Marquette USOEC

I've just spent a very productive two days in Marquette, MI. Work brought me and a colleague out to the U.S. Olympic Education Center here for meetings and presentations. Marquette is in the upper peninsula of Michigan (the U.P.) and locals call themselves "youpers". I came here about two years ago in the Fall to help my friend Bridie move from Colorado Springs. The leaves were beautiful back in that Fall, but already colder in August back then than I care to feel in the dead of winter even!

So, here I am in the dead of winter in the U.P! Fortunately, after a brief delay in the Chicago airport, we made it to Marquette to "mild" temps (30s). According to folks here, this is the warmest winter they've encountered in memorable history. I have to admit, snow was melting all around us, but I was still in long johns and a heavy winter coat! This mound of snow in the parking lot shows that even with warm temps creating rivers of melting snow, there's been enough snow lately to still be a force (the U.P averages 170 inches of snow a year).

The dome you see in the building is Dome Superior on the campus of Northern Michigan University. The USOC has an agreement with NMU for some of our athletes to train here while they go to school. The "dome" was opened in 1991 and is the largest wood dome in the world. Yep, that whole thing is made out of wood (Douglas fir?). The outer wood is weather-sealed with ruberized sheets which is why it looks like a space ship! There's a free-standing diamond-shaped catwalk inside the Dome at the very top. You have to have a special key to get to the steps leading up to the catwalk and the local EMTs have to be notified whenever someone is going to go up there. I know it's a great shock to everyone reading this blog, but I asked for a tour to the top of the Dome!

After proper procedures, I was escorted to the catwalk 14 stories above the indoor track (it circles the large white air exchangers at the top of this pic). What a view! Those two specs next to the track is a bird's eye view of two people walking. I'm told that local military rappel down from there with the football to open home Games. As gutsy as I like to think I am, I don't think I could let go of that railing to rappel down 14 stories without a wall or solid structure to bounce off of on the way down! It was really quite impressive.

Just for a reference. . . that white field beyond the tree in the pic with me is Lake Superior (notice my gallant effort at being positive by smiling!). If all goes well, I'll be on the early flight (0630) out of here in the morning before the expected two feet of snow fall takes place. Unfortunately, I am returning to Colorado which is also under a winter storm advisory. Even though the weather left much to be desired (it could've been worse however), my colleagues out here and the folks I met over the last two days were as hospitable as they could be. All in all, not a bad town, but I'll try to schedule my next visit during the summer months!