After being the interim general manager at the Lodge since January 2019, John Mueller has now decided to focus full time on the Lodge. He has resigned from his professorship position at St. Edward’s University (in Austin, Texas) to be able to devote his full attention on the Lodge. As a result the “interim” tag is removed.

Below are John’s words about the decision to focus full-time on the Lodge at this time:

I want to wish everyone a happy new year, and may 2023 be a prosperous year for all.

2022 was a good year for us at the Lodge, as we continued to build upon what we have done the previous couple of years to be a four-season (year-round) resort at the top of the Keweenaw focused on outdoor activities, rustic worldly food, and education. In 2022, we continued to be tight on staff. However, we adjusted our services accordingly to make sure that we are all still enjoying and appreciating life (which is one of our secondary values), while still offering quality services and products based upon our brand/image.

As we continued this past year to adjust our services based upon the ideal level of team members, my role in the organization has evolved to fill multiple gaps. We had several untimely departures of staff during 2022, with most of them going onto opportunities that offered growth in their career — which is wonderful to see. We had several members join the team in 2022 that provide a joyous attitude, and contribute greatly to the roles and responsibilities at the Lodge. And the core team at the Lodge continues to be a stable ground for the Lodge operation, and provide leadership and results.

Even with the core team at the Lodge, we still have gaps to fill. As such, more and more of my time was being required at the Lodge. Thus, I made the decision to resign my faculty position at St. Edward’s University (Austin) and to focus full time on the Lodge operations in 2023. My last day at the university was yesterday, December 31st.

With me focusing full time on the Lodge operations, I will be working over the next several months with team members on some organizational structure changes. Thus, there will be some changes with operations in terms of roles and responsibilities as we look to how we are going to operate in 2023. For example, the first change is that the “interim” tag on my role has been removed….and now it is just “Chief Lead” [ that is, if we were using titles; however, we focus more on what our roles and responsibilities are as team members, not titles ].

Thank you all for the support this past year, and may 2023 be a fun, joyous, and adventuresome year. We know how to do that, so let’s continue to focus on our core values, our desired brand/image, and being sustainable financially. This will give us the best opportunity to be proud in what we do at the Lodge, and continue to do fun and exciting things at the resort. Being a member of the Lodge team is special and none of us take that for granted. Go Team KML!!!

About the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge: The Lodge is a four-season historic resort at the top of the Keweenaw, focused on outdoor activities, rustic worldly food, and education. The year-round resort consists of log cabins, a lodge, dining services, access to mountain biking, running, and hiking trails, and a 9-hole golf course. The resort has been a fixture in the Keweenaw since breaking ground on the project in 1934 as part of a WPA program, providing guests with the opportunity to enjoy a fun, joyous, and adventuresome experience among the pristine natural beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — with the Lodge being on the National Register of Historic Places. Guests can play a round of golf, ride the mountain biking trails, hike through the woods, and take a leisurely stroll to/from the cabins and the Lodge. At the end of the day, one can relax in the Lodge by enjoying quality food and drink.

The Lodge Life Shop Spotlight is a series that highlights the skills and creativity of Lodge team members. This month we are highlighting Chris Guibert, who leads the Outdoor Activities at the Lodge. Below are his words about himself.

Spotlight: Chris Guibert

Art has always been part of my life. I enjoy working through the creative process of just about anything. I drew for fun as a kid and took art classes and mechanical drawing throughout high school. At age 30, after a career in the mountain bike industry, I went back to school and earned a degree in Professional Photography (AAS) from Colorado Mountain College. After graduation I worked as the production manager at a digital art lab in Aspen Colorado.

At DAA (Digital Arts Aspen) I worked on digital art reproductions, assisted other photographers in the studio and helped with Photoshop workshops. Since 2004 I have worked as a freelance photographer focusing on commercial work and editorial assignments in the adventure travel industry. I have created feature stories for publications such as Bike, Powder, Freehub, Mountain Flyer and others. I hope to invoke the spirit of adventure in my images, I want the viewer to be thrilled, stimulated and inspired. I look for subjects that open metaphorical doors and showcase the beauty of this world and beyond.

Currently I am the Outdoor Activities Lead at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. While working with the KML team on the IDA (International Dark Sky Association) application I became fascinated with night sky imagery. I started paying more attention to celestial events and found myself waking up all times of night to capture the cosmos.

I used a Canon 5D Mark IV and their series of “L” lenses on a tripod to capture these images. My workflow consists of processing the raw files in the Adobe raw converter and then bringing them into Photoshop for some contrast adjustments and lens corrections. My prints are the final step of my process. This series of images are printed with pigmented inks from an Epson SureColor P800 printer on Epson Hot Press Bright Fine Art Paper.

If you have any questions about my imagery or work flow please come see me at the OAC (Outdoor Activity Center). 

Below are pieces that can be viewed and purchased in the Lodge Life Shop. 

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You can view more of Chris’ work at his website: chrisguibert.com.

And follow him on Instagram: @chrisguibert_photography.

Each month we highlight a picture from the Lodge based upon our core values. Here is the October 2020 fun.jouyous.adventuresome team member picture of the month — actually several pics.  This month the picture is of Nick Nifin and Amy Oestreich working on the trails to prepare for winter outdoor activities.

Amy and Nick in the elements clearing the trails
[ October 24, 2020 ]

This picture was taken during a break in the work on Sunday, October 24th, as the Nick, Amy, and Chris Guibert cleared debris from the trails that will be used during the winter time for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing activities. We want to make it safe and enjoyable, and fun and adventuresome. Here comes the winter. Embrace it!!

Each month we highlight a picture from the Lodge based upon our core values. Here is the August 2020 fun.jouyous.adventuresome team member picture of the month.  This month Janee Artrip posed for a picture in the one of the historic fireplaces, with the sign of the times — a mask. Trust us, she is smiling under the mask.

Guarding one of the historic fireplaces in the Lodge: Janee Artrip
[ August 29, 2020 ]

This picture was taken as we had a break in the traffic on a Saturday morning, before the dine-in services opened up (at 11am).  July has been beautiful weather, and we haven’t had to use the historic fireplaces the past month.

And to have fun, the photographer, Chris Guibert, decided to start thinking about Halloween when we will begin to use the fireplaces again. 

Each month we highlight a picture from the Lodge based upon our core values. Here is the July 2020 fun.jouyous.adventuresome team member picture of the month.  This month Mike Miller is caught smiling on a humid day, working with the maintenance team on the bike wash.

Working on the bike wash and work station: Mike Miller
[ July 23, 2020 ]

This picture was taken at the new bike wash, as the maintenance team worked to get it ready before the weekend — as the Women’s Clinic was taking place July 24-26. Other team members that worked on the bike wash were Hank Baron, Isaac Bennett, Matt Rastello, and Chris Guibert.

Each month we highlight a picture from the Lodge based upon our core values. Here is the June 2020 fun.jouyous.adventuresome team member picture of the month.  This month is a picture that includes multiple team members.

Working on the changes for the Outdoor Activity Center: Chris Guibert (hiding behind the post), Mariah Summers, Martin Mueller, AJ Clarey, Tara Myers, and Naya Mueller
[ June 18, 2020 ]

This picture was taken of the Outdoor Services team, discussing the vision of the center going forward. This month we have been working on transitioning the Pro Shop building to the Outdoor Activity Center (OAC), as we focus now on multiple outdoor activities at the Lodge. Golf – Bike – Hike.

Each month we highlight a picture from the Lodge based upon our core values. Here is the May 2020 fun.jouyous.adventuresome team member picture of the month.  It is actually multiple team members, from the food and beverage team.  

Kitchen Crew: Julie Blackstone, Olivia Dyl, Alec Koski, and Widad Mueller
[ May 4, 2020 ]

This picture compiles several pictures of the kitchen crew in early May. It is an indication of how we have been operating in May to ensure health and safety of our staff and guests.  All smiles under the masks.

Each month we highlight a picture from the Lodge based upon our core values. Here is the April 2020 fun.jouyous.adventuresome team member picture of the month.  

Where is Hank hiding? Hank Baron
[ …a throw back: February 25, 2020 ]

This picture was taken by the guest services lead, Janee Artrip, in February as the team was looking for windows that separated the bar area and the newly restored porch (part of the office-to-porch conversion).  She made the comment when posting the picture in our internal communication system (Slack): “Where is Hank hiding?”

The area that Hank is in in the picture is known to be where the golf pro lived when working during the summers at the Lodge in the early year.

We did find the missing window in the location that Hank is in in the picture.  You can see the windows in the picture below.

Each month we highlight a picture from the Lodge based upon our core values. Here is the March 2020 fun.jouyous.adventuresome team member picture of the month. There are actually 2 pictures this month, with 4 people in them 

Maintenance crew fun: Eric Johnson, Hank Baron, Matt Rastello, and Paul Ketola
[ March 28 & 29, 2020 ]

In March, we experienced the concept of social distancing. Staying 6 feet from one another was important.

In the first picture, Matt and Hank exhibit how we use radios on the property. Are Hank and Matt singing to each other or are they trying to figure out which roof to clear first for the roofing crew next week?

In the second picture, what are Eric and Paul measuring? Could it be associated with a distance of 6 feet? Or are we finishing up the flooring work to make the Lodge building stronger?

The facilities maintenance crew has been on property every day this winter, and continues to be strong. Keweenaw💪

Each month we highlight a picture from the Lodge based upon our core values. Here is the February 2020 fun.jouyous.adventuresome team member picture of the month.

Sled hill research, Mariah Summers
[ February 21, 2020 ]

In February, we made the decision that we would be open year round with the lodging (the cabins). This is after working the past two winters on testing and understanding the infrastructure of the cabins.  The resort has only been open 2 years in it’s previous 85 years of existence (winter of 2009 and 2010). Now we are working on figuring out the winter activities that will go along with staying in a cabin at the Lodge. Mariah volunteered to figure out where the best sledding / tubing location would be on property. She enjoys the winters of the Keweenaw, being a Calumet native — and now living year round in Hancock. You can see how much she enjoys the winter by how much she is smiling in this picture.

And here is an action-video of one of her first tubing runs at the Lodge.