Happy New Year! I hope your holiday was wonderful and all that stuff. Ours was celebrated with lots of Mawby sparkling wine and sushi from Dojo Sushi.
We had a couple of icy afternoons in Traverse City. As a hiker, ice is an unpleasant impediment to my favorite non-cycling recreation activity. Snow is not a problem. Boots or snowshoes and all is well. Ice leads to falls or, just as bad, the contortions required to avoid a fall, and thus pulling some muscle that requires days of healing.
I didn't like my chances as I approached the Good Harbor trailhead. Behold, treacherous trails ahead.
I gave it a try, but there was no way that hike would end well. Good Harbor, however, has an alternative walk: The beach.
Alright, not the warm and sunny pleasant day kind of beach you like in the summer, but a beach you can walk on without serious injury. Closer to the water, the sand was mostly clear of snow and a solid place to walk. Not a single slip, and great views to boot.
And those views! Any time of year, North Manitou and the curved bay provide a better backdrop then most of the walks you would normally do anyways. So my advice on those slippery, icy winter days - head to the beach.
