A SnowmanCam moment from December 2012 (SnowmanCam photo)
I did my annual check on the SnowmanCam last evening and was excited to see a deer in the foreground munching on some goodies scattered across the snow. The temperature read a big fat zero degrees on the live streaming video webcam from Gaylord, in the Northern reaches of Michigan’s Mitten.
The grinning snowman, accompanied by a Snow Goose, stands next to a gauge that measures the depth of the white stuff in Wilderness Valley. Since Ken Borton created SnowmanCam in 2004 he’s been seen by folks around the world, and attracts visitors who trek to the home of the wooden cutout to pose for photos all year ’round.
The webcam is free but you’re welcome to make donations to help pay for food for the critters that wander into the scene; you can even buy a SnowmanCam shirt and other wearables and a miniature version of Snowman.
Visit these webcams to take a free tour of Michigan in winter without having to pull on your longjohns, boots and chook*:
MichiganSnowCams - Dozens of locations from Flint to Copper Harbor
Mackinac Bridge – Monitor the conditions at the five-mile suspension bridge linking the Upper and Lower Peninsulas
Lake Michigan Cam – Every Great Lakes surfer knows winter is prime time on the inland seas; keep an eye on the waves near the Grand Haven pier and lighthouse courtesy of EarthCam and Surf Grand Haven
Great Lakes Webcams – Locations at Muskegon and Alpena, Michigan and Toledo, Milwaukee and Chicago hosted by the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
Soo Locks – The shipping season doesn’t resume for a couple of months but the cameras are rolling at Sault Ste. Marie
Downtown Calumet (Michigan Main Street photo)
3 Dozen Upper Peninsula Cams – Admire the handsome architecture of beautiful downtown Calumet on the city’s Michigan Main Street Cam, and find links to webcams across the U.P.
Northwoods Camera Network – Links to dozens of privately-owned and operated webcams across Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota (plus a smattering in Western and Eastern states and Canada)
*A chook is a U.P. term for a knit hat (a.k.a. chuk or toque), and it’s okay to wear yours while doing your webcam tour if it makes you feel more a part of the scene, eh?
The Chook, a U.P. essential according to Yoopersteez.com
Great minds – I looked at the Snowman cam this morning. No deer – just some birds.
By: Gordie on January 25, 2013
at 12:16 pm
Were you wearing your chook?
By: KathUsitalo on January 25, 2013
at 12:18 pm