to civilization and finally saw other people, they looked at us and said, "WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?"

    HA!

    Happy Holidays!
    -Loreen.

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