Ice and Sleet on the Platte River

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Welcome to Season Two of the Nature is my Jam podcast! 2023 is finally here, and the year begins anew with resolutions, intentions, hope and excitement. We are still early enough in the year where our resolve to change habits is still strong, right? One of my resolutions for 2023 is to embrace inclement weather rather than sitting in front of the fireplace. Cold and snow doesn’t bother me but I draw the line at rain. Living in northern Michigan, it’s a safe bet that most days in winter are of the inclement weather variety. With that resolution in mind, I spent a morning on the Platte River, where it empties into Lake Michigan, watching the ice floes go past and to feel the stinging sleet hit my face. Sleet, in my mind, is closer to snow than rain because it is cold but doesn’t look as nice. I rate this weather experience at 6 out of 10. 

The Platte River meanders 30 miles through forests, open land and wetlands that are in the public trust. The mouth of the river empties into Lake Michigan at Platte River Point, which is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and is an idyllic spot in winter. There are few cars and even fewer people venturing out on the beach. I only saw an angler early in the morning and then a Mom and her son bravely taking a stroll down the beach as the weather intensified from sleet to wet, heavy snow. The river takes a dogleg right as it nears Lake Michigan and runs parallel to the beach for about a 1/4 mile before meeting crashing waves. 

During the recording, several large floes of ice moved down the river and met their fate in Lake Michigan. Northern Michigan experienced a thaw after the “winter storm of 2022” so it surprised me to see these large chunks of ice in the river. The recording features the sound of the river as it cascades against some large rocks. In the background, you can hear the roar of the Lake Michigan waves as they hit the shore. It is a confusing sound, but oddly hypnotic. Thick fog permeated the scene, and the sun had no chance to make its presence known. Near the end, sleet enters the scene and offers a wet pitter patter of its icy flavor to round out the recording. 

Recording Details:

• Date and Time: 1/5/2023 | 8:00AM
• Location: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore
• Landscape/Feature: Mouth of the Platte River as it empties into Lake Michigan
• Conditions: 33F (.6C), gentle breeze, fog, sleet
• Recording Device: Zoom F3
• Microphone(s): Audio Technica BP 4025
• Digital Audio Workstation: Adobe Audition

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