Michigan in Pictures

Ice Cave Season on the Sleeping Bear Lakeshore

Posted on February 6, 2026February 6, 2026 by farlane

Robin shared these otherworldly shots of the ice caves on Empire Beach in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore earlier this week. Click the pics to see them bigger & follow her on Instagram for more!

As with any time we share photos of ice caves, we need to caution you that you can 100% lose your life exploring ice caves. Be smart.

It can be dangerous because you might think you’re walking on solid ground, when actually you’re out over the water. Due to the layered nature of shelf ice, even if you’re out over four feet of water, if you were to fall through a thin spot in the ice, you could find yourself trapped in an ice cavern and even though you may not be fully submerged in the water, you’re unable to get out because the walls of the cavern are ice and impossible to climb.

Michigan athletes bound for the Winter Olympics!

Posted on February 5, 2026 by farlane

Winter by Kevin Ryan

CBS Detroit reports that there will be 17 Olympians from Michigan on Team USA out of the nearly 230 athletes we’re sending to Milan-Cortina, Italy. Athletes range from old timers like 5-time Olympian & gold medalist Nick Baumgartner or dual gold medal winning freestyle skier Kaila Kuhn to Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin to first time hopefuls. Best of luck to all these Team USA athletes!

Evan Bates, 36, Ann Arbor, Ice Dancing
Nick Baumgartner, 44, Iron River
Christina Carreira, 25, St. Clair, Ice Dancing
Madison Chock, 33, Redondo Beach, California, Ice Dancing
Kyle Connor, 29, Shelby Township, Ice Hockey
Connor Hellebuyck, 32, Commerce Township, Ice Hockey
Jack Hughes, 24, Canton, Ice Hockey
Quinn Hughes, 26, Canton, Ice Hockey
Megan Keller, 29, Farmington Hills, Ice Hockey

Vadym Kolesnik, 24, Novi, Ice Dancing
Kaila Kuhn, 22, Boyne City, Freestyle Skiing
Dylan Larkin, 29, Waterford Township, Ice Hockey
Kirsten Simms, 21, Plymouth, Ice Hockey
Jake Vedder, 27, Pickney, Snowboarding
Winter Vinecki, 27, Gaylord, Freestyle Skiing
Zach Werenski, 28, Grosse Pointe Woods, Ice Hockey
Emilea Zingas, 23, Grosse Pointe Farms, Ice Dancing

Kevin shared these photos from Mulligan’s Hollow in Grand Haven way back in 2010. Check out his Sports gallery on Flickr for lots more great shots!

Michigan hoping to unlock geologic hydrogen

Posted on February 4, 2026February 4, 2026 by farlane

Hydrogen Bus at the Capitol by Flint MTA

UpNorth Live shares that the State of Michigan is exploring the extraction of naturally occurring hydrogen beneath northern Michigan:

Geologic hydrogen, a naturally forming gas, produces water instead of carbon dioxide when used as fuel. Federal mapping has identified Michigan as one of the most promising locations in the U.S. for this resource. Researchers suggest the state’s underground geology may allow hydrogen to form and be trapped deep below the surface.

Matt Schrenk of Michigan State University said, “These rural communities, some of them are really struggling, some of them struggling to find an economic foothold and looking for new areas of development. And so I think to find ways to make use of things that already exist there could be really valuable.”

The photo is of one of the Flint Metropolitan Transit Authority‘s hydrogen buses at the state Capitol. You can read more about the Flint MTA’s pioneering alternative fuel program that includes a hydrogen refueling station in East Village Magazine.

Training for Trouble: Ice Rescue Edition

Posted on February 3, 2026 by farlane

Training for Trouble by South Haven Area Emergency Services

Preparedness for all kinds of emergency situations is vitally important for first responders. While the fantastic forms wrought by wind & water draw folks onto Great Lakes ice, they also risk creating nightmare scenarios for rescue. South Haven Area Emergency Services shared these photos from the other day when several staff donned cold water suits and ventured into frigid Lake Michigan and onto the ice formations along the shoreline to practice rescue techniques.

Here’s a few more photos from the training and another from an actual rescue of a person fell who while on the Lake Michigan ice shelf approximately 100 yards offshore! Follow them on Facebook for the latest.

Groundhog Day is Game Day for Woody

Posted on February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 by farlane

Woody Getting Ready by Howell Nature Center

While most of the nation turns its eye towards Punxsutawney Phil, true Michiganders know there’s only one source for your winter woodchuck weathercast: Howell Nature Center’s own Woody the Woodchuck. Woody has been a fixture at the nature center since (at least) 2017 when I shared the photo from John Heinz Jr of lil Woody figuring out if something was or wasn’t food.

If you’re in the neighborhood, their free Groundhog Day Celebration is already underway, but you can also tune into their Facebook livestream that starts at 8:20 am!

UPDATE: They had a little trouble with the livestream but ultimately got it going. Sadly, Woody is in agreement with Phil that we have 6 more weeks of winter on the way!

Here are a couple more pics of Woody cause I love her, especially the little baby pic by John! More Groundhog Day, woodchuck & whistle-pig fun on Michigan in Pictures!

Believe in Summer

Posted on February 1, 2026 by farlane

Tiki Resort-Oscoda MI by Charles Bonham

Since tomorrow’s post is already reserved for everyone’s favorite long range winter weather forecaster, I figured it was about time to remind everyone that summer will come. Eventually.

Here are two pics from Charles of the joyfully painted Mai Tiki Resort on Lake Huron in Oscoda demonstrating that you can find a little spot of summer in Michigan even on the coldest day. See his latest on Flickr & stay warm!

Mai Tiki Resort by Charles Bonham

ICE out of everywhere on January 30th

Posted on January 29, 2026January 29, 2026 by farlane

Fortress of Iciclitute by Andrew McFarlane

Like many businesses & individuals across the nation, Michigan in Pictures will be participating in the nationwide Ice Out of Everywhere general strike on Friday, January 30th. The protest calls on Americans who believe that the Administration’s immigration enforcement campaign is violating our Constitution and national fabric to voice their displeasure with a nationwide day of no school, no work and no shopping.

You of course are free to do whatever you want, but if this post offends you, trust that I will almost certainly offend you again.

No post Friday – stay safe & see you next week everyone!

Michigan High School Athletes can make a name for themselves

Posted on January 28, 2026January 28, 2026 by farlane

Winners by Steven Scherbinski

Yesterday the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MSHAA) unveiled their new name, image, and likeness (NIL) rule. Under the policy, a student-athlete may earn compensation from the individual use of their Personal Branding Activity (PBA), including activities such as commercials, product endorsements, personal appearances, autograph or photo sessions, merchandise, sports cards, apparel sales, group licensing, personal logos, or acting as a social media influencer. These must be individual opportunities for individual student-athletes.

They add that students can’t use the uniform, mascot, or name of any school and that they can’t endorse inappropriate things or be paid to play. Click through for all the info on PBA from MHSAA and let me know what you think about this.

I featured Steve’s photo 18 years ago but had to bring it back because it’s got the perfect “million dollar shot” vibe! Head over to Flickr to see his most popular pics!

Four Days in the Great Lakes Ice Factory

Posted on January 27, 2026January 27, 2026 by farlane

Ice on St Joseph Lighthouse by Michigan Native Photography

These photos of the St. Joseph North Pier Outer Lighthouse on Lake Michigan taken just four days apart provide a dramatic example of how fast cold weather & high winds can build ice! For sure follow Michigan Native Photography on Facebook for their latest & more great Michigan photos.

Measuring Michigan’s Progress

Posted on January 26, 2026 by farlane

Porcupine Mountains by Daniel

“We should not measure human progress solely on the basis of what we’ve built, but also on what we have preserved and protected.” – Michigan Governor William Milliken

Today is the 189th birthday of the great state of Michigan, and I thought it fitting to share the words of Michigan’s longest serving Governor on what he believed Michiganders were called to do. The Great Lakes State has definitely risen to his challenge with 103 state parks and recreation areas, 140 state forest campgrounds with almost 14,000 campsites & cabins, and 360,000 acres of land within state parks and recreation areas drawing nearly 40 million visitors every year!

Daniel took this back in October of 2017 in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Follow him on Instagram for his latest!

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“We should not measure human progress solely on the basis of what we’ve built, but also on what we have preserved and protected.” – Michigan Governor William Milliken

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