• Monday-What'sUP February 23 - 10:22 pm

Today's photos come from Justin Baetsen, via his Dad, Rick Baetsen, who supplied us with the Ruffed Grouse (Partridge) photos last week. Rick says that Justin was out adventuring in the Pictured Rocks area, hiking and winter camping when he snapped these photos. Not wanting to carry the weight of a tent the entire hike, Justin opted to dig out a snow cave and then used a space blanket (hi-tech plastic tarp) to wrap himself in his sleeping bag for the night. Not exactly the comforts of home we're all used to! :-> Rick chronicled Justin's adventure in photos for us:

"He hiked into see Chapel Rock (The 1st and 2nd photos), one of our favorite areas of Pictured Rocks and then to the west along Battleship Row and out to Grand Portal (The 3rd photo), to see and get photos of the rocks in the winter. I thought the wispy clouds really added to the image of Chapel Rock.

I put in the one of Justin's shadow, as I thought it was a neat photo, showing him with his backpack and snowshoes on his back. In the mid afternoon sun anyone would cast a long shadow as shown in the photo, but Justin is 6' 6" and he does cast a longer than normal shadow.

Justin took my digital camera so we could have some good images of his winter trip into Pictured Rocks, so I thought I would send them along to you for a possible submission to the pasty cam, as I do not recall images from Pictured Rocks in winter in the past."

The shadow picture makes Justin look like the Snowshoe Angel. How cool!!

WOW!! EXCELLENT pictures!!! We are absolutely Blessed to live in such a gorgeous, fabulous place!!

What a way to look at Pictured Rocks. Absolutely beautiful. A totally different view of them. I want to say 'Thank You' ;O)

Love the 2nd picture!!!! However, they're all great!

Wonderful shots! Thanks so much!

I am a big fan of the ice formations as well as the shadow. What classic winter photos. :)

I have been very tempted to head out winter camping many times, but I'm always held back by the "what ifs..." I definitely envy you guys!

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS!!! Thank you Justin for photographing your trip. I too have been to Pictured Rocks several times in the winter. It is a very pristine place to visit in the winter. It certainly takes on a different atmosphere when you are there without all the summer visitors.

WHAT A GORGEOUS SPOT TO HAVE IN OUR BACKYARD.

how was the ski into chapel from the parking lot Justin? was it plowed to the parking lot? Have snowmobiles beat down a trail in there? give me some info, i'm contemplating a trip myself...

Fabulous!

Justin is a Pasty Cam daily viewer, but not sure if he is logged in to add a comment, so will try to answer Jeff's question. Normally, I think the road is only plowed to the Y in the couty road about two miles north in from Melstrand. Justin said that they were logging this winter so he was able to drive in another mile north from the Y towards the Chapel Area parking lot. He dug out a place to park his truck and then was able to hike in on foot on a well packed trail from previous visitors (It had thawed and refrozen hard that weekend of his visit). He said it was an easy hike into Chapel Rock along the west shore of Chapel Lake. He only needed the snowshoes on the hike along the Rocks to the west of Chapel Rock where he was able to get to the western side of Grand Portal.

Nice hike and photos Justin, hope you enjoy the surprise, thanks Mary.
Rick Baetsen

What a perfect time to hike out there and study the rocks that make up Chapel Rock!! Looks like some awesome sandstone with some crossbedding going on.....

Great pictures!!!!!

Wow! Breathtaking! Thanks for sharing!

The Grand portal is amazing. It looks to be built on a foundation of ice. What a great photo. I must say though, the shadow picture is my favorite. Ski poles (and maybe cross country skis?) and snow shoes, and a backpack. This is a prepared man. Sort of like a man who wears suspenders and a belt, he will not be caught with his pants down, so to speak. Maybe my favorite pictures of the year so far.

Excellent pics!

Another place that is just as breathtaking in the winter as summer. Is the parking lot at the trail intersection open in the winter?

Beautiful pictures. I love Pictured Rocks. I find it amazing that we have such a wonder so close to us. I think Pictured Rocks should be considered one of the wonders of the world. I have been on the boat cruises and in younger days walked along the shore there. Every time I see it, I am in awe - it is such a massive, huge area. There is nothing like it. Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures.

Grand Portal reminded me of a coastal area in the south seas along mountain shores only this is winter and there it is always summer.

Super pictures! Thanks for sharing!