Podcasts about keweenaw

The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.WhoLonie Glieberman, Founder, Owner, & President of Mount Bohemia, MichiganRecorded onNovember 19, 2025About Mount BohemiaClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Lonie GliebermanLocated in: Lac La Belle, MichiganYear founded: 2000, by LoniePass affiliations: NoneReciprocal partners: Boho has developed one of the strongest reciprocal pass programs in the nation, with lift tickets to 34 partner mountains. To protect the mountain's more distant partners from local ticket-hackers, those ski areas typically exclude in-state and border-state residents from the freebies. Here's the map:And here's the Big Dumb Storm Chart detailing each mountain and its Boho access:Closest neighboring ski areas: Mont Ripley (:50)Base elevation: 624 feetSummit elevation: 1,522 feetVertical drop: 898 feetSkiable acres: 585Average annual snowfall: 273 inchesTrail count: It's hard to say exactly, as Boho adds new trails every year, and its map is one of the more confusing ones in American skiing, both as you try analyzing it on this screen, and as you're actually navigating the mountain. My advice is to not try too hard to make the trailmap make sense. Everything is skiable with enough snow, and no matter what, you're going to end up back at one of the two chairlifts or the road, where a shuttlebus will come along within a few minutes.Lift count: 2 (1 triple, 1 double)Why I interviewed himFor those of us who lived through a certain version of America, Mount Bohemia is a fever dream, an impossible thing, a bantered-about-with-friends-in-a-basement-rec-room-idea that could never possibly be. This is because we grew up in a world in which such niche-cool things never happened. Before the internet spilled from the academic-military fringe into the mainstream around 1996, We The Commoners fed our brains with a subsistence diet of information meted out by institutional media gatekeepers. What I mean by “gatekeepers” is the limited number of enterprises who could afford the broadcast licenses, printing presses, editorial staffs, and building and technology infrastructure that for decades tethered news and information to costly distribution mechanisms.In some ways this was a better and more reliable world: vetted, edited, fact-checked. Even ostensibly niche media – the Electronic Gaming Monthly and Nintendo Power magazines that I devoured monthly – emerged from this cubicle-in-an-office-tower Process that guaranteed a sober, reality-based information exchange.But this professionalized, high-cost-of-entry, let's-get-Bob's-sign-off-before-we-run-this, don't-piss-off-the-advertisers world limited options, which in turn limited imaginations – or at least limited the real-world risks anyone with money was willing to take to create something different. We had four national television networks and a couple dozen cable channels and one or two local newspapers and three or four national magazines devoted to niche pursuits like skiing. We had bookstores and libraries and the strange, ephemeral world of radio. We had titanic, impossible-to-imagine-now big-box chain stores ordering the world's music and movies into labelled bins, from which shoppers could hope – by properly interpreting content from box-design flare or maybe just by luck – to pluck some soul-altering novelty.There was little novelty. Or at least, not much that didn't feel like a slightly different version of something you'd already consumed. Everything, no matter how subversive its skin, had to appeal to the masses, whose money was required to support the enterprise of content creation. Pseudo-rebel networks such as ESPN and MTV quickly built global brands by applying the established institutional framework of network television to the mainstream-but-information-poor cultural centerpieces of sports and music.This cultural sameness expressed itself not just in media, but in every part of life: America's brand-name sprawl-ture (sprawl culture) of restaurants and clothing stores and home décor emporia; its stuff-freeways-through-downtown ruining of our great cities; its three car companies stamping out nondescript sedans by the millions.Skiing has long acted as a rebel's escape from staid American culture, but it has also been hemmed in by it. Yes, said Skiing Incorporated circa 1992, we can allow a photo of some fellow jumping off a cliff if it helps convince Nabisco Bob fly his family out to Colorado for New Year's, so long as his family is at no risk of actually locating any cliffs to jump off of upon arrival. After all, 1992 Bob has no meaningful outlet through which to highlight this advertising-experience disconnect. The internet broke this whole system. Everywhere, for everything. If I wanted, say, a Detroit Pistons hoodie in 1995, I had to drive to a dozen stores and choose the least-bad version from the three places that stocked them. Today I have far more choice at far less hassle: I can browse hundreds of designs online without leaving the house. Same for office furniture or shoes or litterboxes or laundry baskets or cars. And especially for media and information. Consumer choice is greater not only because the internet eliminated distance, but also because it largely eliminated the enormous costs required to actualize a tangible thing from the imagination.There were trade-offs, of course. Our current version of reality has too many options, too many poorly made products, too much bad information. But the internet did a really good job of democratizing preferences and uniting dispersed communities around niche interests. Yes, this means that a global community of morons can assemble over their shared belief that the planet is flat, but it also means that legions of Star Wars or Marvel Comics or football obsessives can unite to demand more of these specific things. I don't think it's a coincidence that the dormant Star Wars and Marvel franchises rebooted in spectacular, omnipresent fashion within a decade of the .com era's dawn.The trajectory was slightly different in skiing. The big-name ski areas today are largely the same set of big-name ski areas that we had 30 years ago, at least in America (Canada is a very different story). But what the internet helped bring to skiing was an awareness that the desire for turns outside of groomed runs was not the hyper-specific desire of the most dedicated, living-in-a-campervan-with-their-dog skiers, but a relatively mainstream preference. Established ski areas adapted, adding glades and terrain parks and ungroomed zones. The major ski areas of 2025 are far more interesting versions of the ski areas that existed under the same names in 1995.Dramatic and welcome as these additions were, they were just additions. No ski area completely reversed itself and shut out the mainstream skier. No one stopped grooming or eliminated their ski school or stopped renting gear. But they did act as something of a proof-of-concept for minimalist ski areas that would come online later, including avy-gear-required, no-grooming Silverton, Colorado in 2001, and, at the tip-top of the American Midwest, in a place too remote for anyone other than industrial mining interests to bother with, the ungroomed, snowmaking-free Mount Bohemia.I can't draw a direct line between the advent of the commercial internet and the rise of Mount Bohemia as a successful niche business within a niche industry. But I find it hard to imagine one without the other. The pre-internet world, the one that gave us shopping malls and laugh-track sitcoms and standard manual transmissions, lacked the institutional imagination to actualize skiing's most dynamic elements in the form of a wild and remote pilgrimage site. Once the internet ordered fringe freeskiing sentiments into a mainstream coalition, the notion of an extreme ski area seemed inevitable. And Bohemia, without a basically free global megaphone to spread word of its improbable existence, would struggle to establish itself in a ski industry that dismissed the concept as idiotic and with a national ski media that considered the Midwest irrelevant.Even with the internet, Boho took a while to catch on, as Lonie detailed in his first podcast appearance three years ago. It probably took the mainstreaming of social media, starting around 2008, to really amp up the online echo-sphere and help skiers understand this gladed, lake-effect-bombed kingdom at the end of the world.Whatever drove Boho's success, that success happened. This is a good, stable business that proved that ski areas do not have to cater to all skiers to be viable. But those of us who wanted Bohemia before it existed still have a hard time believing that it does. Like superhero movies or video-calls or energy drinks that aren't coffee, Boho is a thing we could, in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, easily imagine but just as easily dismiss as fantasy.Fortunately, our modern age of invention and experimentation includes plenty of people who dismiss the dismissers, who see things that don't exist yet and bring them into our world. And one of the best contributions to skiing to emerge from this age is Mount Bohemia.What we talked aboutSeason pass price and access changes; lifetime and two-year season passes; a Disney-ski comparison that isn't negative; when your day ticket costs as much as your season pass; Lonie's dog makes a cameo; not selling lift tickets on Saturdays; “too many companies are busy building a brand that no one will hate, versus a brand that someone will love”; why it's OK to have some people be angry with you; UP skiing's existential challenge; skiing's vibe shift from competition to complementary culture; the Midwest's advanced-skier problem; Boho's season pass reciprocal program; why ski areas survive; the Keweenaw snow stake and Boho's snowfall history; recent triple chair improvements and why Boho didn't fully replace the chair – “it's basically a brand-new chairlift”; a novel idea for Boho's next new chairlift; the Nordic spa; proposed rezoning drama; housing at the end of the world; could Mount Bohemia have a Mad River Glen co-op-style future?; why the pass deadline really is the pass deadline; and Mount Bohemia TV.What I got wrong* I said that Boho's one-day lift ticket was “$89 or $92” last time Lonie joined me on the pod, in fall, 2022. The one-day cost for the 2022-23 ski season was $87.* I said that Powder Mountain, Utah, may extend their no-lift-ticket-sales-on-Saturdays-and-Sundays-in-February policy, which the mountain rolled out last year, to other dates, but their sales calendar shows just eight restricted dates (one of which is Sunday, March 1), which is the same number as last winter.Why you should ski Mount BohemiaI can't add anything useful to this bit that I wrote a few months back:Or didn't say three years ago, around my first Boho pod:Podcast NotesOn Boho's season passOn Lonie's LibraryA Boho podcast will always come loaded with some Lonie Library recommendations. In this episode, we get The Power of Cult Branding by Mattew W. Ragas and Bolivar J. Bueno and The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al Ries and Laura Ries.On Raising Cane'sLonie tells us about a restaurant called Raising Cane's that sells nothing but chicken fingers. Because I have this weird way of sometimes not noticing super-obvious things, I'd never heard of the place. But apparently they have 900-ish locations, including several here in NYC. I'm sure you already know this.On Jimmy BuffettThen again I'm sometimes overly attuned to things that I think everyone knows about, like Jimmy Buffett. Probably most people are aware of his Margaritaville-headlined music catalog, but perhaps not the Boomers-Gone-Wild Parrothead energy of his concerts, which were mass demonstrations of a uniquely American weirdness that's impossible to believe in unless you see it:I don't know if I'd classify this spectacle as sports for people who don't like sports or anthropological proof that mass coordinated niche crowd-dancing predates the advent of TikTok, but I hope this video reaches the aliens first and they decide not to bother.On “when we spoke in Milwaukee”This was the second time I've interviewed Lonie recently. The first was in front of an audience at the Snowvana ski show in Milwaukee last month. We did record that session, and it was different enough from this pod to justify releasing – I just don't have a timeline on when I'll do that yet. Here's the preview article that outlined the event:On Lonie operating the Porcupine Mountains ski areaI guess you can make anything look rad. Porcupine Mountains ski area, as presented today under management of the State of Michigan's Department of Natural Resources:The same ski area under Lonie's management, circa 2011:On the owner of Song and Labrador, New York buying and closing nearby Toggenburg ski areaOn Indy's fight with Ski CooperI wrote two stories on this, each of which subtracted five years from my life. The first:The follow-up:On Snow Snake, Apple Mountain, and Mott Mountain ski areasThese three Mid-Michigan ski areas were so similar it was frightening – the only thing I can conclude from the fact that Snow Snake is the only one left is that management trumps pretty much everything when it comes to which ski areas survive:On Crystal Mountain, Michigan versus Sugar Loaf, MichiganI noted that 1995 Stu viewed Sugar Loaf as a “more interesting” ski area than contemporary Crystal. It's important to note that this was pre-expansion Crystal, before the ski area doubled in size with backside terrain. Here are the Crystal versus Sugar Loaf trailmaps of that era:I discussed all of this with Crystal CEO John Melcher last year:On Thunder Mountain and Walloon HillsLonie mentions two additional lost Michigan ski areas: Thunder Mountain and Walloon Hills. The latter, while stripped of its chairlifts, still operates as a nonprofit called Challenge Mountain. Here's what it looked like just before shuttering as a public ski area in 1978:The responsible party here was nearby Boyne, which bought both Walloon and Thunder in 1967. They closed the latter in 1984:The company now known as Boyne Resorts purchased a total of four Michigan ski areas after Everett Kircher founded Boyne Mountain in 1948, starting with The Highlands in 1963. That ski area remains open, but Boyne also owned the 436-vertical foot ski area alternately known as “Barn Mountain” and “Avalanche Peak” from 1972 to '77. I can't find a trailmap of this one, but here's Boyne's consolidation history:On Nub's Nob and The HighlandsWhen I say that Nub's Nob and Boyne's Highlands ski area are right across the street from each other, I mean they really are:Both are excellent ski areas - two of the best in the entire Midwest.On Granite Peak's evolution under Midwest Family Ski ResortsI've written about this a lot, but check out Granite Peak AKA “Rib Mountain” before the company now known as Midwest Family Ski Resorts purchased it in 2000:And today:And it's just like “what you're allowed to do that?”On up-and-over chairliftsBohemia may replace its double chair with a rare up-and-over machine, which would extend along the current line to the summit, and then continue to the bottom of Haunted Valley, effectively functioning as two chairlifts. Lonie explains the logic in the podcast, but if he succeeds here, this would be the first new up-and-over lift built in the United States since Stevens Pass' Double Diamond-Southern Cross machine in 1987. I'm only aware of four other such machines in America, all of them in the Midwest:Little Switzerland recently revealed plans to replace the machine that makes up the 1 and 2 chairlifts with two separate quads next year.On Boho's Nordic SpaI never thought hot tubs and parties and happiness were controversial. Then along came social media. And it turns out that when a ski area that primarily markets itself as a refuge for hardcore skiers also builds a base-area zone for these skiers to sink into another sort of indulgence at day's end and then promotes these features, it make Angry Ski Bro VERY ANGRY.For most of human existence we had incentives to prevent ostentatious attention-seeking whining about peripheral things that had no actual impact on your life, and that incentive was Not Wanting To Get Your Ass Kicked. But some people interpreted the distance and anonymity of the internet as a permission slip to become the worst versions of themselves. And so we have a dedicated corps of morons trolling Boho's socials with chest-thumping proclamations of #RealSkierness that rage against the $18 Nordic Spa fee taped onto each Boho $99 or $112 season pass.But when you go to Boho, what you see is this:And these people do not look angry. Because they are doing something fun and cool. Which is one more reason that I stopped reading social media comments several years ago and decided to base reality on living in it rather than observing it through my Pet Rectangle.On the Mad River Glen Co-Op and Betsy PrattSo far, the only successful U.S. ski area co-op is Mad River Glen, Vermont. Longtime owner Betsy Pratt orchestrated the transformation in 1995. She passed away in 2023 at age 95, giving her lots of years to watch the model endure. Black Mountain, New Hampshire, is in the midst of a similar transformation. On Mount Bohemia TVBoho is a strange, strange universe. Nothing better distills the mountain's essence than Mount Bohemia TV – I mean that in the literal sense, in that each episode immerses you in this peculiar world, but also in an accidental quirk of its execution. Because the video staff keeps, in Lonie's words, “losing the password,” Mount Bohemia has at least four official YouTube channels, each of which hosts different episodes of Mount Bohemia TV.Here's episodes 1, 2, and 3:4 through 15:16 through 20:And 21 and 22:If anyone knows how to sort this out, I'm sure they'd appreciate the assist. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke talks with Mike Borlee, Dave Donnay and Ryan LaPorte from the Keweenaw Snowmobile club about the grand opening of their new multi-use facility, and how trails are maintained.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, ListenUpRadio, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke talks with Amanda and Daena Makela about the upcoming Wolf's Head Film Festival, and promoting filmmaking in the Keweenaw.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, ListenUpRadio, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Mary Niemela from the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter joins host Todd VanDyke with an update about domestic violence services offered on the Keweenaw.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, ListenUpRadio, Houghton, MI.

Keweenaw, MI is home to a first-of-its-kind, certified dark sky park. Brad Barnett from Visit Keweenaw shares how a public-private partnership led to the park's creation and how this small rural destination is making a sustainable impact through authentic community collaboration and partnerships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Bob Pokorski and John Parsons from the Keweenaw County Planning Commission talk with host Todd VanDyke about the county's master plan update process, and opportunities for public input.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, ListenUpRadio, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke welcomes Robin Meneguzzo and Julia Peterson with an update about the Keweenaw Heartlands project.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, ListenUpRadio, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Phyllis Locatelli and Jean Ellis from the Keweenaw Heritage Center at St. Anne's talk with host Todd VanDyke about the building's history, and the need for an expensive new roof.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, ListenUpRadio, Houghton, MI.

In the early 1900s, Hancock's Quincy Mine—nicknamed Old Reliable—was one of America's most productive copper mines. It reached over a mile underground, ran the world's largest steam hoist, and fueled Michigan's Copper Country economy for decades.But the work was grueling, the hours long, and tensions boiled over in the 1913 strike—culminating in the Italian Hall disaster, one of the darkest days in Michigan's labor history.In this End of the Road in Michigan episode, we uncover the full story: the rise, the innovation, and the strife that shaped the Quincy Mine and the community around it.Listen now and step back into a world where copper was king—and the cost of progress was paid in human lives.#QuincyMine #MichiganHistory #CopperCountry #EndOfTheRoadInMichigan

Episode 112: The Crusher 2025 - A Crusher in the Keweenaw. New year. New route. Same glorious bull$hit. Steve Rodgers joins to share about his mass start 175 adventure while Tristan Smith and Sebastian Stankiewicz take us through their 500+ mile point-to-point experience. Starting line photo credit: Rob Meendering

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke welcomes Penny Schute Menze and Gary Uren for a discussion about the Keweenaw's Croatian heritage, and the upcoming CroFest celebration.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, ListenUpRadio, Houghton, MI.

"If you didn't grow it, you've got to mine it,” says John Jaszczak, Director and Curator of the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum in Houghton, Michigan. Since 1838--just after Michigan became a state--geologists and miners have been collecting rock and mineral specimens as the first American Mining Rush began. Since 1855, those specimens were housed at Michigan Technological University, then known as Michigan College of Mines, making it one of the oldest museums not only in Michigan, but the Great Lakes region. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with John about the museum origins and what a visitor can find there.Key Takeaways + Notable Quotes: The region's history—from Indigenous use to mining booms to today's tourism—stems from its globally unique native copper deposit.“The reason we're here is because of the geology. And because of copper in particular.” What began as a teaching collection for Michigan Tech's School of Mines became a public museum in 1902.“The collection started in 1885 when the university started offering courses in mineralogy.”From discovery tales to global expeditions, the museum presents minerals as more than geology.“Some specimens have scientific stories. Some have personal stories. Some have adventure stories.”Under ultraviolet light, otherwise ordinary-looking minerals burst into color.“That's the part where most people say, ‘Wow, I didn't expect this.'”John's lifelong fascination with minerals led him to volunteer, then direct, the museum alongside his career in physics.“I started collecting minerals when I was probably five or six years old... and I just loved it.”From working with scientists around the world to publishing in mineralogical journals, the museum plays an active role in global discovery.“There's something magical about being the first to describe and name something.”The Keweenaw's native copper is on display in museum-quality form that you can't find anywhere else.“We have the world's best specimens of copper. No question about it.”Resources:Visit the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum:  https://museum.mtu.eduExplore Native Copper in the Keweenaw: https://www.mindat.org/museum-139.htmlKeweenaw National Historical Park: https://www.nps.gov/kewe/index.htm Connect With Us:Lake Superior Podcast Page – https://nplsf.org/podcastFacebook – https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundationLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-parks-of-lake-superior-foundationSponsors:Cafe Imports – Minneapolis-based importers of specialty green coffees since 1993, focused on sustainability. Learn more: https://cafeimports.comNational Parks of Lake Superior Foundation – Donate to protect Lake Superior's five national parks: https://nplsf.org/donateBe sure to tune in to this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast to hear Dr. John Jaszczak share the rich history of Michigan's native copper legacy, how the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum became one of the nation's premier mineral museums, and why its specimens continue to captivate visitors, researchers, and collectors from around the world.

House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Legislative Hearing on H.R. 411, H.R. 2916, H.R. 3620 & H.R. 3670 Wednesday, June 11, 2025 | 10:00 AM On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills: H.R. 411 (Rep. Bergman), “Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025” H.R. 2916 (Rep. Stefanik), To authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes H.R. 3620 (Rep. Begich), “Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025” H.R. 3670 (Rep. Stansbury), “IHS Provider Expansion Act” More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2025/06/10/house-subcommittee-on-indian-and-insular-affairs-schedules-hearing-on-four-bills/

Bridgefest is near. On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke welcomed Katie Schlief, Todd Gast and Ryan Towles from the Bridgefest Committee with an update about the Keweenaw's biggest summer festival.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, ListenUpRadio, Houghton, MI.

Long before the Keweenaw Peninsula became a destination for hikers, bikers, and Lake Superior rock hounds, it was the stage for a national copper rush. Shortly after Michigan became a state in 1837,  Geologist Douglas Houghton was sent to Copper Harbor to explore reports from Native Americans about copper in the region. By 1844, Fort Wilkins was built to be the military base helping to keep the peace as fortune-seekers came to the state's most northern port. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Barry James, Upper Peninsula historian with the Michigan History Center, about the fascinating past—and present—of this historic state park. From the 1840s copper rush chaos to Civil War reenactments, as well as lighthouse tours and tales of shipwrecks, Fort Wilkins remains a living classroom with extensive youth programs. Join us as we explore the enduring significance of this frontier fort—and the people working to keep its stories alive.Key Takeaways:Fort Wilkins was built in the mid-19th century in Copper Harbor to maintain law and order during the copper rush.The fort served as a frontier military post, supporting mining operations and maritime navigation in one of the most remote regions of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.The Copper Harbor Lighthouse and range lights were established in response to early shipwrecks, including the 1844 wreck of the John Jacob Astor, which supplied Fort Wilkins.Today, Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park's heritage site network and offers youth camps, Civil War reenactments, and public education programs.Barry James and the Michigan History Center are working to expand exhibits, including a new display on how Fort Wilkins became a state park in 1923.Notable Quotes:“What it really represents is an excellent example of a mid-19th century military post as the United States was expanding westward.”“The Astor was the first wreck on Lake Superior in 1844. The military realized that their lifeline could be easily snapped.”“We also offer a living history program that's been ongoing since 1976, where we have costumed interpreters within the fort that represent the last occupation at Fort Wilkins, the summer of 1870.”“We've got 19 buildings on site, but 12 are original, dating back to the 1840s. So people can go into these buildings, look at the exhibits. We have period rooms with furniture and interpretation of the period.”“To get on the National Register of Historic Places, you really have to have something significant with the historic site, so that says enough right there.”Resources:Fort Wilkins Historic State Park: https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/fwchl Michigan History Center: https://www.michigan.gov/mhcKeweenaw National Historical Park: https://www.nps.gov/keweConnect With Us:Website: https://nplsf.org/podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalParksOfLakeSuperiorFoundationLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-parks-of-lake-superior-foundationSponsors:Cafe Imports: Supporting environmental sustainability in coffee-growing regions since 1993. Learn more at https://cafeimports.comNational Parks of Lake Superior Foundation: Support vital projects by donating at https://nplsf.org/donate

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Katie Schlief and Jason Swain from the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce talk with host Todd VanDyke about their membership drive, and the services they provide to the area.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

Elise Nelson and Faith Morrison from the Carnegie Museum joined host Todd VanDyke for a discussion about the current "Extraordinary Women of the U.P." exhibit, with a focus on women from the Keweenaw.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Kevin Weir from the Keweenaw Family Resource Center talks with host Todd VanDyke about their programs designed to help reduce child neglect and abuse.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Marcia Goodrich from the Wild Ones Keweenaw Chapter talks with host Todd VanDyke about the benefits of planting native flowers and shrubs in our gardens.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this edition of Copper Country Today, Melissa Williamson and Joelle Adams from Keweenaw Roller Derby talk with host Todd VanDyke about their organization and their sport.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

Our recent frigid Michigan winter weather can make it a little hard to remember our mantra of embracing the season, but a flurry of upcoming fun festivals might help you change your mind. On this episode of Behind the Mitten, we'll take you all over the state, to some of our wackiest winter festivals you can experience. Do you have a secret desire to be a Viking, even if it's only for a weekend? Our friends at the Michigan Nordic Fire Festival see you, and have concocted one heck of a great time in Charlotte. The 10th annual festival will feature Viking-themed performances, reenactments and demonstrations, competitions and activities like archery and axe throwing, a costume contest and more. We had on Bryan Merkle, the top viking, to give us the scoop. He's particularly excited about the Mead Hall, where you'll be able to sip samples of this honeyed drink. The festival runs February 21 through the 23 and tickets can be purchased online. I'm shining my horn helmut right now.Next, we'll take you to the Upper Peninsula where the little town of Trenary will be hosting their famous Outhouse Races on Saturday February 22. Thousands of people will inundate downtown, while dozens will compete for amazing prizes. We had on Stacey Rucinski, President of the Trenary Outhouse Races to get to the bottom of this hilariously good time. Learn how to make a regulation outhouse, what must be inside said outhouse during the race, how the outhouses make their way down the street, and what it's like to be in Trenary on the big day. Finally, we have one of our favorite regular guests back on the show, Jesse Wiederhold from Visit Keweenaw. Jesse is always a font of knowledge and excitement about what is going on in the Key, and this week was no different. We talked about the Copper Dog 150, which starts in Calumet on February 28. The dog sled racers will then traverse the peninsula during several exciting races. Enjoy a variety of events throughout the weekend, including sled dog rides for the kids, a huge street party, fireworks and more. A new event is happening February 21-23, The Hancock Snow Sculpting Invitational. There will be some seriously awesome snow art here. This premier event will feature four talented teams of snow sculptors, including the renowned Sculptora Borealis, whose team members have won the National Snow Sculpting title four times, and Team USA, winners of the Bronze medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and two-time National Snow Sculpting title winners. You can find all the fun that is happening in the Keweenaw this winter here.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke talks with Brian Rendel of the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation about efforts to expand support options for caregivers in the community. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke welcomes Keweenaw County Sheriff Curt Pennala and Deputy Jeremy Lassila for a discussion about the expansion of the Keweenaw Search and Rescue team, and their No Kids Without a Christmas campaign. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke welcomes Jeff Ratcliffe from the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance for a discussion about vocational education scholarships, the continuing effort to renovate historic buildings, and job creation. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke celebrates the fifth anniversary of the Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition with Don Kauppi, Gina Nicholas and Andrew Ranville. Learn what's been accomplished, and what's ahead. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke talks with Honorary Finnish Consul Jim Kurtti about the importance of Finnish Independence Day to the Keweenaw - a century ago, and today. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke welcomes Julia Peterson and Mike McMahon, with an update about the Nature Conservancy's Keweenaw Heartlands project. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

The forests that ring Lake Superior are some of the most magical on the continent. At the tip of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, in Copper Harbor, you'll find the Estivant Pines. This 570 acres of old-growth pine has lured hikers for decades. But saving this stand of ancient timber was no small feat. It started over 50 years ago and in this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with photographer and forester Charles Eschbach from Houghton, Michigan, about his work to protect one of the Upper Peninsula's most remarkable natural treasures. Tune in to learn how his story of conservation--from skiing in deep snow with his camera to the cooperation of classrooms around the region--has inspired generations.Key Takeaways:The Estivant Pines are one of the last contiguous stands of old-growth white pines in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with some trees towering over 150 feet and dating back 500 years. Grassroots efforts, including a committee of 17 citizens and even fundraising by schoolchildren, were critical to saving the sanctuary from logging in the 1970s. Photography played a pivotal role in raising awareness, with Charles documenting the pines' beauty and the destruction they faced, galvanizing public support. The sanctuary's preservation has inspired generations, creating a deeper understanding of the value of conserving natural habitats for future generations. Conservation efforts have not only saved the forest but also educated the public, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility in the region.Notable Quotes: “You always know your backyard the best, and the Keweenaw is my backyard.” “The kids led the way. School children raised money, from quarters dropped in buckets to can drives, to save these trees.” “These trees are four to five hundred years old. It's amazing that they're still there.” “Our little committee of seventeen people persevered through countless setbacks.” “This is a piece of history - a legacy of what we've preserved and achieved.”Resources:Estivant Pines Sanctuary Information: Estivant Pines (https://www.michigannature.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=locationgallery&action=listing&listing=110) National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation: NPLSF Website (https://www.nplsf.org/)Be sure to tune in to this inspiring episode of the Lake Superior Podcast to hear Charles's incredible story of conservation and community dedication.Connect With Us:Website: Lake Superior PodcastFacebook: National Parks of Lake Superior FoundationLinkedIn: NPLSF on LinkedIn

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke welcomes Robin Meneguzzo and Vienna Leonarduzzi from the Keweenaw Community Foundation, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

Witnessing the Northern Lights checks a bucket-list for many. The first time you see the sky erupt in waves of pulsing white, green, red, or even blue light makes lifelong memories. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Astrophysics Graduate Student Ogetay Kayali from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. Ogetay shares not only why we seem to be experiencing the Northern Lights more frequently, but also how to better take advantage of the experience with our cameras.Key Takeaways: The northern lights are at their peak due to the solar maximum, a phenomenon that happens every 11 years, increasing the likelihood of bright auroras. The colors in the northern lights, ranging from green to red and purple, are caused by the interaction of solar particles with oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere. With advances in technology, it's easier than ever to capture the auroras on cameras, even smartphones, though understanding camera settings like ISO and exposure can enhance the quality of your photos. Dark skies are critical for viewing the northern lights, and the Lake Superior region offers excellent vantage points for experiencing this natural wonder away from city lights. The best time to see the lights is during winter months with longer nights, and checking the moon's phase can also help—new moons provide the darkest skies for optimal viewing.Quotes: "We are currently at solar maximum, so we are expecting lots of solar storms that hit the Earth and cause northern lights. That's pretty normal. Every 11 years that happens" – Ogetay Kayali "If you have a camera, first try to learn using it. If you have a mobile camera, go to the darkest place you can and use long exposures to collect more light." – Ogetay Kayali "Take that chance, even when the forecast looks cloudy...you've got to try it." – Ogetay KayaliResources: For daily astronomical insights and stunning celestial images, visit NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html). To learn more about designated dark sky parks and optimal stargazing locations, visit Dark Sky Parks near Lake Superior (https://darksky.org/places/keweenaw-michigan-dark-sky-park/). For more information about NPLSF, visit National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation (nplsf.org)Don't miss this captivating episode as Ogatai Kayali, an astrophysics graduate student, explains the science behind the Northern Lights and why we've been seeing them more frequently along Lake Superior. Tune in for an in-depth look at the solar cycles, photography tips, and how Lake Superior's dark skies provide some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world.

We wrap up our episode series about our return to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This week we leave the Keweenaw and drive east to the central part of the Upper Peninsula near Republic Michigan which is in the Michigamme River Basin. We invited my family to join us in the U.P. again to see the beautiful and rocky region around Republic and, of course, to experience an excellent log sauna… My brother and his family took us up on the offer! And they are joining us on the podcast! Welcome to Greg, Clarissa, Norah and Everett. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:49 Welcome to our guests 03:58 The drive to Republic (log sauna on the side of the road and Carla's Inn) 04:55 Dangerous Cave rental 07:19 Exploring the area, Big Bay, Logging roads, Marquette 08:38 Kayaking 18:34 Log Sauna Review 23:51 Greg and Clarissa's sauna journey and their home sauna 29:52 Outro

Back to the Yoopers Part II - Episode 25 We continue our adventures in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan! We'll be sharing about a second historical site we visited, a few more culinary gems we discovered, a beautiful walk we took at a nature sanctuary, and another sauna experience on the west side of the Keweenaw peninsula. Website https://www.thesaunatrail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesaunatrail Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thesaunatrail Locals https://thesaunatrail.locals.com Music Dirge of the Night by Tied With Twine CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:11 Yooper Pasty and the Wood-burning Sauna Facebook group 00:02:02 Hanka Homestead 00:06:22 Freda, Apple Cider and the Octagonal Sauna 00:09:21 Chutes and Ladder Park 00:10:05 Smoked Fish 00:10:40 Calumet Brewery Ruins 00:12:15 Haven Falls Park 00:13:01 Jampot Monks Baked Goods 00:14:30 Copper Harbor & Hunter's Point Park 00:15:48 Black Creek Nature Sanctuary 00:20:24 Cedar Bay Sauna 00:26:15 Outro

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Kevin Weir from the Keweenaw Family Resource Center updated host Todd VanDyke on their efforts to support the relationships between dads and their kids. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Jean Ellis, Bob Wareham and Antonia Burich from Keweenaw Kernewek talked with host Todd VanDyke about the Copper Country's rich Cornish heritage. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Delores Kilpela from U.P. Kids talked with host Todd VanDyke about the need for foster families in the Keweenaw. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke speaks with Sherry Middlemis Brown and Lois Jambeker from the Copper Country Angel Mission about their back-to-school backpack program, and other services they offer to economically challenged families in the Keweenaw. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this episode of Copper Country Today, Mark Rowe from the Eagle Harbor Life Saving Museum talks with host Todd VanDyke about the history of the Life Saving Service in the Keweenaw, and how it's being preserved. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke gets an update from the Keweenaw Land Trust from B Lauer and Pat Toczydlowski. Hear about their lands, their programs, and their plans. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp In this episode, President Series #275 & 276, & part of an EdUp Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCUs) Mini Series, YOUR guests are ⁠Lori Sherman, ⁠President, ⁠Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College⁠, & ⁠Christopher Caldwell⁠, President, ⁠College of Menominee Nation⁠ YOUR hosts are ⁠Dr. Erica J Moore⁠, Vice President for Indigenous Institutional Transformation, & ⁠Amber Morseau⁠⁠, Indigenous Institutional Transformation Specialist, ⁠American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC)⁠ Listen in to #EdUp! Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp! Connect with YOUR #EdUp Team - ⁠Elvin Freytes⁠ & ⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠ ● Join YOUR #EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠! We make education YOUR business!   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edup/message

On this edition of Copper Country Today, host Todd VanDyke talks with Sarah Crane and Eli McClain from the University of Michigan about the study they recently completed about tourism in the Keweenaw. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

Julia Peterson from the Nature Conservancy talked with host Todd VanDyke about the Keweenaw Highlands project in Keweenaw County, including plans for the property's future ownership and use. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Todd VanDyke welcomed Dan Jamison from the Calumet Theatre and Andrew Ranville from the Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition, in advance of a joint fundraiser the two organizations are planning. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

On this segment of Copper Country Today, Visit Keweenaw Director Brad Barnett talks with host Todd VanDyke about the challenges faced by businesses following a disastrous winter tourism season, and a new effort to make more of the Keweenaw's attractions handicap accessible. Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, and 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2024, Houghton Community Broadcasting, Houghton, MI.

Part 2 is out! We're sharing the winner of the pasty-off, reliving the first time we stepped into Big Traverse Bay (straight from the sauna!), and continuing our adventures exploring the Keweenaw Peninsula.  Music Dirge of the Night by Tied With Twine Website https://www.thesaunatrail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesaunatrail Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thesaunatrail TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thesaunatrail Locals https://thesaunatrail.locals.com (00:00) Introduction  (01:30) Finding a rental  (03:34) Exploring the Keweenaw  (04:47) The sauna on Big Traverse Bay  (13:43) Sauna country  (15:41) Nudity in the sauna  (22:06) Trying a fish fry  (23:30) 360 degree sauna photos  (26:41) Driving home and trip photos  (32:04) Pasty-off!  (37:02) Outro 

The Copper Mining Strike of 1913 became one of the most violent in United States History. When strikers throw a Christmas Eve Party for their families and children, 73 people end up dead when someone falsely yells, "fire!" We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon  or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website. Thank you so much to our partners, check them out! Quince: Use our link to get free shipping and 365-day returns. Microdose Gummies: Use code NPAD to get free shipping and 30% off your first order. Lume Deodorant: Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that's over 40% off) with promo code [NPAD] at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod Hello Fresh: Use our link and code npadfree for free breakfast for life.

Christmas Eve, 1913, was a tragic night in Calumet, Michigan. 73 people—59 of them children--were killed when someone falsely yelled, “Fire,” at a crowded Christmas party on the second floor of the Italian Hall setting off a deadly stampede. The disaster occurred five months into a crippling labor strike between Western Federation of Miners Union workers and the Calumet Hecla Mining Company. Now, 110 years later, Beth Kirschner has written about the historic labor dispute and what has been called the Italian Hall Massacre in her novel, “Copper Divide.” In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Beth, who works as a software engineer, about the 1913 Copper Strike and how the Keweenaw Peninsula's history inspires her writing.

As daylight hours begin to wane, the darkest months of the year are ahead. For many, it means more time to get outside and pay attention to what's happening through the night in our sky. In this episode of Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with John Mueller at the historic Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Named an official International Dark Sky Park, John shares what the Lodge has done to earn that distinction and even more important, what happens to the planet when you keep the night dark.

On July 23, 1913, life changed in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and for union workers across the country. It was on that date that roughly 9,000 copper miners walked off the job in the Keweenaw peninsula protesting working conditions and wages. The strike lasted 8 months and in this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Walt Lindala and Frida Waara talk with Jo Holt, historian at the Keweenaw Historical Park, about what was happening in Calumet 110 years ago and its impact on the labor movement in America.