It seems my home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is receiving what lots of people across the nation were hoping to hear from Punxutawney Phil, the world’s most well-known groundhog — that there’s going to be an early spring.
As Joni Mitchell famously said, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Hey, Phil, can we take it back?
According to the news, Punxutawney Phil did not see his shadow on Feb. 2, which according to lore means an early spring. Here in Marquette, Michigan, this season we’ve only had one decent snowfall (about a foot), right after the New Year. Since the U.P. normally gets up to 300 inches of snow annually, we’re not really rushing into spring. So far, we’ve basically skipped winter altogether. Our highs this past week were in the forties. Light jacket weather.
Actually, I don’t mind the warm (for us) weather and not having to wear my Uggs snow boots. But the lack of snow is hurting my town, the local economy, and some of my friends.
Lots of folks in the Midwest take winter vacations here in the Yoop, enjoying downhill skiing and snowboarding, sledding and inner-tubing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling on a vast network of trails. The hotels, cabins, vacation rentals, restaurants, and shopping spots look pretty lonely right now. A friend of ours and her sister own a small inn located at the intersection of two popular snowmobiling trails. It’s currently empty.
A major annual event, the U.P. 200 Dog Sled race, a qualifier for the Iditarod, which was scheduled for this weekend, has been cancelled. Organizers waited as long as they possibly could before making the call on cancelling. It’s not only a disappointment for the mushers who travel in with their dog teams, but for hundreds of local families who gather in downtown Marquette to cheer as the dog sled teams race from the start line to the trails, making the 120-mile journey from Marquette to Grand Marais and back again.
Because Yoopers are a hardy bunch, the organizing committee has pivoted to present Festival of the Sled Dog this Friday night. There will be live music, face painting and activities for kids, mushers and dogs holding demonstrations, dog sled rides for the youngsters, and family sledding down Third Street. And there will be snow!
Snow will be trucked in to fill the downtown area with a fresh layer of snow, as always happens for the big race. Even when we have snow, fresh, chemical-free snow is brought in to protect the dogs.
Are you hoping for a white February? Or would you be happy to forgo the snowmen and snow shovels? Do you have a favorite winter memory?
Chicks on the Case 
I used to love winter, but now, at 71, I yearn for spring and summer. Bring on those 90s!
Tom Burns
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I hear ya, Tom. Our summer temps usually top out in the low eighties, which I personally prefer over 90s and 100s which I grew up with in Tennessee.
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Wow, that’s scary! Twelve v. 300 inches? Yikes. I feel so sorry for all those businesses. I’m guessing it’s El Niño. Warmer and dryer for the north.
When I was in NY, it snowed, which was nice. Then the temp dropped to the teens with a wind chill factor. I decided I don’t miss the cold at all. But here in SoCal, I’ll take all the rain we can get!
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El, I’m glad y’all are gettin some rain in L.A. — I know you’re a fan!
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Ellen, I’m suddenly back to anonymous?!
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It depends where you respond from. If you do it from your phone on the Jetpack app, you should be okay. If you do it on your computer, same thing. But who knows with crazy WordPress?!
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And now you’re back to Vickie! What a fun game.
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Vickie, P Phil is a rascal! ( I never trust him anyway). We’ve had more of the same here in NH–hit the 60s this weekend (in Feb!)–but a nor’easter is due tonight that’s supposed to bring us a cool foot of white stuff. I am mostly just here at my laptop, but my poor hubby is devastated it’s shaping up to be a 2nd season of no ice fishing. A lot of folks are going out to “test” the ice, just in case. NOT a good idea.
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Lisa, I noticed some ice fishing huts on a lake near us — which is crazy with the temps we’ve been having!
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We’ve had very little snow. It’s crushed the ski resorts in the Laurel Highlands. But we’ve also had a lot of gray, rainy days. I’d rather have the snow.
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I agree, Liz! I much prefer snow to rain that turns to ice as the temps drop.
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It’s been dry here on the BIg Island this season, as well. Guess California is getting all of our precipitation…. But as for winter, I’m thinking most of you can guess how I feel about it by the fact that we leave chilly California for Hawai’i every year as that season approaches. Give me the 70s and 80s and I’m happy.
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Aloha, Leslie! Enjoy the sandals.
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Yay for rubber slippahs!
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We got a ton of rain last week, and we are supposed to get more next week. Fortunately, we’ve got warmer weather (60’s) and blue skies this week.
I like rain in the winter, but after this month, it can go away.
Hope you get some of the snow you need. It’s not too late, despite what Phil says.
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Phil is definitely fickle, Mark!
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I feel really awful for those businesses, Vicky. That’s got to be so tough.y depression is at its worst in January and February so for selfish reasons, I’m ready for the Spring.
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J.C., I think a saw rain and/ or snow forecast for your area. Hope it passes by quickly for you!
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I know what you mean, Vickie, by the economic impact and wish winters would go back to being cold and snowy for that reason and to kill ticks and whatnot that shouldn’t be spreading in the North. That said, I abandoned the upper Midwest for six weeks to be in warm(er) Florida.
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Our weather has been up and down: sun, rain, sun, rain… I prefer warmer temperatures myself. On a side note: Both my kids had to research the Iditarod for a class in elementary school.
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We’ve had colder-than-typical weather in my part of Oregon with temps dipping into the negatives. Temps are back up–and now the snow is coming down! At least I knew better than to put my winter gear away when it was 68 degrees a couple of weeks ago.
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In the South where we live now, we do not like too much winter. Growing up in south Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, I did not ever experience snow until college when there was a freak snowstorm in Austin, Texas in the late 1960s. I like it if we don’t not have to go anywhere.
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