• Thursday-What'sUP January 27 - 11:06 am

Here in the Keweenaw we were having a mild winter with less than normal snowfall. But that all changed with just a couple winter advisories that dumped quite a bit of snow upon us. I don't have totals for you, since they vary with elevations and proximity to Lake Superior, but the first three photos here from Barb Bouwkamp show what the folks in Calumet woke up to on Tuesday morning. Over the weekend, we had received some wet, heavy snow, but starting Monday afternoon, it turned to fluffy, softer flakes. Easier to shovel, but piled up, just the same. It's quite a job to get that all cleared before work and when you're just about done, that's when the plow usually shows up and fills it in once again. Barb's second photo, shows you what it's like to drive around before the plow gets to your street and her third shot gives you a glimpse of someone clearing their path with a snowblower.

All this snow has arrived just in time for the Heikinpaiva festivities that will be taking place this weekend. The last two photos are from a previous year's collection and remind us that there are many fun activities to join in or just partake of as a bystander, like the Boot Throwing contest or the Wife Carrying contest. But I think the event that draws the biggest crowd of spectators, is the Polar Bear Dive. All three of these events will take place on Saturday, along with a parade in the morning, to start things off. For a full schedule of events, click here: Heikinpaiva 2012 Schedule. Then start making your plans to get out and enjoy the fun!

Holy snow!!! It looks so inviting, though, for some reason. Nice and cozy, curled up by a fireplace with a good book. Or having the kids out there playing, building forts, making snowmen, sledding........

Great pictures today!! They really captured what winter is all about up there! Thanks for sharing!

"Jeepers Creepers"...where’d ya get those snowflakes? Still no snow in SE-MI with 40 degree temps in the future.
I like the girl in the last photo that looks like she is testing the water with her hand..."33 degrees, yep that's warm enough". Too funny!

Hey Alex, you forgot to mention that we are supposed to get some lovely freezing rain today, with maybe a snowflake or two.

One of the local parks was supposed to have a winter festival on Saturday where folks could try out cross-country skiing or snowshoeing and watch dogsled demonstrations. I don't think any of that will work on dead grass & mud. Glad you copper country folks will have what you need for your festival.

That's a pile of snow! Thank you, Barb B. and Mary! It looks like the students should be in much better shape now for building their snow statues, et al, at Da Tech, as they are getting ready for their Winter Carnival. The ski resorts like Mont Ripley, et al, should be happy, too, not to mention the snowmobilers, like John Dee's crew. Now, if it will just stay cold enough to keep the snow in good shape, at least until mid-February!

I especially love the first photo, in the dark, with the huge snow flakes falling. When we first moved to Michigan, 30-something years ago, those huge flakes looked like dryer lint, spoken from someone who had never seen the likes of them before.

Snow!!! That’s better. Now that’s the kind of U.P. Winters I remember. Except for the bikinis. Somehow I missed those. I guess I should have paid closer attention.

Gary...and here I thought you only read the articles :-)

Be safe!

You folks UP there tickle me with all your "H" word celebrations. Enjoy your snow, frankly I'd rather have the 'balmy' South! (guess it just depends on where one is born and grew up) Even Bethel, OH to too far north for me!:(

I'm in the Banana Belt in Baraga....we get snow, but nothing like what falls in Houghton and Keweenaw counties....Was up in Houghton Co the other day...boy, I forget what BIG snow is....thanks for the reminder!!!!

Gary,Thats what I remember too. Loved it! Its 40
here today but snow on the way. Denver was in the
50's yesterday. Theresa

Hey...It's Michigan's 175th birthday today~!

Happy Birthday! Let it be a SUPERIOR day!
http://www.buymichigannow.com/

I wish someone would take a video of them cutting the ice and moving the pieces for the Polar Bear Dive. I have wondered how they do that.

Now that is some serious snow there!!!!! The ground is brown and we haven't had any kind of snow acclimation in Owosso MI, yet this winter ?

aahhh! All that snow just warms my heart!

We're having a little bit of a thaw in my neck of the woods right now.

Michigan is young....Ohio celebrated its Bicentennial in 2003, I think it was. Anyway, Happy Birthday to the "mitten" and UP.;)

Wabbit---They move the ice aside just like in the old days. Drill a hole in the ice, insert an ice saw (much like a crosscut saw but with a handle on one end only) and start sawing. When they have several blocks cut they push one underwater, move it under the ice. The next block can be pushed under the ice or lifted out of the hole. They stop when they think the hole is big enough.

Now that's some snow...love the snow flakes! One of these days I'll do that Polar Bear Dive :)