Northern Wilds June 2023

HOVLAND, MN

Exceptional Lake Superior lots! Gorgeous building sites, very private desirable locations, some level to lake, some elevated. Gravel, accessible ledge rock & boulder shoreline, NE and SE facing sites to pick from. 18 miles to Grand Marais, 4 to Brule River for trout & salmon fishing & Devils Kettle Falls, 15 to Isle Royale ferry, 22 to Canada. Beautiful trees, protective covenants, community septic, electricity & survey.

Navigate the beautiful Gunflint Trail on a scenic and tasty adventure, collecting multiple courses from iconic Trail venues, complete your passport and enjoy live music to raise funds for the North Shore Health Care Foundation. We're proud to host this flexible adventure which benefits our health and emergency services in Cook County - make it take out, picnic along the way or join others at the the Gunflint Lodge (the final destination) to enjoy your meal, prize draws and live music from Sheriff Pat Eliasen.

Start at the Cook County Community Center in Grand Marais, or at the Schaap Community Center/Mid-Trail Fire Hall (12:45 start time), where you'll pick up your picnic adventure bag and passport, make your way at your own pace to each food stop, ending at the Gunflint Lodge by 4 pm. Get out an explore, enjoy delicious food and support health and emergency services in Cook County! We are there for them, so they can be there for you!

For more information and tickets, go to:

in support of:

“The finest Realtor I’ve ever worked with in my life.”

-Tim K.

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Do you have a question for one of our writers? Or an interesting photo, recipe, or story you’d like to share with Northern Wilds? Please send it to storyideas@ northernwilds.com.

While it’s not “officially” summer until the summer solstice on June 21, it seems summer is already in full swing. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at our events section—there seems to be something going on every day of the month. In fact, there’s so much going on that we ran out of room on our events calendar. From art fairs, festivals, races, and concerts, there’s no shortage of activities.

Coinciding with the summer solstice on Wednesday, June 21 is Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Day, an important day to celebrate and recognize the contributions and achievements of Indigenous people. In her latest feature story, Kalli Hawkins spoke with Kathleen Sawdo, a member and knowledge holder of the Fort William First Nation in Canada. For many generations, Indigenous people have gathered at Animikii-wajiw (Mount McKay) in Thunder Bay each summer solstice to celebrate and honor their heritage with a pow wow. Sawdo encourages everyone who is interested in attending a pow wow to do so. However, there are some general etiquette rules to follow—check out the story to learn more.

June is also universally known as Pride Month, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. While June was formally recognized as Pride Month in 1999 by President Bill Clinton, the history of Pride Month began decades prior. In Along the Shore, Kalli Hawkins talks with the Cook County Pride Committee regarding their upcoming June 10 pride event in Grand Marais.

Speaking of celebrations, up in Canada, the Porphyry Island Lighthouse celebrates its 150th anniversary this

year. Located about 25 miles east of Thunder Bay, Point Porphyry was the first in the area to provide an aid to navigation. Situated on the eastern side of Black Bay, the lighthouse helped passenger steamships find their way to Silver Islet or to Nipigon Bay. Paul Morralee provides us with the history of the lighthouse, as well as its upcoming celebrations, in our Along the Shore section.

As always, there’s no shortage of art coverage amongst these pages. Rae Poynter interviews Silver Bay jewelry artist Erik Rasmussen of Floodbay Agates for the Creative Space column. Michelle Miller highlights Two Harbors watercolor artist Katie Bromme in Along the Shore, and I showcase artwork by a few Park Point Art Fair participants, held June 24-25 in Duluth. Last but not least, I can’t forget to mention Sam Zimmerman’s Following the Ancestor’s Steps art column, but I won’t spoil his topic.

Of course, we couldn’t call ourselves Northern Wilds if we didn’t also include a few outdoors stories. In our second feature story, Chris Pascone lists eight great summer experiences for North Shore escapes. Pascone also writes about the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, a citizen-run volunteer trail maintenance organization with a mission of preserving trails in the Boundary Waters of the Superior National Forest. Eric Weicht tells us how to secure a Remote Area Border Crossing permit. And Gord Ellis breaks down the pros and cons of a tiller boat verses a console boat.

On the North Shore, summer is fleeting, so we must make the most of it. Now get out there and have some fun!—Breana Johnson

Plan Your Adventure

A comprehensive guide to the lighthouses and navigational beacons from Duluth, Minnesota to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Learn about the storms and shipwrecks that led to their construction, the lonely lives of the keepers and the role lighthouses play in present-day maritime navigation. $22.95

From wilderness waters teeming with trophy walleyes to secluded ponds stocked with brook trout, this guide contains data about fish populations and access for 366 lakes. Contour maps for 68 popular fishing lakes are included. $14.95

This best-selling guide will lead you to Minnesota’s best backroad destinations. Stunning photographs of Minnesota’s varied landscape are accompanied by informative narrative that leads the reader to the best scenery, parks, refuges, and historic sites. $24.95

Veteran long-distance hiker

Annie Nelson compiled the information and advice you need for a successful thruhike adventure on the 310mile Superior Hiking Trail.

$16.95

Join the authors on the trails that lead to the magnificent waterfalls of Lake Superior’s North Shore. Maps and directions to over 150 waterfalls are included in this unique guide. $19.95

Rock paintings, called pictographs, were created by Indigenous people. This book contains a description of every known pictograph site in the Boundary Waters and Quetico, complete with maps and directions to find them.

$14.95

JUNE 2023

VOLUME 20, ISSUE 06 www.northernwilds.com

SERVING THE NORTH SHORE AND THE WILDERNESS BEYOND

PUBLISHER

Amber Pratt

EDITORIAL

Breana Johnson, Editor breana@northernwilds.com

ADVERTISING

Destry Winant, Sales Representative ads@northernwilds.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Katie Viren • katie@northernwilds.com

OFFICE billing@northernwilds.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Elle Andra-Warner, Gord Ellis, Peter Fergus-Moore, Virginia George, Wesley Hathaway, Kalli Hawkins, Michelle Miller, Paul Morralee, Deane Morrison, Chris Pascone, Rae Poynter, Joe Shead, Eric Weicht, Sam Zimmerman

Copyright 2023 by Northern Wilds Media, Inc.

Published 12 times per year. Subscription rate is $28 per year or $52 for 2 years U.S. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part requires written permission from the publishers.

Northern Wilds Media, Inc. P.O. Box 26, Grand Marais, MN 55604 (218) 387-9475 (phone/fax)

Where

June 12

Celebrating 150 years at Porphyry Island

THUNDER BAY—In the days when Canada and the United States were busy building their empire through ports such as Chicago, Duluth, and the Lakehead (Thunder Bay), the journey was not always easy. It wasn’t until 1855 that commerce started to pick up with the opening of the Soo Locks. Located between Lake Huron and Lake Superior, Sault Ste. Marie offered steamship and sailing traffic a gateway to added ports.

Superior Shoal, Isle Royale, Passage Island, and Caribou Island offered obstacles to navigate around if heading to the northwest and the port of Thunder Bay. Just after Confederation in 1873, the Canadian government built two new lighthouses on Michipicoten Island and Point Porphyry to partly address this. These lights would provide a bearing to continue the trip towards the former towns of Fort William and Port Arthur (Lakehead).

Point Porphyry, located about 25 miles east of Thunder Bay on Canada’s North Shore, was the first in the area to provide an aid to navigation. Situated on the eastern side of Black Bay, the lighthouse helped passenger steamships find their way to Silver Islet or to Nipigon Bay.

In a chart created in 1874 by Admiral Bayfield R.N., you can clearly see the route these steamships would have taken. These steamships often took men to work the mines or immigrants westward to plant the wheat fields.

Point Porphyry is a magical place because of its beautiful location. The lighthouse was built upon the magma of the mid-continental rift created 1.1 billion years ago, with dykes and pillows of basalt seen just under the water. These reefs around the island have snarled up a few vessels in their time and situated a few miles to the north, you can see three extinct volcanoes.

Not only is the geology of this island dynamic, but the arctic-alpine disjunct and the twisted and matted boreal forest is of interest. Upon commissioning of the lighthouse on July 1, 1873, Donald Ross took on the duty of providing service to mariners. Steam and sailing ships passing the area would toot their horn or ring their bell for the keeper to acknowledge and register in their lighthouse logbook.

Operating the light was a life of isolation but also a great opportunity to be independent while living off the land. Fishing in the area had ample rewards, with the island becoming a small port for eight fishing vessels in the 1890s. Survival of the keeper would also depend on the local game. However, because of the island size and cold water of Lake Superior, it was not a good place for growing produce. The next island over was Edward, or Shawano Island as the First Nations called it, and it was perfect for growing potatoes. There are many legends of First Nations people in the area calling it the ‘happy hunting ground’ or Kagawagamish. A burial site on Porphyry was excavated in 1983.

Cleaning and maintaining the light was a full-time job and this later became a calling for light keeper Andrew Dick, a Presbyterian from Scotland who, with his First Nations wife Caroline, had 10 children. He kept a diary of his activities as a light keeper for 30 unbroken years living on the island. He was later given a medal by the King for his service to the country.

Today, his diaries provide a view back to a simpler time when one had to be independent, resourceful, and dedicated to keeping the light burning bright. Dick and his family managed to survive on this rocky point because of their livestock. The family maintained a chicken coup and one diary entry references 23 chickens killed by a weasel one

night. The following night, the entry stated the weasel had had its last supper. That night, weasel was served at the dinner table.

Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior (CLLS), a nonprofit charity, has leased three lighthouses on the North Shore; Porphyry, Trowbridge, and No. 10. These aids to navigation celebrate regional history through educational programs by CLLS. Recently, a public notice was made that No. 10 (Shaganash) Lighthouse will soon be owned by the charity. This light, situated a further 9 miles east of Porphyry, has been used recently by kayakers who adventure across the archipelago of islands to Rossport.

On July 1, Canada Day, there will be a celebration for the 150th anniversary of having a light station situated on Point Porphyry. Charter boats will leave the small hamlet of Silver Islet in the morning ($120 CAD per person) for a day of commemoration on the island. Local Hammarskjöld High School students will be unveiling their wooden replica of the original lighthouse. Minister of Parlia-

ment, Patty Hajdu, will be on hand to acknowledge the moment, accompanied by a historical tour, a “Painting Superior” activity by Parks Canada, and a picnic lunch.

This summer, tours continue to the island on Thursdays and Sundays from Silver Islet Harbour just behind the re-opened Silver Islet General Store. A historical tour of the lighthouse also includes an introduction to the boreal forest, arctic-alpine disjunct, and the volcanic underpinnings. It’s a day well spent, filled with panoramic views of Sleeping Giant, the clean, cold, turquoise waters of Lake Superior, and a friendly environment for discovery. The cost is $105 (CAD).

Once acclimatized to visiting a new place, one can let their imagination flow back in time to when birch bark canoes ladened with fish and wild rice travelled these waters. Visiting a lighthouse, such as the one on Porphyry Island, will give a true Lake Superior experience as there are no paved highways, just the open waters of Superior and your imagination.—Paul

Morralee

Surrounding the skeletal light tower, fog alarm building and keeper’s dwelling, Porphyry Island offers an abundance of wildlife, geology and interesting flora to explore, not to mention the stunning panoramic view. | DONNY WABASSE

A colourized picture from 1934 taken of the fog alarm building and the lighthouse. The lighthouse was demolished and recycled in 1960. | MCKAY FAMILY COLLECTION

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR WILDFIRES

WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION STEPS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR HOME SAFER DURING A WILDFIRE

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

Limiting the amount of flammable vegetation, choosing fire-resistant building materials and construction techniques, along with periodic exterior maintenance in the three home ignition zones - increases the chances your home will survive a wildfire when exposed to embers and/or a surface fire. The zones include the Immediate Zone: 0 to 5 feet around the house; Intermediate Zone: 5 to 30 feet; and the Extended Zone: 30 to 100 feet.

2. LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE

To reduce ember ignitions and fire spread, trim branches that overhang the home, porch and deck and prune branches of large trees up to (depending on their height) 6 to 10 feet from the ground. Remove plants containing resins, and ensure mulches in the Immediate Zone (0 to 5 feet around the house) are non-combustible options like crushed stone and gravel. Maintain vegetation annually.

FIRE RESISTIVE CONSTRUCTION

3. ROOFING AND VENTS

Class A fire-rated roofing products offer the best protection. Examples include: Composite shingles, metal, concrete and clay tiles. Roof and attic vents should be screened to prevent ember entry.

Never store flammable materials underneath decks or porches. Remove dead vegetation and debris from under decks/porches and between deck board joints.

Embers can collect in small nooks and crannies and ignite combustible materials; radiant heat from flames can crack windows. Use fire-resistant siding such as brick, fiber-cement, plaster or stucco and dual-pane tempered glass windows.

6. EMERGENCY RESPONDER ACCESS

Ensure your home and neighborhood has clearly marked street names and numbers. Driveways should be at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet, for emergency vehicle access.

BE PREPARED

Always evacuate if you feel it’s unsafe to stay – don’t wait to receive an emergency notification if you feel threatened from the fire.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• Store firewood away from the home

• Prune low-hanging tree branches

• Mow the lawn regularly

• Landscape with fire-resistant plants

• Create small fuel breaks with hardscaping features

or email firewise@co.cook.mn.us

At present, all Arrowhead Animal Rescue board members’ homes are at full capacity fostering cats and dogs that should have access to a city owned shelter. | SUBMITTED

Arrowhead

Animal Rescue fundraises for new shelter

GRAND MARAIS—The city of Grand Marais has been without an animal shelter since the old block building was demolished by the city in 2021 to make way for an upgrade to the marina. Since then, Arrowhead Animal Rescue (AAR) board members have handled the housing and care of stray and abandoned animals.

However, at present, all the board members’ homes are at full capacity fostering the cats and dogs that should have access to a city owned shelter.

This situation grew more complex when Gay O’Donnell, chair (and heart) of AAR, suddenly passed away in November 2022. She had been fostering eight cats that needed care, once they could be captured. AAR board members jumped into action. Each day, one or more of the members went to O’Donnell’s house to wash the bowls, feed the cats, and clean the cat boxes. Traps were set and eventually, after about six weeks, all the cats were finally found and housed. Six cats went to an AAR members heated garage, one went to another member, and sadly, one did not survive. The cats are still there, awaiting socialization and new homes.

AAR has approached the city of Grand Marais for help in getting another shelter built, but as of this writing the building plans have not been approved and are stalled. The city has approved a lot in the Cedar Grove Business Park for a new shelter, and has appropriated some money for the shelter, but more funding is needed before building can start.

AAR has started a fundraising campaign to make this dream a reality. However, they need your help. Speak to your city and county representatives and urge them to begin construction on a city owned shelter this season. Your support would be greatly appreciated, and donations are tax deductible. A GoFundMe account has been set up at: bit.ly/arrowheadanimalrescuefundraiser.

AAR looks forward to working with the city of Grand Marais and Cook County to bring this project from planning to reality. For more info on Arrowhead Animal Rescue, call 218-877-7050, or email: animals@ boreal.org.

5. SIDING AND WINDOWS

4. DECKS AND PORCHES

1. HOME IGNITION ZONES

Remote Area Border Crossing

NORTH SHORE—Canada and the United States share the longest border in the world, stretching some 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles) from coast to coast. Along that border there are numerous places to cross—especially by canoe—however, only a few of those locations have proper border checkpoints.

To legally cross into Canada from the Minnesota North Shore (or vice versa), visitors must either cross at the Grand Portage Pigeon River Port of Entry and show proper documentation, or apply for a Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit ahead of time to cross remotely through the wilderness.

RABC permits make it possible to explore the Canadian wilderness from areas like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) without having to check in with border patrol at the end of the Pigeon River. For any U.S. citizen who owns a cabin on the Canadian side of a border lake, for example, visiting that cabin would be an unbearable nuisance without an RABC.

The RABC system has been in place for decades and has been effective in facilitating border crossings for individuals who live in remote areas and are unable to check-in at an official point of entry. The RABC program was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, but started back up in 2022 and is in full swing again for the 2023 paddling season.

For anyone planning a canoe trip into Quetico Provincial Park, or wanting to paddle into Canada via Lake Superior, an RABC is a must to avoid getting into trouble with the law. Applying for a RABC permit requires some planning and foresight, but the process itself is relatively straightforward and easy to manage. Just don’t forget to do it before your trip.

There are a couple of ways to apply for a RABC. Interested parties can either do so by email, mail, or in person at the Pigeon River Port of Entry. The easiest way to apply is via email, but

Once approved, Remote Area Border Crossing permits are valid until December 31 and allow multiple crossings into Canada/the U.S. via the designated areas. | ERIC WEICHT

applying in person at the border can work in a pinch if it is not too far out of the way. For anyone sending in an application by mail, it must be sent four to six weeks prior to the trip.

Regardless of how you plan on applying, however, there is no reason to cut it close. If you are planning a trip into Canada this paddling season, it is never a bad idea to apply for an RABC as soon as the idea starts to germinate. Worse case scenario? Your plans change and you find yourself out $30 Canadian—the processing fee for acquiring a RABC.

To apply for a RABC permit, Canadian residents must provide proof of residency and a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or driver’s license. U.S. citizens must provide proof of citizenship and a valid government-issued photo ID. Additionally, applicants must provide information on the purpose of their visit and the expected length of their stay.

The complete RABC permit application can be found on the Canada Border Services Agency’s webpage at: bit. ly/rabcpermitapplication.

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Once approved, RABC permits are valid until December 31, and allow multiple crossings into Canada via the designated areas. Remote areas covered by the RABC are from the Pigeon River west through the Lake of the Woods, the Canadian shore of Lake Superior, Cockburn Island, Sault Ste. Marie, and the Northwest Angle Area.

That all being said, with so much wilderness to explore on the U.S side of the border, why bother with an RABC? Is it worth the extra effort? Absolutely.

The BWCAW is hard to beat when it comes to wilderness adventure, but as anyone who has had the privilege of exploring Quetico will tell you, the forests and lakes across the border have plenty to offer and are spectacular in their own right.

The Canadian shore of Lake Superior is another reason why RABC’s are worthwhile. The Minnesota North Shore is gorgeous, but the remote, wild nature of the shore once across from Pigeon Point is something else entirely.

We’re seeking a parttime Sales Assistant to support our sales and marketing efforts, working closely with the Sales and Marketing Manager and maintaining relationships with our valued advertisers. Growth potential. If you have strong organizational skills and enjoy working in a collaborative environment, apply now!

Email a resume to: amber@northernwilds.com

The Canadian Shore of Lake Superior is the most rugged and remote of the whole Lake, and it is well worth the extra effort to experience it.—Eric

Weicht

The curtain closes on Mile Hill Melodrama

SOUTH GILLIES—Mile Hill Melodrama, based in South Gillies west of Thunder Bay, was set to stage its 51st production, in April of 2020. Unfortunately, when all public venues were forced to close their doors, Mama Won’t Fly was never staged.

“My sister was visiting from Saskatchewan in 1990,” says Thelma Molkoski. “I saw an amateur theatre production that she was involved in and I remembered the Christmas concerts in Hymers where I grew up—they were a big deal for the community and I wanted to capture that spirit again.”

Molkoski recruited a few friends, among whom were neighbours Glenn and Sandy Graham, and what eventually became Mile Hill Melodrama (MHM) mounted its first production, Terror Walks Tonight, at the South Gillies Hall. Thus, also began what Humphrey Bogart’s Casablanca character called “the beginning of a beautiful friendship” with the rural building.

“No one had any theatre experience, but we did have an overabundance of confidence,” Molkoski remembers. “With play rehearsals, we had something to fill the long winters and no more trips to town for entertainment.”

The group was stunned to discover a packed house for their first production, a trend that carried through MHM’s 30 years of existence. Gerald Mosa, Tracy Gardner, and Molkoski shared directing duties over a number of the first few productions, which were shorter plays. Naturally, the course of theatre production was not always a smooth one.

“It may have been hard on the actors’ nerves,” Molkoski smiles. “But sometimes there were hijinks, missed lines and mistakes which the audience loved.”

“In the early years, following the last performance, members celebrated at each others’ homes, partying until all hours of the night,” she adds. “In later years, we held a windup dance.”

The group eventually evolved from onenight productions of short plays to larger productions over a period of weekends. This brought out new challenges for the group.

“There were always people who wanted to act,” Molkoski says, “but it was harder to find people for backstage, set and production work. We needed one person just to handle all the seating reservations—their phone would be tied up for two to three weeks before the show.”

Audience members are not always aware of the difficulties of staging a play. Molkoski and Graham both recall the June 1995 production of Oscar Wilde’s 1895 comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest

“There was a heat wave for the whole production,” Glenn says. “The temperature outside was 35 C [95 F], but inside under our old flood lights it must have been 45 C [113 F]!”

The wool period costumes borrowed from Magnus Theatre had cast members prodigiously sweating.

“Backstage we had fans to try to cool it down but they just moved the hot air around faster,” he adds. “And then following the Sunday matinee production, we all served cake, pie and coffee to our audience as we had set up that play as a tea. Needless to say, we never did that again.”

One of the earlier productions, Out for the Count (December 1991), had its own near-miss.

“Tracy was out with an appendectomy two weeks before the play day,” Molkoski remembers. “She performed anyway, walk-

ing pretty gingerly, but cringing when performing a dip in the dance scene.”

With bigger productions, timelines grew longer and longer. For a spring play, members would start rehearsals right after Christmas, meeting once a week with scripts in hand. After a month and a half, actors were supposed to be off script.

“About a month before the play date, we would start panicking,” Molkoski smiles. “By then we were rehearsing twice a week, then every night the week before.”

As so often happens, life beyond the stage affects what happens in the production. Molkoski remembers one weekend when a major snowstorm interfered with dress rehearsal, and how the weather could wreak havoc with the unpaved parking lot at the hall.

“Around 2010, the province set new standards for public buildings. The hall needed to be closed as it was upgraded,” Molkoski says. “This required time, money and effort from MHM, the hall board and many others.”

In its heyday decades, Mile Hill Melodrama could boast packed houses with theatre-goers from surrounding areas including Thunder Bay and Grand Marais. A production involved many area volunteers coming together not only to put on plays, but to also seat patrons; bake and sell homemade pies during intermission; set up and take down sets and audience chairs; and clean the hall after the plays were over. Most of the helpers were family and friends of MHM. These productions helped build community in the area.

In February of this year, after the impact of a long hiatus, a bit of burnout and difficulties retaining the interest of younger people in theatre work, the Mile Hill Melodrama Board decided to close the curtains on amateur theatre after 30 years.

“I hope that a new group of friends will start their own creative journey at the South Gillies Hall,” Molkoski reflects. “Our intent from the beginning was to have fun and build a sense of community. I believe that we remained true to that goal.”—Peter Fergus-Moore

Wherever

Walk into any one of our gazillion convenient locations using our mobile app.

It’s the simple, secure way to check balances, pay bills, send payments and more— wherever, whenever. Take the next step at northshorefcu.org/NSFCUApp.

Mile Hill Melodrama’s production of Nana’sNaughtyKnockers. | SUBMITTED

Thelma Molkoski looking at photos of past Mile Hill Melodrama productions.

| PETER FERGUS-MOORE

No rules: An artist’s journey

TWO HARBORS—The creative process is a journey for any artist, presenting many challenges and adventures. Sometimes an artist questions their journey as part of the process. This was the case for Two Harbors watercolor artist Katie Bromme this past winter.

Bromme was on the verge of falling out of love with her passion to paint. With the hope of reigniting her passion, she decided to focus on her craft daily, setting up a 100-day challenge at the beginning of the year. However, the challenge to concentrate on her work ended up having the opposite effect. At the 29-day mark, she felt burnt out and uninspired.

“We are not machines. As an artist, it’s a soul-deep practice that can’t be forced,” Bromme says of her experience.

Bromme decided to take some time off and is now more inspired than ever. Not only is she painting more, but she is also creating better work and living by the philosophy that art is supposed to be limitless.

Bromme has loved to paint for as long as she can remember. In 2021 she took the leap, taking it from a hobby to a full commitment. She is inspired by the nat-

ural beauty of the North Shore and her scenes reflect the experiences of living among it. Her landscapes celebrate the Boundary Waters and other glorious natural locations along the North Shore.

Bromme uses a technique called “wet into wet,” that starts with wetting the paper before applying pigment. This results in a soft, inviting piece and creates a dreamlike texture when used to highlight the waves of a lake or snow nestled on a pine tree. Recently, her painting of Iona’s Beach was featured on the cover of North Shore Explorer Guide.

Bromme is taking what she learned from her self-imposed challenge and taking the time to enjoy her medium by experimenting with new techniques.

She is okay with not having a successful final product, and uses the data she gathers to improve and adjust as needed. Through this process of experimenting, she decided to survey her followers, asking if they prefer canvases hanging vertically or horizontally. However, she joked that didn’t produce useful data.

“Everyone had an opinion depending on what the piece was,” she says.

Bromme set a more manageable goal for herself this summer—to register for at least one festival or market a month

to promote her work along the North Shore. Local events this season includes the Duluth Summer Artisan Market in June, Two Harbors Heritage Days, and the Ely Blueberry/Arts Festival, both in July. Her advice to others is “if you are into creativity, just keep doing it.”

Complimenting Bromme’s art career, she also holds a certificate in homeopathy medicine, completing the four-year program in 2020. Since her painting career is a solo gig, she finds that working with people is a good balance. Bromme enjoys working with her clients; hearing their story, and figuring out the root cause of what they are struggling with. “It’s about listening and figuring out what is happening with the mind and body energy,” she says. She then works to find a natural and classic remedy that is gentle with no side effects.

To learn more about Bromme and her artwork, visit: katiebrommewatercoloer.com. She is also on Instagram and Facebook.—Michelle Miller

Do you have a passion for helping others?

The Care Center at North Shore Health is a wonderful place to start your health care career as a CNA. We offer an OnTrack online program with a hybrid-flexible schedule. Come here to develop your skills and clinical experience. We will pay for your course (if you agree to work here). Your certification exam can be done from this facility. You can use a computer in our training room, or in the nearby Higher Education building. Plus, you can start working as a paid student during your training! There is a Sign-On bonus available as well, based on working a specific number of hours. For those with continuing education interests, we can help you with scholarship opportunities! If you are on the fence about going back to work or coming out of retirement, this is a great opportunity to work occasional shifts, or full time if you prefer. We would be happy to answer your questions.

Contact our Education Coordinator: 218-387-3295

Two Harbors watercolor artist Katie Bromme is inspired by the natural beauty of the North Shore. | KATIE BROMME

North Shore Adventure Park Fun for the whole community

SILVER BAY—The North Shore Adventure Park—located in Silver Bay with a view of Lake Superior—kicked off its fifth season this year on May 26 with some exciting new offerings and fresh local discounts.

North Shore Adventure Park offers six high ropes courses with ziplines (including one that is 400 feet long), and incorporates 75 “adventure challenges” that encourage participants to develop their climbing skills and endurance in a way that is both engaging and fun for the whole family. There is even a “Lil’ Rascals” course for kids ages 3-6 who are not quite ready for the high ropes.

“What most people don’t understand,” says Alice Tibbetts, president of the North Shore Adventure Park, “is that our courses and ziplines are not something that you get on and then stay on for the whole experience. It is kind of like skiing at a resort, where after you finish a ‘run’ you return to the top to try another.”

“There’s a central platform where all of the different courses start,” continues Tibbetts, “and people are in charge of their own experience once they get up there. This is nice for large groups and families since everyone can do their own thing, and have an experience based on their own level of confidence.”

In addition to the high ropes course and ziplines that have been mainstays at the park since its inception, there are now six new axe throwing lanes that give visitors a way to experience the park while keeping both feet on the ground.

“We’re excited about the axe throwing,” says Tibbetts, “people really had fun with it at the end of last summer when the lanes first opened, and since then we’ve come up with a number of games to keep it engaging.”

“It’s another great family activity,” continues Tibbetts. “Kids love it, parents enjoy it, and for us it’s been nice having something to offer people who don’t want to go up in the air.”

The axe throwing lanes are the first of their kind on the North Shore, and—according to Tibetts—are the only “permanent outdoor axe facility in Minnesota.” They are covered, however, so that the games can continue rain or shine.

There are two axe throwing leagues planned for early summer—a competitive adult league for folks ages 16 and up, and a

“social” league for ages 12 and up—though, at the time this article was written, exact dates had yet to be determined.

While owning and operating a high ropes adventure park on the North Shore wasn’t exactly what Tibbetts had in mind when she retired, she has enjoyed the process and continues to share the park’s success with the greater North Shore community by hiring locally and giving back in meaningful ways.

“When you run a business on the North Shore,” says Tibbetts, “you get asked to donate to a lot of different causes, and with all of that we felt like we needed to really focus in on a few community initiatives that we were passionate about supporting.”

“So,” continues Tibbetts, “one thing that we decided to support are our local libraries and school. We support their reading incentive programs by donating free tickets and other prizes, and then will be giving a percentage of sales to the library on June 4 and Labor Day.”

Tibbetts is an avid cyclist, so North Shore Adventure Park has also been active in supporting development of the Gitchi Gami State Trail—a paved bike path that will one day connect Grand Marais to Two Harbors along the shore of Lake Superior.

“The Gitchi Gami bike trail is the other project that we’ve been supporting,” says Tibbetts. “A lot of people don’t realize that they can pedal the spur from Beaver Bay up to downtown Silver Bay. It’s a really pretty ride.”

“The trail takes riders right into town,” continues Tibbetts, “and not only can you get to the adventure park from there, but riders can support some of our great local businesses, like the Northwoods Café and the new Timber Coffee shop that just opened in town.”

In addition to giving back to the community through libraries, schools, and bike trails, North Shore Adventure Park will also be offering discounts to North Shore locals throughout the 2023 season.

The Adventure Park has been offering discounted local tickets both for single visits and season passes since 2022, but new this year is the “Sunday Special” for Twin Ports residents. Every Sunday through the 2023 season, Twin Ports residents can enjoy a $5 off discount on their ticket in an effort by the Adventure Park team to encourage folks to “drive North when the tourists head south.”

For current ticket options and more information on the North Shore Adventure Park, visit their website at: northshoreadventurepark.com.—Eric Weicht

North Shore Adventure Park offers six high ropes courses with ziplines and 75 “adventure challenges.” | SUBMITTED

Check Out Lake County, MN

KNIFE RIVER, TWO HARBORS, SILVER BAY, BEAVER BAY, FINLAND

Event highlights:

Wildlife of the month

PEREGRINE FALCON

Falcons migrate back to the North Shore in the spring and quickly get to work laying their eggs. They spend the early summer taking care of their newly hatched chicks, called eyases, until they fledge the nest. Be sure to stop at the Falcons Live events at Tettegouche and Gooseberry to learn more about these migratory raptors.

Drink of the month

TIPSY M BLOODY

FROM THE TIPSY MOSQUITO WINE AND SPIRIT ROOM

This is a signature drink at the Tipsy Mosquito. This is a fairly new bar in downtown Two Harbors and they seem to have some tricks up their sleeve! This bloody mary is made with house-infused bacon vodka and is, of course, served with a snit of beer.

Business spotlight in June

THE MOON MARKET This boutique is another fairly new addition to Lake County and is sure to delight anybody who makes the stop along the scenic route on Highway 61. They sure put a trendy and eco-conscious spin on Northwoods inspired gifts, home goods, and even snacks!

Activity of the month

ROCK HUNTING

Stop at any section of the shore of Lake Superior and you can be sure to find some amazing rocks. Granite, agates, quartz, jasper, and even fossils can be found by the big lake, in river beds, and even on gravel roads.

Tip of the month

Windy and rainy days are the best time to look for agates as they stand out when wet. Want to rock hunt like a pro? Bring a spray bottle to wet rocks and grab an extendable scoop to avoid bending over for every cool rock you find!

Souvenir of the month

ROCK JEWELRY AND ART

Stop at almost any gift shop in Lake County and you’re sure to find some Lake Superior rock-inspired jewelry and art. Agates are of course admired for their unique banding, but we think pieces using all types of rocks are made unique by the North Shore’s creative artists.

LGBTQ community celebrates Pride Month

GRAND MARAIS—The month of June is often a time to celebrate the arrival of summer activities and community events.

For many worldwide, June is also a time to celebrate the LGBTQ community. While June was formally recognized as Pride Month in 1999 by President Bill Clinton, the history of Pride Month began decades prior.

The catalyst for the LGBTQ rights movement began following the historic Stonewall riots in New York City on June 28, 1969. The Stonewall Inn was a popular gathering place for LGBTQ individuals, but it frequently experienced raids by the police. Finally, in June 1969, the bar patrons decided to fight back against police harassment, leading to several days of rioting and protests. The event spearheaded a generational advocacy and rights movement that spanned the globe.

Since then, June has become synonymous with celebrations of the LGBTQ community, with parades, rallies, and other events. Following the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall events, large cities across the nation, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, began holding pride marches to commemorate the June event. Throughout the years, more cities and small towns, such as Grand Marais, have joined in the June celebrations.

“As long as I can remember in my adult life, there’s been some kind of something fairly small scale in Grand Marais,” Lenna Stever-Sobanja, a Cook County Pride Committee member, said. However, in the spring of 2021, a small group of individuals decided they wanted to engage the community and plan more formal pride events.

Shortly after, in the fall of 2021, the group of dedicated individuals, who are all volunteers, formed the Cook County Pride Committee. They began holding meetings and brainstorming ideas for how to raise awareness and support for LGBTQ rights. With their eyes set on hosting a large event in Grand Marais, the committee planned celebratory activities in Harbor Park, followed by a parade or march through town on June 4, 2022.

Stever-Sobanja said nearly 400 people attended the June 4 pride event in Harbor Park in Grand Marais. “So that’s by far the largest pride event that’s ever happened in Cook County.”

“That was really encouraging,” she added. “It made us realize the need to keep going.”

While there has been a wide range of interest from Cook County community members to be involved with the newly formed pride committee, Stever-Sobanja said there is, on average, a core group of about 10 volunteers who have kept the pride committee’s momentum going.

“There’s a core group of us who really dedicate quite a bit of time to achieving whatever tasks are put down,” she said.

One of the most recent tasks was planning and hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour fundraising event on March 4 at the Cook County Community Center’s log cabin. Before the event, the pride committee set a goal of raising $2,200-2,400. Stever-Sobanja said the event was a great success, with over 100 people in attendance. In addition, the committee exceeded its expectations in fundraising efforts. In total, the event generated over $3,000 in donations.

“That was great. But really, the bigger effect was that we were all proud that the event achieved our mission of creating these safe conversations, and making a difference, making an impact for the LGBTQ community here,” Stever-Sobanja said. “I was really struck by how much support there was from our community.”

The funds raised during the March 4 event will predominantly go towards hosting the next pride committee event on Saturday, June 10. The pride committee intends to expand the celebratory activities and events this year. Daytime activities such as arts, crafts, and small presentations will be held at The Hub in downtown Grand Marais from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The main event, including music and a few speakers, will occur in Harbor Park at 5 p.m. Following that, Stever-Sobanja said there will be a march through Grand Marais.

The festive activities continue into the evening hours. More music and dancing will take place in Harbor Park following the march. And those 21 years of age and older can keep the celebrations rolling by attending an after-party at Up Yonder, formerly Harbor Light, for a live DJ and dance party.

Stever-Sobanja said the Cook County Pride Committee is excited about the support they have received in the community and are looking forward to the June celebrations. Following the June 10 event, Stever-Sobanja said the committee will continue working hard to build its presence within the community.

While the awareness and support for LGBTQ rights have made leaps and bounds since 1969, Stever-Sobanja said there is plenty of work yet to do. “I feel like the main thing is like visibility and acknowledgment and celebration of the diversity of our community,” she said. “It’s important for us (pride committee), and for me personally, to be involved in making an impact in my community.”—Kalli

Hawkins

Check Out Cook County, MN

SCHROEDER, TOFTE, LUTSEN, GRAND MARAIS, GRAND PORTAGE

Event highlights:

JUNE 16-18:

Wooden Boat Show

JUNE 24: Lutsen 99er

EVERY SATURDAY: Cook MarketCounty

Check out our full events calendar on page 32.

| DENNIS CHICK

Business spotlight: BIG WATER

JEWELRY & GIFTS

It is always so exciting when a new local business opens. Be sure to check out this unique shop in Lutsen where you can find new and re-loved jewelry, antiques, and old school fishing and sporting goods.

Souvenir pick of the month

A BUCKET HAT We love the idea of having a bucket hat to fill with North Shore momentos—patches, pins, flies, and lures. There are plenty of great outfitters, gift shops, and visitor centers to stop and pick up some bucket hat adornments.

Wildlife of the month

LOON Minnesota’s regal state bird starts returning to their local nesting grounds in May, but the real excitement happens in June when their courtship and mating is at its peak. Be sure to respect their space when out on the water enjoying elaborate loon calls and showy mating rituals.

Beverage spotlight

MAPLE LATTE

AT JAVA MOOSE

This classic latte is a favorite with all visitors, not just our Canadian neighbors. It is delicious both iced and hot!

Our favorite June activity

FISHING Whether you’re an experienced angler or a fishing novice, Cook County is a great place to cast a line in the big lake, inland lakes, or rivers. Don’t forget your fishing license! Want to feel like a real local angler? Stop for breakfast at South of the Border in Grand Marais.

Top tip for June in Cook County

BE BUG READY! This is peak bug time for the North Shore. Don’t forget your bug sprays, tinctures, citronella candles, bug nets, and tenacity. We sure think exploring Cook County is worth it, bugs and all.

Honoring Indigenous Culture and Heritage

By Kalli Hawkins

National Indigenous Peoples Day is an important day for individuals to celebrate and recognize the contributions and achievements of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The day, celebrated on June 21, was first recognized as National Aboriginal Day in 1996 by then Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc. The day was later renamed National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2017 and is now widely celebrated throughout the country.

“I think the intent of it, when it started, was to help educate and advocate for Indigenous acknowledgment in Canada,” Kathleen Sawdo, the founder of Sister Bear Designs, a three-generation family-run business in Thunder Bay, said. However, she added, Indigenous people in Canada have been celebrating the significance of June 21 long before the formal governmental designation.

Sawdo, who is also a member and knowledge holder of the Fort William First Nation in Canada, explained that June is known in her culture as the month of the Strawberry Moon. The entire month is seen as where the “heartbeat begins” and is accompanied by hard work and tending to the land.

“You start harvesting your berries. You’re out on the land. You’re fishing. You see a lot of growth,” Sawdo said. But typically, she added, “a lot of ceremony happens during that time. It’s a good time traditionally to gather.”

The celebrations and gathering all come together as it coincides with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, which tends to fall between June 20-22. In addition to families and elders gathering for celebrations, Sawdo said the summer solstice is also a time to come together to address community needs. “We do that during the summer solstice because it’s a good time to bring people together, and easier logistically.”

Many Indigenous people would gather at Animikii-wajiw (Mount McKay), a 1,604-foot mountain near Lake Superior in Thunder Bay. The mountain is a sacred spot for many Indigenous people and is where naming ceremonies, weddings, elder gatherings, pow wows, and connecting with

| IAN KAUFMAN

different communities would occur. In addition, Sawdo said that medicine used by Indigenous people grows specifically on the mountain and is another reason why people would traditionally come together at that location.

For many generations, Indigenous people have returned to gather at Animikii-wajiw each summer solstice to celebrate. This time of year is significant to Sawdo, who said she appreciates having the time to reconnect with the community. “That helps your spirit, especially in modern times, now. We have to take extra care and walk with intention. We have to make that time to reconnect the land in order to learn to live in a good way.”

The intent of reconnecting with the land and community typically occurs during a pow wow, where individuals come together to celebrate and honor their heritage through traditional music, dance, food, and crafts. Pow wows begin with a grand entry, where dancers in colorful regalia parade into the central area, often adorned with feathers, beads, and decorative items. Sawdo described that the dancers and elders enter the established circle in a procession or specific order.

During the pow wow, dancers showcase their skills and regalia in different styles of dance. Each dance style has unique moves and accompanied regalia, which often hold specific meanings and origins within Indigenous cultures.

“When it comes to regalia or what you’re wearing when you dance, a lot of the time, people will dream it,” Sawdo said. “So, they’ll feel it in their heart.”

She explains that if someone is unable to dream of their colors, an elder who has the gift of receiving colors for people will choose the colors for them. “There’s a lot of thought behind it.” In addition, Sawdo explains a lot of thought goes into selecting a dance to perform during a pow wow. “When you find the dance that suits you, or you’re called to, then you start making your regalia.”

This process of finding a dance and choosing colors for regalia is often a communal effort. “A lot of the time, your community helps with that. It’s a family effort,” Sawdo said.

Sawdo said she understands that individuals who have never attended a pow wow before might be hesitant or unsure of how to interact. However, she said the best way to

CELEBRATING CANADA’S NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY

During a pow wow, each dance style has unique moves and regalia, which often hold specific meanings and origins within Indigenous cultures.

support Indigenous people on National Indigenous Peoples Day is to “come to a pow wow.” She adds, “Come in there with a good heart and a good mind. And let people know this is your first time. They’ll help lead you.”

Sawdo encourages everyone who is interested in attending a pow wow to do so. However, there are some general etiquette rules she recommends. The first is to refrain from taking photos or videos or to ask permission before pulling your phone out. Some certain ceremonies or prayers are not allowed to be photographed or videotaped. Most importantly, Sawdo said, “Come as you are, but be respectful.” She recommends exploring the local vendor booths, enjoying the food, and asking all sorts of questions if you have them.

Attending a pow wow on National Indigenous Peoples Day is undoubtedly a positive way to show support for Indigenous communities. However, Sawdo said non-Indigenous Canadians or individuals visiting Thunder Bay could also support Indigenous communities by seeking out safe spaces where Indigenous art is displayed, including art galleries and cultural centers, or visiting stores such as Sister Bear Designs. She describes her family-run business as a “cultural learning and shopping experience.” Her family creates different beadwork jewelry, leatherwork, contemporary items from traditional foods, and traditional medicines for elders.

“Coming to Thunder Bay is huge. The cultural diversity is a different experience than in the States, in that our reserve systems or governments are quite different,” Sawdo said. “The history of Indigenous people throughout that time is very different compared to the U.S.”

Although significant progress has been made since the recognition of Indigenous communities in 1996 in Canada, Sawdo said she thinks education and awareness efforts are “still evolving.” Fortunately, however, throughout the past two decades, schools have adopted teachings and education focused on Indigenous communities during the entire month of June. In addition, the expansion of television and the Internet has helped Indigenous communities increase exposure and awareness concerning past and current issues in the country.

Not only is National Indigenous Peoples Day an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous culture, but it is also a time to reflect on the ongoing challenges Indigenous peoples face in Canada.

Canada has an unsettling past concerning Indigenous communities, particularly children and residential schools. Between 1880 and much of the 20th century, more than 150,000 children from hundreds of Indigenous communities across Canada were taken from their families and sent to a

For many generations, Indigenous people have continually gathered at Animikii-wajiw (Mount McKay) in Thunder Bay each summer solstice. The intent of reconnecting with the land and community typically occurs during a pow wow, where individuals come together to celebrate and honor their heritage through traditional music, dance, food, and crafts.

| IAN KAUFMAN

residential school, according to a 60-minute report from CBS News. These schools aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into mainstream Canadian culture and eradicate Indigenous languages, cultures, and traditions. It wasn’t until 1998, two years after the first formal recognition of National Aboriginal Day, later renamed National Indigenous Peoples Day, that the last of Canada’s 139 residential schools closed.

Although many Canadian Indigenous communities have experienced and continue to experience many hardships, Sawdo is hopeful for the future. “I think there’s a lot of changes coming.” Some of the changes she is optimistic about include reclaiming Indigenous identity, language, and land. “Canadian First Nations are asserting their rights in a good way, with government and working towards reconciliation. I see a lot of positive change happening.”

She adds, “It took generations to get us to the point where we’re at now, and it’s going to take generations to get us where we should be.”

To learn more about attending a Fort William First Nation pow wow and any upcoming events, visit: fwfn.com.

Indigenous people in Canada have been celebrating the significance of June 21 long before the formal governmental designation of National Indigenous Peoples Day. | IAN KAUFMAN

Summer Experiences for North Shore Escapes

By Chris

Pascone

Everyone knows the North Shore of Lake Superior has some of the best scenery in the Midwest. But looking out your car window won’t cut it for true North Shore summer experiences. Here are some ways to experience the area’s beauty and mystique firsthand.

1. Duluth Does Locally Grown

Duluth could be renamed Farmers Market City. You wouldn’t expect it from a place at almost 47 degrees North latitude, but Duluth and the surrounding towns of Wrenshall, Esko, and Two Harbors are undergoing a farming renaissance. Much of the fresh produce goes to Duluth’s many farmers markets.

The big one is the original Duluth Farmers Market, open since 1911. Centrally located in a bright red barn at the corner of 14th Ave E. and 3rd St., the Market is open Wednesdays 2-5 p.m., and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon.

Community Action Duluth operates two summer markets that bring fresh and healthy foods to the Central Hillside and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. The Central Hillside market is held on Tuesdays from 2-5 p.m. in the Essentia Health parking lot across from 503 E 3rd St., and the Lincoln Park market is held Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. at the Harrison Community Center.

A new “market” to check out is the Clover Valley Farm Trail: a co-operative group of locally-owned, small farms located in or near Clover Valley (a farming community between Duluth and Two Harbors). According to the organizers, “This is where a farmers market meets a Sunday drive.”

3. Hiking in Tettegouche State Park

The crowing jewel of the summer market season is the Lake Superior Harvest Festival. This one-day celebration of sustainable agriculture is held on September 9 this year at sprawling Bayfront Park. Browse the huge farmers’ market, the arts and crafts fair, the renewable energy fair, and educational exhibits, all while supporting local agricultural and food sustainability efforts. More than 10,000 people of all ages attend—get your community vibe on.

2. Going Back in Time at Split Rock Lighthouse

No symbol epitomizes the rugged North Shore more than Split Rock Lighthouse. This tall yellow lighthouse seems perched in mid-air. Actually, it’s on a jagged rock cliff that screams tales of survival. The lighthouse was built to save lives in 1909, but identifies today as a landmark to exploration of Minnesota’s northern frontier.

The lighthouse could only be accessed by water for the first 15 years of its existence. Today the historic site has been restored to its early 1920s appearance. Split Rock Light Station was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2011. This is your destination to feel the struggle it took to survive in this isolated area a century ago.

This park is a hiker’s paradise, with the Superior Hiking Trail threading right through the whole park. According to Kurt Mead, Interpretive Naturalist for the MN DNR at Tettegouche State Park, the park’s Sawtooth Mountains, in the region known as the Superior Highlands, formed over a billion years ago during the same geological event that ultimately gave us Lake Superior. Mead explains that anorthosite, a hard mineral, is at the core of most North Shore mountains, and resisted the crush of glaciation, thereby contributing to Tettegouche’s rugged landscape.

In Mead’s words, “Tettegouche really doesn’t do ‘flat’ very well, so the hiking trails involve lots of ups and downs. Hiking to the top of Mt. Trudy, or any other ‘mountain top’ in Tettegouche will provide amazing panoramic views of Lake Superior and the surrounding boreal forests.”

4. Explore the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

The BWCAW is an inevitable entry on any list of top northern Minnesota adventures. You can’t say you’ve experienced the heart of the continent until you’ve paddled its endless lakes, trudged its rocky portages with a canoe on your shoulders, and cast a line into its waters teeming with fish. Make it a point of getting off Highway 61 and finding the peace and solitude that only a low-tech return to wilderness can provide. Make your own overnight paddle reservation online at: recreation.gov.

A general rule of thumb—Gunflint

Trail entry points commonly lead to

lakes that are deeper, colder, and clearer, while Ely-area BWCAW entry points can have sandier beaches and warmer water. Either way, you are bound to find heaven at the end of the next portage.

VICKI WILLET

CHRIS PASCONE STEPHANIE HERINGTON

BOB BERUTE

5. Grand Portage Rendezvous Days and Pow Wow

History is real at Grand Portage National Monument—a reconstructed fur trade depot on the Grand Portage Reservation of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe). Experience Voyageur lore and Anishinaabe culture by attending two events in one. The Rendezvous will be held Friday and Saturday, August 1112 this year, with the Pow Wow taking place on the 12th and 13th.

Everyone is invited to both events, and families are highly encouraged to attend. Admission is free. Visitors are not required to wear period clothing, so come as you are.

The theme of this year’s Rendezvous Days re-enactment is “The North West Company Looks West.” According to

the National Parks Service, “A highlight of the weekend will be the building and launching of a traditional bull boat made from a bison hide.” Birchbark canoes were the transportation of choice in the northern forests for millennia, but in areas of North America lacking birch trees, such as the Great Plains, hide boats replaced canoes.

The pow wow is an American Indian cultural gathering focused on dance, song, and family. The vibrant colors of the dancers’ spectacular regalia stand out on the deep blue backdrop of Lake Superior, and the drumming gets your heart pumping and feet moving. Enjoy this celebration of Anishinaabe heritage.

6. Paddle Urban Thunder Bay

Lake Superior gets photographed by millions of people each year—from shore. However, it’s an entirely different experience when viewed from the water.

According to Paul Pepe, manager of Tourism Thunder Bay, “Lake Superior needs to be respected, but not feared.” There’s no better way to tap into the resource than trying stand-up paddle boarding on Thunder Bay’s protected marina harbor. In Pepe’s words, “a slow paddle on glassy calm waters irons the wrinkles from my soul.”

Pepe pays his respects to the Big Lake through early morning paddles on his stand-up paddleboard. “I paddle out to the Thunder Bay Main Light where I can sit and enjoy my morning coffee in solitude before the days get busy,” he says.

Local companies NatriBros and Wilderness Supply offer SUP lessons and equipment rentals in Thunder Bay.

8. return to your youth: Paddle to the Sea Park

Holling C. Holling sets children’s minds aglow with a sense of magic and adventure in his 1941 Caldecott Honor Book Paddle-to-the-Sea. This tale has inspired generations of wilderness adventurers with its story of a boy releasing a wooden model of a canoe to weave its way from Lake Nipigon, Ontario, all the way through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

7. Adventuring in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

Sleeping Giant has more than 100km of hiking trails to explore, transporting you into backcountry bliss. A one-hour and 15-minute ride north of Thunder Bay takes you onto the rugged Sibley Peninsula, with its legendary rock “Giant.”

Set up base camp at the Marie Louise Lake Campground, which offers RV and tent camping, as well as family cabin rentals. The lake has a swimming beach and is paddling-friendly.

Then, lace up your boots and head all the way to giant vistas from the Thunder Bay Lookout and Top of the Giant trails.

Today, Nipigon is home to Paddle to the Sea Park, complete with a splash pad. Could this be the most northerly splash pad on the continent? One has to wonder.

Starting at the Lake Superior waterfall in the heart of downtown Nipigon, 12 playground stations lead children on a journey of fun through town to the waterfront.

To get in the mood, check out the film Paddle to the Sea, based on the book. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in 1966, it was directed by Canadian legendary canoeist Bill Mason.

TED TIBONI

TED TIBONI

By

Breana

Johnson Park Point Art Fair

The 51st annual Park Point Art Fair will take place June 24-25 in Duluth. The festival features over 100 local and regional juried artists of all types, displaying and selling their work. See the events section for more info.

Jonathan

to make unique pottery with a look, feel and story distinct to the Great Lake. For more pottery by Walburg, visit: lakesuperiorpottery.com.

| JONATHAN

| JAMEY RITTER

| DAVID BARTHEL

| BENJAMIN LEATHAM

| DAVID AUSTIN

Jamey Ritter of Bemused Design and Photography in Washburn, WI, is the illustrator behind this piece, titled “Duluth Depot.” For more art by Ritter, visit: bemusedposters.com.

David Barthel of North Shore Images Photography recently took this Split Rock Lighthouse photo, titled “Split Rock & Rollers.” View more of Barthel’s photography online at: northshoreimages.com.

This acrylic mixed media on board piece by Duluth artist David Austin is titled “Looking Into It” and it is 36 by 36 inches. You can see more from Austin online at: davidaustin gallery.com.

This wooden serving ladle is by Benjamin Leatham of Cannon River Bowl & Spoon. Leatham is a maker of fine wooden utensils and hand-turned bowls from locally salvaged wood. Find more from Leatham here: cannonriverbowl.com.

Self-taught fiber artist Lila Boehland created this piece, titled “Chickadee, No. 18.” Boehland’s pieces are first wet felted, then needle felted for detail. Boehland also adds in a little mixed media with beads, lace, and embroidery. See more from Boehland at: facebook.com/lilafeltcreative. | LILA BOEHLAND

Walburg of Lake Superior Pottery uses local materials

WALBURG

Throughout his journey making jewelry, Rasmussen says his favorite thing is meeting and working with customers who are also passionate about rocks. | SUBMITTED

Erik Rasmussen

Floodbay Agates

CREATIVE SPACE: By Rae Poynter

Ask anyone on the North Shore what their favorite rock is and there’s a decent chance they’ll say it’s the Lake Superior agate. Always an exciting find, agates have become emblematic of the Lake Superior region. But for Erik Rasmussen of Silver Bay, agates are something more. The owner and founder of Floodbay Agates, Rasmussen is passionate not only about jewelry making but about the local rocks that make each piece special.

Rasmussen’s interest in agate jewelry goes back to the years when he was growing up in South Dakota. His grandfather, an avid agate hunter who made jewelry, lived in the Twin Cities. When Rasmussen would visit, he would take him out agate picking at local gravel pits. It was then that Rasmussen caught the agate-hunting bug that has stuck with him ever since. His interest in agates served as the launching pad for his journey into jewelry making.

“I met a silversmith who was interested in thomsonite that I had,” Rasmussen said. “I had always wanted to learn to make a silver ring, so he showed me how to do one piece and I’ve done it on my own since then.”

Rasmussen has been setting jewelry for about 10 years, and along the way has turned

his interest in stones into the busi ness Floodbay Agates, where he makes handcrafted rings and pendants. After learning the ropes of making jewelry, he started an Etsy account and Facebook page, and through sharing his work online got connected with retailers around Lake Superior who were interested in his work, including Weldon’s Gifts in Two Harbors and Ricky Rocks and Jem on Madeline Island.

For Rasmussen, the creative pro cess starts in the great outdoors. Al though he does purchase some raw stones, rockhounding is his passion; he typical ly hunts for agates in local rivers, and has amassed a large col lection of stones such as agates, thomsonite, and Isle Royale green stone. Although many people picture the clas sic, red-and-white band

ed agate when they think of Lake Superior agates, Rasmussen is fascinated by the huge variety found in agates. Lake Superior agates range in color from white and red to blue and black, and come in a variety of patterns. Some alternate patterns include moss agates, with irregular, swirled bands; paint agates, which aren’t as translucent and look like their bright colors are painted on; and sagenite agates, with distinctive, spike-like bands.

Once ready to start the jewelry making process, Rasmussen gets started with cutting the raw stone, taking care not to get a fractured piece, a feat that can be tricky with Lake Superior agates.

“You work your way around the factures and pick a nice spot on your slab and cut around it. By the time I’m done slabbing it, it typically takes about half an hour to pop out a cab and get it polished and ready to

Once the agate is how he likes it, Rasmussen then works on setting the piece. His preferred style is simple, clean sets where the stone can stand out. The process from cutting the stone to having the finished piece ready takes him about one to two hours.

“Lake Superior agates are my favorite pieces to do,” he said. “You can’t go wrong with a classic red and white agate. I also like greenstone—it has such a gorgeous pattern to it, you can’t help but look at it. But agates have a lot of variety.”

Throughout his journey making jewelry, Rasmussen said that his favorite thing has been meeting and working with customers who are also passionate about rocks.

“I have a lot of people who will send me a rock they’ve found and want a piece made that captures that moment for them,” he said.

Rasmussen’s work can be found on Facebook under Floodbay Agates.llc, or visit: floodbayagates.vistaprintdigital.com.

For Rasmussen, the creative process starts in the great outdoors. Although he does purchase some raw stones, rockhounding is his passion; he typically hunts for agates in local rivers, and has amassed a large collection of stones such as agates, thomsonite, and Isle Royale greenstone. | SUBMITTED

Erik Rasmussen has been setting jewelry for about 10 years, and along the way has turned his interest in stones into the business Floodbay Agates, where he makes handcrafted rings and pendants. | SUBMITTED

Wood from a birch tree makes for excellent carving wood. It’s tough yet soft to carve when it’s green (fresh wood). Plus, birch trees grow, and are used, in abundance on the

Carving a Wooden Spoon

Behind the Craft: Wesley Hathaway

Carving a wooden spoon is a great way to learn to carve, to make a functional object, and to become more in touch with the woods around us. People have been making spoons for a very long time out of various materials, but wooden spoons use a material that is growing all around us and is relatively accessible. Carving a wooden spoon can be done with just a few tools.

Using a carving axe or hatchet makes quick work getting larger pieces of wood into a more manageable size, but make sure it’s sharp; a dull axe won’t work. If you are starting out with a small piece of wood, you can jump right into carving with a carving knife.

Wood has grain that must be carved in the appropriate direction. It’s nice to use a saw to establish the “valleys” which can be carved into. A simple way to remember which direction to carve is to carve off the mountain into the valley. You can’t roll up a hill and you can’t carve up a hill either.

Again, a sharp axe makes quick work of removing wood that’s not needed, but a carving knife works just fine.

Continue to form the general shape that’s desired. Keeping the sides 90 degrees to the top helps to keep the shape in focus.

Spoons work so well because from the top they are curved, making them ergonomic to use while keeping the contents in the bowl of the spoon. This can also be called “crank.’’ Only material from the top and the sides of the spoon has been removed.

Once enough material has been removed from the block of wood, it’s now easy

The more crank, the more the angle between the spoon and the handle increases. A ladle may have a lot while an eating spoon may only need a little.

It’s very important that carving knives and carving tools are always kept as sharp as they can be. A sharp tool is a safe tool. Plus, it’s much more difficult to carve wood when a tool is dull.

A sharp tool is key. Because wood can only be carved one direction, carve slowly with intention. If the wood is cutting smoothly and nicely, it’s the right direction. If it’s chippy or even breaking off, it’s probably the wrong direction to carve.

WILDS

Gidaanikeshkaagonaanig Gidaanikoobijiganinaan

Following the Ancestor’s Steps

Biboon Waabizheshi

Winter Marten

By Zhaawanoogiizhik / Sam Zimmerman

Niizho-gikinoonwin (two years) ago on a cold Gashkidino giizi (November) morning, I was giizwedin (north) of Two Harbors bine (partridge) hunting when I slid off the road and got stuck. I remembered imbaabaa (my father’s) wisdom to me for if I ever got stuck or trapped in the goon (snow): “keep your feet dry and stay upright if you’re walking.” Well, I began to walk, when after ingo-diba’igan (an hour) or so a waabizheshi (marten) came out onto the shoulder of the road to ganawaabi (watch) and then walk with me. It stayed with me for about 20 minutes or so before it headed back into the trees.

After niso-diba’igan (three hours), I was picked up by a stranger and was taken to my niinimoshenh (cousin’s) house. I recently finished a waabizheshi (marten) commission in which I kept thinking about the one that kept me company on that gashkendam (lonely) cold road. I painted this piece to honor that visit.

Follow my studio on Facebook and Instagram @CraneSuperior or if you have ideas for a North Shore painting, you can email me at: cranesuperiorstudio@gmail.com.

Logo by David

NORTHERN LANDSCAPES FESTIVAL

June 2-4 Learn about the birds, wildflowers, insects, and geology of the northern landscape at this annual North House Folk School festival in Grand Marais. This year, the festival will focus on the aquatic landscapes of the north, with free evening presentations on beavers and their impacts on the boreal forest (held Friday, June 2 at 7 p.m.), and a history of fish, fishing, and fisheries management in Lake Superior (held June 3 at 7 p.m.). Other festival highlights include more than a dozen course offerings, including beekeeping basics, Northwoods nature through the lens, foraging for spring wild edibles, spring birding on the North Shore, and more. Course registration required. northhouse.org

DULUTH MONARCH FESTIVAL

June 3, Saturday Join the Duluth Monarch Buddies for the fifth annual Duluth Monarch Festival, held at the Coppertop Church (First United Methodist) from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. See live monarch eggs, caterpillars, and butterflies, while participating in family-friendly activities. Shoreview Natives, from Two Harbors, will be selling milkweed and other native pollinator plants, all from seed locally collected. Keynote speaker Emily Stone will present “Ecology of Overwintering Monarchs in Mexico” from 10:3011:30 a.m. There will also be children’s

crafts, face painting, storytelling, a monarch movie, free milkweed seeds, information tables and vendors, a monarch waystation tour, and master gardeners available to answer all your questions. Cost to attend is $5 for adults; kids under age 12 are free. duluthmonarchbuddies.org

KITE FESTIVAL

June 3-4 The annual Thunder Bay Kite Festival, which first began in 1981, will be held at Marina Park June 3-4. This award-winning event brings professional kite flyers, demonstrations, and activities for all ages to enjoy every June. This year’s festival will also feature an airshow by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. Don’t miss this weekend filled with fun, color, and amazement, held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. thunderbay.ca/events

PRIDE CELEBRATION

June 10, Saturday Presented by the Cook County Pride Committee, the annual Pride Celebration in Grand Marais will feature a variety of family-friendly events throughout the day, all in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Enjoy free yoga with Carly Puch in Harbor Park at 9 a.m. From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., meet at the Hub for community arts and crafts, followed by a drag queen story hour and a presentation from OutFront MN. Then, a community celebration will take

place at 5 p.m. in Harbor Park (Cook County YMCA if the weather is bad). There will be children’s activities, passionate speakers, musicians, dancing, and a march in unity around the town. Following the downtown event, you can dance the night away at Up Yonder with a DJ starting at 8 p.m. For more information, call 218-235-8251 or email: matthew@bearwitnessmedia.com.

LAST RUNNER STANDING

June 10-11 The Last Runner Standing is a unique event for runners of all abilities, but only the strongest among them will be the Last Runner Standing. Held at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, each runner will have exactly one hour to complete the 4.2-mile loop. If a runner fails to return within the hour, they are eliminated from the race. Runners can complete the course at whatever pace they

choose, but they must finish the race and be ready to start the next race within 60 minutes. The first race will begin at noon and a new race will begin every hour on the hour (1 p.m., 2 p.m., and so on) until only one runner is left standing. Even if you aren’t the last runner standing, unique awards will be presented to runners who complete at least one race. Also, to make the event more inclusive, two new races are being added this year so everyone can participate: the Last Runner Starting and the one-lap Last Runner Leaving. Registration required for all races. lastrunnerstanding.com

This year’s Wooden Boat Show, held at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, will take place June 16-18. | SUBMITTED

The whole family will have fun at the Duluth Monarch Festival on June 3. | SUBMITTED

The Tenth Anniversary

10x10 Short Play Festival

everyone. Grandma’s Marathon weekend will also include live music Friday and Saturday with the Rock the Bayfront celebration in Bayfront Festival Park. This year’s lineup includes Rock-a-Billy Revue, Laura Velvet, Arch Allies, Buckwild, Rhino, and more. grandmasmarathon.com

GRANDMA’S MARATHON WEEKEND

June 15-17 Tie up your shoelaces for the annual Grandma’s Marathon race, held on Saturday, June 17. Totaling 26.2 miles, the race will start at 7:45 a.m. in Two Harbors and end in Canal Park in Duluth. The Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon (13.1 miles) will also take place on Saturday, and the William A. Irvin 5k and youth Whipper Snapper races (free: ages 14 and under) will take place on Friday. Other weekend events include the traditional Michelina’s All-YouCan-Eat Spaghetti Dinner at the Decc from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday, the YAF Festival for Kids from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in Bayfront Festival Park on Friday, and the Essentia Health Fitness Expo at the Decc June 1516. View over 100 booths showcasing the latest products, services, and technology in the athletic industry. The expo will run from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday. Admission is free; open to

WOODEN BOAT SHOW & SUMMER SOLSTICE PAGEANT

June 16-18 Held at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, the Wooden Boat Show and Summer Solstice Pageant features a bit of everything. There will be rows of handmade and unique wooden boats on display, family drop-in crafts, a boatsto-tools auction, craft demonstrations, workshops, guest speakers, and more. On Friday, June 16, the community is invited to a pie social at 5 p.m., followed by an evening of contra dancing. From noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, get your bowl

The Last Runner Standing, held June 10 in Duluth, offers two new races this year. | CARY JOHNSON

for the 23rd annual Lake Superior Chowder Experience, a festival highlight that brings chowders from North Shore restaurants for you to taste. Admission is $15 adults and $10 kids 12 and under. Last but not least, don’t miss the 2023 Summer Solstice Pageant, presented by Good Harbor Hill Players at 8 p.m. on Saturday (rain date performance will be Sunday, June 18 at 2 p.m.). This free, family-friendly show, titled “The Winds Have Changed: The Scroll Must Go On!” features handmade, larger-than-life

paper mâché puppets and live music. For those interested in helping create the puppets, workshops will take place between Memorial Day and June 13 at the Community Center. Follow Good Harbor Hill Players on Facebook for more information. northhouse.org

THUNDER BAY MINING DAY

June 17, Saturday After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the annual Thunder Bay Mining Day is back. Held at Marina Park,

this family-oriented, fun-filled day includes gold panning, games and prizes, metal detectors, a helicopter, exhibitors, interactive displays, rocks, large mining equipment, and diamond drills. There will also be a geologist on hand to answer questions, and food will be provided by Women in Mining BBQ, with proceeds going towards their mining scholarship. Mining day is held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., rain or shine, and admission is free. thunderbayminingday.com

DEUCES WILD DUELING PIANOS

June 24, Saturday Head to Split Rock Lighthouse near Two Harbors for an evening of song and laughter alongside Dave Eichholz and Ted Manderfeld of Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos. For over 20 years, they have traveled coast to coast in the U.S., Canada, Panama, and Mexico as the country’s most sought-after dueling piano act. Their high-energy mix of comedy, music, and ex-

After a three-year hiatus, Thunder Bay Mining Day is back, featuring familyfriendly activities on June 17 in Marina Park. | SUBMITTED

The second annual High Noon 24-Hour Trail Race and Relay will take place on Saturday, June 24 at Kamview Nordic Centre in Thunder Bay. | TBAY ALIVE

tensive audience participation makes this a show unlike any other. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are general admission ($45) and can be purchased online. Seating is not provided, so bring a lawn chair. Food and adult beverages will be available for sale. Must be 21 or older to attend. facebook.com/ lovinlakecounty

HIGH NOON 24-HOUR TRAIL RACE & RELAY

CHUM RHUBARB FESTIVAL

June 24, Saturday

free Little Niners races at 5:30 p.m. (registration required). lutsen99er.com

PARK POINT ART FAIR

June 24, Saturday

It’s back! The second annual High Noon 24-Hour Trail Race and Relay will take place at the Kamview Nordic Centre in Thunder Bay. The goal is simple: challenge yourself to cover as much distance as you can in 24 hours. Your final distance is up to you. Run, walk or crawl. This is your race and a chance to test your true grit in a welcoming and fun place. Starting at 9 a.m., choose between the solo category, four-person or eight-person relay. Then follow a 3.38km loop on cross country trails with rewarding views. Portions of the course will be unlit, so when the sun sets, have your headlamp ready. If you’re age 15 and under, you can participate in the fourhour solo race, held from 1-5 p.m. Participants will enjoy a complimentary breakfast at 9:05 a.m. on Sunday, followed by an awards ceremony. Registration required. upriverrunning.com

The annual Chum Rhubarb Festival in Duluth is fun for all ages. This free event, held at Stella Maris Academy, offers your favorites like rhubarb brats, pies, crisps, and sweet treats. Alongside the food will be live music on the main stage, arts and crafts, booths, kids’ activities, and more. Rhubarbara the mascot will also make an appearance, and her new friend will be making their debut. The festival will take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. facebook. com/chumduluth

LUTSEN 99ER RACES

June 24, Saturday The annual Lutsen 99er is an ultra-marathon mountain biking event in Lutsen. Riders can choose between four distances: a 19-mile, 39-mile, 69-mile, or 99-mile race. The course consists of snowmobile and ski trails, Forest Service roads, and a bit of pavement and single-track. Beginning this year, the Lutsen 99er has a new home at Superior National Golf Course, located just a couple miles down Ski Hill Road. The first race will start at 7:30 a.m. and an afterparty with live music will start at 4:30 p.m. at Caribou Highlands, followed by an awards ceremony. For those not racing, Fika Coffee is hosting a watch party with pancakes, served until 9 a.m. And don’t miss the festivities on Friday, June 23 at Superior National, including live music, food, and the

June 24-25 An iconic community event, enjoy a free weekend of original arts and crafts in a stunning setting near Lake Superior in Duluth. Held at Park Point Recreation Area, the 51st annual Park Point Art Fair will feature over 100 juried artists from the Midwest region displaying and selling fine art and crafts, including photography, ceramics, prints, paintings, metal, glass and wood sculptures, jewelry, fiber, and more. There will also be live music, food trucks, free art making activities, and demonstrations. The event takes place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. parkpointartfair.org

HOVLAND ARTS FESTIVAL

July 1-2 The annual Hovland Arts Festival, held at the Hovland Town Hall, will showcase 40 artists, featuring everything from jewelry, paintings, and pottery to carvings, photography, and woodwork. There will also be live music, storytelling all day, and food provided by Trinity Lutheran Church and Bad Seed. The festival will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. facebook. com/hovlandartsfestival

Jewelry

The Chum Rhubarb Festival in Duluth features live music, kids’ activities, arts and crafts, and of course, rhubarb foods. | SUBMITTED

The annual Lutsen 99er also has free youth races (registration required) on Friday, June 23. | SUBMITTED

Rhubarbara the mascot will be in attendance at the Chum Rhubarb Festival in Duluth, held June 24. | SUBMITTED

NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Thru June 1

Adam Swanson: Bellwether Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru June 4

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Thru June 7

Alexa Carson: Reclaiming Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru June 17

Catching Up/Resurfacing Exhibition Joseph Nease Gallery, Duluth, josephneasegallery.com

Thru June 18

Blake Debassige Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Ruth Tye Mckenzie: Spotlight Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Annual Member Show (Reception May 31) Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru June 30

Birchbark & Cattails: A Homage to Land that Creates Art AICHO’s Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center, Duluth, aicho.org

Thru July 16

Neechee Studio 10th Anniversary: Oh, My Creator! Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru August 26

Air-Openness: Summer Exhibition Grand Marais Art Colony: Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Thru Oct. 31

Now That Summer Has Ended: An Exhibit About Winter Activities During the Fur Trade Era Grand Portage National Monument, visitcookcounty.com/events

May 29-June 10

Juried Artists-in-Residence Grand Marais Art Colony: Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

May 31-Sept. 12

Keren Kroul: Atlas of the Mind Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

June 1, Thursday

Free Artist Talk with Paula Gustafson: Chasing the Light: Trusting What You See 5 p.m. Grand Marais Art Colony: Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Historic Cook County Trivia Night 6 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Margie Taylor: Book Launch 7 p.m. Entershine Bookshop, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/entershinebookshop

June 1-29

Pride Celebration Thunder Bay, facebook.com/thunderpride

June 1-30

Monthly Exhibit: MaryBeth Kiczenski Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

June 2, Friday

Story Time with Chione Woodwind Quintet 10 a.m. Duluth Public Library, alslib.info

Book Launch: The Donut Lady & the World’s Best Pet Chicken 11 a.m. World’s Best Donut Shop, Grand Marais, facebook.com/worldsbestdonuts

Story Time with Chione Woodwind Quintet 2 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, alslib.info

Story Time with Chione Woodwind Quintet 3:30 p.m. Silver Bay Public Library, alslib.info

Shelley Breitzmann Art Reception: Cold & Deep: Lake Superior Region 4 p.m. Siiviis Gallery, Duluth, facebook.com/siiviisgallery

Author Talk with Lynette Reini-Grandell: Wild Things: A Trans-Glam-Punk-Rock Love Story 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, facebook.com/drurylanebooks

June 2-3

Thirsty River 8 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com

June 2-4

Northern Landscapes Festival North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

Gunflint Green Days Schaap Community Center, Gunflint Trail, sites.google.com/view/gunflintgreendays

June 2-25

Beauty is Everywhere (Reception June 2 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

June 2-30

Artist of the Month: Mary Bruno (Reception June 2 at 7 p.m.) Tettegouche State Park: Visitor Center, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

June 3, Saturday

Walk for Animals 9 a.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, animalallies.net

Duluth Monarch Festival 10 a.m. Coppertop Church, Duluth, duluthmonarchbuddies.org

Spring Into Summer Artisan Market 10 a.m. Duluth Studio Market, Duluth, facebook.com/duluthmarket

Diggin Down to the Roots: Tree Adaptations 10:30 a.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park: Visitor Center, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberry

Story Time with Chione Woodwind Quintet 10:30 a.m. Grand Marais Public Library, alslib.info

Full Moon Rainbow Reading: LGBTQ Literary Slam & Bonfire 5:30 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, facebook.com/drurylanebooks

DSSO Bridge Sessions: Superior Siren 7 p.m. Depot Theatre, Duluth, facebook.com/dssomn

Cambrian Players Improv 7:30 p.m. Cambrian Players Theatre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/cambrianplayersimprov

The Antibodies: Longform Improv 8 p.m. Zeitgeist, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

June 3-4

Kite Festival 11 a.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/events

June 5, Monday

Story Time with Chione Woodwind Quintet 3:30 p.m. Ely Public Library, alslib.info

Arrowhead Library System’s Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. McQuade Small Craft Harbor, Duluth, alslib.info

The Unabashed Bash: A Renegade Comedy Fundraiser 6 p.m. Zeitgeist, Duluth, bit.ly/unabashedbash

June 7-23

Spring Art Expo NWFA Gallery, Cook, nwfamn.org

June 8, Thursday

Music & Art with the Searls Sisters 4:30 p.m. Silver Bay Public Library, facebook.com/silverbaylibrary

Ryan Joyce: Mindblowing Magic 7 p.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, Thunder Bay, benefitshow.net

June 9, Friday

Free Movie: LGBTQ2SIA+ Stories 6 p.m. Grand Marais Playhouse, matthew@bearwitnessmedia.com

Cavalleria Rusticana 7 p.m. Marshall

Performing Arts Center: UMD, Duluth, facebook.com/loonopera

June 9-10

Duluth-stämman: Nordic Folk Music Festival Peace Church, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

International Brick Collectors Association

Summer Swap & Convention Grand Marais, 763-333-5144

Park Point Rummage Sale 8 a.m. Park Point, Duluth, parkpointcommunityclub.org

Thunder Bay Farmers’ Market 10 a.m. North End Recreation Centre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/t.bay.farmersmarket

June 9-11

SheRides Clinic Lutsen Mountains, superiorcycling.org

10x10 Short Play Festival Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

June 10, Saturday

Free Parks Day Minnesota State Parks, mndnr.gov/freeparkdays

Free Park Day Scavenger Hunt Tettegouche State Park: Visitor Center, Silver Bay, friendsoftettegouche.org

Northwoods Kids Fishing Derby Ely, ely.org

Annual Pride Celebration 9 a.m. Downtown Grand Marais, matthew@bearwitnessmedia.com

Thunder Bay Farmers’ Market 10 a.m. North End Recreation Centre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/t.bay.farmersmarket

Nice Girls of the North Second Saturday

Marketplace 10 a.m. Spirit of the Lake Community School, Duluth, nicegirlsofthenorth.com

Greg Mosher Memorial Ride 10 a.m. Ely, facebook.com/prospectorloopatvtrail

UCB Hope Run 10 a.m. Vickers Park, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/ucbcanada

Open Studio: Elizabeth Rose & Kimberly Wetzel

10:30 a.m. Grand Marais Art Colony: Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Falcons, Live! 11 a.m. Tettegouche State Park: Visitor Center, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

Falcons, Live! 3 p.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park: Visitor Center, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberry

Gala for the Grove: Roaring 20’s 5 p.m. Birch Grove Community School, Tofte, birchgroveschool.com

Free Concert: Jason Schooler Band 7 p.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, friendsoftettegouche.org

June 10-11

Last Runner Standing Noon, Spirit Mountain, Duluth, lastrunnerstanding.com

Boundary Waters Expo Bearskin Lodge & Wilderness Outfitters, Gunflint Trail, bwcaexpo.com

June 11, Sunday

Congregational Church Service with a Visiting Choir 10:30 a.m. Harbor Park, Grand Marais, matthew@bearwitnessmedia.com

Summer Maker’s Market Noon, Castle Danger Brewery, Two Harbors, castledangerbrewery.com

Cavalleria Rusticana 3 p.m.

Marshall Performing Arts Center: UMD, Duluth, facebook.com/loonopera

GTVFD Shrimp Boil 4 p.m. Fire Hall 3: 7 Seagull Lake Access Road, Gunflint Trail, facebook.com/gunflint911

June 12, Monday

Matthew O’Reilly: Shed Self Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

June 12-25

Ellen Sandbeck Art Exhibit: As Long As The Rivers Shall Run Ely’s Historic State Theater, northernlakesarts.org

June 13, Tuesday

Hunger Hero Golf Scramble 5 p.m. Gunflint Hills Golf Course, Grand Marais, facebook.com/northshorefederalcreditunion

June 14, Wednesday

Free Artist Talk with David Feinberg: Presence in Visual Art 12:15 p.m. Grand Marais Art Colony: Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

CLIMB Theatre: The Ant & the Grasshopper Mini Play Performances 3:30 p.m. Mt. Royal Branch Library, Duluth, alslib.info

Arrowhead Cooperative Annual Meeting

6 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, arrowheadcoop.com

June 15, Thursday

CLIMB Theatre: The Ant & the Grasshopper Mini Play Performances 10 a.m. Duluth Public Library, alslib.info

CCHE: Free PFLAG Presentation via Zoom 6 p.m. mycche.org

June 15-16

Essentia Health Fitness Expo 4 p.m. (10 a.m. Fri.) Decc, Duluth, grandmasmarathon.com

June 16, Friday

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Group Run: Free 8 a.m. Duluth Running Company, Duluth, grandmasmarathon.com

CLIMB Theatre: The Ant & the Grasshopper Mini Play Performances 10:30 a.m.

Two Harbors Public Library, alslib.info

Michelina’s All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Dinner 11 a.m. Decc, Duluth, grandmasmarathon.com

YAF Festival for Kids & Kids Whipper Snapper

Races 11 a.m. (Races at 2 p.m.) Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, grandmasmarathon.com

CLIMB Theatre: The Ant & the Grasshopper Mini Play Performances 3:30 p.m. Silver Bay Public Library, alslib.info

Lutsen Block Party 5 p.m. Downtown Lutsen

William A. Irvin 5k 6 p.m. Duluth, grandmasmarathon.com

LGBTQ2SIA+ Film Night 7 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, facebook.com/grandmaraislibrary

June 16-17

Rock the Bayfront: Free Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, grandmasmarathon.com

Magnus Theatre Young Company Presents: The 39 Steps 7:30 p.m. (& at 2 p.m. June 17), Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

Lost Island Society 8:30 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com

June 16-18

Wooden Boat Show North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

Peter Mitchell Fun Days Babbitt, Facebook: Peter Mitchell Fun Days

June 17, Saturday

Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon 6 a.m. Scenic Hwy 61 to Duluth, grandmasmarathon.com

Grandma’s Marathon 7:45 a.m. Two Harbors to Duluth, grandmasmarathon.com

Motorcycle Ride for Dad 9 a.m. Victoria Inn Hotel, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/healthsciencesfoundation

Thunder Bay Pride March 9 a.m. Waverley Park, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/thunderpride

Thunder Bay Farmers’ Market 10 a.m.

North End Recreation Centre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/t.bay.farmersmarket

Mining Day 10 a.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbayminingday.com

CLIMB Theatre: The Ant & the Grasshopper Mini Play Performances 10:30 a.m. Grand Marais Public Library, alslib.info

Invasive Species Beer Launch Party

3 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, facebook.com/voyageurbrewing

Author Talk with Rudi Hargesheimer: The Superior Hiking Trail Story: The Trek Continues

6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, facebook.com/drurylanebooks

Gabe Mayfield 7:30 p.m. St. Louis County Depot, Duluth, facebook.com/minnesotaballet

Summer Solstice Pageant 8 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais, facebook.com/goodharborhillplayers

June 17-18

License-Free Family Fishing in Ontario Throughout Ontario, ontariofamilyfishing.com

June 18, Sunday

Father’s Day

Neil Sherman Artist Talk 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

June 19, Monday

Juneteenth Day

June 20, Tuesday

Cassandra Quinn Exhibition Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

The Doobie Brothers 6:30 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth, decc.org

June 21, Wednesday

Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 22-July 2

Godspell 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

June 23, Friday

Free Open Studio: Youth Character Creation Camp 11:30 a.m. Grand Marais Art Colony: Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Culture Crawl 4 p.m. Cook County History Museum, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Jon Pardi 5 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, bayfrontfestivalpark.com

Little Niners Race 5:30 p.m. Superior National Golf Course, Lutsen, lutsen99er.com

June 23-24

Crazy Chester 8:30 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com

June 23-25

Disney’s Newsies Jr. Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Pollinator Party: Classes & Activities Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder, sugarloafnorthshore.org

June 23-Sept. 17

Helen Pelletier Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Ziibaaska’iganagoodayan: The Jingle Dress: Christian Chapman Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

June 24, Saturday

Thunder Bay Sprints Regatta Kaministiquia River, Thunder Bay, thunderbayrowingclub.com

Lutsen 99er Races 7:30 a.m. Superior National Golf Course, Lutsen, lutsen99er.com

Nigh Noon: 24Hr Trail Race & Relay

9 a.m. Kamview Nordic Centre, Thunder Bay, upriverrunning.com

Chum Rhubarb Festival 9 a.m. Stella Maris Academy, Duluth, facebook.com/chumduluth

Electronics Recycling Collection 9 a.m. Grand Marais Recycling Center, retrofitcompanies.com

Story Time with Drag Queens

10:30 a.m. Waverley Library, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/thunderpride

Maamawe Summer Festival Noon, Marina Park, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos 6:30 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, facebook.com/lovinlakecounty

Hippo Campus with Miloe & Papa Mbye

6:30 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, bayfrontfestivalpark.com

Sara Thomsen & Paula Pedersen 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com

June 24-25

Geraldton Walleye Classic Geraldton, Ontario, gcfi.net

Duluth Gun Show 9 a.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org Park Point Art Fair 10 a.m. Park Point Recreation Area, Duluth, parkpointartfair.org

June 25, Sunday

Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes 10 a.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/jdrfcanada Dorothy Day 11 a.m. Dorothy Molter Museum, Ely, rootbeerlady.com

Taste of the Trail Picnic Adventure 12:30 p.m. Gunflint Trail, northshorehealthcarefoundation.org

Reconsidering Fire in the BWCAW 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

The Apartment 6 p.m. Zeitgeist, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

June 26, Monday

Arrowhead Library System’s Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. McQuade Small Craft Harbor, Duluth, alslib.info

June 27, Tuesday

Kids’ Day: Free Admission 10 a.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

June 28, Wednesday

Arrowhead Caregiver Conference: A Positive Approach to Caring 9 a.m. Cook County Higher Education: Satellite Site, Grand Marais, carepartnersofcookcounty.org

CLIMB Theatre: The Ant & the Grasshopper Mini Play Performances 1 p.m. Ely Public Library, alslib.info

Bluey’s Big Play 1 p.m. & 6 p.m. Decc: Symphony Hall, Duluth, decc.org

June 29, Thursday

Two Spirit Mini Pow Wow Noon, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Historic Cook County Trivia Night 6 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

June 30, Friday

Hike and a Pint 1 p.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mnland.org

Flo Rida with Twista 5:30 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, bayfrontfestivalpark.com

The Guess Who 7 p.m. Decc: Symphony Hall, Duluth, decc.org

June 30-July 23

Lee Englund: Oil Paintings from Life (Reception June 30 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Gallery, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

July 1, Saturday

Canada Day

Porphyry Island Lighthouse 150th Anniversary Celebration Noon, Point Porphyry Island, Lake Superior, clls.ca

Canada Day on the Waterfront 1 p.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

July 1-2

Objects to Crave Grand Opening 9 a.m. Objects to Crave Gift Shop, Hovland, facebook.com/objectstocrave

Hovland Arts Festival 10 a.m. Hovland Town Hall, facebook.com/hovlandartsfestival

WEEKLY EVENTS

Tuesdays

Hillside Farmers Market (Starts June 13) 2 p.m. 503 E. 3rd St., Duluth, facebook.com/hillsidefarmersmarket

Locals Night with Live Music 4:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Ely Farmers Market & Arts in the Park 5 p.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

Wednesdays

Duluth Farmers Market 2 p.m. Duluth Farmers Market, duluthfarmersmarket.com

Thunder Bay Country Market 3:30 p.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca

Old Time Dance Practice 7 p.m. Colvill Town Hall, colvillcommunityclub1936@gmail.com

Thursdays

Lincoln Park Farmers Market (Starts June 15) 3 p.m. Harrison Community Center, Duluth, facebook.com/lincolnparkfarmersmarket

Thursday Night Art 4 p.m. Joy & Company, Grand Marais, facebook.com/joyandcompanymn

Finland Farmer’s Market (Starts June 15) 5 p.m. Clair Nelson Community Center, Finland, finlandfarmersmarket.com

Date Night with Live Music 6 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Fridays

Meat Raffle 5 p.m. American Legion Post 109, Two Harbors, facebook.com/ twoharborsamericanlegion

Renegade Friday Nights 10:30 p.m. Zeitgeist, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Saturdays

Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca Duluth Farmers Market 8 a.m. Duluth Farmers Market, duluthfarmersmarket.com

Cook County Market 10 a.m. Senior Center Parking Lot (The Hub), Grand Marais, facebook.com/ccfarmandcraft

Two Harbors Farmers Market 10 a.m. Burlington Station, Two Harbors, facebook.com/twoharborsfarmersmarket

Children’s Story Hour 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, facebook.com/drurylanebooks

Chester Creek Concert Series (Starts June 13) 7 p.m. Chester Park, Duluth, chesterbowl.org

Sundays

Sunday Skates 10 a.m. Marina Skatepark, Thunder Bay, femaleboardercollective.ca

Clover Valley Farm Trail Noon, Duluth to Two Harbors, clovervalleyfarmtrail.com

Weekend Wine Down with Live Music 3:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

The North Shore Dish A Fishy Legacy: Smoked Fish

By Virginia George

Last month I had the privilege of going smelt fishing on Lake Superior. Smelt are small trout-like fish, that spawn in the shallow waters of lakes, rivers, and streams each spring. Female smelt “broadcast” their eggs in the shallow water, and once fertilized, they become sticky and adhere to the sand or gravel below. Most of the spawning smelt die afterwards.

Intriguingly, smelt are not native to the waters of the Great Lakes. They were introduced into Crystal Lake in Michigan in 1912. Crystal Lake drains into Lake Michigan, which is, of course, connected to all the other Great Lakes, and so began the legacy of smelting in Lake Superior.

You don’t catch smelt in a traditional hook-and-line way, out on the still water with the sun peeking over the horizon… No, nothing so romantic. You catch smelt by wading into the cold waters of Lake Superior in the middle of the night with a net. As schools of fish come in to spawn, smelters don their waders, grab their nets, and try to catch the fish before they turn around and head right back out to deeper waters. Some fishermen use a long net, which they walk, chest deep, across the shoreline and sweep back in to shore to their friends waiting with buckets and headlamps. Others find the mouth of a river and watch the icy water with dip nets at the ready to scoop the fish as they come by.

The smelt run is an extremely short season that is dictated by water temperatures, and thus cannot be planned for in the way that other fishing seasons are, but fishing on Lake Superior has a long and storied history. There are still commercial fisherman who manage to carve out a living on Lake Superior, bringing us whitefish, herring, and lake trout from the depths of Gitche Gumee, which we can then find served in local restaurants and smokehouses along the shore.

Specifically, the Northland has the unique vantage point of being situated alongside the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area, and third largest by volume. That’s a lot of space to be home to a variety of fish, and throughout the years smokehouses have popped up along the shore and added to the legacy of fishing on the North Shore. Northern Waters Smokehaus in Duluth holds onto their award-winning legacy, schlepping smoked meats and sandwiches for more than 20 years.

Smelt are not native to the waters of the Great Lakes. They were introduced into Crystal Lake in Michigan in 1912. Crystal Lake drains into Lake Michigan, which is, of course, connected to all the other Great Lakes. | VIRGINIA GEORGE

Northern Waters Smokehaus, Duluth

Northern Waters Smokehaus is located in Duluth’s bustling downtown in the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace, just a stone’s throw from the Aerial Lift Bridge. Northern Waters Smokehaus has been operating out of the same storefront for more than 20 years, delighting customers all the while. What once began as an informally organized hidden gem on the great Gitche Gumee has become a renowned smokehouse and sandwich shop, earning a slot on Food Network’s show Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives, a mention in Bon Appetit magazine, and winning their

category at Seattle’s Festa Italiana salami challenge for their dry-cured Salamini.

Growth and expansion have forced Northern Waters to actually maintain office space, and their smoking operation has moved onsite. They maintain their dedication to excellence in their craft, because Northern Waters Smokehaus believes the creation of their food is more than a job— it’s a craft. Using the same brines and smoking schedules as they did when they began, consistency and reliance on the process is their key to success.

Northern Waters Smokehaus cases are filled with both farmed and wild-caught

fish, as well as a variety of sausages, deli meats, and more. Wild-caught fish are sourced from local commercial fisherman, and farmed fish are purchased from companies with Best Aquaculture Practices certifications. All smoked meats are celiac-friendly, and if you happen to be in store looking for the immediate satisfaction of a Smokehaus sandwich, they have a gluten-free bread option as well.

If you aren’t local, but you’re located in the United States, Northern Waters Smokehaus has been shipping their food for almost as long as they’ve been in operation, and the variety available is endless. From sandwich

kits, to turkey breast, bacon, ham, salmon, sauerkraut, and even the crackers to serve your delicious treats on, Northern Waters Smokehaus foods are accessible to anyone within the U.S.

Located in the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace in downtown Duluth, Northern Waters Smokehaus has been operating out of the same storefront for more than 20 years. This renowned smokehouse and sandwich shop has been using the same brines and smoking schedules as they did when they first began.

| NORTHERN WATERS SMOKEHAUS

Heat-Related Illness

By Hartley Newell-Acero

The North Shore has famously cool summers, but that doesn’t mean we never have to worry about the heat. While anyone can experience heat-related illness, there are risk factors that increase the likelihood:

• Age. The nervous systems of young children and adults over 65 are less able to cope with changes in body temperature. They can have difficulty sensing the degree to which they’re overheated or thirsty and may have difficulty remaining hydrated. Older adults don’t sweat as efficiently and are more likely to have chronic medical conditions that impact the way their bodies respond to heat.

• Sudden exposure to warmer temperatures. We may have cold weather living down to a science, but we aren’t acclimated to heat. It can take several weeks of exposure to hot weather before a person adjusts. Additionally, what’s considered “hot” is relative. If the temperatures are above normal for you, it pays to be cautious.

• Lack of air conditioning. AC’s not only cool down the air, but they also remove humidity. This allows sweat to evaporate and the body to cool off.

• Certain medications. When temperatures start to rise, be careful if you take medication to:

- narrow blood vessels (vasoconstrictors),

- block adrenaline and lower blood pressure (beta blockers),

- help your body to get rid of sodium and water (diuretics),

- act as a stimulant (for ADHD),

- reduce psychiatric symptoms (antidepressants or antipsychotics).

Heat-related illnesses can range in severity from aggravating to deadly.

• Heat rash (prickly heat) is a skin irritation caused by sweat that can’t evaporate. It looks like clusters of red bumps and commonly appears on the neck, upper chest, and folds of skin.

• Heat cramps are caused when electrolytes and fluid are lost through sweat. Resting in a shady, cool area, and having a drink (a sports drink will help replace lost electrolytes) will help cramps to dissipate.

• Heat exhaustion happens when someone can’t rid their body of excess heat. Their

core temperature and heart rate start to increase. As the illness progresses, the person may begin to feel confused, tired, irritable, lightheaded, or dizzy. They may sweat heavily, feel thirsty and nauseous, and should cool off as quickly as possible: get to a shady, cool area, remove excess clothing, wipe down with a cool, damp cloth, and drink a cool sports beverage or water.

• Heat stroke is the most severe and dangerous type of heat-related illness. It is always considered a medical emergency. Watch out for rapid heart rate and breathing, very high body temperature (104 F / 40 C or higher), heavy sweating or skin that’s hot and dry, confusion, slurred speech, headache, seizures, or unconsciousness. Untreated heat stroke can quickly damage the brain, heart, kidneys,

and muscles. When these symptoms are present, call 911 immediately and cool the person as quickly as possible: a cool shower, misting with a water hose and fanning, or ice packs on the neck, armpits, and groin, and drinking a sports beverage or water.

Thankfully, heat-related illnesses can be prevented.

• Wear clothing that’s lightweight, loose, and light-colored.

• Avoid sunburns. It’s not only painful and damaging to the skin but also impedes the body’s ability to cool itself. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and use sunscreen.

• Stay hydrated by drinking water frequently. Older people often have impaired thirst response and may need water even if they don’t feel thirsty. The color of urine can be an easy-to-check indicator of hydration. Unless someone is taking medication or supplements that change the color, urine should be clear to pale yellow. If it’s darker than that, have some water.

• Never leave anyone in a parked car, even in the shade with the windows cracked. This is a common cause of heat-related deaths in children. When parked in the sun, the temperature in a car can jump 20 degrees F (more than 11 degrees C) in only 10 minutes.

• Buddy-up! Confusion can accompany early heat stress, and that makes a person unaware that they are getting overheated. A buddy can help spot heat stress indicators (fatigue, dizziness, confusion) before they get serious.

accept credit cards, EBT and SNAP

Northern Trails

Tiller vs. Console: Which Boat is Better?

By Gord Ellis

Choosing a boat is one of those decisions most people only make once or twice in their lifetime. Buying a boat is a major decision and increasingly is a big-ticket item. In the north, many people have boats that are worth more than their vehicle! So, you will want to make the most informed choice you possibly can. In my career, I’ve had great opportunities to use a wide variety of boats, both as an angler and as a guide. Every season, I run both a tiller boat and a console boat with a wheel. Here are my thoughts on the pluses and minuses of each type, and what to consider when you buy a boat.

Tiller Boats

Most of us likely started our fishing career in a tiller “tin” boat of some kind. The classic tin tiller boat is 12 to 14 feet long, with bench seats and not much else. The motor is run from the back of the boat and the outboard has a stick—or tiller—you steer and control the speed with. Tin tillers are still the boats most anglers have, although they have become a bit fancier in recent years.

The great thing about a simple, tin tiller boat is it can be put into just about any lake, river or reservoir without too much difficulty. If there is no real launch at the lake, a couple strong backs can carry or slide the boat to the water. Smaller tiller boats generally have outboards from 4.5 to 15-horsepower. This size motor can be detached easily and even portaged.

Most tillers are 12 to 14 feet long, but there are an increasing number that are much larger, fancier and more elaborate. The largest tiller I ever fished out of was 20 feet long and had a 200-horsepower motor. That huge outboard had a complex steering mechanism that allowed the person to control that kind of power with a stick throttle. My personal tiller boat is 18 feet long with a 90-horsepower motor. That may still seem like a large motor, but it handles very well and has power trim, so it is easy to find the sweet spot when driving it. The steering can also be tightened down for long runs.

The great thing about the tiller is the open floor plan. The lack of a console means there is less clutter. Some large tillers don’t have a floor, but the ones that do have a lot of storage possibilities, which means less stuff to trip on. My Lund Pro Guide also has a rod locker that allows for multiple rods to

The great thing about a tiller boat is the open floor plan. The lack of a console means there is less clutter. | GORD ELLIS

be stowed away, creating less of a tripping/breaking hazard.

The downside of tillers? You are open and exposed to the elements. There is no escaping the wind, rain, and lake spray. If it is cold and crappy outside, you are going to have a front row seat. For families with small kids, that can make for a very short day. I still have nightmares about crying kids who have taken a face full of freezing lake water.

Tillers also don’t generally have any top or cover. A few of the larger ones can have what is called a Bimini top, but it is not as stable or wind proof as a regular top that comes with many console boats.

Console Boats

A console boat is steered by a fixed wheel and speed is controlled via stick shift. Many people feel much more comfortable in a boat with a wheel, as it reminds them of driving a car. Some boats have a half console so only the boat driver has a windshield, but the vast majority have a full console with a windshield. This protection from the elements makes a huge difference in cold, rainy, and generally bad weather.

The wheel/console mix also works quite well when driving larger outboards. Not many people are comfortable with a big outboard that’s not driven with a wheel. Most console boats come with a fabric top of some kind that can help keep the elements out and make a day on the water last a little longer. The top can be stowed away easily if not needed. A console also offers a good place to attach electronics and usually has a storage compartment or two built into it.

The down sides of a console boat? The console itself eats up a lot of space in a boat and the smaller the boat, the more of a factor that is. The console and windshield also weigh a lot, which adds to the overall weight of the boat.

As for fishing, if you are using an electric trolling motor when fishing, then having a wheel and stick shift is not an issue as you can run the boat from just about anywhere. However, if you run the boat with the outboard, you will need one hand on the wheel and the other on the stick shift. That makes fishing a little tricky.

One oddball thing I will note is the chance of windshields being broken when trailering. If you don’t trailer your boat much, it’s not an issue. However, those of us who trailer boats a lot should consider a good travel cover. Flying rocks can destroy a windshield and that is an expensive fix.

There is no perfect boat and every manner of them has a plus and minus. One thing is for sure: any boat is better than no boat. Here is hoping you have a boat that you can enjoy the Northern Wilds with this summer.

Tillers have more open space for fishing. | GORD ELLIS

Boats with a console and windshield can protect the passengers and driver from the elements.

GUNFLINT TRAIL GRAND MARAIS, MN

BY JOE SHEAD

WHY GO: Pakashkan Lake harbors angling opportunities for above-average-sized walleyes and northern pike in a wilderness-like setting.

ACCESS: The lake lies about a two-hour drive northwest of Thunder Bay. There are two access points. The first is at Pakashkan Lake Lodge in the middle basin on the southern end of the lake. From Thunder Bay, travel west on Trans-Canada Highway/ Ontario Highway 17 for 95 miles. Turn right onto Graham Road and travel for 31 miles. Finally, turn left on Lodge Road and proceed 1.5 miles to the lodge. Alternatively, keep going on Graham Road and proceed past Lodge Road another 2 miles, then turn left onto Weaver Road and proceed to the lake. Crown Land camping is available at both sites. Once you leave the Trans-Canada Highway, travel is very rough. Go slowly, cover your boat, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have tow flaps or other protection for your boat.

VITALS: Pakashkan Lake is a sprawling 13,141-acre lake with a maximum depth of 70 feet. It is made up of three distinct basins. There is a lodge and a few cabins, but otherwise it is largely undeveloped. Although the lodge does put out jugs to mark some of the nearby reefs, many rocks are unmarked and

NORTHERN SKY

JUNE 2023

By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

As June opens, Venus forms a line with the Gemini twins. Nearby, Mars is poised to drift through the subdued but lovely Beehive star cluster in Cancer, the crab.

At nightfall June 1 and 2, look for brilliant Venus above the western horizon. To the right of Venus, Pollux—the brighter Gemini twin—and Castor complete an almost perfectly straight line.

Above and left of Venus, Mars still ornaments the evening sky. On June 1, 2, and 3, grab your binoculars and watch Mars sail through the Beehive cluster.

The Beehive is also known as Praesepe, Latin for “manger.” As Mars leaves the Beehive, it passes between two somewhat bright stars that frame the manger. These are the northern and southern asses—Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis, respectively— which feed at the manger.

Looking upward and leftward again, the bright spring star Regulus, the heart of Leo, the lion, is closing in on the two planets. Watch this space between Tuesday and Friday, the 20th and 23rd, as a young waxing

moon sweeps past Venus, Mars, and finally Regulus.

June’s full moon rises big and round the evening of the 3rd. It crosses the night sky next to Antares, the gigantic red heart of the summer constellation Scorpius.

In the predawn sky, Saturn is well up in the southeast and Jupiter spends the month climbing up from the eastern horizon. If you’re out early enough on the 14th, don’t miss the pretty pairing of a waning crescent moon and Jupiter.

Summer arrives with the solstice at 9:58 a.m. on the 21st, when the sun reaches a point over the Tropic of Cancer. At that moment an observer in space would see sunlight stretching from the Antarctic Circle up to the North Pole and over to the Arctic Circle on the dark side of the planet.

For more information on the University of Minnesota’s public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth and Twin Cities campuses, visit: d.umn.edu/planet.

PAKASHKAN LAKE

boating can be hazardous. Go slowly and watch for rocks.

GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Walleye and northern pike.

WALLEYE: Most anglers who visit Pakashkan are there for walleyes. The lake coughs up good numbers of eater-sized fish, with a chance at a trophy over 30 inches always a possibility. Look for walleyes along weeds or rocks. The bite is best on Pakashkan early and late in the day. Bring plenty of minnows if you’re planning to fish live bait because bait is hard to come by and expensive. Alternatively, jigs with plastics catch plenty of fish.

NORTHERN PIKE: Pike are numerous, sometimes to the chagrin of walleye anglers, as they frequently bite off lures. However, many anglers come to Pakashkan with the hope of catching a real lunker pike. Giants in the mid- to upper-40-inch range are out there for lucky or dedicated anglers, and you’re sure to tangle with lots of smaller pike as well. You can catch plenty of pike on walleye rods pitching spoons or spinners, but if you’re after a real giant, break out the muskie rod and industrial-sized lures. Weedy bays with inflowing water are good bets any time, but especially in spring. For big fish, try deep weed edges.

View all our Fishing Hole Maps at: northernwilds.com/fishingholemaps

Bringing history to life Hiking the BWCAW

BOUNDARY WATERS—Northern Minnesota boasts one of the world’s premier canoeing destinations: the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The name says it all—the BWCAW is a canoeing paradise. Find a canoe you can comfortably portage, grab a paddle and a pack, and suddenly you can go almost anywhere in a vast 1,000,000-acre wilderness.

But what about those adventurers among us who think a little bit differently? Those who question, shouldn’t the BWCAW also provide amazing possibilities for challenging, remote hiking? After all, there’s a lot of land in this protected wilderness too… These free thinkers see an opportunity not to fight for the last open campsite on a crowded lake, but rather to experience the wilderness for what it truly can be: a place of absolute solitude. They’re ready to earn this remote solitude with their own two feet.

For Martin Kubik, who has been hiking the BWCAW since the 1970s after immigrating with his family to the U.S. from Czechoslovakia, it’s the hiking that puts the “W” in BWCA-Wilderness. “When you hike the Superior Hiking Trail, you can hear the road from many places. When you hike the Powwow Trail, you’re really out there. It’s Alaska four hours from the Twin Cities. There’s a sense of adventure, exploration, and the unknown.”

LOGGING ROADS TO HIKING TRAILS

Ken Hupila, who moved to Ely in 1978 and has been hiking BWCAW trails ever since, also sees the beauty of these trails through the history they represent.

Hupila credits the use of fire towers as one of the precursors of today’s wilderness hiking routes. “A lot of the hiking trails in the BWCAW today are associated with old fire towers. There were a couple of real bad fires up in this area about 1910, and by 1911 the Forest Service had gone in and put in 50 towers from what is now one end of the Boundary Waters to the other. They pared that number down a little over time, but the remaining towers were manned until the 1950s.”

Hupila previously worked as a canoe guide during summer months, and focused on recounting the Boundary Waters rich human

history to his clients. He read and researched the lives of the Ojibwe and the voyageurs, as well as the more modern history of logging and mining in the area.

He learned that the logging companies in effect laid the foundation for BWCAW hiking trails by developing forest roads, and even railroads, that went to some of the fire towers. As time went on, and the BWCAW became protected in the second half of the 20th century, logging railroads were taken out first, and then the logging roads were abandoned as well. These arteries were quickly overtaken by the forest again.

There were some exceptions too, as Hupila discovered. “In the cases of some trails, namely the Sioux-Hustler Trail, the Angleworm Trail, the Kekekabic Trail, and the Powwow Trail, the Forest Service decided to try and create another recreational activity that could be done using the previous roadbed. That’s how the hiking trails came to be.”

DEATH OF A TRAIL?

Take the Powwow Trail, one that Kubik and Hupila and teams of other volunteers have worked on reclaiming from 2016 to the present due to sporadic maintenance by the U.S. Forest Service after the Pagami Creek Wildfire of 2011. In an October 2015 press release, the Forest Service announced that it would no longer maintain the trail. At one time, Kubik was told by a District Ranger that the Forest Service plan was to let the trail go, then come back 30 years later and

re-establish it when the post-fire forest canopy grew back up. Kubik, now 71 years old, didn’t want to wait that long.

Hupila recounts the history of how the Powwow trail originally came to be. “The Tomahawk Lumber Company had a series of camps in the Babbitt area. As they logged out an area, they would move along and set up a new camp. Forest Center became their last camp, and it turned into a small city up in the wilderness. At one point there were about 600 people there. They had a grocery store, a church, and an elementary school. They had a sawmill there and a railroad that came in. They would log the surrounding area, bring the product into the sawmill, saw it up, and ship it out to the rest of the country from there.”

When the 1964 BWCAW Act was passed, the whole area where Tomahawk was operating was put off limits to logging, thereby eliminating the life source of Forest Center, and other area logging camps.

The Forest Service in turn converted the existing roads into hiking trails, cutting through the woods to complete loops in places where the old roads didn’t make a complete circle.

Hupila then watched the Powwow Trail practically disappear over the next three decades, until the Pagami Creek Wildfire in 2011, when all of a sudden everything was opened up again.

“Suddenly you could see the old roadbed again, and see all the remnants of the old logging camps,” says Hupila.

MODERN-DAY TRAIL MAINTENANCE: THE VOLUNTEER MODEL

Enter the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC)—a citizen-run volunteer trail maintenance organization with a mission of preserving existing historic and intrinsically

Photos of the Powwow Trail taken after the Pagami Creek Fire in 2011. | KEN HUPILA

Martin Kubik on a circumnavigation trip in 2012. | SUBMITTED

beautiful trails in the BWCAW of the Superior National Forest. BWAC blends stewardship, education, and advocacy for keeping trails maintained and opened for hikers.

Maintaining a wilderness hiking trail isn’t easy. Not with constant windstorms, forest fires, and yearly growth of underbrush encroaching on historic trails. In some cases, the Forest Service gives up trying. That’s why Kubik founded BWAC in 2002.

Kubik earned his chops leading grassroots trail maintenance expeditions to remote parts of the BWCAW as early as 1990.

He first hiked the length of the 40-mile Kekekabic Trail, from the Gunflint Trail west to Snowbank Lake, in two days in 1979. After 10 more years of continually enjoying the rarely-used trail, Kubik found it becoming more and more overgrown. He decided something had to be done, and says he had two choices: write to his state representatives to increase taxes, or go do something about it himself. He chose the latter.

Kubik recruited 115 fellow employees from 3M, where he was an electrical engineer, to go volunteer with him in 1990 to re-establish the Kekekabic. Together they cleared 3,000 tree falls over the Kekekabic’s 40 miles over the course of a year.

Kubik still remembers the days before the public needed to pick up the slack. “In the 1960s the Forest Service had hundreds of seasonal workers. When I was a young man in 1974 or so, I backpacked the Kek, and

in one place the Forest Service staff took a scythe and mowed the ferns. It was incredible. Back then they could use a helicopter to deliver lumber, so they had planks over wetlands. Now, after the passage of the 1978 Wilderness Act, they don’t do that anymore. The Kek was the first trail where they ceased maintenance in the 1980s, and we reclaimed it in 1990.”

With help of pro bono attorneys who negotiated and secured permission from the Forest Service for the BWAC, volunteers were ready to put their collective sweat equity into cleaning up the Powwow Trail. Five years later, in October 2021, a joint ceremony was held to open a new hiker’s kiosk on the edge of the BWCAW, celebrating the reopening of the 28-mile trail.

Kubik says that a multi-pronged approach of contacting the legislature, writing articles, and making countless presentations to the public on BWCAW trail reclamation projects is key to getting Forest Service permission to go in and work (with hand tools) on hiking trail maintenance. “To be an effective advocate for trails with the Forest Service, you need to have persistence,” says Kubik.

Today BWAC is thriving, with hundreds of members throughout Minnesota. In Kubik’s words, “There were some concerns 10 years ago, but then somebody discovered Facebook. Social media gets the message out and gets people involved.”

BWAC runs on a budget of $12,000 a year, mainly used for procuring tools like hand

saws and loppers needed for trail clearing. As Kubik sees it, “Our budget is small, but what makes this organization go is passion. You can’t buy that. You can’t hire somebody to instill passion. It has to come from the heart.”

Kubik and his team strongly believe that “As long as there are people willing to maintain these trails, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be open to the public.”

TAKE A HIKE

Today, thanks to joint efforts between the U.S. Forest Service and volunteer maintenance organizations like the BWAC, the Border Route Trail Association, and the Kekekabic Trail Club, hikers have the best conditions that have existed in years for exploring the BWCAW by foot.

Hupila and Kubik’s final advice for those adventurous souls ready to go deep down the BWCAW’s hiking trails: be prepared.

“You’re going to find a lot less people, more primitive conditions, and it’s going to be more a feeling of wilderness,” says Hupila. “On the Powwow Trail, if you do the whole circle, you may run into one or two parties, or maybe not.”

Kubik concurs. “These trails are not for a casual hiker. They are challenging. But they offer an escape from corporate life, and a sense of freedom from daily obligations. You can be who you are.”

The romance of BWCAW hiking trails pulls strong on Kubik, Hupila, and other dedicated volunteers. These passionate advocates have gone the extra mile, both when hiking deep into the wilderness, and by taking responsibility for maintaining trails the Forest Service can’t get to.

—Christopher Pascone

Presentations

Monday,

CPR

Changing

USFS Talks

Volunteers toss a dead fall on the side of the Powwow Trail. | SUBMITTED

The Boundary Waters Advisory Committee crew hiking to Rock of Ages. | SUBMITTED

charm and humor. Kids of all ages will enjoy this storybook.—Breana Johnson

True North Cabin Cookbook

Recipes & Stories from a North Woods Table

By Stephanie Hansen

Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2022, $29.95

From her family cabin on True North Island near Ely, author Stephanie Hansen shares her favorite recipes for the summer months, as well as her cherished cabin memories. The recipes are organized by months, starting with rhubarb syrup and various cocktails in May, and ending with shortbread cookies in September. Other recipes include molasses pork chops, Lila’s Mexican cornbread, creamy roasted tomato basil soup, beer can chicken, lemony zucchini bread, and quick-pickled jalapenos. This colorful, mouthwatering cookbook would be a great addition to any kitchen.

—Breana Johnson

The Earth Book for Kids

An Introduction to Earth Science

By Dan R. Lynch

Adventure Publications, 2022, $12.95

Introduce kids to geoscience with this fun and easy-to-understand guide. Kids will learn about rocks and miner als, the layers of Earth, the water cycle, weather and erosion, fossils, landforms, and more. The book starts with a look at Earth and what it’s made of, followed by what’s inside the Earth. It also comes with 16 fun and simple activities for the family, such as growing your own crystals, building your own molecules, creating sandstone, and recreating con tinental drift with stovetop tectonics. Filled with full color photographs and illustrations, this guide is both engaging and informative—perfect for kids inter ested in science.

Photo by Kalli Hawkins

Strange Tales Three Trillion Trees on Earth

By Elle AndraWarner

Ever wonder what Earth would be like if there were no trees?

“Without trees and forests, we would not have clean water, safe mountain slopes, habitat for many animals, fungi and other plants, the most biodiverse terrestrial ecosystems, sinks for our excess of carbon dioxide, depurators of our polluted air, etcetera,” said Professor Robert Cazzolla Gatti, Italy’s University of Bologna, as reported in an article by journalist Will Dunham for Reuters (February 8, 2022).

Researchers in 2015 pegged the number of living trees on Earth at around three trillion trees (an estimated 422 for every human). So, when did the first modern-like tree appear? Scientists say the first recognized ‘true’ tree was the Archaeopteris, which appeared about 370-380 million years ago during the Devonian period.

According to a recent international study by more than 100 scientists from around the world, there are about 73,300 tree species on Earth. The number was calculated using more than 44 million trees at more than 100,000 sites in 90 countries. Here’s some tree facts and trivia.

The world’s oldest living “individual” tree is recognized as a Great Basin bristlecone pine tree nicknamed Methuselah, which has been alive for 4,854 years as of October 2022. Methuselah’s age was determined in 1959 from core samples examined and verified by the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at University of Arizona. Methuselah’s precise location in the White Mountains of California remains a secret.

However, National Geographic reported in early 2022, that there might be a contender for Methuselah’s title of oldest tree on the planet. A Patagonian cypress in Chile known as the Great Grandfather is believed to be more than 5,000 years old. Located in a forest in the southern Los Rios region, the tree has been recognized as the second oldest, but not yet confirmed as the oldest living tree.

For a time, the world’s oldest living tree was thought to be a windswept Norway spruce named Old Tjikko, located on a mountain in northern Sweden dating back almost 10,000 years. After gaining worldwide fame, it turned out it was a “clonal” tree with the world’s oldest root system, which had been alive for nearly 10,000 years. As a “clonal” tree rather than an “individual”

tree like Methuselah, Old Tjikko developed new trunks (each trunk living up to 600 years), branches and roots over thousands of years from that one ancient root system. According to carbon dating, the 16-foot-tall Old Tjikko sprouted around 7550 B.C.

After visiting Old Tjikko, author Peter Wohlleben wrote in his book The Heartbeat of Trees, “Almost ten thousand years has passed since it germinated from its seed. Mammoths had died out, Stonehedge had been erected, and the pyramids had been

built. The climate had fluctuated from cold to warm and back again multiple times, but unaffected by any of this, the spruce was still standing intact today in the place where it was born.”

This Patagonian cypress in Chile, known as the Great Grandfather, is believed to be more than 5,000 years old. | PUBLIC DOMAIN

[LEFT] An Araucaria (monkey puzzle) tree can grow up to 131 feet and live more than 1,000 years.

| VICENTE FERNANDEZ RIOJA

[RIGHT] The rainbow eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta) is an evergreen tree with multi-coloured bark. | JESS MANN

Did you know that the world’s largest tree (measured by volume) grows in California’s Sequoia National Park in the U.S. and is named after an American General? At 52,208 cubic feet, the 275-foot-tall General Sherman giant sequoia tree has a trunk that is 36 feet in diameter at the base, and 60 feet above base, the General Sherman is 17.5 feet in diameter.

In Ontario, the oldest known tree is an eastern white cedar that’s more than 1,330 years old, growing on a cliff in southern Ontario. Just an hour’s drive east from Thunder Bay, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is home to Ontario’s second oldest black spruce aged 330 years, and the fourth oldest white cedar at 344 years. Canada’s longest-living tree on record was a yellow cedar in British Columbia at 1,835 years old—but it was cut down in a clear-cut operation in 1980.

Minnesota’s oldest living tree is a northern white cedar, also known as an Arborvitae (Latin for l’arbre de vie meaning “Tree of Life”), that’s believed to be over 1,100 years old, growing in Lake County. And Minnesota is home to the largest jack pine tree in the USA. The 73-foot-tall jack pine is located on Namakan Lake’s Moose Bay in Voyageurs National Park and is included in the American Forests’ National Champion Trees Register.

Some trees have whimsical, even quirky, nicknames. Over on Sumba Island in Indonesia there’s the “Dancing Trees.” Dozens of uniquely-shaped mangrove trees line the beach and at sunset appear to be dancing. And then there’s the “Dancing Forest” in a pine forest in Kalinigrad Oblast, Russia, where trees have mysteriously twisted in patterns such as rings, hearts and complex spirals bending to the ground.

The rainbow eucalyptus is an evergreen tree with multi-coloured bark. In summer, the smooth bark

peels off to reveal vibrant rainbow shades that include blue, green, yellow, red, purple, and orange. Besides tropical regions, the tree is found in Florida, California and Hawaii.

With a quirky nickname, the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) is actually an evergreen conifer tree with spine-like needles, that can grow up to 131 feet, and can live more than 1,000 years. Native to Chile (it’s their national tree) and Argentina, in 2013 it was added to the Endangered list.

[LEFT] Ontario’s fourth oldest white cedar tree, age 344, can be found in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. | ONTARIO’S OLD GROWTH FORESTS

[ABOVE] Native to Chile and Argentina, the monkey puzzle tree is an evergreen conifer tree with spine-like needles. | MPF

New Levels of Service

extremely well built cottage, sauna building and storage building. 2 excellent sheltered docks or larger boats and float planes all on secluded 3.3 acres island. 1 1/2 hours by boat south of Red Rock in Otter Cove. $430,000.00 CDN

WATER, WATER, WATER AND THE BIG LAKE!

SOLD

NORTH WOODSY LAKE HOME NEAR FINLAND!

Enjoy this Fabulous vacation or year-round home at Ninemile Lake! This 3 bedroom home doesn’t disappoint with floor to ceiling windows and vaulted ceilings in the Great Room, a spacious Kitchen and even a covered porch this home has everything you need to relax and unwind! Shared access to 1800ft of shoreline on Ninemile lake and close to close to many inland lakes, plus direct access to snowmobile, ATV and hiking trails means you can enjoy all your favorite outdoor activities! Visit today and start planning your summer Up North!

MLS#6107181 PRICE REDUCED $409,000

NEW! DREAM LOCATION WITH BAPTISM RIVER FRONTAGE!

MLS#6107384

$385,000

WELCOME TO UP NORTH LAKE LIVING!

Ten minutes to the Lake Superior Harbor of Grand Marais! Devil Track Lake is where you want to be for lake fun along the North Shore! Enjoy lakeside dining at the Raven’s Rock Grille, and lots of open water for recreating! In addition to a two-car attached garage, there’s a tasteful 3 stall detached to store your toys situated off a black top driveway. Prime South facing Shoreline, and plenty of it with 300 ft & 3 acres, RARE FIND! Super well-maintained home, you will have fun updating it to your own style! Gorgeous Lake views, vaulted ceilings, large kitchen, huge primary bedroom w/ en suite.

MLS#6104817

$859,900

NEW! LIVE WHERE KIMBALL CREEK MEETS THE BIG LAKE!

Can you imagine enjoying the sounds of Lake Superior AND Kimball Creek while relaxing on your covered porch? This 3 bedroom log home has just that and so much more! From the Large Family room with tons of natural light to the open Kitchen just waiting for you to cook for the masses. Sitting on 3 acres this home has plenty of space for all your needs from the Large 2 car garage and workshop to the Guest Cabin. Close to Grand Marais but “Out-East” where its quiet. Enjoy the 180ft+ of pebble beach shoreline on Lake Superior or wander up Kimball Creek and enjoy some Trout Fishing. Visit today and start enjoying the quiet life on the North Shore!

MLS#6108139 $682,000

SALE PENDING

HOMES, HOMES, HOMES, READ ALL ABOUT ‘EM!!

SALE PENDING SALE PENDING

NEW! SOAK IN THE HARBOR VIEWS FROM THIS GRAND MARAIS HOME!

Walk in and feel at home, from the large kitchen to the Great Room with vaulted ceilings. Maybe it’s the 4 bedrooms you can imagine full with family or friends, or the Kitchen and Dining room space that you see being used for get togethers. This home checks all the boxes from Storage to detached garage. Relax in the Great Room and soak up the sunshine while the Free-standing Fireplace crackles in the background. Or create a reading nook in the Loft and watch the harbor while you unwind. Walk outside and enjoy the large deck and all the work the previous owners put into the landscaping. From Maple trees to Honey Crisp Apple Trees and many perennial flowers that will keep fresh flowers on your table all summer. Ask agent about the Solar Panels that have basically eliminated the Electric bills for the current owners. Visit today and make the Up North Dream your reality!

MLS# 6107430 $535,000

BEAUTIFUL NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME IN GRAND MARAIS!

Enjoy everything Grand Marais has to offer in this NEW home! Welcoming interior, bright and sunny with tons of windows! Open living room lined with large windows and patio door allowing for lots of natural light to flow through the room. Open concept design, the kitchen island anchors the space and the gorgeous stone fireplace is a beautiful focal point to the Kitchen and Living spaces. Bright Kitchen, awesome pantry, and coffee counter, you’ll love the kitchen! Main level has 2 bedrooms convenient to hallway bath with custom shower and double sink, as well as an office/ craftsroom. Upper level is a large owners en suite with skylights! PROPERTY IS OWNED BY A LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

MLS# 6106877

$539,000 PRICE REDUCED

NEW! OLDIE BUT A GOODIE IN FINLAND!

Are you looking for your next project? This is the home for you! It needs some TLC but the bones of the structure are still in good shape. Sitting on 3 acres the location is ideal with the sounds from the Baptism River across the road. Very functional layout with an open kitchen, dining and living room and 3 bedrooms on the main floor give you plenty of space. Outside you have plenty of space to store all the tools and building supplies in the large Pole Building. Maybe park your camper in there while you work on the house this summer? Wander over the pond in the yard and create a peaceful oasis to relax by at the end of the day. Visit today and start your next project on the North Shore!

MLS#6108139 $139,900

CAMPN’, HUNTN’, FUN GETAWAY LAND, INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE!

FINLAND AREA

NEW! BUILD YOUR VACATION GETAWAY AT NINEMILE LAKE!

.18 acres with 1800ft of shared shoreline on Ninemile Lake! With septic, water and electric all on site all you have to do is hook up to it! Easily start your project and be able to enjoy your time Up North!

MLS#6107242 $60,000

NEW! LAKE VIEW LOT! GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A LAKE HOME AT THE VILLAGE AT NINEMILE!

Fish the day away from the 1800ft of shared shoreline on Ninemile Lake or travel to one of the many inland lakes that are close by. Snowmobile from your front door! All the important infrastructure is there: Septic, water and electricityall you have to do is hook up to it! Start making your dream Up North home a reality today!

MLS#6107243 $60,000

NEW! START ENJOYING YOUR INLAND LAKE DREAM AT THE VILLAGE AT NINEMILE!

This .60 acre lot was recently created by combining two lots so it offers plenty of room to build your dream cabin or home with an amazing lake view and direct lake access! Great opportunity for the outdoor enthusiast with snowmobile and ATV trails right outside your door! 1800ft of shared lake frontage on Ninemile Lake and infrastructure in place for Septic, Well and Electricity, all you have to do is hook up to it. You will be ready to relax and unwind before you know it!

MLS#6107241 $150,000

TOFTE AREA

LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW LOT IN THE MIDDLE OF TOFTE!

This 3.61 acre lot is a dreamy location to build your North Shore home. With multiple south-facing building sites giving you great views of Lake Superior, electricity conveniently located at the road and Year Round accessible thanks to the Home Owner’s Association you will be able to build your getaway and enjoy it in all the seasons. There is quick access to snowmobile trails, many hiking trails and Cross Country skiing all close by. Visit today and make your dream of a North Shore Home a reality!

MLS#6107193 $149,900

NEW! LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW LOT IN TOFTE! This is a rare parcel with tons of possibilities! The land borders Federal to the North giving you plenty of room to wander the woods or you could just walk down your driveway to get to Ray Berglund Wayside State Park and enjoy the MN Dot Lake Superior shoreline across the Highway. Nice mixture of trees, exposed rock, and beautiful Lake views! This parcel is unique – long and narrow, giving you many options of where and what to build. Great location with Lutsen Mountains Ski Area is just a minute drive away, along with Superior National Golf Course and the paved Gitchi Gami State Bike Trail is across the highway. Build your cabin and enjoy the North Shore –maybe work remotely or move up here! MLS#6107607 $99,000 SALE PENDING!

MLS#6107607 $99,000

LUTSEN AREA

BEAUTIFUL OLD PINES AND VIEWS OF TAIT LAKE, THE SURROUNDING FOREST, AND ALL THE WAY TO EAGLE MOUNTAIN!

This 5+ acre lot is a Northwoods gem. A diversity of tree species creates a lovely sylvan vibe with plenty of elbow room. The lot comes with deeded access to Tait Lake at two landings: one peaceful and just right for a canoe or kayak or a developed ramp for a bit of evening cruising in a motor boat. Select a building site along the south line of the lot to maximize the views. Not far from Lutsen, about a half hour to Grand Marais, yet a feeling of being deep in the woods. Come have a look, do a walkabout and fall in love with your own acreage Up North!

MLS#6103685 $79,000

NEW! LUTSEN, LAND AND LOCATION!

Great location to build your getaway Up North! Located in the heart of Lutsen you will be close to your favorite outdoor activities from skiing to hiking. 3.38 acres with driveway in place, just waiting for you!

MLS#6107596 $62,900!

GRAND MARAIS AREA

NEW! RARE OPPORTUNITY IN THE CITY OF GRAND MARAIS!

Large parcels don’t come up for sale very often, especially within the city of Grand Marais, this is your opportunity! There are many possibilities to develop this 2+ acre parcel, The Property was just surveyed and there is a designated 33 ft wide easement on the east side to build a road to this parcel from E 5th ST. The location couldn’t be any better with schools, YMCA, and the Community center within walking distance. Easily get to the Gunflint Trail, just a block away, and spend the day fishing at one of the many close inland lakes. Hiking trails, Biking trails, Cross Country Ski Trails and Snowmobile Trails are just a minute away, you will always have access to the different seasons adventures. Visit today and start planning your getaway Up North!

MLS#6107788 $199,900

4648 Cascade Beach Road

Classic two-bedroom, one bath cabin sits at the edge of 240+ feet of rocky shore, with 1.6 acres and loads of privacy. You will want to spend hours watching the water & ice crashing into the rock island, located right in front of this cabin. The wrap-around deck is ideal for enjoying the many seasons, sounds and expressions of the lake, whether it is a sunrise or a sunset. Don’t miss this opportunity to create your own Lake Superior dream!

MLS 6107951

$899,900

NEW

384X Highway 61 E

Exceptionally stunning Lake Superior property, perfect for building your ultimate North Shore retreat, with over a thousand feet of shoreline! This 5+ acre lot has officially been subdivided into 2 independent lots and is part of the aptly named Paradise Beach. Imagine owning this beautiful cobblestone beach, that is surrounded by government owned land & provides extensive beach walking opportunities? The views of Marr Island are amazing, especially when you are enjoying a spectacular sunrise or relaxing and listening to the lapping waves – it will take your breath away

MLS 610784

$1,200,000

93xx W Highway 61

LAKE SUPERIOR properties this unique, especially one with 800 ft of shoreline and 6.5 acres, are extremely rare. This stunning property features a very diverse mixture of shoreline with rugged cliffs, perfect for overlooking the lake; rolling ledgerock, ideal for hiking and campfires; and finally, a rocky beach, which provides access for kayaking! There is a rock island, directly in front of this lovely site AND there are multiple rock outcroppings off the shoreline. Gently flowing creek and a nice mixture of trees on the property

MLS 6108018

$699,900

NEW 40 County Road 44

Looking for quintessential Northwoods home? This 3BR, 2BA, custom built, log-sided home oozes charm & character and sits on over 8 acres. There is an insulated garage with workshop space.

MLS 6107949 $625,000

NEW 5541 E Highway 61 E

Charming 3BR home on 34.5A of forested land to explore the Northwoods. Lake Superior access, which is perfect for getting out on the water and enjoy a day of kayaking.

MLS 6107983 $379,900

NEW 1134 Pike Lake Road

Charming 2BR year-round Northwoods log cabin tucked away on 31 acres in the heart of the boreal forest. Insulated bunk house and the sauna/spa house could be used as a guest cabin.

MLS 6107985 $439,900

296 Cramer Road

Enjoy the expansive Lake Superior views and the privacy of 5 acres! 4BR/2BA home with oversized master suite, open concept kitchen, good sized pantry, breakfast nook, and great room. Park your car and store your toys in the 20x24 garage! This is a great location for many outdoor adventures!

MLS 6107103 $319,900

COMMERCIAL 1315 E Highway 61

Incredible commercial opportunity at City Limits! Current use includes a 3BR rental unit, professional office, and huge home! Cathedral ceilings, partially finished second floor, beautiful custom designed kitchen, master bedroom with ensuite and private patio access. Bring your idea and make your dream come true!

MLS 6104280 $1,500,000

Jonvick Creek Sites

3 lots from 1.5 - 4.8 acres In the heart of Lutsen, just off the Caribou Trail. Maples, Pines, and cedars in varied arrangements will make a great back-drop for your home or cabin. Sites adjoin public land.

$44,900 - $56,900

Wonderful 5 acre lot on a quiet county maintained road with drilled well and partial driveway in place. Perfect distance from town for some country living yet close to all Grand Marais has to offer. Potential lake views!

MLS 6106867 $89,900

NEW 86 Sunrise Drive

Lake Superior view 5A lot situated along the forested ridge line. Just a 1/2 mile away is Sugarloaf Cove for easy access to Lake Superior and a couple minutes up the road is the Superior Hiking Trail.

MLS 6107842 $149,900

If you’re looking for a remote property with access to recreation, this is the one for you! 120 acres of mature trees, varied topography, and wildlife. Make trails to explore the area and let your adventure begin.

MLS 6103087 $119,900

XXX

Beautiful 20 acres overlooking Lake Superior! Prime spot for a deer camp as this area is known for excellent hunting or a secluded cabin in the woods. This property is currently without access, but one could obtain an easement.

MLS 6107462 $39,900

X13 Murphy Mountain Trail

Nicely wooded 5 acre lot at the end of a cul-de-sac with views of Lake Superior! Great location--just minutes from Grand Marais

MLS 6102645 $129,900

40 wooded acres on a wellmaintained county road can be yours to build your dream house, your hunting cabin, or pitch your tent. Here is a great base from which to explore the Arrowhead Region or just hike your acreage. Make it your own wildlife refuge.

MLS 6103079 $169,900

Beautiful lot just outside Grand Marais. Fall River runs through this property. Dramatic frontage!

MLS 609581 3 $62,000

1142

170+ acres of heavily forested land that has been replanted with many beautiful pine trees, poplar & cedar trees. Features gravel pit and pond and abutting State land. Seller is licensed real estate agent in MN.

MLS TBD $189,900

Here is an affordable place to build a home or a vacation getaway right in Grand Marais. City water & sewer and a paved street make it convenient and cost effective.

MLS 6105272 $64,900

1X Brandon Lane

49XX North Road

Camp 20 Rd

Highway 61 E

183 Linnell Rd

XXX Reason Road

3XX East 5th St.

INLAND LAKE

261 Caps Trail

Serenity awaits you in this turn-key charming 3 bedroom, 2 bath, year-round cabin on Tait Lake. The property features 190 ft. of shoreline with 2.9 acres and is in a peaceful bay on the north side of the lake, with the Tait River gently running along the western edge of the property. Access to HOA maintained hiking & biking Trails.

MLS 6107953

$599,900

NEW Caribou Lake

Rare opportunity to find a lake lot so you can build your dream home on the shores of the coveted Caribou Lake. Lot directly abuts USFS to the north, features 213’ of shoreline and 3.5A of wooded land, creating plenty of privacy. There is a little tree house by the lake and electricity/broadband are on Evergreen Road, which is maintained year-round.

MLS 6108084

$348,900

Greenwood Lake

MUST SEE lot on magnificent Greenwood Lake property! Dramatic views and 202’ of shoreline. This one-acre parcel already has a driveway in place and meandering trails through mature trees to the waterfront. Build your private cabin overlooking this impressive lake. Majestic pines, birch, and balsams add to this impressive and private lot.

MLS 6107777

$169,900

HERE ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS:

LOOKING TO SELL?

Reach out about our Free Market Analysis.

LOOKING TO BUY?

No time better than the present.

JUST STARTING?

No problem...we are here to help you navigate both the buying and selling process.

FREE MARKET ANALYSIS

Give one of our “Awesome Agents” a call today to learn more about why it remains a good time to sell. Our team of experts will provide you with a FREE Market Analysis on your home and/or property and outline why Lutsen Real Estate Group is your BEST CHOICE when considering listing your home for sale.

Looking to buy a property for a vacation rental? Through our sister company, Cascade Vacation Rentals, we have gained incredible knowledge about what North Shore visitors are looking for. We are happy to use that information to help guide you in purchasing a property that is not only a good fit for you, but will also increase your chances of high rental income.

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES

HOME WITH SPARKLING WATER & SUNSETS

PIKE LAKE LOG CABIN

WATERFRONT COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Beautiful waterfront commercial property in downtown district of Grand Marais, which includes 2 apartments overlooking Lake Superior, and a retail/rental business. Also included in the sale is a 5 acre parcel on County Road 7, with a 52' x 42' warehouse for boat and other inventory storage and deliveries.

MLS#6103262 $1,950,000

LAKE SUPERIOR PRIVATE RETREAT

A unique private place - a park-like preserve all your own. The 2000 feet of rugged lakeshore and dense boreal forest create a place to immerse oneself in the magic of the ancient shore. The 19 acres is accessible by way of a quarter mile of boardwalk and deck overlooks. Decide as you walk among moss-covered boulders and evergreen forest, which path to follow - the higher overlook or the gentle beach. The long driveway leads away from highway noise and thoughts of the outside world. Power and phone are waiting for your choice of building sites. You may choose just to camp here, and keep the unique place as a preserve. Or use it as a group retreat or multiple family compound. The many moods of Superior can all be enjoyed here. Dramatic points protect the private views. A small extra drive from Grand Marais will feel well worth it once you turn off the highway and enter this place of true privacy.

MLS#6107927 $1,750,000

ICONIC LAKE SUPERIOR HOME

This is the Lake Superior home people dream of. Absolutely incredible shoreline. Views of the Grand Marais harbor lights to the east and the Sawtooth ridges to the west. The full width deck is 75 feet from the water. Gently sloping ledgerock shoreline with a pebbly beach perfect for launching a sea kayak on calm days or be daring and plunge in! A neighborhood eagle soars along the shoreline and lakers float by the horizon. The home features a bedroom suite on each level, in floor heat, a gas fireplace and main floor laundry. Don't miss the two-story insulated garage waiting for your finishing touches.

MLS#6107623 $1,300,000

Custom built, single level lake home on pristine Wilson Lake. Known for crystal clear water and excellent walleye fishing. Tucked deep inside the Superior National Forest, you can relax in the peaceful beauty of a BWCA-like experience. But here, you enjoy the modern conveniences of a four season, wheelchair accessible lake home with fiber optic internet. One level living, large great room, three bedrooms, two accessible bathrooms with roll-in showers, in-floor heat, slate and wood flooring, attached heated garage, and large deck and boardwalk down to the lake and fire pit. Open floor plan offers space for gathering along with two separate wings for privacy. Large windows throughout the home offer a panoramic view of the natural beauty surrounding the property.

MLS#6107163 $679,900

WILDERNESS LAKE ISLAND HOME

Live off-grid with comfort and spectacular scenery on a 6.82 acre island on Greenwood Lake, Minnesota's highest lake. Most of the 2000 ft shoreline is US Forest Service land. It's a jewel and you get the protection of your own island, offering isolation, wilderness views and wildlife. Comfortable small home is set up for your retreat lifestyle. Present owners built the home and large shop building with guest quarters, and have lived on the island for 15+ years. Off grid solar, generator power, new peat-moss septic system, lake water and satellite provide the comforts you desire. Air boat, pontoon and fishing boats included, providing access with a protective cove & docks for easy landing/loading.

MLS#6104980 $595,000

Looking for that true “up-north” lake log cabin that renders privacy on a pristine inland lake away from road noise but offers tons of year-round activities and necessities all close by - look no further! This cozy and efficient log home has SO much to offer. Open living space in front of the wood stove to gather, with add’l rec room and bedroom in the basement with in-floor heat. Enjoy evenings “mosquito free” in the 12 x 28 3-season porch. A short path to your private beach on Pike Lake with a maintenance free DAKA dock.

MLS#6107278

BIRCH LAKE SEASONAL CABIN

Stunning lake lot on desirable Birch Lake. Fabulous views of the length of the lake. Seasonal cabin with one bedroom and one bathroom. A trophy rainbow fishery and very near the Boundary Waters Area Canoe Wilderness. A gentle walk to water's edge. Use the cabin for a relaxing get-away or as the jumping off place for your next adventure. Property includes a detached garage, gazebo and a sleeping loft

MLS#6108048 $339,000

HUGE PINES, PRISTINE VIEWS, GUNFLINT LAKE

This large, densely wooded lot has 171 feet of shoreline on big water Gunflint Lake. Direct BWCA access, huge white pines, classic wilderness boulder shore and vast views of Canada across the lake. Nice building site with easy access to the water. Good year-round road access with power and Broadband at the parcel. Build your dream lake home on this outstanding lake lot.

MLS#6099440 $284,900

HOMES & CABINS

HOMES & CABINS

NEWLY REMODELED SILVER BAY 4

BEDROOM HOME

This lovely 4 bedroom, 2 bath home has been remodeled from top to bottom with all new mechanicals including washer & dryer, refrigerator & dishwasher. Nice open floor plan with 2 bedrooms upstairs and 2 downstairs. Make this your home and basecamp for all your Northshore adventures. Silver Bay is conveniently located only an hour from Duluth with plenty of State Parks nearby.

MLS#6108044 $339,000

HOMES & CABINS

PEACEFUL HAVEN

Enjoy a peaceful haven only 20 minutes from Grand Marais with all the comforts of home. Stay in and enjoy the park-like setting with Myhr Creek lazing its way along the north and east side of the acreage. Within 3 miles of the home are the Brule River, Judge CR Magney State Park and the historical Naniboujou Lodge. Venture farther up the highway for a view of the high falls at the Pigeon River or an evening at Grand Portage. 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with a heated garage. High quality broadband, vaulted beamed ceilings, open floor plan with main level master suite MLS#6106674

RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE

CASCADE RIVER

FRONTAGE LOT

This is a rare opportunity to purchase one of the very few privately owned lots on the scenic Cascade River! Over 440 feet of private river frontage offers peaceful calm and gives rise to creative dreaming. Build an off-grid compound with rustic cabins or a custom log home, or keep it wild for camping. There's plenty of space here to spread out with 26.6 acres, and seemingly endless public land to the south and west for hiking, hunting and other north woods enthusiasm.

MLS#6105797 $350,000

LOOKING FOR WILDERNESS?

SALE PENDING

COMMERCIAL

COMMERCIAL

MULTI-USE PROPERTY HOVLAND

2.3 acre property has great home site with lake views, great well & septic, and an existing structure used as a local store & food business. New patio in 2008 & new addition in 2010. Many options exist, from residential, rental, cottage industry, retail shop or continue its present use. Perfect set up for a move-to-theShore life change. Bring your idea & start the dream from here.

MLS#6103739 $379,900, MLS#6104735 $479,900 (Includes existing business)

MAGNEY

PARK AREA RIDGE TOP WITH LAKE

SUPERIOR VIEWS

This remote and secluded "80" acre property has high ridge views of the big lake. The property adjoins Judge C.R. Magney State Park. Easements in place for road access on old logging trails. Ultimate privacy! Mixed, mature forest of evergreens and maples, creeks and pond. Walking distance to Brule River. There are many unique aspects to this beautiful recreational property.

MLS#6107790 $129,000

MONS CREEK AND VIEWS

Are you among those who want to own remote acreage where your neighbors don’t tarnish your dream? 40 acre parcel within a 1100 acre unit, bordered by federal, state park and private ownership on parcels which cannot be less than 20 acres. Unique property extends north from Lost Lake Rd to a creek meandering through a large wetland with no development in sight. Launch your canoe below a great building site overlooking Mons Creek from a high point above the creek. New trail is cut to this overlook. Private deeded access to Lost Lake, a short walk south on a trail. Homeowners’ association has defined covenants & a conservation easement of 44 acres along the south side of Lost Lake prohibiting any development. Lake is a natural environment lake with 150 ft setbacks.

MLS#6089091 $52,900

POND, WILDLIFE & TWENTY ACRES

This property has private access to Lost Lake as a bonus! Good road access and many building site options. Beautiful beaver pond and creek split the property. Good south exposure and view of the pond. Lost Lake is a tucked-away gem with limited private property and no public access. Good trout fishing and moose sightings. This is a remote retreat property with access to miles of trails. Seasonal road, off-grid now, but power and Broadband are slated to be installed here soon.

MLS#6098652 $41,900

RENEW/BUILD A BUSINESS IN GRAND MARAIS

1.27 commercial zoned acres on Highway 61 in Grand Marais. Rent space potential. Includes a shop/storefront with some good bones! Great location for many types of ventures! Make an offer and build your business in a popular tourist area!

MLS#6107939 $249,900

1000 ft of Mons Creek frontage & a great view from a high build site. Easy road access, but lots of privacy. 40 acre property w/ private deeded access to Lost Lake, a short drive away. Private lake w/ limited use, a true wilderness feel. Perfect cabin retreat location w/ added bonus of private wilderness lake access. Homeowners association stocks lake w/ brook trout. Walk-in landing provides easy access for canoe or small boat. Roads are gated for security & privacy. Lost Lake Retreats is a truly secluded & private wilderness escape

MLS#6089090 $60,000

SALE PENDING

LUTSEN COMMERCIAL SITE

Lutsen "downtown" location. Hwy 61 frontage-road access, 3.3 acres and 389 feet of frontage overlooking the highway, with some limited Lake Superior views. Nice creek borders the east property line, mature evergreen forest. Great location for retail, restaurant or art gallery with great visibility off the North Shore Scenic Highway. LTGC zone district (Lutsen Town Center General Commercial) allows many options. Three separate lots could be split. Located just minutes from Lutsen Mountains Ski Area, Superior National Golf Course, many lodges and recreational opportunities. MLS#6105204 $220,000

HOME SITE WITH BEAVER PONDS

Beautiful Moose Valley parcel with over 11 acres, creek with ponds and views of the ridges surrounding this charming location. County road frontage with power and Broadband. A great home site in the Hovland area, close to Lake Superior access and the Arrowhead Trail.

MLS#6107876 $58,900

LARGE, REMOTE ACREAGE –PRIVATE LAKE RIGHTS

This over 80-acre tract has some high ground with views of the hills to the south. Good road access. Some young planted pine trees. It adjoins a Private Conservation Easement area. The property is part of a private association with lake rights to Lost Lake, a limited access lake with shared carry-in landing from which you can launch your canoe or kayak. A unique opportunity.

MLS#6103975 $74,900

40 ACRES–STONES THROW TO TOM LAKE

40 acres with an easy walk to the Tom Lake boat landing. Year-round road to within 1000 feet, power is possible here. Driveway easement granted to build shared access. Many great building sites. Easy access to trails and other lakes.

MLS#6095114 $60,000

WOODED 64 ACRES –ACCESS TO PRIVATE LAKE

This large wooded retreat property is within walking distance to a shared landing on Lost Lake - a private access lake. Good road access and many nice places to build a cabin. Privacy on top of restricted private road access makes this a unique opportunity for wilderness seclusion.

MLS#6103974 $59,900

LAND/BUILDING SITES

REMOTE ACREAGE,

ADJOINING FOREST

LANDSPRIVATE LAKE RIGHTS

This 43 acre tract has adjoining federal land and state park within walking distance. Good road access, with an old "logging road" into the property. The property is part of a private association with lake rights to Lost Lake, a limited access lake with shared carry-in landing from which you can launch your canoe or kayak. A unique opportunity.

MLS#6103979 $46,900

REMOTE PEACE & QUIET, PRIVATE LAKE ACCESS

Hide away in this dense forest, with miles of remote trails to explore, and private lake access to Lost Lake. Twenty acres of rolling topography and nice building sites for your cabin retreat. The area is part of an association with gated access to Lost Lake, a limited private property lake with no public access, and great trout fishing and wildlife viewing!

MLS#6098653 $39,900

REMOTE, END-OFTHE-ROAD PRIVACY

PEACEFUL TAIT LAKE PINES

You'll appreciate the private & peaceful 1.93 acre location in Lutsen, MN, complete with its own hiking trails, outstanding views, finely maintained roads, year-round accessibility, access to power, a calm overall vibe and deeded lake access to Tait Lake! One of the most gorgeous drives one can find, up the Caribou Trail and around Tait Lake. Close to the Superior Hiking Trail, inland lakes, including BWCAW access & trails, Lutsen Ski Resort, Superior National Golf Course and access to food/beverage.

MLS#6106368 $55,000

BRULE VALLEY LOTS

These three, 40+ acre adjoining parcels are connected to a vast amount of Federal and State land, and are the perfect place to get away from snaps, feeds and notifications. Everyone needs a quiet respite, and this place provides that wholly. Towering Pines, poplar, birch and evergreens, ponds, creeks and rolling hills all for you, and for the wildlife therein. Seasonally, it is about a 50 minute drive from Grand Marais. Check it out this summer and make it your own.

MLS#6102969 $43,000 - Lot B

MLS#6102971 $46,000 - Lot C

MLS#6102970 $44,000 - Lot D

MLS# 6108066 $129,000 - Includes all 3 lots

SALE PENDING

TAIT LAKE PINE LOT

Welcome to Tait Lake Pines! You'll appreciate the private & peaceful location in Lutsen, MN, complete with its own hiking trails, outstanding views/settings, finely maintained roads, year-round accessibility, access to power, a calm and serene overall vibe AND deeded lake access to Tait Lake!! It'll keep you close to the Superior Hiking Trail, many more inland lakes and trails, Lutsen Ski Resort, Superior National Golf Course & access to food/ beverage.

MLS#6098276 $54,900

REMOTE 43 ACRES – LOST LAKE ACCESS

This secluded 43 acres adjoins federal land and is located on a private gated road. There's a seasonal pond, existing "logging" road into the property for immediate use of the land. The property comes with shared private access to Lost Lake, a lake with no public access. Plenty of privacy!

MLS#6103978 $46,900

GREAT LOCATION HOME SITE.

Just minutes from Grand Marais on black top County Rd 7, a 5+ acre lot with easy access to power and Broadband. Good building sites.

MLS#6094099 $45,900

This deeply wooded 20 acre parcel is remote and has nice southerly exposure and creek frontage on Mons Creek, a trout stream. It also comes with deeded access to Lost Lake, a private access lake with limited private property. A place to fish, listen to the loons and watch the sun set. The private area is gated and maintained by an association. The main road access is seasonal, but Broadband and power are slated to come here soon. This is a great area for ATV’s with miles of roads to explore.

MLS#6098654 $38,900

GREAT LOCATION FOR HOME OR CABIN

Just minutes west of Grand Marais on a black-top county road with power at the site, Broadband nearby. Five acre parcel with southern exposure. Potential Lake Superior views. Very affordable building site!

MLS#6096700 $45,900

We'd love to help you sell your property, or if you're buying we would like to make your North Shore dreams come true.

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT

common Loon

While kayaking on Devil Track Lake, just off the Gunflint Trail, I came across a family of loons. As the baby swam from one adult to the other I realized that it was going to swim right in front of the mom’s neck. The camera was set in continuous shooting, so after I took a burst of about six images I saw that one of them captured the baby in just the right spot. I felt pretty fortunate.—Paul Sundberg