Marquette

Glide into the new millennium. Kick in the old tracks. The New Year’s Glide has been a tradition with the Washtenaw Ski Touring Club for at least 17 years. The club has celebrated the coming of each New Year in Marquette, Michigan. We have found camaraderie and lasting friendships. With 6 or 60 people, club members have come together to celebrate the joys of fresh snow and fresh ideas to add to the joys found in sharing this special time.

The longest trip, Marquette allows ample time to get together with the club members. There are about a dozen excellent cross-country ski areas nearby from Lake Superior coastal trails (Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore) to dense pine inland trails (Anderson Lakes). All have trails from beginner to expert.

The hotel does a great job for us. We have special dinner and breakfast menus. Last year’s breakfast menu included a choice of Belgian waffles, pancakes, eggs, oatmeal and more. Dinner choices were Chicken a la Ramada with a marsala brown sauce in which were mushrooms, scallions, fresh tomatoes and peas; Pecan Coated Maple Breast of Chicken in a maple bourbon sauce that was very tasty; Chicken Dijonaise and Sauteed Spinach in a sherry cream sauce; Lake Superior Whitefish; Stuffed Shrimp in sherry cream sauce; Pasta Primavera and Fettucini Alfredo. Each was accompanied by redskin potatoes, rice pilaf or French fries plus salad. So, we didn't starve. In fact, a couple of people ate themselves to discomfort. For New Year's Eve we were also served post-dinner hors d'ouevres of chicken wings, spicy meatballs, vegetables & dip and chips and a selection of wine.

Besides food there is also a swimming pool, sauna, whirlpool, and bar. The hotel is in the center of the old downtown with interesting buildings, galleries, shopping, a movie theater, restaurants and a great coffee shop, Baby Cakes, nearby.

It would be especially good to go to Marquette this season. On New Year's eve a massive crowd of some dozens of people crowd the main street of Marquette to watch a small lit ball drop from an old and stately 3-story brick skyscraper in the center of town. Marquette, more than ever, will be the place to be for a quiet, scenic New Year far from the madding crowds.

Snow is practically assured in Marquette. Last year there was little snow before the trip but the skiing turned out to be very good. Even the one year that it was in the 40’s there were a couple of trails to ski and we hiked the others. So even if the trails are spare of snow we get exercise during the day and get together in the evenings.

So, come and discover the snow-dusted pine forest of Anderson Lakes, the variety of Blueberry Ridge and the beauty of Valley Spur. Buddy up! Share the ride. Rediscover the peace and mystique of the frozen north. Make your reservations soon.

Ed Steinman, Maury Kroopnick