It’s not about getting to the other side. It’s about getting as many people wet as possible

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St. Patrick’s Day was only a couple days ago, so if easter seems a little early this year, you’re right. March 23rd, 2008 is the earliest Easter on the Gregorian calendar since 1913, and there won’t be another Easter this early in our entire lives. The next time Easter will be this early isn’t until the year 2160.

The earliest possible date for Easter is March 22nd, and if 2008 wasn’t a leap year it would have been one of those incredibly rare years. The last two Easters on March 22nd were the during the years 1761 and 1818 and won’t happen again until the year 2285.

Early Easter = Chance of Snow!

Easter means spring. It’s time for snow to melt, trees to blossom, birds to sing, sun to shine, turn off the heater and put on a t-shirt. But when Easter is as early as March 23rd there is no doubt that a huge snowstorm could be on the way and all the little eggs that were hidden for the Easter egg hunt could be buried under a foot of snow. Easter snowstorms are of no surprise in the Upper Peninsula.

So when is the latest possible Easter?

Easter can come as late as April 25th, making the range of possible Easter dates spanning over an entire month. This does happen more frequently than the earliest date on the Gregorian calendar. The last April 25th Easter was in 1943 and the next one is just a short 30 years away in 2038.

Why does Easter fluctuate?

For both Gregorian or Julian calendars, Easter is based on the vernal equinox. As stated by Council of Nicaea in 325CE, Easter is to be held on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox. Easter is delayed one week if the full moon is on Sunday. (source)

Here’s a great site to see the future dates of Easter.

Five U.P. ski hills will host an Easter egg hunt this weekend

March 22nd
Mont Ripley
Blackjack
Indianhead

March 23rd
Marquette Mountain
Big Powderhorn

Thank you LexnGer for the perfect photo!

Easter Day snowstorms: Yay or Nay? Let us know.

The Upper Peninsula is no epicenter to skyscrapers and highrise buildings. When driving through Marquette or Houghton you’ll count just a few buildings that scratch the sky around 10-stories. But if you want to see the real deal, the omega of Upper Peninsula skyscrapers, make your way to Escananba to see the tallest building in the Upper Peninsula.

As you can see it’s perhaps not the prettiest building in the Upper Peninsula. It probably won’t be gracing the cover of architecture magazines anytime soon.

But none of that matters. We’re here to celebrate the tallest building in the Upper Peninsula. And in the left corner, measuring in at 18 stories…. Hhhaaaaarrrbor Toowwwweerrrr

Harbor Tower

• Location: 110 South 5th Street, Escananba, MI 49829
• Completed: 1970
• Height: 18 stories
• Style: Polyhedral
• Material: Brick
• Building use: Residential

It doesn’t look like the Upper Peninsula will be getting a Trump Tower anytime in the next decade. So until then if you’re looking for highrise living in the Upper Peninsula, head to Escanaba. And Just in case you’re wondering they have even gone smoke free as of 2008.

Photo by salticidae

St. Patrick’s Day Snowstorm: Fact or Myth?

Without doubt, across the Upper Peninsula today there are people talking about the supposed annual St. Patrick’s Day snowstorm. Though sometimes a couple weeks early or late, many Yoopers insist that the St. Patrick’s Day snowstorm is an annual occurrence.

According to Karl Bohnak’s book, So Cold a Sky, the myth of a March 17th storm goes back to at least 1870. Unfortunately, National Weather Service records only go back to 1949. From So Cold a Sky…

“There is alway a St. Patty’s Day storm.” This matter-of-fact statement will often be heard when the subject of U.P. weather comes up.

…

In over 50 years, starting from 1949, there has been only one St. Patrick’s Day with a bona fide snowstorm; that was in 1965. If you adopt the liberal view that a St. Patty’s Day storm can be either early or late, and include the entire month of March, the statistics are still much less than impressive.

…

For the entire month of March, only 11 heavy snowstorms occurred in the 30 years from 1949 to 1978; a paltry 37%. From 1979 on, the percentage rose to just over 50, higher, but still hardly worthy of the description “always.”

Sorry to say, but it looks like this myth is busted. But by all means, continue to keep the myth alive and spread the word, especially among trolls and city-folk tourists.

Regardless if it happens are not from year to year it always results in tears for some, and cheers for others. There are the skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers who are hoping for a couple feet of snow to extend the season a couple more weeks. And then there are those who have cabin fever and are eager to see the first days of spring.

There hasn’t been a storm the first two weeks of March 2008, but with that liberal viewpoint of the entire month there is still another chance in the next two weeks. And if not…

…there is always next year.

Do you wish there was a guaranteed annual St. Patrick’s Day storm?

Read more of Karl Bohnak’s So Cold a Sky
Special thanks to Donovan on Flickr for this perfect photo!

This week across the Upper Peninsula it was rare to see a temperature below freezing. A lot of snow and ice melted this week and once again the ice fishing season will be coming to a close soon.

There aren’t many places in the United States where you’re driving along and see a frozen lake that’s full of ice shanties. It’s a rare thing that Yoopers take for granted a few months out of the year. It seems to be a favorite site among tourists and locals alike, to see the small villages of ice shanties.

Ice fishing is rare in itself across the entire United States, what’s even more strange is actually seeing a driveway to drive right out onto the ice. So with that in mind we wanted to conduct a small poll… (please check all that apply).

Have you been on a frozen lake before?

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This photo was snapped by Jen March 8th, 2008. It was her very first trip to the Upper Peninsula. It was also her first time walking on a frozen lake.

We’re always looking for more great photos. Get in touch with us and submit your best Upper Peninsula photos.

8 OT hockey game sees no losers and breaks record for longest game in michigan high school hockey history

The Marquette Redmen and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Eagles played in the second longest game in United States high school hockey history. After playing 8 overtimes in the Division 1 state championship game the Michigan High School Athletic Association called the game, and it finished in a 1-1 tie and a shared state championship.

After 109 minutes of playing hockey it crushed the previous Michigan record by nearly 23 minutes.

St. Mary’s goaltender Ryan Morley-Stockton set the state record for most saves in a game with 58. Marquette goaltender Jon Nezich faced 37 shots. That’s a total of 95 shots on goal, 109 minutes, and only two goals allowed.

However, there is some controversy facing the MHSAA as to calling the game and not pursuing other options of continuing the game the following day. Rightfully, they were concerned about the health of the players, as both teams had players suffering from cramps, nausea, dehydration, and dizziness.

Marquette was only 1 minute and 32 seconds away from winning a solo state championship before Tim Hooker tied the game up, sending the game into an historic overtime, and a record that will probably stand for many decades.

Players from both teams celebrated in unique fashion, posing for photos together, hugging each other, and congratulating each other on the state championship. Both teams came out as winners and will both go down in hockey history.

This is the 5th state hockey championship for the Marquette Redmen.

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With 56 shots on goal the score was still 0-0 between Calumet and Flint Powers in the state championship hockey game. Finally, on the 57th shot of the game, just four minutes into overtime when Logan Rastello scored the championship winning goal, giving the Calumet Copper Kings their 6th state hockey championship at the Compuware Arena in Plymouth.

Rastello’s Championship Winning Goal

“Score! Score! Score! Copper Kings score! Logan Rastello, Oh my God! Oh my God! … Unbelievable!”

There couldn’t have been more drama for the Division 3 state championship game and became the first state hockey championship game to finish with a 1-0 final. (However, there was more drama for the Division 1 championship.)

Rastello scored the games only goal off a rebound on his own shot, scoring the most memorable goal of his life. At 4:18 into the extra period he became a local hero.

On the other end of the rice was goaltender Tyler Junttila, posting the most memorable shutout of his life. At just 5-foot-6 Junttila was one of the smallest players in both the final and semi-final game and one of the most dominant players. Junttila stopped numerous breakaways and scoring chances in the second period as Flint Powers dominated the shots. Junttila allowed just seven goals in the final five games of the season.

Flint Powers gave Flint the closest taste they’ve ever had to a hockey championship, falling just a single shot short of making it come true.

Calumet won the championship on back-to-back overtime victories and finished their season with 18-11-0. The Copper Kings beat St. Mary’s 5-4 in overtime of the semifinal game. The 2005 Birmingham Brother Rice squad is the only other team to every win a championship with back-to-back overtime wins.

Calumet had a record of just 10-10-0 shortly before the playoffs and were underdogs in nearly every playoff matchup. They played their best hockey of the season when it counted.

Calumet coach Jim Crawford has lead the Copper kings to six state championships since 1992.

Calumet Copper Kings Celebrate

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It was the spring of 2001 when three friends and I headed out with cameras with a big destination in mind, we had a mission: find the Big Boy Graveyard. We heard of its existence and even had a nice aerial map to pinpoint it’s location.

To be honest, it was quite obscure. It’s not often you come across a molded fiberglass version of one of your favorite childhood cartoon characters tipped over in the woods — with a big hole in the side of his head. Not to mention there were three Big Boys. It was evident upon arrival that this was indeed a graveyard.

These photos were taken seven years ago, shortly after the Big Boy franchise (headquartered in Warren, MI) filed bankruptcy. There are still a few of them left today, but far and few between.

After posting these photos online seven years ago it didn’t take long before nearly every week someone found them online and e-mailed me asking where the Big Boy Graveyard can be found.

For the disappointment of many I am very sad to say that the Big Boy Graveyard outside of Negaunee no longer exists. The three Big Boy’s have been exhumed and most likely went to a scrap yard. As for the four of us that went there that day in 2001, we never did get to pull off that amazing high school prank by transporting one of these to the middle of the high school football field before the homecoming game.

However, for those of you who love the obscure, an adventure, or perhaps just want to visit the grave of a childhood icon (those shakes ay Big Boy sure were the best as a kid!) there is still hope. There is reportedly a second Big Boy Graveyard in the lower peninsula. And if anyone has information on this we would love to know.

Below you can see the map of the approximate area (the highlighted region) where the Big Boy Graveyard used to be. It was located along Marquette County Road 510 just off US 41, half way between Negaunee and Marquette.

View Larger Map

Time for an Upper Peninsula history lesson…

The State of Michigan has seen 47 governors since 1837 when Michigan was admitted as the 26th state of the union. Of those 47 governors only one has been a Yooper.

Chase Osborn became the 27th Governor of Michigan in 1911 and to this day remains the only Michigan Governor from the Upper Peninsula.

Governor Osborn was born January 22, 1860 in Huntington County, Indiana. While in his 20s Osborn moved to Sault Ste Marie where he operated The Sault News and in 1889 became the postmaster of Sault Ste Marie.

After losing the nomination for the Republican candidate in 1908, he was later elected Governor in 1911 and served through 1913, and did not run for a second term. In 1928 he was nominated as a candidate for the Vice President of the United States, but was defeated by Charles Curtis for the Republican nomination.

Osborn was a member of several organization that have a strong presence in the Upper Peninsula: Elks, Lions Club, Kiwanis, The National Rifle Association and others. Among various involvements and an author of several books his most notable writing is an autobiography titled The Iron Hunter, published in 1919, which was reprinted in 2002.

Franklin Roosevelt discussed the possibilities of the Mackinac Bridge with Osborn, and although Osborn had a significant role in the Mackinac Bridge, he was never able to see the final product, passing away in 1949, eight years prior to the opening of the bridge.

Although he passed away in Poulan, GA he was buried on Sugar Island, near Sault Ste Marie. Chase Osborn lived to be 89 years old.

How long will it be before we see another Michigan Governor from the Upper Peninsula? Only time will tell!

That’s what I was asked once while on my 50-state Hometown Invasion Tour.

I don’t want to drop any names of who it was, but clearly someone a long ways away from the Great Lakes Region. This adult was someone who I saw as well educated, and I believe any U.S. citizen should be able to answer this question with ease. However, that’s easy to say for those who live only a few hundred yards off the shore of Lake Superior. Throughout my trip I was frequently educated people on the Great Lakes and wanted to share…

Why Lake Superior is the Greatest Lake on Earth, and why it kicks your lake’s butt…

How big is Lake Superior?

• Largest fresh water lake in the world (by surface area)
• Surface area: 31,820 square miles
• Water volume: 2,900 cubic miles
• Shore length: 2,725 miles
• Maximum length: 350 miles
• Maximum width: 160 miles
• Surface elevation: 609 feet
• Average depth: 482 feet
• Maximum depth: 1,332 feet
• Maximum depth: 723 feet below sea level

There is enough water in Lake Superior to cover the entire land mass of North and South America with a foot of water.

How Lake Superior compares

• Lake Superior is the size of South Carolina
• Lake Superior is larger than 10 states: WV, MD, HI, MA, VT, NH, NJ, CT, DE, and RI
• Lake Superior is larger than the countries of: Czech Republic, Ireland, Latvia, Croatia, Switzerland, Belgium, Rwanda, and dozens of others
• Lake Superior is 33.6% of the entire surface area and 53.5% of the entire volume of all Great Lakes combined
• Lake Superior is 18.7 times greater in surface area than the Great Salt Lake
• Lake Superior is 2.6 times greater in surface area than Lake Baikal, however, Lake Baikal has twice the volume
• At the deepest point Lake Superior would drown the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty and the John Hancock Center (The Sears Tower will still stand 398 feet out the water)

Many people near Lake Champlain consider it to be the “6th Great Lake”. Lake Superior is 28 times greater in surface area, and 465 times the water volume than Lake Champlain.

Other Lake Superior facts…

• Gichigami is the Ojibwa word for Lake Superior meaning “big water”
• Many people believe that Lake Superior resembles a wolf’s head (facing west)
• The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was the last major ship wreck in 1975
• The surface area temperature has risen 4.5 degrees since 1979
• Lake Superior has been described as the most oligotrophic lake in the world
• Over 300 rivers and streams flow into Lake Superior
• Contains ~10% of all the Earth’s fresh water
• The average surface temperature is 40 degrees
• 1979 was the last complete freeze over
• Produces some of the greatest lake-effect snowstorms on earth
• ~40 miles north of Munising, MI is the deepest point at 1,332 feet
• Annual reports of waves that are over 30 feet high
• At 10,000 years old it is one of the youngest major features on earth (Lake Baikal in Russia is 25 million years old)
• Features over 60 species of fish

So, it’s my turn to ask, can you see to the other side of Lake Superior? I’ll leave it up to you to decide. Here’s a beautiful photo from Clairity to give us some clarity on the subject.

(source: Wiki)