The Guest Gallery has been growing by leaps and bounds. That's where you'll find shots like this one from Paul Roberts. The barn in the distance, is actually covering a reservoir, where the city of Lake Linden used to get their water supply. For anyone wondering, it now comes from a well within the village.

Sure am enjoying the sun and warmth here in the south, but it seems funny to see the green grass versus the white snow home in the Keweenaw. We brought our bikes along and have been doing some touring around the Brunswick, GA area, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island... lots of history to explore. It's reassuring to know that if I get lonesome for the U.P., it's just a Pasty.net, Nationwide Dial-in away!

Ah Ha Do I get to be first today?

good morning all, this shot could be anywhere in the snowbelt, and probabally is seen all over the midwest, not to diminish the beauty of it, point is it reminds me of a thousand places - Dunn County WI - for one...

Looks like it! Come on every one, the day's under way, let's go, huphuphup.

Jack Frost has a bit of breath in him yet for the U.P.....we were 81 and blowing dust here in West Texas yesterday. Today, a cooler 61 in store with sunny skies. I love that picture, it reminds me of childhood pending snowstorms and no school!!!!

"Daylight in the swamp!"

Good Morning to all,
Looks like winter is going to hang around alittle longer. Iron Mountain way is getting more snow than most today. With the warm weather coming soon "I hope", we must tell people to use great caution when going on the ice. Snowmobiles can end up pretty far out on lakes, or canals, before realizing they are on thin ice. Please be careful.

John/New Hampshire, yes I did work with Tim N. I worked at Hitchners in Milford while I lived out there. I was just back for a wedding Labor Day weekend and plan on going again this year.

yah, dat looks like the winters i remember at home! we don't get many days like dat in new mexico, where i been transplanted for TOO LONG! When we get a day like dis here, we love it and call it a UPday. sigh...
thank goddess for pasty.com!

Even when the clouds are rolling in and the sky looks gloomy, it doesn't ruin the beauty of the U.P! Can't say that about the D.C metro area, this place stinks. I wanna go home.

Ahh the incessant yearning for the UP proliferates amidst this grandiose land we are blessed to reside in. It bemuses one as to why all these people proclaim their love for said area, but decide to vacate, and then degredate their current domicile. If such an urge exists, come on home, you are perpetually welcome.

Wheatman

Well put,Mr Wheatman.

Mr. Wheatman:
If they had a course in high school "How to survive on Unemployment checks", my family might have been able to stay.
When my wife retires, I SHALL RETURN.

Well put, Joe!

CN Wisconsin - I can see Hitchner's from my office window. I'm in the small industrial park on the opposite side or Rte 101. Do you, or did you know Roby and Rory L? They still play in a band out here - they are playing tonight at 9pm at Malarkey's.

Mr Wheatman, Troll, and Joe Finn in particular sum up the situation very well. My Great-grandfather led a large portion of the family out of the Copper Country in August of 1920. He was born on the Cliff and had nearly 40 years of service with C&H. He had two reasons for leaving, one was that he didn't want his boys working underground (one was already working in the smelter which was almost as dangerous) and two, his 40 years of experience in the mines told him the mines were nearing their end. He had helped drive the 81st haulage level and was working 1000 feet below that. Quincy had just installed a hoist that could reach 10,000 feet. These were not good signs. His brother who was a timber captain followed within a couple of years. The Haun's, Limbach's, and some of the Sibilski's all migrated down to Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee - now into the 4th gerneration, all have prospered. One of my Great-grandfather's last wishes was to go back "Up home" one last time. My Grandparents always refered to the Copper Country as "up home". But the cold fact was that there was no work and they stayed in Wisconsin. Many of us in the later generations share that sense of home and return as often as possible, but the economic realities of life preclude anything but vacations and retirement.
The UP's economy has always been tied to its natural resources. It has been a land of primary industries - mining and lumber. Lumber is renewable, mining is not. The Copper Country had a boom that far exceeded any of the gold or silver "camps" of the west. There are still reserves down there but they are far too expensive to bring up. There are other factors at play now in the 21st Century. Now when a new ore body is discovered there is conflict rather than celebration. Potential growth is stunted by short-sighted severing of rail lines because some fear one or two trains per week more than they do scores of heavy trucks per day. The person with the new summer home hates the person earning a living with a chainsaw. The UP seems to be undecided about where it wants to go. Look to Aspen, Telluride, Crested Butte, etc. in Colorado - they are booming with tourists, resorts, and expensive homes, but the folks that used to call those places home and toughed it out during the hard times can't aford to live there anymore because most of the new jobs are low end service work. Hopefully there is enough leadership "up home" to resolve this so all can benefit from the UP's resources and natural beauty.

It is said: "A person spends his youth dreaming of getting out of the country and when he/she does they spend the rest of their life trying to get back"

My 2 cents - those of us who were privileged to be born and raised in the UP, but forced to leave it due to declining job availability and the poor economic situation, do yearn to return. There is truly a limit of employment opportunities - although I have come to view this in a positive light, since if there were more jobs then the UP would have to relinquish it's hold on much of the pristine beauty to provide housing and all the the other evils that come hand in hand with more folks. At least those of us who are not too far away can visit occasionally, renew ourselves and dream of when or if we can return. I just figure we're on the journey path of the boomerang and will most likely return to "home" in the end.

Mr. Wheatman: Some of us marry those trolls! And then they work for other trolls...someplace else, places like Iowa whose tag is "is this Heaven?"...some of us know the answer. Some of us cannot get the troll to put a sauna in the new bathroom...the Dutch don't like the heat, I guess.
AND some of us sigh at the thought of trying to put 20" of snow somewhere!
Some of us....fall in love and haven't a choice.

And others of us tire of the winter... While I
miss the Yoop all year round, the snow just
became too much to handle. Husband (also a
Yooper) found the California sun years ago
and loved it. Now I love it, too, and can "visit"
home every day courtesy of Pasty.com. And
when I do come home, I don't have to worry
about shoveling or scraping my car. I can just
enjoy my family (what's left of it) and the
Superior shore. California may have the
mountains and ocean, but it doesn't have the
Big Lake...

John in New Hampshire. I know Rory and Rob. Rob and I tried to walk the tracks back to his place last year. We couldn't navigate very well so we turned around and went back. I didn't recognize the big Ror last year. He put on a couple. I wasn't out there for 7 years a lot of change happened in that time.

is there a need for nurse practitioners in the U.P.?

John in New Hampshire. I know Rory and Rob. Rob and I tried to walk the tracks back to his place last year. We couldn't navigate very well so we turned around and went back. I didn't recognize the big Ror last year. He put on a couple. I wasn't out there for 7 years a lot of change happened in that time.

Okay, my fingers are itching to state my position in the U.P. as I relate the story of my fondly referenced title of 'Forced Yooper'. I married a U.P. guy whom I met in Florida, knowing full well that he always intended to 'come home'. Yes, Mary-Ella, it is the love thing that makes us move with our beloved spouses where ever they go. We stayed in Florida for the first four years of our marriage, then moved to my beloved childhood home in New England (MA/NH) for seven years before finally winding up in my hubby's beloved home in the U.P. We have been here for over eight years already. I absolutely enjoy each season here. I enjoy the snow here more than NE's snow (too icey) but I have to say the Autumn foliage in NE is prettier. One day (first year here) we stopped at Da Yooper's Tourist Trap where we saw all these shirts on the wall with "Wannabe Yooper" and "Adopted Yooper" printed on them. My husband said, "That's you, honey, a Wannabe Yooper!" With fists on hips I replied, "Wannabe nothing! I was forced! Forced by my love for you, that is!" He went out that Christmas and had "Forced Yooper" printed on a shirt for me. As I said, this is a fond story full of love, because I would go anywhere with him! And I get to go visit my other homes, too. But we're here to stay, and that's just fine!

I have a W-2 of my fathers from 1951-C&H smelts in Hubbell-Lake Linden. Just under $2,000 (including overtime). He tried to make it with three kids and a wife, but left in 1953. Guess he got tired of just getting by. But always thought of it as "up home". He also finally saw the end of the mining coming.

HEY LOOK!! A good paying job in da up!!

http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=20846982

Who wuda thunk it?

yah rn-ps are necessary where theree are not enough physicians they can see pts and refer pts. when and where necessary right mrs. maclachlan

You don't always have to wait for retirement or settle for low pay or no pay to move back up here. Just get a nifty job with a nifty employer who will let you work from home. These jobs are becoming easier to find.

If you work it right, you can have a big city income with the low cost of living and beauty of the UP. Plus, your nifty employer will even fly you back to the big city every now and then for a dose of reality, which just makes you appreciate the UP even more.

Any job you would do sitting in front of a computer at the office you can do sitting in front of a computer at home.

I once heard a song on a regional folk music show on Wisconsin public radio.I think the full title was "There is no work on Houghton..{the last mine shut down}".It was about having to leave in the late 60's. I tried w p r to find a copy never did find it.

COPPER COUNTRY, there hasn't been any copper mined in the Keweenaw area in 35 years so lets not wrap yourselfs in nostaglia. Remember that not all who left the Upper have the great need to return...The old expression "it's a nice place to visit but I wouldnt want to live there" is applicable to the copper country. I spent 25 years growing up there and attending the local schools and playing all sports and outdoor activities. I now live in Wayne Co. and have 483 lakes in Oakland Co. to visit and swim and fish, Lake Erie for charter fishing cruises and yes even Detroit for major league baseball, football, basketball and hockey. The high school sports here are outstanding and leave nothing to be desired. There is an old saying about "you can never go back" so we get on with our lives here and make the best of it.(and visit the U.P. at least every 5 years.)

Some of you may remember a movie about 10 or 15 years ago called "My Own Private Idaho." The lead characters (River Phoenix and Keanu Reaves) were living in Portland, Oregon, but they fantasized about their "Private Idaho." When I open Pasty.com each morning, I think of the phrase, "My own private Keweenaw." I've never been there (been to Crystal Falls and Iron Mountain, where my mother grew up, 30 years ago). My grandmother grew up in Calumet so we have roots there. I think the main thing, besides the beauty of the pictures, is the true sense of community you all seem to have, and the real spirit of friendliness and light-heartedness that's exhibited in these posts. I really enjoy it. And I really DO plan to visit! But I feel like I know the place and the people already. Thank you all for that.

I recently saw a classified for a nurse practicioner in the local paper for Marquette in the UP. There's always a need up here.

Home is where your heart is. As I tell my children this is my house but it is your home and you are always welcome. Take one day at a time, do what you have to do and make the best of it.

Mary Drew, does anyone remember the water cistern in Hubbell? It was on the hilltop overlooking the old Antilla's junkyard. I was probably in the 7th grade at LLHS when it was torn down. We lived in the Jutila house just before the C&H viaduct. The cistern looked just like the one over Lake Linden. So many memories, 'eh?

Not much snow falling now, but the wind sure is blowing it around. The old Cub Cadet got a workout tonight.Time I got finished, the wind was blowing the drifts across again. :>( But I guess that's another reason we love it here.

To me/mi: I guess different things make different people happy, if you're happy in Wayne County, that's great but please don't slam the U.P. My own personal opinion is that if someone gave me ten million dollars and said that the only stipulation was that I had to live in Wayne County I'd tell them, NO, THANKS only not that politely.

The cistern was closer to the French Gully area, not down by Antila Junk Yard.

Wow! Nostalgia reigns supreme this morning! Two years as a "Forced Yooper" and this web site nearly brings tears to my eyes. No, I'll never yearn to live in the Keewenaw, but I sure look forward to the next CAFS reunion. I think often and fondly of all my winter experiences there. I will always remember Art S. saying that the Keewenaw had 10 months of winter and 2 months of tough skiing!

My two cents - Many of us did leave "up home" because of the lack of available jobs. I think it is just as well that it stays the way to keep it from being overpopulated. I agree that the small communities that became booming tourist spots will never be the same for the local folks. One example is Sedona, Arizona. What an absolutely gorgeous place with the magnificent red rocks. Sadly it has become a place not unlike Aspen and Telluride. It has become overrun with building new developments which has taken away from the beauty of the place. The population, traffic, crime, cost of living, congestion have all increased by leaps and bounds. The folks who are originally from there (like some of my in-laws) are not the least bit happy with what it has become. It is so "citified" compared to what it was 20 years ago. I would hope something like that never happens in the U.P. It is truly one of the last places on earth that remains remarkably unspoiled. To all of the folks who are fortunate to have never left home, you are truly blessed. Those of us who grew up there but left still keep a special place in our hearts and minds for the memories, beauty, and privilege we had to have spent our childhoods in such a wonderful place. I envy those who have the means to visit frequently. Some of us have not had that opportunity for various reasons, and so we visit vicariously through Pasty.com every day. You are providing a great service for many of us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Like UP, like anywhere, it seems - development and jobs or no development and unspoiled beauty - or probably both?
Should be possible to learn from the examples as mentioned above the UP hopefully does not want to follow (Sedona, Aspen etc.).
Things like that can be planned.
Communities (anywhere) just have to decide - what do we want? Are we willing to pay the price?

I have never been around, I'm not even american, but this site makes me want to one day visit the UP and see for myself. And, of course, have a pasty.;-)

RIGHT ON KAREN WALTER S

ME-S RIGHT YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME AGAIN TO QUOTE THE PHRASE

ME HAS GOT IT YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME AGAIN AS QUOTED FROM THE PHRASE

I visit pasty.com every few days, love the photos, and periodically order pasties. I was born in Chassell, raised in Detroit, and I have/had relatives in South Range, Negaunee and Ishpeming. My parents and sister are buried in Negaunee, as are my grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles. The UP is beautiful beyond words, and whenever I am there I resonate with the basic simplicity of life in its mostly unspoiled wilderness. Truly God's country. On the other hand, I've been in California since 1966, in San Diego since 1976. I love the ocean, the city...my city...and the warm winters. There is a spot reserved for me in the Negaunee Cemetary, but my ashes will instead be spread on the Pacific Ocean. This is now my home, even though the UP will always have its own special spot in my heart.