American Integrity passing by Split Rock Lighthouse

January on the North Shore can be cold but that cold air can create many beautiful scenes. When subzero air temperatures meet the warmer waters of Lake Superior you get columns of dense fog rising from the surface. That dense fog called sea smoke filled the air as we pulled into the Split Rock Lighthouse State Park overlook on Tuesday. The 1000 foot American Integrity was heading to Two Harbors for one more load of iron ore before winter layup.

AmericanIntegritySeaSmoke

Grand Marais Harbor 001

Strong onshore winds sent spray into nearby trees and shrubs creating a second kind of wintry beauty. This mountain ash next to the Grand Marais harbor was enshrouded in ice.

GrandMaraisHarborSunset001

Grand Marais Harbor 002

If you look into the clear transparent ice you can see the thin dark lines of the small branches. None of these branches could support the weight of this much ice if it hadn't been artistically applied in thin layers.

GrandMaraisHarborSunset002

Grand Marais Sunrise

Combine a breathtaking sunrise with ice and sea smoke and the Grand Marais light takes on a totally different view.

GrandMaraisSunrise

Window Frost

Another amazing winter phenomenon is window frost. This photo was taken looking out the window of our wood shop. The outside temperature was minus 10. The intricate beauty that below zero temps and moisture can paint on a piece of glass is truly inspiring.

WindowFrost