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My daughter announced this morning, “The sun never shines in Houghton anymore.”  That’s an exaggeration of course, but it is certainly true that January can be a difficult month on the Keweenaw Peninsula.  The Holiday festivities are over, Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival is still a month away, and it’s way too early in the year to even be thinking about when we might see leaves or grass again.  To make matters worse, it’s also the snowiest month (actually the wettest month of the whole year with an average of more than 4 inches of precipitation), which means you hardly ever see the sun.  Suffice it to say, it can really wear on a person after a while.

Fear not, intrepid winter warriors, this too shall pass.  The dark mornings with late sunrise, 8:40 a.m. at their worst, start to shift in January and you begin gaining a minute of morning daylight almost every day.  The regular snowfall of a little bit most days ensures optimal conditions for the incredible snow sports this area offers.  And if nothing else, January inevitably gives way to February, when the average precipitation is cut in half, you see more sun and the days get much longer.

To get through the month (and the season) like a pro, make plans to spend time playing outside.  It’s not enough to snuggle up by the fire with a good book; the Upper Peninsula winter is too long for that, and besides you’d be missing out on all the fun if you did.   Instead try something new: Rent some snowshoes and make your way through the woods, or head up to Swedetown in Calumet where you can sled on a groomed sledding hill or cross country ski, then take a break over hot chocolate and a board game in the facility’s chalet.

No sooner did I put up the last post about keeping the Upper Peninsula snowfall in perspective but the whole area, and particularly Houghton-Hancock and the Keweenaw, got hit by a massive blast.  This is a storm that’s getting measured in feet, not inches, and it’s been cause for comment even among the snow-tested locals.  It only seems appropriate, then, to offer the following list:

You Know It’s a Big Snowfall When

- Even the local news says it’s “worried” about the weather in your area.

- Your weather is national news.

- School is canceled.

- Your driveway gets plowed more than once in a day.

- People who’ve lived in the area for decades make comments like “this storm is something.”

- You lose track of how much snow you’ve gotten, and the prospect of another 15-32 inches in a day and a half seems manageable.

- Major landmarks — like your mailbox — start to get buried.

- And a related item, the snowplow knocks your mailbox off the post and you have to wear snowshoes to retrieve it from the snowbank (this really happened in this storm).

What additions would you make?  Got any storm stories to tell?  Leave a comment and share them here!

To the great relief of many, the snow has finally arrived in the Keweenaw.  This is a community that proudly runs on the white stuff half the year, so going all the way through November this year without any snow was at first welcome, but by the end of the month a little worrisome to those who look forward to months of snow sports:  pristine downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more.

Houghton snowfall

The concern was short-lived, however: Houghton residents woke up to 6 inches or so of new snow on Friday morning, and it just kept coming from there, as it often does in December, and so far we have as much as a couple of feet from this storm.

Upper Peninsula and specifically Houghton snowfall is the stuff of legend.  The community’s residents tell with great pride tales of annual snowfalls of as much as 400 inches, although 200-250 inches is more typical.  For those who find that thought daunting, keep in mind that that’s happening over a period of six months or so (yes, really) and most of it is lake effect snow, which is so powdery you can almost blow it off your windshield.

If you’re new to the area there are a couple of things you should understand about the snow here.  First off, in general the towns know how to handle it (main roads are usually kept well plowed, for example).  That means that you can expect to go about your daily business for the most part and won’t need to worry about rushing to the supermarket to grab the last loaf of bread or gallon of milk.  At the same time, that also means that events go on as scheduled, so plan accordingly.

The most trouble you’re likely to run into with the snow is getting out of your own driveway.  Having a snow plan is essential here, whether it’s a standing arrangement with a snowplower or your own snow blower, you’re going to need to know in advance how you’re going to get rid of your snow, and where you’re going to put it all.   The locals also know to watch out for “plow poop,” the chunky, more compact snow that city plows can push into your driveway as they go along the street.  Keep a shovel in your car, it’s easier than you think to get stuck going over those berms.

By the way, all life-as-normal bets are off when there’s a blizzard warning.  Those people do take seriously, and cancel school, performances, and even hockey games if it’s really bad.  If there’s a blizzard warning your best bet is to put on some fuzzy socks, build a fire (or turn it on, as many do here with gas fireplaces) and just enjoy watching the snow pile up.  Unless of course you work at or attend Michigan Tech, in which case you’d better get a move on or you’ll be late for class…

Did I miss anything?  What’s your favorite Houghton winter horror or glory story? Share it here.

The days are getting shorter and the leaves are showing signs of turning here and there, but the National Park Service is offering a series of deals at parks around the country to help people get the most out of what remains of the summer.

There’s a rundown of the whole list over at the National Parks Traveler blog, which is also highlighting a series of deals at Isle Royale including kayak ecotours, transportation to the park from Houghton on the Ranger III and accommodations at the island’s Rock Harbor Lodge.

These deals run out in early September at the latest, but there are several options worth taking a look at if you’ve ever considered checking out Isle Royale’s unique offerings.

For more information head on over to the Traveler or call Isle Royale National Park at (906) 337-4993.