Bob Gilreath and friends were out cruising the trail #3 to Copper Harbor and back recently, when they discovered a building that they'd never seen before. Bob said he's passed the spot where it is located many times without ever seeing the remains of this building, which looks to have been quiet large. It was previously hidden in the trees, but due to recent logging activity in that area, the stone walls are exposed to the trail now. Bob said that it is located on the southeast side of the old railroad tracks on trail #3, between Montreal River meadow and Sotala road (trail #132 to Lac La Belle) and he's wondering if anyone knows what it was and what it was used for.

The way the windows are placed in the front wall, it has a castle look to it. The side walls of the building are very long and there are large window openings in the south facing wall. Also, Bob noted in the second to the last photo, sitting next to the trail, is what looks to be a base of a column. They speculated that it may have been part of a water tower for steam engines. You can see the structure Bob is talking about, just to the right of the wall in that photo.

So this is the mystery of the week here on the Pasty Cam. Bob is wondering, he has me wondering and I'm guessing there are number of our viewers wondering now, too. So let's figure this one out and gain another bit of knowledge of the past here in the Keweenaw.

Exploring history.

I bet someone will know what these buildings were and can fill us in. Looks like a great cruise thru the hinterlands!

Trail #3, my favorite UP snowmobile trail!

Unfortunately, I'm not near any of my old maps of that area, but I'm betting it was part of the Delaware railroad station along the tracks. It would make sense especially with the "water tower" to feed the steam locomotives along the way. That's my best guess from the Big Island of Hawaii!! ;-)

I just can't believe you didn't bring your maps on your anniversary trip, Capt! ;-}

I tried to locate it on Google Earth but the landmarks
given aren't distinctive enough. Any chance Bob &
Company recorded the GPS coordinates? I'm hoping to
make that trek the last weekend in July.

I know jbuck, what was I thinking right?

On a separate note: hypothetically, if I had a Jeep Wrangler, what type of license/sticker do I need to run a snowmobile or ATV trail in Michigan these days? Is a vehicle license plate good enough? In what cases would I need an ORV sticker?

Capt. Paul,

I've been researching that same point regarding a street licensed vehicle on a designated ORV trail. The DNR publishes a table of requirements and restrictions.

It seems that for "Designated ORV routes passable by a conventional 2-wheel drive passenger vehicle" then no permit is required for a street licensed vehicle.

For "Designated ORV trails (for vehicles 50" in width or less)", then a street licensed vehicle is prohibited.

I guess my question is, who decides if the route is "passable"? Certainly most of route #3 is passable by a Jeep Wrangler or equivalent.

But that’s just me interpreting one chart.

Here is the chart:

Capt. Paul,

I've been researching that same point regarding a street licensed vehicle on a designated ORV trail. The DNR publishes a table of requirements and restrictions.

It seems that for "Designated ORV routes passable by a conventional 2-wheel drive passenger vehicle" then no permit is required for a street licensed vehicle.

For "Designated ORV trails (for vehicles 50" in width or less)", then a street licensed vehicle is prohibited.

I guess my question is, who decides if the route is "passable"? Certainly most of route #3 is passable by a Jeep Wrangler or equivalent.

But that’s just me interpreting one chart.

Here is the chart:

Here's a link to the DNR page where the chart resides:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10365_15070-305352--,00.html

And a link to the Keweenaw ATV map:
http://is0.gaslightmedia.com/keweenawconventionvisitorsbureau/_ORIGINAL_/fs88-1443554109-62507.pdf

Nice adventure and commentary. The last shot looks like some kind of ancient Stonehenge.
Aloha Dr. Nat and Capt. Paul, have a Mai Tai for me.

Great pictures Bob! I'm sure a great time was had exploring! I miss it.

DNR... Naaah, Just head out with your best pal (Marty), respect the trails, use common sense and don't tear them up. Take your favorite beef jerky, a large bag of Combos, water, diet coke, and a full tank of gas. If you run into the DNR, a smooth talking salesman doesn't hurt. :=)

P.S. If you're going to attempt crossing deep river's or a beaver dam, water wings, AAA and comfortable hiking boots are a plus... especially if Marty is driving! lol

Enjoy the rest of the weekend All.

Dr. Nat/Capt, Happy Anniversary, Don't forget the sunscreen, Have a great time! Aloha to Don Ho

Great pictures! Looks like so much fun!!

Capt Paul and Dr Nat, hope you're enjoying your
anniversary trip. Wish I could have hopped into
your luggage!

Thanks for the advice guys! I figured common sense goes a long way, but with a "foreign" plate on the vehicle I wanted to make sure. Still, once I open my mouth, they should know right away I'm not a native Texan! ;-)

And I must say, Hawaii is as advertised; very relaxing and laid back. A little on the expensive side but hey, at least when they use the excuse of "transportation costs", they're not lying.....

...and I'll bet you don't hear; "Turn around, don't drown." very often.

Alex,

I wonder how often in Texas one hears in a
vehicle, "Put down that beer and watch this."

This excerpt from the DNR ATV map (Keweenaw Trail East) presents a continuation of the less than explicit description of restrictions (if any) for street licensed vehicles. It itemizes “no motorcycles” but is silent on 4 wheeled street vehicles. I think I will purchase an ORV license and trail permit anyway. If I have them and get stopped by DNR, they will probably let me off with just a warning.

I couldn’t reproduce the entire map due to file size restrictions of Pasty uploads. Reducing the size of the entire map makes the text unreadable.

Looks like a great adventure fraught with surprises and discoveries. And Capt. Paul: When I was in Hawaii and wondering if I should buy something or not I kept telling myself.....I didn't come here to save money.

Capt Paul and Dr. Nat,

Resist the urge.
Do not bring any Hawaiian rocks home with you.
The legend is true.

Greetings Bob:

If I understand the description it would seem that the building is located in quadrant 21 of Eagle Township on the South side of US-41, or at an intersecting point due South of Mud Lake at this DNR trail.

It becomes difficult in that part of the Keweenaw to peg the directions as the natural instinct doesn't sense that one is actually traveling East-West at that location.

Pasty dot Com might need to 'tap' Larry Lankton for his research but my guess from here is that this area and buildings were used by the Amydaloid Mine.

The sandstone window style is about that time period.

JT

Your best source of information is probably is
"coppercountryexplorer.com". This sight is hosted by Mike

Forgrave. There is information about the old mines, some of
the buildings that still exist now, and in the past. There are a
very large number of posts and photos of building look now
and when they were in their prime. Also people can post
comments and ask questions. In addition you can contact him
directly. There is no type of membership necessary or any type
of "dues" to participate.

Copper country explorer was my first post to ID these Ruins
First time they had seen them also
Larry Lankton is my next shot.

Another, even better source for what these buildings were, might be Larry Malloy. I have his direct contact info so once I get back, I will see if he knows anything.

And no worries DA, I know of the legend and don't intend to annoy Pele or any other of the Hawaiian gods while we're here, even though we went all the way to the top of Mauna Loa today and saw some awesome rocks, we left them on the mountain.

Capt. Paul (Eclogite):
" once I open my mouth, they should know right away I'm not a native Texan!"

Or to put that another way (?):

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Quote:

"Aon uair 's mi' fosgladh mo bheul, bu chòir dhaibh fios làimh dheis air falbh Chan eil mi dùthchasach Texan!"

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