UP SKI TRIP

Sunday Feb. 1 thru Feb. 6

Left home at 7:40am, picked up Cheri O'Riordan @ 8:00 and then Joanne Dezur @ 8:30 and were on the road to Ironwood, MI. by 8:40. Good driving all the way (444 mi). Arrived about 4:00pm. Shortly all 35 people were accounted for. There were two eating groups - early 6:00 pm and the late group at 7:00pm. We ate at different places so as not to overwhelm  the wait staff plus some just preferred to eat early. Nice to have the group together again. Had dinner at the Kimball   Inn.

MONDAY FEB.2

Everyone went to ABR our favorite venue. It was quite cold 3-4 deg below 0, but not too windy so with the proper layers it was quite comfortable. The trails were perfectly groomed but quite slow due to the low temp. MA had some difficulty with icing on the bottom of her skis. I put on some "Geen" cold wax and she had no further difficulty. Had our usual social hour at 6:00pm then had dinner at the Caribou Lodge. A good day and everyone got their share of exercise.

TUESDAY FEB. 3

Most of us returned to ABR to ski as there were MANY trails which needed our attention. The snow was a little faster and we really enjoyed ourselves. Some of the trails were Deer Trail,Jack's Flats, Hemlock, Jack Pine, Cherry Dairy, Blueberry Bluffs. Many of us were getting a little more comfortable on the snow and were taking on some of the more difficult sections.

After the social hour the late group had dinner at the Bell Chalet where MA and I enjoyed their Pizza Verde. There was enough left over for our lunch on Wed. MA and a bunch finished off the evening  playing Dominoes. All were tired again.

WEDNESDAY FEB. 4

Today several of us went to Miljie's which is a different experience and very pretty. It is private property but the public is welcome. There is a small rustic cabin with a pot-bellied stove and some drink mixes if the stove is hot. Sometimes no one is there. The cabin is about a 1/4 mi ski in from the road. The trails are minimally groomed and single tracked. It is  about 9km in length in two loops. the birch woods were beautiful.

In the afternoon we went back to ABR and did our favorite trails.

Dinner was at the Kimball Inn. Another nice day.     (cold again)

THURSDAY FEB. 5

We spent the day at ABR and did some of the trails we had not done previously. It was not quite as cold today. Low 6 deg, high about 16 deg - sunny - a perfect day for skiing. 

Dinner was at Tocconelli's in Ironwood.

FRIDAY FEB. 6

We got checked out and on the road by 8:15am. The roads were clear and the driving was just fine. Arrived home about 4;30pm.   A GREAT TRIP!