Northern Wilds February 2024

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Furry Frolics If you’ve already flipped through this issue, you may have figured out that February is devoted to pets, always a popular topic with our readers. I myself have two fur babies at home, and as anyone with a critter will attest, they are more than just pets— they are family.

Now, when you think of house pets, what comes to mind? If you’re like me, you probably picture dogs and cats, or even hamsters, rabbits, birds, and fish.

But what about reptiles and amphibians? In Along the Shore, Dana Johnson introduces us to Roger Hill, owner of The Snake Pit in Duluth. Hill’s shop sells a wide variety of cold-blooded critters, including snakes, geckos, frogs, axolotls, tarantulas, and more. He also centers on bridging the gap between people and these often misunderstood and maligned creatures, hosting educational hands-on sessions.

Are you more interested in traditional furry, cuddly critters? Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered. Eric Weicht provides us with a guide to canine training and why it’s important. Michelle Miller introduces us to St. Luke’s Hospital Hospice Volunteer Program’s therapy dogs in Duluth. Hartley Newell-Acero provides us with some valuable first aid information for our furry friends. And Kalli Hawkins gives us an update on the Arrowhead Animal Rescue organization’s pursuit for an animal shelter. Located in Cook County, the non-profit has been without an official shelter for three years. Thankfully, a solution may be in sight.

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.

Of course, pets aren’t the only topic in this issue.

Chris Pascone highlights what we can look forward to at the upcoming Ontario Winter Games, held Feb. 16-26 in Thunder Bay this year. He also takes us to the popular Mount Baldy ski hill, located north of Thunder Bay. Hawkins gives us a closer look at Thunder Bay Autosport Club’s adrenaline-fueled ritual: auto ice racing on Lake Superior’s Mission Bay. And Gord Ellis encourages us to fish for winter burbot, which are both fun to catch and delicious to eat.

Need a break from the cold? Naomi Yaeger brings us inside Duluth’s Great Lakes Aquarium, filled with lots of critters and hands-on exhibits. She also provides us with important information on Justice North. Formerly known as Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota, Justice North provides legal help for those who can’t afford it.

As always, our events section is filled with lots to do this month, including multiple family-friendly winter festivals, so be sure to check it out. Don’t miss the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race, rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 10. Speaking of sled dogs, Dog Blog columnist Erin Altemus gives us an update on her latest Iditarod challenge: packing drop bags.

In Grand Marais, winter has finally arrived with cold temps and a layer of snow. Be sure to enjoy it while it lasts. And if you get too cold, snuggle up somewhere warm and comfy and enjoy this issue of Northern Wilds. —Breana Johnson

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VOLUME 21, I SSUE 02 w w w . n o r t h e r nw i l d s .c o m SERVING THE NORTH SHORE A N D TH E WI LDE R N E SS B E Y ON D PUBLISHER Amber Graham EDITORIAL Breana Johnson, Editor breana@northernwilds.com MARKETING Destry Winant destry@northernwilds.com

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ADVERTISING Garrett Eckman, Sales Representative ads@northernwilds.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Jessica Jacobsen Smith Leah Pratt production@northernwilds.com

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16 FEATURES

CONTRIBUTORS Erin Altemus, Elle Andra-Warner, Gord Ellis, Virginia George, Kalli Hawkins, Dana Johnson, Michelle Miller, Deane Morrison, Hartley Newell-Acero, Chris Pascone, Rae Poynter, Joe Shead, Eric Weicht, Naomi Yaeger

14 Beyond Fetch A Guide to Canine Training

16 Winter Adventures at Mission Bay Thunder Bay Autosport Club’s Ice Racing

Cover

DEPARTMENTS 7 Along the Shore 18 Spotlight 21 Events 27 Dining 29 Health 31 Northern Trails

“An Ice Fishing Trip with Toivo”

by James Smedley

32 Fishing Hole 33 Dog Blog 34 Reviews 35 Northern Sky 36 Strange Tales

Take the North Shore home with you!

From Duluth to Thunder Bay, Ont. and beyond, we cover the stories from the area featuring the people and places that make this place unique.

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The Historic Beacons of Minnesota, Isle Royale and Ontario

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The Scandinavian lifestyle and job skills well-matched the challenge of homesteading on the North Shore. Amply illustrated with photos, The Lake is Your Life tells the Fenstad family history from pioneering at Little Marais in 1883 to the beginning of the “New Era” in the 1950s. $19.95

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

Veteran long-distance hiker Annie Nelson compiled the information and advice you need for a successful thruhike adventure on the 310mile Superior Hiking Trail. $16.95

Seventeen-year-old Jack Blackwell joined his grandfather, Alec Boostrom, on his northern Minnesota wilderness trapline. There he learned the story of his grandfather’s life of wilderness adventure on Lake Superior’s North Shore and deep within the canoe country. $14.95

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

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One devastating day in November, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald succumbed to gale-force winds, plunging to the bottom of Lake Superior and leaving no survivors. This haunting tale looks back to one of the most legendary, mysterious and controversial shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. $9.95

Sturgeon, known as bottom feeders, glide serenely through the interactive touch pool’s depths. | NAOMI YAEGER

Unveiling wonders at Great Lakes Aquarium A family-friendly escape from the chill

DULUTH—Those looking to get out of the house this winter, yet finding the great outdoors less than great, might consider a visit to the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth.

With over 65,000 square feet of space, the Great Lakes Aquarium (GLA), which is open year-round, is a great option for people of all ages.

“It’s always 75 and sunny in our building,” Executive Director Jay Walker said. “We have a lot of different experiences that are fun for families—a lot of hands-on exhibits.”

The highlight is a water table, a model of the five Great Lakes. Visitors can move toy boats through the locks and see how the Great Lakes are connected.

During a brief visit in the last days of December, a pair of 2-year-old twins stood at the water table, joyfully dipping their hands in an atmosphere of play and discovery.

Their parents, Rachel and Justin Store, were delighted to discover their home, Houghton, Mich., displayed on the table.

Visitors of all ages strolled by, interacting with the exhibits and their families. Grandparents supported toddlers, guiding them in their first steps. Meanwhile, some adults ambled independently, engrossed in studying exhibits, and parents leisurely pushed their children in buggies.

Courtney and Jeff Tanski from Danbury, Wisc., stood by a large tank looking upward at the fish. Courtney said a frogfish was the most exciting critter she saw at the aquarium. Jeff said the most interesting was the little alligators.

The executive director’s favorite exhibit in the GLA is the Isle Royale exhibit, which holds 45,000 gallons of water. Containing a good portion of the fish found in Lake Superior, including American eels and lake sturgeon, it is two stories high and can be observed on the first or second floor. Walker and other staff scuba dive into the two-story tank to hand feed the sturgeon, which are bottom feeders. Otherwise, the trout at the top of the tanks will eat most of the food.

Courtney and Jeff Tanksi of Danbury, Wisc., admire the 45,000-gallon Isle Royale tank. | NAOMI YAEGER

“They kinda puppy-dog you,” Walker said of the giant lake sturgeon looking at him, anticipating their food. “It’s a lot of fun.” During the Christmas season, Scuba Santa feeds the fish. During any season, visitors enjoy watching the scuba divers cleaning the tank.

INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS FOR ALL AGES GLA boasts many hands-on exhibits, ensuring an engaging experience for visitors of all ages. Besides the Great Lakes water table, other touch pools offer a chance to interact with marine life. One features touchable saltwater animals, representing the time when the region was submerged. Another showcases moon jellyfish, providing a safe hands-on encounter. The third, a sturgeon touch pool, offers fun and learning about these incredible freshwater bony-backed giants with spade snouts—and a chance to touch one.

A collaboration between Chippewa and Superior Forests, the freshwater forest exhibit educates visitors about how trees use fresh water, providing insights into the work of the forest service. This exhibit serves as a reminder of the importance of conservation and understanding our natural surroundings.

GLA features exhibits showcasing local and global habitats, from skunks and possums to creatures from the Amazon and African rainforests. A new gallery focusing on global habitats is set to open in the spring, highlighting the impact of climate change on ecosystems.

GLA’s mission is to engage and inspire, as evidenced by its record-setting attendance of over 200,000 visitors each year for the past two years. Future exhibits include “Oceans Alive,” focusing on different ecosystems, sea dragons, and a giant Pacific octopus. Oceans Alive will tell a story about how our actions to mitigate climate change are essential for Pacific Ocean creatures’ survival and our own.

GLA is also home to the Merrill Lynch Art Gallery on the first floor. This rotating gallery showcases local and regional artists whose work captures the spirit of the Lake Superior region.

Take the chance to explore this aquatic wonderland on the shores of the Great Lakes. The aquarium is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults and $16 for children 3-17. Children under 2 are free. An adult must accompany children under 12. For more information, call (218) 740-3474 or visit: glaquarium.org —Naomi Yaeger

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Some animal ambassadors you can meet at The Snake Pit include Milo the redfoot tortoise, axolotls, Pugsley the Asian water monitor, and corn snakes. | SUBMITTED

The Snake Pit owner Roger Hill with Sunshine, a large and friendly Burmese python. | SUBMITTED

Slither into The Snake Pit Herpetoculture in the Northland HERMANTOWN— When you think of house pets, what comes to mind? Dogs and cats are in the picture, of course, probably followed by hamsters, rabbits, fish, and maybe a few birds, but have you considered... snakes? What about colorful poison dart frogs? Maybe a fuzzy tarantula? Many unusual animals have become available through captive breeding efforts in recent years, and cold-blooded creatures are now more common in households than ever.

The keeping of reptiles and amphibians (collectively ‘herps’) in captivity is called herpetoculture, a growing and thriving hobby industry where education, conservation, and pet keeping meet. If you’d like to learn more about these incredible creatures, take a drive to The Snake Pit in Hermantown and talk to the owner, Roger Hill.

Born and raised in the Duluth area, Hill has an affinity for misunderstood animals.

“I’ve just always been drawn to them,” he says. Reptiles are fascinating creatures, and keeping one often leads to the desire for more. “After owning my first snake I was

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obsessed with the idea of breeding them,” Hill says. “First snakes I ever hatched were kingsnakes.”

Hill registered his business 31 years ago, and he’s been established in his current location below World of Fish for more than five years. Hill’s shop sells a wide variety of cold-blooded critters, including snakes, geckos, frogs, axolotls, tarantulas, isopods, other invertebrates and live feeder insects, frozen feeders, reptile supplies, and merchandise.

Unlike chain pet stores that source animals from large commercial breeders, many of Hill’s animals are hand raised. “Snakes and poison dart frogs are bred by myself or at our store,” he said.

Hill does far more than breed and sell reptiles, however: He wants people to understand and appreciate them for the fascinating animals they are. When asked how his business has changed over the years, he replied, “The focus has not changed at all; it’s all about educating the kids.”

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The Center for Amphibian and Reptile Education, or C.A.R.E, is the part of his business centered on bridging the gap between people and these often misunderstood and maligned creatures. Hill enjoys giving presentations at local schools, where kids light up at the chance to hold a snake, pet a tortoise or play with hissing cockroaches. The fun isn’t restricted to kids, either—anyone can book an animal encounter and learn hands on. These educational and entertaining sessions can be hosted in store, or Hill and his staff will bring the animals to your location—perfect for birthday parties and other celebrations.

Some animal ambassadors you can meet include Milo the redfoot tortoise, Pugsley the Asian water monitor, Spudnik the northern blue-tongued skink, Penelope the alligator snapping turtle, Wally Gator the alligator, and Sunshine, a large and friendly Burmese python. When asked about the resident animals, Hill replied, “Some shop pets have been brought here after friends passed away.” Many reptiles live a very long time when well cared for, with some snakes reaching 20-40 years, and tortoises often see 100 and beyond. The oldest living land animal known is a 191+ year-old Seychelles giant tortoise named Jonathan.

One common concern when it comes to keeping reptiles as pets is the controversy surrounding wild caught animals. “That’s a touchy one for many,” Hill said. It is illegal to catch and keep most reptiles and amphibians in Minnesota without a permit, but it is legal to import many exotic species for sale.

Unfortunately, wild caught animals are often stressed and sick with parasites, so average pet keepers should stick to captive bred and born herps like those found at The Snake Pit. However, imports do have their place, Hill said: “If it were not for wild collection in some cases, the animals would no longer ex-

ist.” Habitat loss due to farming and industry is a primary reason many reptiles and amphibians are disappearing, but conservation efforts paired with captive breeding could potentially revive or at least preserve species for future generations to learn from.

Another important part of Hill’s work is reptile rescue, specifically for one of the most neglected pets in herpetoculture— turtles. Baby turtles used to be available cheaply as novelty pets and were often neglected or abandoned when they quickly grew out of their tiny starter homes. Hill’s Turtle and Tortoise SHELLter Minnesota wants to help these misunderstood animals find new lives. The organization is made possible through donations.

Reptiles have unique diets and housing needs compared to traditional mammal pets, often requiring heat sources and sometimes special lighting to thrive. It’s considered good practice to set up your enclosure before you bring your new reptile or amphibian friend home. This can be an intimidating learning curve, but it’s not as complicated as you might think. Hill and his staff are happy to help you get started and can answer any questions you have along the way.

Even if you’re not looking to bring a new pet home, stop by The Snake Pit and have a look around. Seeing the animals up close fosters an appreciation that can’t be felt through photos and video. “Many animals can be interacted with,” Hill says. “Book an encounter today.”—Dana Johnson

Canine comfort

St. Luke’s volunteers DULUTH—The St. Luke’s Hospital Hospice Volunteer Program in Duluth offers an important and vital service to patients in their care. Since 2015 they have been offering a pet therapy program both on-site and throughout the Northland. Local volunteers and their certified therapy dogs provide important comfort, support, love, and animal companionship not only to people receiving hospice care but their families and the facility staff as well. Interaction with the specially trained dogs has many benefits: reducing depression; increasing relaxation; reducing blood pressure, and offering a diversion from physical discomfort individuals may be experiencing. St. Luke’s volunteer coordinator Lily Kline says that because patients in hospice care are at their most vulnerable state, “The therapeutic value of the dogs is huge, assisting in relaxation and lowering stress.”

Therapy dogs can be any breed or size; their temperament is the most important factor of a successful fit in the program. | SUBMITTED

Therapy dogs can be any breed or size. Their temperament is really the most important factor of a successful fit in the program. Kline says their dogs range from a 9-pound toy poodle to a 160-pound Great Pyrenees mix. Kline reports that nearly 70 patients now are being served by 11 registered dogs.

The St. Luke’s program also extends to rural areas, and in 2023 volunteers and their dogs traveled more than 500 miles. The dogs and their human part-

ner visit assisted living facilities and private homes within approximately 70 miles of the hospital. The registered therapy dog teams will visit people receiving hospice care and their families upon referral or recommendation from St. Luke’s Hospice staff. Kline explains, “Therapy dogs utilized in this program serve in an Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) capacity.” The dogs spend about an hour with each patient, one to two times per week and vary on a case-by-case basis.

St. Luke’s goal is to establish and maintain a comprehensive, high-quality, safe, and effective therapy dog program that benefits patients, their families, and hospice and facility staff, Kline says. “We strive to be the leader in unique, innovative, quality programming aimed at improving quality of life.” She added that in addition to increasing patient and family satisfaction with hospice care, the program is designed to provide a meaningful and worthwhile volunteer experience for therapy dog participants, as well.

There are three steps to become a dog therapy team with the St. Luke’s Hospice program. The first, simply identify if a dog would be a good fit for the program. Things to consider are the dog’s willingness to initiate contact with unfamiliar people; its ability to greet people politely with all four

paws on the ground and remain calm and well-controlled around other dogs.

If a dog meets these requirements, the dog and its human partner are ready to participate in a three-day training and observation session. St. Luke’s program offers testing sessions each spring and fall. If the dog passes that stage, the final steps are for the volunteer to go through a background check and for the dog to meet health requirements.

The dogs must be at least one year old and be up to date on all shots. The approved certification is through a partnership with Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Kline clarifies that “therapy dogs are not service dogs and do not have the same access rights as assistance dogs dictated by the Americans with Disability Act. Pet therapy teams serve in a completely volunteer capacity.”

The program at St. Luke’s does its best to fulfill all the requests for therapy dog visits, but Kline says they are always in the need for more teams, especially in the rural areas they serve.

Contact Kline directly for more information or to register for the program: lily.kline@slhduluth.com or call 218249-6105.—Michelle Miller

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Arrowhead Animal Rescue sees hope for new animal shelter GRAND MARAIS— At the heart of every successful animal rescue organization are its volunteers.

Whether caring for an abandoned pet, making room in the basement for an additional litter box or assisting in fundraising efforts, their collective dedication has a lasting impact on both animals and the communities they serve.

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The volunteers of Arrowhead Animal Rescue in Cook County are a prime example of the commitment it takes to care for animals.

The non-profit has operated without an official shelter for three years.

In 2021, the former small-animal shelter building, commonly referred to as the “Found Pound,” in the Grand Marais Recreation Park, was removed to make way for improvements to the boat launch. Since then, any abandoned animal or surprise litter of kittens has found its way into the arms and foster homes of willing Arrowhead Animal Rescue volunteers.

After two years of working tirelessly raising funds and meeting with city and county officials to secure a location for a new shelter, rescue volunteers have reason to hope the search is over.

It’s been a long road. In June 2021, shortly after the old pound closed, the Cook County & Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved allocation of a lot in the Cedar Grove Business Park for a new shelter. But the EDA board did not formally convey the lot to the city, the required next step.

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Discussion followed, and in October 2022, city and county officials reached agreement with Arrowhead Animal Rescue on the business park location. The city and county each earmarked $25,000 for the new animal shelter and asked that the Arrowhead Animal Rescue focus on continued fundraising.

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Dale Peterson, chair of the Arrowhead Animal Rescue board, said fundraising efforts have been successful. The non-profit has raised $125,000 toward the new building.

With the $50,000 from the city and county, the total allocated money for the project stands at $175,000.

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Unfortunately, local governments have not made similar progress.

Not until Dec. 19, 2023, did the EDA board officially convey the animal-shelter lot to the city of Grand Marais. Peterson said

Arrowhead Animal Shelter has operated without an official shelter for three years. | SUBMITTED until the property was officially in city ownership and the city took action to move the project forward, the non-profit remained in limbo, unsure of how to formulate budgets and construction plans without an officially approved location.

However, recent conversations have shown significant promise. City officials have met with Arrowhead Animal Rescue to explore building options, including a trailer currently used at Great Expectations School in Grand Marais. Given the cost of constructing a new building, Peterson said, the trailer offers a financially feasible option for the new shelter. The school currently uses the trailers as classrooms and has agreed to sell one to Arrowhead Animal Rescue at the end of the 2024 school year.

“We decided right away that the brown one that’s closest to the Gunflint is the one that we’d like,” Peterson said. The 28-foot by 70-foot trailer includes two ADA-compliant bathrooms. Arrowhead Animal Rescue plans to convert one of the bathrooms into a dog-washing area. “I’m hoping now that the holidays are over, we’re going to be able to sit down and put together a floor plan,” Peterson said.

With many details yet to finish, Peterson said she hopes that Arrowhead Animal Rescue can come to an agreement with the city before spring on who is responsible for clearing the property, hiring a contractor, and moving the trailer, among other tasks.

“Nothing can happen until the property is cleared and the kids get out of the classroom,” she said.

Peterson said she hopes that by the fall of 2024, the Arrowhead Animal Rescue will host a grand opening event. In the meantime, the volunteers will continue to host adoption events, fundraise, and check items off the to-do list.

In mid-December 2023, Peterson said the non-profit had 13 cats in foster homes, and towards the beginning of the New Year, six of the kittens were adopted. However, Peterson is making room for a pregnant cat with another batch of kittens on the way.

Peterson said that more volunteers aren’t needed at this time, but once they get the building up and running, “There’ll be plenty of things for people to do.”—Kalli Hawkins

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PACHI the porcupine is the head cheerleader of Games Ontario events, all of which showcase Ontario athletes competing in sports at the Thunder Bay 2024 Winter Games. | SUBMITTED to handle that capacity for a smaller size town,” said Lawrence.

This photo was taken 50 years ago in 1974, the last time Thunder Bay hosted the Ontario Winter Games. | CITY OF THUNDER BAY ARCHIVES

Ontario Winter Games come to Thunder Bay THUNDER BAY— Futsal, fencing, ringette, and wrestling will all be featured sports at the 2024 Ontario Winter Games, to be hosted over two weeks this February in Thunder Bay. The entire province of Ontario, including athletes from Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton, will be coming to Thunder Bay to compete in 14 different sports this month.

Thunder Bay, with a population of 95,266 as of 2021, beat out the large urban centers from southern Ontario for the privilege of hosting the Winter Games.

The Games are held every two years. You’d have to think back to 1974 for the last time Thunder Bay hosted them. It’s been a while, but Thunder Bay has been on a role lately building a strong sporting event host resume.

In 2023 the city hosted the Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals—the country’s top cross-country ski competition. Now the city will be supporting an even wider framework of sports (with cross-country skiing and para-Nordic again in the mix), both indoors and out. The city is ready to shine on a province-wide scale.

START ‘EM YOUNG The Ontario Winter Games are for amateur athletes ages 12-18. The Games provide top young athletes with competitive opportunities to prepare them for national and international competition.

Matthew Lawrence, games coordinator, explains that the Winter Games take young athletes to the next step in their athletic careers: “The idea has always been to prepare

kids for that next level of competition. This is where they get that first opportunity to participate in a larger multi-sport Games, to feel the hype and excitement, with an opening ceremony, and the march of the athletes with all the different teams. It’s the same Olympic feeling that an older athlete would get, but in a smaller package, for younger athletes.”

With these junior athletes being at the highest level in their sport within the province, the Games will feature some fierce competition. But no fiercer than the competition to volunteer at the event.

Lawrence explains that volunteer positions have been in hot demand: “We have over 1,000 registered volunteers. We actually exceeded our request for volunteers, so we are in great shape for the Games. Thunder Bay definitely comes out with local spirit for stuff like this.”

Volunteers will be serving at sporting events across the city, including at the opening ceremony, to be held at Fort William Historical Park. The ingenious “double” schedule of the Games means the ceremony will be held twice. The first set of games will be held from February 16-19 (Family Day weekend in Canada), and the second set of sporting events will go from February 23-26.

This makes it possible for more athletes, parents and supporters to attend the Games. “For us being a smaller city center, and given the size of the airport, it was a decision we came about just so that we can run a larger Games, while still being able

Lawrence also credits the Ministry of Tourism, Sport, and Culture, the City of Thunder Bay, and the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission through its Tourism Development Fund for releasing additional funding to subsidize athlete travel. “It’s expensive for kids to travel up to Thunder Bay. Much more so than if they were competing in southern Ontario. In this case, the larger city centers are coming to us. So as part of that, we’ve come up with some additional travel dollars to help subsidize the extra travel.”

LEARN A NEW SPORT Once the athletes arrive, it’s game on, including for sports that are still establishing themselves in the public eye. Take futsal, otherwise known as indoor soccer. This will be only the second time the sport has been played at the Ontario Winter Games. This team game’s emphasis is on improvisation, creativity, and technique with a soccer ball.

Futsal matches, like all events at the Winter Games, are free and open to the public.

Futsal will be played at Lakehead University’s CJ Sanders Fieldhouse between February 16-19.

Another eye-opener is ringette. This team sport is played on ice by six players per team with skates and sticks. Ringette players use a straight stick to shoot a rubber ring into the opposing team’s net. Think hockey, but way faster. According to the Games’ website, “Ringette is a wide-open and dynamic sport often referred to as the fastest team sport on ice!” Ringette will be played at Delaney Arena in Thunder Bay’s International Friendship Gardens.

For Lawrence, “What’s really great about these Games is that a lot of our clubs, and ringette is a great example, and futsal is another, are smaller. A lot of people don’t know about them, right? So this is a real chance for us to highlight clubs that maybe people haven’t heard of locally and help them bolster that participation level and interest in their sport.”

important thing, says Lawrence, is to get in the stands and show the athletes your support in person. “We want them to feel that experience of people cheering for them, and that’s really how we’re hoping to transform the city—to get people in that mood to get out and support the athletes.”

One place where fans can ring some serious cow bell is the Lappe Ski Centre, just north of town. John Cameron, tourism development officer for Thunder Bay, calls Lappe “One of the top four or five Nordic skiing centers in the country.” Cameron notes that cross-country skiing is one of the key sports in the city. “A lot of it is tied to our Finnish and Scandinavian heritage,” explains Cameron.

GOOD FOR BUSINESS Of course, the influx of athletes will provide the city with more than just good vibes.

Sports tourism is business, too, and the economic impact of 1,600 athletes staying in the city over two weeks is significant.

Paul Pepe, manager of Tourism Thunder Bay, notes the direction his team has undertaken: “Winter tourism development, and winter sports tourism development in particular, helps support Thunder Bay’s growth as a true year-round tourism destination. Events such as the Ontario Winter Games support our local accommodation, transportation, culinary and retail sectors in a big way.”

And once the Games are over, athletes and their families will want to come back again to see beautiful Thunder Bay in the summer sunshine.

The opening ceremonies (both of them!) will be free community events held in the main square of Fort William Historical Park.

And how many cities in southern Ontario can boast hosting the prestigious athletes’ march in a re-created fur trade post? Bring your kids to check it out and fill them with inspiration. Then take them to watch futsal or ringette. Just don’t be surprised when they start playing indoor soccer in the kitchen.

—Chris Pascone

Visitors to Thunder Bay can expect Gamesthemed festivities throughout the city, with a focal point being the marina. But the most

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11

Mount Baldy

Revitalizing skiing north of Thunder Bay THUNDER BAY— Ontario is not known as an alpine skiing hotbed. The highest point in the sprawling Canadian province is only 693 meters (2,274 feet) above sea level. Yet back in 2016, three brothers from Thunder Bay— Jason, Daniel, and Kristof Kardas—threw rationality out the window and took on the massive challenge of transforming the decrepit Mount Baldy ski hill north of Thunder Bay into a modern and attractive family ski area. Today, they’ve accomplished all of their goals, and then some. Here’s how Mount Baldy has become a leading 21st century ski area in the province.

GUTSY CALL Jason Kardas, head of operations at Mount Baldy, recounts the brothers’ initial steps in acquiring the ski hill from Craig Speiss in 2016: “He had someone wanting to buy the mountain to make it a gravel pit.

He was really worried, because he wanted to keep the skiing legacy going, and not have it torn down” explains Jason. “He asked if we wanted to buy it. We laughed and said, ‘Our wives will kill us.’”

But the Kardas brothers thought about it and decided to make it happen. “Skiing’s in our blood, right?” Jason reasons.

Indeed, the Kardas brothers already had a rich skiing background. They grew up doing ski jumping—not a sport for the faint of heart. The brothers learned to hurl themselves off the sides of mountains from their Olympian ski jumping father, Slav Kardas.

The brothers eventually advanced to the pinnacle of their sport—jumping for the Canadian national team.

The Kardas clan also opened the Ski and Board Exchange store in Thunder Bay 20 years ago (still a fixture today on Syndicate Ave.), where they have direct access to the local ski community. Maybe owning and operating a ski hill to boot wasn’t so irrational after all.

HARD WORK PAYS OFF

projects themselves. “Dad was a carpenter.

He taught us all how to build. We’ve done every renovation at the ski hill ourselves. We installed the magic carpet and the chairlift ourselves. My brother was drilling holes 8 feet deep for the anchors. Apparently back in the day there were four ski hills here. People came by busloads from the States and Winnipeg. Candy Mountain shut down, Mt. McKay shut down, and Big Thunder shut down. If we make these improvements, maybe people will come back.”

Belt also waxes nostalgic about the ski areas of yesteryear, and notes that Mount Baldy has a “great vibe of a small, family-run ski resort, of which few are left.” He sees a parallel between Mount Baldy’s present and Lutsen Mountains back in the day: “When I worked at Lutsen Mountains, I always heard stories about the early period of the ski area, when they only had one lift on Eagle Mountain, and all the locals came, and it had a fun, party atmosphere. Mount Baldy feels a bit like that.”

The Kardas brothers have been working non-stop to modernize Mount Baldy in all possible ways. They’ve increased snow-making capacity. They’ve installed a magic carpet. They’ve rebuilt the chalet with new fireplaces and a modern kitchen. Their crown jewel is the new quad chairlift that has revolutionized how people experience the hill.

Previously, there had been a slow T-bar getting folks single file up the mountain.

FREESTYLE SKIING FILLS A NICHE

Corey Belt, a self-described Mount Baldy enthusiast who previously worked at Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort for 10 years, praises the high-speed, high-capacity chairlift: “They installed a new chairlift last year and opened up several new runs, which gives you more laps per day and more terrain to explore.”

Young skiers have embraced the “terrain park” as a way of expressing their creativity.

Terrain park crews morph downhill ski slopes into “features,” including rails, boxes, and jumps that allow skiers and snowboarders to turn a tame hill into a canvas for expression on skis. Think double backflips.

But it’s never been easy. Daniel Kardas reminisces about the time they had a chairlift tower delivered up the mountain… by helicopter. “Never in my lifetime did I think I would be wrestling a 4,000-pound chairlift tower hung by helicopter over my head,” he recounts.

Mount Baldy is home to the Thunder Bay Freestyle Ski Club. Nicole Kardas, wife of Daniel, is a committee member of the vibrant club, and the Kardas’ own two sons, Kael and Keiran (14 and 12 years old), are dedicated freestylers.

Jason credits his father’s carpentry skills for the brothers’ willingness to take on all

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The Mount Baldy summit opens to breathtaking southerly views. Sleeping Giant looms out of crystal blue Lake Superior, and the city of Thunder Bay is visible in the distance. | CHRIS PASCONE

You’re never going to find long runs with endless deep powder in the Midwest. But skiers have a way of adapting to the conditions. Take the freestyle ski movement, which is going strong at ski hills around the region, from Spirit Mountain in Duluth to Mount Baldy.

Nicole explains how the club has taken off thanks to the enhanced Mount Baldy terrain park: “Last year was a really fun one for the club. It’s amazing to watch the athletes

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[LEFT] The Kardas brothers installed the magic carpet themselves, making Mount Baldy a beginner-friendly ski hill. | CHRIS PASCONE

progress and support each other.” Nicole adds that the club skiers train on air bags before they go do serious tricks on skis.

This focus on development has led to recent accomplishments on a provincial, and even nation-wide, scale: “The competitive team, led by head coach Cody Myshok, travelled to the Freestyle Ontario Timber Tours in southern Ontario last year, where our skiers earned national rankings thanks to their high scores. Thunder Bay athletes Lucas Flye, Ben McDermott, Josef Burkhardt and Kael Kardas earned spots at Junior Nationals in Calgary, Alberta,” explains Nicole. The Freestyle Ski Club’s competitive team must travel with a certified coach, and coach Myshok must sign off on their tricks before they can do them in competition.

Beginner and intermediate freestylers are welcome to join the Freestyle Ski Club at Mount Baldy, and there is a girls’ freestyle camp in March, too.

Clearly, Mount Baldy’s investments in increasing the size, difficulty, and variety of terrain features in the park have paid off.

“UNREAL” VIEWS Thunder Bay can boast of both Mount Baldy and Loch Lomond ski areas,

giving skiers and boarders options. For Corey Belt: “Mount Baldy is smaller, and has fewer runs than Loch Lomond, but its runs are similar to Loch Lomond’s in length and level of challenge. It’s also more laidback and has cheaper lift tickets.”

And then there’s the view. Everyone who rides the chairlift to the summit of Mount Baldy will have that jaw-dropping sensation when they look on to the massive Sleeping Giant (Sibley Peninsula) looming out of Lake Superior. The mountaintop view covers a vast expanse of crystal blue water, with the city of Thunder Bay also visible due south.

The Canadian flag flies proudly from the small cabin at the summit, and the sun sets in brilliant colors to the west. Jason calls the views “unreal.”

The “unreal” metaphor is apt for a place where impossible work gets done by hand by the owners themselves. “We call ourselves a ‘diamond in the rough,’ because the ski hill was in rough shape,” says Jason.

Thanks to the Kardas family’s effort, skiers and snowboarders get to relax, train, and dream at this gem north of Thunder Bay. —Chris Pascone

Justice North

Empowering communities with legal aid DULUTH— In a criminal court, you have the right to an attorney, and if you can’t afford one, one will be appointed for you. But what if you have a civil legal case, like divorce, debt, landlord-tenant dispute, senior citizen abuse case, or a custody battle? Where can you turn for help? Justice North provides legal help for those who can’t afford it.

Justice North, formerly Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (LASNEM), celebrated its new name with a ribbon-cutting on Nov. 1 last year at its new Wells Fargo Center offices, 230 W. Superior Street, Duluth.

“That’s a big deal. It really represents who we are,” Dori Rapaport, the executive director, said as she addressed the crowd.

“The space is empowering.” At other nonprofits, you might look around and say, “Oh, I think this carpet might be held together by duct tape.”

“In many communities in America, there is no legal aid. There is no due process right to appoint counsel in civil matters,” said Fred Friedman, a retired public defender who serves on the Justice North board.

Tiffany Doherty, director of advocacy, supervises the legal staff of 29. “Generally, we see an increase in third-party custody cases,” she said. Recent years saw covid-related deaths of parents. Legal efforts secure safe homes, often with relatives, providing authority for education and medical care.

Addressing tenant/landlord disputes, Justice North’s Jude Schmit aided low-income tenants at Duluth’s St. Regis Apartments.

“These were low-income folks who didn’t have heat. It started a couple of winters ago when it was cold in October,” Doherty said. It is an ongoing case. Financial awards are still pending.

UNIQUE TO THE NORTH SHORE

Justice North, a civil legal law firm, celebrates its new name and location with a ribbon cutting. Seen here is Dorie Rapaport holding the scissors while surrounded by members of Justice North staff and bandmembers, as well as members of the Chamber Ambassadors. | PHOTO SUBMITTED

Doherty highlighted challenges for North Shore residents: poor cell phone coverage and remote travel to legal centers. A positive outcome of the covid lockdown is remote virtual court. “Results show that people are appearing rather than no-showing,” Doherty said.

LEGAL KIOSKS

“We have poor housing stock,” Doherty said. Residents in rural areas may encounter issues with landlords regarding older housing or water access. As rural community members age, Justice North maintains an elder law division. While the agency must uphold confidentiality, elders often attend legal visits with the support of a grandchild or neighbor. Additionally, Justice North collaborates with the Bois Forte Band, enabling elders to receive legal advice during medical checkups for issues that concern them.

In Duluth, legal kiosks are available at the Damiano Center, Safe Haven, and the Justice North office. Two types are offered: Type A and Type B. Type B, which includes privacy and a computer printer, requires reservations. Find a nearby legal kiosk at: legalkiosk.org.

NEW BOOK RELEASE

“Legal kiosks are another one of those silver linings from covid,” Doherty said. Legal kiosks, free computers available for public use, aid those with limited internet access or phone task difficulties across Minnesota.

THE JUSTICE BUS Another unique feature is the Justice Bus. “The Justice Bus is our legal aid office on

• Johnson Heritage Post • Cook County History Museum

Justice North has offices in Duluth, Virginia, Brainerd, Pine City, and Grand Rapids.

They serve an 11-county area of northeastern Minnesota: Aitkin, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis.

Visit their website (justicenorth.org) or call 877-MY-MN-LAW (877-696-6529).

—Naomi Yaeger

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Beyond Fetch A Guide to Canine Training

By Eric Weicht

North Paws Wilderness owner Brittany North skijoring. | SUBMITTED Dog owners along the North Shore are fortunate to have several great options for dog training not far from home. The dog training professionals offering their services between Thunder Bay and Duluth are a unique bunch who love what they do and do it well.

Dogs are great.

As I write these words, my wife's and my little wheaten “terror” is snoring loudly at my feet, legs sprawled out like a road-kill deer, brightening the room with her goofy presence. Seeing her now, I am reminded of our walk this morning where I was fortunate to catch the sunrise over Lake Superior through the cold January air, something I would have undoubtedly missed had she not gotten me out of bed to be let out. She’s a good girl.

As one might expect, quite a few dog training services can be found around Duluth. A quick google search will pull up half a dozen options, one of which is Dog Dynasty Duluth LLC (DDD)—a family business whose roots date back to the 1970s.

Dogs are great in so many ways, but they can also be a lot of work, especially for first time dog owners.

Dogs need walks. Dogs need to be let out multiple times a day to pee and poop.

Dogs need to be fed and watered and taught how to behave in a world that doesn’t always make sense. They need to go to the vet more often than you might think, and they have an uncanny ability to get themselves in trouble. Dogs make questionable life decisions—they chew things that shouldn’t be chewed and eat things that would be best left uneaten.

I love my wife’s and my dog, Lana, but as with so many things in life, there is a lot that I know now about raising a dog that I wish I had known when we first got her seven years ago. My biggest regret was waiting six years to take Lana (or, more important, my wife and me) to a professional trainer.

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Training is an integral part of dog ownership, and it is a part that is too often overlooked. A well-trained dog is going to lead a happier, less confusing life, and put so much less stress on its owner and the community that it moves through.

Located in Lakewood township just a few minutes north of Duluth proper, DDD is owned and operated

by Diane Craig, her husband Jim, and daughter Robin. Diane says DDD currently offers classes and private lessons in “all levels of obedience and agility,” ranging from puppy and adult “foundation classes” that focus on teaching basic social skills, to more advanced courses in competition training, rally obedience, and scent-work.

“It’s an old wives’ tale that an old dog can’t learn new tricks,” says Diane. “The only thing that makes

[ABOVE] My wife’s and my little wheaten terrier Lana as a puppy. | ERIC WEICHT [RIGHT] Diane Craig and Quinn of Dog Dynasty Duluth. | SUBMITTED

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an older dog need more work are bad habits that need to be changed or eradicated.” “[Humans] do not think in dog terms,” continues Diane, “and unless an owner has had the proper instruction that enables them to converse effectively with their dog, they often give the dog incorrect signals. When [dogs] do not get answers that they can understand, they get confused, and confusion is what breeds unwanted behaviors.”

Diane “caught the bug” for training dogs back in the 1960s, when at age 10 she trained her first dog, a golden retriever, in obedience and began competing. She has since competed in numerous competitions, including obedience, agility, Fast CAT, rally, as well as tracking and scent-work.

Robin Craig with Dog Dynasty Duluth running agility. | SUBMITTED

Diane’s top piece of advice for new dog owners is “get their dog into a class setting with a reliable, knowledgeable trainer.”

In addition to offering private lessons, small group classes, and workshops, North also provides virtual training opportunities for people living further out of town, as well as something she has termed “Adventure Dog Training.”

“There is so much incorrect information on the web,” says Diane, “and since it’s important for a dog to behave in a public setting, teaching them in a group environment is essential.”

“My favorite offering is without a doubt Adventure Dog Training,” says North. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to go on adventures with their dog?”

To learn more about DDD, its merchandising venture, and border collie breeding program Perfect 10 Border Collies, visit their website at: dogdynastyduluth.com.

“During my Adventure Training sessions,” continues North, “you can learn how to do all types of adventure with your dog—skijoring, bike-joring, backpacking the Superior Hiking Trail, camping, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, whatever interests you!”

Further up the shore in Two Harbors, local trainer Angela Bata is offering “positive reinforcement dog training” opportunities through her business Serenity Dog Training.

“My number one piece of advice for a new dog owner,” says Bata, “is to remember that your dog is a dog—enjoy and celebrate that!”

“Nothing a trainer suggests should cause your dog any harm,” continues Bata. “Advocate for your dog and find a trainer that will do the same. How you train your dog matters; choose kindness.”

Bata has been passionate about dogs her whole life, competing on and off since the mid-1990s. Her list of certificates and dog training accolades is too extensive to fit in this article, but can be found on the “Meet the Trainer” page of her website, where she also provides an insightful take on what it means to be a professional in an unregulated industry.

For Bata, the most rewarding part of her work is helping families struggling with their dog’s behavior break through the “language barrier” between our species.

“Humans use words to communicate,” says Bata, “while dogs use their bodies. They are masters at reading our body language, but we are terrible at reading theirs.”

“Knowing and appropriately responding to a dog’s body language,” continues Bata, “is key to changing so many common behavior issues. Helping people see what an amazing

Serenity Dog Training owner Angela Bata at the annual Bev Bright Memorial Pet Walk, a fundraiser for the Lake County Humane Society. | SUBMITTED

dog they have and showing them that behavior can be changed is so heart-warming, especially when they’ve been feeling a bit lost, or maybe even hopeless.”

Through Serenity Dog Training, Bata offers mostly private training sessions, either in-person or virtually, depending on what works best for the client. She also offers in-person group classes for puppies and basic manners in the summer, and has developed a unique service of “customizable virtual classes” for small groups of up to five people that can be designed to cover anything from basic manners to more complicated tricks and recalls.

More information on Angela Bata and Serenity Dog Training is available on their website, serenitydogtraining.com, as well as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Bata also writes a column for the Lake County Press entitled “Catch the Good.”

Even farther up the shore in Grand Marais, professional dog trainer and certified sports canine massage therapist Brittany North has tailored the services offered by her dog training business, North Paws Wilderness, to creatively meet the needs of her Northwoods community.

North first started working with dogs professionally in 2018 at a sled dog kennel in Alaska.

“Working in Alaska is where I discovered my passion for dogs,” says North.

“When my assignment was done at the sled dog kennel, I came back to Minnesota and started North Paws Wilderness to continue doing what I love.”

Now six years since returning from Alaska, North is sharing her passion for dogs in more ways than one. In addition to running North Paws Wilderness, North hosts a podcast (also titled North Paws Wilderness), a monthly WTIP Radio segment entitled All Things Dogs, and has plans to start a sled dog kennel with her husband later this year.

North’s advice for anyone considering getting a new dog is to talk with a professional before making the decision final.

“For someone thinking about getting a puppy or bringing home an adult dog,” says North, “I always highly recommend consulting with a dog trainer first.”

“A good dog trainer is going to ask thought provoking questions that you may not have thought of or considered yet,” continues North. “It’s always best to have a training plan before bringing a dog or puppy home.”

Brittany North teaches what she calls “Adventure Dog Training.” | SUBMITTED For further information on North Paws Wilderness and everything else that Brittany North is up to, visit her website at: northpawsmn.com.

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WINTER ADVENTURES AT MISSION BAY

A Look at Thunder Bay Autosport Club’s Ice Racing

By Kalli Hawkins

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E

very Sunday as winter tightens its grip on Thunder Bay, a unique and adrenaline-fueled ritual unfolds on icy Lake Superior at Mission Bay: It’s time for auto ice racing.

Started in 1959 by the Central Canada Car Club, ice racing has remained a steadfast competitive winter activity that many in Thunder Bay and surrounding regions eagerly await. During the early 1960s, the club underwent a name change, transforming into the Thunder Bay Autosport Club, and has since experienced continuous growth and expansion.

In addition to offering ice racing, which consists of two classes, studded and rubberto-ice, the club provides autocross racing opportunities for its members who prefer to race in the warmer, less icy months.

“We average about 100 members for the season,” Gary Adomko, the Thunder Bay Autosport Club president, said. “It’s probably a 50-50 split that is on board with the ice racing program.”

Of the 50 or so members who enjoy navigating around icy corners at high speeds, Adomko said there is a diverse range of ages, skills, and individuals. “Our club is made up of people from the age of 16 to 60 plus,” he said. “We have people of all different walks of life that get involved with the club.”

Each ice racing participant or team is responsible for building an ice racing vehicle, ensuring it is equipped with the best modifications to handle gliding across the ice-covered track. In the past, teams have included doctors, mechanics, office professionals, and a group of co-workers from an engineering firm. Adomko said in addition, many of the participants are family members who race together as a team or enjoy a little family competition by racing against each other.

Adomko and his son find themselves in the latter category. The two have raced against each other for the past 10 years. “It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. Adomko’s son, Cameron, serves as the club’s competition director.

The two ice racing classes, studded and rubber-to-ice, offer two different levels of competition and needed skill. Studded tires, equipped with metal protrusions, excel in providing enhanced grip on icy terrain, allowing drivers to gain traction and maintain faster speeds. On the other hand, the rubber-to-ice class requires the driver to practice the art of control. “It’s all about foot control,” Adomko said.

Once a driver has mastered the art in the rubber class, Adomko said, “You’re going to be a really good studded driver because you’re going to know how to make sure that you’re not overpowering the wheels and you’re getting that traction that you want.”

While Adomko has participated in both classes, he prefers the studded class, “It’s way faster. I think it’s a lot more fun.”

Although the club allows flexibility in building and modifying the racing vehicle, each driver or team must adhere to the club’s rules and regulations. The rules state

that all cars must be equipped with a roll cage and double door bars, and all cars competing in the rubber-to-ice shall not have a wheelbase of more than 103 inches. No pickup trucks, SUVs, or vans are allowed to race.

Safety is of the utmost importance for the Thunder Bay Autosport Club. In addition, drivers must wear a fire-retardant driver suit. While it’s not typically common for accidents or rollovers to occur, Adomko said it’s been known to happen in the past.

The club hosts an annual awards banquet during which numerous awards are presented to recognize the achievements of ice racing winners and participants. Awards include club points champion, rookie of the year, body beautiful, best engineered, and Don Kettering Sportsperson of the Year.

Accompanying the distributed awards is a typically less desirable rollover trophy. “It’s not really a trophy you want to get,” Adomko said. “You can get some people that get their foot into the throttle a little too much, and they’ve clipped a snowbank, and the next thing you know, they’re going over.”

Started in 1959 by the Central Canada Car Club, ice racing has remained a steadfast competitive winter activity. | THUNDER BAY AUTOSPORT CLUB

Despite the occasional rollover, the competitive winter activity has a successful and safe track record. “Our primary goal is always safety,” Adomko said.

Although the number of ice racing participants ebbs and flows yearly, the club sustains a significant percentage of ice racing diehards who consistently return season after season. One of the sustaining members is Adomko. He has been involved with the club for 25 years and calls himself the “oldest active member.” He first joined the club in 1979 and, after a few years, spent two terms as the president. He stepped away from the club for a few years but returned in 2003 and has been leading organizing events and initiatives with the club ever since.

One of the initiatives the Thunder Bay Autosport Club spearheads is an annual autocross race fundraiser to help children with cancer. The money raised during the event is given to the Northern Cancer Fund and the Northern Cardiac Fund through the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. “We’ve raised around $85,000 over a six-year period,” Adomko said. In recent years, the club has also donated funds to the Furget-menot Animal Shelter farther north along Lake Superior in Terrace Bay. The 2024 ice racing season kicked off on Sunday, January 14, at noon and continues throughout the winter until March 10. The winter racing events are open to spectators, and Adomko welcomes the public to show up and spend a Sunday watch-

This year’s ice racing season continues throughout the winter until March 10. | THUNDER BAY AUTOSPORT CLUB ing the studded and rubber-to-ice races.

In the past, he said it’s common for young adults and families to spend a Sunday afternoon enjoying the snow and watching the cars race around the track. “It’s really cool

to see people from other countries getting out and seeing what’s available in Canada vs. what they have at home.”

For more info on the Thunder Bay Autosport Club, visit: thunderbayautosportclub.com.

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By Breana Johnson

Spreading Love and Joy

While it shouldn’t take Valentine’s Day to remind us to be kind and spread some love, it’s certainly a great reason to do so. So, take some extra time out of your busy schedule this month to cherish family, friends, and loved ones. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Various handmade glass flowers can be found at Lake Superior Art Glass in Duluth. All of the store’s glass artists create the flowers. | LAKE SUPERIOR ART GLASS

This acrylic on canvas piece by Gina Adams is titled, “Hummingbird in Flight over Vintage Rose Series Teacup.” | GINA ADAMS

[ABOVE] Grand Marais wool artist Elise Kyllo created these heart-shaped felted dish scrubbies, because, according to Kyllo, “Why wouldn’t we wash dishes with something beautiful?!” | ELISE KYLLO [LEFT] Created by Duluth artist Carli Dudzik, owner of CRAVEbyCRV, this giant patchwork tote was made from an unfinished quilt. | CARLI DUDZIK

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This hanging glass piece was created

by Cook County artist Terry Lewis of Serenity Pines Creations. | TERRY LEWIS

Bonnie Gay Hedstrom’s work can be found in several galleries and shops around Grand Marais, including the Johnson Heritage Post, Betsy Bowen Gallery, and Joy & Company. | SUBMITTED

Bonnie Gay Hedstrom

Painting with Felt CREATIVE SPACE: By Rae Poynter When we think of fiber art, we typically think of things like knitting a blanket or sewing a quilt. But what about painting with fiber? Bonnie Gay Hedstrom is a multimedia artist from Cook County whose work showcases her love for color and design, including her felted paintings.

brant colors found in nature, including the many hues of Lake Superior and its sunrises and sunsets.

“I’m drawn to color and design and use a lot of color in my work,” she said. “I enjoy working with mixed media and collage, and I also like mosaic, which is working with pieces of color. There’s a lot of things I like to make.”

Hedstrom is a self-described lifelong artist, with an interest in drawing that budded before she put pencil to paper. “I used to follow my mother around asking her to draw this or that,” Hedstrom said. “Finally she said, ‘Why don’t you do it?’ and it turned out I could. After that I spent a lot of my childhood drawing.”

That interest led her to the University of Minnesota, where she studied Related Art (interior design) and Studio Art. It was while she was working as an interior designer that her journey to Cook County began: She met Howard Hedstrom, who was from Grand Marais. They married and lived on the Iron Range before moving to Cook County in 1976, where they’ve been ever since.

Amidst busy years of raising a family and building a life in Cook County, time for creating wasn’t always easy to come by. But Hedstrom’s love for art remained strong, and now that life is less busy, she’s not only returned to drawing and painting, but is also exploring new mediums.

In particular, Hedstrom has immersed herself in needle felting, and creating what she calls “felted paintings” out of fiber. It was an interest that began in 2010 when she took a needle felting workshop in Grand Marais led by Karen Lohn, author of the book Peace Fibres.

Multimedia artist Bonnie Gay Hedstrom. | SUBMITTED “I wasn’t a fiber artist, and I had never felt before,” Hedstrom said. “But as I was working with felt, all of a sudden I thought, ‘I wonder if I can make this into something that looks like a painting?’”

The answer to that question was yes.

Bringing her background as a painter, Hedstrom dove headfirst into needle felting, developing her own signature style, or what she calls “felting in the painterly way.” The process she uses is dry felting, where a felter stabs wool with felting needles; the barbs on the felting needles tangle and connect the wool fibers together. In Hedstrom’s case, she layers and blends the wool colors together to create an image that resembles a painting.

She draws inspiration in part from the vi-

Hedstrom’s family has been a part of her artwork in many ways. Once one of her felted paintings is done, her husband Howard, a woodworker, mats the paintings and sometimes builds a custom frame for them.

She’s taught felting to all five of her granddaughters, and a large mosaic of hers is on display in the Grand Marais Family Dentistry, which is owned by her daughter-inlaw Alyssa Hedstrom.

As an artist, Bonnie Gay Hedstrom continues to be an active member of the community. Her work can be found in several galleries and shops around Grand Marais, including the Johnson Heritage Post, Betsy Bowen Gallery, and Joy & Company. She also regularly participates in art events and shows. Her work was part of the 2023 North Shore Artist League show at the Johnson Heritage Post; she’ll also be a part of the league’s show at the White Bear Center for the Arts this fall, and the Spirit of the Wilderness show in November and December 2024.

Hedstrom has immersed herself in needle felting, and creating what she calls “felted paintings” out of fiber.

Her work showcases her love for color and design. | SUBMITTED

“It’s such a supportive community here in Cook County,” she said. “I’m in the North Shore Artists League and the Northwoods Fiber Guild and have friends who are artists—we’re really lucky in that way.”

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Activities for the WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race in Ely will take place Feb. 24-25. | SUBMITTED

The Ely Winter Festival features a snow sculpting symposium, a kubb tournament, live music, and lots more. | CHRIS ELLERBROEK

The annual Cold Front Duluth festival features fun for the whole family. | WHEREHOUSE PRODUCTIONS

ELY WINTER FESTIVAL

in Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. Held from noon to 6 p.m., this free family-friendly event includes ice skating, luge sledding, bonfires and s’mores, backyard curling, a snow play area, ski wax clinics and gear tune up, craft and activity stations, games and prizes, a groomed cross-country ski loop, fat bike demos and a pump track, a sensory tent, snowboard demos, an adult

Feb. 1-11 The annual Ely Winter Festival features dozens of family-friendly activities, such as a snow sculpting symposium, snowshoe hikes, live music, Dorothy Molter Museum tours and a fundraising dinner, kicksled demos, a kubb tournament, a speed chess tournament, more than 400 pieces of

art on display for Ely ArtWalk, a variety of classes at the Ely Folk School, a film festival, and more. A full schedule of events can be found online. elywinterfestival.com

COLD FRONT DULUTH

Feb. 3, Saturday Celebrate the best of winter with the annual Cold Front festival

snowshoe kickball tournament, a kid dance party, and more. There will also be youth dog sled rides from noon to 3 p.m., tractor rides from 1-4 p.m., and the Spin Collective Fire Spinners will put on a show at 5:40 p.m.

A full schedule of events can be found online. coldfrontduluth.com

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HYGGE FESTIVAL

Feb. 3-14 The Danish concept of “hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah) refers to the ritual of embracing life’s simple pleasures.

Feeling relaxed, cozy, and surrounded by the warmth of family, friends, community, and fire all encompass the idea of hygge.

This year’s Hygge Festival in Cook County includes the fireplace tour at various businesses, a sauna series, a pond hockey tournament, live music at various locations, art activities at Joy & Company, a hygge art exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post, a hike at Cascade River State Park, open curling, a Galentines Market at North Shore Winery, a community craft night at North House Folk School, and more. More info can be found online. visitcookcounty.com/hygge

Cold Front Duluth will take place Saturday, Feb. 3 at Bayfront Festival Park. | WHEREHOUSE PRODUCTIONS

TWO HARBORS WINTER FROLIC

GUNFLINT MAIL RUN

contest. Saturday is also jam-packed with events, starting with a pancake breakfast and top hat carriage rides. There will also be a bean bag tournament, axe throwing (ages 12 and up), chainsaw carving, hammerschlagen, a bonfire with free s’mores, family bingo, etc. Races and games include a frozen fish toss, tug-of-war, outhouse races, smoosh races, a keg relay, and more. twoharborswinterfrolic.com

Feb. 9-10 The annual Two Harbors Winter Frolic includes events the whole family will enjoy, such as a medallion hunt, a photo scavenger hunt, food trailers, a vendor fair, and a sliding hill. Friday night events include the community curling challenge, the city vs county exhibition curling challenge, live music by Adam Moe, a chili cook off, lots of games and races, and a frozen T-shirt

Feb. 10, Saturday Originally scheduled to take place in January, the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race was postponed due to a lack of snow. The Gunflint Mail Run is a continuous race consisting of two legs of equal distance, separated by a mandatory layover. This year’s race will host a maximum of 15 teams and will be a 65-mile 10-dog race, with 32.5-mile legs. The race will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Trail Center Lodge, located on the Gunflint Trail.

Spectators can find great viewing spots at Trail Center Lodge, White Pine Lodge, and Rockwood Lodge. Remember to leave your own dogs at home. gunflintmailrun.com

VINTAGE SNOWMOBILE RIDE

Feb. 10, Saturday The Lutsen Trail Breakers Snowmobile Club is hosting its 9th annual Blast from the Past Vintage Snowmobile Ride on Saturday, Feb. 10. The ride will start and end at Cascade Lodge and Restaurant near Lutsen. Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. and the ride leaves at noon for a 20-mile-long tour through the Lutsen

Trail Breakers trail system. Participation is $10 per machine, so bring out the old iron, the tired iron, and the just plain rare sleds. bit.ly/lutsensnowmobile

Gunflint Mail Run February 10, 2024

FIBER WEEK

Feb. 12-19 Visit the North House Folk School in Grand Marais for a week-long event that celebrates all manner of fiber

Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race Course Kings Road Race Turn-Around 15.8 Miles

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12

Tucker Lake Road 10.6 Miles

92 East 4.0 Miles

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92 West 8.6 Miles

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# *# *# *

Spectator Viewing: Rockwood Lodge

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Spectator Viewing: White Pine Lodge

10 Dog Team, 65 Mile Race Race Start: 9 AM- First Team Off Start, Finish & Mandatory Layover at: Trail Center Lodge, 7611 Gunflint Trail (30 miles from Grand Marais)

For more information: gunflintmailrun.com 22

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Legend

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Gunflint Mail Run Race Course

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Spectator Viewing: Poplar Haus

Trail Center Lodge /Race Start & Finish Road Crossing Kings Road

# * Spectator Viewing: Rockwood Lodge # * Spectator Viewing: White Pine Lodge # * Spectator Viewing: Poplar Haus County Road Snowmobile Trail Rivers Lakes

Trail Center Lodge Gunflint Mail Run Start & Finish

Volunteers Needed! gunflintmailrunvolunteer@gmail.com

Hosted By: Pincushion Ski and Run Club in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service

Sunday, February 18, 2024 Grand Marais, Minnesota

Take part in Fiber Week at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais. | SUBMITTED arts. Featuring speakers, demonstrations, community gatherings, and coursework from long-time North House instructors, as well as new guest artisans. Course offerings include introduction to tablet weaving, log cabin quilt variations, felting a shirt or a vest, Norwegian needlecrafting, advanced nalbinding, felting bags with integrated details, and more. Don’t miss Fiber Friday on Feb. 16; free for all enrolled students. northhouse.org

WINTER FEST

Feb. 17, Saturday Bring the whole family to Tettegouche State Park in Silver Bay for the 3rd annual Winter Fest. Held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a guided snowshoe hike, an outdoor obstacle course, live music by Shore Thing, popcorn and cider, storytime, arts and crafts, a snow snake game, s’mores, and a presentation on Ojibwe winter life by naturalist Roger James. Johnny B’s food truck will also be on site. All activities are free. friendsoftettegouche.org

There’s something for everyone at the Voyageur Winter Carnival in Thunder Bay. | SUBMITTED

VOYAGEUR WINTER CARNIVAL

Feb. 17-18 A weekend of winter fun awaits the whole family at Fort William Historical Park’s Voyageur Winter Carnival in Thunder Bay. Embrace the outdoors with sliding, skating, snowshoeing, and snow snake, then roll through the Zorb ball snow track. Meet local artisans showcasing their traditional skills in toboggan making, wood carving, snowshoe weaving, sash weaving, and more. Warm up in the Cozy Corner Café with tea and cookie samples, or visit the craft station to make something beautiful. Enjoy live musical performances by local musicians. Activities will take place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Admission required. fwhp.ca

SNOW DAY ON THE WATERFRONT

Feb. 18-19 Bundle up the whole family for a free winter wonderland at this year’s SnowDay on the Waterpark, held at Marina Park in Thunder Bay. The fun starts on Sunday, Feb. 18 from 5-7 p.m., featuring ice skating, hot chocolate and a warming fire,

Black Beach Inn S I L V E R B A Y, M N

a group art project, snow sculptures, and tasty treats from food vendors.

Then, on Monday, from 4-8 p.m., enjoy arts, crafts and games at the Baggage Building Arts Centre, more skating at Prince Arthur’s Landing, ice fishing at the Pond Pavilion, candle-lit snowshoeing in the Tai Chi area, horse-drawn wagon rides around the Marina, and interactive activities with Science North and CAHEP. thunderbay.ca/snowday

150 Mensing Drive 800-634-3444 218 226-4300 blackbeachinn@grandstay.net

grandstayhotels.com

from Our Lot

2:00pm—Ski Sparks Kid Races, 1/2km, 1.5km, and 3km For more information or to register go to

pincushionskiandrun.org

WOLFTRACK CLASSIC SLED DOG RACE

Feb. 24-25 Enjoy a weekend of dog sledding fun with the annual WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race in Ely, featuring a 50-mile, 8-dog race, and a 30-mile, 6-dog race. Events on Saturday include a “meet the team” event at Minnesota North College’s Vermillion campus from 3-5 p.m. Also on campus, the public can enjoy a delicious all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner from 4-7 p.m. Sunday is race day and the first 8-dog team leaves at 9 a.m. wolftrackclassic.com

northshorewinery.us | 202 Ski Hill Road, Lutsen, MN

Join us for the

3RD ANNUAL

WINTER FEST February 17, 2024

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10:00am-1:00pm—10km Classic, 10km Freestyle, 10km Woodie, and a 10km Tour

11 am to 3 pm

Tettegouche State Park

GUIDED SNOWSHOE HIKE | OUTDOOR OBSTACLE COURSE | SNOW SNAKE GAME | SMORES | CRAFTS | STORYTIME | LIVE MUSIC | POPCORN & CIDER | OJIBWE WINTER LIFE PRESENTATION BY NATURALIST ROGER JAMES | JOHNNY B’S FOOD TRUCK

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For more info: www.friendsoftettegouche.org

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FEBRUARY

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February NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thru Feb. 3

64th Arrowhead Regional Biennial Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, tweed.d.umn.edu

Thru Feb. 4

Under the Scope: Medical History at Lakehead Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Thru Feb. 10

Two Indians Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

Thru Feb. 11

Everything and Nothing Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, tweed.d.umn.edu

Thru Feb. 24

Underway! Exhibition Nordic Center, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

Thru March 3

Radical Stitch Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru March 31

Fur Trade Fort William: A Chronology Through Art, 1805-1882 Thunder Bay Museum, fwhp.ca

Feb. 1, Thursday

Call of the Wild Poetry Night 5 p.m. Ely Folk School, facebook.com/northernlakesarts

Feb. 1-10

The Play That Goes Wrong 7:30 p.m.

Paramount Theatre, Thunder Bay, badanai.eventbrite.com

Feb. 1-11

Ely Winter Festival Ely, elywinterfestival.com

Feb. 1-28

Ely ArtWalk Ely, elyartwalk.org

Feb. 2, Friday

Groundhog Day

Geek Out! Disney Movies 2 p.m.

Two Harbors Public Library, facebook.com/twoharborspubliclibrary Big Time Jazz Orchestra 7 p.m.

Washington Auditorium, Ely, facebook.com/northernlakesarts TBSO: Trapèze 7:30 p.m. Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

Feb. 2-3

Cedric Newman & Chris Quigley 8 p.m.

Crickets Comedy Club, Thunder Bay, crickets-comedy-club.square.site

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FEBRUARY

2024

Feb. 2-4

Our Voices Film Festival 6 p.m.

Grand Marais Playhouse, violencepreventioncenter.org/ourvoices

Feb. 2-25

North Shore Artist League: Hygge, the Warmth of Winter (Reception Feb. 2 at 5 p.m.)

Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Feb. 2-29

Artist of the Month: Melinda Wolff (Reception Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.) Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

Feb. 3, Saturday

Ely-Babbitt-Tower Fun Run 8 a.m.

Ely, Babbitt & Tower, snowmobilefunrun.com Duluth Ice & Mixed Fest 9 a.m. Quarry Park, Duluth, facebook.com/duluthclimbers Ridge Riders Fun Run 9 a.m. Gunflint Trail, facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders Frozen 4 Hour & 5K 9 a.m. Lester Park, Duluth, duluthwintertrailseries.com Kubb Tournament 9 a.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, ely.org Saturday Morning at the Races 10 a.m.

Marcovich Wellness Center: University of Wisconsin Superior, yaf.grandmasmarathon.com Cook County Winter Market 10 a.m. The Hub, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com/events Whirlwind! Free Open House 10 a.m. Dorothy Molter Museum, Ely, rootbeerlady.com Valentine’s Market 10 a.m. Delta Hotel, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com Cold Front Duluth Noon, Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, coldfrontduluth.com Arrowhead Regional Biennial Awards & Reception Noon, Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org Snowshoe Hike Along the Baptism River 1 p.m.

Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche Charlie Berens: Good Old-Fashioned Tour 5 p.m. & 8 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org Film Screening: Past Lives 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, facebook.com/groups/gmfilmsociety

Feb. 5, Monday The Northern Lights Trail is Going to the Dogs 2 p.m. Kamview Nordic Centre, Thunder Bay, tbnordictrails.com Brett Kissel: The Compass Tour 8 p.m.

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Feb. 6, Tuesday

Ski Hill Cabins & Saunas Grand Opening 5 p.m.

Ski Hill Cabins & Saunas, Lutsen, skihillcabins.com

Feb. 7, Wednesday

CCLEP Builder & Homeowner Workshop 8 a.m.

Cook County Higher Education, Grand Marais, cookcountylocalenergy.org Dorothy Molter Museum Fundraising Dinner 5 p.m. Grand Ely Lodge, Ely, rootbeerlady.com

Feb. 8, Thursday

Jesus Christ Superstar 7:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Feb. 8-10

Aanikoobijiganag: Thunder Bay Beading Symposium Thunder Bay, theag.ca

Feb. 8-11

Ely Film Festival Ely’s Historic State Theater elyfilmfest.com

Feb. 9, Friday

Public Functionary X Art Colony Open Studio 5 p.m. Grand Marais Art Colony, grandmaraisartcolony.org Many Tiny Lights 5:30 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com Conservation Dinner & Auction 6 p.m. Da Vinci Centre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/lakeheadregion TBSO: Don’t Go Baroquing My Heart 7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s United Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

Feb. 9-10

Winter Frolic Two Harbors, twoharborswinterfrolic.com

Feb. 9-11

Hygge Festival Cook County, visitcookcounty.com/hygge

Spotlight on Academics Film Festival Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, spotlightonacademics.ca Winter Carnival Noon, Current River Community Centre, Thunder Bay, Facebook: Current River Community Centre

Feb. 4, Sunday

Feb. 10, Saturday

Feb. 3-14

Winter Wonderland Market 9 a.m. CLE Heritage Building, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

NORTHERN WILDS

Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids 9 a.m. Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, snowarama.org Winter Camping Workshop 9 a.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

Sports Cards & Collectables Show 9 a.m.

Ramada Hotel, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race 9 a.m. Trail Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflintmailrun.com Nice Girls of the North Marketplace 10 a.m.

Spirit of the Lake Community School, Duluth, nicegirlsofthenorth.com Downtown Arts Market 10 a.m. Ely Senior Center, facebook.com/northernlakesarts Valentine’s Peddler’s Pop Up Market 11 a.m.

The Hub Bazaar, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/thehubbazaar Heart to Heart Market Noon, Keskus Court, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/laurasmicromart Galentines Market 12:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, facebook.com/thebiglakelife Northland BIPOC Business Showcase 1 p.m. The Depot, Duluth, Facebook: Northland BIPOC Business Showcase Indigenous Writer Series: Tashia Hart & Staci L. Drouillard 2 p.m. AICHO’s Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center, Duluth, aicho.org DSSO: An Evening at the Pops 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, dsso.com Winter Rendezvous 4:30 p.m. Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, Schroeder, sugarloafnorthshore.org Chinese New Year Celebration 5:30 p.m. Delta Hotel, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com The Story Behind the Mask: Gala Dinner for Alzheimer Society 6 p.m. Chanterelle, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/astbay Lehto & Wright 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com SGFMS: Leverage for Mountains 8 p.m.

FWHP: McGillivray’s Landing, Thunder Bay, sleepinggiant.ca

Feb. 10-11

KCPRO-East Youth Ice Racing 10 a.m.

Pike Lake, Duluth, kcproeast.com

Feb. 12-19

Fiber Week North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

Feb. 14, Wednesday

Valentine’s Day

Snowed In Comedy Tour 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Feb. 14-24

Pride & Prejudice 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Sunday) Zeitgeist Arts, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Feb. 15, Thursday

North Shore Swing Band 7 p.m. Up Yonder, Grand Marais, upyonderon61.com Kyle Lucey Comedy Tour 7:30 p.m. Nortenos Cantina, Thunder Bay, campfirecomedy.ca

Feb. 15-18

Duluth Sport Show Decc, Duluth, duluthsportshow.com Rise: Contemporary Dance 7 p.m. (3 p.m. Sun.) The Depot, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

Feb. 16, Friday,

Author Talk with Cary Griffith: Gunflint Falling 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Feb. 16-17

Duluth Comedy Fest 9 p.m. NorShor Theatre, Duluth, norshortheatre.com

Feb. 16-18

218 Days Throughout Northern Minnesota, 218days.com

Feb. 16-26

Ontario Winter Games Thunder Bay, tbaygames2024.ca

Feb. 17, Saturday

Presentation & Book Signing with Julie Jo Larson 9:30 a.m. Larsmont Cottages, Two Harbors, juliejolarson.com Pop-up Winter Farmers Market 10 a.m. Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais, tinyurl.com/gmwintermarket Finland Vintage Snowmobile Run 10:30 a.m.

Clair Nelson Center, Finland, finlandsnowmobileandatvclub.com Winter Fest 11 a.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, friendsoftettegouche.org Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Drag Races 11 a.m. Hungry Jack Lodge, Gunflint Trail, facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders Duluth Polar Plunge 2 p.m. Park Point, Duluth, plungemn.org TBSO: Beethoven Lives Upstairs 2 p.m.

St. Patrick’s High School Auditorium, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca Makers’ Market & Mixer 3 p.m. Ely Folk School, facebook.com/northernlakesarts

Book Signing with Cary Griffith: Gunflint Falling 4 p.m. Bookstore at Fitger’s, Duluth, facebook.com/fitgersbooks Candlelight Ski & Snowshoe 6 p.m. Oberg Mountain Parking Lot, Tofte, sugarbushtrail.org Candlelight Ski, Snowshoe or Hike 6 p.m.

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

Feb. 17-18

Feb. 22, Thursday

Author Talk with Cary Griffith: Gunflint Falling 7 p.m. Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, zenithbookstore.com

Feb. 23, Friday

TBSO: In the Key of Beethoven 7:30 p.m.

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbso.ca

Feb. 23-24

Voyageur Winter Carnival 11 a.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

SGBC’s Beer Fest Sleeping Giant Brewing Company, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/sleepinggiantbrewingco

Feb. 17-19

Feb. 24, Saturday

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

Feb. 18, Sunday

Pincushion Winter Ski Festival 10 a.m.

Pincushion Mountain Trails, Grand Marais, pincushionskiandrun.org Finland Winter Market 12:30 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland Maria Bamford Book Signing 2 p.m. Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, zenithbookstore.com

Feb. 18-19

Snow Day on the Waterfront Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/snowday Free Illuminated Public Art Experience 4 p.m.

Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/snowday

Feb. 19, Monday Presidents’ Day

Family Day

Annual Pincushion Women’s Ski Pincushion Mountain Trails, Grand Marais, pincushionskiandrun.org

Feb. 20, Tuesday

Author Talk with Cary Griffith: Gunflint Falling Noon, Grand Ely Lodge, boundarywatersconnect.com

Feb. 20-22

Beyond Borders: HOCP Winter Gathering Grand Portage National Monument, heartofthecontinent.org

Duluth Women’s Expo 9 a.m. Decc, Duluth, duluthwomensexpo.com Frosted Fatty 10:30 a.m. Spirit Mountain, Duluth, spiritmt.com Author Meet & Greet: Northern Sights by Tove Conway 11 a.m. Bookstore at Fitger’s, Duluth, facebook.com/fitgersbooks Full Moon Reading 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com DSSO: Reflections 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, dsso.com

Feb. 24-25

WEEKLY EVENTS Tuesdays

Locals Night with Live Music

4:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us Community Craft Night 6 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais, facebook.com/northhouse

Wednesdays

Weekly Game Day 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 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

WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race Ely, wolftrackclassic.com

Friday Night Reels 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org

Feb. 25, Sunday

SunFunday: Printed Boats of Norway 1 p.m.

Nordic Center, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

Feb. 27, Tuesday

Public Lectures: Logging Industry & Career in NW Ontario 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

Feb. 29, Thursday

Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

March 2, Saturday

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 Peddler’s Pop Up Market 11 a.m. The Hub Bazaar, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/thehubbazaar

Sundays

Winter Fun Days 2 p.m. Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca

Sleeping Giant Loppet Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Thunder Bay, sleepinggiantloppet.ca Nipigon Ice Fest Nipigon, outdoorskillsandthrills.com

CHEER ERIN ON!

Our Dog Blog writer, Erin Altemus, is racing in the Iditarod in Alaska!

FOLLOW ALONG • Download the Iditarod app: Get more detailed info with Iditarod Insider subscription: iditarod.com/insider • Facebook: bit.ly/sawtoothracingfb

WAYS TO SUPPORT

• Sponsor the team:

paypal.me/sawtoothracing • Subscribe or buy merchandise: Use code EALTEMUS and 10% goes to the musher.

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FEBRUARY

2024

25

A HUNGER FOR EXPLORATION

GUNFLINT TRAIL GRAND MARAIS, MN

YEAR ROUND

www.visitloonlake.com 218-388-2232

©El Tres

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

visitthunderbay.com visitthunderbay.com

1-800-MOST-FUN (667-8386) 26

FEBRUARY 2024

NORTHERN WILDS

The North Shore Dish Exploring Plant-Powered Palates By Virginia George

Here at Northern Dish, I realize that people have varied values when it comes to their food. Some people value sustainability while others value sourcing or flavor complexity, and still others just want a reliable and delicious meal. Throughout the year we try to highlight these choices at the restaurants we cover, but this month is all for you veggie lovers.

Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or not, it’s likely you have seen these notations on a menu or at the grocery store, and there can be a little confusion as to what is the difference, so if you’ve ever wondered what qualifies as vegan, today is the day to learn!

(To those of you who are vegan: I am not, so please forgive any mistakes I make herein as they are unintentional.)

We don’t have the space to explore every food philosophy in depth, or to really understand the nuances of why people make the choices they do. In short, the way people eat is both deeply personal and highly variable, but to quote American culinary pioneer James Beard, “Food is our common ground.” Let’s explore that together.

Vegetarian

Simply put, vegetarians eat vegetables.

Now, of course there are other foods like nuts and seeds, fruit, and legumes (depending on if you categorize legumes as protein or vegetable), but the biggest differentiation between vegetarians and omnivores is that vegetarians do not eat meat. Vegetarians often look to tofu, tempeh, nuts, beans, and quinoa for sources of protein, as well as animal-based sources such as eggs, cottage cheese, and yogurt.

People choose a vegetarian lifestyle for a variety of reasons. Some make the choice for ethical reasons like the treatment of animals or the environmental impact of modern farming practices, while others choose vegetarianism for religious or health reasons. The World Cancer Research Fund International has noted that vegetarian diets have been connected with lower cancer risk, though no reliable study has proven that a vegetarian diet protects against any specific kind of cancer. There are a wide variety of potential health benefits for increasing the plant-based foods in the diet.

Try the big kahuna bowl and a maple pie smoothie at the Juice Pharm in Duluth. | VIRGINIA GEORGE NORTHERN WILDS

FEBRUARY 2024

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There are a wide variety of potential health benefits for increasing the plantbased food in our diet. | VIRGINIA GEORGE

Vegan

Veganism is sometimes referred to as “total vegetarianism.” Vegans have an exclusively plant-based diet and do not consume any animal products. Foods like honey, eggs, and dairy would be off the menu for vegans. Yeasted breads are still vegan, as yeast is a fungus and is categorized alongside mushrooms.

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Like vegetarians, vegans tend to choose this food philosophy for varied reasons. A vegan diet can help lower cholesterol and reduce heart disease. Philosophically, vegans sometimes believe that the use of animal products is unethical because it exploits the animals who produce it.

These descriptions are in no way exhaustive or conclusive, and purposefully ignore the nuances of pescatarian or ovo- and lacto-vegetarians, among others, as a deep dive into these topics would take up this entire issue. But I do hope that this brief discussion serves as a primer for those of you who had questions, and can raise awareness of the validity and reasoning behind vegetarianism and veganism.

Consistently throughout North Shore Dish, you will find mention of restaurants that have vegetarian and vegan offerings, as well as when a business prioritizes local and sustainable sourcing, as these are aspects of food choices that readers feel strongly about, but this month is focused on delicious places with a plant-based focus. In Duluth, we are looking at Juice Pharm, and in Thunder Bay, let’s explore The Taste of India.

Juice Pharm, Duluth

Juice Pharm is located in the bustling heart of downtown Duluth. Owned by a pair of longtime friends, the love and care for food and community is palpable. Everything at Juice Pharm is gluten-free and vegan (they seem to have removed honey from their menu in 2022) and strives for a global menu that incorporates all sorts of flavors. The Juice Pharm menu changes to meet the needs of the season and their customers, but they maintain staples like the Warrior Smoothie and their hand-made tortilla breakfast tacos.

Juice Pharm prides itself on providing complex and unique flavors. Flavor profiles include curry, shawarma seasoned chickpeas, Mexicali tacos as well as wraps, avocado toast, and acai bowls. Flavor is no stranger at Juice Pharm, and they have much more to offer than their name implies, but if juice is what you’re looking for, look no further.

The Taste of India, Thunder Bay

The Taste of India is closely associated with the Vedic Cultural Centre in Thunder Bay, a nonprofit whose mission is to serve and grow the Vedic tradition in the community of Thunder Bay. One way in which they do this is to offer vegetarian and vegan meals (upon request) both for take-out or delivery, and group catering. Taste of India also seeks to source their ingredients locally whenever possible to maintain freshness and support local businesses.

The menu at The Taste of India changes daily, but it includes meals like today’s roti, daal, and rice and vegetable curry. Roti is a round flatbread, and daal (or dahl) is a dish made of lentils or other legumes and spices.

They also offer a variety of snacks and appetizers like the veggie filled pastry samosa, or extra bowls of curry and daal.

The Taste of India is also available for catering, offering a variety of dishes for your choosing. Their mains include masala, curry, or sabji, and they offer delicious salads, roti, rice, and desserts as well.

You don’t have to be vegan or vegetarian to appreciate the unique and complex flavor profiles that these meals offer us. The legendary James Beard believed that not only does food unite us, but that “too many simple green salads suffer from a lack of imagination.” Such is not the case at Juice Pharm and The Taste of India. These, as well as other vegan and vegetarian restaurants, seek to provide creative and delicious plantbased offerings that both please your taste buds and your belly, without bruising your conscience. I think you’ll find “if you have never tasted a braised vegetable, you’ll find it is a revelation.”—James Beard

First Aid for our Furry Friends

By Hartley Newell-Acero For many of us, our pets are more than just companions—they’re family. In an emergency, being prepared and knowing some basic first aid can help you to help these beloved family members.

Keep Yourself Safe

Remember that even gentle pets can lash out when hurt or afraid. Protect yourself first so that you can best help them: • Don’t try to hug an injured animal.

• Use a muzzle if they seem like they might bite.

• Keep your face (and hands, if possible) away from their mouth.

• Get someone to help you.

Poisoning

In general, if a substance is harmful to people, it’s also going to be harmful to pets: rodent poison, antifreeze, cleaning products, etc. But, keep in mind that there are a number of substances that humans consume that can be harmful to pets: Alcohol/THC/CBD, avocado, chives, chocolate, coconut water, coffee or coffee grounds, fatty foods, fruit pits, garlic, grapes/raisins, macadamia nuts, medicine (over-the-counter prescription), onions, salt/salty snacks, tea, yeast dough, and any products containing xylitol (an artificial sweetener).

In general, if a substance is harmful to people, it’s also going to be harmful to pets: rodent poison, antifreeze, cleaning products, etc.

If you know that your pet has been in contact with something harmful, or if they’re exhibiting symptoms of poisoning (having seizures, losing consciousness, or difficulty breathing), call your vet or an animal poisoning hotline immediately: Animal Poison Control Center hotline (888-426-4435), or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). These numbers are for both the U.S. and Canada. There may be a fee for hotline/helpline calls.

If possible, provide the helpline with the following information: • Animal species, breed, age, sex, weight, and number of animals involved.

• Symptoms they’re exhibiting.

• Name/description of the toxic substance; how much the animal was exposed to, and how long it’s been since they were exposed to it.

• Product container/packaging.

Gather up any material your pet may have vomited or chewed, and place it in a sealable bag. Take it with you if you go see the vet.

Open Wounds

• Keep your pet calm and still.

• Using a clean cloth, apply firm pressure directly on the wound. Don’t check for bleeding until you’ve applied pressure for at least three minutes.

• If the bleeding is severe, immediately take your pet to the nearest vet.

put one hand on their back, one hand on their abdomen, and press in and up towards the head.

• If blood is soaking through the cloth, don’t remove it. You might disturb blood clots that have formed. Just add another towel on top and keep applying pressure.

Not Breathing

Broken Bones

• Hold the mouth closed, cover their nose with your mouth, and breathe out until you see their chest expand. Provide 10

• As gently as possible, lay your pet on a flat surface.

• Gently pull their tongue forward.

• Check for foreign objects obstructing the airway and remove if found.

breaths per minute until they can breathe on their own or you get to the vet.

For more information about first aid for pets, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association at: bit.ly/avma-pet-owners.

They have emergency protocols for other conditions and tips on creating a first aid kit for pets.

• If you can do so safely and well, try to bandage or splint the fracture. If you feel uncertain about your ability, leave it off.

Poorly done splinting or bandaging can do more harm than good.

• While taking your pet to a veterinarian, keep them in a small space, such as a pet carrier or box with ventilation. If transporting a large dog, improvise a stretcher by using a board, sled, blanket, etc.

Choking

Signs of choking include: difficulty breathing, pawing at their mouth, making choking sounds, or having blue-tinted lips or tongue.

• Without risking your own safety, look inside your pet’s mouth.

• If you see a foreign object, try to remove it, but take care that you don’t push it further down their throat.

• If you can, use your fingers to pull it out, or use a spoon to move it closer to the front of the mouth and then grab it.

• If this doesn’t work, let gravity or the Heimlich maneuver help you.

• For cats or small dogs, pick them up by their thighs, head down, and swing them side to side. If needed you can apply forward pressure just behind the rib cage, on their abdomen.

• If your larger dog is standing, wrap your arms around them, just like you would for a person. Make a fist with one hand, grasp it with the other, then push up and toward their head. If they’re lying down, NORTHERN WILDS

FEBRUARY 2024

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Northern Trails In Praise of Winter Burbot By Gord Ellis

It was a bluebird day in February, and I was sitting on a fold up chair enjoying the mid-winter sun while fishing for trout on Lake Superior. I’d been jigging my spoon just off the bottom, hoping for a lake trout to appear on my Humminbird flasher, but nothing was showing. As I kept fishing, a mark finally appeared on the bottom. It wasn’t acting like a lake trout, but the flicker of colour on my screen had me at full alert.

I dropped the Zzinger in-line spoon to the bottom and on the upstroke felt a strike.

Fish On!

The rod was bent over well, but this fight was different. It felt more dogged than a lake trout and lacked the power runs. With steady pressure, the fish came up and when its head came in the hole, I could see what was going on. It was not the face of a trout.

The hook was latched onto the mouth of a burbot and I slipped it onto the ice where it wriggled in protest. There was a time when this catch might have elicited a groan or a derogatory remark. However, like many modern ice anglers, I’ve come to appreciate burbot and the delicious, seafood-like quality of its flesh. This one was a perfect eater of about 4 pounds, so it was dispatched and laid on the ice. It would become supper later that night.

Author Gord Ellis with a burbot caught jigging on Lake Superior. Burbot are both fun to catch and delicious to eat. | GORD ELLIS The burbot is a fish of many names. Depending on where you live in the world, they are called mariah, loche, cusk, freshwater

cod, ling, eelpout or—my favourite—the lawyer. Burbot are native to the subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere and

thrive in cold water. Burbot comes from the Latin word barba, which means beard, and refers to the single chin whisker, or barbel,

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they sport. Burbot are a true freshwater cod and they look the part, with soft rayed fins, slippery skin, and snake-like movements.

The mouth of a burbot is wide, with both jaws having many small teeth. Burbot have small fins relative to their body size and can’t abide by strong currents. In rivers, they are forced to hug the bottom.

Most anglers don’t tangle with burbot in open water, but when the ice forms, they can become a common catch in lakes where they are plentiful. I’ve often caught them when fishing for walleye or lake trout over the years, especially when there is live or dead bait involved. The other thing that happens in the dead of winter is the burbot spawning period. It seems to happen around February in northwestern Ontario, but it can fall any time between January and March. Burbot group up in certain areas in a lake, and if this is where anglers are fishing, the bite will be hot. Burbot group up into what’s called a “spawning ball,” and this can put a lot of fish into a very small area. Another thing that’s interesting about burbot is they are most active in the dark. Anglers who really want to target these fish will sometimes go at night.

A Lake Superior burbot caught on a jigging spoon. | GORD ELLIS

Burbot can be caught on any presentation that will catch a trout or walleye. I’ve had them take white tube jigs, a variety of jigging spoons, jigging Rapalas and hair jigs.

They seem especially attracted to lures that have some glow or UV component. If you are fishing at night, you should turn up the glow. I’ve also found jigging lures that have a sound component will attract them as well.

Spoons with rattles or sonic capabilities,

like the Zzinger or BuzzBomb, fit this bill.

However, the most consistent way to catch burbot is on a set line with a live or dead minnow. Burbot have a keen sense of smell and appreciate a little meat. Frozen cisco, salted minnows and chunks of sucker when laid on the bottom will catch burbot. Live minnows and suckers will do the job too, although burbot aren’t good at chasing lively bait around. If a minnow or sucker is extra lively, try to use a heavier sinker or lead head jig to keep it in place.

Burbot can be caught at a variety of depths in lakes, from shallow (10 feet or less) to quite deep. Typically, burbot will be caught near the base of drop offs or around mid-lake shoals. They also seem to spawn around flats with low growing aquatic vegetation. An ice angler targeting burbot should focus on depths between 20 and 40 feet. In low light or at night, you can expect burbot to come to the tops of reefs and move into more shallow water.

The best way to clean a burbot is to hang it by the head from a nail or hook. Cut the skin near the base of the head and pull it down with a pair of pliers. Remove the fins off the carcass with pliers or sharp scissors.

Then remove the backstraps of the fish by cutting down on either side of the backbone.

Some people also eat the belly meat. I avoid keeping larger, older burbot to eat due to the bioaccumulation of toxins. The 3-6 pounders are prime for eating. Burbot meat can be boiled like lobster, fried, baked, or poached.

It’s white meat and it’s quite delicious.

WILD RICE RESERVOIR

BY JOE SHEAD WHY GO: Wild Rice Reservoir is a shallow, productive lake that offers quality fishing opportunities. “It’s a pretty good fishery,” said Dan Wilfond, Duluth area fisheries specialist. “Most of the species that are there are found in quality sizes and abundance.” Plus, the lake is just a short drive from Duluth.

ACCESS: The reservoir, usually just called Rice Lake, is north of Duluth. From the airport, proceed east on Airport Road for 1 mile. Turn left onto County Road 4 (Rice Lake Road) and head north for 5 miles. Turn left onto Township Road 2903 (Rice Lake Dam Road) and proceed a half-mile to the landing on your left. The landing has a concrete-slab ramp, a porta-potty and parking for about 10 rigs.

VITALS: Rice Lake is an impoundment of the Beaver River created by Minnesota Power.

The lake is large and shallow, spanning 2,372 acres, with a maximum depth of just 11 feet, although most of the lake is much shallower.

Most of the shoreline is owned by Minnesota Power. A public access is located near the dam. The access is scheduled to be improved in 2024. The dam, located just down from the access, is a popular shore fishing spot.

According to Wilfond, the lake isn’t affected much by drawdowns, but anglers should be

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FEBRUARY 2024

careful when navigating this shallow lake.

You’ll find submerged boulders here (including an unmarked one below the surface about 100 yards to the right of the boat landing) as well as a “mine field” of woody debris on the south end, Wilfond said. The lake also features a lone campsite on an island near the southeast end, available on a first-come, firstserved basis.

GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Walleye, northern pike, bluegill, black crappie, yellow perch, and largemouth bass.

WALLEYE: “In the summertime and spring it’s popular for walleyes,” Wilfond said. “In the middle of the summer we tend to see a very substantial dropoff (in angling pressure) because of heavy vegetation.” Rice’s walleyes are abundant and have a healthy average size.

Plus, they are entirely dependent on natural reproduction. The 2019 DNR survey turned up over 15 walleyes per gillnet, which is way above average for the lake type. Walleyes had an average length of 15.6 inches. The lake is loaded with eaters and they can be caught trolling the open expanses or by pitching jigs and live bait to rocks.

NORTHERN PIKE: “We know it’s a very popular place to go for northern pike,” Wilfond said. “It has consistent action and a de-

NORTHERN WILDS

cent chance of a pretty good fish.” He said anglers could encounter pike in the upper30-inch range, or perhaps even 40 inches. The latest DNR survey found above-average pike numbers, with the largest measuring 37 inches. The abundance of weeds provides plenty of good pike habitat.

BLUEGILL: “Both crappies and bluegills are found in average abundance and above-average size structure,” Wilfond said. Bluegill average size in the last survey was over 7 inches, with several fish over 9 inches turning up. To protect this quality size structure, bluegills and crappies have a special regulation in place, limiting harvest to five apiece.

BLACK CRAPPIE: Crappies grow similarly large. Average size in the last survey was 11 inches, with some topping the foot mark.

YELLOW PERCH: Yellow perch numbers can fluctuate and lately they have been quite high in Rice Lake, but size quality hasn’t suffered. The latest DNR survey turned up 29.4 perch per gillnet lift, with an average size of over 8 inches. In fact, about one-third of the fish sampled were greater than 10 inches.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth bass found their way into Rice Lake in the early 2000s and have now become established. Be-

tween the weeds and stumps, there is great bass habitat. Although they don’t often turn up in gillnet surveys, bass up to 17 inches have been sampled in DNR nets.

FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY: If there’s a downside to Rice Lake, it’s this: anglers should use caution when eating any fish from Rice Lake. “The one thing about Rice is folks should take a look at our consumption advisory related to PFOS contamination,” Wilfond said. Check advisory information posted at the access. Or click on the link on the DNR’s Lakefinder page for more information.

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

• Special treats (if you are going to spend this kind of money to run this race, buy some great treats for the dogs—we have chicken thighs, bison snacks, pork loin, and more).

• Spare headlamp batteries—though I will mostly rely on large lithium ion rechargeable batteries, it is always good to have back-ups.

• Some checkpoint bags for longer layovers will have things like a musher change of clothing, change of runner plastic, and spare harnesses.

The dog rig stopped for more meat along the way. | SUBMITTED

SAWTOOTH RACING DOG BLOG

BY ERIN ALTEMUS

Packing Drop Bags for the Iditarod

In the garage, I had a full-scale butcher shop going, where I pre-thawed various types of meats, chopped them into snack size pieces, refroze them, then had to rechop them apart and bag the pieces, then put these bags into the drop bags. All of these various items eventually went into the drop bags in a flurry the day before Matt left with the dogs, but the drop bags are far from being finished, because we didn’t even have all the needed meat to finish the job (some was picked up on the way to Alaska). I will fly into Anchorage on February 12, we will spread all of this out in a parking lot somewhere, finish the job and bring it to a warehouse on the 14th where the Iditarod will weigh each bag, make sure I’ve done my job correctly, charge me approximately $0.70 a pound (there’s likely to be 1,000+ pounds), and fly each bag to the appropriate checkpoint where they will be ready for me when I come through with the team in early March.

One of the more complex pieces to plan for the Iditarod is what are called “drop bags,” which are re-supply bags sent ahead to each of the 18 checkpoints along the Iditarod trail for the dogs and musher.

In December, the Iditarod mailed me the drop bags to use, poly woven bags, labeled with each of the checkpoint names, three supplied for each checkpoint. There are just a couple rules to follow about packing these bags: 1. Send at least 50 pounds to each checkpoint.

2. No one bag can weigh more than 50 pounds.

Once I have gone through and used what I want to use out of each checkpoint bag during the race, I can send some things back to Anchorage in a “return bag,” but only the non-perishables, such as dog booties, sled runners, or musher clothing like dirty socks. Any dog food including meat or kibble stays at the checkpoint and will be fed to Alaska village dogs.

While it seems one could simply have an assembly line for preparing these drop bags, I found I needed a detailed spreadsheet because the plan for every checkpoint differs. The rest time at each checkpoint varies (sometimes I might rest three hours, sometimes six, one checkpoint requires a 24-hour rest). Sometimes, I might only stop long enough to pick up my checkpoint bag, empty its contents into my sled, and continue on, only to camp later alongside the trail—this requires a different set of supplies perhaps.

The diet early in the race differs from the diet later in the race. In general, the average dog in the Iditarod burns 10,000 calories a

As Matt and I made the decision to send the team to Alaska early due to the Beargrease being cancelled and abysmal training conditions here, I started packing my drop bags. In the basement, I powdered and bundled dog booties grouped by size and in Ziplocs (soon it became clear that I did not buy enough booties and I needed to scale back how many booties I was packing in each Ziploc, i.e., plan on having fewer than 16 dogs later in the race). In the dining room our table was filled with musher snacks, Camp Chow, bottles of Prilosec and vitamin E for dogs, Ziplocs of probiotics, and handwarmers. Our 6-year-old complained that Mom was unfairly getting really good snacks that she was not. I tried to explain that I would need these calories to stay warm while out in the cold for 10 days while she was galivanting around Anchorage with Grandma and Daddy, and I’m sure getting her fair share of treats, but this didn’t go over well. Go figure.

Selfie with new self-sewn wolverine ruff, a must for the coastal blizzard winds. | ERIN ALTEMUS day, but we can assume they are using more fat each day the race goes on. And finally, I can only presume that while I will start with 16 dogs, I will likely not finish with 16. But, how many to pack for later in the race? Keep packing for 16 just in case every dog exceeds my expectations and finishes?

Each checkpoint bag (for me) requires at minimum: • 16 sets of booties (later in the race I go down to 14 sets and then 13, because if I finish with 13 dogs I will consider this to be a great victory).

• Several musher meals including Camp

Camp chow and much more will be packed in each of the 20 checkpoint drop bags. | ERIN ALTEMUS Chow, candy bars, a vacuum sealed Hungry Hippy taco, frozen bottles of Gatorade, hot chocolate mix, and chips.

• Dog supplements (vitamins and things like psyllium and probiotics proven to help their performance, not to be confused with banned performance enhancing drugs).

• Chopped up dog snacks portioned and bagged for each leg of the race.

• 16 pounds of kibble.

• Fat to add to each meal.

As I write this, Matt and the team are on the way to Alaska but have stalled out midtrip due to trailer problems in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. They will either ditch the trailer there and rent a U-Haul, or wait several days for the trailer to be repaired (difficult due to driver time constraints).

Matt is planning to race the Yukon Quest 300 starting February 3, so follow along at: yukonquestalaska.com. The other Cook County musher that you may know, Anna Hennessy, is running the same race so it will surely be an interesting race to follow, and the terrain will be tough, going up and over several mountain summits and through very cold low valleys in early February. I’ll be here tracking on a computer screen, biting my lip.

• Handwarmers.

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Little Mountain, Big Trouble

Rose Addams

The Apollo Murders

By Margie Taylor

By Chris Hadfield

By Chris Norbury

NeWest Press, 2023, $19.95

Random House of Canada, 2021, $17.99

Interested in reading a pageturner book that isn’t filled with violence, murder, spy plots, recipes or depressing tales?

Then check out the witty book Rose Addams. The novel’s central character is baby-boomer Rose Addams, a career librarian in Vancouver, married to a university professor, and a mother to two adult children. She doesn’t see her life as particularly exciting or adventuresome—but it is. Life’s dramas include Rose’s daughter returning home to live after breaking off her engagement; Rose’s husband retiring from university without warning; finding out that the homeless person begging at the grocery store is from her past, and her husband mysteriously disappearing. Rose Addams is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

—Elle Andra-Warner

The Apollo Murders is a fast-paced, Cold War space adventure about a fictionalized 1973 top secret Apollo 18 to collect specific geological samples from the moon. On the way to the moon, the crew of the Apollo 18 is tasked with destroying an unmanned Soviet spy satellite, but there is an unexpected glitch—there were two people on board that satellite. What follows is an exciting page-turner with suspense, undercover spies, murder, and tensions. The U.S. crew successfully lands on the moon and gathers samples, but will they all leave?

Strangely, the return route of the capsule seems to be off course; coincidentally, a Soviet vessel is present at the unexpected new splashdown area. Though mostly fiction, author and retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield includes end notes about which space events and characters were real.—Elle Andra-Warner

CSN Press, 2023, $12.95 Twelve-year-old-EJ is short, unpopular, shy, and a self-described loser, with a challenging home life. He’s also the last kid you’d expect to dream of someday climbing Mount Everest, until he’s matched with a volunteer Big Brother.

Russ is the opposite of EJ, yet they bond over E J’s mountain-climbing dream. Their first goal is to hike Minnesota’s highest point, Eagle Mountain. But when a fierce thunderstorm strikes in the middle of their trek, EJ and Russ are plunged into a life-or-death crisis. Fighting his loser self-image, EJ learns that standing tall has nothing to do with height. Filled with inspiration, determination, and friendship, Little Mountain, Big Trouble is an emotional and heartwarming book for young readers.

—Breana Johnson

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NORTHERN SKY FEBRUARY 2024 By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

During February the bright winter constellations reach their prime position for evening viewing. They come out east of brilliant Jupiter and follow the planet across the night sky. Bringing up the rear is low and glorious Sirius, the brightest of stars, and its dim constellation, Canis Major, the big dog.

These stars start to exit the sky next month, so if you haven’t enjoyed them yet, grab a star chart and go out at nightfall. Try Thursday, the 15th, when a waxing moon will be just west of the Pleiades star cluster and the V-shaped Hyades cluster, which forms the face of Taurus, the bull. The bull’s orange eye is Aldebaran, which is separate from the Hyades.

In the morning sky, Venus is sailing into the sun’s foreglow. About 40 minutes before sunrise on the 7th, sharp-eyed viewers may catch a very low, scrawny moon to the lower right of the planet.

The moon becomes new on the 9th and reaches perigee, its closest point to Earth in this lunar cycle, on the 10th. If you like delicate crescent moons, look close to the setting sun on the 11th and 12th, when the crescent will be big—and maybe pink.

Two weeks later—at 6:30 a.m. on the 24th—the farthest and smallest full moon of 2024 arrives. It sets less than an hour later, so you may want to watch it rise the evening before. It will cross the night sky with Regulus, the brightest star in the spring constellation Leo, the lion.

On Groundhog Day we celebrate the ancient Celtic holiday Imbolc, or lamb’s milk. It was one of four “cross-quarter” days falling midway between a solstice and an equinox. The groundhog’s origins are unclear, but apparently it was believed that a cloudy day foretold rains that would soften the earth for planting, but a clear sky meant more wintry cold.

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.

– give us a call to reserve a pet-friendly room. o o We are PET-FRIENDLY 655 Arthur Street W., Thunder Bay, Ontario

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Strange Tales An Eclectic Mix of “World’s Largest Statues” By Elle AndraWarner

A recent article in a national publication about the “World’s Largest Statues” raised the question whether there are any such statues in the Northern Wilds region.

Surprisingly, yes, there’s an eclectic mix of these large statues.

The title of “World’s Largest Muskie” is claimed by Hayward in northwest Wisconsin. Constructed of concrete, steel, and fibreglass, and sculpted into a 143-foot jumping muskie, the statue is the featured landmark at the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, a multi-acre museum complex. According to their website, the museum has over 300 mounted fresh fish, 1,000 vintage outboard motors, and 50,000 vintage and historical lures.

The 30.5-foot sculpture built in 1949 of the “World’s Largest Tiger Muskie” in Nevis, MN is made of cedar, redwood and covered with scales made of concrete. | SKVADER

Across the U.S.-Canada border in Kenora, Ontario, “Canada’s Largest Fish Statue” also features a leaping muskie. Nicknamed Husky the Muskie, the 40-foot-tall outdoor sculpture was originally constructed of steel, 36 sheets of plywood, and 3,500 bolts in 1967 and has been restored a few times since then.

Other fish statues claiming “World’s Largest” in Minnesota is a 30.5-foot Tiger Muskie in Nevis; a 15-foot Northern Pike in Erskine; a Lutefish (Lou T. Fisk) in Madison (Lutefish Capital of the World), and Willie the Walleye in Bemidji.

For 45 years (1960-2005), Thunder Bay was home to the “World’s Largest Curling Stone.” Made of solid concrete, the 7-foottall and 6-foot-diameter stone was manufactured by the local Canadian Car plant for the 1960 Brier (curling championship) and placed at the arena entrance at Fort William Gardens. Alas, in 2005 Thunder Bay lost the title to Arborg, Manitoba, when the small town created a curling rock weighing 3,000 pounds made of steel, foam, and fibreglass that was 13.78 feet across and 6 feet 10 inches tall. Thunder Bay is now home to the “World’s Second Largest Curling Stone.”

About a day’s drive east of Thunder Bay to Wawa is the famous “World’s Largest Canada Goose,” nicknamed “Grady,” and one of the most photographed landmarks in North America. Made of steel and standing 28 feet tall and 22 feet long with a wingspan of 20 feet, Grady even appears in a children’s book read across the world, Wawa Goose Meeting at Fort Friendship.

Yet, it is the United States statue of a Canada goose in Sumner, Missouri, that has the 36

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In Vergas, MN there’s a giant 20-foot-tall “World’s Largest Loon” overlooking Long Lake. | SKVADER title, “World’s Greatest Goose.” Nicknamed “Maxie,” it has a height of 40 feet with a wingspan of 65 feet and poised on a building. Why Sumner? Well, the town claims to be the “Wild Goose Capital of the World.”

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The giant 18-foot-tall “Max the Moose” stands next to Dryden’s Information Centre. | DHSCOMMTECH

With the loon being Minnesota’s state bird since 1961, it’s befitting that it has two giant loon statues. One is the 20-foottall “World’s Largest Loon” overlooking Long Lake in Vergas. And over in Virginia,

floating on Silver Lake, is the 20-foot-long “World’s Largest Floating Loon,” constructed of fibreglass over a metal frame and tethered by a long cable to the lake’s bottom. It is lifted out for storage during winter.

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The title “World’s Largest Muskie Statue” is claimed by Hayward, in northwest Wisconsin. | BOBAK HA’ERI

“Canada’s Largest Canada Goose,” is in Wawa, Ontario. | KEVSTAN

Other bird statues with “World’s Largest” titles in Minnesota is the 43-foot-high crow in Belgrade; 20-foot-tall turkey in Frazee; and the 13-foot-tall prairie chicken in Rothsay.

changes into a scarf and curling broom.

Two animal statues with “World’s Largest” status in Minnesota are the river otter nicknamed “Otto” in Fergus, and the pelican nicknamed “Pete” in Pelican Rapids.

In Dryden, Ontario, there’s the famous 18-foot-tall Max the Moose, the town’s official mascot, standing next to the tourist information centre on the Trans-Canada Highway. Weighing 9 tons, Max was built in 1962 of mesh, steel rods, concrete, and a layer of lacquer.

Other eclectic “World’s Largest” titles in Minnesota go to: Paul Bunyan statue in Akeley; Corn Cob statue in Olivia; Viking statue in Alexandria; Hockey Stick and Puck in Eveleth; Darwin’s Ball of Twine Made by One Man; Peace Pipe in Pipestone, and in North St. Paul, there’s the 44-foottall “World’s Largest Stucco Snowman” built using 20 tons of concrete stucco In northwestern Ontario (NWO), the town of Beardmore claims to be the “Snow Capital of the World” and is home to the “World’s Largest Snowman.” Made of white wood, the all-year smiling 35-foottall snowman in summer wears sunglasses while holding a fishing rod and in winter,

Inger Andress REALTOR Licensed in MN 218-216-7141 IngerAndress@edinarealty.com

NWO also has some quirky large statues that don’t carry the “world’s largest” titles. Like Kenora’s bright yellow and black “Volkswagen Spider” landmark where an old Volkswagen sits atop spider legs made of pipes and an oil drum for a top hat. Hamlet of Upsala has a “Giant Mosquito” on a pole carrying off a man. At Vermilion Bay, there’s the famous roadside 20-foot sasquatch, made of cement and iron, hitchhiking along the Trans-Canada Highway.

Each giant statue is a unique creation with its own history and story, and they are great for exploring on road trips.

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218-387-2131 101 West highway 61 grand marais, mn 55604

LAKE SUPERIOR

7 2 C h i m n ey Ro c k Ro a d 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.

MLS 6111288

$1,249,500 pending

3 2 80 H ighway 61 W

U n it 5 - S h ar e A

3 8 4 X H i g h way 6 1 E

7 8 T r ol l ’ s T rail

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.

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.

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!

$275,000

MLS 610784 $1,200,000

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. Sit back and relax while someone else takes care of the plowing and lawn care.

MLS 6111396

$749,900

MLS 6111523

HOMES & CABINS

MLS 6108596

$149,900

COMMERCIAL

pending

N E W 23 0 7 C o u nty R oa d 7

1 0 4 4 2 n d Av e W est

3BR/3BA home only 3 miles from Grand Marais on a paved county road for convenience, and over 10 acres to spread out. This beautifully maintained property has an attached 2-stall heated garage AND a separate 30 X 50 insulated and heated pole building for all your toys and workshop both served by a paved driveway.

Take advantage of all Cook County has to offer from this base in the center of it all.

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 6111812

$524,900

MLS 6111516

$499,900

1315 E Hig hway 6 1 Incredible commercial opportunity. Current use includes a 3BR rental unit, office, and home! Cathedral ceilings, ample parking and great location!

6104280 $1,250,000

w w w. c b n o rt h s h o r e . c o m ©2022 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

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FEBRUARY 2024

NORTHERN WILDS

218-387-2131 101 West highway 61 grand marais, mn 55604

INLAND LAKE HOMES & CABINS

NE W 6 1 9 C l earwat er R oad

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

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!

$599,900

MLS 6109270 $699,900

NE W 261 Cap s

77 Wilderness Trail

Trail

Serenity awaits you in this turnkey charming 3BR/2BA, yearround 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

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.

$389,900

MLS 6111205

$499,900

LAND G reen wo o d L a k e Imagine calling this magnificent piece of premier Greenwood Lakeshore, YOUR private, Northwoods retreat! Very private with over 700’ of lakeshore; 4+ acres; 80’ of creek frontage; AND abuts Federal land.

MLS 6110312

$539,900

3 5 & 4 0 N o r di c Star Drive Incredible opportunity for a residential development in the city limits of Grand Marais! The 3.72A property offers multiple options to build on the west side of Grand Marais.

MLS 6110418

$399,900

O n ag o n L a ke

12X X Hig hway 61 W

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.

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.

ML S 6109045

$79,900

MLS 6108209

$789,900

XX X P op l ar L a k e

Ho n eym o o n T ra i l

1 1 X X H i g h way 6 1 W

11 Alta Miik an a R d

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.

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

Unique opportunity to find a 1A lot in the heart of Grand Marais.

Directly abouts Highway 61 with commercial usage.

Residential acreage in the heart of Lutsen ready for your north shore getaway. Close to all of the outdoor recreational activities.

MLS 6110281

$69,900

MLS 6108969

$114,000

MLS 6108208

$199,900

ML S 6110680

$139,900

w w w. c b n o rt h s h o r e . c o m ©2022 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

NORTHERN WILDS

FEBRUARY 2024

39

REALTORS®: Mike Raymond, Broker • Jake Patten, Assoc. Broker, Jess Smith, Realtor • Sue Nichols, Assoc. Broker

Red Pine Realty • (800) 387-9599 (218) 387-9599 • Fax (218) 387-9598 • info@RedPineRealty.com PO Box 938, 14 S. Broadway, Grand Marais, MN 55604

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES

HOMES & CABINS

SALIENG PE N D

DEVIL TRACK LAKE HOME LAKE SUPERIOR PRIVATE RETREAT Unique private place - a park-like preserve all your own. The 2000 ft of rugged lakeshore and dense boreal forest create a place to immerse oneself in the magic of the ancient shore. The 19 acres is accessible by a 1/4 mile of boardwalk and deck overlooks. Dramatic points protect the private views. Power and phone are waiting for your choice of building sites.

MLS#6107927 $1,750,000

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 $599,000

SOLD

NORTHWOODS SANCTUARY HOME Stunning home tucked away on 89 gorgeous acres. Includes 2-bedroom, 2-bath home with all the privacy features, maintenancefree siding, a metal roof, vaulted ceilings with pine tongue and groove, a stone fireplace and custom hickory cabinets. A Northwoods sanctuary, with views all around. Solar system leaves you with minimal utility bills. Power & broadband are slated to arrive.

MLS#6109126 $495,000

SALIENG PE N D

LOON LAKE TURN-KEY LOG HOME NEW! DOWNTOWN GRAND MARAIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING This is a remarkable building with great potential for retail, lodging, and many other services. Envision your own business here! Located in downtown Grand Marais with 100 feet of waterfront on Lake Superior.

Stunning, brand new, turn-key log house on Loon Lake! Many convenient amenities make this property user friendly, and suitable for rental or residence. The 746 square feet of living space is meticulously detailed with textures and tones that draw your attention while also calming your busy mind. Enjoy property year-round as the destination itself, or as a gateway into the vast wilderness that surrounds it.

MLS#6110987

MLS#6111835 $1,500,000

SALIENG PE N D

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 $350,000

SOLD

GREENWOOD LAKE PANORAMIC VIEWS CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC ON SUPERIOR BEACH Newer one-level home features a clean, quality Scandanavian feel, with economy of space that 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 $1,400,000

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 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

REMODELED MANUFACTURED HOME Property is priced to sell "as is". Nicely remodeled cozy single wide trailer house, with north-woods cabin feel. Well insulated and heated with propane. Large backyard fenced in area for pets. Heated garage with a wood floor. Property provides seclusion and privacy, while also being conveniently located walking distance from the schools and amenities.

MLS#6111528

www.RedPineRealty.com • Locally owned and operated since 1996 • info@RedPineRealty.com 40

FEBRUARY 2024

NORTHERN WILDS

HOMES & CABINS

LAND/BUILDING SITES LAND/BUILDING SITES REALTORS®: Mike Raymond, Broker • Jake Patten, Assoc.

Broker, Jess Smith, Realtor • Sue Nichols, Assoc. Broker

Red Pine Realty • (800) 387-9599 SOLD

(218) 387-9599 • Fax (218) 387-9598 • info@RedPineRealty.com PO Box 938, 14 S. Broadway, Grand Marais, MN 55604

SUNRISE, SUNSET, LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS OFF-GRID CABIN Sweet little off-grid cabin on 20 acres with knotty pine and a wood burning stove. Property is wired for power when it becomes available on the road, and has a hand pump well on the driveway. Septic sites have been verified. Freshly updated with new windows, doors, roof and much more. Attached screened porch with a nice west-facing view of the forest and sunsets.

MLS#6111180 $159,900

5+ acres with a view of Lake Superior! Watch the sunrise and sunset from this great location. Property is only a 15 min drive from Grand Marais.

Take a short walk down the road to hop on the Superior Hiking Trail to explore miles of trails. Walk a little further and you will be on the shores of the Big Lake! Property has a driveway leading up to a great build site with broadband and electric at the road and ready to be brought into the property! A must see!

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

SALIENG PE N D

MLS#6111549

WOODED 64 ACRES – ACCESS TO PRIVATE LAKE

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

MLS#6103974 $59,900 TOFTE 2 ACRE LOT KELLY’S HILL RD 5+ ACRES A short 15 min drive from Grand Marais sits this beautiful 5+ acres! With plenty of room to expand, this property features raised garden beds and trails throughout! With some selective clearing you could open it up to a lovely view of Lake Superior! Power and high-speed internet are on site along with a 12x20 storage shed. Superior Hiking Trail access just down the road.

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 $75,000

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#6110837 $150,000

RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE

MLS#6106368 $48,000 MLS#6098276 $47,900

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

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

NEW! TOFTE LOT WITH CREEK

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

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

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 LARGE PARCEL WITH CREEK, LOST LAKE DEEDED ACCESS

REMOTE ACREAGE, ADJOINING FOREST LANDS-PRIVATE LAKE RIGHTS

NEW! 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

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

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CONSIDERING SELLING? We know this is a big and important decision. We’re here to guide you through the process, offer advice and support you in navigating many aspects of selling that are often overlooked.

C A L L F O R A F R E E M A R K E T A N A LY S I S

SARENA CROWLEY | Agent

Give one of our “Awesome Agents” a call today to learn more about why it remains a good time to sell irrespective of rising interest rates and other uncertain national and regional market conditions. Our team of experts will provide you with a F R E E Market Analysis on your home and/or property and outline why Lutsen Real Estate Group is your B E S T C H O I C E when considering listing your home for sale.

STEVE SURBAUGH | Broker

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

C A S C A D E VA C AT I O N R E N TA L S . C O M

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T H E J A P A N E S E P R A C T I C E O F F O R E S T B AT H I N G

Find your perfect retreat with the guidance of our seasoned team. Allow us to help you navigate the intricacies of property buying, bringing a sense of tranquility to the process. Our expertise aims to ease the challenges, enabling you to spend your energy on what matters most.

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Get out and Play in the Snow!

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WATER, WATER, WATER AND THE BIG LAKE!

E L A S ING D N PE

D L SO

PURE, COOL, PRISTINE, SUPERIOR! 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

DRAMATIC VIEWS OF GRAND MARAIS’S EAST BAY WITH GREAT INCOME! This classy, Scandinavian Modern, 2 bedroom, well-

appointed unit is just a stone’s throw from the lake. Enjoy the views while soaking in the sounds of the big lake! The open Kitchen and Living room give you plenty of space to enjoy meals before going out to explore, and the balcony is the perfect place to enjoy the sunrises. The spacious bedrooms give everyone space to relax. There is nothing to worry about with this property; Come use it, enjoy, and let it earn while you’re off doing you.

MLS#6110340 $339,000

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-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!

D L O S FREI LEIF HAUS MLS#6100212 $699,000

MLS#6111272 $329,000 NINEMILE LAKE HOME Enjoy this Fabulous vacation or year-round home at Ninemile Lake! This 3 bedroom home doesn’t disappoint with floor to ceiling windows and vaulted ceilings in the Great Room, a spacious Kitchen and even a covered porch this home has everything you need to relax and unwind! Shared access to 1800ft of shoreline on Ninemile lake and close to close to many inland lakes, plus direct access to snowmobile, ATV and hiking trails means you can enjoy all your favorite outdoor activities! Visit today and start planning your summer Up North!

D L SO

SWEET VIEWS OF GRAND MARAIS VILLAGE, EAST BAY, ARTISTS POINT WITH GREAT INCOME! Leave your stress behind at this East Bay Suite.

E L SA ING D N PE

With 3 bedrooms you have room for the whole family to enjoy their time on the North Shore! The Large Kitchen and Dining Room space give you space to cook large meals for everyone or walk down the street to get a quick meal at one of the close restaurants! With 500ft of shared Lake Superior Shoreline you can easily watch the sunrises or sunsets with an unobstructed view. Wander over to Worlds Best Donuts to get a yummy snack or stop at the Beaver House to get bait to catch the night’s dinner.

The options are endless! And while you are away this Suite will pay for itself in Rentals! Check it out today! MLS#6110341 $403,000

MLS#6107181 $269,900 PRICE REDUCED

FIND THOSE NEW LISTINGS FIRST!!

EMAIL INFO@TIMBERWOLFFREALTY.COM TO SIGN UP FOR AUTO EMAIL! 44

FEBRUARY 2024

NORTHERN WILDS

Enjoy the Winter Sunshine!

Get out and Play in the Snow!

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!!

Local (218) 663-8777 Toll free (877) 664-8777

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

D L SO 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

NEW! BREATHE EASY IN HOVLAND!

Hovland, what a groovy little town on the edge of the biggest lake around and less than 20 minutes from the Grand Marais harbor! The Arrowhead Trail is the Gateway to sprawling forests, lakes, trails and solitude. Affordability alert! Can’t find a home in Cook County to fit your budget? Here you go! Come have a look at this sweet abode on 2.4 acres. Inside, the home is a cozy retreat as would be expected from one of the good ones from back in the day. Spacious kitchen looks out to the gardens, Living room is just the right size and overlooks the ancient lilac that scents the yard and home via summer windows.

Currently one bedroom, but the upper office, with the addition of a new egress window, could house the kids, visiting family, or all the guests who want a piece of the action up in the Tip of the Arrowhead! Outside there is a terrific half garage, half workshop awaiting your favorite activities- from a fly tying station to a place for all the tools or toys. Visit today and make this property fit your vision.

$229,000 MLS#6111287

NEW! BEAUTIFUL LOG HOME NEAR CHRISTINE LAKE IN LUTSEN! Enjoy this

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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

NORTHWOODS BASECAMP FOR THE BOUNDARY WATERS AND LAKE SUPERIOR IN TOFTE! This charming earth sheltered, solar and generator powered 2-bedroom home in Tofte is 20 minutes from Lake Superior to the south or the nearest BWCA Wilderness entry point to the north. Make this your base camp in Cook County and you can be on the Superior Hiking Trail or Sugarbush ski trails in 15 minutes! The cabin, on one of the highest points of a glacial esker, looks across a vast expanse of the Temperance River Valley and the Superior National Forest from the large picture windows. Or walk out onto the deck off the Master Bedroom to listen to the birds in the morning. Plenty of space in the 40 acres for you to create your dream oasis with trails wandering through the woods, watching nature right outside your door!

MLS#6110010 $300,000

VISIT US AT TIMBERWOLFFREALTY.COM CHECK OUT OUR WEEKLY BLOG AND FACEBOOK POSTS OF FUN TIMES ON THE NORTH SHORE! NORTHERN WILDS

FEBRUARY 2024

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Enjoy the Winter Sunshine!

Get out and Play in the Snow!

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!!

Local (218) 663-8777 Toll free (877) 664-8777

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

LUTSEN AREA

ENJOY THE VIEWS FROM ABOVE! Imagine

49+ ACRES WITH 1600 FT OF SHORELINE ON BIGSBY LAKE IN LUTSEN! Have the

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!

MLS#6108926 $108,000

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LUTSEN AREA FINLAND AREA BUILD YOUR VACATION GETAWAY AT NINEMILE LAKE!

.18 acres with 1800ft of shared shoreline on Ninemile Lake!

With septic, water and electric all on site all you have to do is hook up to it! Easily start your project and be able to enjoy your time Up North!

MLS#6107242 $60,000

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

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

MLS#6107243 $60,000

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

This .60 acre lot was recently created by combining two lots so it offers plenty of room to build your dream cabin or home with an amazing lake view and direct lake access! Great opportunity for the outdoor enthusiast with snowmobile and ATV trails right outside your door!

1800ft of shared lake frontage on Ninemile Lake and infrastructure in place for Septic, Well and Electricity, all you have to do is hook up to it. You will be ready to relax and unwind before you know it!

MLS#6107241 $150,000

SCHROEDER AREA 25 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL BOREAL WOODS JUST SOUTH OF SCHROEDER NEAR SUGARLOAF COVE. Great mix of birch, aspen, and

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conifers. Not to mention the neighbors: fox, moose, deer, wolves, woodpeckers! Come and get it!

MLS#6111096 $109,900

NEW! MAPLE FOREST LOT IN LUTSEN! This

lot is part of the Sawmill Bay sites with deeded/shared lake access to Caribou Lake in Lutsen! Located on a quiet maintained road which includes year-round access. Gently sloping land with many sites to choose from to build a home or cabin. Lutsen location allows for quick drive to Lutsen Mountains Ski Area, multiple x-country ski trails or if you prefer to just explore the woods with snowshoes!

Winter season is upon us, and this will be a great opportunity to explore the layout of the land and make plans to build your dreamy North Shore escape. During the fall season you will get to enjoy the colors in your own backyard – fiery red maples and brilliant oranges! Imagine not having to travel to see the colors but instead just walking out your front door. Walk down the association path to cool off in the lake or maybe take the canoe out!

So many opportunities to enjoy all the North Shore has in one place, what are you waiting for?

MLS#6111271 $105,000

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

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GRAND MARAIS AREA 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

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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

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

CHECK OUT OUR NEW LOCALLY CR AFTED TIMBERWOLFF WEBSITE , SEARCH ALL MLS LISTINGS AT TIMBERWOLFFREALTY.COM 46

FEBRUARY 2024

NORTHERN WILDS

CATCHLIGHT

Barred owl While attempting to photograph white-tailed deer, I happened upon this barred owl. In my experience, barred owls are less tolerant of humans than other owl species, so I was surprised it allowed me to photograph it from close range. Note the bird has its feathers fluffed for added insulation on that cold winter day.—Bill Marchel

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FEBRUARY 2024

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on the Gunflint Trail

Unspoiled.

Spectacular.

Unforgettable.

• Family oriented, year-round resort – ski from your cabin door • 11 fully equipped, modern housekeeping cabins – gas and wood fireplaces, pet-friendly options • Located 30 miles north of Grand Marais on the Gunflint Trail • On the Central Gunflint Ski Trail System, over 70km of beautifully groomed trails • Ski passes available to cabin guests at no charge • Ski and snowshoe rental available for all ages • 1.5km lit trail for night skiing

Golden-Eagle.com 218-388-2203

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