• Wednesday-What'sUP March 12 - 09:53 am

I've never been to Fort Wilkins in the winter months, but these photos from Nancy Nelson and her sister, Susan Hooker, sure have caught my interest and made my list of places to see this time of year. These two ladies skied into the Fort, but you can also snowshoe in and enjoy the quiet that the snow-cover brings with it. Interesting to see the snow drifted up on the window sills and heaped on the porch, helping you to envision what it must have been like to live there all winter long in the days this military outpost was occupied. They didn't have the conveniences we have now, nor did they have the modes of transportation we enjoy all winter long, so they were quite isolated living here and I imagine the winters seemed much longer then. We're lucky to have that history preserved in this Historic State Park.

I see the on/off ramp to the main snowmobile trail still goes through. That is an interesting part of the trail.

I'm writing this one down on the to do list! Great pics.

Ah, one of my favorite places. All the years that I lived in Houghton County, I never went to the Fort in the winter. I cross country skied around Calumet, but we never adventured out north. After seeing these photos, I wished that we would have taken the time to skied that portion of the Copper Country.

As a history major, I am so glad that we as a state have taken the time and resources to preserve our history. The Upper Peninsula has so much and yet, we are not preserving it as much as we should. I know in my home community of Kingsford, the historical buildings that Henry Ford built have pretty much been torn down. How sad that we don't engulf our rich heritage!

Again Mary, thank you for giving me a little piece of home every morning; it is a great way to start my day here below the bridge.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

What weather! Houghton has recorded 48 mph wind gusts, with a -22 windchill. I woke up at 2:45 am and discovered a large tow truck just about to tow my car out of the driveway, because I hadn't pulled far enough off the road for the plows to come by. It was a very exciting night, you can imagine. It took quite a while to unfreeze and deice the car, get it started, and pull it forward 2 feet, all in the crazy wind and snow.

All in all, it's a good day for hot chocolate and a roaring fire! (If only I had a fireplace...)

I remember while I was living in the Copper Country we would always have what the locals call a St. Patrick's Day storm. It usually was a week before the day or a week after the day. It always was a really dandy storm. It sounds like you are having that right now.

I remember when we were living on Pine Street in Hancock, we too had problems with the banks of snow and getting the car far enough on the sidewalk so the plow could pass through. I forgot about those days-don't miss them. Thanks for sharing and reminding me about those days in the Copper Country.

In March of 2006 We were visiting my mom in Lake Linden and it was getting close to St. Patricks Day. My mom wanted us to stay 1 more day. We stayed and got snowed in. Bill and I shoveled out around the truck at least 3 times just to keep up with the snowstorm that was coming down around us. I took before and after pictures. At one point you could not see the neighbors house in the white-out. Then when everything cleared up, my mom told Bill he experienced his fist St. Patty's day storm. I already knew all about them. I must admit, it was a beautiful ride to Marquette. I loved the ride.

Wind chill minus 22 here 40 miles west of the Twin Cities, and three to five inches of wet snow yesterday. Reminds me of childhood in Painesdale. Never made it to Fort Wilkins in the winter, so these pictures are a first and thank you. Made it many times in the summer, first to Brockway, then to Copper Harbor to George Nosiainen's gas station, then to Fort Wilkins, then back home stopping in Eagle River for a visit with cousin Eppie. Seventy years ago now but memories just as clear as yesterday.

The high winds started here in Genesee County in the night. Temps this morning were 34 when I left for work, and dropping all day long. I'm not complaining, though! For the most part I am glad I get to experience "weather" by living in Michigan. Usually I only complain about sideways rain (when I'm outside in it) and black ice underfoot or under tire.

I also have never been to the fort in Winter, and I never will in this life time. I am going to do my best to stay out of the U.P. and all of Michigan from November to June in hope to miss any snow. But I am glad I had many years of it when I was younger. The Spring flowers are out here and trees are in blossom. The temp has been around eighty here the last week, but it is going to get cold once more starting today, it is windy here now around sixty. I saw folks cutting grass, and should cut mine soon too.

Awe C'mon David H.- C'mon back U.P. and pick up a shovel! lol

I love the snow pics of the fort, especially the snowy cannon. Even though I have enjoyed all the winter photographs, I am ready for spring to come anytime.

I'm ready to take the snow plow off our D-17 and put the mower back on to mow pastures under the warm sunshine!

Great pic's yet again Susan & company.

I have a question. Do loons have solid-yellow eyes and light blue beeks? Part of the feathers look like they are striped (black and white) on its back? I see birds at Belle Isle that I have no idea what they are. The bird I am talking about now has yellow eyes and a blue beek. I had a book on birds, but my mom wanted it back and I just never got it back from her before she passed away.

Uncle Chuck I can barely put on my Tennis shoes let alone a pair of snow shoes. lol all them years in the Yoop as a kid and older with Winter accidents such as riding a sled into a tree, or a Garbage can not made of plastic in those day's 55 gal. steel drum, all the places I have been hit with a Puck, ouch there too, playing hockey using Sears catalog's for shin pads, and a chook for a Helmet Here in TN. they call a hat like that a Toboggan. I am like what the hey, I'll take you on a Toboggan ride. I hung up the old snow scoup long ago. LOL