Spring Porkies Yurt-N-ski adventures!

We just got home from our annual Porkies Yurt-N-ski spring vacation that we've done the the past 4 years.  This post will be from the 1st two days.

I'll stay close by, or they might leave me!

At the Porkies parking lot, I met friendly campers coming out.
They'd been at the Yurt we're heading to.

You know I like kids! 
They live in Duluth now but used to live in Houghton.

Ya, I love a little petting too. Hope we see you again sometime!

Up the trail we went.

Almost there.

We made it!

Ya Arly, let's get this pack off. It impedes my squirrel hunting.

This is were I sit and watch for chipmunks,.

Sandy sent us to fetch water.

I had to make sure he didn't fall in.

Yurt moon view

In the morning, I got right to hunting while they lollygagged around,
having breakfast.

Finally we headed out going cross country.
We spied some interesting fungus.

What is that, a dead dog?

Heck no! Just a very clean one - from multiple snow baths.

We skied down to the Union River cabin, but no-one was home.

Next we headed west down the trail. Yes, this really is the trail!

The thermometer seen here said it was 49.

We wish the park had the funds to fix these fantastic ski trails,
plus the hiking trails, bridges, etc.

Here, we usually cross on a beaver dam but it washed out.
We found another further down stream.

Made it to Union Spring!

You can see it oozing up water just to the left of the bridge.

Seasonal streams were all running good today.

Back on the ski trail.

We took a little break, then since skiing was so good, headed out again.

Left over from maple syrup harvest of years past?

After such a busy day, I had to take a little break from squirrel hunting.

G-N-G adventures!

Today was Keweenaw Nordic's annual Glide-N-Gorge which I always attend since someone there might scratch me some.  I don't get much of that at my house!

Oh ya, we just met and I already like you!

Oh, oh it's Obie and Margo. I love them!
But, where are Malachai and Mariah?

I found snacks on the ground at the appetizer station.

After that, we headed downstream on our way to the soup station.

We admired the creek along the way.

I'm so fast!  For a 10 yo anyway.

The skiers all said the trails were excellent.

I found more snacks here and some friendly Ski Tigers.

Oh yeah, I love having some kid time.

My pack is now packing for our spring yurt adventure in the Porkies.  Stay tuned!

Sunday ski fun!

On Sunday, after Arly groomed up the trails, we all headed out for a romp at Maasto.

There were lots of friendly skiers out! I brought this one a ball.

Hey! Another friendly skier.
The sun was shining as we chatted in Churning Rapids.

Once we got to Mud Lake, it had clouded up and started to snow.

With the wind off of the BIG lake, we took
the trail on the east side of Mud Lake.

It snowed harder....

and harder!

Later, down in the Gorge, the snow had about stopped.
We had such a nice ski here today!

Another fine day for a ski!

Thank heavens!  We got more snow overnight and my pack got out for a short romp this afternoon.

Arly worked this morning and made the trails look nice again.

Then we got out to ski and be social.

I love Sarah so I'll stand on her skis. 
That way I know she'll stick around a while and scratch me some.

Oh dear! Arly can't groom this trail any more this season.
We'll find a better route for it, this summer.

Spring skiing, early!

With the weather becoming rather warm, we needed to ski into the Swedetown Creek gorge and check out the water situation.   Plus I needed to get out and run some.

Even 9 yo's need to run some!

And have spring snow baths!

The creek was really up.

You're not going to make me get any closer to that torrent!

Starting to look like maple syrup time.

What a wonderful spring day to be out.

Oh oh! I'm not crossing.  Are you?

Not here, either!