The 2025 Snowshoe Hare Day took place on Saturday, February 15th at the Lodge, and a fun and informative time was had by all.
This winter has been great for snowy outdoor activities with temperatures throughout January and February below freezing (sometimes below zero) and consistent snow storms – there has been over 222 inches of snow this winter. The powder was fresh, fluffy, and deep, and snowshoes were definitely required for our hikes on the Lodge property.
The day started at 9:30am with a breakfast-friendly slideshow presentation about all things snowshoes. This presentation (by JD) covered the physics of the snowshoe, basic snowshoeing techniques, and a look at how snowshoes and the people who used them have changed over time. Participants were able to get their hands on multiple different traditional wooden snowshoes that Iverson Snowshoes provided. Attendees learned about the different steps in the process to build these beautiful and functional snowshoes in the Upper Peninsula (in Munising originally, and now in Chassell).
[ Download the PDF of the Slide Deck ]
After the talk, it was time to get outside and experience the natural environment, putting our snowshoe knowledge to the test. We were a diverse and friendly group that included a few first time snowshoers, as well as some accomplished snowshoe enthusiasts. The age ranged from 8 to about 68 years. As we formed our impromptu Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Snowshoe Club, we learned to identify a few different trees along the trail, saw evidence of woodpecker activity, talked about the conditions for a healthy forest, and discussed how the hills and ridges we were going to walk today were formed by the last glacial activity.
There was 3 inches of fresh snow the night before, and it was snowing as we were on trail. Thus tracking conditions were limited along our morning hike on the 1.25 mile Wanderer Snowshoe Route. The Wanderer Snowshoe Route is a new route created this winter season (by Chris Guibert). We spent 1.5 hours on the trail before heading back to the Lodge.
With a lunch break, the crew was in the warm, cozy atmosphere of the main Lodge building, and listened to a slideshow presentation about the snowshoe hare, our superstar animal of the day. The unique adaptations that allows this species to survive in the long, cold, winter here in the upper peninsula (U.P.) was highlighted, as well as the importance that this undeniably cute creature plays in the food web. After learning some of the specific habitat that the snowshoe hare calls home, and its daily and nightly habits, we headed back out there to see if we could spot one, some sign of one, or have a good time trying.
[ Download the PDF of the Slide Deck ]
We were able to accomplish all three of these goals!
This time we headed deeper into the coniferous forest in the Keweenaw Nature Sanctuary along the Explorer Snowshoe Route to traverse another 2.5 miles of snowshoe travel. The going was snowy as we descended down to Garden Brook, and spirits were high. As we reached the bottom and made it into the thick of snowshoe hare habitat, the newly fallen snow covered all evidence of our elusive target. Spirits began to fall as we began to climb, with nothing but the statements that this was where tracks were seen in the past, and this was probably a hare’s hangout spot. And then it happened, we stopped along the ridge at a spot where tracks had been seen over the winter and the shout went out, “There’s one!” And true to its nature the hare had been right close to us for a minute or two, but remained motionless in its winter camouflage coat. After it first jumped, it again sat tight, allowing for most in our group to at least think they saw an ear. For sure anyone could snowshoe to the site where it was hiding and see the fresh scat, tracks, and the amazing long leap that the snowshoe hare left for us.
Through the whole day, the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Snowshoe Club, worked hard, had fun, and learned a few things along the way. The experience of spending quality time in nature is simply something that needs to be experienced and we look forward to continuing to provide this opportunity at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.
