By Mary Drew at Pasty Central (Mdrew) on Monday, January 12, 2026 - 05:00 am:
We don’t get to see this winter beauty all that often, but when it happens, it’s something special to capture in photos like Joy Ziemnick did recently. She said this was a day of hoar frost on the trees, fog and around 32°, adding that it is the next best thing to leaves on the trees. But then she questioned if it is actually Rime Ice, rather than Hoar Frost. I have no clue, so I asked the difference and got this result: “Hoar frost and rime ice both coat surfaces in ice, but differ in formation: Hoar frost forms from water vapor (gas) freezing directly onto surfaces on clear, calm nights (deposition), creating delicate, feathery crystals; Rime ice forms from supercooled liquid water droplets in fog freezing on contact with objects during cloudy, windy conditions, creating denser, granular, or spiky deposits that can build up significantly. Hoar frost is light and easily dislodged, while rime is heavier and more durable.” Since Joy mentioned fog that day, perhaps it really is Rime Ice, but whichever it is, it’s quite unique and beautiful and to quote Joy again, “We have to do our best to get through our long winters here in the Keweenaw. It provides a lot of beauty for our soul!”
Today’s video comes from Nature Harmony TV, titled “Peaceful Winter Scene On Mackinac Island”. It was actually shot around Christmas time, but I thought it worth sharing still. Just a heads up, it’s 30 minutes long, but I feel so worth seeing the Island in the winter months and decorated with lights glowing. We tour downtown Mackinac Island with only natural sounds of the island horses and occasional snowmobiles passing by. Check out the storefronts, fudge shops, restaurants, bars and more on this peaceful island tour.
If you’re interested in guessing how much snow will fall in Keweenaw County this 2025/2026 winter season, click on the following link to enter Visit Keweenwaw’s contest. You have to make your guess and enter by January 19th, so don’t delay! Sign up here: Snowfall Contest Form
By - UP-Goldwinger (Alex) on Monday, January 12, 2026 - 08:58 am:
I just love those color
pics…black and white!
And the video looked
peaceful indeed.
By Donna (Donna) on Monday, January 12, 2026 - 11:07 am:
I've never heard of RIME ice...very interesting! No
matter what type I LOVE the pictures of the stuff.
It is glorious. Awesome pics Joy~
Vid is pretty.
By Deb S. (Usedtobeayooper) on Monday, January 12, 2026 - 11:12 am:
Just beautiful! I wonder if I'll still be saying
that in March?
By Kathyrn Laughlin (Kathyl) on Monday, January 12, 2026 - 01:53 pm:
Hi
Beautiful, though chilly, colors.
