Thousands came to see the Apostle Islands ice caves Monday. Many dropped appointments, canceled plans and skipped work to see a phenomenon that hasn’t happened in more than a decade. A steady stream of people began waiting at the shuttle to the national park at 7 am with the line growing longer through the morning. Many reported waiting for hours to board the shuttle, but said it was worth the wait to see the caves. To assure safety, the ice shelf must extend miles from the shore so it can protect the area’s lake ice from open-water waves. Wind and waves can break up the ice in just hours, according to the National Park Service. The National Park Service has not indicated how long it expects the caves to be open to the public. Read more on our website. Reporting by Alex Chhith. Photos by Carlos Gonzalez carlosgphoto/The Minnesota Star Tribune. #minnesota #wisconsin #apostleislands #icecaves