Day 13: Gogebic County, Michigan

After two weeks of going non-stop, I was too tired last night to blog. I spent most of the day exploring and photographing landscapes in Gogebic County, which is located at the extreme western end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula (the UP). Like many places, it's a region that has fallen on hard times. The town of Ironwood, where I've been staying, is located in the heart of the Gogebic Range, an area that saw an iron mining boom from the 1880s through the 1920s. During that time this area was one of the major sources of iron in the U.S., helping drive the industrialization of the country. Mining began dwindling in the 1930s and the last mine closed in 1967. Kevin and Sherri, the owners of the motel where I'm staying, said Ironwood's population had once been 25,000. It's now just over 5,000. The average household income is just $28,000. The average house value, though, is an unbelievably low $45,000!

Despite the economic woes, it's a beautiful area. The fall colors are just beginning to come on, but I can tell (and have seen photos that show) that this area has as magnificent a display of fall foliage as any in the country. The low mountains are quite rugged and are dissected by streams that rush through some narrow gorges and plunge over dozens of awe-inspiring waterfalls. Many hiking trails wind through the forests and hills. There is plenty of other recreation as well: boating, camping, and fishing in the summer and skiing, snowmobiling, and sledding in the winter.

They also have a unique attraction just north of Ironwood: the world's largest ski flying structure. It was used for competitions from 1970 to 1994. The hill record is 518 feet, set by two Austrian ski jumpers just a day apart from each other in January, 1994. Work is currently being done to renovate it and have it ready for competitions again by 2015 or 2016. It was an adrenaline rush just going to the very top of the structure. I can't imagine jumping from it! They reach a speed of about 72 mph just before takeoff, and then jump nearly two football fields before landing on a slope of about 40 degrees. To visit the top, visitors first ride an 800 foot chairlift to the top of 360 foot high Copper Peak, which is a copper-bearing volcanic outcrop. Then it's an 18-story elevator ride to a viewing platform on the structure itself. The truly daring can then walk up another eight stories to the very top. The last section has no direct support underneath but is cantilevered out from the main support, so it sways and bounces slightly with the wind or people's movement. It's called Copper Peak Adventure Ride, and it is definitely quite an adventure!

Winter dominates the climate here. Sherri said, "We have two seasons up here: winter and bug season." Kevin said they usually get some snow every month of the year except for June, July, and August (and sometimes even then!). They average about 200 inches of snow each year. Last winter the frost reached nine feet into the ground. They both said everything revolves around winter here. It's either winter or you're preparing for winter. According to them, this place is the most similar to Alaska of any place in the lower 48 states. Given the weather since I've been here (mostly in the 40s and low 50s in the day and down to freezing at night), it's not hard to believe. The local college, Gogebic Community College, located in Ironwood, actually has a program in Ski Area Management. The college campus is conveniently located at the bottom of a chair lift on 200 foot high Mt. Zion.

I only drove 44 miles altogether yesterday, so I didn't have to venture far to view waterfalls, forests, Lake Superior, and Copper Peak. I wish this area were closer to home, because there is much more here for a geographer to explore!

View looking west from top of Mt. Zion in Ironwood, MI.

Ski lift on east side of Mt. Zion. Gogebic Community College is situated right at the bottom of the lift.

Putting in new water and sewer pipes along U.S. Hwy 2 through center of Ironwood.

Ski chalets.

Another ski hill near Ironwood.

Copper Peak Ski Flying Structure as seen from Mt. Zion, about ten miles away.

459 feet long, 26 stories high. Breathtaking views!

At the viewing platform. Still eight stores to go!

Don't look down!

We took an elevator up 18 stories to get here. Now we walk the final 8 stories.

The view from the top!

Looking north to the Porcupine Mountains in the far distance. Lake Superior is visible in the upper left.

Panorama from north (left) to east.

Looking east.

Porcupine Mountains in the distance. Black River in the foreground.

Looking north to Lake Superior.

Cumulus clouds building in the afternoon.

Heading down!

Potowatomi Falls on the Black River.

Gorge Falls on the Black River.

Viewing platform on the Black River.

Stairs.

Stairs.

More stairs.

Footbridge and stairs.

Stairs going down.

Stairs going up.

Did I mention there were stairs? I walked up literally hundreds of stairs at the waterfalls (plus earlier at Copper Peak).

Black River Harbor. In contrast with the deafening roar of the waterfalls just a few miles upstream, the harbor was tranquil and calm.

Black River Harbor suspension bridge.

Lake Superior is just beyond the rock levee.

Drift wood piled on rocks from recent storms. Lake Superior has a larger volume than the other four Great Lakes combined. It reminds me of being on the Pacific Ocean.

Home near Black River Harbor.

Interesting architecture you don't see much anymore. Ironwood, MI.