Northern Wilds March 2024

GRAND

HOVLAND, MN

Exceptional Lake Superior lots! Gorgeous building sites, very private desirable locations, some level to lake, some elevated. Gravel, accessible ledge rock & boulder shoreline, NE and SE facing sites to pick from. 18 miles to Grand Marais, 4 to Brule River for trout & salmon fishing & Devils Kettle Falls, 15 to Isle Royale ferry, 22 to Canada. Beautiful trees, protective covenants, community septic, electricity & survey. OFFERED AT $245,000-$274,500 DETAILS 1.19-1.47 ACRES 211-343 FT

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

-Tim K.

501(c)(3) organization (NOT PART OF THE HOSPITAL OR CLINIC) benefiting health care and emergency services in Cook County, Minnesota. The Foundation proactively identifies opportunities to expand equitable health care and healthy living in Cook County and champions solutions through funding, education, and advocacy. The Foundation develops critical programs that address gaps in health services, and has awarded over $1.6 million in grants since 1995.

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Where’s Winter?

According to the calendar, the first official day of spring is Tuesday, March 19. Most years, winter holds on for another month or two, with spring emerging around April or May. However, with the lack of snow this winter, and many days with above-average temps, spring might truly arrive early. Or maybe Mother Nature will surprise us with a giant snowstorm soon… only time will tell.

Moving into the March issue, we’ve got a great selection of stories, with this month themed as our Home issue. Kalli Hawkins brings us to Kaministiquia, near Thunder Bay, where Vic Germaniuk is currently constructing his dream high-performance, sustainable house. Back in Cook County, Hawkins gives us an update on the current real estate market and where it’s headed. Chris Pascone writes about wood stoves and the pros and cons of owning one. Hartley Newell-Acero talks about designing health into our homes. Last but not least, Eric Kaira taps into the earth on a quest for groundwater.

Like many events this winter, the Sleeping Giant Loppet ski festival in Thunder Bay is canceled this month due to the lack of snow. However, Pascone provides us with a great story on the annual event, which started back in 1978. Thankfully, the lack of snow has no effect on

the Lake Superior surfing community, which is growing in popularity. Kaira interviews a few of these folks, including local “legend” Adam Goplin and Jermone “Jerry” Fischer, owner of The Back Alley in Duluth. While there might not be much snow, there’s plenty of ice, so why not go ice fishing? Fishing Hole columnist Joe Shead gives us details on Echo Lake in Lake County.

Dog Blog columnist Erin Altemus gives us an update from Alaska, where she just raced the Two Rivers 200 and is now getting ready to race the Iditarod on March 3. You can follow her journey online at iditarod.com, or search Sawtooth Racing on Facebook.

Looking for something fun to do indoors? Naomi Yaeger suggests soaring high at the Sky Zone trampoline park in Duluth, which is open to all ages. Northern Trails columnist Gord Ellis recommends some winter tackle tinkering while you wait for open water fishing. And Michelle Miller suggests attending the annual Cabin Fever Reliever fundraiser on March 10 in Two Harbors, featuring live music, storytelling, the Native Nations Expo, and more.

Even with little to no snow on the ground, there’s still lots to do—just check out our events calendar for ideas. And enjoy winter while you still can; spring is coming.—Breana Johnson

The

Elle

KTWH’s annual Cabin Fever Reliever returns

TWO HARBORS—The North Shore is rich with talent, and the annual Cabin Fever Reliever event, held at the Two Harbors High School, is an opportunity to highlight many of these musicians and performers, both locally and regionally. Two Harbors Community Radio will host the mid-winter variety show for its eighth year on Sunday, March 10.

The low power, nonprofit radio station, KTWH FM, will once again bring music and entertainment to the North Shore to celebrate local talent and provide a break from the long winter season. This year offers a new sound—with the long-standing local opening act THUG not performing, it inspired the organizers to expand and be creative. The performance will include acts with a simpler, less intense set up and production needs, which will provide a different experience for the audience.

This year’s event will feature a variety of Indigenous performers, putting the station’s mission into action “to strengthen community by sustaining a grassroots forum of respectful inquiry into shared values, issues, and cultural expressions.” Producer Kim Leon attended a native-themed performance over a year ago and was inspired to bring something similar to Two Harbors. “The idea is to provide an opportunity that fits our mission that hasn’t been done before,” says Leon. She is excited to reach out in a broader way with this year’s production.

Headlining the show is native ally, singer-songwriter David Huckfelt. His songs of no-spiritual-surrender have earned him a devoted following both regionally and nationally. Others taking the stage include the Oshkii Giizhik Singers, a group of Indigenous women singers and hand drummers from northern Minnesota. Founded in 2006, the group has had dozens of women and elders from the region sing and share teachings

Held March 10, the show will feature the Oshkii Giizhik Singers, a group of Indigenous women singers and hand drummers from northern Minnesota. | SUBMITTED

over the years. Storytelling also will be featured with Michael Laughing Fox Charette joining the show. He is an artist, musician, writer, and performer and a member of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Two Harbors 15-year-old composer and pianist Edward Ojard will return to the stage. Ojard was recently invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. The Master of Ceremonies is singer, songwriter, and story weaver John Sonofmel.

This year, keeping with the cultural awareness theme, a free pre-show Native Nations Expo, has been added and will be held in the great hall, outside of the auditorium. Leon

notes that, “The goal is to enlighten, educate, spark curiosity, possibly dispel some myths and then, entertain.” The exhibitors and demonstrators will share history, cultural wisdom, and current activities and issues. Native-owned businesses and industries will also part of the event. Leon is especially excited about debuting a modern-day industry of Native innovations of hemp products. This interactive expo will be entertaining and educational for all ages.

The Cabin Fever Reliver is held at the Two Harbors High School. Doors open at 1 p.m. for the expo and performances in the auditorium start at 3 p.m. Complimentary treats

and beverages will also be available. Tickets are available online (ktwh.org) or in person at Cedar Coffee Company and at the KTWH studios in Two Harbors. Advance tickets are $15 each or $35 per family. Tickets are $18 at the door, the day of the event. This annual fundraiser supports Two Harbors Community Radio, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which is volunteer driven and listener and community supported. To learn more, follow Two Harbors Community Radio on Facebook, or call 218-595-6195. KTWH studios are located on 7th Avenue in the Harbor Landing building.

Lovin’ Lake County has generously contributed to the promotional budget, and several local businesses have also sponsored the event.

—Michelle Miller

This year’s Master of Ceremonies is singer, songwriter, and story weaver John Sonofmel [LEFT]. Also performing is Two Harbors 15-year-old composer and pianist Edward Ojard [RIGHT]. | SUBMITTED

Two Harbors Community Radio is all volunteer driven. | DON OLSON

Navigating the Cook County real estate market A glimpse into 2024 trends

GRAND MARAIS—After a busy couple of years, small indications suggest the Cook County real estate market is starting to stabilize.

“The pace is not as frenzied,” said John Oberholtzer, a Cook County realtor with TimberWolff Realty. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the real estate market along the North Shore, particularly in Cook County, hit an unprecedented peak as remote work became more common, creating opportunities for individuals to transition from the city to rural small towns.

Simultaneously, homebuyers also explored vacation rental investment opportunities and weekend retreats.

While the post-pandemic real estate market may not be as frenzied, some segments of the market are still in high demand. In late January, Cook County Assessor Bob Thompson released an article about the start of the 2024 real estate market. In the report, Thompson said he has observed a slowdown in buyer demand during the past year. However, he added, “One thing is evident: Cook County continues to attract buyers, even when other markets have been turning the corner and are starting to see leveling or downward trends.”

While the demand remains high in Cook County, Oberholtzer said, “Buyers are becoming a little more picky in the marketplace.” Rather than purchasing vacant land or fixer-uppers, buyers are focused on Lake Superior shoreline property. He said Lake Superior properties are “still going fast, and you’re probably going to have multiple offers.”

In his report, Thompson recognized a similar trend: “Lakeshore properties are still in high demand, especially Lake Superior shoreline.” The market value for shoreline properties purchased in 2023 has also increased. In analyzing the 2023 home sales data, Thompson identified three trends in Cook County concerning market value: non-lakeshore residential sales showed a trend of 7.95 percent, shoreline residential sales displayed a trend of 13.3 percent, and vacant land over 34.5 acres trended 11.8 percent. “According to these figures, if you purchased a lakeshore property in January 2023 at fair market value, the data suggest the market value of that property has increased about 13 percent since it was purchased,” he said.

The shift in demand towards Lake Superior property is attributed to various factors, Oberholtzer said. Given that many of the local contractors are booked well in advance and with the cost of lumber and construction, many homebuyers are seeking turn-key homes. “That’s a real hurdle for buyers to be thinking about,” he said. “A lot of the folks shifted into buying something pre-existing. And it has really changed the dynamic.”

As for buyer demographics, Oberholtzer said that since he started in the real estate industry 20 years ago, most of his clients were predominately retired individuals seeking a second home. That trend has now changed with the onset of remote work. In recent years, he has noticed more 30- to 40-year-old technology professionals seeking a getaway place or investment opportunity along the North Shore. “Some of those people are doing a little vacation rental to make that dream happen sooner,” he said.

Sue Nichols of Red Pine Realty in Grand Marais has observed a similar pattern in recent months. She said many of the interested homebuyers are individuals from the Twin Cities seeking a vacation home. “So that’s what we’re seeing. Not a ton of local buyers.”

According to January 2024 MLS real estate data, the median listing home price in Cook County is $499,000. Given the lingering strong demand and moderate home inventory, Nichols said buyers are not offering much more than the asking price. “We haven’t seen the competition where you get people offering more than asking.”

Looking towards the remainder of 2024 and the years ahead, Nichols and Oberholtzer said they are eager to see how the numerous apartment housing developments proposed by the Cook County Housing Redevelopment Authority will alter the real estate market. A 51-unit mixed-income multifamily apartment building is slated to begin construction in spring 2024. In addition, progress on various other proposed apartment housing developments is underway.

Oberholtzer said, “I’m still hopeful that all that works in a sensible way and really good meaningful housing for people.”

Nichols said she believes the availability of apartments in Grand Marais will allow many seniors to transition from single-family homes into smaller residences, allow-

ing more supply of homes on the market. Nichols said there is a strong demand for affordable housing in Grand Marais, and the potential apartment developments will “open up a lot more housing, hopefully, for local people.”

Another projection Nichols has for the coming years is the trend for younger indi-

viduals to join together to buy land and build new housing models or smaller structures. “I think that’s another thing that I hope to see happen in the next couple of years.”

—Kalli Hawkins

According to January 2024 MLS real estate data, the median listing home price in Cook County is $499,000. Given the lingering strong demand and moderate home inventory, Sue Nichols of Red Pine Realty said buyers are not offering much more than the asking price. | RED PINE REALTY

In recent years, TimberWolff realtor John Oberholtzer has noticed more 30- to 40-year-old technology professionals seeking a getaway place or investment opportunity along the North Shore. | RED PINE REALTY

SPONSORED

Solar Co-op Can Make Your Solar Dream a Reality

Sam Savoie has been interested in sustainability and the idea of solar power for quite some time. “Being able to produce solar power on your roof and use that power in your home—it’s amazing,” said Savoie, a resident of Grand Marais and a new solar owner.

But with the cost and hassle, actually getting solar panels installed on her home felt like a long shot. “It always seemed like something difficult to do and likely too expensive for me,” she said.

Then, in 2023, that changed when she heard about the Solar United Neighbors Duluth and Arrowhead Solar Co-op. Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is a national nonprofit that helps people go solar and has completed over 414 solar co-ops, helping over 8,700 people go solar. Locally, the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP), Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light (MNIPL), and One Roof Community Housing partnered with SUN to promote the solar co-op.

At a SUN solar co-op info session, Savoie learned the basics of solar technology, the economics of solar, and how the solar co-op works to save members time and money.

After that, she saw a path forward, and Grand Marais resident Sam Savoie is now a solar owner.

“All of a sudden, it seemed doable,” said Savoie. So, she joined the solar co-op.

Key to the process is that the solar coop leverages group purchasing power to get the best price and service on solar installs. SUN solicits bids from solar installation companies in the area. A committee of solar co-op members reviews the bids and picks the best offer.

“Going through the process hundreds of times has allowed SUN to perfect the bidding process,” said Bobby King, Minnesota state director for SUN. “Competitive bids from reputable installers saves solar co-op members time and money.”

For Savoie’s solar co-op, the selection committee chose Wolf Track Energy of Duluth as the installer.

Savoie sent Wolf Track information about her electricity usage and they created a proposal for rooftop solar for her home.

Savoie purchased her home through a program run by One Roof Community Housing that helps low- and moderate-income residents become homeowners. Because of that, SUN helped secure additional funding for her project and One Roof staff worked closely with her to make sure it was financially viable. With the discounted group rate on panels and this additional funding, she realized she could make it work. Savoie signed the contract and a few months later, panels were being installed on her roof. Due to her roof size and household energy consumption, she ended up getting a 3.69 kWh system that includes nine panels (three on the upper roof, six on the lower roof).

Similar to other Minnesotans with solar, her array is connected to the electric grid. When her panels produce power that her home isn’t using, it’s diverted to the grid and shared with neighbors. She’s paid by her utility for the power that’s sent back to the grid for use by others. This process is called “net metering.”

“When the sun is out and you are producing energy, the electricity you don’t use literally goes to your neighbors,” King said. “Net metering encourages homeowners to go solar and recoup their investment in solar. It encourages distributed solar, which is essential to a more sustainable and resilient electrical grid.”

Savoie’s experience with the Duluth and Arrowhead Solar Co-op demonstrates the reason the group exists in the first place; to make going solar easier and more affordable—and to make solar dreams a reality!

Even though the cost of solar has fallen dramatically in the last decade, it has still felt out of reach for many families. Not to mention that figuring out if your home is good for solar, how many panels you’ll need, what your electricity bill will look like after solar, how long it

will take to pay off the system, and finding an installer who you trust can all feel like a giant headache.

Before joining the co-op, Savoie had questions like, “How much is it going to cost? How am I going to get everything organized?” But joining the co-op gave her the resources and knowledge she needed. She suggests that anyone interested in solar check out SUN’s solar co-ops.

And with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022, the federal solar investment tax credit was increased to 30 percent and extended for another 10 years. This means that 30 percent of the cost of going solar can be used as a credit against federal income tax

owed. The IRA also expands this incentive to entities that don’t pay federal income tax like schools, local governments, and churches by offering a cash reimbursement. The IRA includes other clean energy incentives, like home battery storage and electric vehicle chargers.

The solar co-op helps folks get solar and solar helps lower electricity bills. But it does more than that. It lets people have agency over where their power comes from. It also supports the growing clean energy economy in Minnesota. And, it creates a more resilient electricity grid and generates energy locally.

Go Solar with the Solar Co-op!

The Duluth and Arrowhead Solar Co-op is open to new members and is free to join. There is no obligation to go solar. Everyone who joins will get a solar proposal from the selected installer at the solar co-op price. You decide if you want to move forward. SUN staff are there to help with any questions along the way.

Learn more and join online at: solarunitedneighbors.org/duluth.

CCLEP is one of the local partners promoting renewable energy in Cook County. Learn more here: cookcountylocalenergy.org

Wood stoves

DULUTH—The house is dark and quiet. It’s an early winter morning, or the tail end of a long workday. You strike a match and light the kindling pile you’ve prepped in the wood stove. Flames start darting to and fro, jumping and weaving from stick to stick. As the stove heats, the cast iron begins its chorus: a deep hum that envelops you, pulls you in, glues you to your chair. The iron’s constant tick ratchets up, creating a pulse, a heartbeat in the room. It sounds like a train now, running down the rails, as if the stove is moving. As the red hot bed of coals grows, the stove’s steady pace brings you back to a primitive place. Somewhere deep in our subconscious we instinctively know this soothing melody. It means safety, security, and renewal. With our homes now warmed and protected, we can embrace the basic rhythms of life.

CIVIL UNREST

Yet wood stoves are about more than just comfort and coziness. For today’s users, as for previous generations, a home wood stove is a mark of independence.

Rodger Holland, owner of Holland and Hearth, a Minnesota company that represents wood stove manufacturers, explains this mindset: “Wood stove sales have been really, really good. It has to do with civil unrest. It has to do with being forced into electricity, and its costs. Forcing people into electricity has not made electricity cheaper. It’s about dependability. People just want to be a little more self-reliant.”

Holland, former chair of the national Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association, says customers like controlling their own home-heating destiny, no matter what it takes: “It’s that sense of security. ‘I can burn my coffee table if I want to.’”

Matt Boo and Jason May, co-owners of Duluth Stove and Fireplace, hear similar

traits from some of their customers, who want to burn “my way.”

Holland adds: “People like being a little bit off the grid. There’s a sense of something primitive. Fire is very primitive. It’s something we’ve always had, and that gives a sense of security.”

This fierce independent streak gives wood stove owners the satisfaction of cranking out the heat to their own drum.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION: AN EVIL, OR AN OPPORTUNITY?

Modern-day wood stoves have “changed entirely” from the highly inefficient stoves of the past, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Stove manufacturers have improved their combustion technologies—the EPA left them no other choice. The EPA has steadily lowered acceptable emission levels for new stoves ever since 1988, and any home wood stoves sold since that year must have an EPA label on them. First the EPA shot for a maximum of 11 grams of particulates per hour (g/h), then the agency dropped that to 7.5 g/h in 1992. In 2015, this target was lowered to 4.5 g/h, and on May 15, 2020 (right when covid was hitting hard), the EPA reduced its standard to a miniscule 2.0 g/h of particulates.

Holland notes the effect these restrictions have had on the American stove industry over the last 36 years: “In the 1970s, during the oil embargo, there were 653 wood stove manufacturers in the U.S. Now, there’s about 18. The ones that folded weren’t willing to put the technology into the stove.”

Yet Holland, Boo, and May credit the EPA for taking the wood stove market to a better place. “If we could say one thing to the world, it’s that we’ve decreased our pollution by 98 percent,” says Holland.

That’s not to say that everybody has adopted new stoves. “There’s still lots of old wood stoves out there that people hang on to,” Holland notes.

If you’re looking to buy your own new home wood stove, now might be a good

time. The federal government has incentivized wood stove purchases since 2020 by offering a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost, including installation, up to $2,000 per year for buying an EPA approved stove. The “Wood and Pellet Heater Investment Tax Credit (ITC)” is meant to get people to heat with wood—a renewable resource—rather than with fossil fuels like natural gas, propane, and heating oil.

These clean energy tax credits provide consumers with lower taxes in exchange for doing what’s right for the environment.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR STOVE

One thing about owning a wood stove: you interact with it. This isn’t turning a dial on a thermostat. Lighting the fire, regulating the air intake, and adding fuel is a truly hands-on process. You will get to know your stove’s “character,” and develop a “touch” for making it burn right.

A big part of operating a stove is following the daily routines of wood burning. This includes emptying the ash pan, making kindling, bringing in wood from the outdoor pile, and cleaning the hearth regularly. Not to mention the yearly harvesting (or purchasing) of wood, as well as splitting and stacking it. This is a months-long process, year after year. For some people, this routine is a burden. For others, it’s a pleasure.

Holland calls stove owners’ daily routine their leash: “Having a wood stove is like having a dog. You’ve got to be home to feed it, and clean it, and so on.”

Of course, for those seeking a more “convenient” solution, there are gas stoves, pellet stoves, and even electric stoves available.

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE

Wood heat connects us to the very beginnings of humanity. Even today, the social aspect of having a burn with family and friends is one of wood heat’s greatest benefits.

Wood stoves heat your home, they soothe your soul, and they transport you with their dancing flames and humming sounds. They also make environmental and economic sense.

“The government is giving you an incentive to put one in,” notes Boo. “And there’s a reason for that: Wood is renewable, it’s local, it’s inexpensive, and it’s clean.”

If you’re willing to handle your fuel and follow a daily routine, the wood stove can be the best appliance in your house.

—Chris Pascone

Wood stoves can heat your home and soothe your soul. | CHRIS PASCONE

ENLIGHTENED DESIGN

As an architectural firm with a storefront in the Duluth community, CF design has both opportunity and obligation, to raise design expectations and promote a “culture” of design awareness and appreciation when and how we can. CF design has always been a visual and demonstrative organization, with our works and our processes on display. Even so, there are influences upon the design process, so fundamental to the way we do work and think, as designers and architects, that the public little comprehends and, therefore, considers inconsequential. Sometimes lost in abstractions, the “influence of light” is one of those primary creative inspirations. One needs to be “present in the moment” to recognize the poetry and power of light. Calm and observation are required to understand the long-term potentials and the teaching “opportunities” that light may deliver. In today’s world, to simply “be still” requires willful accommodation. So, CF design has made a place to come to know and appreciate light in a restful and relaxed setting.

You who live on or visit Lake Superior’s shore should know your common ground. Many great lighting designers lived on or near the sea. Poul Henningsen, designer of the iconic PH series of lights, worked in Copenhagen. Santiago de Composta, home of designer Arturo Alvarez, reaches into the North Atlantic. The wonderful Spanish lighting company, Marset, is in Barcelona, on the Balearic Sea. On our doorstep, the Inland Sea, there is a sense of light... modified, rarified, and transformed by Lake Superior. This light is a brighter, more complex, more enabled light than many other places on earth. Amidst so many manifest lessons, Duluth is a place where telling the story of light and lighting is expressly relevant.

Here, next to CF design at 310 East Superior Street, in Duluth, I have recently opened LUMstudio, a curated collection of the finest in-

ternational lighting. LUMstudio exhibits Italian, Spanish, Danish, and Dutch lighting fabricators together with an assortment of fine U.S.-made fixtures. Because observation needs “intentional stillness,” our collection is supported by comfy furnishings from the iconic MillerKnoll Collective and Portugal’s Branca Lisboa. The most famous of our lights, Poulsen’s PH5—designed 100 years ago, is the only incandescent fixture. This is an all-LED exhibit. The stories of making and inspiration play quietly on a large screen, in studio. We want LUMstudio to cultivate a culture of light here on the shores of Lake Superior, by demonstrating the diffraction, diffusion, and reflection of light that are each so much a part of this place and our natural experiences. Amidst planes of cold, still water and blue sky, the graded diffusion of sea smoke and fog in moonlight, the spectrum of color at sunrise through lucent atmosphere and clouds, the linear shimmer on a wave threshold, the concentric circles of light around the brightest stars and planets on a warm and humid night... These are performances we can anticipate from light.

Good architecture is specific to its site; the on-site state of light is considered very early in the process of design. At CF design, we look at Lake Superior and are moved to match its potency in our built spaces. Light, in all its forms and form-making, “settles” projects into the natural conditions. At CF design, we begin our work with this premise and we realize our work by holding on to the capacity of light—both generated and natural—to render tangible surface, form, texture, and color.

At LUMstudio, our collection simply celebrates light. Please join us.

—Cheryl Fosdick

CONVENTIONAL

LAKE

ADJUSTABLE

Tapping into the Earth North Shore groundwater quest

NORTH SHORE—Even in a place as water-plentiful as the North Shore, most residents rely on groundwater to supply their homes with water. Drilling a well and having a septic system installed, neither of which are cheap, are two of the first steps for anyone looking to build a new home in the boreal forests of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Ontario.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), about 30 percent of the world’s freshwater is underground, compared to the 1.2 percent that is accessible on the surface. The rest of the Earth’s freshwater is frozen in glaciers and ice caps.

So, it makes sense that despite the thousands of lakes in our collective backyard— including the world’s largest by surface area in Lake Superior—most homes along the shore would get their water from the ground. Unless the home is directly on a lake, the nearest source of water is likely beneath its foundation.

Ironically, accessing groundwater on the North Shore can be a real challenge given the unpredictable “fractured rock formations” that define the local geology, according to the Minnesota Department of Health’s Well Owner’s Handbook: A Consumer’s Guide to Well Water in Minnesota.

To access the vast stores of ground water on the North Shore, companies like Rasmussen Well Drilling in Two Harbors, McKeever Well Drilling in Schroeder, and NWO Well Services in Thunder Bay utilize modern drill rigs, equipment, and techniques to cut through the soil and bedrock.

Equally important to knowing how to drill, however, is knowing where to drill.

Anticipating a project’s needs and challenges before drilling is an important service that well drilling companies provide. While it is impossible to know with 100 percent certainty what to expect before installing a well, familiarity with local geology and access to modern data sets allow these companies to make good, educated decisions and give customers an idea of what to expect, should they decide to have a well put in on their property.

Before well companies were able to tap into modern data sets and the wealth of knowledge on local geology that exists today, however, water dowsing was a common technique used in deciding where to find water.

Water dowsing—also known as water witching or divining—is a practice that has been used for centuries to locate underground sources of water. Practitioners of water dowsing usually use a Y-shaped stick or rod to guide them, though pendulums and other similar items are at times used depending on the dowser’s beliefs.

According to the USGS’ webpage on water dowsing, most “dowsers”—also referred to as diviners or “water witches”—hold one prong of the forked stick in each hand with the “palms facing upward” and the long end of the “Y” sticking up in the air. The dowser then walks back and forth across the area that they are searching for water, and, allegedly, as they pass over a hidden source of

water, the stick is said to be drawn down to the source of the water.

Dowsing is still practiced today, and, according to the American Society of Dowser’s, it is used to search for more than just water. Diviner’s utilize their “senses” to find hidden minerals, ores, gemstones, oil, and spiritually significant sites within the earth.

Intuition, it might be said, is at the heart of water dowsing. And, though you are unlikely to find a modern well drilling outfit relying on a possibly thousand-year-old practice according to some sources, to decide where to start drilling, most well-drilling today still starts with an educated guess. They just rely on data sets, geology, and experience, rather than water dowsing to decide where to look for water.

For further reading on the practice of dowsing provided by those who believe in its effectiveness, the American Society of Dowser’s provides several resources and historical references on their website: dowsers. org. Keep in mind, however, that there has yet to be any scientific evidence, in the conventional sense, that water dowsing is an effective method of finding groundwater.

At the end of the day, even in places where it’s challenging to predict the accessibility of groundwater, most wells will eventually find water. A dowser would have to be incredibly unlucky to “drill dry,” especially on the North Shore.

If you are trying to decide where to drill a well on the North Shore, the best thing to do is to call the local experts. Rasmussen, McKeever, and NWO have decades of experience drilling for water in our fractured rock formations, and will give the best approximation of where the water is and how best to access it.—Eric Kaira

Soaring high Adventures at Sky Zone trampoline park

DULUTH—If the weather isn’t cooperating, and your kids are bursting with energy, Sky Zone in the western part of Duluth is the perfect place for them to have a blast and burn off that excess energy by bouncing around on trampolines.

“It would be difficult not to have fun here,” said Noah Beyer, a manager at Sky Zone, a trampoline park. He said his clientele is mainly kids but that lots of parents and grandparents accompany the children, and many adults decide to jump with them. In fact, they call their clientele jumpers.

Massage chairs are an option for adults who want to relax while the kids burn energy.

Stepping into the building, a scene unfolds with adults and children patiently waiting in line to acquire their distinctive orange socks. The air is filled with the joyful squeals of children, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Everybody needs to have our special socks with grip on the bottom,” said Beyer. This prevents slips and falls.

The building spans about the size of a football field, featuring interconnected trampolines. Some trampolines feature an obstacle course; others have a dodgeball court, a basketball court, or a zipline and a special area to test your parkour skills.

“Parkour” is a French word and refers to the skill of navigating your body from one place to another in the quickest manner possible. The sport has roots in martial arts and military training.

The palpable excitement is evident throughout the visit.

Though to the unaware observer, it might seem like everyone is jumping around and doing whatever they want, that’s not so. There are employees called flight crew to ensure participants don’t rough house or do things that could lead to dangerous behavior. Flight crew employees Scott Polaski of Superior and Dylan Johnson of Duluth said interacting with the kids makes their jobs fun. Flight crew members don’t stay stationary. As kids naturally gravitate to a new station, the flight crew follows them. The park aims to have at least one fight crew member per 35 children. The park is sold out once the number of jumpers exceeds the number

of flight crew members on duty. Beyer suggests buying a membership or tickets online to avoid being turned away due to reaching a limit of jumpers per flight crew ratio.

Jill Gaffke watched as her son Emerson, age 5, walked a beam positioned over a pit of foam blocks. Usually, Gaffke has Emerson’s 6-month-old sister in her arms, but tonight she didn’t, so she decided to join Emerson. The two held hands and jumped together into a pit of foam blocks.

“It’s definitely something to do for those long winter months,” she said.

There’s no age requirement for jumping. From 2-year-olds to seniors, everyone is welcome. Kids age 2 and under enjoy free admission with the purchase of a full-priced adult ticket, encouraging families to make memories together.

Mary Bronson recently purchased a membership for her child Arielle Terch, age 6. “It is a good place for her to run around

Sky

and exercise during the winter months,” Bronson said.

Sky Zone is a popular spot for children’s birthday parties. The website lists different types of packages, which include soda and pizza from Papa John’s, which the Sky Zone staff will deliver to the table.

Beyer said residents of Thunder Bay often travel to Sky Zone, highlighting its regional popularity. The park features various attractions, from trapezes to climbing walls, offering visitors a diverse range of activities.

Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or seeking a family-friendly adventure, Sky Zone is an exciting destination for all ages. So, leave your coat at the door, grab your jumping socks, and get ready to soar high at Sky Zone.

Sky Zone is located at 101 N. 46th Ave. W. Duluth and is open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. most days. Check out the website for more details: Sky Zone.com/duluth.

—Naomi Yaeger

There’s no age requirement for jumping at

Zone. From 2-year-olds to seniors, everyone is welcome. | NAOMI YAEGER

Unfortunately, this year’s edition of Sleeping Giant Loppet has been cancelled due to a lack of snow. | ANNA BUSKE

Sleeping Giant Loppet

Thunder Bay’s ski tradition

THUNDER BAY—Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is a rugged place. Huge cliffs overlooking Lake Superior form the rocky shape of Nanabijou—the Ojibwe spirit of deep water lying in slumber on the Sibley Peninsula, where the park unfolds.

But for many residents and visitors to Thunder Bay, one particular event each year—the Sleeping Giant Loppet cross-country ski festival—turns the legendary giant figure into a real-life fulfiller of skiing dreams. This competitive and recreational event, which can be done in 50, 35, 20, and 8 km distances, takes place annually the first Saturday in March— since 1978.

It’s the event’s remote location, enormous forested course, and exceedingly strong race organization that makes the Sleeping Giant Loppet a premier Canadian ski tradition. Sadly, this year’s event is a no-go due to the lack of snow.

FAR OUT

How many ski festivals can brag of taking place in a Provincial Park? Not many.

Sleeping Giant Loppet event coordinator Peter Gallagher sees the event’s location as one of its main attractions: “People in Thunder Bay, in particular, view the park as a magical place. They go there for summertime camping, or for starting kayaking trips on Lake Superior. It’s also a ski destination in winter. The tradition of going to the park for this event since 1978 is a big attraction.”

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park has a very remote feel. It takes an hour’s drive east from Thunder Bay to get to the basically unpopulated Sibley Peninsula. Once in the 61,157-acre park, established in 1944, skiers can complete a circle around sprawling Marie Louise Lake (the 20 km course), or propel themselves up into the park’s highlands (the 35 and 50 km courses). The 50 km course

has sections remote enough that Gallagher refers to them as “the bush.”

Yet race volunteers are there for support, attending to skiers at checkpoints along all courses. Participants can get water and nutrition at these aid stations, as well as benefit mentally from the cheerful show of support from the hundreds of volunteers.

A CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

It feels like the whole city comes out to support the skiers on race day. Thousands of people line up around the finish line to support the 900 or so racers in an average year, with about 300 of those doing the 8 km race.

Gallagher notes the transition to inclusivity over time: “The 8-kilometer event is the largest today in terms of participation. Originally the Loppet was a 50 kilometer event for hardcore skiers. Gradually, as we’ve been

able to add more distances, more people have had a chance to be involved.”

Gallagher has put in 44 years of volunteer service organizing the Sleeping Giant Loppet. He joined race coordination in 1980, two years after the inaugural Sleeping Giant Loppet was conducted by the student-run outdoor recreation club at Lakehead University.

Today, Gallagher is proud of the variety of race experiences the Loppet provides. “We can serve the elite athletes who are there to vie for the championship, but also the grandparents who are there with their grandchildren, introducing them to the sport,” explains Gallagher.

The cultural aspect of the race was a draw last March for June Lee, born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. Lee now resides in Duluth, where she took up cross-country skiing for the first time two years ago. Lee registered for the 20 km Loppet in classic tech-

nique in 2023: “Twenty kilometers was the most I’ve ever skied at one time. I started out with a little fear, but all the people were super chill and friendly. The volunteers were cheering me on with bells.”

Lee was also blown away by the course’s scenery. “It was a bright sunny day, and as I was skiing around Mary Louise Lake, with Lake Superior close by, I had to step out of the immaculate track at one point and take a few photos. I had to capture the moment— where else will I ever ski in those kinds of surroundings?”

2024 IS A SNOW NO-GO

The 2024 edition of the Sleeping Giant Loppet, like other cross-country ski events across the Midwest this season, had to be called due to a lack of snow.

Maybe this cancellation balances out the incredible luck racers had to squeeze in the March 2020 edition of the Loppet. “We were unbelievably fortunate to run that race one week before the whole world shut down,” reminisces Gallagher, who’s seen it all in his 44-year volunteer tenure.

For those already dreaming of future Sleeping Giant Loppet renditions, it’s worth noting some of the event’s other special features.

One is the 50 km “skiathlon,” where racers compete for the first half of the race using classic technique, and then switch to skate technique on a different pair of skis for the second half.

Gallagher explains: “The skiathlon racers start with the other classic 50-kilometer events. We transport their skate skis to checkpoint three, which is 22 kilometers away, and they switch over at that time. I know a local skier who didn’t think she could do 50 kilometers in one technique, but by combining two techniques, she did the whole 50-kilometer course. After she did it the first time, she said it was her most fun ever at a cross-country event.”

Another special feature are the classic and skate courses groomed side-by-side. The whole 50 km course has both a classic track and skate lane, as does the 20 km course. This makes couples skiing very enjoyable when using two different techniques. It also makes it easier to talk with other skiers. A majority of the skiers in the 20 km race are recreational skiers who support each other on the course.

Finally, all participants get a sweet reward for their sweat and toil. June Lee recounts her experience: “The energy at the finish line felt amazing. The volunteers ran over to me after I completed the race and gave me a chocolate medal. I thought that was super creative.”

GIANT VOLUNTEER HEARTS

The Sleeping Giant Loppet’s most special features is its hundreds of volunteers. Everything is done by volunteers, all the way to the excellent volunteer event photographers.

Gallagher recounts the dedication needed to conduct the race. “On the 50-kilometer course, there’s one checkpoint 10 kilometers inland, and so the volunteers use snow machines pulling sleds to haul in the gear and supplies the day before. Those are the kind of logistics we work on.”

The Sleeping Giant Loppet is not your average cross-country ski festival. The striking scenery, the exquisite course in a Provincial Park, and the giant volunteer hearts all make this race a unique tradition—when the snow decides to cooperate.—Chris

Pascone

The Sleeping Giant Loppet 20 km course has ample room for three people to ski side-by-side. | CHRIS PASCONE

Fire destroys historic Lutsen Resort

LUTSEN—On Tuesday, Feb. 6, at approximately 12:24 a.m., Cook County Dispatch was notified of a fire alarm at Lutsen Resort. Staff from Lutsen Resort reported smoke coming from the floor in the lobby area.

The responding units were Lutsen FD, Tofte FD, Tofte First Responders, Grand Marais FD, Maple Hill FD, Gunflint FD, Finland FD, Silver Bay FD, Grand Portage FD, and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

The main lodge building was completely engulfed, leaving the historic landmark a complete loss. No injuries were reported

and there were no guests on site. The resort posted on Facebook Tuesday morning, mourning their loss.

“The Historic Lutsen Lodge has been taken by a devastating fire this evening… A total loss to the lodge building… Fires in 1949, 1951 and 2024. The amazing memories made here are in our hearts as we begin the heavy weighted process to rebuilt back better.”

The State Fire Marshall is investigating the incident.

A fire recently destroyed the iconic Lutsen Resort. | ANDREW SCHULTZ

A Homeowner’s Journey Building a High-Performance Home

By Kalli Hawkins

A 40-year aspiration to build a highperformance, sustainable house is finally nearing the end for Vic Germaniuk.

Germaniuk, a Thunder Bay woodworker, started constructing his dream high-performance house in the fall of 2022. To take the leap and fund the project, he sold most of his 170-acre property in Kaministiquia, approximately 25 miles northwest of downtown Thunder Bay.

Before the sale, he split off five acres of the property to build his long-awaited 1,700-square-foot two-story vision.

As a woodworker, he has accumulated various building techniques and skills that allowed him to design and build his home with the help of contractors and willing friends. His decision to construct a sustainable, energy-efficient home stemmed from a lifelong passion. “I’ve always been interested in energy efficiency,” he said.

A photo of Vic Germaniuk’s high-performance, sustainable house as of mid-January. While plenty of work still lies ahead, he remains hopeful that he will be able to move into his new 1,700-square-foot home by this fall.

Germaniuk is one of many homeowners in Canada and beyond who, in recent years, have embraced the decision to build a home that prioritizes sustainability and energy efficiency. He said the trend is prevalent in Canada and knows two other Thunder Bay residents currently constructing a net-zero or high-performance home using creative techniques.

High-performance homes or net-zero homes incorporate elements to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. The homes are meticulously engineered to achieve a balance between the energy they consume and the energy they generate.

Common highperformance home elements include:

• Triple-pane windows and insulated frames

• Optimized orientation of the home to collect, absorb, and distribute solar energy through windows

• Mechanized ventilation systems to improve ventilation and optimize energy usage

• Smart home technology to monitor and control energy use

• High-performance insulation

• Airtight construction to minimize leaks and cold spots

• Energy-efficient appliances

Incorporating these elements into a home can significantly reduce an individual’s environmental impact while increasing energy savings. According to the Canada Energy Regulator, Ontario’s residential sector accounts for 19 percent of energy demand.

In the United States, the residential sector accounts for 21 percent of the total U.S. energy consumption.

Since construction began in 2022, Germaniuk has carefully designed and mapped out every aspect of his new home, even going above and beyond Ontario’s building code or recommended insulation R-values in numerous areas.

The recommended R-value for attic insulation in Ontario is between R-50 and R-60. The R-value measures the insulation’s ability to resist heat traveling through it. The higher the number, the better thermal performance.

“I think I’m going to be pressing for close to R-100 in my attic,” Germaniuk said.

He has taken a similar approach to his exterior walls. For southern Ontario, the recommended R-value for exterior walls is R-22 to R-28. “My walls are going to be R-50,” he said, “which is way beyond code as well.”

“So why am I doing this?” Germaniuk said. “I’m doing it because, number one, I think it’s the responsible thing to do as a builder. Number two, I’m hoping that whoever I sell it to down the road, they really appreciate what they’re getting.”

With the above-and-beyond approach, a common concern for homeowners is over-insulating, leading to trapped moisture and decreased air quality. Germaniuk says he has recognized this concern and has considered solutions to counteract it. One of the solutions is to include Innotech tilt-andturn windows in the home’s design.

The European-style windows, manufactured in Canada, provide optimized energy efficiency and air tightness. “Not only are they well built, but they’ve got really high-efficiency ratings,” Germaniuk said. “They’re a little expensive, but they’re really nice.” The windows have a multi-tilt function to allow the homeowner to easily adjust the tilt to achieve comfortable ventilation in all four seasons.

The second solution Germaniuk will incorporate is a heat recovery ventilator

(HRV), a mechanized ventilation system designed to replace stale indoor air with filtered fresh air from the outside. Through a heat exchange process, it captures heat from the outgoing air to preheat the incoming cool air. The process significantly lowers energy costs and improves indoor air quality. “So you need an HRV in the house,” Germaniuk said. “I’m a bit of a freak about energy efficiency.”

Due to the fact that he plans to use an electric boiler for a heating system, he said his home won’t be completely net-zero, but it will be close. Once construction is complete and he can move in, he plans to add solar panels to the roof, further increasing his energy efficiency. “Right now, I’m not getting into that because I just got so much to do,” he said.

While the exterior completion of the home is slated to wrap up this fall, Germaniuk is eagerly waiting to move inside and begin designing his new home’s interior. As a woodworker, he said, “Getting into the interior of the house is my passion. My art.”

“This is what I live for. I’m getting excited about that,” he said. In the midst of building his home, Germaniuk is also designing and building his cabinetry. He said putting up four exterior walls is relatively straightforward and doesn’t allow for creativity or personalization compared to the interior design aspects. “There’s a little more character on the inside.”

Another area for some personalization is the interior and exterior doors. “I’m actually building my doors right now,” Germaniuk said. He is currently building the door jambs, which typically are 5-6 inches. However, given his above-and-beyond wall thickness, “I’ve got 16-inch door jambs. So it’s very, very big, heavy, cumbersome—a lot of labor,” he said. “If you want energy efficiency, you should think about your doors. Doors are very important because you lose a lot of energy.”

Similar to his passion for cabinetry, Germaniuk is thrilled to be crafting his front

door. “I approach every door as a blank canvas,” he said. “I like to do something artistic, always on front doors.” His front door will include a design of an eagle inspired by Haida art. Haida are an Indigenous people who live along the coast of British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska and are known for their craftsmanship and mariners. “I’m a huge fan of Haida art,” he said.

Amidst the distinctive charm of his doors and cabinetry, Germaniuk will finish the interior with energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting. “The whole thing, it’s a big package,” he said. “There will not be incandescent light anywhere.”

While plenty of work still lies ahead, Germaniuk remains hopeful that by this fall, he can move into his new 1,700-square-foot energy-efficient home. Since beginning the construction project, Germaniuk said he had learned a lot of valuable lessons about building a house and the difficulties it brings.

From navigating lumber and material costs, construction schedules, and his learning-on-the-job mistakes, it has been challenging. One of the most recent lessons he learned involved using standard OSB sheathing on the first floor of his home and factory-applied permeable grey panels on the second floor. “Big mistake. I should have used the grey panels everywhere. I had to purchase a very expensive blue permeable membrane and then pay a helper to install the product to cover the raw, cheaper OSB panels,” he said. “It’s very important to use a factory-applied panel or an applied membrane that has a high perm rating so it allows moisture to escape through the walls while not allowing air to penetrate the envelope.”

Despite the challenges and lengthy workload ahead, Germaniuk said he looks forward to the first winter storm in his new house.

“It will be 22 below, and I’m toasty warm. I’m playing pool, and outside, it is just storming and blowing. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Framing Germaniuk’s house for the outside walls. | SUBMITTED

Concrete day on Germaniuk’s house. | SUBMITTED

Shoveling snow seemed to be a daily occurrence last winter. | SUBMITTED

Surfing Superior Keeping the Stoke Alive on a Cold, Cold Lake

By Eric kaira

Imagine a cold, dreary April day on Lake Superior.

The sky is overcast and gray. Sleet is falling onto the patches of snow and ice that linger on the exposed trunks of trees, whipped sideways by a steady northeast wind. Standing on the shore, just out of reach of the largest waves, the only sounds that can be heard are those of bending trees and crashing water.

For most people, jumping into Lake Superior on a cold, windy day sounds like the definition of insanity, but for the North Shore surf community, days like the one described above are when the lake is at its best.

“Up here, it doesn’t matter how cold it is—when the surfing’s good, you gotta go,” says Jerome “Jerry” Fischer, owner of The Back Alley in Duluth. “You just never know when they’ll be back.”

“People think we’re crazy, surfing out in the cold water,” says Adam Goplin, a local “legend” who learned to surf in Oregon, before moving to Duluth with his wife and kids in 2015, “but it’s not as bad as it looks.”

“The wetsuit technology has come a long way since people started surfing the Great Lakes,” continues Goplin. “A lot of times, the only thing that’s keeping me from surfing longer on a cold day is that my shoulders ice up—it’s hard to paddle when your shoulders are covered in ice.”

For some surfers, the fact that surfing is often best on “bad weather days” was the reason why they got into the sport in the first place.

“I’d always see people surfing on days where I didn’t know what to do,” says Kyle Johnson, Duluth-based adventurer who has been surfing for just under two years. “Surfing happens in that in-between season when bike trails are closed, but there isn’t enough snow to ski.”

“On the crappiest days when there is nothing else do,” continues Johnson, “that’s usually when there are waves.”

Surfing has been happening on the Great Lakes since at least the 1940s. Recently, however, it has gone through a relative “explosion” in popularity according to Jerry and the other surfers interviewed for this article.

Now, when the waves are “good” at some of the more popular surf spots like Park Point and Stony Point, it’s not uncommon to see lines of neoprene-clad people in the water out chasing waves.

“Within the nine years that I’ve been surfing [the North Shore],” says Goplin, “I’ve seen the amount of people out surfing on any given day quadruple in size.”

“It can be frustrating at times, no doubt,” continues Goplin, “But you know, I’m a part of it, I’m a part of the chaos. And, so long as people aren’t in over their heads, are being safe, and are keeping the stoke, it’s awesome that they’re out there. I love that the sport has caught on like it has, and I’m grateful for the community that has sprung up around it.”

At the center of the growing North Shore Surfing community is The Back Alley—a small coffee/surf/local art shop tucked away down an alley in west Duluth.

Deceptively inconspicuous, The Back Alley, as a business, offers surf gear, specialty coffee drinks, local art, and “events

| CARLY WEISS

for all,” but its value to the community goes well beyond the quality of its goods.

“We’re all about supporting local,” says Jerry, “from local coffee roasters to local artists to local board brands like Castle Glass. It’s not all about surfing—that’s just something that brings us together, something that helps us connect.”

“The way I see it,” continues Jerry, “community is everything, and The Back Alley is here to be a good host for its community.”

Since opening in 2018, The Back Alley has become a gathering spot for the local surf scene. It’s both a place where beginners can go for gear and insight into how to safely get into the sport, and where seasoned surfers can find reliable “beta” on surfing Superior’s unique, often elusive, freshwater waves.

“When someone new to the sport comes in to buy a board,” says Jerry, “we educate them. We walk them through ‘Superior surf etiquette,’ how to read conditions, and how to stay safe and make good choices. Helping people find the right gear is one thing, but making sure they know how to use it, that’s a big part of what we do.”

“We don’t offer classes yet,” continues Jerry, “but we’re all about education, and classes are something that we’re trying to figure out. We’re hosting a kid’s camp at Park Point, though, this summer, which is going to be super fun.”

Jerry grew up in Ellsworth, Wis.,—a small farming community with a population of 3,000—before moving to Duluth for school in 2008. Except for a three-year stint between

Duluth surfer Carly Weiss covered in ice.

2014-2017 living in St. Paul, Jerry has considered the North Shore home ever since.

“Like a lot of people, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life when I started school,” says Jerry, who graduated UMD with a degree in economics and marketing.

“Not going to lie,” continues Jerry, “I’ve forgotten a lot of what I learned [in school], but the experience was great for networking, for connecting with the community.”

While living in St. Paul and working other jobs, Jerry and his wife Riah had the idea to start hosting “Back Alley Pop-up” events out of the garage in their apartment unit. At these pop-ups, Jerry and Riah sold vintage finds, local art, a variety of “cool stuff” from family and friends, and leather camp chairs—a.k.a “Jerry Chairs”—that Jerry still crafts and sells today at The Back Alley.

“We had three [Back Alley pop-ups] down in St. Paul,” says Jerry. “My family would come and bring stuff, and we had friends that would bring gear that they didn’t use, art, and whatever else. A lot of the local brands that we carry at The Back Alley—like Leather Works Minnesota—first started working with us at the pop-ups.”

“But then,” continues Jerry, “when we moved back up to Duluth, people kept asking us where our next pop-up was going to be. That’s when we started looking for space, and when the idea for The Back Alley started to come together.”

It wasn’t a seamless transition from pop-up events to a brick-and-mortar shop, but with the support of Jerry and Riah’s impressive community of surfers, artists, and craftspeople, coupled with a serious effort on their part—juggling jobs and parenthood in the pursuit of this dream—The Back Alley eventually transformed a forgotten garage in Lincoln Park into the social hub that it is today.

Sipping coffee at The Back Alley as a non-surfer, I found the culture and the community atmosphere of the place to be contagious. Everyone who walked in the door that morning seemed to know each other, and those who surfed were happy to share their experiences on the water.

“The first day that I stood up and actually made a turn,” says Brent “Butch” Johnson, who bought his first surfing set-up from The Back Alley two seasons ago, “that was an amazing day, but, in my mind, that’s not what it is all about.”

“The in-the-water experience,” continues Butch, “where you’re sitting on the energy of the Lake, just feeling it, and looking back at the city, or out across the Lake. Just being in the water, in a lot of ways, that’s the best part of surfing.”

“My first time out in the waves, I wouldn’t describe it as scary,” says Carly Weiss, a Duluth surfer who, according to Jerry, absolutely rips on a surfboard, “but it was hard, it was really hard.”

“I was surprised at how discombobulating it was,” continues Weiss. “I just felt like, I had this little board under me in these massive waves, and I didn’t know what to do with it, so I kept getting tossed around. Learning [to surf] was humbling.”

Since catching her first wave in 2018, Carly has become a passionate member of the surf community—surfing

Superior in all of its weather, and traveling as far as California, Mexico, and Puerto Rico in search of waves.

“There is a strong community of female surfers up here,” says Weiss. “I know a number of women who surf, and it’s fun to be in the water with other women.”

“When I first learned to surf it was mostly with guys,” continues Weiss. “It’s fine to surf with guys of course, but it’s comforting to surf with other women.”

For more information on what it’s like to surf on the North Shore, stop by The Back Alley for a cup of coffee, or visit: backalleysurf.com.

Surfing has been happening on the Great Lakes since at least the 1940s. | KEVIN JACOBSEN

The North Shore surf scene is definitely alive and thriving. | BOB KUBITZ

Back Alley owner Jerry Fischer and Navie holding up a Castle Glass board. | JERRY FISCHER

By Breana Johnson

Where’s Winter?

According to the calendar, Tuesday, March 19, marks the first day of spring. Yet all winter long it has felt more like spring due to the lack of snow. Fingers crossed that winter arrives soon, even if it’s fleeting. In the meantime, here are some winter-inspired pieces—may they help keep the spirit of winter alive just a little longer.

“Ready to Fly” is a 22x30-inch water media piece by Ely artist Nancy Ensley. | NANCY ENSLEY

This 11x14-inch acrylic on canvas piece, titled “Under the Wonder,” was created by Duluth artist E.J. Klepinger. | E.J. KLEPINGER

Created by Ely artist Joe Baltich, this 14x18-inch watercolor piece is titled “The Shack.” | JOE BALTICH

This tissue paper collage, titled “Now Up from the City Competitors Did Come,” was created by Duluth artist Jordan Sundberg, owner of Tin Cup Design. | JORDAN SUNDBERG

This digital illustration by Washburn, Wis., artist Jamey Penney-Ritter is titled “Nordic Skiing.” | JAMEY PENNEY-RITTER

Whitewater Jewelry by Betsy Anderson

North Shore Art with Southwest Style

CREATIVE SPACE: By Dana Johnson

The wild beauty of the North Shore provides endless inspiration to the thriving community of artists who call it home. Lake Superior captivates with her many moods, rivers cascade over cliffs and beach pebbles to meet her waves, and eternal views of water, forest, and sky help artists bring creative visions to life.

Betsy Anderson is one such artist. “Any time I can see Lake Superior I am inspired,” she says. Her business, Whitewater Jewelry, is named for the Baptism River flowing near her home in Finland. After visiting and vacationing on the North Shore for many years, Anderson and her husband moved to their cabin after retiring in 2015. “We chose the area because of the remote beauty and proximity to all that we love—trails, skiing, hiking and of course Lake Superior.”

The Northland isn’t the only place Anderson finds inspiration. “I started this during the Southwestern silver and turquoise jewelry craze of the ‘70s,” she explains. “I still love the look, and have tried to incorporate some of the Southwestern and Native flavor in my pieces, along with my own spin.”

Turquoise and jasper are featured prominently in her work, alongside Lake Superior agates. “I have been lucky enough to visit Arizona and Mexico throughout my life, and I really try to soak up the culture,” Anderson muses. “The Navajo jewelers in Arizona are amazing.”

Whitewater Jewelry, owned by Betsy Anderson, is a unique fusion between the North Shore and the Southwest. | SUBMITTED

Anderson’s bold jewelry features polished semi-precious stones set in sterling silver. She creates unique and elegant pendants, earrings, bracelets, and rings in her home studio. “My work definitely has a bit of a ‘throwback’ feel to it,” she says. When asked what pieces she enjoys making the most, she exclaims, “I love making them all! Especially when I feel like I have a beautiful stone and great design to work from.”

Anderson has always been a creative person, which led her to pursue an art major in college. “After college I was lucky enough to meet some silversmiths who let me apprentice with them and learn the skills needed to make silver jewelry,” she recalls. “I was able to do this for several years and sell my work at art fairs.”

Life took Anderson in a different direction when she became an information technology project manager at Polaris headquarters in Medina. Art took a back seat for over 30 years until she retired from the corporate world and moved north. “I loved my job, but having the freedom to be creative on my terms is just amazing,” she explains. “Dream come true!”

The technique Anderson uses to create her jewelry is called silversmithing, which involves sawing components out of metal and using an acetylene torch to solder them together. The first step in Anderson’s creative process is choosing the perfect stone. “I am lucky enough to get to Arizona once a year for stone buying,” she says, “and there are also some amazing sources of Lake Superior agates right here on the North Shore.” Once the setting has been designed, the metal is filed, sanded, and polished, until finally the stone is fixed in place.

“The more complex the piece, the more challenging—multiple components requiring more solder joints, multiple stones, and intricate designs all add to the challenge,”

Anderson says. Larger jewelry pieces are more difficult as well.

The local community has been an asset, allowing Anderson an opportunity to collaborate with galleries and promote her work alongside other talented North Shore creatives. “I also love to attend events like Art Along the Lake and meet other artists in the area,” she mentions.

When she’s not creating jewelry, Anderson is often enjoying the beauty of nature. “The Superior Hiking Trail is one of my ‘happy places,’” she says. “I also love downhill and cross country skiing.”

She has favorite places to visit in the desert as well, including the “whole state” of Arizona, but specifically the mountains and desert near Tucson and Phoenix, and the lakes and mountains near Payson. “So much natural beauty.”

Whitewater Jewelry is a unique fusion between the North Shore and the Southwest, a reflection of an artist inspired by two very different, beautiful cultures. You can find Anderson’s jewelry at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais, Siiviis Gallery in Duluth, Eckels Pottery and Fine Craft Gallery in Bayfield, Wisc., Waters Edge Trading in Tofte, and North Country Gallery in Lutsen.

Building Home Together

In the Home issue, we always like to highlight some of the Northland’s essential programs. The nonprofits listed here are just some of the organizations that make the Northern Wilds feel like home. They can’t do their important work without your support. Whether you call the North Shore home or just want it to be, please consider these organizations in your annual giving.

North Shore

Healthcare Foundation

Northshorehealthcarefoundation.org

WTIP North Shore Community Radio

WTIP.org

We are an independent nonprofit (not part of the hospital or clinic) benefiting health care and emergency services in Cook County, since 1993. We proactively identify opportunities to expand equitable health care and healthy living and champion solutions through funding, education, and advocacy. Supporting the Health Care Foundation means supporting a huge variety of community programs which assist children, families, seniors, all health care agencies, EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement and Search & Rescue, AND our schools! We incubate solutions that fill gaps in Cook County and are a community leader. Currently, we are home to and leading:

• CCMN Restorative Justice

WTIP connects, reflects, and builds community on the North Shore. Connect down home here and join our family. Use our website or QR Code. You listen to WTIP ad-free, but it isn’t free! Your support creates the programming you love.

Grand Marais Playhouse

Grandmaraisplayhouse.com

The Grand Marais Playhouse has been building community through theater since 1971! Our local community theater provides high quality productions and educational opportunities with and for Cook County and its visitors.

Historic Cook County

Cookcountyhistory.org

• The Truancy Solutions Program

• Healthcare Workforce Solutions

• The Early Childhood Hub

With a single donation to the North Shore Health Care Foundation, you make your dollar go the farthest and positively impact thousands of lives, locally. We are a guiding light and support for our health programs, so they can be there for you!

Cook County Higher Education

Mycche.org

There is something for everyone at CCHE: take a class to learn bookkeeping or Ojibwe; get a tuition scholarship to attend college online; buy a refurbished laptop for $75; and get help with all of your training or education needs—FOR FREE!

Historic Cook County manages five historic sites dedicated to sharing our local history, culture, and art. Visit our website to learn about our blacksmith shop, history museum, Chippewa Church, fish house, and historical art gallery. Become a supporting member today!

Grand Marais Art Colony

Grandmaraisartcolony.org

The Grand Marais Art Colony, established in 1947, fosters the exploratory growth and experimental power of artists through classes for all ages and skill levels, studio access in its five studios, and community events.

North House Folk School

Northhouse.org

Care Partners of Cook County

Carepartnersofcookcounty.org

We provide volunteerbased services and vital support including senior rides, chore assistance, care coordination, caregiver coaching, community education and advocacy. We journey with older adults to help them achieve their vision of aging well in this beautiful community.

Gunflint Trail Historical Society

Gunflinthistory.org

North House Folk School enriches lives and builds community by teaching traditional crafts on the harbor in Grand Marais. Donor support fuels unique events, local school programs, scholarships, and so much more! Become a member and get involved.

The GTHS serves to preserve the cultural history of the Gunflint Trail, to acknowledge the significance of the natural environment and its influence on Indigenous people to recent inhabitants, and to provide opportunities for exploration and education at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center. A membership to the GTHS is a key part of the success of Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center.

NORTHWESTERN FUR TRAPPERS CONVENTION

March 1-2

The annual Northwestern Fur Trappers Convention is back and will take place at the CLE Heritage building in Thunder Bay. There will be vendors, fur handling, demonstrations, competitions, exhibits, raffles, and live and silent auctions. The convention will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free. Also on Friday is the trapper membership meeting and rendezvous, held from 6:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. at the CLE Coliseum. You can take part in a smorgasbord, dance, and silent auction on Saturday, held from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Cheers Pub. Tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for kids ages 4 to 9; kids under 4 are free. facebook.com/northwestfurtrappers

NIPIGON ICE FEST

March 2, Saturday Ontario’s longest running premiere ice climbing festival, held in Nipigon, will feature ice climbing clinics for beginners and intermediates, as well as a mixed climbing clinic, and women’s LGBTQIA+ clinic. In the evening, there will be a feature presentation from 7-9 p.m. by Stas Beskin, who has been climbing since the age of 12, as well as a gear swap and raffle, fun games, and outdoor adventures. All proceeds from the Nipigon Ice Fest go to next year’s Ice Fest. Event registration required. outdoorskillsandthrills.com

PATSY O’BRIEN & DICK HENSOLD

March 9, Saturday The Celtic duo of Patsy O’Brien and Dick Hensold will perform in Grand Marais on March 9 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. O’Brien is a

singer, songwriter, and guitarist from County Cork in Ireland. Hensold is the leading performer of Northumbrian smallpipes in North America. Together they play a concert of Celtic music that is both traditional and innovative, focused and eclectic. The program is half songs and half instrumentals, including a variety of songs from Britain and Ireland, and traditional and historical tunes from Cape Breton Island, Scotland, Ireland, and Northumberland. Offering a broad range of Celtic styles, the program also features an impressive range of expression—from jaunty and humorous, to soulful, led by O’Brien’s warm and

multi-colored baritone voice, Hensold’s variety of pipes and whistles, and the nimble instrumental virtuosity of both musicians. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $18 general admission, available at the door or online in advance. northshoremusicassociation.com

CABIN FEVER RELIEVER

March 10, Sunday Two Harbors Community Radio (KTWH) will host its 8th annual Cabin Fever Reliever Variety Show at the Two Harbors High School on March 10. This year, a special addition has been added with the Native Nations Expo, held

The Celtic duo of Patsy O’Brien and Dick Hensold will perform in Grand Marais at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on March 9. | SUBMITTED

The annual Northwestern Fur Trappers Convention features vendors, demonstrations, exhibits, competitions, raffles, and more. | SUBMITTED

The Nipigon Ice Fest is Ontario’s longest running premiere ice climbing festival. | SUBMITTED

We’re a credit union . Of course we won’t reveal your secret identity.

from 1-3 p.m. in the great hall. Cabin Fever Reliever is a celebration of local and regional musical talent, Indigenous culture, and community radio. This year’s performers include singer, songwriter, and story weaver John Sonofmel (Master of Ceremonies), David Huckfelt, the Oshkii Giizhik Singers, Michael Laughing Fox Charette, and Edward Ojard. Performances will take place in the auditorium from 3-5 p.m. Advance tickets ($15 each or $35/family) can be purchased online or in-person at Cedar Coffee Company and the KTWH studios. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, the day of the event ($18). ktwh.org

WOOD WEEK

Use your giving power to help fight food insecurity. Simply visit your local branch, pledge a monthly donation, and we’ll take it from there. Or, sign up using our eBranch app. northshorefcu.org/hungerheroes

March 11-18 Wood Week, held at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, explores the many ways wood can be shaped into useful, beautiful, and satisfying objects. Each  course offering dives deep into a particular form or tool, but a shared interest in what can be made from trees links everyone who joins in on the fun. There will be two featured guest instructors this year—Julia Kalthoff and Mark Gardner—as well as a host of talented North House “regulars.” Friday, March 15, is the Carver’s Conference, featuring a day full of demonstrations, presentations, community gatherings, and a wood-fired pizza potluck dinner. Registration for courses is required. northhouse.org

ST. URHO’S DAY FINLAND CELEBRATION

March 15-17 Join the town of Finland for a weekend filled with family-friendly fun. This year marks the 49th annual St. Urho’s Celebration and the theme is St. Urho Travels the World. Festivities will include the Miss Helmi Talent and Beauty Contest on Friday, a parade at noon on Saturday, and a raffle drawing on Sunday. Raffle tickets can be purchased from various

area businesses. There will also be live music, facepainting, food, kids activities, and more. facebook.com/sturho

ARROWHEAD HOME & BUILDERS SHOW

April 4-7 The Arrowhead region’s largest annual spring event for building, remodeling, and home and garden

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

Head to the North House Folk School in Grand Marais for Wood Week, held March 11-18. | SUBMITTED

This year’s St. Urho’s Day celebration in Finland is themed as St. Urho Travels the World. | SUBMITTED

March

NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Thru March 3

Radical Stitch Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Wall Pocket Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru March 17

Indigenous Ingenuity: Traveling Exhibition Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru March 18

Annelisa Roseen: Today I Am Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru March 20

Allison Baker: Tender Vignettes: A Class Narrative Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru March 31

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

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

Thru April 8

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

Thru April 22

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

Feb. 29-March 3

Rabbit Hole 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) St. Scholastica Theatre, Duluth, visitduluth.com

March 1, Friday

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

Singing with the Stars 6 p.m. NorShor Theatre, Duluth, duluthplayhouse.org

TBSO and Flamenco Caravan: Fusion Heat 7:30 p.m. Italian Cultural Centre, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

March 1-2

Northwestern Fur Trappers Annual Convention 11 a.m. (9:30 a.m. Sat.) CLE Heritage Building, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/northwestfurtrappers Newsie’s Jr. 7 p.m. (& 2 p.m. Sat.) Trinity Hall Theatre, Thunder Bay, applauzeproductions.com

March 1-3

Wawa Ice Fishing Derby Wawa, Ontario, wawaicefishingderby.com

March 1-31

Artist of the Month: James Ellis (Reception March 1 at 7 p.m.) Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

March 1-April 27

Liz Bucheit: Hand of the Huldra Exhibition (Reception March 1 at 5 p.m.) Nordic Center Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

March 2, Saturday

Nipigon Ice Fest Nipigon, outdoorskillsandthrills.com

Trout Derby 9 a.m. West Bearskin Lake, Gunflint Trail, ridgeriders.club

Cook County Winter Market 10 a.m. The Hub, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com/events

Artist Talk: Liz Bucheit 1 p.m. Nordic Center Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

March Double Film Screening 4 p.m. & 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, Facebook Groups: Grand Marais Film Society

March 2-3

Spring Shopping: Craft & Vendor Fair Clyde Malting Building, Duluth, glitteratievents.com

March 3, Sunday

Easter Egg/Pysanka Workshop Noon, Toy Sense, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/toysensetb

Virtual Author Talk with Thomas Peacock: The Wolf’s Trail 3:30 p.m. Zoom, mycche.org

Three Dog Night 5:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

March 3-8

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

March 4, Monday

Arrowhead Library System’s Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. Clearwater Grille, Duluth, alslib.info

March 5, Tuesday

Matinee Musicale: Kenny Broberg, Piano 7:30 p.m. UMD: Weber Music Hall, Duluth, matineemusicale.org

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit 7:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

March 6, Wednesday

Menopause the Musical 2 7:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Free Staci Lola Drouillard Presentation: Chippewa City 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org

March 6-16

The Snow Queen 7:30 p.m. Cambrian Players, Thunder Bay, cambrianplayers.com

March 7, Thursday

E.A.T.S. Fundraiser 5 p.m. Cook County Middle/High School, Grand Marais

Rachel Coyne Artist Talk 6 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com

March 7-8

Women & Company: A Celebration of Women Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

March 7-30

Tell Me On a Sunday Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

March 8, Friday

Friday Night Reels: The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org

March 8-10

Charles J Futterer Memorial Bonspiel Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais, cookcountycurlingclub.com

March 8-24

Winter Plein Air Exhibition (Reception March 8 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

March 9, Saturday

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

Second Chance Art Sale 10 a.m. The Hub, Grand Marais, carepartnersofcookcounty.org

Poplar Haus Drag Races 11 a.m. Poplar Haus, Gunflint Trail, ridgeriders.club

Spoon Carving 12:30 p.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

The Sled-Dog Soiree 7 p.m. Washington Elementary, Ely, facebook.com/ northernlakesarts

Patsy O’Brien & Dick Hensold 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com

9 to 5: TBSO with Badanai Theatre Co. 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbso.ca

March 10, Sunday

Daylight Saving Time Starts

Olympic Gold Medalist Tyler George: Keynotes & Curling Kick-off Noon, Duluth Curling Club, duluthcurlingclub.org

Cabin Fever Reliever Variety Show & Native Nations Expo 1 p.m. Two Harbors High School, ktwh.org

SunFunDays: Huldra Crowns: Liz Bucheit and Silver 1 p.m. Nordic Center Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

March 11-18

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

March 12, Tuesday

Art Night Out with Alison Baker & Annelisa Roseen 5:30 p.m. Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

March 13, Wednesday

History Happy Hour: St. Urho’s Day 5 p.m. Boathouse Brewpub, Ely, rootbeerlady.com

March 14, Thursday

Corb Lund: El Viejo Release Tour 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

March 14-23

Fiddler on the Roof 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, facebook.com/northernlakesarts

March 15-17

St. Urho’s Day Celebration Finland, facebook.com/sturho

Dunlop Mixed Bonspiel Duluth Curling Club, duluthcurlingclub.org

March 15-24

Queens 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

March 15-31

Next to Normal Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

March 15-April 28

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

March 16, Saturday

Saint Fennessy 4k 10 a.m. Hermantown, yaf.grandmasmarathon.com

DSSO: Survive & Thrive: MW5 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, dsso.com

Viva Vivaldi! 7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s United Church, Thunder Bay, consortiumab.org

March 17, Sunday

St. Patrick’s Day

March 18-31

Grace Klein: Weaving Color Into Comfort Ely’s Historic State Theater, northernlakesarts.org

March 19, Tuesday

Make a Butterfly House 2 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com

March 20, Wednesday

Skid Row & Buckcherry: The Gang’s All Here Tour 7 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

March 21, Thursday

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

March 22, Friday

Sam Hunt with Brett Young & Lily Rose 7:30 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth, decc.org

TBSO: Requiem 7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s United Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

Ponyfolk Concert 7:30 p.m. Nordic Center Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

March 22-23

Music of Praise & Hope 7:30 p.m. (3 p.m. Sat.) First Lutheran Church, Duluth, arrowheadchorale.com

March 22-May 5

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

March 23, Saturday

Making Soaps & Salves Workshop 9 a.m.

Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

Easter Bunny Visit 11 a.m. Toy Sense on Bay Street, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Ostara Easter Market Noon, Keskus Court, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/borealmuseum

SHTA Webinar: Running the Entire SHT in 5 Days 2 p.m. Zoom, superiorhiking.org

Blues House Party 5 6 p.m. DaVinci Centre, Thunder Bay, thunderbaybluessociety.ca

Camp Aqua Affair 7 p.m. Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, glaquarium.org

Cambrian Players Improv Show 7:30 p.m.

Cambrian Players, Thunder Bay, cambrianplayers.com

Chris Locke Comedy Show 7:30 p.m. Red Lion Smokehouse, Thunder Bay, jumpcomedy.com

March 23-24

Motorhead Madness 10 a.m. Decc, Duluth, motorheadmadnessmn.com

March 24, Sunday

Sip N’ Shop Local Artisan Spring Market 11 a.m. Delta Hotel, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/sugarandscrub

March 25, Monday

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

CareerForce Corner 10 a.m. Two Harbors Public Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com

Arrowhead Library System’s Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. Clearwater Grille, Duluth, alslib.info

March 29, Friday

Carving Your Clan Workshop with Jeffrey Tibbetts 1 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, twoharborspubliclibrary.com

March 29-30

Minnesota Ballet: Snow White Decc, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

March 29-April 21

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

March 30, Saturday

Treasures of the Earth: Local Art & Gift Fair 10 a.m. Peace Church, Duluth, wendyupnorth.com

Easter Bunny Visit 11 a.m. Toy Sense on May St. N., Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Kris Labelle: My Hometown Comedy Show

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

Derelicte 14: A Fashion Odyssey 8 p.m. Black Pirates Pub, Thunder Bay, definitelysuperior.com

March 31, Sunday

Easter

Bianca Del Rio: Dead Inside Comedy Tour 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

WEEKLY EVENTS

Tuesdays

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

Wednesdays

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

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

Colvill Dance Practice & Lessons 7 p.m.

Colvill Town Hall: 2963 Hwy 61

Thursdays

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

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

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

Saturdays

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

Sundays

Winter Fun Days (Thru March 17) 2 p.m. Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca

March 9 | 7:00 pm Arrowhead Center for the Arts 51 W. 5th St., Grand Marais

Tickets for sale at northshoremusicassociation.com or at the door starting at 6:00 pm

4 pm - 9 pm

10 am - 6 pm

11 am - 4 pm

The North Shore Dish Enjoying Hot Food at Home

By Virginia George

For a dining column writer, I don’t eat out much. I have a large family so it gets expensive, and I’m not close to any restaurants and live too far out for most delivery services to bring me food. And sometimes it feels like a lot of work to go into a restaurant, wait, decide what to order, wait, eat, pay, and then go home. I do, of course, have my favorite haunts and enjoy a meal I don’t have to clean up after, but I can also be kind of a homebody. I spend a lot of my time driving between my kids’ activities, and I often do not want to spend what time I do have at a restaurant. But, being such a busy household, sometimes I don’t feel like I have the time to properly cook a meal until my youngest should be in bed.

We can only do pancakes or frozen pizzas for dinner so many times before my 18-year-old tells me it’s time for some real food, so today I’ve got a few options for you to have a hot meal at home that you don’t have to prepare.

Lilly’s Asian Café, Two Harbors

Lilly’s Asian Café sits quaintly along Highway 61 in downtown Two Harbors. Occupying the old Blueberry House, Lilly’s has quickly become a local favorite for its generous portions of authentic Asian food. A stop at Lilly’s Asian Café is a destination for some, and a tradition for others.

Lilly’s strives to serve great-tasting food that is clean and healthy, and they are open about their ingredients, never using MSG. Meals are cooked to order, and Lilly’s strives to meet dietary needs of those who are gluten free or eat a low sodium diet. If you stop at Lilly’s, you know your food will be cooked conscientiously with minimal cooking oil and fillers.

Whether you are an aficionado of Asian food, or a casual consumer, Lilly’s Asian Café has choices. Lilly’s serves take out only, and has an organized and easy-to-navigate website for ordering. Major categories include vegetarian, chow mein, pho, curry, chicken, beef, turmeric and more. Once inside your preferred category, you will find treasures like General Tso’s chicken, shrimp curry, Sichuan tofu, and the pho special, which includes noodle soup with steak, meatballs, and shrimp. If you need authentic Asian catering, Lilly’s can do that too, and they have pre-built packages for 35 or 75 guests on their website, so there are

Whether you are an aficionado of Asian food, or a casual consumer, Lilly’s Asian Café, located in Two Harbors, has lots of choices, including shrimp wild fried rice. | LILLY’S ASIAN CAFÉ

no surprises. No matter what, a trip to Lilly’s Asian Café is sure to leave your taste buds and your belly satisfied.

Pie.ology, Thunder Bay

The motto of pie.ology is simple: Eat More Pie.

Pie.ology is a connoisseur of hand pies. What is a hand pie? Well, it’s something delicious encased in pastry or pie crust. The folks at pie.ology have taken the idea of hand pies to a level I’ve never previously experienced.

Pie.ology maintains a storefront on May Street South in Thunder Bay, where patrons can walk in and purchase ready to go hand pies, but much of their business is done by pre-order. Each week, pie.ology updates their current menu with the pies being offered that week. Customers place their orders, and pick up frozen pies at the store on Friday or Saturday morning at the Thunder Bay Country Market.

Hand pie options at pie.ology cover every meal, as well as dessert. Their breakfast hand pies are stuffed with eggs, cheese, meat (or not), and vegetables. The Huevos Rancheros pie is a perfect breakfast, with eggs, pico de gallo, refried beans, and cheese. Lunch and dinner hand pies are equally delicious and varied. BBQ bacon cheeseburger, the Angry Hawaiian, and spicy mac n’ cheese are just a few of the flavor-filled options, which leaves us with dessert. For dessert, you may want to try a bumbleberry pie with apples, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries, or the Mikey’s butterscotch, which is filled with butterscotch pudding. Several of the sweet pies also come vegan.

White Pine Lodge, Grand Marais

White Pine Lodge finds itself nestled along the shore of Poplar Lake in the Superior National Forest, among the twisting lakes and rivers that make up the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The lodge was established in 1936 as Northwoods Lodge, and has served paddlers, travelers, and adventurers for almost a hundred years.

Within the main lodge, you’ll find the White Pine Pub, known for its hand-crafted artisan pizza. In the evening, lodge owner Allison mixes up pizza dough to rise overnight and roll out in the morning, for fresh, flavorful pizza that you won’t forget. You can, of course, come and sit within the lodge and eat your pizza fireside with a drink and a friend, but if you’re feeling like fresh, artisan pizza at home, White Pine Lodge has take-and-bake pizzas as well.

White Pine’s specialty pizzas are reliable favorites. Their Superior Supreme pizza features Italian sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, and black olives, and the big bear buffalo chicken is topped with ranch sauce, buffalo chicken, green onions, and bleu cheese crumbles. They have vegetarian pizzas, and

| WHITE PINE LODGE

Pie.ology in Thunder Bay is a connoisseur of hand pies, with options covering every meal, including dessert. | PIE.OLOGY

seasonal recipes that rotate through, like this winter’s chickwauk chicken Alfredo. If you decide to dine in, you might finish off your meal with a fireside rootbeer float.

Eating out doesn’t have to mean being away from home. “Take and bake” options like White Pine Pizza and pie.ology mean you can have a meal in your refrigerator or freezer, waiting for a busy or rainy day where you

want a home-cooked meal without doing all the home-preparation. And Lilly’s Asian Café provides an option for a hot, ready-to-eat meal that is definitely better than my home cooking. They also are great options that travel well for friends or family who need a hot meal at home.

Located on the Gunflint Trail, White Pine Lodge offers hand-crafted artisan pizzas, like this chikwauk chicken Alfredo pizza.

Make It Easy Designing Health into Our Homes

By Hartley Newell-Acero

Do our homes affect our well-being? The answer to this question is an obvious, “Yes,” but just how that can happen might surprise you. Certainly, one’s health is impacted if there is radon in the air, lead in the water, and short circuits in the wiring. But did you know that your health can also be influenced by how your dishes are organized, where your shoes are stored, or the location of your phone charger? The field of behavioral economics sheds light on why this happens and offers tools to help us more easily make beneficial choices.

Behavioral economics delves into why people sometimes make decisions that aren’t in their best interest and suggests ways we can gently “nudge” ourselves toward more helpful choices. Nudges preserve our freedom to choose what we want, while ensuring that the choices that benefit us the most are the easiest ones to make.

How does this relate to our homes? A great deal! We can intentionally integrate supportive nudges into our living spaces. For example, most of us could do with eating more vegetables and less ice cream. We could try to brute force and willpower our way into those decisions or we could change our home environments so that those choices are pretty effortless. One option would be to cut up your favorite veggies and make a delicious dip to go with them. Store them in a container in the refrigerator on a shelf that’s at eye level. Now you can pull them out in an instant without much effort. And, if you decide to do so while making supper, you, and anyone that you live with, are likely to automatically start snacking on the veggies—no pressure or willpower required. Meanwhile, what about storing the ice cream outside? It’s still available whenever

Breakfast Ser ved All Day

Lunch • Homemade Soups

We’re Open Before t he Fish Bite!

Open 6 am - 2 pm Mon, Wed-Sat

6 am - 12 pm Sun

Closed Tues

you want it, but you have to think about, and put some effort into, getting it. Do you want to be more aware of your serving sizes? Try putting the large dinner plates on the top shelf and the salad plates where they’re the easiest to grab. They’re more likely to become your first choice, and since they’re smaller, it’s easier to “eyeball” an appropriate serving size.

How can you use these principles to help you move more? Look around your home to find ways that you can make it easier to be active and more difficult to be sedentary. For instance, where are your walking shoes? Are they stored somewhere that you’d have to go find them? Or are they next to the door where you could pop them on in a second and step outside? Many of us relax in the evening in front of the TV. While it may feel good to our tired brains, if we’ve been sitting at a desk all day, those additional hours of being sedentary aren’t doing us any favors. Are there ways to watch your shows and move too? What about keeping a yoga ball, exercise bands, or barbells nearby? Then you can gently bounce, stretch, or strengthen while you relax.

We can also nudge ourselves towards a healthier relationship with technology. Remember, the goal is to make intentional, beneficial use easy and to make mindless, harmful use more difficult. One way to start is to have a single charging station. This allows us to be separated from our devices at least occasionally. Another possibility is to use an alarm clock at bedtime and put your silenced phone on the other side of the room—or better yet, in another room entirely. This way you’ll still get up on time, but you won’t be tempted to check social media or the news first thing in the morning. I find that there’s a direct link to my phone use and whether I’ve got something fun to read. The more I’m enjoying reading,

the more the phone gets forgotten. Brainstorm your favorite phone alternatives and then put them where you’ll remember to use them.

The world around us is teeming with “choice architecture” that’s created to in-

fluence our behavior in ways that aren’t in our best interest. With a little planning and self-nudging, you can tailor your home so that better health is built in.

Loca t ed at t he s t op light in G rand Ma rais 218-3 87- 150 5

Northern Trails

Winter Tackle Tinkering

By Gord Ellis

We are still in the grip of winter here in the north, even if it hasn’t been quite as frosty as normal. Some anglers love getting out on the ice, drilling holes and jigging spoons. However, there are just as many (maybe even more) anglers who pine for the appearance of open water and getting out the canoe or boat. For these people, winter is a prime time to tinker with tackle. It’s fun, passes the time, and can increase both your catch, and number of opportunities, when the lake is open.

Here are a few tackle tinkering ideas.

Change the Hooks

I’m consistently amazed at how many people use dull, mangled or rusty hooks when they fish. When working as a fishing guide, I almost always check a customer’s lure or fly before they cast it. About 50 percent of the time, the hook point is not as sharp as it should be. This can usually be fixed with a hook hone. Yet, I still see an alarming number of hooks that are as dull as a hoe, or so rusty that just a little pressure

A silver trout spoon with a replaced hook and added reflective tape. Reflective tape comes in a variety of patterns and colours, including some very realistic looking scale patterns.

| GORD ELLIS

snaps them off. Changing out old hooks is the easiest way to improve your hooking percentage on lures.

There are a few high-quality hook options, but Gamakatsu, VMC, Mustad, and Owner all make replacement treble hooks for spoons, crankbaits, and spinners. Match the hook size you are replacing on your lure with the ones you buy. At times I will replace a factory lure hook with one a size bigger. I nearly

This Rapala Countdown gets a little red paint for extra appeal. | GORD ELLIS

always do this if the fish are larger predators such as chinook salmon or pike. Adding coloured replacement trebles to a spoon, spinner or crankbait also adds to the overall sexiness of the lure. I like red hooks, but green, glow, and blue hooks are also available. If you like to fish topwater plugs for bass, adding a treble dressed with some bucktail to the back of the bait can really increase the appeal. The bucktail pulses under the water as the plug gurgles on the surface.

If you are changing the hooks, you might as well look over the split ring you are attaching the hook to as well. Any split ring that looks stretched out, rusty or otherwise compromised should be replaced too. Components like these are generally available at sporting goods stores where fishing tackle is bought. If you don’t see them on the shelf, always ask your local dealer if they can order some.

Paint Night!

There was a time when fishing lures were quite plain jane. A red and white spoon was about as exciting as it got, with plain silver and brass blades being standard. These days, a quick gander at a fishing store will reveal lures in all colours of the rainbow. However, most of us have a lot of older lures in the box that could use a little sprucing up. Maybe that old red and white spoon needs a touch up? Or maybe those old plain jane spoons from the 80s could use a dash of colour. A few years ago, I went through some old boxes and dug out a few trout spoons that needed a little love. After adding new hooks, I busted out some craft store paint. Adding

eyes on crankbaits and spoons. The thinking is that predator fish focus on eyes when they look for food. It’s worth a try if you chase salmon, lake trout, pike or muskie.

Tape and Stickers

a line of red or blue along the edge of an old silver spoon really made a difference. Old spinners with dull or plain blades can also be updated with some dots of red, blue or glow paint. A few years ago, when I couldn’t find any Little Joe style spinners with white blades, I painted my own. Some white paint on the top of silver blades solved the problem. Even some newer lures can get a little added dazzle with just the smallest amount

of colour. The #9 Countdown Rapala is an all-time favourite lure of mine for any number of species. Yet, I’ve found adding a little extra red to the gill area of the Countdown, and even along the belly, can increase its productiveness—especially in places where red belly dace is a common forage fish.

Some anglers on the Great Lakes and in areas where herring are found will paint large

Another cool trick is to add a chunk of reflective tape to a lure like a spoon or spinner. This reflective tape comes in a variety of patterns and colours, including some very realistic looking scale patterns. My favourite tape is pearl or silver, as it has the subdued flash of a wounded baitfish. Most of the tape comes in squares or sheets that need to be cut to size. You then take the piece of tape, remove the backing, and add it to the lure. The difference reflective tape can make is often dazzling. Another cool tackle trick is to add small lead-based stickers to the bottom of floating or neutrally buoyant crankbaits. These stickers were sold under a variety of brand names, including “suspend-dots.” These weighted stickers were popularized by tournament bass and walleye anglers who wanted to get lures a little deeper, but without using sinkers. I’ve not seen them for sale as often in recent years, but I have a little surplus supply that I still dip into from time to time. Getting a crankbait to run a little bit deeper can make a huge difference when fish are light shy or used to seeing lures acting a certain way.

These are just a few of the ways you can improve your existing lure supply with some simple additions. If you’ve been looking for something simple and crafty to do this winter, tackle tinkering may be the thing for you.

These spoons are about to have all their hooks replaced. Changing out old hooks is the easiest way to improve your hooking percentage on lures. | GORD ELLIS

NORTHERN SKY

MARCH 2024

By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

In March, the iconic winter constellations come out in the south to southwest at nightfall. If you haven’t seen them yet, grab a star chart and enjoy everything from brilliant Sirius, at the bottom of the array, to aloof and majestic Capella, which caps the assembly.

Compare these stars to Jupiter, the beacon to the west. To the east, the spring constellation Leo, the lion, rears up as if preparing to drive the winter stars westward. Watch the waxing moon pass Jupiter on the 13th and the Pleiades star cluster on the 14th. The evening of the 18th, the moon will be close to Pollux, the brighter Gemini twin.

On the 16th, we get the highest first quarter moon of the year. This is no random event; at the spring equinox the Northern Hemisphere tilts most strongly toward the position of a first quarter moon. Conversely, on the 3rd a very low last quarter moon will appear in the

southern predawn sky close to Antares, the red heart of Scorpius.

Both quarter moons make good objects for binocular viewing. Being so low, the last quarter phase will be easier on the neck muscles. However, it rises at 1:54 a.m. and sets less than eight hours later, whereas the first quarter moon rises at 10:16 a.m. and sets more than 17 hours later.

The moon becomes full at 2 a.m. on March 25. Most of this full moon will pass through Earth’s penumbra—our planet’s light outer shadow. The penumbra will be hard to detect from Earth, but if you were on the moon you’d be watching a partial eclipse of the sun.

Spring arrives with the equinox at 10:06 p.m. CDT on March 19. At that moment the sun crosses the equator on its journey north and Earth will be lighted from pole to pole.

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

BY JOE SHEAD

WHY GO: Echo Lake is one of the most popular stocked trout lakes in the Finland area. The entire length of the lake runs along Lake County Highway 7 (Cramer Road) and numerous access points along the road pro vide good shore fishing. The lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout and splake, pro viding good action.

ACCESS: Unlike some stocked trout lakes in the area, where you have to fight your way through the forest to reach a largely un tapped gem, Echo Lake has easy access, and as a result, gets a lot of angling pressure. But that’s OK because the lake is well stocked and provides good fishing. The lake lies 16 miles northeast of Finland on Lake County Highway 7 (Cramer Road). The road is grav el almost the entire way from Finland and will make a mess of your truck, boat and equipment if you travel it during or right after a rain. A steep gravel access is located on the west end of the lake. It’s best suited to small boats. Parking is just along the road, with a wide spot suitable for about two rigs with trailers. There are no dock or restroom facilities, although there are outhouses at

Ninemile Lake Campground, just a half-mile southwest of the access. There are several cleared areas along the road, providing shore

ECHO LAKE

The lake is popular in both winter and summer and you’ll likely encounter other anglers.

GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Rainbow

SPLAKE: Approximately 2,500 fingerling splake are stocked each fall, although those numbers sometimes fluctuate as well.

Gunflint Falling Blowdown in the Boundary Waters

By Cary J. Griffith

University of Minnesota Press, 2024, $25.95

On July 4, 1999, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a bizarre confluence of meteorological events resulted in the most damaging blowdown in the region’s history. By the time the storm began to subside, falling trees had injured roughly 60 people, and most needed to be medevacked to safety. Amazingly, no one died. Known today by many as the 1999 blowdown, Gunflint Falling tells the story of this devastating storm from the perspectives of those who were on the ground before, during, and after the catastrophic event—from first-time visitors to the Northwoods to returning paddlers to Forest Service Rangers. This is a captivating page-turner that everyone will enjoy. —Breana

Johnson

Chasing the North Wind

By Kathryn Krotz-Finn with Richard C. Struck Northern Wilds Media,

2023, $19.95

In Chasing the North Wind, Kathryn Krotz-Finn shares her story of growing up in the late 1940s as one of the daughters of Clarence Krotz, a WWII bomber pilot who was largely responsible for introducing aviation to Cook County via Skyport Lodge on Devil Track Lake. She also provides insight into her experience as a female pilot during a time when it was unusual for women to fly planes. The story is filled with black and white photos, history of the Grand Marais airport, an aviation timeline of Cook County and Krotz-Finn’s life, aircraft and aviation terms, a profile of Clarence Krotz, and a Cook County aviation quiz. All proceeds from the book support the Cook County Historical Society.

Johnson

Sanctuary

By J. Kent Gregory

AuthorHouse, 2022, $13.99

Filled with images of the beauty of nature, Sanctuary is a collection of short stories and two novellas, set mostly in the great outdoors. Author J. Kent Gregory explores the basic human yearning for the peace and healing found in the natural world. In the title story, set on the North Shore above Duluth, two friends meet on a river to fish and find peace in the waning days of summer. Other stories include pheasant hunting one last time before a winter storm, and a man escaping the Northern cold and a failing relationship to fish the surf and the Gulf Stream, only to find connection and shared loss with a trophy sailfish. Full of amazing imagery and depth, Sanctuary is a delightful read filled with outdoor adventures that will fuel your soul. —Breana

Johnson

301 First Avenue

SAWTOOTH RACING DOG BLOG

BY ERIN ALTEMUS

I’m Feeling Lucky

At this point, I really started to dread Matt’s phone calls.

A few days after this, Matt packed up and left for Fairbanks with 14 dogs for the Yukon Quest 300. The forecast was for absolute frigid temps, -30 to -50F from start to finish. But Matt said he was mentally prepared and ready. He had drop bags packed and we flew in our friend Phil to Fairbanks to drive the truck to the checkpoints. Phil would stay for two weeks and train dogs with Matt after this. At the vet check however, Matt was told our vaccines were not on par with what the rules required.

Another phone call. We were both crushed. We didn’t care about racing, we just wanted the training miles. But there was nothing to be done. Neither of us had read the rules closely enough and the vaccine rules are different in Alaska from the races we run in the lower 48. So, Matt left Fairbanks and signed up for the Goosebay 150 the following weekend.

Mid-week the truck started gushing power steering fluid and Matt thought maybe he’d need to have it towed somewhere, but they figured out how to get it to Wasilla. Our kennel host was able to get our two teams to the Goose Bay race with her team on a very large dog trailer, so the broken truck didn’t completely stall out the plan there.

Ileft off my Dog Blog a month ago at a particularly unlucky time. Matt and Josh were on their way north mid-January with 20 dogs, thousands of pounds of meat and kibble, dog gear and sleds, and a broken trailer in British Columbia that resulted in a very expensive repair and a two-day delay on the road. They made it to Alaska, Josh flew home and the next day Matt called me at work.

“I need help navigating to a repair shop. The truck is spewing diesel and my phone has no data to use the GPS,” he told me.

I suggested that perhaps he just stop and call AAA (I was actually yelling and he said, “Stop yelling, you’re supposed to be the calm one here,” but this sounded like a scary situation). I pulled up a map on the computer and together we found him a place in Wasilla that was able to fix the problem in 10 minutes for free.

MATT SCHMIDT

After realizing we didn’t need to race in the Two Rivers 200, we took some extra rest at the checkpoints; and we were all better off. |

A couple days later, Matt called and said he was about to leave on a training trip with mushing legend Jim Lanier and former Duluth mayor and also musher Gunnar Johnson—“talk to you in a few days sweetie…” Then an hour later, he called and said it all fell apart; he wasn’t going.

Turns out he tried to hook up an 18-dog team to go up a river and couldn’t get the rope untied from the truck (that is a lot of dogs pulling), so he cut the line. Then, the dogs turned the wrong direction and he couldn’t stop the sled, so Lanier jumped on (he is in his 80s now) but they both couldn’t stop the team. Matt fell off, then Jim fell off, and the team was barreling toward a steep embankment that dropped down to the river, at which point they would have been long gone. Thankfully, the sled overturned and they bunched up and stopped—that’s when Matt bailed on the whole trip.

I told Matt that if he didn’t start the race for some reason, not to call me. After the race started and he was on his way, he started texting me. Things were fine. Instead of 30 below it was 30 above. They would run almost 80 miles to a checkpoint, take a long rest and run the 80 back. The GPS trackers didn’t work at all and it turned out that Matt’s was the only one that would never work, which in the second half of the race lead us all to believe that he never started the second half of the race, and I started thinking the worst—that for sure something terrible happened and he now wouldn’t even call me because it was that bad. But he was fine. When he got to the finish, no one was there because it was the final quarter of the Super Bowl and everyone was inside the bar watching.

I flew up the next day. We scrambled to finish my drop bags and get them to Anchorage on deadline. The truck was fixed and we packed it up and headed north again for a race near Fairbanks called the Two Rivers 200. I would run one team in the race. Matt would drive the truck.

I imagined this race to run along the rivers, mostly flat and rolling. I was the first musher out and the first thing we did was climb a huge mountain and I thought, this isn’t quite what I was expecting. The scenery was outstanding. We traveled along mountain ridges, made huge climbs and big descents. There were many trail intersections and toward the end of the first leg my team, in a split second, took a wrong turn. I no-

ticed right away, but still we were a team length into the wrong trail and I had to fold them back on themselves to turn them the right way and make a 180-degree turn down onto the right trail, but the back half of the team kept getting necklined into the trees and the long sled that I was running was incredibly difficult to turn.

Eventually, two other mushers stopped to help me and once the sled finally broke free, I jumped on. Then it flipped and I got dragged sideways down the trail—down, down—and I got my leg caught in some rope. Finally, we came to a stop. Someone in the woods kept yelling “Musher, are you okay?” No was the obvious answer here. But I wasn’t seriously injured. I couldn’t get up because my leg was pinned. “I just need a minute!” I kept telling her. Finally, I was able to get a snow hook in, my leg extricated, and get things upright and continue on. After that I cried a little and realized I didn’t need to race, so I took extra rest at the checkpoints; and we were all better off.

On the next leg, the dogs did it again. This time, it wasn’t even a trail intersection, they just veered onto someone’s driveway from the plowed road we were on before I even realized what had happened—and we had to do the whole thing again. Only this time, I didn’t get dragged anywhere.

There were really cold miles traveled along the Chena River and an insanely huge mountain we climbed in the last leg with switchbacks. At one point, around dusk, we were traveling through an open area, mountains all around, and the John Dunbar theme came on my music mix. If you can imagine anything more romantic than traveling through the mountains of Alaska behind a beautiful team of dogs with the John Dunbar theme in the background, I’d like to know. I felt really lucky.

Perhaps we can turn our luck around now. I do know I am very fortunate to be here. The mountains are calling. The dogs are strong and ready. The big race starts March 3. Please follow along at iditarod.com, or search Sawtooth Racing on Facebook.

The

during the Two Rivers

outstanding. | MATT SCHMIDT

The

|

MATT SCHMIDT

rest.

Gidaanikeshkaagonaanig Gidaanikoobijiganinaan Following the Ancestor’s Steps

Kitchibitobig

Ma’iingan

Grand Marais Wolf

By Zhaawanoogiizhik / Sam Zimmerman

This past  Gashkadino-Giizis (Freezing Moon/November), my  niiji (friend) and I had a Dark Skies gallery reception in  Kitchibitobig  (Grand Marais). Afterwards, we got in the car to head  zhaawanong (south) to  Onigamiising (Duluth). We were no more than  naanan (five) miles out of  Kitchibitobig (Grand Marais) when we saw a chi ma’iingan (large wolf) standing on the left shoulder of the road. My  niiji (friend) got to witness my u-turn skills on Highway 61 as I turned around to watch her. She had walked across the highway heading up the shoulder away from Gichigami (Lake Superior). The dibiki-giizis (moon) was full and she stood with such grace and strength under it. We had just spent the drive up to Kitchibitobig (Grand Marais) sharing stories and talking about what inspires us. I got home from the drive and fell into bed. I sketched her out a couple weeks later and have finally finished it. There are 321 anangoog (stars) for the day of the year of the exhibition opening.

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

Strange Tales

Crossing Lake Superior: Father Baraga’s Journey

By Elle AndraWarner

In the summer of 1846, a small 18-foot birch bark canoe travelled 40 miles across the unpredictable open waters of Lake Superior from the Apostle Islands, destined for Minnesota’s Grand Portage on the North Shore. On board was voyageur/paddler Louis “Dubois” Gouin and a passenger, the black-robed renowned missionary Father Frederic Baraga.

Nine years later in 1855, German traveller/geographer Johann Kohl, while visiting sites of Baraga’s Lake Superior Ojibwe missions with Canadian voyageur Captain du Roy (the cousin of Dubois), was asked, “Do you know the summer voyage our most reverend friend, your companion, once made in a birch bark canoe right across Lake Superior? Ah, that is a celebrated voyage, which everyone round the lake is acquainted... I will tell you.” The Captain’s account was later published in Kohl’s classic book, Kitchi Gami: Wanderings Around Lake Superior, published in 1860.

According to the Captain, Father Baraga had asked Dubois if he had a boat ready to leave immediately to cross Lake Superior, telling him he had a calling and that his presence on the North Shore was urgently needed. Dubois warned him it was impossible to cross straight across the lake. Rather, the usual canoe route to the North Shore would take eight days, paddling along the coastline so the canoe could be pulled on shore in bad weather. But Baraga, feeling no fear, took his seat in the canoe and was ready to go.

Their canoe, according to Dubois, “danced like a feather on water.”

Once underway, the weather was fine at first, just a light wind. Dubois had said they were “floating in a nutshell in the middle of the lake like a loon, without a compass and out of sight of land.” Then, a violent storm with strong winds started. Baraga remained calm, read, and gave Dubois encouragement, telling him, “God would guide them both to land.” Their canoe, according to Dubois, “danced like a feather on water.”

In the morning, shore was sighted—a craggy landscape with “long rows of dark rocks” being battered by strong surf. They

In the summer of 1846, after feeling that his presence was needed by the Ojibwe community in Grand Portage, Father Baraga enlisted a well-known voyageur to take him on a harrowing journey across Lake Superior from one of the Apostle Islands in a birch bark canoe.

| PUBLIC DOMAIN

luth, while another time he snowshoed 57 miles in a snowstorm. Overall, during his ministry to Native populations and early settlers in the Upper Great Lakes, he covered thousands of miles by foot, canoe, horseback, and snowshoe.

A prolific writer who was fluent in eight languages, he wrote many books, including 29 Native American books like a large Ojibwe dictionary, plus prayer books in the Otawa and Ojibwe dialects.

could not see an opening for them to land. According to the Captain, his cousin told Baraga, “We are lost, your reverence, for it is impossible for me to keep the canoe balanced in those double and triple breakers.” Baraga’s response was “Paddle on, dear Dubois—straight on. We must get through and a way will offer itself.”

Suddenly, the canoe was safely blown over a sandbar to an inlet at the mouth of a river, near present-day Schroeder. After beaching the canoe, Baraga and Dubois cut down a couple of trees and erected a wooden cross on their landing site overlooking Cross River (named after the cross). Known as Father Baraga’s Cross, it was later replaced by a permanent granite cross monument with a plaque about the harrowing crossing.

Father Baraga was born on June 29, 1797, in the manor house at Mala Vas in today’s Slovenia, the fourth of five children in a

well-to-do family. He attended University of Vienna, received his law degree, and then chose a career path to become a priest. The manor house and fortune he had inherited from his parents was given to his sister Antonia, as he broke off his marriage engagement. On September 21, 1823, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest.

Seven years later (1830), Baraga arrived in New York City to work as a missionary around Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, making frequent trips to Duluth and Grand Portage, as well as Fort William (now part of Thunder Bay) and Bruce Mines.

In 1843, Baraga founded the mission at L’Anse, Michigan and lived there until his death on January 19, 1868. It was here that he was nicknamed the “Snowshoe Priest” for his far-flung travels by snowshoe to his missions in winter. One winter, he snowshoed about 700 miles (return trip) to Du-

In his book, author Kohl wrote about Baraga: “There was hardly a locality of the lake which is not connected with the history of his life, either because he built a chapel there, or wrote a pious book, or founded an Indian parish, or else underwent danger and adventures there, in which he felt that Heaven was protecting him.”

In 1853, Baraga was elevated to Bishop, and became the first Bishop of today’s Diocese of Marquette. And 101 years later in 1952, the path to his sainthood was officially opened for cause and in 1973, the official process to sainthood started for the Venerable Bishop Frederic Baraga, and continues today.

Perhaps the formal process of canonization for the black-robed missionary Father Baraga—who took that dangerous journey 178 years ago across Lake Superior—will someday declare him a saint.

Father Baraga was known as the “Snowshoe Priest” for the hundreds of miles he travelled each winter as a missionary in the Upper Great Lakes area.

| PUROTICORICO VIA WIKIMEDIA

SALE PENDING

PURE, COOL, PRISTINE, SUPERIOR!

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

MLS#6108922 $949,000

Rare

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

MLS#6111272 $329,000

NEW! ENCHANTING LUTSEN LAKE SUPERIOR HOME!

Sprawling and accessible 200ft of ledge rock shoreline is perfect for toe dipping!

Lutsen Cascade Beach Road location, charming 2 bedroom with loft, ready for your own updating! Stroll around the accommodating lakeside deck, listen to the waves lapping the shoreline from this magical spot. Such a fantastic location, a short 15-minute drive to the Harbor town of Grand Marais on Lake Superior. Less than ten minutes to Lutsen Mountains

Ski and Summer Resort! The options are endless; Visit today and start living your dream on Lake Superior!

MLS#6112170 $998,900

GOOD LIVING IN SCHROEDER

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

MLS# 6111108 $279,900 PRICE REDUCED

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

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

MLS#6111584 $599,000

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

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

SILVER BAY AREA

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

SOLD

MLS#6108926 $108,000

LUTSEN AREA

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

MLS#6111272 $329,000

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

MLS#6108876 $67,000

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

SALE PENDING

MLS# 6110674 $249,900

GRAND MARAIS AREA

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

SOLD

MLS#TBA $79,900

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES

NEW! PRIVACY ON LAKE SUPERIOR – NEW STRUCTURES IN PLACE

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

MLS#6112175 $549,0000

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

MLS#6111892 $1,400,000

3 BEDROOM LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW HOME

Large 3+ bedroom multi-level Grand Marais home with Lake Superior views and a detached 2-stall garage. Turnkey home has had many updates including new windows and doors, complete remodel of the kitchen and all

DEVIL TRACK LAKE HOME

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

MLS#6108491 $559,000 PRICE REDUCED GREENWOOD

LAKE PANORAMIC VIEWS

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

MLS#6108310 $549,000

POPLAR LAKE

LOT

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

MLS#6108233 $199,000

HOMES & CABINS

CHARMING HOME ON 19+ ACRES

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

MLS#6111172 $350,000

Mature white pine and cedar are the backdrop for this log cabin in the woods. The 12-acre property lies

CONDOS

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

MLS#6112070 $375,000

40+ ACRES ON COUNTY RD 14

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

MLS#6108229 $330,000

TOFTE LOT WITH CREEK

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

MLS#6111840 $70,000

LARGE PARCEL WITH CREEK, LOST LAKE DEEDED ACCESS

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

MLS#6110761 $57,900

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

MLS#6111587 $75,000

L ARGE, REMOTE ACREAGE –PRIVATE LAKE RIGHTS

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

MLS#6103975 $74,900

SEASONAL LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW LOT

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

MLS#6111839 $72,000

40 ACRES– STONES THROW TO TOM LAKE

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

MLS#6095114 $60,000

WOODED 64 ACRES –ACCESS TO PRIVATE LAKE

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

MLS#6103974 $59,900

PEACEFUL TAIT LAKE PINES

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

MLS#6106368 $48,000

MLS#6098276 $47,900

REMOTE ACREAGE, ADJOINING FOREST LANDS-PRIVATE LAKE RIGHTS

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

MLS#6103979 $46,900

BRULE VALLEY LOTS

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

MLS#6102969 $43,000 – Lot B

MLS#6102971 $46,000 – Lot C

REMOTE, END-OF-THE-ROAD PRIVACY

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

MLS#6112002 $38,900

TOFTE 2 ACRE LOT

NEW! SERENE AND PRIVATE WOODS WITH RUSTIC LOG CABIN

CALL FOR A FREE MARKET ANALYSIS

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

Trends in property values

Recent sales data for comparable area properties

Local market demand + inventory levels

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

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

lutsenrealestategroup.com // (218) 663-7971

STEVE SURBAUGH | Broker

SARENA CROWLEY | Agent

sold

3280 Highway 61 W

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

MLS 6111396 $749,900

Unit 5 - Share A

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

MLS 6111523 $275,000

2307 County Road 7

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

MLS 6111812 $524,900

Chimney Rock Road

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

MLS 6111288

384X Highway 61 E

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

MLS 610784 $1,200,000

1044 2nd Ave West

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

MLS 6111516 $499,900

78 Troll’s Trail

Affordable Lake Superior! Over 300’ of shared lakeshore and over 7 acres of shared land! Great opportunity to build a cabin or year round home. Sit back and relax while someone else takes care of the plowing and lawn care.

MLS 6108596 $149,900

1315 E Highway 61

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

6104280 $1,250,000

619 Clearwater Road

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

MLS 6111766 $599,900

261 Caps Trail

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

MLS 6110362 $499,900

101

11 Poplar Creek Dr

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

MLS 6109270 $699,900

77 Wilderness Trail

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

MLS 6111205 $389,900

Greenwood Lake

Imagine calling this magnificent piece of premier Greenwood Lakeshore, YOUR private, Northwoods retreat! Very private with over 700’ of lakeshore; 4+ acres; 80’ of creek frontage; AND abuts Federal land.

MLS 6110312 $539,900

XXX Poplar Lake

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

pending

MLS 6110281 $69,900

35 & 40 Nordic Star Drive

Incredible opportunity for a residential development in the city limits of Grand Marais! The 3.72A property offers multiple options to build on the west side of Grand Marais.

MLS 6110418 $399,900

Honeymoon Trail

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

MLS 6108969 $114,000

Onagon Lake

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

MLS 6109045 $79,900

11XX Highway 61 W

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

MLS 6108208 $199,900

12XX Highway 61 W

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

MLS 6108209 $789,900

11 Alta Miikana Rd

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

MLS 6110680 $139,900

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT

GRAY WOLF

One of my great joys when at our remote cabin is to go outside after a fresh snowfall to look for tracks. Who’s been out and about? Wolf? Lynx? Marten? Grouse? During this winter that almost wasn’t, I didn’t have much opportunity to do this. But after one rare snowfall, I spotted a wolf crossing a road near the cabin. Having gotten to know the game trails in this forest, I took my best guess where this wolf was headed. I hustled over there and waited with my camera. Much to the surprise of both myself and the wolf, the plan worked. I got its photo, it gave me a stare, and then we both went our separate ways.—Michael Furtman