Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 03/26
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports –
The forecast includes a chance for light rain in the Keweenaw and warmer temps again for a few days. Trails are still holding up well for late season riding, however getting in and out of any towns become increasingly more difficult as the roads are bare. It is very difficult to pass through Houghton/Hancock.
Jay Piotrowski and family spent the day riding trails in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula and this is the report he gave of the trails they were on……
“Riding was great today only bad spot was 134 spur to High Rock. Looks like groomer may have gotten stuck up at high rock last time they groomed. Other than that 134 was flat and fast. 3 from Vansville to Copper was great ….there was still enough snow and water in Copper Harbor for my scratchers to throw and keep me cool getting into town. 124 was great. Around 7pm trails were getting pretty loose. Saw a groomer crossing 41 southbound in Ahmeek. Fingers crossed rain doesn’t hit hard and temps stay down.”
Thanks Jay for taking the time to update us with a trail report. If anyone else is out riding the area please feel free to share a report on conditions and/or photos!
<>
Conditions as of March 25, 2019:
Most snowmobile trails from Twin Lakes to Copper Harbor are in spring condition. The edges on the trails are soft, please use caution. Trail 122 has several flooded areas and will be closed for the rest of the season. The west and east Lac La Belle Loops (132) will not be groomed, due to some icy stretches on hills that have made it unsafe to operate a groomer on. Those trails are still open to snowmobile traffic. As the season works towards a close, the grooming operations will be adjusted on a daily basis to accommodate the safety of our groomer operators, so riders should expect varying conditions on the trails.
Trail 120 and 121 that goes around Freda is closed for the season and will not be reopened, as well as Trail 3 from Dollar Bay to Lake Linden. You can still get to Dollar Bay by way of Hancock and to Lake Linden by way of Calumet. Trail 133 is closed for the season for logging.
Please stay on the trails, STAY OFF THE ICE, respect private property, do not drink and drive, and above all else, drive safely. The signs on the trails are there for rider’s safety so please DO NOT remove or destroy them.
Snowfall & Weather:
Snowfall in the Keweenaw Peninsula: No new snow with 35 inches of snow on the ground, 262 inches have fallen to date as of 3/26/2019.
Today’s forecast: Cloudy, high 41, low 32
Wednesday’s forecast: Cloudy, high 48, low 35
Thursday’s forecast: Cloudy, high 39 low 26
Friday’s forecast: Cloudy, high 37, low 23
Saturday’s forecast: Cloudy, high 27, low 20
<>
Keweenaw Trail Reports on Facebook >>>>
<>
Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau Website >>>>
<>
Western & Southern UP Snow Reports on Facebook >>>>
<>
Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
Well, it's kind of a weather report and a neat bird.
Sounds great perch! Maybe I will stop on out!
Definitely an American Bittern. They are quite common, though hard to see, small herons that hang out in wet marshy areas, like ditches.
Elizabeth Peterson had a post the other day about a bird she saw that looks like this one. I believe she said it was an American Brittern. She had pictures on her FB page.
Lake Fanny Hooe Resort & Campground is located right on the picturesque Lake Fanny Hooe and is only 4-miles from Lake Superior. Lake Fanny Hooe is over 225 acres and has a max depth of 40 feet.
Lodging accommodations include cottages, lakefront motel, and chalets. Please let them know ahead of time if you plan on bringing your dog---they do have lodging options that are pet-friendly. 🐾
Fun activities to do here include renting a boat, fishing, hiking, walking to town for some shopping, s'mores around a campfire, biking, sitting in the clubhouse around the fireplace--enjoying some local microbrew while shooting the breeze with friends...
Reservations/more info:
www.keweenaw.info/member-detail/lake-fanny-hooe/
The Legend of Lake Fanny Hooe revolves around a young woman who disappeared while berry picking and, depending on the source, was kidnapped by Indians, a bear grabbed her and carried her off, or she fell into the lake and drowned. The likelihood of any of these tragic events is pretty unlikely as there is evidence this particular young woman left Ft. Wilkins, married, and had children. There is a more interesting story...a factual story.. regarding her nephew Mortimer who was born in Keweenaw County which I'll put down below....
Daniel Ruggles was the son of Gardner and Lydia Ruggles. He graduated from West Point in 1833.
Eleven years later, when the Army ordered Lieutenant Ruggles to "the frontier" at Copper Harbor, he was a veteran of the Second Seminole War in Florida and had served in Wisconsin.
Getting the Ruggles family to Fort Wilkins was a challenge; most assigned there traveled by ship from Detroit, a journey of at least 18 days.
But, Great Lakes navigation had to be suspended with the onset of winter. Garrison commander Capt. Fergus Walker wrote: "Snow piled four-feet deep with drifts often reaching 10-feet. ... In order to reach my post in due time, I traveled one-hundred-and-twenty-miles on foot through snow sometimes waist deep." 😮
The fort could "be supplied only by lake transportation during the shipping season, about six months of the year," Walker wrote. "Mail carriers," he said, "trekked 250 miles overland on dog sleds to Fort Howard in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and back again to deliver military orders. Soldiers might wait 20 to 30 days to receive mail from home and sometimes went months without pay."
When the Ruggles family arrived they were joined by the sister of Mrs. Richardetta Ruggles, Fanny. Life was certainly not easy for the family as noted in these journal entries:
"Order No. 19, dated Nov. 13, 1844, states: "It has been reported to the commanding officer that the practice of gambling prevails to a considerable extent among the enlisted men of the garrison. This must be discontinued and hereafter every species of this pernicious practice is strictly prohibited."
Oct. 4, 1844, he wrote: "The schooner has just arrived bringing 3 barrels of sugar." Another entry indicated that fresh food often spoiled before it reached the outpost.
Conditions were difficult for man and beast. In 1844, Ruggles also ordered "eight oxen slaughtered" because the garrison had insufficient shelter and feed to keep the animals alive through winter.
Another interesting fact---not part of the legend, is of Fanny's nephew, the son of Daniel and Richardetta, who was born in Keweenaw County...Mortimer Ruggles. Mortimer assisted John Wilkes Booth in his daring escape, after Booth had assassinated President Abraham Lincoln!!! Mortimer was arrested and sent to Old Capital Prison in Washington, DC. He was released under general amnesty declared by President Andrew Johnson....
Read story about Daniel Ruggles and life at Ft. Wilkins here: www.masslive.com/living/2016/11/lollygaggerlarge_mining_wmass_history_at_the_edge_of_lake_superio...
For more info on Mortimer Ruggles & his part in helping John Will Booth, he's in many books on Lincoln's assassination (e.g. Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by Edward Steers), Smithsonian archives, etc.
Legendary World Champion Freestyle BMX rider, Taj Mihelich, retired from his pro BMX days to come live & hang out here in the Copper Country. Taj is considered one of the most "influential BMX riders of the golden era of BMX", and he has written a childrens book--- "Bernie The Bike Builder". #coppercountry
| TAJ MIHELICH: Bernie The Bike Builder – Info & Giveaway
rideukbmx.com
Under the hood with Taj and his new book, a bicycle story for all ages!
Thanks Kiko! That is very kind of you! I just hung all the original paintings and set up some books at Rhythm Bike & Board Co.
Taj Mihelich
That one time Michigan Tech University's freshman class had a nightshirt parade to Hancock's St. Joseph's School of Nursing...and got banned from setting foot in Hancock. The newspaper headline was "Frosh Run Wild!".
After the nightshirt parade of 1957, during what was called "Frosh Week", the school put an end to the late-night parade shenanigans which had been a tradition for many years...
During the early days at Michigan Tech, founded in 1888 as the Michigan Mining School, students lived off-campus (as there was no on-campus room & board). Most students rented rooms at private homes in East Houghton. Some students belonged to fraternities. The first fraternity was Sigma Rho’s Alpha Chapter, founded in 1892, it was also the first professional mining fraternity in the U.S. Food service was non-existent. The first on-campus dormitory was built in 1939 amid many in the community upset about losing the "town and gown" contact with students.
130 years ago, the 1889 Campus Rules included: No laughing, whistling, singing, or other disorderly conduct during school hours. Attend all classes, labs, and lectures or don't graduate. (MTU Centennial). If you broke a rule....goodbye and good luck, eh!
"Hi, there, waiter, Stein! Big beers! MCM engineers! Bevel gears! Devil keers! What the he*l....engineers!"
-Student cheer heard often at skating parties, picnics, and sporting events...during the school's early days.
#michigantech #wednesday
Source: 1985 MTU Centennial/MTU Archives
My dad graduated from Michigan Tech in 1942. 😎
I spent three summers there, Carl! Calumet, and Copper Harbor. I was just there two weeks ago in Hancock and Houghton and Gratiot Lake for a family friend’s passing.
As a freshman in Fall, 1959, I remember our class trip very vividly, don’t recall any ban! But I don’t recall any in my final 5 years there!
I remember when I was in 5th grade or so MTU Freshman would attack upper class men at Mont Ripley tomato fight where frosh started at bottom and tried to work up. Once we kids asked the frosh if we could join them. After some hesitation they said OK but stay behind us. But that was our plan. We had our old rotten tomatoes started tossing them at the frosh men and then ran like hell to safety in the other direction.
FYI......Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association (MISORVA)
Press Release
This announcement is to communicate that the Michigan Snowmobile Association, Inc. (MSA) in a General Membership meeting Saturday May 18, 2019, by a majority vote of its present membership, adopted new by-laws that is to include representing both Snowmobile & ORV riders as an association in the State of Michigan. As of this point forward MSA shall be known as Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association, Inc. (MISORVA).
The Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association, Inc. is hoping to have the ORV owners, Clubs and groups in Michigan join MISORVA in being the voice of Motorized Recreation within Michigan’s Snowmobile & ORV trail systems. Both Snowmobile & ORV representation has been reorganized, MISORVA will have a possible 81 Delegates as the Board of Directors to decide the direction of MISORVA. The current Executive Board of Officers will remain in place until the next election cycle in October. The State will be divided into 9 geographical Districts with a possible 9 Directors from each District to form the 81 member Board of Directors. There will be meetings in each of the 9 Districts in the month of June to nominate Delegates with voting rights in each District.
All current MSA memberships will automatically transfer to membership in the Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association. See District Meeting dates below.
June 11 District 7 - Rich Twp Hall 8482 N. Lapeer Rd., Mayville
June 12 District 9 - Bedford Area Lions Club 22116 N Bedford Rd Battle Creek MI 49017
June 17 District 8 - Holiday Inn Big Rapids Hotel,1005 Perry Ave Big Rapids, MI 49307
June 18 District 6 - Evergreen Resort 7880 Mackinaw Trail Cadillac, MI 49601
June 19 District 5 - Ogemaw Township Hall 1990 Gray Rd., West Branch 48861
June 20 District 4 - ~ Holiday Inn Express 525 Dickerson Rd Gaylord Mi 49735
June 24 District 1 - Interior Twp Hall 103 Old M-28, Trout Creek MI 49967
June 25 District 2 - Mathias Township Hall E2997 State Rd 67 Trenary Mi 49891
June 26 District 3 - Pentland Township Hall Township Hall M-28 W, Newberry, MI 49868
Jim Kelts
President
Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association
www.msasnow.org
Load more
Well, it's kind of a weather report and a neat bird.
Sounds great perch! Maybe I will stop on out!
Definitely an American Bittern. They are quite common, though hard to see, small herons that hang out in wet marshy areas, like ditches.
Elizabeth Peterson had a post the other day about a bird she saw that looks like this one. I believe she said it was an American Brittern. She had pictures on her FB page.
Lake Fanny Hooe Resort & Campground is located right on the picturesque Lake Fanny Hooe and is only 4-miles from Lake Superior. Lake Fanny Hooe is over 225 acres and has a max depth of 40 feet.
Lodging accommodations include cottages, lakefront motel, and chalets. Please let them know ahead of time if you plan on bringing your dog---they do have lodging options that are pet-friendly. 🐾
Fun activities to do here include renting a boat, fishing, hiking, walking to town for some shopping, s'mores around a campfire, biking, sitting in the clubhouse around the fireplace--enjoying some local microbrew while shooting the breeze with friends...
Reservations/more info:
www.keweenaw.info/member-detail/lake-fanny-hooe/
The Legend of Lake Fanny Hooe revolves around a young woman who disappeared while berry picking and, depending on the source, was kidnapped by Indians, a bear grabbed her and carried her off, or she fell into the lake and drowned. The likelihood of any of these tragic events is pretty unlikely as there is evidence this particular young woman left Ft. Wilkins, married, and had children. There is a more interesting story...a factual story.. regarding her nephew Mortimer who was born in Keweenaw County which I'll put down below....
Daniel Ruggles was the son of Gardner and Lydia Ruggles. He graduated from West Point in 1833.
Eleven years later, when the Army ordered Lieutenant Ruggles to "the frontier" at Copper Harbor, he was a veteran of the Second Seminole War in Florida and had served in Wisconsin.
Getting the Ruggles family to Fort Wilkins was a challenge; most assigned there traveled by ship from Detroit, a journey of at least 18 days.
But, Great Lakes navigation had to be suspended with the onset of winter. Garrison commander Capt. Fergus Walker wrote: "Snow piled four-feet deep with drifts often reaching 10-feet. ... In order to reach my post in due time, I traveled one-hundred-and-twenty-miles on foot through snow sometimes waist deep." 😮
The fort could "be supplied only by lake transportation during the shipping season, about six months of the year," Walker wrote. "Mail carriers," he said, "trekked 250 miles overland on dog sleds to Fort Howard in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and back again to deliver military orders. Soldiers might wait 20 to 30 days to receive mail from home and sometimes went months without pay."
When the Ruggles family arrived they were joined by the sister of Mrs. Richardetta Ruggles, Fanny. Life was certainly not easy for the family as noted in these journal entries:
"Order No. 19, dated Nov. 13, 1844, states: "It has been reported to the commanding officer that the practice of gambling prevails to a considerable extent among the enlisted men of the garrison. This must be discontinued and hereafter every species of this pernicious practice is strictly prohibited."
Oct. 4, 1844, he wrote: "The schooner has just arrived bringing 3 barrels of sugar." Another entry indicated that fresh food often spoiled before it reached the outpost.
Conditions were difficult for man and beast. In 1844, Ruggles also ordered "eight oxen slaughtered" because the garrison had insufficient shelter and feed to keep the animals alive through winter.
Another interesting fact---not part of the legend, is of Fanny's nephew, the son of Daniel and Richardetta, who was born in Keweenaw County...Mortimer Ruggles. Mortimer assisted John Wilkes Booth in his daring escape, after Booth had assassinated President Abraham Lincoln!!! Mortimer was arrested and sent to Old Capital Prison in Washington, DC. He was released under general amnesty declared by President Andrew Johnson....
Read story about Daniel Ruggles and life at Ft. Wilkins here: www.masslive.com/living/2016/11/lollygaggerlarge_mining_wmass_history_at_the_edge_of_lake_superio...
For more info on Mortimer Ruggles & his part in helping John Will Booth, he's in many books on Lincoln's assassination (e.g. Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by Edward Steers), Smithsonian archives, etc.
Legendary World Champion Freestyle BMX rider, Taj Mihelich, retired from his pro BMX days to come live & hang out here in the Copper Country. Taj is considered one of the most "influential BMX riders of the golden era of BMX", and he has written a childrens book--- "Bernie The Bike Builder". #coppercountry
| TAJ MIHELICH: Bernie The Bike Builder – Info & Giveaway
rideukbmx.com
Under the hood with Taj and his new book, a bicycle story for all ages!
Thanks Kiko! That is very kind of you! I just hung all the original paintings and set up some books at Rhythm Bike & Board Co.
Taj Mihelich
That one time Michigan Tech University's freshman class had a nightshirt parade to Hancock's St. Joseph's School of Nursing...and got banned from setting foot in Hancock. The newspaper headline was "Frosh Run Wild!".
After the nightshirt parade of 1957, during what was called "Frosh Week", the school put an end to the late-night parade shenanigans which had been a tradition for many years...
During the early days at Michigan Tech, founded in 1888 as the Michigan Mining School, students lived off-campus (as there was no on-campus room & board). Most students rented rooms at private homes in East Houghton. Some students belonged to fraternities. The first fraternity was Sigma Rho’s Alpha Chapter, founded in 1892, it was also the first professional mining fraternity in the U.S. Food service was non-existent. The first on-campus dormitory was built in 1939 amid many in the community upset about losing the "town and gown" contact with students.
130 years ago, the 1889 Campus Rules included: No laughing, whistling, singing, or other disorderly conduct during school hours. Attend all classes, labs, and lectures or don't graduate. (MTU Centennial). If you broke a rule....goodbye and good luck, eh!
"Hi, there, waiter, Stein! Big beers! MCM engineers! Bevel gears! Devil keers! What the he*l....engineers!"
-Student cheer heard often at skating parties, picnics, and sporting events...during the school's early days.
#michigantech #wednesday
Source: 1985 MTU Centennial/MTU Archives
My dad graduated from Michigan Tech in 1942. 😎
I spent three summers there, Carl! Calumet, and Copper Harbor. I was just there two weeks ago in Hancock and Houghton and Gratiot Lake for a family friend’s passing.
As a freshman in Fall, 1959, I remember our class trip very vividly, don’t recall any ban! But I don’t recall any in my final 5 years there!
I remember when I was in 5th grade or so MTU Freshman would attack upper class men at Mont Ripley tomato fight where frosh started at bottom and tried to work up. Once we kids asked the frosh if we could join them. After some hesitation they said OK but stay behind us. But that was our plan. We had our old rotten tomatoes started tossing them at the frosh men and then ran like hell to safety in the other direction.
FYI......Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association (MISORVA)
Press Release
This announcement is to communicate that the Michigan Snowmobile Association, Inc. (MSA) in a General Membership meeting Saturday May 18, 2019, by a majority vote of its present membership, adopted new by-laws that is to include representing both Snowmobile & ORV riders as an association in the State of Michigan. As of this point forward MSA shall be known as Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association, Inc. (MISORVA).
The Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association, Inc. is hoping to have the ORV owners, Clubs and groups in Michigan join MISORVA in being the voice of Motorized Recreation within Michigan’s Snowmobile & ORV trail systems. Both Snowmobile & ORV representation has been reorganized, MISORVA will have a possible 81 Delegates as the Board of Directors to decide the direction of MISORVA. The current Executive Board of Officers will remain in place until the next election cycle in October. The State will be divided into 9 geographical Districts with a possible 9 Directors from each District to form the 81 member Board of Directors. There will be meetings in each of the 9 Districts in the month of June to nominate Delegates with voting rights in each District.
All current MSA memberships will automatically transfer to membership in the Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association. See District Meeting dates below.
June 11 District 7 - Rich Twp Hall 8482 N. Lapeer Rd., Mayville
June 12 District 9 - Bedford Area Lions Club 22116 N Bedford Rd Battle Creek MI 49017
June 17 District 8 - Holiday Inn Big Rapids Hotel,1005 Perry Ave Big Rapids, MI 49307
June 18 District 6 - Evergreen Resort 7880 Mackinaw Trail Cadillac, MI 49601
June 19 District 5 - Ogemaw Township Hall 1990 Gray Rd., West Branch 48861
June 20 District 4 - ~ Holiday Inn Express 525 Dickerson Rd Gaylord Mi 49735
June 24 District 1 - Interior Twp Hall 103 Old M-28, Trout Creek MI 49967
June 25 District 2 - Mathias Township Hall E2997 State Rd 67 Trenary Mi 49891
June 26 District 3 - Pentland Township Hall Township Hall M-28 W, Newberry, MI 49868
Jim Kelts
President
Michigan Snowmobile & ORV Association
www.msasnow.org
<>
Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 04/11
- Munising Area Trail Report – 04/05
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 04/04
- Sault Ste. Marie Trail Report – 04/04
- Paradise Area Trail Report – 04/02
- Munising Area Trail Report – 04/01
- Grand Marais Trail Report – Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. – 04/01
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 04/01
- Grand Marais Trail Report – Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. – 03/31
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 03/31
- Munising Area Trail Report – 03/31
- Sault Ste. Marie Trail Report – 03/30
- Grand Marais Trail Report – Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. – 03/30
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 03/30
- Lake Gogebic Trail Report – 03/29
- Munising Area Trail Report – 03/29
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 03/29
- Grand Marais Trail Report – Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. – 03/29
- Munising Area Trail Report – 03/28
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 03/28
- Sault Ste. Marie Trail Report – 03/28
- Lake Gogebic Trail Report – 03/27
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 03/27
- Grand Marais Trail Report – Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. – 03/27
- Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 03/26
- Grand Marais Trail Report – Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. – 03/26
- Sidnaw / Bruce Crossing Trail Report – Sno Valley Riders Snowmobile Club – 03/26
- Frederic / Gaylord Area Trail Report – Sledheads of Frederic – 03/26
<>