A Few Cool Things

A few cool things happened the last week:

The Copper Harbor Trails Club's Backcountry Snow Race took place on Saturday and Sunday.  Aaron and I were in charge of this event.  And though we and all the racers and volunteers had a wonderful time, I'm glad it's done with.  Planning a two day event takes a lot of time and effort!  I fell asleep on the john when it was over with.  Oy!

Sunday night I was sitting in the Community Building parking lot in the truck with Duce.  He was sweetly resting his head on my shoulder when something caught his attention.  He stared out the window intently.  There it went!  A dog?  No, the tail was fluffy like a coyote, but it was too big to be a coyote.  Then we watched another dog chase after the mystery animal.  The latter was Boozer, a town dog who always follows his nose... sometimes for miles and hours on end!

I told the owner of this dog about what I saw, and he said that another predator-savvy man in town thinks it's a mix of wolf and coyote.  Can you imagine?  It was so invigorating to see this what I thought was a wolf that Duce and I got out of the truck to sniff it out.  He darted around sniffing each step of the wolfote.  What a fun little adventure!

Monday I went out to the same shore where I took all those pictures of the ice arches.  Forgetting what to expect (though I know better than to have any expectations from Lake Superior) I was surprised to see them gone!  The man-eating beast arch was still there, but the rest had washed away in the pummeling waves.

What interested me the most about this phenomenon was that I could see how the waves affected these sculptures.  Big chunks of ice had broken off and floated away with the tide.  On the pieces that remained connected to the icy shore, the bottoms washed out, making the top wider.  And to top that off, the splashing waves would then freeze to the top and sides, creating more mass on top, but it also dripped before it froze, creating a saggy effect.  

Some of these sculptures looked like mushrooms or cauliflower.  Below is an example.  

And see that wave crashing to the shore?  I was getting wet out there!  Droplets from the wavetops were freezing to my glasses.  Boy, did I pick the wrong day not to wear my snowpants.  You'd think I would know better by now.  But nope, I'm still learning!

Variety Pack of Adventure

I guess I can give you a sample of each! The last few days, I got out for a snowshoe, snowboard, bike ride and cross country ski. One each day.

The snowboard day was amazing. We got a foot of snow over two days, and I was out ripping it up at Mt. Bohemia. I found fresh snow on all of my favorite runs. Every time I ride down the hill in untouched powder, not even having to turn my board, I feel like I'm flying. Even though I am not air born, the friction under my feet is so minimal, that I get a sensation of gliding through the air. Kind of like biting into a York Peppermint Patty.

The snowshoe day made me remember how quickly the shoreline changes in the winter. Remember the ice volcanoes I saw a couple weeks ago? When I went to the shore on Saturday, they were all gone. Not a trace of them. The water came right up to the ice-caged rocks on the shoreline. I thanked my lucky stars that I got to play in one on February 6th. Otherwise, I would have felt cheated out of curiousity.

The bike ride was sweaty, yet enjoyable. Really, the best part is to see people's reactions to a girl riding her bike the day after it snows a foot. Yes. I am that girl.

As for my ski, well, I am not a good skier. I'm just not. Not now. But I do get to take off my skis and wander to the middle of Lake Fanny Hooe (see, she gets me every time) where I can be in the middle of a snow desert. Today I took in the serenity of being right between East Bluff and Brockway Mountain. What a cool place to be... it's like being sandwiched in a ridge line!

So there's my piece of da Harbor for ya. And I think everyone here would agree that today's sunshine makes da whole Harbor quite delightful.

By the way, my Splake was delicious. Fried and mighty.

Making the Best of It

Today, despite the sprinkles of rain, I decided to take a trip past the beginning of Hwy. 41 on the snowmobile trail. What kind of trip it was going to be would be decided when I got there. I put my xc ski gear, snowshoes and dog in the truck and headed to where the pavement ends.

The snow didn't look too terrible, so I strapped on my skis and decided to go for it. I really could have hiked it in my boots, but this road goes up and up a ridge. I was eager to come back down on my skis and feel like a real skier for once.

When I got to the turn toward Horseshoe Harbor, I was tempted to take that way to the shore and watch the lake for a while. But the ground was a bit too sandy for my skis, and I decided against it. Dogs are not allowed there anyway, as it is a nature preserve. So up the ridge we went some more.

A couple times I stopped just to listen to the world around me. Wow, it was a quiet day. I could faintly hear the lake to the Northwest. Mr. Weatherman says the wind is going to blow tomorrow, so I enjoyed the calm while I could. Another time I stopped, I was fortunate enough to catch the sound of a woodpecker in a nearby tree. I love watching woodpeckers. They sure are persevering.

When I was sweaty enough, I figured it was time to try my luck at the downhill. I mostly just skid down as best I could without falling. It was pretty anti-climactic, really, but it sure was more fun than going back up!

Suntan

Yesterday was the end of my boring streak. It was Friday, so I felt relaxed and energetic. The sun shone bright in the blue sky. My cross country skis just got a fresh wax, and Duce and I were going to try them out.

For starters on this fabulous ski, the sun was just gleaming unto my cheeks. The second wonderful part was that the trail had just been groomed. My skis were the first ones to glide through its flawlessness (not bad for not getting any snow for weeks). And the next great thing in a row was that my skis actually glided in the tracks! Oh, heavenly wax, where have you been all my life?

I rounded half the loop much quicker than ever before because I wasn't walking on sticks -- I was skiing. (Oh, so that's what skiing is like.) When I came to a tiny downhill, I had too much speed to control, and flew off the track. It worked out well because I was going to walk out to the middle of Fanny Hooe anyway. See? She calls me every time. Would you say no on a sun-shiny day?

So I sweatily hoofed it out to as middle as I could. A breeze blew through me, and the sun warmed my soul. But I knew it could warm more than that.

I looked all around to make sure no one was around. Of course no one was. I had a crazy idea and only myself to document it. I knew it was now or never because I can't travel to the middle of the lake without a boat or a swim (of which I'm not too fond).

If you don't already think I'm crazy, you may after today. But when inspiration strikes, I have to go with it. The sun tempted me beyond rationalization. In the middle of the Great Fanny Hooe, I pulled off my hat and gloves. I threw my coat and shirt on the ice. I dropped my pants to my boots. I threw my hands up in the air and yelled, "SUNTAN!" Then I spun around rotisserie style to get a full dose of Vitamin D.

Wow. That is the best cure for the winter blahs I have ever found. I recommend it if the conditions are right. That may have been my only chance, and I had to take it. It was worth every goose bump.