Today’s walk brought us to a perfectly packed dirt road and some older Avett Brothers lyrics.
“When nothing is owed, deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it.”
-Avett Brothers
The colors aren’t peaking up here yet but it’s definitely coming soon.
-John
Weather plays a very important role here; it rarely stops us from doing what we do but it definitely alters the way in which we do things. While checking the weather report on Friday we noticed that we were under a gale force wind advisory out of the north which was slated to produce 10-15 foot waves on Superior. The waves were supposed to reach the upper level of their ferocity in the late afternoon so we planned our day around a trip to the lake at roughly that time.
The first spot that we stopped at on Presque Isle was largely sheltered from direct waves but served to whet the appetite and provide promise of bigger action.
While waves are easily enjoyed from a safe distance I tend to appreciate their magnitude much more when I can get down to their level. Our second stop on this tour de wave was at the Blackrocks. Most days you will find young shirtless human males trying to show their mettle and attract a mate by hurling themselves from the rocks into the water below. Today was not one of those days. Even the most boisterous of the males were tucked away in their dens weathering the storm.
Some of us can play near the waves and leave unscathed while others cannot…
We got to witness a real rarity on this wavy day, the Blackrock Falls:
Have you ever had the chance to see these mythical falls? They only manifest once in a blue moon and are quite fleeting.
Mother Superior really put on a show yesterday and I am so happy that we made it a priority to make it out before the final curtain.
Lake and Love.
-J
Make no mistake: we are based in the Upper Great Lakes region and that is truly where we prefer to remain. There is enough adventure in this region to keep most very very busy. However, once in a while we do like to step a little out of our sphere to experience new things.
The latest opportunity came about when I found out that a good friend from my undergraduate days invited us to his wedding in Grand Lake, CO. Grand Lake borders the southwest corner of Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a quaint town of roughly 450 year round residents. In my limited experience it’s a pretty standard mountain town and I couldn’t help but feel like some sort of hijinks of shenanigan was around every corner. This of course is due to the fact that I have seen way too many 80/90’s ski movies. Unfortunately none of those fabled scenarios presented itself to us; there were no mega developer ding dongs trying to ruin a local spot or heinous villain with a comically ridiculous scheme taking place the day of the big race; maybe next time.
Even with the lack of mischief the trip was poised to offer up a great first experience in the mountains. We had several goals in mind while planning our trip out west:
More on the latter two in future posts.
Suffice it to say, we had our pick of mountains to choose from. Within a short drive of our lodging (Spirit Lake Lodge) there were mountains of every shape and size. Living at 633 ft above sea level we opted for a relatively tame hike of Shadow Mountain.
Shadow Mountain’s fire tower sits 1635 feet above Grand Lake.
Shadow Mountain is accessed via the East Shore Trailhead. The East Shore Trailhead is very easy to find from downtown Grand Lake; take Jericho across the bridge and you can’t miss it. The East Shore Trail is part of the Arapaho National Forest. Just under a mile into the hike we crossed over into Rocky Mountain National Park. Rocky Mountain National Park has always been on my short list and after dipping our toes into that pool on this trip we will surely be back.
We took a left at the first fork in the trail and immediately started our climb. I have read other posts about the lack of decent views on the way up but that’s clearly not true: (sometimes having your eyes open isn’t enough to see things)
We were treated to these views at nearly every turn on the way up the roughly 3.5 mile trail. Little gems like these really rounded out this hike. Coming from the almost boreal forest of the Upper Great Lakes region I was somewhat taken aback at how barren the mountainside was. I’m not quite sure what I expected, but I couldn’t help but feel like this particular mountain was dead. This didn’t affect my enjoyment of the hike but it was on my mind the whole way up.
The hike up was unlike anything that we have ever done before. The elevation is a serious challenge. It wasn’t enough to make the hike impossible, but it was definitely something to get used to. In hindsight, heading out without t0tally acclimating to the altitude was probably not the best idea but we had limited time.
At the top the views of Shadow Mountain Lake and Grand Lake were breathtaking. We had a snack and continued to drink lots of water while enjoying the surrounding landscape.
All things considered this point-to-point hike (including snacks and photo op at the top) took us around 3.5 hours at a moderate pace. Doing it midweek meant that we had the whole mountain to ourselves. Shadow Mountain was the perfect starter-“mountain” for us. It was close to our lodging; hike-able without any climbing knowledge or equipment, and rewarded us with great views. We will be coming back to the mountains but next time we will be going higher.
-j
This morning while going through my mail I came across the cable bill. Instead of just eyeballing the charges and paying it I decided to do something that I should have done a long time ago. I decided to cut the television portion of the programming. We couldn’t afford to have television and internet while in grad school so we went for many years without. However, when we purchased our home we were lured into a sweetheart deal combo-pack with television and internet. I never felt like I really got my money’s worth out of the television portion of the package because we only watch a half hour of local news, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.
So, having thoroughly assessed our television usage and weighed the costs we decided to get rid of television. The customer service rep at the cable company was very nice when the conversation started. She offered to cut the cost by $35 while still offering the same package. When that didn’t work she offered other lower level packages to try to keep our television box humming. Finally when I said that all I want is the internet and no television for the 9th time she asked me the most absurd question: “what’re you going to do when you get home from work?” She was very concerned about whether or not I would be able to discuss Game of Thrones at the watercooler, or how I would find out which team threw a tanned piece of animal hide through the other team’s goal. The fear and urgency in her voice was a terrifying marker of our society’s leisure-time activities. To be honest, her simple question really hurt my feelings; did she really think that we would sit at home and have staring contests while slowly losing our minds waiting for the next “tv+internet bundle” to come out?
Me, clearly waiting for the new season of Catfish.
If I hadn’t been so shocked by her question I would have had a much better answer for her. Instead I told her that I like to spend my time away from the office outside playing, riding my bike, and fishing. I should have asked here what she does when she gets out of work. I should have invited her over for a weekend to see how to LIVE a little bit.
This is how we do.
In retrospect, her question ignited a little introspection which lead me to this: What do we do when we get home from work? Well, for starters we:
In short; we are going to LIVE our lives and we hope that you will too. Get out there and experience things. But always remember that Netflix and Hulu will be there for your cheat days.
-J
Few and far between: that’s how I would describe the state of quality outdoor shops in the Upper Peninsula.
Enter the new kid on the block:
It’s always refreshing to see a new silent-sports themed shop open up. However, when I saw the sign, I had mixed emotions: I was excited about a new outfitter, but hesitant to get too excited in case it turned out to be just another low-level jacket pusher for over-stylized hipsters who rarely leave the pavement. All of my fears were quashed the second I crossed the threshold.
Its well-lit, industrial chic showroom is accented with all sorts of shiny toys. I especially appreciate how they are not stacked like cordwood on sterile shelves or cheap pegboard. The owners have taken the time to work the product displays into an inspired art form. They have a wide array of products for the novice to the seasoned outdoors person.
Bird’s Eye caries the following top-notch brands:
Aside from offering those killer brands they also rent out kayaks and stand up paddle boards. They will soon be offering river tours and kayak/SUP lessons as well. Future plans also include bike maintenance and repair once lower level renovations are complete.
MMMM-fresh TFO cork!
Quite possibly my favorite of Bird’s Eye’s many great attributes is the beer and snacks! It’s really nice to be able to enjoy a pint while browsing gear. I love it when my favorite things mash up. The staff also told me that they will be offering Charcuterie plates in the future. I look forward to sitting down to talk shop over salted meats and libations. When you get there ask for the Bird’s IPA, it has hints of Cascade hops, Gore-Tex, and Prima Loft and pairs well with shiny paddle boards or fat tired bikes.
The front portion of the shop houses Superior Coffee Roasting Company. We will be doing a future feature on them but suffice it to say, they pulled me two delicious shots that I am still thinking about.
Head on over to 107 East Portage St., in Sault Ste. Marie, MI and check them out.
Winter ended rather abruptly in March this year. I for one was quite disappointed with Winter’s performance this year. Nevertheless, I took my bike out with shorts several time and was settling into the idea of not having to bundle up to get the mail.
That all changed about a week ago. We have been getting pounded in elevations surrounding the greater Marquette area. The Weather Service announced that Negaunee got over 30″ over the past 7 days. We may have gotten a little more down this way, but I’m not sure.
Just when we all thought that Mother nature done with her unseasonal fury this happened:
When you are given a day as beautiful as this you scrap all other plans and you just enjoy it. It’s the kind of day were you grab a well-worn tartan button up and enjoy a good hunker. I like to get good and cold before fully embracing such a hunker.
We did just that; strapping on the snowshoes and tromping around as playfully as two little kids.
Now, in the late afternoon the oven is heating and the dough is resting. The tall pines with their boughs sag under the weight of the heavy snow; every once in a while one gives up on its task and drops a load snow down to earth. It’s magic.
-J
Unfortunately it seems that Winter is slipping away here in the UP. I for one am quite disappointed by this year’s Winter conditions; it started far too late, never really hit all that hard and is leaving all too quickly. The mountain bike trails were all dry dirt until the middle of December and the constant freeze-thaw temperatures never really allowed for a good xc ski or fatbike base to form. Regardless, we made the most of what we had skiing when possible and linking up ridable sections of fatbike trail.
Now the thaw is coming which means that for the most part the trails should be avoided so as to not totally wreck them before the Summer months. The rivers are all cresting below flood stages and the lakes are still largely covered with ice. Not to worry though, the dirt side roads are totally ridable and rad as ever!
I am still trying to find a decent route of all dirt around the new house so I did some dirt ‘sploring yesterday. Most of the dirt roads around the house are seasonal roads that are impassable just past the last house. That being said, I was able to get a feel for the terrain. After looking at some maps I think that I will be able to string more miles together once the large snow piles are gone. Next year I will make it a point to start riding those sections early in the winter in hopes of being able to ride them during the rest of the season.
My pale legs definitely appreciated the sunshine and it felt great to ride without gloves. While my trip was not anything like what I used to enjoy in Ann Arbor I think that my rides will only get better. The ability to set out and grind on the long-abandoned logging roads is pretty cool.
It’s always sad to see Winter leave us but all that means is that it’s time to change up the toys. Get out there and make the most with what you’ve got available.
-j
A few years before moving to Marquette I saw an ad for the Marquette backcountry ski. It seemed perfect for my abilities; I’m not a great downhill/backcountry skier but I love getting out there and having fun in fresh snow.
They were billed as part snowshoe and part ski. As a person who appreciates versatility in his outdoor gear this really appealed to me. But alas, at the time I lived in the mostly flat southeast Michigan area and really had no area with recurring elevation changes, so I never bought them.
Then came the move to Marquette. A friend of a friend heard that I was moving and offered me a set for a sweet deal. As a fellow southeastern Michigander he saw that the skis would be much happier in a hillier place. I gladly picked them up and took them north.
The Setup:
Originally, in the interest of being economical, I took the skis as they were. The previous owner had a set of Volle 75mm 3-pin bindings on them. I’m pretty sure that he was rocking some sort of Tele book in them but I wasn’t really willing to take the plunge and pick up a $3-500 set of boots; remember, I’m not a great downhiller. Instead of purchasing a whole boot/binding setup I rocked new pair of old school 3-pin xc boots. (In hindsight this was a terrible idea). The rubber tongues shifted side to side and the ankles of the boot provided little to no support. These factors lead to unsteadiness and a general feeling of being out of control in most situations.
At the end of last season I put the skis up and pledged to find a solution; something stiffer without breaking the bank. I researched and weighed the options vs the costs. Ultimately I came to the conclusion that these are going to be my knocking around skis. If I want to skin up a real mountain and huck myself off things I will step up and get a different set of skis. With that mindset, I settled on a Rossignol BC 10 paired with a Rotefella NNN-BC binding.
The Result:
I can honestly say that I love these skis now. The change in binding took them from a novelty to a necessity in my book. The switch to NNN-BC brought on an entirely different feel underfoot that can be summed up with one word, confidence. The descents are now much more predictable thanks to stiffer connection between boot and ski and the fact that I am no longer afraid of my heel shifting off the ski. The change in the boot/binding situation really transformed these skis. The BC 10s are also a very warm alternative to traditional NNN ski boots. While the NNN-BC may not be as nice as a good 3-pin/tele-style boot, I think that dollar for dollar it is a solid alternative.
Where Can These Skis Take Me?
Really anywhere. If we are track-skiing I will still bring my traditional xc skis but in almost every other situation the MQT Backcountry ski fits the bill. I have taken them on multiple trips in the Sugarloaf, Hogback, Harlow Lake areas and they take to that rolling terrain perfectly. It’s fulfilling to march up the hills and confidently traverse the backsides with ease. I have even used them a few times to trek to some winter steelhead spots.
As you will see in the rest of my blog I have always been interested in the “out your backdoor” movement. I prefer a year’s worth of mini adventures close to home to one big trip per year. The MQT BC Ski perfectly embraces and embodies this idea perfectly. They can help turn a hundred feet of gradual vertical drop into an exciting run. The best part: that hill and many others just like it are probably within 10 miles of your house. No lift ticket or pass needed. In short they specialize in turning mole hills into mountains.
They have essentially eliminated my need for snowshoes. The only time time I will opt for snowshoes is if the trail is icy in any way, shape, or form. The lack of metal edges on these skis makes them dangerous on ice. But a little common sense goes a long way.
When this set gets too scuffed up I will definitely be picking up a new pair.
-J
Today is Valentine’s Day. While most people were out overspending and feigning interest over things that they will forget by the end of the week, Chelsea and I were immersing ourselves in the great outdoors and enjoying each other’s company.
The plan for the day was simple: stop by Down Wind Sports to pick up a boil in bag meal, drive up CR 550 and find a place to ski. We got a little over a foot of fresh snow in the last few days and we wanted to take make some tracks.
We grabbed some Mountain House Beef Stroganoff and started out and settled in the Harlow Lake/ Little Presque area.
After crossing the road we opted to head south along the NCT. The wind coming off the lake was a force to be reckoned with. The icy blasts plunged the “feels like” temp well into the double-digits below zero. This concerned me a little. I have read some negative reviews about the Jetboil four-season fuel mix and thought that if ever there was a safe time to test it out this would be it; we were relatively close to home and if the fuel failed to provide enough oomph it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
We tucked into a dense stand of pines and stomped down a kitchen. I pulled out our Valentine’s Day meal and lit the jetboil. The water from my bottle was pretty cold from our trek out and it took a little while for the stove to get it lukewarm. To my surprise and delight, after the initial coaxing, the water boiled rather quickly.
While the wind howled and knocked snow from our little shelter we huddled together and shared our bagged meal. It was tougher to wait for the noodles and beef to plump up than usual but it was worth it.
Truthfully the water did boil noticeably slower than normal, but considering the super-cool starting water temp; the gusting wind; and the generally inhospitable weather I think that the four season fuel performed as well as it could. It provided a steady stream of heat and didn’t sputter even once. I definitely think that I will bring the base out next time though. Keeping it directly off the snow may help.
After lunch we swapped skis and crossed the road into the Harlow Lake area. Chelsea had been using a set of Evo Glades that really weren’t working for her. In all honesty, they have never really suited her that well. After the switch I noticed that she was kicking and gliding with increasing confidence. Needless to say she will be taking over my Madshus Cadence’s for the rest of the season. I really like those skis but if they help keep Chelsea going then they are hers!
Get out there. Enjoy the simple things with the people that you love.
-j
Mankind constantly strives to create perfect items and moments. However, we will never ever be able to manufacture the level of perfection that is a wild Brook Trout at the end of a fly line. This feisty little guy whacked a nymph the size of his head and gave a fight that rivaled fish twice his size.
Cherish the little Brookies and let them go; they’ll be there when you come back.
-J
Dirtbag Yuppie 