Fall Festivities

Today I was even too lazy to take a nap.  And the thought of creating a post seemed like a lost cause.

Well, you lucked out because I finally got revved up to go on this Queen cruise to the Gull Rock Lighthouse as a fundraiser for the Christmas lights.  But when I got to the dock, a sign said it was cancelled due to high winds.  By the time I pedaled home and teased my dog (who was howling toward the front door like a big baby), I had some wind put back in my own sails.

Let me start with what you are probably most curious about: the colors.

Color Report

Last weekend (when I told you to get up here) some of Aaron's family and I went to Lac La Belle.  We paid our $8 a person to ride up the Mount Bohemia chair lift to see some spectacular colors in the trees.  Here are some pics from that trip.  It was a little hazy in the distance, and I only had a phone for pictures, but you'll get the idea.  The colors in these photos have not been modified, by the way.

From the top looking toward Gratiot Lake

Flora on "The Money Line" when it's not a ski run

Mount Houghton in the back

... And the dreaded line to get back down the hill

The place was packed.  The downward line was insane.  There were almost as many cars in the parking lot as there would be on a powder day.  People wore shorts and tank tops.  Really now, when will that ever happen again?

If you've never been on Bohemia, or even if you have, you may be wondering, "why didn't people just walk down the mountain?"  I tell you, if I wasn't 8 months pregnant, wasn't with an 82-year-old great grandma and was wearing long pants through all that tall, dry, buggy grass, I would have walked down.  Most people opted for the ride, but I think the former would have been way faster.

So Mount Bohemia is running their chairlift again this weekend.  Totally worth it, if you are debating going.

If you ask me, I would say last weekend was peak color, but the peak areas are just shifting.  It's Brockway Valley's turn.  That is a beauty right now.  I've only seen pictures, but I may have to make the drive myself.  So much for my annual bike ride over the mountain.  That will continue next fall, I hope!

What else do I have to say about the colors?  Not a whole lot.  They are still changing.  I even have a green maple in my back yard right now.  Do what you want, I suppose.

Moving on.

May as well "move on" with "Your Move," a Yes song that our band covers.  Here's a video of us performing that last Friday during the Art Crawl at North One Gallery.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH "POWERS OF AIR" PERFORMANCE

Kinda fun, hey?  Definitely some background noise, but that's what you get during those!  And I believe that will be our last performance with this baby in my belly.  Then the poor thing won't have to keep bonking into my drum!

It looks like the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is resurrecting Oktoberfest!  Festivities are October 11th starting at 3:00 pm.  Here are the details I could find:

• Buffet is served from 4-8 pm (reservations required)
• 10 German beers
• German food
• Music by Jeff & A.J. Walker Polka Band
• Best dressed couple contest
• Family with the most generations contest

Sounds fun to me, ja!  But maybe that's because I'm German (mostly) and I like parties.  Especially parties the revolve around food and beer.  Good thing I have a good nose to sniff, so I won't have to drink any of the bubbly.  Unless my baby is born by then...

I know I had something else cool for you, but I can't remember at all.  Maybe someday I will.  If not, I know it was a good thought.  So ta ta til next time!

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!

Frosty the Harbor

So far I haven't come across any major ice volcanoes.  However, while driving down toward the blinking light, I saw some nice white mounds by Porter's Island.  I'll have to go check those out.

But that Monday I went hunting for them, I got another surprise.

Duce, Tiki, Steve and I went out to the lighthouse (a favorite past time) in search of the splashing beasts.  Now this was one of those really cold days with a wind off the lake (which should have made it feel warmer, but Mother Nature must have been having one of those days).  Instead, this is what we found.

A frosty little tree!

An eight foot high conglomerate covered in icicles

The spot where you can see the Chrysocolla

The crew battling the icy shore

Icicles on the end of the dock

Then we went to the shore by the Water Treatment Plant, but the Harbor was freezing over, so not much excitement there.  Just cold!

I believe everyone in town survived the negative degree nastiness.  Now we are relishing in the snow.  We got so much consistent snow that I was inspired to write a few haikus (or at least my version of them).  Here are a couple. 

After busting through

Medora's drifts, one brown leaf

lays on the white ground

Calumet snowbanks

piled so high, the houses

look like triangles

Today was the first day I got to snowboard Mt. Bohemia.  It was awesome!  Five to six inches of fresh, heavy snow.  I can't even really call it powder because it was so buttery!  But I got fresh tracks on nearly every run I took, and some of them were mostly freshies!

It was great to get back into that game.  I love watching the clouds spin over Lac La Belle.  It was a gorgeous winter day.  The sky was blue in da Harbor this morning.  Temps warmed up to drips.  The wind shook not a leaf.  And, of course, we got more snow.

Well, let's see what this next week brings!

Last Event, Spring Skiing and Big Waves

So there is one more event on Copper Harbor for the winter.  Maybe you can make it up!  The ice is plenty thick!

Info for the Ice Fishing Tournament

Yesterday was primo spring skiing at Mt. Bohemia.  With so much snow still on the hill, we just smeared it around like cream cheese.  I stepped in the fat skis instead of my snowboard, and actually did pretty well.  By the end of the day we found a big crew of friends that were out enjoying the sunshine and the soft turns.

I actually don't realize it until I see one, but the snowmobilers have dwindled.  The weekend might bring some because we still have a lot of snow, but otherwise, it's been quite peaceful in da Harbor!

That last video I posted about the waves from Hunter's Point was okay, but this one, taken from the lighthouse in 2007, is even more impressive.  Enjoy!

The Last 3 Days

It sure has been wintery here in da Harbor!  Let me tell you what I've been doing with it.

Monday

We got at least a foot of snow the day before, so my best girls, Rachel and Hannah went to Mt. Bohemia with me.  I snowboarded while they skied.  We got to the hill before the lift started taking people up, and the parking lot was already almost full!  On a Monday!  But I guess school was cancelled due to the snow and a teacher inservice day.

The locals came out of the woodwork to ski.  Even people who were supposed to be at work played hooky and came for a powder day.  Like a snowy reunion!  One notable part was that the ladies and I took our first run down under the chair lift (as most people do).  On the way down, we each got hooted at by all the people who knew us.  I did my best not to look up because then they would just be laughing at me as I took a digger.

But, no shortage of wipeouts that day for this girl.  I think I had a couple cartwheels and flips in the powder.  My limbs and neck bent a few different ways than they normally do, but it was part of the fun!

With so many people there, the good snow got skied up pretty quickly.  But it was still a great time as we were all in good spirits.

Tuesday

Hannah, Tiki (her little red dog), Duce and I went out to Hunter's Point.  I haven't been out there in a week or so.  Once again, when we got to the shore, I couldn't believe how it had changed.  All those ice mounds were gone!  The frozen snow laid close to the shore, not 20 yards out like before.

We hiked west instead of my usual east.  It was like a new adventure traversing around that point.  Lots of the conglomerate was uncovered.  We could go down and walk on it!  And the waves tickled the ice beneath our feet.  It's unusual to be able to see the bottom of the lake there this time of year.  We could see the quartz veins, agates and all the other rocks that form the bottom of Lake Superior.  We sure felt lucky to be out there that day!

Me on the remaining ice above the shore

Here is a picture of the trail from the South Shore to the North Shore of Hunters Point.  I love how the snow sticks to only one side of the trees.

Snow-struck trees

We crossed the frozen harbor to get there and back from the Marina.  On our return trip, we saw a man ice fishing.  He wasn't catching anything yet, but he just got out.

Wednesday

Well, that's today!  School was cancelled today because of all the snow we are supposed to get.  I don't know... I can't foresee it being the foot or so that is predicted.  But then again, I never get my hopes up. I just look out the window.  And shovel.

I took Duce for a snowshoe on the double lakeshore loop.  We only did half of it, though because the snow was so deep.  Have you ever broken trail in a foot of fresh powder?  If you have,  kudos to you.  If not, just imagine yourself sweating out of every pore on what seems like what should just be a walk through the woods.  Oy.  It was hot -- even in the wind!

With that east wind, we went out to the shore in the Harbor.  The waves were crashing in.  Oh, I stood and watched in awe for a while.  I wanted to get a video for you, but my timing was so off, that nothing turned out.  Sorry!  I did get a nice picture of this turquoise pool along the shore, however.

A turquoise pool along the Harbor shore

The wind and waves made it very invigorating out there.  I'm glad I went to the shore.  I bet High Rock and Keystone Bay would have been rocking!

Then I bushwhacked my way through to the Superior Trail.  I was going to check on my little fort.  I had horrible pictures in my head of what it would look like when I got there.  This was it.

Fort Juiper's last days... melting, yet full of snow

Now you can see how much sunshine we've been having!  Yikes!

But tomorrow is March, and I don't think Fort Juniper will be resurrected anymore this year.  At least I found some solitude when I needed it most.  After this weekend (Mardi Gras and Copper Dog 150), the busy part of winter will be over.  Then comes my peaceful springtime.  Ahh.

Copper Harbor Playground

It's snowing!  SNOWING!  For days.  I love it.  Hello, Winter!  Glad you made it to da Harbor!

In this snow, I've been playing.  I've been cross country skiing twice and gone on a wonderful snowshoe with friends since I posted last.  Tomorrow I plan to snowboard at Mt. Bohemia.  Yes, the snow is so good, I'm going on a Saturday!

The world is my playground.  I can go where I please on whatever gear is most suitable for the conditions and my imagination.  Well, some fine folks in Copper Harbor also want to create a playground for the school kids, families that come up in the summer and all the babies that are being born around here.

TV 6 News did a nice blurb on this project the other night.  Click here to watch that video.

They also have a website where you can keep updated on their progress and donate to help them reach their goal.

So if you're ready, come out and play!

Shreddin Some Pow

It has been snowing almost consistently for about 48 hours.  Yesssssssssssss!!!

That made me want to go snowboarding at Mt. Bohemia.  Yesterday was the first time I've gone since they opened 6 days before.  Aaron and I got there right away for first chair.  The snow was glorious, and I made lots of runs down the front side before I even went to the back side in the Bear Den.  And the snow was even better back there!!!

I rode by myself for most of the day, but I almost prefer that (although the chair ride up gets a little chilly!). All in all I made 16 runs down in the time we could be there.  Made lots of turns, took a couple diggers, shivered my buns off and saw some friends.  It was lovely.

Now I'll just wait for a few more inches to fall and all the weekend tourists to go back home.  Then hopefully I can do it again next week!

Up and Down the Mountain

It's a beautiful day in da Harbor with patchy sun and temps in the 30's.  Although, a beautiful day in da Harbor would also be 20 degrees, white skies, 15 mph NW winds and snow falling an inch an hour!  I'll keep the latter on my wish list.

I just got back from Fort Juniper.  Since the temps rose, I thought the snow would be nice and packy for building.  However, the air is still dry, and my snowbricks were crumbly.  Oh well.  I laid in it for a while and listened to the wind blow in the trees.  It's a pretty calm day, but the breeze sounds nice.  The lake is also beautifully blue and calm today.

Mt. Bohemia is forecasted to open this Saturday.  Then my friends and I can take the chair lift up!  Throughout the week, we have already skied it up pretty good by skinning up and skiing down.  

I have only done this for two days since 1) I am not that great of a skier... I'm a snowboarder!  So the way down often uses as much energy as the way up.  2) Have you ever climbed Mt. Bohemia?  It's hard enough in the summer with boots, let alone skis on your feet and a backpack on your back.  But maybe I am just a wuss :)

It was fun, though.  I definitely learned a lot, and my legs are getting stronger.  Thank goodness for my patient friends!

Me and Tiki half way up the front side.

Frozen in Time

A couple inches of heavy snow on Saturday was enough to propel me to go to Mt. Bohemia.  It had been so long since I strapped on my board that I didn't care how the hill was.  And it actually wasn't too bad.  

Sure, there were quite a few rock faces exposed, but I just had to go around them (except for one that snuck up on me!).  Otherwise, the snow was soft in most places.  It was so worth it... who knows if I'll get to go again this winter!

Yesterday's open water on the Harbor, and I mean all open, lifted my spirits right up.  Oh, to see Her Majesty's waves sparkle in the sunshine again!  That's definitely one of signs of spring that make me feel alive.

But overnight, those last few drifting pieces of ice became stopped in place by the thinnest layer of ice.  It's like they were frozen in time!  Here is a picture to illustrate.

The top layer started to break close to the shore, but the floaters further out were still stuck this afternoon.  As the day went on, I could hear the tinkly tinkling sound of this delicate ice rubbing other pieces grow louder.  It was pretty enchanting to hear.

Snowboardshoe

Yesterday was the grand re-opening of Mt. Bohemia. They closed over the holiday week due to rain. But they are back in action, and the snow is pretty good. Actually, yesterday, it was pretty phenomenal. Even the front runs had knee deep powder on them early in the day. And back in the woods, it could be thigh high!

I only got stuck a couple times, and not for too long. I have learned from many mistakes over the years how to avoid having to cartwheel out of the powder. Man, that is a lot of work.

But the hill was packed with people. Looking at the chair lift from 11 am to 2 pm, each chair was full on the way up. I rode by myself most of the day while my skier friends looked for some pow in the back country. But then I found a snowboarder chic friend for the rest of the day. We had a great time until our brains and legs gave out. We made it the whole day!

So I'm pumped for another ski season at Mt. Bohemia. But when Mr. Butters needs to get some exercise, I'll stay home and take him out for a walk.

Like today! We went out to a couple north-facing beaches and watched the waves roll over the glossy rocks. Oh, that Lake Superior, she gets me every time. I was pumped to actually get to snowshoe out to the lighthouse. I got to break a sweat on a relatively flat walk. That's always a good thing -- then I get to eat more food!

The ice is back on this side of the Harbor. I don't know how long it will stay, but I'll give it a week before I test it for a crossing. Oh, I can't wait for that! But I will wait, so I don't die. You're welcome!