Deep snow for December

The snow is really piling up here in Grand Marais, MI.  My driveway has already been plowed a half dozen times.  I also had to roof rake this week!  Thanks to my friend, Renee, for a fun dinner and gift exchange last evening.  We have been friends since 1964 and have celebrated our friendship and Christmas each year since Renee moved back to Grand Marais 13 years ago.  This year's menu included Lake Superior whitefish (caught by her hubby), asparagus, brown rice with veggies, salad, shrimp cocktail, and pumpkin pie!

The first photo below shows the snow hanging from my roof.  The picture was taken from inside my house. 

Here is the usual snow depth photo showing the south side of my house.

The dinner....

Sunny Winter Snow Shoe in Grand Sable Dunes

We do not get much sun this time of year due to lake effect clouds and snow.  On Saturday, it was a gorgeous day.  Temperatures were in the 30s with full sun.  The road is not plowed past the Grand Sable Visitor's center, so I parked there and snowshoed down the road to Sable Lake and up into the dunes.

Snow, Snow and More Snow

It has been snowing for almost a week!  Finally, we have a break from the lake effect machine since the wind switched to come from the south.  Well, yesterday the wind was also from the south, but we had lake effect snow all day from Lake Michigan!  The snow has drifted and condensed, but I still have around 15 or 16 inches of snow in my yard.  It certainly looks more lake January out my window than November.

Snow on my rose bushes...

The view out my front window...

It is really early in the year to be paying for snow removal!

Winter Grand Sable Dunes Hike

Although yesterday it was quite blustery outside, I decided to go hiking with my friend, Barb. We were able to drive past Sable Lake and parked at the pull off next to the Masse Trail. We post-holed it for through 10-12 inches of snow about a mile down the trail to the dunes access trail. Once up into the Grand Sable Dunes, we had intended to hug the southside of the dunes, but decided to hike around a finger of forest. It was snowing with poor visibility by this time. So instead of making a right after the forest we went straight and before we knew it we were near the bluff overlooking Lake Superior. We decided at that point to follow our footprints back out. Then once we were back on the trail and out of the wind, we had a winter picnic! That six mile hike was a work out!

Hiking northwest down the Masse Homestead Trail....

It is impossible to see in this photo, but this is the access into the dunes....

Back on the trail heading to the car....

First big snow of the season

It has been snowing off and on for two days.  The snow is still very fluffy and will condense, but at the moment I measured between 12 and 14 inches deep at the top of my driveway.

Last night it was so blustery I had to have my first wood stove fire of the season.

Hiked The Leges in the Lansing, MI area

I am still catching up on posting photos taken the past few months.  Here are a few pictures I took while hiking with my sister, Diana Mavis, after the Mason, MI show when I was down state.  We hiked The Ledges along the Grand River.  Thanks to Marcia O'Brien for the recommendation to hike this trail.

The Grand River.....

The rock ledges were awesome!

Local residents....

The railroad bridge was built in the 1800s!

Fall Colors

Three days of posting in a row!

Here are some fall color photos taken in the Grand Marais area.