We’re traveling from the two most famous bridges in the U.P. and places in between, through the archives and into this past weekend. Today’s shots are a little more on the “not so common” winter sightings UP North. We start back in 2003, with Susan Hooker at the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. She said a friend called her, telling her to hurry and look out her window. These Powered Parachutes are what she saw, buzzing the Bridge. That’s also one on the ice after having just landed.

Another somewhat unusual winter scene was shared in 2012, by Joe Kirkish. On that day he had shared a number of “winter laundry” shots that he’s captured around the Copper Country. Talk about “freeze dried” clothes, just don’t try to put them on as soon as they come down off the clothesline!

In 2014, Frank Paris was out on Mackinac Island with some fellow vintage snowmobile owners, touring the island. This shot in front of the Grand Hotel is pretty neat, not to mention also “not so common”, considering the age of the machines.

Then just this past weekend, Melanie Hakala Rossi and friends were out for their regular weekend snowshoe adventures in the Lac La Belle, Bete Grise area, when they came upon this igloo that Melanie figured was built by some “ski bums”. That’s Melanie inside, peeking out in the first of her shots. The second shot is one of her friends crawling out after her turn inside looking out. You just never know what you’ll encounter on your Keweenaw adventures.

We’re taking a ride around Mackinac Island in our video today, for a winter tour from 2009. If you watch it to the end, you’ll see another unique way to cross from St. Ignace to the Island in the winter.

The trip looks exciting, but maybe too exciting if
the ice opens up! But i'd still take the sleds over
bikin' over!!!

Ok I watched the video. Now I have more questions for someone to answer.
If cars are not allowed on the island why sleds?
The streets appear to be plowed just how do they do it in the winter and why? Horses?
I was under the impression that the horses left during the winter but the video shows one pulling a wagon?
Are any of the stores or lodging open during the winter on the island for the snowmobilers?
I did not see any tree markings for the safe crossing route like they do in the CC at Dreamland trail.
There are more but I will settle for these being answered for now.
Can anybody help?
Jim

There are residents that live there all year long so that makes some of the things you wondered about necessary.

I know most years they have big New Years parties, so
there must be some bars open for part of the Winter.
Not sure about hotels.

I agree it seems odd that cars aren't allowed but
sleds are.

For all you Northern Lights observers UP there. . .

A large coronal mass ejection happened last week. The Solar storm is set to hit Earth beginning tomorrow. Here's the graphical representation of the predicted aurora.

Aurora - March 14th - 16th, 2018

James, this site answers some of your questions:
https://www.mackinacisland.org/winter/

Thanks Buck

Jim
Most of the horses are taken off the Island in the winter to reduce the need for hauling feed. Same stay to provide essential transport and hauling.
Snowmobiles are an important means of transportation for the winter residents and for construction workers (winter is construction season on Mackinac). Realize that after freeze up the only way to the mainland is the ice bridge or airplane. They have snow plows on the island to keep the airport runway and roads open for residents and emergency vehicles, which they also have. During the winter they also may have construction vehicles on the island.

I knew immediately the red long johns were in a
Joe Kirkish photo.

As soon as I saw that smiling face...."THERE'S
MEL!"