Spring Waterfalling

High barometric pressure has continued to dominate the weather pattern here in the Keweenaw. We have continued to enjoy clear blue skies with no rain, temperatures as high as the upper 80s, and no mosquitoes!

Last Wednesday would start with a 3,000 yard swim at the MTU pool and then I would head up to Calumet for a Keweenaw National Historical Park Heritage Site meeting in my role as President of the Chassell Historical Organization. These meetings are always very informative and provide us the opportunity to keep our fellow sites and the KNHP briefed on what we have going on. While I was up in Calumet, Phil Sladek from Early Bird Construction would install a new lake-facing window in our sauna’s changing room which provides a much better view of the water.

Thursday would be focused on preparing for that evening’s Chassell Recreation Committee and Chassell Township Planning Commission meetings. The Recreation Committee meeting would be focused on developing priority projects for Misslitz Field which is a high priority in our MDNR 5-Year Recreation Plan. There were many project updates to be given at the Planning Commission meeting. Most noteworthy among these: the Chassell Mercantile project is expected to get underway the last week of May; the demolition/clean-up of the former Holy Trinity Lutheran Church site is expected to take place soon; now that the snow is gone, I am working to coordinate a follow up meeting with Kris Nault at MDNR to review Hamar Creek for a potential brook trout restoration project; Steve Spahn had coordinated with the Chassell Township Schools on the care for the disc golf course this summer; the Centennial Park pavilion restroom project being carried out by DP Construction under the MDNR Spark Grant is making good progress and is on schedule for timely completion; we will meet this month with Matt Lubejko from EGLE to discuss permit requirements for the establishment of a marina on the property recently acquired by the township just to the south of the off-leash dog park; we will be seeking approval from the board to place a portable toilet at the Sturgeon River launch (we have two grant proposals pending before the MDNR which in part would help fund a vault toilet for the site); MDOT is getting ready to issue an RFP to remove the balance of the rails between Arnheim and Chassell after the 1.3 miles of rail removed earlier this year; we appear to have been unsuccessful in our attempt to receive funding for the mountain biking skills park under the Visit Keweenaw Destination Development Grant program, so we will approach the Township Board for approval to seek a Go Fund Me campaign to cover the costs not covered by what the board has already approved from the recreation millage; and, since we have not received feedback yet from the EGLE or the MDNR on whether we can draw water from the lake for our proposed splash pad, we will likely not be proceeding with a full proposal to the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation at this time.

Friday would start with a 2,900-yard swim at MTU and then Julie and I would head down to the North Country Trail to do a 4-mile hike along the Sturgeon River to Tibbets Falls and Oren Krumm Shelter and back.

The temperature for the hike was unseasonably warm in the mid-80s. With no rain for so long, the forest was incredibly dry and presenting a serious fire hazard.

Between the falls and the Oren Krumm Shelter we came across scars from the 2007 Baraga Bump Fire which was a controlled burn that got out of control.

We did not encounter any mosquitoes, but we did pick up three ticks along the way. You can see my GoPro video from the hike on the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel at this link:

Underlining the current fire danger, we came across the Chassell Volunteer Fire Department fighting a brush fire along US 41 to the south of town. They were able to protect an adjoining business and home from the blaze.

Saturday morning, I would get out for a 4-mile rail-trail run at an 8:45/mile pace. Later, Julie and I would get out for a 1.6-mile walk to Centennial Park.

That evening we would go to a potluck dinner at our friend Beth’s place where our friend Kim was presenting on hikes she had done in Iceland and on the Camino in Portugal and Spain.

Sunday, we went hiking with our hiking group to Queen Anne’s Falls and Scales Creek Falls near Copper City. After a break from the hot temperatures on Saturday, the temperature was into the upper 80s on Sunday afternoon. A strong breeze made the heat tolerable.

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

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.