Winter Carnival and a Hike to Horseshoe Harbor
Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures and extremely lean amount of snow so far this winter, snow statues were still constructed during MTU’s Winter Carnival. As has been tradition, the Keweenaw Running Group run this past Wednesday took us through the MTU campus to check out student progress on snow statues at the All-Nighter.
We then ran along the Houghton waterfront before circling back through downtown Houghton before heading back up to the SDC.
Thursday evening the Chassell Township Planning Commission hosted a public hearing ahead of our normal Planning Commission meeting to gain input on our planned grant proposal to the MDNR under either the Passport or Natural Resources Trust Fund programs to further develop the canoe/kayak launch at the US 41 bridge over the Sturgeon River. Our current planned scope would include adding a pit toilet, improving the parking, adding trash/recycle receptacles, adding a barbecue, improving the parking area, and improving the entrance so we can sign its presence on US 41. We only had two members of the public attend the hearing, but we received helpful input regarding the US 41 entrance.
Highlights from the Planning Commission meeting included receiving Doug Hamar’s okay to work with the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area (KISMA) on a project to remediate the buckthorn along the Chassell Historic Trail and to introduce native species to compete with the buckthorn. Doug also provided approval to reach out to Casey Huckins at MTU about seeking Casey’s guidance on how we might go about recovering the former creek channel connecting Hamar Creek to the lake to help support the development of brook trout habitat. Flooding over many decades has turned the creek into a meander into a wetland instead of a free-flowing creek that provides access to native fish. The Commission also final reviewed and made final edits to a rental property registration form that we called for in our most recent revision of the zoning ordinance. We also discussed plans for the winter oval on Pike Bay starting next winter.
Friday started with a 2,200 yard swim and follow-up calls and email correspondence with local units of government downstate that have acquired CD3 boat wash system like the kind we are seeking with the help of a grant being pursued by KISMA. This project would help control the spread of invasive species like milfoil from and to Portage Lake.
Saturday I followed up with Sigrid Resh at KISMA about the okay to move forward on the buckthorn remediation project on the Historic Trail. I also reached out to Chassell Township Schools Superintendent Marco Guidotti about the possibility of involving students with the project. I reached out to Chassell Volunteer Fire Department Chief Curt Judson to see if the fire department could help the project with a controlled burn of the buckthorn that is cut in the course of the project. I reached out to Casey Huckins about the possibility of receiving guidance from him on the Hamar Creek project and he indicated yes. Our plan is to get together with Casey on this in March. Finally, I shared information with John Arnold the Historic Architect with the Keweenaw National Historical Park about another type that I had learned about from Connie Julien that we might consider for the Chassell Heritage Center.
Sunday started with an easy going 3.5 mile run through Chassell in a light snow. We then headed out for Calumet where we would meet up with our hiking group before driving on up to Copper Harbor for a 5.4-mile hike from the end of US 41 out to Horseshoe Harbor and back. The conditions were such that we only needed cleats and not snowshoes for the hike.
You can check out 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