Northern Wilds February 2022 by Northern Wilds Magazine

PET FOSTERING—CARIBBEAN FARE—ICE FISHING—VALENTINE’S DAY—WINTER FESTIVALS

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VOLUME 19 ISSUE 02

TWO HARBORS SILVER BAY TOFTE LUTSEN GRAND MARAIS GUNFLINT TRAIL GRAND PORTAGE THUNDER BAY NIPIGON

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Furtastic Friends For many of us, our pets are more than just pets— they’re family and we can’t imagine life without them. It doesn’t matter if you’re a dog, cat, fish or reptile person; I believe life is better when you spend it with a critter. This is why we devoted this issue to pets, an evergreen topic that remains popular with our readers, though we stuck to the furry companions this time (sorry fish and reptile lovers). Casey Fitchett starts us off with a story on The Retrievers, an all-volunteer team based in Minnesota that helps reunite lost dogs and their owners. Peter Fergus-Moore talks with a Thunder Bay family that fosters cats. Rae Poynter chats with the Cook County nonprofit Go Dog North Shore about bringing a new dog park to Grand Marais. Erin Altemus writes about the many personalities of her sled dogs. Ashley Bredemus followed musher Andrea DeBoer around her dog yard to learn what a day in the life of a sled dog is all about. Last but not least, Elle Andra-Warner writes about unusual pets and their owners. Did you know first lady Grace Coolidge (wife of U.S. President Calvin Coolidge) had a pet raccoon named Rebecca?

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.

Not a pet person? Not to fear, we’ve still got you covered. North Shore Dish writer Kitty Mayo covers three Caribbean-influenced restaurants to help keep you warm this winter. Gord Ellis talks about the multi-species ice fishing mecca Bays End in Thunder Bay. And Joe Shead writes about fishing off the Two Harbors breakwall. Valentine’s Day is also this month (Monday, Feb. 14 if you needed a reminder). Joe Shead shares a story of his disastrous Valentine’s Day as a floral delivery driver. Eric Weicht interviews Tim Young about being an adoptive father, as well as an artist. Speaking of art, the Spotlight section should inspire you to spread love and kindness to everyone you meet. Remember to do this every day and not just on Valentine’s Day. As always, February is packed with various events for the whole family, both indoors and outdoors. Be sure to take advantage of your favorite winter sports. While it doesn’t seem like it now, spring will be here before you know it.—Breana Johnson

Corrections: In the January issue of Northern Wilds, the Norpine Ski Trails in Lutsen should have been included in the Along the Shore story “A Guide to Winter Ski Adventures.” The Norpine Trails Association maintains and grooms 57km of Nordic ski trails that include the Cascade River State Park Trails, the Deer Yard Loop Trails and the Hall-Massey Trails. The trails are open to the public and offer skate and classic skiing—some trails also allow fat biking and skijoring. The trail system runs from Ski Hill Road to Cascade State Park.

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Incredible homecomings: Fetching our best friends

Little Nova—a nine-month-old puppy—was lost in Hermantown on Dec. 28, 2021 during a snowstorm. Thankfully, she was reunited with all her girls on Dec. 30. | APRIL GUSTAFSON ST. PAUL— It’s the nightmare of many pet owners: your beloved furry family member goes missing. In a time of unique desperation and uncertainty, groups like The Retrievers step in to work with individuals and families on what is likely one of the hardest days of their lives. The Retrievers, an all-volunteer team based in Minnesota, has all of the tools to help reunite lost dogs and their owners. Their 60 volunteers aid in the capture of skittish dogs, consult on search and strategy, and provide lost dog education and prevention tips. The group facilitates cases hands-on within Minnesota and the edges of bordering states in addition to consulting by phone to help track down lost dogs nationwide. In 2020, they provided assistance on 798 cases in 32 different states. Amy Addy, a case manager and lead safety coordinator for The Retrievers, has had a special place in her heart for rescue animals for as long as she can remember. In addition to her work educating the public on safe transport practices for rescues and giving guidance on lost dog cases, she also runs an organization called Missing Pets in the Northland. A crucial aspect of her role is disseminating information on best practices for preventing pets from going missing. She emphasizes that when it comes to keeping the pet from escaping, leashes are the best way to do it. “A lot of the dogs that go missing were off leash. We recommend a well-fitted harness or a Martingale collar because it doesn’t pop off their heads,” Addy explains. “Do not use a retractable leash. Along with the rope being a safety hazard, dogs that go missing with these leashes freak out because this plastic thing is chasing them down the street as they are running.” During holidays or other times when there are people coming and going from your house, it can help to keep the dog in one particular room with the door closed when guests are coming and going. Frequent checks of your backyard for holes or gaps in and under fences can prevent a dog from

Murphy the dog was lost in Tofte last summer for 30 days, from July 13-Aug. 13. Thanks to the help of Courtney Quaife, Louise Trachta and David Monson, Murphy was reunited with his owner Brooklyn Richardson [SHOWN HERE HOLDING MURPHY]. | MARJORIE RICHARDSON squeezing himself through to the great unknown. If owners do find themselves in the very unfortunate situation of having to search for their beloved pet, Addy stresses that driving around yelling their name should not be one of your first steps. While it may be your gut instinct, the dogs are in survival mode and will likely not recognize you as its owner. A more effective tactic is creating a scent trail using food and unwashed clothing belonging to their favorite human. These scent trails can be combined with a feeding station and a camera set up in one spot to trap them. Signs and fliers are also instrumental in spreading the word and are the most effective method for bringing animals back home. The Retrievers also has a specific team that’s

Remi and his partner were safely trapped by Amy Addy (case manager and lead safety coordinator for The Retrievers) after running loose in Cloquet, Minn. for 13 days after being dumped in a parking lot. | ALEX ADDY dedicated to just online awareness and posting digital fliers. “Bonded dogs,” or companions that the lost animal may know well, can also be useful in snapping the lost dog out of survival mode and luring them out of a hiding spot. “They are more likely to come to another dog than they are to come to a human, especially if it can make them jealous. If you are lavishing the bonded dog with praise and excitement, it can make the other dog realize they want some of that,” Addy says. “Even if you spot the lost dog, do not make eye contact, because that will make them bolt.” Reuniting owners with their pets is often made possible through identification; microchips and tags are the two most common recommended types. After you microchip your pet, have it registered through a registrar of your choice. Although there is usually a small fee to chip the animal, some of the registries are free. Don’t forget to update the information if your phone number or address changes. Tags can also be a quick and

effective way to bring your furry loved one back home. “Have a current identification tag with name, phone number, and address, not just the rabies tag. Get a stitched or embroidered collar—or just write your name with a Sharpie on the inside of the collar. Tags can rip off,” she explains. A variety of Facebook groups like Cook County MN Pets: Lost, Found, Escaped also help connect owners of lost pets with community members who may be able to provide insight about when and where the animal was last seen in the area. Even if you personally don’t own a pet, joining these hyper-local groups can be the difference in whether an animal in your neighborhood is reunited safely with its owner. For more information about The Retrievers and other helpful tips on lost pet prevention and education, tune into Addy’s monthly segment on WTIP or visit the organization’s website at: theretrievers.org.—Casey Fitchett

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Fostering a pet on the way to adoption THUNDER BAY— Mr. Bojangles is a very lucky cat. And the slim grey tabby has a passionate New Zealander human to thank for it. Bojangles’ story began like that of many cats who find themselves in the safekeeping of Caring Hearts Cat Rescue and Sanctuary in Thunder Bay. He was homeless, one of some several hundred felines in the area who are deprived of, or never had, a household in which to live. While Caring Hearts arranges for the immediate medical and nutritional needs of the homeless critters, humans who foster or adopt the cats are a crucial component of their rescue and settling. Enter people like Ruth and Richard Kamo, whose Canadian-born New Zealander granddaughter Tori Chapman-Kobot had a bee in her bonnet. “Tori was staying with us while she went to Lakehead University,” Ruth remembers. “She really wanted a cat. To persuade us, she even put together a PowerPoint presentation for us on the pros and cons of having one in the house.” “We wanted a cat ourselves, but not a permanent pet,” Richard adds. “We like to travel, so fostering became a compromise. Tori did the whole application process. They OK’d her, and us by extension.” And so began the parade of some 20 fostered cats entering and leaving the Kamo household over the period of a year. Fostering is a key link in the chain of events that lead hopefully to providing permanent homes for needy cats in the area. Once a homeless cat is captured or dropped off, it needs shelter, food and usually medical attention. This last includes detecting any diseases or conditions that need rectifying. Caring Hearts in Thunder Bay is fortunate to have the cooperation and facilities of Thunder Bay City Animal Control for this step. Without such facilities, the work of Caring Hearts would be all but impossible. “We’re always looking for fosters,” says Caring Hearts’ co-adoption coordinator Amber Raine. “Some fosters even end up adopting.” While adoption is not on the table for the Kamos, fostering has been a tremendously rewarding adventure. “The first cats were very frightened,” Richard remembers. “There was a lot of hiding under the couch, but they started to come out after a couple of days.” “Altogether, it was a great experience, even with some of the worst things that happen sometimes, like knocking things over or eating the houseplants,” he smiles. “They’re cats—curious!” “Our most adventurous foster was Tiny, who came to us very pregnant,” Ruth says. “We had no idea when she would give birth, so we were surprised after about a month when we came home from going out, to find a kitten on the living room floor.” Mother Tiny had rejected the kitten, which proved to have a deformity. The other five were nursing vigorously off the mother, and at this time, the scope of Caring Hearts’ foster support came to the fore. “We had been a little concerned about the cost of fostering, but we didn’t have to

FEBRUARY 2022

Ruth Kamo, recovering from surgery, is comforted by two fosters, Princess and Bandit. | RICHARD KAMO worry,” Richard says. “Caring Hearts provides everything: food, litter, toys, vet services. For Tiny and the kittens, they even loaned us a playpen so we could control the movements of the pack.” Eventually, granddaughter Tori moved on to employment in the Northwest Territories, but was memorialized in a way by the Kamos giving the kittens Kiwi (New Zealand) names like Pavlova, Taika (for renowned Maori filmmaker Taika Waititi), Gumboot, etc. Fosters like the Kamos often get to name their temporary charges. Though the Kamos will foster again in the foreseeable future, they have suspended that for a time as they will be renovating their condo unit.

Linnea Ziller with a foster kitten from Arrowhead Animal Rescue. | DARCY ZILLER

Was it hard to give the fosters up for adoption?

Arrowhead also lacks a critical link in the adoptive chain.

“Not really,” Ruth says. “We knew that they were going to good homes.”

To look northward across the border for comparison, those involved with animal rescue in the Thunder Bay area have facilities to place the rescued animals before they are fostered or adopted out. Thunder Bay District Humane Society and Thunder City Animal Control both offer temporary facilities where the animals brought in can be checked over by veterinarians, fed and sheltered, until new homes can be found. The Humane Society even has the benefit of a weekly vignette on the local tv station to advertise a pet needing adoption.

Of course, as sometimes happens, one of the Kiwi kittens was renamed after adoption. He is now Mr. Bojangles and lives with Ruth’s brother and sister-in-law two doors away, so he is able to visit any time the fosters want.

PET FOSTERING IN COOK COUNTY

Arrowhead Animal Rescue does the work of finding or receiving stray or abandoned pets and seeking homes for them in Cook County. The need for both facilities and vet care, and potential fosters and adoptions, is much the same as in the Thunder Bay area. However, those people trying to make a difference for needy pets in Cook County are struggling. “We are the only thing in Cook County working in animal rescue,” says Arrowhead’s Gay O’Donnell. “What we try to do is when somebody calls us (at Arrowhead), we go and pick up the animals, get them checked out by the vet, and look for foster homes, or adoptive homes for them. With COVID now, a lot has changed.”

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While veterinary services are available in Cook County, Arrowhead Animal Rescue lacks the equivalent temporary facility for the rescued animals to shelter before fostering or adoption takes place. “We used to put them in the dog pound,” says O’Donnell. “But the city (Grand Marais) took it down. Now there’s nowhere for the animals to stay before we can find fosters. We were told to take them to Duluth.” “It was a terrible building, anyway,” adds Dale Peterson, Arrowhead’s treasurer. “But at least we could keep them there for a time and have them looked after. But now without a place like that, we can’t just leave the animals with the vet—they don’t have enough room for them. That leaves

our homes, but with COVID, we can’t just have strangers come over to check them out, either.” While there might be signs of a replacement building on the horizon, it is fair to say that between the lack of a temporary facility to house the rescued animals, and the effects of COVID-19, the work of Arrowhead Animal Rescue is temporarily in limbo. However, the need for the work has taken no holiday. “Someone recently reported two abandoned huskies, a female in heat and an intact male,” Peterson recalls. “Where do we put them?” “There are pets that get loose and are found, and some people are still abandoning pets,” O’Donnell adds. “Those people who are willing to foster mostly already have pets. Bringing a foster into the territory of another animal is risky,” says O’Donnell. “There’s nowhere that we can temporarily place them. I cringe when I get a phone call now.”—Peter Fergus-Moore

FEBRUARY 3-28, 2022

MORE THAN 400 WORKS OF ART IN ELY’S DOWNTOWN STORE WINDOWS

Joe Shead had to shove aside a gas can and lay the elegant floral arrangements on a bed of last fall’s leaves, but when you’re a Valentine’s Day delivery driver, the more bouquets you can take, the more cash you can make. | SUBMITTED

A Valentine’s Day delivery disaster DULUTH—Valentine’s Day is supposed to take your breath away. It’s a storybook kind of day, filled with chocolates, dinner and romance with your soul mate. But unfortunately, some of us have disastrous Valentine’s Day memories. Maybe we were alone when everyone else was on a date. Maybe we spilled at the table and our face turned as blush as the wine. Or maybe the romantic evening we’d hoped for was a complete dud. I was single on my most disastrous Valentine’s Day. I was looking for a little extra cash and responded to an ad to be a floral delivery driver just for the holiday. It was going to be a great gig! I’d make a bunch of people happy as I walked into their workplace with a pretty bouquet and at the end of the day, I’d have some cash in my pocket. But when I showed up at the flower shop, I learned there were several other drivers as well. We were getting paid per delivery, so the more flowers we could take, the more money we could make. Well, unlike the other chumps, I had a pickup. So, I crammed armfuls of beautiful floral arrangements into the grimy bed of my truck. The flowers were nestled in between the bags of sand I keep back there in winter for extra traction and were plopped on top of spilled buckets of road salt, stray leaves from fall raking and probably still some deer hairs from last deer season. An intelligent person would have planned a systematic route, grouping deliveries by region. My style was to grab the closest bouquet, get an address and go for it. I kind of felt stupid when I drove all the way to one end of town, went to the opposite end and then ended up nearly back where I made the first delivery, but like I said, intelligence isn’t my strong suit. Of course, neither is direction. This was years ago, before I had a smartphone. I did have the foresight to bring along a local phonebook with a city map to find those streets I wasn’t familiar with, but a couple times I had to pull out my old antenna-style flip phone, call a friend and ask him to go on his computer for directions. I have to admit, I did actually make a lot

of people happy that day. I felt good every time I entered the building, asked for the unsuspecting recipient and then watched her smile and blush as her coworkers applauded. That part was actually pretty cool. But none of them knew the hell those flowers had been through. Imagine trying to navigate without the luxury of turn-byturn directions being spoken to you by your car. It might be conceivable, then, that you might occasionally have to slam on the brakes as you look up from the map in your lap and see a stop sign. Or maybe, perhaps, you might take a corner a little too fast. All I know for sure is that several top-heavy vases tipped over. I’d find them literally rolling around on the truck bed, cached in dirt. So I’d just wipe off the vase with my sleeve. Sometimes a flower or two would be damaged, so I’d just pluck it out. You know, honestly, 11 roses look a lot like a dozen roses unless you’re really studying the contents. And if anyone would have questioned me, I’d have thrown my hands in the air and pleaded, “Hey, don’t blame the messenger!” But thankfully nobody did.

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One particular vase had a plastic bag lining the inside that wrapped around the flowers. Of course, that spilled, so I poked a hole in the bag with my key, drained the water into a fast-food cup, then threw away the bag and poured the water back in the vase. Shh! By the end of the day, I’d put on 100 miles (I was living out of town at the time) and made a whopping 100 bucks. That night, after a lucky lady stopped swooning and the stars disappeared from her eyes, I imagined her looking lovingly at the bouquet her thoughtful husband had bought for her one last time before turning in for the night. In my mind’s eye, I can see her face droop from smiling to confusion as she studies the arrangement and asks quizzically, “Honey, is there … motor oil on the flowers you bought me?” I just hope that during my stint as Cupid, all my arrows hit the heart and not anyone’s posterior region.—Joe Shead

NORTHERN WILDS

FEBRUARY 2022

The breakwall boys of winter TWO HARBORS—You’ll see them standing out there, steadfast against the wind and braving sub-zero temperatures: a die-hard cadre of winter anglers, bent on bringing home fresh fish for dinner. Winter is when coho salmon often hug the shore along Two Harbors, putting them within reach of these hardy anglers. You’ll quickly recognize the regulars. They’re the ones carrying the 9- or 10-footlong rods, which catapult spoons and bobbers far out into Lake Superior. They’re also usually smart enough to wear ice cleats on their boots to provide traction on the treacherous, icy breakwall. This game isn’t for everyone. Some of the best fishing occurs when the temperature dips below zero. Keeping rod tips free of ice is a problem, but it’s not too hard to pop them clear. The biggest consideration is the danger in fishing on the wall. If waves are crashing over the wall, it’s an obvious no go. But every time a wave breaks and recedes when the temperature is below freezing, it coats the concrete in a slick, icy coating. Some anglers bring sand to sprinkle on their spot for traction.

go-to setup, but shorter rods will suffice. Anglers use slender, heavy spoons such as Luhr-Jenson Krocodiles or Acme Kastmasters. They wing them out there, let them sink a few seconds, then pump them back in to produce erratic action. Sometimes bobber fishing is effective, especially if there’s a light chop to give the bait some action. A “looper” bobber works well. It’s heavily weighted, so you can really wing it out there. Rig it as a slip-bobber, with a bobber stop set at 6 feet. A small jig baited with a waxworm is usually the ticket for cohos and steelhead.

Landing a fish is another consideration. From the main walkway, there is a concrete ledge extending out several feet below. Most anglers get their fish to the ledge and then give it a swing, hoping the hooks don’t catch on the icy rim. This works for small fish like cohos and herring, but if you latch into something larger, you’re in trouble. The bottom ledge, being closer to the water, is more frequently inundated with water and is downright treacherous, as are the stairs down to it, which are often glazed with inches of ice. Venturing down to the lower area is extremely dangerous, but those who do wear cleats and tie a rope to the cable railing above to help them belay down. From the lower area, larger fish can be netted. Cohos are the main draw in winter, but part of the fun is you never know what you’ll catch from the breakwall. Herring, lake trout, steelhead and even king salmon are caught by breakwall casters. “Loopers,” Kamloops-strain rainbow trout, were formerly caught with some regularity as well, but no longer, since the stocking program was discontinued.

A salmon tail protrudes from a plastic bag on the hand rail. That’s how many anglers keep their fish from flopping back in the water. | JOE SHEAD Most anglers keep it simple with minimal equipment. A 9- or 10-foot rod and a spinning reel with 6- or 8-pound-test line is the

Fishing is fishing, and on any given day the action can be fast and furious or nonexistent. Cohos travel in schools, so when one angler hooks up, often, a nearby angler will too. After a few minutes of excitement, it often returns to unproductive casting. But that’s OK too. The lulls are a good time to catch up with other anglers. The regulars all know each other. They’ll catch each other up on what’s been biting, who has caught what and rib each other about the big ones that got away. Fishing is best early in the morning and winter is usually a good time to fish, but you could hook something any time of day, any time of year. If you’re brave enough, give it a whirl.—Joe Shead

Massive fire destroys Thunder Bay’s iconic landmark THUNDER BAY— On the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, residents of Thunder Bay were shocked to hear the news that the city’s 111-year-old historic landmark—the Finnish Labour Temple on Bay Street, which housed the world-famous Hoito Restaurant on the bottom floor—was on fire. In 2015, the building had been designated a National Historic Site in Canada. The first call to the fire department came in about 7 p.m. Early-response firefighters entered the building to fight the fire from inside, but the scene became too dangerous, forcing them outside.

On Dec. 22, 2021, Thunder Bay’s 111-year-old iconic landmark, the Finnish Labour Temple, was on fire. | JON THOMPSON

Throughout the night, the fire crews, using aerial platform trucks, pumped large amounts of water into the upper levels where the fire appeared to have started. As a result, the lower levels, including the Hoito, were flooded. A drone with thermal imaging cameras was used to help locate the hot spots and assess the damage. Built in 1909/1910, the Finnish Labour Temple became a centre for Finnish culture,

heritage and political life. In the basement was the internationally-known Hoito Restaurant, first opened in 1918 and operated continuously until 2020. Its menu included items like Finn pancakes, viili, salted fish and its special beef stew named “majokka.” The building had been purchased in fall 2020 by real-estate developer Brad McKinnon from Barrie, Ontario in a bankruptcy sale. Its previous owners, the Finlandia Association of Thunder Bay, had dissolved the organization and put the building up for sale in July 2020. At the time of the December fire, renovations had begun to make it a mixed-use building with condos and re-opening of the Hoito Restaurant. Fire gutted the building but McKinnon has said he plans to clear the rubble and rebuild the Finnish Labour Temple. There is a small bit of silver lining amidst the terrible news; after being in four feet of water, the iconic vintage Toledo Weight Scale that had stood for decades at the Hoito entrance was salvaged. It is being tem-

porarily housed in the Bay/Algoma area at the Finnish Book Store/Kitchen Nook until the Hoito is reconstructed. In an article by Leith Dunick in TBSource (January 23, 2022), McKinnon is quoted, “I think it’s really important that it stays in Bay and Algoma and I think it’s important that it stands here at the Finnish Bookstore as a symbol of resilience and the fact that we’re not giving up and are going to push forward. We want to give everybody an opportunity to get a picture, look at it and just as a reminder for the community to not give up hope. We will rebuild.” A planned project in the works is a virtual wall where the public is invited to submit photos, testimonials and stories about the Hoito and Finnish Labour Temple. Later the postings will be compiled into a book by author Charles Wilkins, a former Thunder Bay resident who wrote the book, Breakfast at the Hoito. The cause of the fire is currently listed as “undetermined.”—Elle Andra-Warner

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Artwork: Vena #4 by Shiyuan Xu, Ceramics Instructor

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Go Dog North Shore

Bringing new dog park to Grand Marais GRAND MARAIS— For many years, Cook County dog owners brought their dogs to the Gunflint Horse Arena in Grand Marais to enjoy some time playing off-leash. Originally created for horses, the space had been adapted to be shared with dogs until November 2021, when the horse park closed to dogs. Go Dog North Shore, a Cook County nonprofit that promotes active human-dog relationships, has been the force behind the plans for a new dog park in Grand Marais. Currently in the process of fundraising, Go Dog North Shore hopes to build the new dog park this summer, and that the new park will help dogs and their humans enjoy more time outdoors together. Cathy Quinn, board member and founder of Go Dog North Shore, said that sharing the horse arena had always been a temporary solution, but that the long-term plan was to create a space specifically for dogs to be off leash. Having an off-leash dog park is an asset for any community with dog owners: not only does running off leash give dogs the high-intensity exercise they need, but dog parks also allow dogs from single-pet households to get out and socialize with other dogs. And for an area like Cook County, many pet owners value having a safe space to let dogs play without the risk of interactions with wildlife.

The new dog park will be twice the size of the old one at the Gunflint Horse Arena, which was a temporary shared space. | SUBMITTED ing Go Dog North Shore the green light to start fundraising for the project. “The plan is to keep the new dog park wooded, and it will be twice the size of the old one,” Quinn said. “We were glad to have access to the horse park, but it wasn’t very stimulating for

Go Dog North Shore would like to see the project completed by the end of the summer. Quinn said that although Go Dog North Shore had been waiting for the Sawtooth Bluff development to come to fruition, the need to find a new space for the dog park soon has proved to be an opportunity to create a space that will be more beneficial for dogs and dog owners than the previous dog park was. Earlier in 2021, Go Dog North Shore proposed to purchase a one-acre lot directly across 5th Ave W from the Gunflint Horse Arena. The proposal was approved by the Grand Marais City Council in May 2021, giv-

dogs–it can create an intimidating environment for a dog to have too much open space with other dogs, where they’re just watching all of the other dogs coming and going. We also want people to be active with their dogs, and this way people will get out and walk around through the park with their dogs.” The new dog park will be surrounded by a six-foot fence and will have a parking lot for six to eight cars. Altogether, the dog park could cost up to $65,000 to build. To achieve this goal, Go Dog

North Shore began a fundraising campaign after the city council’s approval, and has so far raised over $45,000 in donations. Quinn said they recently received a $10,000 grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, and are in the final push to meet their donation goal. Go Dog North Shore would like to see the project completed by the end of the summer. In addition to building the new dog park, Go Dog North Shore continues to promote dog-friendly activities throughout the North Shore, including skijoring. For several years they have hosted Dog Days of Winter, an annual skijoring and sled dog derby race. While the event was on hold last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the plan is to resume in March. The event is held at Trail Center Lodge.

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Points North A Community of Mediocrity By Shawn Perich

Recently, a friend suggested a hunting-oriented podcast he enjoys. I gave a listen, but switched it off when the topic turned to Chronic Wasting Disease, an always fatal illness affecting deer, elk and other members of deer family. Because it is caused by nonliving prions that can linger in the environment for years, CWD greatly concerns wildlife and health officials that it may eventually spread to livestock or even humans. Mad Cow Disease originated from prions, spread to humans, and lead to the eradication of cattle in Great Britain in the 1980s. While the approaches to addressing CWD vary across the U.S. and Canada, wildlife experts believe that limiting its spread across the landscape must include wildlife management to reduce or eliminate its prevalence in deer and elk populations where it is known to occur. Often this involves aggressive deer management using hunters and even sharpshooters to keep their numbers low. I switched the podcast off when the host said something along the lines of “they need the support of our community to do this.” Just who is “our community?” I know many and varied folks who enjoy hunting. They have many reasons for going hunting. But the fact they like to hunt hardly makes them a community. It is fair to say opinions among hunters range from full support of wildlife biologists’ efforts to minimize the prevalence of CWD among wild deer to a scoffing disbelief that CWD is a problem. In that light, it is difficult to see how “buy-in from the hunting community” means anything at all. However, when used in this sense, the term community bears a stamp of authority that hunters neither deserve nor benefit from. Certainly, there are societal benefits derived from hunting ranging from appreciation and understanding of the natural world to funding for state wildlife programs and broad conservation efforts. But the nonhunting public often paints all hunters with the same brush for the actions, sometimes legal, undertaken by a minority of hunters. Several years ago, I watched a television hunting program where a fellow proclaimed he was travelling to British Columbia to get “his” grizzly bear. This led me to wonder what made some B.C. grizzly “his.” Had a bear given its permission to adorn his wall? Had the citizens of B.C. granted a grizzly to 12

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Controlling the spread of CWD will ensure wild deer remain on the landscape. | ANNA MARTINEAU him? Perhaps the native people whose presence far preceded B.C. gave him a bear as a gift? Since none of those options seemed likely, maybe a hunting guide was going to make money and get some free advertising while getting filmed showing how he led this member of the “hunting community” to kill a grizzly bear. Since I do not enjoy watching animals getting killed on television, I switched the channel. It also seems we are far past the time when we seek to kill the world’s largest animals—true wonders of the planet— simply because they exist. I’d rather see a grizzly alive, and haven’t, than watch it tumble after touching the trigger. Hundreds of pounds of grizzly meat wouldn’t fit in my freezer, much less appeal to my palate. So where did this concept of a hunting community originate? Most certainly it is not a term stemmed from wildlife managers, who, even though a goodly portion of their income is derived from hunting license fees, most often thread a minefield of hunter opinions that may be well intended, uninformed or perpetually negative. Most outdoor writers, those that remain, have experienced enough of the good, the bad and the ugly of hunting to have washed away any innocence that a hunting community exists. Perhaps, just maybe, it comes from the business side. In the 21st century, selling goods or hunting opportunities to hunters has become

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almost sinfully lucrative. Having the best gear and gaining access to the best ground has become more important to some than the actual experience. Then there are the wannabes who yearn for what they cannot have. This is not to knock the many average folks who wait all year for their out-of-state hunt or travel somewhere to experience hunting on a new landscape. But you don’t need to buy top-end gear in order to do so, just make sure you have the right stuff. While the days when you could gain access by politely asking permission from a landowner and receive it with a shake of the hand are long gone, you shouldn’t need the income of a professional athlete to enjoy a hunt. Hunting changed throughout the decades of the 20th century. Hunters often enjoyed an abundance of game that slowly dwindled, likely never to return. Gone, permanently, is the habitat that gave home to that abundance of game ranging from ducks and pheasants to deer, developed to meet some human need. It is hard to imagine that cottontail rabbits were once so common they were considered America’s

Shawn Perich’s POINTS NORTH online

most popular game animal. I feel privileged to have enjoyed the last of those times. What lies ahead in this century? Clearly not what hunters experienced in the past. Habitat is gone, replaced with housing, manufacturing sites and soybean fields. Demand for all of the above will continue. Public land in some instances will absorb additional hunters, but there are forces seeking to take away or choke the funding for that which belongs to all of us. If there truly was a hunting community, it could mount a tremendous campaign to protect and expand wild lands and all of the creatures, not just game, they support. Such a community would draw many allies. Instead, what passes as a community seems to feel best served browbeating wildlife managers who are attempting to short-stop a fatal disease threatening the existence of wild deer. What lies ahead? At best, mediocrity.

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A Day in the Life of a Minnesota Sled Dog story and photos By Ashley Bredemus

[ABOVE AND TOP RIGHT] Lady and Billie are both yearlings and are learning to run lead—they are showing a ton of promise. [BOTTOM RIGHT] Musher Andrea

DeBoer gives Duke a hug.

I’ve met a lot of people who love winter (some who don’t) but never have I met anyone more excited about the season than a sled dog. As I drove down the snowy driveway to visit Andrea DeBoer of Amarok Kennel, I wondered what her team of dogs might be able to teach me about this magical season through their daily lifestyle. As Andrea, second generation musher, introduced me to her dogs, one thing was clear—these Alaskan Huskies had a purpose that was also their passion. The dogs greeted us with gusto as Andrea walked me through their day. The entire yard of dogs wakes up around 6 a.m. to enjoy a light breakfast before going back to bed for a morning nap, which sounds like the kind of winter morning routine I can get on board with. Andrea implied that the life of a sled dog can look pretty relaxed if you’re there during downtime. By 9 a.m. it’s a different story. These off-duty pups quickly morph back into excitable sled dogs as Andrea (or her husband and three children) gears up for their routine morning run, which is typically a 30- to 40-mile-long trek through the boreal forests north of Grand Marais.

The dogs wake up around 6 a.m. to enjoy a light breakfast before going back to bed. 14

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“It’s about to get a lot louder in the yard,” she warned me as we approached a large building where her sled was waiting. The dogs in the yard knew what was about to happen—their morning run. As Andrea started gearing up inside, I was greeted by two members of the team I had not yet met. It turns out that not all dogs at Amarok Kennel race. These two pups help with gear and office work. It takes a village…

Not all sled dogs race; Rani and Woody help with gear and office work.

A roster board for her dogs helps keep Andrea organized.

Leaders Daisy and Frenchie are ready to go.

Duck and Duchess are also lead dogs at Amarok Kennel. yard paused as the team pulling Andrea into the forest dropped into their zone. Sunlight peeking through the pines lit the snowy trail ahead in that sparkling winter light we romanticize in our minds. All that was left was the sound of paws on snow and Andrea’s sled gliding forward: musher, dogs, and trail.

After gathering her red anorak and thick beaver pelt overmits, Andrea walked me over to her sled and showed me her roster board that lists the dogs and their corresponding positions in the lineup. Her process is impressively streamlined.

Just like Andrea said, it was chaos the moment she pulled the sled outside for the dogs to see.

I imagine moments like those put the rest of the season in balance. The dogs rest and eat, jump and howl, race and train. The reward is found in the work they do but it couldn’t be found without the rest and care taken every day. As I drove away from Amarok Kennel, I thought about how grounding and energizing it must be for the dogs out there on the trail after the snooze they’d had just before gearing up and are looking forward to upon return. I suppose that all becomes business as usual after a while but I couldn’t ignore how perfectly balanced their winter days seem. If anything, that’s the lifestyle I’m always looking to strike during the winter months when it’s so easy to shrink under the cozy covers.

As she gathered harnesses, I asked Andrea what happened upon return from their routine run. She explained that all of the dogs get a little attention from her and her family. Their paws are inspected, bellies rubbed and houses tidied up. Lunch, accompanied by a few treats, follows and the yard resumes their relaxed status for the rest of the day. A lazy afternoon awaited the yard but not before the work. Everything was ready. Andrea and I said our goodbyes before leaving the building because it was about to get loud and I would not see her after she left for the morning run, which would last three or four hours. Just like Andrea said, it was chaos the moment she pulled the sled outside for the dogs to see. I don’t speak sled dog but I would assume they were all howling, “Pick me! Pick me!” Andrea placed her lead dog first and worked her way back until all eight dogs were hooked up, carefully checking every detail.

As Andrea pulled the snowhook and instructed the team to “hike,” it was as if a spell had been cast. Silence fell over the entire kennel. The excitement grew as the dogs in the line pulled at the anchored sled while the dogs in the yard howled. Even I was giddy with anticipation by the time Andrea signaled to me that she was ready to pull her sled’s snowhook and take off.

Next time you or I find ourselves stuck in lazy mode during a cold February day, let us remember the lifestyle of sled dogs—equal parts “well fed, well rested” and “excited to see what’s around the next pine tree.”

In total, I only spent an hour with Andrea and her dogs. Fifty-nine of those minutes were filled with noisy excitement. In that final minute, as she pulled the snowhook and instructed the team to “hike,” it was as if a spell had been cast. Silence fell over the entire kennel. The dogs in the NORTHERN WILDS

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Tim Young is a painter, an author, a potter, a nurse, a photographer, a wedding officiant, and an adoptive father. [L TO R] Summer, Tim and Raymond. | SUBMITTED

Tim Young

Art and Adoption By Eric Weicht People love the North Shore for all sorts of reasons—for the art it inspires, for its acres upon acres of wilderness, for the big water of Gitchi Gummi.

Over the decades Young has authored a number of books ranging from the sci-fi adventure series Flash Meridian, to a deep dive into his philosophy on life and art in My Hand Paints. Most recently, Young published his third book, Rear View Mirror, that, according to Young, “picks up where My Hand Paints left off. Literally, I just kept writing.”

The North Shore is distinct and, perhaps because of this, so too are the people that make up its community. Many of the people that live on the Shore have established roots that go back generations. The Tofte’s have been around long enough to have a town named after them.

In addition to his paintings of “fish in trees,” Young creates abstract works that he often accompanies with anecdotes from the moment(s) or thoughts from which they are inspired. His painting “Paljain jaloin lumessa” (Finnish for “Barefoot in the Snow”), for instance, is a different experience after reading the story that inspired it.

Others have found themselves drawn to the place more recently, perhaps out of a sense of wanderlust or an attraction to beauty. Or maybe they were just looking for a change of pace, something a little less city-like, a little less known. Which brings us to the story of Tim Young and his growing, largely adopted family, who are in so many ways a perfect example of what makes the community on the North Shore such a beautiful place to call home. Tim Young is a painter, an author, a potter, a nurse, a photographer, a wedding officiant, and an adoptive father. He has been living in Grand Marais since the mid-1980s, and has now lived in the same house for over 30 years. 16

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“Creative outlets are important to me,” says Young. “I often describe painting as meditative. Any creative expression is therapeutic, and because of this the North Shore is the perfect place for me.” This ceramic piece by Tim is titled “Little Green Men.” | SUBMITTED

“Not only is it beautiful in every direction that you look,” continues Young, “it is a community that supports and values artists.”

“[Grand Marais] is where I belong,” says Young, “it’s where I’ve been able to make my dreams come true.”

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Young has been focusing his energy into ceramics, a “lifelong dream” of his that he has recently begun to fulfill thanks to a potter friend that lent him a wheel.

Though best known for his paintings of fish, Young’s portfolio as an artist extends well beyond the canvas.

In the courtroom on adoption day. [L TO R] Raymond, Summer, Tim and Shawn. | SUBMITTED

Tim, with his oldest three kids, on the beach at Lutsen Resort. [L TO R] Tim’s son-in-law Justin, Tim, Heather, Matthew and Madeline. | SUBMITTED

“This is another example of how supportive the community is,” says Young when referring to the artist who helped get him started with ceramics.

“Even though I wasn’t able to adopt Summer,” continues Young, “I became her legal guardian and we changed her last name to mine.”

“Art is not a competition,” continues Young. “Even if we work in the same medium, we produce different results, we express our own voice through our art. So, while I’m still painting in acrylic on canvas, I’m also trying to bring that same painting style to my ceramics.”

When asked about what the biggest challenge has been with adoption, Young cites the slow pace of the adoption process and the trauma associated with life in the foster care system. “Every kiddo that comes from foster care has had trauma in their lives,” says Young, “and it can be a challenge addressing those.”

Examples of Young’s recent ceramic works can be found on his website, and he will be showing his pottery during the ceramics show at the Johnson’s Heritage Post Gallery in December 2022. By scrolling through Young’s website (myhandpaints.com) and seeing all that he has created over the years, one gets a sense for the immense energy, curiosity and passion that motivates the man in all that he does.

“You have to avail yourself of services that your family needs,” continues Young. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and accept the help when it is offered.” Raymond [IN BACK], Tim and Shawn. | SUBMITTED

Young does not do anything half-heartedly— when he takes something on, he devotes his energy to doing that thing fully and doing it right. And there is perhaps no better example of this than his journey with adoption.

For other people interested in pursuing adoption, Young’s first piece of advice is to ask lots of questions. Talk to both agencies as well as other people who have gone through the adoption process.

“I always wanted to be a parent,” says Young. “We first adopted after a miscarriage, so I just had to get more creative.”

“I’ve found it helpful to keep an open mind,” says Young. “Consider older kids, multiple kids (sibling groups) or kids with special needs.”

“I was lucky,” continues Young, “I came from a stable home where I knew my parents loved me. Not everyone gets that. So, I guess I want to pay it forward.”

A few links that Young has found helpful include: mnadopt.org, thereelhopeproject.org, nacac.org, northhomes.org, and amoersandfamilies.org.

Young and his former wife first adopted a newborn in 1996, Madeline, who he raised in addition to two step kids, Mathew and Heather. All three are now grown with kids of their own.

Lastly, I recommend Tim Young’s blog post from December 29th entitled “Please don’t.” It is short and sweet, and an insightful read on the perception of adoption. The last line has stuck with me and seemed like a fitting way to conclude this feature.

He then went on to welcome three older siblings— Summer, Raymond and Shawn—into his family out of the foster care system, though the process was far from linear. “Of the three siblings,” says Young, “one aged out of foster care before adoption day, and one, for his own reasons, did not want to be adopted. I have a relationship with all three.”

Despite the challenges involved, Young has no regrets with the process and has plans to grow his family again this year now that his son has graduated from high school and is an adult. Young has already signed with an adoption agency that specializes in placements from foster care.

“Adoption can be a very good thing. It can meet the needs for kids and for adults. It’s not easy. It’s not perfect. They’re not lucky. We’re not heroes.” “Paljain jaloin lumessa” (Finnish for “Barefoot in the Snow”). | SUBMITTED

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By Breana Johnson

Spread the Love

While it shouldn’t take a holiday to remind us to be kind and loving, Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to do so. Life is short and unexpected, and the lasting pandemic hasn’t made things easier. So spread some love, not only to your significant other or family, but to your friends, neighbors and every stranger you meet. Kindness is key.

“American Mountain Ash,” an 18x18-inch watercolor on paper by Aya Kawaguchi, is part of the Like Me, Like You exhibition at the Duluth Art Institute. It will be on display through the spring. | AYA KAWAGUCHI This painting, titled “Love” by Kari Vick, is part of her “A-BWCA-C’s” series. To view her work, visit: karivick.com. | KARI VICK

Dryden artist Sharon Girdwood created this wood-mounted painting, titled “Winter Cardinals.” To see more, visit: studiogirdwood.com. | SHARON GIRDWOOD

Michelle Wegler created this 4x4-inch pastel piece, titled “Be Mine.” To view more, visit: michelleweglerart.com. | MICHELLE WEGLER

This hanging glass piece was created by Terry Lewis of Serenity Pines Creations. Find Serenity Pines Creations on Facebook to see more. | TERRY LEWIS 18

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“The Plot Thickens,” by Shawna Gilmore, is an 11x14inch acrylic on deep cradled wood panel. To see more from Gilmore, visit: shawnagilmore.com. | SHAWNA GILMORE

Grand Portage artist Marcie McIntire has been practicing beadwork since the age of 10. She first started with loom work and began developing her craft by watching her mother. | SUBMITTED

Beadwork Artist Marcie McIntire CREATIVE SPACE: By Eric Weicht Beadwork is a craft rich in tradition in North America, one that dates back generations. It is a beautiful, traditional form of artistic expression that is still being practiced today, and few people are more experienced with the craft than Grand Portage artist Marcie McIntire. McIntire has been practicing beadwork since the age of 10. She first started with loom work and began developing her craft by watching her mother. McIntire is a member of the Grand Portage Anishinaabe, and has been living and practicing her work in Grand Portage for 34 years. Today, her work focuses on traditional clothing, accessories and jewelry done in the floral-based style of Ojibwe beadwork that, according to the North House Folk School, is what she specializes in. In addition to crafting traditional works of art, she is actively teaching courses at the North House. McIntire has been teaching at the North House since 2008, and, according to her bio, has taught her craft throughout North America—both at home on the North Shore and farther afield in places like Arizona and Florida. “I have continued to teach a number of different virtual classes at the North House during the pandemic,” says McIntire, “but nothing in person yet.” “In January of this year,” continues McIntire, “I taught a virtual class every Saturday on making baby moccasins, and

then earlier in April and October I taught a North House course as an introduction to beadwork. This summer [the North House] thinks that we’ll be having in person classes, but you know with the pandemic and all it’s still a wait and see type of thing.” While McIntire acknowledges some of the disadvantages associated with virtual teaching and learning, especially as it relates to a hands-on craft like beadworking, she has found the experience overall to be a positive one and is quick to point out the advantages that learning in this way provides students. “Take my class on baby moccasins for instance,” says McIntire. “I spend two hours working with participants on Saturday, and then they have a video that they can watch during the week of the class.” “So, there are advantages to it,” continues McIntire, “because if a student misses something or doesn’t understand a part of the lesson thoroughly, then they can go back and watch the video tape to figure it out.” Prior to shut downs brought about by the pandemic, McIntire displayed her work at her gallery in Grand Portage, The Ningii-Ozhitoomin Ojibwe Art Gallery. Unfortunately, the gallery has been closed since everything first shut down in 2020, and at the time of this article, there are no immediate plans for reopening. That being said, McIntire does from time to time show her work elsewhere in the community.

McIntire says that teaching virtually for the North House Folk School has its advantages, as well as disadvantages. | SUBMITTED McIntire is an active member of the Northwoods Fiber Guild—an organization that began in 1988 as a way for fiber artists to connect with one another and is today a nonprofit for “people who explore personal creativity with fibers in all their varied and wondrous forms.” She will occasionally show her work at events put on by the guild, where she sells smaller items such as earrings and other beaded accessories. As far as specific future events and projects go, however, McIntire did not mention anything particular outside of teaching at the North House. “Grand Portage has been a bit of a ghost town since the pandemic,” says McIntire, “which has actually been kind of good for me.” “I’ve planted two gardens,” says McIntire, “both with various herbs that can handle the short growing season up here. It’s been quiet, but it’s been nice.” For more information on Marcie McIntire and her upcoming classes, visit the North House Folk School’s website at: northhouse.org/instructors.

McIntire has been teaching courses at the North House since 2008. | SUBMITTED

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The annual Ely Winter Festival will take place Feb. 3-13 and include activities for the whole family. | SUBMITTED

ELY WINTER FESTIVAL & ARTWALK

Feb. 3-13 The annual Ely Winter Festival features dozens of family-friendly activities, such as a snowshoe hikes, winter camping demos, a free hot cocoa bar and apple cider with Save the BWCA, Dorothy Molter Museum tours and a fundraising dinner, more than 400 pieces of art on display, a snow sculpting symposium, an ice fishing tournament, a variety of classes at the Ely Folk School, and more. The Great Nordic Beardfest will be held at Boathouse Brewpub and at Ely’s Historic State Theater from Feb. 4-5. And local artist Dafne Caruso will showcase her many mediums at the Art & Soul Gallery throughout the month with an exhibition titled The Many Facets of Me. elywinterfestival.com

COLD FRONT FEBRUARY

Feb. 5, Saturday Celebrate the best of winter with the annual Cold Front February festival in Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. Held from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., this free family-friendly event includes ice skating, luge sledding,

FEBRUARY 2022

Head to Duluth for Cold Front February. | WHEREHOUSE PRODUCTIONS quinzhee building, craft and activity stations, fires and s’mores, a groomed cross-country ski loop, obstacle course races, wax clinics by Ski Hut, story time with the Duluth Public Library, and more. There will also be dog sledding from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., tractor rides from noon to 4 p.m. and the Spin Collective Fire Spinners will put on a show at 5:40 p.m. More info can be found online. coldfrontduluth.com

encompass the idea of hygge. Hygge suggestions include drinking hot chocolate or wine by the fireplace, snowshoeing, taking a sauna or soaking in a hot tub, or simply sitting and watching the snowfall. This year’s Hygge Festival in Cook County includes the fireplace tour at various businesses and yoga classes at the YMCA. A full schedule of events can be found online. visitcookcounty. com/hygge

HYGGE FESTIVAL

TWO HARBORS WINTER FROLIC

Feb. 5-14 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

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Feb. 11-13 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, a sliding hill, and a raffle. Friday night events include the community curling challenge, the city vs county exhibition curling challenge, live music by Whiskey Trail Band, and a frozen t-shirt contest. Saturday is also jampacked with events, starting with a pancake breakfast and snow kickball. There will also be a bean bag tournament, tug of war, fireman’s kid races, a bonfire with free s’mores, mascot races, smoosh races, outhouse races, a Timberworks Lumberjack show, and more. Pre-registration required for most events. twoharborswinterfrolic.com

Fiber Week takes place at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais. | SUBMITTED

ELY SKINNY/FAT

Feb. 19, Saturday Join the Ely Nordic Ski and Bike Club for a fun afternoon and evening of winter events for the whole family, held at Hidden Valley in Ely. The day begins with free kid’s races (ski or bike) at 2:45 p.m., followed by a 10k ski tour at 3:30 p.m. Then at 5:30 p.m. is the 10k and 20k fat bike night races (be sure to provide your own lighting). All participants can register the day of; cost is $20 (kids are free). There will also be bon fires outside and limited food and beverages. facebook.com/elyskinnyfat

Visit Spirit Mountain in Duluth for the annual Frosted Fatty bike race. | SUBMITTED

FROSTED FATTY

Feb. 12, Saturday Visit Spirit Mountain in Duluth for its sixth annual Frosted Fatty bike race. The Frosted Fatty is a staged downhill race with male and female categories. There will be two stages that will be open for one hour each. Race the stage as many times as you would like during that one-hour time and your fastest time will be recorded. Winners of the race will be selected from the combination of the fastest times from the two stages. Stages will be mixed of open alpine trail GS turns and the mountain bike trails nearby. The first stage will open at 10:30 a.m. Registration is required to participate. spiritmt.com

SNOWARAMA

Feb. 12, Saturday Grab your helmets and winter gear for the annual Thunder Bay Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids snowmobile fundraiser in Grand Portage, which helps raise money for children and youth with physical disabilities. This year, all Snowaramas are working together toward a combined goal of raising $170,000. Anyone who raises a minimum of $100 will receive a toque and glove set courtesy of Fast Eddie Speedwear. Afterwards, enjoy a free performance by the Twin Cities Tom Petty tribute band Free Fallin, held from 9 p.m. to midnight. Registration required to participant in Snowarama. snowarama.org

FIBER WEEK

Feb. 14-21 Visit the North House Folk School in Grand Marais for a week-long event that celebrates all manner of fiber arts. Featuring speakers, demonstrations, community gatherings, and coursework from long-time North House instructors, as well as new guest artisans; tuck in to the warm and woolly camaraderie this winter. Course

Freshwater will premiere at 7 p.m. on Feb. 19 at the NorShor Theater in Duluth. | SUBMITTED offerings include needle felting and bead embroidery, beginning floor loom weaving, penny rugs, finger crocheted hats, nuno felted scarves and hats, and more. Don’t miss Fiber Friday on Feb. 18; free for all enrolled students. northhouse.org

FRESHWATER FILM PREMIERE

Feb. 19, Saturday When Minneapolis filmmaker Ian Planchon first saw people surfing in Lake Superior in 2019, he was intrigued. Three years later, what began as an itch to capture a cool story evolved into a feature-length documentary film called Freshwater, about the importance of protecting freshwater from the threat of climate change. A shorter version of the film was an Official Selection at the 2021 Catalyst content festival in Duluth. Along with surfers, the film features scientists at the Large Lakes

Observatory at the University of Minnesota Duluth, who are on a quest to learn as much as they can about this largely-unexplored body of water, which contains 10 percent of Earth’s freshwater. Bent Paddle Brewing Co. CEO Bryon Tonnis and Duluth tourism expert Anna Tanski provide additional insights into Lake Superior’s influence on the local economy and beyond. Finally, North Shore photographer Christian Dalbec shares his story of finding inspiration in the waves of Lake Superior. A premiere event will be held on Feb. 19 at the NorShor Theater in Duluth; doors open at 6 p.m. and the film is at 7 p.m. with a Q&A panel to follow. Presented by 515 Productions, Planchon’s video production business, all proceeds from this public event will benefit the Large Lakes Observatory. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online. 515productions.com/ freshwater

WOLFTRACK CLASSIC SLED DOG RACE

Feb. 27, Sunday The annual WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race in Ely consists of two mid-distance races: a 6-dog and 8-dog competition. It all starts at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27 when the first 8-dog race team heads down the trail on its way through 50 miles of wild and beautiful boreal forest on the Taconite Trail that winds back to finish in Ely. The 6-dog teams also leave from the Ely start for a 30-mile race and also travel on the Taconite Trail winding around near Purvis Lake and back to Ely. Over 40 teams with hundreds of canine athletes will participate. wolftrackclassic.com

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FEBRUARY 2022

NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thru Jan. 30 Dropping Anchor: Permanent Collection Exhibition Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, johnsonheritagepost.org

Thru Feb. 21

Dafne Caruso: The Many Facets of Me Art & Soul Gallery & Gift House, Ely, facebook.com/artistinely

Feb. 2, Wednesday Groundhog Day Parks After Dark: Stargazing & Night Hike 7 p.m. Waabizheshikana Trail, Duluth, duluthmn.gov/parks

Indigenous Ingenuity Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Feb. 3-5

Thru Feb. 25 As Long As The Rivers Shall Run: Artwork by Ellen Sandbeck AICHO’s Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center, Duluth, facebook.com/aichogalleries

Thru March 14 Beth Livensperger: Don’t Like Mondays Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru May 15 Anti-Social Art: Experimental Practices in Late East Germany Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma Jonathan Thunder: A Mural Project Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma Glassworks from the Collection of Don and Carol Wiiken Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma Native Regalia: Past and Present Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Thru Spring 2022 Like Me, Like You Exhibition Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Jan. 27-Feb. 12

The School for Lies 7:30 p.m. UMD Marshall Performing Arts Center: Main Stage, Duluth, tickets.umn.edu

Feb. 3-10 Dorothy Molter Museum Fundraising Events & Online Silent Auction Dorothy Molter Museum, Ely, rootbeerlady.com

Feb. 3-13

Jan. 28-Feb. 6 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Fort William Gardens, Thunder Bay, curling.ca/2022scotties

Jan. 28-Feb. 13 Clue NorShor Theatre, Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Jan. 30- Feb. 1

FEBRUARY 2022

Feb. 6, Sunday The School for Lies: ALS Interpreted Show 2 p.m. UMD Marshall Performing Arts Center: Main Stage, Duluth, tickets.umn.edu

Feb. 7, Monday Movie Showing: Of Mice and Men 2 p.m. Ely Public Library, elylibrary.org Northern Lights Trail is Going to the Dogs 4 p.m. Kamview Nordic Center, Thunder Bay, tbnordictrails.com

Skate for the Heart 6:30 p.m. Essentia Duluth Heritage Center, Duluth, duluthmn.gov/parks

Ely ArtWalk Ely, elyartwalk.org

Feb. 9-12

Feb. 4, Friday TBSO: Mozart and Beethoven 7:30 p.m.

The School for Lies 7:30 p.m. UMD Marshall Performing Arts Center: Main Stage, Duluth, tickets.umn.edu

Feb. 4-28

Feb. 11, Friday

Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

Krystal Brown Exhibition: Her Euphoric Perspective (Reception Feb. 4 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, johnsonheritagepost.org

Feb. 5, Saturday Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Fun Run 8 a.m. Gunflint Trail, facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders

Freshwater Premiere Pre-Party 6 p.m. Bent Paddle Brewing, Duluth, facebook.com/bentpaddlebrewing

The Glorious Sons 7:50 p.m.

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Feb. 11-13 Winter Frolic Two Harbors, twoharborswinterfrolic.com

Feb. 12, Saturday

Cold Front February 11 a.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, coldfrontduluth.com

Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids 7 a.m. Grand Portage Lodge and Casino, snowarama.org

Whirlwind! Free Community Event 11 a.m. Dorothy Molter Museum, Ely, rootbeerlady.com

KCPRO-East Youth Ice Racing 10 a.m. Barker’s Island, Superior, kcproeast.com

The Big Lake Pop-Up 12:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

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

Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Terrace Bay’s Ice Fishing Challenge Terrace Bay, Ontario, terracebay.ca

Hygge Festival Cook County, visitcookcounty.com/hygge

Feb. 3-28

North of Nashville 6 p.m.

Feb. 1-28

Feb. 5-14

Feb. 9, Wednesday

Father Daughter Ball 5 p.m. Decc, Duluth, fatherdaughterballduluth.org

John Beargrease Sled Dog Races Duluth, beargrease.com

Gun & Knife Show 9 a.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Ely Winter Festival Ely, elywinterfestival.com

Ely Snowmobile Fun Run Grand Ely Lodge, Ely, ely.org/events

Salt Baby Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

Feb. 5-6

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Frosted Fatty 10:30 a.m. Spirit Mountain, Duluth, spiritmt.com Guided Snowshoe Hike Noon, Brewers Park, Duluth, duluthmn.gov/parks The Big Lake Pop-Up 12:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

X Fest Live 7:30 p.m. Decc Arena, Duluth, xfestlive.com

Free Fallin Dance 9 p.m.

Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, grandportage.com

Feb. 14, Monday

Valentine’s Day

A Roaring 20’s Valentine’s Day Murder Mystery 6 p.m. Fairlawn Mansion, Superior, superiorpublicmuseums.org

Feb. 14-21 Fiber Week North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

Feb. 14-28 Paper Design Collage Take & Create Art Kits Available Arrowhead Library System Locations, alslib.info

Feb. 15, Tuesday Women Hike Duluth 6 p.m. Enger Park Trails, Duluth, duluthmn.gov/parks

Feb. 16, Wednesday Full Moon Hike 6 p.m. Hartley Park, Duluth, duluthmn.gov/parks Parks After Dark: Stargazing & Night Hike 8 p.m. Short Line Park, Duluth, duluthmn.gov/parks

Feb. 17-20 Duluth Sport Show 10 a.m. (3 p.m. Thurs.) Decc, Duluth, duluthsportshow.com

Feb. 17-April 30 Kristen Kaas Exhibition Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Feb. 18-20 Minnesota Ballet Presents: A Midsummer Night’s Dream 7 p.m. (3 p.m. Sun.) Decc: Symphony Hall, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

Feb. 18-March 6 The Spongebob Musical

Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Feb. 19, Saturday Book Across the Bay Ashland, WI, batb.org Finland Vintage Snowmobile Ride 9 a.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, finlandsnowmobileandatvclub.com KCPRO-East Youth Ice Racing 10 a.m. Pike Lake, Duluth, kcproeast.com

Hungry Jack Drag Races 11 a.m. Hungry Jack Lake, Gunflint Trail, facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders Ely Skinny/Fat 2 p.m. Hidden Valley, Ely, facebook.com/elyskinnyfat Documentary Film Premiere: Freshwater 7 p.m. NorShor Theatre, Duluth, 515productions.com/freshwater

Feb. 26, Saturday Snowmobile Poker Run Skyport Lodge to Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, grandportage.com Duluth Women’s Expo 9 a.m. Decc, Duluth, duluthwomensexpo.com KCPRO-East Youth Ice Racing 10 a.m. Pike Lake, Duluth, kcproeast.com

Feb. 19-21

Guided Snowshoe Hike Noon, Short Line Park, Duluth, duluthmn.gov/parks

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

DSSO: To Celebrate 7 p.m.

Feb. 20, Sunday

Feb. 27, Sunday

Bike Across the Bay Noon, Washburn, WI, northcoastcycling.com

WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race 9 a.m. Ely, wolftrackclassic.com

Classic Film Series: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) 6 p.m. NorShor Theatre, Duluth, norshortheatre.com

Feb. 27-March 4

Feb. 21, Monday

Presidents’ Day Family Day SnowDay on the Waterfront Noon, Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/snowday

Feb. 24, Thursday Death Café 6 p.m. United Congregational Church, Grand Marais, carepartnersofcookcounty.org

An Evening with Leo Kottke 8 p.m.

Decc: Symphony Hall, Duluth, dsso.com

Winter Plein Air YMCA Camp Menogyn, Gunflint Trail, outdoorpaintersofminnesota.org

Feb. 28, Monday Blue Rodeo 8 p.m.

WEEKLY EVENTS Wednesdays Virtual Wellness Wednesday with Cynthia via Zoom Noon, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, facebook.com/thunderbayag Thunder Bay Country Market 3:30 p.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca

Thursdays Acoustic Night 4 p.m.

Moguls Grille & Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, Lutsen, visitcookcounty.com/events Virtual Open Studio with Cynthia via Zoom 5:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Art Gallery, facebook.com/thunderbayag

Date Night at the Winery 6 p.m.

North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Fridays Acoustic Night 4 p.m. Moguls Grille &

Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, Lutsen, visitcookcounty.com/events

March 5, Saturday

Saturdays

Sleeping Giant Loppet, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Thunder Bay, sleepinggiantloppet.ca

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

Nipigon Ice Fest Nipigon, outdoorskillsandthrills.com

Tour the North House Campus 2 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

KCPRO-East Youth Ice Racing 10 a.m. Shagawa Lake, Ely, kcproeast.com

Sundays

NorShor Theatre, Duluth, norshortheatre.com

Never Miss a Thing

Winter FunDays 2 p.m. Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/winterfundays

Northern Wilds Magazine

Weekly Email Newsletter

NORTHERNWILDS.COM

Nursing Assistant Opportunity North Shore Health has Nursing Assistant positions available.

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Sign-on bonuses up to $1,000 are available along with educational opportunities and many other benefits. To apply go to: northshorehealthgm.org/employment OR call HR at 218-387-3040 for more information. North Shore Health 515 5th Ave W, Grand Marais, MN 55604

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FEBRUARY 2022

The North Shore Dish Warm Up with Caribbean Influenced Fare By Kitty Mayo

Jamrock Cultural Restaurant, Superior, Wis. When you walk into Jamrock’s small restaurant you will be assailed by glorious smells that you immediately begin to try to sort out and identify. Meanwhile, you will be taking in the island atmosphere of music and decor. At the counter you will find on display a photograph of chef and owner Tony O’Neil’s grandmother from her going home service, and bookended to that is an Anthony Bourdain cookbook—all clues to what lies behind O’Neil’s very popular Caribbean-infused style of cooking. O’Neil was born in Miami, Fla. and raised in Jamaica. His grandparents owned a restaurant in Jamaica before moving to the United States, and he learned to cook from his grandmother when he was a kid. Now he is a certified chef with the American Culinary Federation and sells jerk chicken and other Jamaican classics, as well as Caribbean-American fusion dishes at Jamrock.

Owner and chef Tony O’Neil sells jerk chicken (shown here is jerk lobster) and other Jamaican classics, as well as Caribbean-American fusion dishes at Jamrock Cultural. | JAMROCK CULTURAL turned to his cooking experience to support his young family. “We’ve built some momentum over the last three years,” said O’Neil, who is characteristically understated in just about everything he talks about.

“Cooking at the restaurant is a way to keep family tradition alive,” says O’Neil. “It’s a place to escape, it’s what grandmother did and how I stay connected to her.”

Now, O’Neil says, the northland is so enthusiastic about his cooking that he has no intention of “going back to the other job.” Pushing for 100 takeout orders a day at dinnertime, O’Neil is keen on the idea that he is providing meals for working class families like his own.

The Bourdain cookbook pays homage to one of O’Neil’s favorite chefs. O’Neil says he admires him because, “Bourdain was a master chef that traveled the world, experienced different cultures, and gave everybody a chance.”

“We limit what we do and it works for us. We work for the people who don’t have time to cook a meal for their family, but they want to pick up something that is worth their money,” said O’Neil.

O’Neil says that his Caribbean-infusion style cooking at Jamrock “takes a lot of what you will find in the islands, and infuses it with the dishes that Minnesotans are used to.” It is a personal art that is working well for him, as he sells out every night. Case-in-point are his braised-short rib quesadillas served with grilled pineapple salsa and a side of Panamanian beans. The grilled pineapple adds a sweet reminder of tropical climes, and the fusion of Mexican-South American, along with bulgogi seasoned ribs, a Korean-style barbeque flavor, makes perfect sense when you are talking Caribbean cooking. Jamaica, and all the other Caribbean islands, have been a stopping point for many cultures, with opportunities to be influenced by African, Creole, Cajun, Amerindian, Latin American, Middle Eastern and other cuisines. 24

FEBRUARY 2022

Braised short rib quesadillas—served with grilled pineapple salsa and a side of Panamanian beans—are just one of the many rotating menu items found at Jamrock Cultural in Superior. | JAMROCK CULTURAL So, it’s no surprise when you find Jamrock mixing it up with smoked Gouda macn-cheese, jerk chicken loaded french fries, or red snapper with collard greens and cornbread. Or, you might find, the dish of the day is a “gigantic burrito, stuffed and smothered, with your choice of jerk chicken, or jerk beef brisket.” Also keep your

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eyes open for “jerk lobster and deep-fried coconut shrimp pineapple bowls with a pineapple pico served in a pineapple bowl.” Originally O’Neil came north to play football for the University of North Dakota, eventually finding his way to the Twin Ports. Then, three years ago he was laid off from his railroad job and immediately

Freedom to do what he wants, not just as his own boss, but in how he cooks is a running theme for O’Neil, who says he “just doesn’t want to be stuck, we do what we want” when the inspiration strikes. That translates into a limited menu that is made by the week, allowing him to adapt to not only what ingredients are available, but also what mood strikes him as he is creating. Offering just a few menu options a day, and sometimes just one depending on prep time necessary to create the meal he envisions, O’Neil says Jamrock’s most requested menu item is their seafood boil. Dependent on what fresh seafood can be brought in, servings of shrimp, crab, crawfish, Andouille sausage along with potatoes, corn, eggs and amazing seasonings go like hotcakes when he posts it on the menu.

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Jamrock Cultural’s most requested menu item is their seafood boil. | JAMROCK CULTURAL fast as anything and has a particular flavor that most people enjoy.”

The Real Jamaican Jerk, Thunder Bay Odette and Douglas Chin are the owners of The Real Jamaican Jerk, a restaurant that has been growing in popularity over the last three years. From Jamaica to the UK and now Canada, Douglas says that there is perhaps a surprising home audience for their specialty foods, which includes their best-seller: oxtail. The menu that includes signature jerk chicken, curry goat, and fried plantain is “actually pretty popular; there are quite a few Jamaicans here that you would not necessarily recognize,” said Douglas, adding, “Our most popular dish is our most expensive—our specialty oxtail moves as

Ted’s Kitchen, Thunder Bay Serving up spicy and warming dishes to Thunder Bay for over a decade, the new Ted’s Kitchen recently moved to bigger quarters to keep up with their many hungry fans. Soup and jerk pork patties, available in spicy or mild, are customer favorites. Ted’s patties are jerked meat wrapped in a crust, similar in form to the pasties of the Iron Range, but with an island flavor. Ted keeps his menu simple, with a “buildyour-own” meal choosing from jerked chicken or pork, over rice and peas, with a side of homemade hot sauce.

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Burned Out and Burned Up By Hartley Newell-Acero We use the term “burnout” to talk about many aspects of our lives, but it’s really an occupational phenomenon. When we’re thinking about how burnout might be impacting us, we can learn a lot by looking at how we feel about our jobs. When we’re burned out: We feel exhausted. There’s too much to do, too little time to do it, and this kind of time crunch happens too often. We feel cynical. We’re removed from, or indifferent to, the work we do. We slide by with the minimum effort required, no longer trying to give our best. We feel inefficient. We experience little satisfaction with what we’ve accomplished. The things we’re doing now don’t really feel like they’re making any difference, and we don’t have any way to change that. Burnout doesn’t suddenly flare up after a rough week. It’s what happens in response to prolonged, chronic work stressors. It’s less of a problem that any one individual has, and more of a sign that there is some-

thing broken with the system in which they work. There are at least six sources of burnout: An unsustainable workload. This is what we most often think of as the primary cause of burnout. There is simply not enough time, energy, or other resources available to get the job done right. It can be worsened when someone has different skills from the ones they need to do their job. Unfortunately, this mismatch is happening more frequently during the pandemic. People are leaving jobs, then others must shift into those positions, oftentimes without the skills or experience they need to perform well. While an unsustainable workload is a significant driver of burnout, it’s certainly not the only one. We also need to consider: A perceived lack of control. When a person has very little autonomy with few opportunities to make improvements, or when they lack clarity as to what their role is, what tasks they should be doing, or how to do them, this feeds the fires of burnout. Rewards and recognition that feel like a

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mismatch. This is when the “pay-off” for effort is ill-suited to either the individual, the particular situation, or the organization. It can be insufficient pay, but it also happens when supervisors or coworkers don’t acknowledge someone’s efforts. A lack of supportive community in the workplace. Do interactions with co-workers, supervisors, employees, and customers feel toxic or uplifting? Work loneliness is also linked to work exhaustion, and can eventually lead to burnout. A lack of fairness. This is a work environment that feels disrespectful, is emotionally treacherous, or when different people get to “play” by a different set of rules. Divergent values. This would be when someone’s values run counter to what the

organization holds as important. It can also be when the work they do has little real meaning for them, or they feel like they’re not contributing to the world in a way that matters to them personally. Once the drivers of burnout have been identified, they can be transformed. With intention, effort and resources, it’s possible to create workplaces that fire people up, instead of jobs that burn people out. This is a condensed version of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s monthly health newsletter. Read the rest for questions that will help you analyze burnout in your own life and to learn why stress management can’t heal burnout. You’ll find it, and our whole library of past issues, at: sawtoothmountainclinic.org.

Now Seeing Patients at North Shore Health in Grand Marais Dr. Lucarelli welcomes patients who have pain or concerns that may lead to general surgery. He treats the following:

Hungry Hippie Hostel Clean affordable lodging for the hiker, biker, skier, paddler, lake watcher & rock skipper.

Book online @ www.hungryhippie.com 218-387-2256 • Near Grand Marais, MN www.hungryhippiehostel.com

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Hernias Tumors Gallbladder issues Cancer Intestinal pain Skin and soft tissue concerns Breast disease Endocrine system issues Abdominal and gastrointestinal issues • Minor wounds He is accepting new patients and no referral is required.

To schedule an appointment, call St. Luke’s Surgical Associates at 218.249.6050. NORTHERN WILDS

FEBRUARY 2022

Northern Trails Bays End: An Ice Fishing Mecca By Gord Ellis

The eastern tip of Thunder Bay, on the Canadian side of Lake Superior, is known as Bays End. I am not exactly sure where Bays End officially starts, but a line that runs south and north from the western tip of Caribou Island is about right. Some might say it starts from the Conservation Area and the launch at Silver Harbour and I won’t argue with that. Bays End freezes up sooner than the rest of the bay, normally by mid-January. Once the ice is solid, anglers begin to ply the expansive waters of the bay on foot, or via snowmobile or ATV. The snow depth varies a lot each winter and there can be some substantial ice ridges as well. Bays End provides a unique and diverse winter fishery, with some of the best fishing happening in February and March. Here is a breakdown of the species you can catch and how to take them.

Lake Trout The bread-and-butter fish of Bays End, lake trout are both numerous and grow quite large, although a 20-pounder is a monster here. Four decades ago, the lake trout fishery came back after a long period of decline, largely due to lamprey predation and overfishing. Although lamprey scars are still evident on many fish, the laker population remains strong. Most lake trout are caught in water from 40 to 100 feet, although they can be found both deeper and shallower. There are not many places in the bay where you can’t catch a laker, but the 60- to 80-foot trough on the north side of Caribou is a consistent hot spot as is the deep water closer to the Sibley Peninsula. The western tip of Caribou Island also holds a lot of lakers. I’ve found the best and simplest way to catch lake trout in Bays End is to jig spoons. A silver Swedish Pimple weighing from a half ounce to an ounce will work wonders. The weight and size of the spoon will depend on the depth you are fishing. An aggressive jig-drop-jig action seems to catch the most lake trout, with many hitting on the drop. Other good laker spoons include the Krocodile, Hopkins and Buzz Bomb. Lakers will also hit a frozen cisco that’s hung or laid on the bottom as a set line. Most of the lake trout will be close to bottom, although I have had lakers come in well off bottom to hit a spoon being dropped or retrieved. A flasher or ice depth finder will be a big help. 28

FEBRUARY 2022

Chanelle Boucher of Thunder Bay holds up a lake trout with Devin Ellis. | GORD ELLIS

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Whitefish and Herring Whitefish and herring are abundant in Bays End and are often found in the same general areas. Whitefish tend to be bottom oriented, however, and herring suspend, often very close to the ice. Bays End whitefish can grow large, with some specimens clocking in at 27-28 inches, with the occasional giant topping 30 inches. These big whiteys are old and are good candidates for release. The best eating whitefish are 20 to 26 inches. Herring do not grow as large as whitefish on average, but some specimens approach 23-24 inches. Herring have a different mouth than a whitefish and the flesh has more oil. Jigging lighter-weight spoons will catch both whitefish and herring. I find the silver/brass Williams Whitefish a consistent killer for both species, with the Hopkins Smoothie a close second. Lighter spoons with a good flutter seem to trigger whitefish to hit. I’ve had the best luck for whitefish in water from 20 to 30 feet deep, although my largest fish last year, a 27-incher, was caught in less than 15 feet. Some anglers make large holes to view fish in the clear water. I used an Aqua Vue camera last year and was amazed at how many fish I saw with it.

Steelhead Lake Superior has a naturalized population of rainbow trout, a fish that is usually

called a steelhead. The fish run rivers and creeks in the spring to spawn but live most of the time in Lake Superior. These fish are active under the ice and tend to be in shallower water, often off points or near river mouths. Steelhead can be tricky to pattern, but what you may not get in numbers is made up for by the fight these trout lay out. Last winter, my father Gord Senior was jigging in about 20 feet of water when a steelhead smashed his spoon. The strike was so hard it broke his rod, but he did manage to land the fish with a little assist by provincial conservation officer Davis Viehbeck, who just happened to be checking us at the time. Jigged spoons, as well as white tube jigs and jig flies are all good for catching steelhead. I’ve also caught them with a minnow on a set line. Please consider releasing steelhead as they are not numerous and will be staging for the spawn.

Other Fish There are a few other species occasionally caught in Bays End. Burbot are common and can be caught on bottom in water from 20 to 100 feet deep. They also readily take live and dead bait. Burbot are freshwater fish and are quite good to eat. Last winter, two of my angling partners caught brown trout ice fishing in Bays End. These are not a common catch but seem to be making inroads north. It will be interesting to see if any show up this winter. Chinook salm-

Burbot are one of the more unusual species caught in Lake Superior’s Bays End. | GORD ELLIS on and splake are also found in Bays End but are both very rare catches. I know of one chinook landed by an ice angler last winter. There are also the occasional coaster brook trout in Bays End, although they too are rare. Brook trout season runs from the fourth Saturday in April until Labour Day in September, so the fish are closed to

angling in the winter on Superior. Brown trout, splake and chinook are open in the winter on Superior. Make yourself aware of the Ontario regulations, seasons and limits on Lake Superior by checking them at: bit.ly/ontariozone9. Good luck this winter.

GREENWOOD LAKE BY JOE SHEAD WHY GO: Greenwood Lake is a classic Canadian Shield lake trout water. It’s clear, deep and cold and produces good numbers of eating-sized lakers with an occasional trophy-sized fish. ACCESS: To reach Greenwood Lake, head northeast up the Gunflint Trail for 16 miles, then turn right onto Forest Road 309 (Greenwood Lake Road). Proceed 8 miles on FR 309, then turn right and travel 0.3 miles to the access. There’s a concrete ramp with a gravel parking lot and parking for six rigs. The landing has a dock and a restroom. Some of the islands also have primitive Forest Service campgrounds. VITALS: With an average water clarity of nearly 16 feet and a maximum depth of 112 feet, Greenwood is your classic lake trout lake. It has multiple deep, rocky basins that provide cool, well-oxygenated water. It’s a big lake, too, measuring in at 2,042 acres. Despite its size, it is lightly developed and you’ll get a real remote wilderness feel while fishing here. There are some cabins here, many of which were established in the last 20 years. Greenwood is a sentinel lake, so the fishery has been surveyed every other year in recent years to establish a fisheries population baseline to compare against in the future. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen levels and lake profiles are sampled twice a month during the open-water season as well. GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Lake trout, cisco, smallmouth bass and northern pike.

LAKE TROUT: “It’s primarily a lake trout lake,” said Matthew Weberg, assistant area fisheries supervisor. “For the most part, they run in the 1.5- to 3-pound range.” Lake trout were native to Greenwood Lake and stocking was discontinued in the early 1990s because most of the fish the DNR sampled were naturally produced fish. They are now entirely self-sustaining. Weberg said lake trout grow slower here than most other area lakes because young lakers compete with an abundant cisco population for invertebrates. “Early in their life cycle, they’re negatively affected by ciscoes,” he said. “But once they reach those larger sizes, they can really take advantage of them.” Most lakers run about 15 to 19 inches. Although not common, lake trout have been known to reach 30 pounds in Greenwood. Lake trout are the primary draw on Greenwood most of the year, but especially in winter. CISCO: Ciscoes were introduced into Greenwood Lake from Lake Superior in 1926. “They were added as a potential refuge population in case the Lake Superior herring completely crashed,” Weberg said. They’ve done well here, with a booming population and with individual fish reaching large sizes: up to 18 inches. The downside is this abundant prey species competes with young lake trout for food, but once lake trout grow large enough to feed on ciscoes, they provide a high-fat forage base. They are abundant enough and large enough to attract anglers, however, most of the fish the DNR has sampled harbor a tapeworm in the flesh, which deters an-

View all our Fishing Hole Maps at: northernwilds.com/fishingholemaps glers from eating them. Closely related lake whitefish are also present in Greenwood, although in smaller numbers. Anglers are allowed to net ciscoes in the fall on Greenwood. SMALLMOUTH BASS: In summer, when lake trout go deep to find cool water, anglers can still catch smallmouth bass close to shore. Smallmouths showed up in the lake sometime in the 1970s. Since then, they have established a fairly good population. Weberg said anglers will find a lot of slow-growing, medium-sized fish. You can expect to find some decent 12- to 14-inch fish with an occasional larger bass. NORTHERN PIKE: Pike are scarce in

Greenwood. Not much is known about them. It’s likely they were native here and have persisted in very low numbers. There is very little spawning habitat for pike. It’s possible they get into Greenwood from Sunfish Lake. With the high cisco forage base, there would be potential to grow large pike, but they haven’t showed up in surveys. BONUS FISH: Low numbers of yellow perch are also present, and they sometimes reach a foot in length. Occasionally a brook trout shows up, probably coming from the Greenwood River. The last DNR fisheries survey turned up a 15-inch brookie. Walleyes are extremely rare in Greenwood.

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FEBRUARY 2022

Gidaanikeshkaagonaanig Gidaanikoobijiganinaan Following the Ancestor’s Steps

Naanaate ma’iinganag (Northern Lights Wolves) By Sam Zimmerman Last month, I kept having a recurring bawaajigan (dream) of a Ma’iingan (wolf) running at mookise (dawn) and I had to paint it. But it bothered me that it was always alone in my dream. The dream stayed with me for a few days, and then finally I dreamt of a Ma’iingan running with its mate under the naanaate ma’iinganag (northern lights) through the freshly fallen goon (snow). Obaapaawa’aan goonan (he’s brushing the snow off) as he runs, creating a path for his mate underneath the giizi (moon) and anangoog (stars). After two pots of makade-mashkikiwaaboo (black liquid-medicine) coffee later and niswi (three) hours one night and nshwaasi (eight) hours straight a second day with inspiration, it was done and drying. There are 360 anangoog since I finished it on the 360th day of the year.

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

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FEBRUARY 2022

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SAWTOOTH RACING DOG BLOG BY ERIN ALTEMUS

The Dogs of Sawtooth Racing How do you tell them all apart? It’s the first question asked when someone new meets the team. I’m sure their jumping barking faces do appear similar at first glance, but I’d like to tell you a bit about them and what they lend to the team.

will be to remember what he did last year. He’s endearing in his ability to watch for us to make any call needed. At the start line, when every other dog is lunging to go, Temper stands calm, looking back, waiting for the “Alright!” command.

The 12-dog race team I will take to Beargrease is composed mostly of fouryear-olds. They were all born the same year as my daughter Sylvia, 2017. We bred two females who gave birth to six rockstars and seven in the baby litter. Hush, Itsy, Teddy and Temper are core dogs on the race team. Stevie (Nicks) and Tina (Turner) are from the rockstar litter. Taco and Pinto are brothers also born in 2017 in a litter we split with another musher. There are three twoyear-olds, Georgia and Frida (sisters) and Peaches, a single pup born two years ago in a c-section that our friends at Cedar Grove Vet remember well because they had to revive her on the spot. Finally, we acquired two dogs last year, Keith and Chicken. Chicken is just a year and a half old, so she might be too young for the Beargrease, but she is the happiest dog we’ve ever owned and her unending drive has found her a place with the A-team.

This will be Tina’s first big race. We spayed this dog early, which caused her to gain some weight. She is now the chubbiest dog in the kennel and no matter her ration, she’s still plump. She also has the softest fur and would be a top choice for cuddling on the straw mid-race.

Sled dogs in a single litter often have similar traits. This is true of the four from the baby litter. They are consistent in their ability to recover after a long run; able to go again after a few hours rest as if it’s no big deal. They are chipper with a certain amount of shy. Itsy has one of the smoothest gaits I’ve ever seen. She’s always loping, but even when she trots, it is perfection. She took well to leading this year, and though she isn’t my go-to leader, she will be up there in front if Keith or Temper falters. Hush and Teddy are steady-eddy. Temper, a 60-pound plus male led the whole Beargrease last year next to an experienced Nancy or Beezus. Those two, now 10, have retired from the race team. Temper’s job

Taco and Pinto are the most vocal dogs we own. Taco is the smallest male we have. He’s a bit of a baby, squawking when we take off his booties for no good reason. He gained himself a reputation as a nuisance dog when we hauled him to a race in Maine and somehow every time we drove, he managed to escape his dog box in the trailer, much to the border guard’s surprise when they opened our rig to look inside. He also chewed up a down sleeping bag, scattering feathers all over the inside of our dog trailer. He’s mellowed a little since then but still manages to muster a great performance on every run. Peaches is the “most improved” dog of the year. I would have picked an older more experienced dog, but my husband Matt really stuck by her and she proved herself at the Gunflint Mail Run. Georgia and Frida, the other two-lings, could not be more different despite their common genetics. Georgia is friendly to all while Frida is super skittish, won’t let us touch her feet and dives in her house at the least disturbance. But both of them love to run. Keith is one of the strangest dogs we’ve ever owned. He has been very shy since day one, leaping away from us whenever we are in his vicinity at home. It took many months of holding him and touching him before he started “letting” me touch

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Georgia [FAR LEFT] and Frida [MIDDLE] are almost identical littermates, but their personalities could not be more different. | TIMOTHY BROWN him. When we started training this fall, he came up reluctantly when we had a harness in hand. But the day we brought him to a race, this skittish, fearful dog lit up. Suddenly he was bounding around, vying for my attention, pressing his rear end up against me, like “Pet me, pet me!” When it came to race time, he was all business, not paying much attention to the spectators, just ready to go. Granted, he still spooks easily, especially passing other teams. We have two dogs that won’t make the team this year. One of the 2017 rockstars, Sting, has lymphoma. At only four years old, this has been a hard hit. He is living out his life in our house, and seems pretty happy about this. Another dog, Major Tom, broke two metacarpals in a freak accident so he is also having a month’s vacation from running and living in our basement where he is constantly chewing up pens, books, and socks with the sweetest of grins, one that I will really miss on my Beargrease team. We know each dog, their bark, their appetite, and their attitude on the line. After a run or a race, the general conversation is around each dog and how they did, though some dogs are so solid, they don’t need a report. How did Peaches do, how about Frida?

And how about Matt? In his first race back after heart surgery in 2020, Matt pulled off a win at the Gunflint Mail Run. Matt and Vern Schroeder (who was running his son Nathan’s team), were minutes apart after the first leg. Vern left the halfway checkpoint in first place and within 15 miles, Matt passed him. Vern stayed within a minute for the next 15 miles but finally Matt edged ahead. Our second team, mushed by Anna Hennessy of three 10-year-olds, and four 1-year-olds, placed fifth in the 8-dog race. In much sadder news, we grieve for our friend Frank Moe who passed away just days after the Gunflint Mail Run. Frank was a champion for mushing in Cook County and beyond, both through his work on the county board, the Cook County Dog Mushers Association, the Beargrease and individually as a musher himself. In one of the last conversations I had with him, speaking about our move to the County Road 14 area, he told me, “I’m really glad you guys are there.” He used many of the trails that we now use before he and Sherri moved their kennel to the Camp 20 road several years ago. Frank’s enthusiasm for mushing, his musher spirit, will be felt along the trail for many years to come.

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FEBRUARY 2022

NORTHERN SKY FEBRUARY 2022 By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

All month long, the knot of bright winter constellations occupies center stage in the south during the prime early evening viewing hours. This grouping boasts five stars that rank among the top 10 brightest in the night sky: Sirius (No. 1), Capella (No. 6), Rigel (No. 7), Procyon (No. 8) and Betelgeuse (No. 10). Two of these stars are near neighbors of the sun: Sirius, in Canis Major, the big dog; and above it, Procyon, in Canis Minor, the little dog. No wonder those two appear so bright. Sitting atop the stellar panoply, Capella, in Auriga, the charioteer, is four times farther away than Sirius or Procyon. But the two stars in Orion—Betelgeuse, at his right shoulder, and Rigel, at his left foot—rival the other stars in brightness despite being more than 10 times farther away than Capella. A waxing moon passes between the horns of Taurus, the bull, on the night of the 10th and between the bodies of the Gemini twins Pollux and Castor on the night of the 12th. February’s full moon

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On Groundhog Day we get a hint of spring. The day was first celebrated as the astronomically based Celtic holiday Imbolc, or lamb’s milk, and heralded the start of the lambing season. It was one of four cross-quarter days falling midway between a solstice and an equinox.

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Winter’s Children

A Celebration of Nordic Skiing By Ryan Rodgers University of Minnesota Press, 2021, $34.95

In the winter of 1841, a Norwegian immigrant in Wisconsin strapped on a pair of wooden boards and set off across the snow to buy flour, leaving odd tracks that confused his neighbors. This marked the arrival of Nordic skiing in America. In Winter’s Children, author Ryan Rodgers provides an indepth look at Nordic skiing’s history and origins, including the earliest ski teams and touring clubs, the evolution of cross-country skis, gear and fashion, and the ambitious and ongoing effort to establish and maintain a vast network of trails across the Minnesota state park system. The book is also illustrated with lots of vintage photography and ski posters. This is an informative read for both avid skiers and anyone interested in the outdoors.—Breana Johnson

Saltwater Mittens From the Island of Newfoundland By Christine LeGrow & Shirley A. Scott

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As quoted in the book, “In the world of hand-knitting, Newfoundland mitts are special.” Written in a storytelling style, Saltwater Mittens explores the secrets of knitting Newfoundland mitts, nuggets of the island’s history, and delivers more than 20 traditional design patterns for classic, wristers, trigger and five-finger mitts. The book has dozens of colour photographs plus easy-to-read patterns and graphs for beautiful yet practical mittens. Authors have given the patterns names, like Spring Ice, Blowin’ a Gale, and Nor-easter. There are even names on the ‘colourway’ combo lists, including Blueberry (brown heather, mauve), Camo (khaki, grey), and Republic (briar rose, bleached white, light green). This is a great book for all levels of knitters.—Elle Andra-Warner

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A Love Affair with Birds

The Life of Thomas Sadler Roberts By Sue Leaf University of Minnesota Press, 2021, $16.95

A Love Affair with Birds is the first full biography of Thomas Sadler Roberts. Bird enthusiast, doctor, author, curator, educator and conservationist: every chapter in Roberts’ life is also a chapter in the state’s history, and in his story acclaimed author Sue Leaf—an avid bird enthusiast and nature lover herself— captures a true Minnesota character and his time. Anyone with an interest in birds, Minnesota’s natural history and learning about the life of Roberts will enjoy this book .—Breana Johnson

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FEBRUARY 2022

Strange Tales Unusual Pets and Their Owners Over the Years By Elle AndraWarner

Have you heard about the pet moose that leisurely meandered with its owner in Grand Marais? Apparently in the 1900s, pioneer Anna Charlotte Johnson (1881-1944) and her pet moose could be seen walking in downtown Grand Marais. Born in Arvika, Värmland, Sweden, Anna immigrated at age 10 to the U.S. with parents Karl and Kajsa Jonaeus, and in 1907 married Grand Marais fur-trader and trading post owner Charles J. Johnson. An accomplished artist and leader in the art community, she also ran the trading post gift store (current site of the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery). Today, the west wing of the Art Gallery is dedicated to her original artwork. In Hovland, there was another pet moose, this one with pioneer settler and early homesteader Laura Alice Hogeboom Harriman (1881-1957). According to an interview with her daughter on WTIP North Shore Community Radio historical series “History Speaks,” Laura and her brother heard a noise in the forest and found a baby moose with its foot lodged between two logs. After they freed the leg, the moose not only followed Laura home, but followed her around everywhere, as if Laura was her mom. According to historians, having a pet moose was not uncommon years ago. In Canada, there’s the story of John Connell of New Brunswick (“Moose Man of Miramichi”) and his pet moose Tommy. In the early 1900s, he saved the young moose from freezing, domesticated it, trained it like a horse, and rode Tommy by saddle. In the 1920s, Biddy was the pet moose of Dr. Wallen in Thessalon, Ontario; not surprisingly, the town today is the only place in Canada with a bylaw stating “moose are not allowed to roam streets freely.” And in the 1940s, Albert Vailloncourt of Sudbury, Ontario, had two pet moose named Moose and Silver that appeared at events in Ontario and the U.S. Over in Europe, the famed musical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (17561791) kept a starling as a pet for three years. And the famous Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali (1904-1989) had a pet ocelot that accompanied him to places like restaurants and galleries, with Dali sometimes telling people it was a painted cat. Beavers as pets? In the late 18th century, the fur-trader and explorer Samuel Hearne 34

FEBRUARY 2022

Grey Owl (also known as Archibald Belaney) and his pet beaver Jelly Roll. | OTTAWAAC

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During his administration at the White House, Herbert Hoover adopted an opossum and named it Billy Possum. | LIBRARY OF CONGRESS (1745-1792) while working for Hudson’s Bay Company and living in northern Canada, kept several pet beavers in his sitting room, writing in a letter, “they become so domesticated as to answer to their name.” Likewise, the prolific Canadian author and conservationist Grey Owl/Archibald Belaney (1888-1938) had two pet beavers, Jelly Roll and Rawhide, about which he wrote four books. U.S. presidents while living at the White House have had some unusual pets. Benjamin Harrison (23rd U.S. president) and his family had two pet opossums from Maryland—Mr. Protection and Mr. Reciprocity—that could be seen running around the White House. Theodore Roosevelt (26th U.S. president) brought an assortment of pets to the White House, including lizards; chickens; a one-legged rooster; guinea pigs; parrots; a pony; a pig; several dogs; a barn owl; a badger the children named Josiah; and, later a hyena. Grace Coolidge, wife of Calvin Coolidge (30th U.S. president), had a menagerie of pets including a raccoon she rescued,

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Coolidge and Rebecca, the raccoon. According to the Library of Congress, “Mississippi supporters sent Calvin Coolidge a live racoon for Thanksgiving dinner in 1926. Instead, first lady Grace Coolidge named it Rebecca and made it a family pet.” | LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali would named Rebecca, and built a sometimes tell people that his pet ocelot was tree-house for, protected by actually a painted cat. | ROGER HIGGINS a chicken wire fence. AcThe world’s largest pet? Well, that could cording to reports, she was brought on family vacations. The next pres- be Bailey Jr., the 1,900-pound pet buffalo of ident after Coolidge was Herbert Hoover Jim and Linda Saunter in Spruce Grove, Aland he adopted a wild opossum that had berta. Publications from around the world wandered onto the White House grounds; and TV’s Animal Planet have told the story of Bailey, with mentions of his car rides Hoover named him Billy Possum. in a specially-converted reinforced vehiBack to pet raccoons, a famous Canadian cle driving around with Jim. In an article one was a family member for a time with in the UK Daily Mail newspaper (Nov. 9, award-winning wildlife author Lyn Han- 2011), Linda said, “He has a bond with Jim cock, a Canadian-Australian now living on which is just incredible...They have shared Vancouver Island. In the 1970s, the raccoon the bond since Bailey Jr. was only a few was an orphan just weeks old when the weeks old when we adopted him after a Vancouver Zoo—knowing Lyn’s reputation tragic death [2008] of the first buffalo that raising orphaned animals—gave her the Jim and I had raised.” She adds that Jim young raccoon to care for. After Lyn wrote had wanted to become a buffalo whisperer a best-seller book There’s a Raccoon in my to show people “that this level of commuParka, Tabasco became a Canadian media nication between man and bison is possifavourite, travelling everywhere with Lyn— ble.” from camping in Okanagon to cross-counIt’s important to note that federally and try trips, press interviews, schools and libraries. Years later in 2006, Lyn wrote a provincially, it is illegal in Canada to hold heart-warming best-seller sequel Tabasco the ‘wildlife’ in captivity as pets, while in the U.S. each individual state decides which Saucy Raccoon. pets are banned.

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Property ready for a house to be built on 16.9 acres. Includes garage with loft, power and high speed internet. Enjoy 677 feet of calm, sandy shoreline on Gunflint Lake. Southern edge of property borders an inlet, occasionally animated by moose, beaver and waterfowl activity. Unique opportunity to establish yourself in a quintessential location in northern Minnesota, and take advantage of its many activities and sights. MLS#6097781 $499,000

TOM LAKE ESCAPE.

This cabin boasts 195 ft of gorgeous shoreline on Tom Lake, manicured lawn, and covered deck space on two sides of the house for relaxing and entertaining! Lake draw water, a mound septic system and generator power. Additional land and lakeshore available for purchase. Year round access. MLS#6092306 $339,000

HUGE PINES, PRISTINE VIEWS, GUNFLINT LAKE

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

MLS#6099440 $299,900 LARGE, PRIVATE RETREAT – TOM LAKE.

This original family cabin is well built and in good shape, tucked into a large private tract on beautiful Tom Lake. 52 acres of pine and cedar with 1287' private shoreline. Adjoining state land for plenty of room to explore. This is a rare find.

SALIENG PE N D

MLS#6092390 $299,000

Red Pine Realty had a record year for sales in 2021, ranking 10th of over 200 offices in the entire Lake Superior Area Association MLS! Let us help you in the sale of your property, or as a buyer, we can help guide you through the process of acquiring property on the North Shore. LOG CABIN – MCFARLAND LAKE

Beautiful cedar log cabin, 2 bdrms, large deck, cathedral ceiling, open floor plan, new stain & roof. Log guest cabin, storage buildings, log sided sauna & new outhouse to County code. Wilderness views from 150 ft of shore, good for swimming, newer dock. Updated off-grid power. Peaceful retreat on 1.47 acres w/ many virgin white cedar & privacy. Access the BWCAW in minutes, on beautiful Pine Lake, or into John Lake & the Royale River. MLS#6100419

SOLD

TWO EXCEPTIONAL TOM LAKE LOTS.

SOLD

south side of Loon Lake. Just off of the Gunflint Trail, on an aptlynamed private road known as Solitude Drive. Electric available. Wonderful shoreline. This crystal clear lake is known for big Lake Trout, walleye and Northern Pike.

MLS#6089606

HOMES & CABINS HOVLAND TIMBER FRAME HOME

Nice, compact home with fresh updates! You'll love the handmade character of the timber framing, accented by versatile concrete & hardwood floors throughout. Huge garage provides plenty of space for boats, snowmobiles & adventure gear. Fiber optic internet allows you to work remotely. This 37+ acre property is close to Lake Superior, Judge Magney State Park & border lakes for your adventures. MLS#6100812 $329,000

SALIENG PE N D

S. GUNFLINT LAKE RD CABIN

Great off-grid camping or starter cabin, with access to power. Possible view of Gunflint Lake with selective tree removal. 10+ acre property abuts public land to the south. Really nice, simple getaway, or a good place to come to after a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters or a long weekend hike. Smaller building has storage space and a composting toilet. Come take a look, and have a seat on the screened porch.

MLS#6097930 $169,000

These special properties offer opportunities. One lot is a beautiful forested peninsula with cove, and the other has a nice mix of tree cover and open build sites. Accessible, yet away from it all. Build your dream here! MLS#6092307

COMMERCIAL FORMER AIR FORCE BASE. Formerly operated

$97,000, MLS#6092308 SOLD

SALIENG PE N D

SOLITUDE ON LOON LAKE. Beautiful lot on the

PEACEFUL OFF-GRID CABIN

Escape to this quiet & peaceful off-grid cabin on 36+ acres. There is a pond on the property with 3,037' of shoreline. Well thought out cabin features arctic entrance, wood floors, sleeping loft, wood burning stove, propane cooking stove, and comes furnished. Cabin is fully wired to run off of generator power. Snowmobile in during the winter & start a fire in the wood burning stove, read a book and enjoy.

MLS#6099648 $125,000 LARGE HOVLAND ACREAGE

SALIENG MLS#6099413 END P$120,900

This is a great 136+ property to build a retreat, use for hunting, or preserve through the SFIA program, in which it is currently enrolled. Seasonal access only. Additional acreage available!

as an Air Force Base years ago and now somebody can bring their ideas and creativity to create something special. Endless possibilities w/ the existing structures, the sewer/ water already in place, power, internet, sidewalks and streets. It'd be tough to beat the panoramic views, too! Complete with a beautiful trail system. Some structures potentially salvageable. New roofs on some.

MLS#6097816 $800,000

LARGE GRAND MARAIS LOT.

Nice 3.60 acre commercial lot with potential for multi family housing subject to city approval. Good location on the west end of Grand Marais just off Hwy 61. Easy access to the bike trail.

MLS#6089284 $149,500 PRIME COMMERICAL LOTS - LUTSEN

Highway 61 frontage-road access, two nice forested lots (.95/1.05 acres). Great visibility in downtown Lutsen. Would make a great location for a small gallery, retail or restaurant. Plus a 1.3 acre commercial lot adjoins to the north and is available, giving potential for a large site.MLS#6099360, 9361 $97,900 each

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

FEBRUARY 2022

RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE LAND/BUILDING SITES REALTORS®: Mike Raymond, Broker • Linda Garrity, Realtor • Cathy Hahn, Assoc. Broker, ABR/GRI. Larry Dean, Realtor • Jake Patten, Realtor • Jess Smith, Realtor • Sue Nichols, Assoc. Broker • Gail J. Englund, GRI

WOODS, WATER & SECLUSION.

MLS#6089089, 9090 $69,900 each DEEP WOODS, MONS CREEK.

Nice “40” with good tree cover and creek frontage, where you could launch your canoe. There's a great building site overlooking Mons Creek from a high point. Good road access, but private and secluded. The property has private deeded access to Lost Lake, which is a short walk away. Wilderness feel. New trail cut into the property so you can see the potential! MLS#6089091 $58,900

PEACEFUL LOTS ON LONE PINE CREEK

If you are looking for acreage close to Grand Marais but with that out of town feel, look no further, with nearby access to all the north shore has to offer including, but not limited to hiking trails, the Gitchi-Gami bike trail, inland lakes and more! Lot 13 is a great 6.9 acre parcel with nearly 520' of frontage on Lone Pine Creek. A peaceful lot on a private road. Please schedule your showings with a licensed real estate agent.

MLS#6096716 $59,9000 NORTH RD LOTS

GRAND MARAIS LOT – DEEP WOODS

Red Pine Realty • (800) 387-9599 SOLD

Two 40 acre lots with easy road access, good building sites, mature trees and open water views of Mons Creek. Has private deeded access to Lost Lake, a short drive away. Lost Lake is a beautiful lake with no public access and wilderness views and wildlife. The walk-in landing provides easy access for a canoe or small boat. Roads are gated for security and privacy and minimum lot size is 20 acres.

SALIENG PE N D

These 2 lots (12-13 acres) are the perfect rural spot for your cabin or home. County maintained road with broadband internet and electric at the roadside. Nice mixed forest of poplar, evergreen, and birch. YES, there is even 330+ feet of frontage on the Flute Reed River, a local trout stream. Great area for hunting and jumping off spot for fishing adventures.

MLS# 6100473, MLS# 6100474 $53,000 each NICE HOME SITE NEAR GRAND MARAIS

Nice elevation and views from this 6.75 acre lot off of County Rd 6 just minutes from town. Frontage on Little Devil Track River.

MLS#6031740 $52,900

40 ACRE SOLITUDE

Off grid 40 acre parcel with small pond surrounded by wildflowers, ferns and raspberry bushes. Located in an area with plenty of trails to explore. Near Tom Lake. Seasonal access by 4WD vehicle. Year round access by OHV, snowmobile, cross country ski, snowshoes, dog sled or paratrooping!

MLS#6101093 $45,000 REDUCED

ROLLING TERRAIN & POND

This 2 acre parcel is tucked away at the end of a privately maintained road on the west side of Grand Marais. Private setting with good lake effect from Lake Superior, common area across the street for added privacy, and Deep woods and dense forest with nice building sites. Easy access to the bike trail and a private access to (218) 387-9599 • Fax (218) 387-9598 • info@RedPineRealty.com short ride to downtown. Private water and sewer. Power is at the lot. Lost Lake. Good MLS#6100024 $59,500 roadGrand access andMarais, MN PO Box 938, 14 S. Broadway, 55604 many building site WOODED SECLUSION IN GRAND MARAIS. options. Beautiful Several great wooded lots on the west side of Grand Marais, a mile from beaver pond and down town. Close to the bike trail with privacy on a dead end road. Septic creek split the 20 acre and wells allowed, power and broadband available. property. Lost Lake MLS#6087223 & 6087226 PENDING, is a tucked-away gem with limited private property and no public access. MLS#6087228 $59,500 Good trout fishing and moose sightings. This is a remote retreat property with the added bonus of lake access on a pristine wilderness lake. WOODS, VIEWS AND PRIVACY Nice lot only 4 MLS#6098652 $38,900 miles from Grand Marais on county road. Potential Lake Superior views from a high lot with dense forest. Great location for your home or BEAUTIFUL cabin. Close to trails and all the recreational opportunities in the area.

REMOTE LAND

Beautiful, remote parcel near Cloquet Lake. Enjoy a mixture of mature forest, young trees, wildflowers and open space. Parcel surrounded by Forest Service land to the south and the west. Walking access to Cloquet Lake by way of 300' path. Quaint stream runs through the southeast corner of the property.

MLS#6099470 $36,000

LAND/BUILDING SITES ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES LOT

15.71 acre parcel just 3 miles east of Grand Marais. Good Lake Superior views from multiple building sites. Resort Commercial zoning. Property has been surveyed and wetlands delineated. Subdivision potential. Access driveway on west boundary line is in place. Great location!

MLS#6098504 $199,900

RIDGE TOP 20 ACRES – LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS

Jack pines, bedrock outcroppings and expansive lake views highlight this large vacant parcel. Only 16 miles east of Grand Marais, near C.R. Magney State Park, Paradise Beach and Myhr Woods Scientific and Natural Area. Good road access with driveway into the property. Power and Broadband are possible here. A magical mountain-top feel and secluded privacy makes for a great retreat or home site.

SOLD

MLS#6100337

SPECTACULAR LAKE VIEW.

Expansive lake views and enchanting forest make up a unique 13 acre parcel. Just 15 minutes from Grand Marais, and a short walk to Lake Superior's shore. Power and Broadband are available. Shared driveway leads almost to the property line. MLS#6090230 $132,000

LARGE PARCEL NEAR SHORE.

This heavily wooded 12 acre parcel is within a short walk to the shore of Lake Superior. Great lake affect and plenty of privacy. Rough shared driveway in place. Close to Broadband and power. Older travel trailer included. MLS#6090231 $87,900

LARGE ACREAGE NEAR TOM LAKE.

Two parcels with 40 acres near year round road access and power. An easy walk to the Tom Lake boat landing. Shared easement granted to build driveway into property. Many great building sites. Great recreational area. Easy access to trails and other lakes.

MLS#6095113, 6095114 $60,000 each GRAND MARAIS VACANT LOT.

SOLD

Nicely wooded parcel on quiet street in the west end of town. Three full city lots facing south with city street, curb and gutter, utilities near by. Short walking distance to the harbor. MLS#6093024

DEEP WOODS HIDE-AWAY IN GRAND MARAIS

Nice, heavily wooded 1.86 acre parcel on private dead-end road on the west end of Grand Marais. Close to bike trail and easy walk to downtown. Private water and sewer, shared road maintenance, power at site. A very private and secluded location. Enjoy privacy and northwoods seclusion, yet only minutes to the coffee shop. MLS#6100025

SOLD

MLS#6096711 $56,900

HOME SITE NEAR GRAND MARAIS Nice 5 acre property close to town on black-top county road. power and phone at the lot. Broadband available. Dense woods and potential Lake Superior Views. Close to hiking, bike trails and all the wilderness adventures you desire. MLS#6096706 $54,900 5+ ACRES NEAR GRAND MARAIS

SOLD

Building Site 10 Minutes From Grand Marais. Deep wooded lot with 5.31 acres. Power and Broadband. Good road access. Easy access to trails and lakes. Great spot to build your home in the woods.

MLS#6095432

20 ACRES WITH LAKE VIEWS

Beautiful 20 acre parcel with lake views!! If it's hunting you want, good luck finding 20 acres that can compete. Property borders reservation land on the north and east sides and Federal land to the south. The land is covered with beautiful trees and wildlife! Currently there is no road to the property, which is factored into the asking price.

MLS#6094977 $49,000

GREAT LOCATION HOME SITE.

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

MLS#6094099 $42,900

GREAT LOCATION FOR HOME OR CABIN

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

MLS#6096700 $42,900 LUTSEN MAPLE LOT

Beautiful 5+ acre wooded lot, covered in Maple forest. In the fall this beauty is ablaze with stunning colors. Caribou Lake Public Access nearby, hiking trails, Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort, Gitche Gumee bike trail and all the things the North Shore has to offer.

MLS#6098003 $39,700 TAIT LAKE PINES LOTS

Private & peaceful location in Lutsen, MN with its own hiking trails, outstanding views/settings, maintained roads, year-round accessibility, access to power, a calm and serene overall vibe and deeded lake access to Tait Lake!! Close to the Superior Hiking Trail, many more inland lakes and trails, Lutsen Ski Resort, Superior National Golf Course and access to food/ beverage. 2+ acre lots are priced to sell.

MLS#6098275 $39,250, MLS#6098276 $43,250, MLS#6098277 $42,000 REMOTE PEACE & QUIET

Hide away in this beautiful dense forest, with remote trails and private lake access to Lost Lake, a limited private property lake with no public access, and trout! Twenty acres of rolling topography and nice building sites for your cabin retreat.

MLS#6098653 $36,900 REMOTE WOODED HIDE-A-WAY

This 20 acre parcel is remote and has nice southerly exposure. Deeded access to Lost Lake gives you a place to fish and listen to the loons. It’s a lake with limited private property and no public access. Great area for ATV’s and miles of roads to explore.

MLS#6098654 $34,900 FORTY ACRES NEAR FINLAND

Old homestead property in “Cramer” adjoining state land, and very close to Cramer Lake. No road access.

MLS#6095233 $34,900

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INLAND LAKESHORE OPPORTUNITIES!

D L SO

E L A S ING D N E P

LUTSEN TAIT LAKE OASIS— A LINDAL CEDAR HOME!

This Lindal Cedar Home is a Classic, from the large foyer entry leading into the accommodating living room with a wall of windows overlooking the lakeshore and forest to the gas fireplace adding to the ambiance. Overlooking Tait Lake with a babbling creek and over 300ft of shoreline all in the midst of the boreal forest! From the Screen porch, the Spa room and the Main Level Owner’s Suite you won’t want to leave your personal Oasis, and who can blame you! Two car attached garage makes this home perfect for year round living in the Northwoods! With the Crib style year round dock in place you will be ready for all the seasons!

MLS#6095596 $799,900 PRICE REDUCED!

NEW! WILDERNESS LAKE GETAWAY!

Up in the Lutsen woods, tucked along wild and pristine Tait Lake is a wonderful lake home opportunity. Situated on a peaceful stretch of 221’ of frontage and 2.75 acres of elbow room. A designer kitchen to die for, Sunroom overlooking the woods and lake, Timbered, cathedral ceilings, wood fireplace, what more can you ask for? How about 2 spacious garages for all the stuff! Loons sing in the summer. Fall colors explode. Winter is deep and pristine, with wood smoke curling up and away. Spring peepers sing the lake ice away. Come soak in the ways of the earth in this corner of solitude. Get back to the old rhythms and calm. Hole up, fish for walleye, make a wild blueberry pie. Ahh!

MLS#6100777 $799,000

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

D L SO

NEW! SIMPLE LIVING IN LUTSEN!

Brand new 2021 home is all set for new owners! Everything is new, gas cook stove, refrigerator, furnace, skirting around home, deck and even the poured concrete pad. You’ll own the home which you can move to wherever you would like or you can keep it where it is! Great location Right in the heart of Lutsen convenient for shopping, dining, post office, banking, groceries, gas and 20 minutes to Grand Marais. Lutsen Mountains, Superior National Golf Course, the Gittci Gammi Bike Trail, and access to the State and Local snowmobile trails right out your back door.

MLS#6100507 $73,000

DOME’CILE

Dreamy Home on the Pike Lake Rd sitting on a highland of maples and boreal forest abutting miles of public land!An inspired dome home flanked by bedroom, kitchen, and sun-room wings to form a functional and inspiring floor-plan. The sun-room, drenched in light, is a place to unwind, contemplate and open the mind as it spills into the heart of the home, the Dome! The paneled and beamed ceilings lift the spirits and the loft is cozy under the upper reaches of the dome. Sprawling, tasteful deck surveys the nearly four acres. Waterfalls, trout and hiking are 5 minutes back at the Cascade River. XC ski trailhead and snowmobile trails, 3 minutes away. Getaway in the woods and enjoy the silence.

MLS#6099797 $289,900

LIVING THE BIG DREAM ON THE BIG LAKE!

D L SO

LAKE SUPERIOR TOWNHOME LUTSEN/TOFTE AREA! Welcome your guests in to this sprawling townhome, fun design and focus on Lake Superior! Big Views from Nearly every room, and enough deck space for everyone to enjoy those cool breezes off Lake Superior! Upper level owner bedroom en suite is spacious! Open kitchen, and dining areas, with a drop down Great Room with wall of windows and fireplace, Amazing Views. One car attached garage too! Stroll to the stairway to the beach just for owners! LOVE this place for year round living or vacation getaway! Minute’s to Lutsen Mountain Summer and Ski Resort AND Tofte’s Blue Fin Bay Resort!

MLS#6098625 $475,000

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CAMPN’, HUNTN’, FUN GETAWAY LAND, INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE! SILVER BAY TO SCHROEDER AREAS NEW! Spectacular views lot near Illgen Falls! Just a short hike from Illgen Falls and across the street from Tettegouche State Park this lot has beautiful Lake Superior and ridge views from the building site! Mix of pines, birch and maple, with the Superior Hiking Trail (and the Fantasia Overlook) only a quarter-mile away. Property is part of an association with a shared road, well, and septic already in place. It won’t take much to build your dream cabin here!

MLS#6100288 $95,000

24 acres on Blackwoods Drive, approx. 8 miles up the Cramer Rd from the Cross River in Schroeder! Southern sloping maples, beautiful build sites! Electric, fiber, year round access.

MLS#6094707 $99,900

Seclusion at 8271 Blackwoods Drive! Over 16 acres of sugar maples, beautiful! Year round access but gives you feeling of remote location. There is plenty of room to build and have the seclusion that you looking for- in fact the project has already begun since the current owners have already installed a driveway. Easily create a comfortable basecamp while building your dream getaway!

MLS#6097285 $79,900 PRICED REDUCED

TOFTE AREA South Sloping parcels at LeVeaux Mountain! Beautiful build sites, one parcel has a wildlife pond and the other views of Lake Superior from the top! Yr Round access, electric and fiber along the road, sensible HOA makes this a gem to build your dream North Shore home! $67,000 EACH! MLS#6089001;

MLS#6089003 SOLD!

Beautiful parcel at Birch Cliff, located between Lutsen and Tofte, you’ll enjoy the best of both worlds! Dine at BlueFin and Ski the day away at Lutsen Mountains from this lovely corner build site with decent Lake Superior views and views of Carlton Peak in the distance. LeVeaux Mountain is to the North, wowser setting!

TOFTE AREA Easy Build Site in Tofte! Level five acre parcel with potential for views in the South East corner, or build in the center of the acreage for maximum seclusion! Diverse trees including a nice mix of birch, mountain ash and balsam fir!

MLS#6099658 $64,500 SALE PENDING!

LUTSEN AREA Lutsen Build sites with shared septic and well just waiting for your little cabin ideas! Looking for a site to build without spending an arm and a leg? These sites are it! Well and Septic in place, just Build and Enjoy!

MLS#2309328 $39,000 AND OTHERS, JUST ASK ABOUT MINK RANCH!

Perched on the Foothill of Lutsen Mountains, this five acre parcel has both views of Eagle Mountain as well as Lake Superior! Beautiful trees complete the package. With a thoughtful Home Owner’s Association in place, you’ll enjoy peace and quiet in the heart of Lutsen! High ground, rolling terrain, year round access!

MLS#6099659 $89,900

HOVLAND AREA The Wilderness at your fingertips! 92+ acres just off the Tom Lake Road in Hovland. Dream and scheme the getaway cabin, build it out of timber right off the land. Wander all the nooks and crannies to find that ideal getaway. Make some ski trails or hunker down. Open up a patch for a back-to-the-lander’s dream garden or just keep it wild and natural: a place to walk, preserve, hunt, and contemplate the big questions. Unwind a bit here, get in a natural groove. Bring your vision, energy, passion and love!

MLS#6098528 $84,900 SALE PENDING!

This Nearly 40 acres is a great recreational area for the outdoor enthusiast! Remote and secluded land, perfect for hunting or hiking, wild life viewing or planting trees and camping. Judge Magney State Park is close by – featuring the Devil’s Kettle and scenic hikes. The historic Naniboujou Lodge is also nearby and worth to visit!

MLS#6098693 $69,900

MLS#6099657 $75,000 SALE PENDING!

LAKE SUPERIOR LAND

E SA L ING D PEN

NEW! LAKE SUPERIOR LAND 250+ FT 3.8 ACRES!! Wowser of a Lake Superior parcel just 20 minutes to Lutsen Mountains Ski and Summer Resort and just over an hour from Duluth! Meander the accessible 254 ft of rocky shoreline for agates, sit on the ledgerock for gorgeous Sunset views. This lovely piece of the Big Lake is BUILD READY with driveway to build site in place, electric and fiber are nearby. Enjoy the land as you wish, a quiet getaway small footprint cabin or the year round Lake Superior home you have dreamed of! And to top this all off, enjoy the hiking opportunities offered at Sugarloaf Cove Interpretive Center just a five minute walk from this land!

MLS#6100619 $375,000

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218-387-2131 800-732-2131 101 West highway 61 grand marais, mn 55604

INLAND LAKE PROPERTIES

sold

1 2 5 N P i k e L ak e R oad

21 Voyageur Bay

Quality built 3BR/3BA lake home positioned at the water’s edge. The connection to the lake is unbelievable with views of the water from the majority of rooms. The beach is easy access, perfect for swimming, kayaking or fishing.

MLS 6100454 •

This sweet two bedroom, one bath cabin is surrounded by towering pine trees and located on the shores of Gunflint Lake, which is a very desirable lake because of the size & quality, fishing and direct BWCA access right out your front door. The cabin is situated on a USFS eased lot.

$539,900

MLS TBD •

$339,900

LAND C o u nt y R d 6 Lots

J onvick Creek Sites

2 lots available from 4.78 – 4.92 acres Own your own space in the country and only 10 minutes from Grand Marais and numerous recreational opportunities. Great mix of birch, balsam, pine and spruce. Check out these great Lots!

7 lots available from 1.5 - 4.8 acres

$57,900 - $59,900 XX X M o u nta in Trail Nicely wooded 5 acre lot with fabulous views of Lake Superior. Close to Grand Marais, but country privacy--end of the cul-de-sac lot with great height. MLS 6097785

$124,900

114 2 Ca m p 20 R d 170+ acres of heavily forested land that has been replanted with many beautiful pine trees, poplar & cedar trees. Features gravel pit and pond and abutting State land. MLS 6097348

$159,900

In the heart of Lutsen, just off the Caribou Trail. Maples, Pines, and cedars in varied arrangements will make a great back-drop for your home or cabin. Each property adjoins public land making your space seem even more private.

$39,900 - $49,900 14XX Camp 20 Rd Terrific 55 acres with an amazing mix of forest. Balsam, spruce, birch, aspen and some maple and white pine. Want room to recreate? This is it. MLS 6097013

$60,000

1X B randon Lane Beautiful lot just outside Grand Marais. Fall River runs through this property. Dramatic frontage! MLS 6095813

$62,000

Road Lak e Have you been wanting a place on the Gunflint Trail to call your own? This is a sweet spot to set up camp and have your own peaceful 48’ stretch of Road Lake shoreline. MLS 6100082 •

$39,900

XX Tamarack Trl Looking for a Lake Superior property to go camping on or to build your dream home? Make sure to check this lot with 386 ft. of shoreline, 3.83 acres, driveway, cleared area AND Farquhar Creek frontage.

in nd

MLS 6099224 •

$174,900

918 Cutoff Rd Beautifully wooded lot with garage and drilled well already completed. Close to town and the Pincushion Ski Area. What a location for your recreational getaway or year round home! MLS 6096726 •

$109,900

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.

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218-387-2131 800-732-2131 1 0 1 W E S T H I G H WAY 6 1 GRAND MARAIS, MN 55604

1 9 0 N Loon La k e Rd Majestic forest surrounds this equally majestic 3 bedroom, 3 bath home all set on 14 acres with over 650’ of Loon Lake shoreline. Open concept, granite counters, beautiful fireplaces, large attached garage...it has it all! Can you imagine having your own stunning forest, complete with walking & snowshoeing trails, majestic old growth cedar trees and plenty of wildlife? Cabins like this rarely come on the market and this home is being sold basically turnkey, making it easy to start living the dream!

MLS TBD

$949,900 SO LD

1 7 7 Ne e d h a m Roa d Check out this phenomenal, quintessential Gunflint Trail estate, located on 4+ acres with 560’ of shoreline on Bearskin Lake AND includes frontage on the coveted Hungry Jack Lake. The original cabin consists of 3 bedrooms, 1 bath and was built by Charlie Boostrom and filled with custom made furnishings by local legend, Billy Needham. The cabin oozes charm with the full logs, massive rock fireplace, wood floors, attached porch and is finished off with a large deck, surrounded by beautiful trees. In 2005, the owner built the Carriage House, complete with 3 garage stalls and a beautiful 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment with a large family room & attractive kitchen.

MLS 6100104

$849,900

HOMES & CABINS

NEW 2 17 N Broadway Whether you are looking for a home or an investment, this 2 bedroom house with guest cabin is a rare opportunity. The property is conveniently located close to downtown. Both units have an off-street parking area. There is a storage building for yard tools or recreational gear.

MLS TBD •

$239,900

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50 YEARS OF HELPING YOU FIND HOME

CONTACT OUR TEAM TODAY!

Coldwell Banker North Shore is a locally-led business leveraging the resources of a national powerhouse. We are the top-producing team of real estate professionals on the North Shore – helping buyers and sellers with luxury homes, commercial properties and everything in between.

Virginia Detrick Palmer BROKER

OWNER

REALTOR ®

218-370-0211

Julie Joynes Carlson REALTOR ®

218-370-8068

And when it comes to your client experience, Coldwell Banker North Shore’s customer service-focused team is here to serve. When you’re ready to buy or sell a new home or commercial property, contact us to discuss the current conditions and how it impacts your bottom line. Give us a call, email or even drop in. We can’t wait to be of service!

Aimee Luick

Eric Frost

LICENSED ASSISTANT

REALTOR ®

218-387-2131

218-370-1362

AS YOUR HOMETOWN TEAM, WE OFFER: • Free Market Analysis • Virtual Tours • 360 Degree Photographs • Personalized Marketing Plan

Kali Blomberg REALTOR ®

218-370-9260

Rick Austin REALTOR ®

218-370-0784

• Fully-staffed Office for Quick Service • Representation Along Entire North Shore

101 WEST HIGHWAY 61

MONDAY — FRIDAY

GRAND MARAIS,

8:30 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M.

MN 55604

218.387.2131

©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.

Kelly Holtzman OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

218-387-2131

C BNO RT HS HO RE.C O M NORTHERN WILDS

FEBRUARY 2022

Featured MEET OUR

Agents INGER ANDRESS

Inger is the third generation of Real Estate Enthusiasts. She has North Shore roots, spending much of her childhood with her grandmother in Lutsen. She learned how to ski from Patti Nelson, mother of Olympic ski champion, Cindy Nelson, and original co-owner of Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort. Inger uses her leadership skills to help several local non-profits in the Cook County area and encourages collaborative efforts. This historical understanding along with a keen sense of the real estate market, has helped many of her real estate clients over the years. (218) 216-7141 Inger@lustenrealestategroup.com

M O L LY O ’ N E I L L A local lakegirl, Molly grew up on Caribou Lake and spent her youth chasing her friends around Lutsen Mountains ski area. Molly’s days aren’t so different now, spending summers on her mountain bike and snowy days teaching, coaching, and free skiing on the slopes of her childhood. Drawing from her lifetime engagement in the local community and extensive background in Lutsen’s tourism industry, Molly loves to connect those who yearn for the North Shore with property that suits their vision. (218) 370-2079 Molly@lustenrealestategroup.com

FEBRUARY 2022

NORTHERN WILDS

MEET OUR AWESOME TEAM For three decades, Mike has played a critical

Kelsi moved to Cook County from Duluth

role in the development of the tourism,

several years ago and joined the Lutsen Real

lodging and the real estate industry in the

Estate Group as a sales agent. With a BFA in

Lutsen and overall Cook County areas. Today,

Interior Design, a Master’s Degree in Business

Mike’s focus is working with his real estate

Administration, and a background in hospitality

team and awesome agents, representing

project management, Kelsi brings a unique skill

buyers and sellers.

set to the real estate team.

(218) 370-1536 | mike@staycvr.com

kelsi@lustenrealestategroup.com

With a lifelong passion for real estate and

Only a few short years after he started his career

home remodeling, Jeanne enjoys working

as a real estate agent, he began accomplishing

with clients to help them with their real estate

a great deal as a broker, agent and developer.

journey. Jeanne has been active in the school

As a result, he loves working with buyers and

community, serving as a school board member

sellers in helping them find their dream home.

for seven years and spending many hours

Steve serves on local boards, including Boreal

volunteering and advocating for students.

Access, Cook County Community Fund, and Grand Marais State Bank.

cariboulakeplace@gmail.com

SELLING YOUR NORTH SHORE HOME? We know you’re not just thinking about selling any property, you’re thinking about selling your property that likely has a lot of heart strings, legacy and memories attached to it. We get it. That’s a big decision. As a company we have learned how to carefully navigate this delicate pathway over the last three decades and will walk side by side with you on this selling journey. Combine that with today’s strong real estate market and sellers are provided with unique selling opportunities. Our agents have a down-to-earth approachability, knowledge, unique skill set, and deep love for Cook County—just like you do. With that being said, we bring the right skills to the table to ensure that you not only feel comfortable and understood throughout the process, but also avoid making costly mistakes.

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

LOOKING TO

PURCHASE

NORTH SHORE HOME?

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.

We love the North Shore for the same reasons you do: morning coffee overlooking the lake, miles of hiking, evenings on the dock, cozy post-skiing dinners and so much more. Having your own slice of the northwoods gives you the freedom to disconnect and opens the door for connection and lasting memories with those you love. Whether you’re looking for a work-from-home location, a place to get away from it all, or a launchpad for your next adventure, look no further. Our professional staff is passionate about making the buying process personal and meaningful. We are here to

C ASC ADEVAC ATI O NR ENTALS.C O M

advocate for and support you in navigating the ins and outs of real estate so you can find the place of your dreams.

NORTHERN WILDS

FEBRUARY 2022

Talk to Terry! Terry R. Backlund Broker/Owner Phone: 218-387-1501 Cell: 218-370-8977 Email: Terry@BacklundRealty.com

T.C. Backlund Real Estate Agent Phone: 651-373-5504 Email: Ty@BacklundRealty.com

Lori A. Backlund Real Estate Agent 313 5TH AVE W GRAND MARAIS, MN

X28 W 2ND ST GRAND MARAIS, MN

Saleng Pendi

New Listing

148 SOBANJA LANE GRAND MARAIS, MN

7 W WISCONSIN ST GRAND MARAIS, MN

3700+ sq. ft. Commercial building on mainstreet. Exposure to high volume pedestrian and vehicle traffic. MLS# 6100518 Price: $499,900

X20 CTY RD 60 GRAND MARAIS, MN

New Listing

3 Bedroom 1 Bath 2 Car Garage Extra large lot. Walk everywhere. MLS# TBD Price: $279,000

100’ x 120’ residential lot in town. MLS# 6099385 Price: $45,000

2 Bedroom 1 Bath 1176 Sq. Ft. charmer Super private end of the road 6+ acres. MLS# TBD Price: $297,500

17.81 EAST COYOTE RIDGE GRAND MARAIS, MN

6.88 EAST COYOTE RIDGE GRAND MARAIS, MN

X5 CTY RD 7 GRAND MARAIS, MN

SOLD

17.81 Acres. Rolling parcel with seasonal creeks. Private and close to town. MLS# 6097455 Price: $99,900

6.88 Acres. Lake Superior view. Driveway in. Power at the road. Close to town. MLS# 6097459 Price: $89,900

XXX E 7TH AVE W GRAND MARAIS, MN

5 N BROADWAY GRAND MARAIS MN

Sweet lot. 90 x 120 Dead end street. MLS# 6098146 Price: $59,500

Commercial Building 2578 sq. ft. Restaurant. Great location. Possibilities MLS# 6095312 Price: $399,000

5.9 acres close to town. Ready for your dreams. MLS# 6099380 Price: $65,000

We have buyers looking for homes



Saleng Pendi

19+ Acres for homestead or hunting land MLS# 6078387 Price: $89,900

X2 W 3RD ST GRAND MARAIS, MN

SOLD 2 Lots: 50 x 100 and 75 x 100 Wetlands delineated. Ready to go. MLS# 6100150 Price: $69,900

Phone: 218-387-1501 Cell: 218-370-8977 Terry@BacklundRealty.com 46

FEBRUARY 2022

NORTHERN WILDS

CATCHLIGHT

Mink I was in my cabin watching birds come to our feeder, when a brown fur periscope popped up through the snow. After a quick look around it vanished, only to pop up again 10 feet further on. Finally, the whole mink emerged from the snow at the base of a spruce tree in which I’d hung a deer rib cage for the birds to peck on. By this time I was out the door with my camera, and as it climbed, I took this photo. Unperturbed, it nished its climb and gnawed upon the ribs while I watched. — Michael Furtman NORTHERN NORTHERN WILDS WILDS

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2022 2022

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

Trailcam!

Stay updated on ski trail conditions and snow totals

Northern Wilds February 2022

Articles inside

Strange Tales

The North Shore Dish

Dog Blog

Health

Spotlight

Points North

Northern Trails

Tim Young

Along the Shore

The Day in the Life of a Minnesota Sled Dog