i’ll be on the water, photo by todd richter.
…at least in my mind.
Stay warm, have fun.
Check it out bigger and in Todd’s slideshow.
Previewing the Winter Olympics at Otsego Club
SNOWBOARD Training in Gaylord, Michigan, photo by MyWheelsareTurning.
If a trip to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics (February 12-28) isn’t in your budget, consider the shorter jaunt to Gaylord next week.
Many of the world’s finest snowboarders are training for the Winter Games at Otsego Club in Gaylord, Michigan. The New York Times reports:
The Otsego Club, a private ski/golf club and resort founded in 1939, has been a good destination for snowboarders, with a terrain park of 45 trails and jumps to complement its 31 downhill runs. This season, it decided to take a chance and spend more than $100,000 to build the halfpipe…
The grounds were reshaped and prepared over the fall, and the architects of Planet Snow built the 500-foot-long, 22-foot-high halfpipe of ice and snow.
The club hoped adding the halfpipe could attract interest, but the general manager, Kris Klay, said the experiment had far exceeded expectations.
“Every day I am getting calls from coaches and athletes asking if they can come here too — do we have room?” Klay said. “We’re going to make the room. This has been an incredible experience for us to host them and for the community to be able to have exposure to this. We feel like we’re so lucky, we’re getting to see a preview of the Vancouver Olympics every day in our own backyard.”
They also have a nice feature on one of the biggest stars you can see there, Gold Medal hopeful Torah Bright. I’ve been told that even more of the top boarders will be in early next week, and my own resident snowboarding expert returned beaming from ear to ear at how he’d been able to board with Olympians, a chance that few get. I believe that the resort is closed to the public on the weekend, so be sure to call ahead!
You can see this photo of Japanese rider Shiho Nakashima larger in Gary’s Gaylord: Olympic Snowboard slideshow and check out his blog about
Walking, Biking, Getting Around in Northern Michigan & Beyond.
Ski Free in Michigan
There’s an Upside and a Downside, photo by farlane.
A friend told me yesterday about a deal that Shell stations are offering to give you a free ski ticket at participating ski resorts when you buy 10 gallons of gas. The details are at skifreedeals.com and the Michigan resorts are:
- Apple Mountain
- Bittersweet Ski Area
- Boyne Highlands
- Boyne Mountain
- Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort
- Cannonsburg Ski Area
- Cross Country
- Crystal Mountain (where this photo was taken)
- Hanson Hills
- Homestead Resort
- Marquette Mountain
- Mt Bohemia
- Mt Brighton Ski Area
- Mt Holiday Ski Resort
- Mt Holly
- Mt Zion
- Norway Mountain
- Nub’s Nob Ski Area
- Otsego Club
- Pine Knob Ski Resort
- Pine Mountain Resort
- Shanty Creek Resort
- Snow Snake Mountain
- Swiss Valley Ski Area
- Timber Ridge Ski Area
Every once in a while I get to use one of my own photos. It’s in my contract along with the “no red jellybeans” clause. You can check it out bigger and in my Winter slideshow.
Tons more Michigan skiing info including profiles of these resorts at absolutemichigan.com/Ski.
Michigan January Event Calendar
Untitled, photo by Terrapin Dawg.
“The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!”
~ Edward Payson Powell
Every month Absolute Michigan puts together a massive list of events from all across the state designed to help you get more out of Michigan.
Our January Michigan Event Calendar features some great events designed to help you get more out of the outdoors like Newberry’s Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race, Kalkaska Winterfest, Tip Up Town USA (Houghton Lake), Snowfest in Frankenmuth and the Subaru Noquemanon Ski Marathon in Marquette. If you like your events on the indoors side, there’s Ferndale’s Bluesfest, the Ann Arbor Folk Festival and the The North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Matt took this photo in Cheboygan County. Be sure to check this out backround big or in his snowmobile trip set (slideshow).
Hello 2010!
molly in snow 006, photo by northern_latitudes.
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you’re waking up relatively unharmed and eager to dive into 2010.
In no particular order, I’m hoping for snow, sun, a lot of trips to Michigan’s parks, more time on my bike, a championship by the Pistons, Tigers, Red Wings or (hold your laughter please) Lions, more pictures of ducks, continuing rebirth in Detroit and other Michigan cities and many, many more amazing pictures of the Great Lakes State.
How about you?
Check this out bigger in Tim’s Harbor Springs slideshow.
into the 10s
Mulligans Hollow, photo by GH Patriot.
I had originally thought about a more sober and reflective photo as we head into 2010, but when I saw this one in the Absolute Michigan pool this morning, I changed my mind.
I don’t think that anyone can deny that the first decade of the 21st century has been a brutal one for Michigan. We’ve lost a staggering amount of jobs, countless public services and tens of thousands of residents.
While we probably have farther to fall, it feels to me like we’re reaching the point where we’ll have to readjust to the world as it is and make some changes in what we do and the way we do it in Michigan.
My mood as we head into 2010? Happy. Hopeful. Ready for some hard work.
How about you?
View this photo bigger or check out his whole Mulligans Hollow slideshow for more big air.
PS: If you’re looking for something to do tonight, here’s Absolute Michigan’s New Year’s Eve Happenings.
PPS: Governor Granholm has proclaimed January as Michigan Snow Sports Month. I hear that Absolute Michigan will be doing something with that.
Happy Birthday, Michigan in Pictures
Happy Birthday, photo by Bill Streicher.
Michigan in Pictures turns four today.
When I started this blog on December 30, 2005, I had no idea that it would be so warmly received and enjoy such success.
I also had no idea that I would love it so much.
I’d like to thank all the photographers and everyone who’s been involved over the years for being so supportive of Michigan in Pictures.
You all rock. Thanks.
See this photo in Bill’s Self Shots set (slideshow).
The Fantastic Mr. Fox … Michigan Red Fox that is
The Sly look, photo by taterfalls.
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.
~Roald Dahl
Wes Anderson’s film Fantastic Mr. Fox (based on the book by Roald Dahl / view trailer) opens tomorrow, so I thought it a good time to take a look at the red fox. The Michigan DNR’s Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes fulva) page says:
Red foxes can be found in every county in Michigan but are especially common in areas with fallow and cultivated fields, meadows, bushy fence lines, woody stream borders, and low shrub cover along woods and beaches. They can also be found in suburban and, less commonly, urban areas where food is readily available. Foxes are highly mobile, which means they can use a large area to find food and shelter.
Red foxes resemble slender, small dogs, with the head and body typically around two feet long. Red fox tail is long and bushy, usually around 15 inches. The size and weight of foxes are commonly overestimated, because their long fur masks a bone structure that is slighter than that of most domestic dogs. Red foxes have a characteristic red coloration (hence their name), with the face, top of head, and neck having yellow or orange coloration. The tail is reddish mixed with black, and always has a white tip. The outer sides of the ears, lower parts of the legs, and feet are dark or black, while the insides of the ears, and the lips, chest, and belly are creamy white.
Much more about red foxes at Wikipedia and at Vulpes vulpes (red fox) on the UM Animal Diversity Web.
Be sure and check this out bigger also have a look at Tate’s slideshow of this brave fox in action.
Happy Halloween from Michigan in Pictures!
Untitled,photo by Jenny Murray.
I hope that your Halloween has more treats than tricks! Check out spooky searches like Halloween, haunted or ghost on Absolute Michigan for lots of fun stuff!
Be sure to check this photo out bigger or in Jenny’s slideshow.
of Pumpkins & Pistons
pumpkins on the porch, photo by Bean in Sylvan Lake
Haven’t carved your pumpkins yet? One of the things at absolutemichigan.com/Pumpkin are Detroit Pistons Pumpkin Stencils. The almost completely revamped Pistons open the season tonight with a benefit for the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit and upper level seats are just $15! If you’re wondering who is who, check out our 2009-2010 Detroit Pistons Season Preview.
Be sure to check this out bigger and seem more fall shots in Aline’s Autumn in Michigan set (slideshow).
Michigan in Pictures 