Hey, I found more winter...

Winter is nearly done, at least according to the calendar, with only two weeks left until spring’s first day. So what better time to head even farther north and sleep in the snow to get one last good dose of the white stuff before it all becomes river water?

At least that’s what I’m thinking as I make some final phone calls and run through the punch list in preparation for an annual winter escape with friends. This year we’re heading to the Porcupine Mountains, leaving Wednesday (March 11). We’ll be heading into the backcountry Thursday early, building a quinzhee--basically a snowfort--for some nice cozy sleeping digs, and stomping around those virgin forested hills until Sunday.

One thing I’m really looking forward to is hiking the Escarpment trail, which is the path that delivers that famous view of Lake of the Clouds. Will be fantastic in snow. But beyond that, we’ll probably just make the activity decisions as the days unfold. At one point in the planning, I called Bill Thompson, the owner of Downwind Sports in Marquette, to ask him for suggestions, since he’s led many trips into the park. He just paused for a moment and said, “Basically, it’s all good.”

Kinda figured that, but just wanted to check.

These days, the emails I receive and discussions I have seem to be serving up a common theme, “this winter has been too long, let’s just be done with it.” But I truly don’t feel that way, and apparently my friends don’t either (although, two of the guys on the trip live in Minnesota, so they might think it is actually summer, since the lows are only supposed to get to 6 degrees—you know, still above zero).

I often wonder why people lose their childlike enthusiasm for snow. Only thing I can figure is they stop playing in it, which is unfortunate. For me, a perfect life moment is standing in the backcountry somewhere with snowshoes on my feet and a few friends gathered round, and, if we’re really lucky, some sunshine contributing a bit of warmth. Cynthia Pryor, a conservationist who lives up near the Yellow Dog River, once said, “women who love snow are more fun.” I really like that and think that expressed a similar notion—that childlike joy of snow.

Well, can’t wait to write more about the trip. Will have some photos to share, so check back.

Downhill at the Porkies
Ancient Copper Miners at the Porkies