During a typical
winter season, only 30% to 40% of the Great Lakes
are covered by ice. But in this 2013-14
winter season, the ice coverage on the Great Lakes
is just over 92%. Predictions for this
winter season indicate the Great
Lakes ice coverage will not break the record of 94.7% ice coverage
measured in 1979.
It has been 20
years since the Great Lakes has seen this kind
of ice coverage (measured at 90.7% in 1994). So, we take advantage of this rare
opportunity to see a frozen Lake Michigan
...
We arrive at
the pier to the Grand Haven Light early Monday afternoon. There are plenty of other people just as
curious as we are to see and experience this unusual frozen environment. It is windy along the lakeshore and the wind
chill is making the air temperature feel “refreshingly cold”. We dress in layers and begin our walk down
the pier. Because the sun is shining and
the temperature is above freezing, the snow on the pier is melting. I feel like I am walking on a slushy
drink. At the end of concrete pier lies Lake Michigan .
People are scrambling over the huge snow boulders and walking on frozen
water. Large, thick slabs of ice are
piled up along the edge of the concrete pier.
We get to view
the two red lighthouses from the water – an angle we have never seen since we
don’t own a boat to motor in/out of the channel to Lake
Michigan . This is a rare
treat but, quite honestly, I am more than ready for winter to end. Come on Spring!!
