Here’s an update on ice on the upper Great Lakes. Substantial areas still have heavy ice. I just watched a report on the Weather Channel from a reporter onboard an icebreaker near St. Ignace, MI, which is near the confluence of Lakes Michigan and Huron. It is clear there is heavy ice there. The comment was made that commercial shipping was being hindered, which we already knew, and that recreational boating would likely be getting a later start this year. The other day, the first big ship made it from western Lake Superior to the Chicagoland area with a load of taconite (iron ore). The US Steel plant in Gary, IN, had shut down for a lack of raw materials. Anyway, it took the ship 11 days to make what would normally be about a 3 day voyage and that was only with Coast Guard ice-breaking assistance. Today, a convoy of about 4 large ships is departing the Duluth, MN, harbor heading downbound to the lower lakes. It will be led by the USCG Mackinaw, the heaviest ice breaker on the Great Lakes. (Interesting vessel to see up close, BTW.) All the ships damaged by heavy ice recently have been repaired and are giving it another shot. Meanwhile, there is more heavy snow scheduled for this region tomorrow. For joy!! David Sorenson Duluth, MN