Shaft entrance at the abandoned Hiawatha Iron Ore Mine, U.P. Michigan, photo by dietrichlawrenz.
Dietrich writes that the cement is stained from iron ore dust that came out from the shaft.
This photo is part of a great set rusty/snowy photos of Upper Michigan and you absolutely must view it large.
Much of Michigan (including these two horses) is socked in by a winter storm.
More photos by Jim Sorbie on Michigan in Pictures.
We will positively, for sure, I promise be starting our profile of Bobby Alcott tomorrow!
Holga: Lake Erie, photo by Matt Callow.
I wavered back and forth between this one and Matt’s other photo of ice on Lake Erie. The photo was taken at Sterling State Park between Monroe & Detroit Beach, and Matt has helpfully placed it on a map.
Wikipedia says that William C. Sterling State Park is:
…the only Michigan state park located on the shores of Lake Erie. The park encompasses 1,300 acres. The park sits just north of where the River Raisin empties into the lake. The park boasts many lagoons and marshes, providing good habitat for a variety of wildlife and bird life. The park is situated in Monroe County just south of Detroit Beach/ Sandy Creek and north of the city of Monroe. It is the fourth busiest state park in the state. The park is located less than a mile from Interstate 75, which provides easy access from the neighboring areas of Detroit and Toledo. The main attractions at the park include the beach, a boat launch, and shore fishing. Over two miles of asphalt surface are available for bike riding. Hiking trails are also available.
Lately it occurs to me: What a long, strange trip it’s been., photo by docksidepress.
Matt says that this was taken somewhere near Shakedown Street in
Grand Rapids, Michigan. I’m not familiar with that area of town, but I assume you take a left off Highway 61…
Drift at Sunrise, photo by CaptPiper.
That’s the assignment given to Mitchell Hirsch (a fifth grader at George G. White Middle School in Hillsdale, NJ). Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to help Mitchell explain to his classmates and teachers why Michigan is the best state in the Country
Get all the details at Assignment: Why Michigan is the best state in the country on Absolute Michigan.
Au Sable #040, photo by joelmaust.
One of several photos of one of Michigan’s premier trout rivers in winter.
Learn a little more on the Au Sable River from Wikipedia.
NOTE: Minor technical difficulties have delayed Bobby Alcott’s photographer profile – check back tomorrow!
2006_01_20icebt042, photo by gretchdorian.
Gretchen Dorian has a great set of photos from a day of DN ice boating at Indian Lake State Park near Manistique. – makes a great slideshow!
Michigan has a long history of iceboating. The Detroit News’ excellent Rearview Mirror series includes Sailing on Lake St. Clair’s icy winter winds. They write that ice boating or ice yachting began over 4000 years ago in Northern Europe and was a source of entertainment in Michigan lumber camps. 
The article also relates what the “DN” you see on so many ice boat sails stands for:
During the winter of 1936-37, in the sawdust covered hobby shop of the Detroit News, master craftsman Archie Arroll along with ice boaters Joseph Lodge and Norman Jarrait designed a racing ice boat they called the Blue Streak 60. Later the craft would come to be called the DN 60, the DN standing for the Detroit News, and the 60 referring to the size of the sail. Howard Boston, whose family remains in the sailing business, helped construct the first sails. (Doyle Boston Sailmakers of Holland)
Ice Boating Timeline reminds us not to forget about the other side of the state and Gull Lake and (as usual) Wikipedia can tell you more about iceboats & iceboating.
Update: I was just sent a nice video featuring Jack Jacobs (owner of Magic) talking about ice boating.
Better than TV #7, photo by norjam8.
Norm writes: The next in my lone bench series. If you look closely, you can see the snow blowing across the frozen lake. And yes, it was very cold. This was handheld, so It does have some slight hdr alignment issues. Oh well. When it’s warmer, I’ll take the time to pull out my tripod.
This is the latest photo in Norm’s cool set of HDR photos titled Better than TV.
Encrusted Lighthouse, photo by taterfalls.
The bitter cold has frozen Lake Michigan and allowed Tate King to grab this awesome view of the light at Grand Haven. You have to check this one out bigger!
Here’s a post with another view & more information about the Grand Haven Lighthouse.
Chippewa River, photo by Lisa Yanick
If you click the photo above, blogger Eric Baerran of Among the Trees will take you down to the Chippewa River in Mt. Pleasant with a cool fusion of photographer Lisa Yanick’s great photos of the river with spoken words, sounds from the river and Bob Busch’s music.
Be sure to click the link for “the cleaner version” and also check out Eric’s two part feature on canoeing the river a couple years ago (part 1 and part 2).
Michigan in Pictures 