Ice on the Great Lakes

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

This winter, the Great Lakes have had very little ice coverage. 

NOAA Reports January 2021 was Among the Top-10 Warmest for U.S. - Great Lakes Ice Coverage Was the Smallest In Decades

 

On average, 

ice coverage is down 22% since 1973. 

Less ice on the lakes means more evaporation and more lake effect snow. Warming waters destabilize the lake's ecosystem making it more vulnerable to disruptions and crashes.

The temperature finally dipped in February and I made my way to the lakeshore to check out ice formation on Lake Michigan. It was brutally cold, in the teens even before the wind chill was considered. It was comfortable (with the correct layering and coat) when hiking with the wind to my back, but walking into the wind was tough.

Check out the icy beach:

Great Lakes OTTERS

 Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

Did you know that there are otters in the Great Lakes? Have you ever seen one?

During my adventures, I have seen otters on three of the Great Lakes (Michigan, Huron and Superior). I saw otter tracks on North Manitou Island. I watched them feed as the sun set on Lake Huron.

This week I took a drive out to Leland (Michigan) and saw something on the ice in the harbor. I parked as the otter finished chewing what it had caught and slid back into the harbor. 

I walked out on a dock to get a closer look and the otter surfaced again, spent some time chewing, then slid back into the water. 

Otters are fun to watch, especially if there is more than one. They are playful and animated.

Check out my photo and video from this encounter...and keep your eyes open for your own otter sighting.

Waning Ice on the Shores of Lake Michigan

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

There was very little ice on the surface of the Great Lakes this winter. 

And now, in late March, the only ice I saw on my lakeshore walk today (with social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic) 

persisted on trees and roots that had been splashed by waves.

The result was sculptural...

jagged...

and told the story of wind and waves.

In this time of necessary isolation, it was lovely to wave to passing lakeshore strollers, to give a smile, to remember that we are in this together.

Happy National Lighthouse Day

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

August 7 is National Lighthouse Day.

This day honors the beacons that have lit the way for so many vessels on the waters around and within the U.S.

Here are just a few of the many lights I have passed on my Great Lakes Adventures:

40-Mile Point Lighthouse - Lake Huron

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse - Lake Huron (oldest in Michigan)

Point Au Barques Lighthouse - Lake Huron

Tawas Point Lighthouse - Lake Huron

Marblehead Light - Lake Erie (oldest in Great Lakes)

Charlevoix Channel Light - Lake Michigan

40-Mile Point Light (during my second hike/Lake Huron)

Big Sable Lighthouse (Lake Michigan)

Which lighthouse is YOUR favorite?

[Mine is Little Sable on Lake Michigan.]
For more info on National Lighthouse Day click HERE.

Where it All Began...

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

It was on this date 

TEN YEARS AGO

that I began my trek around Lake Michigan.

I am amazed that it has been a decade since this all began.

Standing on Chicago's Navy Pier for the beginning of this 1,000-mile hike, I didn't know if I could do it, had never done anything of this magnitude before. 

I would hike along the edge of my favorite place and get to know it completely...

all its many moods...

...the many creatures living along the edge of this Great Lake...

...the beauty along the way.

I arrived back in Chicago after 64 days of hiking (averaging 16 miles/day).

 And I got to celebrate with friends and family and followers of this amazing journey.

This adventure led to my first book:

It went on to be a Heartland Indie Bestseller!

[Available wherever books are sold -- support your local INDIE bookstore!]

Also available as an audiobook HERE.

This first adventure led to two more:

I have given over 200 presentations about my Great Lakes adventures! 

Learn more about me and my dynamic presentations about our magnificent Great Lakes HERE. 

Ice Formations along Grand Traverse Bay

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

Winter changes the Great Lakes.

Many people think that ice just forms on the top of the lakes, sealing the lower liquid for a time. It can do that, but it is also infinitely more creative. 

Water transforms, coats, blows, and freezes.

Below are a few photos taken on a single day along the shoreline of Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City.

Just look at what nature created:

Frozen spray locked these milkweed seeds in place

Ice balls form around grasses and reeds along the shoreline...

...then the weight of the ice snaps off the reed and the ice ball floats away

Buddy ice mounds hanging out along the bayshore

Ice volcano

Melded ice balls locked in sheet ice

6th Anniversary of My Great Lakes Walk

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures: 

A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach  [A Heartland Indie Bestseller]

A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk   [Winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award] 

A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure  [Long-listed for the Chautauqua Prize]

 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

October 20 is the 6th anniversary of my second Great Lakes Adventure. 

This 1,000-mile hike took me along portions of all five of our magnificent Great Lakes.

Yellow line is my route for this 1,000-mile hike

This journey allowed me to get to know the unique personalities of each Great Lake.

If I had to describe each lake in one word, I'd choose:

Lake Erie:  Fishy

Lake Erie has the most fish of any Great Lake. It is shallow and warm and teeming with life.

My sisters dropped me off at the beginning of this adventure

Along the shore of Lake Erie

Lake Erie

Lake Huron: Limestone!

The edge of northern Lake Huron is rimmed with limestone and is the site of several large limestone mines.

Blue Water Bridge

Massive truck at the Calcite Limestone Mine north of Rogers City

40-Mile Point Lighthouse

Hiking the rocky edge of Lake Huron

Puddingstone

 Lake Superior:  Wild!

 Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, coldest, cleanest, and WILDEST Great Lake.

Hiking the middle of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

My son, Ben, joined me along Lake Superior

Ben at the tip of the Keewenaw Peninsula

Lake Ontario: Friendly!

I hiked Lake Ontario on the Canadian side. The weather was mild and the people were welcoming.

Lake Ontario

Hiking the Waterfront Trail along Lake Ontario

Lake Michigan: Home

I live at the edge of this Great Lake, so hiking its shores always feels like home to me.

Sunset at tip of Leelanau Peninsula

Along Lake Michigan

Sanderlings along Lake Michigan

The finale of this hike took place along the Niagara River. My finish line for this 1,000-mile hike was Niagara Falls.

The enthusiastic group that hiked the final miles with me!

The magnificent finish line

Niagara Falls in motion:

The book about this adventure!

[Available wherever books are sold.

Find the audiobook HERE.]

Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland, WI

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures: 

A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach  [A Heartland Indie Bestseller]

A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk   [Winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award] 

A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure  [Long-listed for the Chautauqua Prize]

 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

If you find yourself in northern Wisconsin near the Apostle Islands, make time to stop in at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center.

Colorful murals grace the walls of the center

 Here you'll find abundant information about the region. 

Lake Superior Art 

Displays about the formation of Lake Superior

And copper artifacts from region

 And the top floor of the center is a lookout platform with views of the Apostle Islands.