Lake Superior Grand Tour & Facts

[danfarrell]

I'm glad to see this conversation continue!

More extreme weather will probably result.

I have heard anecdotally that weather is getting more severe on Superior, but since I've only been up there the last 3 summers, I'm in no position to judge.

I still wouldn’t try to circumnavigate in something that small.

There are way too many large stretches of inhospitable shore on this lake to take a circumnavigation lightly, in my humble opinion. They say, "40 is mandatory" on superior because you can't get anywhere in less than 30 or 40 miles. But many places are farther away from a protected anchorage.

If you're in a sea kayak, you can skirt the shoreline and if you see dark clouds on the horizon, you can pull your kayak well off the beach in many places and take shelter while it blows over. If you run aground you can just step out (brrr!) and push back to deeper water. But in a sailboat around one ton, those shoals are going to be a lot more problematic and you won't have anywhere to hide in heavy weather. I wouldn't want to be anchored off a lee southern shore in any vessel - too much fetch, too little protection. On the west side there's few harbors of refuge far between, the shore is very rocky, and the high bluffs can apparently cause significant downdrafts. I wouldn't consider taking an unballasted boat far from shore on this lake.

Superior's summer water surface temperatures rose by more than twice the rate of oceans

Well, sure. As enormous as it is, it's only a 10,000 year old glacial puddle whose average depth is less than 500 feet. Think of how little of the ocean has a depth of 500 feet or less ...

Actually, it's probably those near-shore regions that are most dangerous in bad weather. Which brings us to

Superior can toss up some mighty storms and squalls.

Let's not forget that fresh water weighs somewhat less than salt water - I suppose this means less fetch and time is required to build up the waves, and they might be steeper too. But what do I know? Not as much as these folks are learning, I'd bet: https://wildernessnorth.com/2015/12/the-three-sisters/

I've had nothing but good luck on the lake, but I am still scared to venture far out. In fact, my recent upgrade to a blue water boat was motivated in no small part to the fierce and unforgiving nature of the area, and the siren call of its more remote shores.

Trips would probably look more like a week at the Apostles on Superior or in Green Bay on Michigan at this point than weeks on end of touring.

That's a really excellent idea. My vote would be for the Apostles. Not only are the Apostles close to Minnesota (way closer than Green Bay regardless of where you're leaving from), they're more remote (perhaps that's a good thing for you?) and cleaner. I sailed a 26 footer there for the last 3 years, but wouldn't hesitate to bring my Montgomery 17 up there if I felt so inclined. There's a lot to see, and the outer islands are a decent trek from the mainland, so you won't run out of space very soon. Besides Bayfield, you can also reach La Pointe (on Madeline Is.), Ashland, and Washburn, and Cornucopia is within range if you're careful about your weather windows. Cornucopia is a really charming town I hope to visit by boat again (and also has some of the best water ever coming out of their artesian well). If you can launch your own boat from the trailer, you can use the city ramp in Bayfield, or use the Casino's ramp in Red Cliff, which will be a bit farther into the Apostles. If you haven't been to the Apostles yet, you really should go.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by danfarrell

Well, sure. As enormous as it is, it's only a 10,000 year old glacial puddle whose average depth is less than 500 feet. Think of how little of the ocean has a depth of 500 feet or less ...

And as if on cue we have the release of the latest scientific review:

Report on climate change shows Canada warming at twice the rate of rest of world

Originally Posted by danfarrell

My vote would be for the Apostles. Not only are the Apostles close to Minnesota (way closer than Green Bay regardless of where you're leaving from), they're more remote (perhaps that's a good thing for you?) and cleaner. I sailed a 26 footer there for the last 3 years, but wouldn't hesitate to bring my Montgomery 17 up there if I felt so inclined. There's a lot to see, and the outer islands are a decent trek from the mainland, so you won't run out of space very soon. Besides Bayfield, you can also reach La Pointe (on Madeline Is.), Ashland, and Washburn, and Cornucopia is within range if you're careful about your weather windows. Cornucopia is a really charming town I hope to visit by boat again (and also has some of the best water ever coming out of their artesian well). If you can launch your own boat from the trailer, you can use the city ramp in Bayfield, or use the Casino's ramp in Red Cliff, which will be a bit farther into the Apostles. If you haven't been to the Apostles yet, you really should go.

All excellent recommendations. Beautiful area. Fairly well protected with all the islands. A bit busy for my tastes, but good protection, good scenery and interesting communities at close reach.

[Rorzech]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

And as if on cue we have the release of the latest scientific review:

Report on climate change shows Canada warming at twice the rate of rest of world



All excellent recommendations. Beautiful area. Fairly well protected with all the islands. A bit busy for my tastes, but good protection, good scenery and interesting communities at close reach.

Everybody is saying how warm Lake Superior is. I have lived on the shore of Lake superior for 65 years. With the help of three ice breakers they managed to get a ship to Thunder Bay at the very end of March this year. It was reported that Superior was 99% ice covered this year ! a couple years ago it was 100% covered. You won't see the global media bragging about this fact. Remember Al Gore promised us all that by 2013 there would be no ice left at the poles,and our kids wouldn't know what snow was ! You's can stuff your global warming propaganda. Lake Superior is the warmest in September and it's actually getting colder every year ! Ice doesn't lie.

[Rorzech]

Canada warming up twice as fast ? Give me a break ! Green Land just reported that they are accumulating record ice in the last few years. Canada just raised it's gasoline prices by 4.5 cents per litre yesterday as a carbon tax. They were pumping there Global Warming propaganda yesterday like never before to quiet down the Sheeple ! They intend to raise that carbon tax grab every year for a few more years. Just follow the money as usual.

[Mike OReilly]

I should have known better. Out come the deniers

[Spot]

Not sure if people have seen this, Lake Superior boating guide from the state of Minnesota:

https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/educat...atingguide.pdf

I tried to upload but it was .07 MB too large...

[LakeSuperior]

Quote:
"Superior's summer water surface temperatures rose by more than twice the rate of oceans"

Nonsense I say. Surface water temperatures vary dramatically on Superior depending on the moisture content of the air flowing from the west among other significant factors. The moisture creates fog over the lake that minimizes the direct solar heating of the water. Some summers there is fog on the water for most of July. I submit that solar heating is by far the greatest single driver of surface water temperatures on the lake.

Surface water temperatures vary dramatically depending on the summer. Anyone suggesting they can measure a AGW component of surface water warming on Lake Superior is lying to the public.

In the FWIW department...
Lake Superior has reached a 98 percent or more maximum ice cover twice per decade starting in 1975.