On Saturday evening – Sunday morning of August 12th and 13th, we hosted a stargazing party as part of our activities associated with being the headquarters of the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park. This stargazing party coincided with the Perseid Meteor shower, and the guests were rewarded with clear skies, falling meteors, and crystal clear views of the Milky Way.

The Perseid Meteor shower happens every year when the earth passes through the debris field left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. This comet is on a 133 year orbit around our Solar System and was last seen in 1992. The trail of debris varies in density and is most dense with meteoroids near the middle. When the earth passes through the densest part of the debris field that is when the peak of a meteor shower will occur. This year the peak fell on the night of August 12th into the early morning hours of August 13th. 

When the Outdoor Activities Center (OAC) team realized this was only a few days away from the new moon, we knew this would be a great year to view the peak of the meteor shower because there would be little moonlight washing out the night sky. We decided to hold the viewing party on Hole 4 fairway of the golf course, which is one of the darkest open areas in the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park. Also for this event we extended the Lights Out program where we turn off all the street lights and other lights around the property.

A Dark Sky Walking Path, that is in its infancy and still being fully developed, was used to guide patrons to the viewing party area on hole 4 [ We are in the process of having signs made so we marked the trail with orange flags and some rechargeable lights that we set on the ground ]. OAC team member Amy O greeted people in front of the Outdoor Activity Center and pointed them in the direction of the viewing party. We work to create intimate activities at the Lodge and the Dark Sky Park, and this event followed those guidelines in order for people to get closer to nature. Having guests walk a quarter mile to the viewing area got people away from headlights of cars pulling up and the lights guests have on in their cabins.

OAC team member Max Collings and I set up 12 chairs in the center of the fairway for guests to relax and take in the view. We patiently awaited their arrival. Around 10:45 people started heading out and we greeted them with a warm smile. Many people brought blankets and jackets because the temperature dipped into the low 50’s, let’s just say the air was “brisk”. About 20 people wandered out in small groups and settled in. At 11:00pm the sky was cloudy with only a few stars peaking out on the low horizon; we could see clear skies in the far distance. People chatted quietly within their groups while others just sat back and waited. Around midnight the clouds blew out and the starry sky appeared. The core of the Milky Way loomed over the Southern tree-lined horizon. 

“OOOOHHHH” was exclaimed from the group as the first meteor zoomed overhead. “Wow – that was a long one” I heard from behind me, spinning around but missing that particular meteor. The meteors come predominantly from the north but they were visible across the whole sky. Tom Oliver, one of our instructors of our Night Sky Photo Workshops was taking pictures. He captured this shot of the meteor shower over the Lodge as he was walking out to meet the group. 

Steve Hirsch, a photographer from Ohio, set up his camera gear and was able to get this image out on Hole 4.

The group sat back and watched the dark sky light up for the next few hours. Most people were quiet with an occasional “oooh” or “ahhh”.  I must have seen somewhere between 50 and 100 meteors from midnight to 2:00am. I do not think anyone was counting, most people were just enjoying being present and not quantifying the experience. Some people left before the 2:00 am ending but some others stayed even later to take in the night sky. The Perseid Meteor shower did not disappoint and those that persevered were gifted a clear viewing night. 

This event will be something that will be permanently implanted into my memory bank and remembered as a joyous gift from the heavens above.

Chris Guibert

Chris Guibert: I have a strong passion for all things outdoors and have worked as a tour guide and professional photographer for the last twenty five years. As the Lead of Outdoor Activities at the Mountain Lodge I want make sure you and your family have a great experience while staying and playing. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the trails, regional activities and local secrets.

The inaugural Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Park Festival was held by the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, in partnership with Visit Keweenaw, April 21st and 22nd, 2023. This is exciting times for the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge as the headquarters of the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park. It signals the importance of the dark skies in the Keweenaw and to human and wildlife.

The festival was 1.5 days of activities focused on dark skies, and enjoying stargazing and the Northern Lights. The speakers at the festival were (shown in alphabetical order):

• Nate Bett, Dark Sky / Northern Lights Photographer
• Chris Guibert, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge / Keweenaw Dark Sky Park
• Amber Harrison, International Dark-Sky Association
• Andrew Johnson, Headlands Dark Sky Park
• Melissa Kaelin, Author, Below the 45th Parallel
• MaryBeth Kiczenski, Dark Sky / Northern Lights Photographer
• “Astro” Bob King, Astronomy Author
• John Mueller, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge / Keweenaw Dark Sky Park
• Amy Oestreich, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge / Keweenaw Dark Sky Park
• Tom Oliver, Michigan Tech University Center for Environmental Science and Outreach
• Robert Parrish, Dr. T.K. Lawless Dark Sky Park
• Jamie Westfall, Headlands Dark Sky Park

The festival was held during 2023 Earth Day, which is inline with the theme of dark skies and the values of the Lodge. 

During the festival, it was announced the Lights Out! program at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge / Keweenaw Dark Sky Park. Installed light switches for each of the street lights, and turned off all the street lights during the festival.

As part of the operations philosophy of the Lodge, we had a maximum number of people that could attend the festival. This is an optimal number of visitors in order to ensure that the desired experience is experienced by the guests. That number was 50 officially registered guests, which was sold out 2 weeks before the event.

This is an annual event, with the 2024 Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival to be held sometime in April. 

• Stargazing: 2024 Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival

Photo Gallery

Below are images from the 2023 Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival.

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Chris Guibert

Chris Guibert: I have a strong passion for all things outdoors and have worked as a tour guide and professional photographer for the last twenty five years. As the Lead of Outdoor Activities at the Mountain Lodge I want make sure you and your family have a great experience while staying and playing. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the trails, regional activities and local secrets.

This week we installed individual “light switches” on each of our dark-sky compliant street lights. This is 28 street lights, which are the Truly Green Solutions Cobrahead RWL G2 model light fixtures (installed February 2021).

Keweenaw Power and Lite was able to work through 2 days of late winter storms (ice, snow, wind, and falling limbs), and then 2 clear days, to get the light switches installed before the 2023 Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival.

In addition, we installed a light switch for our wallpack on the back part of the Lodge (which is a dark sky compliant light fixture). This allows us to turn on and off, as well as dim, the wallpack light. This is important as we want to lower the light to have less light trespassing when people are enjoying the dark sky park and taking night time pictures of the Lodge.

This improvement is part of our light management plan for the resort, which is a designated international dark sky park — the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park.

More research on how light affects humans and wildlife can be found on the IDA’s website at:

• https://www.darksky.org/our-work/grassroots-advocacy/resources/research/

Chris Guibert

Chris Guibert: I have a strong passion for all things outdoors and have worked as a tour guide and professional photographer for the last twenty five years. As the Lead of Outdoor Activities at the Mountain Lodge I want make sure you and your family have a great experience while staying and playing. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the trails, regional activities and local secrets.

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) holds the International Dark Sky Week each year to put focus on minimizing light pollution, and for people to understand the beauty and the benefit of the dark skies. This year International Dark Sky Week is April 15-22, 2023.

In the state of Michigan, the governor has made a proclamation this year that April 15-22, 2023 is DARK SKY WEEK in Michigan.

And the resolution SR-30 offered by Senators Lindsey and Bayer and adopted on April 13, 2023.  [ pdf ]

As part of International Dark Sky Week, we will be holding the 2023 Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival, April 21st and 22nd, 2023.

Nate Bett, professional landscape photographer and Cannon expert, once again delivered an excellent Northern Lights presentation during the March 2023 Photo Workshop at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.

March 19, 2023 had a KP of just 0.38% and the sky was slightly overcast with clouds rolling in from the south. Chances of spotting the northern lights or a bright starry night sky were low, but the two guests that came for the workshop were still able to step out onto the golf course in Keweenaw’s International Dark Sky Park and practice their night sky photo techniques under Nate’s tutelage. This month’s participants used i-phones and a tripod to capture some great images of the western sky and the lodge with stars reflecting out from some clouds with the lodge and tree silhouetted against the skyline.

The photo workshops held at the Lodge take place each month and are available to members of the public as well as Lodge guests. During the workshop, Nate Bett delivers a presentation on the phenomenon of the Auroras and explains the optimal camera settings and techniques required to capture beautiful images of the night sky and all its wonder. Although Nate’s specialty lies with Cannon devices, he is also very knowledgeable with the camera settings on smart phones, Nikon, Sony, and other high tech cameras and equipment. Nate also touches on other photography techniques such as light painting, moving subject images, photoshop, and layering. He also provides guests with advice on the types of equipment that can be used to enhance the shots that they’re working toward capturing.

When guests come into the lodge for a workshop or another educational event, and they can step out into the world a couple hours later, and apply the knowledge they acquired, I know that we’ve done a great job. Every opportunity to refine their skills after that point is a personal endeavor. It feels good to be able to help plant the seed that allows people to grow closer to becoming who and what they want to become.

If you are interested in future photo workshops or other educational opportunities offered by the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, check out our calendar under the Events section of the website.

Visit the KML calendar for the 2023 Photo Workshop dates.

Chris Guibert

Chris Guibert: I have a strong passion for all things outdoors and have worked as a tour guide and professional photographer for the last twenty five years. As the Lead of Outdoor Activities at the Mountain Lodge I want make sure you and your family have a great experience while staying and playing. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the trails, regional activities and local secrets.

“Find Joy in the Unexpected”  – Amy Oestreich

This year, the month of March is presenting early signs of Spring for the Keweenaw. The day skies have been sunny, the temperatures warm and the snow has been crunchy. Of course In other parts of the Northern Hemisphere that enjoy the winter season, new grass is already appearing between melting snow piles, bright yellow daffodils are poking through compressed decomposing leaves and Robins are feasting on worms. On Saturday, March 4th, 2023, adventurous participants gathered at the Outdoor Activity Center. Under the light of the near full moon, Chris Guibert, OAC Lead, and myself, guided these folks on our 3rd Moonlit Snowshoe hike of the season; letting our eyes adjust to the “Worm Moon” of the Spring.

As I settled into the pace and comfort of nature, my mind wandered. I began to think of change: the changing temperatures, the changing climate and the changes or “advances” in technology. I appreciate time in this serene atmosphere; it is conducive for creative thinking. I always seem to ponder the past while maintaining my concerns of the present; how do we adapt to such changes? How do we adjust? How do we weave our past with our future? When I am traveling by snowshoes, especially under the moonlight, I feel a strong connection to our ancestors. This connection gives me a sense of security that we will continue to evolve with the changes. And how could I not?

Snowshoeing is an ancient mode of transportation that originated thousands of years ago among indigenous peoples in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. The earliest evidence of snowshoes dates back to 4000 BC, when people in Central Asia used them for hunting and travel. I admire that not much has changed with this technology. Sure, snowshoes were originally made from materials such as animal hide and wood, and the basic design involved a frame made of wood or bone that was laced with more animal hide or sinew. It wasn’t until the 20th century, with the introduction of new materials such as aluminum and synthetic fabrics, that the snowshoe evolved. And even then, the basic shape and concept prevailed.

While we may not be hunting or traveling in the traditional sense, we are definitely enjoying the evolution of snowshoes as a recreational activity. There is something magical that happens when we allow our minds to disengage from technology and draw our bodies closer to nature. The light of the moon seems to act as a catalyst for this. The thrill of the visual hunt propels our legs forward to experience memories.

We gathered tonight with hopes of hiking under a blanket of stars, clear skies, a bright full moon and perhaps even a display of Northern Lights. As expectations were built, one may have been let down by the cloudy night and blurred moon. Thankfully our mental adjustments have allowed us to adapt our attitude to enjoy the beauty the hazy sky has offered. The stars were not bright, The Northern Lights did not dance for us, but we did stop and reflect on the beauty of the unexpected. The cold, damp, foggy night air offered us an amazing ring around the moon!

A lunar halo is a ring of light that appears around the moon at night. It is caused by the reflection, refraction, and dispersion of moonlight by ice crystals in the Earth’s atmosphere.

The ice crystals in the atmosphere act like tiny prisms, bending the light and separating it into different colors. The angle of the light passing through the ice crystals determines the size of the halo, with larger halos appearing when the angle is smaller.

Lunar halos are usually white, but they can also display a range of colors depending on the angle of the moonlight and the size and shape of the ice crystals. The colors can range from red on the inside of the halo to blue on the outside.

In awe, we stop for photos; we are not let down! We are delighted with our chance viewing of the beautiful lunar halo. As we continue our snowshoe hike back to the Lodge. I enjoy listening to the guests laugh with each other, compare experiences and share their stories. I noticed a common theme: “find Joy in the unexpected”.

Life can be challenging at times. Change can also be challenging. This challenge may force us to try new things, adapt, adjust, evolve and embrace the advances in technology. Just know, if it ever gets to be a bit much; you can always connect with nature and find joy…maybe even in something unexpected.

Chris Guibert

Chris Guibert: I have a strong passion for all things outdoors and have worked as a tour guide and professional photographer for the last twenty five years. As the Lead of Outdoor Activities at the Mountain Lodge I want make sure you and your family have a great experience while staying and playing. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the trails, regional activities and local secrets.

Chasing northern lights is a fun and exciting hobby that I have become passionate about in the last few years. When I first moved to the Keweenaw, I met night sky photographer Jeremy Rowe who has been taking aurora photos for over a decade on the Keweenaw Peninsula. His images were both stunning and intriguing to me, seeing his images made me want to learn how to capture the beauty of this celestial phenomenon.

Over the last few years I have been honing my night sky photography skills. I have read plenty of online articles about the subject, taken multiple workshops with Nate Bett at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge (his next Stargazing: Northern Lights Photography Workshop is on March 19, 2023), and even attended the Aurora Summit last fall to learn more about using a tracker and space weather. My “chasing northern lights skills set” is slowly expanding – lets just say I might check the Aurora Forecast app daily. However, my main tool has become checking the Michigan Aurora Chasers Facebook Group. When the group administrator, Melissa F. Kaelin, posted a G3 Storm warning for Sunday, February 26, my heart began to beat fast.

Throughout the afternoon I watched the aurora global map on the Aurora Forecast app. I could see the aurora map showing strong activity above Northern Europe and watched its progression as it moved around the globe towards North America!

I checked the Michigan Aurora Chasers group and saw this post, my mouth began to water like Pavlov’s Dog.

At 9:30 pm I headed to the Lodge to see if the activity was strong enough to be seen above the ridge of Brockway Mountain. I parked the car and headed to one of the stargazing viewing areas by hole 1 of the golf course. To my delight I could see the Auroras above the cabins and the ridge, and I quickly began taking photos!!!

After taking a few test images I was excited to see the northern lights on the back of my Canon 5D Mark IV.  I took multiple compositions and grabbed my phone to check the Michigan Aurora Chasers group again. I could see images pouring in across the state! Experts in the group were excited with the space data that was being reported.

I knew I had a chance for an image that I have been thinking about for the last couple years – a photo of the northern lights above the Lodge. I moved locations and set my camera up on the East Steps of the main Lodge building and snapped an image. I waited for the image to appear on the back of the camera. YES!

The image looked in focus and I could see the lights above the Lodge. This was the shot I had pre visualized and it had finally come into fruition. I knew I had to make a color adjustment in Photoshop to the external lights of the Lodge itself, but I captured the Raw data in the camera and looked forward to seeing it on the computer later that night. I used the natural light setting for the sky and adjusted the color temperature of the building. I did not increase the saturation of the colors at all, the long exposure of the shooting process richly captured the vivid colors of the northern lights above the Lodge.

I checked the app again and the earth diagram was exploding with color. I ran to my car and headed to another spot I have been wanting to capture.

I arrived at the parking lot and quickly made my way to the Lake Superior Shoreline. The lights colorfully danced above the lake as I watched in awe. I set up the camera and took some of the best northern lights photos I have ever shot!

The night was cold (single digit temps) and I was getting tired after working all day then shooting half the night. I packed up my gear and headed home to Lac la Belle completely stimulated and exhausted at the same time. The next day I watched hundreds of magnificent images pour in from across the state. OAC Team member Amy O pointed out that we all shared a collective experience that enriched our lives. I dug inward and realized that people from across the globe witnessed this celestial event, and for one night this group of individuals put aside our differences and shared in the beauty that our universe creates.

If chasing northern lights is something you are interested in learning more about please join Melissa F. Kaelin [ her book ] and others presenters at the 2023 Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival in April during the International Dark Sky Week at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.

Chris Guibert

Chris Guibert: I have a strong passion for all things outdoors and have worked as a tour guide and professional photographer for the last twenty five years. As the Lead of Outdoor Activities at the Mountain Lodge I want make sure you and your family have a great experience while staying and playing. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the trails, regional activities and local secrets.

The February 2023 Northern Lights Photo Workshop had a great turnout and, although the KP for Northern Lights viewing was 0%, the sky was clear and offered a beautiful view of Orion and the Little Dipper from the east edge of the golf course.

The 9 guests first participated in a lecture on night sky viewing, the science behind the Northern Lights phenomenon, and the optimal camera settings for capturing night skies. This talk was led by Nate Bett, professional photographer, fine arts professor, and Cannon spokesman.

Nate and the guests then checked out snowshoes and stepped out into the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park for a chance to view the night sky without the disruption of modern light pollution. The group used red lens flashlights to navigate in the dark so as not to hinder their night vision. A picturesque area on the east side of the golf course was selected where Orion and the Little Dipper were visible through the branches of a tree.

Not to brag, and I am no photographer, but I was able to capture my first ever recognizable night time shot. Unfortunately, without the stability of a tripod, there is quite a lot of movement in my photo. Nevertheless, here is my first ever, non-professional, moving nighttime night sky photo.

At the end of each workshop I always walk away with a great feeling that guests were able to learn more about photography and their equipment from a professional who is passionate about his art. It feels good to know that our workshop guests take away skills and techniques that will allow them to capture the beauty of the night skies and auroras wherever and whenever they might come across the opportunity to do so.

If you are interested in future photo workshops or other educational opportunities offered by the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, check out our calendar under the Events section of the website.

Visit the KML calendar for the 2023 Photo Workshop dates.

Chris Guibert

Chris Guibert: I have a strong passion for all things outdoors and have worked as a tour guide and professional photographer for the last twenty five years. As the Lead of Outdoor Activities at the Mountain Lodge I want make sure you and your family have a great experience while staying and playing. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the trails, regional activities and local secrets.

This past Saturday we held the January 2023 Night Sky Photography Workshop. Despite cloud cover impeding the starry night sky and the below freezing January temperatures, Nate Bett led an informative lecture to four very enthusiastic Keweenaw Mountain Lodge guests.

The four attendees arrived for a night snowshoe rental and stayed to learn about the phenomenon of the Auroras, a result of plasma expelled from the sun which follows the magnetic field lines of the earth and are visible to the human eye as brilliant ribbons of colored light or haze.

During the talk, Nate also discussed the correlation between ISO, shutter speed, and aperture settings, and talked about long exposure shots, light painting, ideal equipment for different weather and light conditions, and the most useful apps for planning great night sky photo opportunities.

On clear nights, Nate steps out with guests into the Dark Sky Park at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and teaches hands on nighttime photography techniques. “The Dark Sky Park at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is one of very few places left where humans can view the stars and the wonders of the night sky almost the same way our ancestors did,” explained Amy Bory, coordinator of Events and Education at the lodge.

In promoting the preservation of the night skies through education centered around the damage caused by light pollution, the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge hosts Night Sky and Aurora Photo Workshops every month of the year. Workshops are led by professional photographers and educators and draw passionate, purpose driven individuals of all skill levels.

Visit the KML calendar for the 2023 Photo Workshop dates.

Chris Guibert

Chris Guibert: I have a strong passion for all things outdoors and have worked as a tour guide and professional photographer for the last twenty five years. As the Lead of Outdoor Activities at the Mountain Lodge I want make sure you and your family have a great experience while staying and playing. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the trails, regional activities and local secrets.