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Phil Bencomo / Lake Superior Magazine
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: Mainland Sea Caves
More than 120,000 people have visited the Apostle Islands ice caves this winter. Due to deteriorating ice conditions, access to the caves will close after the weekend.
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LSSU / John Shibley
LSSUSeamoreWall
Lake Superior State University unveiled a new climbing wall this week, with the help of mascot Seamore the Sea Duck.
Apostle Islands Ice Caves Closing
This weekend will be the last of the year to see the mainland ice caves at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Due to warming temperatures and uncertain ice conditions, lakeshore officials announced that access to the caves will close for the season after Sunday.
Superintendent Bob Krumenaker says:
This has been a remarkable ice cave season, the longest and best one anyone can remember, and certainly the most popular. But spring is coming, the ice is weakening, and we can see the edge of the ice pack coming closer to the mainland ice caves every day. The beautiful formations are melting, and some have already fallen, raising concerns. Safety is our top priority, and by planning for a closure, rather than reacting quickly to a change in conditions, we can assure that the season ends on a high note.
More than 120,000 people have walked over the Lake Superior ice to the caves this winter, smashing visitation records. Barely a quarter of the way into the year, the lakeshore has already reached 80 percent of 2013’s visitation and is more than halfway to a new annual visitation record.
But the Lake is the boss, as the saying goes, and a fickle one at that. Rather than take the chance that thousands might be caught on the ice when it breaks up, officials instead chose a proactive closure.
+ MinnPost’s Ron Meador has a two-part interview with the superintendent: “I'm absolutely amazed, delighted and confused, all at the same time, at how this has become so globally known.”
Necropsy Reveals Cause of Isle Royale Wolf’s Death
A pellet gun killed the wolf that left Isle Royale this winter, the U.S. National Park Service announced today. Nicknamed Isabelle by researchers, the radio-collared wolf was found dead in northern Minnesota in early February, not long after crossing an ice bridge from the island.
Pathologists determined that a lightweight pellet “travelled between two ribs to enter the wolf’s chest and ultimately caused fatal damage,” according to the news release.
+ Lake Superior State University mascot Seamore the Sea Duck helped unveil the student activity center’s 26-foot climbing wall. Public hours will be announced soon.
+ Via Soo Today: “The United States Coast Guard will start breaking ice in the lower West Neebish Channel at 0800 local on Monday the 17th of March.”
+ Kenneth Newhams and video camera were aboard the cutter Alder during ice-breaking in Duluth this week.
+ “A summer work opportunity is available for area young people through the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.” The park will accept applications through April 15. Learn more at NPS.gov.
+ Reports the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal: “The province is pouring almost $14 million into infrastructure improvements in communities across Northwestern Ontario.”
+ Paul Sundberg has some spectacular ice images in his Photos of the Week.
+ An Ashland, Wisconsin, local appeared on the Weather Channel’s “Coast Guard: Cape Disappointment,” reports the Daily Press.
+ John Pepin, the Mining Journal: “Federal dredging money heads to U.P.”
+ Thunder Bay’s Regional Health Sciences Centre celebrated its 10th anniversary this week, reports TBNewsWatch.com.