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Theo tells the story of the Toronto troubadour's 1976 historical folk-rock ballad about the Great Lakes disaster of the same name. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About 100 years ago, the Great Lakes were inundated with an unwelcome visitor – the leech-like, blood-sucking, creepy-looking sea lamprey. For decades, a small governmental organization has kept the lampreys (aka Vampire Fish) in check. But now, thanks to federal budget cuts, it's not clear who will win: the Great Lakes or the sea lamprey.Read Katie Thornton's full story in the New Yorker: https://bit.ly/3WIEz9F Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
When the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior in 1975, 29 people lost their lives. To this day, it’s considered the largest shipwreck on the Great Lakes. WPR’s Bridgit Bowden brings us this story about a children’s book about the Fitzgerald, and the author who wrote it: “Ellie’s Pursuit of the Mighty Fitz” by Mckenzie Lee Williams.
The salient point of this podcast episode is the report of a severe geomagnetic storm that reached G4 intensity, which may lead to potential disruptions in GPS and HF radio communications, as well as the possibility of auroras in high latitude regions. We also discuss the absence of tropical cyclones in both the Atlantic and Pacific regions, indicating a lack of immediate concern in those areas. Additionally, we note that the Storm Prediction Center has not identified any severe thunderstorm risks across the United States, although there may be isolated, non-severe thunderstorms in northern California. Winter weather remains a significant focus, particularly with lake effect snow tapering in the eastern Great Lakes and new winter storm warnings in effect for parts of the western states. We will continue to monitor the impacts of the geomagnetic storm and the evolving winter hazards across the regions of concern.The current episode delves into the intricate phenomena of geomagnetic storms, particularly focusing on the recent severe G4 intensity storm reported by NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. This storm has significant implications for high latitude regions, where it is expected to affect GPS functionality and high-frequency (HF) radio communications, alongside the enchanting possibility of auroral displays for those fortunate enough to have clear skies. The episode meticulously illustrates the nuances of these atmospheric disturbances, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of how such solar activities intertwine with terrestrial weather patterns. Moreover, the discussion encompasses the broader context of winter weather forecasts, emphasizing the tapering of lake effect snow in the eastern Great Lakes and the impending mountain snow events in the western states, thus painting a multifaceted picture of the current meteorological landscape.In addition to the geomagnetic disturbances, the episode offers insights into the ongoing winter weather advisories. Specifically, it highlights the persistent lake effect snow impacting Michigan and the Eastern Lake Ontario region, with detailed forecasts predicting additional accumulation in specified areas. The narrative progresses to include important updates from various state weather services, underscoring the operational readiness of utilities and transportation authorities in light of these extreme weather conditions. Throughout the discussion, the hosts maintain a focus on safety and preparedness, urging listeners to stay informed and vigilant as they navigate the complexities of the current weather situation.The episode culminates in a thorough examination of the meteorological outlook, with hosts reiterating the significance of monitoring geomagnetic storm impacts and evolving winter hazards across the nation. By drawing connections between solar activities and terrestrial weather phenomena, this episode not only informs but also educates its audience about the intricate interplay of forces that govern our weather systems, leaving listeners with a richer appreciation for the complexities of nature.Takeaways:* The NOAA reported a severe geomagnetic storm reaching G4 intensity, impacting high latitude regions. * Aurora visibility is expected in high latitude areas, along with potential GPS and HF radio issues. * The National Hurricane Center indicates no tropical cyclones are active in the Atlantic or Pacific regions. * Weather conditions in the eastern Great Lakes involve tapering winter lake effect snow this morning. * Utilities and pipeline operators maintain a routine mitigation posture amid the ongoing winter hazards. * No significant earthquakes were reported in Alaska and California over the past day, ensuring regional stability. Sources[SWPC | https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/severe-geomagnetic-storm-level-g4-reached-11012025][NHC | https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/][SPC | https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html][USGS | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/?timeZone=utc&extent=7.62389,179.47266&extent=64.39694,320.09766&magnitude=all][NWS Sacramento (Sierra) | https://www.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=sto&wwa=all][NWS Eureka (NW CA winds/mtn snow) | https://www.weather.gov/eka/][Caltrans QuickMap | https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/][Caltrans Road Conditions (I-80 example) | https://roads.dot.ca.gov/?roadnumber=80][NWS Gaylord briefing page (updated today) | https://www.weather.gov/apx][NWS Buffalo Advisory 6:36 AM EST Wed Nov 12 | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=Winter%20Weather%20Advisory][TripCheck—North/Sw OR regional road conditions (updatedearly AM) | https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/RoadConditions/4][TripCheck—SW OR conditions & snow-zone segments | https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/RoadConditions/7][TripCheck NOAA Pass Forecasts (Cascades of Lane Co.) | https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/NoaaForecasts/5][NWS Seattle—Winter Storm Warning text (Cascades) | https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=SEW&wwa=winter%20storm%20warning][WSDOT Pass Reports hub | https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/mountain-pass-reports];[NOAA—Stevens Pass forecast | https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=47.7462&lon=-121.0859] This is a public episode. 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You won't believe this, but divers found something wild at the bottom of Lake Michigan—a stone circle that's older than Stonehenge. Yep, apparently the Midwest has been holding onto ancient secrets this whole time. It was discovered by accident while researchers were scanning the lake floor for shipwrecks (plot twist!). The stones are arranged in a circle, and one even has what looks like a carving of a mastodon on it. No one's 100% sure who built it or why, but it's clear it dates way back. Makes you wonder what else is hiding under those Great Lakes, right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week marks 50 years since the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank while crossing Lake Superior. The shipwreck, which killed all 29 men aboard, became the most well-known wreck to ever occur on the Great Lakes. William Brangham recently spoke with the author of a new book that explores both the tragedy and the enduring legend it inspired. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
The Practice of the Practice Podcast | Innovative Ideas to Start, Grow, and Scale a Private Practice
If you were to start a practice this month, what are the first essential things you would need to do? Is it possible to work in a successful practice for […] The post Building Great Lakes Online Counseling Week 1 with Joe Sanok | POP 1294 appeared first on How to Start, Grow, and Scale a Private Practice | Practice of the Practice.
We discuss on this week's episode the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the loss of her 29-member crew during a violent fall storm on November 10th, 1975. Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is an author of over thirty books on maritime history. He's been a consultant to the US Park Service and an on-air expert for National Geographic and Fox and Friends among over ventures. Dr. Frederick Stonehouse, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight's Guest Panelist is Tom Hultquist. He is the technical program lead for the Analysis and Forecast Branch of the National Weather Service, working out of Minneapolis for the national office in Washington. His office sets requirements for, and does evaluations of, all the different modeling and analysis systems used by the NWS. Thanks for joining us tonight, Tom! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Area of United States with the most shipwrecks (15:00) Shipwreck Coast (17:00) Great Lake with the most shipwrecks (16:45) RAMS Model (33:00) What type of weather modeling did they have in 1975? (47:00) What makes a good weather forecast? (52:00) Significance/impact of the Great Lakes industry base (01:03:00) Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald" (01:17:30) Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point (01:20:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:29:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:31:45) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week - stay tuned!) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1034: Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Tom Hultquist - "Dive Detectives": Rogue Wave/Edmund Fitzgerald Episode James Aydelott - Out Jen Narramore - Tornado in La Plata, MD on November 9th, 1926 Rick Smith - The OTUS Project Troy Kimmel - 50 Years Later, the Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald Lives On Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - The Storm That Sank the Edmund Fitzgerald John Gordon - "The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by John U. Bacon Bill Murray - Out James Spann - The Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.
This podcast episode delivers a comprehensive overview of the significant meteorological events occurring on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025. A pronounced cold snap has instigated freeze and hard freeze warnings across various regions, notably in the Southeast, including Georgia and parts of Florida. Additionally, the episode elucidates the aftermath of substantial lake effect snow events in the Great Lakes region, which have resulted in hazardous commuting conditions due to slick roads. Furthermore, the podcast highlights critical fire weather advisories in South Central and South Texas, emphasizing the persistent threat posed by low humidity and gusty winds. As we navigate through the intricacies of the weather patterns affecting multiple states, we aim to inform and prepare our listeners for the challenges posed by these climatic phenomena.Takeaways:* On this Veterans Day, we observe a significant cold snap impacting the Southeast region. * Winter storm watches are in effect for the Sierra, signaling impending adverse travel conditions. * FEMA has established mobile disaster recovery centers to assist storm survivors in Missouri this week. * Critical fire weather warnings are issued for South Texas due to low humidity and high winds. * Northern Arizona is preparing for prescribed burns, which may produce smoke in nearby areas. * A widespread freeze is affecting much of north central Georgia, with temperatures dropping significantly. Sources[Arizona Emergency Information Network] Arizona Department of Economic Security[NWS Las Vegas (CAZ519 watch text)] National Weather Service[NWS Reno — storm watch timing] NationalWeather Service[NWS San Diego — hazards] NationalWeather Service[NWS Tallahassee — hazards] NationalWeather Service[NWS Tallahassee — AFD with freeze/wind chill details] National Weather Service[NWS Tallahassee — cold weather advisory text] National Weather Service[NWS Atlanta/Peachtree City — freeze graphics] NationalWeather Service[NWS Atlanta — point forecast showing Freeze Warning timing]National Weather Service+1[NWS Atlanta — Cold Weather Advisory text] preview-forecast.weather.gov[NWS Chicago — lake-effect event page] National Weather Service[NWS Northern Indiana — DSS packet PDF] National Weather Service[NWS Detroit/Pontiac — event summary] National Weather Service[NWS Detroit — AFD with advisory/marine notes] National Weather Service[FEMA — DRCs opening in seven counties] FEMA[KFVS — schedule/locations roundup] https://www.kfvs12.com[KY3 — Ozarks openings update] https://www.ky3.com[NWS Great Falls — hazards overview] NationalWeather Service[NWS point forecast — Stanford, MT High Wind Warning timing]National Weather Service[NWS Reno — Winter Storm Watch] NationalWeather Service[NM Fire Info — Cibola prescribed burns] NM Fire Info[NWS Charlotte point forecast — Freeze Warning] National Weather Service[NWS Morehead City — Freeze Warning in effect] National Weather Service[Central Oregon Fire Info — prescribed fire updates] CentralOregon Fire Information[NWS Austin/San Antonio — Red Flag Warning] NationalWeather Service[NWS AFD — Red Flag rationale/timing] National Weather Service[NWS Laredo point forecast — Red Flag 10a–6p] National Weather Service[NWS Cheyenne — High Wind Warning text] National Weather Service This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe
The longest government shutdown in history is nearing an end after 41 days. Senators approved a bipartisan deal on Monday night that's now headed to the House. With the bill expected to pass the House, it will then head to the president's desk, which could happen as early as Wednesday. Meanwhile, flight delays are continuing at airports across the country. The FAA said that starting on Monday, flights across the country would be reduced by 6 percent with plans to increase that to 10 percent by the end of the week.The Supreme Court heard several key cases on Monday and is continuing to review President Donald Trump's global tariffs case. Trump warned that the economy could face trillions in losses if the Supreme Court strikes down his emergency tariff powers, calling any unwind “devastating.” The administration is also asking the Supreme Court to approve National Guard deployment in Illinois, a move lower courts blocked. Trump is also taking his dispute with magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll to the Supreme Court. Trump asked the court on Monday to review a $5 million civil judgment against him after a federal appeals court upheld the jury's verdict last year.An arctic blast is continuing its record-setting journey East on Tuesday. The freeze is impacting the area from New York to Florida, bringing inches of snow and, potentially, record-setting low temperatures. Forecasters are predicting snowfall in the Great Lakes area on Tuesday as residents in the Midwest dig their way out, with inches of snow accumulating into the double-digits in some areas on Monday.
Brian Entin, Senior National Correspondent for NewsNation, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the legacy of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and how it looms as large as ever.
Steven Rinella talks with best selling author John U. Bacon about his new book, The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Joined by Brody Henderson, Randall Williams, Phil Taylor, and Corinne Schneider. Topics: A room full of hockey lovers; the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald; how and why The Great Lakes are so much more dangerous than the ocean; a thin, long ship; the waves of Lake Superior; unloading, reloading, and sailing; the best captain and the best crew; Whitefish Bay; what made the ship break apart?; the people, their stories, and the voices of their families; and more. Connect with Steve and The MeatEater Podcast Network Steve on Instagram and Twitter MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
WhoWes Kryger, President and Ayden Wilbur, Vice President of Mountain Operations at Greek Peak, New YorkRecorded onJune 30, 2025About Greek PeakClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: John MeierLocated in: Cortland, New YorkYear founded: 1957 – opened Jan. 11, 1958Pass affiliations: Indy Pass, Indy+ Pass – 2 daysClosest neighboring U.S. ski areas: Labrador (:30), Song (:31)Base elevation: 1,148 feetSummit elevation: 2,100 feetVertical drop: 952 feetSkiable acres: 300Average annual snowfall: 120 inchesTrail count: 46 (10 easier, 16 more difficult, 15 most difficult, 5 expert, 4 terrain parks)Lift count: 8 (1 fixed-grip quad, 2 triples, 3 doubles – view Lift Blog's inventory of Greek Peak's lift fleet)Why I interviewed themNo reason not to just reprint what I wrote about the bump earlier this year:All anyone wants from a family ski trip is this: not too far, not too crowded, not too expensive, not too steep, not too small, not too Bro-y. Terrain variety and ample grooming and lots of snow, preferably from the sky. Onsite lodging and onsite food that doesn't taste like it emerged from the ration box of a war that ended 75 years ago. A humane access road and lots of parking. Ordered liftlines and easy ticket pickup and a big lodge to meet up and hang out in. We're not too picky you see but all that would be ideal.My standard answer to anyone from NYC making such an inquiry has been “hahaha yeah get on a plane and go out West.” But only if you purchased lift tickets 10 to 16 months in advance of your vacation. Otherwise you could settle a family of four on Mars for less than the cost of a six-day trip to Colorado. But after MLK Weekend, I have a new answer for picky non-picky New Yorkers: just go to Greek Peak.Though I'd skied here in the past and am well-versed on all ski centers within a six-hour drive of Manhattan, it had not been obvious to me that Greek Peak was so ideally situated for a FamSki. Perhaps because I'd been in Solo Dad tree-skiing mode on previous visits and perhaps because the old trailmap presented the ski area in a vertical fortress motif aligned with its mythological trail-naming scheme:But here is how we experienced the place on one of the busiest weekends of the year:1. No lines to pick up tickets. Just these folks standing around in jackets, producing an RFID card from some clandestine pouch and syncing it to the QR code on my phone.2. Nothing resembling a serious liftline outside of the somewhat chaotic Visions “express” (a carpet-loaded fixed-grip quad). Double and triple chairs, scattered at odd spots and shooting off in all directions, effectively dispersing skiers across a broad multi-faced ridge. The highlight being this double chair originally commissioned by Socrates in 407 B.C.:3. Best of all: endless, wide-open, uncrowded top-to-bottom true greens – the only sort of run that my entire family can ski both stress-free and together.Those runs ambled for a thousand vertical feet. The Hope Lake Lodge, complete with waterpark and good restaurant, sits directly across the street. A shuttle runs back and forth all day long. Greek Peak, while deeper inland than many Great Lakes-adjacent ski areas, pulls steady lake-effect, meaning glades everywhere (albeit thinly covered). It snowed almost the entire weekend, sometimes heavily. Greek Peak's updated trailmap better reflects its orientation as a snowy family funhouse (though it somewhat obscures the mountain's ever-improving status as a destination for Glade Bro):For MLK 2024, we had visited Camelback, seeking the same slopeside-hotel-with-waterpark-decent-food-family-skiing combo. But it kinda sucked. The rooms, tinted with an Ikea-by-the-Susquehanna energy, were half the size of those at Greek Peak and had cost three times more. Our first room could have doubled as the smoking pen at a public airport (we requested, and received, another). The hill was half-open and overrun with people who seemed to look up and be genuinely surprised to find themselves strapped to snoskis. Mandatory parking fees even with a $600-a-night room; mandatory $7-per-night, per-skier ski check (which I dodged); and perhaps the worst liftline management I've ever witnessed had, among many other factors, added up to “let's look for something better next year.”That something was Greek Peak, though the alternative only occurred to me when I attended an industry event at the resort in September and re-considered its physical plant undistracted by ski-day chaos. Really, this will never be a true alternative for most NYC skiers – at four hours from Manhattan, Greek Peak is the same distance as far larger Stratton or Mount Snow. I like both of those mountains, but I know which one I'm driving my family to when our only time to ski together is the same time that everyone else has to ski together.What we talked about116,000 skier visits; two GP trails getting snowmaking for the first time; top-to-bottom greens; Greek Peak's family founding in the 1950s – “any time you told my dad [Al Kryger] he couldn't do it, he would do it just to prove you wrong”; reminiscing on vintage Greek Peak; why Greek Peak made it when similar ski areas like Scotch Valley went bust; the importance of having “hardcore skiers” run a ski area; does the interstate matter?; the unique dynamics of working in – and continuing – a family business; the saga and long-term impact of building a full resort hotel across the street from the ski area; “a ski area is liking running a small municipality”; why the family sold the ski area more than half a century after its founding; staying on at the family business when it's no longer a family business; John Meier arrives; why Greek Peak sold Toggenburg; long-term snowmaking ambitions; potential terrain expansion – where and how much; “having more than one good ski season in a row would be helpful” in planning a future expansion; how Greek Peak modernized its snowmaking system and cut its snowmaking hours in half while making more snow; five times more snowguns; Great Lakes lake-effect snow; Greek Peak's growing glade network and long evolution from a no-jumps-allowed old-school operation to today's more freewheeling environment; potential lift upgrades; why Greek Peak is unlikely to ever have a high-speed lift; keeping a circa 1960s lift made by an obscure company running; why Greek Peak replaced an old double with a used triple on Chair 3 a few years ago; deciding to renovate or replace a lift; how the Visions 1A quad changed Greek Peak and where a similar lift could make sense; why Greek Peak shortened Chair 2; and the power of Indy Pass for small, independent ski areas.What I got wrongOn Scotch Valley ski areaI said that Scotch Valley went out of business “in the late ‘90s.” As far as I can tell, the ski area's last year of operation was 1998. At its peak, the 750-vertical-foot ski area ran a triple chair and two doubles serving a typical quirky-fun New York trail network. I'm sorry I missed skiing this one. Interestingly, the triple chair still appears to operate as part of a summer camp. I wish they would also run a winter camp called “we're re-opening this ski area”:On ToggenburgI paraphrased a quote from Greek Peak owner John Meier, from a story I wrote around the 2021 closing of Toggenburg. Here's the quote in full:“Skiing doesn't have to happen in New York State,” Meier said. “It takes an entrepreneur, it takes a business investor. You gotta want to do it, and you're not going to make a lot of money doing it. You're going to wonder why are you doing this? It's a very difficult business in general. It's very capital-intensive business. There's a lot easier ways to make a buck. This is a labor of love for me.”And here's the full story, which lays out the full Togg saga:Podcast NotesOn Hope Lake Lodge and New York's lack of slopeside lodgingI've complained about this endlessly, but it's strange and counter-environmental that New York's two largest ski areas offer no slopeside lodging. This is the same oddball logic at work in the Pacific Northwest, which stridently and reflexively opposes ski area-adjacent development in the name of preservation without acknowledging the ripple effects of moving 5,000 day skiers up to the mountain each winter morning. Unfortunately Gore and Whiteface are on Forever Wild land that would require an amendment to the state constitution to develop, and that process is beholden to idealistic downstate voters who like the notion of preservation enough to vote abstractly against development, but not enough to favor Whiteface over Sugarbush when it's time to book a family ski trip and they need convenient lodging. Which leaves us with smaller mountains that can more readily develop slopeside buildings: Holiday Valley and Hunter are perhaps the most built-up, but West Mountain has a monster development grinding through local permitting processes: Greek Peak built the brilliant Hope Lake Lodge, a sprawling hotel/waterpark with wood-trimmed, fireplace-appointed rooms directly across the street from the ski area. A shuttle connects the two.On the “really, really bad” 2015 seasonWilbur referred to the “really, really bad” 2015 season. Here's the Kottke end-of-season stats comparing 2015-16 snowfall to the previous three winters, where you can see the Northeast just collapse into an abyss:Month-by-month (also from Kottke):Fast forward to Kottke's 2022-23 report, and you can see just how terrible 2015-16 was in terms of skier visits compared to the seasons immediately before and after:On Greek Peak's old masterplan with a chair 6I couldn't turn up the masterplan that Kryger referred to with a Chair 6 on it, but the trailmap did tease a potential expansion from around 2006 to 2012, labelled as “Greek Peak East”:On Great Lakes lake-effect snow This is maybe the best representation I've found of the Great Lakes' lake-effect snowbands:On Greek Peak's Lift 2What a joy this thing is to ride:An absolute time machine:The lift, built in 1963, looks rattletrap and bootleg, but it hums right along. It is the second-oldest operating chairlift in New York State, after Snow Ridge's 1960 North Hall double chair, and the fourth-oldest in the Northeast (Mad River Glen's single, dating to 1948, is King Gramps of the East Coast). It's one of the 20-oldest operating chairlifts in America:As Wilbur says, this lift once ran all the way to the base. They shortened the lift sometime between 1995 and '97 to scrape out a larger base-area novice zone. Greek Peak's circa 1995 trailmap shows the lift extending to its original load position:Following Pico's demolition of the Bonanza double this offseason, Greek Peak's Chair 2 is one of just three remaining Carlevaro-Savio lifts spinning in the United States:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe
In a storm that blew hurricane force winds on Nov. 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald — a massive ore carrier longer than two football fields — disappeared into the dark, frigid waters of Lake Superior. All 29 crew members were lost. Fifty years later, the sinking of the Fitzgerald remains one of the most haunting and mysterious maritime disasters in American history. MPR News guest host Dan Kraker talks with a Great Lakes historian about the ship's final, fateful voyage and why the tragedy holds meaning for many Minnesotans.Guest:Frederick Stonehouse is a Great Lakes historian, lecturer and the author of more than 30 books on maritime history, including “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
Monday marks 50 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald took its final voyage, before getting swallowed by Lake Superior in a November storm. All 29 crew on the ship died. The story of the Fitz has become an urban legend of sorts around the Great Lakes region. Exactly what led to the ship sinking is a mystery. A new book is dedicated to looking at the theories and telling the stories of the crew, through interviews with their family members. The book is called “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Its author, John U. Bacon, sat down for an interview with MPR News reporter Dan Kraker.
John U. Bacon, best-selling author of ‘The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald,’ joins John Williams to talk about the history of the ship Edmund Fitzgerald, why the man Edmund Fitzgerald didn’t want the ship to be named after him, the magnificence of the ship, what the Great Lakes were like […]
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sinking, this is a replay of Episode 33, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior during a terrible storm on November 10, 1975. The ship's crew of 29 men all perished and were never recovered. The Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship on North America's Great Lakes when it was launched on June 7, 1958. It remains the largest ship to have sunk in the Great Lakes. The Fitzgerald's tragic demise inspired Gordon Lightfoot's hit song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976), which helped make it the most famous shipwreck in the Great Lakes. The Fitzgerald's wreckage is in two pieces at the bottom of Lake Superior. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point has a bell on display as a memorial to the lost crew. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. Listen AD-FREE by becoming an Officer's Club Member ! Join at https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Subscribe on YouTube Follow on BlueSky Follow on Threads Follow on Instagram Follow on Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The 50th anniversary of the wreck of the famous Great Lakes ore carrier, the Edmund FitzgeraldToday marks 50 years since the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior on November 10, 11975 in Lake Superior. The Mighty Fitz, as she was called, was caught in the midst of a fierce storm with hurricane force winds. The ship was 17 miles from port when she was lost. All 29 members of her crew perished.This tragedy is commemorated in regional ceremonies each year, as residents honor these lost mariners, and all those who have lost their lives over the years in thousands of wrecks on the Great Lakes.Today we honor all mariners and their families, and recognize that despite safety improvements over the years, maritime work remains among the most dangerous profession worldwide.
John U. Bacon, best-selling author of ‘The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald,’ joins John Williams to talk about the history of the ship Edmund Fitzgerald, why the man Edmund Fitzgerald didn’t want the ship to be named after him, the magnificence of the ship, what the Great Lakes were like […]
Megan and Renie speak with Michael Gemmell of Parks Canada about the establishment of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, and are introduced to a delicious treat. Correction: Ashley Eaton works with Lake Champlain Sea Grant and not Wisconsin Sea Grant.Links:Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area Lake Superior Circle Tour National Marine Conservation Areas System Plan The Gunilda Shipwreck: Tales from the Depths | Northern Ontario Travel Lake Superior Lighthouses The surprising, shocking, startling, astonishing story of Silver Islet The Sumptuous History Of The Thunder Bay Persian Roll | Flavour Network
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John U. Bacon, best-selling author of ‘The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald,’ joins John Williams to talk about the history of the ship Edmund Fitzgerald, why the man Edmund Fitzgerald didn’t want the ship to be named after him, the magnificence of the ship, what the Great Lakes were like […]
Please hit Subscribe and share the show. Click here to go to our fakebook page. https://www.facebook.com/222paranormal Click here to see Jens Book. https://a.co/d/f9J0o4R Click here to see Joes book. https://a.co/d/fcp7FFN Click here to save on Clothing in Jens Closet. https://poshmark.com/closet/happie22 In this chilling episode of the 222 Paranormal Podcast, hosts Joe and Jen Shortridge set sail into the dark, foggy waters of the Great Lakes to uncover some of the most haunting and mysterious ghost ship legends ever told. From phantom schooners appearing out of nowhere to spectral crews doomed to sail for eternity, the Great Lakes—often called the "Inland Seas"—have a long history of tragic shipwrecks and unexplained apparitions that continue to baffle sailors and historians alike. The Great Lakes are known for their beauty and power, but beneath their shimmering surfaces lies a darker truth: more than 6,000 ships have been lost to their depths, claiming over 30,000 lives. Many of these tragedies have birthed ghost stories that refuse to fade, as if the spirits of the lost refuse to rest. In this episode, Joe and Jen explore the eerie reports of phantom vessels like the legendary Bannockburn, often called "The Flying Dutchman of Lake Superior." Vanished without a trace in 1902, sailors still report seeing her spectral silhouette gliding silently through the mist, her lights glowing dimly before vanishing into the waves. Listeners will also hear tales of The Griffon, the first ship to sail the Great Lakes in the late 1600s, which disappeared on its maiden voyage—becoming one of North America's oldest and most enduring maritime mysteries. Many claim to have seen her ghostly masts rising out of the fog, a chilling reminder of exploration gone wrong. The hosts also recount the story of The Western Reserve, a luxurious steamer that went down in 1892 on Lake Superior, leaving behind reports of ghostly lights and the cries of her doomed passengers echoing across the water. And of course, no episode on Great Lakes ghost ships would be complete without discussing the tragic tale of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Lost in a ferocious storm in 1975, all 29 souls aboard perished without a single body recovered. Since then, eerie sightings and strange phenomena have surrounded the site—mysterious lights, disembodied voices, and reports from other ships claiming to hear phantom distress calls. Joe and Jen dive deep into the lingering mystery of the Fitzgerald, exploring theories about what may truly haunt the cold depths of Superior. Through vivid storytelling and historical insight, this episode blends maritime history with supernatural lore, painting a haunting picture of the Great Lakes as both majestic and merciless. Are these phantom ships merely tricks of the fog and imagination, or are they echoes from another realm, forever replaying their final moments? Tune in as the 222 Paranormal Podcast takes you on a voyage through restless waters and restless spirits. Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, or simply a lover of Great Lakes lore, this episode will leave you gazing a little longer into the mist, wondering what might be sailing just beyond sight. Welcome to the 222 Paranormal Podcast, your gateway to the captivating world of the supernatural. Immerse yourself in our expertly crafted episodes, where we delve deep into a wide range of paranormal phenomena, including ghostly hauntings, cryptid sightings, and unexplained mysteries that defy logic. Each episode is meticulously researched and features engaging discussions with leading experts, seasoned ghost hunters, and renowned paranormal investigators. We cover the latest advancements in ghost hunting technology, offer practical tips for both amateur and experienced investigators, and review essential equipment for your paranormal adventures. Our podcast also explores the rich history of haunted locations, sharing true stories and firsthand accounts that will send chills down your spine. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the paranormal or just curious about the unknown, our content is designed to entertain, inform, and ignite your imagination. Stay tuned as we uncover secrets from the most haunted places around the world and analyze the most intriguing supernatural events. We also provide in-depth interviews with notable figures in the field and explore theories that challenge conventional understanding of reality. By subscribing to our Paranormal Podcast, you'll stay updated with the latest episodes, allowing you to join a community of like-minded individuals who share your fascination with the unexplained. Don't miss out on our exclusive content and special features, which bring you closer to the mysteries that lie beyond our everyday experiences. Dive into the world of the unknown with our Paranormal Podcast and experience the thrill of discovering what lies just beyond the veil of reality.
JoE Silva gets some voicemail in from synth maestro Roger O'Donnell about his new solo album "Projections." Plus we check out new tracks Spoon, Great Lakes, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
On Nov. 10, 1975, during a calamitous storm, the Edmund Fitzgerald sunk below the waves of Lake Superior. All 29 men aboard went down with the vessel. With no survivors and no eyewitnesses, there's always been a sense of mystery to what is arguably the most famous shipwreck in American history. The story itself was almost immediately immortalized in Gordon Lightfoot's surprise hit ballad “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”Fifty years on, John U. Bacon has written a new account of the disaster. In “The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” he humanizes the story, telling stories of each man on the ship as well as several of the families left behind. (Readers will also learn a good deal about the history of industry and shipping on the Great Lakes.). In this week's episode of the Book Review podcast, Bacon spoke with the host Gilbert Cruz about his new book. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
November 10, 1975: The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinks in a massive storm on Lake Superior. But just miles away, a few fishermen are struggling in the same storm — fighting for survival._______________________Join the Points North Fan Club today! For just $5/month, you can support the show you love, and we'll send you some cool Points North goodies in return.Subscribe to the Points North Newsletter for more Great Lakes news. And follow us on Instagram.
Thank you to today's sponsors!- The Invasive Species Centre: Protecting Canada's land and water from invasive species- SAIL: The Ultimate Destination for your Outdoor Adventures- J&B Cycle and Marine: Your Home for all things powersports, boats, and equipment- Freedom Cruise Canada: Rent the boat, own the memories- Anglers Leaderboard: Real-time AI angling platform where everyone is welcome, and every catch counts!- Silverwax: Proudly Canadian since 1999What if the biggest change in Canadian bass fishing came from one of the smallest fish in the lake? In this episode of Outdoor Journal Radio, Ang and Dean dive into the incredible story of the Round Goby, a tiny invasive species that completely transformed Canada's freshwater ecosystems and revolutionized how we fish for bass.Joined by Rob Wilson, Aquatic Ecologist with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, the guys break down how gobies first invaded the Great Lakes, why they exploded in numbers, and how their arrival led to bigger, fatter smallmouth bass across Ontario and beyond. They also uncover what gobies eat, how they move, and what every angler should know before bass fishing in Goby waters.Along the way, Ang and Dean discuss the latest invasive species news, the surprising connection between COVID-19 and lampreys, listener questions about game-changing gear, and why technology like LiveScope isn't the only thing shaking up modern fishing.If you love bass fishing, care about invasive species, or just want to learn how a single fish reshaped Canada's most iconic waters, this episode is a must-listen.
Decades ago, non-native carp were brought onto fish farms on the Mississippi River to control algae and parasites. They escaped, thrived, and eventually flooded the Illinois River, outcompeting native species and wreaking havoc. If the carp find their way into the Great Lakes, they could do major damage to those vital ecosystems.There's a proposed project to stop the fish—but it's expensive, and not everyone agrees it's the best solution. Host Flora Lichtman speaks with WBEZ and Grist reporter Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco and carp expert Cory Suski.Guests: Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco is an environmental reporter at WBEZ and Grist. Dr. Cory Suski is a professor of aquatic resources at the University of Illinois.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
The Gales of November is very real on the Great Lakes, known as the “Month of Storms.”Some 550 wrecks lie on the bottom of Lake Superior, at least 200 along Superior's Shipwreck Coast, a treacherous 80-Mile stretch with no safe harbor between Munising and Whitefish Point. On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald, a 728 foot freighter went down in a storm described as both blizzard and hurricane taking all 29 crew members to their grave. Made famous by the Gordon Lightfoot song, the wreck has remained a mystery for fifty years.In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with maritime historian, author and lecturer Fred Stonehouse about that tragic night and what we have learned since her sinking and how her legacy has shaped maritime safety. Key TakeawaysThe Edmund Fitzgerald Sank Fifty Years Ago — But Its Mystery EnduresMaritime historian Fred Stonehouse recounts how the 729-foot freighter Edmund Fitzgerald sank on November 10, 1975, about 15 miles northwest of Whitefish Point. The ship went down without a distress signal, and all 29 crew members were lost—leaving one of the Great Lakes' most haunting mysteries.A Storm Described as Both a Blizzard and a HurricaneThe night the Fitzgerald went down, Lake Superior raged with winds exceeding 75 miles per hour—stronger than a Category 1 hurricane. As Fred explains, the storm “exceeded 75 miles an hour in wind, and a cat one hurricane's only 74.”Hubris and Hard Lessons on the Great Lakes“This was a time when ships had the attitude that they can't sink.”Fred reflects on how the culture of Great Lakes shipping in the 1970s—driven by confidence and schedules—left little room for caution. The Fitzgerald's loss changed that mindset forever, ushering in a new era of safety, respect, and humility toward Lake Superior.The Edmund Fitzgerald at 50: A Tragedy That Changed Everything“The world had changed in that instance when the Fitzgerald disappeared.” The tragedy sparked widespread reforms—from new navigation technology and onboard stress monitoring systems to emergency response protocols. The Ship That Became a Legend“She has sailed from fact into legend of the Great Lakes.”Fred explains how the Edmund Fitzgerald became immortalized through Gordon Lightfoot's ballad, cultural memory, and even merchandise—from ornaments to craft beer. The ship's story transcended history, turning into one of the most iconic Great Lakes legends.An Underwater Graveyard and a Place of ReverenceFred describes the Fitzgerald's final resting place, protected by the Canadian government and closed to divers since 1989. It remains a solemn memorial to the men who perished that night and a reminder of Lake Superior's power.Connect With Us:Lake Superior Podcast Page – https://nplsf.org/podcastFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundationLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-parks-of-lake-superior-foundationSponsors:Cafe Imports – Minneapolis-based importers of specialty green coffees since 1993, focused on sustainability. Learn more: https://cafeimports.comNational Parks of Lake Superior Foundation – Donate to protect Lake Superior's five national parks: https://nplsf.org/donate
We look at the future of MKE Roots, a program that helps teachers make social studies relevant to students. How tribal schools across the Great Lakes region test for safe drinking water. Plus, we look at the history of the ghost army – a unit of soldiers in World War II who used fake weapons and other deception to trick the Nazis.
On November 10, 1975, the icy waves of Lake Superior took all 29 men aboard the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Nearly fifty years later, the mystery of the Edmund Fitzgerald still echoes across the Great Lakes. In this episode of The Cabin Podcast, we dive deep into the legend, the storm, and the unanswered questions surrounding one of the most haunting shipwrecks in American history.The Cabin is presented by the Wisconsin Counties Association and this week we're featuring Grant County; https://bit.ly/DiscoverGrantCountyThe Cabin is also presented to you by:GHT; https://bit.ly/3YigPJyEnbridge; https://bit.ly/49sZC7uTDA; https://tdawisconsin.org/Shop DW; shop.discoverwisconsin.com
A new study from Loyola University Chicago finds that muskrats – the humble, semi-aquatic rodents long overshadowed by beavers – may play a crucial role in restoring the health of the Great Lakes wetlands.
A new study from Loyola University Chicago finds that muskrats – the humble, semi-aquatic rodents long overshadowed by beavers – may play a crucial role in restoring the health of the Great Lakes wetlands.
A new study from Loyola University Chicago finds that muskrats – the humble, semi-aquatic rodents long overshadowed by beavers – may play a crucial role in restoring the health of the Great Lakes wetlands.
From the Great Lakes to Hocking Hills, the IMAX film will allow viewers to experience the state in a new way.
The salient point of today's discussion pertains to the impending adverse weather conditions across various states as a fast-moving cold front approaches the Northeast. We elucidate the potential ramifications of this meteorological phenomenon, including gusty winds and scattered showers, which are anticipated to affect numerous regions. Furthermore, we highlight the marine gales and the resultant hazardous surf conditions on the Great Lakes and Gulf of Maine, as well as the marginal flood risks in western Washington and northwest Oregon. Our analysis extends to specific states, detailing the surf hazards in California and the gale conditions prevalent in Michigan and Ohio. As we conclude, we emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant and informed as these weather patterns develop.Takeaways:* A fast-moving cold front is expected to sweep through the Northeast today, bringing gusty winds and scattered showers.* Marine gales and rough surf conditions are anticipated on the Great Lakes and Gulf of Maine due to the approaching weather system.* A marginal flood risk persists over parts of western Washington and northwest Oregon as a wet Pacific pattern commences.* Residents of Mason County should prepare for potential river rises later in the week, particularly on the Skokomish River.* In California, hazardous surf conditions are anticipated as a strengthening Pacific system begins to affect the Bay Area today.* Marine hazards are prevalent across multiple states, including gale conditions and significant wave heights on regional lakes.Sources[NWS | https://www.weather.gov/][WPC Day 1 ERO | https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/#page=ero][NHC | https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/][USGS Earthquake Feeds | https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/feed/][NWS Bay Area hazard page | https://www.weather.gov/mtr/][NWS AFDMTR 4:05 AM PST Nov 3 | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=mtr&product=AFD&issuedby=MTR][NDBC Marine Forecast KMTR | https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS56.KMTR.html][SFGATE forecast update, published today | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/bay-area-widespread-rain-thunder-wind-weather-21134293.php][NWS Gray ME hazards | https://www.weather.gov/gyx/][NWS Boston/BOX marine hazards page | https://www.weather.gov/box/marine][NWS Detroit AFD 4:46 AM EST Nov 3 | https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=DTX&product=AFD&issuedby=DTX][USCG/NWS Sector Detroit marine dashboard (Lake Erie waveheights/gale) | https://www.weather.gov/dtx/uscg_sectordetroit][NWS Cleveland Nearshore/LE Marine Forecast | https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS61.KCLE.html][NWS Portland hazards | https://www.weather.gov/pqr/][NWS Marine Forecast KPQR | https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/Forecasts/FZUS56.KPQR.html][NWS Seattle Hydrologic Outlook 3:10 AM PST Nov 3 | https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=WAZ321&warncounty=WAC045&product1=Hydrologic+Outlook][WPC Day 1 ERO | https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/#page=ero] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe
America's shipbuilding industry is making waves again — and we're sitting down with one of the companies helming the revival. Fincantieri Marine Group USA CEO George Moutafis joins us to discuss the company's 15-year journey growing U.S. shipbuilding operations. George shares how Fincantieri is modernizing Great Lakes shipyards with cutting-edge technology, advanced robotics, and strong supplier networks. He talks about developing skilled talent through university partnerships, building vibrant manufacturing communities in Wisconsin and Michigan, and why America's shipbuilding renaissance depends on innovation, collaboration, and investment in people.
From the Great Lakes to Hocking Hills, the IMAX film will allow viewers to experience the state in a new way.
WhoBarry Owens, General Manager of Treetops, MichiganRecorded onJune 13, 2025About TreetopsClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Treetops Acquisition Company LLCLocated in: Gaylord, MichiganYear founded: 1954Pass affiliations: Indy Pass, Indy+ Pass – 2 daysClosest neighboring ski areas: Otsego (:07), Boyne Mountain (:34), Hanson Hills (:39), Shanty Creek (:51), The Highlands (:58), Nub's Nob (1:00)Base elevation: 1,110 feetSummit elevation: 1,333 feetVertical drop: 223 feetSkiable acres: 80Average annual snowfall: 140 inchesTrail count: 25 (30% beginner, 40% intermediate, 30% advanced)Lift count: 5 (3 triples, 2 carpets – view Lift Blog's inventory of Treetops' lift fleet)Why I interviewed himThe first 10 ski areas I ever skied, in order, were:* Mott Mountain, Michigan* Apple Mountain, Michigan* Snow Snake, Michigan* Caberfae, Michigan* Crystal Mountain, Michigan* Nub's Nob, Michigan* Skyline, Michigan* Treetops, Michigan* Sugar Loaf, Michigan* Shanty Creek – Schuss Mountain, MichiganAnd here are the first 10 ski areas I ever skied that are still open, with anything that didn't make it crossed out:* Mott Mountain, Michigan* Apple Mountain, Michigan* Snow Snake, Michigan* Caberfae, Michigan* Crystal Mountain, Michigan* Nub's Nob, Michigan* Skyline, Michigan* Treetops, Michigan* Sugar Loaf, Michigan* Shanty Creek – Schuss Mountain, Michigan* Shanty Creek – Summit, Michigan* Boyne Mountain, Michigan* Searchmont, Ontario* Nebraski, Nebraska* Copper Mountain, Colorado* Keystone, ColoradoSix of my first 16. Poof. That's a failure rate of 37.5 percent. I'm no statistician, but I'd categorize that as “not good.”Now, there's some nuance to this list. I skied all of these between 1992 and 1995. Most had faded officially or functionally by 2000, around the time that America's Great Ski Area Die-Off concluded (Summit lasted until around Covid, and could still re-open, resort officials tell me). Their causes of death are varied, some combination, usually, of incompetence, indifference, and failure to adapt. To climate change, yes, but more of the cultural kind of adaptation than the environmental sort.The first dozen ski areas on this list are tightly bunched, geographically, in the upper half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. They draw from the same general population centers and suffer from the same stunted Midwest verticals. None are naturally or automatically great ski areas. None are or were particularly remote or tricky to access, and most sit alongside or near a major state or federal highway. And they (mostly) all benefit from the same Lake Michigan lake-effect snow machine, the output of which appears to be increasing as the Great Lakes freeze more slowly and less often (cold air flowing over warm water = lake-effect snow).Had you presented this list of a dozen Michigan ski areas to me in 1995 and said, “five of these will drop dead in the next 30 years,” I would not have chosen those five, necessarily, to fail. These weren't ropetow backwaters. All but Apple had chairlifts (and they soon installed one), and most sat close to cities or were attached to a larger resort. Sugar Loaf, in particular, was one of Michigan's better ski areas, with five chairlifts and the largest in-state vertical drop on this list.My guess for most-likely-to-die probably would have been Treetops, especially if you'd told me that then-private Otsego ski area, right next door and with twice its neighbor's skiable acreage, vertical drop, and number of chairlifts, would eventually open to the public. Especially if you'd told me that Boyne Mountain, the monster down the road, would continue to expand its lodging and village, and would add a Treetops-sized cluster of greens to its ferocious ridge of blacks. Especially if you'd told me that Treetops' trail footprint, never substantial, would remain more or less the same size 30 years later. In fact, just about every surviving Michigan ski area on that list - Crystal, Nub's, Caberfae, Shanty Schuss - greatly expanded its terrain footprint. Except Treetops.But here we are, in the future, and I just skied Treetops 10 months ago with my 8-year-old son. It was, in some ways, more or less as I'd left it on my last visit, in 1995: small vert, small trail network, a slightly confusing parking situation, no chairlift restraint bars. A few improvements were obvious: the beginner ropetows had made way for a carpet, the last double chair had been upgraded to a triple, terrain park features dotted the east side, and a dozen or so glades and short steep shots had been hacked from the woods of the legacy trail footprint.That's all nice. But what was not obvious to me was this: why, and how, does Treetops the ski area still exist? Sugar Loaf was a better ski area. Apple Mountain was closer to large population centers. Summit was attached to ski-in-ski-out accommodations and shared a lift ticket with the larger Schuss mountain a couple miles away. Was modern Treetops some sort of money-losing ski area hobby horse for whomever owned the larger resort, which is better known for its five golf courses? Was it just an amenity to keep the second homeowners who mostly lived in Southeast Michigan invested year-round? Had the ski area cemented itself as the kind of high-volume schoolkids training ground that explained the resilience of ski areas in metro Detroit, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee?There is never, or rarely, one easy or obvious explanation for why similar businesses thrive or fail. This is why I resist pinning the numerical decline in America's ski area inventory solely to climate change. We may have fewer ski areas in America than we had in 1995, but we have a lot more good ski areas now than we did 30 years ago (and, as I wrote in March, a lot more overall ski terrain). Yes, Skyline, 40 minutes south of Treetops, failed because it never installed snowmaking, but that is only part of the sentence. Skyline failed because it never installed snowmaking while its competitors aggressively expanded and continually updated their snowmaking systems, raising the floor on the minimal ski experience acceptable to consumers. That takes us back to culture. What do you reckon has changed more over the past 30 to 40 years: America's weather patterns, or its culture? For anyone who remembers ashtrays at McDonald's or who rode in the bed of a pickup truck from Michigan to Illinois or who ran feral and unsupervised outdoors from toddlerhood or who somehow fumbled through this vast world without the internet or a Pet Rectangle or their evil offspring social media, the answer seems obvious. The weather feels a little different. Our culture feels airlifted from another planet. Americans accepted things 30 years ago that would seem outrageous today – like smoking adjacent to a children's play area ornamented with a demented smiling clown. But this applies to skiing as well. My Treetops day in 1995 was memorably horrible, the snow groomed but fossilized, unturnable. A few weeks earlier, I'd skied Skyline on perhaps a three-inch base, grass poking through the trails. Modern skiers, armed with the internet and its Hubble connection to every ski area on the planet, would not accept either set of conditions today. But one of those ski areas adapted and the other did not. That's the “why” of Treetops survival. It was the “how” that I needed Barry Owens to help me understand.What we talked aboutLast winter's ice storm – “it provides great insight into human character when you go through that stuff”; record snowfall (204 inches!) to chase the worst winter ever; the Lake Michigan snowbelt; a golf resort with a ski area attached; building a ski culture when “we didn't have enough people dedicated to ski… and it showed”; competing with nearby ski areas many times Treetops' size “we don't shy away from… who we are and what we are”; what happened when next-door-neighbor Otsego Resort switched from a private to a public model in 2017 – “neither one of us is going to get rich seeing who can get the most $15 lift tickets on a Wednesday”; I attempt to talk about golf and why Michigan is a golf mecca; moving on from something you've spent decades building; Treetops' rough financial period and why Owens initially turned down the GM job; how Owens convinced ownership not to close the ski area; fixing a “can't-do staff” by “doing things that created the freedom to be able to act”; Treetops' strange 2014 bankruptcy and rebuilding from there; “right now we're happy” with the lift fleet; how much it would cost to retrofit Treetops' lifts with restraint bars; timeline for potential ski expansion at Treetops; bargain season passes (as low as $125); and Indy Pass' network power.What I got wrong* I said “Gaylord County,” but the city of Gaylord is in Otsego County.* I said that Boyne Resorts, operator of 11 ski areas, also runs “10 or 11 golf resorts.” The company operates 14 golf courses.* I said that Michigan had a “very good” road network and that there was “not a lot of traffic,” and if you live there, you're reaction is probably, “you're dumb.” What I meant by “very good road network” is this: compared to most ski regions, which have, um, mountains, Michigan's bumplets sit more or less directly alongside the state's straight, flat, almost perfectly gridded highway network. Also, the “not a lot of traffic” thing does not apply to special situations like, say, northbound I-75 on a July Friday evening.* I said that Crystal, Nub's, Caberfae, and Shanty Creek were “close” – while they're not necessarily all close to one another, they are all roughly equidistant for folks coming to them from downstate.* I said that Treetops was “the fifth or sixth place I ever skied at,” but upon further review, it was number eight (which is reflected in the list above).Podcast NotesOn the ice stormAn ice storm hammered Northern Michigan in late March of this year:On the lightning strike on Treetops' golf courseOn the Midwest's terrible 2023-24 ski seasonSkier visits cratered in the Midwest during the 2023-24 ski season, the region's worst on record from a snowfall point of view. Weather - and skier visits - settled back into normal ranges last winter:This is a bit hard to see with any sort of precision, but this 10-year chart gives a nice sense of just how abnormal 2023-24 was for the Midwest:On Michigan's ski areasMichigan is home to 44 active ski areas - more than any state other than New York. Many of them are quite small, operate sporadically, and run only surface lifts, but Treetops is close to a bunch of the better lift-served outfits, including Boyne Mountain, Nub's Nob, and The Highlands (the UP ski areas may as well be in another state). It helps Treetops that so many of the state's ski areas have also joined Indy Pass:On Otsego ResortFor decades - I'm not certain how long, exactly - Otsego Resort, right next door to Treetops and with roughly double the vertical drop and skiable acreage, was private. In 2017, the bump opened to the public, considerably amping up competition. Complicating the matter further, Otsego sits a bit closer to Michigan's Main Street - I-75 - than Treetops.On Snow OperatingOwens mentioned working with “TBL” – he was referring to Terrain Based Learning, Snow Partners' learn-to-ski program. That company also runs the Snow Cloud operating system that Owens refers to at the end.On Treetops' rough period I quoted this Detroit Business News article at length in the interview. It goes deep on Treetops' precarious early 2000s history and the resort's broken employee culture at the time.On people being nice at ski areasYeah I'm super into this:On the hedgehog conceptOwens mentions “the hedgehog concept,” which I wasn't familiar with. It sounded like a business-book thing, and it is, adapted by author Jim Collins for his book Good to Great and described in this way on his website:The Hedgehog Concept is developed in the book Good to Great. A simple, crystalline concept that flows from deep understanding about the intersection of three circles: 1) what you are deeply passionate about, 2) what you can be the best in the world at, and 3) what best drives your economic or resource engine. Transformations from good to great come about by a series of good decisions made consistently with a Hedgehog Concept, supremely well executed, accumulating one upon another, over a long period of time.More:On safety-bar requirements in New York and New EnglandThis is kind of funny…That's my 8-year-old son, who's skied in a dozen states, taking his first ride on a lift with no safety bar, at Treetops last December. Why such machines still exist in 2025, I have no idea - this lift rises about 30 feet off the ground. In the East, all chairlifts are equipped with bars, and state law mandates their use in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont (and perhaps elsewhere). I don't advocate for rider mandates, but I do think all chairlifts ought to have bars available for those who want them. Owens and I discuss the resort's plans to retrofit Treetops' three chairlifts - CTEC machines installed between 1984 and 1995 - with bars. The cost would be roughly $250,000. That's a significant number, but probably a lot less than the figure if, say, someone has a heart attack or seizure on the lift, falls off, then sues the resort. Besides, as Owens points out, chairlifts must be equipped with restraint bars for summer use, which would open new revenue streams. Why are bars required for summer activities, but not winter? It's a strange anachronism, unique among the ski world to America.On “Joe from SMI”I mentioned “Joe from SMI” offhand. I was referring to SMI Snowmakers President Joe VanderKelen, who appeared on the podcast back in 2022:On potential expansion Owens discusses a potential expansion looker's left of Chair 1, which would restore lost terrain and built upon that. This 1988 trailmap shows a couple of the trails that Treetops eliminated to make way for its current top-to-bottom access road (trails 1 through 4):The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe
Our fourth annual Halloween special
In this Casting Angles segment of The Articulate Fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash and fly fishing expert Mac Brown tackle high water fishing strategies as fall rains transform river conditions across the mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions. Fresh from teaching in Arkansas during challenging turnover conditions, Mac shares critical techniques for bank fishing during elevated flows, explaining why staying out of the water lets anglers cover 8-10 times more productive water than wading. Learn why tight-line nymphing outperforms indicator setups when current speeds up, discover Mac's color selection science for stained water (including why blue mops dominate in dirty conditions) and master the prospecting approach that keeps flies in the strike zone along current seams. Mac also breaks down tippet adjustments for flood-stage fishing, streamer jigging tactics and the safety considerations every angler should follow when rivers rise. Whether you're chasing steelhead runs or working your home water after a soaking rain, this episode delivers actionable high water fly fishing techniques from one of fly fishing's most accomplished instructors.Related ContentS7, Ep 41 - Navigating High Water: Strategies for Success with Mac BrownS7, Ep 36 - Central PA Fishing Report with George Costa of TCO Fly ShopS7, Ep 14 - The Streamer Playbook: Tips and Tactics for Targeting Big Trout in East Tennessee with Ellis WardS7, Ep 28 - Warming Waters and Active Fish: A Spring Fishing Update with Mac BrownAll Things Social MediaFollow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.Support the Show Shop on AmazonBecome a Patreon PatronSubscribe to the PodcastSubscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice.Advertise on the PodcastIs our community a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us.In the Industry and Need Help Getting Unstuck?Check out our
On Episode 274 of the Great Lakes Fishing Podcast presented by Fish Hawk Electronics, host Chris Larsen sits down in Manistee, Michigan with Captain Lenny Vaughan of Slipknot Charters. This is a recording from late August. Fresh off a big win at the Founders Cup Championship, Captain Vaughan shares insights into competitive Great Lakes salmon tournaments, including tips for new anglers looking to get started. The conversation also dives into what makes Manistee one of the premier fishing ports on the Great Lakes—from its unique river system and world-class catch rates to the deep-water shelves and seasonal fish migrations that create outstanding opportunities for salmon, trout, and steelhead. Lenny also gives a behind-the-scenes look at his 31' Tiara fishing machine, his approach to guiding clients, and why charter fishing is as much about people as it is about catching fish. Whether you're interested in Great Lakes tournaments, planning a fishing trip to Manistee, or just love hearing from seasoned captains, this episode is packed with knowledge and stories you won't want to miss. For more Great Lakes fishing information, visit https://fishhawkelectronics.com/blog/
Rob first encountered Miriam Leino when he dialed the Orvis Outfitter Team number a few weeks back. He was in search of the hooks needed to tie his bacon fly, as his supply was dwindling. Rob enjoys inquiring about the locations of individuals on help lines, so he was taken aback to discover that Miriam resides in eastern Washington state. He found her location somewhat surprising for an Orvis outfitter answering the phone, as most would not be taken aback by this detail, but it piqued Rob's interest. He discovered that Miriam not only works at Orvis but also guides for trout and steelhead in eastern Washington. By the end of their conversation, the two had arranged a podcast episode for Miriam to share her story. This is Rob's chance to find out if he has been fishing for ‘Temu Steelhead' in the Great Lakes and we try to understand where fish go at night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The SS Andaste was a semi-whaleback, self-unloading freighter built in 1892 by the Cleveland Shipbuilding Company. In 1925, a self-unloading system was added to her deck making her a bit top-heavy and unstable. On September 9, 1929, she was lost in a storm on Lake Michigan, while transporting a load of gravel from Ferrysburg (Grand Haven), Michigan to Chicago. All 25 on board perished. The wreck of the Andaste has never been found, but Great Lakes shipwreck hunters are actively searching for her. Jennifer Keefer of the Grand Haven Area Convention & Vistor's Bureau joins me as a guest, and provided assistance with some of the research for this episode. (Disclaimer: No monetary compensation, sponsorhip, or promotional consideration was given to Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs for Ms. Keefer's participation in this episode.) Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com. Original theme music by Sean Sigfried. Listen AD-FREE by becoming an Officer's Club Member ! Join at https://www.patreon.com/shipwreckspod Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available! https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at: https://buymeacoffee.com/shipwreckspod Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts! https://www.intohistory.com/shipwreckspod Follow Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Subscribe on YouTube Follow on BlueSky Follow on Threads Follow on Instagram Follow on Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ever pull up to a Michigan red light, spot a UHaul with California or Arizona plates, and think “Who moves to Michigan on purpose?”Turns out, more people than you'd expect. Michigan's population is rebounding, and the data tells a powerful story. After years of decline, the latest Census and state reports show Michigan gaining over 57,000 residents, driven by international migration, affordability, and remote work freedom.In this video I break down exactly where people are moving from — California, Texas, Oregon, Illinois, Ohio — and why they're choosing Michigan. From Metro Detroit to West Michigan and Up North, we'll talk affordability, job growth, lifestyle, and the data that shows how Michigan is quietly becoming a relocation hotspot.If you've ever wondered why families are trading the West Coast for the Great Lakes, or what this means for Michigan home prices, buyers, and sellers, this is the one video you don't want to miss.CONTACT ME
#833 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/833 Presented by: Smitty's Fly Box, Mountain Waters Resort, Patagonia Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors Fresh off hosting our Steelhead School at the Skeena Spey Riverside Wilderness & Lodge, Jeff walks us through what makes the Skeena River such a magnetic place for traveling anglers. We dig into the small details that make the biggest difference, like how shorter sink tips can unlock big water, why swing speed and fly angle matter more than you think, and how Great Lakes techniques translate perfectly to the wild rivers of BC. Whether you're new to two-handed casting or have been chasing chrome for years, you'll find plenty of tips and stories to level up your next swing. Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/833
Indigenous tribes in what is now the northeastern U.S. and Canada have played lacrosse for millennia. Similar stick-and-ball games were played by tribes across the Southeast and Great Lakes region. But according to NCAA data, less than 1% of college lacrosse players are American Indian or Alaskan Native, and more than 80% are white. Pacific Northwest Native Lacrosse is trying to change that. As reported in Willamette Week, the organization recruits Indigenous lacrosse players from across the PNW to participate in tournaments, youth camps and clinics. We listen back to a conversation we first aired in March 2025 with JD Elquist, the founder of PNWNL. We also spoke with Bilįį Blackhorn, who was then a senior at South Eugene High School and who has played lacrosse for 10 years, including with PNWNL. They joined us to talk about the importance of emphasizing the sport’s Indigenous roots.
This is an edited version of an interview first heard in May 2021. Dianna Stampfler has written countless articles for many Michigan travel and culture periodicals. In August 2004, she launched Promote Michigan to help market the people, places, and products of her home state. Dianna has also been researching Michigan's lighthouses for many years. In 2019, she published her book Michigan's Haunted Lighthouses through the History Press. Dianna Stampfler Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state, with more than 120 dotting its expansive Great Lakes shoreline. Many of these lighthouses lay claim to haunted happenings. In 2022, Dianna published a new book, Death & Lighthouses on the Great Lakes: A History of Murder and Misfortune.
Max talks with John Fiscus of The Flight Academy to break down two Cirrus SR22 accidents that highlight the extremes of safety outcomes in general aviation: one a dramatic survival story, the other a heartbreaking tragedy. Accident 1: CAPS Parachute Save over Lake Michigan The first accident involved a Cirrus SR22 (N121JB) that suffered engine failure shortly after reaching 7,500 feet on a flight across Lake Michigan. The pilot and passengers had life vests ready, immediately turned toward shore, declared a mayday, and deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The parachute brought the aircraft down safely into the cold waters, where the occupants were rescued by the Coast Guard. This outcome underscores why CAPS has become one of Cirrus's most powerful safety innovations. John emphasizes lessons from the accident: Always wear flotation gear before flying over large bodies of water. Be cautious of low-time airplanes—this Cirrus had only 75 hours in four years, raising concerns about engine reliability. Understand the “unwritten rule”: don't fly beyond gliding distance over the Great Lakes, where hypothermia makes ditching survival unlikely. Accident 2: Fatal Go-Around at Franklin County Airport, NC The second case involved a Cirrus SR22 Turbo (N218VB) attempting to land at Franklin County Airport in North Carolina. Weather was clear, but the pilot approached high, fast, and tight, leaving little margin for error. After abandoning the first landing attempt, the pilot tried again but remained unstable. On the second approach, the aircraft descended steeply and attempted a go-around, which ended in a fatal crash. John and Max discuss common contributing factors in go-around accidents: Unstable approaches with excessive speed and descent rates. Turbocharged engine management—if the mixture isn't properly enriched, adding full power can cause the engine to stumble or quit. Rudder discipline—failure to apply right rudder is a leading cause of go-around crashes, often resulting in wreckage on the left side of the runway. Lack of practice—many pilots avoid go-arounds, leaving them unprepared for the demands of the maneuver. Both accidents reinforce the importance of: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Airline pilots succeed not because they're inherently better, but because they follow strict procedures. GA pilots should do the same. Go-Around Training: Every pilot should regularly practice stabilized go-arounds under realistic conditions. CAPS Awareness: The parachute system consistently saves lives when used promptly. Risk Assessment: Whether crossing lakes or approaching mountainous airports, risk should be mitigated through planning, equipment, and training. By contrasting a successful CAPS deployment with a tragic go-around accident, this episode drives home the reality that survival often comes down to preparation, discipline, and knowing how to use the tools available. For Cirrus and general aviation pilots alike, this is an essential conversation on accident prevention, go-around safety, and maximizing the life-saving potential of CAPS. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. 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News Stories Flight instructor pleads guilty in plane crash that killed student pilot Three Killed in Michigan Jet Crash Pilot inadvertently retracts landing gear when he meant to retract flaps Student hits fuel truck Charter pilots sought for automation study Pilot focuses on open engine cover and too little on flying the airplane SR22 pilot runs out of fuel and pulls CAPS Pilot crashes while planning out his own runway Balloon Smashed The Cockpit Window Of a United Airlines Boeing 737MAX Mentioned on the Show Buy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset Giveaway NTSB News Talk Podcast UAV News Talk Podcast Rotary Wing Show Podcast Buy ForeFlight Sentry ADS-B Receiver Max's FLYING article on Potomac MidAir Collision The Flight Academy Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we'll make a couple of dollars if you do. Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android. Check out Max's Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/ Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium "Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
Spit Hit for Oct 16th, 2025:On this episode we find out about the rare jumping sharks of the Great Lakes, prove our smarts in What's the Difference and then draft the most Old Fashioned Things we Still Use. Re-brand Mondays with some comedy! Subscribe and tell your friends about another funny episode of The Spitballers Comedy Podcast!Connect with the Spitballers Comedy Podcast:Become an Official Spitwad: SpitballersPod.comFollow us on X: x.com/SpitballersPodFollow us on IG: Instagram.com/SpitballersPodSubscribe on YouTube: YouTube.com/Spitballers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.