Hi Steve - Haven't talked to you in a while! The numbers this afternoon are 127" down officially and another 4" here in Mohawk since. Sounds to me like a record winter trying to happen! The irony here is that when we have ample snow, so does everyone else and nobody is going to drive to find snow further than they have to! Interesting! The folks dedicated to KC will drive the extra hour to get here, but many will stop as soon as they find snow to ride on. Its a double-edged sword! One thing for sure, we have powder-busters' heaven going at the moment. The Landing reopened tonight as Seasons, and I surely hope all our friends will support Westcotts the way they supported us. Troy and Kathy are dedicated sledders and good people. Stop in and give them support. Its still snowing...........

Okay I will ask the question, what are Beer Goggles? Also has anyone heard from Paul? I am afraid that he is stuck in a snowdrift or mabey he is at Mt. Bohemia.

116". That is sick. Imagine, some people thought Crosswinds would go bust due to lack of snow. I guess we know how to separate out the wanna-bes.
Jean, another Keweenaw phenomenon you may want to be be aware of is Beer Goggles. This dispicable condition has been know to sneak up on patrons of certain Keweenaw establishments. However, Beer Goggles are only a temporary condition, unlike cow eyes. You'll have to get your snow shoveled before the sun rises if you count on Beer Goggles!
Merry Christmas! I wish everyone good luck in avoiding being suffocated by the snow!

To my bud Paul in Eagle River and all your family, Merry Christmas!!!!! It sounds like you're finally getting a genuine U.P. winter and it's only the first day of the real winter season. I left on Tuesday Dec. 5 to head back home and you've gotten nothing but snow almost every day since. I can't wait to get back up to the U.P. sometime in January to try out Mt. Bohemia and do some snowmobiling. I am also looking forward to seeing you on snow ski's...I will definitely bring my video camera. I've known you for 40 years or so and we've skated, golfed, snowmobiled, hunted, waterskied etc. but I have never seen you on snow ski's, let alone snow ski's at Mt. Bohemia. Wait a minute....I think we may have skied down Garden City Hill once. When I saw the slopes (47 degrees) and found out the vertical drop at Mt. Bohemia, all I could say was HOLY WAAAAHHHHH!!!!! These slopes aren't for the faint of heart or amateur skiers. Now, in answer to you asking me about how I feel with what is going on with the land use planning in the Keweenaw, I feel that developement is inevitable. Show me anywhere in the U.S. that isn't experiencing similar growing pains. Whether it's in a city or a remote piece of property like the Keweenaw, it's growing and it will experience growing pains. What is ironic is the way the Keweenaw has changed over the last 100-150 years. From a booming mining era to a shrinking, depressed, decaying and as economically challanged as any major city that has gone through such a metamorphisis. The meeting at the Calumet Theatre on Monday Dec.4 was the beginning of many more to come. I was surprised there weren't more people in attendance. I wish I could have attended the meeting on Tuesday night in Houghton. When I think back about how Eagle River use to look at the peak of the copper mining days with 30 taverns, 3 breweries, fuse factory, hotels, grocery store, Eagles Nest Sportmans Lodge, Crestview etc., it is very possible that as the population continues to grow in the Keweenaw with baby boomers retiring soon (next 5 to 25 years) that more demands for ALL types of services will be necessary in the entire county. Who will be the ones to decide what, when, where and by whom the new developements will be completed by. It's people with creative ideas backed with solid financing, working with ALL residents and property owners to commit to a plan. However, even the best of plans can change and that's when dialog begins by the local voters as was the case with Mt. Bohemia. Property can always be rezoned again in the future to coincide with what the future needs may bring. Recently I drove through Eagle Harbors new residential developement. It has about 40 lots available. Copper Harbors new developement has even more lots I think. If anyone in the area thinks that more people moving into these new developements won't bring more businesses and demands for new services, they better go back and take Economics 101. When Charlie Hopper started pasty.coms web site, renewed interest was also brought to the Keweenaw at the touch of a mouse from everywhere in the world to see all the beautiful sights via the pastycam. From my many years of visits to the website and from all the comments I have read by others who have posted notes onto this posting area, I get the feeling that there are many many more people who are just waiting to retire to this beautiful secret hidden gem of a property called The Keweenaw. Whether they will live in the area year around or just be snowbirds remains to be seen. Either way, growth will happen and it won't please everybody all the time. As if you don't know that all ready. It's kind of like knowing about replacing the summer air with the winter air in your tires. I mean, doesn't everybody do that? Paul, this was going to be a quick note but I guess I got carried away....as always when I think of Da U.P. Merry Christmas to all you Upppppers dere hey.

The trees are FLOCKED, and yes, we're getting what the Weather channel says, and more! Just checked at the Road Commission and thru yesterday we have gotten 116", with 42" on the ground. With the 12"+/- last night and this AM, we're heading for a record! We live just a block off the main trail on the west edge of Mohawk, perfect to place to run the dog early in the AM, and if there wasn't 12" new down this AM, it was real close. The trails are in great shape and the world is beautiful. For any that want pictorial proof, go to www.johndee.com and check the pictures in the 'Journal' sidebar.

Hope everyone out there has a safe and wonderful holiday celebration. Up here, we'll do it between moving snow and hauling firewood in. Great excercise!

Lisa thanks for the mad cow warning! Do you think that I should have taken off my long johns before I put on that short skirt? Paul are you getting as much snow as the Weather Channel says? Hope everyone has a Great and safe Christmas.

Hey everyone,
Well, awful quiet lately.
The facts put on rantings by forestworker were very informative to say the least.
Paul, have you fallen in a snowdrift and can't get up?
Great job to the Copper Kings!!!!
Dad told me they had some real giants on that Soo team but the Kings made short work of them. Goes to show that the bigger they are the harder they fall.
Well believe it or not we still have the ground covered here in the white stuff, I only remember one other time that it has stayed this long. It figures though, it will be gone for Christmas.
Steve, make sure you take your camera, and that all is working when you get to go for your first view of the hill. I of course took the cam corder, and of course the bloody battery died on me, of course it was my own fault. If you haven't seen a view from this vantage point before you are in for a real treat. I hadn't and still can't believe it. I think alot of the wrecks by skiers will be because they will be looking at the view and not where they are going!
I heard a few people made a trial run down the hill, and a lady from Ontanogen(sp)made the first complete run and said it was great.
Very cool.
Well it's the first official day of winter, HA! Bet you all have something to say about that.
Jean, stay away from those cows eyes! Dangerous, I heard about this here thing called Mad Cow disease, nasty stuff that.
Well hope you are all staying warm and getting ready for X-mas.
Take care and drive carefully.
Lisa

Jean, from my vast experience in dealing with this wonderful white •••• don't worry about the roof. The load on it has to be about four times that amount before you start to fret. Now that driveway is easy, pank it!!! You know what I mean make it flat like a flat snowman. You girls down there should able to to get it removed by most any man, just put on your shortest skirt, and a fashionable tight sweater, stand on the sidewalk with a depressed look on your face with hands on your hips and someone from the U.P. is sure to stop and clean it up!!!! Be careful though cause as soon as he is done shoveling he will ask for a date for his reward with cow eyes lookin you right in the kisser. This is a dangerous move by you but it will get your job done!!! (It is optional to date him)


The Calumet Copper Kings played the Houghton gremlins tonight in hockey. Calumet beat the 3-1 GO KINGS!!!!!!!!

Paul As a troll I need your help and advice. We have received about 20+ inches of snow in the last week, and we are not doing well, what we need is practical advice from someone who has spent a lifetime dealing with this stuff. My driveway shrinks by the day and should I buy a roof rake. Any help and advice would be greatfully accepted.

Steve, the hill is suppose to open on the 29th of December. I have some small doubts but you never know. The state now has to inspect the lifts for load tests. I hope all the things they check out are O.K.. The snowfall just passed 100 inches in Keweenaw. We are on a record pace. The record is 129 by the end of December or something like that. Last week alone we had two or three feet. I start to forget due to the snowplow driver who gets his jollies by pushing this stuff into any opening. Who the •••• needs to go to the gym, just grab that flat shovel and go to town. I have been getting calls about my place I rent in Eagle River on a regular basis for open dates to come and stay. There is alot of interest out there. It is good for business as I knew it would be. The Landing is suppose to reopen this weekend, I wish the best for the young couple who took it over. Maybe we meet in Ahmeek park on the fourth!!!! Seeya

Paul,
Any word when that ski hill is going to open? I bet the old Landing will be booming like nobody's business when this gets rolling!
I plan to take a first hand tour of the place next Fourth of July. I hope they have some summertime activities in the works. I would hate to spend 2 weeks pestering the locals and drinking beer in Ahmeek park when it's prime back breaking halibut fishing time in Alaska.
Really, it's good to see Keweenaw County move into modern times. It's also good to see that the HAVES did not succeed in shortchanging the HAVENOTS. Perhaps the future of the County is looking up, it's about time. It really is one •••• of a thing to make a living there.
I will give you the same warning that I give everyone before they come here: be careful where you go and what you do, it could change your life.

Susie, just back from a ride in my mind. I don't want to seem like I'm jumping on your back, butttt I will surly step on your toes. Give me a break on working for the people!!! Our county atty was working for about 39% of the people. Whan you take a position like hers you must stay netural and give only legal advice!!! For sure not the type of advice she was giving. It was so slanted that it made me ill, I just can not leave this thing alone for fear of her next step to stop all work period in Keweenaw. Isn't it about time we stop the rule of Keweenaw by what seems to be one group!!!! Take that anyway you want but I'm sick of it. Susie you seem to side step the conflict of interest by her with a NO BIG DEAL SIGN!!!! I want this thing answered and I want that million dollar grant taken care of. Everyone knows the grant was pushed aside in hopes Crosswinds would give up on the hill. So what is your solution to the poor •••••••• that won't have the money to buy into the new system when it is mandated? Tell me the real truth for once!!!!!

Hey everyone,
I'm sure I will end up on rantings for this, I will apologize now Charlie.
Susie,
Give me a bloody break.
Yes I can see people lining up to see a cave You know the one you could hardly see, and a mine shaft? GEEZ WHAT A NOVELTY! I don't think I've ever seen one of those up there, especially you know the big one on Quincy hill that you have to pass to get to the Keweenaw.
Not to mention the Micky D's you pass as well.
Last time I looked Bohemia was still there.
It's easy to say those jobs aren't worth a hill of beans, but I'm sure the people that will and have them think they amount to a cool thing called a paycheck.
I'm sure you did follow the law when you put your system in, but how many people did you have calling the DEQ every other second?
So much for and "so be it", you know what everyone so magnimoniously said they would say when the referendum went through. Funny.
Ashamed of the locals again are you, well you know from way down here I don't hear anyone saying OH NO, I'm thinking they are saying what I did, who gives a ••••!
Protect and preserve, well I'm sure Crosswinds took alot of time to preserve I don't think anyone can say nay to that, as far as a ski hill goes.

This SO CALLED Quality of life that so many enjoy, who the •••• was that?
I've stated already what I think of the narrow minded view that you and some people have of the quality of life that people who live there have.
You must mean this has disturbed your quality of life, and you know what, it's about time that some of those locals got some tooooo.
The ski hill is there, it's staying, it will do great things, if you can't take it I guess you need to adjust your life style.
You know if some of you would get off those sanctamonous high horses of yours and join the real people of the area you know the LOCALS you may find that a common goal working together for the good of the Keweenaw may be a joyful thing.
Instead of a one sided idea of what a handful think is best.
Well for a bit I thought that perhaps this land use planning thing would work out if EVERYONE is involved, but it's views like this and the thoughts behind them that make me shake my head in despair.
I hope for the sake of everyone concerned this won't be the case, I urge everyone to get involved in this, or be left out in the cold, or on the other side of the great big honkin gate that some will strive to put around the whole bloody place.
Again I will apologize for this outburst, but geez already, give it a rest already.
Steaming in the South!
Lisa

Our Prosecuting Attorney worked for the people--she was patient and spoke when she had to. I call that professional. Just because the "Ski Hill" has problems, you get bent out of shape and blame the wrong person. Construction of that magnitude is not a "snap" and every intelligent person should know you run into problems and delays. Maybe, you should question the brassness of the Developer who thought he could wrap "all" of us Yoopers around his little finger and trample on the rights of us little people. Who could blame him? I had to follow the law putting in my septic system. Now if the rest of you could respect what God has given you, we would have no problems. But, money does strange things to people. Wow, what money!

Mt. Bohemia is gone, but I sure wish it could have been on the National Register of Historic Sites. We could have toured the natural cave and old mines and offered that as a tourist attraction, rather than blow up the mountain for all time just so some "good time rock & rollers" could come down a mountain. Progress does not always mean going forward, with a McDonald's at every corner, it could mean preserving what we have had, and now will never get back. I am ashamed of you local people that could not see that, after all, it was your back yard. These jobs don't mean a "hill of beans". Can't you just see Delaware, a corrider of stores, fast foods, motels, etc. I tell you, you are going to be sorry. You have thrown away the quality of life a lot of people enjoy and God has asked us to respect and protect.

Lisa,

A couple of years after I moved to Atlanta, I got caught downtown in a snowstorm driving home from work. About fifteen minutes after the first flakes appeared, all traffic rules went by the boards and no police or road workers could be seen anywhere. Cars turned into one-way streets going the wrong way, then took to the sidewalks to continue driving the wrong way.

People tried to move by spinning their tires to get down to the pavement--one car next to me burst into fire. Almost home, I eased to stop at a stop sign at the T intersection on Virginia Street. A guy in a sports car zoomed up behind me, tried to stop, and skidded around me right into the path of an old Pontiac. The sports car wound up against the porch of the house across the road.

Yep, I sure do appreciate the road crews here. Not only that, private folks run their plows over our road when the crews are swamped with the work needed to keep the main roads clear. This snow is great!

Hey everyone,
Well I guess all the wishing I did for snow is paying off. The only problem is only a tiny bit of snow, but man is it cold, you'd think I was up there, we have been having single didget readings, and let's not even discuss the windchill.
Ice is very good in a glass not a lot of fun on roads. The roads here make the lake shore dirves curves look straight. Then you add some lovely ice, pretty black kind, and away we go.
Also get the other joy of freezing our tails off, yup frozen water pipes, have I mentioned how much I love living here?
God Bless the road crews that work so hard there, you have nooooo idea how I miss them especially on days like this.
I told one of my cooks to please go out and shovel the walk and then put salt down, now this may seem like an ordinary request to most up there! Ha, Well he had gone through five containers of mortans table salt by the time I went to check on him twenty minutes later.
Ah the joys of southern livin'
Yes I know I should be careful of what I wish for.
I'm sure none of you were sending any of this my way now were you?
Well I'm done whining,
Can't wait to try to get to work tomorrow, oh yeah, try to get something called snow tires here and you may as well have asked for the moon. hahahahaha.
LMT