A true winter turns Lake Michigan into territory, with solid surfaces and expanses that are appealingly alien. After a long stretch of sub-freezing weather, and with more snow in the forecast, we headed out for a visit to the Warren Dunes.
The surface of the Great Lake is almost entirely frozen, an incremental process taking many, many days. The ice, which forms gradually, is shaped differently each time, capturing the dynamic peculiarities of winds, currents, waves.
The dune land radiates a soothing monotony, with greys and browns breaking against the snow-blanketed sand. This day was snowy and heavily overcast, which did nothing to keep the joy-seekers away.
For who can resist walking out on the Lake, to trudge a polar surface suddenly so near and so boundless? And so much cheaper than a trip to the moon!
If being out on the ice makes one feel small in a way, a nonchalant thrill comes with it, too.
The Lake lies down, is sand-swept, domesticated: stilled and helpless, it must suffer the tread of us humans, who instinctively gloat by snapping portraits and selfies.
Are we large or small, we who delight in our temporarily rule?
In fact, conditions were harsh, the wind soon persuading us to head for the car. In the meantime, many families had come out to sled the dunes.
From the comfort of the car, we felt the joy of the sledders on the hill.
Harley says
Very nice pictures and captions !! Looks indeed like an enchanting scene. ………I like the way you wrote and photo’d the smallness of humans compared to the vastness of the dunes and lake.
Celia says
Thanks, Harley–the people on the dunes look a little like bright ants.
Our timing was lucky–Sunday was our excursion–then yesterday it snowed–the temperature then rose to the mid-40s today. Back in the city, the ice on the Lake is melting away with surprising speed.