For some, growing up on Lake Superior carves a deep connection to place, and no matter where life leads, the pull to return to that rugged shoreline never leaves. Patti Baraks knows too well that hold Superior creates. She grew up in Superior, Wisconsin, and although she has lived, worked and raised a family in Texas, she admits, her internal compass always points north toward that mighty lake. As an early childhood education teacher with a passion for poetry, she used that lure to write a children’s book, “A is for Agates, A Lake Superior Alphabet Book”.

In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Patti not only about her time in Wisconsin, but also about the motivation and process of producing a children’s book.

If you’d like a copy, or need a perfect Lake Superior–themed Christmas gift, she shares that you can find the book at independent bookstores and libraries around the Lake Superior region. It’s also available online at Itasca Books:

https://itascabooks.com/products/a-is-for-agates-a-lake-superior-alphabet-book-1

Key takeaways

Patti’s Deep Connection to Lake Superior Has Never Faded

Patti Baraks grew up in Superior, Wisconsin, a city she describes as “one of the greatest port cities on Lake Superior.” She explains that Lake Superior shaped every part of daily life — the economy, recreation, and weather — and says the lake “has always had a hold over me that I can’t quite explain.” Even after moving to Texas, she shares that her “internal compass points north” and draws her back every summer.

The Passing of Her Father Motivated Her to Finally Write a Book

Patti says she had “always wanted to be a writer,” but it wasn’t until her father passed away about a year and a half before the interview that she decided she didn’t want “a cloud of regret” about never pursuing that dream. This loss gave her the push to “get out of [her] comfort zone and just go for it.”

Collaboration With Illustrator Lisa Perrin Cosmo Was Central to the Book’s Success

Patti selected illustrator Lisa Perrin Cosmo after seeing an agate painting in her portfolio and feeling immediately drawn to her work. She says Lisa is “local to the North Shore,” “really knows the lake,” and seemed able to “read my mind” when creating the illustrations. Patti calls her artwork “breathtaking” and says the illustrator “paints the best moose.”

Patti Believes Nature-Based Literature Helps Children Explore and Learn

As a former teacher, Patti says that nature-based books encourage kids to get outside, reduce stress, and learn through observation. She describes the outdoors as “the original classroom,” where children discover things independently, ask questions, and engage their natural curiosity.

Connect With Us:

Lake Superior Podcast Page – https://nplsf.org/podcast
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundation

Sponsors:

Cafe Imports – Minneapolis-based importers of specialty green coffees since 1993, focused on sustainability. Learn more: https://cafeimports.com

National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation – Donate to protect Lake Superior’s five national parks: https://nplsf.org/donate

The first known map of Lake Superior was drawn by Virginian John Mitchell in 1755. Over the centuries, countless records of the shoreline, depths, lighthouses and communities have been published. But now, there’s another map in the works. This one by the United States Geological Survey. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Jamey Jones, Science Coordinator for the USGS’s Earth Mapping Resources Initiatives, or Earth MRI. He shares what this project hopes to accomplish, particularly when it comes to locating the area’s rare earth minerals and contributing to the publicly available data on metals deposits in the Lake Superior region. Tune in to learn more!

Webpage

• USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative – https://www.usgs.gov/earth-mapping-resources-initiative-earth-mri

Connect With Us:

• Lake Superior Podcast Page – https://nplsf.org/podcast
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundation
• LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-parks-of-lake-superior-foundation

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 Takeaways

• The Edmund Fitzgerald Sank Fifty Years Ago — But Its Mystery Endures
  Maritime 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 Hurricane
  The 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 Reverence
  Fred 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/podcast
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundation
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-parks-of-lake-superior-foundation

Sponsors:

Cafe Imports – Minneapolis-based importers of specialty green coffees since 1993, focused on sustainability. Learn more: https://cafeimports.com

National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation – Donate to protect Lake Superior’s five national parks: https://nplsf.org/donate