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— NorthernMichiganLand (@LandBrokers) September 17, 2021
News
Kevin Patana
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Off Grid Options
These days, a lot of folks have been looking for more privacy and self sufficiency when it comes to owning a home or property. Whether you’re looking for a rustic option with only the bare basics or a home with all the creature comforts of being in town, a hunting cabin or a year round residence, a short drive or totally remote — we have the “off the grid” listings to suit your needs! While the idea of living off grid is desirable to many, there are some things to consider when looking at particular properties. We recommend taking some time to consider what utilities or amenities are ‘must haves’ for your lifestyle, whether or not you’ll need year round access, how remote a location you would consider, and what price point would be realistic for you. Our experienced agents can help you narrow the options, make suggestions based on your goals and preferences, and ensure that the property you choose can meet all your needs!
3688 Scoter, Republic, MI MLS # 1120812
This 59 acre parcel features nearly 1/2 of Little Sundog Lake with frontage on a tributary from Sundog Lake. If you are looking for a beautiful, very private lake setting with an off the grid camp that is user friendly, this may be the property for you. The cottage/apartment is above the garage and while not large is very quaint and cozy. A very comfortable place to hang your hat after a good day on the water or in the woods. If nearly 60 acres of this paradise is not enough just walk next door to access the 325 acres of State land.
2890 Wilson Creek Truck Trail/CR GG, Big Bay, MIÂ Â Â Â Â Â MLS # 1120729
Log Home on 60 acres in Marquette County’s north country. Go off the grid and on to amazing! A Koski Log Home is known for the huge hand peeled, air dried logs and masterfully engineered roofing system. The cabin is on ridge with the trout stream flowing below within sight of the wrap around, partially covered deck. The grounds feature a level yard with a thriving orchard of apple, pear and cherry, and fenced garden There is also a generator shed, a small storage shed and two large container sheds.
80 Acres Off Triple A, Big Bay, MIMLS # 1120675
Exquisite off the grid living in this beautiful cabin on 80 acres. The cabin, grounds and outbuildings are in excellent condition with many amenities including a Lopi wood stove, drilled well, septic, 10K Generator, storage shed and permitted outhouse. The cabin site is on a ridge overlooking rolling hardwoods hills and valleys loaded with oak and maple with views of the Huron Mountains. The yard is cleared and open with plenty of room to expand or build more storage.
40 acres Flodin, Thompson, MLS # 1117699
Beautiful log A-frame with 40 acres, a private pond, storage shed and multiple blinds throughout the property. This makes a great hunting camp, but also has all the comforts of home with a well, septic, and solar power that runs everything! Cabin comes furnished so you can start enjoying immediately without the hassle of “moving in”!
1900 Acres N Gaber, Perronville, MIMLS # 1121212
This off grid wilderness hunting club is built to provide a home base for groups of hunters, hikers, trail riders, etc. who want to enjoy all this large acreage property provides. This acreage has an internal trail system and is the perfect wildlife habitat, with over 70 acres of food plots spread throughout. There is also ample fishing at the trout pond and 1,700+ feet of Ford River frontage and trail access nearby.
Contact us at (906) 225.5263 or NorthernMichiganLand@gmail.com for more information or to start working with an Agent on your real estate search!
Land Ownership Basics: Private Property Rights
“The best investment on earth is earth.” -Louis Glickman
Fee simple landownership comes with some fundamental private property rights no matter what kind of land you own and where you own it. Understanding your private property rights from the start, even before owning a property, will ensure you get the most enjoyment from your property without violating the rights of others. Fee simple “refers to real estate or land ownership. The owner of the property has full and irrevocable ownership of the land and any buildings on that land. He is free to do whatever he wishes on the land subject to local zoning ordinances. Fee simple and fee simple absolute are the same thing. Fee simple is the highest form of property ownership.”
“Private property rights are one of the pillars of capitalist economies, as well as many legal systems, and moral philosophies,” according to an article defining property rights.
Right to Possession
Once you fully own your own piece of land and hold the title, you retain possession and control its rights. If you have a mortgage, then the lender probably holds your land title until the loan and its interest is paid in full. Until then, you will have limited possession rights and potentially limited private property rights for use. Depending on where you live and the terms of your loan agreement, the lender could take the property quickly once you stop making payments.
Right to Control
Assuming that you do not live in a neighborhood or city with zoning regulations or other laws that forbid certain activities, you can participate in any legal action on the land you own.
Keep in mind though that neighborhood associations and similar organizations often have covenants that restrict certain activities, so you’ll want to ensure none apply to your property. Covenants may include relatively harmless demands like requiring you to maintain grass that’s visible from the road. Other covenants may restrict activities like raising animals, operating a business, or using chemical fertilizers.
Always read local covenants and laws closely before purchasing land. Using a land expert in your area is the best way to learn about your property rights.
Right to Use and Enjoyment
The right to use and enjoyment means that you can engage in any legal activity on your property. The word “legal” carries a lot of weight in that sentence. For example, owning land does not mean that you can open a casino there without a state license. You must comply with local, state, and federal laws at all times. In fact, the Department of Justice can seize property that they think has been used to commit crime. Federal forfeiture law lets the government take ownership even without proof that it was connected to a crime.
You’ll also need to gather information on any zoning regulations that are tied to your property. According to legal experts, “Zoning regulations and restrictions are used by municipalities to control and direct the development of property within their borders,” and therefore restrict, limit, or otherwise define the uses of a property.
Right to Allow Others a Right to Use
As a landowner, you can give other people access to your property. In fact, it is for many one of the most lucrative aspects of owning land real estate. You can choose to let others access the land for free, or you can charge for access. For example, investors may purchase farmland so they can earn money by leasing it to farmers. Recreational landowners may charge for access to hunt their properties. Agricultural landowners may charge visitors to access for agritourism like fruit picking, pumpkin patches, or corn mazes.
Right to Privacy and to Exclude Others
No one has the right to access your property without permission. You have the right to tell other people that they cannot come onto your private property.
There are only two caveats to the right to privacy and exclusion. Law enforcement can come onto your property while pursuing a suspect. They do not need to stop their pursuit to seek your permission. Law enforcement can also access your property without consent by getting a judge to issue a warrant. If a judge has reason to believe that illegal activities take place on your property, then it only takes one document for officers to investigate.
Additionally, people who have been granted legal rights to use the property for access or another use by previous owners should be considered.
Right to Transfer Ownership
When you own land, you have the right to transfer ownership as you see fit. You could give the property to a relative or friend as a gift. You could include the land in a will or trust. You can also transfer ownership by selling the estate to someone.
Right to Use Property as Collateral
Your land has value that you can use as collateral when using a mortgage to purchase other properties. Collateral may help you qualify for a mortgage or other loan, and you may get a lower interest rate because your land offsets some of the lender’s risk. Keep in mind that failing to repay the mortgage could mean losing rights to your property.
Air Rights
For the most part, you own the right to use the air space that’s above your land. There are limitations to your air rights, though. You could potentially build a skyscraper on your property as long as doing so doesn’t prevent other owners from enjoying their land or violate any zoning laws as mentioned above.
You also don’t have the right to build horizontally across someone’s land. You can only construct vertical buildings that follow your property lines. If the building hangs over the property line, then the neighboring owner could demand that you remove the structure. Air rights especially come into play when it comes to developing on commercial land or residential land in urbanized areas.
What Landownership Rights Do Not Include
Owning land gives you considerable rights over its use, which is one of the biggest draws for land buyers in all markets. Surface rights, however, do not ensure that you control access to the ground below your feet or the air above your head. Before purchasing land, it makes sense to perform an extensive title search or Mineral Rights Search. You may discover that someone else already owns the minerals, oil, and other valuables under the surface of your property.
Understanding Your Private Property Rights
Landownership gives you exceptional rights, but private property rights can have limits. Make sure you understand your private property rights before you purchase a piece of land. Doing so could influence where you choose to buy property and how you use it. When it comes to learning about your property rights, Accredited Land Consultant Matt Davis with Cushman & Wakefield in San Diego, CA, says “In addition to the personal enjoyment you and your family may receive from spending time on your property, owning land is a tried and true way of preserving and growing wealth. By leveraging the expertise of a land professional early in your property search, you can be confident you know what you are buying, what rights others may have that impact the property, and that you will be able to use the property the way you desire, for generations to come.” The best way to learn about your property rights or to learn about the property rights of a property you are interested in purchasing is to Find A Land Consultant, like an Accredited Land Consultant, in your area with expertise in the land market.
April 17, 2020 / Realtor’s Land Institute Blog/ Original article found here.
Marquette Mountain in the Upper Peninsula is One Cool Michigan Ski Resort
Article by Jessica Parsons for MyNorth.com, link here.
Photo(s) by Rachel Haggerty
Andrew Farron had never run a ski hill before. But the 27-year-old Traverse City native flurried his way into a GM position at one of the coolest Michigan ski resorts, Marquette Mountain in the Upper Peninsula. And he did it with innovation, kindness and a ready-to-listen attitude.
Andrew Farron grew up in Traverse City, and, as a snowboarder, took full advantage of each Michigan snowfall. While studying engineering at the University of Michigan, he was president of the school’s Ski and Snowboard Club. After graduating, he moved to Marquette with his wife, working at an engineering firm. But on a fateful afternoon in 2019, he left behind that career to accept a post for which he had no prior experience. When Andrew stepped in as general manager of Marquette Mountain, he’d only been to the hill as a recreational snowboarder.
Yet it was a calling he could not ignore. A dark cloud hovered over the struggling mountain, but many in the community saw its potential.
“I wouldn’t live in Marquette without the ski hill,” Andrew says. “To see it flopping while knowing what it could be—and the kind of community center it could be—was frustrating to a lot of people. It’s something I’m trying to repair.”
Andrew approached the owner of Marquette Mountain with a business plan. But his real icebreaker was an open letter he wrote to the people of Marquette:
“I have fresh, detailed and substantial plans to get Marquette Mountain back on track,” Andrew announced in the letter, emphasizing that his goals would not be possible without support from the community. “Like many of you, I am a winter sports enthusiast, strongly planted in the Midwest, I have left my engineering career to turn my frustration into action and have gained the confidence of owner Pete O’Dovero to turn this place around. I take this responsibility very seriously.” (Note: Pete O’Dovero has since sold Marquette Mountain to Eric and Sarah Jorgensen.)
The letter continued, “This is your mountain. Yes, somebody owns it, but your livelihood is heavily affected by it and you have plenty of power to change it.”
The people of Marquette welcomed his ideas.
Andrew started the job on a Monday morning in early February. He began his role as general manager smack in the middle of an exciting time. “There’s been substantial capital investment into Marquette Mountain,” he says. “The owner here is an entrepreneur in the Marquette area who brought this place out of bankruptcy and is now bringing it from the diminishing ski hill that it was to a fully functional, reliable hill that I hope people are willing to travel to.”
The snowball of moving parts never stops rolling on Marquette Mountain. Among them: food, ticket sales, the garage, grooming, lift operations, janitorial, rental shop, ski school, ski patrol and plowing services. It is the job of the GM to coordinate all these areas and, says Andrew, to listen.
Watching him from a distance, you’d never expect this young-looking lad with an easy smile and a walkie-talkie in hand to be in such a crucial position.
“He entered the job fresh with a lot of public support rallied behind him,” says Mountain Operations Manager Kristian Saile. “If something’s going on in the kitchen, he’s there trying to help out. He’s hands-on everywhere. It’s a steep learning curve for a ski area and he’s been very open.”
For Andrew, it’s the little things that carve out his growing knowledge base.
“One morning, we had to figure out if we could sell kombucha in the shop or just in the bar because it has a small alcohol percentage. That’s totally random,” Andrew says. “You would never expect to need to know the answer to something like that, but that’s the start of my day: dive into it, figure out an answer. It’s a million things like that that seem meaningless, but at the same time, someone’s gotta keep track of ’em.”
With 100-plus employees, Andrew’s focus isn’t on managing every single one, but rather on encouraging those in charge of each department. To him, making those people feel empowered enough to organize and watch over their peers is very important.
That underlying belief and his wife’s support are what get him through the daily challenges. The mountain steals every spare minute of his time and, according to Andrew, it needs even more. “That’s the hardest part: it’s never-ending. But I like being here,” he says. “I’m seeing results and the support has been overwhelming.”
During Andrew’s first season on the job, the city of Marquette surpassed a snowfall record of 200 inches. This, of course, was joyous news for patrons and good for business but presented some infrastructure obstacles. “We’d have eight people out shoveling at a time,” he says. Andrew brought everyone coffee.
Andrew recognizes the knowledge and capabilities of his team. “I really don’t need to give a whole lot to the employees in terms of direction, I mean, they know more than I do,” he says. “I’m an engineer. I understand the design needs and details, but I don’t know what this hill does and how it works. I don’t know where there’s rock and where we can’t dig a hole or [make] tracks. I don’t know the details of all that, and I’m okay accepting help.”
To find the answers to questions he’s unsure of, Andrew engages and listens. His impromptu focus group recruits are local mountain bike shop owners and trail builders. “The goal is to be surrounded by smart people,” Andrew says.
For example, an independent consultant at Mont Ripley—the oldest ski area in Michigan in nearby Houghton—”answers a lot of our calls when we’re having issues with an iced-up chairlift or anything in that regard,” Andrew says, adding, “We’re all kind of in it together in the U.P. ski industry and that’s pretty cool.”
For Andrew, shepherding Marquette Mountain into its next chapter is incredibly rewarding.
“People get married here and raise their kids skiing and snowboarding here. I’ve even heard of people spreading ashes on this hill,” Andrew says. “There’s a lot of power and emotion.”
Michigan Named Best Place to Travel Worldwide for Outdoor Enthusiasts
By Jake Swope | Jan 09, 2020 | Original article can be read here.
KEWEENAW PENINSULA, Mich. (WLUC) – TripSavvy, a national travel publication, has named Michigan the best location in the world to travel for outdoor enthusiasts in 2020. For areas in the U.P. that rely on outdoor tourism like the Keweenaw, rankings like this are incredibly helpful.
“We’re a four season destination for outdoor adventure travel and it’s one of our cornerstones for attracting people to come to the Keweenaw. It plays a major role in our economy that provides a lot of jobs in the areas, and we continually like to promote that to visitors of the region,” said Brad Barnett, Executive Director of the Keweenaw Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
With events like the Copper Harbor Trails Fest, and miles of trails for ORV’s and snowmobilers, travelers help local restaurants and hotels stay busy.
“All of us in the area benefit from outside tourism. Especially with snowmobilers, I mean look at the snow outside, we’ve been blessed with a lot of it very early on this year, so I think everyone can honestly tell you that everyone is up in numbers as far as business goes,” said Julie Cortright, Owner of Bonfire Grill.
One of the area’s best outdoor attractions is Isle Royale National Park which draws in visitors looking for an escape out into the wilderness and is the most revisited national park in the country.
“It’s an incredible experience mainly because it’s untouched, pristine, natural wilderness. You’re not going to find that sort of experience in the United States in many places,” said Barnett.
With the cuts to the Pure Michigan campaign, outreach like this will help boost the areas tourism industry.
“That’s taken 37 million dollars out of national advertising promoting Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, and leaves places like the Keweenaw out of the loop. This designation is huge because it reaches not just national, but international audiences and puts us back on the map,” added Barnett
Buying or Selling a Home in Winter: What You Need to Know
Nobody buys or sells a home in the winter. Right? Wrong! In fact, if you checked the numbers, you’d find that a good chunk of home purchases are done during the coldest months of the year. Besides, many southern regions aren’t all that affected by the change in seasons. But even if you live up north, homes are still getting bought and sold despite icy roads and snow-covered roofs.
For us nerds who want the stats, almost a million homes were sold in the U.S. last winter (973,000, to be exact, from December 2018 to February 2019). That means one out of every five (19%) of the homes that were sold in the 12-month period between September 2018 and August 2019 were sold when temperatures plunged. Sure, more homes were sold in the summer months of 2019.1 But still, the amount of homes that are bought and sold in the winter is nothing to sneeze at.
So, if you’re wondering if you should put off buying or selling a home until spring, why wait? You may be surprised to learn that there are actually advantages to buying or selling while Jack Frost is nipping at your nose.
What are the advantages? You’re about to find out! Find expert agents to help you sell your home.
Selling a Home in Winter
Okay, huddle up, home sellers. Let’s unpack the perks of selling when the air gets chilly.
The Internet Has No Seasons
You probably already know that most buyers go online to search for homes, no matter what the temperature is outside. In fact, nearly all buyers (93%) used the internet during their home search last year.2 This instant access to property listings has had an impact on the typical seasons buyers look for homes. While spring is still the hottest home-buying season, serious home buyers are always on the lookout—checking the latest listings on their tablet before bed or while waiting for their kid’s hockey game to end. So even though the weather may be changing, it won’t stop home buyers from shopping.
Less Sellers
Come spring, other sellers will flood the market and your home will be just another fish in a great big pond. But right now, you’ve got a limited number of sellers on the market. For perspective, 210,000 homes for sale dropped off the market from November to December in 2018.3 If that pattern repeats this year, you’ll have 12% less competition on the market if you list your home during the winter! Buyers have fewer homes to choose from, which means you could sell your house faster.
Buyers Mean Business
Most folks want to curl up under a blanket next to a warm fire on a cold winter day. If a buyer is trudging around in freezing weather or breaking away from their holiday schedule to look at your home, they must be serious. That’s because many winter buyers are working against a deadline, whether it’s an expiring lease, relocation, or a contract on their current home.
Time Off
You may think people are less likely to see your home in the midst of their hectic holiday schedules. That can definitely be true. But keep in mind, most people also have more time off around the holidays. That means more time for browsing their favorite home apps, dreaming about their future decor, and even scheduling home showings.
Getting Tax Breaks Before Year-End
Winter home buyers may also be motivated to capture the tax benefits of buying a home before year-end. Home buyers can write off some of the expenses of their home purchase on their taxes. There are usually multiple tax benefits of owning a home they can take advantage of too. Typically, a homeowner can count on the following being tax-deductible:
- Mortgage interest
- Private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums
- Real estate taxes
All of these tax benefits could make a potential home buyer want to get a house bought and closed before the new year. And if you’re selling your home and buying another, you could ring in the new year with more tax breaks too!
Tips for Selling in the Winter
Nothing says welcome home quite like walking out of the cold into a nice, warm house. It’s easier to make a house feel like home in the wintertime. Here are a few tips to help you set the buying mood:
- Keep it simple. If you’re selling around a holiday and have decorations up, make sure they accent—not overpower—a room. Less is more.
- Crank up the cozy. Light a fire in the hearth, play soft holiday music in the background, and prepare fresh-baked goods or mulled cider for guests.
- Shine a light outside. Winter days get dark early. Brighten your home’s exterior with outdoor spotlights.
- Take down outside decor. Nothing says “my home won’t sell” like a house with reindeer inflatables on the lawn in February.
- Avoid a winter wonderland. Snow is great, unless we’re talking about outside shots of your home. Buyers want to see details of the house, not a blanket of snow. Make sure you have clear-weather photos of your home.
Remember, the nicer your home looks, the more likely it is to sell—and for more money.
Buying a Home in Winter
Alright, home buyers. Now it’s your turn. Below are the benefits of buying a house when the weather outside is frightful.
Less Buyers
Okay, we already established that home sales take a plunge during the winter. So, typically, you won’t have to deal with as many competing buyers as you would if you waited to buy in spring. Which probably means you don’t have to worry as much about someone else snagging your dream home before you can submit an offer, or about getting caught in a bidding war. It’s kind of like when someone brings in holiday treats to share with the office, but most of your coworkers are out of town. You get first dibs on the best desserts!
Better Deals
Since supply and demand for housing are both down during the winter months, you might be able to save money on your purchase! Hard to believe? Check out the recent seasonal prices: The median sales price of homes last winter was more than $250,000—then it jumped up to nearly $267,000 in the spring.4 That means people who bought their homes during winter saved almost $17,000 compared to those who bought in spring—a nearly 7% discount.And hey, if you’re able to knock tens of thousands of dollars off your home purchase, that might make any challenges of buying during the wintertime worthwhile.
Mortgage Rate Fluctuations
If you’re getting a mortgage, you might be able to lock in a good interest rate before the new year hits. Having a lower interest rate would save you money as you work to pay off your new home. But keep in mind, interest rates don’t always go up. So check with our friends at Churchill Mortgage to learn more about the status of current interest rates.
Witness the Home’s Durability
House hunting in winter gives you a chance to see how your potential new home handles harsh weather. Sure, moving to a new home during the spring and summer is probably a lot easier than when you have to bundle up and deal with icy roads. But suppose you fall in love with a house even with the weather at its worst. Then you can be confident that living there will only get better from here on out!
Tips for Buying in the Winter
Okay, here are a few tips to be extra-ready for buying a home in winter:
- Stick to your budget. Sure, home prices might drop a bit with the temperatures. But that doesn’t mean you should justify spending any more than 25% of your take-home pay on monthly housing payments. To make sure your winter home purchase is a blessing and not a curse, calculate how much house you can afford and stick to it.
- Negotiate with confidence. Remember, there isn’t much competition. So, sellers will probably be willing to work with you. If the home inspection brings up some issues, don’t be afraid to ask your seller to make repairs or lower the asking price.
- Prepare for tax changes. Buying a house can complicate your tax situation, which is why it’s always a great idea to connect with a tax expert for knowledge. They can make sure you get every deduction and credit you’ve earned.
If you follow these tips, there’s hope you’ll find the house you want and get a good price in the winter.
Article originally posted at www.daveramsey.com/blog/selling-your-home-in-winter
555,000 Acres of Upper Peninsula Land Sold for $300M Cash
By Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com Posted Nov 30, 2019 by mlive — Original article here.
More than half a million acres of Upper Peninsula timberland have been sold to a New Hampshire-based logging company for $300 million in cash.
Seattle-based Weyerhaeuser Company sold 555,000 acres of Michigan timberland to an affiliate of The Lyme Timber Company this month, according to a news release.
The property will be managed for “sustainable timber production” by Lyme Great Lakes Forest Company, a release said.
Lyme is expected to keep the former Weyerhaeuser employees who were tasked with managing the land, which sustains a mix of hardwood and softwood acres, Devin W. Stockfish, president and CEO of Weyerhaeuser, said in a statement.
“We’re excited to be investing in a region known for the quality of its hardwood timberland, mill capacity, and logging and trucking infrastructure,” Jim Hourdequin, managing director and CEO of Lyme Timber, said in a statement.
Founded in 1976, Lyme’s portfolio include forestland in New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida and California.
How Marquette Warms up when Winter Adventures Cool off
Nov 21, 2019 Travel Marquette – See original article here.
Seattle – the land of Starbucks – may have met its match in Marquette.
The Upper Peninsula city is home to more independently owned coffee shops per capita than the Pacific Northwest area that is synonymous with java culture. The local roasters and craft coffee brewers are ideal for a morning wake-me-up, a mid-day break or an afternoon warm-up following a day outdoors.
And that’s important as winter snow and cold loom, a change of seasons that offers more opportunity to relax as the crowds get smaller while the fun never stops. This Lake Superior shoreline city is known for its summer outdoor adventure and its innovative food and beer scene, but it can be overlooked for winter getaways.
The region has an extensive network of trails that lend themselves to hiking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and fatbiking. Marquette is also recognized as the birthplace of North American organized skiing, and the hills remain incredible.
Before learning more about winter outdoor recreation, it’s smart to game-plan for what you’ll do to enjoy the culinary and craft cocktail scene.
Here are five must-stop coffee shops to think about visiting.
There are dozens of places to grab a great meal and a cold beer – craft brews know no season and visitors can even continue the outdoor theme in a heated igloo at Blackrocks.
Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing
The Noquemanon Trail Network offers unmatched outdoor experiences with 50K of maintained trails that can be used recreationally for point to point or looped outings. Trail experts recommend snowshoe users start on the singletrack at the Forestville Trailhead, and they ask that people steer clear of the trails groomed from classic and skate skiing. Rentals are available at Forestville, and as a bonus to dog owners, your furry friend is welcome to get outside with you.
The outdoor outfitter Down Wind Sports say the difficulty of snowshoeing is often overestimated.
“If you can walk you can snowshoe,” they remind users. “(It’s) one of the easiest ways to get outside in the winter and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has no shortage of places to explore.
Down Wind recommends hitting the Eben Ice Caves, Yellow Dog Falls and Hogsback Mountain as other potential outings.
Winter Hiking
If you’re still more comfortable in your own two boots, the trails up Sugarloaf Mountain and Blueberry Ridge remain popular in the down season. The majestic views of snow-covered terrain from atop Sugarloaf are just as mesmerizing as the other three seasons. The half-mile trail is well marked, and while it will be slower-going with snow, the terrain is manageable for people of all fitness and skill levels. The city’s 12-mile multi-use trail is another great option to get those steps in.
Seasonal Events
In a two-week window last winter, three separate snowstorms each dumped between 12 and 24 inches around Marquette. Add in an icestorm of “legendary proportions” and the dreaded below zero temperatures of the polar vortex, and it would have led most people to hunker down and stay inside.
Marquette threw a party and held a fatbike race.
Todd Poquette, who runs the Polar Roll winter adventure race with 30-mile and 15-mile bike routes and a 10K snowshoe event, chuckles when recalling heading into the woods to clear choked off trails that were battered by fallen and hanging trees and a base buried by ice and powder.
“Miraculously, the show went on,” said Poquette. “I think it’s part of the culture. We don’t slow down just because the summer ends. We still have a lot of cool events that happen throughout the year, and people really enjoy getting out and getting together.
“Everyone understands that the conditions are part of the experience.”
For the Polar Roll, Poquette says there are roughly 450 race participants – they’ve had riders from nearly every state, including California and Arizona since its 2015 inception – and hundreds more who come for the festivities. The atmosphere is built around the collective experience.
On the course, there are areas with people grilling food, handing out drinks and the “Hugs and Bacon” aid station that has developed into a favorite. There’s a post-race party with live music.
“We make it a good time for everyone,” Poquette said.
Marquette also activates for these key winter events, but the area’s full scope of entertainment options can found here.
Scene from the start of the Noquemanon Ski Marathon Nordic cross country ski race from Ishpeming Michigan to Marquette Michigan.
Staged on the Noquemanon Trail Network, the “Noque” is a point-to-point cross country ski race that offers varying lengths of competition, including 50K individual, 50K relay, 24K and 10K events. There are also snowshoe and snowbike options that traverse rolling hills, frozen lakes and majestic woods. The 22nd annual event in 2020 will be held Jan. 24-26 and has become a fixture in the outdoor landscape of Michigan and its Midwestern neighbors. The scenic terrain promises a lifetime of warm memories. The race’s non-profit status is dedicated to furthering non-motorized trail development, preserving all-season outdoor recreation for future generations.
This sled dog race, in its 30th year running from Marquette to Grand Marais and back, marks its territory as the third-longest event in the continental United States and provides a glimpse at what happens in the renowned Iditarod race. Mushers powered by 12-dog teams welcome crowd support from the start in downtown Marquette, along the way at checkpoints during the race and a raucous environment as they return to the finish line along Lower Harbor Park. The trail actually clocks in at 230 miles long despite the race name, and it’s a testament to the endurance and drive of the team. Head to Marquette to experience it for the first time from Feb. 13-17, 2020.
Visit Travel Marquette to learn more about the region and plan your visit.
Why You Need A Qualified Land Agent
When buying property, rural homes or camps, it is important to have an agent that is knowledgeable in land sales. A skilled land agent will be able to help you navigate all the issues that can arise while looking for property or a rural home/camp…such as utility availability, accessibility of the property, any easements or building restrictions, land use regulations, mineral and water rights, etc.
As the U.P.’s local land experts, it is our job to advise and answer all the questions or concerns you have (as well as the ones you haven’t thought of), to ensure you’re ultimately getting the right property for you! The article below was written in the Southwest, but the logic holds true here in the Upper Peninsula as well!