• Monday-What'sUP January 16 - 06:52 am

Here's a photo that will take you up, up and away. Above the clouds, watching the sun rise, what a great way to start the week. Now we can all pretend we're E. Neil Harri's co-pilot, enjoying what he sees just about daily. It almost feels like you could reach out and grab some of those fluffy clouds, but watch out for that propeller if you do. :->

In Neil's second shot, he descended down below the clouds and snapped a group of folks having a good time on the Swedetown sledding hill. The sun seems to be shining on them, too. If you'd like a closer look at who's on the sleds there below, just click here. There's a flurry of activities going on in this picture, sledding, skiing, snowmobiling and cars coming and going. All kinds of fun things to do here in the snowy Copper Country.

I want to go sledding. All that fluffy white stuff looks like fun to me.

Again, Neil. Great pictures. You've captured exactly what it's like up there in the clouds. Too bad I'm scared to fly. Have done it a number of times, but still don't like it.

Neil, were the clouds low or were you flying high? I like both pictures. 25yrs ago I would have taken my Snurfer down that hill. Now I would need fresh snow to slow things down a little and make a softer landing.

Neil, I'll bet that at that moment you feel the same as I do when I'm riding my Goldwing down the perfect road, just at the right time...it's magical.

I was flying East last week at 5500' so clouds were high. It is smoother on top and I had a nice tailwind.

Wow, what I would've give to be a passenger in that first shot. Great job Neil, as always!

I can almost hear the hum of the engine. Thanks for taking me there Neil.

Wow, Allen,
I haven't heard talk of a Snurfer since my good friend Tyon and I used to ride them down the alley behind his house.

Good memories :-)

I am so happy Neil keeps a camera with him. Lots of new snow on Swedetown today!

How much snow is up there now? The weather station said there would be 8 inches or so.

I took an air tour in a small plane like Neil's over the Copper Country at low altitude from the Houghton airport. We went due west, then over Eagle River, then Eagle Harbor, then Copper Harbor, over the tip, then back around Gay and the Mendota light house. It only took an hour and it gave a great perspective of the area you can only get from the air.

awesome shots! got to hand it to you neil, you are great at capturing the area from the birds eye view.

snurfer...ha that what they the first snowboards if i do recall right. i have taken my snowboard down that hill...oops did i just say that! well yes i did and i have pictures to prove it too. this was ohh 2 or 3 years ago that i did this, maybe longer. it was a fast ride but when i tried it the 2nd time i wiped out hard and it did not feel great, but i am still here and i haven't tried that again. i would love to go back there but heh i kinda like to hibernate away from the snow these days and i hate to say it but i want summer already, tired of looking at this white stuff hehe.

Will someone please tell me where Swedetown Hill is located, i.e., near what highway or town (other than Calumet). Kiitos.

hi matt, to get to swedetown: take 41 going north towards calumet. when you're first getting into the town there will be a holiday gas station on the left hand side of the road. a little after the road will twist and turn a couple times, and BEFORE the light at the intersection near pamida, there will be a street called AGENT STREET. on the left side, there will also be a wooden sign for swedetown. turn LEFT down agent street and keep following it, and eventually, you will be able to spot the hill. have fun!

neil: great pictures, especially the first! i can't remember if it's been mentioned on here before or not, but i'm curious as to what you fly? a good friend of mine took me flying in his old piper supercub once because he knew i want to get my pilot's license, and it was a lot of fun.

Very nice pictures.

Hey Matt,

Heres the directions right off swedetowns webpage...if you cross country ski you should try out their trails. The sledding hill is always fun..but for snowboarders there is a hill with jumps off to the right when your actually facing down the sledding hill that these snoeboarders always try to show "how good they are" and end up wipin it big time. Either way your bound to have fun either skiing, sledding or boarding. I recommend snowtubes for the sledding hill....get the 3 person twister ones..heh they FLY!!! Have fun!

Getting to Swedetown

From Hancock: Drive north on US 41 toward Calumet. As you enter the outskirts of Calumet, look for the Holiday station on your left. Shortly after that, US 41 curves left, and then right. In the middle of the right hand curve, you take a road (Agent Street) to the left (look for the Swedetown sign there). Drive down that road one-half mile and you'll see the Swedetown Chalet.

While in the Keweenaw

Michigan Tech grooms some 20 km of trails with varied terrain for skiers of any ability. Chassell has 10 km of quiet trails groomed for striding only. The 25 km Copper Harbor Trails, maintained by the DNR, access the wild country near the tip of the Keweenaw. Expect to break your own trail. McLain State Park has a 6 km trail right on Lake Superior. That’s over 100 km of trails groomed for you in the Keweenaw.

http://www.keweenawtrails.com/swedetown/index.htm

oh i made a typo..that should read "snowboarders" not "snoeboarders" haha! think my fingers go faster then my mind sometimes, but then again don't we all have that problem.

Neil Harri's photos are going to make me eat Ramen noodles every day so I can fly more. I am an active private pilot and find that the more I fly, the more I need to fly. It's hopelessly addictive, worthy of a 12-step program. I rent Cessna 172s and 182s, which are great for sightseeing and photography because of the high wing.

Ramen noodles aren't bad when mixed with chicken and vegetables, by the way.

Da Tech trails are nice but Swedetown is still da best.