 |
Copper Peak Where Men, Women and Eagles Soar |
||||
|
|
On any given day
one may see a pair of bald eagles or other birds of prey soaring above the
hillside of Copper Peak International Ski Flying Hill. There is always a
gentle updraft on the 600 - foot landing slope of the only ski flying
facility in the Western Hemisphere which enables these girds of prey to
capture air under their wings and soar gently above the hillside. It is the same updraft which, during international ski flying competitions, enables ski flyers to generate lift allowing them to soar 600 feet or more. That's the length of two football fields! Put in perspective, ski flyers travel in unassisted flight further than baseball greats Babe Ruth, Mark McGuire, and Sammy Sosa can hit a baseball. Only about one hundred of the finest athletes in the world qualify to challenge and ride the air currents at Copper Peak. Ski Flying is not a sport of the feint of heart. Everything about Copper Peak is big. The ski jump (inrun) is the largest in the world rising some 241 feet above the crest of a 365 - foot copper - bearing outcrop historically known as "Chippewa Hill." The upper start gate and observation deck of this mammoth, cantilevered, 300 - ton CORTEN steel superstructure reaches an elevation of 1782 feet above sea level, nearly 1200 feet above Lake Superior.This is one of the highest points in the State of Michigan. Visitors to Copper Peak have the opportunity to "experience the feelings" of the ski flyer who is about to send himself down the 469 - Foot, 35 - degree inrun. In competition ski flyers accelerate to speeds near 70 mph (113 km/h) and launch themselves off the 8 - foot high take - off in a "leap of faith" and soar unassisted further than the Wright brothers first powered flights. Those who have seen a ski flying competition agree: There is no more daring, exciting and graceful sport on the planet. The training strength, sense of timing, skill, and "presence of mind" explain why only so few can qualify to ski fly. Some characterize ski flying an "poetry on skis." If you have never seen a ski flying competition, make every effort to do so. You won't be disappointed. |
The Midwest's Visitors to the Sears Tower in Chicago, the IDS building i Minneapolis, or the Arch in St. Louis are impressed by the views offered by these sites. We guarantee one thing: You will not find a more inspiring vista than Copper Peak. During the summer and fall seasons, visitors can ride the 800 - foot chair lift to the crest of the hill, then take the 18 - story elevator to the main observation deck on the giant ski jump. (From here some elect to walk the additional eight stories to the very top start gates.) These vantage points provide the highest, Most awesome, unobstructed vista in the Midwest overlooking more than 2500 square miles including parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. (Under proper weather conditions some say parts of Canada cam be seen.) Copper Peak is located in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan near the Wisconsin border. From the observation decks atop the giant ski jump one can see 40 miles or more in every direction overlooking the west Lake Superior shoreline and the colorful mixed conifer - hardwoods of the Ottawa National Lakeshore, the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State park (the Midwest's largest , containing huge tracts of virgin timber), the Gogebic - Penokee Hills (site of iron ore discovery which led to the development of local communities of Wakefield, Bessemer, Ironwood, MI and Hurley, WI). Other points of interest include the Big Snow Country downhill ski areas and dozens of scenic and historic sites which highlight the rich copper and iron - mining heritage of the area.
|
|||
|
CLICK HERE for a Video 2005/2006 Courtesy
Jiri Unruh
Studio TV ART
Frenstat pod Radhostem
Czech Republic
|
|||||
