Northology Adventures March 2022

A MIDWEST OUTDOOR OVERLAND ADVENTURE PUBLICATION

NORTHOLOGY ADVENTURES MARCH 2022

MOORE EXPO PREVIEW KING OF THE HAMMERS REPORT KEWEENAW MOUNTAIN LODGE UPPER PENINSULA DOGSLEDDING

NORTHOLOGY/WANDERLOST TRIP RECAP // CAMPFIRE COCKTAILS

05

CALENDAR

03 57

CABINS & CAMPING

60

THE GEAR BUNKER

GRAVEL TRACKS

Northology + Wanderlost = fun

10

38

MOORE EXPO PREVIEW

UPPER PENINSULA SLEDDING

An expo for middle America

A paws for winter fun

20

46

ROADSIDE REPORTS

KEWEENAW MOUNTAIN LODGE

King of the Hammers recap

History looks to the future

30 CAMP COCKTAILS Spirits and fire suffice

INTERACTIVE CONTENT Or, how to read this magazine!

Clicking on the video play icons allow you to watch the embedded videos directly on the page. There are also live links that will briefly highlight when you turn the page to indicate the linked content and you can click on underscored text and the ads too- thanks for reading and sharing! -Cindy Northology Adventures Magazine has made all efforts to make sure that content is accurate on the date of publication. The views expressed reflect the author(s) opinions and are not necessarily the views

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of the publisher or editor. All content is published in a good faith. Northology Adventures does not guarantee or accept liability for any loss or damage of any kind caused by this magazine or errors in the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers.All rights reserved and nothing can be partially or in whole be reprinted or reproduced without a written consent. By using links in this magazine, you acknowledge that and agree that Northology cannot be held responsible and shall not be liable for content of other websites and advertisements.

cover photo by Braxton Klavins contents photo by UP Jeeping

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BY OVERLAND ADDICT

AT THE MOORE EXPO

recovery room lounge

A PLACE TO RELAX AND UNWIND Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the MOORE Expo, in the North East corner of the East Hall you will find the Recovery Room Lounge. The relaxing space features comfortable indoor patio seating, live entertainment, local map reading, and refreshing cocktails served by trained mixologists. Everyone is welcome to come enjoy themselves, connect with friends afar, and create new friendships that will last a lifetime.

EXPEDITION SERIES The Expedition Series is a succession of yearly multiday trips to extend beyond the ‘Overlanding Weekend," challenging participants to work as a team, traveling from an origination point to a destination.

This year we've teamed up with KORC (Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition) to raise funds, and awareness through our Expedition. "The Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition was created in 2019 to bring together a variety of user groups with one shared goal: Protect Keweenaw's vast landscapes for everyone, forever. Whether you bike, snowmobile, hunt, hike, or birdwatch, we need your help to make this vision a reality."

To learn about participation or sponsorship opportunities, visit orbisoverlanding.com

Haul your boats, bikes and camping gear in one eye-catching, affordable package.

C U S T O M

B U I L T

T E A R D R O P

C A M P I N G

T R A I L E R S

TCTeardrops.com

Wausau, Wisconsin

It's time for

By Cindy Pope

Someone once said, "if you build it, they will come." Chris Holloway built an overlanding & off-road event that has grown into a must-attend overland adventure travel show.

An overland expo for the Midwest There, I said it. It cannot be denied that there are "the big overland events" and then there is everything else. The MOORE Expo is not Overland Expo- yet. I have always told Chris that there is room for

Chris's solution to not being able to make it to the big oveland expos was to build his own, in his own backyard. Since the first MOORE Expo, there has been an explosion in adventure travel and Chris

everyone, and a rising tide floats all boats. As important as the other big events are, the success of the MOORE

has not just ridden the wave, he has helped shape and direct it for midwest adventure travelers and the companies

Expo highlights the fact that it fills a huge void in middle America. And having attended both an Overland Expo and the MOORE Expo, you can feel just how "middle America" the show that Chris

that serve them. Chris's commitment to the overland lifestyle and the local and regional communities he serves are just a few of the things that make him a force to be reckoned with and a resource for

has created is.

overlanders everywhere.

There is so much more at this year's MOORE Expo. More exhibitors, more entertainment, more space and more fun.

New this year is the SMORR 2 MOORE Overland Rally by MidlandUSA, a driving event / competition based on following a printed list of route instructions to stay on the correct course. The Recovery Room Lounge is a relaxing space featuring comfortable indoor patio seating, live entertainment, local map reading, and refreshing cocktails served by trained mixologists. Also new is the Storytellers area where you can meet and chat with your favorite influencers and YouTubers.

THE STORY TELLERS MOORE EXPO 2022

What to expect at the MOORE Exp0over 170,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor booths & displays a full schedule of classes, seminars and educational clinics 150 booths with products from the industry's leading manufacturers the most innovative overland camping and off-road products available SMORR 2 MOORE Overland Rally presented by MidlandUSA Overland Addict Recovery Room Lounge Storyteller's row, with your favorite influencers and YouTubers Live music, raffle prizes, giveaways, and celebrity appearances

“”When the attendees experience is viewed as the most structural cornerstone of an event, that is when you see the magic happen. If you can associate a fantastic experience with a brand, that is when business is best” -Chris Holloway

An explosion of coverage The YouTubers went nuts for MOORE Expo 2021. Videos from Overland Pioneers, Trail Recon, Ozark Overland Adventures and Arkansas Overland to name a few, were buzzing with excitement and enthusiasm for an event that captured the spirit of overland adventure and just has so much to offer.

Whether you are looking to build a rig, outfit your vehicle for camping or find a destination to discover, MOORE has it.

“MOORE Expo is the home base and kickoff for so many individuals and families to start their adventures. Being a part of such an inspirational event is inspiring to say the least. This really is a family event, and you can tell when you see it in person!”

-Chris Holloway

On the fence about attending this year's MOORE Expo?

Don't take our word for it, listen to what others are saying about coming back or going for the first time.

Rob Miller @RevereOverland I’m looking forward to MOORE expo to meet all the great people there and check out the latest products, gadgets, and accessories from all the vendors!

Jeremiah Oschwald @OverlandPioneers I’m excited to see all our industry friends! I love that there is such a huge support of the overlanding scene in the Midwest.

"You can meet Clay and Rachelle Croft from Expedition Overland or your favorite small YouTuber."

-Jason Fletcher, @allthingsoverlanding

Jason Fletcher @AllThingsOverlanding Its an amazing expo style event. Featuring tons of brands in the overlanding space from the really big guys to the super small guys, you get to see all kinds of amazing gear and products from everyone on equal footing. MOORE is a can't miss experience in the Midwest!

Braxton Klavins @welcome.to.the.outdoors I am looking forward to MOORE because I get to reconnect with old friends, and make new connections that will last a lifetime.

"We are very excited to return for our second year!

-Jill & Chris Carr, @1941Adventures

Chris & Jill Carr @1941Adventures "The expo is very well organized and the variety of vendors and products is the largest we have seen. We love having the opportunity to talk and ask questions about the products offered and the vendors are incredibly kind and helpful. Bonus points for the opportunity to meet some of our favorite youtube and social media accounts."

Josh Shymanski @Josh_From_Trailbuilt If you're reading this and you're on the fence about attending, let me just say that you should definitely go, as I know you'll be glad you did! The new products, the awesome people and the camaraderie make it all worth while to be there!

Nate & Christina Goodwin @GoGoGoodwins We are excited for the chance to meet new friends, catch up with old ones and explore the future of the outdoor industry

Got Your Six Coffee Co. #BrewingBetterDays gotyoursixcoffee.com

ON THE GO WITH UPJEEPING

ROADSIDE REPORTS Thursday, January 27 - Saturday, February 5, 2022

Mark left Michigan in mid January & is reporting from the road on an epic trip across the south and west .

My First King of the Hammers

BY UP JEEPING

Most people in the off-road world have probably heard of King of the

Hammers at some point. I’ve watched it via live stream the last couple years, and this year I decided to check it out for myself. The Hammers is a week-long event full of several different series of racing culminating with the main event on the last day, the Nitto Race of Kings. This race is one of the most difficult one day off-road races in the world.

The line waiting to go up Backdoor.

Out of the 101 competitors that entered the 227 mile race, only 44 would finish within the 14 hour time limit this year. Just to finish the race is a major accomplishment. The event is held in Johnson Valley California on the Means Dry Lakebed, one of the largest Off Highway Vehicle

A race team making their way up Chocolate Thunder.

areas in the country. And to think all this craziness started back in 2007 with a group of friends, a

for the racers, food and product vendors, VIP

beer bet and one race through the rocks and

areas, bathrooms, a music stage, and sponsors

desert of Johnson Valley. Now, this empty dry lake

booths. This was all setup as a fenced in town

bed is transformed into a full off the grid town

complete with street names such as Warn Way,

with tens of thousands of people showing up

ARB Alley, and Ford Bronco Blvd.

every year!

I traveled 2,600 miles from Michigan to California I arrived in Hammer town a few days early. There

to attend this year's races as a media

were already thousands of people there marking

correspondent. I was given a high visibility vest

out their spot in the desert with cones and

and a media flag for the Jeep. With these, I was

caution tape, reserving their home for the next

able to view the races from just about anywhere

week. The crew was busy setting up a fully

along the course, not just the designated

functional town in the desert… There were spaces

spectator areas. Before each race the media

Just a few rigs I drooled over!

Just a few rigs I drooled over!

crew would gather for our mandatory safety

As the sun goes down over Hammer Town and

briefing, outlining where we could film from. We

the sanctioned racing is done for the day the

also attended all the driver meetings to give us

action on a few of the trails starts to heat up.

the most up to the minute information on the

Probably one of the craziest things I’ve gotten to

races.While looking around the tent during the

experience was watching the late night parties at

meetings, I witnessed a group of people that

Backdoor and Chocolate Thunder. People start

looked like they were covering a war, dirty from

lining up along the steep rock walls, finding a

head to toe, tired, stressed, living on coffee and

good spot to watch the show as rigs start pulling

adrenaline.

up on the trail below. As you look around you can see small fires along the rock walls, people

Living in the rust-belt I'm always amazed to see

bundled up, someone's rig pumping out loud

old vehicles running around still wearing their

music, lights flashing, engines revving. It had a

original worn and faded paint. While at KOH, I

heavy Mad Max feeling.

easily took over a hundred pictures of flat fender Jeeps, early Broncos, Toyota FJ40s, square body Chevy trucks, bump and dent side Fords, and more International Scouts than I've ever seen in one place outside of a junkyard.

As the week progressed thousands more people showed up hammering the lake bed into a fine talcum powder like dust that when kicked up hung thick in the air like a heavy fog.There is no clean anymore, only dust. At times visibility can suddenly drop down to a few feet, all you can see are vehicle headlights and marker lights. Basically, what I'm getting at is that it was a bit dusty! Not only do people come to watch the races but they come to wheel as well, SxS, rock crawlers, dirt bikes, dune buggies, you name it, it was out there!

The sun setting as people start showing up on Chocolate Thunder

Sitting on top Chocolate Thunder with Hammer Town in the distance.

A Scout II parked downtown by the big screen that played the live feed all day.

The whole thing seemed to be “do or die” for the rigs attempting the trails, either they made it up

Crowds building fires along the trail.

or they gave one hell of a show until something broke or they ended up on their lid. The whole time the crowd cheered them on and yelled some colorful words of encouragement! I’m not sure if Hammer Town ever sleeps, you can pretty much hear some sort of engine running balls out any time of the day or night…

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Sitting above the clouds of dust, Hammer Town is down there somewhere.

KOH can be as crazy or as tame as you want to make it. You can camp close to town, near the action and it's a week long party. Or you can camp on the outskirts where its a little quieter and a little less dusty. Or you can put some miles between yourself and the action. I did a bit of all of the above, the first few nights I parked my Jeep within walking distance to town so I could check everything out, walk around the pits, and attend the media briefings. As more people showed up I moved my camp spot further and further out. The last 2 nights I camped up on top of one of the hills behind Chocolate Thunder. I could still see Hammer Town down below but I was well above all the dust and confusion, plus way better cell service! Still though, wherever I went I could always count on a couple side by sides to fly up and park 5 feet from me with blasting music and colorful light whips flashing.

Leaving town Sunday, the traffic was backed all the way up Boone Rd. To Hammer Town.

It's been almost 2 weeks since the party has been over (at the time I'm writing this). My Jeep is still dusty. When I slam a door or turn on the heat or

Next month's UP Jeeping report will be from the famous (infamous?) Mojave Road... stay tuned!!

A/C I get a friendly cloud of dust to remind me of my week in Hammer Town, it was an experience that's for sure! Hopefully next year I'll be back, a

Follow our Yooper friend Mark's epic cross-

little wiser and a little more prepared. Until next

country car camping tour and exploration of the

time Hammer Town…

Southwest on instagram at @UPJeeping

2 weeks later and not even a trace left...

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WELDING, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, SANDBLASTING, PAINTING, RUST PREVENTION, FABRICATION

THE CAMP COCKTAIL A toast at the end of the day It's not a necessary ritual but a drink by the fire with friends is one of the simple joys in life.

Photo: Braxton Klavins

CAMPING NOW VIBES

"Light a campfire and everyone's a storyteller."

John Geddes

fire & friends Whether you are cooling down after a hot day on the trail or warming up in the evening chill, there is a drink for every occasion. "I love to have a drink while I'm cooking dinner or hanging out around the fire with friends. It really helps me slow down and appreciate the moment," says Chad Boyd, owner of Overland Addict, a camping and overlanding retailer in Nixa, Missouri. When camp is getting set up, and the smells of dinner cooking start filling the air, the signals for the end of the day are recieved loud and clear.

According to the Emotion Machine website, "campfires provided an important evolutionary step in group-bonding that likely influenced the development of society and civilization as a whole." And people have been drinking around the campfire since there were, well, drinks to be had around the campfire. A study by the University of Pittsburgh found that "moderate amounts of alcohol -- consumed in a social setting -- can enhance positive emotions and social bonding and relieve negative emotions among those drinking." Add a campfire and you have warm memories in the making.

The study goes on to say "Results showed that alcohol not only increased the frequency of "true" smiles, but also enhanced the coordination of these smiles.

In other words, alcohol enhanced the likelihood of "golden moments," with groups provided alcohol being more likely than those offered nonalcoholic beverages to have all three group members smile simultaneously." Now, this is not to say that one cannot enjoy the outdoors without consuming alcoholic beverages, but for quite a few, it is an activity enjoyed responsibly and often deepens bonds with friends.

Photo: Braxton Klavins

Photo: Braxton Klavins

something toasty to pour Campfire Martini Ingredients 2 ounces Irish cream liqueur 1 ounce rum and coffee liqueur 1 ounce whiskey Marshmallows, chocolate syrup & graham crackers Directions 1. Drizzle chocolate syrup into a chilled martini glass.

2. Add Irish cream liqueur, coffee liqueur and whiskey in shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into glass. Add chocolate-covered marshmallow rolled in graham cracker crumbs as a garnish.

Toasted Marshmallow Packing barware & drink ingredients for camping can be a challenge. A few key items listed on the opposite page, and we have included a yummy campfire classic to the left.

If you want the recipe for the Toasted Marshmallow pictured above, see the Recovery Room Lounge video link on the last page of this article.

Firelight 375 Flask - By High Camp Flasks Firelight 375 Flask - at Overland Addict With 1-full sized tumbler and measuring in at 375ml, the High Camp Firelight 375 flask keeps your favorite cocktail at the perfect temperature all day long. Designed for your rough and tumble lifestyle, it fits easily into your purse or backpack. It’s vacuum insulated, leak-proof, with a brushed stainless steel construction and the 6-shooter tumbler magnetically attaches to your flask.

Snowpeak Ti-Single Colored Mug The Ti-Single Colored Mug - at Artemis Overland Hardware Designed for everyday use and backcountry excursions, the Ti-Single Mug can be placed directly over a heat source for cooking or warming. The mug features foldable handles for compact storage and is durable enough for a lifetime of use.

Please note: the anodized color may fade with time.

RAKAU KNIFE SET Rakau Knife Set - GSI Outdoors This knife set earns its GSI Eco Badge as it leads the way when it comes to materials and manufacturing. The Gourmet 3-pc sustainably sourced wood-handled knife set includes a compact sustainably sourced wood bamboo cutting board with a juice gutter, a recycled microfiber towel, and a soap bottle. The stainless steel knife set is designed to last for generations.

ADVENTURE HAPPY HOUR COCKTAIL SHAKER SET Cocktail Shaker Set - Stanely Campfire cocktails, mid-hike martinis and Sunday sours at home—make ‘em all doubles and raise a glass to Adventure. This all-in-one cocktail shaker features a unique twist-to-lock top, so there’s no leaks or messes no matter how hard you shake. A removable reamer allows you to juice and strain directly into the jigger cap, and two shatterproof stainless steel rocks glasses lets you toast to fun.

"...it's always good for the soul."

Chad Boyd

recipe for relaxation When asked about his drink choice, Chad says "sometimes it's as simple as a craft beer or whiskey neat. Other times it's something a little more involved, like an Old Fashioned.

Whatever it is, it's always good for the soul."

Chad and Chris Holloway, founder of the MOORE Expo, created a series of camp cocktail recipe videos to promote the Overland Addict Recovery Room Lounge at the upcoming expo. The videos share recipes and demonstrate mixing of their favorite drinks with interesting twists and was filmed on location during a camping trip.

Photo: Braxton Klavins

"I had a blast making the Campfire Cocktails series with Chris Holloway from MOORE Expo! Braxton Klavins from Welcome To The Outdoors produced, shot and edited everything, and he made us look good. We invited a few of our buddies to come along to be our taste testers, too. A lot of laughs were had and stories told around the campfire. It was a trip I won't soon forget!"

Everyone is invited to this relaxing space at the MOORE Expo that features indoor patio seating, live entertainment, and refreshing cocktails served by trained mixologists

recovery room lounge

Photo: Braxton Klavins

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62 new

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woods Patrick McKenney Orbis Overlanding

The realization of what I signed us up for crept in as we rolled east in the pre-dawn on that Monday morning. M-28 laid out before us covered in snow, despite the last few days being sunny. If you know the area, you realize what that means, it’s been cold.

And not just like a chilly 20 degrees, I glance back over at the temp readout in my center dash and now it’s showing -8, it continues going down as we push on toward the sunrise, with a hope of getting a bit warmer soon.

Husky Haven Kennels was founded in 1999

by Kim Darst, who has an interesting background as a helicopter pilot, but that’s a different article. Her dream was to one day race in the Iditarod. In 2009 the Husky Haven Race Team pulled Kim and her packed sled out of the starting chute and into Iditarod XXXVII, also making Kim the first musher from New Jersey to ever embark on the race. In 2014, in search of better snow they moved the operation from New Jersey to the UP.

The address for Husky Haven Kennels is listed for Shingleton, but that’s really a bit misleading. It’s probably closer to Grand Marias. If your familiar with the area, you’ll know there isn’t much out there, but that’s what makes it such a cool area.

-12 is what shows on the temp read out as we head up hill out of Munising on H-58.

The sun has just come full up, and fortunately we have about 30 minutes of driving yet to reach the kennels. The sun can kick up a few degrees in 30 minutes.

I hope. The drive up H58 is amazing, the whole weekend we’ve been up here it’s been very cold, but sunny and still. The day before we arrived the whole region got several inches of snow. So even now the evergreens are blanketed with white, and a thick cloud of pure white snow kicks up from behind us.

As we pull in, a final check on the temp read out shows -1, progress. Kim greets us and helps us and our gear make it into ‘The Hanger’, which is called that, because that’s what it is. It’s heated and setup as the starting point of the tour. The team truck is right inside the door, for when the husky team needs to travel and in front of it is a great place setup with chairs to get suited up in warm clothes, and Kim’s helicopter. The tour starts with a great introduction to the history of the Iditarod, and other facts related to dog sledding, its history and how their kennel came to be.

She does a great job of connecting with each of you, and you feel more like your catching up with an old friend who you’ve not seen in a while then getting a history lesson. Of the many fascinating facts, one that an Alaskan Husky is a breed derived from mixing Siberian Husky, Greyhound and German Shorthaired Pointer. Both my girls, Aynslee (12) and Nora (9) had many questions that Kim was thrilled to answer, many with a chuckle.

The next step on the tour is to get out and interact with the dogs in the kennel area.

Alaskan Huskies are high energy dogs, and these dogs while certainly not lap dogs, were excited and full of energy, but also eager for the attention from the visitors.

Jean, who helps run the Kennel with Kim, as well as Kim know the dogs and their mannerisms so well, that you know exactly how each dog will react and you can be ready for it when you visit them. It makes for a safe, and comfortable and fun way to meet the dogs. Make no mistake, these are powerful, high energy dogs who certainly could unwittingly hurt you, but Kim and Jean do such a great job as you work through the kennel helping you safely interact with their teams, that it wasn’t a concern at all.

There are 60 dogs in the kennel, they have a specific race team, as well as several teams who make up the tour teams. We learned during our visit that it’s not uncommon for them to have both a morning and afternoon tour, 7 days a week all winter. So the different tour teams get to see a lot of action. After the kennel tour, it’s time to get the dogs hooked up to the sled, Kim talks to you about the booties that the dogs wear, which are primarily to help with snow and ice getting caught up in the pads of the dogs feet.

You get to help put the booties on, on our tour team

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we had 7 dogs to get booties on. Aynslee, Nora and I all tried our hand at it. It took each of us about 3 minutes to do a single booty. It suddenly felt like prepping the dogs was going to take a long time , at that pace we’d be there for almost 90 minutes!

Fortunately, in the time it took me and the girls to get booties on Heart, our teams lead dog Kim and Jean had the other 6 dogs almost done. Obviously, they do their fair share of booties every day.

The sled is one of the unique aspects of the tour at Husky Haven Kennels, Kim knew she wanted a way to help her visitors truly understand the enjoyment and uniqueness of this mode of transportation. She had custom built for her a ‘dual’ driver dog sled. The rear was built so that both Kim and her guest can drive, she is able to help

you experience it firsthand. It really was a very cool experience to be able to actually drive the dog sled.

During all this, the temp had only gone up a few more degrees, the dogs were loving it, their optimal running temperature is -20 degrees, Kim admitted that her optimal running temperature was about 0 degrees, however our optical temperature was more like 25 degrees. Although we were having a great time, and Kim helped with a borrowed pair of boots for Nora because her feet were cold we’ve been out in the near 0 temps for nearly 2 hours by this time. The option is for a long ride of about an hour and 20 minutes, or a short ride of about 35-40 minutes, we’d need to make that decision at about the 20 minute mark.

As Kim explained it, once we got to a

running, if you stop, one of the drivers has to have their foot on the snow brake, or the dogs will just keep right on going. In fact, Nora wasn’t even big enough to hold the brake herself! We switched off from the 3 tour positions: driving, riding in the sled and riding the back of the snowmobile.

The experience of being on the sled, driving a dog sled team was truly unique, and I’m so thankful to Kim and Jean for providing such an experience. For both of my girls, it was a experience not soon forgotten. certain point the way the trails ran through the woods it was not a simple matter to turn around. So with that in mind we set off.

Jean leads with a snowmobile, this is primarily for safety, as they’ve had some problems with other snowmobiles making their way onto the marked dog sled trail, and have unfortunately had some close calls, that had Jean not been leading with the snowmobile could have ended very badly. The other advantage is it’s a great place to ride backward and see the dogs do what these dogs love to do. And boy do they, once you set off and get them

After the tour, we meet back at the hanger for some hot cocoa and a final wrap up for questions and reflection. On this particular day, they had home made peanut butter cookies, which we had to hide from Nora, and earned her the nickname Peanut Butter for the remainder of our time there.

As we wrapped up and left, you once again didn’t feel like you were headed out from a tourist trap on the side of the road.

Instead, you left feeling like you just made 62 new friends, way out in the remoteness of the woods between Shingleton and Grand Marais. We look forward to when we can stop by again.

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KEWEENAW MOUNTAIN LODGE Name of business: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Founded in 1934, a WPA project, now on the National Register of Historic Places Owner(s): Keweenaw Resort, LLC Location: Copper Harbor, Michigan Website: keweenawmountainlodge.com phone or email: 906-289-4403 info@keweenawresort.com

The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is as quaint and historic a destination in the Copper Harbor area can be, but it is very apparent that there are modern vibes and attitudes guiding the direction of this Copper Country institution.

We talked with John Mueller about its history and its future.

John, please briefly describe how you got involved with the lodge and what is your role?

"Our son, Martin Mueller, was in the Keweenaw as a student at Michigan Technological University in Houghton. We would visit him and travel around the area – the Keweenaw. From what I found during my trips, I became interested in the area, and started investing in the region. Initially my investments were in Calumet. Calumet is a historic town that has a lot of character. It was one of the main towns in the Keweenaw that supported the copper mining activity in the late 1800s and early 1900s. I envision the Calumet being revitalized with cool and artistic dining establishments and artisan shops."

As part of my focus on Calumet, the sale of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge ended up on my radar screen. The historic nature and character of the Lodge was intriguing to me. I monitored the status of the sale during 2017 and 2018.

Eventually the seller, the Keweenaw County, put the Lodge up for auction. I threw my hat in the ring and made a bid for the resort. I was not the high bidder, as someone else was. I was the second-high bidder. Several days after the end of the auction, the high bidder approached me to ask if I would be interested in taking over his position. We agreed on terms (over coffee at Kaleva Cafe in Hancock), and I took over his position with the transaction. That was in August 2018, and in September 2018, the deed was signed with Keweenaw County to make the ownership transition official.

Tell us about the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge history, why & when was it built, what was its purpose.

The Lodge was built under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1934 to help alleviate unemployment during the Great Depression era.

There was up to 75% unemployment in the region during the Great Depression. Ocha Potter, who was head of one of the local copper mining companies and a member of the Keweenaw County Road Commission during that time, is credited with conceiving of the idea of a golf course, the clubhouse (the current Lodge building), and the cabins – and helping provide jobs for hundreds of individuals. Construction started in 1933 under his guidance for the golf course, the main Lodge building, and the 24 cabins. The majority of the construction was completed by 1935, with most of the logs for the original lodge building and the 24 cabins being logged on the property when they built the 9hole golf course.

The Lodge is on both the state (1976) and national (1980) registers of historic places, and you get a national park vibe. The resort is historic.

Upon being built in the 1930s, the Lodge was

Photo credit: Chris Guibert

"THERE WAS UP TO 75% UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE REGION DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION." owned by Keweenaw County until 2018. For the majority of those 84 year the county also operated the Lodge, except for two stints where the county tried to sell the resort via land contracts (circa 1965 and 1970). Both land contracts failed, and the deed never changed hands. It was in 2018 when both the ownership and the operations became private, under the ownership of Keweenaw Resort, LLC.

Photo credit: Chris Guibert

We are now in our 4th full year of private ownership and continue to stay focused on our vision. We look to provide a fun, joyous, and adventuresome experience to people that visit the resort. We do that by building a great team based upon our core values, we make known our values to our guests (the values are shown at the Lodge and on our website). What we are is a historic wilderness resort at the top of the Keweenaw, built on outdoor activities, food, and education. We respect the property while still moving forward by marrying history with the future to get to a vibrant and progressive future. This allows us to keep the character of the resort.

Tell us about what the Lodge is today, and changes that are being made.

We are working on building a great team, which is built on our core values. That is the biggest change we have made, and continue to build going forward. If we have a great team, then everything else falls into place.

Photo credit: Tom Oliver

That said, we are working on being razor sharp in understanding who we are and who we are focusing our resources on. Our target market encompasses individuals that value the history of the Lodge and want to see it move forward, outdoor enthusiasts, and culinary enthusiasts that have our core values. A person that is at the intersection of these three areas is our ideal customer and they will fully enjoy their experience at the Lodge. Thus, that is where we spend our time and efforts.

With that mindset, it provides us the ability to make quality decisions, and improve the probability that we will help our guests have a fun, joyous, and adventuresome experience when visiting the Keweenaw.

To give the opportunity for guests to have a fun, joyous, and adventurous experience, we provide a rustic lodging experience in our cabins, where one can stay comfortably in the wilderness. Many people tell us that they have had their best sleep in a long time after staying in one of our cabins – because it is quiet and dark. We provide a rustic experience when visiting the Lodge building, and sitting in front of the fireplace when having a savory meal with family and friends. And then we help people get outside with our outdoor activities. During the summer, this includes mountain biking, golfing, and hiking. During the winter, this includes snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. And all year round, one can stargaze and enjoy the Keweenaw night sky.

" MOVING FORWARD BY MARRYING HISTORY WITH THE FUTURE." As for physical projects we have been working on a number of deferred maintenance projects over the past 3 years.

These are projects that were needed to be done from an infrastructure perspective, and are not necessarily easily seen by the guests.

For example, the cabins have new roofs – which is basically like putting new roofs on 24 houses. If you do not have a good roof in the Keweenaw, the rest of the structure will deteriorate.

In the cabins, we have focused top-down.

Whereas, with the Lodge building, we have focused on bottom-up (as the roof on the Lodge building is newer than the roofs that were on the cabins). In the Lodge building, we reinforced the floor, and installed new eco-friendly carpet.

Then we improved the lighting, and put new furniture in the Lodge building. We removed the offices so that guests can have the best view of Brockway Mountain. That is the library porch, which is on the north-west side of the Lodge building. As well, we are now utilizing the back part of the Lodge building (the extension that was done circa 2007), by having the Little Cabin Cafe in that area of the building. That is where we offer wonderful gourmet coffee (e.g. lattes, cappuccinos, espressos) and savory items. In addition, we have the winter Outdoor Activity Center in the back part of the building. During the summer the Outdoor Activity Center is back out in the cabin building next to hole 1 of the golf course.

At the Lodge we are working to build a culinary experience for our guests that is built around a “Rustic Worldly Food” concept.

Simplicity is the basis of this concept (the “Rustic” portion of the concept). It is a concept that entails food being cooked simply, using simple, quality ingredients (locally-sourced when available), and presented simply (without being “dressed up”).

Executing on this concept tends to highlight authentic flavors that are strong, vigorous, and vibrant — not subtle.

The food is connected to the way we live (the

Photo credit: KML

"Worldly” portion of the concept). As a result, our food is worldly, as people that work at and visit the Lodge are from different parts of the world.

We are well traveled. As well, our team members all have friends and colleagues from all over the world — which influence our creativity when developing dishes.

To add to the flavor of our food, we are offering our dishes in a setting that is close to nature, in a wilderness area. You are closer to the earth — where you can feel the earthiness and the soil that one stands on — feel the raw open and pure air. We are able to provide that environment by our location at the top of the Keweenaw in Michigan — in the north woods, in a historic log building that feels like you are in a Lodge at a national park.

In summary: We work to marry history with the future to get to a vibrant and progressive present.

We want the resort to move forward, while respecting the history. We do not want to live in the past. So to accomplish this, our team thinks about where wilderness resorts are going in the future (i.e. thinking ahead of today), while understanding the history of the resort. Our thinking for the future pulls things forward to the point that once we implement what we are thinking in the future, it will create a vibrant and progressive present.

What are future plans and what direction is the lodge going in?

We continue to focus on decisions that are relevant to people that value the history of the Lodge and want to see it move forward, outdoor enthusiasts, and culinary enthusiasts. So this means we continue to freshen up the Lodge and make sure that the Lodge building and the cabins are in good shape. That we improve the mountain biking, golfing, hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing activities. That we continue to build out the rustic worldly food and keep our menus updated each week.

New things would be to add the mountain biking educational component – mountain biking clinics, which also entails building out the pump track and the skills park. As well, adding to the trails, including mountain biking trails, snowshoe trails, and cross-country skiing trails. For food, that would mean continuing to build out the guest chef program, to add to our kitchen repertoire.

"built, they cleared trees for each hole, and used the logs to build the cabins (as well as the main Lodge building). Along with the authentic feel of a cabin, the cabins have unique stone fireplaces.

Most of the fireplaces are wood-burning fireplaces, with several cabins having gas fireplaces. The feel of the cabins provides you an authentic northwoods experience that allows you to relax in comfort, while having easy access to the beautiful outdoors. For example, during the winter time, one can roll out of their cabin and hit the cross-country and snowshoe trails. During the summer time, one can roll out of their cabin and hit mountain biking and hiking trails.

There are two cabins that have been rebuilt over the past 40 years, as they sadly burned down.

These rebuilt cabins have a little different feel to them than then the rest of the cabins. We look to keep the cabins in order to ensure that they stay standing for years to come. As such, we make sure guests understand the value that these historic cabins provide them and to the area.

How does the KML navigate the current climate of increased visits and the pressure this puts on Copper Harbor & the Keweenaw?

Has this affected the lodge positively or negatively?

We are naturally socially distancing based upon the size of the Lodge building and the locations of the cabins, and we do not measure our success based upon the number of people that come to the resort. We measure our success one visitor at a time in terms of their experience. Our goal is to stay in a positive mindset during these uncertain times. If we have a positive mindset and focus on each guest one by one, we will be able to live our values in harmony with our guests.

What are the cabins like? Why would they appeal to an adventure traveler?

The 24 cabins were built in the 1930s, with logs from the property. When the golf course was

Photo credit: Chris Guibert

Photo credit: Nick Niffin

Tell us about what “Fun, joyous, adventuresome” means.

We strive to provide guests an environment that can offer them a fun, joyous, AND adventuresome experience. The experience should not be just fun, not just joyous, not just adventuresome. The experience should be all three. The way we increase that probability will happen for our guests is to provide a unique opportunity to disconnect from the distractions and busyness of modern urban life and discover the increasingly rare joys found in nature. From thrilling adventure to peaceful relaxation, there are countless ways to enjoy a wilderness resort.

What type of outdoor activities does your Outdoor Activities Center offer?

When people come up to the Keweenaw and the Lodge, during the summer they have the opportunity to mountain bike, golf, and hike.

During the winter time, they have the opportunity to snow-shoe and cross-country ski. We offer rental equipment for mountain biking, golf clubs, snow-shoeing, and crosscountry skiing (Hok-skis). As well, we have various workshops and clinics to help people learn and enjoy mountain biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

What is the one most significant thing the lodge does best in regards to drawing visitors to the Keweenaw and helping them enjoy the outdoors?

We make it easy and simple for guests to slow down and enjoy a wilderness environment.

What events do you participate in or host that might appeal to outdoor adventurists?

event – where individuals cross-country ski with their dogs.

We are the main sponsor for the main event that the Copper Harbor Trails Club organizes each Labor Day: Trails Fest. This is a mountain biking event that attracts a number of people to the area during Labor Day weekend to enjoy the 35-37 miles of mountain biking trails that the Copper Harbor Trails Club maintains.

We organize the Back 9 Endurance Run, which is a 12- and 24-hour running event that takes place over Memorial Day weekend at the resort (i.e. at the end of May).

We organize various winter events like the Snowshoe Hare and Dawg Daze. The Snowshoe Hare event in February is a celebration of snowshoeing in the Keweenaw, and has various snowshoe-related activities throughout the day and evening (e.g. a snowshoe race, a moonlit snowshoe hike).

Dawg Daze, held in early March, is a ski sjoring

We organize mountain bike group rides and educational wilderness hikes (Morning Miles) during the summer, and moonlit snowshoe hikes during the winter.

We organize multiple night time photography workshops throughout the year

And there is the 9-hole golf course where people can enjoy golf in the wilderness, while also taking in a round of disc-golf.

Please go to keweenawmountainlodge.com for a full list of events.

Photo credit: Chris Guibert

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ABOUT THIS FEATURE

Rustic Retreat Reviews We don't always camp and we definitely have standards when it comes to non-camp lodging. Chain hotels? No. Haunted houses? No. Never-remodeled-orupgraded-in-60-years? No. We do love the rustic, the quirky, the historic, the off-the-beaten-path stays. In this monthly feature we plan to review some of the places we have stayed and give you an honest opinion.

We are compiling a listing of our favorite Hipcamps, Air bnbs, cabins, lodges, yurts, whatever- if its fun, fresh or funky, we will let you know.

If you are an establishment owner, please reach out and let us know about your place, we want to find the unique and share it with other adventurous travelers!

If you are a traveler who wishes to submit review, please email us immediately!

GRAND MARAIS, MN

Hungry Hippie Hostel

BY ALEXANDRIA ESCHEN @Northwoods_Overland_Adventures "One of our most recent trips we found ourselves in Grand Marias, at a little homestead Airbnb called Hungry Hippie Hostel. Don’t let that word hostel scare you this place was amazing. Headed out to the property you drove groomed gravel roads through the woods and came up on the Hungry Hippie Hostel. Sitting up on a hill you can peek at Lake Superior in the distance and witness some amazing sunrises and sunsets. The Hostel itself is a renovated barn turned house. When you walk in you see a series of doors which are all different rooms for guests, and a shared kitchen area. The owners have really put time into the building with maps, lists of things to do, dining options to try in town, and games. There were so many fun details everywhere you looked. The small kitchenette area has dishes available with microwave, fridge, and coffee pot. They even had a selection of dehydrated meals and granola you could purchase. There are two shared bathrooms of good size and offered great showers at the end of our hiking days. The owners also offer camp sites you can set up on, or glamping tents you can rent, there’s a shower house for the guests staying that aren’t in the hostel building itself. We had never stayed in a hostel before but loved the atmosphere we meet amazing like-minded people and had amazing conversations around the fire and sitting in the lounging area."

Features Electricity Plumbing/ bathroom/ showers Kitchenette with amenities Clean inviting environment Fire ring and seating outdoors Room #5 allows pets Platform glamping tents with fire rings Camp plots to set up your own gear

NORTHOLOGY ADVENTURES

Lodging Directory Cabins, lodges, cottages Looking for a unique stay in the upper midwest? Ditching the tent for a day or two? Need a respite to relax & unwind?

We have your back- check out our list of one- of-a-kind lodging options, curated for the adventurous kind.

ILLINOIS White Pines Lodge Mt. Morris, IL MICHIGAN Aqua Log Cabins Lac LaBelle Fresh Coast Cabins Eagle Harbor, MI Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Copper Harbor, MI Trails End Camper Cabins Copper Harbor, MI The Outpost Big Bay, MI

Elk Creek Cabin

"A rustic retreat where you can escape the city lights, but yet are only a 15 min drive from the sought after destination of Eau Claire. Travel back in time to days before we had the modern amenities we have come to rely on." rustic, solar lighting, pit toilets private & close to town Proprietor on site woodstove heat sleeps 2-4

EAU CLAIRE, WIsconsin

Fresh Coast Cabins Fresh Coast Cabins offers the ultimate rustic Keweenaw cabin experience with the small details you would expect from a boutique hotel. fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms with showers community bonfire area Charcoal grills sleep up to 6 depending on selection

Eagle Harbor, MIchigan MINNESOTA Hungry Hippie Hostel, Grand Marais, MN The ReTreet House Two Harbors, MN WISCONSIN Elk Creek Cabin Elk Mound, WI Camp Lake Resort Mountain, WI

Camping WISCONSIN The Field Pembine, WI

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge A historic wilderness resort at the top of the Keweenaw. Ideal for individuals, families and groups who value history and outdoor activities.

1, 2 & 3 bedroom cabins Queen sized beds Mini-fridges & microwaves wood & gas fireplaces pet-friendly accomodations

copper harbor, michigan MICHIGAN Trails End Campground Copper Harbor, MI

As our list grows, we will be adding info to help you find the coolest, most rustic, out-of-the-way stays in the upper midwest! Let us know if you have a place we need to check out!

Trails End Cabins Camper cabins at the end of the world.

Enjoy all that the Keweenaw has to offer from these rustic modern cabins.

Open year-round and close to Copper Harbor, Eagle Harbor & Lac LaBelle. solar lighting & 12v & USB charging stations pit toilets near cabins woodstove heat sleeps 1-6

Copper Harbor, Michigan

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