A few weekends ago, for the New Year holiday, I visited Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Keweenaw Peninsula specifically. It snowed each day I was there. On this particular day, I went skiing with a dear friend, who didn't mind my putzy pace and photo breaks every few minutes. Even though the sky was mostly blue, snowflakes drifted down the entire time we were out. Though some may disagree, particularly those who don't enjoy the perpetual task of moving snow to keep the pathways clear (!), the Keweenaw has the best of winter conditions: lots of snow and moderate winter temperatures, both of which are due in part to the surrounding body of water, Lake Superior. Keweenaw County's snowfall is ~ 181 inches for this winter to date. The 82-year average is 187.4 inches, the record high is 390.4 inches (1978-79), and the record low is 81.3 inches (1930-31), as recorded on the Keweenaw Snow Thermometer.
When I lived in the Keweenaw, I learned to enjoy the abundance of snow and to make the most of it by snowshoeing and skiing. Returning to live in northern Minnesota, I've had to re-adjust to a guaranteed part of Minnesota winter: the severely cold temperatures. I spend less time outdoors and whenever I do go outside, I'm dressed in 3-6 layers. When the temperatures reach well below zero, which has been the case this week, I even make a point to wear my snowpants as I drive to and from work - all in the name of comfort. The local newspaper noted this week that the temperature here in Ely was colder than in Antarctica. This morning the low temperature was -38 degrees F. Any way you say it, cold is cold, -20, -30, -40, once it's that cold, it all feels the same to me as I scurry around, just one more anonymous bundled-up person moving about the town of Ely.
Which would you prefer to live with, to have the bragging rights to: severely cold temperatures or overwhelmingly large amounts of snow??!?
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8 comments:
love the bright red jacket against the white snow and green/white trees, though I will agree to disagree with you on the "best of winter conditions" part, LOL.
I'll take the snow! :) I absolutely love U.P. winters... and last week's cold spell reminded me of why I DON'T live in MN! Visit again soon. :)
Snow for a day of skiing sounds lovely, but come visit me in SB if you'd like to consult your bottle of sunscreen in January! :0
I'll take overly abundant amounts of snow ANY day! :)
Kathleen
i've lived in MN 10 years now, and still am not adjusted to the freezing temps! i may have to land on the side of....snow.
Ann Bimberg
"Which would you prefer to live with, to have the bragging rights to: severely cold temperatures or overwhelmingly large amounts of snow??!?"
I'd have to say, neither! Now a choice between a small tropical island or a sailboat in the Carribean would interest me! (I'd pick the sailboat, since you could go anywhere.)
I do thoroughly enjoy winter, as long as there is some snow to play in! If MN had the cold without much for snow, I'd be packing my bags.
Warm sunshine would be an treat right now and I could go for either SB or the Caribbean...
At least you don't have to shovel "cold" every day, and it usually doesn't last too long. As I once heard one of your Ely neighbors, Polar explorer Will Steger once say, "there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing".
By the way, nice pics Heidi! It's been awhile since I looked.
One of your favorite Uncles, can you guess which one??
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