More Snow and Northern Lights

I am taking a quick break from the Finland recap to get you up to speed on happenings here in the Keweenaw!

It was late on Sunday afternoon and we had a snowstorm moving when I reported last. We ended up taking a pass on swimming that following Monday morning as we had about ten inches of snow to groom on the Chassell Classic Ski Trail. Jim Vaught and I got out there to tackle it at 9:15 a.m. The snow was very heavy and full of moisture. We would roll behind the Gator and then make another pass with the Gator pulling the Ginzu with the Polaris following setting tracks.

The whole process would take about two and a half hours.

The rest of the day was spent moving snow and then going to a late afternoon Hancock Trails Club nominating committee meeting at KC Bonkers in Hancock with John Diebel and Ian Helman.

We would pick up at least another couple of inches of snow going into Tuesday. Jim and I made the decision to get out and groom at 8:00 a.m. while it was still cold. This ended up being a good decision as the Ginzu laid out a really nice flat surface.

It turned out to be a really nice day, so I was back out to ski the trail by 11:30 that morning.

You can see my GoPro video from my ski at this link to the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel:

That night when I let Red outside I noticed that the northern lights were active and caught a few shots that I slammed together in a short YouTube video at this link:

Wednesday morning we would make it over to MTU for our swim and I put in 2,800 yards. Much of my day afterwards would be dedicated to pulling materials together for grant proposals that I currently have in process. We would then attend the Chassell Lions Club meeting at 6:00 p.m.

Thursday I would work with Township Supervisor Lynn Gierke on updating our Natural Resources Trust Fund and Recreation Passport Grant proposals to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. These are focused on improving the accessibility of the Sturgeon River Kayak Launch, improving parking, and adding a vault toilet. We are hopeful that our current efforts with Visit Keweenaw, WUPPDR, the Keweenaw Land Trust, Houghton, and Hancock to revitalize the Keweenaw Water Trail and to append the Sturgeon River and Sturgeon River Sloughs will improve our proposals chances this year.

At 5:30 p.m. I would attend a Chassell Recreation Committee meeting where we would be focused on the MDNR grant proposals as well as another proposal in the works to help fund our number two priority under our MDNR 5-Year Recreation Plan which is a splash pad for Centennial Park.

Friday we would make it over to the pool at MTU to swim laps. I would get a good push from our friend Kim Green who was in the lane next to me as I got in 3,000 yards. After my swim I would be back at the township office to work with Lynn on the grant proposals. I would spend my evening watching college basketball and then enjoying the hooting of the northern horned owls outside our house after the Purdue/Houston game.

Saturday, Julie went snowshoeing with our friend Sue on the Chassell Trails and I headed over to MTU to get in a ski. The glide and grip were both super and I put in just over a five-mile ski. I forgot to take my phone with me, so I have no Strava results to back it up. I hate not documenting my skis and runs. It is like it did not happen if I did not document it on a device. Somehow that has not extended to swimming yet, but I am sure I will break down and get something to track that effort as well.

We would get more snow going into Sunday which resulted in some excellent skiing conditions at Swedetown where our hiking/skiing group met up. There is still two feet of base there and here we were getting more snow on March 30th! You can check out that GoPro action on the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel at this link:

We ended up getting another eight inches of snow on the Chassell Trails that would need to be dealt with on Monday. First, Julie and I would get over to the pool and I would put in 2,500 yards. I then got over to the township office a little after 10:00 a.m. Lynn and I would wrap up the work on the grant proposals with the exception of the updated resolution that would be addressed by a special meeting of the township board at 5:00 p.m. Before that, I would get out on the trail with Steve Spahn. We made the decision to roll the trail first. It was so firm and even that we decided that I would just track it with the Polaris. The temperature stayed cold enough that we did not seem to incur too much melting.

It’s 19 degrees right now so hopefully it will set up nicely for skiing on Tuesday!

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.