The Estivant Pines is a beautiful spot to explore up north. West Ely shows us the result of proceeding to investigate areas before the winter white has receded from sight! I guess stuck in the snow is better than stuck in the mud though. At least you won't get as dirty when you have to push. So many adventures in the U.P., so little time!

Speaking of time, better tie a string around your finger, so you don't forget to turn your clocks ahead tonight as you head off to slumberland (Dreamland?). If you're confused as to forward or backward with the time change - - just remember: Spring ahead, Fall back!

What a great day, a cup of coffee, maybe the first post, and the presidential candidates on TV, oops, that's the Three Stooges, sorry!!

First post from the Persian Gulf on board the USS WASP; I'd rather be stuck in the snow.

OK I'll settle for second

Hello to Jeff aboard the USS Wasp from a retired Navy vet, found a pic of you ship, if anyone wants to see where he is living check out www.wasp.navy.mil . Stay safe Jeff and keep your head down on the flight deck...

Hi to Jeff aboard the USS WASP, Our daughter Rose is aboard the WASP. Be safe there. Take care. We are from the U.P. originally. We have been in Arizona at the Grand Canyon for alittle over three years.

Had to chuckle when I saw how wet his pantlegs appear in the photo....Been there, done that! Reminded me of trips to the woods in the spring while a student at Northern oh so many years ago! Yes, we got stuck back then too! Some adventures just won't wait!!

No snow left in lower troll land, gas prices too high for weekender to the UP so sadly this troll has to just look at these photos and dream.

hey west, that picture always makes me laugh :)

Good morning, it looks like it snowed again. We're getting closer, in Colorado now, and I guess we'll have to slow it down some more. Or maybe we'll just hurry and catch some of that snow. Just don't want to get stuck.

How did you get unstuck, West?

Good morning, Keweenaw, from sunny San Francisco! Woke up at 6:30 this morning instead of 5:30, so when the time changes, I'll be in great shape, at least until I return (3 hours difference). It has been beautiful the 2 days I've been here, 72*, not a cloud in the sky and everything is green or blooming! Just what a person needs during mud season back home. Hi to everyone at the 'other' Lodge, and to #'s 1 & 2 & N.

I must have stumbled on to an ad for Ford by mistake!

He's not really stuck. There's not a beer can in the picture!

Snow on the ground and no jacket on . . . only in the U.P. hey? Love the picture!

All the prizes in this month's contest are lousy, so don't anyone enter, OK?!!!

I think what Marsha is saying, "the prizes are awesome and I want to win!" Thanks for bringing the contest to my attention Marsha, I just entered.....as I am sure many more will also.

We finally got some rain here in Colorado!! I heard thunder and pounding rain during the night. What a wonderful blessing for our area! I see Houghton is getting some moisture too, but they would probably rather not! Just send it our way with our thanks in advance! When I saw this photo and the wet pant legs, I remembered when we would come home with chunks of snow hanging from the legs of our bell-bottom jeans. I wonder if Kate remembers that. Of coarse, it was the seventies. I'd have to go to the mountains to get that effect today. Happy Saturday everyone!

That's what he gets for driving a Chevy:-)

U.P. Gal- This goes out to you & everyone who knew Mel. As you know he lost both legs in Vietnam at the time he had one dog tag around his neck & the other tied on his boot. Well the one on his boot never came home with him. There is a group out of Arizona called TOP Vietnam Veterans - Tours of Peace,they go over on peace missions & bring back personal belongings of our vets that served in the war. My husband happened upon the sight & Mel's name was on their list-just counldn't believe it. Well the mail came today & I received his dog tag that was on his boot 34yrs. ago. What a miracle,so I know he is still with us in spirit & in your hearts. Here is the web page address for top vietman veterans-- www.TOPvietnamveterans.org. hope this helps someone else find a loved ones personal belongings.

Nice picture, but I'm still getting over my hospital stay from the heart attack I had with the Gay Smokestack thing. I'd say more, but the doctor advises bed rest.

C'mon.What's with this stuck stuff? He's breakin' trail for the Fords and waitin' for 'em to catch up.

Ace: I read your post on 3/31, when I saw "in memory of...", I thought of Mel, and scrolled down to see if he'd been remembered... I graduated CHS class 'o' 69 with him, he was a great friend. camped at his farm a couple summers, on the "woodstick" site, so many blueberries! SO TOUCHED to hear the story of his dog tag! holy wah! love to you and your family, and to all the vets and loved ones of wounded soldiers coming home from the current conflict.

I, too, just submitted my entry in the contest. Would love to win a sunset cruise on the Keweenaw Star. Hey, Ace, read your post today and the one the other day. It's nice to see comments from people I know. Glad you got Mel's dog tags. How touching!

I wish it were possible to win ALL the prizes this month. I want them all :)

I think it is funny as well!

Go West! Betsy and West Rule!

Ace: I don't know if you remember me? Haven't seen you for 30 years. I graduated with Mel, sure was a great guy; glad to hear you got the other dog tag back.

Ahmeek Cliff Dweller: Woke up this morning in Mohawk to 31 mile an hour winds gusting to 38 and snowing heavily, beautiful Copper Country spring day. Actually getting nice now, up to 37 degrees and sun is peeking through. Say hi to my second favorite sister-in-law.

Hey West, You just needed a little more speed and you would have made all the way.
All the way in up to your tail lights.

Jeff we wish you were here stuck in the snow too.
All I can say is a great big THANK YOU from a Michigander now living in Indiana

re: Photo
As GM says, (It sunk) "Like a Rock"

farewell to you yoopers, see you next snowmobiling season. from Rome Wi

Ace glad to hear you have your brothers dog tag. Oh yeah say Hi to your brother Paul for me.

Well all we had was 2 plastic trowels. So with that and some sticks we managed to dig it out. Of course if we'd been in my jeep it never would have happened. Rose, glad I could make you laugh.

Well that was smart. LOL Jeez

Wind really blowin' here in Cornell, too. And the ground is all covered by that white stuff again. Winter never lets go easy. Down to 30* right now. Thanks for the contest reminder, Marsha.

Sure glad to hear you got unstuck:)

Well it was May, Sturgell was moveing to CA and it was time to get one last trip to Estimont Pines in. We'd made it though a bunch of smaller ones, that one was just to big. We went back the next weekend though, and had to good trip.

Pick-up truck is much higher off the ground than a Jeep. Therefore it will go in mud and snow in places that will stop Jeeps.
A two Jeep owner.

A few years ago I came upon someone trying to drive a small SUV through a back road in early March when the snow was still five feet deep and rock hard. He was newly moved from downstate and didnt realize unplowed really meant unplowed. His truck had slipped off into the softer stuff off the snowmobile tracks. After unsuccesfully trying to get him out, I ran back to the highway and got a couple of friends who live there along with their really big 4x4 pickups (sorry dont know the type) who hauled him out to paved road. He came out very grateful and ready to pay a lot, but Rick said with a grin that his money wouldn't pay: his cost was that he had to help anyone he sees stuck in the snow. And welcome to the neighborhood!

Ace: I enjoyed your story about your friend Mel.But I never knew anyone by that name. You must have me confused with someone else. Sounds like a great organization that returns these items to family and friends.

Wake up eh!

ace...i heard about that group.i saw them on some program where they gave the tags back to a couple vets.very touching.it brought tears to my eyes reading that you received mel's tag back.made my day.i guess i need to think of a new name since the other u.p.gal is confused...sorry about that.thinking back ace i did meet you a few years back before mel passed.it was in a shop on pine st.i will pass your news on to others,i'm sure it will make there day as it did mine.thanks for sharing ace...take care

u.p. gal- Glad that it made your day, I know it sure made my week,month & year. I'll bring it on home when we come this summer. Say hello to everyone for Jim & I,take care & God Bless.

ace..looking forward to re-meeting you and swapping stories.i know we know alot of the same people.my brother joe-balls says hi to you both.take care and god bless you too...

Well joe that depends on the truck and the jeep. The old cheorkee is better then a lot of the small pickups (the Liberty and Grand Cherokee are awful low though). My jeep has a 3" lift and appropreate tires so it's much higher then the little S-10 we where in.

Smiling and stuck in the snow, that's a yooper!!

sometimes,maybe words are better left unsaid...