Northern Wilds April 2024

TOFTE LUTSEN

GRAND MARAIS

GUNFLINT TRAIL

GRAND PORTAGE

THUNDER BAY

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.

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

-Tim K.

Share Your Thoughts

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.

Rise & Shine

For some people, mornings are a delight. Take my husband for example—he loves getting up early and will rarely sleep in, even when given the opportunity. I am definitely more of a night owl and love sleeping in. However, I will admit that there’s something special to be said about waking up to a beautiful sunrise, followed by a warm cup of delicious coffee. And don’t forget the most important meal of the day—breakfast—which happens to be our theme this month.

One staple food of breakfast is eggs, and Chris Pascone starts us off with a story on how and why you should raise backyard chickens, insisting that it’s not a big time commitment. Another staple for many folks is their morning coffee. Take a look at our features section, where Pascone interviews three North Shore coffee roasters who are focused on traceability, transparency, and education. Feel like dining out for breakfast? North Shore Dish columnist Virginia George has you covered, with three locations known for their delicious breakfast fare. Last but not least, our health columnist Hartley Newell-Acero helps us build a better breakfast with tips and advice on what to eat and how, while also providing some “out of the cereal box” ideas to get us started.

In other news, Steve Fernlund fills us in on the latest Boathouse Bay development in Silver Bay, and Kalli Hawkins shines a light on sexual vio-

lence in observance of sexual assault awareness month. Hawkins also introduces us to the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op’s local producer scholarship: Applications are due by April 30. Dana Johnson reaches out to the Duluth Art Institute as they prepare to depart from the Depot, with a vacate date of May 1. And Cheryl Lyn Dybas, alongside photographer Ilya Raskin, provides us with a fascinating feature story on the dance of the ‘fire grouse.’

In her latest Dog Blog column, Erin Altemus reflects on her recent Iditarod race, completing 500 miles before dropping out at the Ruby checkpoint on the famous Yukon River. Altemus wrote, “I tell people that there is nothing we can do to make sled dogs pull if they don’t want to. The dogs told me this that morning.” From all of us at Northern Wilds, you are such an inspiration and we’re so proud of you Erin!

Speaking of accomplishments, Northern Trails columnist Gord Ellis was recently inducted into the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame. Ellis writes about his latest achievement and what it meant to stand alongside many of his idols. Congratulations, Gord!

Whether you’re a morning person or not, our magazine makes for a great read anytime of day, so enjoy at your leisure. Happy reading!

—Breana Johnson

Still, Jason says raising chickens isn’t all about economics. Jason recounts some of the other benefits: “Raising chickens is like free TV. You get to watch the chickens run around. It’s free entertainment. It’s not all about eggs. You’re learning something in the process. You’re providing care. That’s an intangible that you can’t really monetize, but it has value.”

Of course, most chicken owners are motivated at least in part by the daily fresh eggs. Homemade waffles, baked goods, or frittatas will always be tastier with eggs from your backyard flock. Chickens start laying eggs at six months old, and can lay up to six eggs a week, with peak production lasting two years.

Laura Whittaker, who’s been raising chickens for 10 years on Observation Hill in Duluth, describes the satisfaction: “There’s that farm-to-table, real understanding of where your food comes from. It’s so good for my family, and it’s so grounding.”

Starting self-reliance Raising chickens

DULUTH—Duluth is prime territory for “urban farming.” Sure, it’s a trendy, catchy phrase. But growing your own food isn’t just “hip”—it’s a universal human instinct. Urban farming makes our lives more real, as we encounter all the challenges and adversity that raising our own food entails. A successful harvest gives you independence from the grocery store. One of the simplest, most productive ways to get started urban farming is to raise backyard chickens. Here are five things to know for keeping your own flock.

THE BACKYARD

The city of Duluth has a five-page “License Application” for raising chickens, available online. There you’ll find plenty of guidelines for raising chickens in town. The basics: pay $12 a year to the city clerk (only half the price of a fishing license), raise no more than five chickens, and don’t keep roosters. You’ll also need a backyard—chickens may not be

raised in your home. Finally, when installing a backyard coop, you don’t need a building permit if the coop is under 120 square feet.

Duluth is full of spread-out neighborhoods with ample yard space. The sprawling city is begging for urban farmers to give it a go. If you’re willing to sacrifice some lawn, or convert your “back 40” into a space for domesticated animals, you can satisfy the first prerequisite for raising chickens.

THE BENEFITS

Two local legends—Jason and Lucie Amundsen—took the humble dream of backyard chicken ownership and have turned it into one of northern Minnesota’s most recognizable food brands: Locally Laid Egg Company. The Amundsen family started raising backyard chickens in Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood, and today serve more than 200 markets in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Another obvious benefit to raising chickens is the connection to nature. “When you go down to the coop, the chickens are talking to you, and they all have their own personalities,” explains Whittaker. “I love that part of having chickens. Just that relationship with where your food comes from.”

SPRING BABIES

For a next-level experience, try hatching chicks at home to start your flock. Now’s the season!

Whittaker shares the process: “We order eggs from Strombergs, and we set the ship date so that the incubation period will finish at the right time for getting the chicks out into the coop. You’re notified when they ship, and usually you get a very exciting call from the post office within 24 to 48 hours.”

But even before that, get your incubator going 72 hours ahead of delivery. “You have to get just the right temperature and humidity ahead of time,” says Whittaker. “Then we mark the eggs with an X, and put the X facing up. The eggs turn every 45 minutes to an hour. It’s super fascinating.”

Once you get the eggs in the incubator, you don’t want to go back in. “It’s a self-turning incubator, so we don’t have to open it and put our hands in, which could introduce germs, and change the temperature

and humidity,” Whittaker adds.

Finally, after 19 days, Whittaker says you’ll see the eggs start “rocking and rolling.”

“It’s very important that the incubator stop turning at that point, because the chicks have to get in the right position. They have to have their beaks tucked below their wing, so that their egg tooth has the right physics to be able to scrape at the lining of the egg, and then crack through,” Whittaker notes.

Chicks should hatch in 21 days after they start in the incubator.

PREPPING FOR WINTER

Our family started raising backyard chickens in the spring of 2023, and we anticipated that the hardest task would be to keep the chickens from freezing in winter, but this winter was a breeze.

Jason suggests not heating the coop anyway. “The most important thing for the backyard flock keeper is to not heat the structure. Instead, focus on keeping the chickens out of the wind, with good ventilation. As long as they’re out of the wind, with good ventilation, they’ll be fine. Heating is not just a giant expense, but also a giant fire hazard. There’s no need to heat the coop.”

EASY ROUTINES

Raising chickens is not a big time commitment. You’ll need to let the birds out of the coop each morning, and put them back in each evening. You’ll need to clean the coop about once a week (use pine shavings from your local feed bin to minimize clean-up time). Beyond that, food and water don’t even have to be replenished each day. “I will over-eat, but chickens generally speaking won’t,” Jason jokes. “You don’t need to ration their food— the chickens will ration it themselves.”

For a preview of what raising chickens involves, check out the Amundsens’ AirBN-Bawk. That’s right, these “chicken aquariums” are designed so that you sleep with the chickens. “You literally bunk with the birds,” says Jason. “There’s just a piece of glass between you and the chickens.” The idea might sound crazy, but it’s popular.

If you like cooking with eggs, want to teach your kids about nature, or just want to gain greater food autonomy, give backyard chickens a shot.

—Chris Pascone

Chickens love taking dust baths to “clean up” and rid themselves of mites. | CHRIS PASCONE

Backyard chickens give kids a very hands-on urban farming experience.

| CHRIS PASCONE

Boathouse Bay development and more for Silver Bay

SILVER BAY—In the bright sunshine of a late January day, a contingent of state and local dignitaries joined developer John Anderson for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Boathouse Bay project in Bayview Park on the lake side of Highway 61 in Silver Bay. According to David Drown, the city’s economic development director, work will be underway this spring to complete the utility infrastructure and begin construction of the housing units planned by Anderson.

Silver Bay officials and planners realized its existing infrastructure, installed in the 1950s, will need repair and replacement. An expansion of its tax base is required to pay for that, and Boathouse Bay delivers that expansion.

Described as a “recreational residential development” on the Boathouse Bay website, the 24 high-end villas and 18 bungalows are the first part of a five-year, planned development project, including an event center, seven residential lots, and a 110-unit mini-storage complex that will fill the space between the residential sites and Highway 61.

Anderson purchased the original two-acre site, which included an old boathouse on the shore, thus the name, almost 20 years ago. “It was the coolest piece of property I’d ever seen,” he said. As he and a partner planned to develop it, the great recession of 2008 caused them to pull back.

To help achieve the Boathouse Bay vision,

Silver Bay sold Anderson the 24 acres adjacent to his property for $1 under the condition that the project be completed in five years.

With 600 feet of Lake Superior shoreline, Boathouse Bay is bordered on both sides by a combined 4,000 feet of shoreline controlled by the city. The city shoreline includes Black Beach, a public access beach built with tailings from the taconite mill. It is a popular stop for visitors and locals.

The development, planned by Anderson and Drown, along with other city officials over the last few years, is projected to cost up to $25 million. It is the most significant single development in Silver Bay since Reserve Mining built the city in the 1950s to provide housing, recreation, and education for workers at its taconite processing plant and railroad.

Anderson is the classic property developer. He can see the project finished in his mind’s eye. “This is a big, big thing,” he said. Anderson indicates Boathouse Bay may be his last development project. “When this is done, the kids are going to take the car keys away from me,” he said with a chuckle.

The project is divided into three phases. It starts this year with building six villas and completing the mini-storage buildings. The mini-storage contains 110 units and will serve as a buffer between Highway 61 and the residential properties.

Anderson intends to complete the project within five years, and Drown expects the city’s infrastructure debt to be paid in full within eight years.

Additional phases will see the construction of seven single-family homes, the remaining villas, 18 bungalows, and a moderate-sized event/meeting center.

In addition to diversifying the local economy and taking advantage of the booming tourism opportunities the North Shore provides, city leaders look to attract new residents, create jobs, and provide additional housing options for people living and working in the area.

Drown said, “The concepts presented in the Master Plan we’ve developed have been in the minds of people here for a long time.”

In addition to Boathouse Bay, the city’s future development vision includes a Fishing Village with restaurants and retail offerings in Bayview Park. Silver Bay also plans a 40lot housing subdivision surrounding its public golf course in the northwest of the city to add housing and expand its tax base.

Silver Bay created an industrial business park over 20 years ago, now called Bayview Park. Like all North Shore communities, it had difficulty attracting industrial businesses. The city council rezoned the business park, changing its name from Silver Bay Business Park to Bayview Park last December. The new zoning enables residential and mixed-use commercial development and facilitated negotiations with Anderson to develop Boathouse Bay.

Drown is the founder and president of David Drown Associates, Inc., based in the Twin Cities. On its website, Drown writes, “I founded DDA back in 1997 with one thing

Rendering of Boathouse Bay villas and plat map for the development in Silver Bay. |

in mind—providing rural Minnesota government with straightforward, common sense financial help.”

Long-time visitors to the North Shore, Drown and his wife found a piece of land just north of Silver Bay and built the log home where they spend most of their time. He is semi-retired from his business.

Drown began working with the Silver Bay EDA about three years ago. “I now work about 30-40 hours weekly for Silver Bay,” he said. The energetic Drown brings years of experience in public finance and development to the job pro bono, which brings significant value and savings for Silver Bay taxpayers.

A homeowners’ association will govern the development, and Anderson’s management company will oversee the properties.

The Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) supported the Boathouse Bay project with over $1.4 million in Development and Community Infrastructure grants to the City of Silver Bay. The funds help pay for the water and sewer, roads, and engineering related to the infrastructure needed to support the development.

In the February 7 issue of The Ranger, the online newsletter of IRRR, Commissioner Ida Rukavina said, “One of the areas that our agency is committed to is housing, which is a large factor when measuring a region’s economy and quality of life. The supply and choice of housing inventory in northeastern Minnesota is low, and the demand is high. The need for additional and more choices of housing impacts employers, employees, communities, and new and existing residents. Boathouse Bay will help increase the housing capacity in our region, and we support Silver Bay in their plans to grow their community.”—Steve Fernlund

Nurturing growth Support for local producers

GRAND MARAIS—For years, the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op has remained steadfast in its mission to support local producers in the small town community of Grand Marais and its neighboring areas.

The Whole Foods Co-op features homegrown or small-scale produced goods from over 100 farmers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Iowa, and our northern neighbors in Canada.

While the Whole Foods Co-op ventures beyond the Cook County line, there is a strong presence of local producers in Cook County. The Whole Food Co-op carries products from 19 Cook County producers at any given time, ranging from lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, rhubarb, herbs, maple mustard dressing, baked goods, and fish.

Locally produced food has emerged as a beacon of stability in recent decades, assuring sustenance and resilience during periods of supply chain disruptions and climate instability. Furthermore, locally produced foods hold immense value as they contribute and bolster overall health by offering fresh, nutrient-rich options directly from farm to table.

Among its various endeavors to support local producers and farmers, the Whole Foods Co-op offers a local producer scholarship each spring to foster the growth of the essential local contributors to the Grand Marais community and economy.

“Producers are such a big part of our community,” Ahren Grunow, the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op general manager, said.

Recognizing the vital role of local producers and farmers, the Whole Foods Coop launched the scholarship opportunity more than five years ago to provide financial support to producers to expand or improve their operations, invest in necessary equipment, or pay for education related to sustainable production.

Since its creation, Grunow said that the scholarship opportunity has continued to grow and evolve. In 2023, the Whole Foods Co-op awarded five Cook County producers $500-750. In 2024, the Whole Foods Co-op will award three scholarships for $1,000 each.

The previous scholarship winners have benefited from the financial assistance and, in turn, increased production. The 2023 winner Erik Hahn of Leaping Greenly Gardens, purchased a rototiller and increased his production level throughout the year. Grunow said, “He told me directly that it was incredibly helpful.”

Ian and Rachel Andrus from Creaking Tree Farm, who sell lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and more at the Whole Foods Co-op, are former scholarship winners. They have significantly benefited from the financial support as they underwent gardening education and land improvements.

For 2020 scholarship winners Brian and Laura Wilson, the financial assistance contributed to the expansion of their strawberry operation. “Every year, [Brian] has told us that those funds helped him build a bigger fence or more fencing,” Grunow said. “Overall, it helped with their business development.”

Many former winners sell their products or produce at the Whole Foods Co-op, but Grunow said that is not a requirement for scholarship applicants. A few of the only requirements are that applicants must reside and have a farm established for at least six months in Cook County before applying. The scholarship requirements also state that Whole Foods Co-op staff members and the previous year’s winner cannot apply.

This year, the local producer scholarship applications are due by April 30, and the Whole Foods Co-op will select winners by May 31. Grunow said preference will be given to producers whose mission, values, and practices demonstrate the need for finan-

| COOK COUNTY WHOLE FOODS CO-OP

cial support in a one-page description. The description must also display an implementation plan and tell how the assistance will enhance the local food, floral, or CSA system in Cook County.

Grunow said he is looking forward to reading through the applications in May. “I think I certainly enjoy seeing how important local production is to people.”

“Just seeing the local growth and knowing what it can do to help the overall community, too,” he said.

Grunow said the local producer scholarship aligns with the overall mission of the Whole Foods Co-op because it “helps with the overall food autonomy and creates additional availability through that aspect.”

With the vibrant and diverse group of Cook County local food producers, Grunow said the Whole Foods Co-op is committed to helping local producers. “Producers are such a big part of our community, and we’re trying to do whatever we can to support their development.”

—Kalli Hawkins

Erik Hahn of Leaping Greenly Gardens, one of the 2023 scholarship winners, with the rototiller he purchased using the money.

Departure from the Depot Duluth Art Institute prepares for change

DULUTH—The Duluth Art Institute is a fixture of the Northland’s thriving creative community. The 501(c)(3) non-profit began as a club in 1897, inspiring a rich history of visual arts education and programming. In 1975, the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center became home for the DAI and other cultural organizations. Also known as “the Depot,” this location is currently home to the Institute’s gallery space—but not for long.

St. Louis County is forcing the DAI to leave the Depot, with a vacate date looming May 1 of this year.

“We were a charter arts organization for which the building was acquired,” states Christina Woods, executive director of the DAI.

Reasons the County Selection Committee rejected the DAI Bid for Leased Space include concerns about using the space for exhibition of art, HVAC updates, the proposed rate for the lease, and the desire to use the Depot for their own programming.

This all began in 2022, when there was a sudden imposition of an RFP (request for proposal) process for county-owned properties. “While a Minnesota statute does call on counties to follow an RFP procedure, it does not impose any requirement for counties to accept or reject any bids, nor was the statute ever enforced under three previous county attorneys,” Woods explains. “The statute also exempts from the RFP process any organization paying rent of less than $15,000 annually; a threshold the DAI fell beneath.”

One reason county commissioners listed for the RFP is a desire for organizations to pay market rate. “That thinking is counter to the expressed intent of the civic-minded volunteers in the 1970s who saved the former Union Depot from the wrecking ball,” Woods responds. “Afterwards, they handed the building to the county, free of cost, with the clear understanding it would be subsidized as a permanent home for arts and culture for the benefit of all.”

The DAI is considered the premiere community art center in northeastern Minneso -

ta, and it offers “a robust visual arts experience for locals and visitors.” Creatives and art enthusiasts can attend art classes and camps, rent studio space, participate in contemporary fine art exhibitions, advance personal development, and take advantage of networking opportunities.

The Institute also celebrates diversity, shining light on the works of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists. “We value inclusion, equity, amplifying absent narrative and fostering safe spaces through arts learning,” Woods states.

Woods herself is Indigenous, serving six years as the DAI’s first Anishinaabe executive director. “That was a big step in advancing equity and inclusion for artists and arts learners,” she recounts. “Since then, the board of directors is over half BIPOC. We contract with artists who are gender non-binary, BIPOC, women, and many others who come from underrepresented groups in the visual arts.”

Woods plays a crucial role in the leadership of the organization, balancing “organizational vision with financial sustainability and community engagement.” She is an art enthusiast with a deeply creative heritage, having experienced the power art has to connect people. “When I noticed the DAI and their passion to protect and amplify this community asset, I was driven to do all I could to be a part of this special opportunity,” Woods recalls.

Creating and experiencing art is integral to our humanity, and there is therapeutic power in the practice.

“Art unlocks thinking that builds perspective and allows the exploration of ideas,” Woods explains. “Visual art involves critical thinking, personal reflection, emotional exploration, and cultural enrichment.” We make and use art for social commentary, personal growth and identity, inspiration, and innovation. Woods says the importance of art “lies in its ability to contribute to the multifaceted tapestry of human existence.”

The DAI is continuing to operate as usual during this period of transition and un-

certainty. They are close to making an announcement regarding both temporary gallery space, and a permanent solution. The organization has received an outpouring of support from the local community, including over $50,000 raised to meet a funding goal for the move. Another aspect of their plan involves a bonding request from the Minnesota Legislature, “which has responded with the enthusiastic support of bipartisan lawmakers statewide,” Woods mentions. “We look forward to their decisions at the end of the session.”

In addition to the gallery space currently at the Depot, the DAI also owns and operates an art studio used to capacity at the former Carnegie Library in Lincoln Park. This is where classes are held and artists can rent space, including the area’s foremost ceramics studio. “Our bonding request also includes renovating and expanding this property, in response to the community’s call for increas-

ing our programming,” Woods adds. “Our goal is moving beyond the adversity we have experienced to creating a permanent asset for all to enjoy, learn and experience.”

Community involvement is intrinsic to the success of the DAI. Their education programming is designed based on community input, and a community panel is used to select art exhibitions. They are also beginning to provide ADA art equipment to help learners with special needs.

The public can support the DAI by becoming a member, taking classes, attending shows, donating to their endowment, volunteering at events, and contacting legislators to explain the importance of the organization.

You can see all upcoming programming and get involved by visiting the Duluth Art Institute website: duluthartinstitute.org.

—Dana Johnson

The Duluth Art Institute must vacate the Depot by May 1. | SUBMITTED

Shining a light Advocacy for sexual violence survivors

GRAND MARAIS—Designated as sexual assault awareness month, April is a time dedicated to raising awareness, educating communities, and supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence.

Sexual violence can occur in person, or through the use of technology, but at its core, it involves any form of non-consensual sexual activity.

“Sexual violence is actually an umbrella. There’s a lot of different forms of it,” Lindsey Gau, the director of the Violence Prevention Center in Grand Marais, said. Gau said sexual violence stretches far beyond physical acts of rape, sexual harassment, or domestic abuse. It also includes verbal abuse, rape jokes, catcalling, stalking, the objectification of women, and unsolicited sexual images in the dating world.

Sexual violence is relatively common among men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC states sexual violence affects millions of individuals each year across the United States. National statistics from the CDC show over half of women and almost 1 in 3 men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes.

For towns along the North Shore of Lake Superior, like Grand Marais and Two Harbors, sexual violence has been fairly prevalent for many decades. However, Gau said in the last five years, the Violence Prevention Center has encountered an uptick in clients seeking support and services. In 2018, the Violence Prevention Center had 140 clients with 197 points of contact for the clients. Last year, in 2023, the Violence Prevention Center had 204 clients with 969 points of contact.

“Fifteen percent of those 204 clients primarily presenting victimization was sexual assault,” Gau said. While the clients seek out services for sexual assault, Gau said it is common for individuals to experience other aspects of sexual violence simultaneously. “It’s not uncommon for us to have clients with additional multiple different victimization types.”

Gau said she doesn’t believe the increase in clients in the past five years is directly attributed to the rise in people being sexually victimized but rather the expansion of outreach via social media, increased access to

resources, and sexual violence conversations becoming more normalized in society.

“I think part of it too is all the different things that we do to get the Violence Prevention Center’s name out there and get folks aware of the services that are available,” Jessica Burks, the program advocate at the Violence Prevention Center, said.

The small yet dedicated staff at the Violence Prevention Center offers a wide range of services to sexual violence victims, including legal and medical support, educational opportunities, support groups, emergency short-term lodging, food, clothing, and more.

“It’s so broad. We base it on the needs of the person and what they need for support,” Burks said. In addition, the Violence Prevention Center offers a 24-hour support line for anyone affected or subjected to sexual violence. The 24-hour support line is run by eight on-call trained volunteers. Gau said the Violence Prevention Center is always looking for more volunteers to help provide support and services.

In Two Harbors, Jean Sewell, the executive director at North Shore Horizons, also works with a small staff, but the services they provide have significant lasting impacts. “We provide assistance in the form of advocacy,” she said. “Our job is to advocate for you and what you want,” Sewell said. “We’re here to help you.”

North Shore Horizons services include legal advocacy, assistance filling out harassment restraining orders, accompanying clients to court, and providing education on living, nutrition, budgeting, and finding employment. “Things that can help you become more independent so that we don’t repeat the cycle and end up in a similar relationship choosing the same partner,” Sewell said.

In addition, North Shore Horizons provides six units of long-term supportive housing for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors, where rent is prorated at 30 percent. Eventually, the renters transition into their own housing, but Sewell assures that “the support doesn’t end when they leave.” North Shore Horizons continues to be there every step of the way for sexual violence victims.

“Everyone deserves that opportunity to have a safe place to go and to say how they feel and what they think,” Sewell said. “My

goal is to have a safe place for people to come regardless of what happened.”

During April, North Shore Horizons will increase its outreach efforts by distributing materials to businesses in Two Harbors and hosting a treasure sale at the Two Harbors Community Center. This event invites the public to donate to the organization supporting sexual assault awareness month.

In Grand Marais, the Violence Prevention Center will also focus on April activities and education to honor sexual assault awareness month. Burks said they will put teal ribbons on trees in Harbor Park. The ribbons will have a card attached with information about sexual violence resources and messages of support to victims and survivors. “This is our first time doing this, which I’m really excited about.”

Burks said various local businesses will also offer free Violence Prevention Center stickers. Lastly, the organization is partnering with the Grand Marais Library to highlight the film ‘Women Talking’ for the April film series. The event will occur on April 19, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. “I’m really

excited to see how it goes,” Burks said. To learn more about the services at North Shore Horizons, call 218-834-5924, and for services at the Violence Prevention Center, call 218-387-1237.—Kalli Hawkins

The CDC states sexual violence affects millions of individuals each year across the United States. | ROSIE SUN: UNSPLASH

Light or Dark, Local Roasts Shine

North Shore Coffee Roasteries

Focus on Traceability, Transparency, and Education

By Chris Pascone

Coffee is an enormous worldwide industry worth billions of dollars. Green coffee beans are harvested in countries throughout the Global South, then roasted and consumed in countries throughout the Global North. Coffee is an everyday product that has become highly commercialized, and our consumption is often driven by gimmicks, marketing, and brand names. People flock to Tim Hortons, or Caribou Coffee, and spend hundreds (thousands?) of dollars a year on specialty coffee drinks. There are also dozens of cool, family-owned cafes throughout the Northern Wilds that serve up coffee with their own signature style. So, given that coffee is a daily routine that grounds and supports so many of us, how much time and effort should we put into doing coffee right? And who decides what right is? Three local coffee roasteries—Almanac Coffee in Duluth, Fika Coffee in Lutsen, and Rose N Crantz Roasting Co. in Thunder Bay—have been humbly working to provide us a local answer to those questions. And they’re not the only ones. Here’s how North Shore roasteries are providing coffee options with a local flare.

Almanac Coffee, Duluth

Justin Wood, owner and operator of Almanac Coffee, based out of the Duluth Folk School, sources coffee beans from faraway places such as Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi, in East Africa. Wood knows exactly by who, and how, the beans are grown and has a knack for transferring his knowledge of each farm’s beans into specialty roasts that his customers can enjoy daily, while living seasonally. That’s because Wood is constantly refreshing and changing his coffee offerings, depending on which beans are “in season.” He can tell you which beans are grown by single farmers/families, the differences in processing methods from region to region, the importance of and challenges in maintaining organic certification among small producers, and his personal relationship to the farms and the importers he works with. Does this information make a better product?

“Coffee is a curious thing,” explains Wood. “It’s an agricultural product, so we can trace where it comes from. Especially in what I work in—specialty coffee—there’s a premium that comes from this traceability, our ability to know exactly where the beans are grown, who managed the crop, and how they were handled once harvested.” Wood is quick to point out that while we don’t usually ask where our potatoes come from, coffee can be different, if we want it to be.

Much of coffee’s appeal, Wood suggests, is that it is values-driven. “If you’re a socially conscious person, and you want to ensure the people who grew your coffee are also being taken care of, then you need to look outside conventional commodity markets.”

Wood believes that increased knowledge

about a coffee’s origins can influence the quality of the finished product. “We’re at this interesting inflection point where for so long coffee was seen as just a black liquid, a ‘caffeine fix when needed.’ But in fact, coffee is very complex. On a chemical level, there’s a lot going on. These are largely the effects of where the coffee is produced, the weather patterns that occurred that season, soil conditions, etc. Truly these things end up in the cup.”

Wood calls coffee drinking a mindful practice, and points out that coffee is in a way responsible for great ideas, and enlight-

enment. “Coffee is absolutely about commodity chains, and the quality of the cup, but it’s also about communion, getting together, and advancing ideas,” notes Wood.

Almanac Coffee is always roasted from fresh crop coffee beans, so there are specific harvest windows for when the coffee is produced. Wood’s job is to get the right beans at the right time, and roast them to perfection. “We’re kind of an outpost here in northern Minnesota. We’re talking about tropical agricultural products. That needs to be acknowledged.”

So, what does Wood have to say about

his competitors further down Superior St. in Duluth? “Sure, you can pay a premium price for a lesser product at a commercial operation, like Starbucks. I think that people in my position hold that as a completely antithetical concept.”

Wood sells his roasted beans wholesale, and does retail and coffee subscription sales online on Alamanc’s website. To try his handcrafted roasts, visit the Dovetail Café in the Duluth Folk School.

Fika Coffee, Lutsen

Josh Lindstrom has owned and operated Fika Coffee in downtown Lutsen for over 11 years, thereby becoming a fixture of the Highway 61 commute for tourists, cabin owners, and locals alike. Lindstrom sees his coffee shop as serving the “West End” of Cook County. “Lutsen, Tofte, Schroeder— that’s where all the beds are in Cook County,” notes Lindstrom of the many vacation resorts surrounding Fika. “We’re meeting a significant need as a coffee shop.”

But Lindstrom’s business goes much deeper than just making maple lattes with Lutsen-sourced maple syrup. He and his five full-time employees, plus additional summer staff, roast all the beans they sell too. Lindstrom is proud to be providing local jobs while influencing the way business is done locally. “Our vision is to encourage change and challenge the way business affects life on the North Shore.” What does Lindstrom mean? He sees Fika as creating a new paradigm for how work is done, and it starts with valuing personal life, fun, and free time over simply slaving at the roaster or the espresso machine. “If I’m working 70-80

Jamie Nichols takes pride in his team’s superlative customer service. | ROSE N CRANTZ ROASTING CO.

Rose N Crantz owner/roastmaster Jamie Nichols has been roasting coffee for more than 10 years. | ROSE N CRANTZ ROASTING CO.

ONE-OF-A-KIND CRAFT COURSES TAUGHT ON THE SHORES OF LAKE SUPERIOR SUMMER AND FALL COURSES NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!

500 W HWY 61, GRAND MARAIS, MN 218-387-9762 · NORTHHOUSE.ORG

hours a week, that’s not a good thing,” says Lindstrom. “I’m not going to do that. And I don’t want my employees to either.”

Fika Coffee shop is open four days a week, Friday-Monday, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. “We could have more business if we stayed open till 4 or 5 p.m.,” says Lindstrom, “but that’s not the best thing for Fika or our employees.”

Still, Lindstrom says someone is actively working all seven days of the week. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are roasting days, where Lindstrom and his staff can roast 3.5 batches an hour. “Roasting a batch of coffee takes 10 minutes for light roast, and anywhere from 10-12 and a half minutes for organic dark roast,” recounts Lindstrom.

And when not roasting or operating the café, Lindstrom is planning his next big steps—expanding to a bigger roasting facility, with staff housing and a public classroom, slated for construction in the Grand Marais Business Park this spring.

Don’t worry—you’ll still see Lindstrom at Fika’s original Lutsen location. It’s this transparency that makes Fika’s business successful, Lindstrom explains. “If you compare us to Starbucks, you’re going to have a lot more transparency with us, not only on the coffee level, but on the person-

al level. You don’t walk into Starbucks and see Howard Schultz there.”

Rose N Crantz Roasting Co., Thunder Bay

Jamie Nichols founded Rose N Crantz Roasting Co. in Thunder Bay more than 10 years ago, after starting out as a home roaster. Since then, Nichols’ café has steadily evolved to the point of outgrowing its former space in the Thunder Bay Country Market. Nichols saw the opportunity to open a coffee shop featuring his roasts, and opened the café’s current location at 905 Copper Crescent a year ago in the Intercity neighborhood.

Nichols lived in some very remote places after growing up in Thunder Bay, such as Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and Baker Lake, Nunavut. He therefore knows the importance of people helping each other out. He’s brought this mentality to the Thunder Bay roasting scene, where he says multiple roasteries are currently plying their trade. “Basically, what we try to do is educate people that coffee can be better than Tim Hortons or Starbucks. Once people discover that coffee can be better, typically they choose the better product. So, all

Duluth Two Harbors Silver Bay Lutsen Grand Marais Grand Portage

Coffee art adds a personal touch at Rose N Crantz. | ROSE N CRANTZ ROASTING CO.

them all the credit for Rose N Crantz’s success. “I’ve been truly fortunate to be able to hire a group of people who have taken in all the information that I’ve been able to feed them. They can speak to all our products, and to coffee in general. They do a fantastic job of educating people at the level they want to be educated at.”

Today, the café is still a smaller part of Rose N Crantz’s business than wholesale roasting. The café is more the “PR side of things,” Nichols says. “The cafe is a developing space that we are proud to see growing and getting busier every day.”

the roasteries here in town work together to try and increase everybody’s education about good coffee.”

Nichols adds that the demographic they’re trying to convert is not really the Tim Hortons crowd. “Our demographic is people who want better flavor and a better experience. We try to provide a unique and welcoming environment for everyone who walks through the door. Whether you’re travelling across the country, or you’re new to the country, whatever walk of life you happen to be in, we want you to feel

comfortable in our space. We employ people who are happy to answer all questions about coffee.”

Nichols has nine employees and gives

Nichols also gives credit to Thunder Bay as a “foodie city.” He sees Thunder Bay as having “uniquely spectacular restaurants,” and Rose N Crantz works with the chefs and purveyors of fine dining establishments on coffee education. “If you’re going to spend all this money and time to put out fabulous food, you don’t want to follow it up with a bad cup of coffee.”

Enjoy Local

Almanac, Fika, and Rose N Crantz are proof that small batch coffee roasteries can create a successful market niche through traceability, transparency, and education. Go sample these, and other North Shore coffee roasts, to get more satisfaction from your daily ritual.

Cook County is the perfect training ground for your next ride or race. Find biking events, trail maps and more.

VISITCOOKCOUNTY.COM

Almanac Coffee owner Justin Wood puts great emphasis on tracing where/ how beans are grown for his socially conscious customers.

| ALMANAC COFFEE

Dance of the ‘Fire Grouse’

By Cheryl Lyn Dybas • Photos by Ilya Raskin

In Search of the Firebird

It’s late April on the U.S.-Canada border, pitch-black in the hour before dawn. Snow comes down sideways, making Minnesota State Highway 11 out of Baudette almost invisible from our SUV. We’re following the ghostly lights of another vehicle; at the wheel is Scott Laudenslager, a supervisory wildlife biologist at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He’s leading us on a wild grouse chase.

A few miles farther along, we turn and rattle our way down a deserted, ice-and-snowrutted side road that seems to go on forever. But that remoteness is how our quarry prefers it. We’re in search of the “fire grouse,” perhaps better-known as the sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus). To Native Americans of the northern prairies, the sharp-tailed grouse was pheta silo (Sioux) or ishkode mitchihess (Ojibway)—firebird—for the need for fire to keep its grassland habitat open.

Laudenslager skids to a stop. We’re a few yards behind him. Doors silently open, and we’re soon crunching our way 100 yards down a slippery trail across a field, flashlights off. Just visible in the dark is a small hut, a blind with openings for binoculars and cameras. We enter through a door in

the back, to find slats looking out on a small, snow-dusted circle in the field. “We need to be very quiet,” whispers Laudenslager, whose DNR office in Baudette manages the blind. “This is the dancing ground, or lek, of the sharp-tailed grouse.”

The “hide,” as some refer to it, is about 20 minutes south of Baudette, and may be reserved to view the sharp-tailed lek. It accommodates three people, has chairs with cushions and is set up for photography. Viewers have the sun at their backs for the best photographic conditions, according to Laudenslager, who says that “the sharp-tails dance right in plain sight.”

As if on cue, soft noises drift across the grassland. It’s still almost an hour before sunrise, but male grouse have already started advertising for females. They’re making grouse mating music, which scientists call cackling, and will soon start flutter-jumping, movements that look exactly like they sound. “Signals that serve primarily to advertise the location of the dancing ground and of specific males include the flutter-jump and cackling calls,” waites Paul Johnsgard in The North American Grouse: Their Biology and Behavior. “Both sexes perform cackling calls. Cackling by females is usually performed as they approach the dancing ground, and this stimulates strong responses by the males, especially flutter-jumping.”

In flutter-jumping, according to Johnsgard, “the male jumps into the air a few feet, uttering a chilk note as he takes off, flies a few feet forward, and lands again.” He’s showing off for any nearby females. But “the most complex and interesting of the male displays,” observes Johnsgard, “is the ‘tail-rattling’ or dancing display.” Rapid stepping movements—18 to 19 per second— result in the bird moving forward in a curve, something like a tiny wind-up plane. At the same time, the male vibrates his tail from side to side, producing a rattling sound. Rattling just outside alerts us that sharp-

The early spring dancing ground, or lek, of the sharp-tailed grouse. The birds’ annual mating display takes place near Baudette, Minn., and in other upper Midwest, Great Plains and Rocky Mountains grasslands and prairies.

Sharp-tailed grouse are also called “fire grouse.” A lack of wildfires that clear the land of vegetation has led to loss of the open habitat the grouse need.

tails are indeed performing, even in the dark. Laudenslager estimates that about 18 sharp-tailed grouse are mere feet from the blind. The fire grouse, found.

In his Life Histories of North American Gallinaceous Birds, Arthur Cleveland Bent quotes one D.G. Elliot, who in 1897 described the dancing. “In the early spring, in the month of April, when perhaps in many parts of their habitat in northern regions the snow still remains upon the ground, the birds, both males and females, assemble at some favorite place just as day is breaking, to go through a performance as curious as it is eccentric.

“As the ‘dance’ proceeds,” continues Elliot, “the excitement of the birds increases, and they twist and turn, leaping over each other in their frenzy. As the sun gets well above the horizon, and night’s shadows have all been hurried away, the antics of the birds cease, and the grouse scatter in search of food.” At the Baudette lek, the sun rises and the birds indeed wander off, pecking at the ground and nibbling on whatever grain and buds they find.

Prairie Grouse without a Prairie

Flocks of sharp-tailed grouse were once so large pioneers said they blocked the sun. But as Minnesota’s—and other northern prairie states’—grasslands and brushlands disappeared, with them went sharp-tailed grouse.

At one time, Native Americans performed a “circle dance” with origins in prairie grouse behavior, “and pioneers waded through a sea of grasslands and shrublands feeding on prairie grouse, but neither could have imagined the day when so few would remain,” states Saving Wide Open Spaces for the Firebird, a Minnesota sharp-tailed grouse management plan for 2022-2032. The report was drafted by Jodie Provost and other members of the Minnesota Sharptailed Grouse Society.

Sharp-tailed grouse inhabit the pine savannas of the eastern upper Midwest across to the short grass, mid-grass, and shrub steppe prairies of the Great Plains and

Rocky Mountain West. Their preferred habitats are savanna-like prairies with grasses dominant and shrubs mixed in, and few patches of trees.

In Minnesota, the sharp-tail’s range is restricted to the northwestern and east-central parts of the state. “Our sharp-tail population has declined greatly in the last 50 years,” says Laudenslager. “But controlled burning and tree-clearing have helped prevent some open brushlands and grasslands from turning into woodlands.”

The expansive open landscapes needed by sharp-tailed grouse were once a conspicuous feature of Minnesota. Based on a pre-settlement vegetation map, states Saving Wide Open Spaces, “11.3 million acres, or more than one-third, of the state’s northern and central forest and transition region was brushy prairie, oak barrens, jack pine barrens, conifer bogs and swamps, and muskeg.” Small-scale farming and logging created more sharp-tail habitat, and large wildfires such as the Hinckley Fire of 1894 and Cloquet Fire of 1918 burned dense woodlands and turned them into open fields and prairies—for a time.

Based on 1990s land use and cover information, only 1.3 million acres (4 percent) of

these northern and central regions of Minnesota were still brushland. “We’ve known for some time that in the east-central region, large, open areas of grassland and brushland are changing and becoming less suitable,” says Charlotte Roy, the DNR’s grouse biologist.

Challenges Ahead for Firebirds and Kin

Degradation and loss of the expansive habitats sharp-tails need are largely a result of suppression of wildfires that clear the land of vegetation, and a lack of sufficient prescribed burning to keep them open. Also playing a role: conversion of grasslands to croplands; the heavy rains of climate change; and the decline of small-scale farms and livestock producers and therefore loss of small grains, pastures, and hay lands. Planting cover crops, rotational grazing, delayed haying, and creating buffer strips can provide more sharp-tail habitat.

“Sharp-tailed grouse can pioneer new suitable habitats,” states Saving Wide Open Spaces, “when source populations and adequate connecting habitats exist in proximity.”

Sharp-tailed grouse—and related prairie chickens—are classified as Species in Greatest Conservation Need in Minnesota. That said, hybridization between these species is occurring, according to Roy, and researchers have observed more sharp-tailed grouse and hybrid birds at prairie chicken booming grounds in recent years. As production of hybrid offspring increases, the gene pools of these species mix and the number of pure prairie chicken and sharptail chicks is reduced.

To learn more, Roy and other scientists are studying prairie chicken and sharptailed grouse wings and tail feathers collected from birds harvested by hunters. “Information from the feathers will help prairie chicken and sharp-tailed grouse management, with the goal that populations of these species stay at their current levels or increase,” says Roy.

Provost says that “no more charismatic species than these exist to inspire efforts to save wide open spaces.” Laudenslager agrees. “Sharp-tails have gathered at the lek near Baudette for at least a dozen years and likely much longer. I hope they’ll be there, doing their spring dance, decades from now.”

A sharp-tail lek with some 18 grouse displaying. It’s late April, but snow still dusts this northern Minnesota grassland.

In Minnesota, sharp-tail habitat is found in the northwestern and east-central parts of the state.

By Breana Johnson

Mornings in Art

I will admit, I’m not much of a morning person— I’m definitely more of a night owl. However, there’s something to be said about getting up early to greet the day. From a colorful sunrise to the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee, each piece here captures the essence of the early hours, and the beauty it beholds.

Carrie Schaefer is an illustrator and printmaker who draws inspiration from the beauty, color, and wildness of living in northern Minnesota. This piece is titled “Sunrise Swim.” To see more from Schaefer, visit: schaeferdesign.org.

| CARRIE SCHAEFER

| DAVE GILSVIK

Dave Gilsvik paints landscapes with a free-flowing style infused with color and emotion, like this one titled “Morning at the Dockside.” Gilsvik’s work can be found at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais: sivertson.com.

Two Harbors printmaker Shelley Getten created this piece, titled “Love of Coffee.” Visit her website for more artwork: gettencreative. com.

GETTEN

This fun and colorful acrylic piece, titled “Red-headed Rooster,” was created by Cook County artist Anna Hess. For more art from Hess, visit: alwhessart.com. | ANNA HESS

Soul, Rhythm, and Grit

Singer/Songwriter Colleen “Boss Mama” Myhre

CREATIVE SPACE: By Eric Kaira

With roots that run deep in the Northland, singer/songwriter Colleen “Boss Mama” Myhre is a force to be reckoned with in the North Shore music scene.

Raw emotion is the foundation upon which Myhre builds her music, and her sound is something like Memphis blues with a hefty dose of northern Minnesota grit.

“Soul, rhythm, and grit,” says Myhre, “I once saw those words on a sign in Memphis when I went down there to visit Sun & Stax Records, and thought to myself that that just about sums up my sound. I sing with a lot of soul, I’m a heavy rhythm guitar player, and my songs are gritty.”

Myhre started her career as a soloist, performing locally at “honky-tonks” and taverns. Today, however, you’d be hard pressed to find Myhre onstage alone.

Her schedule is packed with collaborative gig’s that tap into the connections and friendships that she has developed over the course of her career, and the ever-changing composition of the Jebberhooch—what she endearingly calls the artists who join her to jam and collaborate—is testament to her ability to bring out the best in the musicians that she performs with.

“I am a rhythm guitar player,” says Myhre, “and my voice is my main instrument, so the process of playing with other musicians comes easy for me.”

“I love listening to the amazing musicians that I jam with,” continues Myhre, “and am intentional in giving them the freedom and space that they need to be creative. It usually works. I play with good listening musicians, people who want to make my songs sound cool. I choose to surround myself with mu-

sicians that want to add color to a song, not just shred and show-off.”

Numerous collaborations later, Myhre is set to release her next album, Greetings From the Barnyard Lounge, with her current “batch of Hootch”—i.e. the most recent make-up of the Jebberhooch—that includes artists Jacob and Owen Mahon, Jeff Gilbertson, Caleb Anderson, Nate Hynum, and Bryan “lefty” Johnson.

“The Jebberhooch and I recorded the album at Sparta Sound with Rich Mattson,” says Myhre, “and laid down 12 songs in one weekend. It came together great, and the artwork for the album is phenomenal—Duluthian Heidi Feroe, lead vocalist of Barbie Eyes, crafted the work. The songs on the album were all written by me, but co-writing some with Jacob Mahon and my husband Jimmy.”

“[Greetings from the Barnyard Lounge] was the most challenging project to date, but also the one that I am most proud of,” continues Myhre. “We’ll be debuting the album April 20 at Bent Paddle with our pals Baharat and Saltydog.”

Myhre has been playing music for most of her life. At the age of 9, Myhre’s parents bought her her first piano, and almost immediately she started “making up” songs to play on her new gift.

“Growing up,” says Myhre, “I was always around music. My aunties, uncles, and family friends would sing and play together for hours at a time. I would sit and watch in amazement, sometimes joining with a little girl’s rendition of Tanya Tucker. Then, when I got my first piano, I was really able to sit in with the others to play and sing. I just loved making music.”

After numerous collaborations, Myhre is set to release her next album, Greetings From the Barnyard Lounge, on April 20, with her current “batch of Hootch”—i.e. the most recent make-up of the Jebberhooch.

| SUBMITTED

SUBMITTED

Myhre has been married and living in Mahtowa, Minn.—just south of Cloquet— for 26 years. When she’s not travelling for gigs and collaborating on projects, that’s where you’ll find her—at home in Mahtowa at the golf course that she and her husband own and operate.

“If I’m not playing music,” says Myhre, “I’m at The Rugged Spruce Golf Course in Mahtowa.”

“I bartend and manage the clubhouse,” continues Myhre, “and my husband and I host a concert series every Saturday night that starts the first weekend in June and runs until Labor Day. We call it Under the Blue

Umbrella, named after a John Prine song.”

“We have a killer outdoor stage, and we host some pretty serious shows,” continues Myhre. “In the summer I am busy booking bands like Feeding Leroy, Blackhoof, Saltydog, Danny Frank & The Smoky Gold, Brothers Burn Mountain, Nathan Frazer, just to name a bunch.  My husband and I, we’re pretty proud of our little place.”

You can find Myhre’s 2019 EP, Boss Mama, on Spotify, and a list of upcoming performances on her website: colleenmyhre.com.

Information on The Rugged Spruce can be found on their website: golfruggedspruce.com.

Myhre started her career as a soloist. Today, however, you’d be hard pressed to find Myhre onstage alone. |

| SUBMITTED

ARROWHEAD HOME & BUILDERS SHOW

April 4-7 The Arrowhead region’s largest annual spring event for building, remodeling, and home and garden products will take place at the Decc in Duluth. There will be exhibitors with the newest products and technology, informative seminars, a fully furnished model home you can tour, food and drinks, and more. This year’s entertainment lineup includes DIY guru Doreen Stovenour, White House florist Laura Dowling, daily lumberjack shows, and Field and Flame cooking seminars with Frank McQuade of Two Harbors. Bring the kids and stop by Builder Bob for free face painting and balloon animals. And be sure to visit the colorful parakeet landing. Tickets are $10 for ages 18 and older; $6 for ages 6-17; age 5 and under are free. arrowheadhomeshow.com

SPRING HOME & GARDEN SHOW

April 5-7 The Canadian Lakehead Exhibition’s 26th annual Spring Home and Garden Show will take place April 5-7 in

Thunder Bay, using four CLE buildings and outdoor spots. There will be numerous vendors onsite to shop from, as well as drawings, door prizes, show specials, food, and more. The first 100 people to attend will receive a free carnation. Admission is $5 and parking is free. The show will take place from 4-9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. cle.on.ca

GITCHEE GUMEE BREWFEST

April 6, Saturday Now in its 25th year, the annual Gitchee Gumee Brewfest in Superior is a fundraiser for the Superior Jaycees. Held at the Wessman Arena (on the UW-Superior campus), Brewfest features almost 30 craft brewers, including your favorite local and regional breweries, as well as games like hammerschlagen, a slew of other vendors, and more. The event is held from 3-6 p.m. General admission is $45 and VIP admission is $75. The VIP pass will get you in the doors a full hour early before admission ticket holders, as well as access to free catered food by Superi-

or Cubans, private bathrooms, and more. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend. ggbrewfest.com

SHEMEKIA COPELAND

April 13, Saturday Called “the greatest blues singer of her generation,” by The Washington Post, Shemekia Copeland will perform in Grand Marais on April 13 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. An award-winning, multi-Grammy-nominated blues, soul, and Americana singer, Copeland possesses one of the most deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. She is beloved for the fearlessness, honesty, and humor of her music, as well as for delivering each song with unmatched passion. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20 general admission, available at the door or online in advance. northshoremusicassociation.com

IRON RANGE EARTH FEST

April 20, Saturday The annual Iron Range Earth Fest, hosted by the Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability, is a celebration of local traditions and practical resources for sustainable living in northeastern Minneso -

Blues, soul, and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland will perform in Grand Marais at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 13.

The 25th annual Gitchee Gumee Brewfest will take place on Saturday, April 6 at the Wessman Arena in Superior. | SUBMITTED

There’s something fun for everyone at the Iron Range Earth Fest. | SUBMITTED

The annual Iron Range Earth Fest features exhibits and vendors, demos, music, kid’s activities, guest speakers, and more. | SUBMITTED

ta. Held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia, this year’s theme is “Nature is for Everyone.” There will be exhibits and vendors, guest speakers and presentations, demonstrations, live music, children’s activities, a local marketplace, food, and more. Admission to Earth Fest is free. irpsmn.org

COOK COUNTY EARTH DAY FAIR

April 20, Saturday Come celebrate community and a shared love of the Earth with the 3rd annual Cook County Earth Day Fair in Grand Marais. Held at the ISD 166 School from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., this free, zero waste event will facilitate an inclusive environment for the community to learn, collaborate, and grow together. There will be live speakers, interactive stations, fun games and activities, vendor booths, and food from local vendors. For those unable to attend, the speaker series will be recorded with closed captioning and available to watch online. cookcountylocalenergy.org

DULUTH JUNK HUNT

April 25-27 The Duluth Junk Hunt is a three-day indoor market that occurs every spring and fall in Duluth. Vendors come from all over the state of Minnesota and beyond, bringing vintage and re-purposed

pieces. Held at the Duluth DECC, general admission is $5 if purchased online, good for Friday and Saturday (tickets can also be purchased at the door for $7). The Junk Hunt features over 100 vendors and takes place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Or, for $15 admission purchased online ($17 at the door), take advantage of early shopping Thursday from 4-7 p.m. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the

Duluth Junk Hunt, and the vendors include Schaefer Design Co., Simply Boutique, Picket Fence Antiques, Beyond Nuts, Craft N Crave, Duluth Antique Marketplace, Hippie Houseplants, Superior Sweets, Up North Clay, Two Harbors Baker, and more. There will also be food vendors and a farmer’s market section. duluthjunkhunt.com

HOMEGROWN MUSIC FESTIVAL

April 28-May 5 The Homegrown Music Festival is an annual community celebration of the original and diverse music of Duluth and its surrounding communities. What started in 1999 with 10 acts has matured to an eight-day community-wide local music, arts, and cultural extravaganza. The festival kicks off on Sunday, April 28, with live music and fun activities at various locations. More information can be found online. facebook.com/duluthhomegrown

FOLKLORE FESTIVAL

May 4-5 Travel the world in 48 hours at the 51st Folklore Festival, held at Fort William Gardens and Curling Club in Thunder Bay. Presented by the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, there will be tantalizing international foods, imported wines and beers, incredible entertainment, “shop-the-world” booths, a free activity-packed children’s area, exhibits and displays, and local artisans onsite. The festival will take place from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students/seniors, and $1 for children ages 4 to 12—kids under age 4 are free. facebook.com/folkloretbay

Schaefer Design Co.

APRIL

NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Thru April 8

Ta-coumba T. Aiken: The Way I See Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru April 21

Northwestern Climate Gathering: Hope & Action Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru April 22

We Are Water MN: Traveling Exhibition Hartley Nature Center, Duluth, facebook.com/hartleynature

Thru April 27

Liz Bucheit: Hand of the Huldra Exhibition Nordic Center Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

Thru April 28

Lakehead University Student Juried Exhibition (Reception April 5 at 7 p.m.) Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru May 5

Lakehead University Honours Exhibition (Reception April 5 at 7 p.m.) Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru May 10

Lauren Faherty: Interlaced Prove Gallery, Duluth, provecollective.org

Thru May 28

The Hanna Collaboration: Ink Drawings by John Hanna & Paintings by Cherry Hanna Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, glaquarium.org

Thru June 16

Ziigwan: New Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru Aug. 10

From Where They Came: Portraits from Ukraine by Katherine Turczan Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, tweed.d.umn.edu

John Hitchcock: Blanket Song Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, tweed.d.umn.edu

March 29-April 21

Permanent Collection: Birney Quick Exhibition (Reception March 29 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

April 1-30

Artist of the Month: Doug Cottrell Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

April 2, Tuesday

Free: Small Business Resource Connection 3 p.m. Clyde Iron Works, Duluth, northspan.org

April 3, Wednesday

Free Poetry Workshop 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, facebook.com/ grandmaraislibrary

April 3-7

Minnesota Film Festival Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com/mff

April 3-10

Twin Ports Festival of History Twin Ports, Facebook Group: Twin Ports Festival of History

April 4, Thursday

John Mellencamp 8 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

April 4-7

Arrowhead Home & Builders Show Decc, Duluth, arrowheadhomeshow.com

Thunder Bay Pychic & Crystal Fair

Ramada by Wyndham, Thunder Bay, galaxypsychicfairs.com

April 5, Friday

Twin Ports History Fest 11 a.m. Two Harbors, facebook.com/lakecountyhs

The Resplendent Table 5 p.m. The Depot: Great Hall, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

A Taste of History Dinner 6:30 p.m. Prince Arthur Hotel, Thunder Bay, thunderbaymuseum.com

TBSO: Meet Me in Vienna 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbso.ca

April 5-7

Spring Home & Garden Show CLE, Thunder Bay, cle.on.ca

April 5-30

Artist of the Month: Greg Feinberg (Reception April 5 at 7 p.m.) Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

April 6, Saturday

Polar Bear Plunge Prince Arthur’s Landing, Thunder Bay, prokidsthunderbay.ca

Cook County Winter Market 10 a.m. The Hub, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com Gitchee Gumee Brewfest 3 p.m. Wessman Arena, Superior, ggbrewfest.com

Johnny Max Band and Weber Brothers 8 p.m. McGillivray’s Landing, Thunder Bay, sleepinggiant.ca

April 8, Monday

Matthew Good & His Band Cross Canada 5 p.m. eVents, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

April 9, Tuesday

Hot Stove Night with Speaker Cate KratvilleWrinn 6:30 p.m. Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Duluth, lsrm.org

April 10, Wednesday

Wellness by the Water 2:30 p.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

Breaking Benjamin with Daughtry and Catch Your Breath 7 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth, decc.org

April 11, Thursday

Zenith Digital Marketing Conference Duluth, zenithconference.com

April 11-27

Constellations Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

April 12, Friday

Chasing Waterfalls Tour 1:30 p.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

MercyMe 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

April 13, Saturday

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

Native American Fashion Noon, Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, facebook.com/aichomn

TBSO: The Spirit Horse Returns 2 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbso.ca

DSSO: MW6: Slavic Soul 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, dsso.com

Shemekia Copeland 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com

April 13-14

AAD Shrine Circus 1 p.m. Decc, Duluth, facebook.com/aadshrinecircus

April 14, Sunday

John Crist 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

April Wine 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

April 14-27

To Hold It All: Sarah Brokke Exhibition Ely’s Historic State Theater, northernlakesarts.org

April 17, Wednesday

Guided Tree Hugging: Meditation 101 11:30 a.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls Film: Mayor Humphrey of Minneapolis 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, facebook.com/grandmaraislibrary

April 18, Thursday

Lake County Community Career Expo 4 p.m. Two Harbors High School, facebook.com/experiencelakecounty

Mini Pop Kids Live: The Good Vibes Tour 6 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

North Shore Swing Band 7 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com

April 19, Friday

Film: Women Talking 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, Facebook: Violence Prevention Center

Gucci Mane 7:30 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth, decc.org

TBSO: The Music of Gordon Lightfoot 7:30 p.m. Italian Cultural Centre, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

The Portuguese Kids 8 p.m. Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

April 20, Saturday

Iron Range Earth Fest 9 a.m. Iron Trail Motors Event Center, Virginia, irpsmn.org

Falcons, Live! 10 a.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

Take Your Best Shot: Trail Photography for Kids 10 a.m. Webinar, superiorhiking.org

Cook County Earth Day Fair 11 a.m. ISD 166 School, Grand Marais, cookcountylocalenergy.org

Falcons, Live! 1:30 p.m.

Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

Port Arthur Rotary 100th Anniversary Gala 5:30 p.m. Delta Hotels by Marriott, Thunder Bay, eventbrite.ca

Hot Club of Duluth 7 p.m. Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

April 22, Monday

Earth Day

Free: Play & Learn Session 9 a.m. Duluth Children’s Museum, duluthchildrensmuseum.org

April 22-27

Get Downtown Week Downtown Duluth, downtownduluth.com

April 23, Tuesday

Annual Spring Gala Clearwater Grille, Two Harbors, facebook.com/experiencelakecounty

April 25, Thursday

Community Read: Potluck & Discussion of The Rocks Will Echo Our Sorrow 5:30 p.m. Cook County Higher Education, Grand Marais, mycche.org

April 25-27

Duluth Junk Hunt 9 a.m. (4 p.m. Thurs.) Decc, Duluth, duluthjunkhunt.com

April 26, Friday

Dancing with the Ely Stars 7 p.m. Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

April 26-28

Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

April 26-May 19

Tanya Piatz Exhibition (Reception April 26 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

April 27, Saturday

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

Community Day: Free Admission 10 a.m. Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Duluth, lsrm.org

The Great Duluth Sweat Together 10 a.m. Endion Station Inn, Duluth, duluthsweat.com

Gooseberry River Water Walk 11:30 a.m.

Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

TBSO: The Piano Men 2 with Jim Witter 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbso.ca

The Honest Heart Collective 8 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com

April 27-28

Lyubov: For the Love of Dance Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

April 28-May 5

Homegrown Music Festival Duluth, facebook.com/duluthhomegrown

May 4-5

Folklore Festival Noon, Fort William Gardens & Curling Club, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/folkloretbay

WEEKLY EVENTS

Tuesdays

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

Wednesdays

Weekly Game Day for Adults 1 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

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

Colvill Dance Practice & Lessons 7 p.m. Colvill Town Hall: 2963 Hwy 61

Thursdays

Thursday Night Art 4 p.m.

Joy & Company, Grand Marais, facebook.com/joyandcompanymn

Bingo Night 5:30 p.m. Poplar Haus, Gunflint Trail, poplarhaus.com

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

Hygge Party Fiber Circle 6 p.m. Dappled Fern Fibers, Grand Marais, dappledfernfibers.com

Fridays

Renegade Late Night Improv 10 p.m. Zeitgeist Arts, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Saturdays

Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca

Fiber Circle: Free 10 a.m. Dappled Fern Fibers, Grand Marais, dappledfernfibers.com

Sundays

Female Boarder Collective Sunday Skates 10 a.m. Cinema 5 Skatepark, Thunder Bay, femaleboardercollective.ca

Every April we honor this vital profession and the meaningful difference it makes in the lives of our patients. Occupational therapy is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages to participate in daily living or live better with injury, illness, or disability. This is accomplished through designing strategies for everyday living and customizing environments to develop and maximize potential.

Occupational therapy assists people in:

■ Achieving their goals ■ Functioning at the highest possible level ■ Concentrating on what matters most to them ■ Maintaining or rebuilding their independence ■ Participating in the everyday activities that they need to do or that simply make life worth living Occupational therapists are experts in helping people perform need and want to do every day. For more information, visit: www.northshorehealthgm.org/occupational-therapy

Lab Week is an annual celebration of medical laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in health care and This week highlights the vital role played by laboratory professionals in the field of medicine. The medical laboratory science field is crucial to the health care system. And although hugely unrecognized, the important work of lab professionals testing, diagnosing, and treatment process goes a long way in saving lives.

For more information, visit: www.northshorehealthgm.org/laboratory

515 5th Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604 218-387-3040 / NorthShoreHealthgm.org

The North Shore Dish Rise & Dine: Breakfast Bliss

By Virginia George

The origins of the Western breakfast have been difficult for me to track down. Some sources say that farm workers often ate their first real meal mid-day and did not have much in the way of breakfast. Other sources suggest that breakfast was often leftover dinner (or supper, depending on your generation). Cereal as we know it was popularized in the late 1800s to create a convenient and “healthy” breakfast option for hospital patients. Perhaps breakfast as we know it was popularized by the food industry in the 1920s. The saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is the result of a marketing strategy initiated by none other than the nephew of Sigmund Freud.

Regardless of the origin of modern “breakfast foods,” it’s true that most of us eat breakfast. Some of us even eat breakfast for dinner. Favorites around my house include sourdough waffles, toad in a basket, an egg bake, or breakfast burritos, but sometimes it pays to try something new, and each of these restaurants is iconic in their own way. This month, we’re exploring Duluth Grill in Duluth, Britton’s Café in Ely, and Niva’s Restaurant in Thunder Bay.

Duluth Grill, Duluth

The Duluth Grill has become a brunch icon in the Duluth area. Tucked among the bustling businesses between I-35 and Michigan Street in the burgeoning Lincoln Park Craft District, the Duluth Grill is an oasis, both inside and out. You’d never guess that cars and semis are cruising along at 60 mph just a stone throw from the outdoor seating area, complete with a fire ring and plenty of seating, or around the side with a large mural painted by local artist Adam Swanson.

The inside of the Duluth Grill is a testament to its history. Originally opened in 1971 as a Highway Host, Duluth Grill took on its current form in 2008 when Tom and Jaima Hanson broke ties with Embers after creating the Duluth Grill Embers in 2001, allowing them to shift their focus to what was important to them—the ability to offer vegetarian and gluten-free menu items and to source from local suppliers. And that is where the Duluth Grill’s passion remains. The walls are adorned with paintings and prints from local artists, and the coffee is served in mugs made by Duluth Pottery, which are also available for purchase.

Only open for breakfast and lunch, the menu at Duluth Grill is flavorful and fun. They serve a variety of eggs benedict, including lamb, served with a slice of grilled tomato, lamb, and egg on an English muffin, topped with hollandaise and tzatziki sauces. They offer breakfast sandwiches and omelets, like the smoked salmon or meat lover’s omelet. And while a traditional American breakfast often includes either eggs or meat, and often both, the Duluth Grill has conscientiously created several vegan options, like their Rancheros: hashbrowns topped with black beans, fried tortilla strips, grilled corn, pico de gallo, guacamole, mojo, and house-made “eggs” with nutritional yeast.

The Duluth Grill also has catering available, as well as rental of their space for events during the dinner hours.

Britton’s Café, Ely

When researching for this article, it came to my attention that Britton’s Café is legendary breakfast fare.

Britton’s patrons have come to expect large, made from scratch portions of their favorite breakfast foods. Britton’s Café serves traditional breakfast dishes like biscuits and gravy, eggs benedict, and bacon and eggs. They serve omelets like a traditional Denver omelet, a bacon and avocado omelet, and a chicken fried steak omelet with country gravy. There are vegetarian options like the

asparagus cheese omelet with hollandaise sauce, and veggie stuffed hashbrowns with two eggs and toast. Britton’s is known for their stuffed hashbrowns, which also come with the option of ground ham and cheese. Their pancakes are as large as the plate. If you’re lucky, you may catch the blueberry bread French toast special!

Be sure to bring cash or check if you make the trip to Britton’s Café, as they do not take credit cards, but a trip to Britton’s is worth the preparation if you want a hearty, homestyle breakfast. They open early in the summer to accommodate paddlers who want to hit the water early, but be prepared for a wait if you’re arriving during peak hours.

Niva’s Restaurant, Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay has the largest Finnish population outside of Finland. In the late 1800s many Finns traveled to the Northland, fleeing famine, poverty, and political unrest, and settled in a landscape that felt similar to home. Further immigration continued during World War II. Today, Thunder Bay has a thriving Finnish community, so it should be no surprise to find an eatery with a Finnish flair. Niva’s Restaurant is a family restaurant that strives to make all their patrons feel at home in their large dining room with a brick archway and Greek-style pillars.

For the most part, Niva’s serves a menu of traditional diner breakfast and lunch. Their Morning Burger is your choice of ham or bacon, egg, and cheese served on a toasted English muffin, and they offer several omelet choices, like the Spanish omelet with ham, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and cheese. Where Niva’s takes a turn for the unique is in their pancakes. Rather than fluffy pancakes traditionally found in diners, Niva’s offers Finnish pancakes. These pancakes are more crepe-like. Thin and moist, they are served with fruit or maple syrup. The Big Finn meal includes three Finnish pancakes, two eggs, your choice of breakfast meat, and either home fries or toast. It’s a hearty meal whether you’re a Big Finn or not.

If you want to try another traditional Finnish menu item, stop in during lunch for their Mojakka meal. It’s a Finnish soup served with bread and dessert. Alternatively, they offer hot and cold sandwiches, burger platters, and deep-fried cod.

Perhaps more important than the origin of breakfast is the manner in which we participate. Sometimes efficiency is important, and other times the experience itself is important. The Duluth Grill, Britton’s Café, and Niva’s Restaurant all work to provide both of these things, but I think they lean toward the experience. Good food, warm environments, and food that fills your belly and teases your taste buds. Cheers, to breakfast!

The Duluth Grill has become a brunch icon in the Duluth area, offering breakfast sandwiches, omelets, a variety of eggs benedict, and more, and many of their menu items are vegetarian and gluten-free. |

Build a Better Breakfast

By Hartley Newell-Acero

Everyone, every day, breaks a fast by having a first meal. The “when” and “what” of that meal can vary from person to person and still support good health.

When

Some people roll out of bed ready to eat. Other people need a little time for their appetite to kick in, and still others aren’t ready to eat until they’ve been awake for hours. Is one schedule better than the others?

Eating first thing in the morning is an ingrained part of our culture, and for good reasons. The old adage of “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper” is still sound advice. Studies about the benefits of a balanced breakfast demonstrate that eating at the start of the day:

• Jump-starts your metabolism by providing fuel and nutrients.

• Increases focus. Re-fueling revs up your brain, helping you to think and feel better.

• Improves heart health and lowers the risk of diabetes.

But what about folks that don’t like to eat right away in the morning? That’s fine! It’s important to listen to your body’s cues about when, what, and how much to eat. If the idea of “eating like a king” is just too much for you to stomach, feel free to eat a small, nourishing “snack-fast” or to delay a more substantial meal until you’re ready. Pay attention to the way you feel when lunch rolls around. If you’re ravenous, that’s a sign that you’ve ignored earlier hunger signals. It’s better to spread out your food intake than to be so hungry that you overdo it when you finally get the chance to eat.

What

The “what” of breakfast can be as comforting or exciting as you like! The ideal breakfast provides:

PROTEIN to keep muscles strong and

provide long-lasting energy. Some options include:

• Eggs

• Unsweetened yogurt (add your own sweetener to control the sugar)

• Tofu (try scrambling like eggs or pan-frying slices)

• Nuts and seeds (nutrient-dense powerhouses that provide protein and fiber)

• Beans (great in a tortilla, or whip up a batter from chickpea flour. You can cook it like a pancake or bake it as a flatbread. Recipe below.)

CARBOHYDRATES are faster-burning fuel. You’ll find good sources in:

• Whole grain products (oatmeal, whole grain baked goods, brown rice, quinoa, etc.)

• Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned)

• Dairy products or non-dairy alternatives (beverages, spreads, cheeses, etc.)

FATS provide slow-burning fuel and are necessary for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins:

• Spread a little butter or non-dairy spread on your whole grains

• Drizzle some olive oil over the veggies

• Keep in mind the fat that comes “built-in” to nut butters and dairy products But stay alert! Common breakfast foods often have ingredients that should be minimized. For instance, meats such as bacon and sausage have lots of saturated fat and sodium. Consider using them as literal sprinkles on top instead of the centerpiece. Boxed cereals and baked goods are often loaded with sugar and short on fiber. Read the label to find out which ones are really desserts masquerading as breakfast.

If you’re ready to start building a better

breakfast, here are some “out of the cereal box” ideas to get you started:

• Bagel and veggies: Spread hummus on a whole-grain toasted bagel. Top with sliced cucumbers and tomatoes. Sprinkle with olive oil. Go wild—add some kalamata olives and feta cheese.

• E.G.G. (egg, greens, and grain): Sauté greens with garlic, pile on top of left-over whole grains, and finish with a poached or fried egg. Jazz it up with your favorite hot sauce.

• Socca, made from chickpea flour (a.k.a. garbanzo flour or besan flour), is an ancient food. A staple in India for centuries, it made its way to the Mediterranean where it’s used to make this versatile flatbread:

Socca

Ingredients

ƒ 1 cup chickpea flour

ƒ 1 cup water

ƒ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

ƒ 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

Directions

In a blender, combine chickpea flour, water, salt, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Blend until smooth. Let sit for 30 minutes to allow chickpea flour to soften, or store overnight in the refrigerator.

Arrange a rack in the upper third of the oven. Place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet on a rack; preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. When the oven is preheated, remove the skillet. Carefully pour remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the skillet, swirl to cover the bottom, add batter, and bake for 10 minutes.

Turn oven to broil. Watching carefully, broil socca until golden brown, 4-5 minutes.

Slice and serve warm with desired toppings.

Quick & Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Breakfast Naan Pizza

FROM EATINGWELL.COM

Ingredients

ƒ 1 whole wheat naan

ƒ 2 tablespoons part-skim ricotta cheese

ƒ 1 tablespoon low-sodium marinara or pesto

ƒ 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

ƒ 1 large egg

ƒ 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

ƒ Chopped fresh basil and ground pepper for garnish

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

Place naan on the prepared pan. Mix ricotta, marinara (or pesto) and lemon zest in a small bowl. Spread the mixture onto the naan, creating a well in the center. Carefully crack egg into the well. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake until the naan is golden, the egg white is set and the cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes. Garnish with basil and pepper, if desired.

Fruit & Yogurt Smoothie

FROM EATINGWELL.COM

Ingredients

ƒ 3/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt

ƒ 1/2 cup 100% pure fruit juice

ƒ 1 1/2 cups (6 1/2 ounces) frozen fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, or peaches

Puree yogurt with juice in a blender until smooth. With the motor running, add fruit through the hole in the lid and continue to puree until smooth. Enjoy!

10-Minute Spinach Omelet

FROM EATINGWELL.COM

Ingredients

ƒ 2 large eggs

ƒ 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

ƒ 1 cup spinach

ƒ 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese

ƒ 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill

Whisk eggs in a small bowl. Heat oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, tilting to coat the pan. Pour in the eggs

and immediately stir with a rubber spatula for 5 to 10 seconds. Then push the cooked portions at the edge toward the center, tilting the pan to allow uncooked egg to fill in around the edges. Continue to cook until almost set and the bottom is light golden, about 1 minute total.

Remove from heat and top half the omelet with spinach and cheddar. Fold the other half over the filling. Slide the omelet onto a plate and sprinkle dill on top.

Northern Trails My Trip to the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame

By Gord Ellis

In June of 1989, I travelled to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, to take part in my first Outdoor Writers of Canada Conference. I was still a relatively new writer then and was winning my very first award, which was for photography. Another winner in the photography category was a guy named John Power. Power was an impressive figure and a legendary person to me. He wrote for a popular fishing magazine and was the outdoor columnist for the Toronto Star. It was the first time I’d met Power, and it was like meeting Zeus. There was no way to know then that a decade later we would work together doing seminars at the Spring Fishing Show in Toronto.

Also in attendance at that conference was a fellow named John Kerr. I had been reading Ontario Out of Doors for years, and Kerr’s fishing column and stories in that magazine were my favourites. We hit it off—bonding over our shared love of Nipigon brook trout—and ended up fishing the Sault Rapids together for steelhead one morning before the conference. That friendship would, in time, help ease my way into writing for Ontario Out of Doors magazine, a publication I’ve been a part of for the better part of 32 years.

Power and Kerr were exemplary members of the Canadian fishing world and people I looked up to. They both loved fishing and had a gift for sharing that excitement, wonder, and connection to nature that angling provides so many people. I mention Kerr and Power here because they are both members of the Canadian Anglers Hall of Fame. And although they have passed, I thought of them both when I was inducted into the hall this past February.

The induction was a humbling moment and put me among the ranks of people that have always seemed somehow larger than life. In fact, when I was presented the award at a ceremony at the Spring Fishing Show in Mississauga, Ontario, on February 17, many of those very people were in the audience.

I could see Big Jim Mclaughlin, who is a leader in the Canadian fishing industry, and one of the nicest, kindest people you will meet. Jim has always been a leader and mentor in the Canadian fishing world. He treats everyone as equals and has time for all. A new angler looking to make a career of it could do worse than follow his example.

Another thing that flashed through my brain as I stood before the group was all the connections in the room. Although I live in Thunder Bay, and have spent most of my career here, I’ve had interactions with nearly everyone on the list of previous inductees.

For instance, I met Gord Pyzer in Thunder Bay, in the mid-80s at a fly-fishing club meeting. Pyzer, who lives in Kenora, is the fishing columnist for Outdoor Canada mag-

azine and is a legendary angler in the country. Back in the 80s, we talked about fishing and outdoor writing, and I ended up doing some work for a radio show he did with Bob Izumi. We’ve crossed paths many times through the decades, and I am sure that will continue. I’ve even had people mistaken me as him from time to time, one of the unexpected outcomes of having two fishing Gords from northwestern Ontario.

Speaking of Bob Izumi, he was in the crowd as well. Izumi is Canada’s bestknown angler, thanks in large part to his long running TV show Real Fishing. I met Izumi for the first time in the early 90s, and we would cross paths through the years at tournaments, outdoor shows, and at seminars. Izumi is also exactly as he appears on TV—upbeat, friendly, and very funny. My wife Cheryl, who travelled to the induction with me, was very excited to meet

Gord Ellis, Bob Izumi, and Cheryl Ellis at the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame.

| JASON BAIN

Izumi. And why not? He is a genuine celebrity—a fishing rock star—and someone who has done a ton to spread the love of fishing across the country.

Since I’ve mentioned Izumi, I better give a nod to the OG of TV fishing in Canada. Red Fisher had the first fishing show of note in Canada and was famous for taking viewers with him to “Scuttlebutt Lodge.” The whole Red Fisher vibe would be brilliantly

He was friendly and fun, and chatting with him was memorable, although I was too star struck to recall what we talked about. A true legend, and a guy who did more than just TV fishing: He also wrote poetry.

When my cousin Brock Ellis—who is a huge Fisher fan—heard about my induction, he asked me when my book of poetry is coming out. Perhaps I need to get on that.

At the induction, I got to thank my parents, who laid the ground-work for this life by introducing all their kids to the outdoors at a very young age. And I got to thank my wife Cheryl, who has been with me on this entire trip and has been incredibly supportive, even when it didn’t look like I’d chosen the most lucrative career path.

lampooned twice: once by John Candy as the “Fishin’ Musician” and then by the Red Green Show. But I digress.

And yah, I got to meet Fisher. While working at the Toronto Sportsman’s Show in the early 2000s, I sat down to have an after-seminar beer with a couple of friends. While we were sitting there, a woman and an older gentleman sat down beside us. We did a double take and realized it was Fisher.

Making it into the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame is an honour and something that an eight-year-old kid reading Outdoor Life, and fishing creek brookies every day, could never have imagined.

It’s a privilege to do what I do.

Gord Ellis in the early part of his professional fishing and writing career. | SUBMITTED

Gord Ellis, age 2, and Gord Sr. in the early years of his fishing career.

GORD ELLIS

SHEAD

Memories of a Moose

One winter morning, a chocolate-brown moose antler fell like a crown from the head of a regal bull moose. The heavy antler came to rest atop a bed of crusty snow. It lay there through blizzards and thaws, with snow alternately accumulating and receding from its concave face. As the days grew longer and the sun’s rays strengthened, the sun warmed the antler and it sank through the snow, settling on a colorful, cushiony bed of sphagnum moss surrounded by Labrador tea and sheltered by tall, skinny balsam fir. The antler lay on this spongy bed like a jewel just waiting to be discovered. A hungry red squirrel, busy gathering cones one day, happened upon it and nibbled on the tine tips. A curious Canada jay perched on it for a few moments before flitting away. Other moose sniffed the antler suspiciously, but none put it back on their heads. Some of the moose were busy growing new antlers.

Time passed and the shiny brown polish the bull had dotingly given his headgear began to wear off. The sun’s intense summer rays bleached the antler’s rich brown color to a brilliant white for a while. But as fir needles gathered on the antler and stained it, and moisture from the spongy ground wicked up its sides, that color, too, began to change. The snow of many winters accumulated in the paddle and the water slowly did its work, rotting the antler. The thin, brittle top deteriorated and slowly crumbled away. The antler’s smooth, hard exterior grew chalky and flaky, and cracks formed lengthwise. Algae grew on the damp antler and changed its color again; this time to a dark forest green.

By Joe Shead

The aspen highlands that abutted the balsam swamp matured. The aspens, which had once provided 40 pounds of twigs each winter day for the antler’s hungry owner, now stood out of reach and the moose moved on to new ground miles away. The bull, once a proud warrior, now stood frail and gaunt as he entered his 13th winter. He fed hastily on dogwood and mountain maple because his internal barometer told him yet another winter storm was barreling down from the Arctic. While he braced himself for the storm, a pack of wolves cut his track and closed in on him. He stood his ground and fought valiantly, backed up against a blowdown to protect his vulnerable haunches. But the old warrior had grown weak, and this time he was unable to fend off the wolves that he had out-ran and out-dueled so many times before. And when it was all over, his bones lie fading on the forest floor as well.

Years came and went. Miles away from the wilderness swamp, new presidents took office and then left. Olympiads came. New champions were crowned. But soon their faces were just footnotes in history.

The antler lay there through it all, fading, crumbling, and rotting, gnawed on by squirrels and porcupines, but always present. Although the thinnest portions were now gone, the densest deposits of calcium and phosphorus had accumulated near the wrist-sized base. The moose had put a lot of energy into growing this antler and he had been proud of it. The antler’s resilience was testament to his sacrifice in growing it.

And then one day, many years after the moose shed his antler, a man looking to get away from his busy life was hiking through the swamp when he chanced upon the onceproud antler. He was lucky to see it. The antler’s green exterior was perfectly camouflaged against the mossy forest floor. Once a proud gem standing out from its surroundings, the ancient, weathered antler had taken on the color of its background like a chameleon until it blended harmoniously into the forest.

The man knelt beside it and pondered the improbable find. Moose hadn’t been seen in this area for years. A lot had changed since the bull dropped the antler that winter morning long ago. The winters still came every year, but they no longer had the same potency. The cold snaps were less pronounced. Although snow still fell in large amounts at times, winter thaws were more prevalent and the snow melted as quickly as it came. The landscape became more hospitable to deer, and where once only moose nibbled at the aspens, maples, dogwoods, and balsams, now deer had taken over. With the deer came more wolves. A remnant population of moose still clung to existence farther north in the harshest areas where winter still bore teeth and deer couldn’t survive the deep snow and brutal cold. But as the man turned the artifact over in his hands, he wondered if a day would come when the only sign that even those moose ever existed would be a few forgotten antlers rotting away on the forest floor.

An old moose antler, turned green by algae and partially gnawed by critters, lies on a carpet of sphagnum, blending harmoniously with the landscape. | JOE

SAWTOOTH RACING DOG BLOG

By Erin Altemus

500 Miles on the Iditarod Trail

The day before the race, I knew I was coming down with something. Wednesday had been vet checks and perhaps there was a bug flying around the room amongst the vets, or maybe it was Thursday when I signed over a thousand fan posters and then sat in a banquet hall with hundreds of people that had flown in from all over the country. Somewhere, I picked up a bug and by Saturday, while I whisked my Iditarider, Grand Marais resident Rena Rogers, around the back trails of Anchorage, I knew that unless I had one of those magical 24-hour bugs, I was soon to be really sick.

And that’s what happened. Nine months of Iditarod prep, training, and fundraising permeated by illness—a sore throat that turned to a cough, congestion, and runny nose. I’d cough so hard going down the trail I’d pee myself and dry heave on the back of the sled. At one point, I tried to take a much-needed nap but was so congested that when I laid down, I couldn’t breathe and I had to sit right back up, so I just hit the trail again. This wasn’t exactly the race plan I had in mind.

But in the post-covid era, we don’t like to bring attention to our illnesses. I didn’t want anyone else to get sick, certainly. And I was a little paranoid that maybe I would be asked to withdraw from the race, so as much as I could, I kept mum for a few days.

The team started with Pinto and Georgia in lead, but little did I know we’d be on wide open lakes for a num-

ber of miles to start. The leaders drifted right and while we were supposed to go between the crowds, these two kept plowing down the right side, forcing spectators to jump out of the way at the last second when they realized a large dog team was bearing down on them. When passing a team, they tried to go straight through another dog team causing a tangle, and then as a final straw, they went for another team’s food bucket as a musher was snacking.

That first run as the sun set, we watched dog teams ahead and behind. I could see eight or nine teams at a time, snaking along the wide winding river, all of us enduring so much to be there, relieved to finally be on the trail. This is one of my favorite memories from the race.

Every checkpoint was different, some had food for the mushers or hot water for the dogs. Others had little to offer, requiring us to melt snow and feed ourselves. I had hoped to ascend Rainy Pass in the daylight, as this was supposed to be one of the most scenic parts of the trail, but an unexpected stop in Finger Lake due to rough trail conditions meant going over Rainy Pass and then descending Dalzell Gorge at night.

Dalzell Gorge is known to be treacherous. The trail descends quickly from the Pass and winds over a creek many times, ping-ponging back and forth, sometimes over ice bridges. Suddenly we were dropping quickly and I realized we were in the gorge and then we

came to a very abrupt stop—the entire team bunched up and within seconds dogs were fighting (a reoccurring problem I had due to several aggressive females on the team). Turns out we hit a creek where the ice bridge had gone out and my leaders didn’t want to cross, even though the water wasn’t that deep.

I broke up the fight and started untangling dogs, pulling leaders across the water and the rest of the team followed. Another dog team waited behind me. I had dogs getting their feet caught in the lines, resisting my pull, me throwing dogs across the water, unclipping and reclipping dogs. I was a sweaty mess but finally got everyone across. When the sled went over, I promptly tipped and from there on, the Dalzell Gorge treated me roughly. I tipped several times and at one point, went flying past Temper, my leader (he had gotten his line chewed and become loose). Amanda Otto behind me was clearly annoyed with this rookie musher who couldn’t get her act together and finally, when I turned down a creek the wrong way on glare ice, she got her chance to pass me, and did.

There is so much to write about and I can’t fit it all here. Here are some highlights from the rest of the trail:

After traveling through the Dalzell Gorge, we made it through 50 some miles of glare ice lakes, and bare ground (the Burn), which included steep up and down hills where I tipped my sled twice, hitting my hip and head.

I mushed 15 dogs to Takotna, where

When the sun finally came out, the scenery was stunning. | ERIN ALTEMUS Erin, Matt, and Sylvia at the Iditarod start. | SALLY MANIKIAN

I took my 24-hour layover. Here I had two long periods of great sleep on a church floor and some yummy food cooked by checkpoint volunteers. The scenery coming in and leaving this area was incredible.

I had to drop Bruce 20 miles after Takotna for a sore shoulder and two more dogs at Cripple with sore shoulders (Tom and Andi). Then the weather took a big turn for the cold. It was at this point that my leaders started to really hesitate and I was having a hard time finding anyone in the team to lead.

I camped out along the trail between Cripple and Ruby. Someone said it was -40 that night. This was the only night in Alaska I saw the northern lights. I laid down a tarp and crawled in my sleeping bag next to Chicken and Pinto. The next morning it was very cold and it took us a long time to get to Ruby. I carried Ginger in the sled for a while and I should have dropped her at the checkpoint, but didn’t.

I took extra rest at Ruby but when I left there and got on the Yukon, Ginger and Lorna flat out did not want to go. I should have dropped them at the checkpoint earlier. My team picked up on their attitude and wouldn’t go ei-

There was no snow in an area called the Burn.

| ERIN ALTEMUS

ther. Finally, I turned around and went back to Ruby and dropped the two that were quitting. Several hours later I tried again, but the team would not run down the Yukon. None of my leaders would lead. The dogs were all sitting down on the ice.

I tell people that there is nothing we can do to make sled dogs pull if they don’t want to. The dogs told me this that morning. We sat on the Yukon River and watched the sunrise. I had carried a woman’s ashes that far in my sled and I spread them there. I gave the dogs

a snack and took some pictures. I’m sure there are things I could have done differently that may have led to a different outcome. I also know that our lack of winter at home and the poor training we had because of that, factored in. That morning, on the Yukon, I had no other choice but to end my race, so we turned back to Ruby and signed the papers.

The adventure didn’t end there, however. My team was flown from Ruby to Unalakleet on the coast in two bush planes, five dogs per plane. I sat next to the pilot in

After scratching, the dogs got a ride in the back of a pick-up truck to the airport.

| ERIN ALTEMUS

one plane and took in the route over which I would have mushed had my race continued. We spent 24 hours in Unalakleet in the returned dog lot, right on the shoreline of the frozen ocean. I shuttled between there where the dogs stayed and the checkpoint of the race, meeting race volunteers and talking with race officials, vets, and mushers, eating pizza and sourdough pancakes, and watching teams come and go. Two other scratched teams were flown in as well and settled in next to mine, as well as several dozen dropped

dogs from various teams with various injuries. I slept on the floor of a dark gymnasium. The next day, 70 dogs flew cargo to Anchorage and I took a small commercial flight (with 10 seats). Now the dogs are on the road home.

We don’t know what next year will hold. I’d like to think that someday I might be able to finish the race, but that someday might not be for some time. Thank you to all of you who have supported us in so many ways this season. We could not have done this without you.

Strange Tales

The Duluth Eskimos: NFL’s Trailblazers

By Elle AndraWarner

Can you imagine the National Football League holding a Super Bowl in Duluth? While that is no longer possible, there was a Duluth professional football team in the NFL about a hundred years ago.

The team started out in 1923 as the Duluth Kelleys (sponsored by Kelley-Duluth Hardware Store) before it became the Duluth Eskimos. Joseph Carr, NFL’s president from 1921 to 1939, said the team “saved the NFL” and former Chicago Bears team coach George Halas called them “the greatest football team ever put together.”

The Duluth Kelleys played in the NFL until 1926 when Ole Haugsrud purchased the team from the NFL for a dollar, renamed it the Duluth Eskimos, and convinced his university football teammate Ernie Nevers to play for the team. Nevers was born in Willow Bend, Minn., in 1902 to Canadian parents who had immigrated to the U.S. from New Brunswick.

In 1926, the Eskimos, with Nevers as fullback, had a 16-man roster, played 26 games, had a 19-7-3 record, and only played one home game held on September 19, 1926, defeating the Kansas City Cowboys 7-0. During the total 1926 season, Nevers reportedly played 1,714 minutes out of a possible 1,740 minutes. The following year in 1927, in addition to his fullback position, Nevers became the team’s head coach; the Eskimos had a 1-8 record, finishing 11th in the NFL.

Playing in the NFL’s northernmost city, the professional football team in Duluth had a distinct disadvantage. Other teams didn’t want to travel to Duluth to play games during the winter months, so the Duluth Eskimos had to make a choice: become a travelling team playing games elsewhere or shorten their football season.

In those early days as Duluth Kelleys, the team only played seven games in 1923; six in 1924 (their best season, ending in fourth place in NFL standing), and three in 1925.

In 1926, after changing the team name to Duluth Eskimos and becoming more of a travelling team, they finished in the middle of the NFL rankings, but with a big downside for their Minnesota fans—only one game was played in Duluth.

Then, a year later in 1927, things did not turn out well for the Duluth Eskimos. Barnstorming road trips across America, the Eskimos travelled 17,000 miles in four months winning only one football game out

Published in 2007, the book Leatherheads of the North, by Chuck Frederick, tells the interesting story of the NFL’s

of 39 and playing just one home game. At the end of that season, Haugsrud withdrew the Duluth Eskimos from the NFL, selling it back to the league and buying 10 percent of the Minnesota Vikings. Eskimo star player Nevers moved on to play with the Chicago Cardinals where on November 28, 1929, he scored all 40 points, the most in a game by a single player in NFL history. That record stood for 91 years until December 25, 2020.

Carr credited the Duluth Eskimos with saving the NFL by travelling the U.S. to play football games at a time when the league was close to collapsing financially. Duluth News Tribune columnist Chuck Frederick, and author of the book Leatherheads of the North , told MPR News (Sep -

tember 19, 2019), “I definitely believe that if it wasn’t for the Duluth Eskimos, the NFL wouldn’t be around today. The NFL would have gone bankrupt like so many other upstart leagues. There was too much competition.”

Duluth’s professional football team only played five years in the NFL, yet it left a lasting legacy. It was one of the first NFL teams to use a logo (an igloo) and wear it on their uniforms, plus it was the first NFL team to hold a training camp and huddle before a play.

In the 21st century, there’s been a renewed interest—a sort of Duluth Eskimos renaissance—in media, books and even a movie. Frederick’s book, Leatherheads of

the field with the team, inside/ outside the stadium from the early days as Duluth Kelleys, and past their Eskimos barnstorming years. And the 2008 movie Leatherheads by Universal Pictures— which was directed by and starred George Clooney with Renee Zellweger and John Krasinski—is a sports comedy about a fictional Duluth Bulldogs team that is loosely based on the Duluth Eskimos. Clooney later explained that, “We wanted to call them the Eskimos, but because we were drinking in the movie, the NFL said we couldn’t use the actual names.” (Bob Kelleher, MPR News, March 24, 2008.)

So, why do the Duluth Eskimos continue to attract such interest? Erin Swartz, the Minnesota Vikings Senior Director of Brand Creative & Project Management, is quoted in a MPR News article (How a Football Team from Duluth Saved the NFL long Before the Vikings Ever Played, September 19, 2019) written by Maury Glover, “What we love about the Duluth Eskimos story is that it tells the grit of football in Minnesota from the beginning. Players willing to put it on the line to create a great show for fans and play football.”

the North: The True Story of Ernie Nevers & the Duluth Eskimos (2007), takes the reader on/off

Duluth Eskimos. | SUBMITTED

Duluth Eskimos star player Ernie Nevers. | LOS ANGELES TIMES

Poster for the 2008 movie Leatherheads. | WIKIMEDIA

NORTHERN SKY

APRIL 2024

By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

The big event this month is the total solar eclipse that will sweep from Texas to Maine on Monday, the 8th. Here in Minnesota, we’ll only see a partial eclipse, which will run from approximately 12:25 to 4:20 p.m. and peak at about 2:03 p.m. As usual, if you watch it, be sure to wear proper eye protection at all times.

In the evening sky, the spring constellation Leo, the lion, reaches its highest point in the south at nightfall. The lion’s head faces toward the west, outlined by the backward question mark of stars known as the Sickle. At the base of the Sickle is bright Regulus, the lion’s heart. Trailing the Sickle is a triangle of stars, the brightest and easternmost of which is called Denebola, a shortened form of the Arabic for “lion’s tail.”

Below and slightly west of Regulus is lonely Alphard, the brightest star in the large but extremely dim constellation Hydra. In Greek myth, Hydra was a

multi-headed serpent slain by the hero Hercules.

Also at nightfall, look low in the southeast for Spica, the sole bright star in the large but hard-to-spot constellation Virgo, the maiden. To the lower right of Spica, an irregular four-sided figure marks Corvus, the crow. On Monday, the 22nd, an almost full moon rises close to Spica and follows it across the night sky.

April’s full moon rises the next night— Tuesday, the 23rd—less than two hours after reaching perfect fullness.

The month ends with the old Celtic holiday Beltane, one of four “cross-quarter” days falling midway between an equinox and a solstice. The ancient Celts held that at sundown on April 30, all the evil spirits, which had been tormenting humanity since the last Halloween, began a last fling before being exiled at dawn on May 1. They would not be released until sundown on the next Halloween.

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.

BY JOE SHEAD

WHY GO: The French River provides good fishing for brook, brown, and rainbow trout above the posted barrier from Lake Superior. And although fishing isn’t allowed between the lake and the fish trap at Highway 61, shore anglers casting into Lake Superior along the mouth catch coho salmon and steelhead.

ACCESS: There are ample opportunities to access the French River. You’ll find a nice parking area at the mouth along Scenic Highway 61. From there you can fish Lake Superior, but the river is closed to fishing in the short stretch between the mouth and the highway. To reach this access point from Duluth, head northeast up Highway 61. Turn right onto Scenic Highway 61 at Brighton Beach (just before the railroad tracks). From there, travel northeast 6 miles to the parking area just beyond the bridge over the French River. You’ll also find angling easements at several road crossings, including Ryan Road, McQuade Road, Cant Road, Lismore Road, Pioneer Road, French River Road and Normanna Road. These easements permit anglers to walk along shore on private lands to fish. The areas are well signed. Make sure you

remain in the water when fishing outside the posted easements.

VITALS: The French River lies in St. Louis County between Duluth and Two Harbors. It flows 12.9 miles before emptying into Lake Superior. A fish trap just upstream of the mouth is used to catch steelhead. Eggs collected from these fish are reared in a hatchery and are ultimately stocked back into the river. Formerly, Kamloops rainbow trout were stocked here, but this popular fishery was discontinued several years ago. Today, clipped steelhead are stocked to provide some harvest opportunities. Above the barrier, anglers will find naturally reproducing populations of brook and brown trout, as well as stocked steelhead fingerlings. Allen Brandt, DNR fisheries specialist, says downstream of the Cant Road easement, angling is more popular and the stream banks are more open, permitting easier casting. Upstream of there, it’s brushy and harder to fish.

GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Brook trout, brown trout, and steelhead (rainbow trout).

BROOK TROUT: Although brook trout can be found throughout the river, they are mostly found in the headwaters area, Brandt

FRENCH RIVER

said. He says brookies commonly run up to 8 inches, but you may find some 10-inch fish.

BROWN TROUT: Both brown trout and brook trout have naturally reproducing populations in the French River, Brandt said. He said browns commonly run to 10 inches, but some larger fish in the 15- to 18-inch range do inhabit the river.

STEELHEAD: The French River trap catches adult steelhead attempting to swim upstream and spawn. Progeny of these fish are raised in a hatchery, and each year 60,000 young 4-inch clipped steelhead are stocked back in the French River above the barrier. “The stream kind of acts as a nursery for these fish,” Brandt said. Stocked in June, the young steelhead remain in the river for a year or so before swimming downstream and entering Lake Superior when they are about 8 inches long, Brandt said. Steelhead can’t be kept in the river, but

anglers may keep steelhead caught in Lake Superior if they are at least 16 inches long and have a clipped adipose fin with a healed scar, indicating a stocked fish.

A Wild Path

By Douglas Wood

University of Minnesota Press, 2023, $24.95

A Wild Path is author Douglas Wood’s highly anticipated follow-up to the critically acclaimed memoir Deep Woods, Wild Waters. He again leads readers along a meditative path through a wilderness with many dimensions, and like every good journey, there is plenty of laughter, warmth, and humor on the trail. Wood welcomes readers to accompany him as he navigates his life-path from struggling student and “worst reader in the class” to prolific writer and best-selling author. He offers courage and hope to those who feel different, and he shares how he found, through nature, his own way towards joy. Filled with depth, heart, and wisdom, A Wild Path provides valuable lessons connected to the great outdoors. —Breana

Johnson

Bears of North America

Black Bears, Brown Bears, and Polar Bears

By Stan Tekiela

Adventure

Publications, 2023, $19.95

Whether crawling into black bear dens in northern Wisconsin, trekking across the Manitoba tundra in search of polar bears, or traversing the Rocky Mountains in pursuit of grizzly bears, award-winning author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela has spent more than 20 years traveling across the U.S. and Canada to observe and photograph bears. He has documented every aspect of their lives: major events such as mating and hibernation, as well as everyday activities like foraging, hunting, and socializing. The result is a captivating coffee-table book filled with beautiful images, personal anecdotes, and years of research. —Breana

Johnson

Finding the Mother Tree

Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest

By Suzanne Simard

Penguin Random House, 2021, $22.58 CDN

Suzanne Simard grew up in the rain forests of British Columbia, cataloguing forest trees as a child. Now a professor of forest ecology and a pioneer on plant communication and intelligence, Simard’s book explores her ground-breaking research to prove that forests are “social, cooperative creatures connected through underground networks by which trees communicate” and suggests that their lives are “not that different from our own.” At the centre of it all is the Mother Tree, the old trees of the forest. They are the hub that connects the forest through a fungi network including exchanging nutrients, nurturing seedlings, recognizing neighbours, helping others, and communicating threats. Her science behind tree communication has even gone beyond forestry, influencing James Cameron with the “Tree of Souls” in his award-winning movie Avatar. And one scientist wrote that her discovery will “forever change how people view forests.”—Elle Andra-Warner

Gidaanikeshkaagonaanig Gidaanikoobijiganinaan Following the Ancestor’s Steps

Ajidamoo Squirrel

By Zhaawanoogiizhik / Sam Zimmerman

Last week, as I went to the studio with arms full and trying not to spill makade-mashkikiwaaboo (coffee), I noticed a  ajidamoo (squirrel) laying on the ground not moving (he is usually in my feeder). I went into the studio and then came back out, and he still didn’t move. He had nibo (died, journeyed home). Gashkendam (I was so sad). I put down my aseema (tobacco) for him, and wrapped him up.

Imbaabaa (my dad) called during this time and asked me what I was doing. I told him that I was preparing a  maajaa’  (funeral) and explained what happened. I was upset as I didn’t see any signs of inaapinazh (wounds) on his body and he looked like he simply aapidingwaami (died in his sleep). How could this little one have passed?  Imbaabaa (my dad) reminded me that all beings leave when they’re supposed to.

I had to honor one of my favorite  awesiinyag (animals) who spent almost ningo-gikinoonowin (a year) visiting me and the bird feeders, with one coming into my studio to wiisini (eat) seeds while I painted.

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.

CALL FOR A FREE MARKET ANALYSIS

Give one of our agents a call to learn more about why IT’S A GOOD TIME TO SELL. If you’re unsure if you want to move forward in the buying or selling process, our agents can give you the information you need to make the best decision for you. Sellers are given a FREE MARKET ANALYSIS to learn about:

Trends in property values

Recent sales data for comparable area properties

Local market demand + inventory levels

Valuable insights about the current state of the North Shore real estate market

Through our market analysis, you can gain a BETTER UNDERSTANDING of the potential value of your property, the competitiveness of the market, and the optimal pricing strategy for listing your home for sale. Our hope is to help you identify opportunities and challenges that may impact your selling process, allowing you to make more informed decisions.

lutsenrealestategroup.com // (218) 663-7971

STEVE SURBAUGH | Broker

SARENA CROWLEY | Agent

sold

3280 Highway 61 W

This 3-bedroom 2-bath home overlooks over 200’ of gorgeous Lake Superior ledge rock shoreline and has amazing panoramic views. The house has abundant windows to take in a glorious sunrise over the water.

MLS 6111396 $749,900

5541 E Highway 61

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 6112291 $299,900

Unit 5 - Share A A 3BR/3BA unit on the edge of Surfside on Superior’s resort property, offering unparalleled privacy with sweeping views of Lake Superior and Surfside’s iconic peninsula. This is an incredible opportunity to own a quarter-share.

MLS 6111523 $275,000

NEW 5273 W Highway 61

Charming 3BR/2BA home, nestled in the heart of Lutsen, boasts 1,123sqft of living space. The recent quality renovation.

MLS 6112485 $479,900

101

72 Chimney Rock Road

Modern amenities meet classic style in this quality-built Clarence Kemp/Dale Mulfinger designed 3-bedroom home! Capturing panoramic Lake Superior views with 223 feet of accessible ledge rock, this home is all about comfort and tranquility. The quintessential covered porch beckons “Welcome Home”--enter and be mesmerized by the mood of Gichi-Gami; dark and stormy or peaceful and calm, the freshwater sea is front and center! You’ll appreciate the high-quality workmanship and consistency in every room.

REDUCED MLS 6111288 $1,199,500

384X Highway 61 E

Over 1000’ of stunning Lake Superior shoreline, perfect for your North Shore retreat. This 5-acre parcel is part of the aptly named Paradise Beach. Make this cobblestone beach surrounded by Government land yours!

MLS 610784 $1,200,000

REDUCED 2307

County Road 7 3BR/3BA home near Grand Marais on over 10A to spread out. Heated garage and pole building.

MLS 6111812 $514,900

REDUCED 78 Troll’s Trail

Affordable Lake Superior! Over 300’ of shared lakeshore and over 7 acres of shared land! Great opportunity to build a cabin or year round home.

MLS 6108596 $129,900

1044 2nd Ave West

4BR/3BA home tucked away on 2A is a rare find in the city limits of Grand Marais. Detached two car garage and an oversized detached garage, perfect for a workshop or storage.

MLS 6111516 $499,900

619 Clearwater Road

This is a very rare opportunity to find a year-round cabin on West Bearskin Lake! This charming log cabin and bunkhouse are situated on the east end of the lake, featuring some of the most spectacular sunset views. The main cabin is close to the water’s edge and sits on a rise, that has a gently sloping trail leading to 398 coveted feet of accessible shoreline. This lovely property has direct BWCA access and wonderful tree coverage.

MLS 6111766 $599,900

261 Caps Trail

Serenity awaits you in this turn-key charming 3BR/2BA, year-round Lutsen home, located on Tait Lake. 190’ of shoreline with 2.9A in a peaceful bay on the north side of the lake, with the Tait River gently running along the western edge of the property, providing tons of privacy.

MLS 6110362 $499,900

101

11 Poplar Creek Dr

Amazing opportunity to own a private getaway on 309’ of Poplar Lake. The 4BR/5BA house is currently operating as a B&B on 7.2A with BWCA access and is only about 30 miles from Grand Marais. The BWCA, hiking trails, bike trails, and miles of ski trails including the Banadad system all provide endless opportunity for outdoor adventures. The area is rich in wildlife. Make it your ideal north woods escape or dream business or both rolled into one!

MLS 6109270 $699,900

77 Wilderness Trail

This sweet, half-log sided cabin has all your modern conveniences, and loads of privacy on a spectacular Tom Lake lot! The lot is gently rolling, features 189 feet of Tom Lake shoreline, has incredible views, mature trees, and lots of sunshine.

MLS 6111205 $389,900

Onagon Lake

Enjoy the natural beauty of forested lands on this affordable 1.62A lot, located at the end of the historic Gunflint Trail. 200’ of lake shore, providing plenty of privacy.

new X43 HansenHjemsted Road

12XX Highway 61 W

MLS 6109045 $79,900

XXX Poplar Lake

pending pending

There are few mid-trail parcels that feature this much privacy! 10A totally surrounded by US Forest Service lands and only about a mile and a half off the Gunflint Trail.

MLS 6110281 $69,900

Great opportunity to find a lovely 2.67-acre lot in Lutsen, perfect for a home or cabin. Abuts Federal Land on 2 sides for added privacy.

MLS 6112448 $64,900

Honeymoon Trail

Rural, private, 10A forested land (mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees) and close to Lutsen lakes: Caribou, White Pine, Christine, Pike, and more.

MLS 6108969 $114,000

RARE opportunity to find almost 6A of mixed use located in the heart of Grand Marais, with city sewer and city water. This property has approximately 825’ of frontage on Highway 61 and access off 1st Street.

MLS 6108209 $789,900

11XX Highway 61 W

Unique opportunity to find a 1A lot in the heart of Grand Marais. Directly abouts Highway 61 with commercial usage.

MLS 6108208 $199,900

1315 E Highway 61

Incredible commercial opportunity. Current use includes a 3BR rental unit, office, and home! Cathedral ceilings, ample parking and great location!

6104280 $1,250,000

SALE PENDING

This Post and Beam Lindal Cedar Home has all the bells and whistles including 245ft of shoreline on Lake Superior! The living room’s wall of glass displays each big-lake moment and the woodstove adds ambiance. The kitchen is class-act and off the kitchen is a sunroom, a good place for deep thought or a deep snooze! Plenty of room here: three bedrooms, three baths, A loft to sneak away to for a good book or everyone cuddled up for movie-night. The primary bedroom is dreamy under lofted ceiling with an ensuite bath. Down below is a spacious family room with impressive views of the lake. Big ‘ol garage with stairs up to a room that is great for storage. Outside is a sprawling deck, perfect for BBQ’s! The locale is a strategic basecamp for North Shore Fun: Lutsen and Grand Marais aren’t far, Splitrock just down the road. Or, bring enough groceries for a month! Hole up among the cool air, pristine forest, and neighboring 3 quadrillion gallons of freshwater, better known as Superior!

MLS#6108922 $949,000

Rare opportunity to acquire a lake lot on the coveted Caribou Lake in Lutsen! Nestled in the quiet Sawmill Bay, this lot offers a unique opportunity to build your dreamy cabin or home. Climb up to the top of the knob to see the views stretch out before you! Work with the layout of the land to create a magical and one-of-a-kind place! Located at a cul de sac, this parcel is accessed by privately year-round maintained road with electricity at the road! 1.71 acres and 242 ft of rugged shoreline can explore the best area for your future dock to enjoy the lake. Plenty of room for you to play and relax!

MLS#6111272 $329,000

ENCHANTING LUTSEN LAKE SUPERIOR HOME!

Sprawling and accessible 200ft of ledge rock shoreline is perfect for toe dipping! Lutsen Cascade Beach Road location, charming 2 bedroom with loft, ready for your own updating! Stroll around the accommodating lakeside deck, listen to the waves lapping the shoreline from this magical spot. Such a fantastic location, a short 15-minute drive to the Harbor town of Grand Marais on Lake Superior. Less than ten minutes to Lutsen Mountains Ski and Summer Resort! The options are endless; Visit today and start living your dream on Lake Superior! MLS#6112170

GOOD LIVING IN SCHROEDER

Just over thirty minutes to Grand Marais, tucked away on the hill of the Cramer Road in Schroeder is this cute 2-bedroom home. With a large yard and 3+ acres to explore, you will have plenty of space to enjoy the seasons. Walk inside from the large deck overlooking the yard and enjoy the open layout. From the entryway giving you space for all your seasonal gear (that means no mud in the house!!) to the open Kitchen and Living room with a ton of natural light, you will be able to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Even a Large Deck overlooking the yard and detached garage! Located just a minute drive from Highway 61 you have easy access to all your favorite places like Schroeder Bakery or Temperance River. Or travel further on the Cramer Road to many inland lakes and spend the day fishing! All that is missing is you!

MLS# 6111108 $279,900 PRICE REDUCED

Our Clients say it all, Work with us and We will work for you!

BEAUTIFUL LOG HOME NEAR CHRISTINE LAKE IN

LUTSEN! Enjoy this beautiful Log home in Lutsen just a minute from Christine Lake! Vaulted Ceilings and large Log Beams give you the ambiance of a cabin in the Northwoods, while the Open Floor Plan gives you all the space you crave. Enjoy cooking in the spacious kitchen with room for all your cooking accessories or walk out onto the deck to enjoy a BBQ. 3 bedrooms gives you space for everyone to unwind after the day’s adventures. Amazing location with 1.90 acres and surrounded by State and Federal land. Enjoy all your favorite outdoor activities just outside your door from biking to boating! Oversized garage gives you room for all your gear AND 2 cars. All that is missing is you! Visit today!

MLS#6111584 $599,000 PRICE REDUCED

Spring has arrived on the Shore! Plan your adventures Up North!

CAMPN’,

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

Our Clients say it all, Work with us and We will work for you!

LUTSEN AREA

ENJOY THE VIEWS FROM ABOVE! Imagine waking up every morning to a view of Lake Superior. This property could give you that! Located at the top of a hill you could be overlooking Lake Superior while drinking your morning coffee! With a driveway in place (needs a little TLC) and a circle turnaround you have the first steps in place to build the getaway of your dreams! We think the best building site is right off the driveway, but you will have to explore to decide for yourself. Great location just outside of Silver Bay giving you close access to all the Hiking, Biking and ATV Trails. Or maybe you just want to enjoy the abundant wildlife that also wanders around the 9-acre parcel. All that is missing is you!

LUTSEN AREA

LUTSEN AREA

8+ ACRES OF MAPLES AND BIRCH IN LUTSEN! Enjoy the brilliant green forest in the summer and brilliant colors in the fall in this Boreal Forest with Public Land on two boundaries. The hard work is already started with the driveway in place, and the start of a building pad! Sensible Homeowners Association and Year-Round Access! Visit today and start imagining your life Up North! MLS#6112620

$81,900

START UP AT TAIT LAKE! Are you ready to have your own place on the North Shore, Build the cabin or home of your dreams and start creating memories? Located in a great location near Tait Lake, away from the hustle and bustle this lot already has the driveway and building site in place. Deeded access to both boat launches you will be able to fish the day away with ease. And Lutsen is just 20 minutes away for Golfing, Skiing, Restaurants and Shopping. Eagle Mountain is only 10 minutes away for a hike to the highest point in Minnesota!

MLS#6108876 $67,000

49+ ACRES WITH 1600 FT OF SHORELINE ON BIGSBY LAKE IN LUTSEN! Have the wilderness at your fingertips and STILL have room to create your own Up North Home Base for all your favorite outdoor activities! Watch the wildlife all around you as you sit back and let the stress of the world melt away. Beautiful setting with mature cedar trees and a mixed forest, perfect place to enjoy nature and wildlife. Ward Lake public access is nearby, take the walking path carrying your canoe and Caribou Lake Public Landing is only a few minutes driving distance, great place to spend the day fishing! This is the Ideal parcel to build your North Woods adventure base and create multiple trails, take a snowmobile or ATV ride or just relax by the lake, perfect for an outdoor adventurer!

MLS# 6110674 $249,900

GRAND MARAIS AREA

MLS#6108926 $108,000

NEW! CARIBOU LAKE PARCEL IN LUTSEN! Rare opportunity to acquire a lake lot on the coveted Caribou Lake in Lutsen! Nestled in the quiet Sawmill Bay, this lot offers a unique opportunity to build your dreamy cabin or home. Climb up to the top of the knob to see the views stretch out before you! Work with the layout of the land to create a magical and one-ofa-kind place! Located at a cul de sac, this parcel is accessed by privately year-round maintained road with electricity at the road! 1.71 acres and 242 ft of rugged shoreline can explore the best area for your future dock to enjoy the lake. Plenty of room for you to play and relax! MLS#6111272 $329,000

NEW! “LOT” OF DREAMS! Quiet, wooded city lot in the heart of Grand Marais. Hop, skip and a jump to The Big Lake, Angry Trout and all Grand Marais has to offer. Yet, quiet, so peaceful and quiet the snowshoe hares hang there awaiting snow to hide their changing coats. 66 x 135’ assures plenty of room to get your vision on! Cute little bungalow to reinvent your life. Or go big with a second floor and perhaps Gitche Gummi comes into view! Lots like these are hard to come by in America’s Coolest Small Town. Easy to stroll or bike all around town. Hurry, come and get it!

MLS#TBA $79,900

SOLD SOLD SOLD SALE PENDING

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES PRIVACY ON LAKE SUPERIOR – NEW STRUCTURES IN PLACE

Deeply wooded lot on Big Bay has great views of the lake and hills along the coast. Privacy on the 500 feet of shoreline with its own long driveway from Hwy 61 and a buffer of state land. A charming guest cottage is just being completed, so you have a place to start while you finish renovation of an old cabin that sits right on the shore by variance from the county. The contractor is ready to go. Plenty of room for a larger home-build on the 1.9 acre lot.

MLS#6112175 $549,0000

DEVIL TRACK LAKE HOME

Three bedroom, 3 bath home on 2 acres of dense forest and 200 ft of shoreline on coveted north shore of the lake. Quality-built 1981 home has many recent updates, including windows and roof. Updated kitchen with new slate tile floors, granite countertops, cabinets and appliances. Open floor plan on main floor with hardwood floors, lofted ceilings, large windows and expansive deck accessed by 2 patio doors. Primary bedroom has lake views and a private bath with walk-in closet. 2-car attached garage and a detached 2-car garage. Dock and lift included.

MLS#6108491 $559,000

utilizes thoughtful and functional design. Featuring huge windows bringing in the lake view, a well-appointed kitchen, quality features and finishes. The Hers and His layout is compact, yet promotes private spaces and contemplative settings. Landscaped patio flows to the detached 2-car heated garage, with a workout room overlooking the lake. Upper-level includes guest quarters with bath and balcony.

MLS#6111892

POPLAR LAKE LOT

Over 300 feet of private shoreline on Poplar Lake and just under 2 acres of land. Lots of spruce, cedar, tag alder and diamond willow creates a haven for moose and other wildlife. Bring rubber boots and a camera to check this one out. Beautiful shoreline in a friendly neighborhood!

MLS#6108233 $199,000

3 BEDROOM LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW HOME

Large 3+ bedroom multi-level Grand Marais home with Lake Superior views and

GREENWOOD LAKE PANORAMIC VIEWS

Greenwood Lake property offers the best of lake life and the north woods experience. Vaulted living area, open kitchen and dining area offer unobstructed lake views from nearly every angel. Cabin has 3 bedrooms with ample closet storage. Clear railing system on the deck allows you to take in the panoramic views. A short walk down to the wind protected harbor & swimming beach. Off-grid living with amenities of solar power, custom water collection system and propane.

MLS#6108310 $549,000

NEW!

GREENWOOD LAKE LOT

Spacious, wooded lot gently sloping to the waterfront. There are very nice views here of the majestic Greenwood Lake, with 338 feet of shoreline and 3.65 acres.

MLS#6112437

$349,900

HOMES & CABINS

CHARMING HOME ON 19+ ACRES

Located only 25 minutes from Grand Marais. This 1 bed 1 bath home features a large loft with ample storage, open concept floor plan. Home has in floor heat and a large woodburning stove that is sure to take the chill out of the air in the cooler months. Close to Judge Magney State Park, Lake Superior a short drive away. Privacy abounds and miles of backroads to explore!

MLS#6111172

NEW! COZY OFF-GRID CABIN ON 83 ACRES

Well-loved, kit log cabin perched atop 83 acres, bordered by MN State land. Being this deep in the woods, it is a treat to catch a glimpse of Lake Superior on a clear day from the south facing bedroom window. Interior is accented by beautiful diamond willow railings and custom ironwork. Cozy off-grid cabin with propane lights, refrigerator and cooking range reduce utility expenses.

MLS#6112373 $289,000

SERENE AND PRIVATE WOODS WITH RUSTIC LOG CABIN

Mature white pine and cedar are the backdrop for this log cabin in

CONDOS

Be

next steward of this lovingly cared for East Bay Suites condominium. Enjoy amazing views over the East Bay of Lake Superior including iconic "Artist's Point". The building is managed by Odyssey Resorts. Owners have the option to rent their unit for short term stays. This unit is highly requested by guests due to its updated styling, main bedroom with bathroom en suite, 3rd floor location, and second bathroom for guests.

MLS#6112070 $375,000

40+ ACRES ON COUNTY RD 14

Over 40 acres with a creek running through and 1300ft of County road frontage. Very nice potential building sites in this parcel. West and south property boundaries are abutted by Federal land. Zoned FAR-3, could be subdivided, or you can maintain the elbow room with your own beautiful, private homestead.

MLS#6108229 $330,000

TOFTE LOT WITH CREEK

This 2+ acre lot is located within the old Tofte Airport Plat. Seasonal views of Lake Superior and a nice size creek meandering through the property. A great location minutes from Temperance River State Park, hiking trails and a 15 min drive to the Ski Hill & Golf Course area of Lutsen.

MLS#6111840 $70,000

SALE PENDING! LARGE PARCEL WITH CREEK, LOST LAKE DEEDED ACCESS

Nice 41 acre parcel with good slope to southern exposure, frontage on Mohns Creek with ponds, and deep forest. Easy access with frontage on Camp 20 Road. Deeded private lake rights to Lost Lake. A remote escape with easy access and soon to have power and broadband access.

MLS#6110761 $57,900

NEW! HILLTOP SANCTUARY HOME SITE – 360 DEGREE VIEWS

Awe-inspiring views from this remote 40-acre wilderness parcel. Lake Superior view is almost 180 degrees. You can see Isle Royale to the east and the Swamp River flowage to the west. Millions of acres of State Forest wilderness surround you. Wolves and moose are frequent visitors. Step directly onto the

SALE PENDING! BUILD JUST 10 MILES FROM GRAND MARAIS

A nice 1.84 acre lot across the highway from a Lake Superior beach. Within walking distance from Kadunce Creek, where hiking, beach combing and fly fishing are frequently enjoyed. Just 10 miles from Grand Marais, this is a convenient location to build a home stead or a vacation home.

MLS#6112295 $89,000

TOFTE 2 ACRE LOT

Nice 2 acre lot in Tofte, near Oberg Mountain hiking, Lutsen skiing, and ample other activities on the North Shore. Property has access to power and fiber optic. It even has a pretty little pond! It is still easy to walk through and take a look at in late November, so come check it out before the snow packs us in for the winter. Bring your house plans and a dream for your vacation spot or your forever home.

MLS#6111587

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.

MLS#6103975 $74,900

SEASONAL LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW LOT

This 2.91 acre lot is located within the old Tofte Airport Plat. Located at the end of a Cul de sac with seasonal views of Lake Superior what's not to love! A great location minutes from Temperance River State Park, hiking trails, and a 15 min drive to the Ski Hill & Golf Course area of Lutsen!

MLS#6111839 $72,000

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

PEACEFUL TAIT LAKE PINES

You'll appreciate the private & peaceful location in Lutsen, MN. Complete with its own hiking trails, outstanding views, maintained roads, year-round accessibility, access to power, calm and serene overall vibe. Deeded lake access to Tait Lake! Additional lots available.

MLS#6106368 $48,000 PENDING

MLS#6098276 $47,900 PENDING

REMOTE ACREAGE, ADJOINING FOREST

LANDS-PRIVATE LAKE RIGHTS

43 acre tract has adjoining federal land and state park within walking distance. Good road access, with an old "logging road" into the property. Property is part of a private association with lake rights to Lost Lake, limited access lake with shared carry-in landing.

MLS#6103979 $46,900

BRULE VALLEY LOTS

These two, 40+ acre adjoining parcels are connected to a vast amount of Federal and State land, and are the perfect place to get away. Towering pines, poplar, birch, evergreens, ponds, creeks and rolling hills.

MLS#6102969 $43,000 – Lot B

MLS#6102971 $46,000 – Lot C

REMOTE, END-OF-THE-ROAD PRIVACY

Deeply wooded 20 acre parcel, remote with nice southerly exposure and creek frontage on Mons Creek, a trout stream. Deeded access to Lost Lake, a private access lake with limited private property. A place to fish, listen to loons and watch the sun set. Private area is gated and maintained by association. Main road access is seasonal. Broadband/ power slated to come soon.

MLS#6112490 $850,000

MLS#6112002 $38,900

Superior Hiking Trail, or roam the many trails and old roads. As remote as it feels, you can be on the highway to town within minutes. Site-prep, trails and landscaping are done, all you need to do is pick the best view to build your isolated mountain-top retreat.

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT

Pileated Woodpecker

With the coming of spring, the male pileated woodpeckers, Minnesota’s largest woodpecker, become very active. They drum on several trees along the edge of their territory, letting other pileated woodpeckers know that this patch of woods is taken. The drumming is usually on dead trees, as the brittle wood makes the sound much louder. I love taking a walk in the woods, listening to their spring rituals. Male pileated’s have a red crest covering their entire skull and a red mustache. The female is missing the red mustache and her red crest is about half as long.—Paul Sundberg