Guest Blogger: Kelsey Lauer Visits Ice Cave Wonderland

The last time I can remember West Grand Traverse Bay freezing over was in 2009. This year, about 90% of all the Great Lakes are frozen, and I am thrilled to experience winter the way I remember it as a child. While it's unsafe to go explore them now, the Lake Michigan ice caves will live on in legend. Never before have we Michiganders seen something like this, and hundreds of people visited these magnificent natural beauties. Lucky for us, YP Kelsey Lauer and her boyfriend took the trip out and snapped some incredible pictures. Read on to hear about (and see!) their adventure. (All photos by Colin Johnstone.)

By now, most of the people in Northern Michigan have heard about the spectacular ice caves that formed on Lake Michigan in Leelanau County near Northport.

I was alerted by these amazing pictures that were popping up all over my social media news feeds, and after hearing someone call them a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” I decided I had to go check them out along with boyfriend Colin and his camera on a sunny but FRIGID afternoon.

A once in a lifetime opportunity was a total understatement. I've never before seen such majestic jagged ice sculptures that stretch towards the sky, looking like a giant hand had reached down and sculpted the ice.

A rugged, frozen landscape set off by the icy blue sky looked as if it could have come from another world.

We weren’t alone in our adventure, either; it looked as if a few hundred other people had accompanied us out onto the ice, complete with one very small dog wearing a hooded coat and bright pink booties. The huskies, on the other hand, looked right at home.

The very texture of the ice was fascinating, with bumps and divots where spray from the waves had frozen. An occasional handy foothold or handhold made climbing some of the slippery slopes quite irresistible (although that is not recommended!).

Some of the caves were quite small, hardly large enough for a person to stand upright in.

Others, however, offered a myriad of nooks and crannies to explore—including some skylights!

After spending a wonderful couple of hours exploring the caves, however, the sun started to set and we decided to head back to shore while we could still see.

Saying farewell to the ice caves was almost bittersweet—especially now that the ice conditions are no longer safe to check them out. It was truly an honor and a privilege to see them while they were accessible, something far more than a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

The caves are a stunning reminder of the power and beauty of Lake Michigan and Mother Nature in all seasons—even in the frozen depths of winter, there is still amazement and joy to be found by going outside.

I challenge you to head outside this winter, try out a few new winter activities to see which strike your fancy and most of all, have FUN.  Let’s make the most of our nearly 17 feet of snow this winter while we can!

Guest Blogger: Cindy Evans Snowshoes at the Commons

Happy Polar Vortex Part II, everyone! Our guest blogger this week is Cindy Evans, who works at Grand Traverse Industries and lives in the Traverse City area with her husband and two children. Cindy took on winter (and a lot of hills) during her recent snowshoeing adventure at the Grand Traverse Commons. Read on for some advice about snowshoeing the Commons and a lot of pretty winter eye-candy that will encourage you to get out and explore this season! - Mo

I love Traverse City; I have always loved the area and its charm. This city has so much to offer in terms of opportunities to be active and ways to enjoy its unmatchable beauty in all seasons.

A few years ago I had found myself really disliking the winter season and the fact that I wasn’t out enjoying it either. I decided that I was going to find a way to get out there again and change my perspective because, moving was not an option that either my husband, myself, nor my family was going to consider. I looked on the community events page and thought, well what can I do? My children were young, my husband has a reconstructed knee so his activities are limited, I had suffered from Asthma as a result of contracting the H1N1 flu, and honestly, I was not in great shape after having two children and a few too many pounds I hadn’t done anything about. So needless to say, choices were limited.

One day someone at work told me about guided snowshoeing at the Sleeping Bear Dunes and that equipment was provided if you didn’t have your own. So I called my husband and asked him to sign us up: I wanted to give this a try. This was a great opportunity to see if I could do it before investing money into equipment of my own. That one trip was all it took, and I found this was the perfect activity for my family to be able to participate in together, while also being something I could do while not being in the best shape. I will say that after that first trip I was hooked, and it was the spark I needed to get back to enjoying our majestic winters. I was able to lose some that weight and start feeling better, in part, due to our many winter adventures snowshoeing.

One of my favorite areas to hike with my family in the fall is the trails in and around the GrandTraverse Commons. Since I hadn’t been snowshoeing there yet, I thought I would give it a try. I headed out this past Saturday after the big storm that dumped more than six inches of snow and left us in very low temperatures. I didn’t take my kids since it was so cold, but I am a diehard, right? I can do this, why not!

I was surprised to see that there was more activity on the trails than I had thought there would be, and once I got moving the cold was not a factor. The Village is nestled among 480 acres of preserved parkland, and has a vast array of trails. Thetrails are well marked and have maps at the access points. It’s a great place to get out and meet others along the trail. You will come across frozen creeks, old historic buildings, and see lots of wildlife. If you love to take photos of nature or unique settings, this is the place for you. There are moments to enjoy some solitude and quiet, and just to pause and listen to the wind in the trees. Some trails lead to some old abandoned historic buildings that are now the canvas for local graffiti artists. (Warning: if you are with children there is inappropriate language and images that come with this graffiti work, so just beware.)

I started out on the Tangle Wood trail, which is a fairly easy trail with some rolling hills and a moderately packed pathway from use. The trail meanders through the woods and past a creek. This would be a good place to start if you’re only looking for a short hike. I then headed over to the Cistern Spur trail because I wanted to get some pictures on the higher elevation and of the big round abandoned cistern that is hidden in the woods there. There is an easier path to get to the same area but I opted for the short cut, which includes going up the very steep hill to get there more directly. I don’t believe that was a great idea for snowshoeing but, I will claim frozen brain for that decision. I did slip a few times and needed to use the rail so I didn’t fall or slide down, but after much determination, I did make it to the top, a little….ok, a LOT…out of breath. But I made it, and the view was worth it.

In areas I could see down across the Village and the sights were just amazing. I could have opted to take the easy path down, but I decided I just wanted to see if I could ski down and not fall, knowing full-well this was not how snowshoes were meant to be used. Again, frozen brain mixed with a little stupidity. I do not recommend this because it could lead to injury. Matter of fact, it most likely will lead to injury. I did however have a blast skiing down the trail and, will boast I did not fall but I am sure if my chiropractor ever saw this blog it would make him cringe. I assure you my form was not good, and it was very dicey at moments.

Whether you like to snowshoe with a group or by yourself, the Commons is the ideal place to go. You can head directly out of the trail and over to Higher Grounds for a warm up with coffee or grab a bite to eat at the various eateries. You can adventure into the Mercato to warm up and enjoy some great shopping, or take a stroll and view the artwork along the walls. There is something for everybody here. Click here for a map of the trails.

Also worth mentioning is the Experience 231 app. This app has all the hiking, biking, bird watching, x-country skiing, paddling, and snowshoeing trails in the area. It allows you to enter search criteria such as distance, or experience level; it will pull up all the trails that meet that criteria. It also gives some information on the trail and its surroundings, along with distance from your location. I found some new places I didn’t know about and it’s worth checking out since it’s free. I hope to see some of you out on the trails, and happy snowshoeing!

Cross-Country Skiing at the VASA Trail

To follow up last week’s adventure downhill skiing, I thought I’d share one of the best place to cross-country ski for this week’s post: the VASA Trail. The VASA is no secret in this town, or the country. If you’re an avid XC-skier, you’re probably familiar with the North American VASA race that takes place in Traverse City every February. It’s quite a sight to see so many skiers in one place, and they come from all over the world to compete on this course. Pretty sweet!

When it isn’t being used as a racecourse for nearly 800 people (which is essentially every day except the day of the Great American VASA race), it is one of the best places to cross-country ski. They have groomed courses for both skate and classic style, and dedicated volunteers maintain both tracks.

My favorite thing about the VASA is its versatility. There are hills if you like hills and flat meadows if that’s more your style. You can also choose from either a shorter 3K or 5K route, or really work it out on the 10K or 25K loops. The farthest we’ve skied with our classic-style skis is the 10K loop, but maybe some day we’ll really bust it and brave all 25Ks. There’s still a lot of winter left to try it out!

We love XC-skiing because it’s a great workout in winter, but it’s also a fantastic way to see all the beauty this time of year offers. The woods and meadows at the VASA are quiet, serene, and truly breathtaking if you make it out after a heavy snow. It is rarely crowded on the longer loops, so it’s a great way to see how peaceful and soothing the woods are when buried in snow.  I’m always blown away by how mentally relaxed and stress-free I am after a ski.

I encourage you to check out the VASA trail yourself this winter if you’re in TC! It’s on the east side of town and easy to access. There’s a big parking lot, and even when it fills up on the weekends you’re still not likely to run into too many other skiers so it’s a great way to escape the world. Pick a day after some snow to get up and start your morning in the woods as the sun rises on a clear day…it’s incredible, and I believe everyone should experience it at least once every winter. Get out there and see it!

Baby it's Cold Outside.

It's snowing.

It's snowing a lot.

A small part of my Florida-girl self dies inside with every single flake that falls from the sky, but for the most part, I feel a little bit more confident and independent with each flurry.

Why? To answer that, I will refer back to last "winter"...you know, the one where the lowest temperature was around 20 degrees (and that was what? Maybe once?). Where my idea of "a ton of snow" was around an inch or two, which would immediately melt the next day because the temperature would shoot back up to mid-forties. Well, to me that winter was intense. It was terrifying. I was freezing.

Not only that, but everyone laughed at me when I complained about the cold and told me that I was in for "a real shock" when I experienced my first winter...which is happening. Right now.

Winter is here and I am surviving. Heck, I'm doing better than surviving. I'm double-layering and getting use out of my multi-colored gloves and hats. My knee-length down coat is now a staple in my wardrobe. I give myself five extra minutes in the morning to brush snow off my car. Am I cold? Absolutely. Am I surviving and embracing these winter winds by strapping on my snow-boots and making my way outdoors? You bet I am.

So, this week's blog post is a reminder to embrace the "young" in young professional and engage in some outdoor winter activities. Rent some snowshoes and hike the dunes. Make a snowman or at least start a snowball fight -- this is prime packing snow right now (or so I've heard...I'm still not exactly a snow-expert). Take your kids/friends/significant other on a sledding date. Hit up the slopes and go snowboarding (they're open after work...you have no excuse!).

If this Florida girl can make her way outdoors and come back unscathed(other than some extremely rosy cheeks. Who needs blush, right?), so can you!

On Thin Ice...Literally.

Before I update you on my current, sunny, busy Traverse City summer, I should bring you back to the chillier months of winter and let you in on a little secret:

The hardest part about moving to the North is not having to get used to thicker socks, it's not having to adjust to a post-college life or even leaving behind all of your friends and family...it's driving in the snow.

I will be the first to admit that I'm not the best driver. While I am a safe driver, I tend to be impatient and may have a slight case of road rage when the individual in front of me forgoes using his or her blinker. However, driving in snow...and having to learn to do so at the age of 22...is terrifying. In fact, my first attempt resulted in me drifting into an intersection and stopping traffic because the term "pump your brakes" was not yet a part of my vocabulary.

Nonetheless, I survived and became a much more cautious and patient driver in the process (which is extremely convenient since I have come to realize that there is a 90% chance that driving down Front Street during the National Cherry Festival will take me at least 20 minutes instead of the usual 3).

Which leads me to the point of this blog post: Acclimating to a new life in a brand new town/state/etc. is a process. At first, you feel completely out of your element. After a couple weeks, you understand the best way to scrape the ice off of your windshield and you feel a little better. True, there are bound to be roadblocks (that lovely 48 hour snowstorm, for example. I have never been so thankful for candlelight and dry cereal before), but once you get through them, you're right back on the path you were taking in the first place.

This is the snowstorm I'm referring to...Ick.

I'm not trying to say that I'm completely settled and consider myself to be a "local," but I'm well on my way. Now that it's summer and I'm back in my short-sleeved shirt element, I feel a little more like myself. Having the chance to attend so many events and networking opportunities (In fact, I'll be attending the Young Professionals Social Event at the National Cherry Festival Beer and Wine Garden tonight if you want to stop by and say hello!) makes me positive that this amazing, thriving city is where I'm meant to be.

Just like turning on your car in winter and letting it run for a minute to help defrost your windows, it takes a while to warm up to things. I'm getting there...and I'm going to show snow-driving whose boss this upcoming winter.