Copper Country

By Jen.

Dates: 7/20/2021

Having made our way all the way to the top of Keweenaw Peninsula, we started making our way back south, with a theme of the copper mining at most of the stops we made.

 

First stop of the day was at Copper Harbor’s Astor Shipwreck Park, where a ship had been driven onto that ridge of rocks in the photo above during a gale in 1844. The soldiers from the fort we had visited the day before helped rescue the crew and cargo so that no lives were lost. Everyone labored to get it unstuck, but were unsuccessful. The owner finally burned wreck in 1847, so there are little to no traces of it. Also to note, the vessel, John Jacob Astor, was considered “the finest vessel afloat” on the lakes. So many shipwrecks happen to the vessels people considered the “best” and “unsinkable.” I would highly recommend not declaring that about your vessel, if you want it to stay afloat...

Then we happened upon Delaware Mine, which was also unprofitable. 

No, that is nothing cute like snow or ice, that is mold. Yuck!

An early power drill!

Same area as above, without the flash. They worked in such dark conditions.

There were 6 more levels below this one, but they were all completely filled with water. Won’t be long until that tunnel is filled as well, if they don’t start pumping out some water.

The air compressor used to run those tools.

The old mill, massive and expanded several times, now almost a secret garden.

Prehistoric mining was done in the area by natives, which is why they started the Delaware mine.

 

Next stop was Coppertown USA Mining Museum.

The museum is based out of a factory that used to make the wooden parts that they used to create the molds for the metal parts.

A massive chunk of copper that they used to test their drill bits.

Can you imagine walking around a tunnel with a flame on your head to light the way?

These early diving suits would have been connected to the device below.

A hand-operated air pump. You’d really have to trust the operators not to get bored and stop pumping while you were underwater! Though, I’d probably prefer that over the “automatic” air pumps of the time.

Yikes!

Even scarier! An old X-Ray machine.

A snow-plow train. Can’t let snow stop the operation.

 

Last stop of the day was Quincy Mine. We arrived at the wrong time for the tours, and didn’t feel like spending money anyway. Instead, we checked out the free ruins across the street.

 

Not much left, but is on its way to becoming a wonderful garden.

Up in U.P.

By Jen.

Dates: 2021/07/18 to 2021/07/19

We decided to work Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P., residents known as yoopers) in a clockwise fashion while we waited to see when the Canadian border would open. So, our first stop was Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

Lake of the Clouds.

Some weird flowers there.

 

We then decided to hike the highest point there, Summit Peak Trail. Unfortunately, the smoke meant the views were rather limited.

 

Since we were already hot and sweaty, we decided also to tack on the trail to Mirror Lake.

The frogs were soaking up the one patch of water on the trail.

You could tell some kind of windstorm came through and knocked down a bunch of trees in the past, and already samplings had started growing on top of them.

The park had been subject to many (unprofitable) copper mines and mills in the past. There were still some remnants.

 

While hiking on one of the interpretive trails for these mines, Jonathan said, “Look! A fisher!” Then, while I was trying to take a picture, he exclaims and grabs my arm, “A snake!” Normally, snakes are harmless, but since he grabbed me and pulled me to the side, I was a bit concerned. Turns out it was only at a garter snake. 

The fisher was adorable!

It wobbled its head and barked, which I assume was an aggressive tactic.

But its aggression was diminshed by its size, its distance, and its adorableness!

It had apparently marked its territory before we passed this way, haha.

A mine shaft (#2 Union shaft, which burrowed 70 ft under the streambed).

 

From there, we made our way northward to the U.P.’s northernmost peninsula, Keweenaw. At the base is a lovely “black”-sand beach. It looks more dark brown to me, but whatever.

 

At the tip, was a water-shaped limestone formation known as Devil’s Washtub.

 

 

Last stop of the day was Fort Wilkins State Historic Park, which was built to keep the peace in the U.P.’s Copper Country. It was only used for 2 years (1844-1846), and then again briefly in the late 1860s.

Man, not enough pay for me to wash clothes by hand!!