• Friday-What'sUP March 12 - 04:37 am

Nathan Alwine is quite the adventurous winter enthusiast. He's taken us along on his skiing, hiking, whitewater rafting and kayaking excursions, just to name a few. Today we follow him on a snowshoe trip to the junction of Copper Creek and the Presque Isle River in the Porkies, where he and his buddy constructed a pretty cool snow shelter, complete with a great view of the creek! If you'd like to see more of this unique experience, Nate has a slideshow of several pictures documenting the whole venture!

Today will be our last day in North Redington Beach, then we start the long drive back north to the Copper Country and our return to snow! For anyone planning on doing some traveling, but still wanting the convenience of being able to connect to the Internet, let me personally recommend subscribing to Pasty.net and the Nationwide Dial-In. If you've been following my travels the past few weeks, you know that I've been able to dial a local number in any town we found ourselves and hooked right up with no busy signals, just pure connection!

Thanks for the slideshow - brrr! Have a safe trip back UP, Mary.

Now there is an adventure - wonder what was the tmperature - plenty of snow. Have a great weekend - thanks for sharing!!

Nate: GREAT SLIDE SHOW! I guess the giant meteor didn't get your home. Did you invite your little friend in?

Wonderful slid show Nate. I bet the serenity was awesome!

426 people at the Sarasota yooper picnic yesterday.fun time for all including polka music by Jim and Terri Enrietti.

It was with great sadness that I just heard of Jim Rook's passing. One of our biggest highlights of our many years of trips to Copper Harbor was going on one of his "Bear Track Tours". Copper Harbor will never be the same to our family again. His knowledge and expertise about all natural things and history of the Keweenaw was most wonderful. I feel sorry for people who never had the opportunity to go on one of his tours. Jim we will miss you greatly!

Thanks for the compliments on the Pics. Though I have to admit that I had no hand in building this igloo. My father and uncles arrived at this site about a day earlier than I did and built the igloo before I arrived. Also notice the hammocks hanging in the trees? Those are some of the warmest winter "tents" you can sleep in.

As for my little buddy, Toby had to stay behind on this adventure. My wife wanted him to stay home with her for the night.

Not exactly the Holiday Inn!

Nathan... this is the sort of thing people like me sit around and dream about doing but never do. Looks like an awesome adventure....

Jim Rook: I didn't know him at all, but years ago 2 of my friends & I drove up from Houghton to ski (YES!) out to Schlatter Lake. One friend & I had our skis on & were all set to go while the other friend locked the car. As he leaned over to put on his skis he realized he forgot to change and bring along his ski boots. We drove back to Copper Harbor and stopped at the Laughing Loon and Jim loaned us a pair of his boots which fit my friend fairly well. He asked no questions and took no money for rental. And we had a great ski. I have pictures! There is no doubt that Jim loved the area and did a lot to promote caring for it.
I wonder how many times he camped out like the guys in the photos.

Warm and Sunny in Queretaro Mexico

I am not missing the Snow....

Looks like something Dan Urbanski would have done.

spent many an hour on Brockway Mt. with Jim Rooks - watching eagles, hawks, pelicans, etc. He was a font of information on the natural side of the Keweenaw and will be sorely missed.

I like getting out in the woods in the winter on my cross-country skiis, but then I want to head back to a warm, dry cabin. Once, at the trailhead, I was asked by a fellow skier "Do you know what the temperature was last night?" I replied it was about 5 degrees. "Oh," he said. "I guess that's why the water froze in my water bottle".

Here in southern Michigan, it's been a long winter. March 11 and it's 30 or less out with snow flurries and ice on the ground. Wonder when spring will come to the UP?

Nate, that shelter doesn't look much like an igloo to me, more like a pile of sticks covered with snow. I don't think I would sleep in it. I'd rather spend the night with cute and cuddly Toby! Besides, didn't it cave in a bit?

Could somebody tell me what happened to Jim Rook? I was shocked to learn of his passing. I spent a good deal of time talking to him during both of my trips to Copper Harbor. He was such a nice man, and very helpful to me. Very sad.

Well, except for the snow, there are Tom and Margaret at SW Ok Wildlife refuge in about 4 hours. Kids are out of the classroom and I'm closing up shop. Be back in touch with everybody next Wednesday or Thursday. I love the slide show. Do it again!

Audrey - Sharon Smith said on her website that Mr. Rook died from pneumonia after having the flu. He must have been a wonderful man.

I once camped in Manitoba, where we built a snow hut (quinze). It was twenty below zero, but we were quite warm. It would be impossible to sleep in a hammock with a wind and -20f.

Judy Chesaning MI... Thank you for the info.

And this link from Finland - picture Villa Sinistö.; http://www.kolumbus.fi/mikael.gerkman/mehutie.htm

This is many construction, which is building my friend, who is died 2004 year.. .his name was ELIS SINISTÖ.. he live have time fifty (50)years in wooded! When he died he was about over 95 year old!!!

We have been coming to Eagle Harbor and Copper for our family vacation for years and it will not be the same not being able to go to The Loon and have a great talk with Jim Rooks he was a true gentleman and learned person. I know he played a big part in the town of Copper Harbor and will be missed by all.

AS A YOUNG AND FOOLISH GUY I HAD THE IDEA THAT A WINTER CAMPIMG TRIP WOULD BE FUN.I TALKED MY NEW WIFE ,SISTER,BROTHER -IN- LAW,AND TWO BUDDIES INTO GOING ALONG.THE MISADVENTURE TOOK PLACE IN CRIVITZ WI. NOT THE U.P.BUT YOOPER TIES WERE PRESENT AS MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WAS FROM CARNEY MI.WE HAD A TENT 14X16 A TENT HEATER SLEEPIMG BAGS AND SNOWMOBILES.IT WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST.WE LEARNED THAT THE TENT HEATER WARMED THE TENT BY 30 DEGREES...TO 5 DEGREES,A LEAST IT WAS 5 ABOVE,SLEEPING BAGS RATED FOR 30 DEGREES MEANT JUST THAT,CHEAP ISN'T ALWAYS A BARGAIN ,TENT STAKES DON'T DRIVE WELL INTO FROZEN GROUND,CLAW HAMMERS USED FOR POUNDING THEM INTO FROZEN GROUND SNAP AT THE HANDLE,AND BARTENDERS TEND TO LOOK AT YOU FUNNY WHEN YOU TRY TO BORROW A SLEDGE HAMMER TO DO THE JOB.THANK GOD FOR MOTELS!!!!!P.S. WE WOULDN'T HAVE TRADED THOSE DAYS FOR A KINGS RANSOM OH TO BE YOUNG AN FOOLISH AGAIN INSTEAD OF JUST FOOLISH

Joe Finn,

Actually we have camped in our hammocks at -27 F. That was on speakers cliffs in the Porkies. These particular hammocks are better than a 4 season tent because they are pretty well insulated, well vented, and they keep you off the ground.

Nate: I am amazed. But, now I have learned something new. I have camped all winter in an insulated artic tent. First thing I learned was you can't drive stakes into frozen ground. Find brush or trees to tie down to. I did this with my wife, daughter, and dog. Winter camping is the best. No Crowds!

jAPEi: very, very cool pictures and remembrance of your friend. Can you translate the signs for us?

Wow , that's a great spot , I think that I have been there too.... Is that up at the Bear's Den ???? Do you know Timig ???? Holey Wah !!!!

..stop in to Lana's Friendly Tavern and say Hi to Kimmy for me !!!!!!!
..its a great lil tiki bar across the street from a beach access right there in N. Redington Beach.

Thanks for the tip Marko, but by the time you posted it we were already up in the Panhandle area! We didn't get to the Friendly Tavern this year, but we've been there other trips for Karaoke night! :->