{"id":10323,"date":"2012-02-28T18:55:52","date_gmt":"2012-02-28T23:55:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/?p=10323"},"modified":"2022-04-09T05:49:05","modified_gmt":"2022-04-09T10:49:05","slug":"run-on-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/run-on-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Run on Water"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Occasionally I’ll come across something really interesting, at least to me, and I’ll save it away for a more appropriate time. That’s great when it works. It’s much less impressive when other factors conspire to take away its very reason for being. Sadly, the 2012 “Run on Water” will be the “Run by the Water” due to unseasonably warm weather this winter. That’s unfortunate. I’d been stalking it on my calendar for several months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Setup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Raspberry<\/a>
Apostle Islands Scenery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let’s start with a little background information by focusing on northern Wisconsin. The twenty-two Apostle Islands extend from the northeast corner of the Bayfield Peninsula into Lake Superior (map<\/a>). I was lucky enough to travel there a few summers ago<\/a> and I had a great time. I’d love to return in the winter for a completely different experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All but one of the islands is included within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore<\/a> so it’s not feasible to live there except at that one place. Madeline Island has about 250 permanent residents and most of them live at or near its only town, La Pointe. It’s only a couple of miles from Bayfield on the mainland but it isn’t cost effective to build a bridge across the straight for a handful of residents and summer visitors. Rather, people take a regularly-scheduled ferry (my visit<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wintertime Weather<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Madeline<\/a>
La Pointe, Wisconsin during a warmer time of the year<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Something magical happens in the winter. The gap between Madeline Island and the Bayfield Peninsula freezes over, making La Point a part of the mainland (map<\/a>). Ice thickens progressively over the winter until it’s strong enough to support automobile traffic. Then ferry operators take a rest. Frozen Lake Superior waters become an extension of County Highway H. It’s marked and monitored to keep the route safe during weather variations until it melts and the ferry rides again. I’ve checked various sources and I believe this may be the only formally-designated Ice Road in the Lower 48 of the United States. Someone please correct me if one exists elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve long wanted to drive County Highway H as it makes its frozen crossing above Lake Superior. Someday I’ll do that. In the meantime I’ll have to remain content with various YouTube videos of those who have been lucky enough to experience the phenomenon in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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