I confess that winters in northern Michigan tend to be mostly black and white and lovely shades of grey. We make up for it by wearing a lot of red and lighting fires in the woodstove. On sunny days, we rock out. I had it in mind to show you several examples, but I neglected to edit my photos before trotting off to the Library. I am not about to burden you with 3.5MB images, especially ones that have not been cropped to remove the stray bits of my person that can sometimes creep into the frame. Fortunately, Babs came through. She wrote: Saturday was beautiful and a great day for skiing on Mt. McSauba in Charlevoix.
Now those of you who live in places like Switzerland and Colorado and Utah and Vermont might be asking yourselves, but where is the mountain? Um, even by Michigan standards, where the highest point is Mt. Arvon at 1979 feet, the Mt. McSauba Recreation Area flows over gentle dunes. Still, it’s a very nice place for little kids to go skiing on a sunny day, and it has the advantage of being in Charlevoix, which is a lot closer than L’Anse. It is also a municipal facility, which means that it is very reasonably priced for the family budget. (You can find out about hours and fees and all that right here.)
We have some more challenging slopes Around Here, too, although they are still modest. It is a lot of fun to ski at Nubs Nob and Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain, and believe it or not I used to do that quite a bit. (These days I have an understanding with my knees. If they will continue to take me on nice long walks in every kind of weather, I will not make them take me anyplace on skis. Life is all about compromise, isn’t it?)
This business of using internet at the Library is going to be good for me. I have to do a lot more planning, and bring my own laptop, too. We can do this. I am determined. Back later.
Torch Lake Views 
shoreacres
January 8, 2013
With a hill like that, I might even be willing to strap on the skis again. I gave it a try or six when I lived in Salt Lake City (think “Park CIty”, “Alta” and such) but things are much more up and down there, and I always was going faster than I wanted.
The sky in that photo is marvelous. That’s what a winter sky’s supposed to look like. Here, we are Happy Beyond Words because it’s gray. There’s a flash flood watch, and a possibility that the entire state could pick up at least some rain. Make that Happy Beyond All Telling of It.
Gerry
January 9, 2013
If you ever get back to Utah, try Deer Valley. They will spoil you rotten.
I hope you get some blessed rain. Just now we are having heavy winds – wouldn’t surprise me a bit if the power goes out. If it isn’t one thing . . .
P.j. grath
January 8, 2013
Hi, Gerry! Imagine me waving across Grand Traverse Bay. I was at our little township library in Northport this morning. Sun was streaming in the windows. Out on the sidewalk, everyone was smiling. I love the sky in that photo Babs sent. And I say, who needs to drive on mountain roads in the winter? Snow and ice and deer and turkeys are excitement enough.
Gerry
January 9, 2013
Hi PJ! It was so beautiful yesterday, and this morning too – and now the wind is just howling across the Bay. Brrrr. But wasn’t it nice to see everyone in an excellent mood? Imagine me waving back at you.
tootlepedal
January 8, 2013
Sensible knee compromise. I have had to make the same deal. No more cross country skiing.
Gerry
January 9, 2013
I’m almighty curious about where you skiied cross country – given where you cycle, it must have been Very Interesting Indeed.
tootlepedal
January 9, 2013
I travelled to the continent of Europe for a few years in later life to do it but it was something that I really enjoyed.
Dawn
January 8, 2013
I have never done any downhill skiing…so I’d like the modest slopes of your area. If I were to try downhill. Which seems unlikely at my age. Still. You never know.
I like the idea of you working out of the library..though I don’t understand fully why you are. It gets you out and about and hopefully you get the same amount of work done…yet get to see neighbors and friends too! Bet Cowboy and Sadie are less enthused.
Gerry
January 9, 2013
Lots of people start learning to ski when they are in the prime of life. The secret is to take a few good lessons.
The library is a great place to work. We’ll see if I’m able to get everything done. It turns out that I spend more time taking Miss Sadie and the Cowboy for good walks, so they’re happy dogs just now.
Joss
January 9, 2013
You have proper winters there. We, on the other hand, are having one of the mildest winters I can remember. (So far.) In the garden it feels like spring: the plants are starting to put out buds and the bulbs are already four inches up. We’ve only had about two frosty mornings. It has, however, been the wettest winter on record. Parts of my garden were under water (ok, under a puddle) for nearly four weeks. Whatever weather we have these days seems odd or wrong.
Gerry
January 9, 2013
We have improper winters, too – like last year’s. We’ll see how this one works out. I wish you good gardening – or perhaps you might turn it into a lily pond and add fish? Maddening, isn’t it, the unpredictability.
WOL
January 9, 2013
Like you, if I forget that I have no business being on skis, my knees will remind me. In no uncertain terms. I feel, if God had wanted me to ski, I would not have size 8 feet.
Gerry
January 9, 2013
Knees are very assertive, aren’t they? I’m trying hard to stay on the good side of mine.
sybil
January 9, 2013
Lovely photo.
Gerry
January 11, 2013
On behalf of Babs, thank you.
Fee
January 10, 2013
I had a slight issue with downhill skiing, an inherited (and non painful) wonky hip meaning I could only turn left, not right, unless I sort of threw myself upwards and twisted in the air. Elegant it wasn’t! So there I was, in the Cairngorm mountains, having much more fun sliding down the slopes on a large plastic bin lid, which looked like a big orange frisbee. I did enjoy that, but a bruised bottom was the price I paid!
Gerry
January 11, 2013
Think of the fun you could have throwing yourself upwards and twisting in the air on a snowboard! The word “gnarly” comes to mind, but I’m not sure why, as I never really understood what the kids meant by it and I don’t think they use it anymore anyway. But Katherine and I still say cool.
I am sure you were very cool on the orange bin lid. I can see you in the ski lodge afterwards, too, in your high-heeled boots.
Giiid
January 14, 2013
Seen from a Country which highest point is 170.86 meter, this is indeed a fine tall mountain you have, and It all looks just as lovely as in the brochures we see so often at the moment, when people are preparing their winter holidays.
Take care about your knees.
isathreadsoflife
February 1, 2013
Where are the mountains ? Behind the hill somewhere, of course, under those gorgeous clouds flying from the Winter sun. Who needs mountains when you have gotten such beautiful hilly slopes ? If my knees – yes, me too :(- were not playing tricks with me, I would definitely give it a try. Love this picture ! Thank you Babs and you.