It’s Still Winter Up North!

Park Rangers from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore participated in an interagency ice rescue training session on Lake Superior on March 12.

Officers from the Alger County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie practiced open water rescue at the Anna River on Munising Bay.  The session was coordinated by Acting Chief Ranger T.C. Colyer.  Other participating Park Rangers included Bill Smith and Shaun Hughes.

"We share responsibility with the sheriff’s department on the quarter mile Lake Superior jurisdiction of the Lakeshore,” stated TC.  “We periodically get together to practice skills and familiarize ourselves with the specialized equipment.”  Of particular interest was the floatable rescue litter which makes extrication much easier.

A firm layer of ice still remains on Munising Bay and along other portions of the Lakeshore, but warmer spring temperatures and strong winds will begin to blow the ice sheet around.  Ice fishermen are required to remove their shanties by the end of March.