We had just returned from a backpacking trip on one of the barrier islands off the coast of Georgia where mud, intense heat and an infinite number of biting gnats, ticks and mosquitoes, along with hair-leveling humidity had driven me to the edge of insanity. As I slumped like a slug onto the ferry that would return us to the mainland and reconsidered the question It wasn't Calgon that took me away, so to speak, but the crisp, clear recollections of a Northern Michigan winter sparkling in the morning sun. Each breath frosty white. Fleecy pillows of snow pushing pine boughs low to the frozen ground.
Nothing beats the winter blahs like cross country skiing.
There's no better way to enjoy the solitude and beauty of Michigan winters without burning fossil fuels, inhaling exhaust fumes or standing in line for tow-ropes or theater tickets. Whether you ski out your back door or carry a copy of Mike Terrell's guide to Northern Michigan's Best Cross Country Ski Trails in your glovebox, you don't want to miss the 26K of upgraded, groomed trails at Sugar Loaf Mountain Resort in Cedar, Michigan. One of the many prime cross country skiing spots in Northern Michigan, Sugar Loaf is located just 22 mi. In addition to their downhill slopes, the resort hosts novice, intermediate and expert cross country trails that wind their way around the mountain. The trails pass through a variety of habitats including open meadows, orchards and hardwood forests.