Keweenaw Peaks Tour

Drying Feet at the Montreal

Another Marlor Adventures production, awright! Bill's been leading this all-day mountain bike tour of the far northern peaks of Keweenaw County around Copper Harbor for over a decade now, in various guises. Delayed this year by a visit from his dad, we hit a beauty of a weekend - sunny, highs in the 50's, and peak fall color.

Pat handled the logistics this year. Full day riders met in Hancock and loaded bikes and bodies into the 'Burb. Half day riders (me included) headed up separately, all arriving before dawn at the community center in Copper Harbor on the shore of Lake Superior. On the way up the peninsula we hit a low of 30 F at Ahmeek, so we were pretty excited to have the temp rise to 34 F at the Harbor. After suitable sorting of gear, donning of outerwear, and general milling around, we headed up the road to Lake Manganese under stars and the hint of dawn in the east. Just light enough to eschew headlamps and enjoy the sky and each other's shadowy company.

Climbing the crevice at Bare Bluff

Bill had chosen a clockwise route this year, perfect for me since I'd seen the first half of the tour a few years back, and would now get the second half. Unfortunately, that meant a fording of the Montreal River at the chilly start of the ride. Now usually a broad, shallow rocky bottom river fording is an irresistible invitation to see who can get across without coming off their bike, but at 34 degrees and with 11 hours of adventure ahead, we opted for the dry foot option, took off our shoes and waded across. Only Bill had the fortitude to give it a go, making it half way before a graceful dismount. Then he had fortitude AND wet shoes.

Our Fearless Leader pressed on, taking us up two track and down dirt road across the spine of the Keweenaw for a view west of coming attractions: Mount Houghton. Then on to Bare Bluff. With a twist, this year he'd lead us up the east face, not the official access point to the west. Now you're not going to be biking up Bare Bluff, but it's a nice hike. We dropped the bikes in the thimbleberries and headed up a rocky crevice, through a stunted woods, and emerged onto the bluff and a sweeping view of the sunrise over Lake Superior. Better than coffee. Well maybe not for Pat.

The Crew at Bare Bluff

Snacks, scenic contemplation, then down again to the bikes and a push on to Mount Houghton. Most of the peaks in the Keweenaw are long ridges, but Mount Hougton is more of a knob, 1,467 feet high and rising over 800 feet above the lake. Again, there is no ridable route to the top, so we hike up a badly eroded logging road for views both north and south. You can see the Lake and both sides of the Keweenaw from here, Bete Gris and Lac Labelle, our next destination, Mount Bohemia, and future destinations Mount Horace Greely, Mount Baldy, and Brockway Mountain.

Sunrise at Bare Bluff

We're looking forward to bagging our next summit. Mount Bohemia is a bit shorter the Houghton, but has a challenging but ridable service road right to its peak where the chair lifts drop skiers in the winter. To our surprise, there are dozens of people at the summit - the chair lifts are running for the fall color tourists! Normally, we do this ride earlier in the year and have it all to our selves, but this year we happen to have hit peak color - and peak fall tourism. Pat even runs in to his in-laws up there. As the day wears on and the leaf peepers come out, we run into more and more cars and hikers. By the time the crew gets to Brockway Mountain, they run into an entire wedding party at the summit. Comes from having a paved road and excellent views, I guess.

The descent from the top of Bohemia is a rip-roaring blast. We fly all the way down to Lac LaBelle Road, the roar down the tarmac to the DNR boat launch where we're to meet the afternoon riders, Mike, Kathy, Dave, and Kate. It's 12:24, 6 minutes early (nice timing, Bill), so Pat and Jim lead a small crew on a short tour to the Bear Belly Bar and Grill around the point for coffee. By the time we get back, the Abbotts arrive with changes of clothes, lunch, and good cheer.

Bill Takes in View from Mt Houghton

We rest and eat on the warm pavement of the boat launch. Steve and I will be driving Mike and Kathy's car back to Copper Harbor for pick-up at the end of the day and heading south and home. The rest of the crew has 6 more hours of riding and 3 more peaks to go, including the wonderful long single track grind up and down Mount Baldy, the long paved spin along M-26 from Eagle Harbor to Brockway Mountain, and the super single track descent of Brockway on The Flow into Copper Harbor. A pitcher of beer, a pitcher of water and dinner at the Mariner there, and a happy, tired crew heads for home. Another successful tour.

From Mount Boehmia

Lac Labelle Harbor

Peaks Tour Route and Elevation Profile