The Trek to Au Sable (LOTS OF IMAGES)

This was an all day affair on Saturday, October 9. As many times as I have crossed the Mighty Mac, I have never crossed when they had the bridge under partial shutdown due to winds. They were only letting cars, minivans, and pickups with no load in the bed across the bridge. No RVs, semis, or high-profile vehicles. Should have seen them all parked at the sides of the road in Mackinaw City! They made us remove the tonneau cover on our Ram and move our bags to the cab in order to cross! 50+ mph winds. What a site!

This is one of the most remote lighthouses on the Great Lakes, located at the eastern end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and one of my favorites. For those of you that read my reply to Kat's Au Sable Posting , I was determined to get back out there and reshoot this light. The only bummer is that being off season, the light was closed up and the lantern room curtained off to protect the delicate Fresnel in the tower.


The road out - 1.5 mile hike one way, after a 12 mile drive down dirt roads out of town (Grand Marais).


Lake Superior in one of her finest moments - 30-40 mph winds and 12-14 foot swells! Remember those clouds on the horizon in this shot for the end of this story.


The view as you first approach the light.




As I'm walking around the light, you can really see the fall color blooming!


The clouds are blowing away!

This is the view of Grand Sable Dunes from the east side of the lighthouse, looking south and east.


The fog signal building.


The (I think?) second keeper's quarters.


The view from standing next to the tower.




And I climbed down that hill a little ways to get the perspective of looking up along with working in some more of that lovely fall color.

It was well worth the trip out there.

Beautiful pictures. I really like the second one, with the green water and shoreline. It looks like an oil painting.

Great pics, Jen!!! The water certainly looks churned up on the Lake. I guess it can be like the oceans at times.

Bob

More beautiful photos Jen. Maybe I'll be able to see this lighthouse when I go to next years reunion. How far away is it from Mackinaw City?

Thanks, gang! Lorie, It's about a two or 2.15 hour drive one way from the bridge and then figure 1/2 hour each direction to hike the path. PS - There is a guy in Munising that runs flights for scenic tours and I am not sure if his grand tour covers Au Sable. You can get more information from here at the website - Pictured Rocks Air Tours.

Great pictures! I agree that some of them look like paintings. Well Done! Thnks for sharing these and other great pictures. Love to look at them.

Bert

Speaking of great photographs, I had a free moment so I just went through the photos in your galleries. Nice work!!!

Bob

Excellent work as always, Jen... My favorite and Sue agrees is this one of the Dunes!



This is very, very nice... Sue said ooooh yah, when I showed it to her!!!

Any surfers or boogie-boarding on the Great Lakes?

Bob

Thanks, guys. Paul, I posted that shot for review on Photo.net and it ranked pretty high there - one of my better rated shots.

Just got back from shooting John's fraternity reunion in Lansing yesterday. Didn't get home until 2:30am.

Bob, indeed there are surfers out there. Here is a shot that I took earlier this spring at Grand Haven. I was out there this morning and got some decent shots of the wave action - will post some later on today or tomorrow.

I guess that answers my question about surfing the Great Lakes. Nice pic of the surfer, Jen!

Bob

Great pictures, Jen! I have to agree with others in saying they look like paintings! Keep up the great work and KEEP THEM COMING!

Nice pictures Jen. I have to say that the dirve to Au Sable is one of the funnest lighthouse adventures we've ever taken. Coming from the west it's around 17 or 18 miles on washboard logging roads, then the 1.5 mile walk to the light. we went early fall a few years back and didn't encounter anyone else trying to make the trip. Although the light was closed up, it was still kind of neat having the place to ourselves. Lookig forward to the Reunion so we can make the trip to Crisp Point.

Mike