Throughout the past 19 years of Pasty Cam photos, we've had peaceful shots and some maybe not so peaceful, but for the most part, they've all been safe shots…except for a handful of "don't try this at home" pictures that were shared by a few daring Yoopers. We start this theme with one from Dan Urbanski (RIP Dan…), taken in 2001 at Lake of the Clouds. Dan started with the "don't…at home", but then changed it in this case, to maybe "don’t try this at all". He added that it was all too tempting, though, to take advantage of a somewhat frozen Lake of the Clouds and try some exploratory ice skating. Well, conditions didn’t permit much exploring, but they did do some skating in some incredible scenery.

In 2004, Don Nelson and Herb Blue shared a photo of the rugged Coast Guard boat, 40300 that served around the U.P. for many years, slicing through an icy covered lake UP North. Not something I'd like to "try at home". Charlie said back then that this CG boat was retired in Menominee, Michigan after many years of icy service.

Then in 2010, Charlie shared Alan Abel's photo from a few years earlier in a Shoebox Memory about the Blight family who founded the Fuse factory in Eagle River. Alan and friends were staying in the home pictured here, for a winter retreat, and decided to tunnel their way in. Pretty neat, actually, but again, please "don't try this at home", folks.

Joy Ziemnick has our last "don't" photo for today, taken last week at Great Sand Bay during a "Keweenaw Snow Cruise" she took. The stairway down to the beach area looks pretty snow covered and slippery, then add in the snow in the air and the wavy water below, it looks like staying put where Joy took the photo from is a good idea!

Our video feature tops it all off with some Snow Biking in Marquette Country, from Trail Genius. It shows Fat Tire bike enthusiasts riding the berms on the Marquette SnowBike Route back in 2014. I'll admit to not being too daring and will just enjoy this type of riding from my desk chair, thank you!

I remember once in the late 50's or early 60's when we had to dig a
tunnel to get to our house in Marquette.

Nice Review!! Looks Cold.... 2004- Let's all go for a boat ride!!! NOT!! :=)

Forgot about the video, looks like fun, I'd give that a try!

The ice in the first picture looks pretty clear. Wouldn't catch me on it though. I get nervous walking across it at the Dee.
I know the Russians used to drive trains across it during WWII. Not every crossing was successful I'm sure.

The USCG Motor life boats designated 40300 were 40 feet in length and originally designed with steel hulls, but the WWII need for steel caused almost all of them to be constructed from wood. After the war, new ones were steel and lengthened to 44 feet (44300). Not until 1996 were their replacements designed as the present day 47 foot all aluminum motor life boats. I'm sure many have seen 47220 stationed in Portage Lake. It was one of the very first of 227 boats built and in service.

Here is the USCG Portage Lake Station's 47 Ft MLB 47220 docked at the MTU Great Lakes Research Center during a 2016 public tour.

Thanks DA Midwested and you're correct. I feel a bit old here but wanted to comment that I arrived at the old Portage Station (next to McLain Park)late 1969 and the dependable 36 foot wooden lifeboat was the mainstay at the time. The newer ones, the 40 footers were okay but some thought lousy in rough seas. The 44's, like the kind we had at East Tawas (Lk Huron) were quite rugged and provided dependable service.
Coast Guard's come a long way since then. And this, a good opportunity to thank those mates for their service.

Here's some video of a 47Ft MLB in action.
The main training station is in Oregon.
I bet the guys at the Portage Lake Station have some of their own stories about The Big Lake.

USCG Surf _Training

Duane P. (Islandman43):
"… I know the Russians used to drive trains across it during WWII. Not every crossing was successful I'm sure."

(click →) Ice Road Truckers, anyone?

D. A. (Midwested):
"Here's some video of a 47Ft MLB in action …"

Whoa, I just watched that video, and all I can say is seasick, anyone?

While I was at Sixth Army Headquarters, Presidio of San Francisco, CA (≈1965-1968) my folks came out to visit, and dad insisted on doing some salmon fishing, so we did an all-day trip on a charter fishing boat from Sausalito, CA to out through the Golden Gate to near the Farallon Islands (≈32 miles each way) on extraordinarily calm waters.

I never had a problem with seasickness, probably due to the calm seas.
… Until we got back onshore and to my apartment in San Rafel, then it hit: landsickness!
Ol' "terra firma" definitely didn't feel so "firma", and my apartment was rockin' and rollin'!
I don't even want to think about that video! 😱