Finding Life in the Dead of Winter
Dec 17, 2006
As I said in today's column, I'm looking for people who consider winter the zestiest season of all. I'm game for extreme outdoor anything, but also ready to meet city folks whose winters sizzle.
Tell me where to go here.
Comment by Charlie Gies | Dec 17, 2006 12:17:00 PM
Back in February 1995, for their 55th anniversary, I took my Mom and Dad to Wailea on the west coast of East Maui. We had a blast. Dad passed away in April of this year, but neither Mom nor I have ever forgotten that trip.
Charlie Gies
Sterling, VA
MSU Class of 1968
Comment by Sonya Chloe | Dec 17, 2006 12:28:13 PM
The other day, after the heavy “not-snow” (translation: rain), I noticed a flock of robins around a large puddle. Robins, which I grew up thinking of as harbingers of SPRING, around a puddle, in DECEMBER. It was not a happy sight....this winter (or “not-winter,” as the case may be), I celebrate the opportunity to take a long hard look at Santa & Co. (and I love Santa!)....the question being, has global warming made Santa & Co. obsolete? Is it possible to create holiday characters, who also possess awareness of global warming? Or is global warming the lead balloon that grounds Santa’s sleigh...forever?
“Reggie the Red-Eyed Flying Vegetarian Polar Bear” is my attempt to create such a character. My 15-year-old niece (of the first post-global-warming generation??) drew me a picture of Reggie – I’d asked her to give Reggie “stout little wings” because those seemed most appropriate to a polar bear.
So this winter, for the first time, I glued a picture of Reggie to a big snowflake ornament, added a little wrinkled blue ribbon from several Christmases ago, and suspended my creation with clear fishing line from a framed dried-flower arrangement, that I got at the rehearsal dinner for my twin brother’s wedding. A new tradition is born.
To take a look at my niece’s drawing of Reggie and read the holiday poem, please visit: http://www.sonyachloe.info
Comment by Yooper Rick | Dec 17, 2006 4:43:49 PM
WOW
Susan,
You mentioned a few of my thoughts, Nothing like being on Mackinac Island in the winter. The pub scene is a lot like Europe where people congregate not to get stoned but to BE with other people during the bleak months.( Mustang Lounge) And to Snow Sled to the Island is Bueno Magnificent!
Also how about Curling in Soo Canada, they're almost Yooper's. Curling is like bowling where the winners have to buy the loser drinks.
Or Cross country skiing or snowshoeing at Taquamenon falls and then dinner at the brew pub at the upper falls.
Or a visit to St.Helena Island light house on show shoes and then chili and wine.
Or you could once again bebop around the Keweenaw.
There is the ranch in Alpena where you can go on Sleigh rides to view Elk
Comment by Yooper Rick | Dec 17, 2006 4:45:56 PM
Or Snow sled at the pictured rocks, If Superior ever freezes.
What a beautiful state we live in
Yooper Rick
Comment by Kate | Dec 17, 2006 8:39:48 PM
My family always goes to the Detroit Zoo sometime during the winter months, often during the day on Christmas Eve. The zoo is usually almost empty so it feels as though its your own personal zoo and the animals are often very active, especially the polar bears. This year it will just be my husband and I as my Mom moved out west to go live on her sailboat - Susan you are welcome to join us!
-Kate
Comment by Mike Ennis | Dec 17, 2006 8:57:43 PM
Hi Susan: I've enjoyed your columns over the years & recall one a couple of years ago when you visited Curtis in the U.P. for their winter festival & seemed to enjoy yourself. I live in Newberry which is close to Curtis.
The U.P. offers another FANTASTIC opportunity for you to have another great experience in "God's Country" - the UP200 Sled Dog race! It will be held Feb. 16th - 18th & starts in downtown Marquette. The teams race from Marquette to Grand Marais & back to Marquette over the 3 days. The race is run with volunteers who man the various check points, provide communications, etc. You would be welcome to help out as a volunteer & donate whatever time you wished or simply stop by the various checkpoints & meet many Yoopers & also the mushers who come from all over the county - some also participate in the Alaska Iditarod in March.
I volunteer as a ham radio operator
in the Grand Marais area - beautiful village on a Lake Superior harbor.
Check out the up200.org website if you are interested in more information. There's a lot of informaiton there including a trail map & some pictures.
I agree with Yooper Rick about Mackinac Island. It's a fantastic place to visit in the winter. I've spent a few hours socializing in the Mustang Lounge & other interested places on the island.
I hope you consider coming to the UP200. I think you would find it a neat Yooper experience.
Mike Ennis KA8CEO
Newberry, MI
Comment by Yooper Rick | Dec 18, 2006 12:41:41 AM
Hey Mike
Hope all is well up there,
Susan was in Grand Marais last summer. I belive she ate the Pipping Plover at the dinner :)
Comment by Jodee | Dec 18, 2006 11:11:33 AM
I think a Day In The Life Of A Snowplow Driver would be fun. We tend to think of them as, "Shoot! I'm stuck behind a plow ..." or "Sheesh! What WAS that that just hit my windshield?" or "How did he know I'd just finished clearing the driveway and why does he always come by right then?"
But it's a tricky job. Even in Traverse City, which has snow management down to a science, there are budget cuts (Plow the even side of the street today? Ignore that alley?) and parked cars and the task of moving all the snow OUT of the city. I love the snowy times when they make a hill right in the middle of Front St. (the main drag through downtown), then come by later with a snow-sucker (not it's real name) and a dump truck and make it all vanish.
And the sidewalk plows are downright adorable.
I can probably hook you up with a city plow driver. Maybe you can go out on the night shift!
Comment by Jennifer Tislerics | Dec 18, 2006 5:41:30 PM
I'm a member of the "School for Outdoor Leadership, Adventure and Recreation", aka SOLAR. We've got lots of outdoor winter activities planned, from traditional cross-country skiing lessons/trips to dog-sledding and winter camping. Many of the group members find winter to be the best time to be in Michigan - the more snow, the better!
Learn more about us at www.solaroutdoors.org.
Comment by Yooper Rick | Dec 18, 2006 6:02:03 PM
What a great Idea to ride with a municipal snow plow operator, I think people would enjoy that story, I often wonder about the State drivers on I-75 working in a white out.
Curling, there is a sheet in Lewiston also
Comment by A Mom | Dec 18, 2006 6:07:14 PM
Susan -
Go to Frankenmuth for the Snow Festival. I believe it is in January. The ice cravings are fantastic. Also Houghton has a winter festival in February where the art work is out of this world. Both world famous cravers and students participate. Michigan has lots to offer. I love a great blizzard but agree it is only good when inside looking out and not having to travel anywhere! Enjoy winter - when it arrives and it probably will.
Comment by Rox | Dec 18, 2006 9:15:52 PM
Don't forget about snow angels (when there is snow). There is also a luge run in Muskegon. And lots of great hills all over for sledding.
Comment by Jen | Dec 18, 2006 9:31:32 PM
Susan - definitel come up to Houghton in February. The event is Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival and runs for a week starting Wed. February 7th (I think) this year. On campus and throughout the the city are displays of SNOW sculptures (not ice - very different medium and more complex) that have been created entirely by students (not professionals) in a month's time. Many of these sculptures stand as tall if not taller than a 2 story house and are extremely complex not to mention beautiful to look at. The town is full during this week with people flocking in to see the statues and participate in the many events of Winter Carnival - definitely one the 2 best times to visit the KEweenaw - the 2nd being late summer of course!
There are ice fishing contests, human bowling, broom ball contests and many outdoor winter events - come and visit and you'll definitely enjoy it! Go to http://www.mtu.edu/carnival/ for pic and more info.
Cheers, Jen
Comment by Ann | Dec 18, 2006 10:05:13 PM
Yooper Rick was almost right! The sleigh ride is actually in Hillman, at Thunderbay Golf Resort. And he's right about the elk - you are taken through the snow covered (hopefully) back part of the course for Elk viewing - they are beauts. Then you go to a cabin where you are treated to a multicourse meal cooked on an old wood stove.
I would have to give a nod to Higgins Lake to the tip up festival. It's quite the shindig!!
Comment by JGolden | Dec 18, 2006 10:32:19 PM
Speaking as a city girl, winter for me is always a trip to the Plymouth Ice Festival, we've also enjoyed what Greenfield Village does this time of year.
But in all honesty, winter just isn't my season. Maybe it's the gray skies, maybe it's the biting wind, but give me a cozy blanket, my warm jammies and I'm a happy girl.
Comment by Yooper Rick | Dec 19, 2006 12:41:51 AM
Thanks for the Info Ann :)
And Jen
Your so right ON! I have had the best of times at the MTU Ice Carnival good move.
Comment by Rox | Dec 19, 2006 12:10:42 PM
I love living where there are four seasons, even though I am not a real winter enthusiast. I AM dreaming (and wishing) for a white Christmas, however. So Merry Christmas, Susan (and all you faithful bloggers). And enjoy the winter here in Michigan, no matter how it turns out!!!
Comment by BW | Dec 19, 2006 4:56:46 PM
Pine Mountain Ski-jumping Tournaments in Iron Mountain. It's a great big tailgate party in the middle of Feb.watching world class athletes fly through the air. Good food, good drink great fun. Come up and check it out, eh!?
Comment by Tasha Stielstra | Dec 19, 2006 5:22:50 PM
Not only do people love winter...sled dogs do too!!! Come on up to the Eastern Upper Peninsula where the sled dogs play!! Nature's Kennel (www.natureskennel.com) is home to 120 beautiful Alaskan Huskies where we teach people to drive their own sled dog teams and enjoy the thrill of winter!! Don't feel like driving this far? We will also give sled dog rides at Boyne Highlands Ski Resort this winter in Harbor Springs...the dogs LOVE winter and so do WE!!
Comment by Nancy | Dec 20, 2006 12:31:26 PM
My students in the fourth grade are busy writing letters to convince you to visit South Haven during February for our winterfest. They specifically want you to see our new ice skating pavillion in our downtown park area. We sure hope you will consider us when you go on tour!
Comment by Pat | Dec 21, 2006 10:09:55 AM
Well, there's always the outhouse races in Trenary during the last week of February.
Comment by Cynthia | Dec 27, 2006 7:30:05 AM
I read your column a couple weeks ago about finding life in the dead of winter, and it made me think of my years that I spent living in the U.P., where I went to college at Michigan Tech. I love snow, and the winters we have here in Ann Arbor are often a real bummer to me - especially this year's "Green Christmas". Coincidentially, I got an email from a friend of mine from my MTU days, Dean Woodbeck, who currently lives in the Keweenaw peninsula. We both agree it would be great to show you two wonderful U.P. customs - the Finnish sauna and cross country skiing. Would you be able to pay him a visit? If my schedule works out, perhaps I can join you. I miss the snow!
I also have some great Copper Country memories of winter picnics while cross country skiing on the MTU trails, or there are some wonderful trails all over the Keweenaw. Cross country skiing downstate pales in comparison. The Keweenaw has enough terrain to win over even your most die hard "downhill skiing" friends, and yet there's something for everyone. Afterward, partake in the ritual Finnish sauna (pronounced SOW-na). In the U.P. this is a weekly cultural tradition - for some more information and some photos, check it out here: http://www.pasty.com/discus/messages/1853/1864.html. It's great for your skin, and you will feel so warm. You can cool off by walking around outside - many even take a roll in the snow while you are steaming.
I hope you can check it out. Hopefully, I can join you.
Comment by Beverly Stroh | Dec 29, 2006 5:47:44 PM
Dear Susan,
You may find it odd that a Tennessee native is responding to this blog. I would love to have the resource down here that you folks have in February - the U.P. 200, Midnight Run and Jack Pine 30 sled dog races. Did you know that this year they have received entries from Oregon, Montana, Kentucky and even Switzerland!
On behalf of the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association, please accept this invitation to join us as our guest at the 2007 races. Let me know if you are interested and I'll send you a media package.
Sincerely,
Beverly Stroh
Rockwood, Tennessee
Webmaster, http://www.up200.org
Comment by Nancy | Jan 6, 2007 9:32:59 AM
Hi Susan
Come visit us at The Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore in Munising! Winter doesn't bother us up in the U.P. when you can be warm and cozy in our renovated century old building! We've still got the original tin walls but we've added beautiful new western red cedar and enough shelf space for 50,000 new and used books. You can sit in our comfy sofas and enjoy the aroma and taste of good coffee and delicious soups. Meet some of our local "mug club" members who come in to enjoy their 50 cent coffees. Enjoy some live music or an art class or two. On Saturday, January 13th you can meet a mysterious and spooky author! Jonathan Rand, the author of the wildly popular MICHIGAN CHILLERS (over 2 million copies in print) will be here to sign books for children from 4-6 pm. Free bookmarks too! He will also be conducting a writer's workshop for adults in the morning from 9-11 am. Hope to see you there!
Nancy Dwyer
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