A Little Slice of da Harbor...: Powder and Sunshine

Monday, February 25, 2013

Powder and Sunshine

Mount Bohemia has been awesome. Judging by all the cars in the parking lot this week and all the "woo hoos" I heard while riding up the chair lift, I would say I'm not the only person who thought that.

The snow was crazy this week. Most schools and Keweenaw businesses were not open on Tuesday or Wednesday. I guess that was nice for the hundreds of people who were at the hill on Wednesday. It was just as busy as Saturday!

I think the official snow total to the moment is 195 inches. We are catching up quickly!

But now things are warming up. My roof has been dripping two days in a row. Also, the sun lit up the sky for the first part of the day. Yessss!

So I went for a stroll to the Harbor Haus dock. This is really the only picture that turned out. I think it's fitting.

The "purest air" sign

And honestly, my legs are still pretty tired from skiing. I'm a snowboarder, and skiing, to me, take more muscles. At least different ones than I'm used to. My point is that I wussed out and didn't really go out for an adventure today. Instead I stayed home and worked on my next book -- something I should be doing more of!

But before I went inside, I found a lovely spot to lay in my driveway and soak up some rays... through, um, my jacket and snow pants. Here is what I saw.

Watching the clouds go by...

I think this video shows how to enjoy the simple things in life, but the yin and the yang of it. The clouds slowly passing are the yin and the goofball dog thrashing a trash can is the yang. So different, yet each soothing to my soul. There's some chicken soup for your day!

This weekend is the CopperDog 15o. That's always one howl of a good time!

My GoPro helmet mount is on its way to my house. Then I can take hands free video for you (Thank you Daddio!)! ARE YOU AS PUMPED AS I AM??? Soon I will be purposely looking for trouble to get into. I think a butt slide down Brockway's nose is in the mix. Let me know if you have any other requests!

1 comment:

MichaelFebruary 25, 2013 at 10:53 PM
You've gotta use the helmetCam to show us some of your favorite runs down Mount Bohemia! I've done a bit of skiing in the past but never did get all that comfortable with the black diamonds, and I've never been on Bohemia. Glad to hear you're getting some sunshine in the Keweenaw winter... it's got to feel good!
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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

“If you’ve never been there, you wouldn’t understand” is a quote printed above an outlined picture of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on a t-shirt sold in gift shops in the area. Some people cock their heads in bewilderment of what this could mean. Well, if you’ve never been there (to da U.P.), then you wouldn’t understand.

It’s simple really. Where are you guaranteed to see more trees than people on any drive or walk? Where can you sit in a bar in April and know everybody’s name? Where can you wear flannel and Carharts anytime of the year without a flinch from a passerby? Where can you end most of your sentence with the colloquialism eh, eh? Where can you go to truly get away from the civilized world? If you answered “da U.P.” to all of these questions, why, you must have been there.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula makes up one third of the state’s land mass, but only 3% of its entire population. It’s no wonder the average number of people per square mile is 19.3. Nineteen people per square mile! Its lack of inhabitants combined with a plethora of wilderness, unique geographical features and an abundance of water is a big part of what makes the U.P. so unique. In fact, it was included in the Sherman Travel worldwide “Top 10 Places to Go in 2005."

And unique in itself, at the most northern tip in the Keweenaw Peninsula sits the little village of Copper Harbor. “Tops in Michigan,” “the beginning of the road” and quite frankly, the hardest place to leave once your soul has found its peace. It’s the least visited and most revisited place in America. Returning visitors make an appearance at least once a year, no matter what gas prices are. And when they’re back at home, they dream of their next visit to the end of the world.

Why would people want to return to a place where their cell phones don’t work and they can’t get a Big Mac for at least 54 miles? Once you drive through the one and only blinking stop light in town, you are 99% guaranteed not to see any authorities. The town can take care of itself for the most part, and people respect each other and each other’s property.

To the local residents and the handfuls of returning tourists (of which some have been adopted), Copper Harbor is the only place where they can be themselves -- completely and shamelessly (at least until the next morning). Fashion does not exist, but comfort is a must. Possessions mean nothing, but attitude means the world. Loitering is encouraged, and talk is ceaseless. Fresh air is plentiful, and serenity is down the block on Lake Superior’s shore. Ahhh.

Only 90 people can bear to live there year-round (good thing because the post office only has 130 mailboxes), but the population peaks around 250 in the busy summer months when people reopen their business or their summer home.

Copper Harbor and the rest of the Keweenaw Peninsula average 270 inches of snow each season. Whether it falls consistently throughout the winter or all in one dump, it’s guaranteed to fall if it isn’t drilling sideways. Only four businesses stay open through these long months because sometimes, there’s just nobody there.

U.S. Highway 41, which runs all the way to Miami, Florida, begins in Copper Harbor, and yes, it gets plowed the whole way up. A half mile north, six miles east and five miles south of this landmark puts you in magical Lake Superior. I know it’s magical because I’ve caught myself and many other people staring, mesmerized by its pure vastness, undulations and crashing waves.

When you can enjoy every breath of Lake Superior air, wear clothing soley for funtion and not mind seeing the same people day after day after day after day, then, my friend, then, you’ll understand.

A Little Slice of da Harbor...

Copper Harbor, That is!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Powder and Sunshine

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Unofficial Overview from a Resident's Point of View

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