Captains BLOG
06/22-23/2007
Quincy Mine, Porcupine MTNS
Odometer: 8320.9
Well, it was another great day of sun and beautiful weather. On our way to Porcupine Mountains we stopped at the Quincy Mine
in Hancock, MI. The mine and surrounding property is designated as a National Park. We went on a two hour tour of the mine traveling down 1900 feet to the seventh level mine shaft. The mine is 9000 feet deep and all levels below 1900 feet are flooded. Cannot imagine working in the conditions that were so dark, damp and uncomfortable. At the height of its’ operation there were over 2000 men working the mine. The majority of workers came from Scandinavian and European countries all wanting to better themselves in the USA. Unfortunately most lost their hearing from the constant high decibel levels in the mines. There were millions of pounds of copper extracted with even more then extracted left behind.
The mine shut down 50 years ago because it became a cost prohibitive operation (copper value had dropped too low). Within the complex is the largest hoist ever built and at the time was the showpiece of the mine. It is in pristine condition and operational although will never be used again. Our copper is now imported from China, Mexico and South America from open copper pits. Then it was off to Porcupine Mountains 100 miles away.
Got into Ontonagon MI around 5 PM and found a great campground right on the banks of Lake Superior at the Ontonagon Municipal Park for $18.00 dollars with water and electricity. Since we were only going to spend one night it was off to the Porcupine Mountains, so named because someone with a good imagination thought the mountains looked like two porcupines resting with their backs up. That adventure took us almost 4 hours (longer then anticipated), a lot of hiking and some OK views. The area is very similar to the White Mountains
so didn’t bring anything new or different to us. Got back to the campground around 10 PM (still light and bright out because we are the furthest West in the Eastern time zone) and ate leftovers from the German Restaurant. Boy were we tired! Oh, did I mention that we have been eaten alive by “something”, not sure what because you can’t feel being bitten. First you may notice blood dripping down your face, feel a bump, then pain, then the swelling and pain intensifies and if you lightly touch the area the pain gets worse. We have bites on our heads, necks and temple areas only, and no one can tell us what bit us.
The boat Captain in Copper Harbor told us it may be a small black fly that bites, injects a blood thinner and then sucks the blood. It has been very uncomfortable but the good news is that after 3 days the pain and swelling subsides.
This town is a throwback to a German village.
(the bridge) 
and some freighters in the fog. Decided to take the coastal route to head home and we are still amazed at the rest areas in Michigan. 
We did stop at one rest area to wet our 
feet in Lake Huron. 
Captains BLOG
Tow Receiver had fallen out and the pressure of the jeep pushing against the remaining side had broken the weld (FUN OVER). We disconnected 
the jeep and Deb had to drive it home. In hind site we were fortunate it did not break loose on the turnpike as there could have been a REAL TRAGEDY. 
“ghost town” iron mining 
. There were so many small towns, so small that if you sneezed then you missed that town. Checked into the Fannie Hoo Resort Campground 
right on the lake. Again, the place was empty. Everyone keeps telling us that tourist visits are down but we think tourism to this area is over. Took a ride up to Brockway Mountain 
and was afforded great views of Lake Superior 
and its water traffic. The landscape in the area can be very similar to ours and then totally different all in the same view. The weather has remained sunny and very warm so can’t complain. The UP is a place we could spend 2-3 months 
exploring.
We thought that mining iron may have been done differently then mining for copper but it was not. The only real difference was that the stopes were bigger. 
Next it was on to the Cornish Pump which is the largest steam powered water pump ever built and was used in the mines to keep the mine shafts dry. That concluded that day. We will be heading to an abandoned mining town “ghost town” for a tour.
The light appears almost every night at dusk and remains visible even during winter snowstorms. There has been scientific studies done to try to figure out what the light is but no one has been able to come up with an answer to the mystery. The local people find the light to be comforting and we spoke with the man that developed the Paulding light web page. http://www.backwoodswisconsin.com/paulding_light.htm http://www.unexplainedresearch.com/files_anomalies/paulding_light.html
We had binoculars so did get a closer look. The light was bright and looked like it was sparking around the perimeter leading us to think it may be coming off the high tension wires but I guess scientists have disproved that theory. We went back the next morning to get a look at the area in daylight but did not see anything unusual. Then it was back on the road to our next destination.
in Hancock, MI. The mine and surrounding property is designated as a National Park. We went on a two hour tour of the mine traveling down 1900 feet to the seventh level mine shaft. The mine is 9000 feet deep and all levels below 1900 feet are flooded. Cannot imagine working in the conditions that were so dark, damp and uncomfortable. At the height of its’ operation there were over 2000 men working the mine. The majority of workers came from Scandinavian and European countries all wanting to better themselves in the USA. Unfortunately most lost their hearing from the constant high decibel levels in the mines. There were millions of pounds of copper extracted with even more then extracted left behind. 
The mine shut down 50 years ago because it became a cost prohibitive operation (copper value had dropped too low). Within the complex is the largest hoist ever built and at the time was the showpiece of the mine. It is in pristine condition and operational although will never be used again. Our copper is now imported from China, Mexico and South America from open copper pits. Then it was off to Porcupine Mountains 100 miles away.
Got into Ontonagon MI around 5 PM and found a great campground right on the banks of Lake Superior at the Ontonagon Municipal Park for $18.00 dollars with water and electricity. Since we were only going to spend one night it was off to the Porcupine Mountains, so named because someone with a good imagination thought the mountains looked like two porcupines resting with their backs up. That adventure took us almost 4 hours (longer then anticipated), a lot of hiking and some OK views. The area is very similar to the White Mountains 
so didn’t bring anything new or different to us. Got back to the campground around 10 PM (still light and bright out because we are the furthest West in the Eastern time zone) and ate leftovers from the German Restaurant. Boy were we tired! Oh, did I mention that we have been eaten alive by “something”, not sure what because you can’t feel being bitten. First you may notice blood dripping down your face, feel a bump, then pain, then the swelling and pain intensifies and if you lightly touch the area the pain gets worse. We have bites on our heads, necks and temple areas only, and no one can tell us what bit us. 
The boat Captain in Copper Harbor told us it may be a small black fly that bites, injects a blood thinner and then sucks the blood. It has been very uncomfortable but the good news is that after 3 days the pain and swelling subsides.
