FINDING GLOWING YOOPERLITES ALONG LAKE SUPERIOR!

In a remote, undisclosed location in Michigan's upper peninsula we bounced down this sandy road heading towards Lake Superior just before sunset. As we neared the beach we saw we were the only ones there, a bonus in our minds. We were going hunting for the mysterious "Yooperlite" rock discovered by Erik Rintamaki. 

The mineral sodalite is present in some rocks and under longwave ultraviolet (UV lights) illumination will fluoresce, creating the glowing yellowish orange veins of Yooperlites as seen below...

We got out to stretch our legs and felt the winds blowing off the lake, they were light and pleasant. The air temps were in the lower 40's but next to the lake it felt much warmer. Lots of rocky beaches and miles to walk each direction, the only thing to do was wait until it got dark. Neil and I decided we would walk as far south as we could, then as we walked back we would picked up rocks we found. This way we weren't carrying rocks both directions, making it easier on us.

(VIDEO) YOOPERLITES IN UPPER MICHIGAN - THEY GLOW UNDER UV LIGHTS!

Watch the video above and see where in upper Michigan we visited on our way to Lake Superior! 

Ok fine, we were in the Keweenaw above Houghton.. Now you know! However you should also know that you'll need a powerful UV flashlight if you want any chance of finding them. They are pretty cheap too and well worth the investment! Just don't use it during your next hotel visit or you may never go back.. ha ha

There is a vast difference in the Yooperlites we found, some were really bright and you could see them from 10 feet away while others weren't as bright and you needed to be closer to see. On this trip my buddy Neil had a more powerful light than I did and found many more than me. They came in all shapes and sizes and as I said, many different shades of brightness. I'm sure you might be wondering what they look inside? Like we should cut one in half?

(VIDEO) CUTTING EXPENSIVE, GLOWING YOOPERLITE STONES IN HALF!

Oh yes, a friend of mine cut them in half for a project that he was working on for me.. He designed and built a custom "I Love Upper Michigan" concrete table with Yooperlites in it! It was pretty long process to make this heart shaped table with 2 shades of color, then embedding yooperlites into it.

(VIDEO) INCONCRETO BUILDING MY "I LOVE UPPER MICHIGAN" YOOPERLITE TABLE!

 So needless to say after 5 trips over the last 3 months, I've gathered a nice collection of rocks that glow under UV lights! So many rocks that I've opened an Etsy Store hoping to sell these cool rocks to others who may not be able to come find them themselves.. Maybe you're hoping to have one of these neat glowing rocks for your collection? Or perhaps you'd like to get it as a gift for a rock collector friend.. 

Below are some that I've sold already and good examples of what you might find out there if you looked yourself..

 Next year I'll be spending a lot of time along the shores of Lake Superior.. This is a fact!!

VISIT MY STORE BELOW:

LAKE SHORE YOOPERLITES - Bright Yooperlites Found On Beaches In Upper Michigan! 

 

VISITING THE EBEN ICE CAVE (UPPER MICHIGAN) IN 2018

VISITING THE EBEN ICE CAVE!

Even in winter the early birds get the worms when going to visit the EBEN ICE CAVE in Michigan's upper peninsula! 

 We left before 8am and headed to the ice caves (its about a 2-hour drive IF we didn't stop) but its really hard to drive through Trenary, MI without stopping where Trenary Toast is made at the Trenary Home Bakery.. Don't tell anyone, but their cinnamon buns are the best I've ever put in my mouth! A perfect treat to eat or bring with on your journal to the cave.

 When you leave Trenary, its a 10 minute ride north to Eben Junction and then you are just minutes away from arriving to the place where you park and walk. The earlier you arrive the closer you can park and the better chance you'll have of experiencing the cave with less people..

I suggest you bring ice cleats you can wear on your boots that will protect you from falling, without them you'll be slipping and sliding all the way there and back. For under $10 you can pick up a pair at any sporting goods store or even Walmart.

Its about a mile walk back into the woods from the entrance and there are bathrooms on-site for you to use. The parking is limited, so chances are you'll be parking on the street. Be sure you pull as far right as you can, you'll understand when you see the pictures below. However, if you come by snowmobile you can ride right up to the woods and walk from there.

My wife (above) as we walk to the ice cave..

You'll never get to experience this alone unless you are the first to arrive or the last to leave.. As you see, we were following large groups of visitors and many more this day.

The walk in isn't too bad until the first hill leading down along a rocky ridge. Be sure you take the path leading down, if you take the upper path you'll find yourself over the top of the ice cave wondering how to get down.. 

 (THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT ICE CLEATS ON)

As you may see in the picture above, the ground is sightly slanted down so unless to have cleats or maybe a ski pole you may end up sliding down the hill as many people did. 

As you follow the trail and people, you'll come across this small "bridge" made of logs that goes across a small ravine. I've seen some unable to cross and actually got down into it to cross, I guess whatever you decide is best..

Just past this point you'll find you first big obstacle where cleats will make the difference. However there is a secret way to go if this is just too much for you.. As you sit and watch people cross this deep ravine (trust me you'll enjoy watching them), step a few feet back and look left for a pathway leading down into the woods towards Silver Creek. 

Truth be told we found this way on the way out and this is after  times being here.. I thought it might be nice to share that with you. If you go this way, your only obstacle is the main path leading up to the ice caves that will be icy and snow packed with running water under in places.

Many will never go this way, most will stick to the main path and cross the huge ravine.. It is a really nice way to go, as you walk through the woods with eye candy in every direction. As you work your way towards the caves, keep in mind not to climb up until your down on the main path. Once you get to the top, you'll know why I said that..

Most who finally get there have to stop and take it all in.. Unless you have a really good camera with a wide lenses, you'll never get it all in one shot. Watch as people climb down from dangerous places, these are the ones who went the wrong way. Then you've got others who climb up the steep edges to take that upper path out. This is not recommended.

I've never seen the ice caves this busy before, many taking risks that weren't necessary. You should never be climbing up ice and snow with any cleats or anything on your feet.

I guess I should share the pictures now, huh?

 Remember about that early bird thought? Try it!

 Proper footwear is needed, even fluffy knew that!

 Many were slipping and sliding without cleats.. Some even went inside the caves, but many of them ended up falling.

 Have you even been inside them?

 You wonder how ice formed out of walls..

 See icicles hanging everywhere overhead!

 If you are daring, you'll look up and see this!

 As you walk out, see many more people experiencing it for the first time. I enjoyed people watching..

FROM HERE THE ADVENTURE BEGINS WITH YOU! WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE? WHAT IS TO BE SEEN NEXT?

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