Ice Caves

This morning I had a story about the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore asking other park agencies to send help in handling the thousands of people that are visiting the ice caves along the south shore of Lake Superior. So I had to find out more because it sounds like a fun winter getaway. Apparently by February, according to the Apostle Islands website, "an ice bridge might connect Sand Island to the mainland. The lake surface is usually a frozen white expanse. Lakeshore cliffs form a crimson red border to this arctic landscape. Pillars of ice extend to the cliff tops where waterfalls have hardened in place. Frozen lakewater encrusts the base of the cliffs. Inside the caves awaits a fairyland of needlelike icicles. The formations change from chamber to chamber and from day to day." I've always wanted to go there in the summer & now I'll have to try to make it there in the winter, too. It's about a mile walk across the ice, so if you go there, make sure you're prepared; bring an icebar to check the ice thickness, wear warm clothing & sturdy boots with good traction for walking on ice and watch out for falling ice and rock in and around the cliffs and caves.