No matter how many days in the archives show up with snow photos, then no snow photos, it still surprises me, since here in the Copper Country, we're somewhat used to having snow by now. We did have some in November, but that melted for the most part and we've had bare ground... until today. As this is being uploaded, we are in the middle of an absolute blizzard.

Back in 2005 we had enough snow to be out on the Swedetown trails. Brita Haapala captured this snow scene on the trail called Pine Lane. Sure is pretty with all the snow-laden branches.

Jumping ahead to 2012, that's Lake Plumbago located at the Michigan Tech Ford Forestry Center in Alberta. Not much snow on the ground and the lake was open with ice floes scattered about. Kind of an eerie looking scene with the fog hanging over everything, too.

Then in 2016, we were covered in snow again. Reece White snapped this photo of his buddies on the trail ahead of him, near his Calumet area home. Good eye for capturing winter beauty, especially since he was only 11 at the time.

The bottom photo was snapped by Barbara Bouwkamp, just 3 days ago. She called it a soft sunset over the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. If you didn't know the date it was taken, you'd never guess it was the beginning of December. I'm OK with that for now.

Having no snow on the ground doesn't stop the ski hills here in the U.P. from opening, though. Mont Ripley opened this past weekend, due to the snowmaking machines they have to put the artificial white stuff out there when nature doesn't do it. Our video today is a short one, but gives you a look at the snowmaking machines at work at Blackjack Ski Resort near Bessemer, a few years back. Pretty amazing that those machines can make enough snow to open runs at a ski hill when it hasn't snowed in a couple weeks

Interesting...some people are dumping it while the rest of us are shoveling it.
The guy in 2004 reminds me of Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen).

"UP-Goldwinger" (Alex):
" …The guy in 2004 reminds me of Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen)."

But if so, a bit "overdressed"! Hah!

I just have to share this YouTube video (posted today on the johndee.com discussion board, originally posted by Milwaukee TV station WTMJ4.).

It looks like the high winds with that blizzard have pretty much sent the Lakers scurrying for cover. As often happens, a couple have taken refuge in Bete Grise.

When I saw the video, I first thought, "Why are they filling their driveway with snow?".

Interesting deer video and I'm glad he let it go free. I guess it would be kind of hard to shoot something that wants to spoon ya? :-)

Pictures 1 & 3 are absolutely gorgeous!!

Alex:

That deer had more than a gender identity issue but also a species identity issue.

FR, Alex, D.A., that video was amazing, that guy's lucky he didn't get hurt!!