Exceptional Lake Superior lots! Gorgeous building sites, very private desirable locations, some level to lake, some elevated. Gravel, accessible ledge rock & boulder shoreline, NE and SE facing sites to pick from. 18 miles to Grand Marais, 4 to Brule River for trout & salmon fishing & Devils Kettle Falls, 15 to Isle Royale ferry, 22 to Canada. Beautiful trees, protective covenants, community septic, electricity & survey.
“The
finest Realtor I’ve ever worked with in
my life.” -Tim K.
Share Your Thoughts
Do you have a question for one of our writers? Or an interesting photo, recipe, or story you’d like to share with Northern Wilds? Please send it to storyideas@ northernwilds.com.
Stories for a Dark Night
This time of year, we are losing daylight, noticeably. Darkness hangs on longer each morning and creeps in sooner every night. Along with this change in season is the inevitable change in temperatures, cool air settles in, reminding us that snow is coming soon.
All month many of us prepare for Halloween, a holiday that incites our human fascination with ghosts, paranormal, and things we can’t explain. For many, these “unexplained” mysteries are not always spooky, but let’s face it, sometimes apparitions, sounds we don’t recognize, objects moving across a room of their own accord—these seem beyond the realm of our human understanding.
Kalli Hawkins wrote up a few stories that may make the hairs on your neck stand up and for the folks she writes about as well (myself included). Our other feature by Dave Benson will help calm those nerves, however, which enumerates the reasons to love autumn up north.
Elle Andra-Warner can always dig up a good ghost story, and she does again with her recounting of some of Canada’s best haunted sites. In Along the Shore, Steve Fernlund tells us about Crawdaddies MN, a business that traps and sells rusty crayfish to
local restaurants, which both helps the local lakes because rusty crayfish are invasive and provides a yummy food source to eateries. We have a profile of Two Harbors’ Mitchel Costley, a lifelong North Shore resident and another in creative space of broom artisan Marybeth Garmoe.
I personally don’t enjoy a good horror movie but our events section details a film festival in Thunder Bay (Terror in the Bay) where you can see horror movies for four days straight. Not your jam? Maybe Boo in Zoo, Moose Madness or the Gammondale Pumkinfest will be less frightening and more fun. There’s surely something for everyone, and as Virginia George notes, the pumpkin spice has come around again.
Lastly, our condolences to Northern Wilds’ columnist Gord Ellis who lost his mother in August. He includes a beautiful tribute to her in his column this month.
The moon will be full on October 17th. It will orbit closer to the Earth than any other time of the year and is called the Hunter’s Moon. The cover this month is from last year’s Hunter’s moon, taken by Paul Sundberg. I hope we can all get outside and get a bit of that full moon glow ourselves.—Erin Altemus
www.northernwilds.com SERVING THE
SHORE AND THE WILDERNESS BEYOND Where can I find Northern Wilds Magazine? Go to: northernwilds.com/distribution
PUBLISHER
Amber Graham
EDITORIAL INTERIM
Erin Altemus, Editor breana@northernwilds.com
ADVERTISING
Amber Graham ads@northernwilds.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN Jessica Jacobsen Smith Leah Pratt production@northernwilds.com
OFFICE
Barbara Fisher office@northernwilds.com billing@northernwilds.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Elle Andra-Warner, Erin Altemus, Dave Benson, Eric Chandler, Gord Ellis, Steve Fernlund, Virginia George, Kalli Hawkins, Walt Huss, Michelle Miller, Deane Morrison, Hartley Newell-Acero, Rae Poynter, Joe Shead, Paul Sundberg, Jo Swanson
Copyright 2024 by Northern Wilds Media, Inc. Published 12 times per year. Subscription rate is $32 per year or $60 for 2 years U.S. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part requires written permission from the publishers.
Northern Wilds Media, Inc. P.O. Box 26, Grand Marais, MN 55604 (218) 387-9475 (phone/fax)
Oct. 14
SERENITY SAVOR
Rusty Crayfish on local menus
COOK COUNTY—Yusef Orest of Grand Marais has had a lifelong fascination with crayfish. At just six years old, his mother has photos of him proudly holding crayfish he’d caught from a northern Minnesota lake. Now, as the owner of Crawdaddies MN, he’s using his childhood passion to create a locally sourced food system and combat the effects of a pernicious invasive species in area waters.
Faxonius rusticus is known as a rusty crayfish. We’ll call them Rusty.
Rusty is a regulated invasive species in Minnesota, which means possessing, selling, buying, and transporting them is legal. Once trapped or caught, Rusty must not be transferred back into public waters.
Rusty is native to the Ohio River Valley and made his debut appearance in northland lakes almost 20 years ago, possibly brought to the area as bait or released by aquarium owners who released their livestock in a local water body.
Amanda Weberg, the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Supervisor with the Cook County Soil & Water District, has been instrumental in the fight against Rusty. She reports that Rusty has been found in several lakes in Cook County, with Pike Lake being a particularly affected area where Rusty caused significant damage to the ecosystem.
One day, three years ago, Orest and his friend Garrett Lima were fishing and gathering crayfish for personal use on Pike Lake. As they were leaving the lake, they saw a large commercial trapping boat coming into Pike to collect crayfish.
As often happens with entrepreneurs, Orest and Lima got the idea that by trapping Rustys and selling them locally, their population could be controlled and they could create a job or two. This initiative not only helps the environment but also creates opportunities for the local community. “Our
Crawdaddies MN owner Yusef Orest enjoyed catching crayfish as a child and today he has turned this hobby into a business. | SUBMITTED
Crawdaddies MN project was born out of that chance meeting,” Orest said. The success of this project is a beacon of hope for the future.
Since then, Orest has overseen the creation of a system to harvest and distribute living crayfish.
Weberg said anecdotal evidence shows that commercial harvesting of Rusty in Pike Lake has made noticeable improvement over
the last three years. This success story is a testament to the potential of sustainable solutions, inspiring and motivating us to continue our efforts. Some areas of vegetation have returned, sport fishing has improved, and three loon pairs and their chicks have survived this summer.
Orest is an energetic and outgoing 44-year-old Mitsubishi Electric Power Products project manager. Working from his home near Grand Marais, he delivers
high-level software for utility organizations around the world.
He was born in California and raised on a western Minnesota farm where his parents moved in the 1980s. A long-time Northern Wilds visitor, Orest and his wife Andrea moved to Cook County in 2016 when he accepted a job with Arrowhead Electric in Lutsen. Andrea works as an educator with Cook County Public Health.
Never Miss a Thing
Both Orests get involved in various community-related activities in their spare time. “Community involvement makes the world a better place,” Orest said. He is hoping the crayfish harvesting business improves the world, too. This sense of community involvement is what makes this project truly impactful and inclusive.
The Orest family includes four children: Mason, 25; Kian, 12; Eldan, 10; and Rowan, 7.
Kian is Orest’s full-time boat operator, helper, and partner at Crawdaddies MN. Lima has moved on to other interests.
Rusty is an opportunistic species of crayfish that eventually moves further into the watershed. From Pike Lake, where Rusty mostly wiped out native crayfish, it migrated down Murmur Creek, into Bigsby Lake, and ultimately into Caribou Lake.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources licenses Crawdaddies MN to harvest, transport, and sell live crayfish. After two years on Pike Lake, its operation is now focused on Caribou Lake, where Kian and Orest can be found daily, checking their DNR-approved traps, harvesting Rustys, and rebaiting the traps. The traps are set over approximately 100 feet of the lake surface, marked and supported by buoys designated by DNR. As traps are recovered, any minnows or fish, as well as native crayfish that have been trapped are returned to the lake. Rustys are all he takes.
The bait, a result of experiments Orest conducts on an ongoing basis, includes a mix of dry cat food and dead minnows donated by Buck’s Hardware, a purveyor of live fishing bait in Grand Marais.
You should make sure crayfish are purged before cooking. Purging cleanses its digestive tract to remove impurities like mud, grass, and other debris to improve taste before cooking. Orest has developed a clean water system that keeps Rusty alive for far longer than the 12-24 hours needed to complete the purge. The process allows Rusty to expel waste from their bodies naturally.
Rusty crayfish can outcompete native species for food and can also have detrimental affects on fish species in a lake where rustys are invasive. | SUBMITTED
Orest currently baits the crayfish with a mix of dry cat food and dead minnows. | SUBMITTED
In Minnesota, licensed anglers may collect any crayfish for use as bait on the same water body. They may harvest up to 25 pounds of any crayfish for personal consumption. A person must first obtain a permit from the DNR to possess more than 25 pounds of live, whole, freshwater crawfish. Selling live crayfish for bait or aquarium use is illegal.
Orest credits the people and organizations in Cook County and beyond that have supported Crawdaddies MN. He acknowledges the support he has received from the AIS Supervisor at the Soil and Water District.
“Three years ago, we were talking about the crayfish challenge,” Weberg said. “He said, ‘How can I help?’ and the pilot project began on Pike.”
The County Soil and Water District worked with the Regional Sustainable Development Partnership to help Orest earn grant money to help purchase equipment.
“I want to tip my hat to Elliott and Jessy at Angry Trout and Parker at Fisherman’s Daughter,” Orest said. Both Grand Marais restaurants feature Orest harvested and purged Rustys on their menu board.
Up Yonder and Voyageur Brewing in Grand Marais have hosted crayfish boils featuring locally sourced crayfish. These events are designed to introduce crayfish to the diet of residents who need to be more accustomed to thinking of the crustacean as real food.
Orest created an informational card to help novices learn how to eat and enjoy crayfish.
Once a population of rusty crayfish is established, it is difficult to remove it. Chemicals affect native crayfish and cannot be used.
According to the Wisconsin DNR, scattered success stories exist where trapping like Orest’s and the encouragement of native predators (bass and sunfish) have been able to restore a natural balance to some lakes.
Preventing the spread of Rusty to other watersheds is the best way to control it.
—Steve Fernlund
Looking
for a good crayfish recipe? Check these out from the Orest kitchen:
Scandinavian Kraftskiva
Boil 1 lb whole crayfish with 1 tbsp black pepper, 2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp of whole coriander, and five sprigs of fresh dill for 6 minutes and set aside (140-degree internal temperature).
Serve with drawn butter and lemon on smorgasbord. Enjoy with friends!
Crawdaddies
Classic Boil Recipe
1 tbs whole black peppercorns
1 tbs whole coriander seeds
2 tbs whole cloves
1 1/2 tbs whole allspice
5 gallons water
1 pound kosher salt
4 tbs cayenne pepper
2 tbs garlic powder
2 tbs paprika
1 tbs onion powder
1 tbs dried thyme
1 tbs dried oregano
1 tbs dry mustard
1 tbs dried dill weed
6 bay leaves, crumbled
10 lbs live crayfish
3 lbs small red potatoes, cut in 1/2, if larger than 2-inches in diameter
8 ears corn, halved
2 heads garlic, unpeeled, but separated
1 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
*Suggested spices: Dry Ancho and Guajillo pepper
Place the peppercorns, coriander, clove, and allspice into a spice grinder and grind for 10 to 15 seconds.
Fill a 40-quart pot with 5 gallons of water and add the freshly ground spices, salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, thyme, oregano, dry mustard, dill weed, and bay leaves. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, approximately 40 minutes.
Rinse the crayfish thoroughly. Transfer small batches of crayfish to a colander and rinse under cool running water. Pick out any debris or dead crayfish (crayfish are good at playing dead, so inspect thoroughly). Once all crayfish have been rinsed, discard dirty water, and return the crayfish to a storage container. Place crayfish in a tall container – they will climb up to 4 inches before falling back!
Once the water comes to a boil, add the potatoes, corn, garlic, and sausage. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
Add the crayfish, cover, and cook for 3-6 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the pot to sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Drain well and serve immediately. ALWAYS COOK CRAYFISH TO AN INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 140 DEGRESS FAHRENHEIGHT.
No ifs, ands or asterisks.
Loans to deposits, as a member, you always receive our very best rates. Get in on them at northshorefcu.org/rates.
Crawdaddies MN is a family affair involving grandfather Zahir, father Yusef and son Kian. | SUBMITTED
Volunteers
Volunteers improve two Gunflint hiking trails
GUNFLINT TRAIL—A bead of sweat dripped down my face, but I couldn’t wipe it off. My hands were plunged deep into soil as a volunteer as I attempted to remove a rock from the side of the trail. Like a loose tooth, the rock wiggled more and more until it shed small roots tying it to the ground. Now freed, the rock would no longer trap water on the South Lake trail.
For seven days this summer, volunteers from Northwoods Volunteer Connection (NVC), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, performed critical trail work on the Moss Lake and South Lake trails. NVC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a community of stewards in and around the Superior National Forest. We lead and support projects like trail work, tree planting, and clean-ups, along with providing educational and training opportunities for volunteers. This year, 10 volunteers contributed 150 hours to improve these trails, funded in part by an American Trails Legacy Grant.
Located near the Gunflint Trail about 30 miles out of Grand Marais, the Moss Lake and South Lake trails are lesser-known hiking trails that invite exploration into a little-traveled area. The South Lake Trail stretches four miles from Rockwood Lodge on Poplar Lake into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and South Lake. It passes through areas of fairly
easy terrain, near multiple lakes, and through great wildlife habitat. Despite volunteer conversations and the clanking of tools, we were even honored with a moose sighting one day. Moss Lake Trail, entirely outside the Wilderness boundary, splits off from South Lake Trail and heads three miles east to the Caribou Rock trailhead. Along the way, it visits Moss Lake’s shore, crosses lichen-covered ledges, and leads to spectacular views of the Boundary Waters and distant Canada. Few places have more water than the Superior National Forest, and water erosion is a major challenge for trails. NVC volunteers improved trail tread and drainage, helping rain exit the trail quickly and efficiently. Eroded areas were reinforced with rock so hikers will stay on the trail and not widen it by trying to navigate around wet areas. Volunteers even replaced a failing boardwalk and hauled out the old lumber. But first, we had to clear overgrown areas to make the work sites visible. After such a wet start to the season, the boreal forest was more like a jungle.
Volunteers, many of them Gunflint Trail locals, overcame heat waves, persistent bugs, and a day of rain to make a difference for these trails. Julie Gavran, a volunteer on vacation from Texas, made time to pitch in. “As an avid hiker, it took years to realize the effort that goes into maintain-
ing trails, especially in non-desert climates. I truly see the value of trail maintenance for these trails!”
It’s an enormous effort to steward trails in the Superior National Forest, but it’s also rewarding to make new friends and contribute to a better, more sustainable trail. NVC is incredibly grateful for every volunteer who attended our projects and for the support from the U.S. Forest Service. Forestry Technician Brett Gerrard says, “Working with the volunteers from Northwoods Volunteer Connection was a great pleasure. We worked
hard, had a lot of fun and accomplished a lot together. I’m looking forward to our projects next year and continuing our collaboration on future projects in the coming years.”
NVC will be back at it next year with projects to make these trails and other trails more sustainable for years to come. You can learn more about NVC and the work we do at northwoodsvolunteerconnection.org. —Jo Swanson, Northwoods Volunteer Connection Executive Director
Ride Duluth River Train
See the Fall Colors along the St. Louis River Estuary in West Duluth Departures
Saturdays & Sundays 10:30 am & 1:30 pm Thru October 13, 2024
Excursion Schedule and Ticket Information @ duluthrivertrain.com 218-624-7549
The South Lake Trail and Moss Lake Trail are both spur trails that eventually connect to the Border Route Trail within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. | SUBMITTED
A volunteer takes a lunch break on a scenic rock. | JULIE GAVRAN
Long local history for Two Harbors’ Costley
TWO HARBORS—The North Shore is home to a variety of unique people and their incredible stories. Two Harbors’ resident Mitchel Costley is one of these lifelong North Shore natives, and his story begins in 1852. That is the year Costley’s paternal great, great grandfather Maurice came to America from Ireland. He first landed in Kentucky before making his way, via the Mississippi River, to St. Paul. He eventually traveled north to Duluth and continued along the lake shore until he ran out of path, near what is now known as Larsmont.
Minnesota was still a territory, not becoming a state until 1858. The family elder filed his claim of over 120 acres and was granted the deed for the land. This is the land Costley’s grandfather lived on when he met his grandmother, Margaret O’Conner. Costley’s mother’s side were Giddings and homesteaded on the Stuart River outside of Two Harbors in the 1890’s. The families were large and have many ties to the young settlement. His maternal great, great grandpa was one of the co-founders of Co-Op Light and Power in Two Harbors. Fast forward to the 1930’s when his parents Laine Costley and Phillis Giddings met at the Two Harbors Skating Rink. “Dad was a hockey player and mom loved to skate,” Costley reflects.
Mitch Costley graduated in 1960 from Two Harbors High School. He went on to law school at the University of Minnesota and began his practice in 1967. He still practices law in Two Harbors with his son Tim, who serves as the current city attorney for Two Harbors and Silver Bay. The current Costley & Morris office building was purchased in 1985. The building, located downtown on the historic 1st Avenue, has a great story to tell, as well. A candy store originally occupied the space and eventually became the Beacon Tavern. Costley pays tribute to both his family and the town’s history throughout the building, resembling a museum with photos, artifacts and stories behind each item. “Most people here today have no clue of the local history and I enjoy the opportunity to educate those interested.”
Costley invites the public to come to his office and browse through the treasures. The original bar proudly welcomes clients as a repurposed front desk. A prize artifact is the vintage Hamm’s Beer sign that was restored and now blinks bright neon as it did back in the day, it now hangs in the lounge of the office. Pictures that line the walls include portraits of the Costley family lineage and tell the many stories of life during the early Two Harbors and its economic development of the community.
Railroads and shipping are two of the key economic drivers of the North Shore and Two Harbors has been a primary headquarters for both throughout the years. Costley’s family was part of generations employed as engineers and mechanics with the Duluth, Missabe Iron Range Railway (D.M & IR). He shares his account of turbulent times in the
1920s. The railroad workers were on strike, and strike breakers were brought in to do the work while the negotiations continued. Costley explained, “After the strike ended and clean up began at the camp where the breakers lived, the hill, located next to the Ore Boat docks in Agate Bay, was littered with empty pork and bean cans.” It was nicknamed Pork City Hill and still referred to as that today.
In the 1950s, mining and transport of raw taconite was booming Costley recalled over 4,000 men work for the railroad at that time. Eventually shipping of taconite slowed down when raw supply began to run low. By 1963 the rails were closing, and workers were scaled down to a skeleton crew of 20 employees. By the mid 70s the area became somewhat industrialized again but not really returning to the bustling early days. Cost-
ley does see things have begun blossoming again. “I see green shoots of a rebirth of Two Harbors, old buildings being renovated and new business opening,”
Costley turned 82 this summer and remains active in his law practice and passing along family history through his cookbook published in 2018. The Hunting Shack Cookbook: A Bad Cookbook with Good Recipes is a collection of family favorites passed down from his mother and stories shared throughout the years at the hunting shack. He welcomes the opportunity to share family, city and North Shore stories with residents and visitors, and extends the invite to stop by his office at 609 1st Avenue, Two Harbors. —Michelle Miller
Vintage artifacts in the Costley law office. | MICHELLE MILLER
Original, restored Hamm’s sign. | MICHELLE MILLER
The cookbook cover. | MICHELLE MILLER
Mitch Costley. | MICHELLE MILLER
The Costley office entryway. | MICHELLE MILLER
Veteran Resilience Project Expands to Northern Minnesota
DULUTH—A Minnesota based non-profit organization called the Veteran Resilience Project (VRP) offers free mental health therapy opportunities to veterans, service members, and their spouses in the state of Minnesota. A grant in August 2023 has allowed this organization to expand its network of services into northern Minnesota. Jenna Graen is the Northern MN VRP Outreach Coordinator and in a recent email said, “VRP has been around since 2015, but we recently received some grant funding to expand into northern Minnesota which is so exciting… Northern MN has a huge need for resources for veterans, especially in some of the rural parts.”
VRP provides free access to a specific type of treatment for trauma and/or PTSD known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Graen said EMDR is “an extensively researched, effective, and noninvasive type of therapy that helps clients recover from symptoms of trauma and PTSD.” EMDR is a therapy supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the World Health Organization, and the American Psychiatric Association.
“Basically, how it works is we connect veterans, military members, and/or spouses to a VRP network therapist and VRP will pay for 12 EMDR therapy sessions,” said Graen. “This may be a good resource for veterans that could benefit from EMDR therapy and/or ones that don’t qualify for counseling through the VA or Vet Center. The unique thing about our organization is that we are able to see veterans regardless of their VA eligibility or discharge status. It can be a challenge sometimes for veterans to get the help they need because of this barrier. We pride ourselves on how easily someone can start therapy through VRP.” Graen notes that VRP has a network of over 50 therapists throughout the state of Minnesota including six in Duluth. “We currently have therapists in Two Harbors and are working our way up the North Shore,” said Graen. “Also 50% of our EMDR therapists can do telehealth, also allowing veterans to get this therapy from home.”
Any veteran, military member, or spouse who is interested in contacting VRP about this opportunity for free EMDR therapy sessions should visit the “Contact” portion of the VRP website: https://www.veteranresilienceproject. org/contact “Then our Care Coordinator will reach out to the client and answer any questions they have and assist them with the intake process,” said Graen. The website is an excellent resource for more information about this new and growing non-profit organization. The website also offers a way to support them through volunteering and/or donations. VRP is a 501c3 nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible. Graen said, “We encourage people to also follow us on our social media to stay informed and learn more about VRP. They can also email us at info@veteranresilience.org or call us at (763) 358-2275.”
Want to learn more? Go visit the “Sweat for Vets” event on Friday, November 15th in Duluth from 11:30AM to 8:30PM. “It will be a sauna village experience at the Endion Station Inn in Duluth where people can come connect and relax while helping raise funding for our mission,” Graen said. “We are offering a time for free access for Veteran organizations to provide them with a space to unwind and relax, acknowledging their tireless efforts in supporting the military community.”—Eric Chandler
COOK COUNTY District 4 Commissioner
October is historically one of Minnesota’s most active wildfire months. Following a hard frost, plants stop taking in moisture and begin drying, creating more available fuel for a wildfire.
Fall Firewise Cleanup Time
Stories for A Dark Night
By Kalli Hawkins
October is the season of fall colors, apple cider, and spooky campfire stories.
As the cooler weather settles on the northern Minnesota landscape, evenings are best spent gathering around a campfire under a blanket of stars with friends and a good spooky story. Whether sitting around the fire in the backyard or while camping deep in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, there’s no denying the power of a good scary campfire story to make the evening just a little bit spookier.
Here are some stories that may leave you with chills down your spine.
Eerie Full Moon Cross-Country Skiing Outing
If you have spent a decent amount of time in the woods, chances are you’ve had an experience where you feel like something or someone is watching you. Immediately, you can feel your body tense, and the hair on your arms or the back of your neck stand up straight.
For Debi LaMusga, a Grand Marais resident, that is precisely what occurred during a solo full-moon cross-country skiing outing at George Washington Pines up the Gunflint Trail nearly 20 years ago.
As LaMusga skied the nearly 2-mile trail at George Washington Pines underneath the full moon, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and sensed something wasn’t quite right. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and she felt like something in the woods was watching her.
With wolves, cougars, and other wildlife common to the northern Minnesota landscape, she sensed something was hiding in the shadows of the full moon, keeping a close eye on her.
She said it wasn’t a sound or flash of movement that made her stop in her tracks but simply a feeling—a heightened sense of awareness that left her feeling uneasy.
“It was really significant to me,” LaMusga said. “That was pretty eerie.”
LaMusga said she put her head down, picked up her pace, and skied back to the trailhead with no other option but to continue on the trail. She said she never once looked behind her.
“I just kept skiing,” she said. “I made really good time.”
She safely returned to her car at the trailhead and quickly left.
Days later, LaMusga’s suspicion was confirmed when she saw a cougar run across the road near George Washington Pines while on her way to work.
October is a great time for a warm campfire and some scary stories. | MIKE ERSKINE
An eerie full moon. | NEVEN KRCMAREK
Seagull Palisades Unexplained Mystery
Nearly two decades later, Erin Altemus is still stumped about what occurred one night at Seagull Palisades in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
As a Camp Menogyn guide in the early 2000s, Altemus led a women’s combo rock climbing and paddling trip to the BWCAW, with a planned stop at the Seagull Palisades. After paddling the Boundary Waters for a few days, the group then spent time camping near the Palisades to enjoy and partake in rock climbing.
Altemus and her co-guide would set the temporarily fixed anchors and top rope each day and teach the novice climbers how to rock climb. After one particularly successful day of climbing, Altemus and her co-guide
sades and planned to return for another full day of rock climbing the next morning. Overnight, Altemus said, a massive storm rolled through with lightning and thunder. “There was thunder all night long.”
Much to their surprise, when the group returned to the Palisades in the morning, the metal anchor was not wedged in the same crack as it had been the day before.
Instead, it was lying on a rock six feet away.
Altemus said the group stood there dumbfounded, unsure about what they had witnessed. “We didn’t see anyone go to the Palisades,” she said. “No one could have been up there that night.”
The only feasible explanation the group could conger up was that lightning struck the
metal anchor at night and dislodged it from the crack. But Altemus said she thought the probability of that seemed slim.
“Either lightning had come down and sent it flying, or something else happened,” she said. “I don’t know.” If no one else had visited the site and dislodged the anchor, Altemus said she didn’t see how else it could have become unstuck.
To this day, the mystery of how the metal anchor was dislodged from the crack and ended up six feet away remains. For the past 20 years, Altemus has continued to wonder about the mysterious events at Seagull Palisades that night. She shares the spooky story whenever she spends time with friends or new acquaintances, hoping to someday understand what happened.
Coming Face to Face with Eight Eyes in the Darkness
I have spent a fair amount of time in the outdoors throughout my life and have been lucky to have minimal close calls or scary situations. Of the ones I have encountered, they resulted from a poor decision paired with overconfidence.
Mother Nature quickly stepped in to remind me who the boss was. And I listened.
However, my most recent scary outdoor experience during the 2023 deer hunting season was slightly different.
On the fifth morning of deer season, I walked up on a pack of wolves - in the dark.
eyes staring back at me.
It was pitch dark, and I had just walked up on a pack of wolves. I had no idea whether they had just killed a deer and were eating or actively hunting. And if it was the latter, I had just walked up to them as a free and easy meal.
I began yelling at them at the top of my lungs. They didn’t budge. They stood their ground, and the lead wolf took one step toward me.
began retrieving all of the fixed anchors they had shoved into the cracks. However, one of the anchors proved incredibly challenging to remove.
“Nothing we did could get this nut out of that crack,” Altemus said. “It was so solidly in there.”
After attempting all of the known tricks in their toolbox to remove the equipment, Altemus said they decided to give up and stop back the following day to retry. “So we thought, we’re coming back tomorrow. We’ll just leave it for the night,” she said. “And we took everything else with us.”
That night, the group camped nearby on an island with a clear sightline of the Pali-
I started that morning, as usual, walking into my deer stand about 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise or legal shooting time. I sometimes feel a little uncomfortable walking in the dark woods alone, so I keep my head down and happy thoughts on repeat.
About ¾ quarters of the way to my stand, I lifted my head to find my next reflective trail marker. After seeing I was headed in the right direction, I began to put my head down and suddenly caught the reflection of something else about 200 feet in front of me and at a lower height than my trail markers.
I stood there with my headlamp pointed at my feet as my brain quickly processed what I had witnessed. I knew what it was and instantly knew I was in trouble.
My heart started racing, and the only thought in my head was, “Kalli, you need to lift your head.”
As I did, I caught the reflection of eight
I took a step back and cocked my .32 Winchester Special. I fired a warning shot above their heads, but they still didn’t move. I fired a second warning shot. Still nothing. I then knew I was in trouble and needed help. They weren’t afraid of me, and I was unsure of their intentions, given their behavior.
I grabbed my cell phone and called my dad, who lives nearby. I managed to describe my situation and that I needed him to come get me. All the while screaming at the wolves and trying to bushwack the remaining distance to the safety of my deer stand.
As I moved north toward the direction of my deer stand, the wolves followed, keeping about 200 feet distance between us. I put my back against a tree, reloaded my gun, and waited for backup. The wolves eventually turned and continued on their way.
It took a couple of months following the encounter to adjust to being comfortable while alone in the woods again - even in the daylight.
The Seagull Palisade are a place for climbing, reverence and perhaps some mystery. | TUSCARORA LODGE
An encounter with a wolf pack in the woods is a rare but certainly scary encounter. | HANS VETH
An Ode to the North Shore in Autumn
Story and Photo by Dave Benson
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall,” said Jordan.
“And I guess it always will, no matter how old we get. It’s a way of clearing out the old and making room for something new.”
Maybe that’s why I love the fall. In Minnesota, we rush through summer, greedily taking it all in, because we know that the season is so short. In autumn, though, we get back to real life, with a new start. In ancient Rome, the new year began on September 1st. Why not in Northern Minnesota too?
There’s so much to watch for in the natural world once the days start getting shorter: Fall Flowers: Even as the landscape turns brown, there are bursts of color that stand out this time of year: the purple asters beam and goldenrods glow along the roadsides. It’s always fun to see late-bloomers, sometimes even peaking through the snow.
Colored Leaves: As the chlorophyll fades out of plant leaves, they begin to flare with yellows, oranges and reds. To me, it always feels as if they are revealing their true, hidden nature when this happens. These leaves provide tiny pleasures one-by-one. Together, they can seem to be shining with their own light.
Migrating Hawks: The North Shore is a world-class hawk migration path. During the months of September and October, when the winds are out of the west, tens of thousands of raptors fly southwest along the shore of Lake Superior. They don’t generally want to cross the cold water of the big lake, plus the Sawtooth Mountains provide perfect conditions for soaring birds. Thermals form above each of the bare, rocky tops of the hills, and hawks seek out these escalators to ride up into the sky, saving precious energy for the parts of their long journeys when they need to flap.
In September, there will be big flights of Broad-winged Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks, along with a dozen or so other kinds of raptors. More Bald Eagles, Northern Goshawks, and Rough-legged Hawks pass down the North Shore in fall than anywhere else on earth.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Mushrooms: Fall is the time for mushrooms to fruit. Their mycelia (root-like bases) live and grow in the ground all year round, and when conditions are right, mushrooms spring up from the forest floor. Those conditions are usually best in early autumn, so while your eye may be drawn upward to the hawks and leaves, don’t forget to scan downward too, for orange, red, white, or brown mushrooms.
Berries: You may think of spring and early summer as big berry season, but there are some beauties in the fall too. The ones I’m thinking of are more for viewing than eating. On the forest floor, wintergreen berries turn red. The berries of Canada Mayflower turn from copper-colored to deep red in late fall. Hawthorns and dogwoods may sport berries this time of year too. The showiest are Mountain Ash berries, which may be found everywhere but are concentrated in Grand Marais and close to the lake along the shore.
Mountain Ash berries will display their deep orange beauty well into winter, unless it’s a good year for Bohemian Waxwings. These close relatives of Cedar Waxwings only visit us during winter. They sometimes travel in flocks numbering in the thousands, and some years, they clean out all the Mountain Ash berries in Grand Marais in a day.
Snow Buntings: Late in October, as your car rolls along almost any road in the North Woods, flocks of Snow Buntings may fly up from the roadside. When their wings are folded, as they search for seeds in the gravel, they can be almost invisible; in this posture, they show mostly rusty-brown with streaks of black and white—they are particularly camouflaged in a brown, autumn landscape with a little bit of snow here and there. They migrate together in flocks of up to hundreds of individuals.
When these flocks are flushed, they explode from the roadside into the air in a mass of fluttering white. If you didn’t no-
tice them in the gravel as you approached, the flight can be quite a surprise. Snow Buntings nest on the tundra in the far north, and they are headed to the fields of the Great Plains. Small numbers will over-winter in southern, agricultural Minnesota. The big flocks we see in late fall are one of the characteristic images of the North Shore.
All the Other Birds: In addition to raptors, Snow Buntings, and Bohemian Waxwings, many other species use the North Shore as their migration highway. Warblers and other songbirds flow down the shore in September, October is the month for sparrows, ducks, and other waterfowl, and in November, we start seeing visitors from the North, like Northern Shrikes, Pine Grosbeaks, and Snowy Owls.
Waves and Storms: Fall is the time for epic storms near Lake Superior, and the rocky coast of the North Shore makes spectacular spray and giant crashes. A few years ago, I was leading a bird tour during one of these storms. We saw some good birds, but when I have run into participants years later, they comment on how cool it was to see those waves!
The Changing Panorama: The rest of the year, the landscape changes slowly, as the world moves from brown, to light green, to the full green spectrum near the summer solstice, to more faded green as summer wanes. In fall, however, a hillside might be full of colored leaves one day, and a good cold front will turn it brown the next. The colors will change until one day, the first big snowstorm will make another instant transformation into a world of white. The North Shore has many great places to watch this. Drive any of the roads up the hillside, and you will find places with spectacular vistas to watch the changes. If you hike the Superior Hiking Trail, which mostly follows the ridgeline of the hills, you will have access to many more.
By Erin Altemus October Artwork
October will bring new exhibits up and down the shore to Split Rock, Tettegouche, Johnson Heritage Post, galleries in Thunder Bay and Duluth. Check our calendar for specific information. Each of these artists has a show opening soon.
"Full Spectrum" feltscaping. Kieper's feltscaping will be on display at Splitrock Lighthouse State Park Oct. 1-Nov. 10. | KRIS KIEPER
Theresa Czank Russell, part of the Thunder Bay Group of Stephen, will be at the October featured artist at Johnson Heritage Post Gallery. | THERESA CZANK RUSSELL
"Smoke". Boyce will have work at Tettegouche State Park this month. | KATHERINE BOYCE
"Father Baraga's Cross". Dimock's exhibit "Splendor of the North Shore" will be at the Johnson Heritage Post Oct. 11- Nov. 3. | TOM DIMOCK
Biota Borealis. New Public art outside Johnson Heritage Post Gallery. | MAEVE GATHJE
"Untitled" Oil on Canvas. Part of "petal, clay, berry, leaf" at Thunder Bay Art Gallery. | ANONG MIGWANS BEAM
Marybeth Garmoe Ox-Cart Broom
CREATIVE SPACE:
By Rae Poynter
The broom: it’s an object in every household, something we all need for the inevitable messes of our daily lives. But brooms can be more than a mere tool for sweeping up dirt. They can also be a work of art— something that’s both beautiful and functional. One person practicing this craft is North Shore resident Marybeth Garmoe. Garmoe is the owner of Ox-Cart Broom & Wood Works, where she makes handmade brooms, dustpans, and other goods that blend traditional techniques and her own sense of style.
Garmoe’s journey into broom making began 10 years ago, and according to her, was “completely by happenstance.” In 2014, Garmoe has an internship at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina’s Appalachian region, an area with a strong history of broom making. During the last week of her internship, a chance cancellation landed her in her first-ever broom making class.
“My body and mind connected with the process and final product in a way I never could have expected, and I’ve been making brooms ever since,” Garmoe said.
So how does one make a handmade broom? It starts with the materials. A typical kitchen broom is, essentially, a bundle of broomcorn tied to the end of a stick and stitched flat. As northern Minnesota has an abundance of trees, Garmoe’s broom making process often starts with a walk in the woods to harvest saplings.
“Often people think that my handles are branches from larger trees, but even if a branch looks really straight, they usually curve a little to reach the sunlight, so young, straight saplings work best,” she said. “I like to harvest species that resprout quickly, such as aspen and alder, and thankfully have friends with lots of those species on their land!”
The other main material used in broom making is broomcorn, also known as sorghum. Broomcorn is a versatile material— it’s one that Garmoe not only uses for the bristles of her kitchen brooms, but also to craft other objects like whisk brooms, veggie scrubbers, and pot scrubbers. Her work is infused with a playful sense of style, such as dyeing the broomcorn or using brightly-colored stitching string for pops of unexpected color.
“My brooms are rooted in tradition, but I’ve come to incorporate a lot of my own elements into my brooms. There are a few ‘lineages’ of brooms, and it can be easy to tell who a broom maker learned from by the style of brooms they make,” Garmoe said. “I like maintaining that tradition, but also want to bring some of myself and the world around me into my brooms.”
A woodworker as well as a broomaker, Garmoe makes her own dustpans using a technique called marquetry. Marquetry
involves using thin pieces of various wood species to create an image. The results are one-of-a-kind dustpans of Garmoe’s own design. She also makes leather dustpans inspired by traditional Japanese rice paper dustpans. “I strive to incorporate woodworking into my business as much as possible,” she said.
Craft lies at the junction of artistry and
functionality, a contrast that seems especially highlighted in Garmoe’s work. On the one hand, brooms and dustpans are used for some of the most mundane of chores—they are quite literally meant to get dirty. On the other hand, they can be works of art themselves. It may seem a curious contrast, but perhaps that’s part of the beauty of a craft like broom making: perhaps art and func-
tionality don’t always have to be so fragmented; rather, we can infuse artistry even into the most unlikely corners of our lives.
Marybeth Garmoe’s work can be found at several shops along the North Shore, as well as through her website, ox-cartbroomandwood.com. She also teaches broom making classes through the North House Folk School in Grand Marais.
Marybeth Garmoe owns Ox-Cart Broom & Wood Works | MARY BETH GARMOE
PUMPKINFEST
Sept. 28-Oct. 27 Enjoy over 20 attractions at the annual Pumpkinfest at Gammondale Farm, held on five weekends this fall. Located in the Slate River Valley (near Thunder Bay), Pumpkinfest will feature a pumpkin train, Canada’s largest pumpkin catapult, pumpkin slingshots, northwestern Ontario’s largest horse, a corn cannon, farm animals, a 3-acre monster nature trail, trike trails, a barnyard maze, a “boo” barn, duck races, tire’d horses, a straw mountain, the “Needle in a Haystack” photo contest, and more. New this year is pumpkin bowling. Tickets are $18 CND per person, ages 2 and up, and can be purchased online in advance. gammondalefarm.com
HAUNTED HARBOUR AND WITCHES BREW AT THE ALEXANDER HENRY
Sept. 27-Oct. 12 Over three weekends, the historic Alexander Henry icebreaker will take on a rather haunted feeling. Two sets of evening tours are sure to scare thrill seekers as they wind their way through spooky corridors.
In addition, the sponsoring organizations, Our Kids Count and the Transportation Museum of Thunder Bay, will also be organizing the Witches Brew family events on Sept. 28 and Oct. 12, which are more geared towards families with younger children. Tickets for all events are available on the Our Kids Count website ourkidscount.ca
BASKET WEEK
Oct. 1-7 Join North House Folk School for a gathering of basket-makers, both advanced and aspiring! Basketry embodies the soul of traditional craft: simple tools, natural materials and skilled hands result in purposeful, beautiful items. Birch bark, spruce root, pine needles, black ash— the northern forest has been generous to basketmakers, and various classes and workshops will explore a variety of techniques and forms.
North House will welcome international guest instructor Steen Madsen. Steen is a remarkable basketmaker from Ringstead, Denmark who has been weaving with willow since 1979. To find out more, visit northhouse.org
THE GUNFLINT SCRAMBLE
Oct. 5, Saturday The Gunflint Scramble, returns for a second year. Organized by Bearskin Lodge and Outfitters, the 20-mile race utilizes some of the renowned cross-country ski trails that are a part of the Central Gunflint Ski Trail network, as well as gravel roads. The event dubs itself as “beautiful scenery and punishing climbs,” but, at 20 miles, it’s worth a shot. Participants can expect to find a mix of gravel roads, mowed ski trails, dramatic elevation changes, and stunning boreal forest views. Registration will be limited to 100 riders this year and the race will start at 10 a.m. gunflintscramble.com
JAKE FORSMAN MEMORIAL CAR SHOW & BURNOUT COMPETITION
Oct. 5, Saturday The 8th Annual Jake Forsman Memorial Car Show and Burnout Competition, held from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. in Ely, will feature a traditional car show with a unique mix of classic and modified cars, as well as an optional burnout contest. Held on Chapman Street in front of City Hall, there will also be a silent auction, merchandise tent, raffle drawings, kid’s activities, awards, and more. Admission is free to attend ($10 per entry) and all proceeds benefit the Jake Forsman Memorial Scholarship for area youth pursuing a career in the mechanical and building trades. elycarshow.org
The Gunflint Scramble is a 20-mile off-road cycling event that will take place on Oct. 5th near Bearskin Lodge. | SUBMITTED
Oct. 5, Saturday The annual Harvest Booya Festival has been a 30-year tradition in Finland of celebrating community and serving a traditional booya stew. Held at the Clair Nelson Center, this year’s celebration features live music, great food, local vendors and crafters, agricultural demonstrations such as apple pressing, and more. Harvest Booya Festival will take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. facebook.com/finlandbooya
THUNDER BAY EMPTY BOWLS
Oct. 20, Sunday The 25th annual Thunder Bay Empty Bowls fundraiser is back inside for a sit-down meal for the first time since 2019. Located at Moose Hall, enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread donated by local restaurants and community organizations, and take home your choice of a locally-made handcrafted pottery bowl donated by local potters, including many from the Thunder Bay Potters’ Guild. There will also be an onsite 50/50 lottery, a penny auction, and a food drive for the Shelter House pantry. The doors open at 4:30
p.m. and dinner is at 6 p.m. Or, purchase a take-out meal, available from 1:303:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or at various Thunder Bay locations. emptybowlsthunderbay.com
TERROR IN THE BAY FILM FESTIVAL
Oct. 16-19 Northwestern Ontario’s top horror-themed film festival is back for its seventh year in Thunder Bay, held from 7-11:30 p.m. nightly at the Maple Tops Paramount Theatre. Each night, different horror films from around the world will be screened—from feature films to music videos. Other features include the “Blood Red Carpet” photo shoot, a food concession stand, local vendor tables, and more. Guests are encouraged to dress up in costumes and prizes will be awarded on Saturday for best costumes. Tickets can be purchased online. terrorinthebay.com
MOOSE MADNESS FESTIVAL
Oct. 18-19 A moose is loose in Grand Marais during the Moose Madness family festival, hosted by Visit Cook County. This
annual event is the ultimate family-focused celebration of all things moose. Enjoy the outdoors and learn a few facts about the area’s celebrated mascot along the way with fun activities, scavenger hunts, quizzes, and more. A full schedule of events can be found online. visitcookcounty.com
NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL FAMILY WEEKEND
Oct. 18-19 Coinciding with MEA weekend in Minnesota, North House Folk School hosts a long weekend of family activities. There will be games, s’mores and apple pressing on Friday and Contra dancing on Saturday as well as drop-in activities from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both Friday and Saturday for kids of all ages accompanied by their caregivers. There are more involved courses available for a fee, registration available online at northouse.org
BOO AT THE ZOO
Oct. 12, 19, & 26 Head to the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth for Boo at the Zoo, held on Saturday, Oct. 12, Oct. 19, and Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring the whole family
Horror film fanatics will enjoy a nightly line-up of films at the Terror in the Bay Film Festival in Thunder Bay Oct. 16-19. | SUBMITTED
and explore the zoo with endless trick-ortreating stations, a boo-tique craft show, special Halloween-themed animal treats, food trucks, games and activities, a magic show, a mini pumpkin hunt, a pumpkin patch, costume contests, and more. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Day-of tickets are $16 per person, or $12 if purchased in advance (non-members); ages 2 and under are free. lszooduluth.org
WILD DULUTH RACES
Oct. 19-20 The Wild Duluth Races comprise four trail races, a 100k, 50k, half marathon and 10k with various start and end points (Bayfront Park, Jay Cooke State Park, Munger Trail, Spirit Mountain etc) and all traverse the outskirts and even through Duluth neighborhoods. The fall colors should be in full peak and the weather could be brisk which is great for running. Runners who complete various combinations of races can be dubbed a WILDWOMAN or WILDMAN. To find registration, volunteer or spectator information, check out wildduluthraces.com
THE SENIOR GO SHOW
Oct. 22, Tuesday Today’s seniors and soon-to-be seniors are active; they are still working, having fun, helping raise their children’s children, vacationing, crafting, building, buying—they are still going. Located at the Duluth Decc, the Go Show will help you find all the information you need as you get older. Visit with over 100 exhibitors featuring not just information on getting older, but getting old and still going, whether it’s traveling, remodeling, finding new hobbies, or just having fun with the grandkids. Held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., there will be live music, free samples and services, guest speakers, prizes, and more. Free tickets are available at participating vendor locations and free event parking is provided courtesy of Medica. goshowexpo.com
NORTH END NIGHTMARE 5K
Oct. 26, Saturday Grab your family and friends and dress up for this 3.1-mile race on the streets of Superior, held at 11 a.m. The course starts and finishes near Earth Rider Brewery and it features several specified “scare zones” with Halloween-themed decorations, some of which will also feature
live actors in costume and character. The start and finish area has plenty of activities for before and after your race, including a trick-or-treat area for kids, and a haunted garage. The event also offers the Spider Dash Kids’ Races at 12:30 p.m., which are free and open to all kids ages 14 and under. All participants are invited to enter the costume contest—prizes will be awarded to the winners. Registration required for both races. grandmasmarathon.com
THE HUNGER 17
Oct. 26, Saturday If it’s Halloween, then it must be The Hunger. Held downtown Thunder Bay as a fundraiser for Definitely Superior Art Gallery, the 17th annual Hunger Halloween festival features 50 performance acts—including 35 bands and DJs—taking place at eight venues/stages, including The Foundry, Red Lion Smokehouse, The Sovereign Room, Black Pirates Pub, Paramount Theatre (two venues/levels in one), and more. There will be thousands in costume contest prizes at all locations, so be sure to dress up. The party goes from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. and a cover charge of $20 gets you into all venues. definitelysuperior.com
October 5th 10 am to Noon Don Luce’ Drawing Workshop (Limit to 15 people)
2 - 4 pm Cook County Historical Alliance; Storytelling from the Backroads of Cook County (Held at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts)
October 12 th 2 - 3 pm Don and Ann Luce’ –A Shared Fascination with Water: Paintings by Don Luce and Photography and Video by Ann Luce
October 20 th Last day Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center buildings
be open to the public.
A moose will be on the loose at Grand Marais’ annual Moose Madness festival Oct. 18-19. | SUBMITTED
October
NORTHERN W ILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Thru Oct. 6
Indian Day Schools in Canada: An Introduction Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com
Thru Oct. 11
Minnesota-Swedish Folk Paintings by Alison Aune Nordic Center Duluth nordiccenterduluth.org
Thru Oct. 18
Fire, Earth, Air and Water North Shore Artists League on Display in the Ford Family Gallery White Bear Center for the Arts whitebeararts.org
Thru Oct. 20
Starvation, Adaptation and Survival Insights from the Voyageurs Wolf Project International Wolf Center Ely 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily wolf.org
Thru Oct. 31
The Seeker Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, Schroeder, sugarloafnorthshore.org
Thru Dec. 20
Dreaming Our Futures: Ojibwe and Očhéthi Šakówiņ Artists and Knowledge Keepers Tweed Museum of Art University of MN Duluth tweed.d.umn.edu
Sept. 27-Oct.12
Haunted Harbour at the Alexander Henry Thunder Bay ourkidscount.ca
Sept. 27 -Oct. 19
Muse Art Exhibition Thurs-Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Studio 21 Grand Marais Art Colony grandmaraisartcolony.org
Sept. 27-Oct. 31
Hellwig Hollow Haunted Attraction Fridays and Saturdays 7-11 p.m. Dawghause Bar & Grill Canyon, hellwighollow.com
Sept. 28-Oct. 27
Pumpkinfest Gammondale Farm, Slate River Valley, Ontario, gammondalefarm.com
Sept 29-Oct 12
Gaslight, a Vintage Thriller Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com
Oct. 1-31
Photography & Art at the Rock: Featuring Kris Kieper Splitrock Lighthouse State Park
Oct. 1, Tues
A Heck of a New Deal: Minnesota Stories from the WPA’s Federal Art Project (1935-1943) Silver Bay Public Library 5 p.m. alslib.info
Oct. 1-7
Basket Week North House Folk School Grand Marais northhouse.org
Oct. 2, Weds.
Lucy Kaplansky West Theatre Duluth 7:30 p.m. thewesttheatre.com
Oct. 3, Thurs.
Call of the Wild Poetry Night Ely Folk School 5-6 p.m. northernlakesarts.org
GB Leighton West Theatre Duluth 7:30 p.m. thewesttheatre.com
Uplugged Vibes! Tommy Wotruba at Skyport Lodge and Raven Rock Grill 6 p.m. skyportlodge.com
Oct. 3-6
Duluth Superior Film Festival dsfilmfest.org
Oct. 4, Fri.
Unarmed community protection workshop (personal and situational de-escalation) Cook County Higher Ed 9 a.m.-3 p.m. cche.org
Katherine Boyce Artist Reception Tettegouche State Park 7-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 4-5
5th Annual ‘Golf for the Good’ Superior National Golf Course Lutsen northshorehealthcarefoundation.org
Oct. 4-Jan. 5th
Colin Davis: Steel, Grease and Gasoline Thunder Bay Art Gallery theag.ca
Petal, clay, berry, leaf: natural inks, dyes, and pigments of Northern Ontario, Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca
Oct. 5, Sat.
Letters from Home Ely’s Historic State Theatre 7 p.m. northernlakesarts.org
Jake Forsman Memorial Car Show and Burnout Competition City Hall Ely 10 a.m.-4 p.m. elycarshow.org
Gunflint Scramble Mountain Bike Race Bearskin Lodge Gunflint Trail gunflintscramble.com
Harvest Booya Festival 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Clair Nelson Community Center, Finland friendsoffinland.org
Storytelling from the backroads of Cook County Arrowhead Center for the Arts 2-4 p.m. Free gunflinthistory.org
Don Luce’ Drawing Workshop Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center 2-4 p.m. gunflinthistory.org
Heti & Buzz Oils Tasting Lady Superior NA Bottle Shop 3-5 p.m. Grand Marais
Oct. 5-6
Garage Sale Fundraiser GES 7th and 8th grade students going on a service learning trip to Panama 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Great Expectations School Grand Marais greatexpectationsschool.com
Oct. 7, Mon.
Paid Family Medical Leave Presentation and Q&A Cook County Higher Ed 3:30-4:45 p.m. cche.org
Oct. 7-Dec. 20
Chimakwa Nibaawi Stone and Katie Lou Muzquiz Exhibit the AICHO Gallery Duluth aicho.org
Oct. 10, Thurs.
Pat Eliasen Skyport Lodge and Raven Rock Grill 6 p.m. skyportlodge.com
Oct. 13-Nov 5
Seven Summers Paintings from Bøverdalen by Arna Rennan Grand Opening 7-9 p.m. nordiccenterduluth.org
Oct. 11, Fri.
Fall for Hiking Split Rock Lighthouse State Park 11 a.m.-2 p.m. dnr.state.mn.us
Oct. 12, Sat.
Chainsaw and tree felling safety course (includes OSHA training) Level 1 8 a.m-5 p.m. $175 cche.org
5K and 1-mile Costume Fun Run/Walk/Roll Cut-face Creek 10 a.m. Hosted by Great Expectations School greatexpectationsschool.com
Beargrease Fur-K Snowflake Nordic Ski Center Duluth beargrease.com
Don and Ann Luce’ A Shared Fascination with Water: Paintings by Don Luce’ and Photography and Video by Ann Luce’ Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center 2-3 p.m. gunflinthistory.org
Cookies, Cocoa, and the Cook County Historical Society: 2024 Annual Meeting 2-4 p.m. Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery cookcountyhistory.org
Boo at the Zoo Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth lszooduluth.org
Pier Country Vermillion Fine Arts Theatre 7 p.m. northernlakesarts.org
Nice Girls of the North Second Saturday Marketplace Spirit of the Lake Community of the Arts 10 a.m.-3 p.m. nicegirlsofthenorth.com
Fall Bazaar Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Two Harbors 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Come from Away Thunder Bay Community Auditorium tbca.com
Oct. 14, Mon.
A Heck of a New Deal: Minnesota Stories from the WPA’s Federal Art Project (1935-1943) Ely Public Library 12:30 p.m. alslib.info
Oct. 15, Tues.
Paula Abdul: Straight Up! To Canada Tour with Tayl Thunder Bay Community Auditorium tbca.com
Adult Community Creations Two Harbors Public Library 4-6 p.m. alslib.info
Oct. 16-19
Terror in the Bay Film Festival Paramount Theatre Thunder Bay terrorinthebay.com
Oct. 17, Thurs.
Lizz Winstead West Theatre 7:30 p.m. thewesttheatre.com
Oct. 17-18
David Hahn Art Days Grand Marais Art Colony 10 a.m.-2 p.m. grandmaraisartcolony.org
October 17-19
6th Annual Apple Festival Grand Marais Apple picking and tasting, cider making, pie contest and apple tree give away.
Oct. 18, Fri.
Moose-sterious Megafauna Two Harbors Public Library 1:30-2:30 p.m. alslib.info
Oct. 18-19
Moose Madness Festival Grand Marais visitcookcounty.com
North House Folk School Family Weekend northhouse.org
Wild Duluth Races Duluth wildduluthraces.com
Oct. 19, Sat.
Boo at the Zoo Lake Superior Zoo lszooduluth.org
Fresh Hop Fest at Castle Danger Brewery Live Music (Tres Osos 1-3 p.m., Lake Effect String Band 3:30-5:30 p.m., Hannah Rey 6-8 p.m.) Food Truck, Beer Release castledangerbrewery.com
Oct. 20, Sun.
Empty Bowls Thunder Bay emptybowlsthunderbay.com
Oct. 22, Tues.
Duluth Senior GO Show Decc 9 a.m.-2 p.m. goshowexpo.com
Oct. 23, Weds.
Lunch & Learn Cook County Healthcare and Older Adults Guest Presenter Kate Surbaugh CEO of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Noon-1 p.m. Cook County Higher Ed or Zoom cche.org
Oct. 24-26
Great Lakes Outdoor Summit Decc Harbor Side Convention Center Duluth greatlakesoutdoorssummit.com
Oct. 24-31
Poe The Ballet by the Minnesota Ballet at the Depot in Duluth minnesotaballet.org
Oct. 25, Fri.
Fall for Hiking Split Rock Lighthouse State Park 11 a.m.-2 p.m. dnr.state.mn.us
Oct. 25-26
Thunder Bay Nordic Trails Ski Swap Drop Off Weds-Thurs, Shopping Fri. 5-9 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m.-Noon tbnordictrails.com
Oct. 26, Sat.
Boo at the Zoo Lake Superior Zoo lszooduluth.org
North End Nightmare 5k Superior grandmasmarathon.com
Spook-tacular Saturday Fairlawn Mansion Superior 12-3 p.m. superiorpublicmuseums.org
Re-Framing Aging Community Workshop
9 a.m.-Noon Care Partners of Cook County
John Lowell Arrowhead Center for the Arts 7 p.m. northshoremusicassociation.com
The Hub Parking Lot, Grand Marais, facebook.com/ccfarmandcraft
Two Harbors Farmers Market 10 a.m. 320 7th Ave., Two Harbors, facebook.com/twoharborsfarmersmarket
Free Harbor History Walking Tour 1 p.m. Cook County Historical Museum, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org
Art Demo 1 p.m. Art & Soul Gallery, Ely, elysartandsoul.com
Sundays
Sunday Skates 10 a.m. Marina Skatepark, Thunder Bay, femaleboardercollective.ca
Clover Valley Farm Trail Noon, Two Harbors & Duluth, clovervalleyfarmtrail.com
Weekend Wine Down 3:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us
The North Shore Dish Passion for Pumpkin
By Virginia George
Pumpkin fare is one of those controversial food conversations. You have the people who cannot WAIT for the moment pumpkin spice comes back on local menus, and then you have those who despise the taste or texture of pumpkin. I think there also exists a sect of contrarians who simply dislike pumpkin or pumpkin spice anything simply because it is popular.
In order to take the passion for pumpkin seriously, we must first recognize the difference between pumpkin and pumpkin spice. Interestingly, pumpkin itself is really rather bland. It is high in fiber, which is great for digestive health, and contains a multitude of vitamins, such as vitamins A, E, and C. And pumpkin seeds contain a fair dose of vitamin K and magnesium. Because of its bland flavor and high fiber, pumpkin makes a great addition to recipes to add moisture, and even as a fat substitute. It works well to thicken soups and sweeten muffins, cheesecake, or bars.
Pumpkin spice, on the other hand, is the group of spices that is added to pumpkin-containing desserts. Pumpkin pie spice usually contains various concentrations of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and sometimes black pepper. This combination of spices is powerful, and one of those things that most people aren’t ambivalent on, thus the passionate debate over pumpkin (spice).
Love it or hate it, we are firmly within the season of pumpkin and pumpkin spice, so if you’re a lover (or a contrarian with a secret love of pumpkin), you may want to try out Zoe’s Pizza Kitchen in Silver Bay, At Sarah’s Table in Duluth, or The Growing Season in Thunder Bay.
Zoe’s Pizza Kitchen, Silver Bay
A newer addition to the North Shore, Zoe’s Pizza Kitchen is conveniently located right off Highway 61 in Silver Bay. With a solarium on the front that spans the width of the building, Zoe’s is a great place to grab lunch by the slice or have a sit-down Pickle Pizza and ice cream for dinner. Zoe’s serves all kinds of locally-themed pizzas, like the Taconite Harbor, a pizza with hamburger, bacon, onion, and mozzarella. The Bean & Bear Pizza earns a spice factor, which may be aptly named after the hike of the same name… it is spicy too. The Bean & Bear features a red sauce, pepperoni, red
Zoe’s Pizza Kitchen in Silver Bay also serves desserts, including a s’more dessert pictured here. | VIRGINIA GEORGE
oil, red peppers, jalapeno peppers, banana peppers, and garlic.
Zoe’s Pizza Kitchen also serves ice cream and is in the research and development phase of some specialty sweets. The current menu includes a turtle or banana split sundae, as well as shakes and cones, but patrons can expect to see pumpkin spice, s’more, and apple pie desserts on the menu soon.
At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café, Duluth
At Sarah’s Table is situated on the hillside of Duluth in Chester Park. Taran’s Marketplace is a familiar landmark for many, and the remodeled neighborhood market is now a quaint building with a flat roof and inviting patio, trellised with flowers in the summer. At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café is a locally-focused business with the goal of connecting patrons with local and seasonal fare.
At Sarah’s Table has a passion for farmto-table cuisine. They work directly with farmers whenever possible, and offer a variety of vegetarian and gluten free dishes. Breakfast is available all day, where you can order yourself gluten-free pumpkin pancakes, served with a berry compote and Rogotzke farms maple syrup. The Rogotzkes also provide the wild caught salmon that you’ll find in the smoked salmon omelet. In fact, throughout the menu you will find the names of farms who produced the ingredients for your food.
The Growing Season, Thunder Bay
The Growing Season sits unassumingly in the Bay and Algoma District of Thunder Bay. A community-focused women-owned business, their mission is to bring natural and wholesome foods to their community. Inside you will find a variety of artists’ work showcased, lit by the sunlight streaming through the windows, and food that is as delicious as it is pretty, served by a staff just as passionate about delicious food as you are.
The Growing Season sources their food locally as much as possible, and their dressings and ingredients are made inhouse. Many menu items are vegan and gluten-free… and oh so colorful.
Pumpkin seeds find their way in a handful of offerings at The Growing Season. As a nutrient-rich little crunch, they make
a great topping on salads, and you will find them perched atop the “living salad” alongside sprouted lentils, baby tomatoes, and avocado served with sesame ginger dressing and local bread. Pumpkin seeds also adorn the side salad that accompanies the “season sandwich,” an open-faced sandwich with Thunder Oak gouda and
sliced avocado, toasted and drizzled with their house made pesto sauce.
The Growing Season is invested in a waste-free take out program, where you can reuse and return your take out eco-tainer, and their signature dressings are available to purchase by the jar so you can have your favorite Growing Season dressings at home and on the go.
‘Tis the season, as they say, though usually not for this season… but ‘tis the season of harvest in the Northland, and specifically, the season of pumpkin. And I think it is important to understand that the season of pumpkin involves two distinctly different things: pumpkin spice, and pumpkin fruit. Pumpkin spice is often included in pumpkin pies and other fall desserts, but I hope you see that pumpkins themselves are a versatile fruit (yes, a fruit). There’s a lot more to do with the large fruits, besides gut and carve features into their large fronts to cast an eerie glow on your front step for the month of October. So even if you’re not a Pumpkin Spice fan, I hope you’ll consider some of the pumpkin fare our local restaurants have to offer. I know Zoe’s Pizza Kitchen, At Sara’s Table, and The Growing Season would love to serve you.
Besides desserts, Zoe’s also has an array of pizzas including the Pickle Pizza and Bean & Bear Pizza. | VIRGINIA GEORGE
MSG More Savory Goodness?
By Hartley Newell-Acero
The theme for this month’s Northern Wild’s issue is “Spooky Season,” but this article is about a seasoning with a spooky reputation--monosodium glutamate or MSG.
Monosodium glutamate is a food additive that is made from glutamic acid (glutamate). It’s an amino acid that’s produced by our bodies, as well as being naturally occurring in many foods, such as tomatoes, cheese, and mushrooms. In 1908, Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda discovered how to extract glutamate from seaweed broth. Today MSG is made by fermenting corn, sugar cane, sugar beets, tapioca, or molasses.
Prized for its ability to boost savory, umami flavors, it’s added to a wide variety of processed foods such as deli meats, canned foods, chips, soups, and condiments. It is also a common ingredient in both restaurant and home cooking. Since it has been safely used in a wide variety of settings for over 100 years, how did it get such a bad rap?
In 1968, a letter was written to the New England Journal of Medicine describing uncomfortable symptoms (weakness, palpitations, and numbness in the arms) that the author said struck after a meal at a Chinese restaurant. The author proposed that this could have been caused by a number of ingredients in the meal: sodium, alcohol, or perhaps, MSG. That suggestion was all it took to link consuming MSG to feeling sick because of “Chinese restaurant syndrome.” Subsequent studies on the safety of MSG were poorly done, including one in which high doses were injected directly into test animals’ abdomens. No one consumes MSG in this way, but the ill effects that resulted further tarnished its reputation.
Current research has disproved the myths about MSG to such an extent that MSG is recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the National Academy of Sciences, the European Commission’s Scientific Committee, the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
It is possible for someone to be sensitive to MSG, in the same way that some people are sensitive to a wide array of foods. It’s estimated that about 1% of the population may show signs of sensitivity if they consume larger amounts (3 grams) in the absence of food. A typical serving of food with added MSG usually contains less than 0.5 mg of MSG. Considering how unlikely it is that anyone would ever consume such large amounts, the vast majority of people can safely enjoy the savoriness that MSG brings to meals.
Because it’s often added to highly processed, premade, and packaged foods, MSG sometimes “hangs out with a dangerous crowd.” These foods are usually high in sodium and saturated fat but low in fiber and nutrients. It’s possible to experience flushing, headaches, or changes in blood pressure after eating highly processed foods, not because they have MSG in them, but because they contain too much salt, are deep fried, or are processed in a way that just doesn’t agree with you. Minimizing ultra-processed foods is a good idea in general, and not simply because they contain MSG.
both boost savory, meaty flavors and help you reduce your overall sodium intake. Even though “sodium” is part of its name, MSG contains only 12.28 grams of so dium per 100 grams. That’s one-third of the amount of table salt (39.34 grams/100 grams). If you replace ½ teaspoon of table salt with ½ teaspoon of MSG, you’ll reduce the sodium in your food by about 37%, but keep the taste of saltiness. That ½ teaspoon is enough to enhance the flavor of a pound
Breast Cancer
Awareness
Month is About More Than Pink
Ribbons
of meat or 4 -6 servings of vegetables,
If you think you might be sensitive to MSG, pay attention to that. Notice if you have issues every time you eat MSG or only occasionally. If only occasionally, it may not be the MSG that’s causing problems. If it’s an issue every time, then certainly, avoid MSG when possible. But, if you’re not sensitive, take those spooky MSG myths with a grain of salt, and feel free to up the umami with a generous shake!
Breast Cancer Awareness Month means different things to different people. For some, it is a trigger – 31 days in the fall of pink that forever changed them. For others, it is a chance to show their support for 2.3 million women around the world who are diagnosed with the disease yearly. Breast Cancer Awareness month promotes screening and prevention of the disease, aimed at:
Supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, including those with metastatic breast cancer
Educating people about breast cancer risk factors
Encouraging women to go for regular breast cancer screening starting at age 40 or earlier, depending on personal breast cancer risk
Fundraising for breast cancer research
Mammograms are considered the best way to catch breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage. Beginning at age 40, women at low to moderate risk may choose to receive a routine screening mammogram. Women aged 45 -50 are recommended to receive a mammogram annually, and women age 50+ every 1-2 years. North Shore Health’s mammography services are accredited by the American College of Radiology. We have 3D Tomography capabilities. Women may self-refer for routine breast cancer screening.
To schedule a mammogram, or for more information, please call the Imaging Department at 218-387-3268. For more information, visit: www.northshorehealthgm.org/diagnostic-imaging
515 5th Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-3040 / NorthShoreHealthgm.org Community Access to Compassionate Care
Northern Trails Remembering My Momma
By Gord Ellis
The month of August was a difficult one for this writer and his family. My dear mother Nora Marlo Ellis died early on August 14, peacefully with her husband and oldest son by her side. Mom had been battling multiple Myeloma for the better part of two years and she had done so with grace and power. Her passing was the end of a marvelous and adventurous life. My mother was an amazing, beautiful, talented and complex person. She was hugely influential on my life and choices, and helped reinforce my deep passion for the outdoors.
Nora Marlo Neely grew up in California, a world away from northwestern Ontario. However, some of the activities she took to as a young girl were shared by her firstborn son. My mom learned how to fly fish at young age, mentored by her Aunt Alice. They would fish for brown trout and rainbow trout, dabbling in the small spring creeks around the Burney area of northern California. There are a couple pictures of my mom fishing as girl, apple cheeked, freckled and happy. I think my mom took some pleasure in knowing my innate love of angling and the outdoors was rooted as much in her DNA as my fish chasing father.
My mother was an adventurous person, and she played a significant role when it came to getting our family to do camping and canoe trips. My father loved the outdoors as well, so there were many, many family outings for my brother Roy, sister Marlo and myself. We did a few trips in to Quetico Park, first by boat (when that was allowed) and later by canoe. My mom and I often shared a canoe which mostly went well. However, as sometimes happens on family canoe trips, we did have a few moments. One I recall well is when my teenaged self - cocky and about half again as smart as I thought I was - announced to my mom mid canoe trip that she was “lily-dipping.” Now, my mother was not one who easily got angry. She could get mad, but it took a perfect storm to get her there. However, having her teenage son cast aspersions on her paddling turned out to be the perfect recipe for a mad momma. There was a lot of Irish blood in Nora Neely, and it was immediately boiling. I was told in no uncertain way that I was full of it and should keep my mouth shut for the rest of the day, if not the entire trip. It was a quiet paddle for the remainder of that day. When I became a parent, I began calling events like that one a teachable moment.
Mostly, our family outdoor adventures were fun and often full of angling. Mom had a soft spot for catching smallmouth bass and showed a real enthusiasm for catching them. For a couple of summers in the 1970s, we travelled to my Grandfather Ora Ellis’s deer hunting camp on Manitoulin Island, on Lake Huron. The camp was located on a channel between two bays and had a lot of bass in it. I have this great memory of my mother, her hair tousled by the wind, in shorts and a t-shirt setting up shop on the dock. She did this quietly, without fanfare and usually out fished us all. Years later, when my mom was offered up fishing adventures by my Dad, she still leaned toward catching bass. Mom
seemed to like the scrappiness and pugnacious attitude of the fish.
Maybe the greatest gift my mother gave me was the confidence to do things a little differently and to not fear the unknown. She had a mother’s trust and faith in her children. When I was ten years old, I fished for brook trout on McVicar Creek, in Thunder Bay, nearly every day of the summer. She never told me I was wasting time or I should be doing something more constructive. She did always ask me how many trout I caught. When I took off on my bike with a minnow net and backpack full of jars, Mom never seemed to be worried about how
long I was gone. She wanted to see what I had captured and even accepted living with aquariums of frogs, newts, minnows and yes, snakes. When I began talking about a life that would include freelance writing and outdoor journalism, she never questioned it. Her actions through my life had already told me that it was ok to follow your heart and dreams. Even if it meant some hungry days. And there were a few. When I was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 2018, both my mother and father were there. Mom was so proud and told me so. Many times.
Nora was a great mother but stepped it up to the next level as a Grandmother. She simply doted on the two boys God gifted Cheryl and me with. Both Devin and Austin spent a ton of quality time with their grandparents, who they loved with all their hearts. Sure, the extra-large ice cream Sundaes likely played a role in that, but the love my mother and father showered on them created a bond that was unbreakable. Both boys were a huge comfort to my mother when she was sick and the little notes, visits, calls and texts she received from them helped to keep her spirits and hope up. I am so glad they were both able to be with her before she left this world on August 14. Her eyes lit up when she saw them.
I write this column with tears in my eyes, but joy in my heart. My mother was a guiding light in my life and provided quiet support through many ups and downs. I miss her terribly, but she will always live in my heart.
Momma, thank you for everything you gave me.
Gord Ellis with his mother Nora in 2019. | GORD ELLIS
A very young Nora Ellis with some trout she caught fly fishing. | GORD ELLIS
Nora Ellis fishing for smallmouth bass at the deer camp on Manitoulin island in the late 1970s. | GORD ELLIS
SAWTOOTH RACING DOG BLOG
BY ERIN ALTEMUS
Ringo
I remember when Ringo was born, he came out bigger than the rest, vying for attention from that first day in a litter of seven, all good dogs, wonderful dogs, but none so great as Ringo. In fact, few except Ringo would make our race teams. His sister ChaCha did a few times, but most of them over the years went to pet homes, one by one, while Ringo stayed with us, running Beargrease and Can-Am and every race we did. He was made for distance. At the end of a 300-mile Beargrease, Ringo was just getting warmed up. He’d stand there in the finish chute, howling to go further.
In my rookie Beargrease Marathon, when we still ran from Duluth up the shore and all the way back down to Duluth, we were readying to leave Sawbill and I had just dropped a couple of dogs. But I was feeling pretty good about my place, I was probably in fifth at that time. I knew the next section of trail would be quite hilly and it was the middle of the day. I took off my boots and put on running shoes. Ringo seemed to sense that something exciting was happening, and as we left Sawbill he let out a yip. Within a mile we passed an intersection and let out another huge howl. This made the team lunge ahead. I was stunned. It was like someone had turned on the turbo boost. Every time we passed an intersection Ringo would scream and everyone would jolt ahead.
It wasn’t all roses to the finish, but we made it there in fourth place, which was a fine finish that year. Ringo finished every Beargrease we started. Another time in Can-Am, I was sick, but I quickly learned that when I coughed, this also made him yip and scream, which was definitely to my advantage on the monster mountain climbs in Maine. Once in a while I would even fake it so he would get the team going. It turns out he also loved lakes so Devil’s Track and Poplar were always a welcome sight for me as we’d fly if Ringo was in the team.
In later years, as Ringo neared retirement, he became my running buddy. And skijoring buddy. I’d take him on free runs from the dog yard, and even though he’d come visit us in the house after, he would always run back to his spot in the dog yard eventually. He liked his pack I suppose. One day this summer, I noticed he was dragging his back leg around. Long story short, it wasn’t fine. It was cancer. And like all cancers, it means death comes too soon.
Too many times this year, we have found ourselves singing the tune by Willy Tea Taylor, “My dog, my dog, that damn good dog, how I wish she was here, how I wish she was here…”
SULLIVAN
Ringo had a special affinity for running on lakes and would cheerlead the team across any lake we encountered.
| ERIN ALTEMUS
Eat the Weeds
A Forager’s Guide to Identifying and Harvesting 274 Wilds Foods
By “Green Deane” Jordan Adventure Publications, 2023,
$24.95
If I were lost in the woods, I would want this guide along, but even if not lost, this would be a great learning tool to find all sorts of plants available for eating. The author breaks down how each plant/ shrub and even tree can be utilized and how it benefits us nutrition-wise. Foraging can be tricky. When to harvest is important as well as what part of the plant and how to prepare it. Jordan’s guide complete with detailed pictures and descriptions is a must if you enjoy grabbing your greens from the forest floor. —Erin Altemus
Anishinaabe Songs for a New Millennium
By Marcie R. Rendon
University of Minnesota Press, 2024, $16.95
Writer Marcie Rendon, member of the White Earth Nation and author of numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, this time brings us a book of poem/songs. Each song as she calls them, evokes the ancestors around us who “walk with us and sing our song.” Some are short, evocative of an image, while many delve much deeper into the world unfolding around us. —Erin Altemus
Stars:
A Month-by-Month Tour of the Constellations
By Mike Lynch
Adventure Publications, 2024, $14.95
With our eyes focused on dark skies this issue, what better time to pick up a book that helps us understand the stars. I confess that my own stargazing abilities don’t go much farther than Orion and the dippers, so to be able to open the map of October’s sky and see the vast amount of constellations within and above, is humbling. Clearly it is time for me to broaden my horizons.
Each month has a map of which constellations are most easily seen and a narrative about them as well. A few of the featured constellations are mapped and explained in depth. If you have ever wanted to delve further into astronomy, this book seems a great place to start. —Erin Altemus
Mooka’am Kagige Sunrise Raven
By Zhaawanoogiizhik / Sam Zimmerman
I love waking up with my makade-mashkikiwaaboo (coffee), during the quiet mooka’am (sunrise) of the gigizheb (morning) with my cats. We sit together and watch the misajidamoo (grey squirrels), my nemesis the waabooz (rabbit) and other morning beings. A few weeks ago I greeted the day with my makade-mashkikiwaaboo (coffee) when a kagige (raven) sat ogidabak (on the roof) watching me. It was a reminder to fill my bird feeders and put out bagaanag (peanuts). I went in the garage to get more miinikaanan (seeds) and peanuts and when I came back outside - he had moved so he could watch me.
I love how kagige (raven) miigwanag (feathers) have the blue and purple shimmer.
Follow my studio on Facebook and Instagram @CraneSuperior or if you have ideas for a North Shore painting, you can email me at: cranesuperiorstudio@gmail.com.
Strange Tales
Ghost Tourism: Haunted Sites, Ghost Tours & the Paranormal
By Elle AndraWarner
Interesting conversations come about whenever someone asks “Have you visited any places you could feel were haunted?” Or, “Have you ever seen a ghost or spirit, or felt its presence?”
In a newspaper article “Forget beach resorts. Haunted tourism is alive and thriving” in the The Globe & Mail (October 30, 2023), journalist Samantha Edwards wrote about Celina Myers, known to millions as CelinaSpookyBoo on YouTube and Tiktok. She quotes Myers, “If there’s a ghost here, does that mean I’m going to see Grandmother again? Does that mean they still exist somewhere for me?” adding that Myers believes it is human nature to wonder what happens after death.
Ghost Tourism has grown in popularity since the late 20th century as people seek paranormal experiences at haunted locales: ghost tours/walks; creepy mansions; museum ships; hotels; or old empty institutional buildings. Today, Ghost Tourism is a big worldwide business, especially booming in the Halloween month of October. Here’s a snapshot view of some of those ghostly sites that I’ve visited on my travels.
Years ago, I toured the Conciergerie on the banks of the River Seine in the middle of Paris, France. One of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, its history goes back to the 13th century, however its fame comes from the days of the Reign of Terror 1793-94 when more than 2,280 people were condemned to death there, including Queen Marie Antoinette. The entrance’s Hall of Guards has beautiful medieval architecture, but the deeper I went inside, the more I felt a dark suffocating heaviness and profound sadness, particularly by the actual courtyard where the women prisoners washed their clothes in the fountain and Marie Antoinette’s cell. The “Ghosts, Mysteries and Legends” night walking tour of Paris features the Conciergerie.
In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the 37-room Pabst Mansion is considered one of city’s top five haunted places and is included on the city’s ghost tours. Built in 1892 as a three-storey retirement home for beer baron Captain Frederick Pabst and his wife Marie, it has been open to the public since 1978. Since then, volunteers have collected many stories about paranormal occurrences and ghost appearances. On my tour of the mansion, I did feel a woman’s strong presence in the pink-and-white parlor. Later, the mansion’s executive director took me aside and quietly said they believe that Mrs. Pabst’s spirit often ‘visits’ her parlor.
Parks Canada operates the Fortress of Louisbourg, a National Historic Site in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. There are over 60 reconstructed buildings surrounded by massive fortification walls and official town gates. It is considered one of Canada’s most haunted sites. | ELLE ANDRA-WARNER
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the castle-like Fort Garry Hotel has been named one of Canada’s most haunted places, particularly Room 202. Personally, I didn’t encounter anything strange during my stay on the fourth floor a couple of years ago. However, I did spend a few hours with one of the owners when she got super-spooked. Just before our meet-up for coffee, she had an encounter with a male ghost sitting beside her while she was taking a nap in her hotel room. Once she calmed down, she told me about the hotel’s ghost stories, some going back decades. Fort Garry Hotel is a favourite stop on Winnipeg ghost tours.
Some ghost sites I’ve visited on my travels have included Edinburgh Castle in England; Chateau de Versailles in Paris; Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta; Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon; Tower of London in Scotland; Haapsalu Castle with its resident White Lady ghost in Haapsalu, Estonia; Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC; and York, England which in 2002 was named the most haunted city in Europe by the International Ghost Research Foundation.
My favourite haunted site is Canada’s Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia and operated by Parks Canada. Built in 1713, and once home to more than 4,000 French residents, the reconstructed site is surrounded by massive fortification walls with official town gates and is North America’s largest reconstructed fortified town. There’s also plenty of ghost stories (the Haunted Tunnel was featured on TV’s Creepy Canada). Our personal guide was a Park’s senior officer who told us of his personal experience with a merchant spirit at the Fortress, and
A digital image taken in 18th century restaurant at the Louisbourg -- and surprisingly, there is a mysterious unexplained smudged image at one of the tables. | ELLE ANDRA-WARNER
later sent me a fascinating audio file from an archaeological exploration at the site. And what was on the tape? A spirit male voice saying “Lieutenant – Let’s move back and strike them up the river.” Apparently, various voices from the Spirit world have been recorded at Louisbourg.
Just recently I looked at my digital pictures from Louisbourg -- and surprisingly, there is one mysterious unexplained smudged image at one of the tables in the restaurant. Hmm…a passing spirit?
In Thunder Bay, the list of haunted places now includes Trowbridge Falls; Prince Arthur Hotel (whiff of cigar smoke on 2nd floor); Alexander Henry museum ship and
site (who is the presence in the Annis Lee wheelhouse?); unoccupied Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital; Centennial Park; and the area around McVicar’s Creek to name a few. In Duluth, spooky sites include William A. Irvin museum ship; Glensheen Mansion; abandoned Nopeming Sanatorium; Enger Tower; Duluth Depot; and Greenwood Cemetery.
Connecting with the Spirit world – hokey pokey or real? Well, decades ago in a conversation with a United Church minister in Thunder Bay about the possibility of conversing with departed souls and seeing spirits or hearing their voices, he said, “Don’t ever discount the possibility.”
NORTHERN SKY OCTOBER 2024
By Deane Morrison MN STARWATCH
October skies offer some of the best star watching, given their darkness and the often warm and clear weather.
This fall, Earth is chasing Mars in the orbital race and will pass it in January. During October the red planet is in the morning sky, below the twin Gemini stars Pollux and Castor. It’s heading toward the constellation Cancer, the crab, brightening as it goes.
Brilliant Jupiter follows the lovely Pleiades star cluster and Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus, the bull, into the evening sky. Look for Jupiter low in the northeast to east after 10 p.m. on October 1. The giant planet will come up earlier every night.
Also look for Saturn somewhat low in the southeast to south after nightfall. It should be easy to find the Great Square of Pegasus above and slightly left of the ringed planet. Below Saturn glimmers Fomalhaut, in the extremely dim constellation Piscis Austrinis, the southern fish. Fomalhaut is known as
the loneliest star, as there are no other bright stars in its patch of sky.
The big Summer Triangle of bright stars is high in the southwest at nightfall. Look to the left of Altair, the lowest of its three stars, for the small, somewhat faint constellation Delphinus. Delphinus depicts a dolphin that appears to be leaping away from Altair into a dark sea. Also look above Altair for the thin constellation Sagitta, the arrow.
October’s full moon rises the evening of the 16th or 17th—take your pick—and will be the year’s closest full supermoon.
On Halloween we celebrate the ancient Celtic holiday Samhain (rhymes with “cow hen”). At sundown that day, all the evil spirits that had been banished since May Day were let loose to wreak havoc on humanity. People left bribes of food and lit candles in gourds to ward off the spirits. These traditions survive in our modern ritual of trick-or-treating.
The University of Minnesota offers public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth and Twin Cities campuses. For more information on Duluth, visit: d.umn.edu/planet.
Red Pine Realty
and
LAKE SUPERIOR HOME & 1920S LOG CABIN
Large 2-level home with 2 separate living spaces. Remarkable location with 6.8 acres of deep forest and 437ft of ledgerock shoreline. Home has floor to ceiling windows, stone fireplaces, tile and hardwood flooring. 2 bedroom/1 bath upper level feels like a tree-top perch with outstanding lake views. Main level used as a vacation rental. Includes a 1920s log cabin.
MLS#6115999 $1,250,000
DOWNTOWN GRAND MARAIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING
This is a remarkable building with great potential for retail, lodging, and many other services. Envision your own business here! Located in downtown Grand Marais with 100 feet of waterfront on Lake Superior.
MLS#6111835 $1,500,000
SCANDINAVIAN DOVETAIL LOG CABIN
Peaceful setting, high quality design and materials, efficient kitchen, comfortable bed, compliant outhouse, sun shower and a cozy woodstove. Dovetail log cabin is a work of art; designed and hand built by the owner. Cook County Short Term Rental license in place, new owner can apply to renew.
MLS 6115857 $294,000
CHARMING LAKE SUPERIOR HOME & GUEST COTTAGE - CROFTVILLE
Classic log-sided home, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, warm paneling and floors, cobblestone fireplace, huge windows. Unique walk-out boat house opens to cobble beach. Across the quiet road is quaint 1-bedroom, 1 bath guest cottage, plus 2-car garage. Large yard, huge spruce trees and privacy.
MLS#6114437 $1,150,000
WILDERNESS PRIVACY
LOG HOME & CARRIAGE HOUSE
Pristine 39 acres with 4,000+ feet of Portage Lake shoreline at Mid-Gunflint Trail. The only place on the lake. Surrounded by Superior National Forest and BWCA. Off-grid log home, 2-car garage and a Carriage House. Can subdivide, but wouldn’t it be lovely to preserve this jewel and seclusion forever.
MLS#6115290 $1,950,000
PRIVACY ON LAKE SUPERIOR –CHARMING COTTAGE Deeply wooded lot on Big Bay, great views of lake and hills along the coast. Privacy on 500 ft of shoreline, long driveway with a buffer of state land. Cute guest cottage with multi-level decks and unique privy. Renovate old cabin close to shore by variance, or build a new home.
MLS#6112175
$515,000
ISLAND GET-AWAY ON GREENWOOD LAKE
You need to see the 6+ acre island and cabin to appreciate the solitude, sunrise and sunset views, 2,000ft of shoreline and Greenwood Lake! Cabin and guest area above the workshop are set-up with off grid solar, generator power and septic system. Motorboat, pontoon, canoe, airboat and 4-wheeler included.
MLS#6113672 $589,900
LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES
INLAND LAKE PROPERTIES
LAKESIDE SANCTUARY – DEVIL TRACK LAKE
Secluded property features 9.89 acres of land and 255' of park-like shoreline on Devil Track Lake. Tucked away among the trees, enjoy solitude with a bonfire by the lake. Property features a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom cabin with newly installed septic, well and A/C. Power & broadband connected!
MLS#6113979 $489,000
LARGE HOMESILVER BAY
Five bedroom, 2 bathroom home with plenty of room and comfortable spaces. Hardwood floors, fireplace, updated appliances and new mechanical systems. The large lower level has space for projects or rec-room. Large yard and extra garage.
MLS#6115564
$317,500
GULL LAKE CABIN
Own a beautiful cabin on coveted Watters Point near the end of the Gunflint Trail with direct access to the BWCAW. Cabin sits on 1.7 acres on Gull Lake and features an open concept layout with a spacious loft area, a wood burning stove to take the chill out of the air and a 3-season screened porch.
MLS#6115841
$375,000
FEATURED LISTING
GUNFLINT LAKE CABIN
Canoer's cabin on Gunflint Lake for BWCA adventures, time in the woods and relaxation. Federal lease lot with one-room cabin offers a kitchen, dining table, bunk bed and fireplace. It is a "dry" cabin with no running water. Clean up in the small sauna. Power and fiber optic internet included.
MLS#6114311 $149,000
SPACIOUS GREENWOOD LAKE LOT
Spacious, wooded lot gently sloping to the waterfront. There are very nice views of the majestic Greenwood Lake, with 338ft of shoreline and 3.65 acres. Mature White Pines and a seasonal creek set this property apart. Owners have done cleanup of deadfall to open up more lake views.
MLS#6112437 $299,000
NORTHWOODS RETREAT
TIMBER FRAME HOME
Timber frame home sits perfectly to watch the sunrise over Lake Superior! Recent updates: remodeled bathroom with in-floor heat, updated kitchen with granite countertops, new bedroom & new carpet in bedrooms. Includes pole building with heated workshop & sauna.
MLS#6112870 $449,000
SECLUDED GREENWOOD LAKE LOT
Private Greenwood Lake lot with spectacular views possible of Big Bay and islands. There are 2 flat areas the seller cleared a few years ago. A day of brush clearing and you’ll have a camping area ready to go while you build. County identified septic sites and a build site in 2008.
MLS#6114450
$250,000
HOME ON CLEARWATER LAKE ROAD
Wonderful 12+ acre property a few miles from the center of the Gunflint Trail with a view of Aspen Lake! Two bedroom, 1 bathroom, single-level home is suitable for year-round use, with a wood fireplace and 4-season porch. Detached garage with a workbench. Deeded lake access.
MLS# 6113739 $399,900
INLAND LAKE PROPERTIES
HOMES AND CABINS
COZY LOG CABIN ON 83 ACRES
One bedroom, 1 bathroom, log cabin on 83 acres, bordered by MN State land. Catch a glimpse of Lake Superior on a clear day from the bedroom window. Interior is accented by beautiful diamond willow railings and custom ironwork. Propane lights, refrigerator and cooking range reduce utility expenses.
MLS#6112373 $279,000
MLS#6114013 $350,000 HOMES AND CABINS
SCHROEDER HOME ON 6+ ACRES
Bring your ideas to finish off the inside of this 2-bedroom, 2 full bath home. In-floor heat both upstairs and down. Home has lots of natural light from 2 sliding glass doors in the open concept living space. Work from home with Broadband while tucked away on 6.44 wooded acres.
MLS#6115374 $210,000
3 BEDROOM HOME WITH PRIVACY AND WOODS
Here is an opportunity to own a home with privacy and woods within a few minutes of downtown Grand Marais. Close to Devil Track Lake. Solid home, well-loved and ready for your personal touch although there is nothing wrong with moving right in and continuing the funky vibe!
CHARMING TOFTE COTTAGE
Charming home in Tofte with seasonal views of Lake Superior. Includes 2 bedrooms, office, 1 bathroom, fireplace and a 1-car garage with shop or studio space. New water system and on demand water heater. Owner has made $25,000 in improvements in the last 2 years.
MLS#6112828 $314,900
FEATURED LISTING
3 BEDROOM GRAND MARAIS HOME
Located in a quiet neighborhood and an enjoyable walk away from everything in Grand Marais! Three bedroom, 2 bathroom house has a newer roof and gutters. A brand-new deck and exterior stairs! Zoned Permanent Resident, so make this your own residence or rent it out long-term.
The beginnings of a Northwoods retreat or homestead are already here. 7.5 acres just 5 miles from Grand Marais with year-round county maintained road access on the north and south property borders. Good building sites, with driveway, bunkhouse, storage sheds and electric.
LAKE SUPERIOR
6006 Rollins Creek Road
Rare property for sale for only the 2nd time in 90 years. Where can you find almost 5 acres with 460’ of Lake Superior frontage? Rollins Creek Road is a premier location in Lutsen, on one of the only paved roads with homes on the lake and right on the Gitchi Gami Trail. Enjoy the recently built 2-bedroom, 1-bath house and the 3-season 3-bedroom, 1-bath vintage guest cabin. Or build your dream home on this spectacular site and use the 2003 house as your guest house. This stunning property offers plenty of privacy and exceptionally breathtaking Lake Superior ledgerock shoreline.
MLS 6115081 $1,495,000
73 Troll’s Trail
Panoramic views of Lake Superior from this 2BR/2BA home on a park like setting with 300’ of shared Lake Superior shore.
MLS 6113682 $449,900
INLAND LAKE HOMES & CABINS
185/187 Sag Lake Trail
Discover this exceptional 4BR/3BA home nestled along the scenic Gull Lake, with 467’ of frontage and approximately 5A of land, complete with rock outcroppings, pine trees, stunning views, and plenty of privacy. Ideal for the buyer wanting to enjoy paddling from their dock into the BWCAW. This meticulously maintained property features a back-up generator system, attached heated garage, HUGE spacious heated garage, and workshop along with two charming rustic sleeping cabins.
MLS 6114568 $1,500,000
11 Poplar Creek Dr
Picturesque haven just off the Gunflint Trail offers an exceptional opportunity to own a versatile retreat. This unique property is situated on 7.2 acres of pristine land, with 309 feet of shoreline that abuts the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
MLS 6114875 $599,900
REDUCED
1403A Pike Lake Rd
Escape to your 2BR/1BA cabin on Pike Lake! This charming, year-round retreat offers views of the lake that is mere steps away. Detached garage & workshop with an unfinished upper-level. Shared septic and well.
MLS 6114655 $299,900
This phenomenal Lake Superior property near Grand Marais spans 2.25A with 200’ of amazing shoreline. MLS 6115054 $599,900
42 East Bay Lane
Discover your dream lakefront retreat on stunning Greenwood Lake, just a scenic drive up the scenic Gunflint Trail. Nestled amidst 20 acres of shared Association lands, this private property promises tranquility. Enjoy shared access to the pristine waters via a boat launch. Off-grid yet equipped with modern amenities including solar power with battery backup, this spacious log-sided home boasts panoramic lake views, a wood-burning fireplace, sauna, and expansive deck. With electric service and broadband coming soon, this is the perfect opportunity to embrace lakeside living.
MLS 6114196 $849,900
257 Seagull Lake Rd
Exceptional Seagull Lake property with tons of privacy. 10+A with over 480’ of lakeshore ranging from a sandy beach to ledgerock outcroppings. Brand new floating dock, camper in mint condition, and 960’ oversized insulated garage.
MLS 6113853 $539,900 new
24 north star trail
Scandinavian-style 2BR/2BA home on Devil Track Lake features custom cabinetry, exquisite wood floors, and 150’ of shoreline. A charming timber frame guest cottage, 2-stall garage with workshop on a 3.92A lot.
MLS 6115816 $749,900
HOMES & CABINS
new
845 county road 14
3BR/2BA home on 10A offers 1,846 square feet of inviting living space, blending seamlessly with nature. Features include vaulted ceilings, a woodstove, spacious deck, and a 2+ stall garage.
MLS 6115762 $469,900
Elegant 3BR/2BA Mid-Trail home on 5 wooded acres blends sophistication withnature. Features an open-concept main level, woodburning fireplace, in-floor heat, patios, and a 3-season screen porch.
Discover your sanctuary among five lush acres of dense forest, located minutes from downtown Grand Marais on an end of road location to increase your privacy.
MLS 6114679 $69,900
235 Clearwater Rd
Hop, Skip, and a Jump to all your favorite Gunflint Trail activities! This property is conveniently located mid-Trail. Driveway and cleared level area ready for your plans.
MLS 6114831 $84,900
24 south shore dr
Exceptional 5A lot offers the ideal combination of seclusion and accessibility. Surrounded by federal land on two sides, yet accessible on paved county road. Electric and broadband available at the road.
MLS 6115879 $109,900
11xx highway 61 w
Unique opportunity to find a 1A lot in the heart of Grand Marais. Directly abuts Highway 61, with commercial usage, perfect for someone considering a home for their business or wanting to build short-term rentals.
MLS 6114985 $169,900
tom lake
Discover serenity in your own secluded cove with 242’ of wooded Tom Lake shoreline and 1.2A with a newer driveway.
MLS 6113529 $84,900
Beautiful 2BR/2BA log home with a 2 car attached garage perfectly placed on 40 acres! Overlooking a large pond full of wildlife, you’ll have a front row seat with the expansive southern facing windows.
MLS 6114189 $699,900
REDUCED 78 Troll’s Trail
Affordable Lake Superior! Over 300’ of shared lakeshore and over 7 acres of shared land! Great opportunity to build a cabin or year round home on the North Shore.
MLS 6114283 $109,900
Greenwood Lake
Stunning lakeshore lots nestled in majestic pines, birch and balsam, abutting federal land with driveway in place. Power and broadband expansion is slated for 2024/25 adding to the appeal of these already truly desirable lots.
MLS 6114339 - $199,900
1.14 Acres, 200’ Lakeshore
MLS 6114337 – $229,900
1.53 Acres, 240’ Lakeshore
MLS 6114336 – $279,900
1.4 Acres, 265’ Lakeshore & 80’ Greenwood Creek
A “Must See”
6113814 $499,900
1315 E Highway 61
Incredible commercial opportunity. Current use includes a 3BR rental unit, office, and home! Cathedral ceilings, ample parking and great location!
mls 6104280 $995,000
12XX Highway 61 W
RARE opportunity to find almost 6A of mixed use located in the heart of Grand Marais, with city sewer and city water. This property has approximately 825’ of frontage on Highway 61 and access off 1st Street.
MLS 6114986 $689,900
CALL FOR A FREE MARKET ANALYSIS
Give one of our agents a call to learn more about why IT’S A GOOD TIME TO SELL. If you’re unsure if you want to move forward in the buying or selling process, our agents can give you the information you need to make the best decision for you. Sellers are given a FREE MARKET ANALYSIS to learn about:
Trends in property values
Recent sales data for comparable area properties
Local market demand + inventory levels
Valuable insights about the current state of the North Shore real estate market
Through our market analysis, you can gain a BETTER UNDERSTANDING of the potential value of your property, the competitiveness of the market, and the optimal pricing strategy for listing your home for sale. Our hope is to help you identify opportunities and challenges that may impact your selling process, allowing you to make more informed decisions.
This quintessential rustic dovetail cabin is nestled among ancient white pines. Relax on the screened porch to the sounds of wind, the rushing water of Tait River, and the haunting cries of loons.
Simplicity at its best, this cozy cabin has electricity for lights and appliances, and broadband for staying connected. The baseboard heat keeps the space comfortable in mild weather, and the wood stove offers plenty of cozy heat in even the coldest of winters.
A rare opportunity to own in a highly coveted development! This parcel sits adjacent to the fifth fairway on the River 9. Tall Timber Trail offers the tri-fecta of views: Lake Superior over the fairway in the front, Lutsen Mountains as the backdrop and the Sawtooth Mountains to the west.
SARENA CROWLEY Agent
Co-owner
STEVE SURBAUGH Broker and Co-owner
CLAIR NALEZNY Co-owner
CHRISTINE LAKE HOME // $359,900
TALL TIMBER TRAIL GOLF COURSE LOT // $165,000
LUTSEN LAKE SUPERIOR HOME
Experience the beauty of Lake Superior with this exceptional three-bedroom, threebath home, nestled on 430 feet of accessible ledge rock shoreline. The property includes two private beach areas, perfectly tucked beside the serene canyons of Jonvick Creek, offering ultimate privacy and tranquility.
A recent 20’ x 20’ addition features a master bedroom, master bath, and a thirdlevel loft with comfortable sleeping quarters. Every room in this home showcases breathtaking views of Lake Superior.
The expansive deck extends toward the lake, ideal for relaxing or entertaining, while the well-appointed kitchen is perfect for hosting gatherings. Impeccably maintained and move-in ready, this home invites you to experience Lake Superior in its fullness.
MLS Forthcoming // $1,250,000
CALL TODAY FOR YOUR PRIVATE SHOWING.
Looking to buy a property for a vacation rental? Through our sister company, Cascade Vacation Rentals, we have gained incredible knowledge about what North Shore visitors are looking for. We are happy to use that information to help guide you in purchasing a property that is not only a good fit for you, but will also increase your chances of high rental income.
CLARA LAKE RETREAT IN LUTSEN!
NEW! NORTHERN ENLIGHTENMENT ON PIKE LAKE!
Enjoy sweeping views down the entire lake shift and twinkle below the boreal skies, each evening aglow with the western sun. The home is nestled among 4.75 acres with Two bedrooms, including the main with ample space. Living room with the woodstove, kitchen with a ton of custom cabinets and dining area surrounded by windows are good friends hanging together in the Northwoods. Plenty of space upstairs to create your own getaway- is it your office, meditation room, crafts, overflow for visiting family and friends? Below is a roomy deck for outdoor living and just around the corner a wood-fired hot-tub! 2 car detached Garage even gives you room for all your seasonal toys! Visit now and start living the good life!
MLS#6115941 $749,000
NEW! LOG CABIN LIVING ON TUCKER LAKE!
Tucker Lake is a remoteness of beauty, peace and pure, cool waters. This country is so wild that a third of Tucker is in the BWCA! Place a class act log home in this setting and dreams come true. 2.75 acres, 364’ of frontage. 2 bedrooms, spacious kitchen. Living room soars open with cathedral ceiling and log beams, topped off with a Woodstove. Sprawling deck is partially open and partially screened accommodating the seasons with great boreal forest and lake views. Trail Center is close for a quick bite. Grand Marais is down the trail for re-provisioning or getting in some entertainment and camaraderie. Or, just sit, stare, empty the mind, fill up the soul. That’s how this place is, realigns the life force, opens a person up.
$539,000
MLS#6115815
NEW! HAPPY PLACE IN ISABELLA!
This Beautiful cabin on Stony River in Isabella is perfect for the outdoor adventurers! Whether
DEERYARD LAKE PEACE
Head back in time along a country road that winds through a sweet stand of maples to the peaceful east end of Deeryard Lake. Classic Northern Minnesota Cabin only about 20 minutes from Grand Marais, but the sense and charm are 50 years back… Can’t build ‘em this close to the water these days. The lapping lake sings right out the door, watery scents mixing with pine and cedar. Walleye are plentiful. Tap a few maples in the spring to sweeten the morning cup of Joe. Simple, comfortable lake living. Nothing to do but nap, read, invigorate with a swim, stroll. After a fish fry, play some games of rummy, tell stories by the woodstove, nod off to breezy air soughing through a massive white pine soaring above the cabin, it tints dreams boreal green. MLS#6115586 $335,000
This 2 bedroom home has everything you will need to ensure you will relax.
will
you
Outside you have
your
Current owners built some beautiful gardens around the patio, add more or enjoy what is there. Visit today and start living the life on the North Shore you have dreamed about!
MLS# 6115360
$599,000 PRICE REDUCED
NEW! TREE TOP GETAWAY IN GRAND MARAIS!
Looking for a getaway in the woods, this is it! This charming cabin, surrounded by 5+ acres of forest, is the perfect place to have the stress melt away. Inside you will be amazed by the amount of natural light pouring in from the large windows and open floorplan. The Vaulted ceilings, woodstove and wood floors give you the Up North cabin feeling. Enjoy evenings in the 3 season porch listening to the birds while planning your next day’s adventures. 1 bedroom on the main floor plus an open loft, perfect space for a home office or sleeping space for friends and family! Visit today and make the dream of living Up North a reality!
MLS# 6116021
$450,000
CAMPN’, HUNTN’, FUN GETAWAY LAND, INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE!
FINLAND AREA
ENJOY LAKE LIFE!
What a great spot for your vacation getaway cabin!! This lot has great view of Ninemile Lake in the Village at Ninemile planned development. The infrastructure is already there: electricity, shared well and septic, all you have to do is hook up to it. Shared ownership of approx 1800 ft of shoreline on Ninemile Lake, perfect for Summer time fun!
MLS#6113405 $60,000
AFFORDABLE LOT AT NINEMILE LAKE!
Lake view lot ready to build, with 1800 ft of shared shoreline on Ninemile Lake! This is a great opportunity to build a lake cabin or home. The Village at Ninemile Lake has all the infrastructure ready to go with shared septic and well, electricity at the lot. County Rd 7 is year round plowed road and the Association plows the roads within the development. Don’t worry the HOA dues are super affordable. Great opportunity for you to build your dream Lake home and enjoy for years to come!
MLS#6113406 $60,000
ENJOY THE VIEWS AT NINEMILE!
Start enjoying your Inland Lake Dream! This lot was recently created by combining two lots, so it offers plenty of room to build your dream cabin or home with an amazing lake view and direct lake access! Shared Septic System and Well already in place, 1800ft of shared shoreline on Ninemile Lake- all that is missing is you and your plans for a dream getaway!
MLS#6113407 $150,000
GRAND
MARAIS AREA
DEVELOPER’S DREAM IN GRAND MARAIS!
Tucked away in a quiet area of Grand Marais, this parcel was platted for development! City Sewer and City water lines are approx. 200 ft from buildable area. Perfect for a small apartment complex, multi-housing, or cottage development, there is an in city walking trail traversing a beautiful wetland area on this large 3.27-acre parcel. Give this land a look with an eye to developing it in a sensible and economic manner, work with the City of Grand Marais to make this the next housing gem!
MLS#6113807 $260,000
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PURCHASING OVER 2 ACRES IN THE CITY OF GRAND MARAIS!
You don’t have to give up solitude to live in the city of Grand Marais, this is a perfect fit for a home with a great location. The YMCA and school are within walking distance and just a hop, skip and jump to the Gunflint Trail to access numerous trails for hiking, biking and snowmobiling and MANY inland lakes. This property has so many possibilities! Build your dream home, with access to all the comforts of the city of Grand Marais! Visit today and start your dream of enjoying the North Shore!
MLS#6114386 $130,000
GRAND MARAIS AREA
REMOTE 80 ACRES OFF THE GUNFLINT TRAIL IN GRAND MARAIS!
Looking for a truly remote property? Here are 80 acres surrounded by federal land just south of the South Brule River and a bit west of the Gunflint Tr. Crossing the South Brule River is necessary in route to property, No formal access exists currently. Prospective buyers are encouraged to contact the US Forest Service regarding establishing a special use permit for a path once they own the property. Moose tracks are plentiful. Wild, pure forest pulses along here – undisturbed, quiet and beautiful. The northern forty acres rolls and is a mix of upland and some lowlands. Go south, begin to climb, pass some giant ole’ aspens heading to some terrific views! Near to BWCA entry points and the Twins, Kemo and Pine Lakes. Halfway between Grand Marais and Trail Center. Plenty of elbow room to expand the mind and soul. Get away from it all!
MLS#6113905 $62,000 PRICE REDUCED
BUILD YOUR DREAM GETAWAY UP NORTH IN GRAND MARAIS!
This nice little build site has access to an in city hiking trail leading through wetlands for fantastic bird and wildlife viewing in the heart of Grand Marais! Designated for NO vacation rentals, this home site is perfect for a year-round resident looking to build a small footprint home with city sewer and city water nearby, just next door to the west! Don’t let this one get away, look soon and get building your home!!
MLS#6113809 $79,900
CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT
beaver
Beaver feeding at the mouth of the Split Rock River, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.—Walt Huss
