More fun at the Ski Hill

Mt. AshWaBay is a nice ski complex for such a small area. X-Country Trails are extensive!

The ski hill is groomed with a new lift.

Mt. AshWaBay

It's Christmas break from school so that means time for the Ski Hill. It was a bit chilly but you bundle up and have fun. The Ski Hill has a new chair lift and was groomed nicely. If you get cold

you just warm up in the snack bar area.

http://www.mtashwabay.org/

New Year's Eve Party with Big Top Chautauqua

The Christmas Holiday is over, winter is here and it's chilly. What do you do?
Ring in the New Year with Big Top Chautauqua at Stage North in Washburn of course!

http://www.stagenorth.com/home.html

Or you can pound down the Ski Hill which my nephew is doing this holiday.
They have a nice new chair lift and even some snowboard features.

http://www.mtashwabay.org/

If that isn't enough for you this winter there is some Mushing for you to do:

http://www.wolfsongadventures.com/

Off season? What off Season?

Some weather for the Christmas Holiday Season!

7-Day Forecast for Latitude 46.81°N and Longitude 90.81°W: "Thursday: Snow and areas of blowing snow. High near 30. East wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Thursday Night: Snow, possibly mixed with freezing rain and sleet. Areas of blowing snow. Low around 28. Windy, with a east wind between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Christmas Day: Snow, possibly mixed with freezing rain and sleet, becoming all snow after noon. Areas of blowing snow. High near 32. Windy, with a east wind between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%."

Christmas is here.

Christmas is here only when Santa arrives on the Ferry. Apparently in the Northland the reindeer are left at home. Who knew that Santa lived in La Pointe? Perhaps he was a Voyageur that grew old to take on a new role in life?

Channel still open

The channel between Bayfield and Madeline Island is still free of ice. The local fishermen are still catching fish daily. The ferry is still running and it will be interesting to see how long it runs this year before a freeze up. This shot from the Seagull Bay Motel weather cam. Their location is really wonderful as you enter town. At night you can see down the bay and all the way to Ashland when standing on the deck outside of the motel rooms. Below the motel is a nice hiking trail to town which was the former rail bed of a railroad long gone. Bears have been known to use the trail in the early spring after hibernation. They wander into town searching for a easy meal.

Icy cold tonight

Not a soul around on this Cam shot today. Tonight is going to be near zero and perhaps below in some areas. Winter has it's hold on the area. The Chequamegon Bay is iced over and soon many ice fisherman will be on the lake. Stores are open on the weekend for Christmas shoppers.

Milder weather after the storm

Soon the Chequamegon Bay will be covered with ice. But first we have a mild day.

Some areas of the Bay area and Bayfield got near 20 inches of snow. It was a good storm.

Another smaller storm is heading for the area with more chilly air. Santa is arriving on the Madeline Island Ferry today so Christmas season is under way.

Off Season ?

In more ways then we think it's off season. The Apple Orchard is hibernating until next spring.

The quiet season with less activity and less tourists. But that is no longer entirely true, there is skiing and even dog sledding. Ice fishing and para sailing on the lake. Weekends can often be quite active even during the winter.

More snow coming.....

Might as well accept it, it's winter. Time for holiday parades and Christmas plans.Santa will arrive on the ferry soon.

It's here like it or not?

Almost right on time winter has come calling. When does winter start? Meteorological winter started on December 1st.Astronomical winter starts with the winter solstice which occurs some time between December 21 and December 22 each year and is the shortest day of the year.

Postcard Memories

Bayfield Harbor 1966. Looks to be very quiet during the summer of 66.The old GarHow ferry boat at the dock. Also pictured is the tour boat. Looks like hydrangea's in the flower beds.

Last Leaves

The last leaves of the woods. Some leaves seems to hang on forever for some reason?
November has been very nice, clear warmer then average days. With no humidity in the air like during summer you can see much further. On a good day you can see all the way to Saxon Harbor.

Nothing but Blue...

Above us only sky........John Lennon (Imagine)

Because the Sky is Blue........Beatles Abbey Road.

Indian Summer in November

After a wet and rainy October we have been lucky to have warm sunny November days.The leaves are gone,tourists are gone and the boats have been put to bed for the winter. Nothing much is open during the week but on the weekends the shops do open up and there are events coming for the holidays. It's either too busy or too quiet in Bayfield. What remains to be seen is the effect a El Nino winter will have on the Northland?

November

Not what I'd call my favorite month. Dark early with DST and the wonderful leaves are gone. Just a matter of time before the first snowfall that sticks to the ground. Of course there have been flurries already. Northern Wisconsin saw sleet here and there last night. The El Nino is going to make for a mild winter NOAA says? We shall see? I would enjoy snow and a mild winter over sub zero temps.

Nice prolonged fall colors

For whatever reason, warm September or more moisture, the leaves are hanging on longer this fall. Nothing better then a nice fall walk in the woods during the fall season.

More fall pictures

Take to the back roads and walk in the woods as the leaves won't last for long. But beware there are goofy characters that come walking out of the woods. This man appeared lost and a bit confused? But it's likely just age and too much beer.

More Fall Colors

October has been below normal and a bit wet. But this weekend there was some sun and the colors are at peak or very close. The weather looks to be wet the rest of the week and our best weather might be behind us?

Late fall color

Fall colors are nearing peak and a bit late this year. Weather has been strange.Cooler summer then average followed by a warm September. The leaves hung on later this year. Near Lake Superior they are slower to change. Shorter days, temperture and even moisture are factors in leaves changing.

Peak Fall Color weekend

This weekend north of Wausau they are calling for peak fall colors. But they are also calling for something else, SNOW! Say it ain't so! Of course we know in Bayfield there has been flurries during Apple Fest in years past. Very chilly this weekend but hopefully we see some sun on Sunday for a drive to see some leaves.

Postcard Memories

One of my favorite things are old postcards showing what things looked like years ago. This is the Bayfield fishing fleet in the 1940's?? The building remains today and there still are a few fishing boats in present day.

Apple Fest Parade

The sun came out Sunday afternoon and the rain left the area. The Red Cliff Indians danced in the parade this year. Also the Musky Queen made a appearance. I've never heard of a Musky Queen before. There are alot of different Queens in Wisconsin.

Here comes the sun

The sun peaked out late Sunday afternoon to make the ending of the Apple Fest pleasant.

This the image from the live Bayfield Cam downtown.

Apple Fest

48th Bayfield Apple Festival,October 2-4, 2009
The Bayfield Apple Festival is listed among "Top Ten Autumn Festivals in North America" by the Society of American Travel Writers. Click on the link above to read the whole article. Bayfield Apple Festival is also one of Discover Wisconsin’s Top Ten Favorite Small Town Festivals

Embarrassing for our good state.

State Troopers are looking to crack down on drunk driving, regardless of who you may be.
In the past week, both Wisconsin Representative Jeff Wood and Bayfield Police Chief Ellis Casper were arrested for suspected OWI, showing no one is above the law.The Wisconsin State Patrol says they're out to protect the public from anyone who may be dangerous on the roadways.
"The reason these laws are in place are to protect the safety of everybody, and it really doesn't give any exemption to any particular individual," says Lt. Timothy Carnahan with the Wisconsin State Patrol.

End to the long saga............

Warren Nelson severed ties with the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, resigning as artistic director in the face of two criminal charges within nine months.

A very talented man with real stage presence, he truly can write a great song.
Sadly, he has problems with help that can be corrected. I am sure he will be back to sing more songs in the future. The Big Top has some younger wonderful performers that can help carry the tent shows into the future. If they book some good acts next year, they will be fine. It is good to see the current saga end.

Biggest Black Bear ever shot in Wisconsin!

Just when you think last weeks big bear was incredible somebody tops it. A new confirmed record shot in Price County. A 727 pound MONSTER Black Bear! That is one large teddy bear.

Imagine coming across that in the woods?? The entire story can be found on the link posted.

I am neither pro or con on hunting. But I find this sort of thing very interesting.

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/news_wluk_wisconsin_hunter_tags_record_bear_200909220736_rev1

Monster Bruin shot near Bayfield

There are unconfirmed pictures floating around the Internet of a 639 pound Black Bear shot just outside of Bayfield. This is interesting as I spotted a huge bear this summer and the police have twice chased a huge bear out of town with their squad car. But this bear seems to be much much larger! The all time world record Black Bear was shot near Glidden Wi. in 1963 and that bear weighed 665 lbs and can be seen near the Glidden Fire Station in a display. What else is walking around the Chequamegon National Forest? Really makes you think. The hunter pictured looks like a young Matt Damon I think. Still waiting for details in the Ashland Daily Press or another newspaper.

Old Postcard memories

I found this old postcard recently and if you study it closely you can see the railroad station and the tracks. Perhaps the remains of a mill or canning factory? There are no slips in the harbor and the old Bayfield Hotel is visible. My guess is early 1940's? Does anybody else have any ideas? A different view then what we see present day! Click on image to enlarge!

The FOG

No not the movie by that title but this mornings weather. Fall is here with some warm weather from the south hitting the cooler air near the lake. Mornings are cooler now but it's warming nicely during the day with much sunshine. With dry weather you have to wonder what that means for fall colors this year? Will they be muted and dull? Will the leaves go quickly? Or will we still have a nice colorful fall? When will the peak fall color be this year?

Apple Fest is coming in about three weeks!

5th Annual Bayfield Scarecrow Festival

Five years ago, Bayfield came up with a very clever idea. A Scarecrow Festival! I have never heard of it done before. It starts today and continues to the end of October. It is very entertaining to see what ideas people come up with for their scarecrows. They can be found all over town in front of businesses and homes. Click on the link below for more details:

http://bayfield.org/festivals_events_scarecrow_festival.php

We only have to wait nine years!

MADISON, Wis. - Gov. Jim Doyle says new quarters minted nine years from now will feature the Apostle Islands. The America's Beautiful National Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 requires the U.S. Mint to issue quarters featuring national sites in each state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. The coins will be minted at a rate of five per year and issued on the date in which the landmarks were first established as national sites. The Apostle Island National Lakeshore quarter will be minted in 2018. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore includes more than 42,000 acres of land, including 22 islands, and 27,000 acres of Lake Superior.

Crystal Clear Waters of the Apostle Islands

As seen in the picture the water is pristine and clear. I am always amazed at just how clear the waters are in the Apostles. You can see down in 30 feet of water on a calm day. Along the coast you can see ancient tree stumps on the bottom and even a ship wreck. There are two outfitters in Bayfield that will take you on tours. The temperature on Labor Day is projected to be 79 degrees! A bit above average, is the El Nino effecting the Midwest already?

The Wood Pile

After last nights cold temperatures this pile of wood takes on some importance.We might be in for a cool fall if the jet stream keeps coming out of Canada. The forecast for the winter is a El Nino. What does that mean? Perhaps a warmer then average winter?If I recall correctly the last time there was a strong El Nino it was a very mild winter but the Lake Effect snows in the U.P of Michigan were record setting. I also recall people tunneling into their front doors in Hurley Wisconsin. Now if I could only recall the year?? Winter 1997-1998?

Some Googling found this:

January 1998
January saw a shift in the anomalous warmth from the upper Midwest to the eastern
Midwest. The month began with very warm temperatures as record high values occurred
throughout the Midwest during the first week. Chicago reached a maximum of at least 50°F on
four consecutive days beginning on January 2, only the seventh such occurrence in 125 years of
record keeping. Figure 16 depicts the number of daily temperature records set in January 1998
for three locations in each state. Among these 27 stations, 26 record high temperatures were set
during January, and 39 record high minimum temperatures also were set. Figure 17a shows the
average maximum temperature departure from normal for January 1998, and figure 17b shows
the average minimum temperature departure from normal. Higher than normal, maximum
temperature departures ranged from +1 to +5°F across the western half of the region, and +6 to
+9°F across the east. Average minimum temperature departures, on the other hand, were almost twice the magnitude of the maximum temperature departures across most of the region, ranging from +5 to +7°F in the west to +10 to +12°F in the east and across northern Minnesota. The abnormally warm minimum temperatures were the major contributor to the record warmth in January 1998.
The largest mean temperature departures from normal (>+10°F) were centered over
eastern Indiana and western Ohio, with most of Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky experiencing mean
temperature departures from an average of at least +8.0°F (figure 18). Except for north-eastern
Minnesota, where temperature departures averaged +8 to +9°F, the strength of the positive
temperature anomaly in the western third of the Midwest was only +3 to +6°F. January 1998
ranked from 5th to 22nd warmest among the nine Midwestern states and was the 10th warmest for the entire Midwest.

Restoring living history

Just up the street from the slips and Marina are a couple old fishing boats.They are being restored this summer in the parking lot. New steel plates being welded in place and over all restoring. These old fishing boats could be used again or just some living history. Not sure what will be in store for them or how they will be used. The owner of Boat Works restores and builds boats. It's always interesting to walk by and see what is being worked on. One should walk around Bayfield and see all that is going on.

Marine Museum

Right across the street from the Sailboat slips is the Marine Museum. Take in some history of the area fishing industry, boats and ships. There is quite a variety of information to be found. Well worth the small fee charged.

http://www.apostleisland.com/BMM.htm

This is beach time!

It's right now you want to make use of nice weather and get down to the pristine beaches in the Bayfield area. Lake Superior beaches are the cleanest in the Great Lakes. Bayview Beach just south of Bayfield is very uncrowded and clean. Wonderful sand and a nice shallow beach for kids to play. It warms up in the shallows so it's not too cold. It's very refreshing when it's 85 degrees. This young guy thought it was more fun to dump the kayak over then to paddle it.

The other harbor

Bayfield has two harbors. Everybody knows the harbor next to City Dock.On the South side of Bayfield is another harbor. It gets very little attention but is also very nice. It has a nice exposure to the sun in the afternoon.