Went out yesterday for a Keweenaw round-trip. I was in need of a Keweenaw fix. Knowing there were strong winds out of the south, I thought the shore along the east/south east side of the peninsula would be giving a nice wave show. The waves were coming in strong, but with the water levels being so high I couldn’t get down to the shore line, there was no shore. So I headed up to Copper Harbor to take the western shore back down. While passing the entrance to Brockway Mountain I noticed quite a few tracks in the snow on the road, so I turned to head up. Going up the first steep grade I saw quite a few tracks where people had gotten stuck in the snow (the road isn’t plowed in winter), but I went for it, and had no problems at all. There were a couple 3 foot drifts at a couple of the high points, but the Subie plowed right through. This was a wonderful surprise to find the road was “open” and drivable, that is if you have a good 4-wheeldrive. Didn’t stay up there long, just long enough to get a few photos, as the winds were really blowing up there. I came back down the same way so I could drive the full shoreline, though on the way down I needed to put the Subie in 1st gear on many of the downward hills to keep good traction.
Afterward headed down the shoreline, stopped a couple time for photos, and on home.
Category: Snow
Between Seasons
Looks like a beautiful day today with sunny skies and temps in the mid 40s, but what to do. Still too much snow after this last storm to go out on the trails and hit some waterfalls. The lake shores are kind of boring due to lack of ice and too much snow again to hike along the shore. It’s already 8:30 AM, so time is running along. I just don’t know what to do. I have things to do around the house, but I hate wasting such a nice day, but again, it’s between seasons. In a week or so the trails should be good, so I guess I’ll just have to wait. Don’t know…
So I’m just sticking around the house, though I did make a quick run to get some bird seed and down my road a bit to check it out. Just past the snowmobile club the road stops being plowed and it looked like a couple people have driven further, but it looked pretty deep still, so I turned around. Between the snowmobile club and the house there is a little road that I’ve been wanting to go up, but it to is still too deep with snow. I did get out though and walked up to a bridge that crosses Menge Creek and took a photo. Looking at Google Earth, there looks like there’s a nice pond up the road a bit, so I’ll be checking that out when I can get back there.
Shortish Drive
Went out for a short drive today, just that area I said in my last post. Lots of snow out there! The only problem was that the snow banks were so high, you couldn’t see over them and also, the winds hit the Herman area so most the snow had fallen from the trees. All the snow on the trees is one thing I was looking for. Oh well.
Here’s a couple photos from Herman Rd. I did take more, but haven’t gotten to them yet. Many times I wondered if I was on a snow machine trail.
Blizzard 2019 The Cleanup
Well we did end up closing at work today, so I didn’t need to use PTO to get all the snow cleaned up. In total I got 23.5″ of snow, then there were the winds that drift all that snow. I worked my ass off today, and I’m feeling it. I got the driveway completed and also two paths, one to the propane tank and the other to feed the deer. Tomorrow at some point, early I hope, I have to get on the roof again. The fucking spot above the guest bedroom is leaking again. Oh, and going along with that, I still have not heard a word from the ex-owner about my email, not a fucking thing. Anyway, I got finished with all the blizzard cleanup a little after 3:00 PM (started at 7:30 AM), sat down to watch some Tiger Baseball and fell asleep.
I took a number of photo during the day, following are a few of them.
Blizzard
This is the first time in many years that I’ve seen a snow storm like the one we’re having today. There are blizzard warnings through most the UP with heavy snow falling. As of 1:00 PM, 15 inches has fallen here at the house. The first foot or so of snow was/is very wet and heavy, so I went out and cleared most of the driveway before it turned into white cement. Also, I just wanted to be outside in the blizzard, something I really enjoy and there isn’t much of that these days. I know I’ll be out there again tomorrow doing the drive, but at least it won’t be as hard to do as if I hadn’t done it at all today.
Update: I took my last measurement for the day/night at 6:00 PM and I’ve got 22″ so far and it’s still coming down hard. My double windows in the living room are almost blocked by snow. The bird feeders are encased in a snow drift. It looks like if we have work tomorrow or not, I will be taking the day off to dig out. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.
Snow Day
Another snow day off from work, and it’s a good thing as I got a foot of snow early this morning and had to get it cleaned up. First thing this morning I measured the snow we got over night and it was on 3 inches, then it started to dump. By noon we had some sunshine. I also had to get up on the roof again because there was another leak. I could hear it dripping behind the shower. I found the spot and cleared it up. Getting really tired of this leak shit.
Also early this morning I sent off an email to the ex-owner stating that I will not be paying them any money they think I owe them. We both signed the same purchase agreement that stated there is a seller credit, that’s what they feel I should pay back. Well, not after all the problems I’ve found with the house. No. Fucking. Way.
Around noon I headed into Houghton for groceries. Houghton didn’t get hardly any snow last night. Quite surprising.
Tomorrow will be a work day around the house to try and take care of some more of the ice on the roof. Then Sunday I plan to get out. I really need it!
Internet Down
My internet has been down for two days now with Charter/Spectrum. They are due here in a few minutes. They will get here and find nothing wrong, that’s when I tell them the problem isn’t here, it’s out on the road about a half mile down the road towards the hwy where the junction box is, that’s the problem. The cold effects the junction box for some reason. They just need to replace the damn thing.
Couple more photos from yesterday.
Short Drive Around
I had to get out of the house today, I was getting antsy. So, I took a little drive where I’ve gone many times, but I enjoy the drive, it’s pretty. I headed out Arvon Rd to Indian Rd then Herman Rd. Went out through Herman knowing that it only get plowed so far, well, I was wrong, it was plowed further then I’ve seen it. The road with all the way to US41 near Nestoria. I turned around anyway, I just like the drive. After enjoying a nice slow drive through the woods and snow, I went to get a couple photos of Keweenaw Bay, then home. I was only gone a couple hours, but it was nice to get out on this cold day. The whole trip the temp never got over -10°F with passing snow showers and sunshine.