Hiking the Atlas Dynamite Site
Most of last week turned out to be more like May than mid-March. The snow was completely gone from the yard and the lake was free of ice out in front of the sauna. The weather was so nice (in the 50s) that I actually got out for a run in shorts on both Monday and Friday. The nice weather also provided a great opportunity to put a big dent in the needed log splitting. Our neighbor Eero helped by moving our log splitter from our garage to the backyard with his four-wheeler. When I wasn’t grant writing, or doing other township or Remote Workforce Keweenaw work, splitting our large accumulation of cut up logs from our fallen trees was a great diversion.
This pile would get considerably larger than this by the end of week and have us in a great position to supply both the sauna stove and the fire pit for the coming Airbnb season.
Phil Sladek from Early Bird Construction would also start work on finishing the lower level of our garage with significant progress completed by the week’s end.
The rest of the week was a mix of meetings and setting up more meetings to advance progress on our many community related projects. Township Supervisor Dave Mattson and I discussed the vision for the Chassell waterfront. I briefed Casey Huckins at MTU on what we learned from Mike Soumis at the planning commission meeting about past trout spawning on Hamar Creek as we look toward a potential brook trout restoration project. Mat Moore and I met with an electrician on the re-wiring, lighting retrofit, and stairlift power for the Chassell Heritage Center that will be the subject of the grant proposal I am developing for the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission. Brian Waters and I would look over the current outdoor restrooms as a potential location for Portage Paddle Sports (once the indoor restrooms become accessible in conjunction with the upcoming SPARK Grant construction). I would also make contacts seeking letters of support for the grant proposals I am developing for both the Passport and Natural Resources Trust Fund through the Department of Natural Resources to further develop the canoe/kayak launch on the Sturgeon River. I also did outreach related to the remote worker networking events scheduled for Monday, March 18th in Hancock, and for Thursday, April 4th in Chassell.
Tuesday I would feature Chassell remote worker Justin Store across the Remote Workforce Keweenaw social media channels.
You can learn Justin’s remote work story on the Remote Workforce Keweenaw Facebook page at this link.
Last Wednesday evening would include the Chassell Township Board meeting where I would gain board approval for $9,000 of match to support the demolition of the former Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at the entrance to the cemetery. The county has included that property on a list of thirteen properties in need of demolition/clean-up and has $545,000 available for that purpose. Since the demolition cost estimate for all of these buildings exceeds $700,000, this match will help close the gap. The cost estimate for the demolition/clean-up of the church site is $41,000. I also gained board approval of the Blight Mitigation Fund agreement with the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Once approved by their board, this program will provide an avenue for local citizens and interested individuals to contribute to the fund which can then be accessed through a grant application process by home owners in the community who cannot afford to address blight conditions with their homes. I would also gain board approval of a resolution supporting the Passport and Natural Resources Trust Fund grant proposals I am developing to the Department of Natural Resources for the further development of the canoe/kayak launch on the Sturgeon River. I would also advise the board of the Planning Commission’s unanimous approval of site plan submitted by Dan Palosaari and James Marusich for the redevelopment of the Chassell Mercantile site as well as the commission’s unanimous approval of a motion to recommend to the Zoning Board of Review that it approve the parking variance on the project when it comes forward.
Thursday, Julie and I would celebrate our tenth anniversary with an outstanding dinner at Sky Sushi in Houghton. We had a nice discussion with Curly about their acquisition of the Kirkish Building and their plan to relocate the restaurant there.
Friday morning we got over to the pool at MTU where I did a 2,000 yard pull and 300 yards of drill. I am still trying to rehab my IT band through stretching and going easier on both the swimming and the running. The stretching seems to be paying off as the start of Friday evening’s run on the rail-trail started a whole lot better than it did on Monday.
Saturday, snow actually returned to the Keweenaw! I would spend the day getting caught up on a photobook project I had been putting off. In the evening we would join our friends Erik and Kara for a bowling event at the Mine Shaft in Houghton to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters. I would like to extend a big thanks to those who contributed to sponsor us!
Sunday we would join our hiking group for a hike at the site of the Atlas Dynamite facilities near Senter. We would hike approximately 3.6 miles checking out this former industrial complex that produced explosives for the local mines.
You can see my GoPro video from the hike at this link to the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel:
Do you embrace winter and have the ability to work remotely? Consider locating in the Keweenaw where you will find ubiquitous natural beauty, no congestion, and lower crime! Not sure? Come UP for a workcation to check it out! Learn how at Visit Keweenaw at https://www.visitkeweenaw.com/plan/trip-ideas-itineraries/workcations/ Visit Remote Workforce Keweenaw at https://remoteworkforcekeweenaw.com. Learn about those making the decision to locate here by following the Remote Workforce Keweenaw Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RemoteWorkforceKeweenaw.