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Destination, iPhoneography, Nature, Panorama, Photography, Steam-scapes, Travel

CARON FALLS – Caron Park #exploremn

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CARON FALLS

This 60 acre park is located north of County Road Number 88 (170th Street) and three miles from Nerstrand Woods State Park in the eastern part of the County. Caron Park became reality in 1990 and development continued through 1997.  A cor-ten steel footbridge and 1.5 miles of trail have been established at Caron Park. The park is a remnant of the Big Woods Forest Community and serves as an excellent environmental study area.  Caron Park features are as follows:  Picnic area complete with a shelter, Biking trail, Hiking trail and Nature study. ~Rice County

A nice little park in Rice County; only a few miles from Nerstrand Big Woods State Park and Hidden Falls.  To my surprise, there were actually two falls there.  Caron is the larger of the two.  I see on Google Maps that the other falls is identified as Wellstone Falls.  I don’t know if that is accurate or not, but having visited it on the anniversary of the death of Paul Wellstone, I’ll go with that.

Caron Falls

The path to the falls is along a slight grade; it’s most steep at the top – you won’t notice it until the return trip.  The uneven ground, due to a bit of erosion, meanders its way to a valley where the river flows.  The beautiful mature woods opens up to where both falls are located.  There is a large metal bridge that will get you to the other side without getting your feet wet.

iPhone photos

DSLR Shots of Caron Falls with 10 stop ND filter

Top of Caron Falls

I did not get any usable photos of Wellstone Falls, the sun was not in an optimal position and the light was a bit too bright.

Destination, iPhoneography, Panorama, Photography, Steam-scapes, Travel

NERSTRAND BIG WOODS – State Park #exploremn

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NERSTRAND BIG WOODS

Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, northeast of Faribault near the small town of Nerstrand. The park derives its name from the Big Woods, a large, contiguous forested area covering much of central Minnesota prior to the arrival of European settlers. The park and its forest were an outlying ‘woods’ typical and similar to the Big Woods proper, which were historically found on the more recent glacier deposits located west of the Cannon River 10 miles to the west. Aside from a small waterfall, the outstanding natural feature of the park is the forest itself. ~ wikipedia

It was a beautiful Autumn morning to take a walk out to Hidden Falls in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.  Out and about with two other photog-friends, Jeff & Robert chasing waterfalls and capturing the Autumn palette.

Dan, Jeff & Robert

Albeit past prime with many leaves on the ground, there was still a fair amount of color.    The trail out to Hidden Falls is .5 miles on dirt/gravel and wooden boardwalk trails with some stairs.

There was a nice flow when we arrived at the falls.  We even had the whole place to ourselves for a little bit.  A nice day brought out several people that we passed on our way out.  Since you are in the area, be sure to stop at Nerstrand Meats & Catering for a snack or picnic supplies.  Their smoked meat products are phenomenal.  Cheddar Stix and Cajun Jerky are two of my must have favorites whenever I pass through the area.

iPhone shots of the Hidden Falls

Hidden Falls

Hidden Falls

DSLR shots with 10 stop ND filter

Hidden Falls

Hidden Falls

 

Drone, Panorama, Photography, River-scapes

BAY CITY, WI – Sunrise #aerialphotography

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BAY CITY, WI – Sunrise 2019-10-20

Witnessed and capture a beautiful Bay City, WI sunrise.

Bay City Sunrise
At Dawn Glow

Bay City Sunrise

Bay City Sunrise
Sunrise
Bay City Sunrise
Sunrise – Opposing Horizon

 

Destination, Drone, Panorama, Photography, Travel

WOLVERINE MINE, MI – Autumn Color #puremichigan

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WOLVERINE MINE, MI

The Wolverine Mine was a small copper mining operation in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, that was in operation from January 1882 until November 1884. In August 1890, possession of the company was obtained and reorganized as the Wolverine Copper Mining Company.  It mined the Kearsarge lode until 1922 when it closed. ~wikipedia

Area map These photos were shot from the faint yellow circle area between Centennial and Wolverine.

180 View
180 Panorama
180 View
180 Panorama – Slaughterhouse Creek

This structure looks like it was built well after 1922.  I wasn’t able to find solid information to confirm what exactly is going on here, but it appears to be mining.  The wind had been quite strong during our trip and it just happened to let up while in the area so I went to the air to capture some scenery and Fall color.

360 View
360 Panorama
360 Sphere
360 Sphere

I managed to find some old photos of Wolverine Mine
~ www.mindat.org

 

Destination, Drone, iPhoneography, Nature, Panorama, Photography, Travel

LAC LA BELLE, MI – Autumn Color #puremichigan

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LAC LA BELLE, MI

Lac La Belle (French: “Lake The Beautiful”) is a small unincorporated community in Keweenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The town was originally the site of a stamping plant for the copper mines of the Keweenaw, specifically the Mendota Mine and the Delaware Mine. Copper-bearing rock was transported from the mines to the stamping plant, where it was processed and loaded onto freighters.

The nearby lake of the same name averages approximately 30 feet in depth and empties into Lake Superior at Bete Gris.  The Little Gratiot River and several creeks empty into Lac La Belle. A small roadside park within the town contains Haven Falls on Haven Creek, which also empties into the lake. ~wikidpedia

The weather wasn’t great for our trip, but it wasn’t all that bad either.  We endured intermittent rain and the occasional snow flurry with party cloudy skies the majority of the time.  The wind was actually calm enough to fly a few times.  These shot were taking right from our cabin.  The first shot is oriented East shortly after sunrise.  The second is oriented West, you can see Lake Superior beyond Mount Bohemia and Lac La Belle.  Such a pretty area in the Autumn.

LAC LA BELLE
LAC LA BELLE
Mount Bohemia
MOUNT BOHEMIA

Our cabin was right on the Lake.  We were 4 short miles from Bete Grise/Lake Superior and 15 short miles from Copper Harbor – Hwy 41 was absolutely on fire with color; the canopy over the road was spectacular – more on that in another post.  Here are some images of the cabin and surrounding area.  A wonderful place to call home for a few days.

Lac La Belle
Marina Cabin
View of cabin from Lac La Belle
Cabin from the road
View of Lac La Belle from Deck
Cabin from the air
Cabin waterfront
Mailboxes across the road from cabin
Destination, iPhoneography, Nature, Panorama, Photography

PORCUPINE MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS SP, MI – Autumn Color #puremichigan

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PORCUPINE MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS

The Porcupine Mountains, or Porkies, are a group of small mountains spanning the northwestern Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Ontonagon and Gogebic counties, near the shore of Lake Superior. The Porcupine Mountains were named by the native Ojibwa people, supposedly because their silhouette had the shape of a crouching porcupine.They are home to the most extensive stand of old growth northern hardwood forest in North America west of the Adirondack Mountains, spanning at least 31,000 acres. In these virgin forests, sugar maple, American basswood, eastern hemlock, and yellow birch are the most abundant tree species.  The area is part of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. ~wikipedia

Porcupine Mountain Wilderness

The drive through the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness are was popping with color.  We entered on the West side – Presque Isle River area.  I was a lovely six hour drive from Red Wing, MN.

WEST SIDE

The Presque Isle River water falls are short hikes from the main road with ample parking places.  There are quite a few stairs on one of the hikes.  Another occasion to get the puppy-kids out of car for a walk.  This Michigan state park was a bit more pet-friendly compared to WI and MN, where you are limited to an area or certain trails.

Geography

The most striking geological feature of the Porcupine Mountains is the long basalt and conglomerate escarpment parallel to the Lake Superior shore and overlooking Lake of the Clouds, a continuation of the same copper-bearing bedrock found farther northeast on the Keweenaw Peninsula. A second ridge farther inland, on the other side of Lake of the Clouds, includes Summit Peak, the highest point in the mountains at 1,958 feet.  Rivers, waterfalls, swamps, and lakes lie between the rocky outcroppings. There are a number of waterfalls on the Presque Isle River in the extreme western side of the park. ~wikipedia

EAST SIDE

Lake of the Clouds Overlook is accessible from the East t side of the park.  It is hard to beat the view from here.   This area is wheelchair accessible via a long ramp.

It was mid 39 degrees with a 30+ MPH wind when we visited – Brrrrrr, it was cold.  I must say that an iPhone does a tremendous job with a panorama.  My phone was all over the place in that wind.  You can see by the weather map below; although Lake Superior is a cold lake, this time of year it’s relatively warm and turn that snow right into rain.

PORCUPINE MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS

Don’t miss that photo op @ Porcupine Mountains Outpost.

Destination, iPhoneography, Photography, River-scapes, Travel

COPPER FALLS STATE PARK, WI – Autumn Color #travelwisconsin

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COPPER FALLS STATE PARK, WI

Copper Falls State ParkCopper Falls State Park is a 3,068-acre state park in Wisconsin. The park contains a section of the Bad River and its tributary the Tylers Forks, which flow through a gorge and drop over several waterfalls. Old Copper Culture Indians and later European settlers mined copper in the area. The state park was created in 1929 and amenities were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration. In 2005 the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a site with 10 contributing properties. ~wikipedia

We stopped by Copper Falls State Park on our way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  A welcomed pit stop to get out and stretch our legs.   The puppy-kid welcomed the pit stop as well – they had been sleeping since we left home for the most part.

Puppy-Kids
Clover, Harley & Lucy

The Fall color was peaking in North Wisconsin along Rustic Road 95 on our way North and East toward the UP.
–Explore WI Rustic Roads–

Rustic Road 95
Rustic Road 95

Copper Falls State Park was teaming with color.  We didn’t take the time to hike out to the water falls here, but rather a quit walk about and a few iPhone photos.  We had many more miles to travel to get to Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park.

Drone, Panorama, Photography, River-scapes

RED WING, MN – Autumn Sunrise #aerialphotography

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RED WING, MN – Autumn Sunrise

This past Wednesday morning I captured a few 180 degree panoramas of the Autumn sunrise in Red Wing, MN along the Mississippi River.  With all the rain, the river is on the rise once again.  The Mississippi has been high most since the Spring run-off; through the Summer and now into Autumn.

Autumn Sunrise
Bay Point Park Fishing Pier
Autumn Sunrise
The Big Turn
Autumn Sunrise
Red Wing Boathouses
Autumn Sunrise
Riverfront
Autumn Sunrise
Red Wing Bridge Construction

 

Photography, Steam-scapes

Streamscapes – County Road O #TrimbelleRiver

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County Road O |Trimbelle River

River MapThe Trimbelle River is a 29.4-mile-long  tributary of the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin in the United States.  It flows for its entire length in western Pierce County, rising West of the town of Martell and flowing generally southward through the towns of Trimbelle (at Cty O & Hwy 10) towards the Mississippi River near about 5 miles west of Bay City.  ~wikipedia

I have spent many hours on the Trimbelle River chasing Brown Trout.  Most of my time fishing has been between The Great River Road (Hwy 35) and Hwy 10.  There are plenty of access points North of Hwy 10, but the stream isn’t as good in my opinion.

There is one particular area that I have always enjoyed more than any other.  The following photographs are from that area.

The Pasture Stretch

This pasture stretch is especially beautiful this time of year as the Fall color begins to set in.  I have not fished this stretch in years.  The bridge you see at the bottom of the first image is known locally as the “swimming hole” bridge.  A very popular place to cool off during the steamy summer months.  Access to this swimming hole and stream banks used to be wide open, but after many years of people leaving trash everywhere – swimmers and fishers alike, the land owner shut down access.  I cannot count how many times I fished that stretch and the amount of trash I would haul out in my waders, vest and net.  It’s unfortunate.  I wish I would have thought of organizing a trash cleanup event back then.

Trimbelle River

Trimbelle River

Trimbelle River

You can read more about the Trimbelle River on the KiapTUWish Chapter of Trout Unlimited website.

Drone, Panorama, Photography, River-scapes

BAY CITY, WI – Catherine’s Pass #aerialphotography

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BAY CITY, WI – Catherine’s Pass

Bay City, WI; Catherine’s Pass (aka Katrina’s Pass) is an area of much concern, discussion, public feedback and planning over the last year of so.  You can read about the project that will impact this area at Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance (LPLA).

You can easily see the sediment flowing into the area via Google Maps.  Follow the fuchsia colored lines outlining the sediment settling into Bay City Bay.  At one of the public meeting held in Bay City, a local resident recalled that the Isabelle River used to flow into the bay (red line), but that changed course over the years and now flows out of the bay (turquoise line) likely due to sediment build up.

Catherine's Pass

The Problem

Lake Pepin is also threatened by excess nutrients leading to eutrophication and downstream impacts. Phosphorous is the limiting nutrient and excess input from the surrounding landscape has led to eutrophication, characterized by algae blooms that reduce light and oxygen thereby threatening animal and plant survival. It is estimated that the accumulation of phosphorus in Lake Pepin sediment has increased 15-fold since 1830. This eutrophication process is tightly linked with sedimentation because phosphorous binds to soil particles, which are transported together down the watersheds to Lake Pepin. Nitrogen input is also affecting local water quality with cascading impacts all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, where a large hypoxic area, or “dead zone”, has formed at the Mississippi delta leading to environmental problems, such as fish kills. 
~LPLA

You can also see quite a difference between 1938 and present day.  The Islands have grown in size, and cuts (or passes) have been eliminated as the sediments has filled them in.  The sediment is only the beginning.

Catherine's Pass 1938
1938
Catherine's Pass 2019
2019

These panoramas of the area were shot shortly after sunrise on Saturday September 28th 2019.  It is such a beautiful area.  I love photographing the area and my wife and I enjoy kayaking here as well.  I am hopeful that the project to address the issues in this area moves forward and is fully funded.  If you love this area too, please familiarize your self with the issue, get involved and consider donating to the cause through Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance.

Catherine's Pass
Catherine’s Pass (Katrina’s Pass)
Catherine's Pass
Boat Landing

Catherine's Pass