Copper Country Scrapbook » Copper Harbor

Copper Harbor Fireworks

Tricia — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:01:37 +0000

I can go on and on and on about the 4th of July fireworks in Copper Harbor. I love them!! I tried taking some pics during last year’s show. Fireworks are tough to shoot. But practice makes perfect (hopefully!) so I tried again this year.

We arrived a little later than usual this year so we had a different viewing area. We still had a nice spot right next to the water on the sand.

The show was different this year. For the first time (that I know of), they played the Star Spangled Banner from the island before the fireworks show. That was a nice touch, although it was tough to hear through all of the chatter on the mainland.

After the song ended, the show began.

After what seems like a very nice display, the fireworks stop. A woman near us started talking about how nice the show was. But it wasn’t over yet. The people setting off the fireworks on the island want to know if us on the mainland are ready for the finale.

Slowly the audience started clapping and the yelling. It grew in volume. Then we heard a lone male on the mainland yell, “Git er done!“.

The island fireworks crew must have been impressed – they started the finale.

Pictures do not do the Copper Harbor fireworks justice. If you have never seen them before, I highly recommend that you try to catch them! Copper Harbor may be small, but they sure know how to wow everyone with their fireworks display.

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Coming out of Hibernation…

Tricia — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:45:03 +0000

It’s been a while since I last posted. I have to admit that the long winters get to me and with the day job and working on our new site – I was pretty tired. Now that our new site is almost live (announcement coming soon!), I can start posting regularly on here.

To ease back into the swing of things, I thought I would post some pictures from a presentation last month. I have a few more pictures to post from the last few months and then we’ll be up to date :)

Copper Harbor has an annual Migratory Bird Festival in May. We were unable to participate in all of the activities, and the weather was not that cooperative, but we were able to catch a wonderful presentation on raptors by the Raptor Education Group (REGI) based in Wisconsin.

What would a presentation be without some special guests?!

First up is a peregrine falcon. We learned that these birds are built for speed and they actually use their feet to “knock out” their prey (versus just grabbing them with their talons). This picture does not do this bird justice. It is amazing close-up – so sleek and colorful.

According to the REGI presenter, the saw whet owl is the big star of their presentations. Or, should I say “little” star. The audience couldn’t help but go “awe…” when this little guy came out.

We also saw a rough-legged hawk and a barred owl, but we forgot to bring in our camera and missed a photo opportunity with the hawk (the first bird shown) and the barred owl looked away from me each time I tried to snap a pic. I think he/she was a little camera shy.

Thanks to everyone who made the festival possible. The presentation was a wonderful experience!

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Copper Harbor 4th of July Fireworks

Tricia — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:45:04 +0000

This year’s fireworks display at Copper Harbor was awesome. I mean, normally they are great. The fireworks have a great backdrop (Lake Superior), after all. But this year, they had so many fireworks. At one point, everyone thought the display was over and yells of approval echoed across the town. A few seconds later – there were more fireworks.

I grew up in a family that often was involved in fireworks displays. I know they are not cheap. It amazes me that Copper Harbor can raise so much money for this yearly display. It shows a lot about the people and the visitors.

We set up our viewing area near the water. The abundance of stones near the shore keeps our son occupied during the wait for dusk. In the meantime, I experimented with our camera to try to get the settings right to be able to capture the display.

Even after the sun sets, it takes a long time for the darkness to take over. The excitement builds as the first flare (I’m guessing it’s a flare) is lit on the island where they are shooting the fireworks from. Then another flare lights up, then another. In all, there were 15 flares lit this year’s show (at least that’s what I was able to count). That is the most I have ever counted…I knew right then and there it was going to be an awesome display.

And it was! Here are a few of the better pictures. Click on any of them for a larger view.

I can’t wait for next year!

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A Path to Beauty

Tricia — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:55:02 +0000

Whenever I describe the Keweenaw to people, I always end up saying the same thing, “It’s beautiful.” The area has so much beauty – it’s almost as if every path you take leads you to it.

This path here is from Esrey Park on M-26 on the way to Copper Harbor. You walk up the steps are are welcomed by a higher-up view of Lake Superior. If you are lucky, you may even catch some freighters on the horizon.

When I think about all of our travels in the Keweenaw, even a walk down the street yields a beautiful natural or historical element. I think that is what makes this area so special. There is no lack of beauty.

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Unusual Trees at Esrey Park

Unusual Trees at Esrey Park

Tricia — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:45:27 +0000

I have been to Esrey Park multiple times. It’s a natural stop to make on our way to Copper Harbor. Maybe it’s because I’m so excited to go up the stone steps to get a higher view of Lake Superior – I’m not sure. But I have never really noticed the following trees until last weekend.

They aren’t hidden. In fact, this tree is right next to the stone path that leads to the steps to go on top of the rock for the lake view.

What you see here is a tree that has a very large root growing around a rock. Amazing, isn’t it? Here’s a shot from another angle.

Not too far away from this tree is another tree that is closer to the lake. A large portion of the ground beneath it appears to have washed away.

It always amazes me how trees adapt to their surroundings. Fifty years from now I wonder how these same trees will look.

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