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The winter season has so many wonderful adventures and opportunities to offer. Instead of pouting about the long winter season, complaining about the extra-long drive times (we are all guilty of this, including me) and talking about the below zero weather, take the season as an opportunity for adventure. The freshly fallen snow is here and it’s waiting for your tracks.
We recently spent a weekend in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Weekends away are a key to happiness, as it reminds us what is important in life, to be present. I felt grateful to have no phone service for the weekend. It’s been too long since a camping weekend and we were in dire need of a disconnected weekend away. We were all there and present, together. As a society, we can forget what it means to be present in the moment with the hustle and bustle of our lives. This can even be true when we are around our loved ones. Simple acts of being present in the moment matter so much. I challenge you to turn off your phone for an evening and simply be present with your loved ones. Feel the difference and warmth it brings to the room.
The resort offers various lodging options, including a cabin that steps out right onto the ski hill with a hot tub overlooking the hill. Quite a beautiful weekend escape that would be! We stayed at a condo that was a short walk away from the ski hill. It was perfect for 6 people (2 beds and futon). We all brought food/drinks and enjoyed ourselves for the weekend. The ski resort offers a variety of hills varying from easy to difficult. In various areas on the ski hill, there are “wine huts” which is exactly what it sounds like. Take a pit stop on your way down the hill to enjoy a drink and food.
Much like riding a bike, skiing came back naturally to me. It is one of those skills you can pick up right away after not having done it for many years. I did a couple runs on the bunny hill to become comfortable. 10 minutes later, I was on my ride up the first chair lift for an “easy” run.
We brought along our snowshoes to take advantage of the beauty the Upper Peninsula has to offer. We hit up the Wolverine Nordic Ski Trails which also offers some snowshoeing trails. The trails offer a peaceful winter wonderland to any hiker who steps out onto it. The trail brought us through many snow-covered pine trees, large icicles hanging from rocks, and fresh, white snow blankets where nobody had traversed for a while.
To begin the trail there was a steep incline where we were reminded of our snowy mountain hikes in Colorado last April. We mentioned how having snowshoes on our Colorado snow hikes last April would have been very helpful. We embraced the challenge in the Vail snow-covered mountains last spring and hiked in knee deep snow!
Colorado 
Colorado
The only animal tracks we saw on our hike were a very small set, perhaps a mouse or other small rodent. Otherwise, it was a silent hike through winter’s beauty. The silence was calling to Andy and he decided to take a rest right on the trail.
A few times the trail crossed paths with the cross country ski and snowmobile trails but for the most part, hikers are peacefully tucked away in the woods. Just be sure to stay on the trail by following these blue ribbons, or trail markers, tied to the trees. Otherwise, you’ll create your own path…which has its own fun and challenges when in snow shoes. The hiking and skiing paths were maintained by donations. There was an array of cookies, tea, coffee, and other beverages next to the donations jar. Donate some change and treat yourself after your hike to a cookie, how sweet! I really liked that warm sentiment. It brought a sense of community to a place where people share their love of the outdoors.
Life is full of challenges, celebrations, struggles, happiness, and everything in between. The year of 2017 is particularly special for us. We are in the process of buying our first home and will become Mr. and Mrs. in August. It’s amazing how life unfolds so quickly, yet so perfectly.
Whatever your year may hold, go out, get your feet on your path, and hike.
Peace, love, and hike thru life!
Sarah and Andy