Northern Wilds March 2022 by Northern Wilds Magazine

BIRDS OF MARCH — QUARRY PARK — TACOS — QUILTING — MOVING NORTH — NATIVE FISH

FREE!

FOR THE

LOVE

MAR 2022

OF THE

NORTH

VOLUME 19 ISSUE 03

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

OUTDOORS EVENTS ARTS REVIEWS HEALTH DINING CALENDAR CATCHLIGHT

HOME HOME POST OFFICE BOX HOLDER LOCAL HWY. CONTRACT ROUTE Grand Marais, MN 55604 Permit #45

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IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD EXTENDING HEART-FELT THANKS to all

HEALTH WORKERS We see you and appreciate you. Thank you for continuing to show up each day and for all you do for community health. Send your own gratitude postcard to an essential health worker. Available free from the NS Health Care Foundation, at locations around Cook County or at the YMCA in Grand Marais!

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Let our health workers know you care!

Home Sweet Home For many folks, home is where the heart is—well, I’m pretty sure the North Shore has stolen the hearts of many, including my own. So, it probably comes as no surprise that we’ve had an influx of families make the move up north. Eric Weicht reached out to a few of these newcomers in his latest feature story, asking each family one simple question: why? I’ll let you read the story for their answers. Since so many of us—both seasonal and permanent residents—call the North Shore home, we decided to focus on the theme of home for this issue, starting in our Along the Shore section where Rae Poynter goes behind the scenes of getting a house appraised. Eric Weicht interviews a few folks involved with the new Cook County Real Estate Fund group. In her Strange Tales column, Elle Andra-Warner talks about families that lived at lighthouses—talk about a hard job. Andra-Warner also writes about the brief history of saunas.

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

March is the month of transitions and in his latest feature story, Michael Furtman writes about the birds of March. Many winter birds, like owls, will head north to make the trip back home. Taking their place are our seasonal resident birds, like bald eagles, ducks, trumpeter swans, Canada geese and eventually the song bird species. Of course, there are those birds that stay here year-round, like the black-capped chickadees, Canada jays, grouse and woodpeckers.

Eric Chandler writes about a Duluth man who was the only American selected to ski in the 100th anniversary of a Swedish race. Chris Pascone explored Duluth’s Quarry Park, known in the wintertime as a great place to go ice-climbing. Dog musher Erin Altemus humors us as she recalls how she survived racing the Beargrease using the six stages of grief. Shawn Perich advocates for the protection of native fish in his Points North column. And speaking of fish, Gord Ellis teaches us how to “trick your trap” instead of buying a new fish trap. Kitty Mayo is all about tacos in this month’s dining column. Word of advice: don’t read on an empty stomach or you will be hungry afterwards. Hartley Newell-Acero teaches us what health halos and horns are in her monthly health column. While it might seem soon, Rae Poynter reminds us that now is the time to start planting seeds indoors for our summer gardens. Homegrown veggies are just around the corner. Mother Nature is fickle this time of year, as March is both winter and spring—sometimes changing between the two seasons on the same day. This arguably makes for the best month to enjoy winter; the days are longer and the weather is warmer. Take advantage of these remaining winter days, as spring is just around the corner.—Breana Johnson

Want a Good Read?

Check out our bookstore online. Ed 2nd

itio

of Lake Superior’s North Shore

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20 30

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So many lakes…so little time to fish. 30 40

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Where do you start? Right here. 20

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Cook County, Minnesota

Where the Fish Are! Cook County, Minnesota is a guide to 366 lakes with data about the fish species and population status, public access and acreage. Contour maps for 68 popular fishing lakes are included.

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Cook County is justly famed for its quality fishing. From wilderness waters teeming with trophy walleyes to secluded ponds Prune Lake stocked with brook trout, this county provides wonderful fishing opportunities. Lake trout, smallmouth bass, walleyes, northern pike, black crappies, yellow perch, whitefish, muskies and stream trout swim in the county’s lakes. This book tells you where to find them.

Gunfl int Tra

15 30

Superior Hiking Trail

WALLEYES, BROOKIES, PIKE, LAKERS, BASS AND MORE

Portage to Skipper Lake

THE

Portage to Swamp Lake

Lizz Lake

“Inside this book, endless fishing adventures await.”

PLANNING, RESUPPLYING, SAFETY, BEARS, BUGS, AND MORE

The Historic Beacons of Minnesota, Isle Royale and Ontario

10 5

Inlet

Where the Fish Are!

ThruHike

lighthousEs

CATCH:

Inle

THE ALEC BOOSTROM STORY

Boundary Waters Boy

—Shawn Perich Outdoor Writer and Publisher

BY ANNIE NELSON

$14.95 ISBN 978-0-9740207-7-8

51495> Northern Wilds Media, Inc. of Grand Marais publishes the monthly Northern Wilds magazine, which is available at dozens of North Shore locations from Duluth to Thunder Bay. Printed in the United States by Northern Wilds Print & Copy. www.northernwilds.com

By Jack Blackwell

By EllE AndrA-WArnEr

A guide to over 350 fishing lakes Includes 68 depth contour maps

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SECOND EDITION

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

Veteran long-distance hiker Annie Nelson compiled the information and advice you need for a successful thru-hike adventure on the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail. $14.95

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

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

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

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

s h o p . n o r t h e r nw i l d s . c o m NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

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2022

VOLUME 19, ISSUE 3 w w w . n o r t h e r nw i l d s .c o m SERVING THE NORTH SHORE A N D TH E WI LDE R N E SS B E Y ON D PUBLISHERS Shawn Perich & Amber Pratt

EDITORIAL Shawn Perich, Editor editor@northernwilds.com Breana Johnson, Managing Editor breana@northernwilds.com ADVERTISING Destry Winant, Sales Representative ads@northernwilds.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Katie Viren • katie@northernwilds.com OFFICE Roseanne Cooley • billing@northernwilds.com

FEATURES 16 Making the North Shore Home

Copyright 2022 by Northern Wilds Media, Inc. Published 12 times per year. Subscription rate is $28 per year or $52 for 2 years U.S. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part requires written permission from the publishers.

A Tale of Four Families

18 Going Home, Coming Home, At Home The Birds of March

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

Cover

DEPARTMENTS 7 14 20 24 29 31 32

Along the Shore Points North Spotlight Events Dining Health Northern Trails

Log Home by Jeffrey Doty

33 Fishing Hole 34 Following the Ancestor’s Steps 35 Dog Blog 36 Northern Sky 37 Reviews 38 Strange Tales

Take the North Shore home with you! From Duluth to Thunder Bay, Ont. and beyond, we cover the stories from the area featuring the people and places that make this place unique.

REAL ESTATE 39 40 42 44 48

Backlund Realty Lutsen Real Estate Group Red Pine Realty Timber Wolff Realty Coldwell Banker North Shore

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CONTRIBUTORS Erin Altemus, Elle Andra-Warner, Laura Brown, Eric Chandler, Gord Ellis, Peter Fergus-Moore, Michael Furtman, Kitty Mayo, Deane Morrison, Hartley Newell-Acero, Chris Pascone, Rae Poynter, Joe Shead, Eric Weicht, Sam Zimmerman

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Soil & Potting Mix

Peat discs with seed germinating indoors. Since young seedlings are very sensitive to salts and fertilizers, seeds should be started in a pathogen-free, fertilizer-free starting mix. | SUBMITTED

Preparing for summer Starting seeds indoors GRAND MARAIS— For all of the many things that the beautiful Lake Superior region has going for it, it does have a big challenge for gardeners: the harsh climate means that the growing season is remarkably short. With just a few quick months of frost-free ground, planting and harvesting a garden in this climate is a challenge. Planting a seed directly into the ground in early summer will often not give enough growing time to have a harvest before the ground freezes again in the fall. Not to be discouraged, however, experienced gardeners have workarounds, including one of the best methods of ensuring a healthy harvest: starting seeds indoors. According to Bob Olen, horticulturist from St. Louis County, early spring is a good time for gardeners to start planning for starting seeds, since most need four to 10 weeks of growth before transplanting into a garden. Olen said he uses June 10 as the transplanting date from which to backtrack, so backtracking 10 weeks means starting the earliest seeds inside around April 1. (The exception is onions, which should be started even earlier, at the beginning of March.) Seeds can potentially be started earlier for those with greenhouses, but those who are moving plants straight from indoors to a garden shouldn’t start too early, lest the plants get too leggy inside. Many summer flowers such as petunias should be started 10 weeks out (early April), while warm-season crops like tomatoes, eggplants and peppers should be started six to eight weeks out (mid-late April). Some crops like vine crops only need to be started two weeks prior to planting in the garden. Olen said that his biggest tip for beginners is to choose high quality, viable seeds to start with, since they will beget healthier

An example of seed starting supplies. Both Olen and Meissner said that it’s important for beginners to remember to have patience, take it slow and know that making mistakes is normal when starting out. | SUBMITTED grees: many gardeners use heating mats to keep the soil warm. Once the seedlings have grown 1-2 leaves, they can be transplanted from the starting mix into a growing mix, and can tolerate half-strength fertilizer. “Seedlings are like little kids: they’re very vulnerable and you have to baby them a bit,” Olen said.

As spring turns to summer and the seedlings get ready to transplant, they need to “harden off,” or get acclimated to being outdoors and exposed to the elements. | SUBMITTED plants and yield more crops. (Local UMN Extension offices can give recommendations on the best places to buy seeds.) Since young seedlings are very sensitive to salts and fertilizers, seeds should be started in a pathogen-free, fertilizer-free starting mix. The instructions on the backs of the seed packets will say how deep to plant them, and it is best to plant seeds in individual containers with drainage holes. The starting media should be kept warm, about 75 de-

Providing adequate light and water is key to successfully starting seeds indoors. Seedlings should be kept medium-moist without being overwatered. Gine Meissner, a Master Gardener in Cook County, said gardeners can use a spray bottle to moisten the seedling soil without washing the seeds away, and can use a dome to keep the containers humid until the seedlings have their first set of true leaves. Meissner highly recommends the use of growing lights and heating mats to help the success of the seedlings. “Counting on natural light indoors does not provide adequate lighting for germination and growth of seedlings. You do need to purchase ‘grow lights’ or use fluorescent lighting. The seedlings need 12 to 16 hours of light each day. I place them on a timer making it is easy to maintain that requirement,” she said.

to cooler temperatures without much wind, and should get acclimated to partial sun before being put into full sun. “It’s best to plant them in the garden on a cooler, cloudy day. Wind can be tough on young transplants, so make sure the planting day isn’t too windy,” Olen said. Both Olen and Meissner said that it’s important for beginners to remember to have patience, take it slow and know that making mistakes is normal when starting out. “Keep the process as simple as possible so that you can maintain the plants in a healthy manner,” Meissner said. “You don’t need any expensive, fancy equipment or a lot of space to start with. Start small and see if this is something you would enjoy pursuing. It involves more time than you would at first realize but to a gardener, the joy of growing something from seed to food is immeasurable.” More information about seed starting can be found online through UMN-Extension. —Rae Poynter

As spring turns to summer and the seedlings get ready to transplant, they need to “harden off,” or get acclimated to being outdoors and exposed to the elements. Bob Olen said that seedlings should be exposed

NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

Zeitgeist North x North Film School DULUTH— Zeitgeist, in partnership with the Minnesota Discovery Center and the University of Minnesota Duluth, has launched the North by North Film School (North x North). The community-driven film school is housed in downtown Duluth’s Zeitgeist Arts Building and Chisholm’s Minnesota Discovery Center. North x North Film School is an affordable option for Northland creatives of all stripes, providing an opportunity for filmmakers, graphic designers, multimedia artists, working professionals and theatrical artists to learn, work, create and connect. The school was created with an eye towards wedding equity with cutting-edge technology and forward-thinking instruction. In our current cultural climate, the need is obvious; our continued success and vitality is dependent upon securing a seat at the table for historically underrepresented storytelling from the Northland. As North x North director Matthew Koshmrl notes, “There are barriers to filmmaking (...) there are financial barriers, there are cultural barriers, there are geographic barriers, and we’re trying to break some of those down.” As a means of strengthening collaborations among community stakeholders, the North x North Film School has partnered with AICHO and the Duluth NAACP. Classes will be held throughout the year beginning March 1 and each course will run for four or eight weeks. Course topics

include video production, editing, documentary film, narrative fiction and screenwriting. All classes are open to anyone 16 or older at any experience level. Enrollment in North x North classes includes access to iMac computers loaded with creative design and editing software, film/video equipment for on-site photo/ video shoots and projects, digital tools, and more. A film festival will launch in April, providing an opportunity for local, national and international filmmakers to exchange ideas and showcase their work. The North x North International Film Festival will champion community-based independent filmmaking from around the world, and film-going audiences from the Northland region and the greater Midwest. The ethos for programming and events will reflect the tenacious spirit of the north with a focus on sharing stories from under-represented regions, communities and people from all over the globe. This project is funded in part by the Blandin Foundation, the Morgan Fund of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, the Upper Midwest Film Office, St. Louis County, the University of Minnesota Duluth, and the Iron Range Resource and Rehabilitation Board. The Duluth NAACP and AICHO have provided scholarship funding. Zeitgeist is a nonprofit arts and community development organization committed to

The new North x North Film School is housed in downtown Duluth’s Zeitgeist Arts Building and Chisholm’s Minnesota Discovery Center. Classes will be held throughout the year beginning March 1 and each course will run for four or eight weeks. | SUBMITTED growing and sustaining a community that is inclusive, diverse and equitable; artistic and vibrant; environmentally conscious; and

a place where every individual can thrive. Learn more at zeitgeistarts.com.

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The Cook County general partners are Howard Hedstrom, Ann Possis, Gary Latz, Jeff Latz, Roger Opp, Steve Surbaugh and Tim and Beth Kennedy. | SUBMITTED

Keeping it local The Cook County Real Estate Fund COOK COUNTY—Small businesses provide jobs that make life possible on the North Shore and they create identity. They give people a reason to visit the shore outside of the natural beauty of the place. It’s why shopping local is so important in a small community like Grand Marais, but what about investing? We shop local, why not invest local? In a sense, it is easier to invest in a corporation headquartered in a country halfway around the world then it is to put money towards the aging building next door. Investing locally requires more time, energy and money than most people are able to put forward, which is what makes the new Cook County Community Real Estate Fund such an exciting development. The Cook County Community Real Estate Fund is an investment fund spearheaded by eight local community leaders—Howard Hedstrom, Ann Possis, Gary Latz, Jeff Latz, Roger Opp, Steve Surbaugh and Tim and Beth Kennedy—who make up the Cook County general partners of the fund. They are working in partnership with REVocity; a company that specializes in creating investment opportunities for individuals, businesses and non-profits to “invest in their backyard.” “As general partners,” says Hedstrom, “we’ve committed ourselves to putting some money in the pot, as has REVocity who will also provide all of the staffing, expertise and back-office stuff to make the fund a success.” In addition to the general partners, the Cook County Community Real Estate Fund will comprise of “limited partners” who can participate by investing in the fund for an expected return. According to Hedstrom, the number of limited partners involved with the fund is expected to be over 100.

The idea for the real estate investment fund has its roots in the fires that rocked the Cook County community back in the early days of the pandemic.

its emphasis on community impact and its goal to devote resources to the “tougher” projects within the community, projects that would otherwise be overlooked by more traditional prospective developers.

“In the spring of 2020,” says Hedstrom, “I was helping chair a number of meetings with the owners that had lost their businesses to the fire in downtown Grand Marais. It was a tough time for the community.”

“The point of this fund goes beyond just ‘making a profit,’” says Ann Possis, one of the eight Cook County general partners. “This is an opportunity to do good things in our community, like expanding opportunities for businesses, expanding housing and just reclaiming property that is being underutilized.”

“At the time, we were reaching out to developers, Rebound Partners being one of them, which is how I first connected with Brett Reese and REVocity,” continues Hedstrom. “Even though [Reese] wasn’t able to help out with the development, we started talking about REVocity’s work with community focused investment funds, which was followed up with a series of meetings that, ultimately, led to the creation of the Cook County Real Estate Fund.” Brett Reese is a founder and the managing partner at Rebound Partners, and one of three general partners representing REVocity in the Cook County Real Estate Fund. Lori Bonin and Chris Kennelly are the other two REVocity general partners, Bonin being the president and Kennelly (founder) the chief investment officer. REVocity is the seventh “vertical” within Rebound Partners—an integrated investment and management company based out of Northfield, Minn.—whose purpose, according to their website (revocity.com), is to promote growth within communities by “securing, enhancing, and managing impactful real estate investments.” By working with community leaders to establish community real estate funds like the one that was recently incorporated in Cook County, REVocity makes it possible for individuals, non-profits and businesses to invest in “their own backyard.”

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“What we’re looking to do is current impact investing,” adds Hedstrom. “We are looking for properties that would benefit from an infusion of capital and new ideas.” According to Possis and Hedstrom, one of the priorities of the fund is housing; something that is arguably the largest, most universal obstacle to growth in Cook County.

REVocity general partners Brett Reese, Lori Bonin and Chris Kennelly. | SUBMITTED “With the minimum investment set at $25k for limited partners,” says Bonin, “the Cook County Real Estate Fund will allow a broad group of individuals and businesses to participate and invest in their community.” “We’re going to start by pooling capital locally,” continues Bonin, “because again, that’s what is so exciting about this fund, it is the impact investing that makes it possible locally, within Grand Marais and Cook County.” It is important to note that the Cook County Real Estate Fund is not a charity, nor is it a non-profit as the fund promises investors a return on the money that investors put forward. That being said, what makes the Cook County Real Estate Fund unique is

“We’re hoping to develop rental housing,” says Possis, “either on our own or by working with people in the county who already have things planned but lack the necessary capital to make it happen. Cook County is at a point where it can’t expand very much if we don’t have places for people working in the community to live.” Though they were not ready to disclose specifics on any projects that the fund is working on at the time this article was written, both Possis and Hedstrom acknowledged that the fund has a number of projects that it is already actively involved with. “There’s quite a few things in the works,” says Hedstrom. “It’s still a little too soon to divulge everything that we’re working on, but once these things pop, I think people are going to be kind of surprised and pleased.” —Eric Weicht

We know North Shore deer and young trees don’t mix, but what can a landowner do?

Order now for the North Shore Forest Collaborative’s reduced-price fencing to protect young long-lived trees (like white pine) on your North Shore property, within three (3) miles of Lake Superior. Orders due by April 15, 2022 at: n o r t h s h o re fo re s t . o rg . Spread the word on North Shore forest fencing!

Help revitalize the North Shore forest! This program is made possible through generous support from the Weeke’s Family Foundation. NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

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The 2019 WPI fellows on their way to Ely in August 2019. | DAVID MCDONALD

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WPI journalism fellowship program comes to Grand Marais GRAND MARAIS— After a year and a half hiatus, the World Press Institute (WPI) will hold its 57th annual journalism fellowship program and has invited nine journalists from Argentina, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China (Hong Kong), Finland, Germany, India, Iran and Nigeria to participate in the program. The program will begin on March 18 and conclude on May 21, spending March 27-29 in Grand Marais. The fellows will spend nine weeks in the United States examining the free press and media innovations and learning about America’s social and cultural diversity and its political system. They will spend the first three weeks in Minnesota, based at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, visit Grand Marais March 27-29, and then visit farming commu-

nities in the southern part of the state. The fellows will then travel around the U.S. for five weeks, meeting with journalists, policy experts and political, business and community leaders. They will visit New York City, Washington D.C., Miami, Austin (Texas), Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles before returning to Minnesota for the final week of the program. When in Grand Marais, participants will stay with host families. Their itinerary, organized with the help of Marja Erickson, president of the Cook County Historical Society (CCHS), includes visiting with various businesses and individuals, including the CCHS, North House Folk School, Anna Deschampe with the Grand Portage National Monument, Kent Anderson of Hedstrom Lumber Mill, a U.S. Forest Service representative, Staci Drouillard and Golden Eagle Lodge. The public is invited to a Q&A forum with WPI participants at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Tuesday, March 29, at 7 p.m.

In-person and Virtual Hands-on Classes Coming in March and April Stained Glass • Ceramics • Forging Writing with Children • Ojibwe Storytelling Tatting Irish Lace • Brazilian Happy Hour

The themes that the fellows of the program will investigate include issues of racial equity and police reform, nuclear threats and security, the upcoming U.S. Congressional elections, and new business models for journalism in the digital age. For more information on WPI, visit: worldpressinstitute.org.

Quarry Park A symbol of Duluth’s adventurous side DULUTH— How many American cities can boast a public ice-climbing park? Minnesota itself has three such “ice parks,” and Duluth’s Quarry Park has been one of them since 2016. How and why did an abandoned quarry in West Duluth become an official city park? Here’s the story of how Duluth reclaimed one of its industrial spaces and put yet another feather in its cap as an outdoor recreational paradise. The Duluth Crushed Stone Company was responsible for creating the imposing landscape of 100-foot vertical walls of stone that give Quarry Park its name. Towering over the St. Louis River valley below, the hillside here was quarried throughout the first half of the 20th century. Rubble from the quarry was used on railroad beds, and rip rap was used for building retaining walls (like the breakwater of the Superior Entry of the Duluth-Superior Harbor). Steam drills were employed to extract the stone, which was then crushed into sizes to fit customer demand. Duluth Crushed Stone Company operated the quarry through the 1950s. The area was then left to its own devices and local climbers started taking advantage of the amazing climbing opportunities starting in the 1970s. Locals called it “Casket Quarry:” the site neighbored Oneota Cemetery, and caskets and tombstones were made nearby. According to Eldon Krosch Jr., vice president of the Duluth Climbers Coalition, it was a completely underground place. “People went hiking and climbing there, and had bonfires,” said Krosch Jr. “There were lots of random activities happening there. But nobody actually knew then that most of it was owned by the cemetery, and that the other part of the Quarry was privately owned by somebody who hadn’t done anything with the property. Later it was taken, forfeited to St. Louis County for unpaid taxes. People had gone in there for decades, not having any clue who owned it.” One person who saw the site’s potential was Hansi Johnson, of the Minnesota Land Trust, who was contracted seven years ago by the city of Duluth to create a vision for investment in the city’s outdoor recreation amenities.

“I realized that Casket Quarry was a key spot, not only for the climbers, but also just for the brand of the city itself,” said Johnson. “When you’re trying to bill yourself as an adventure city, you better have some adventurous things to do. Climbing is not only adventurous, but visually it just states adventure as well.” Johnson was able to connect city parks and rec staff with the local climbing community, and the Duluth Climbers Coalition was born out of these talks. “I went to the climbers, who at that point were a disparate group of individuals, and pulled them together and worked with them to wrap their heads around this opportunity,” Johnson explained. Johnson also saw the community aspect as essential to the project. “The city would only work with 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations, and wanted to work in all cases with an organized community group that would steward whatever was going to be constructed. The Climbers Coalition raised money and awareness, including political awareness. At one point they were literally knocking on doors in the neighborhood to tell people about what was going on. You see pride in community, and public service, and stewardship.” The city was able to purchase the quarry from St. Louis County and Oneota Cemetery and turn it into Quarry Park in May 2016, using funds from the “half and half” tourism sales tax. The once underground party spot had come full circle. The Climbers Coalition could now develop the park and one of their aims was community accessibility. Christian Fraser, himself an ice climber, sums it up, saying “Quarry Park has a lot more to it than climbing. First and foremost, accessibility is really important here. You’re right in the west end of the city. You don’t have to travel far to get to it. It’s accessible for groups that don’t have access to personal transportation. The Climbers Coalition did a really good job promoting accessibility for all folks.” Today you can hike, mountain bike and play frisbee golf at Quarry Park, making it a broader platform for all sorts of recreation.

Duluth’s Quarry Park offers more than just ice or rock climbing. You can also hike, mountain bike and play frisbee golf. | DULUTH CLIMBERS COALITION For Johnson, “The coolest part about it was that when we started, much of the vision was around the idea of it being a climbing facility, but as the city went through the public process and the climbers got more involved, it was obvious that it was more than a climbing facility, it was a city park in general.”

with an impressive view of the St. Louis River below. And you may get to contemplate ice climbers chipping into the frozen cliff with their ice axes and crampons, scaling West Duluth’s newest park. Or maybe you’ll join them: this adventure haven within the city makes the adrenaline-filled sport of ice climbing a public pursuit.—Chris Pascone

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Behind the scenes of getting a house appraised TWO HARBORS— After falling in love with a house and having your offer accepted, an important part of the home-buying process is getting the house appraised. Unlike a market analysis, which a real estate agent uses to help price a home, an appraisal is conducted by a licensed or certified appraiser and is one of the steps in the closing process. But what goes into a property appraisal? And what is the job of an appraiser like? Jackie Jackson is a Certified Real Estate Appraiser with Penfield Appraisers. Although based in Two Harbors, Jackie–together with her husband Kelley Jackson–travel all around Lake County and Cook County to appraise properties. If you’ve taken out a mortgage in Lake or Cook County in the last 20 years, there’s a decent chance that the Jacksons were the ones to appraise the property. It’s a job with quite a bit of variety: Jackie’s days are sometimes spent working on research and reports, and sometimes spent on the road visiting properties, from those right on Highway 61 to remote properties without road access. “I became an appraiser because I was selling lake homes at Superior Shores,” she said. “My sister was working at a bank and she said that there was a shortage of appraisers in the area. I ended up meeting the people who owned the company I previously worked for and decided to take the classes I needed to become licensed.” Appraisals can be required for several reasons, the most common being when a lending institution is lending money for a mortgage. (This is true whether it’s a new loan or refinancing an existing mortgage.) Since the property is the collateral on a mortgage, it needs to appraise for at least as high as the sale amount to protect the lender in case of a loan default. Therefore, as part of the borrowing process, the lender brings in a third-party appraiser to give an unbiased determination of the property’s value. If a home doesn’t appraise for high enough, the purchase may be delayed or fall through altogether. Thus, it’s important for appraisers to have a thorough understanding of the area in which they work to accurately assess a property’s value. Apart from mortgages, appraisals might also take place for other reasons such as a divorce or for calculating estate taxes. Depending on the situation, Jackie said that they sometimes work directly with people buying or selling a property, but that the lending institution is the one who orders the appraisal for anyone in the process of getting a mortgage. No matter what the reason for the appraisal, Jackie said that the process starts with a visit to the property. “We start by measuring the outside of the house, taking photos, and measuring all of the outbuildings. We consider the view, whether it has water frontage or whether it’s surrounded by woods. Then we go inside and go into all of the rooms to take photos and make notes of the construction materials. We also check the mechanicals, which include things like the furnace, electric or air conditioning, and make sure they’re in working order.” After the property visit, Jackie compares the listing to other recent sales in the area, looking for properties that are similar in size and location. If it’s a lakefront property, she looks for recent sales on nearby lakes, and for townhomes and condos she looks at other sales in the same building. She uses the data both from her research

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Duluth man skis in 100th anniversary of Swedish race

Group photo of the 139 reenactors in the Jubileumsvasan, taken the day before the start in Sweden, February 2022. | VASALOPPET Just before leaving for Sweden, Rova showed some concern about skiing with heavy, old-fashioned gear. “I know I’m going to suffer. I’m going to have blisters,” Rova said. “But there’ll be other people there doing it and we’ll be having fun.” He put the event into a larger context. “Meeting these people and having a fun event with them is what I’m looking forward to most…Because why would you ski 90k on old skis, right? I just wouldn’t. So, you get to do something that’s unique and I’m looking forward to just being a part of that.”

Jonathan Rova tests the skis and poles he made at Lester Park ski trails in Duluth, just before going to Sweden, February 2022. | SHELLEY CHANDLER DULUTH—Jonathan Rova is a cross-country skier who lives in Duluth and is a member of the board of directors of the Duluth Cross-Country Ski Club. He traveled to Sweden in February to participate in a unique celebration of their famous Vasaloppet XC ski marathon. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first Vasaloppet held in 1922. The annual race is 90k (55+ miles) long and attracts over 15,000 skiers, making it the biggest XC ski race in the world.

Rova flew to Sweden and gathered at the start line with 138 other intrepid skiers on Saturday, February 12. He chose the aspen skis, but in some foreshadowing, Rova said, “Aspen is much lighter, but my worry is there; the aspen breaks a little easier.” After several hours of skiing, before the halfway point, Rova posted on Instagram that he heard a ‘crack.’

In 1922, there were only 139 skiers. To commemorate 100 years, the ski race held an event called the Jubileumsvasan (“Jubilee Vasa”). The organizers call it a “living museum.” Skiers used the same kind of skis, boots, and poles that skiers used in 1922. They wore clothing from that era. They skied the original course and even the people at the feed stations were encouraged to wear dress from the period. More than 500 people applied to ski and Rova was the only American picked to be one of the 139 reenactors.

If that wasn’t enough, he built ski poles using balsam fir from Christmas trees that he dried for a year. He used leather bindings from Frost River on the skis and ordered “beaked” ski boots from Finland made from reindeer hide. The unique pointed toe works to keep the boot in place in the leather bindings. Rova’s family has deep Finnish and Swedish roots. That shows in the gear that he chose to make and use.

Rova’s good humor is proof that the race was only part of a larger experience for him. “I’m a process-oriented guy… The process of making the skis and gathering all the wool clothes...Going there and doing it is kind of the cherry on top. I love the spot and the area there and it’s an honor to be part of their big event.” Rova shared some philosophy before he knew his ski would break: “It’s one thing I learned as a Lutheran pastor, suffering in whatever form is best done with people. This is voluntary suffering I’m going to do, and not true suffering, but the spirit of doing it together is what life is about.” —Eric Chandler

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Rova has skied in two editions of the modern Vasaloppet. How did he hear about the Jubileumsvasan? “I’m a dork,” Rova said. “You participate in these things and you start to love them. When I say, I’m a dork, I keep up on the skiing websites in Scandinavia. I saw that the Vasaloppet was doing this for their 100th anniversary…For me it was a combination of skiing, making my own skis…a confluence of all kinds of things that, if I got in, would be like a dream.” Rova made his own skis, which wasn’t required, but something he wanted to do. “I’ve always been interested in the history of skiing. We had volumes of those in my library. And my grandpa, who was a carpenter, gave my dad his ski building tools which are a bunch of planes that he made specifically to make skis with.” Rova’s grandfather lived in Ely. At one point, his family found two pairs of skis that he built stored underneath a family cabin. He used his grandfather’s tools to make two pairs of skis, one pair from birch and another from aspen.

One of his skis split beyond repair, ending his race. Rova wrote, “I’m sure someone broke their ski in 1922 so I’ll be that guy.”

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Points North Protect Native Fish—Where They Remain By Shawn Perich

A couple of groups I follow on Facebook are devoted to native fish, primarily brook trout, but actually native fish of all species. The groups make a distinction that many anglers and even some fisheries biologists do not. Being spawned in the water where it lives may make a fish wild, but not necessarily native. A fish that has always existed in a watershed and was not introduced there by human activity, primarily within the last 150 years or so, is a wild fish. Introduced species may acclimate to new waters and successfully spawn there, but they forever remain species that are only there due to human efforts or mistakes. Many anglers and even fisheries biologists take non-native fish introductions for granted and even perpetuate their existence, even if it limits or destroys native fish. However, a minority of folks not only attempt to maintain the very few waters where non-native fish haven’t been introduced, but, in the very few places where it is possible, try to eliminate non-natives and restore pure native waters. Recently, a couple of celebrities in the trout fishing realm took a swipe at these restoration efforts on a podcast. The response from native advocates was swift on social media but likely unnoticed by the vast majority of anglers. The celebrities complained native restoration efforts were targeting brown trout, a popular target of fly fishers that was transported to North American waters from its native waters in Europe during the 1800s. Browns are now widespread across the North American continent, and at times displaced native brook trout and other species. While no one is proposing the eradication of browns, there are a tiny handful of waters where they, and non-native rainbow trout, can either be eliminated or reduced in number to benefit brook trout and other natives. The fly-fishing celebs scoffed at any efforts to do so, simply because they prefer to catch browns. One water where controlling the proliferation of brown trout is probably a worthy effort is Lake Superior. Although browns are abundant along the south shore of the big lake, they are nearly nonexistent on the North Shore. The likely difference is average water temperatures. The south shore warms earlier and stays warmer through the summer. The North Shore stays cold throughout most of the summer. Another noticeable difference: coaster brook trout are nearly nonexistent on the south shore, while populations and sizes of this native 14

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Brook trout are native to Lake Superior, where they compete, sometimes unsuccessfully, with non-native brown trout. | SHAWN PERICH are growing on the North Shore. There is reason to believe browns outcompete native brook trout. So, what is the problem? In recent years the state of Wisconsin has stocked a strain of brown trout that seems to be well suited to Lake Superior and has been showing up in places where the species was only rarely seen previously. Browns are becoming common around Duluth. They are now being caught near Grand Marais and even in Thunder Bay. Because they are relatively large and new arrivals, they are creating some excitement in the angling community. Some anglers hope they increase in numbers. Very few, if any anglers, are asking or likely even thinking about what impact the sudden arrival of brown trout may have on the North Shore’s unique and prized coaster brook trout. Perhaps a better question is how do we prevent the spread of this non-native trout into waters where it long has been rare? We must also point out that brown trout are by no means the only non-native salmonid found on the North Shore. Rainbow trout, called steelhead by anglers, chinook, coho and pink salmon are abundant throughout Lake Superior and spawn in tributary streams. However, we also know from over 100 years of experience that coaster brook trout can co-exist with these non-natives, an unknown with brown. We do know that small stream brook trout can co-exist with browns in south shore tributaries such as Wisconsin’s Bois Brule River, but coasters are nonexistent. Why take chances with the last remaining coaster brook trout population in the Great Lakes?

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We also have plenty of experience to tell us the best intentions of biologists and anglers to introduce non-natives to new waters often have disastrous results. Want examples? Let’s begin with the common carp, brought from the Old World to the New World as a desired food source. It turned out folks over here didn’t enjoy eating the bony carp, which exploded in abundance. Today, just in Minnesota, we’ve spent millions in public funds to keep carp populations in check. Want a closer to home example? How about the introduction, primarily in the early years of tourism, of walleyes and smallmouth bass to northern lakes where native game fish were limited to lake trout and northern pike. While pike seemed to get along with the newcomers, lake trout did not. Walleyes and bass out competed lakers, sometimes to the point of completely eliminating the native. The newcomers proved to be popular with tourists because they were easier to catch than lakers, which sought deep, cold waters during the primary summer tourist season. These observations are by no means a cry to eliminate non-native fish, something that is not possible or affordable. But anglers and especially fisheries managers

Shawn Perich’s POINTS NORTH online

ought to begin moving away from the practice of dumping non-native fish in waters where they never existed or may harm existing native species. I’ve experienced the significant decline of native lake trout, and even non-native trout and walleye, occurring in lakes I once enjoyed fishing after the arrival, by unknown means, of smallmouth bass. Wisconsin stocks splake, a hatchery-produced cross of lake trout and brook trout, into Lake Superior where both parent species are native. While splake are supposedly infertile and popular with anglers, is this a good idea? For that matter, is it a good idea for some agencies to stock hatchery-produced brook trout in Superior, even if the original hatchery broodstock were wild fish captured from the big lake? There is plenty of science showing that hatchery-raised fish tend to be best suited for an artificial environment and may even diminish the viability of native fish if they spawn with them in the wild. What we know is that protecting fish habitat by keeping it in or returning it to a natural state, preventing the overharvest of fish and avoiding the introduction of non-native or hatchery-produced fish are the best things we can do to perpetuate native species. Nature is pretty good at taking care of itself if we allow it to do so.

Follow outdoor writer Shawn Perich as he reports on conservation issues and explores the North Shore wilderness with his dog Rainy. Sign up for this web exclusive blog at northernwilds.com

A brief history of saunas THUNDER BAY—So, who first started saunas, when and where? Digging into the history, it seems that saunas began sometime around 2000 B.C. in northern Europe in places like Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Russia. Today, they are popular world-wide. Havarti (they make electric sauna heaters) estimates there are currently approximately 17 million saunas in the world. There’s even a Guinness World Records listing the world’s largest sauna as the Koi Sauna in Germany. According to Anni Oviir in her article, “Here’s Why the History of the Sauna is Deeper Than You Might Think,” the oldest known saunas were “man-made caves that were draped closed with animal skins and had a fire burning inside them during the day beneath a pile of stones. After the fire was extinguished and the smoke wafted out, the stones would continue to warm the cave long into the night...Steam rose from the stones when water was poured on them.”

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The first known saunas in Finland were smoke saunas (savusaunat), and were made “from pits dug in a slope in the ground and primarily used as dwellings in the winter.” A fireplace heated up stones to a high temperature and water was thrown on the hot stones to produce steam. Over the centuries, the sauna became an important cultural tradition, a central part of life, and for some has a spiritual side to the experience. Archaeologists are finding ancient saunas around the world, and as Oviir notes, “There are remarkable similarities for example between the northern European sauna tradition and the sweat lodges still used today for religious ceremonies by native American tribes on the other side of the world.” The authentic smoke sauna tradition without chimneys—which many say make the best saunas—is still the basis for the modern-day saunas, though many of today’s stones are heated by electric sauna heaters or wood-fired stoves in Inside one of today’s modern saunas with an electric sauna buildings with chimneys. Chimneys were not add- heater. | KONSTANTIN ed to the sauna building until northern Europe’s industrial revolution in the 19th century. It was In the Northern Wilds country, saunas are part of our in Finland in 1938 that the first electric sauna heater was northern culture, brought here by Finnish immigrants. These introduced by Metos Ltd in Vaasa. days many camps (aka cabin, cottage, summer residences) In 2014, UNESCO added the Estonian smoke sauna (suit- have a separate sauna building. While years ago there were susaun) tradition in Võro community into its “Representative a number of public saunas in Thunder Bay, the only public List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” UNE- sauna left in the city is Kangas Sauna with its individual sauSCO explained the smoke sauna tradition “comprises a rich na rooms (and great main-floor restaurant). set of traditions including the actual bathing customs, the Why have a sauna? Well, in addition to the myriad of skills of making bath whisks, building and repairing saunas, and smoking meat in the sauna.” A smoke sauna has no health benefits, sauna bathing simply feels so good. chimney and the smoke from burning wood circulates the —Elle Andra-Warner room before being vented out when the desired room temperature of around 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit) is reached.

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Making the North Shore Home By Eric Weicht

Kristin and Josh Englemann had spent the past 10 years visiting the North Shore to kayak, hike and fish, and were camping in Grand Marais when the property they ended up purchasing became available. | SUBMITTED

The North Shore has been drawing people to its community for decades, and in a time when population trends continue to be defined by urbanization and sprawling metropolitans, Cook County remains an exception. According to the 2020 census, Cook County’s population increased from 5,176 to 5,600 over the past decade—more than an 8 percent increase. It’s also no secret that carving out a life in a small, remote community where the per capita wage is just over $33k is far from easy. Housing has always been a challenge here, but as more and more people make the move north that problem continues to get worse. For a number of people (myself included), making life work on the North Shore can mean living without basics like running water, and juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet. Life on the North Shore is equal parts beauty and hardship, so why are so many people continuing to make the move north? For Colton Motschenbacher, a young guy in his twenties, the decision to move to Cook County had everything to do with access to adventure. Originally from Chanhassen, Minn., Motschenbacher was living out in Bozeman, Mont. working as the property manager at a large resort when he decided it was time for a change. 16

MARCH 2022

“When I made the choice to leave Bozeman,” says Motschenbacher, “I immediately set my sights on my home state of Minnesota.” “I missed being close to family,” continues Motschenbacher, “but wasn’t ready to sacrifice the easy access to the outdoors that I had living out in Montana.” According to Motschenbacher, Ely, Duluth and the North Shore were at the top of his list because of each place’s “adventurous energy.” So, when Motschenbacher was offered the job of room division manager at the Lutsen Sea Villas this past year, he jumped at the opportunity. “The more I thought about it,” says Motschenbacher, “the more I realized that I wanted to be as close as possible to the best skiing in Minnesota, which for me is indisputably Lutsen.” “My goal,” continues Motschenbacher, “is to spend as much time as I can exploring the outdoors in my home state, and living in Lutsen makes that easy.” Since moving to the North Shore, Motschenbacher has found life in Cook County even better than expected. Like so many others, he was inspired to move to the North Shore for the natural beauty but has stayed for the community. “I never expected to find so many young and like-minded people living in the area,”

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Rachel and her husband Mathew moved to Cook County two months before getting married at the Wunderbar in September of 2019. When asked what the biggest challenge has been since moving to Cook County, Rachel responded with one word: housing. | SUBMITTED says Motschenbacher, “and I definitely wasn’t expecting all of the community events. Live music, gear swaps, group bike rides/hikes, pickup basketball at the

YMCA; and those are only the things I have found in the few short months I’ve been up here.”

For Colton Motschenbacher, a young guy in his twenties, the decision to move to Cook County had everything to do with access to adventure. Motschenbacher has been fortunate with housing, recently finding a long-term rental in Grand Marais, after spending his first few months living in employee housing in Lutsen. | SUBMITTED “ T h e North Shore seems almost untapped in my mind,” continues Motschenbacher. “With the west becoming more and more congested, it’s great to find a place that is still fairly quiet and has so much to offer.” Motschenbacher has been fortunate with housing, recently finding a long-term rental in Grand Marais after spending his first few months living in employee housing at Lutsen. For a lot of people trying to start a life on the North Shore, however, finding a suitable home remains the biggest hurdle to making that happen. When asked what the biggest challenge has been since moving to Cook County back in 2019, Rachel Rae Klesser was ready with a one-word response—housing. “Traditional homes in Grand Marais were either too run down or too expensive for us,” says Rachel, “even if we did move here for the ‘dream job.’” Rachel and her husband Mathew moved to Cook County two months before getting married at the Wunderbar in September of 2019. According to Rachel, the decision to uproot was made because of a combination of “family, jobs and art.” “My mom moved here from Minneapolis a few years before us,” says Rachel, “drawn to the big lake and the peace of the county. Then, the year we got married my husband landed his dream job at Cascade River State Park, so we had to make a move.” “For myself,” continues Rachel, “I am an artist and this is an art place, so I was excited when we got the job offer. Now I help run Joy and Company as a manager and artist.”

At the time of the move, Rachel and Mathew were beyond excited to start a new life together on the North Shore, but struggled to find a long-term housing option that met their needs and fit their budget. Their solution? To purchase 26 acres of “raw land” in Hovland and learn how to build a house. Now, 20 months into building their dream off-grid home, Rachel and Mathew are thankful for both the challenges that they’ve had to overcome, and the challenges yet to come as they continue to work on their new house. “Doing everything ourselves has been such an amazing challenge,” says Rachel. “We keep telling ourselves; when things are tough, they get better, and when they do, we get to take all of the credit.” During the initial build, Rachel, Mathew, their two kids and three dogs all lived in a 16-foot trailer on the property while they worked on getting a roof on their new home. They have since moved into their round home, but continue to navigate the hardships associated with living in an active build site. “Living off grid is hard,” says Rachel. “Since we live so far from town without cell service, once we’re home, we’re home, and if we forget something, we do without.” All told, Rachel and Mathew feel lucky to have started their marriage in such a “wonderful place” and they credit living in Cook County as having “made them live out their dreams.” Similar to Rachel and Mathew Klesser, Laura Durenberger-Grunow and her husband Ahren Grunow recently moved up from Richfield, Minn. to Grand Marais with their son Ethan after Ahren was offered the general manager position at the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op. However, unlike the Klesser’s, Laura and Ahren have opted to rent a home while

Laura, Ahren and their son Ethan decided to rent a home while looking for a place to buy. They moved to Grand Marais from Richfield, Minn., after Ahren was offered the general manager position at the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op. | SUBMITTED looking for a place to buy rather than going off-grid. Laura and Ahren had been visiting Grand Marais for over 10 years before moving up from the cities last November. Laura works for the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, and has since been able to continue working remote from Grand Marais. While the decision to move was ultimately made for Ahren’s new job, according to Laura, “it also just felt like the right time.” “We were drawn to Grand Marais,” says Laura, “because of the community aspect, environmental surroundings, shared values, arts, and everything else that this place has to offer.” “We felt like Ahren getting the job was a unique opportunity that we may not get again,” continues Laura. “It was too hard to pass up.” One of the most challenging aspects of moving to Grand Marais for Laura and Ahren has been leaving behind a community of friends and family back in the Twin Cities. Their son Ethan was sad to leave his old school, and with all of the craziness associated with moving, starting a new job, and selling their old home, Laura and her family feel like they are only just now starting to settle into their new community. That being said, Laura and Ahren could not be more excited to start establishing those same connections and friendships that they enjoyed in Richfield here in Cook County. “So far,” says Laura, “we have enjoyed all the beauty that winter has to offer up in Grand Marais. We used to try and make it up here once a winter, but seeing the waves, ice, sunrises, frozen waterfalls and everything else on a daily basis has shown us the true beauty of winter in the area. Other than that, everyone in the community has been so kind and welcoming —something that we’re so grateful for. It has made the transition that much easier.”

Community, wilderness, art and adventure—there are so many reasons to love the North Shore; so many reasons to want to settle down in a place like Grand Marais. And, while finding a place to live on the North Shore is hard, it’s not impossible. Like so many others, Josh and Kristin Englemann were drawn to the North Shore out of a love of place. The Englemann’s had spent the past 10 years visiting the North Shore to kayak, hike and fish, and were up here camping when the property they ended up purchasing became available. “The biggest challenge for us was finding a house,” says Kristin. “Property moved so fast we couldn’t get up here to look at a place before it sold.” “The property we ended up with felt like fate,” continues Kristin. “We happened to be camping in Grand Marais when it hit the market. The next day we put in our offer.” Now that they are living on the North Shore, Kristin and Josh are excited to start exploring places in the county that they haven’t already seen, and to share their new home with family and friends. Josh runs an ag-business consulting company and Kristin makes jewelry, two jobs that have allowed them to “work from anywhere.” “We love waking up to the view of Lake Superior and the pines,” says Kristin. “Honestly, we can’t stop smiling when we snowshoe in our woods—we feel like we should pinch ourselves to make sure we’re not dreaming.”

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MARCH 2022

Going Home, Coming Home, At Home

Birds of March story and photos By Michael Furtman

Trumpeter swan pairs often return even before the ice goes out in order to defend their breeding territory from interlopers.

March is one of those in-between months. Some years, March is still winter. Other years, it’s our first breath of spring. In all years, it’s a transition month for bird life. Winter birds are leaving, some summer birds are arriving, and year-round birds are preparing for the breeding season. Here’s a key for what to watch for. Going Home Northern Wilds country may seem quite “north” to us, but in fact, a lot of birds from even further north migrate to our region during winter, and the list can be pretty long depending upon the year. It’s often the food supply further north that dictates whether we see a lot of these winter birds or only a few.

Resident woodpeckers of both sexes, like this pileated, begin “drumming” in spring, sometimes even on buildings, as a means of establishing territories and attracting a mate. 18

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Come March, any northern owls that have wintered here will begin to disappear—great gray, snowy, boreal and northern hawk owls—each feeling the urge to get home for their nesting season. These owls tend to set up a temporary territory when they visit our region in winter. They become part of our neighborhood, like seasonal cabin owners. When they depart in March, it will happen suddenly, and the woods or fields where you regularly spotted them will seem sadly empty. Of course, there are always exceptions to the March departure. The latest I’ve photographed a snowy owl in our area was at the end of April.

The Canada (or gray) jay nests in late winter, and by March will already be incubating eggs, or even feeding nestlings. Finches—redpolls, pine siskins, crossbills and pine grosbeaks—are another group that tend to depart in March. So too will the busy flocks of bohemian waxwings that have been gobbling fruit from our trees all winter, winging their way north. In order

to catch a last glimpse of these species before they vanish, pay attention to trickles of melt water. They relish that first drink and bath after a long winter. Like the departing owls, these birds aren’t leaving because they’ve stripped our region of food, but because they need to migrate back to their breeding grounds further north.

Coming Home If it saddens us that these winter birds are vanishing, the month of March means that our seasonal resident birds start to arrive. It is a trickle at first, usually led by bald eagles, especially the breeding adults. They return early in order to defend their territories and to make any needed nest repairs. Where there is open water—usually just rivers at this time of year—early ducks appear. Typically, the first to arrive are common and hooded mergansers, bufflehead and common goldeneyes. It’s also not unusual to see mallards as well, as they are one of the earliest nesting species of duck. As March gives way to April, virtually all of the puddle and diving ducks appear. Courtship flights are common this time of year, during which a single hen will lead a flock of drakes through a rigorous and sinuous flight. Throughout these flights, a female duck evaluates the males for fitness, one of her tools for selecting a mate. In the duck world, hens do all the choosing. Now that trumpeter swans seem to be nesting on just about every body of water in our area, you’ll often find them actually arriving before ice out, and spot them standing on “their” pond. A highly territorial species like the bald eagle, mated pairs return in plenty of time to ensure no interlopers invade their nesting place. Canada geese also arrive, some to stay and nest, others destined for a more northerly region. It will be a long time before we see the majority of song bird species arrive, but in March it’s possible that the first robin will appear, and you’ll probably note an increase in blue jay numbers. Crow numbers will also increase, and when they do, they’ll mob the remaining northern owls mercilessly, perhaps a factor in the owls’ departure timing.

At Home Of course, we don’t have to mourn the departure of northern birds, or be overly anxious for the arrival of our summer birds, because we’re fortunate to have a variety of species that stick with us all year. We may start to consider them “ordinary” since we

Male ruffed grouse start displaying to hens in March, even though the breeding season is over a month away. Hens typically ignore him at this time. see them so frequently, but there’s nothing ordinary about them. Consider that by March, the Canada jay (formerly the gray jay) is already nesting, and in fact could be well along in incubation. This hardy, friendly jay of the boreal forest nests in conifers, and in the southern edge of their range (our area) their naked, helpless young may actually hatch before the end of the month. Talk about a tough chick. Black-capped chickadees at this time will be seeking a nest site, usually a hole pecked into rotted wood of a tree by the pair. They’ll lay their eggs in April. The less often seen boreal chickadee is following a similar timeline. In March, if you are very fortunate, you might see their courtship, which is similar in both species. Males chase females in a looping, descending flight. If she’s interested, she’ll land and beg for food like a young bird by quivering her wings. If the male feeds her, the deal is sealed! March is when our woodpeckers really ratchet up their drumming. All species common to our area

Winter visitor birds, like these bohemian waxwings, are attracted to those first trickles of snow melt to enjoy a bath and a drink after a long winter. Such places are a good place to watch for birds.

Although a few northern hawk owls nest in our region, most of those we see (as well as great gray owls) come from further north. They, as well as visiting snowy owls, will return north during March. begin to stake out territories and seek mates, which is the purpose of their “rap.” They are also more vocal at this time. Ravens, which have formed groups during the winter, now separate into their monogamous pairs to head back to their nesting territories. Speaking of drumming, March is the time that ruffed grouse will slowly start to display. While the peak of activity for drumming is in late April or early May, warm weather and longer days can get males fired up in March. The same is true for spruce grouse. While they don’t drum, they do have a flutter display, and like the ruffed grouse, will strut with their tails spread and wings dragging like tiny tom turkeys. Hens of both species, though, are far less prone to rush things, and much to the chagrin of the displaying males, ignore their advances until later in the spring. Transition; that’s March in a nutshell. Winter one day, spring another, and everything in between. And it’s the same with March birds.

The number of red crossbills and other winter finch visitors (pine grosbeaks, redpolls, etc.) that winter here depends largely on how scarce food is further north. In March they’ll head home. NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

By Breana Johnson

The Last Days of Winter

According to the calendar, Sunday, March 20 marks the first day of spring. However, those of us on the North Shore will likely still be playing in the snow for a while. So, here’s to enjoying the last stretch of winter—spring is right around the corner.

This digital illustration by Washburn, Wisc., artist Jamey Penney-Ritter is titled “Hard Water Fishing.” To see more, visit: bemusedposters.com. | JAMEY PENNEY-RITTER “Sap” is an acrylic on cradled panel piece by Adam Swanson. For more artwork from Swanson, visit: adamswanson.com. | ADAM SWANSON

This woodblock print by Grand Marais artist Nan Onkka is titled “Winter Cabin.” To see more from Onkka, visit: nanonkka.com. | NAN ONKKA

Anna Hess created this 8x10 oil on canvas piece of her son Adrian heading down to Temperance River beach in the winter. It’s titled “To the Beach.” For more artwork, visit: alwhessart.com. | ANNA HESS

Duluth illustrator Jordan Sundberg is the artist behind this piece, titled “Groomed by Moonlight.” Her work can be found online at: tincupdesignco.com. | JORDAN SUNDBERG

“Silver Morning” is an 11x14 oil on canvas by Matt Kania. To view more from Kania, go to: mattkania.com. | MATT KANIA 20

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Examples of Hanna Wainio’s classical fairy tale art. | SUBMITTED

Wainio’s creations Koo and Gully. | SUBMITTED

Hanna Wainio: Creating the Chance for Everyday Magic CREATIVE SPACE:

By Peter Fergus-Moore For some us, knowing what we are to make of our lives comes late, if not at all. For others, the pathway stretches ahead, readily visible. Kaministiquia artist Hanna Wainio is one of the latter.

“I work from a place of love, things I loved as a child,” says Hanna Wainio. | SUBMITTED

“I think I have always been creative,” she reflects. “I grew up in a creative environment, loved making things with my hands.”

bossy presence. Koo gazes over her spectacles at the comfortable world in which she lives, sometimes interacting with her companion, Gully, a small but forthright crow who seems to be perpetually commenting on something Koo has said or done.

It didn’t hurt that Wainio’s mother, Judi Vinni, is also an artist and community animator who operates Willow Springs Creative Centre in the old Koski General Store on Mapleward Road in rural Thunder Bay. In fact, from the Centre’s beginnings in 2000, Wainio spent most of her summers at art camps under the tutelage of her mother Judi and colleagues Lea Hayes, Liisa Leskowski and Kathy Toivonen. The variety of art camp offerings, everything from painting to screen printing, from making willow furniture to tie-dyeing, stood Wainio in good stead when she chose to attend the visual arts program at York University. “I tried everything there,” she relates, though she chose ahead of graduation to move over to the independent illustration program at Seneca College, to pick up what she calls “the tool kit for illustration.” Armed with these learnings and experiences, Wainio had every intention of making a living from her art. But first, she had to relocate to the fountainhead of her inspiration, the rugged beauty of the north shore region of Lake Superior.

“I’ve always been interested in stories of fairies, classical fairy tales,” Wainio says, but her ethnicity provides another tributary into the river of her creativity. “I went to Finn school when I was young, so I learned about Moomintroll and Tove Jansson. She’s one of my main influences.” For her art, Wainio had to relocate to the fountainhead of her inspiration. | SUBMITTED “I think nature does affect my art,” she explains. “You can tell on my Instagram pages when I moved—I didn’t have to take in all the sights and sounds of Toronto. Being here helps me relax, to feel more connected to how I grew up with no one around, on 260 acres of bush land.” Immersed in the natural milieu of the northwest, Wainio creates worlds of whimsical creatures in gentle, colourful environments. A frequent character in her illustrations is Koo the raven, a fussy, occasionally

The late Finnish artist and storyteller Tove Jansson wrote and illustrated the Moomintroll series, which has millions of fans over generations and farflung geographies. Part of Jansson’s genius lies in her stories’ portrayal of deep and problematic issues in a deceptively simple way, something that plays right into Wainio’s art. It doesn’t hurt that the hippopotamus-like Moomis, as they are often known, encounter life with a childlike innocence and a startling flexibility. Wainio has even done her own Moomi fan art, but generally works more on her own original creations. The scope of Wainio’s creations is immense—she primarily works in digital art, but in the last several years, she has worked

also in polymer clay, embroidery and cloth art, creating clay pins, trinket dishes, patches, little bags, and of course, images. Wainio has used social media to create interest and demand for her work. “My art provides about 75 percent of my income,” she says. “Sales have been really awesome. I’m amazed! Orders come in all the time from all over Europe, Thailand, England, but mostly the U.S. and Canada.” Though Wainio’s ambition to make a living by her art seems to be well on track, she still does freelance illustration. This, too, has made people take notice. “I had one illustration in Read Something Else: Dubious Wit and Wisdom, a book of Lemony Snickett quotes,” Wainio says modestly. “I really prefer to publish my own works, though.” “I always want to give people a feeling of comfort and coziness,” she reflects. “I create the chance for everyday magic in my work, putting nice things, cozy things, in the world. I work from a place of love, things I loved as a child. I want to put more of that in the world.” Hanna Wainio’s art can be found on Instagram: hwainio and online: etsy.com/

shop/hannawainio.

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MARCH 2022

Quilting is an old practice and has history in most parts of the world. | SUBMITTED

The long nights, cold temperatures and growing snow banks are Brown’s cue to settle into the studio and sew. | SUBMITTED

The Comfort of Quilting Behind the Craft: By Laura Brown My name is Laura and I am indoorsy. Now, I love a good walk or ski in the woods, or a wander along the lake, but I come from a long line of people who are content to sit in a room and read different books together. So, unlike many of the stories I hear about what brings people to the North Shore, the main reason I moved here was not for canoeing or backwoods camping. It was quilting. I moved to Grand Marais at the end of August to participate in the Artisan Development Program at North House Folk School. My goals: to make quilts, learn about natural dyes and generally enjoy the slower pace of small-town life. The long nights, cold temperatures and growing snow banks are my cue to settle into the studio and sew. From piecing scraps of fabric together, to the hours of hand quilting, I love every step of this process. Experimentation and play blend with repetition as I determine a layout for the top of the quilt, layer fabric and batting together, and stitch it by hand. These tasks are slow. I am grateful for both the parts of the process that engage my attention, and those where my hands take over, letting my mind wander or take in an audiobook. Quilting is an old practice and has history in most parts of the world. Textiles are as fundamental to human lives as shelter and food, and developments in weaving and sewing were often advanced to create housing structures, garments and functional, decorative domestic items. Sewing and quilting feel primal to me, in the sense that I feel connected to other makers by this practice. This is probably partly inherited: my mom taught me to sew. She learned from her mother, and her grandmother was a professional seamstress. There are countless anonymous makers throughout history who turned old fabric into new things through the practice of quilting, whose work continues to inspire me. By training, I am a printmaker. Printmaking is sometimes referred to as “graphic art” because various forms of it were predecessors to modern day graphic design. But the word 22

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graphic is also used to describe artwork that contains bold shapes and colors. I can see this quality in both my prints and my quilts. Color is my favorite of all the design elements, so it is often a starting point in a new project. In the context of printmaking, I mix my own colors of ink. When quilting, I choose colors and prints from a wide collection of fabric that has come to me over the years from thrift stores, estate sales, friends and strangers. I love to work within made up parameters: using what I already have and a specific starting point of shapes or colors. There is a language to quilting, in the shapes and patterns of traditional quilt blocks, with names that are common or slightly varied based on region. I think about these common histories and practices as I sew (glad I have an electric iron, a sewing machine and good lighting to work with). I think about the person who will own it, the beauty and comfort it provides, and the way it will hopefully be both used and cared for. So let the wind howl and the snow come down—I’ll be in the studio,

When quilting, Brown chooses colors and prints from a wide collection of fabric that she’s accumulated from thrift stores, estate sales, friends and strangers. | SUBMITTED

The Soul of our Communities Nonprofit organizations contribute greatly to our quality of life in the Northern Wilds. But they can't do their work without our support. Please consider these organizations for your charitable contributions.

North House Folk School NorthHouse.org

Cook County Care Partners CarePartnersofCookCounty.org Care Partners of Cook County provides vital support and services to help older adults and their caregivers address the transitions of aging, serious illness and end of life with safety, dignity, and confidence.

Cook County School District 166 Education Foundation CookCountySchools.org/ page/Education-Foundation

Gunflint Trail Historical Society GunflintHistory.org 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.

The mission of the CCSDEF is to offer unique experiences through innovative instruction and co-curricular programs which are unable to be funded by ISD 166 or other sources. Our annual fundraiser, E.A.T.S., has not been held for two years due to COVID-19. Donations are tax deductible, and your check may be sent to P.O. Box 1117, Grand Marais, MN 55604-1117.

Cook County Historical Society CookCountyHistory.org The purpose of the Cook County Historical Society shall be the collection, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge about the history and art of Cook County and to relate it to the history of the State of Minnesota.

WTIP North Shore Community Radio WTIP.org WTIP tells the stories of the North Shore through local news, eclectic music, and more. Inspiring radio for challenging times—woven together by our connection to this region and by the voices we love. Join us for our First Stirrings of Spring Membership Drive, March 16-21.

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic SawtoothMountainClinic.org

Grand Marais Playhouse GrandMaraisPlayhouse.com The Grand Marais Playhouse has been building community through theater since 1971 and is celebrating its 50th season in 2022! Our local community theater provides high quality productions and educational opportunities with and for Cook County and its visitors.

North House Folk School enriches lives 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.

We maintain that quality healthcare, regardless of financial ability to pay, is a right, not a privilege. Our mission is to provide access to highquality, patient-centered primary and preventative healthcare for all persons throughout SMC’s service area of Cook County, Minnesota and the Anishinaabe Nation of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, on whose ancestral tribal lands we stand.

Oddz & Endz facebook.com/ ODDZANDENDZ.GrandMarais

Oddz & Endz provides an environmentally conscious, economically friendly, community enhancing opportunity for donated clean, useable, resaleable household goods, including furniture, to continue to serve the people of Cook County. Items are kept from landfills, sold at accessible prices, and profits are redistributed to local non-profits. At Oddz & Endz, everyone wins.

Friends of the Finland Community FriendsofFinland.org Our mission is to help make Finland and the surrounding area an inviting and vibrant place. We provide space for youth, elders, community groups, events, rentals, small business support and incubation, a farmers’ market, community education, community recreation, free internet, public computers, and trail maps and information, all in one location!

Ely Folk School ElyFolkSchool.org

Ely Folk School has in-person and virtual classes, a ceramics studio membership program, and special events throughout the year. March offerings include beginning blacksmithing, ethnic foods, Ojibwe storytelling, and more. Check them out and register online or call 218-235-0138.

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MARCH 2022

Dog Days of Winter, held Sunday, March 13 at Trail Center Lodge, includes freestyle skijoring races. Held on Poplar Lake, participants can register for a 2-mile or 5-mile race with a two-dog max. | SUBMITTED

SLEEPING GIANT LOPPET

March 5, Saturday The annual Sleeping Giant Loppet ski festival, held at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park in Thunder Bay, returns this year with some modifications. There will be no registration and no fee to participate. Skiers will be able to start at one of three locations: Bay’s End to Lookout Trail (Pass Lake); Thunder Bay Lookout Road (Rita Lake); or Marie Louise Lake Campground. Participants can choose their own start time and distance to ski. Skiers will not be timed and there will be no awards. A website will allow skiers to record their start location and distance skied. Each parked vehicle will be required to display either a park seasonal or day pass, or a Thunder Bay Nordic Trails membership card. sleepinggiantloppet.ca

THE HALF-LIFE OF MARIE CURIE

March 10-13 Presented by the Grand Marais Playhouse, this year’s annual community youth (high school) play is The Half-Life of Marie Curie, by Lauren Gunderson—a two-woman powerhouse production selected by graduating seniors Elsa Garry and Greta Roth. The play is about the friendship between Marie Curie (played by Garry) and Hertha Ayrton (played by Roth) when Marie escaped the onslaught of negative French press over an affair and recovered at Hertha’s summer home in England. The play will be held at 7 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sunday) at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais. Tickets are $15 for youth, $25 for adults and $50 for households up to five people. Proof of covid vaccination is required at the door for admittance and physical distancing is appreciated. grandmaraisplayhouse.com

ST. URHO’S FINLAND CELEBRATION

March 11-13 Join the town of Finland for a weekend filled with family-friendly fun, held both virtually and in-person. This year marks the 47th Annual St. Urho’s Celebration and the theme is St. Urho Flies the Coop. Festivities will include the Miss Helmi Talent and Beauty Contest on Friday and a tug-of-war competition across the Baptism River on Sat-

This year’s Nipigon Ice Fest will be held virtually on March 3 and includes a photo contest that’s open until March 7. | ARIC FISHMAN 24

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This year’s 47th St. Urho’s Finland Celebration, which is themed St. Urho Flies the Coop, will take place March 11-13 both virtually and in person. The parade will take place at noon on Saturday, March 12. | SUBMITTED urday. The parade will also take place on Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. Door prizes, followed by a livestreamed raffle ticket drawing, will be held at Our Place at 3 p.m. on Sunday. friendsoffinland.org

The annual Sleeping Giant Loppet ski festival, held Saturday, March 5 at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park in Thunder Bay, returns this year with some modifications. There will be no registration and no fee to participate. | SUBMITTED

DOG DAYS OF WINTER

March 13, Sunday Head to Trail Center Lodge on the Gunflint Trail for the annual Dog Days of Winter, featuring sled dog derbies, freestyle skijoring races, and a bonfire with s’mores, hot dogs, maple snowcones and hot chocolate. Sled dog derbies include an eight-dog, 20-23-mile race; six-dog, 1012-mile race; and a four-dog, 3-3.5 mile race. Registration for the sled dog derbies will begin at 8 a.m. and races start at 11 a.m. Registration for the skijoring races begins at 10 a.m. and is open to all experience levels with a two-dog max per skier. Skijoring races start at 2 p.m. on Poplar Lake and kick sleds are welcome. Spectators are welcome to join the fun, but remember to leave your own pets at home. dogdaysofwinter.net

WOOD WEEK

March 14-21 Can you smell the fresh cut wood? Wood Week at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais will be log jampacked with everything the woodworker’s heart desires. Choose from a dozen courses in a variety of areas: relief carving, turning, spoon carving and more. Each year, the week has a featured instructor—a master woodworker who brings a unique expertise to the group. This year’s featured instructor is Mary May, a professional wood carver from Charleston, SC. Friday, March 18 will be the Carver’s Conference, a day full of demonstrations, workshops, skill shares and community gatherings. All enrolled students are encouraged to come early or stay late to partake of this extra benefit. northhouse.org

PORTAGE CRAFT BEER FEST

March 26, Saturday Enjoy samples of great craft beers and ciders at the Portage Craft Beer Fest, held in the event center at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino in Grand Portage. Held from 6-9 p.m., the $15 entry fee

Held at North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Wood Week includes a dozen courses in a variety of areas, as well as a full day of demonstrations, skill shares, workshops and more. | SUBMITTED includes tickets for 10 samples and a souvenir event-branded sampling glass. Additional sample tickets can be purchased for $1.50 each. Score cards will be distributed so attendees can make notes on their tasting experience. Then, at 8 p.m. Black River Revue, the talented Duluth/Superior band, will entertain with a free show of live freshwater bluegrass and Americana music until midnight. Must be 21 or older to attend. grandportage.com

ARROWHEAD HOME & BUILDERS SHOW

March 30-April 3 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

Joel Karsten will share straw bale gardening tips at the Arrowhead Home and Builders Show, held March 30-April 3 at the Decc in Duluth. | SUBMITTED will be exhibitors with the newest products and technology, informative seminars, a fully furnished and landscaped model home you can tour, and more. The entire family will love watching the Fur-Tastic K9’s performance and stunt dog team. HGTV’s Renegade Gardner will present seminars daily. World Champion sand sculptor Ted Seibert will be creating an unbelievable masterpiece with his hands. Joel Karsten will share his straw bale gardening tips. 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

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MARCH 2022

NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thru March 6 Erika Larsen’s Sami—Walking with Reindeer Nordic Center, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org

Thru March 11 Like Me, Like You Exhibition Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru March 27 Threads of Hope Exhibition Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com Strawberry Hill Werkshop Exhibition Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

Thru April 3 Beth Livensperger: Don’t Like Mondays Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru April 30 Kristen Kaas: Refuge Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

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

Thru May 31 1821: A Union of Rivals Exhibition Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

March 3, Thursday Virtual Nipigon Ice Fest Nipigon, outdoorskillsandthrills.com

March 3-5 Flying Solo 7:30 p.m. UMD Marshall Performing Arts Center: Main Stage, Duluth, tickets.umn.edu

March 3-19 Magnus Theatre Presents: Salt Baby Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

March 4-6 Wawa Ice Fishing Derby Wawa, Ontario, wawaicefishingderby.com

March 4-27 Winter Plein Air Exhibition (Reception March 4 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

March 5, Saturday Sleeping Giant Loppet, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Thunder Bay, sleepinggiantloppet.ca

MARCH 2022

Trout Derby 8 a.m. Gunflint Lake, Gunflint Trail, facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders KCPRO-East Youth Ice Racing 10 a.m. Shagawa Lake, Ely, kcproeast.com TBSO: Sisu: Celebrating the Finnish Labour Temple 7:30 p.m. Virtual Concert, tbso.ca

March 6, Sunday Superior Timberwolves Annual Snowmobile Picnic 11 a.m. Lynx Shelter, Tofte, Facebook: Superior Timberwolves Sportsman’s Club

March 7, Monday Movie Showing: A Streetcar Named Desire 2 p.m. Ely Public Library, elylibrary.org

March 10-13 The Grand Marais Playhouse Presents: The Half-Life of Marie Curie 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

March 11, Friday

March 17, Thursday St. Patrick’s Day March 18, Friday

Portage Craft Beer Fest & Black River

TBSO: Mozart & Mendelssohn 7:30 p.m.

Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

March 26-27

March 18-April 3

Arrowhead Chorale: Messiah: A New American

Ragtime Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

March 19, Saturday Harlem Globetrotters 7 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth, decc.org DSSO: To Persevere 7 p.m. Duluth Decc: Symphony Hall, dsso.com Snowed In Comedy Tour 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

March 19-20 Motorhead Madness 10 a.m. Decc, Duluth, motorheadmadnessmn.com

TBSO: Schubert & Farrenc 7:30 p.m.

March 20, Sunday

March 11-13

Flying Solo: ALS Interpreted Show 2 p.m. UMD Marshall Performing Arts Center: Main Stage, Duluth, tickets.umn.edu

Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca St. Urho’s Celebration: St. Urho Flies the Coop Finland, friendsoffinland.org

March 12, Saturday Nice Girls of the North Marketplace 10 a.m. Spirit of the Lake Community School, Duluth, nicegirlsofthenorth.com Poplar Haus Drag Races Noon, Poplar Haus, Gunflint Trail, facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders

March 13, Sunday Daylight Saving Time Starts Dog Days of Winter 11 a.m. Trail Center Lodge, Gunflint Trail, dogdaysofwinter.net

March 14-21 Wood Week North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

March 15, Tuesday Blippi the Musical 6 p.m.

Duluth Decc: Symphony Hall, decc.org

March 16, Wednesday Bianca Del Rio: Unsanitized Comedy Tour 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

March 16-19 Flying Solo 7:30 p.m. UMD Marshall Performing Arts Center: Main Stage, Duluth, tickets.umn.edu

March 16-21 First Stirrings of Spring Membership Drive WTIP, Grand Marais, wtip.org

NORTHERN WILDS

March 21-April 30

Sarah Brokke Exhibition Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

March 23, Wednesday Virtual Speaker: Hon. Jody WilsonRaybould Noon, Diversity Thunder Bay, diversitythunderbay.ca

March 23-26 The Addams Family 7:30 p.m. Paramount Theatre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/paramounttbay

March 24-25 Charlie Berens: Midwest Survival Guide Tour Duluth Decc: Symphony Hall, decc.org

March 24-26 What She Said: New Play Festival 7:30 p.m. Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

March 25, Friday TBSO: Stravinsky & Beethoven 7:30 p.m.

Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca

March 25-27 Minnesota Ballet Presents: Inspire The Depot, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org

March 26, Saturday Treasures of the Earth Green Goods, Craft & Art Fair 10 a.m. Peace Church, Duluth, wendyupnorth.com

Revue 6 p.m. Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, grandportage.com Zach Williams 7 p.m. Duluth Decc: Symphony Hall, decc.org

Oratorio 7:30 p.m. (3 p.m. Sun.) First Lutheran Church, Duluth, arrowheadchorale.com

March 29, Tuesday WPI Q&A Public Forum 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, worldpressinstitute.org

March 30, Wednesday Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles 7:30 p.m. Duluth Decc: Symphony Hall, decc.org

March 30-April 2 The Addams Family 7:30 p.m. Paramount Theatre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/paramounttbay

March 30-April 3 Arrowhead Home & Builders Show 10 a.m. (5 p.m. Wed. & Thurs.) Decc, Duluth, arrowheadhomeshow.com

April 2, Saturday Granger Smith 7 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth, decc.org

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

Thursdays Acoustic Night 4 p.m. Moguls Grille & Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, Lutsen, visitcookcounty.com/events Date Night at the Winery 6 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Fridays Acoustic Night 4 p.m. Moguls Grille & Taproom at Caribou Highlands Lodge, Lutsen, visitcookcounty.com/events

Saturdays Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca Tour the North House Campus 2 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org Jazz at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum 3 p.m. The Depot, Duluth, lsrm.org

Sundays Winter FunDays (Thru March 20) 2 p.m. Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/winterfundays

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House smoked meats coming soon: Hungry Hippie Tacos in Duluth!

Frybread tacos Burritos MN craft beer Dine-in and take-out

15 West Hwy 61, Grand Marais • 218-387-3382

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PARKING • TRAILS • GAS • LODGING LOCALS NIGHT OUT ON MONDAYS BURGER NIGHT ON WEDNESDAYS PRIME RIB ON FRIDAYS VIEW OUR FULL MENU ONLINE 8 MILES FROM GRAND MARAIS ON DEVIL TRACK LAKE WWW.SKYPORTLODGE.COM 218-387-9414 28

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The North Shore Dish Year of the Tacos By Kitty Mayo

There’s something about tacos, that special combination of wrapper and warm fillings, that lifts the spirit. Lucky for people like me that find the mere mention of tacos uplifting, this year looks like it’s shaping up to be a great one, with taco options expanding in the region. Since they opened four years ago, Hungry Hippie Tacos in Grand Marais has become so popular, their biggest challenge has been being open enough hours to meet the demand of enthusiastic diners. Now owners Kate and Jeremy Keeble have decided to branch out all the way to Duluth. The Keeble’s first Cook County business was the Hungry Hippie Hostel, then they took over what had been the iconic Hughie’s Tacos, with Kate riffing on her personal theme of pastry-chef, and her husband Jeremy finessing his love of smoked meats. That collaboration created a unique taco that has built a huge fan base. Calling their take on tacos “the northern tacos,” Kate says the frybread base they use is “different from any other dough.” After learning frybread recipes from friends in Grand Portage, Kate tweaked her recipe by adding wild rice flour that they mill themselves to showcase an important northern Minnesota flavor. Rolled thin, the result is something akin to a fried pastry tortilla, which from there might transform into a Minnesota cheesesteak taco, “like a Philly cheesesteak that is a seven-napkin taco,” says Kate, adding, “we push the boundaries of what people expect, we are neither Taco Bell or authentic. I love that niche.” A Duluth restaurant has been in the making for some time and Kate says that they have been looking for the right property for a couple of years. The new restaurant is in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, and leaning toward local in all that she does, Kate says that the beer selection in Duluth will be heavy on the state’s craft beer selection, with an eye toward Minnesota-sourced in every direction. The Keebles plan to maintain their homebase in Grand Marais and are hoping the new restaurant addition will connect them more readily with family living south of Duluth. With daughters Addie, 13, and Mavis, 7, “rooted in Grand Marais,” Kate says, “We are pretty isolated here in Grand Marais, but we will not be leaving any time soon.”

Hungry Hippie Tacos in Grand Marais is expanding with a second location opening in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Owners Kate and Jeremy Keeble hope to have the doors open in the spring. | HUNGRY HIPPIE TACOS NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

Those trips to Duluth are something that she is looking forward to, a chance, says Kate, to “have some fun and sneak away as a family to dinner, or the trampoline park.”

Dog Days of Winter Free Family Fun

Saturday, March 13, 2022 Please leave your pets at home!

Sled Dog Derbies 8 DOG 20-23 mi., entry fee $40 6 DOG 10-12 mi., entry fee $30 4 DOG 3-3.5 mi, entry fee $20 Registration 8 am-10 am Musher Meeting 10 am Race start 11 am The Race: 8 dog teams first, then 6 dog teams followed by 4 dog teams. Approx 2 minutes between teams and 5 minutes between starts of races

Skijoring 2 MILE RACE, entry fee $15 5 MILE RACE, entry fee $30 Registration 10 am-1 pm Participant Meeting 1:15, Race Start 2 pm The Race: 2 dog max per skier, freestyle races (open to skate skiing or classic skiing). Open to all experience levels The Race Course will take place entirely on Poplar Lake. Skate skiing should be quite favorable for those seeking speed! Kick Sleds welcome.

 Bonfire  Smores   Hot Dogs  CoCoa   Maple Snowcones 

Where? Trail Center Lodge

1/2 way up the Gunflint Trail 7611 Gunflint Trail, Near Grand Marais For more info.: 218-388-2214 dogdaysofwinter.info dogdaysofwinter.net 30

MARCH 2022

Hot and heavy construction plans are underway, with the design process already completed and hopes to have the doors open in the spring. The biggest lure of the new space for Kate is the doubling of the space compared to the original location. “In the bigger space we can do more fun fillings like pickled onions, cilantro sprouts, and much more,” said Kate, adding that the bigger Duluth kitchen will also serve as a commissary kitchen to send out batches of things to Grand Marais. “Our wheels are spinning non-stop, there’s so much space.” Talk about fun, just wait until you hear some of HHT’s flavors, like sweet potato, goat cheese and hot honey, say what? That’s nothing if not fun. A reputation for fun and fairness are some of the ingredients that Kate says are giving them traction in a difficult workforce climate. “We just want to have fun with food, and it’s catching on that we are fun to work for,” said Kate. Add that up with the Keeble’s commitment to paying a good wage to support members of their communities, and you have happy staff making happy food. My idea of fun. Oasis Del Norte is adding a storefront after years of making welcome appearances with their food trailer in Two Harbors and Duluth. Owner Eduardo Sandoval-Luna has now purchased a brick-and-mortar location in Duluth, also in Lincoln Park. Not abandoning his well-received route, Sandoval-Luna says the traveling taco-trailer remains his passion. The vision that Sandoval-Luna is bringing to his new location is, “taqueria, fast food, casual,” explaining that the restaurant will function under the same concept as the beloved taco-trailer: a place to grab an order of tacos based on his mother’s cooking at her restaurant in Mexico; El Oasis. Ask Sandoval-Luna what his inspiration is for expanding his taco reach and it remains the same purpose as when he started. “More sharing of my Mexican culture through food, just like I’ve been sharing with the northland since 2015,” he says. Even “the crazy American taco,” that Sandoval-Luna eventually added to his menu because of persistent requests (that’s

The Oasis Del Norte food truck is finally adding a storefront, also located in Duluth’s Lincoln Park area. | OASIS DEL NORTE flour tortilla, ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream: all ingredients Sandoval-Luna avoided with his authentic-style tacos), have an Oasis twist with his signature flavors based on his mother’s recipe. Bowing to some pressure from north of the border tastes has not diminished the Oasis stature in the authentic Mexican category, with Sandoval-Luna saying, “We were the original street taco (in the northland), and the main thing we still sell is the street taco when we look at sales.” Setting up shop at the Miller Hill Mall during the winter of 2020, Sandoval-Luna says it was a good test run on working out of a building, and the response he got encouraged him to expand to a permanent location. Refitting the building space to become a restaurant is the job at hand and Sandoval-Luna is hoping they will open their doors by the coming summer. Acting as their home-base, he anticipates greater efficiency for stocking the trailer to launch taco expeditions even further to Virginia, Ely and Grand Marais. Priding himself with having a positive influence on raising the taco game on the North Shore, Sandovaol-Luna says there’s room for such a popular favorite as tacos, and is confident that his brand will always have the special touch of his connection to his mother’s restaurant in Mexico.

Oasis Del Norte owner Eduardo Sandoval-Luna stands in front of his traveling taco-trailer, which will remain active after the opening of his new storefront. | OASIS DEL NORTE In other taco news, Chacos Taqueria in Duluth is moving from a pop-up venue to a full-on storefront in Canal Park. And, wait, there’s more! Tacos, Tacos, Tacos plans to up their game with a new restaurant to be revealed in downtown Duluth soon.

South of the Border C · a · f · e

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We’re Open Before the Fish Bite! Open 5 am - 2 pm Everyday!

Located at the stop light in Grand Marais

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5339 W Hwy 61, Ste 101 • 218-370-9648 • www.jewelerofthenorthshore.com

Health Halos & Horns Rightful Reputations or Needless Notoriety? By Hartley Newell-Acero

Health Horns

Health “halos” or “horns” means that something is perceived as being good or bad for you—even if there’s little or no evidence to back this up. This month we’ll explore common halos and horns and how you can verify health claims for yourself.

Health halos aren’t the only inaccuracies that we need to watch out for. Undeserved “health horns” can create unnecessary concerns. We can end up wasting time and energy avoiding things that are harmless, or worse yet, needlessly shunning things that can actually be helpful.

Health Halos

PROCESSED FOOD: In the age of “clean eating,” processed food can get a bad rap. The vast majority of food that we eat needs to be processed in some way: cut, cooked, canned, fortified, frozen, etc. None of these steps necessarily decrease nutrient content and can actually preserve or free up nutrients that would otherwise be unavailable to our bodies.

SUPPLEMENTS: Americans spend close to $50 billion a year on supplements. Not all supplements deserve their health halo. Supplements are not FDA-approved for safety or effectiveness, and there are no standards for combinations of ingredients or doses. SUPERFOODS: This is a marketing term with no scientific basis or regulatory definition. Foods with this label are usually nutrient-dense, but they’re publicized as having health benefits above and beyond nutrition, or they’re credited with the prevention of disease. In reality, all vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, peas, legumes, nuts and seeds are foods that are super. Choose what you like and can afford, eat plenty of them, experiment with new ones when you can, and don’t worry about the spendy stuff if you don’t want to.

However, there’s a big difference between processed whole food and “ultra-processed” food (UPF). UPF contains little or no whole food and is made primarily from edible substances that have been derived from other foods, such as fats and hydrogenated fats, starches and added sugars. They often also contain additives such as artificial colors and flavors or stabilizers. Consumption of UPF is linked to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, depres-

sion, cancer and kidney and liver diseases. Frighteningly, more than 60 percent of the food that Americans eat now falls into the ultra-processed category. In this case, the “health horns” on ultra-processed foods are entirely justified. CHEMICALS: Everything we eat, drink, touch, taste, smell or see is made up of chemicals. “Chemical-free” anything is impossible. “Natural” (and how is that even defined?) is not always safer, gentler or more effective, and manufactured is not always inferior, dangerous or harsh. Medications and vaccinations can be prime examples of human-created, life-saving substances. The “appeal to nature” tactic can be used to put health horns on lots of things that are really very safe.

How to spot the health halos and horns (Or... learning how to cut the CRAAP) CRAAP is an acronym that can help us to wade through all kinds of

confusing information by examining: CURRENCY—How current is the information? Some data doesn’t change much over time but some changes rapidly. RELEVANCY—Does meet your needs?

the

information

AUTHORITY—Who is the source of the information? What are their qualifications and credentials? ACCURACY—Is the information backed up with solid evidence and can you find the sources of that evidence? PURPOSE—Why does this information exist: to inform, teach, sell, entertain or persuade? This is a condensed version of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s “Topic of the Month” newsletter. Read the full version to learn about “natural” sweeteners, MSG, aluminum, and to access the resources cited. This issue, and 60 more, can be found at: sawtoothmountainclinic.org.

Now Seeing Patients at North Shore Health in Grand Marais

Current Job Openings Infection Control, Peer Review and CQI Coordinator – Full-Time Registered Nurse - Hospital – Full-Time or Casual Registered Nurse - Home Health – Full-Time or Casual Paramedic - Ambulance – Full-Time or Casual Certified Nursing Assistants – Full-time, Part-time or Casual Dietary Cook – Full or Part-time Activities Assistance – Part-time Emergency Medical Technicians – Full-time, Part-time or casual Laboratory Technicians – MLT or MLS – Full-time Emergency Medical Responders – On- Call Please visit: www.northshorehealthgm.org/employment for more information.

Dr. Lucarelli welcomes patients who have pain or concerns that may lead to general surgery. He treats the following: • • • • • • • • •

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

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

NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

Northern Trails How to Trick Your Trap By Gord Ellis

Although as common as sparrows in 2022, there was a time when a portable sleigh with a flip-over tent was a rare bird. My first contact with this type of ice fishing shelter was in 1990, when I fished with a group of anglers from Minnesota and Manitoba. They were all fishing out of these new, portable tents called fish traps. A short time later I got my first trap and I definitely wore it out. Then, about 20 years ago, my kids started ice fishing with me, so it was time to get a larger tent. The old fish trap was upgraded to a two-man Clam Yukon. It easily fit myself and my two boys, although I usually got kicked out. That trap got a lot of use and over time, the familiar blue tent started to get tattered. Recently, I’ve been eyeing up the newer traps that include a thermal tent. This thicker material is said to hold heat better and allow less light inside. But thanks to several ice fishing groups on social media, I learned you could upgrade an older fish trap with a thermal tent and a variety of accessories.

The old fish trap tent being removed, thanks to the help of Gord Ellis Sr. | GORD ELLIS [FAR LEFT] A milk crate and foam mat

are just two DIY additions to a fish trap. | GORD ELLIS

This winter, I began collecting the parts required to “trick my trap.” The first thing needed was a thorough inspection of my old unit to make sure it was worth the investment. Despite two decades of northwestern Ontario winters, my trap was in decent shape. The folding bars were solid, and the tub was not too badly worn. With my credit card in hand, I went online and ordered a new thermal replacement tent, as well as several accessories.

[LEFT] This corner console is a handy

accessory in a fish trap. | GORD ELLIS

Trap Accessories

There are many things that you can do to your trap which will improve both comfort and efficiency. Some are DIY, some require purchase through a company. My Yukon was made by CLAM, a company located in Minnesota. The thermal tent replacement came through them, as did a couple of items specifically suited to that design. For the record, Otter, Eskimo, Frabill and other companies also make very good trap-style shelters. One item that caught my eye was a kit for spreader pole storage. Having the internal spreader poles loose in the bottom of the tub always bugged me. This unit fixes that. The spreader storage is installed on the back of the tub and gets all the poles bound up and out of the road. Another cool accessory was a corner console shelf that 32

MARCH 2022

could be used as a tray and drink holder. Again, some installation required but just a few nuts and bolts. Another thing I’d never had inside my trap were lights. It turns out there are a wide variety of lights that can be purchased or DIYed that will brighten a dark tent. These vary from LED strips you’d use inside a car, to lights that can hang from

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the support bars, but you need power to do that. The simplest way is to install a small rack to hold a rechargeable 12-volt battery. A 12-volt can power LED lights for several hours. However, there is also a whole world of “power boxes” out there now that power both lights and your various devices like a cell phone or fish finder. I ordered a Canadian made one called the Lake Simcoe Power Box and it should do the trick.

Some DIY additions to my trap included adding a portable floor. To do this, I bought some interlocking foam flooring similar to what you might use in a workout area. The reason for adding foam flooring is two-fold: the first reason is to keep your feet insulted from the ice and the second is to have a non-slippery area for things like a propane heater. The foam also does not absorb water and is light to transport. Another simple trick is to use a plastic milk crate in your trap as a mini table and storage. The crate can also be used to put your fish-finder on. Plastic milk crates are very light and can be stuffed with items like tackle boxes when travelling. I also ordered a new cover for the trap, as the old one looked horrible.

Installation

One evening in early February, my dad Gord Sr. and I spent an evening in his garage “tricking my trap.” Removing the old tent was relatively easy, as most of it was attached to the support poles by Velcro. The hardest part was taking out the screws that held the tent skirt to the back of the tub. A

There are many things that you can do to your trap which will improve both comfort and efficiency. plastic flange held the skirt in place and that had to be removed as well. When the tent was off, we added the spreader pole storage, a corner console, and a measuring stick and holder that was screwed inside the front of the trap. Then it was time to add the new tent. The thermal tent was noticeably thicker but handled well and with a little trial and error, we got it Velcroed on the poles. Once again, the hardest part was attaching the skirt to the back. Not only was the material heavier, but we had to take a bit more of it in to tighten it on the poles. This also went remarkably well and we finished the job in three hours.

up to the hype. The thermal tent proved a blessing, holding in heat remarkably well and not flapping like the old one did. The accessories were helpful and overall, the fishing experience was great. I still have some stuff to do—including adding new runners to the tub—so it remains a work in progress. So, if you have an ice fishing trap, I recommend a little “tricking” this winter. It will make your on-ice experience that much more comfortable and enjoyable.

I can report that my tricked-out trap has been on the ice and lived

BY JOE SHEAD WHY GO: Snowbank Lake is a big, Canadian Shield-type lake near Ely with a good smallmouth bass population, good numbers of eater-sized lake trout and a chance to catch a rare silver phase northern pike. ACCESS: From Ely, head east on the Fernberg Road for 19 miles. Turn left onto Snowbank Road. Follow Snowbank Road about 4 miles to the boat landing on the south end of the lake. There are separate accesses for canoes and motorboats. Both have docks and there is a restroom facility. There’s parking for about 10 trailers at the boat ramp and about 30 vehicles at the canoe launch. There are also three backcountry campsites on the lake with a latrine, fire grate and picnic table. These no-fee sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. VITALS: Snowbank Lake is a classic deep, clear, rocky Canadian Shield lake. Snowbank sprawls for 4,654 acres, with a maximum depth of 150 feet and 19.5 feet of water clarity. Several islands of varying sizes dot the lake. Snowbank is a Boundary Waters entry point, with five portages to adjoining lakes. The northern half of the lake lies within the Boundary Waters and there is a 25-horsepower limit on motorboats in that portion of the lake. In summer, the line designating the Boundary Waters isn’t marked, but in winter, temporary signage marks the boundary. There are two resorts on the lake and some cabins on the south end, but most of the lake is undeveloped. GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Lake trout, walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike and eelpout. LAKE TROUT: Snowbank is recognized as a pretty decent lake trout lake, with good

The new thermal fish trap was a success on the ice. | GORD ELLIS

numbers of eaters, but not much trophy potential. “Snowbank has gotten hit by heavy fishing pressure over the last few years,” said Jeff Mueller, DNR fisheries technician based out of Tower. “Winter fishing has gotten bigger as well. We’re on the southern edge of the lake trout range and we need to be sensitive with our harvest. More people are fishing intelligently (with electronics) these days.” Lake trout have a good cisco forage base to prey on and they grow quickly. There is plenty of deep, rocky habitat for lakers as well. With good natural reproduction, lake trout haven’t been stocked in Snowbank since 1995. WALLEYE: Despite good walleye numbers in DNR surveys, Mueller said walleye fishing is tough. “It seems Snowbank has a fairly decent number of walleyes, but they’re not easy to catch. The people that really put in their time probably get a few,” he said. Due to its high-water clarity, Mueller advised anglers to target walleyes on cloudy days or early or late in the day. Target deep reefs where walleyes target small ciscoes. Mueller said plan to lose a lot of lures on the snaggy bottom. Snowbank’s walleyes come in a variety of sizes, with good numbers of eaters and some trophy potential, if you can find them. SMALLMOUTH BASS: Snowbank has emerged as a really good smallmouth bass lake. “There are a lot of smallmouths in Snowbank,” Mueller said. “A lot of them are small. If you want some action on the end of your rod, that’s certainly a good place to go.” Mueller said shoreline anglers will catch plenty of smallish smallmouths. For a shot at a bigger bass, he recommends fishing deep humps. Some of the bigger bass target ciscoes. Smallmouth bass numbers are excellent and there is a small large-

SNOWBANK LAKE

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mouth bass population in Snowbank as well. NORTHERN PIKE: Although Snowbank is mostly deep and rocky, it does have some shallow, weedy bays, particularly on the south end, that have good northern pike habitat. Anglers will find pike here, but some of the largest fish will suspend over deep water, where they prey on schools of ciscoes. However, these large, suspended fish are hard to find. One unique thing about Snowbank’s pike fishery is the presence of silver-phase northern pike. These unusual fish are simply a silvery blue color phase of northern pike and are somewhat common in Snowbank. Mueller said they’ll occasionally have red spots with blue halos, similar to brook trout. There are enough of them in Snowbank that people do target them specifically. One concern about Snowbank

is the presence of invasive rusty crayfish. These exotics often decimate weed beds, which would likely have a serious impact on the northern pike fishery. Mueller said so far, they haven’t had much of an impact on Snowbank’s shallow, weedy bays, however. EELPOUT: Snowbank has one of the best eelpout populations in the area. However, catching them isn’t always easy. “The angling for burbot in the winter—it’s not very good,” Mueller said. “The success is nil. Years ago, people would catch burbot fairly regularly. Why there’s such a low catch rate in the winter these days, I don’t have an answer for that, but the numbers in the last assessment were really good.”

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

NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

Gidaanikeshkaagonaanig Gidaanikoobijiganinaan Following the Ancestor’s Steps

Gaagaagii babaamademo Raven, Goes About Crying Out By Sam Zimmerman A niiji (friend) recently shared that when she was driving along Hwy 61, a migizi (bald eagle) was fighting with gaagaagiwag (ravens) over a fresh waawaashkeshi (deer) kill. It reminded me of dibaajimowin (a story) my cousin shared about how gaagaagiwag will cause a ruckus when they come across a freshly dead animal—they will mawindan (cry for it) in order to attract the help of ma’iinganag (wolves). Ma’iinganag will then inandan (to bite in a certain way) to tear the tough hides, which allow the gaagaagiwag to eat too. Don’t forget to call out to others when help is needed.

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

Finland’s 47th Annual St. Urho’s Celebration Schedule of Events

St Urho Flies the Coop! St Urho’s Weekend will be a combination of online/ livestream events as well as outdoor events, the main one being the

Parade at Noon on Saturday March 12th. The Calendar of Events will be updated online here:

www.friendsoffinland.org/st-urho-2022-schedule Also check out our Facebook page for livestreaming:

www.facebook.com/sturho Supported by the Silver Bay Area Tourism Association and Welcome to Finland

www.friendsoffinland.org/st-urho-2022-schedule 34

MARCH 2022

NORTHERN WILDS

SAWTOOTH RACING DOG BLOG BY ERIN ALTEMUS

Beargrease Coping in Six Stages The Honeymoon

The race began like every other. We made it to the start line on time, the weather was fair, and the trail hard and smooth. The dogs ran to Two Harbors without a hitch. I worked to keep our speed under control. Going into Two Harbors, we had the eleventh fastest time. I knew the hard fast trail would take a toll later in the race. So far, the race felt easy.

Peaches takes a nap while thinking about her food. | ERICK BRUNSVOLD

Two Harbors checkpoint felt chaotic. My daughter Sylvia and her cousins were running around amongst the dogs, climbing snowdrifts and popping in and out of our camper. The dogs were not especially restful yet and with spectators coming and going, they were distracted. After an hour and 40 minutes of rest, I pulled the hook and carried on toward Finland.

Storming

After a nice rest in Finland, we began hooking up the team. Itsy had a slight limp. Investigation revealed a sore shoulder and I had to leave my best female behind. My husband Matt told me to shrug it off as I left the checkpoint. The next 30 miles could be smooth sailing. It was a night run. It would be super hilly but one of the shortest legs of the race. But the dogs were still working out their kinks, working into their race metabolism. Within a few miles, I saw Hush doing a head bob. Something was wrong. Soon she began to limp. I didn’t want to cause her any pain nor did I want her to slow down the team. I stopped, hooked down, and tried to put Hush in the sled bag. As I clipped her into the bag, she started thrashing. She did not feel she was done running no matter what I thought. While she thrashed, the zipper on the sled broke and split open. It became clear I would be unable to keep her in the sled, so with no other choice, she went back to the gangline. As I clipped her on, I looked up at the team. Temper (my leader) was on top of Peaches. As the only intact (not neutered) male on the team, he had let his young male hormones get the best of him. I ran up front and grabbed his collar and he came off of Peaches. Now, one thing you are not supposed to do is break up two dogs who have “tied.” I do not know if they were tied at this very moment, but Temper was clearly quite in the middle of something and so I stood there, on the trail, in the dark somewhere between Finland and Sawbill, waiting for my dog’s hormones to recede so we could continue racing. This was not how I envisioned this run going. Three teams passed us before we were ready to go. We made our way slowly to Sawbill at a pace that Hush could run. To Hush’s credit, she never looked back at me like “‘Why are we doing this,’ or ‘I wish I

Norming

Coming into Mineral Center is a relief. | ERICK BRUNSVOLD was done.’” She just wanted to keep going. But Sawbill was her last checkpoint. She sat out the rest of the race. Second best female dropped.

Bargaining/ Depression

The next leg to Trail Center is always the most difficult for me. I hoped that perhaps because we had a slow leg to Sawbill, the team would be more ready for the run to Trail Center. We started out well. We kept a good pace those first 20 miles of hills with my 10 remaining dogs. Going on no sleep, I began hearing voices at the same place I heard voices on the trail last year (weird?). Someone must be catching me, I thought. But no one ever appeared. We passed Devil’s Track Lake and Ball Club Road and hit the Lima Grade. Dogs were pooping more than I thought could be possible. When Keith (my other leader) stopped to poop, which was often, he came to a dead stop and the whole team accordioned into him. Tina gave me the “I’m done” look. How will we finish this race? Why am I doing the Beargrease? This is crazy. We need to get out of mushing. Why would anyone do this in their free time? I could be knitting. I could be in the Bahamas. Tina, if you just finish this leg, you can be done. The darkest of thoughts crept in. I nodded off on the runners, jolting awake to another dog pooping. I never saw another team ahead of me or behind. Finally, we hit the plowed road past Poplar Creek, hit Poplar Lake and stormed onward to the checkpoint. Everyone cheered! “Your team looks great!” The judge beamed. I really needed some sleep.

I dropped Tina and left Trail Center. We veered north up Poplar Lake. Within a few miles, Stevie decided she had enough. She gave me the “I don’t want to run” look and pulled hard on her neckline. Should I turn back and drop her? That would really deflate the rest of the team. I tried to put Stevie in the sled bag and even though I thought I had fixed the zipper, it split again. I put Stevie back on the line and while I stood there trying to figure out what to do, Colleen Wallin passed me. I pulled my hook and gave chase. This was what Stevie needed, another team to motivate her. I followed Colleen up to the King’s Road turn around and back to Poplar, trying to stay within sight for my own team’s motivation, but not so close as to be annoying. As we hit Poplar Lake, I was secretly happy to have a team to follow. The turn-off past Trail Center was always nerve-wracking because the dogs might want to go back to the checkpoint. Surely Colleen wouldn’t have a problem, I thought. A few miles down the lake, Colleen’s team suddenly veered straight left toward the shore. Oh dear. “Will your team follow me?” I yelled as I passed her. “Yes! Wait!” She yelled back in a panicked tone. It took her several tries to stop her team and get them turned back in the right direction, but eventually, they did follow me and we made the turn past Trail Center and toward the Lima Grade. And when we hit the Lima Grade, my team stopped. Finally, I had Collen pass me again, and I followed her the rest of the way to Devil Track Lake. We made it to Skyport and crashed. After two hours of the deepest sleep of my life, Matt woke me. I slowly came out of my foggy state, drank some strong coffee, and tried to eat some snacks. Anna told me that Erin Letzring had just scratched. “Well, why would anyone run this race anyway?” I asked in sincerity.

dry heaving, put on my parka, and signed the paperwork to drop Stevie.

Acceptance

In the dark on the old runway at Skyport, Pinto let out a rallying cry. It took the other dogs a minute, but they followed suit. This is what keeps us racing. Because they want it. This instinct to run and pull that rises from their gut. Temper and Keith were ready. Teddy jumped toward the sky and Pinto screamed to go. We followed the trails past our old kennel and up Pine Mountain as the sun rose. Friends passed me a corn dog and a beer after we crossed the Arrowhead and we continued on to Mineral Center. Peaches, my two-year-old that was one of my alternates for the race team, made it this far. But she was too tired to continue. Seven dogs continued on after a four-hour rest to Grand Portage.

Elation

As we looped around the Grand Portage trails, the dogs gradually picked up speed. We ran through dusk into darkness. Halfway to Portage, I saw the light of a headlamp. I had left 25 minutes after Sarah Keefer’s team and we had caught her. We made a clean pass just before a huge hill that I then ran up. We cruised the rest of the way down to Portage and into fifth place. Ten out of 24 teams finished the race this year. My team finished due to leaders that never faltered. Without them, finishing would not have been possible. I thought a lot about the roller coaster of emotions out there on the trail, how yes, I will do this again and no, we won’t actually get out of mushing…not yet. My own instinct to follow another trail runs as deep as the dogs’. Now we move on to the Midnight Run where Matt and I will both run 8-dog teams from downtown Marquette to Chatham and back (45 miles each way). From these two teams, we will choose a final 12 dogs to race Can-Am in northern Maine.

I got nauseous, ran out of the camper NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

NORTHERN SKY MARCH 2022 By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

As its namesake month begins, Mars glimmers below brilliant Venus in the predawn sky. To the right (south) of the planets sits the Teapot of Sagittarius, while the curved Teaspoon of stars hangs above and between the Teapot and the planets. Moving south again, look for the sinuous form of Scorpius and its red heart, Antares. Mars inches upward all month long, and Saturn climbs over the horizon in midmonth. The ringed planet passes below Venus between the 27th and 28th, and ends March below and between its two fellow planets. A waning moon visits Antares on the 23rd, then sails toward the planets. At 5:47 a.m. on the 28th, a scrawny old crescent moon rises below the three planets. But to see all four objects, you’ll have to look soon after moonrise, or the sun will have washed out at least some of the planets. In the evening sky, the large knot of bright winter constellations makes its last stand in March. If you haven’t seen them, look to the south to southwest at nightfall.

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Enjoy Sirius, in Canis Major, the big dog, at the bottom of the group, then look up to brilliant Capella, at the top in Auriga, the charioteer. The starry assemblage is so tall, you’ll have to lean your head back to see Capella. March’s full moon shines the night of the 17th-18th from below the tail of Leo, the lion. As the night goes on, the moon and the lion seem to drive the winter constellations westward. The spring equinox arrives at 10:33 a.m. on the 20th. At that moment, the sun crosses the equator into the northern sky and an observer in space would see Earth lighted from pole to pole. Also, at the spring equinox we begin six months in which the day length will increase as we travel north. The University of Minnesota’s public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth and Twin Cities campuses have been curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For more information, visit: d.umn. edu/planet.

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CALL TOM AT (507) 254-2373 TO LEARN MORE

Kekekabic

By Eric Chandler Finishing Line Press, 2022, $19.99

In 2018, Duluth writer Eric Chandler wrote a poem after every cross-country ski, run, hike and paddle. Chandler logged his observations both at home and while on the road as an airline pilot. He took one of the most adventurous, solo backpacking trips of his life that year. He and his dog Leo hiked for five days through the Boundary Waters and they followed the Kekekabic Trail, inspiring the book’s title. This is Chandler’s second book of poetry and it’s equal parts humorous, witty, inspirational and thought-provoking. Kekekabic is currently available for preorder online through March 25 at: finishinglinepress.com. The release date is May 20.—Breana Johnson

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NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL New Scenic Café

The Second Cookbook By Scott Graden New Scenic Café, 2021, $75

This is more than just a cookbook; it is a celebration of Northern Minnesota. At over 400 pages long, it includes colorful photos depicting the North Shore by Christian Dalbec Photography, Scott Graden, Eric Sturtz, and even artwork by Duluth artist Alison Aune. As expected, it also includes a wide variety of recipes, from grilled quail, oysters on the half and a salmon burger, to beetroot salad, fennel sesame crackers and a dark berry tartlet. Flip near the back of the book and you’ll find pages of information on techniques, such as basic knife cuts, blanching and shocking, tempering eggs, and deep frying.—Breana Johnson

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Loon Laughter at Midnight By John Bragstad

Birch River Books, 2021, $5.55

Written by Grand Marais resident John Bragstad, Loon Laughter at Midnight is a quick and easy read at only 72 pages. The book covers many topics and people, such as Colonel William Colvill, Sigurd Olson and Father Baragas. Both thought-provoking and informational, the chapters are short, well-paced and mix history, nature and gratitude. Each chapter also begins with a profound quote from various authors and deep thinkers, such as Confucius, Albert Einstein, J.R.R. Tolkien and Mark Twain. This is Bragstad’s third book and it’s the perfect read for anyone who enjoys the North Shore. Learn more online at: johnbragstad.com. —Breana Johnson

Self-Publish with Northern Wilds Have a novel in the works? A memoir? A family history? We provide all aspects of book production:

Editing and proofing. Design and layout. Printing and binding.

print@northernwilds.com 218.387.9475 www.northernwilds.com NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

Strange Tales Home at the Lighthouse By Elle AndraWarner

So, where is ‘home?’ Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79) wrote “Home is where my heart is” while a more modern phrase is “Home is where I hang my hat.” Well, for lighthouse keepers and their families, home could be the same lighthouse for almost a lifetime, while others moved around. Here’s a brief glimpse of a few early keepers on Lake Superior. In 1878, 31-year-old bachelor John H. Malone took over as lighthouse keeper at Isle Royale Lighthouse, (NW Lake Superior, Michigan) and called it home for the next 32 years. He married 19-year-old Julia Shea two years later (1880) and together they had 12 children over the next 15 years, all born at their island home (one died at birth). The Malone family and their pets spent the navigational season, usually early May to end of November, at the lighthouse, returning to Duluth for the winter. The Malones successfully grew vegetables in a small garden and had a potato patch on the nearby Wright Island. Their diet included fish, ducks, rabbits, prairie chickens and seagull eggs gathered from nesting sites. In May 1886, Malone collected more than 1,000 eggs and the following year, 1,478 eggs. The children were homeschooled, played musical instruments and everyone looked out for each other’s safety. One story tells about the eldest son John “Al” diving into Lake Superior to save his sister Alice and a friend from drowning. The family life of Robert Singleton, the second acting keeper on Passage Island Lighthouse (NW Lake Superior, Michigan), had highs and lows. Born in 1820 in Lancaster, England, he was in his late 20s when he arrived to the Lake Superior area, married Marguerite Webanbonok from Fort William First Nation in 1849, worked in the copper mines on Isle Royale, and lived at Todd Harbor where four of their five children were born. In the 1850s, Singleton may have been an unofficial lighthouse keeper on Rock Harbor Light. The Singletons moved away from Isle Royale sometime after 1859. After their fifth child Elizabeth was born in 1861 at Prince Arthur’s Landing (today’s Thunder Bay), his wife passed away, leaving Singleton to raise their five children. A few years later, he married again and had another child. Sadly, his second wife Ann died at age 29 in 1872. 38

MARCH 2022

Four years later (1876), Singleton married Mary Bouchier, had more children and in 1881, they moved to Victoria Island Lighthouse (west Lake Superior, Ontario) where he was appointed its first keeper. A year later, the Singleton family was on the move again, this time to Passage Island Lighthouse where Singleton was appointed keeper in September 1882. Alas for 63-year-old Singleton, it all ended in May 1883 when he went to buy supplies in Port Arthur. A local newspaper headline says it all, “Terrible Accident: The Oldest Pioneer of the North Shore Run Over by a Train and Killed.” His sudden death stranded his family at the lighthouse until rescued later in the month. Over at Porphyry Island Light (west Lake Superior, Ontario), Scottish-born Andrew Dick has become a legendary figure in lighthouse history. For 30 years, from 1880 to retirement in 1910, he lived yearround with his family at the lighthouse in western Lake Superior, about 24 miles east of Thunder Bay and 7 miles north of the U.S.-Canada border. He and his wife Wasseabincoke (aka Caroline) from Pays Plat had 10 children. When his wife died in 1884 (four months after giving birth to their tenth child), Dick and the children— ages four months to 19 years—continued living on the island. Dick kept a daily journal where he recorded some of the meals the family enjoyed: vegetables from his large vegetable garden (including tomatoes, beans and beets), smoked meat, rabbit, caribou steak, eggs, pot barley soup, stuffed caribou heart, boiled caribou tongue, stewed chicken and dumplings, apple pie and tea. One poignant dairy entry was on June 24, 1901. He wrote that his daughter Agnes had died at 7 o’clock that evening, noting her mother had died the same date and same month. The next day he wrote, “We got to work early this morning and dug a grave then brought the scow over to the house and took the remains to the Boat House and put them in the grave.” After retiring in 1910 at age 78, he moved to Port Arthur.

Isle Royale Light, built in 1875, is also known as Menagerie Island Light, located at the opening of Siskiwit Bay, near the southern shore of Isle Royale. | NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

For the Newman family, calling a lighthouse their home began at No. 10 Lighthouse (aka Shaganash). A few years later in 1937, Arthur John Newman took charge of Lamb Island Lighthouse (NW Lake Superior, Ontario) accompanied by his British-born wife Mabel Emma Jenn and their four children. The family spent each navigational season living on Lamb Island until November 1951 when Arthur died at the lighthouse. Even with all the difficulties of raising, educating and entertaining children on a remote island, it was a positive time for Mabel who wrote in 1946, “We are one happy family, I’m glad to say. This work means we can all work together and never be apart. We like to watch the storms on the lake, but at the same time we never forget to ask God’s blessing on the sailors.”

NORTHERN WILDS

John H. Malone was the lighthouse keeper at Isle Royale Light (aka Menagerie Island Light) from 1878 to 1910. He and wife Julia (Shea) had 12 children, all born on the island. They spent the navigational seasons at the light, returning to Duluth for the winter. | NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

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

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

Lori A. Backlund Real Estate Agent 4400 CASPERS HILL RD GRAND MARAIS, MN

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MARCH 2022

Featured MEET OUR

Agents INGER ANDRESS

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

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

MARCH 2022

NORTHERN WILDS

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

Kelsi moved to Cook County from Duluth

role in the development of the tourism,

several years ago and joined the Lutsen Real

lodging and the real estate industry in the

Estate Group as a sales agent. With a BFA in

Lutsen and overall Cook County areas. Today,

Interior Design, a Master’s Degree in Business

Mike’s focus is working with his real estate

Administration, and a background in hospitality

team and awesome agents, representing

project management, Kelsi brings a unique skill

buyers and sellers.

set to the real estate team.

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

kelsi@lustenrealestategroup.com

With a lifelong passion for real estate and

Only a few short years after he started his career

home remodeling, Jeanne enjoys working

as a real estate agent, he began accomplishing

with clients to help them with their real estate

a great deal as a broker, agent and developer.

journey. Jeanne has been active in the school

As a result, he loves working with buyers and

community, serving as a school board member

sellers in helping them find their dream home.

for seven years and spending many hours

Steve serves on local boards, including Boreal

volunteering and advocating for students.

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

cariboulakeplace@gmail.com

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

Looking to buy a property for a vacation rental? Through our sister company, Cascade Vacation Rentals we have gained incredible knowledge

about

what

North

Shore visitors are looking for. We are happy to use that information

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to help guide you in purchasing a property that is not only a good fit for you, but will also increase your chances of high rental income.

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

C ASC ADEVAC ATI O NR ENTALS.C O M

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

NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

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

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

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES LARGE TWO ISLAND LAKE RETREAT GRAND MARAIS.

This 46+ acre property includes a peninsula with outstanding lake views. Wide creek and tons of wildlife. Privacy assured with over 1600 ft of lake front, plus over 2000 ft of creek. Literally walk to the BWCAW. Charming 4-season, 2 bdrm cabin with large dock and easy lakeshore access. Property can be sub-divided.

MLS#6087574 $895,000

SALIENG PE N D

GUNFLINT LAKE LOT

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

TOM LAKE ESCAPE.

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

HUGE PINES, PRISTINE VIEWS, GUNFLINT LAKE

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

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

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

SOLD

MLS#6092390

HOMES & CABINS

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

SOLD

PEACEFUL OFF-GRID CABIN

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

MLS#6099648

EXCEPTIONAL TOM LAKE LOT.

Come make your remote off-grid home here on Tom Lake, on 1.7 acres with 300 feet of beautiful shoreline, and on one of the good walleye lakes in Hovland! Year round access enables you to enjoy the property endlessly. Additional property and shoreline available (MLS#6092306). MLS#6092307 $97,000

HOMES & CABINS

SALIENG PE N D

BEAUTIFUL HOME, VERY PRIVATE LOT – SET UP AS DUPLEX

3 bdrm/2 bath home w/ new updates & living room/ bdrm addition. New floors, some windows & patio doors, fireplace & appliances. New paint, roof & decks. Home is in great shape & set up as upper/ lower duplex. Seasonal lake view from large windows. Large yard feels secluded & park-like. New screen porch addition (not finished) & lower patio take advantage of this setting. Peaceful retreat on new front deck. 1-car garage & woodshop shed for working on projects.

MLS#6101101 $429,900

HOVLAND TIMBER FRAME HOME

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

SALIENG PE N D

S. GUNFLINT LAKE RD CABIN

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

MLS#6097930 $169,000

COMMERCIAL FORMER AIR FORCE BASE. Formerly operated

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

MLS#6097816 $800,000

LARGE GRAND MARAIS LOT.

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

MLS#6089284 $149,500

PRIME COMMERICAL LOTS - LUTSEN

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

RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE WOODS, WATER & SECLUSION.

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

MLS#6089089, 9090 $69,900 each

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MARCH 2022

NORTHERN WILDS

DEEP WOODS, MONS CREEK.

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

E Red Pine Realty S•AL(800) 387-9599 G N I

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

SALIENG PE N D

PEACEFUL LOT ON LONE PINE CREEK

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

MLS#6096716 $58,900 NORTH RD LOTS

SALIENG PE N D

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

MLS#6100473, MLS#6100474 $53,000 each

miles from Grand Marais on county road. Potential Lake Superior views from a high lot with dense forest. Great location for your home or Beautiful, remote parcel near cabin. Close to trails and all the recreational opportunities in the area. Cloquet Lake. Enjoy a mixture MLS#6096711 of mature forest, young trees, (218) 387-9599 • Fax (218) 387-9598 • info@RedPineRealty.com$56,900 wildflowers and open space. HOME SITE NEAR GRAND MARAIS Nice 5 acre Parcel by Forest POsurrounded Box 938, 14 S. Broadway, Grand Marais, MN 55604 property close to town on black-top county road. power and phone at Service land to the south and the lot. Broadband available. Dense woods and potential Lake Superior the west. Walking access to Views. Close to hiking, bike trails and all the wilderness adventures you Cloquet Lake by way of 300' desire. MLS#6096706 $54,900 path. Quaint stream runs through the southeast corner of the property.

PE N D

MLS#6099470 $36,000

Off grid 40 acre parcel with small pond surrounded by wildflowers, ferns and raspberry bushes. Located in an area with plenty of trails to explore. Near Tom Lake. Seasonal access by 4WD vehicle. Year round access by OHV, snowmobile, cross country ski, snowshoes, dog sled or paratrooping! MLS#6101093 $45,000

ROLLING TERRAIN & POND

Deep woods and private access to Lost Lake. Good road access and many building site options. Beautiful beaver pond and creek split the 20 acre property. Lost Lake is a tucked-away gem with limited private property and no public access. Good trout fishing and moose sightings. This is a remote retreat property with the added bonus of lake access on a pristine wilderness lake. MLS#6098652 $38,900

Private 5+ acre lot, covered in Maple Forest. In the fall this area is ablaze with stunning colors. Only Minutes from Lake Superior! Caribou Lake public access nearby, hiking trails, Lutsen Mountain Ski Resort, Gitche-Gumee bike trail, and all the things the north shore

ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES LOT

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

MLS#6098504 $199,900

has to offer. MLS#6101202 $48,500

SPECTACULAR LAKE VIEW.

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

EXPANSIVE VIEWS LOT.

SALIENG PE N D

1.76 acre lot w/gorgeous & unique views. Deeded Tail Lake access. Private & pristine wooded wonderful in Tait Lake Pines. Wonderful, peaceful setting with hiking trails, gravel roads, private association. Fish, paddle, ski, snowshoe & explore! Adjacent lot also available. MLS#6101248 $89,900

LARGE PARCEL NEAR SHORE.

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

NICE HOME SITE NEAR GRAND MARAIS

40 ACRE SOLITUDE

NEW! MAPLE FOREST LOT

LAND/BUILDING SITES

NEW! STUNNING ELEVATED BUILDING SITE

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

MLS#6031740 $52,900

WOODS, VIEWS AND PRIVACY Nice lot only 4

BEAUTIFUL REMOTE LAND

2.15 acres of wonderful woods, wildlife & end-of-the-road privacy! Deeded access to Tait Lake incl. & adjacent parcel is also for sale. Create your own peaceful haven & enjoy the silence, the water & the astounding ridge line & valley views! Private assoc. w/ hiking trails, maintained year-round roads, access to power/utilities & more. MLS#6101234 $84,900

LARGE ACREAGE NEAR TOM LAKE.

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

MLS#6095113, 6095114 $60,000 each WOODED SECLUSION IN GRAND MARAIS.

Several great wooded lots on the west side of Grand Marais, a mile from down town. Close to the bike trail with privacy on a dead end road. Septic and wells allowed, power and broadband available.

MLS#6087223 & 6087226 SOLD MLS#6087228 $59,500

NEW! NATURE LOVERS PARADISE

Broadband and electric on a year round, school bus route! This is a mature, wooded lot with spruce, poplar, birch, cedar and Balsam. Ample space on 5 acres for building your new home. Notice the huge National Forest land on the back side of the property. This is a nature lovers paradise, deer, grouse, wolf and fox hanging out in your backyard.

MLS#6101289 $47,000

GREAT LOCATION HOME SITE.

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

MLS#6094099 $42,900

GREAT LOCATION FOR HOME OR CABIN

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

MLS#6096700 $42,900 LUTSEN MAPLE LOT

SALIENG ND PE$39,700 MLS#6098003

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

TAIT LAKE PINES LOTS

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

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

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

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

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

MLS#6098654 $34,900 FORTY ACRES NEAR FINLAND

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

MLS#6095233 $34,900

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

MARCH 2022

Spring is drawing near, Revel in the snow Up North while it lasts! Info@TimberWolffRealty.com

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!! Local 663-8777 • Toll free (877) 664-8777

INLAND LAKESHORE OPPORTUNITIES!

D L SO

LUTSEN TAIT LAKE OASIS— A LINDAL CEDAR HOME!

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

MLS#6095596 $799,900 PRICE REDUCED!

WILDERNESS LAKE GETAWAY!

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

MLS#6100777 $799,000

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MARCH 2022

NORTHERN WILDS

Spring is drawing near, Revel in the snow Up North while it lasts! Info@TimberWolffRealty.com

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!! Local 663-8777 • Toll free (877) 664-8777

HOMES, HOMES, HOMES, READ ALL ABOUT ‘EM!! NEW! SOAK IN THE VIEWS OF PARADISE BEACH! Located 15 minutes east of Grand Marais, the quiet side of Life! While not ON Lake Superior, this home is perched on a hillside just across the highway from Paradise Beach, a long stretch of public shoreline on the Big Lake. The views are astounding, and the taxes are low! The home sits on 5+ acres, and was built in 2005 with two large covered decks perfect for soaking in the lake views while enjoying a meal, or perhaps an afternoon siesta! Inside the home, In-floor heat warms the toes. Two gas fireplaces are nice for instant warmth and ambiance. (Also allows for a duel-fuel rate on the electric boiler – nice on the pocket book!) Three bedrooms. The main bedroom is spacious including a walk-in closet, terrific en suite bath, gas fireplace and bump-out window for a reading nook or meditation space. The kitchen is roomy with views to Superior and granite countertops. Living room is made for gathering and comfort with cathedral ceilings and access to the front porch. Study or den area off the living room perfect for contemplating the big questions, or just zoning out on the TV. Attached garage is handy and is entered via the laundry. All this on a single floor. The basement sprawls, is dry, has access to outside and awaits your vision or all your stuff! You’ll Love living on the North Shore!

MLS#6101215 $489,000

D L SO

DOME’CILE MLS#6099797 $289,900

LIVING THE BIG DREAM ON THE BIG LAKE!

D L SO

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

MLS#6098625 $475,000

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

MARCH 2022

Spring is drawing near, Revel in the snow Up North while it lasts! Info@TimberWolffRealty.com

Call TimberWolff for Your Personal Tour of Homes & Land!!! Local 663-8777 • Toll free (877) 664-8777

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

MLS#6100288 $95,000 SALE PENDING!

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

MLS#6097285 $79,900 PRICED REDUCED

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

MLS#6089003 SOLD!

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

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

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

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

MLS#6099659 $89,900

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

MLS#6098528 $84,900 SOLD!

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

MLS#6098693 $69,900

MLS#6099657 $75,000 SALE PENDING!

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

MLS#6099658 $64,500 SALE PENDING!

D L SO

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

MLS#6100619 $375,000

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MARCH 2022

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Spring is drawing near, Revel in the snow Up North while it lasts! Info@TimberWolffRealty.com

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Considering Selling? Curious what your home or land is now worth? Follow the recommendations of our many satisfied clients….call TimberWolff for your updated Comparative Market Analysis TODAY!

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MARCH 2022

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

INLAND LAKE PROPERTIES

sold

1 2 5 N P i k e L a k e R oa d

2 1 Voyag e u r Bay

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

MLS 6100454 •

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

$539,900

MLS 6101051 •

$339,900

LAND 64 X C o u nt y R oa d 6

64 3 E C o u nt y R oa d 6

This 4.78 acre lot offers great privacy and is only 10 minutes from Grand Marais. A gently rolling terrain offers multiple opportunities to build the cabin or home of your dreams

Here is a your space in the country. It is 4.87 acres of healthy birch,balsam, pine, and spruce gently rolling southern exposure that will create a wonderful building site.

MLS 6098187

$59,900

MLS 6098184

X X X M o u nta i n T ra i l Nicely wooded 5 acre lot with fabulous views of Lake Superior. Close to Grand Marais, but country privacy--end of the cul-de-sac lot with great height. MLS 6097785

1 4 X X Ca m p 2 0 R d Terrific 55 acres with an amazing mix of forest. Balsam, spruce, birch, aspen and some maple and white pine. Want room to recreate? This is it.

$124,900

MLS 6097013

1 1 4 2 Ca m p 2 0 R d 170+ acres of heavily forested land that has been replanted with many beautiful pine trees, poplar & cedar trees. Features gravel pit and pond and abutting State land. MLS 6097348

$57,900

$60,000

1 X B ra n d o n L a n e Beautiful lot just outside Grand Marais. Fall River runs through this property. Dramatic frontage! MLS 6095813

$62,000

$159,900

Jonvick Creek Sites 7 lots from 1.5 - 4.8 acres In the heart of Lutsen, just off the Caribou Trail. Maples, Pines, and cedars in varied arrangements will make a great back-drop for your home or cabin. Sites adjoin public land.

$39,900 - $49,900

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

d pen

MLS 6099224 •

ing

$174,900

9 1 8 C uto f f R d Beautifully wooded lot with garage and drilled well already completed. Close to town and the Pincushion Ski Area. What a location for your recreational getaway or year round home! MLS 6096726 •

$109,900

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

MARCH 2022

NORTHERN WILDS

HOMES & CABINS

in nd

2 1 7 N B r oa dway Whether you are looking for a home or an investment, this 2 bedroom house with guest cabin is a rare opportunity. The property is conveniently located close to downtown. Both units have an off-street parking area. There is a storage building for yard tools or recreational gear.

MLS MLS 6101087 •

$239,900

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

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

MLS 6101054

$949,900 SOLD

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

MLS 6100104

$849,900 w w w. c b n o rt h s h o r e . c o m ©2022 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

50 YEARS OF HELPING YOU FIND HOME

CONTACT OUR TEAM TODAY!

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

Virginia Detrick Palmer BROKER

OWNER

REALTOR ®

218-370-0211

Julie Joynes Carlson REALTOR ®

218-370-8068

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

Aimee Luick

Eric Frost

LICENSED ASSISTANT

REALTOR ®

218-387-2131

218-370-1362

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

Kali Blomberg REALTOR ®

218-370-9260

Rick Austin REALTOR ®

218-370-0784

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

101 WEST HIGHWAY 61

MONDAY — FRIDAY

GRAND MARAIS,

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

MN 55604

218.387.2131

©2022 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

MARCH 2022

NORTHERN WILDS

Kelly Holtzman OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

218-387-2131

C BNO RT HS HO RE.C O M

CATCHLIGHT

Pileated Woodpeckers This photo was taken in mid-March, which is their breeding season. They were circling the birch tree, peeking back and forth and calling to each other. It was fun to watch. Now that their breeding season is upon us, be sure to go outside and listen for the pileated woodpeckers.— David Johnson NORTHERN WILDS

MARCH 2022

The products you need, from the brands you trust: HAMILTON HABITAT We support Hamilton Habitat and so should you! Providing “affordable living” one house at a time. A donation driven community project. hamiltonhabitat.wordpress.com/donate

SHOP ONLINE

and Get Free Shipping to our store! COOK COUNTY

HOME CENTER

Thousands of items available www.acehardware.com

Mon - Fri: 7 am - 5 pm • Sat: 8 am -2 pm 1413 E. Hwy 61, Grand Marais • 218-387-1771  Toll-free 1-877-387-1771

Thousands of items available

COOK COUNTY

DELIVERY

www.acehardware.com - Shop Online and Get Free Shipping to our store!

Northern Wilds March 2022

Articles inside

Along the Shore

Along the Shore

Strange Tales

Points North

North Shore Dish

Feature

Fishing Hole

Dog Blog

Spotlight

Northern Trails

Health

Going Home, Coming Home, At Home