Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula

Want to share your own story about an Adventure in the Western UP or a picture you think we should post on our website? Email us, we’d love to hear from you. 

NEW PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB FORMED!

Snow Country Photography Club

Jan 2007 Meeting Update 

Arlene Schneller conducted the first meeting on Tues Jan 23 at 4:00 in the lower level conference room of Snow Country Real Estate.  In attendance were: Char Brickner, Teri Johnson, Peter Kester, Joe Ziemann, Nicole Sparks, Mara Maher and Abby Weigel. The next meeting set for Tues Feb 20^th at 4:00 PM at the same place.  Refreshments will be served compliments of Snow Country Real Estate. 

Introductions were made and discussions followed.  The club agreed that the group would consider donating some photographs to local nursing homes or for other community needs when suggested.  In addition, the club will plan a photography display at Festival Ironwood with Peter Kester designing a club brochure.  The club is also willing to help build a photo library for various organizations such as area chambers of commerce, on request.  Club members are also welcome to submit to Arlene by email 5 to10 photos along with a biographical sketch of themselves to be posted free of charge under the tourism website owned by Arlene Schneller at www.WesternUpperPeninsula.net  

An informal discussion was held on what interests each member had in photography. Most use digital cameras but some use both digital and 35 mm cameras.  The photography interest from members included black and white, architectural, landscape, wildlife, nature and an effective way to capture good memories.   

The club assignment for February is to write down each alphabet A through J and find a picture either already taken or a new one and returning with an image to represent each letter.  For instance, the letter “A” could be a picture of an apple, a person named Andrew or even a look – like “attitude”.  The photographer will fill in the “A” entry with the word, then display the picture that coincides with it. It’s just a fun contest to see others creativity! 

Upcoming meetings will include a topic regarding organizing photographs, techniques on creative digital photography, camera tips, a demonstration on various online photo storage and print companies such as Shutterfly.  In addition, Peter Kester will bring his framed prints and show us how he makes his own frames.  Future photography outings and locations will also be discussed.

Members are also encouraged to bring along some photos they’d like to share at the end of each meeting as part of the social hour, framed or unframed.  Members are encouraged to bring a friend, as well as any photography catalogs, books or websites that they want to share for the evening. Abby will continue to search various photography websites on a handout sheet that she feels may interest the club.

If you have any suggestions or questions on the club, please feel free to contact Arlene Schneller at (906) 364-0992 or arlene@snowcountryhomes.com

Live it up in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula
Magical Fireflies
Get into a Kayak or Canoe this Summer
Concretions: Magic in the Mud
Lake Superior Snorkeling
Rafting down the Montreal Canyon
Why I live here

Live it up in Michigan's Western Upper Peninsula

by Arlene Schneller

Have you ever wondered where you should live?  I mean really live.  My suggestion?  Discover the riches of Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula.  Why? Take it from me, a local who has truly loved it here.  Some residents may not agree, but those who have had the opportunity to travel around find that settling down in the UP is a dream come true.  Life can either be simple here or extraordinary, depending on how you live it. 

I consider the Western UP to be “my big backyard”.  I drink from refreshing artesian wells that flow along roadsides – served cold and better than any bottled “spring” water.  I’ve seen fox carry their babies out of danger to a safe den, and discovered camouflaged fawns quietly lying in the brush that look just like Bambi.  I’ve caught fireflies, stood in awe at the northern lights, gazed at bright starry nights and marveled at spectacular sunsets.  I’ve seen trilliums bloom then softly fade to a soft lilac until next spring.  I've discovered lady slippers and jack-in-the pulpits that take my breath away while enjoying their rarity.   I swim in the cleanest freshest body of water in the world, Lake Superior, and I’ve kayaked, boated, fished, waded and searched for sea glass, concretions and plenty of agates there too.  I’ve loved every special moment in the Western U.P.

Every season offers natures gifts.  Spring brings rushing waterfalls, natures newborn and wildflowers.  Summers are mild and enjoyable, no reason for air conditioning, just open windows for a cool nights breeze.  Summer temps are perfect for hiking and camping in the great outdoors.  Autumn comes alive with sugar maples of crimson red and aspens of golden yellow, deep purple oaks, silhouetted by dark and rich forested greens.  Winter gets blanketed in shining diamonds of white gold, fresh, clean and pure, right from mother nature’s best.

And there’s so much more…things are affordable here, there’s affordable real estate, a favorable tax base on retiree pensions (many Wisconsin and Illinois retirees see a considerable savings by moving to our state) and a homestead tax credit on your primary residence.   We’ve upgraded our water and sewer extensions and continue with street improvements, the attention to infrastructure reflects the community’s management of resources to meet growth.  We're even getting a Wal-Mart Supercenter in 2007.   We welcome the trend where baby boomers move to comfortable small towns across America, we believe we’re one of those ideal and safe places.    The Gogebic County Economic Development Corporation can also provide information for any businesses seeking to move or relocate to the area too.  Ask about a special tax incentive for businesses in the renaissance zones.

We don’t have earthquakes, hurricanes or poisonous creepy crawlies and its too far north for termites!  We'll take the abundant snowfall any day instead.  We don’t suffer from urban blight and sprawl.  We have a local daily newspaper and mailmen that still walk their routes and know nearly everyone by first name.  Not surprising, the local veterinarians even know the cats and dogs by name too.  They usually treat beagles, golden retrievers and Labradors; we’re not the Rottweiller or pit bull type. 

If you live here, you may need to develop a taste for venison; it’s guaranteed that someone bringing an appetizer to a party will have some in it!  Doors are left unlocked and if you have trouble on the road, the next car behind you generally stops. People here are down-to-earth and always willing to lend a helping hand. 

We have ethnic foods and down-home ethics.  Unlike many single seasonal tourism areas, we have a healthy winter and summer tourism base and some good paying year round jobs in the industrial park along with other strong small businesses.  With our larger year round population, we are fortunate to have many of our restaurants and lodging places open all year.  We have a few of something and not a lot of everything, but enough to provide a pleasant lifestyle.  We have a great community college; a hospital, talented folks at two community theatres, a wonderful selection of area schools, hockey and soccer teams for the kids, libraries, museums, a handful of challenging golf courses, a K-Mart in the Ironwood Commons Plaza, some great bakeries, coffee shops and cafes along with a bookstore and we love them all! 

We may lack a few things, but that can be good thing.  We lack urban stress; we’ve been told the U.P. is north of the “stress zone”.  Sure some jobs aren’t always the easiest to find, but if you have an entrepreneurial spirit or dreamed of creating income from a vocational past time, then perhaps you can thrive here.  We need people to run tours to various natural attractions, we need more artisans and galleries, we need skilled labor in some trades, we need more good restaurants, more quality lodging, we need a fresh bagel shop, we need a gourmet deli, we just need more… perhaps you can fill one of those needs or identify more.  Find the right ingredients, fill a niche and become your own boss in the U.P. while enhancing your own life.  It will give you a chance to discover what’s really important. 

 One thing, we don’t lack is recreational opportunities.

Baby boomers are thinking about, planning and expecting to move to small towns when they retire.  Gogebic County is a perfect place for retirees who are looking for a safe and friendly place to visit and call home.  An early retirement won’t mean inactivity here, there are many recreational opportunities for residents and tourists alike.   Consider biking, hiking, fishing and so much more.  You can even get involved in politics; we can always use more experts from out of town! 

Our small towns are filled with a rich mining and logging history and have unique recreational qualities that give the UP real personality.  Our air is clean, our waters are clear.  There are charming downtowns too.  So get a real life and really live...come on up to Michigan’s UP. 

Magical Fireflies

by Arlene Schneller

We’d had a day full of fun at Lake Gogebic and it was time to return home to Ironwood.  Our rule of the road is whoever drives can stop when and where they want – which explains why my husband normally drives and why we never stop!   “We’ll catch it on the way back,” he’d say, but we never would. I was lucky enough one night to be driving the car; it was about 9:30 in the evening.  My husband and two boys were drifting asleep in our Subaru wagon when I just had to stop the car. 

It was a magical night – fireflies were everywhere.  I couldn’t resist and had to try and catch a few.  Once the kids saw what I was doing they were out of the car with their Dad following close behind.  My sons were about five and seven at the time.  We were releasing them inside the car; we were going to drive home like one big bug jar!   Cheap entertainment and a whole lotta fun...try it sometime. 

Just when we thought we had a dozen or so in the car, my oldest son Eric yelled at the top of his lungs “Dad, come and catch these fireflies – There’s a MILLION of them! C’mon, c’mon, HURRY!”  We all ran toward him and in disbelief, there in the ditch line, were what looked like a million fireflies, all hovering in one bright circle.  It was like a goldmine and we thought we hit the mother lode.  By then, we were as excited as Eric and couldn’t believe our eyes.

My husband went barreling into the ditch with arms open wide to catch as many as he could in one giant scoop.  Just as he clasped his hands shut he yelled, “Gross! It’s a spider web; they’re all stuck in a web!”  We all shrieked at the illusion and laughed about it all the way home as fireflies zoomed inside the car. 

When we got home we gathered the fireflies inside and put them in our children’s bedroom window between the screen and the glass.  After the kids were asleep we opened the window and our evening entertainment flew away.  (Another rule: never keep anything we catch for more than a day.)  It was really a memorable night, one that our kids will never forget. 

Now when I see a firefly at night quietly soaring against dark skies outside our home where our teens now sleep, I remember that wonderful night long ago.  I don’t wake them…I don’t even run outside to catch one; instead I close my eyes to think about that one magical night and smile. 

 Take time to do something memorable; you’ll never regret it.

Get into a Kayak or Canoe this Summer

by Arlene Schneller

Canoes and kayaks. Whether you paddle to enjoy nature or exercise, spend time with your family or friends, go fishing, or simply to relax – my advice is “get into one, you’ll soon discover another world.” 

There are differences between a canoe and a kayak.  When canoeing you sit higher in the water than with a kayak.  Sitting closer to the water in a kayak gives you better stability and allows for access through narrow and shallow spots.  There are many designs and models to choose from, but the first step is to decide how active you will be with your new boat and where you will use your boat.

I bought an affordable recreational kayak that weighs about 50 pounds, which can easily be loaded onto my car by myself. My rigid plastic kayak is the type that most people first purchase. My boat is durable and has taken a lot of abuse while maneuvering over rocks and logs, but once severely damaged it may be difficult to repair. 

My recreational kayak is suitable for a wide variety of on-water activities. It’s perfect for paddling Lake Superior (when the lake is relatively calm), paddling a local lake, pond or quiet river. Inexpensive canoes and kayaks do not have the performance features of more expensive specialized ones, but their stability and versatility make them the choice for families and newcomers to the sport of paddling.

 One of these years I’d like to move up to a nicer kayak, but this one has served its purpose for several summers. My next boat will be designed for efficiency and speed and will be versatile in a variety of water conditions - from calm lakes to moderate whitewater. 

I paddled Sunday Lake in Wakefield; I hadn’t been on that enjoyable lake for quite a few years. My husband and I entered a canoe contest there once, it was so long ago that we were "dates" not spouses. My recent paddle would prove to be as wonderful.

I was grateful to remember my sunglasses and sunscreen, it’s easy to burn twice as fast from the waters reflection. Many walk the perimeter of Sunday Lake.  You can even do this in the evening now that they've put in a wooden walkway and lit half the lakes perimeter.  Its even lovely in the late evening while watching the sunset. 

My friend Donna and I choose to paddle its shoreline then cruise under the highway bridge and travel south on the Little Black River. There are many places to put in, just about any open shoreline there will do, there’s plenty of parking. We chose near the new restrooms along US 2 in Wakefield.

We paddled clockwise and visited with someone putting their dock in for the summer. There are some nice lake homes along that stretch. We saw a few ducks and paddled across to the park, which was starting to fill with summer campers. We were careful to keep our distance from the dam’s outlet and continued to a point where an empty picnic table resided next to a stone building. We paddled past the Indian statue and took a few more photos.

We skimmed under the two bridges. The river is narrow and averages thirty feet wide with quite a bit of alder brush that hangs low in the water. The trip up river is flat and calm; we journeyed for about 15-20 minutes, as far the small trailer park, then headed back.  We flushed ducks and enjoyed the oriels, red winged blackbirds and several other songbirds.  Fiddleheads were still tightly curled, the trees were just starting to leaf out and turtles on the rivers edge quickly went into hiding as we neared them.  We knew there were several more miles to explore, but saved that for our next trip, which will also include some pruning shears and small fishing poles.  We hear they catch walleye and perch in the river.

I took some great pictures from a different perspective, being so close to the water; my favorite is one with Donna in Sunday Lake, next to (the Indian) in her canoe. In all, our casual three-hour paddle gave us a time to absorb some sunshine, relax,enjoy nature and our friendship. On our trip back under the bridge we found two young boys fishing. Although they hadn’t caught any fish, their luck suddenly changed as we gave them our collection of lures and bobbers that we had found floating and snagged in the brush up river.

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Concretions: Magic in the Mud

By Arlene Schneller

Concretions are sculptures which nature creates; some resemble modern abstract art. Through the years I’ve heard of a few special places to find concretions, one spot was so remote you could reach it only by water.  Another spot was on an Indian reservation, private property, where concretions are considered sacred Manitou, or special spirits. Chief Strange Arrow’s Chippewa legend tells the story of how each concretion was created by a Chippewa God who gave each one a little soul. 

My first collection of Lake Superior concretions occurred one mid-July day with my youngest son, Kevin. Collecting these mysteriously shaped rocks peaked when a friend showed me a handful of them.  We had fished at Saxon Harbor and decided to leave the boat and walk the shoreline to stretch our legs. I easily spotted a few concretions in the clay erosion banks.  

Since then, I’ve discovered that concretions weather out and can easily be found on the surface, but often they’re firmly cemented into hardened red clay. It is easiest to extract them when the clay is soft after a heavy rain; which allows new specimens to come to the surface.   

Our first exploration for concretions turned out to be a quick find; we collected a pocketful in just fifteen minutes. I’d hoped my son would find the most interesting ones, instead I discovered a rather large one with three rocks connected together and another that looked like an old Indian woman sitting with a basket in her lap. To my relief, my son seemed challenged to win the next time. We decided we’d only go for quality concretions, not quantity, making the next treasure hunt more meaningful. 

Lake Superior concretions vary in size, shape and hardness.  Common ones resemble small round clay marbles along the shoreline and are often found in the water. Larger ones are smooth or disk-shaped with several thin clay layers swirled on top. Odd shaped ones are more difficult to find and look like abstract art. Most typically jut out of the clay where you can just pick them, once you know what you are looking for, they become easier to spot.  Don’t dig too deep as the clay banks are very fragile and quickly cause erosion. 

Concretions are of great interest to "rock hounds."  Concretions concentrate in a host nucleus, often organic, such as a leaf, tooth, or piece of shell or fossil, but can be attached to a small rock. Concretions are the most varied-shaped rocks of the sedimentary world. Locally they are naturally cemented together to form strange irregular masses. The eroding Lake Superior clay banks are ideal bedding planes; concretions can be found protruding from weathered cliff sides and are randomly distributed throughout muddy clay hills. 

Most Lake Superior concretions range in size from less than one inch to greater than a foot in diameter, although most are on the small side.  Most concretions appear to be rusty orange or brownish, matching the red clay soils.   The color comes from iron-bearing minerals, including hematite and goethite, which are also present in surrounding sediment.   

Concretions form into funny, often bizarre, imaginative shapes with imposing names like botryoidal (bunch of grapes), fusiform (like a spindle), and ameboid (of the microscopic creature).   It’s hard to believe they are formed by natural means. There are other theories of how concretions were formed such as from dripping clay, air bubbles, molten clay, strata pressure and locally theorized by famous concretion hunter, Byron Buckridge, as “round mating.” 

Our unique Lake Superior landscape and climate form concretions beautifully, the wind and water continuously erode surface clay to uncover “odd globs”. Concretions have long been regarded as fascinating geologic curiosities. Their myriad of unusual shapes and sizes have also been fancifully described as dinosaur eggs, cannonballs, pumpkins, peanuts, monster eyes, various animals, ripples, warts, round people, miniature planets, or extra-terrestrial debris. Some even look like thick coral, horns or bones. The outer surfaces may be covered by shallow indentations similar to the surface of a golf ball.   

The word "concretion" is derived from the Latin "con"-- meaning "together" -- and "Cresco" -- meaning "to grow." These "grown together" rocks have a variety of origins that require geologists to integrate information from a variety of disciplines, including biology, chemistry, soil science, meteorology and geology itself.

According to the Wisconsin Geological Survey, concretions originated some 20,000 years ago in Glacial Lake Duluth, now known as Lake Superior.  Concretions have widespread geological and geographical distributions -- geologically, they occur in rocks or deposits representing many diverse environments and in rocks of all geological periods from at least middle Precambrian to present; geographically, they have been recorded from many localities throughout the world. 

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Lake Superior Snorkeling

by Arlene Schneller

If you love snorkeling coral reefs in the Caribbean, you’ll find a whole new experience snorkeling Lake Superior.  For the first timer, it’s an eerie feeling looking at huge empty spaces, nearly void of life until a tiny minnow swims by.  Close to shore you’ll see incredible granite rocks in beautiful colors through crystal clear waters.  You’ll spot slowly shifting sands along with driftwood and leaves moving back and forth along rocky crags, highlighted by beams of sun light. 

Ideal spots for a little reconnaissance include the sandy beaches along Saxon Harbor, Little Girls Point, Black River Harbor, and the Presque Isle Park in the Porkies or the long stretch of sandy beach in Silver City.  Just west of Little Girl’s Point the rock formations are like underground valleys and give you a sense of feeling like you’ll fall into the ravines while snorkeling above them.  You may even spot a rock bass or trout hugging the shoreline.  Take a dive and see what’s hiding below the crystal clear waters of Superior, there are sunken logs, old fishing gear and anchors or maybe even colorful sea glass. 

A new adventure started for our family one year.  We bought some lakefront property on Lake Superior and took up snorkeling, what a great time.  The year we built our small cabin we cooled down and kayaked the shoreline during our construction breaks.  The following year we swam more and decided to snorkel for agates and explore the underwater world.  Our shoreline is quite rocky, making it an interesting area to investigate with large sandstone peaks rising from the waters edge. 

Our first snorkeling adventures were without a wetsuit, we now own “shortie wetsuits” for those chillier days.  The water really isn’t that bad, you just have to adjust slowly, quite slowly as a matter of fact.  I walked the shore looking for “sea finds” one day, and quietly watched my husband’s last attempt to snorkel for the season.  He waded up to his knees and stood and stood.  He waded in a little higher, then got to a specific part of his anatomy that made him gasp out loud, he backed up then stood for a while longer then after some thought, he retreated.  No snorkeling for him that day.  I giggled to myself and decided I was still going in.

I was in my shorts and T-shirt, the air was cooler and waves were rougher but knowing it might be my last swim for the year, I decided to brave the waters.  I found my endurance was stronger and swam the chilly waters for over an hour, if you can imagine, my husband sat along the shoreline in amazed.   Snorkeling in warm water climates must be beautiful, but without that luxury in the U.P. I question what “they” might be missing by doing what we do up north  -- Adapt! 

The leaves on the lake floor swayed back and forth with the waves, a gentle wave goodbye perhaps.  The sun was out and shot rays deep into the water, highlighting some spots more than others, almost directing the eye to catch a glimpse of what it lit up.  It’s a special time, quiet and mysterious, observing spectacular rocks under water that are much more beautiful than when dry on shore. 

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Rafting down the Montreal Canyon

by Arlene Schneller

It was mid September last year when I finally took the time to do a raft trip down the Montreal Canyon along the Michigan/Wisconsin border.  I’d heard about the idea and it was something on my “to do list” for quite a few years. I welcomed the opportunity when my elderly friend Curt asked me to join him.  We were both experienced recreational paddlers and it was great to have such a quality trip planned nearby.  Curt ran that stretch of river many times, less frequent in the past few years, but in his earlier days he ran the canyon several times a summer and repeated that for nearly ten years.

At 73, Curt is still an active outdoorsman, a thin man with not much meat on his bones, content to hike and paddle, a gentle spirit who always has a calming affect on me.  After a hectic summer, a quiet paddle down the Montreal River seemed like a perfect plan.  We figured it would be one of the last sunny days of the season.  

We met up at 9:00 AM in Ironwood and unloaded near Saxon Falls by 9:30AM.  We inflated his two rafts with the help of a small pump and his truck battery.  We helped each other slide the rafts down one by one on the metal hand railing on power company property.   Next we hauled down the paddles, life jackets and a few things we thought we needed, one was the foot pump in case we needed more air, which came in handy later.  We launched near the base of Saxon Falls, what a great backdrop to start our trip.

There was enough water from a recent rain to raft the river but it was obvious we’d have to pull the raft through some low spots.   I had water shoes on and was ready to go. The water was moving the minute you put your boat in, just a gentle ripply sort that reminds you of those tube rides at water parks, but this was the real thing and I was so pleased to be there, anxious to go. 

I found myself over correcting with my paddle and spinning in circles right off the bat.  After working hard to go a different direction than the raft, I realized it had a mind of its own and it was best to let the raft do its thing.  I glided effortlessly over some shallow spots – sometimes backwards.

The scenery was more than I expected.  I once saw the Montreal Canyon from a very high vantage point with my family while four-wheeling and vowed I’d make it to the bottom to see it all…and there I was, seeing it all, marveling at the sight of ancient carved out conglomerate canyon walls. We couldn’t have planned a better day, except to have brought a camera and more bottled water. 

We took it easy and after twenty minutes the cold water created the need to add more air to our rafts; we pulled off to a level grassy area.  I didn’t know this stretch of river and was a bit uneasy on what to expect.  Still, I found myself paddling ahead of Curt many times eager to see what was around the next bend.  When I was unsure of myself I’d drop back and let Curt paddle on then watch his response to the water.  It wasn’t treacherous by any means, that’s only in the spring when the dangerous whitewater is above my skill level and most others.  You’d need to be an expert paddler to even attempt such a feat during spring run off. 

My husband and I were annual participants in the old Montreal River Races nearly 30 years ago.   The spring race was from the Brite Spot bar to the old Y-Tavern, but that was in our foolish youth.  During the last race, the river spit me out and left me on April’s ice covered banks. I realized then that I was out of my league and have a greater respect for the powerful river. 

I hadn’t tipped but once or twice since that time and never expected any trouble on the river, mentally I was unprepared.  It was a good day for Curt, he recalled his many trips down the river, sharing some great times he’d had with friends.  His favorite story was where he and Monica had dumped in a deep pool just past a sharp turn with steep walls. We took several quiet moments to just gaze and marvel at the canyon walls after every set of easy rapids.   Just then a large bird circled high above us, it must have been a turkey vulture, he laughed as to whether it was a sign of what we’d experience further down the river…and just as I had gained my confidence! 

We dragged our rafts a few times, but it wasn’t bad.  The rocks were easy to walk on so it took little effort, the water temp seemed to warm up and the bright sun was out the entire time.  There were many wooded spots on our left where the terrain was not as steep as the right side.  It was neat how Curt still appreciated his surroundings like it was new all over again.  We’d pointed out things to each other, but most of the time we just listened to the sounds of nature, enjoying fresh air and the surrounding beauty.

We never saw a house, cabin or another person on the water.  Most of the land is held by either Lake Superior District Power Company (NSP) or Gogebic County Forest, although some of the land is privately owned.

Near the end of the trip we came across a small drop off, maybe three to four feet.  The sounds of rushing water perked my ears, I watched as Curt went ahead, he laid way back in his raft to gently scoot down the drop off and paddled off effortlessly down the river.  We hadn’t discussed this spot and I was unsure of how deep the water was, I was concerned but paddled onward, leaning back as Curt did as I went over the drop.

I suddenly found myself stuck there as the raft folded at the drop off, it felt as if I was in a swirling eddy and couldn’t pull myself out.  The pounding sounds of water echoed as it filled my raft with root beer colored water, it frightened me; it was as if I was going to be sucked into some deep pool.   I struggled to paddle away from the drop off but I wasn’t moving, I panicked.   I was glad I didn’t have eyes in the back of my head because I really didn’t want to look back and see the trouble I thought I was in.  It happened so quick, thoughts raced in my head, “I’m not a good swimmer”, “How did I get myself into this?”, “How am I going to get help?”, “Does Curt have a rope?”  I shifted my body forward and outstretched my paddle to catch a rocky edge where I pulled myself to safety. 

I paddled to the middle of the river where a shallow island appeared, then stood as I tried to dump the raft out but there was too much water, it was extremely heavy.  By then, Curt started to walk up the river but I waved him off, sometimes I'm too damn independent.  I figured I could drain the raft from one of the large floor plugs, wrong. The plug floated under the inflated floor and I had to search for it by pulling the raft apart. I was overwhelmed.

I finally dragged the raft down to Curt for help. I was a bit shaken and wondered why he seemed so calm yet puzzled about my lengthy struggle.  To my surprise I wasn’t in a deep pool and there was no cause for alarm.  Looking back I realized I was hung up on a shallow ledge and the water was only several inches deep!

I was humbled, a bit embarrassed, and learned more about myself that day.  The trip was about two hours at a gentle pace.  We had lunch along Lake Superior at my little cabin and I still had time to go back to work in the afternoon.  Life doesn’t get any better than this.  I can’t wait to go back next year to share a spectacular day on the river and invite a few more friends for this incredible experience.  A special thanks to my friend Curt!

Why I live here (2003)

by Arlene Schneller

My husband and I have been fortunate to carve out our own niche businesses here to become successful in our endeavors.  We’re able to live here as a result but its not the only reason.  It’s an excellent place to raise children; our two sons have enjoyed many recreational activities.  I’m from the area and love giving back to my community.  There are many volunteer activities I’ve been involved with through the years and it really gives me a sense of community pride.  We’ve got a great resource of helpful people with good old-fashioned values.   

Each season brings another reason to explore my surroundings.  I love taking photographs and have boxes filled with beautiful nature pictures and wildlife.  An award winning photographer once said his job was made easy because the scenery is so amazing.  I agreed.  I find so much to write about and photograph.  Each year I explore new places and get great ideas on articles to share with area residents and visitors. 

This winter our snow is again absolutely wonderful, we’ve got so much of it that we’ve done just about every winter sport.  We snowmobile, downhill ski, snowboard and snowshoe.  I took up cross-country skiing again and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.  With the entire ski areas and the great trail systems for snowmobiling and skiing, it makes for a full winter of fun.

I’m involved with a volunteer organization for the past several years where we we’ve just had a blast.  It’s the Gogebic Range Newcomers and Neighbors Club, it’s a group of local residents and new people who have moved here, we help them get established in the community and get together for lunches and monthly group activities, it’s a refreshing group of people who love living here too.    

Every day, each passing month and each season there are things I look forward to doing.  We have such a variety of recreational activities that it’s hard to fit them all in.  In the summer I snorkel in Lake Superior and sea kayak along the shore, friends and clients paddle up to the base of the Montreal waterfalls, it’s an awesome experience, even for me, every time.  I always spot eagles along the shoreline too and it remains pretty exciting, even after living here forever. 

Why do we live here?  There really are so many reasons.  We fish on inland lakes, we have a cottage on Lake Gogebic, it’s the largest lake in the UP.  There are over 50 waterfalls in the area and I’m determined to see them all!  My kids have hiked to the highest point in the county, which is Wolf Mountain, and we’ve hiked up Bald Mountain to enjoy a scenic overlook of Lake Superior.  We visit the Porkies once a year for fall colors, which are just spectacular.  From our house we howl to wolves and they howl back!  Our family hunts ducks and partridge, I’m sure deer hunting is eventually going to be another activity with my teenage sons.  They love to go four wheeling too.

I’m planning to get a new mountain bike this summer and look forward to writing about the many trails we have in the area.  There’s a group that goes mountain biking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.  See Mark over at Hobby Wheel in Ironwood for the scoop on those outings. I’m also planning on several 5K events this summer called “Run the Range”.  Get your running shoes on and join me for the John Jarvi Run, the Ironwood Walk-Run-Roll, The Saxon Dogwood Run, The Bessemer Hometown July 4th Run or the Sunday Lake Run, the fun never ends here.  There really is so much to do here.  If you want any suggestions, check out the Ironwood Chamber website, the annual Ironwood Adventure Guide is published there at www.ironwoodmi.org it’ll give you even more reasons why I live here and why you should too. And if you can’t live here, take a visit during any season.

And don’t forget, winters aren’t just for the outdoor enthusiasts  – it’s for everyone who lives here too.  Don’t miss the annual Jack Frost Festival of Lights Parade which is ALWAYS held on the first Friday of December. It’s really something to see.  They’ve got hundreds of people in the parade, thousands of lights on floats and streets filled with people watching this spectacular hour-long event in the evening. 

I just love living here – can’t you tell? The only downfall?  We have a garage full of recreational stuff and it seems like we have enough time to use it all!