After making "our plan", we managed to get in touch with Harmony Tree removal.  Quite a lucky break as most of these services, which are coming from everywhere, including out of state, are Booked Big Time.  These gents were working up the road as they went by, Lynn flagged them down.  Good guys, took plenty of time with us to discuss our options as far are what to do and how to do it.

We had already talked to our insurance company USAA, and knew we were covered. Still waiting on the final quote but when all is said and done our property will be void of every tree not a pine and it's A Lot.

Still no power here. 

We'll be ready but the dogs 🐕 will not.

😎

A-Jay

Dang @A-Jay that’s both good and bad news. I’m not surprised you lost every pine. That sucks because you lose all your privacy. A few years back Consumers Energy had one of their tree contractors come by and trim the trees which made us feel naked! They said give it a year and we wouldn’t notice they were there which they weren’t wrong. Thankfully that was just tree trimming. That sucks you lost almost all your trees, but it could be worse. But thankfully it sounds like USAA is going to take care of you and it sounds like you found a legit tree company, although I’m guessing you could’ve sniffed out a BS company pretty quick. 
 

Either way, it could be worse. Stay safe!

APRIL 6, 2025 RESTORATION UPDATE

TODAY'S PROGRESS:

Day9 no power yet.

✅To put things in perspective: our construction teams typically replace about 800 poles each year. In the last three days alone, we’ve replaced that same number. The damage is staggering, but our teams are making meaningful progress—always with safety as the top priority.

 

✅The 1,100-person Storm Camp is setup at the Otsego County Fairgrounds in Gaylord, MI, and is now fully operational. This provides housing, food, and laundry facilities for crews who have traveled from across the country to help with our rebuild.

✅We restored power to nearly 12,000 members since yesterday morning, including the Munson Health Clinic on M-32 in Elmira, as well as primary lines that support our infrastructure to get power to your families.

✅It is important to note that this is not just a restoration effort, we are rebuilding significant parts of our service area with new poles, wires, transformers, and equipment. Since yesterday, 190 new poles have been set, and 27 new transformers installed.

✅We have more than 800 outage events, each impacting a different number of members. Each one of these outages must be repaired before power can be restored.

✅More than 1,200 contractors are now working alongside our 300 dedicated employees. Even if you don’t see crews on your road, know that they are out there—rebuilding our system and pushing forward until everyone is restored.

✅We continue to be thankful for the support from local, state, and federal partners rallying behind our efforts. Their support and help to get our communities restored is vital and we appreciate all they do for Michigan.

A-Jay

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

APRIL 6, 2025 RESTORATION UPDATE

TODAY'S PROGRESS:

Day9 no power yet.

✅To put things in perspective: our construction teams typically replace about 800 poles each year. In the last three days alone, we’ve replaced that same number. The damage is staggering, but our teams are making meaningful progress—always with safety as the top priority.

 

✅The 1,100-person Storm Camp is setup at the Otsego County Fairgrounds in Gaylord, MI, and is now fully operational. This provides housing, food, and laundry facilities for crews who have traveled from across the country to help with our rebuild.

✅We restored power to nearly 12,000 members since yesterday morning, including the Munson Health Clinic on M-32 in Elmira, as well as primary lines that support our infrastructure to get power to your families.

✅It is important to note that this is not just a restoration effort, we are rebuilding significant parts of our service area with new poles, wires, transformers, and equipment. Since yesterday, 190 new poles have been set, and 27 new transformers installed.

✅We have more than 800 outage events, each impacting a different number of members. Each one of these outages must be repaired before power can be restored.

✅More than 1,200 contractors are now working alongside our 300 dedicated employees. Even if you don’t see crews on your road, know that they are out there—rebuilding our system and pushing forward until everyone is restored.

✅We continue to be thankful for the support from local, state, and federal partners rallying behind our efforts. Their support and help to get our communities restored is vital and we appreciate all they do for Michigan.

A-Jay

I read the northern Michigan community is not only rallying around each other but also the lineman who have come from all over the Midwest and working 16 hr days to get things back up and running. Residents are offering toiletries, warm meals, and a simple thank you to the lineman. 

We finally got power back late yesterday afternoon.  HUGE Thank you to ALL line lineman and folks involved.   It's still on going as damaged trees and limbs continue to fall. No phone , cable or internet yet, but that won't stop me from loading the Lund.  Access to Lake Menderchuck and open water may happen close to the same time later this week.

 Btw, my on sight meeting with the insurance adjuster should be fun.  Team is about half way through the tree removal and clean up on our property.

Been a heck of a week.

A-Jay 

Sounds like it's been quite the ride up there, very inconvenient.

Glad to hear that restoration is happening and the Lund is anticipating a launch.

Stay safe 

Glad to hear you got power back! On the bright side of things your electric and gas bill will be significantly lower next month. 
 

glass half full?😁

Spectrum came through this afternoon with Cable, phone & internet all a go.

Tree removal crew went a little wild today (IN THE SNOW) in a good way

putting an impressive load of lumber to the ground and moving it out of here.

Understandably, the trucks, trailers and bobcats are totally wiping out what used to be a several different lawns.  Might be a 'let it all rest' year as far as yard work goes.

Perhaps some reseeding.  But there won't be many leaves/ acorns to clean.

I like that. 

Probably going to be a week or so before were finished up here. 

A-Jay

#icestorm2025 ~

Trees and debris have been cleared out.

Now it's time for the restoration and recovery to begin.

For both our property and our spirits.

Thanks again Harmony Tree Removal LLC.

 

https://www.facebook.com/life.at.the.45th.parallel/posts/pfbid02AxcGHJDppPprpyF6xa4KRyoc69GwLTUPbnC6gVG9HHXWrivUZLBu4f34tt72nXLTl

 

A-Jay

I wasn’t exactly sure what this thread was referring to, until just now when I tried to update my status. Then I’m like “oooh that’s what A-Jay was talking about, member status duh”.
 

That’s too bad. I always liked reading the pre fishing-trip statuses of folks on here. 
 

Anyway, here’s my status update. I’m getting up to my favorite lake in the mountains tomorrow. Hopefully it’s not too early for the shallow-timber jig bite, but if it is, I have no problem running the 3/4oz spinnerbait by them out deep. Jerkbait and lipless should still be in play as well. I’ve already gotten my first bass of the year, now I’m looking for my first spring hawg.

2 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

I wasn’t exactly sure what this thread was referring to, until just now when I tried to update my status. Then I’m like “oooh that’s what A-Jay was talking about, member status duh”.
 

That’s too bad. I always liked reading the pre fishing-trip statuses of folks on here. 
 

Anyway, here’s my status update. I’m getting up to my favorite lake in the mountains tomorrow. Hopefully it’s not too early for the shallow-timber jig bite, but if it is, I have no problem running the 3/4oz spinnerbait by them out deep. Jerkbait and lipless should still be in play as well. I’ve already gotten my first bass of the year, now I’m looking for my first spring hawg.

I always look forward to your reports after fishing that lake.

You've had some killer days feeding those fish that spinner bait.

Good Luck.

and thanks for adding on here.

It's Like we have our own thread going. 

A-Jay

Remembering my Dad today. 

20 April was his birthday - in 1927.

🙁

A-Jay

Just located a double secret Lake Menderchuck that has OPEN to the public boating access.

It's a hike but I think I'm going to give it a shot.

Next 2 days weather are semi-fisherman friendly.

I might not sleep much tonight.

Oh boy ~ Here we go !

A-Jay

 

Just dropped the Pro-V Bass on to the GMC hitch.

Man I forgot how much I loved that sound.

Cold & windy, hoping for the sun to peak out a few times.

Either way . . . 

I'm going fishing !

Finally

A-Jay

Catch ‘em!

Tight lines! I’m curious to hear how  menderchuck 2.0 turns out 

Crushed a ton of yard clean up today after my workout.

Frees me up to be on the water tomorrow.

Plans are for an afternoon trip out on to Lake Menderchuck Actual. 

Might be good . . . . .

A-Jay

Menderchuck while not a popular " elusive  " destination will be awaiting your arrival 😁

Turns out it wasn't bad  . . . 

A-Jay

Weather and the work list are both pointing towards Monday

for an afternoon trip out onto Lake Menderchuck. 

Forecast is looking a little sporty with some wind,

but it's 'the right kind'.

Which often makes all the difference in the world.

I'll admit it, I'm a little pumped.

A-Jay

Weather forecast continues to hang tough for tomorrow.

I'm still planning on an afternoon trip searching for a very special bite window

of big brown bass to open at some point.

Just hope I'm able to be there and capitalize on it.

This deal can be pretty rare but world class.

Going to be a long night.

A-Jay

 

Looking at another "Fishy Forecast" for early morning tomorrow.

Expecting a bit of wind, air temps @40 and heavy cloud cover

out on Lake Menderchuck.  I'll be dressed for it. 

Might be the last shot I get a few plus size fish until August.

Sounds crazy but it's been one of those seasons so far.

#wacky.

A-Jay

 

 

Good luck today A-Jay.

1 hour ago, T-Billy said:

Good luck today A-Jay.

Thank you Sir.

Btw, you're up early today. 

A-Jay

11 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Thank you Sir.

Btw, you're up early today. 

A-Jay

I get up at 02:00 for work. Usually do the same on off days. Sometimes earlier if there's a good night bite happening.