• Friday-What'sUP December 30 - 01:40 am

Just the other day someone was asking about the cross country skiing conditions in the area. I really don't have an actual report on the trails, but I did stop by Swedetown Hill in Calumet to snap a couple of shots so you'll get an idea of what it's like. The sledding hill is now covered and slippery -- just ask the little guy on the right-hand hill with the skis on. When he got to the bottom of the hill, Daddy had to come to his rescue to help him get back on his feet. Then I was lucky enough to capture a few cross country skiers heading out onto the trails, but none coming back in to ask how the conditions were. The base of snow is by no means deep, but there's at least a covering out there so that you can enjoy the thrill of the hill and the gliding of skis.

The trails at Swedetown and Michigan Tech are actually in pretty good shape, despite the low snow total for December. In fact, the trails at Tech will host the US national championship next week. You can get the latest info on area cross country skiing at the Keweenaw Trails web site.

The sledding looks like fun, especially with the warmer temperatures.

I have 2 angry Children down here, Christmas break and they can't sled. I wish it looked like that here.

I just read on the senior nationals cross country website that MTU has been hauling snow ONTO their trails from wherever they can find it !! Strange occurence to NOT have enough snow up there this time of year. Any yoopers who want to see some FAST cross country skiers this next week should head over to the trails behind the SDC.

Oh what wonderful winter memories.
We spent all day outside with our new sleds. We knew it was time to go home when we couldn't feel our toes or fingers. We would hang our frozen mittens on the "registers" and stand our snowpants up in the cellar. I can remember sledding down "Amoto's Hill" in West Hancock and also on Ingot Hill. These seemed sooooo big at the time. We would wax our sled blades with Mom's wax paper or the stubs of the left over Christmas candles.!! We even cut her new clothesline for sled ropes!! Going down the hill was always so much fun but the trek back to the top was work. On real cold days you would wear a scarf over your face and get the old "choppers" and "chooks" ready for some fun.

I rode a sled down the hill to Victoria -- talk about a ride! The walk back up though was not so fun. The hills closer to home in East Branch were awesome for sledding and tobogganing as well. I remember having bruises on my thighs from being the one in front on the toboggan and hitting a tree. Yeow! But it was great fun. We sure burned a lot of calories back then. That would definitely be cheaper than a gym membership and much better for us, eh!

Great memories of years past.

I loved to go sledding back in the days when Iowa would get decent snows! I still have two old Flexible Flyers in nice shape yet, that were bought back in the 50's by my grandparents.

THIS LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THE "OLD" PICTURES I HAVE OF DOWN TOWN CALUMET - THEY SHOW LOTS OF SNOW -

Looks like we're getting snow in Gwinn now. Finally. Our cross country ski trails don't have any snow on them so people who want to use them are bummed out. But we are supposed to get snow for the next two or three days so maybe there's hope yet.
I remember those good old days like Bootjackbabe. We didn't sit indoors, we played outside all day whether it was freezing or not. We'd walk in the door at the end of the day looking like frozen little mummies. Us kids back then knew what fun was!!!

Kids today would probably be outdoors more if they had a mom
or grandma at home yelling at them to get of the house and give
the grownups some peace and quiet! Instead we don't have
many extended families living together now, and mom's work is
out-of-the-house just like dad's. Now when mom yells at the
kids, it is to come right home from school and don't go off some
place where I can't reach you. So let's not blame the kids
entirely for their staying home so much and plinking away at
internet games while talking to their friends on their cell phones.
You do have to feel sorry for them, tho, for not having the
outdoor fun we used to have.

Good to see some safe and sane fun. We were careless, happy to have survived some of the stunts!
No snow or rain here, just beautiful sun, in the sixties. Maybe some rain for the new year.

Charles, you are probably right. By the time Mom and Dad are home from work it is too dark to go out and take on the neighborhood sledding hill. My Mom was always creative and told us to "get out or clean." The house clears out a lot faster with that approach.

"No snow or rain here..."

Just a suggestion... for those folks who don't include their location in their profile, it would be helpful for the rest of us if you note in your message(s) where "here" is!

I don't think you are being fair to our kids. Not all kids stay in the house all the time. We have 3 kids and they have all been outdoor enthusiasts especially in the winter. My daughter is into snowboarding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. When they were little we practically had to drag them into the house at night. Hockey is also going as strong as ever in the Copper Country.

Mine love the outdoors, they still have their occasional video game binges where they need to be cut off. In good weather I have to hunt down my son from the park where they play soccer after school. When he was 3-4 he would plow the porch with Tonka Trucks in winter, kept him bust a while:)

San Jose, CA is "here" for me.

Great to see some snow. In Fowlerville it is pretty much like a nice fall day. Even took the dog on a long walk in the woods and swim in a pond on Christmas day. Leave it to the UP to come thru with some snow.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! HOPE TO HAVE YOU ALL
BACK IN 2007. ALSO HOPE THAT THE YEAR OF 2007 IS
GOOD FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!!

Happy New Year everyone from Florida

I miss Calumet. We only get to visit during the summer from
Illinois. You
are all truely blessed with such a wonderful place to live.