Last October I took a week to visit the U.P., partly to take in the colors/sights and partly to visit my friends that are still up at Michigan Tech. Hit on the links below to look at the individual photos.

Stuff from the Soo

Valley Camp

A photo of the museum ship Valley Camp taken from the observation deck of the Tower of History. You can also see an ore boat headed toward the Soo Locks. The reason for the dirty water right next to the Valley Camp is that they are dredging the area to make a marina.

Soo Locks

A photo taken of one of the American Locks from the deck of one of the tour boats. If I remember correctly, the building at the end of the lock is where the locks are controlled.

Whitefish Point

I made a detour here on the way from the Soo to Houghton in order to check out the Shipwreck museum. Unfortunately, I had the wrong speed of film in the camera at first, so most of the photos inside the museum are unfit for scanning. Really a shame because there were some nice displays in there.

Edmund Fitzgerald bell

Here's the only photo from inside the museum that turned out (because I started a new roll). I suppose the only thing I can say about it was that it was wierd being near an artifact like that. The way it was all shined up you would never know it was at the bottom of the big lake for about 20 years. Personally, I felt that the Valley Camp's display of the wrecked Fitz lifeboats better conveyed the magnitude of the sinking. (Wish I'd thought to take a picture of that.)

Walk along the beach

Walking along the beach I thought this scene looked interesting. As you can see, it was a bright and clear day on the point, about as diametricaly opposite as you can get from the November storms that have downed so many ships in this area.

The Lighthouse

I took this picture after following a nature trail to an observation deck a ways back into the woods. It's kind of a shame the place is surrounded by pine trees, this picture would have been even better with the proper fall colors.

My favorite place in the world, the Keweenaw

If I could afford a second home, it would be in this area. Houghton is a really friendly place, not to mention beautiful. I can't begin to figure out all the miles I put on my car cruising through the forests while I was going to Tech. Here are the best photos from my last trip there.

Color cruise part 1

During part of my visit I went on a color cruise through the Portage waterway on the Isle Royale Queen. This is the north shore slope, somewhere north of the Houghton/Hancock area.

Color Cruise part 2

A little farther north of the last photo. Not as much fall color in this area for some reason.

Atop Brockway Mountain part 1

Driving up to the top of Brockway is manditory for any serious fall color tour. I was recently told that the lake that is down there is Lake Medora, I'll bet its got some good fishing.

Atop Brockway Mountain part 2

This one is taken looking in roughly a western direction, with Lake Superior to the right.

End of the world

Tech Students often joke that they are near the end of the world because of how remote the school seems. They aren't far off. This picture was taken at the easternmost point of the Keweenaw Peninsula. To get here you either need a 4WD vehicle or some sort of ORV because the paved roads end long before the land does.

Haven Falls

After finishing my off road activities at the tip of the peninsula, I headed southward again. Turning off of US 41 to follow the southern shore I passed through the town of Lac La Belle where these falls are located. Haven Falls is the centerpiece of a little roadside park. History buffs might want to check out what's left of a copper mining era stamping plant located in the woods to the right if you are facing the falls.

A view across the bay

This shot was taken somewhere south of Lac La Belle looking out across Bete Grise Bay toward a rather impressive hill. I want to say that it is Brockway Mountain, but I don't think this one is far enough west to be Brockway. A recent visitor to this page believes it is Mt. Houghton, I'll look into confirming that in the future.

Redridge

Part of the reason I stopped at this location was to get more pictures for my Redridge web presentation. But I also wanted to snap a few scenic photos as well. Here are photos from that category.

The lake

A photo of the artificial lake created behind the timber dam at Redridge. For those that know the area, I was standing west of the dam , somewhere near the old waste weir of the steel dam, looking east.

Down the railroad grade

I took this photo of the old Copper Range Railroad grade somewhere between Redridge and South Range (I know that's a tad vague, but really do you think they have "You Are Here" signs on a path like this?)

More from the railroad grade

Another photo taken somewhere along the CRRR. This photo can't begin to do the scene justice. The light on the leaves gave the area an almost etherial quality.

Canyon Falls area

Finishing up my stay in the Keweenaw, I headed home, but not without making a couple quick stops. First was Canyon Falls, which is in Baraga County. There isn't much I can say about the individual photos other than that they were taken at various points along the river.

Canyon Falls pic 1

Canyon Falls pic 2

Canyon Falls pic 3

Canyon Falls pic 4

Da Yoopers Tourist Trap

My last stop on my U.P. itinerary. Definitely a screwy place, no wonder I liked it.

Camp Go For Beer exterior

Fictional hunting camp of Da Yoopers brought to life in this exhibit.

Camp Go For Beer interior

Da Yoopers actually used this as a set for filming the video for "Second Week of Deer Camp"

Yooper innovation at work

The plaque in front of this display reads "Da Sno-cycle invented by Brian Katajamaki. Why you ask? So a Yooper guy can keep riding his snowmachine for the one month we ain't got no snow. What you tink you stooge ball?"

Big gun

This is the largest black powder rifle ever made, and it actually works!

Big saw

This is the largest chainsaw ever constructed, and they have a certificate from the Guinness records people inside the store to prove it. It measures 22 feet 11 inches long, 6 feet tall and is powered by a v-8 engine. It was created by the Moran Iron Works, Inc. of Onaway in 1996.

And that's the end of my photo tour of the Upper Peninsula. I hope you enjoyed it.
Comments or questions can be directed to rjgoniea@i2k.com

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