Isle Royale National Park is a magical place and the country’s least visited National Park. That may be what makes it so special, it’s not crowded with visitors, since the only way to get there is by boat or seaplane. This year, because of the Covid-19 restrictions, the Island is only accessible by private boat or seaplane, as none of the passenger ferries from Houghton, Copper Harbor or Grand Portage, MN are operating this summer. In addition, the Lodge and Housekeeping cabins are not open either, so it’s tenting, lean-to camping or staying on your own boat.

Rachel Holzberger and her family made a trip there this past week on their boat, enjoying exploring and fishing. The photos she shares with us here today, show you the rough, rocky shorelines of this Island National Park. The quiet there is unbelievable and I can only imagine how much quieter it is this summer with fewer visitors than ever. It looks like Rachel and crew picked the perfect time to go to the Island, as Lake Superior looked to be quite calm, which isn’t always the case around the Island there.

Today’s video is by Pure Michigan and shows Isle Royale from a hikers perspective. Check it out, maybe you’ll decide to book a trip for next summer!

Oh how envious I am of Rachel and her family. Not just for being able to venture to Isla Royale but to do so this summer when the Island is so nearly empty and in their own boat. I wonder if that first shot is of their boat (or 2)? Difficult to determine the exact size although they appear smaller than my risk aversion would allow. On a smooth day though, the entire Lake can of course be like glass. As long as one has the required patience it can indeed be safe.

This posting and pictures highlight all the reasons I love the Keweenaw and surrounding region. Isle Royale maybe being foremost on the list. I've been lucky enough to have made the trip 8 times since 1975. I even talked my wife to go for a one night stay. Her idea of "camping" was when she could only take one suitcase into the hotel room (and we DID sleep in the tent).

Exploring the south shores of Isle Royale with Rachel are not unlike those along the north shores of the Keweenaw. The geology of Isle Royale is really a mirror image of the Keweenaw. Hike northward on the Island and you will climb to rocky cliffs looking toward Canada. Those cliffs remarkably resemble the southward facing cliffs at Brockway, Mt. Baldy, Cliff Mine, etc. It's because Lake Superior is actually seated in a huge geologic washtub called a Syncline where volcanic forces and rifts/fault line pressures about 1 billion years ago pushed up simultaneously in the Keweenaw and Isle Royale areas.



Interestingly, the much older (~4 billion years) underlying rocks are called the Portage Lake Volcanics. It's this geology that created the foundations and starting points of so many of the features that we enjoy today ranging from the copper mining history to the lakes and land supporting the great recreational outdoors and scenery. Thank you Mary and Rachel for the "fix" for the low grade depression symptoms prevalent today.

Absolutely fantastic pic's and amazing video! We
all know and are familiar with the crystal clear
waters of Lake Superior and that 5th pic is just
another spectacular example. Thanks for the
outing!!

D.A. Thanks for the interesting history lesson
accompanied by the humor of one suitcase, lol!!

On a personal note, I really want to thank all
of you for your prayers and well wishes before,
during and after my surgery, it really helped
and meant more than you know!! Getting stronger
here in the month of August, followed by 6
weeks cardiac rehab starting around September,
maybe a Keweenaw tour in October/November if all
goes well. Thanks again All.
UC

Uncle Chuck - So glad to be reading your posts!
Get stronger everyday, and we"ll see you in da
UP in no time!

Nice set and I agree, the 5th pic looks like a paradise. It's nice to see UC back on the air again..."And all the people rejoiced."

Instead of explaining Keweenaw geology here, I'll direct everyone to read an article I wrote a few years ago about the subject.

Geology of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan

Great read Capt. Paul, thank you very much. I hope my sometimes overly simplified explanations here do not grate on you too much. I'm sure I get some things wrong. Please correct me when you notice them.

I simply like to get people interested in these "hidden wonders" of the Keweenaw that are actually sometimes staring us right in the face. I find it amazing the numbers of "downstate" people I meet that make the journey all the way to Copper Harbor and back but never stop anywhere along the way.

I saw your paper was updated today. Are you still making technical improvements or are you like me and can never resist tweaking the grammar or syntax?

One question...Do the present day, productive copper mines contain any (or how much) pure/native copper contained in vesicles? If so they seem quite low grade. Or do they rely at all on other mineralization or salt forms that would then maybe require (or benefit from) a chemical or electrical extraction step?

Welcome back UC!!!

Has your pain subsided enough that you have begun to realize an improvement in your overall feeling of health? If not rest assured it will come. Make sure to keep moving but don't over do it.

Did you ever have the feeling like you were in a think-tank and you forgot your shorts?

Oh goodie, dueling geologists!

(What do dueling geologists do, throw rocks at each other?
Just kidding, fellas.)

😉

FRNash,
I'm certainly no geologist but my engineering background is just enough to allow me to play one on a 20th century version of Facebook.

As an electrical engineer (retired), Copper and Silicon are most certainly my "go to" Elements.

Alex,
Just like the shorts, my most important thoughts sometimes just slip off into that vast unknown region, never to be seen or thought of again.

F.D., Alex, D.A. Thanks for the kind words.

D.A., the only pain I'm really experiencing is
the sternum moving around. I feel like I'm
busted inside when walking and moving in bed,
but I am being very active walking everyday and
climbing 16 steps up to my office about 6 times
a day. No pain medication other than tylenol.
Anything stronger shuts the GI track down and
that's a whole lot worse!!!! lol I find myself
lifting things over 10lbs. and I have to stop
because it does cause a great deal of pain, let
alone the wrath of the boss/MS Vicki and to
borrow the words of John Prine, I can't escape
to the other side of town being I'm not allowed
to drive!! lol

Have a Great Weekend my friends!! Great job Mary
on the topic selections as always!! :=))

No worries D.A. I probably wouldn't have posted anything, but the much older (~4 billion years) underlying rocks are called the Portage Lake Volcanics statement I couldn't let go!

I'm not sure what you mean by "present day, productive copper mines"; do you mean the open pit mines out west? Those mine porphyry copper at quite low grades, sometimes as low as 0.5%. By comparison, Quincy mined copper at around 2% and some of the fissure mines were as high 30-40%, but for a short period of time.

Hang in there UC!
The Keweenaw isn't going anywhere; it'll still be here in October for ya...... ;-)

One word U.C.

Miralax

Capt. Paul,
I hit post right before I caught that myself.
Yes, the open pits out west. I was thinking they used chemical extraction and electrolysis rather than mechanical stamp mills because the copper was molecularly bound as a copper salts. I guess not?

I read or was told that the super boulders of pure copper were one of the miner's worst nemesis since they had to be sawed up. Due to malleability, explosives would simply bend them.