Video: Lake Michigan Ice Caves Off the Coast of Leelanau in Northern Michigan

MyNorth ^ | 20Feb 2014 | LISSA EDWARDS

[Lakeshark]

When it finally froze up here, the ice was far more consistent than down where you are. I was at these caves three different times during the first reports of their existence, and in no case was anyone in danger of falling through, although the formations were dangerous to climb and at least one person did get hurt from falling. When the winds shifted the next week, causing some issues, the police prevented anyone from going on the ice.

The formations and caves were spectacular, like nothing I've ever seen (must be global warming). The road access was as crowded as a national park in July, an amazing amount of people came to see what the lake formed. Ice bluffs and scouring from 15 to 30 feet high going parallel to the lake for more than a mile, with people all over them.

I have some pics I'll try to post on the thread later if I can.

[norwaypinesavage]

"Stupid is the only word that fits."

I second your opinion. Ridges such as those in the video are caused by shifting ice. It can shift at any time. Sometimes the ice goes up, some times it goes sideways, some times it goes down.

I met a fellow who almost lost his life because it went down. It left a big pool of water with a gently sloping ice bottom. He got trapped in it, and couldn't walk out because it was too slippery to walk up the slope. Fortunately, he was able to yell and attract rescuers before he died of hypothermia.

[Lakeshark]

FYI, I watched those ridges being formed, and they weren't caused by shifting ice. They were caused by the ice forming in the shallow rock bars at the end of where the water drops off, then the winds took 33 degree water and splashed on top of the edge forming into higher and higher little bluffs every day for a month. The water froze immediately in such cold temperatures as it hit the edge, the winds were high for the better part of a month preventing the main lake from freezing, so the edge bluffs kept getting bigger.

[norwaypinesavage]

Interesting, thanks. I still don’t know if I would trust it not to shift when standing under it.

[shove_it]

Thanks for your comments. I received the MyNorth article in an email last week from an old friend who has lived near Leland for many years. He says he had never seen ice caves this extensive and large before.