Candle Luminary Ski December 26,2018

Night skiing is always a very special adventure and especially so right after Christmas for the Candle Luminary Ski. There is no other night like the luminary ski in the Copper Country. But all those luminaries don't appear on the 2 km St. Urho's loop by magic though it may seem that way skiing the trail at night. 

Besides the background organization and publicity, it takes about 26 positions to complete the necessary tasks to bring the event to life. That includes making a few ice luminaries, getting the St. Urho's Loop groomed for skiing and snow biking, folding luminary bags, filling them with sand, placing candles in the bags, distributing filled bags on the trail by ice fishing sleds and carefully spacing them, lighting 160 luminary candles, lighting the fire pit, picking up luminaries and cleaning up when it is over. Not to mention staffing the Chalet with a host. 

This is what the Candle Luminary Ski looks like from start to finish.

Julie Meyers and Norma Veurink taking out luminary bags and spacing them on the trail

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club President Jay Green lighting a votive candle with a propane torch

Dusk begins to highlight the lit luminaries

It is almost 6 pm as night falls and skiers get ready to hit the trail from Hancock's Four Season Chalet

It is fully dark and magic comes to the St. Urho's trail 

A lot of families with children enjoy the wonder of the night

People had a chance to warm up, socialize with friends and enjoy refreshments in the Chalet

Yes, that is a real ice globe

Thanks to the many volunteers who made this wonderful night in Hancock happen and the 325 or so participants who shared it with their friends and family. Bon Hiver!