It seems like every year winter creeps forward into being one of my favorite seasons. It’s not lost on me that this budding love affair began once I gained the courage to venture into Northern Michigan during the months almost everyone will tell you to avoid. The truth is: Metro Detroit isn’t made for the cold and snow, so I’m allowing the North Woods to change my mind.
My first time in Calumet came in 2024 while filming a snowboarding segment with Great Lakes Now at the legendary Mt. Bohemia, which wasn’t easy given that a super El Niño climate event kept the Upper Peninsula mild and dry for most of the season. The unseasonably warm weather led to a lot of rescheduling and cancelling the 2024 CopperDog Races.
Well, patience is a virtue, because the 2025 season was a completely different story. I was told by Pam H., a CopperDog veteran, that this was the worst winter weather conditions she’s ever seen on opening night — go figure! It wasn’t hard to believe, a windchill of -11 degrees, 40 mph wind gusts and endless snow gave this Detroiter a run for his money. It’s cold in the D, but this was just ridiculous. Even through arctic conditions, I absolutely loved my time at CopperDog — here’s my big three takeaways:
1. Yoopers do winter right.
One cultural aspect of city life I am growing tired of is the defeatist attitude towards the cold seasons. As I mentioned above, the conditions Friday night in Calumet were pretty abysmal, but I never heard a single complaint. In fact, when the conditions proved too mighty for the temporary dogsled track walls, spectators happily held the walls up themselves.
For me, the entire scene highlighted the importance of intentional community and rituals in the less comfortable months. Turns out a lot of fun can be had with the right clothing, people and something to rally for. I didn’t expect to be as excited as I was; the energy was electric, I was experiencing something new and after some further thought — I hail from the Motor City, so of course I enjoy a good race.
2. Big Dogs: Where y’all at?
I didn’t know what all to expect from a dog sledding tournament in the Keweenaw, but one thing I never questioned was that those dogs were going to be huge. Wrong! To my surprise, most of the dogs, or “little athletes” as Pam lovingly referred to them, were pretty, well… little!
In place of the furry giants I pictured were relatively short-haired, medium-sized dogs that I learned are often mixed with huskies to provide extra cold resilience. What they may have lacked in my imagined size certainly didn’t translate on the track, these dogs are so fast and powerful, their mushers keep the brakes on for a portion of the race just to manage their energy output. While I did see a few of the dogs I dreamt up, the show was on the little guys with a big race ahead.
3. Calumet, MI is a Gem
Calumet is a beautiful community that would likely surprise many city folk in Metro Detroit. Coffee shops, theatres, two of Michigan’s northernmost radio stations, antique shops and so much more. As a frequent bridge crosser, I’m often asked what it is I do in the Upper Peninsula and while yes, the vast wilderness is what initially drew me, I find myself equally interested in the communities that my friend along for the ride noted “seem to appear out thin air amongst the trees.”
From layered histories of labor and immigration to local rituals and folk tales, the Detroiter in me can’t help but find excitement in culturally rich spaces that are deeply misunderstood by outsiders and fiercely loved by those within. As mentioned, this wasn’t my first time in Calumet, but CopperDog 2025 provided my first chance to feel it.
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All photos by Ian Solomon
