By day, traditional Nordic skiers step and glide as they whisper along quiet wooded trails. Steam huffs from the mouths of “skaters” speeding down trails using the technique favored by racers.

But, the excitement doesn’t stop at sunset. A number of Michigan State Parks offer cross country skiing on trails lit by old-fashioned lanterns or candle-lit luminaries. People of all ages are encouraged to come out on cross country skis -- or even snowshoes -- to navigate their way down the edge of the groomed trail. Park staff will be on duty, greeting visitors and pointing them in the right direction.

The Porkies’ Superior Loop Ski Trail boasts a full one-mile loop lit by 80 old-fashioned kerosene lanterns, which winds around the shore of a nearby lake. Skiing at night is what presents the challenge. A peaceful resting place, located halfway through the loop at the warming shelter, offers the comfort of a wood burning stove, hot cocoa and marshmallows for roasting on the bonfire just outside the shelter.

Some of the Michigan State Parks hosting lantern lit or candlelit skiing events this year include: 

• P.H. Hoeft State Park
• Hartwick Pines State Park
• Proud Lake Recreation Area
• Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

For more great winter outdoor activities, visit Michigan State Parks.

Exercising outside in the winter actually helps you burn more calories, because your immune system is working extra hard to keep your body warm while maintaining an elevated heart rate consistent with cardiovascular activity.

Cross country skiing is one of the most complete cardiovascular sports. You basically work every inch of your body. Downhill skiing is probably the most popular and enjoyable winter sport. Not only is it a great way to relieve stress and have fun, but when performed on an intense level, it can also be a great cardiovascular and leg workout.

Check out these stats:

• Cross country skiing sheds 472 calories per hour
• Downhill skiing burns about 354 calories per hour
• Snowshoeing will burn about 472 calories per hour
• Ice Skating burns about 419 calories in an hour
• Nordic walking burns more than 400 calories

When exercising outdoors in winter, it’s important to protect your body from exposure. Your feet and head are the most important body parts that need attention to prevent frostbite. 

One thick pair of socks, made of natural fibers, will help prevent excessive perspiration. Wearing multiple layers of socks can create discomfort and blisters because sweat can accumulate between the layers and actually cause the perspiration to freeze.

Wearing a hat will keep heat from escaping your body. Since your ears can freeze quickly, it is important that your hat is deep enough to cover most of your head. When it comes to choosing the rest of your attire, such as gloves, coats and pants, look for clothing that is warm, waterproof, windproof and preferably light-weight. With the appropriate attire and the right frame of mind, you can be a winter warrior this season instead of a couch potato. For a comprehensive list of Michigan ski facilities and destinations, visit our michigan.org snowsports resources. For details about skiing discounts, classes and other offers, visit the Michigan Snowsports Industry Association.

So, come play in our backyard--Pure Michigan, the winter wonderland of the Midwest.

Cross country skiing opens the door to unique winter experiences. It is not only fun (as well as good exercise) but it gives participants a new perspective on the landscape. Skiers can see things in the winter woods - newly arrived migrant birds, for instance, or frozen waterfalls - that they’ll never seen otherwise. But veteran cross country skiers have found a way to enjoy their sport in a whole new light - candle light.

A number of northern Michigan State Parks offer cross country skiing on trails lit by old fashioned lanterns or candle-lit luminaries during the winter. People of all ages are encouraged to come out on cross country skis -- or even snowshoes -- to navigate their way down the edge of the groomed trail. Park staff will be on duty, greeting visitors and pointing them in the right direction. One of their prime objectives on ski nights is to build a blazing fire, so that the skiers have a warm place to rest.

So what makes skiing in the evening with only a tiny flame as a guide so interesting? Skiing from the light of one lantern to the next is so mesmerizing; throw in some freshly fallen snow, the sound of shifting ice on the lake, and maybe a wildlife spotting, and you have a recreational experience unlike any other. The Porkies’ Superior Loop Ski Trail, across from the ski hill entrance, boasts a full one-mile loop lit by 80 old-fashioned kerosene lanterns. It sports an "easy" difficulty rating as it winds around the shore of a lake. Skiing at night is what presents the challenge. A peaceful resting place, located halfway through the loop at the warming shelter, offers the comfort of a wood burning stove, hot cocoa and marshmallows for roasting on the bonfire just outside the shelter.

Visitors who choose to venture out for an evening of skiing range from locals, to campers staying in yurts or cabins; many folks select their weekend park adventures based on the annual skiing event. In addition to the exercise and ambiance the event provides, there is a practical benefit too: Any questions a person has about a park can be answered. The park staff on site are there to provide interesting tidbits about the park as well as answer specific questions.

Michigan State Parks hosting Lantern Lit or Candlelit Skiing events this year include:  Cheboygan State Park in Cheboygan County, Feb. 14; Fayette Historic State Park in Delta County, Jan. 30; Indian Lake State Park in Schoolcraft County, Feb 13; P.H. Hoeft State Park in Presque Isle County, Jan. 30, Feb. 2 and March 6; Hartwick Pines State Park in Crawford County, Saturdays. Jan 16, Jan 30, Feb 13 and 20; Port Crescent State Park in Huron County, Jan. 30; Proud Lake Recreation Area and their Friends Group in Oakland County, every other Tuesday; Albert E. Sleeper State Park in Huron County, Jan. 16; and - last but not least -  Porcupine (Porkies) Mountains Wilderness State Park in Ontonagon County - every Saturday through February.

Folks should bring their skis or snowshoes with them, as well as a headlamp or flashlight if they are interested and dress appropriately for your activity level, but you might want to think about bringing an extra layer for relaxing next to the fire.

Fayette Historic State Park adds a bit of a twist to their event:  Two side-by-side paths are groomed down the trail, one side is for the traditional skier, while the other is for those choosing to use snowshoes. Visitors who just want to walk to take part in the event are allowed to walk by using the snowshoe lane. This opens up the event to all levels of users, whether they have equipment or not! The snowshoe trail has become so popular that it is maintained all season long, not just for the lantern-lit night experience. A new half-mile segment of groomed trail will open this year due to the popularity of this event. The evening is so pleasant that some people just show up to sit by the fire, sans skis. Hoeft’s mini-cabin is available for rent as well as the Sears and Roebuck Lodge.

Skis and equipment are often available for rent from a local winter sport shop, for those who want to try it out, before making the investment.

Inclement weather may cause a cancellation, or a rescheduling of the event, so contact the park in advance.

In addition to the scheduled night skiing events, six of the 17 parks that offer groomed cross country ski trails are open for tent or RV camping throughout the winter including: Algonac, Rifle River, Ludington, Mitchell, North Higgins Lake and Tahquamenon State Parks. The additional 11 state parks have groomed trails: Bewabic, Fayette Historic, Ft. Wilkins, McLain, Porcupine Mountains, Twin Lakes, Hartwick Pines, P.H. Hoeft, Maybury, Port Crescent and Sleeper. Many of the parks that feature groomed trails have cabins, yurts or lodges that are open year round, even if their campgrounds are closed.

When planning a winter trip to cross country ski or snowmobile, the necessary requirements for a top destination include decent snow, accessibility to a network of trails and some sort of cozy lodging. Add to that list the option of finding all three in one convenient, affordable location, and the clear winner is Michigan State Parks. With more than 30 parks offering winter lodging facilities, ranging from rustic cabins to fully furnished lodges, it has never been easier for winter recreation enthusiasts to enjoy their outdoor pursuits while staying on or close to the trails they are using. Depending on which type of trails are being used and how many people are in a group, Michigan State Parks offer five different types of winter lodging to meet the needs of diverse types of users.

For large groups looking for all the conveniences of home, there are modern lodges located in several state parks. The modern lodges accommodate between six and 24 guests. Most are fully furnished and the kitchens equipped with appliances, dishes and cookware. Some of the lodges are equipped with linen service and beds are made before the visitor's arrival. Potential renters should check with the individual park for the included amenities and prices. The lodges also make a convenient and easily accessible base camp for cross country skiers who prefer to have electricity and heat available while still staying in the state park, close to miles of groomed trails. State park modern lodges located along snowmobile trails can be found in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Twin Lakes State Park and P.J. Hoeft State Park. These three parks, along with Fayette State Historic Park and Proud Lake State Park, also offer groomed networks of cross country ski trails adjacent to or near the modern lodges. Additionally, a modern lodge adjacent to a snowmobile trail and groomed cross country skiing will open Feb. 1, 2010 at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the Upper Peninsula.

A second alternative for cozy accommodations in winter are the camper cabins. Equipped with electricity and heat, these log cabins cost $80 per night and can sleep up to six people in two bedrooms and a living room with a futon. Visitors should plan to provide their own bedding, cookware and camp stove. Snowmobiles can be ridden directly to the brand-new camper cabin at Van Riper State Park, which is perched on the shoreline of Lake Michigamme, while the camper cabin at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is located near a snowmobile trail and cross country ski trails. Camper cabins also are available in winter at the following state parks with groomed cross country ski trails: Mitchell, Tahquamenon Falls, Port Crescent and Proud Lake.  Additionally, Holland, Waterloo, Pinckney and Tawas offer camper cabins in winter with access to ungroomed trails.

A third choice for state park winter lodging is known as the mini-cabin. These small, one-room cabins are located within established campgrounds and have electricity and heat. Mini-cabins can sleep four people on bunk beds and generally cost $35 per night during the winter months. Renters should bring their own bedding, cookware, flashlights and cookstove. Both snowmobilers and cross country skiers can easily access the mini-cabin at North Higgins Lake State Park and Fort Wilkins State Historic Park. Mini-cabins also are located at the following state parks with networks of groomed cross country ski trails: P.J. Hoeft, Ludington, McLain, Muskegon, Port Crescent and Sleeper.

For winter outdoor enthusiasts who would like to get away from it all and unplug, the rustic cabins and yurts available for winter lodging might fit the bill. Rustic cabins range in cost from $50 to $80 per night and offer lodging for groups ranging in size from two to 24 people. These cabins typically are furnished with a table, chairs, heater or woodstove (firewood is provided) and beds with mattresses. Except for Sleeper Lake State Park and Holly Recreation Area, rustic cabins do not have electricity, and renters are encouraged to bring their own cookware, bedding and lanterns. Rustic cabins are available in winter at the following state parks with groomed cross country ski trails: Cheboygan, Hartwick Pines, Porcupine Mountains, Rifle River, Sleeper and Wilderness. The rustic cabins at Sleeper State Park do have electricity. Other rustic cabins available in winter are at Bald Mountain, Brighton, Fort Custer, Harrisville, Holly, Island Lake, McLain, Ortonville, Van Riper, Waterloo and Wells. Many of these parks allow snowmobiling and all allow cross country skiing.

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and Pinckney Recreation Area offer yurts -- sturdy, weather-tight, circular tent structures -- during winter. Yurts sleep four to five on bunk beds or futons and rent for $60 per night. Heat is provided from a propane furnace or woodstove, but yurts do not have electricity. Cookware is available at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Yurts and rustic cabins are extremely popular with cross country skiers because they often are located right on the ski trails. In some of the parks where the cabins are not accessible by road, skiers will pack in their supplies and then set up a base camp to return to each evening after spending a day on the trails. Winter visitors to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park will find ski trails that are groomed and track set for skiers, and snowmobiles are allowed on designated trails in the park. Cross country skiers using the yurt at Pinckney Recreation Area will find easy access to the ungroomed Potawatomi Trail.

New to winter sports? Snow problem! Lessons abound for downhill, cross country and snowboarding taught by certified instructors in group, private, and semi-private classes for all ages and levels of experience.

    

Flurry of Good News

Day-trippers and resort guests alike will enjoy new developments and improvements at ski areas in both peninsulas. >more 

    

    

Cool Deals

Find the perfect package, deal or discount to save money on the slopes and enhance your Pure Michigan ski experience. >more 

    

    

Not All Downhill

Cross country skiers can glide along trails through our state parks, forests, beside lakes, across meadows and many with rest stops along the way. >more 

    

Classic cross-country skiing is one of the easiest winter sports: By the end of their first afternoon on skinny skis, most people have not only survived the beginner’s trail but also are attacking those downhill sections with wild enthusiasm. Here’s where:

Independence Oaks County Park: The steepest hills and the best-laid tracks in Southeast Michigan are found at this Oakland County park near Clarkston, accessed from exit 89 off I-75. For beginners, the beautiful 2.5-mile Lakeshore Trail around Crooked Lake is easy. For daredevils, the Ted Gray Trail features an incredible, steep downhill run with a sharp curve in the middle of it. Independence Oaks also offers rental equipment and a warming shelter.

Muskegon Winter Sports Complex: The complex is located in the middle of Muskegon State Park and best known for its luge run, one of only five in the country. But extending into the wooded hills from the warming lodge are nine kilometers of cross-country trails. The heart of the trail system is two loops of 7.5 kilometers equipped with lights and underground wiring. The trails are illuminated until 10 p.m. and they make for a very unusual, even eerie, experience on skis.

Cross-Country Ski Headquarters: This Nordic center, reached from exit 239 off I-75, guarantees snow. That’s because the center owns a snow gun that is used even when Mother Nature is not cooperating. When she is, the center features 19 kilometers of trails in a rolling, wooded terrain. Also, you'll find one of the largest Michigan Nordic ski shops and the Stone Turtle Day Lodge, where homemade soups and giant muffins are served.

Forbush Corner: Groomed trails make it easier to learn how to ski, and nobody grooms them better than this Nordic center, located just north of Grayling via exit 264 off I-75. The center has a warming lodge, ski shop, rentals and a trail named Rollercoaster.

Vasa Pathway: The best destination for a variety of cross-country skiing experiences is Traverse City, and its crown jewel is the Vasa Pathway, home to the largest and most prestigious Nordic race in the Lower Peninsula. During the rest of the winter, Vasa belongs to recreational skiers. The trail is reached from US-31 just north of Traverse City in Acme

Garland Resort : The terrain is flat, and occasionally you’re skiing across a golf course, but this resort south of Lewiston has two things that appeal to many skiers: luxurious accommodations and the Gourmet Glide. Every Saturday in January and February, skiers follow 10 kilometers of trails, pausing along the way at five buffet stations to feast on smoked trout, cheese fondues, spiced wine and other treats.

Crystal Mountain : This downhill ski resort on M-115 near Thompsonville also offers a wonderful system of groomed cross-country trails, along with rentals, lessons and a Nordic center. The 40 kilometers of trails wind around the base of the ski hill and include Hawk Ridge, where you ski past overlooks of the Betsie River Valley and then enter the unique Michigan Legacy Art Park.

Sand Dune Cross-Country Ski Trail: Just across the Mackinac Bridge in the Upper Peninsula is a set of wooded sand dunes in the Hiawatha National Forest. The rolling topography of the dunes and abundance of lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan attracted local skiers, when a 16-kilometer, seven-loop trail system was built; a log cabin warming shelter was added later. You’ll love the names that have been given to the steepest slopes, including Feelin Lucky, Holy Cow and Goforit.

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park : Michigan’s largest state park has 42 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails that take you deep into this wilderness. Scattered along the trails are five ski-in cabins, the frozen shoreline of Lake Superior and stands of 300-year-old hemlocks. Hop on the ski area’s chairlift to quickly reach the crest of the Porkies and the dramatic views from West Vista.

Author and world adventurer Jim DuFresne resides in Clarksto and is a regular contributor to Michigan BLUE. Michigan Blue magazine, Michigan's Lakestyle magazine is published bi-monthly by Gemini Publications. Lisa Jensen is the editor.

(This article first appeared in the January/February 2008 issue of Michigan BLUE Magazine.)

The rustic cabins at Harlow Lake near Marquette are headquarters for a perfect winter weekend adventure.

The snow-covered forest is a patchwork of blues as the full moon filters through towering, old-growth pines. An open expanse of snowy lake is painted pastel, but deeper in the woods, shadows drip inky indigo.

Creaking snowshoes and the soft squeak of fresh powder underfoot are the only sounds this winter night as we tramp down the trail to our cabin for the weekend. The night tightens around us as the moon slides behind a cloud bank harboring another band of Lake Superior-inspired snow squalls. But the cabin's cheerful window glow guides us the rest of the way to where four friends and a roaring woodstove await.

These are the Harlow Lake cabins of the Little Presque Isle tract of the Escanaba River State Forest, just north of Marquette in the central Upper Peninsula. Though Marquette (population 20,000) is the U.P.'s biggest urban area, these cabins and surrounding acres of mature hemlocks see relatively light use, so a winter day spent in the woods at Harlow is often a solitary one.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources maintains five rustic, one-room, walk-in cabins generously spaced around the 64-acre, kidney-bean-shaped lake. An additional cabin perches on the high bank of nearby Harlow Creek. While the cabins lack electricity or plumbing and are only spartanly furnished, the surroundings are luxuriously wild. In this region of northern Marquette County, the sandy plains of the southern U.P. collide head-on with ancient bedrock slabs. The result is a series of rounded bald-rock peaks and forested valleys that parallel the undeveloped Lake Superior coastline.

Cover it all up with a couple feet of lake-effect powder, and you have the perfect setting for a winter-weekend adventure.

Our friends are thinking the same thing, poring over trail maps by candle and lamplight on the big pine plank table that dominates a corner of the small room. Everybody is stripped down to their long underwear as the woodstove chews through birch and oak splits from the overflowing wood rack outside. Besides warming us, the stove is working on a simmering stew and pot of red wine mulled with cinnamon and cloves. The food smells almost win out over the odor of our wet dogs and wool socks drying nearby. Almost.

At daybreak, four of us set out for an ambitious snowshoe hike to bag two of the 1,000-foot peaks that shoot out of the woods near the cabin. A series of loosely marked trails and a converted railroad grade link the bald, granite knobs of Hogback and Sugarloaf mountains. A three-mile section of the North Country Trail running along the Lake Superior coast will bring us back to the cabin door at day's end.

In all, the Harlow Lake area boasts about 20 miles of trails that range from flat to ambulance-ride steep, allowing for several days worth of exploring on skis or snowshoes.

Scrambling up the last yards over icy granite to the top of Hogback is a hands-and-knees affair. However, as soon as you top out on the 1,200-foot precipice, all the gasping, sliding and scrambling of the previous hour disappear. The air is still; everything is quiet under a bluebird sky. We dangle our legs over the cliff's edge and lay back on the sun-warmed rocks. This is sunbathing, Yooper style.

The hike up Hogback and exploration of side trails would have been enough to fill a great day, but Sugarloaf Mountain beckons from across the valley, where it rises dramatically right from the Lake Superior coast.

This three-mile hike from Hogback to Sugarloaf offers a lesson in Lake Superior weather, as deep snow inland dissolves into mere inches as we approach the lake. The big water sends bands of heavy snow clouds to the interior where they dump on higher terrain, while the shoreline stays relatively mild in both temperature and snowfall.

The view from atop Sugarloaf is astounding. To the north, the scimitar shoreline swings out to Little Presque Isle point, an island a hundred yards offshore, beyond it, only the endless blue of the world's largest body of fresh water. Look west or south and you'll see only forest, broken here and there by rocky outcroppings and lakes. Turning to the east, you see Marquette, tiny and tidy tucked between the shore and hills.

The historic city, founded by our lake's namesake, Amos Harlow, is experiencing rejuvenation along its once-commercial lakefront. A suite of silent sporting events like the Noquemanon Ski Marathon and the Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Race have given it a reputation as a playground for the active traveler. Northern Michigan University's 8,000 students keep the old town feeling young, and an abundance of unique local restaurants and eclectic coffee shops cater to visitors and locals alike.

We scramble down the backside of Sugarloaf to meet the lake, a blend of small sandy beaches, cobblestones and smooth-bedrock points. The trail hugs the sinuous shore, climbs to the edge of 50-foot cliffs over the water, then drops to a big sand beach at Little Presque Isle. In summer, the island is reachable by wading waist deep in the shockingly cold lake, but in winter an ice bridge forms, and you can walk right to it. The backside of the island has sheer cliffs that often form wild ice formations after a storm.

We're all moving a little slower after the day's climbs. Even the dog is wondering whose idea it was to go this many miles in deep powder. He'd been bouncing through the snow in front of us all day, but now is taking the easy road, plodding on the packed trail behind us, tongue swinging low.

A yellow glimmer through the trees and the smell of wood smoke guide us across Harlow Lake as shadows stretch to the east. As we pile into the cabin, ruddy-cheeked and tired-eyed, we notice two things are different. Our sopping wet clothes from the day before are dry and folded, and there's a huge pizza and a growler of locally brewed ale waiting for us. The two sleepy heads who opted to stay back today and soak up some cabin time made a dash into Marquette, where they did laundry and restocked provisions.

The Harlow cabins are certainly wild, but with a gem of a town like Marquette nearby, not so wild that you can’t eat well and enjoy dry undies.

Aaron Peterson is a writer, photographer and cabin connoisseur based near Marquette. Lisa Jensen is the editor of MichiganBLUE Magazine.

IF YOU GO

Harlow Lake is about five miles north of Marquette off County Road 550. Harlow Lake Road, unpaved but decent, takes you to a parking area convenient to the cabins. The farthest walk in is about a half mile to Cabin 5 (my favorite). Cabins have water from a hand pump, and firewood is supplied. Furnishings include a table, benches and four unpadded bunks. A standard-issue, MDNR vault toilet rounds out the rustic experience.

Cabins are $65 per night, with a two-night minimum. Reservations are taken beginning in November each year at the Marquette MDNR office: (906) 228-6561. If cabins aren't your thing but hiking is, plop down at The Landmark Inn, an historic boutique hotel in Marquette's charming downtown. A 15-minute drive gets you to the Harlow Lake area.

Downtown Marquette boasts three unique coffee shops and a handful of eating establishments for all tastes. Also, take a drive up Third Street for additional great, locally owned venues. Between Marquette and Harlow, stop by Phil’s 550 Store in the little cluster of homes just north of town, referred to locally as “Philville.” It’s a catch-all convenience store with a good variety of beverages, area maps and lots of local color.

If you need gear, check out The Sports Rack on Washington Street downtown or Down Wind Sports on Third Street for all your silent sports needs.

(This article first appeared in the Jan/Feb. 2008 issue of MichgianBLUE Magazine, and is reprinted here with the permission of the writer and MichiganBLUE Magazine)

Gaylord's Aspen Park is a cross-country skier's haven and an animal lover's delight.

There are two places in Michigan where it's possible to see elk while cross-country skiing; the Shingle Mill Pathway in Pigeon River Country State Forest, and Gaylord's Aspen Park.

We've skied at Shingle Mill Trail a half dozen times and never seen an elk or even the tracks of one. But the first time we skied at Aspen Park we saw elk; because it was impossible to miss them. There were six of them: huge animals just standing on the edge of the woods a hundred yards away from us before two of the bulls suddenly squared off and clashed antlers.

All of this groomed ski trails, a hemlock forest and clashing elk was in the middle of Gaylord, four blocks from a K-Mart.

Open since 2001, Aspen Park is a dandy. The Gaylord Department of Public Works used a $250,000 state grant to redesign this 100-acre park by building two miles of trails and adding benches, mini-shelters and trail signs.

They finished off the project by installing lights for night skiing: fitting for Gaylord, which averages more than 140 inches of snow per year due to its lofty position. At 1,380 feet, it's the highest incorporated city in the Lower Peninsula.

The reason for the elk is Aspen Park's location: It's adjacent to the city elk pen, a 105-acre enclosure that contains a herd of more than 30 animals. If you've never seen an elk this close, you're in for a treat. They are an impressive species, with some of the bulls easily tipping the scales at more than 600 pounds and crowned with huge racks.

The public works department feeds and manages the herd and also maintains an elk viewing area just off Old US-27, where people can sit in their cars and watch the animals. However, seeing the elk while skiing Aspen Park is much more enjoyable. The park has five short trails that form an easy, 1.65-mile loop with two crossover spurs and are groomed regularly for classic skiing. We skied it in a counter-clockwise direction, beginning with a gentle descent from the parking lot to the first segment of the Hemlock Trail.

Within a few minutes we had skied through the pines, passing a few large hemlocks along the way, and arrived at North Trail. This trail led us out of the woods to the north end of the loop where there was a mini-shelter that overlooked the elk pen. When six strolled out of the woods, we watched them in fascination until it was too dark to see them across the field any longer.

We completed the loop by skiing Elk Trail. Along the way, the lights suddenly popped on, illuminating the trail and casting a soft glow into the dark woods. Reason alone to ski Aspen Park all over again.

Writer Jim DuFresne resides in Clarkston. Lisa Jensen is the editor of MichiganBLUE Magazine.