“The
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.
This month, we bring back one of our favorite topics: pets. I, like many folks, grew up with cats and dogs by my side. In fact, I’ve always had a pet. I currently have two friendly felines, and I’m sure getting a dog will happen in the near future.
It’s common to see a dog out and about when you’re fishing or hiking, but what about a cat? Well, meet Harbor the Outdoor Cat, Joe Shead’s outdoor companion. When Harbor was 6 weeks old, Shead took him fishing in his boat, and the rest is history. Since then, Harbor has gone camping, canoeing, ice fishing, and even had his picture taken at Split Rock Lighthouse. That’s one cool cat.
Speaking of cats, Naomi Yaeger introduces us to the Wired Whisker Cat Café in Duluth, bringing feline fun and coffee to the Northland. Now, I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry—the food prep area is separate from the cat lounge. The café, located at 1823 E. Superior Street, has all of its cats available for adoption. Also in Along the Shore, Yeager writes about Puppa’s Pals in Duluth, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to prevent people in crises from having to surrender their pets.
While furry critters may be more common as companion animals, Dana Johnson recommends giving a reptile a try. They are naturally hypoal-
lergenic, they have individual personalities, and they recognize their keepers. Johnson breaks down the best pet reptiles for beginners in Along the Shore.
Not a pet lover? Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of other stories. Kalli Hawkins gives us some tips for building strong financial habits in kids at an early age. Michelle Miller talks to Shawna Weaver, Duluth author of Climate Grief: From Coping to Resilience and Action. In this month’s Creative Space, Yaeger interviews artist Aaron Kloss, known for painting with a single brushstroke at a time. Northern Trails columnist Gord Ellis gives us some advice on how to identify and catch lake whitefish and lake herring—Superior’s silver bounty. Last but not least, Strange Tales columnist Elle Andra-Warner writes about recording speech using shorthand machines, or stenographs. These specialized keyboards have only 22 keys, while the standard for a computer keyboard is 104 alphanumeric keys.
As always, February is jam-packed with family-friendly events of all kinds, both indoors and outdoors, including the Ely Winter Festival, the Hygge Festival in Cook County, and SnowDay on the Waterfront in Thunder Bay. Be sure to take advantage of the snow, as winter will be over before we know it.—Breana Johnson
PUBLISHER/CEO
Barb Krause bak@ntmediagroup.com
PUBLISHER EMERITUS
Amber Graham
EDITOR
Breana Johnson editor@northernwilds.com
ADVERTISING
Sue O’Quinn sue@northernwilds.com
ART DIRECTOR
Lauren Harrigan lharrigan@ntmediagroup.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Jessica Jacobsen Smith production@northernwilds.com
DIGITAL DIRECTOR
Kristen Rouse krouse@ntmediagroup.com
OFFICE
Barbara Fisher office@northernwilds.com
Nadine Seitz accounting@ntmediagroup.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Erin Altemus, Elle Andra-Warner, Gord Ellis, Virginia George, Kalli Hawkins, Jennifer Janasie, Dana Johnson, Michelle Miller, Deane Morrison, Hartley Newell-Acero, Chris Pascone, Joe Shead, Naomi Yaeger
Northern Wilds magazine is a publication of Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. Gary E. Nei, Chairman; William Turner, President; Barbara Krause, Publisher. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by the publisher. ©2025 Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Prepress services and printing by Forum Communications, Detroit Lakes, MN.
Unsolicited material must be accompanied by return postage. Northern Wilds magazine assumes no liability for damage or loss.
Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc 400 Broad Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 262-729-4471
Grand Marais Office: 1708 W. Highway 61, P.O. Box 447,
Stocking Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana and NOW all other brands are available with fast turnaround!
Isak Hansen Home and Hardware in Lutsen has been selling major appliances for over 50 years and has recently expanded to offer all brands of appliances. Whether for your new cabin or updating your existing home, we can deliver, install, and even recycle your old units. Stop in and we will be ready for you!
DULUTH—Cat cafés are a rising trend. Yes, you read that correctly—a café with domesticated cats. For some, relaxing with a cup of coffee or tea and a cat provides a calming comfort. One such café has opened in Duluth. It’s sleek, clean, and sanitary, as well as comfortable.
After years of visiting Duluth as a weekend getaway, Misha Smith and her husband decided it was time to make the city their permanent home. Little did they know, this decision would spark the creation of a unique business: Wired Whisker, Duluth’s very own cat café.
“I’ve always known I wanted to open a café,” Smith said. “When we moved here, I started connecting with the community, and I knew this was the place to do it.”
Having worked in cybersecurity for over a decade, Smith had also spent years volunteering for feline rescue organizations. It was this passion for cats, combined with her entrepreneurial drive, that led to the idea of bringing a cat café to Duluth—a city she believed was perfect for such a venture. “We didn’t have one in Duluth, and I felt this community was ready for it,” Smith said. “It’s an animal-loving city with a lot of heart, and it just felt like the right place to create a space where people could bond with adoptable cats.”
Wired Whisker, which opened at the end of May 2024, offers patrons a chance to relax with a cup of coffee while enjoying
spend time
scribing how the welcoming attitude of the city’s residents helped fuel her vision. “I had been working in male-dominated industries for years, and when I came here, I felt embraced. The women in Duluth, especially in business, were so supportive.”
the company of adoptable cats. The café, located at 1823 E. Superior Street, has become a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike, offering a unique environment where people can connect with felines in need of a loving home.
Smith said the concept of the café was inspired by the community-driven nature of Duluth. “It felt like my people,” she said, de-
That support has been crucial as the business grew, and Smith has actively sought partnerships with local and regional animal rescue organizations, including Animal Allies Humane Society, Carlton County Animal Rescue, and Pet Haven of Minnesota. Through these partnerships, Wired Whisker is able to offer a rotating roster of adoptable cats, many
of which come from areas with low adoption rates, such as flood zones in northern Iowa. “We work with rescues that bring in cats who may not have a high adoption rate elsewhere,” said Smith. “Our goal is to find them forever homes. It’s part of the mission—coffee and cats, with a focus on adoption.”
Visitors to Wired Whisker can enjoy a cup of coffee in the café area, but those wishing to hang out with the adoptable cats can pay a small entry fee to access the lounge. The café charges $7 during weekdays and $10 on weekends—a more affordable price than many similar establishments in larger cities.
“We want to make the experience accessible to as many people as possible,” Smith said. “I’d rather have the lounge full all the time than half full because people can’t afford the higher cost.”
In the cat lounge, visitors can enjoy spending time with the cats, whether by petting them, watching them climb the walls, or simply observing their playful antics. The space is designed with the animals’ comfort in mind, featuring vertical spaces for climbing, cozy hideaways, and a “decompression room” where cats can retreat when they need a break from the people. “We have to make sure they always have a choice,” Smith said. “If they want to interact with people, they can. If they need a quiet spot, they can go to their room. It’s all about respecting their boundaries and creating a safe, lowstress environment.”
Smith has also thought carefully about whom the café serves. The location is on a bus line. While college students and tourists are frequent visitors, she sees a particular value in offering the space to local seniors who may not be able to have pets of their own, as well as people in assisted living facilities who might miss the companionship of animals. “Pet therapy is so important for seniors, and a lot of them can’t have pets where they live,” she said. “This gives them a chance to interact with the cats and enjoy the benefits of those connections.”
It’s not just seniors who appreciate the calming presence of cats. College students, especially during stressful times like finals week, often find solace in spending time with the café’s furry residents. “We partner with Animal Allies, and they bring dogs to the campuses during finals week,” Smith said. “They told me every time, at least one student cries because they miss their pets so
[ABOVE] A cat receives some love from two patrons at Wired Whisker Cat Café. | NAOMI YAEGER
[LEFT] Misha Smith, proprietor of Wired Whiskers, holds Violet, her pet cat. | SUBMITTED
With the success of the café’s first year in business, Smith is looking ahead to expand the services Wired Whisker offers. She hopes to continue fostering relationships with local rescues and perhaps even host events, such as “cat yoga” sessions or adoption drives.
For now, though, Smith is focused on making sure the café continues to be a welcoming, community-centered space for both cats and people. “We want to serve delicious coffee, create a space where people can connect with adoptable cats, and ultimately help find loving homes for as many cats as we can,” she said.
As for the cats themselves, many have already found their forever homes, with Wired Whisker regularly seeing cats adopted thanks to the connections made in the café.
Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Wired Whisker offers more than just a cup of coffee—it’s a chance to relax, connect with animals, and maybe even leave with a new furry friend.
For more information on Wired Whisker Cat Café in Duluth, visit: wiredwhisker.com.— Naomi Yaeger
DULUTH What happens to the pets of people who live alone when their guardians need surgery, hospitalization, or recovery and rehabilitation? What if a pet’s owner doesn’t come home due to a serious accident? Or what if someone is arrested and unable to post bail—who makes sure their dog or cat is taken care of? What if a person loses their housing and can’t find a place to take both them and their pet? Many people consider their pets an integral part of their family and don’t want to give them away— they want to get through the current crisis and reunite with their pet. That’s where Puppa’s Pals steps in.
Puppa’s Pals, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the Duluth area, is dedicated to helping both people and pets in crises. The organization’s mission is to prevent people in crises from having to surrender their pets. Pet guardians can reach out to Puppa’s Pals through phone, text, Facebook, or its website. Most communication is virtual, but some in-person visits occur. Pets are placed with foster families who provide care in their own homes while the guardian recovers. Puppa’s Pals operates without a physical location, but its network of foster families ensures pets find a safe, welcoming home during their time of need.
Unlike traditional pet fostering, which often involves caring for pets until they find their forever homes, Puppa’s Pals focuses on temporary care. The pets already have owners, but their guardians are facing crises that temporarily prevent them from providing care.
Due to the personal nature of many crises, the pet owner and foster parent remain anonymous to each other, and photos of fostered pets are not allowed to be shared on social media. If an owner requests a photo of their pet while in foster care, an intermediary will provide one.
The need for foster families is constant, and for Puppa’s Pals, it’s a challenge that never seems to subside. “One of the biggest things we want people to understand is that we are always looking for more foster families,” said Kayla Zinter, the organization’s board president. “We often have a waitlist for pets in need of homes, and it’s crucial that we can place them as quickly as possible. The more support we get, the faster we can make that happen.”
Becoming a foster parent for Puppa’s Pals is both a rewarding and manageable process. The organization prides itself on being flexible and accessible, allowing a wide range of individuals to participate.
“We ask for a commitment to safety and care,” Zinter said. “Treat the animals as you would your own pets—part of your family. That’s the primary requirement. We don’t
need people to be experts in animal care; we’re here to support them every step of the way.”
The fostering process includes a thorough but straightforward screening procedure. It involves submitting an application, having a phone interview, and conducting a home visit. Puppa’s Pals has made the process easier by offering virtual home checks.
Most of the animals fostered through Puppa’s Pals are dogs, but the organization also cares for cats. At the time of this report, the nonprofit had eight dogs and two cats in foster homes. The primary focus for all fosters is ensuring the safety and well-being of the animals.
“When we do home checks, we’re looking for safety concerns,” Zinter explained. “Things like gaps in a fenced yard or places where chemicals are stored in areas pets can access. We want to make sure that wherever the pet stays, it’s safe and secure.”
“I get to meet new animal friends,” said Rebecca Bischoff, who has been fostering dogs with Puppa’s Pals for about two years. “Every dog I’ve fostered has been a different breed and personality. It’s fun to learn about different breeds and behaviors.”
Bischoff shares her home with her partner, Matt Morgan, who agrees, saying, “I like meeting and getting to know the personalities of each dog.”
“Giving the dogs back is difficult because I form bonds with them very quickly,” Morgan said.
Bischoff concurred, “Saying goodbye is one of the hardest parts about fostering. I get to know and love the pet I’m caring for. I remind myself about how happy the owner will be to be reunited with their pet again.”
Ashley Lovold has fostered seven cats for Puppa’s Pals in the past two years. “What I
ing donations, or helping at events, there are plenty of ways to give back. And that’s something we love to see—people who were once helped by us, now helping others.”
Puppa’s Pals also offers a variety of ways to get involved, from setting up donation drives to staffing booths at events and fairs. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference in the lives of the animals and the people who care for them.
Puppa’s Pals was started when public defenders had clients phoning from jail more worried about who was going to care for their pets, than themselves. Puppa was the name of one of these pets. The nonprofit received its 501(c)(3) status in 2022, which has provided greater opportunities for fundraising and organizational growth. And while the team is small, their dedication is mighty.
like the most is knowing that when they leave my house, they’re returning to their person,” Lovold said. “Sometimes it can be challenging to get a new foster cat to get along with my cats. Puppa’s Pals has always been there to help with supplies, veterinary care, and behavioral support.”
Puppa’s Pals provides all the food, toys, and medical treatment foster families might need. The organization also answers questions about pet behaviors and offers suggestions for managing unwanted behaviors. Zinter emphasized that Puppa’s Pals provides continuous help and guidance for foster families. The team is always available to answer questions, provide resources, and offer emotional support through what can sometimes be a difficult transition.
“People don’t need to have prior experience,” Zinter said. “We offer resources and guidance to help them succeed. And if they ever feel like they need help, we’re always just a phone call away.”
While the organization’s primary goal is to provide loving homes for animals, it also emphasizes the importance of community.
“Some of the people we’ve helped in the past have come back to volunteer,” Zinter said. “Whether it’s helping spread the word about our mission, gather-
“We’re always looking to grow and expand,” Zinter said. “The more families we can reach, the more animals we can help. Ultimately, we want to see a full-circle moment where the people we’ve helped eventually come back and offer their support, either as volunteers or foster families.”
If you’re interested in becoming a foster family or volunteering with Puppa’s Pals, visit their website to learn more: puppaspals.org.— Naomi Yaeger
members ages 10-21.
A more rewarding journey for financial newcomers turned experienced wayfinders.* Call 800-450-0709 or visit to learn more at northshorefcu.org/navigators
GRAND MARAIS—Teaching kids about money management early on is one of the most valuable life skills parents can provide.
Early exposure to concepts like saving, budgeting, and spending helps kids understand the value of a dollar and how to manage it effectively. The foundational life skills help kids develop healthy fiscal habits that will benefit them well into adulthood.
Parents can incorporate healthy practices in several ways, such as giving allowances for household chores, earning good grades, involving children in comparison shopping during grocery trips, and teaching them the difference between wants versus needs. When kids start earning, whether through allowances or a successful weekend at the lemonade stand, parents can introduce tools like a piggy bank, opening a bank account at the local bank, or longterm investment accounts like a 529 to help save for their education.
Teaching kids money-saving techniques is a great way to build their financial confidence. Parents should start by setting clear savings goals and helping children distinguish between short-term and long-term objectives.
Introducing allowances is an effective tool that can begin at an early age. Kids can learn the value of a dollar and understand that money is earned through effort and contribution, fostering a strong work ethic early on. Allowance ideas include completing household chores such as dishes, laun-
dry, cleaning, hauling wood for the wood stove, and mowing the grass, among other things. Once the child is enrolled in school, parents can also reward the child for earning good grades.
Visual tools are also a helpful way for parents to engage and teach their children money-saving skills. Parents can introduce the three-jar method for ‘Saving,’ ‘Spending,’ and ‘Giving’ to help kids learn budgeting skills and track their money visually. A handdrawn savings calendar or chart is also a helpful method.
Last but not least, for parents and children with an entrepreneurial spirit, starting a side job business like running a lemonade stand, walking dogs, or babysitting can provide firsthand experience with opportunities to earn money. In addition to developing a strong work ethic, children can begin to develop financial independence and money-saving techniques.
Opening a bank account for kids is a practical way to instill lifelong financial habits. It helps teach savings discipline by encouraging children to set aside money regularly, creating a sense of accomplishment as they watch their balance grow. Additionally, it introduces them to essential banking concepts such as earning interest, making deposits, and understanding withdrawals.
Many local banks, including Grand Marais State Bank and North Shore Federal Credit Union, offer savings account options for children. The accounts, usually targeted at teenagers or
younger, aim to instill financial literacy and hands-on banking experience. Parental involvement is required to open an account and is a safe and accessible way for families to incorporate educational lessons into their banking trips.
At the Grand Marais State Bank, children 12 and under can open an account through the Mighty Moose Savers Club program. The account has no minimum balance and no maintenance fees, and children can eagerly watch their interest compound quarterly.
At North Shore Federal Credit Union, youth under 21 can start a youth certificate of deposit (CD) account. The account is tailored to engage and teach kids and teens about long-term saving and earning interest. The credit union requires a $25 minimum investment with terms ranging from 12 to 60 months. For larger investment and banking opportunities, North Shore Federal Credit Union also offers a variety of savings, IRA, Roth IRA, or Roth Conversion IRA options.
For older kids or teens ready to take on more financial responsibility, checking account options are available and provide a practical way to learn about managing day-to-day expenses, tracking spending, and even using a debit card.
Regardless of which method parents choose to incorporate, children can watch their money grow through deposits and small amounts of interest, motivating them to save more and reinforcing healthy fiscal habits into the future.— Kalli Hawkins
DULUTH—For many people, climate change is a concern, and the precious environment of the North Shore compelled one local author to dive deeper into the climate crisis and how it affects humans on an emotional level. Shawna Weaver, Ph.D., a career-long educator and mental health advocate, was exposed to several projects focused on local concerns while working on her dissertation in 2016. Through her research, three key components rose to the top when addressing climate change and how individuals experience it: mental health, eco-psychology, and the science of what is occurring with the environment.
Weaver heard from clients who shared their anxiety about what their future looked like, and the frustration of what direction leaders are taking to address the issues. She realized, through these conversations, that there are limited tools to offer them to understand the emotional stress they were experiencing. Eco-psychology is defined as a movement recognizing the psychological connection between humans and nature, specifically viewing human psychological wellness and how it is connected to the natural environment.
Hearing from her clients and knowing the connection between humans and nature, Weaver was inspired to write the book Climate Grief: From Coping to Resilience and Action, released in 2023. Weaver set out to combine all three sectors she had identified, highlighting the intersection of mental health, eco-psychology, and science, and what can be learned from each, breaking down the individual “silos” of each. “I wanted this information and research to be accessible, not needing a science or psychology background to understand the process,”
Weaver explains. The book is not technical and is not meant to be read in a linear way, but rather to serve as a resource. The material is appropriate for a range of ages and life situations, and different chapters may seem more relevant to each individual reader. The publication covers topics such as climate change 101, stages of grief, tools to support personal well-being, and where go from here. Readers are invited to create a plan for building personal and planetary resilience. “It is an opportunity to look inward at our own grief and emerge with the motivation needed to make lifestyle changes and inspire others,” says Weaver.
Born and raised in the Twin Ports and now living in Duluth, Weaver feels her broader perspective on the climate crisis comes from moving away from Minnesota for several years. When she set out to write this book, the original focus was on northern Minnesota but has since evolved to start from a more global view. The book naturally shifted to exploring the universal grief experience, and she realized understanding this topic at so many levels lends itself to being explored in a series. Her next book will narrow from that broader scope, bringing the issue and advocacy back home to the North Shore. In her initial research, she interviewed nearly 30 residents along the shore to help her understand local feelings. These interviews, most of which were conducted along the Superior Hiking Trail, including Grand Portage, Beaver Bay, and Grand Marais, will be highlighted in part two of the series.
Since the release of Climate Grief, Weaver has connected with many other voices, and more collaborations have been developed to
broaden the story of the North Shore. These interactions will also be included in the next publication. Her goal is to have the draft completed by the end of 2025.
Weaver’s book tour for Climate Grief has covered several U.S. states, as well as Europe and Canada. The feedback has been posi-
tive—people are “glad to have a framework to discuss something that seems increasingly universal but still really not spoken about.” Weaver discovered the same worries across the nation and the anxiety it brings to most people. These concerns go beyond the facts typically reported by scientists. She notes, “Scientists haven’t seen or lived it here in the Northland.” Weaver welcomes others to join in the conversation, and readers can reach out through her website: shawna.j.weaver. com. Her book has been featured on several blogs and podcasts and is available at most local bookstores and on Amazon. Michelle Miller
Breakfast & Lunch
Served
NORTH SHORE—Have you ever lounged with a lizard, tended to a tortoise, or snuggled with a snake?
Furry critters may be more common as companion animals, but many reptiles make surprisingly good pets, and a growing number of people are seeking them as an alternative or addition to traditional cats and dogs.
Reptiles are naturally hypoallergenic, they have individual personalities, and they recognize their keepers. Some species are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, called morphs.
Reptiles have unique care requirements because of their cold-blooded nature, but they are not as difficult to meet as you may think. In this article you’ll learn which reptiles make great pets for beginners, including basic care information to help you select a pet that perfectly fits your lifestyle.
Turtles are often the first reptiles we learn about as children. From the elegant sea turtle migrating vast oceans, to ancient, enigmatic giant tortoises, they are long lived and legendary.
As pets, turtles generally come in two varieties: those that live primarily in water, and those that live primarily on land. Most land turtles are called tortoises. Both can be curious and entertaining companions, though the water needs of aquatic turtles make them less beginner-friendly.
Do you like the idea of a pet you can pass on to a grandchild someday? Most turtles live 50 to 100 years! Choose a species that stays small so you can more easily give it a large habitat to enjoy. Pet turtles are very hardy, though they require a heated basking area and UVB lighting, as well as a substrate deep enough to allow them to dig.
Hermann’s tortoise is a great first pet reptile. | ACE YEOMANS
The Hermann’s tortoise is a great first pet reptile, as are others in the Testudo genus such as Greek, Russian, and Egyptian tortoises. Most stay under a foot in length and eat a convenient vegetarian diet. Box turtles are another good option, though they require more protein and higher humidity.
An incredibly diverse group of animals, lizards come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. From tiny dwarf geckos under 2 inches long, to huge komodo dragons weighing 350 pounds, lizards fill many niches in nature.
When choosing your first pet lizard, consider whether you want a pet that eats live insects, or one that prefers more readily available plants and prepared diets. Insects can be shipped on a schedule, but our cold winters can cause delays and you may want to raise your own. Dubia roaches and mealworms are easy to ‘farm’ at home.
Crested geckos are arguably the most popular pet lizard in the reptile community, and for good reason. Unlike most reptiles, these lizards are kept at room temperature with no extra heating required, and they readily eat a prepared powdered fruit diet
that’s mixed with water (though occasional live insects are often appreciated).
Because of their small size and tropical nature, they are great candidates for bioactive enclosures. These set-ups utilize live plants and a living ‘clean-up crew’ of invertebrates and fungi to essentially create a rainforest ecosystem in a box.
One drawback of crested geckos is their tendency to drop their tail as a defense mechanism if they get scared, which never grows back. These now tailless crested geckos are affectionately called ‘frog butts’ in the reptile hobby. Gargoyle geckos are a similar looking species with the same care requirements, though they will grow a replacement tail. Both crested and gargoyle geckos are arboreal, and they like to climb and jump.
If you’d prefer a more arid, desert style set-up and you don’t mind feeding live insects, leopard geckos are a great option. These small lizards are known for their cute, smiling faces and spotted patterning. Bearded dragons are another popular pet lizard, though their larger size and specific lighting requirements make them a little more challenging for beginners.
Other good first lizards with various care requirements include African fat-tailed geckos, Rankin’s dragons, uromastyx species, Ackie monitors, blue-tongue skinks, and emerald tree skinks.
Of all reptiles, snakes are the most unfairly maligned. While it’s understandable to fear dangerous snakes, most are actually harmless to humans, and many make wonderful pets.
Snakes are obligate carnivores, and most eat rodents in captivity. Live prey is not required and is often frowned upon— most pet snakes readily eat frozen/thawed meals. Because snakes have slow metabolisms, many are only fed once per week, and some boas and pythons can easily go months without food.
Pet snakes require a heat source and a substrate appropriate to their species’ humidity needs. UVB lighting is recommended for some species.
Corn snakes are a popular first reptile, and they come in many colors. Other North American colubrids like rat snakes, milk snakes, king snakes, hognose snakes, and garter snakes have similar care. Rosy boas, sand boas, and house snakes are also small and easy to keep.
Ball pythons are common pets because they are slow moving and easy to handle, and like corn snakes they have a variety of color morphs. However, they can be picky eaters and become stressed easily, sometimes going on hunger strikes for months.
Spotted pythons are smaller and more arboreal than ball pythons, but they are more confident and eat readily. Dwarf boa constrictors are another great choice, though they get larger, often reaching 5-6 feet.
The best pet reptile for you is the one you will be excited to take care of for its entire life. Unfortunately, reptiles are often some of the most neglected and re-homed pets, so it’s important to thoroughly research the animal you want, and understand the commitment.
Consider adopting your first reptile, or purchase one from an ethical breeder who can tell you about the animal’s lineage and temperament. Don’t support businesses that take animals from the wild—all of the reptiles mentioned can be purchased captive born and bred. The Snake Pit in Duluth is a great place for in-person reptile sales and services. Looking online? Try this popular website for buying reptiles directly from breeders: morphmarket.com.
Reptiles can be very rewarding to keep, opening a door to educational opportunities and a connection to nature unlike any other. With proper care, a reptile can become a beloved member of the family, just like any traditional pet!— Dana Johnson
Story and Photos by Joe Shead
I guess I had considered getting a cat, but not yet. Never in my adult life had I owned a pet—any kind of pet. And with no wife and no kids, I’ve lived a pretty carefree bachelor existence.
At some point I had started to like cats. I admired their intelligence. Their sassiness. And their constant antics. It was fun to play with other peoples’ pets. But I wasn’t looking for anything to tie me down.
But that’s when my girlfriend, Tashina, messed everything up. Tashina, who is just one cat short of being a crazy cat lady, learned that her co-worker was having kittens. The two of them hatched a plan that maybe Joe should be a little less feral and a little more domestic. Being a responsible cat dad was the answer.
I was the last to find out about their devious plan. But by the time I did, it was already too late. They had named him Harbor, since he would be moving to Two Harbors. And the videos they sent of him crawling around the haybales in the barn were too cute to resist. By the time he was old enough to go home with me, I was already starting to worry that he would be trampled by a horse or eaten by a marauding raccoon before I got a chance to adopt him.
If those women thought they were going to domesticate me, the joke was on them. I wasn’t letting a cat slow me down. In fact, just one week after I got Harbor, I took him fishing in conditions so windy it was hard for me to launch and load the boat solo, especially with a tiny kitten mewling in his cat carrier.
But once we got out of the wind, it wasn’t so bad. I made a few casts to scratch my fishing itch, then got brave and let my 6-weekold kitten out of his kennel. As kittens do, Harbor immediately began exploring every square inch of the boat, often stumbling over his oversized paws as he tried to walk
around. As great as the temptation was to fish, I knew I couldn’t take my eyes off him for a second, lest he go overboard. So, I watched hawklike as he explored. His curiosity was insatiable. He was obsessed with the 5-inch hole where my cup holder used to be and was constantly climbing in and out of it. And I found that there are “the zoomies” and then there are the “boat zoomies.” After being somewhat docile for a while, he would suddenly take off and parkour off the side of my tackle box.
I finally caught a perch and let him pounce on and play with our dinner. The fish was almost as big as he was. That night, we slept cuddled up in my two-person tent, complete with litter box, food, and water. Although I was afraid I might roll over and crush my tiny 1.25-pound buddy, we had bonded instantly. By the second day, when the fishing
was much better, he marched around the boat like a seasoned pro.
Since that first outing, I have brought Harbor on a lot of my adventures. He’s gotten his picture taken at Split Rock Lighthouse. He’s camped in the Apostle Islands. He was even on my back in his backpack when I shot a couple grouse this fall (which he loves to attack and then eat after Dad cooks them).
Rather than domesticating me, Tashina has realized that she now has two feral cats. Harbor is constantly at the door any time I go in or out of the house and regularly rushes outside, even though I’m ready
for his sudden sprint. Harbor was with me one morning when I limited out on salmon this summer. (It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to bring him, and I didn’t bring his litter box—a decision I would later regret. But the fish were biting, and I had him in his backpack the moment nature called, so at least cleanup was easy.)
In fact, the only real disaster we had the whole first summer was the day a friend and I were fishing from my canoe. We got to shore at the end of our fishing and bottomed out in mud. I needed to walk to the bow, jump out onto hard ground and pull us up farther. But Harbor saw “ground” and jumped out.
The mud was so soupy he literally had to swim through it. The poor bedraggled kitten looked absolutely miserable, but Michael and I couldn’t stop laughing!
Other than that, he’s had a perfect track record, even though he likes to stand on the nose of the canoe and sometimes tries to look over the gunwale of my motorboat. Some people, upon realizing there’s a cat out in a canoe, have even asked to take his picture, which immediately goes to this little ham’s head.
This winter I was impatiently waiting for the lakes to freeze so I could take Harbor ice fishing. On our first trip, we were in shallow water watching bluegills down the hole. Although I flopped a blanket on the ice for him, he spent most of his time standing on the ice. (He’s fiercely independent and if you want him to do something like stand on a blanket, you need to make him think it was his idea.) At one point, I was shooting a video of him chewing on my fishing line when a bluegill bit just three feet below. But I couldn’t set the hook because the fishing line was in Harbor’s mouth! A few days later, he cost Tashina a walleye when her rod bowed but he was sitting on her lap, in the way of her hookset.
I have put together some YouTube videos on my channel (Joe Shead Outdoors) of Harbor fishing and the response has been nothing but positive. I was worried people might not condone taking a cat fishing, but on the contrary, some people are even vowing to take their own cats out on the ice.
Harbor and I have formed a very special bond. He’s not a lap cat—he’s an adventure buddy. What’s next for Harbor the Outdoor Cat? Well, we hope to do a lot of ice fishing together this winter (and eat a lot of fish). But I’m definitely thinking about taking him in the Boundary Waters when the weather warms.
When you’re adventuring up the North Shore, you might do a double take when you spot a tabby cat with a white-tipped walleye tail hanging out at the Brimson Farmer’s Market or watching pink salmon spawn in a stream. You’re in the presence of Harbor the Outdoor Cat. Don’t make a big deal out of it. All the attention goes to his head.
By Elle Andra-Warner
While growing up in snow country, I did my share of making snow angels and snow forts. But what I particularly remember about winter’s snow and cold was as a teenager walking to high school in bulky snow pants and once there, following the now archaic school rules that girls could only wear
| KAREN RAMSDALE
skirts or dresses. No jeans or long pants were allowed for girls. That meant going to the girls’ washroom to take off the snow pants so we could wear skirts or dresses before we could attend classes. Even in the bitter cold, it meant hiking up the skirts/ dress to take off or put on those snow pants to walk (for me) about a mile, from Munro Street to Lakeview High School.
Back in those days, there were no snow days and no school buses unless you lived miles out in the country. So, if your family didn’t have a car or the family car wasn’t available and there was no bus route close to your high school, it was expected that us girls, no matter how cold it was outside, would put on those snow pants and walk to/ from school, and once there, only wear skirts or dresses. Historical ancient trivia now, but at the time, the snow scenario of cold milelong walks to school was not trivial.
However, speaking of trivia, did you know that some languages have multiple words for snow? The Alltracks Academy has compiled a list of the top five languages with the most words to describe snow. Surprisingly, in first place is the Scottish language with 421 snow-related words. According to Scotland’s University of Glasgow, they include snees (to begin to snow or rain); skelf (large snowflake); spitters (small drops or flakes of wind-driven rain or snow); flindrikin (slight snow shower); feefle (to swirl, like snow rounding a corner) and 416 more.
“The number and variety of words in the language show how important it was for our
ancestors to communicate about the weather, which could so easily affect their livelihoods” explained Dr. Susan Rennie, English and Scot lecturer at Glasgow in a news article. “Weather has been a vital part of people’s lives in Scotland for centuries.”
The second spot is Saami (aka Sami) language, spoken in northern regions of Scandinavia and Russia. A 2016 research paper from Norway’s Tromsø University identified 170-180 Saami words about snow—words like vahtsa (little fresh snow); ridne (snow in trees); and habllek (dry and light dusting snow).
The third spot goes to Inuit language with 40-70 words, like qanir (to snow); nataryuk (fresh snow); and kanevvluk (fine snow). Fourth is Icelandic with 46 words including fukt (small amount of snow) and mjöll (freshly fallen snow). And fifth goes to Swedish with 25 words, including blötsnöm (wet, slushy snow), and nysnö (fresh snow, crisp and white).
My favourite non-English word for snow? The soft-sounding lumi (l-uh-mee) found in both Finnish and Estonian languages.
By Jennifer Janasie
Each day during my first Minnesota winter was an adventure. My husband Stephen and I had recently moved to an area where the big woods, big rivers ecological province abuts the prairies and potholes region, during a cold record breaking and snowy year 12 winters ago. After our self-imposed one and a half mile walk to work through a wooded blanket of snow or geologic layered cake of snow and ice, we would part ways with a kiss through face masks donning ice crystals. From time-to-time, I would even find a full-length, rock-solid icicle dangling from Stephen’s bearded, warmly covered chin. What a kiss goodbye I was privileged enough to receive those mornings!
Every day during our first Minnesota winter was an awesome exploration into new-
ness. Take the “giant dog days,” for instance. My officemate had informed me when winter started hitting hard, that her weather reporter friend in North Dakota rated days according to how large an animal the wind could pick up. Buffalo days were days in which you really wouldn’t want to walk anywhere, for fear I imagined, that you would be flung into a winter version of Dorothy’s tornado-propelled flight to Oz (with buffalos replacing the poultry you might expect to see flying in the air beside you).
I discovered what a giant dog day felt like while simultaneously seeing for the first time since Stephen and I had married, that he too was capable of succumbing to such a fit of laughter I had previously only witnessed in childhood. Arising from my mother on family road trips, her delirious laughter would emerge after we had all been in the family van together for 24 hours on little sleep.
Mom’s laughter would come like clock-work as an additional yet unintentional helping hand that kept Dad awake during his driving through the night (in addition to Hershey bars and coffees).
On the giant dog day, instead of walking our 125-pound Newfoundland Maxine to the prairie per the usual routine, I walked her all in all two steps before the wind took me, blowing me onto my knees in the snow. We both weighed the same, and Maxine’s fur tousled in the wind as a warning. The initially lovely-looking ice crystals began pelting my face like fairy-crafted daggers, and I had never before seen such a look of horror and confusion on our dog’s face. All I could hear beyond the howling wind was the sound of Stephen’s hysterical laughter. Perhaps to Maxine’s dismay, I laughed along too—down in the snow until I managed to navigate my way inside against the wind
(with doggie in tow and Stephen at our side to assist should the wind take us again).
Escapades like this abounded, like in weeks when I asked my husband for a second time before gearing up, “How cold will it be? Tell me with the wind chill, please, always?” I would ask twice because before our move to Minnesota, I was truly unaware I could exist happily in a world where “-50 degrees with the wind chill” was ever an answer.
All Minnesota winter days were fodder for fun! Until my car wouldn’t start numerous times in a week and we got stranded; until I lost my Yaktrax in the snow because I couldn’t see beyond my iced-over glasses. Every day was a thrill! Until I had to drive two hours to a meeting while continuously scraping the ice from the inside of my car windows; until the bottom of my hiking boot mysteriously fell off from the impact of the cold.
Sarcasm aside, each day that first winter was genuinely an amazing journey. That was so for me then, and it still rings true for me now in the Northwoods, Great Lakes ecological area. Despite struggles winter sometimes brings, the first time I set my gaze on a horizon-framed river at winter daybreak with my view expanding in broad bands of purples and blues that set a canvas for the still-full moon as it began to cross paths with the waking sun, it was love at first sight. When one day I stopped mid-bridge to join a cheerful character who had abandoned his bike to take in a breathtaking winter sunset, I knew I had made a friend for life among kin. So I live in winter. And pondering the poetic not-quite silent sound of falling snowflakes, I find peace.
By Michelle Miller
The winter of 1975 was a year most Minnesota children dream of—snow, snow, and more snow. School and most businesses were shut down as foot after foot of snow fell over several days. Once the wind and
cold dissipated, the snowdrifts left behind were massive.
My childhood home was several miles out of town in a small rural community in central Minnesota. Our home was built into a hillside, with the garage several feet off the ground in the front and just a foot or two in the back. This storm covered our front yard and buried the garage. The details are a bit
foggy, as I was only 8 years old at the time, but I do recall being snow bound at home for almost a week.
Once the weather conditions were safe, relatively speaking, it was time to go out and embrace what Mother Nature had left us. The heavy, drifting snow set the stage for a perfect fort-building adventure. My siblings and I were a well-seasoned crew in proper outdoor winter gear, so we bundled up in many layers to venture out into the drifts. Snow forts were our specialty, and we got to work to create another masterpiece, each knowing what our individual role was in this process.
My older sister was the master of tunneling and would chip away with amazing agility and speed, cutting through the deep, packed snow with her hands, downed with tough chopper gloves. My job was to clean out and remove the discarded snow loosened by her efforts, leaving the piles outside the chiseled hole. My younger brother would then use a shovel to move the piles away from the fort.
Eventually, we were all working inside the snow drift, creating a full system of
tunnels, small rooms, and multiple exits. Hours would go by, and the deeper we got, the layers of outdoor clothing would be removed as it got quite cozy inside the snowpacked structure. As each room of the fort was completed, we would take a break and sit to admire our work.
Thinking about it now, it really was quite impressive. Some rooms would accommodate up to four of us with a good foot of headroom. It did take a bit of scooting to get turned around and crawl back out, but it was fun. The memory of warm cheeks, silly conversation, and the sense of pride in our accomplishment still makes me smile.
It’s been 50 years since that winter, and when I return to those days, I still think of using that space as our own secret retreat, enjoying the seclusion. It was so quiet, just the crinkling of our snow pants and the squeak of our rubber boots, while we imagined we were on some faraway important excursion. I don’t remember how long it took for the fort to melt and begin to collapse, but I think back to that winter as one of the best snowstorms ever.
By Dana Johnson
Born during the coldest part of the year, I’ve always considered myself a snow baby. I grew up in Grand Marais, and in the wintertime, I couldn’t wait to get home from school so I could build snow forts with neighborhood friends until long after dark. Those rare snow days when school was canceled were always celebrated outside.
My best friend Kristi Silence and I would often get together and go on adventures, and still do to this day. I have great memories of us making quinzee snow huts, creating tunnels through the snow, making snow people, and going skating and sledding with our friends.
One sunny, snowy day when we were young adults, Kristi and I drove down to Passion Pit beach. The parking area was covered with a blanket of white, but we decided to test our luck and ventured in. It wasn’t long before tires were spinning and we were completely stuck! Since we were already
there, we enjoyed a walk along the beautiful glistening shoreline before calling my dad to rescue us.
Snow can be absolutely magical, especially to a young mind. I remember waking up one morning as a kid looking out at nearly 2 feet of fresh snow. I marveled at how it clung heavily to the branches of the big cedar trees by the house, and cars were nearly hidden in a thick layer of powder. I don’t know how we got the porch door open.
Snowshoeing may be my favorite winter activity, and it’s extra fun when there’s deep snow in the woods and you can make your own path to new places. I love looking for animal tracks and considering how different creatures survive our harsh winters in the boreal forest.
Not so long ago our ancestors were huddling around a fire for warmth, talking about how days were lengthening while they ate dried venison and dreamed of summer’s bounty. Though we now live in a modern world full of technology and improvements, it’s humbling to know that a snowstorm can easily bring us back to simpler times when the power goes out.
Those of us raised with Northern Wilds winters are a different breed. Snow teaches you patience, strength, and survival skills, but also how to find beauty in the cold. We have to slow down to stay safe, spend time bundling up to stay warm, and learn to stand resilient against the wind. We understand the value of a good neighbor, and the joy of a friendly snowball fight.
The busy buzz of summer is still months away, so we might as well practice hygge and get cozy with a warm beverage and converse about the weather while we wait.
By Chris Pascone
As a teacher assistant in the Superior public schools, I’m always pumped for a snow day. For me they’re reverberations of my youth growing up in rural Massachusetts, where we’d often get a few snowstorms each winter. Unplanned snow days are triple-nice for me now, as I can share them with my three school-age daughters (if Superior and Duluth public schools’ decisions coincide—not always the case).
This early January our whole family got to experience a new kind of snow day for us—in a foreign country. OK, none of us were in school. We were on vacation in Oppdal, Norway. But the pleasure of a day filled with heavy snow and no obligations was the same. We were together, with free time and 18 inches of fresh snow for us to play in. First, we shoveled the driveway as a team, then we alpine skied in deep powder all afternoon. And yet there was more to come.
Towards evening the idea struck me— this was our chance to build a Norwegian quinzhee. We’ve built igloos and quinzhees before on snow days. You could call it our family snow day tradition. I just wasn’t expecting to build one on vacation.
A quinzhee is similar to an igloo, except that the living space is hollowed out of piled snow, instead of built out of blocks. All the necessary factors coincided: endless snow, a wide-open space in our friends’ yard, and having the time to commit to a proper build. When my Norwegian friend Jon Erik brought me an aluminum mountaineering shovel (essential for carving out the inside of the quinzhee), the build was on.
Quinzhees aren’t fast to make. First, it takes a lot of shoveling to amass an 8-foottall snow mound. I like to shoot for a pile taller than me, and wide enough for several people to sleep in. Then you wait overnight for the snow to compress and congeal.
With just two days left on our trip in Oppdal, my daughter Stella and I started the carving process the following morning. The hardest part is hauling all the snow out through the narrow, short door of the cave as you hollow it out.
We worked twice a day on carving our quinzhee, and finished our masterpiece on our last evening. We fit two families inside for the ceremonial goodbye from fairy-tale Oppdal.
This piece of snowy housing will hopefully spend the rest of the winter in our friends’ yard for their kids to play in. For Stella and me, it was an unforgettable snow day experience abroad.
Winter might not be my favorite season, but there’s no denying its beauty. From the soft blanket of snow to the crisp, frosty air, winter has a magic all its own. Here’s a few pictures taken from our photo contest to help capture that winter wonderland feeling—and here’s hoping we see more snow soon.
Kloss works primarily with acrylic paint, a choice that might surprise those who expect him to use oil paints to achieve the depth of color and texture that many traditional painters favor. However, for Kloss, acrylics offer the speed and control he craves.
“I’m left-handed, and oils just weren’t working for me,” he says. “They take forever to dry, and I need to make quick, definitive strokes. Acrylic dries quickly, and that’s crucial for my technique. I can get a brushstroke down and have it set almost immediately, which allows me to focus on building the image the way I see it in my mind.”
This rapid-drying quality of acrylics pairs perfectly with his minimalist, stroke-based approach. Kloss’s method is intentional and focused—each brushstroke is like a puzzle piece that fits into a greater design.
Another key element of Kloss’s work is his use of memory and imagination. “When I paint a building or an animal, I often rely on memory to get the essence of it,” he explains. “I’ll sketch from photos, but when I start painting, I’m not constantly checking the photo. I want it to come from my memory, my imagination. It’s not about creating a literal replica. It’s about capturing the feeling of it.”
With hiking, art shows, and the music scene, Duluth’s lifestyle is what artist Aaron Kloss enjoys most about living in the Twin Ports. He is now a full-time fine art painter. He developed a unique style that blends his graphic design background with a passion for animals.
Kloss’s journey to becoming an artist was shaped by his early interest in art, which began in first grade. After graduating from Wayzata High School in 1993, he studied graphic design at North Hennepin Community College, where he took just one painting class. He went on to earn a degree in fine arts at the University of Minnesota—Duluth. Kloss worked for 15 years in publishing, creating advertisements and honing his design skills before transitioning to full-time painting in 2010.
“I just knew it was time to switch,” says Kloss. “I wanted to make painting my fulltime focus. But I also knew that, if I wanted to do it professionally, I had to make it sustainable. I had to figure out how to sell my work and live off it.”
This transition wasn’t easy and Kloss credits much of his inspiration and practical advice to local artists who mentored him along the way to become a full-time painter.
By Naomi Yaeger
He recalls the guidance he received from artists like Karen Kramer and Adu Grindy and gaining a deeper understanding of how to live and work as an artist.
While Kloss had always enjoyed drawing and painting, his breakthrough came when he started to experiment with a pointillism-inspired technique—using small, individual brushstrokes instead of blending colors or using traditional shading methods. Although he didn’t study painting formally, Kloss developed a style that reflected both his love for precision and his tendency to simplify.
“I didn’t take formal painting classes, but I loved drawing, and I loved airbrushing,” Kloss explains. “I didn’t want to use multiple brushes or complex techniques. I just wanted to focus on simplicity and precision. I use just one brush—a 1/4-inch flat brush—and build up my image with individual strokes.”
Kloss’s use of a single brushstroke to build his images is what sets his work apart. His style combines elements of pointillism with the structured precision of graphic design, resulting in pieces that appear detailed at first glance but reveal themselves as a collection of deliberate marks upon closer inspection.
His approach, rooted in minimalism, feels almost meditative. Each stroke is a small commitment to the whole piece, capturing the artist’s intention without the distraction of blending or overcomplicating the process.
One of the most distinctive features of Kloss’s work is his frequent inclusion of animals. But rather than painting wildlife in a traditional, lifelike manner, Kloss’s animals often take on a whimsical role. In one of his earlier collections, Kloss explored the idea of animals as tourists—imagining what it would look like if animals traveled and explored human spaces. “What would animals do if they were tourists?” he recalls thinking. “It was a fun, conceptual project I worked on years ago, and I just loved the idea of mixing animals with human elements in unexpected ways.”
Although not all of Kloss’s work includes animals, many of his pieces feature creatures—from cats to exotic birds—that evoke a sense of personality and curiosity. He often works from reference photos, but his goal is not to replicate reality. Instead, he seeks to capture the essence of the animal, letting his imagination guide the brushstroke rather than adhering to a strict photo-realistic approach.
Kloss’s artistic philosophy is rooted in the idea that less is more. While he has experimented with various techniques throughout his career, his passion for simplicity has remained constant. He finds beauty in the most straightforward methods—one brush, one stroke at a time—and creates work that feels clean and purposeful.
His ability to weave together influences from his graphic design background, his love for animals, and his experimental approach to painting has allowed him to carve out a distinctive niche for himself. Kloss’s work challenges the viewer to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be—full of imagination, whimsy, and precision.
As Kloss continues to evolve as an artist, one thing remains clear: he is committed to exploring and expanding the boundaries of what painting can be, one brushstroke at a time.
Kloss’s artwork is featured in the halls of the Enger Loft Hotel and Marketplace near North and Shore, located at 1832 W. Superior St. This venue is hosting a Makers Spotlight of his work, alongside Rebekah Rush, from January through March. Additionally, his work will be on display at Lake Superior Brewing from January through April. In July, Kloss is planning an exhibit at the Great Lakes Aquarium, which will focus on the northern lights.
His pieces are also available at several galleries along the shore. To learn more about Kloss, visit: aaronkloss.com.
INCLUDING PRESENTATIONS ON:
• Collaborative Strategy on MMIR
• Underwater Victim Recovery
• Armed Intruder Training
• Hibbing School Bus Crash
• Hazmat Training
• Skywarn Weather Service
• Maui Wildfire Response
Feb. 1, Saturday The Violence Prevention Center is hosting another Beyond the Reel film fundraising event in Grand Marais at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Feb. 1. This year’s film is Loud Enough: Surviving Justice —a 2023 60-minute documentary that dives into the retraumatization that many survivors of sexual and domestic abuse face navigating the justice system. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour in the ACA lobby where guests will enjoy live music, food, refreshments, and a raffle. At 6:30 p.m., the event will move into the theater for the annual Joan Drury Award before starting the hour-long film. Tickets are $25 and are available at the door only. violencepreventioncenter.org/community
Feb. 1, Saturday Celebrate the best of winter with the annual Cold Front Duluth festival in Bayfront Festival Park. Held from noon to 6 p.m., this free family-friendly event includes ice skating, a luge sledding hill, a snow play area, a groomed cross-country ski loop, craft and activity stations, backyard curling, fat bike demos, a sensory tent area, youth yoga sessions, bonfires and s’mores, food from Johnny B’s Food Truck, adult snowshoe volleyball, giant ski races, a palm swings golf contest, hot chocolate, and more. There will also be youth dog sled rides from noon to 3 p.m. and hayrides from 1-4 p.m. coldfrontduluth.com
Feb. 6-16 The annual Ely Winter Festival features dozens of family-friendly activities, such as a snow sculpting symposium, snowshoe hikes, live music, Dorothy Molter Museum tours and a fundraising dinner, kicksled demos, a kubb tournament, the Great Nordic Beardfest, dark sky documentaries, a candlelight ski, and more. And don’t miss the Ely ArtWalk, held Feb. 1-28, when the city of Ely is transformed into an art gallery with a window-shopping exhibition of more than 400 pieces of art on display. elywinterfestival.com
WINTER FROLIC
Feb. 7-8 The annual Two Harbors Winter Frolic includes events the whole family will enjoy, such as a medallion hunt, a photo scavenger hunt, food trailers, a vendor fair,
and a sliding hill. Friday night events include the community curling challenge, a chili cook off, live music, a bigfoot trail bonfire and snowshoe, a frozen t-shirt contest, and bingo. Saturday is also jam-packed with events, starting with a pancake breakfast and top hat carriage rides. There will also be a bean bag tournament, hammerschlagen, kids karaoke and kids bingo, a bonfire with free s’mores, a fur party, live music, and more. Races and games include fireman kids races, tug of war, a frozen fish toss, keg relay, dash for cash, and outhouse races. Don’t miss the fireworks display at 6 p.m. below the Depot. twoharborswinterfrolic.com
Feb. 7-8 It’s a blast from the past! The Lutsen Trail Breakers Snowmobile Club invites you to a weekend of fun at the 10th Annual Vintage Snowmobile Weekend. The weekend will kick off on Friday, Feb. 7 with “Tune Up Time” from noon to 5 p.m. at the Trail Breakers groomer shack, 6 miles up the Caribou Trail. Tuned-up sleds will make a 2-mile shakedown run to the “White Sky” trail snowmobile shelter for a hot dog roast from 6-8 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 8, sleds will meet at Cascade Lodge at 11 a.m. for family
Registration starts at 10 am Races start at 11 am, 14
WinterFest 2025
February 15th 10 am to 3 PM
Tettegouche State Park
Celebrate a Scandinavian winter at WinterFest!
Enjoy live music, tasty bites from Johnny B’s Food Truck, outdoor games and crafts, demonstrations, s’mores by the outdoor fireplace, guided snowshoe hikes and more
fun and a best vintage sled competition, followed by the annual vintage snowmobile ride. Cost to ride is $25 per sled. bit.ly/lutsensnowmobile
Feb. 7-17 The Danish concept of “hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah) refers to the ritual of embracing life’s simple pleasures. Feeling relaxed, cozy, and surrounded by the warmth of family, friends, community, and fire all encompass the idea of hygge. This year’s Hygge Festival in Cook County includes the fireplace tour at various businesses, live music at various locations, a Galentine’s Day Market at North Shore Winery, full moon poetry and a bonfire at Drury Lane Books, art night at Joy and Company, a paint and sip at Surfside, a candlelit ski and snowshoe in Lutsen, and more. visitcookcounty.com
Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids will take place at Grand Portage Lodge & Casino. | SUBMITTED
a continuous race consisting of two legs of equal distance, separated by a mandatory layover. This year’s race will host a maximum of 15 teams and will be a 65-mile 10-dog race, with 32.5-mile legs. The race will start at 8 a.m. on Saturday at Trail Center Lodge, located on the Gunflint Trail. Spectators can find great viewing spots at Trail Center Lodge, White Pine Lodge, and Rockwood Lodge. Remember to leave your own dogs at home. gunflintmailrun.com
event is sponsored by Grand Portage Lodge and Casino, the Grand Portage Trail Riders, and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. To celebrate the 20th year at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino, with every $100 participants raise, they will receive a ballot to win Snowarama prize packages. Registration required. snowarama.org
For builders, businesses and homeowners DOLI credits
Contact CCHE 218-387-3411, or programs@mycche.org for registration Februar y 11, 2025
Feb. 8, Saturday Originally scheduled to take place in January, the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race is
Feb. 8, Saturday Once again, the Thunder Bay Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids will head south of the border to Grand Portage Lodge and Casino, attracting snowmobilers from all over to enjoy some of the finest groomed trails in northern Minnesota. Over the past 20 years, the Grand Portage Snowarama has raised over $610,000 for children and youth with physical disabilities. This year, all Snowarama participants will enjoy a complimentary dinner and live music from The Hoolies, as well as a bonfire and prizes throughout the weekend. The
Feb. 11, Tuesday For the past 50 years, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet has been making some of the most potent and popular Cajun music on the planet. Born out of the rich Acadian ancestry of its members, and created and driven by bandleader Michael Doucet’s spellbinding fiddle playing and soulful vocals, BeauSoleil is notorious for bringing even the staidest audience to its feet. The group will perform at 7 p.m. at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais. Tickets are $25 general admission and can be purchased online or at the door, starting at 6 p.m. northshoremusicassociation.com
will feature skijoring races on Sunday, Feb. 16. | SUBMITTED
Feb. 11-17 Fiber Week, held at North House Folk School in Grand Marais, is a week-long event celebrating the wondrous world of fiber arts with coursework, free evening gatherings, speakers, and more. Fiber Friday on February 14 brings a full day of free events and demonstrations. This year’s featured guest instructor is Emma Ewadotter, a talented textile artist from Sweden who focuses on maximized embroidery with strong colors. Emma will give a presentation about her craft at 7 p.m. on Friday. Other activities include a Show and Share night, a Fiber Fun Fair, Sheep Stories with Martha Owen, and more. northhouse.org
Feb. 15, Saturday Got a need for speed? Take part in the Cook County Ridge Riders (CCRR) Snowmobile Drag Race at Hungry
Jack Lake up the Gunflint Trail. Registration starts at 10 a.m. and racing begins at 11 a.m. Compete in a variety of classes offered in double elimination style racing down a 500-foot snow groomed track. There will be 14 classes including stock, improved, mod, open, turbo, and more. There will also be food and drink specials at Hungry Jack Lodge. Cost to race is $20 per class for CCRR members and $30 for non-members. facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders
Feb. 15, Saturday Bring the whole family to Tettegouche State Park in Silver Bay for the 4th annual Winter Fest. Held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be live music by the Scandinavian Trio, outdoor games and crafts, demonstrations, s’mores by the outdoor fireplace, guided snowshoe hikes, food from Johnny B’s Food Truck, children’s story time, a gnome hunt, free popcorn and hot apple cider, a troll toss, and more. Grab your friends and family for a fun game of kubb, or take part in the fish toss at 2 p.m. Need to warm up? Head inside for demonstrations on rosemaling, chip carving, and lefse and krumkake making, or make your own Dala horse or Viking ship. All activities are free. friendsoftettegouche.org
Feb. 16, Sunday The Pincushion Ski and Run Club is hosting their annual Pincushion Ski Festival on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Pincushion Trails in Grand Marais. Morning races will take place from 10 a.m. to noon and will include classic, freestyle, and woodie division races. Ski Sparks kid races start at 1 p.m., and the ever-fun skijoring races are at 2:30 p.m. Come out and join in the winter fun as a participant or spectator. Further details, costs, and registration information can be found online. pincushionskiandrun.org
Marina Park in Thunder Bay. Held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be snowshoeing, ice fishing, horse-drawn wagon rides, art activities with CAHEP, special pop-up performances by All the Daze Productions, outdoor games, a fire pit, an indoor warming station with crafts and games, snow sculptors, and more. thunderbay.ca/snowday
Feb. 22-23 Enjoy a weekend of dog sledding fun with the 17th Annual WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race in Ely, featuring a 50-mile, 8-dog race, and a 30-mile, 6-dog race. Events on Saturday include a “meet the team” event at Minnesota North College’s Vermilion campus from 3-5 p.m. Also on campus, the public can enjoy a delicious all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner Saturday evening. Sunday is race day and the first 8-dog team leaves at 9 a.m. wolftrackclassic.com
March 1, Saturday Held in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park in Thunder Bay, the 45th Annual Sleeping Giant Loppet is a mass participation ski festival that offers fun for the whole family and challenges competitive athletes. It features multiple events with distances for skiers of all levels and abilities. The 8km mini-loppet is perfect for families, children, and rookies. If you’re ready to increase your distance or work on your speed, then try the 20km Marie Louise Lake loop. The popular 35km tour is a relaxed event that takes in the scenic vistas and challenging terrain of the storied Burma Trail. For the ultimate challenge, register for the Loppet’s flagship event, the 50km skate, classic, or skiathlon distance. Skiing not your thing? You can always register for the Sleeping Giant Fat Bike Loppet on March 2. Course lengths are 8km, 20km, and 50km. sleepinggiantloppet.ca
Feb. 17, Monday Bundle up the whole family for a free winter wonderland at this year’s SnowDay on the Waterfront, located at
Thru Feb. 2
The Great Nordic Shakespeare Festival Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org
2025 USA Curling National Championship Decc, Duluth, decc.org
Thru Feb. 23
100 Years of Art in Cook County Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org
Thru March 2
Biting Back: Our Cultural Resilience Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca
Thru March 9
Rebecca Belmore: March 5, 1819 Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca
Thru March 16
Angelique Merasty: Bird and Snowflake Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca
Thru April 13
Gaganoonidiwag: They Talk To Each Other Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca
Thru April 18
Tali Margolin: Navigating Moments Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org
Ellen Sandbeck: As Long as the Rivers Shall Run Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org
Jan. 31-Feb. 9
The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org
Jan. 31-March 22
Sylvsmidja Jewelry Exhibition (Reception Jan. 31 at 5:30 p.m.) Nordic Center, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org
Feb. 1, Saturday
Ely-Babbitt-Tower Fun Run Snowmobile Ride 8 a.m. Ely, Babbitt & Tower, snowmobilefunrun.com
Annual Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club Fun Run 9 a.m. Gunflint Trail, facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders
Duluth Ice & Mixed Fest 9 a.m. Casket Quarry, Duluth, facebook.com/duluthclimbers
Cook County Winter Market 10 a.m. The Hub, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com
Saturday Morning at the Races 10 a.m. University of Wisconsin Superior, grandmasmarathon.com
Demo Days at the Heritage Center 10 a.m. Grand Portage National Monument, nps.gov/grpo
Cold Front Duluth Noon, Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, coldfrontduluth.com
Cider North 2 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org
Author Talk with Tashia Hart 2 p.m.
Cook County Higher Education, Grand Marais, mycche.org
Beyond the Reel: A VPC Film Fundraiser
5:30 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, violencepreventioncenter.org/community
DSSO: Masterworks 4: Brahms’ Three 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, dsso.com
Del Barber and Band 8 p.m. Italian Cultural Centre, Thunder Bay, sleepinggiant.ca
Feb. 1-28
Winter Fireplace Tour of Cook County Throughout Cook County, visitcookcounty.com Ely ArtWalk Ely, elyartwalk.org
Feb. 2, Sunday
Groundhog Day
Hinder 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com
Feb. 3, Monday
Gone to the Dogs 4 p.m. Kamview Nordic Centre, Thunder Bay, tbnordictrails.com
ALS Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. Clearwater Grille, Duluth, alslib.info
Feb. 5, Wednesday
Author Talk with Cary J. Griffith: Gunflint Falling 1 p.m. Duluth Public Library, alslib.info
Downtown Duluth’s 40th Annual Celebration 4:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, downtownduluth.com
Author Talk with Cary J. Griffith: Gunflint Falling 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, alslib.info
Feb. 5-22
Young Frankenstein 7:30 p.m. Paramount Theatre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/badanaitheatre
Feb. 6, Thursday
Coffee & Conversation 1 p.m.
Community Partners, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth
Call of the Wild Poetry Nights 5 p.m. Ely Folk School, northernlakesarts.org
Parker McCollum 7:30 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth, decc.org
Feb. 6-9
Harvest Moon The Depot Theater, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org
Feb. 6-16
Ely Winter Festival Ely, elywinterfestival.com
Feb. 7, Friday
National Wear Red Day wearredday.org
Valentine’s Day Vendor Market 2 p.m.
Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/lakeheadconferenceservices
Winter Frolic Community Bingo 4 p.m.
Community Partners, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth
Public Functionary Open Studio 5 p.m.
Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org
First Fridays 5:30 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org
Fire in the Village 6 p.m. 4H Log Cabin Building, Grand Marais, fireinthevillage.org
Cultural Constellations 7 p.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca
Feb. 7-8
Two Harbors Winter Frolic twoharborswinterfrolic.com
Blast from the Past Vintage Snowmobile Weekend Lutsen, bit.ly/lutsensnowmobile
Author Talk: How the Birds Got Their Songs 2 p.m. The Depot Museum, Two Harbors, lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org
Feb. 7-9
Family Festival Lutsen Mountains, lutsen.com
Feb. 7-17
Hygge Festival Throughout Cook County, visitcookcounty.com
Feb. 7-28
Artist of the Month: Silver Bay Students (Reception Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.) Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, friendsoftettegouche.org
Feb. 8, Saturday
Gunflint Mail Run Rescheduled 8 a.m. Trail Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflintmailrun.com Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids 9 a.m. Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, snowarama.org
Winter Camping Workshop 9 a.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche
Nice Girls of the North Marketplace 10 a.m. Spirit of the Lake Community Arts, Duluth, nicegirlsofthenorth.com
Kamview Ski Tour 10 a.m. Kamview Nordic Centre, Thunder Bay, tbnordictrails.com
Whirlwind! Open House 11 a.m. Dorothy Molter Museum, Ely, rootbeerlady.com
Galentine’s Day Market 12:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, facebook.com/thebiglakelife
TBSO: Saint-George’s Sword & Bow 2 p.m. St. Patrick’s High School Auditorium, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca
Father Daughter Ball 5 p.m. Decc, Duluth, fatherdaughterballduluth.org
Fly Fishing Film Festival 6 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com
The Hoolies 8 p.m. Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, grandportage.com
Feb. 11, Tuesday
Builder’s Workshop 8 a.m. Cook County Higher Education, Grand Marais, mycche.org
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com
Feb. 11-17
Fiber Week North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org
Feb. 12, Wednesday
History Happy Hour: Snowmachines 5 p.m. Boathouse Brewpub Lookout Lounge, Ely, rootbeerlady.com
Full Moon Poetry 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com
Writing Workshop: Scene, Summary & Flashback 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org
History in a Pint: Railroading 6:30 p.m. Tipsy Mosquito Wine Bar & Lounge, Two Harbors, Feb. 13, Thursday
Annual Fundraising Dinner 5:30 p.m. Dorothy Molter Museum, Ely, rootbeerlady.com Feb. 13-16
Duluth Sport Show Decc, Duluth, duluthsportshow.com
Feb. 13-22
String 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Zeitgeist, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com
Feb. 14, Friday
Valentine’s Day
Boreal Stargazing Week: Documentary Showings 12:30 p.m. Friends of the Boundary Waters, Ely, friends-bwca.org
Free Films on Fridays 6 p.m. Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com
TBSO: Will You Be My Valentine? 6:30 p.m.
The Urban Abbey, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca
Boreal Stargazing Week: Snowshoe Hike 7 p.m. Bass Lake Trailhead, Ely, friends-bwca.org
Feb. 14-18
218 Days Throughout Northern Minnesota, 218days.com
Feb. 15, Saturday
Frozen 4 Hour & 5K 9 a.m. Lester Park, Duluth, duluthwintertrailseries.com
Finland Snowmobile & ATV Club Presents: The Vintage 9:30 a.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, lovinlakecounty.com
Winter Fest 10 a.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, friendsoftettegouche.org
Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Races
11 a.m. Hungry Jack Lodge, Gunflint Trail, facebook.com/cookcountyridgeriders
Ely Nordic Loppet & Hot Cocoa Cup 1 p.m. Hidden Valley Recreation Area, Ely, elynordic.org
Sylvsmidja Jewelry Video & Fika 2 p.m. Nordic Center, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org
Duluth Polar Plunge 2 p.m. Park Point, Duluth, plungemn.org
Candlelight Ski, Snowshoe, or Hike 6 p.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls
Candlelit Ski & Snowshoe 6 p.m. Oberg Mountain Trailhead Parking Lot, Tofte, visitcookcounty.com
Evening Snowshoe 6:30 p.m. Hartley Nature Center, Duluth, friends-bwca.org
Snowed In Comedy Tour 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com
Feb. 15-16
Voyageur Winter Carnival 11 a.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca
Feb. 15-17
Family Fishing Weekend Throughout Ontario, ontariofamilyfishing.com
Feb. 16, Sunday
Pincushion Ski Festival 10 a.m. Pincushion Mountain Trails, Grand Marais, pincushionskiandrun.org
Finland Farmers Market 12:30 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, finlandfarmersmarket.com
Pretty Woman The Musical 6 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org
Feb. 17, Monday PRESIDENTS’ DAY
Family Day
SnowDay on the Waterfront 11 a.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/snowday
Feb. 17-22
Cipollino The Depot Theater, Duluth, minnesotaballet.org
Feb. 18, Tuesday
Aging in Place & Caregiver Support 6 p.m. Aspirus Lake View Conference Center, Two Harbors, 218-834-8024
Taylor Dayne with Tiffany 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org
Colin James: Chasing the Sun Tour 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com
Feb. 19, Wednesday
Writing Workshop: Figurative Language, Sensory Imagery, & More 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org
Feb. 20, Thursday
Art Night Out: Ellen Sandbeck & Tali Margolin 5:30 p.m. Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org
Feb. 20-March 8
The New Canadian Curling Club Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com
Feb. 21, Friday
Cultural Constellations 7 p.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca
Feb. 21-22
TBSO: Jazz Journey 7:30 p.m. Italian Cultural Centre, Thunder Bay, tbso.ca
Feb. 21-23
WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race Ely, wolftrackclassic.com
Feb. 22, Saturday
Duluth Women’s Expo 9:30 a.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org
Intro to Ice Fishing on Lax Lake: Free 10 a.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/Tettegouche
Sundown on the Jasper County Jewel 3 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmaraisplayhouse
Ponyfolk Concert 7 p.m. Duluth-Superior Quaker Friend Meeting Hall, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org
Colter Wall & Friends Tour 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org
Feb. 23, Sunday
Snowshoe Hike to the Cascades 1 p.m. Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche
Marko Topchii: Guitar 3 p.m.
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Duluth, matineemusicale.org
Dinner & Silent Auction with the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists 5 p.m. Current River Community Centre, Thunder Bay, tbfn.net
Feb. 24, Monday
ALS Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. Clearwater Grille, Duluth, alslib.info
Feb. 25, Tuesday
Free Public Lecture: Revolt at the Lakehead 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com
Feb. 26, Wednesday
Cook County SCRAP Society Poetry Workshop 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org
The Price Is Right Live 7:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org
Feb. 26-March 1
FIRST Robotics Regional Competitions Decc, Duluth, decc.org
Feb. 28, Friday
Singing with the Stars 6 p.m. NorShor Theatre, Duluth, duluthplayhouse.org
Free Films on Fridays 6 p.m. Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com
Cultural Constellations 7 p.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca
Feb. 28-March 23
Winter Plein Air Exhibit (Reception Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org
March 1, Saturday
Sleeping Giant Loppet Noon, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Thunder Bay, sleepinggiantloppet.ca
DSSO: Masterworks 5: La Mer 7 p.m. Decc, Duluth, dsso.com
Mondays
Dinner Music with Gordon Thorne 5:30 p.m.
Lofty Gondola: Lutsen Mountains, lutsen.com
Tuesdays
Locals Night with Live Music 4:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us
Community Craft Nights 5:30 p.m.
North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org
Dinner Music with Barbara Jean 5:30 p.m. Lofty Gondola: Lutsen Mountains, lutsen.com
Wednesdays
Game Day for Adults 1 p.m.
Two Harbors Public Library, facebook.com/communitypartnersth
Thunder Bay Country Market 3:30 p.m.
CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca
Songwriter Series 8 p.m. Lofty Gondola: Lutsen Mountains, lutsen.com
Thursdays
The Market at Center Court 11 a.m. Center Court of the Holiday Center, Duluth, downtownduluth.com
Story Time 11 a.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org
Date Night with Live Music 6 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us
Fridays
Victory Chorus 10 a.m.
Community Partners, Two Harbors, facebook.com/communitypartnersth
Timmy Haus 8:30 p.m. Lutsen Mountains, lutsen.com
Wood Week March 11-17
Woodworking Courses Evening Gatherings Carvers’ Conference
218-387-9762 · northhouse.org 500 W Hwy 61, Grand Marais, MN
Renegade Late Night Improv 10 p.m. Zeitgeist Arts, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com
Saturdays
Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca
Apres Ski with Boyd Blomberg 3 p.m. Lofty Gondola: Lutsen Mountains, lutsen.com
What’s for Dinner? 7 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely, wolf.org
Timmy Haus 8:30 p.m. Lutsen Mountains, lutsen.com
Sundays
Winter FunDays 2 p.m. Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/winterfundays
Apres-Ski Music 3 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us
Feb 11, 7:00 PM Arrowhead
By Virginia George
“No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like my kitchen best.” It’s a common sentiment, don’t you think? When I was a kid (and probably an adult) my grandma had a little sign in her kitchen with this saying on it. It’s true. People always seem to gather in the kitchen. Sometimes it’s to help prepare a meal, sometimes to clean up, and sometimes just because that’s where the magic happens. Food brings us together.
And while mealtimes are a great opportunity for connecting with those we love, sometimes the process of getting food from the fridge to the table is a stressful one. Cooking is a skill, and it is not a skill that everyone learns at home. There are mechanisms to teach us to read and write, to drive a car, to do long division and understand the stars, but not much instruction when it comes to cooking outside of the basics. I had a friend in college who did not understand the instruction, “Brown the meat.”
Fortunately, all hope is not lost for those who never learned to cook as a kid, or who want to help their kids learn to cook. For Christmas one year, I signed my oldest son and I up for cooking classes through Community Education and we made a bunch of pasties. We bonded, and we came home with food—win/win! Community Ed is a great way to engage in cooking courses, but we have a few other local options as well. Frosted: Sweets by Jessica offers cookie decorating classes, and A Fine Fit offers seasonal cooking classes to hone your skills in the kitchen.
Making delicious food is part science and part art. Frosted: Sweets by Jessica is here to support your artistic side. Not only does she make exquisite cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and cake pops, but she teaches others to do so as well.
Jessica Kraft hosts pop-up classes at businesses and restaurants throughout the Duluth area. She provides pre-baked cookies and all the supplies you need to make your own beautifully decorated set. Attendees will receive step by step instruction, so no previous experience is necessary.
If that’s not your style, Jessica also offers custom-baked sweets for your event, from birthday parties to weddings and everything in between. Cookies with adorable
and sweet sayings and impeccable design are certainly her forte, baked in her signature brown sugar flavor, or you can choose vanilla, funfetti, chocolate, or lemon. Jessica also makes colorfully decorated unicorn cakes, creatively themed cakes to match your party, and simple-yet-elegant cakes that match any occasion. Each piece is truly a work of art!
Rhonda Bill, the chef at A Fine Fit in Thunder Bay, believes in the importance of connecting over food. She says, “I believe the art of cooking together is getting lost as we prioritize efficiency and tend to outsource much of our cooking to the industry.” Rhonda offers a variety of cooking classes that help attendees reconnect with the art and science of cooking so they can create meaningful experiences in their own homes. In fact, she intentionally scales back her catering business in the winter time to accommodate more opportunities to connect with guests to “break out of their comfort zones and get more creative in the kitchen.”
A Fine Fit offers dinner party styled cooking classes in their studio monthly, generally focusing on a specific ethnic or dietary theme, and in the summer months classes turn to local fare, helping guests learn how to eat within the season, and perhaps take advantage of their home gardens or local farmer’s markets. Additionally, they offer inhome cooking classes, where the chef comes to you.
Besides cooking classes, A Fine Fit offers catering services for weddings and other private events. They offer packages with meals of every kind, from breakfast, brunch, coffee and pastries, to a casual taco bar, or formal dinner of locally-sourced trout, stuffed chicken, or roasted vegetable lasagna. No matter what your event, Rhonda and her team will work to make it perfect (and delicious!).
Perhaps one of the most underrated venues for courses and classes is your local Community Education department. Classes are often taught by local folks who are passionate about what they do, and skilled in the department they choose. If you want to take up bread-making, there is a class for that. There are options for various ethnic themes, dishes like gnocchi or pasties, and even some courses targeted to younger kids. Check out your local Community Ed program for their offerings. If you don’t find something you like, make sure to check back when the next season’s schedule comes out, or perhaps you could consider teaching a class of your own!
Whether you could consider yourself an award-winning chef or not, it is clear that food brings us together, and creating food for your family and friends to gather around is a learned skill. My 12-year-old son is working on a “bachelor merit,” so he made dinner a few weeks ago: easy skillet lasagna. I was on my way home, and he called me two or three times to verify where an ingredient was, and when I got home the meal was done! I took a bite, and quickly a perplexed look crossed my face. It was sweet, with a hint of spice that did not track with an Italian dish. I was perplexed until I saw the jar of marinara sauce still in the cupboard, at which time I became extremely perplexed. I showed it to him, and he said, “I couldn’t find it…Oh yeah, that’s why it tastes sweet—I put barbecue and taco sauce in it instead!” Clearly, we haven’t learned about proper substitutions yet, but I do admire his ingenuity in getting a meal finished and to the table, even if no one really ate it because it was…weird. So, keep the weird away, and consider taking some cooking classes to sharpen your skills, or learn new and creative ways to bring food to your family’s table. Certainly classes will help you to make better choices than substituting barbecue sauce for marinara, so check out Frosted: Sweets by Jessica or A Fine Fit, or your local Community Education department.
By Hartley Newell-Acero
It’s February, and while Valentine hearts are everywhere, how much do you know about this hard-working organ?
Q: How many times a day does your heart beat?
A: Your heart beats more than 100,000 times each day. During an average person’s lifetime, their heart will beat more than 2.6 billion times.
Q: How much blood does your heart pump?
A: With each beat, your heart pumps about a quarter-cup of blood. Every minute, it pumps nearly 1.5 gallons (5.7 liters). Over the course of a day, it moves more than 2,000 gallons.
Q: Why is the location of your heart important?
A: Your heart is just behind and a little to the left-of-center of your breastbone. This placement, and that of your rib cage, offers your heart protection. Because your heart is off-center, your left lung is slightly smaller than your right one.
Q: How is your heartbeat “coordinated?”
A: The two sides of your heart have to work together. “Used” blood flows into the right side, where it is then pumped into your lungs. After being re-oxygenated there, the blood goes back into the left side, so it can be pumped back out to the rest of your body.
Q: What are the only cells in your body
that do not receive oxygen-rich blood from your heart?
A: Your cornea, the clear tissue on the front of your eye, is the only part of your body with no blood vessels. It has to be transparent so that you can see. Your cornea gets nutrients and oxygen from your tears and the liquid inside the eye.
Q: How many miles of blood vessels are in an adult human’s body?
A: About 60,000 miles—enough to circle the Earth’s equator twice.
Q: When do most heart attacks occur?
A: Mondays are the most common day of the week for heart attacks to occur. Christmas Day sees more cardiac deaths than any other day of the year, with December 26 and January 1 coming in second and third.
Q: What motivated the invention of the stethoscope?
A: Modesty. Before the stethoscope, the only way that healthcare providers could listen to someone’s heart was to press an ear directly onto their patient’s chest.
Q: Is there really such a thing as having a “broken heart?”
A: Sort of. “Broken Heart Syndrome” is a brief condition where the heart muscle rapidly weakens after a person experiences a sudden physical or emotional stressor. The burst of stress hormones brought on by the stressful event can temporarily stun the heart muscle, causing symptoms similar to
a heart attack. Regardless of cause, always seek emergency medical help if you have any symptoms of a heart attack:
• Chest pain or pain in other areas of the upper body (one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach).
• Trouble breathing or shortness of breath.
• Unexpected fainting or passing out, or multiple instances where you become dizzy and nearly pass out.
• Heart palpitations.
• An unusually slow or fast heartbeat, or one that skips or adds beats.
• Other signs, such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
• The only way to know what’s causing these symptoms is to have the proper tests run.
Q: How can I take good care of my hard-working heart?
A: Although a few risk factors for heart disease may be out of your control (age, family history, and sex—males are at higher risk), there’s still a lot you can do to reduce your overall risk and protect your heart:
• Quit smoking and vaping.
• Manage your cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Get active and avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
• Get enough good, restorative sleep.
• Watch your weight—too much body fat (especially if it’s around your waist) is a risk factor.
• Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease. Learn about prevention and what you can do to avoid developing it. If you already have diabetes, make sure to get regular check-ups, and do your best to keep blood sugar levels under control.
• Avoid alcohol. Any level of consumption carries risk. If you drink, keep it light and occasional. This gives your body a chance to recover.
• Some stress is unavoidable and can even be beneficial. However, if your stress levels feel like too much, too often, seek out ways to bring it back down.
• Adjust your diet to include mostly vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans/peas, and lean protein. Limit saturated fat, sodium, sugar, and red meat.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans and the leading cause of death worldwide. One in three women are diagnosed with heart disease annually.
NSH would like to reinforce the importance of heart health to ensure that people live longer and healthier.
In most cases, heart disease is preventable when people adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, achieving at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week and getting regular checkups.
NSH offers cardiac rehabilitation, laboratory and diagnostic services, EKGs and more to help you stay heart healthy. Join us in Resolving to get Healthier in 2025!
515 5th Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604 / 218-387-3040 www.NorthShoreHealthgm.org
By Gord Ellis
Lake Superior has an expansive and healthy fishery with something for almost everyone. Yet the two species most available to anglers on the North Shore of Superior are the lake whitefish and the lake herring. These fish are plentiful and are found in all bays. They also are great eating. Here’s some information on how to identify each fish and how to catch them.
The lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) is a plentiful fish in Lake Superior and can top 30 inches and 10 pounds. The average whitefish, however, is 20-22 inches and 4-5 pounds. Whitefish are a bottom dweller and can live in very deep water of 100 feet or more. Whitefish on the feed will often move from the depths into shallower water from 20 to 30 feet or less. Young whitefish eat zooplankton and begin to include small bottom-dwelling insect larvae. As adults, whitefish eat scuds, fingernail clams, snails, midge larvae, and a variety of small fish. In many parts of northern Lake Superior, the larger whitefish will primarily eat smelt. It is not uncommon to open a larger whitefish and find a belly full of smelt ranging from 1-4 inches.
The lake whitefish is a slender, streamlined species with a mouth that is subterminal and a snout that protrudes beyond it. The tail of a whitefish is forked, and they have an adipose fin like trout or salmon. Whitefish are silvery in color with an olive green back. The fins are white, and the tail has a dark edge. Whitefish also have a smell that some say is like a cucumber. The head of a whitefish is small in relation to the length of the body, but it can open its smallish mouth remarkably wide.
Whitefish Fishing Techniques
Lake Superior whitefish are aggressive. This is particularly true at first light. Anglers who have fished them in some of the lower Great Lakes using shiners or small jigs, might be shocked to know how hard Lake Superior fish will smack a 1/2-ounce silver Swedish Pimple or Hopkins Smoothie. Because whitefish are chasing smelt, a silver jigging spoon can do real damage. I’ve also caught whitefish on smaller white tube jigs, especially when they have a small stinger hook off the main jig hook. Use a jig head on the lighter side, like 1/8-ounce to 1/4-ounce. If you want to use a set line with bait, I’d recommend a 2-3-inch minnow on a lightweight jig head or single hook and split
shot. Although I’ve found jigging spoons the most effective technique, a fish or two can be caught on live bait. Shiner minnows are especially effective, where available.
Lake herring (Coregonus artedi) are a vital and ecologically significant fish species in Lake Superior. They play a major role in the lake’s ecosystem as both a prey and predator species.
The lake herring and lake whitefish look similar. However, the lower jaw on a herring protrudes slightly beyond the upper jaw and the upper jaw reaches to the front of the pupil. Herring eat zooplankton, insects, and smaller fish. They are, in turn, the source of protein for lake trout, coaster brook trout, burbot, northern pike, walleye, and salmon. Herring can live up to 20 years and occasionally produce strong year classes that will dominate the fishery. In 2022, the lake herring spawn on Superior was a record breaker, and chinook salmon exploded in size feeding on them (at least on the Canadian side). Quite a difference from the 1940s and 1950s, when overharvest and the arrival of rainbow smelt in Superior sent the herring population spiraling down. However, the slow but steady decline of smelt in Lake Superior has helped herring rebound.
Herring are a slender, silver fish and are known for their schooling behavior. They are often found high in the water column, making them an intriguing target for ice anglers who enjoy sight fishing. It is common to see several dozen herring in a school below a large ice fishing hole. Like whitefish, herring can be quite aggressive.
Lake herring appreciate a little flash and movement, so small spoons of 1/4-ounce or even less can be very effective. I’ve used small Hopkins spoons, Swedish Pimples, and Pilkii spoons with good success. Light jigging spoons with small dropper chains and then a hook with a bead or a pearl can also be effective. The 5/16-ounce VMC Rocker spoon has worked for me, as have a handful of light, silver European spoons.
Very light flutter spoons, like the 2 3/4-inch ACME Super Smelt are deadly when fished on light tackle. The slow flutter and fall of this light spoon triggers herring. I’ll often use perch weight rods and line (2-4-pound test monofilament) when herring fishing, as it allows you to get the most out of the fish. Herring will often take swings at a spoon a few times before they hook up. You will learn how to tease them into striking, especially if you can see them. Just remember
that they will often be closer to the ice than the bottom. That’s why electronics are not as effective when fishing herring as they can be for whitefish. If you don’t like using technology when fishing, herring will be your jam.
Good luck and have fun chasing Lake Superior’s two most prolific winter fish.
Three Cases Featuring Shadwell Rafferty
By Larry Millett
University of Minnesota Press, 2024, $24.95
Fictional detective
Shadwell Rafferty’s last case may have led to his
Tales of Canadian Pacific—The World’s Greatest Travel System
By David Laurence Jones
Heritage House Publishing, 2020, $34.95 CDN
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) has been called the
By Michelle Good
Harper Perennial, 2020, $22.99 CDN
Michelle Good’s debut novel Five Little Indians is a powerful book about the harsh reality of five Indigenous students forced to attend the same Churchrun residential school.
When I wrote a few months back that everything this season should be “easy” compared to last year, because we aren’t training for the Iditarod, I was banking on a normal winter. I was not taking into consideration the possibility that we could have another winter of impossibly difficult training conditions. In my mind, I just had to train dogs. I wasn’t thinking about grooming trails, watching the snow turn to ice and then spending my dog sledding hours hanging on for dear life, while races began postponing for the second year in a row. So much for easy.
December started off well. We had three snowstorms in a row that resulted in us getting on sleds. I was grooming trails as much as I was running dogs in mid-December, trying to get trails opened for training. But it turns out the hurry to open up trails was near-sighted—it warmed up and rained. I took out a 12-dog team, bounced off a rock, tipped over, and lost them. Luckily, Kendra was right behind me and the two of us chased that team a good mile before we
BY ERIN ALTEMUS
found my team stopped because the sled bag had caught on a tree. Conditions only worsened after that. I continued to run smaller and smaller teams. The day after Christmas we ran tours on East Bearskin Lake. A team of six dogs could pull me and a guest on the lake no problem. The dogs could run anywhere they wanted with little snow to impede their progress, and at the start of the first run they almost took me and my guest up and over a dock, luckily veering around it just in time. We also had no handler that day, so my daughter Sylvia ran as co-driver on every tour with Matt and I, at one point charming our tour guest with Christmas carols along the way. That night it rained again, turning the lake to glare ice. We cancelled the next three tour dates.
At home we continued running 6-dog teams in training. I tried running a team with the snowmobile one day, but the snowmobile continuously overheated and I had to stop and let it cool down every 10 minutes. Finally, I tried to turn the team
Mikey says, “So this is what they mean by lake effect snow!” It never stopped snowing while we were in the UP. | ERIN ALTEMUS
tiful. There were no rocks poking through the snow, which was soft and whispered against my sled runners as the dogs cruised along. Matt and I split the teams so that he had the faster dogs and I the trotters, but 20 miles into the course, I saw him up ahead and not much further, I passed him. Later, I found out he had to save another musher early on who was getting dragged under her sled after her team popped the snowhook. That act of heroism took some time and also some oomph out of his team.
around in the middle of the trail, which resulted in Pinto getting loose. We crossed Brule River which was glare ice, and Pinto wouldn’t cross, so I had to leave the team, slide across the Brule in the dark, retrieve Pinto, haul him across the river ice, and let him run home loose in front of the team. Meanwhile, the snowmobile continued to overheat, beeping loudly and obnoxiously for low oil and for low gas. By the time I got home, I vowed to never run dogs with the snowmobile again.
The Gunflint Mail Run was postponed, so Matt and I signed up for a race in Upper Michigan called the Tahquemenon—a twoday stage race. Reportedly they had plenty of snow, which was enough for us to make the 8-hour drive. The race was supposed to be 38 miles the first day and 24 the second, with 10-dog teams, but a deluge of lake effect snow the night before and the morning of the race left the groomer unable to keep up with the trail, so they shortened the course to 30 miles. The trail was quite beau-
Twenty-six miles into the 30-mile run, almost every team missed a right hand turn toward the finish. My team did as well, and within a quarter mile I suddenly had teams coming at me in droves. The general message was that everyone missed a turn, and no one knew where to go. I stopped my team and hooked down, watching the chaos, not really sure who to believe or what to do since no one seemed too sure of themselves. After watching at least 10 teams go by in the opposite direction, I finally decided I’d better follow suit and grabbed my leaders to do the 180-degree turn. It went fine. Soon we made the turn toward the finish.
There was a ton of passing all day. With the missing sign incident, many wanted the times for the day thrown out, but the judges or marshall opted not to. The next day we ran another 30 miles, and I again came in a few minutes ahead of Matt. In the end, my team placed 9th and Matt’s 12th. We had great training, beautiful trails, and some funny stories to tell. The sign debacle didn’t affect our placement much, if at all.
The next day we stayed and did another training run on the same trails for fun. Every day it snowed some more in the UP, and while we were forecast to get a foot of snow at home, that didn’t come to fruition. But we did get enough to soften things up a bit and we are grateful.
Now we have races four weekends in a row in February if they all happen, because if there’s one thing I’m learning about winter these days, it’s that if there’s snow, we’d better be running dogs.
By Deane Morrison MN STARWATCH
In February, the iconic winter stars and constellations reach their prime positions for viewing.
On the 1st, all will be assembled in the east to southeast by nightfall. When March rolls around, they’ll still be up for hours, moving into the southwest to west as midnight approaches.
Lowest and brightest of the bunch is Sirius, in Canis Major, the big dog. Above Sirius, the hourglass form of Orion boasts the bright stars Rigel, his left foot, and Betelgeuse, his right shoulder. Hanging from the three closely spaced stars of his belt, the sword of Orion contains the massive, red-glowing Orion Nebula, where new stars are being born. A smaller nebula, just below the star at the lower left of the belt, contains the famous dark cloud of gas and dust aptly named the Horsehead Nebula.
Above Orion shine two planets: Mars to the upper left and Jupiter to the upper right. Mars is dimming as Earth leaves it behind in the or-
bital race, while Jupiter reigns as the brightest object in the array of winter constellations.
Also on the 1st, look to the southwest at nightfall for brilliant Venus and a young moon. That evening the moon will be at perigee—its closest approach to Earth in a lunar cycle—so its crescent will be on the large side. Below Venus you’ll see Saturn, which is falling and will be lost in the sun’s afterglow by month’s end. In midmonth Venus, too, begins a descent as it embarks on its next trip between Earth and the sun. In the early evening, compare the brightnesses of Venus and Sirius; these objects are, respectively, the brightest planet and the brightest star.
To catch February’s full moon at its roundest, get outside by sunrise on the 12th, because the moon sets in the west shortly thereafter. And, of course, enjoy the moonrises on the evenings of the 11th and 12th.
By Elle AndraWarner
Back in August 2024, my Northern Wilds article “Shorthand Writing: The Cryptic Code of the Past” talked about the hand-written shorthand systems of the past that recorded, for example, historic speeches, parliamentary debates, dialogues, court dramas, and sermons dating back over 2,000 years. It also noted that these days, it is shorthand machines that are replacing the hand-written shorthand used by reporters.
So, what are these shorthand machines, the new “speedwriters of language?” How do they work with only 22 keys? Who uses them? And why have they been compared to playing a piano?
First, some background: The Stenograph (aka Stenotype) are machines used to record the spoken word in stenographic shorthand. The specialized keyboards have only 22 keys while the standard for a computer keyboard is 104 alphanumeric keys. And get this—spoken word is about 150 words per minute (wpm), whereas a stenographer using a steno machine can exceed 300 wpm. Stenography is a specialized skill, completely different from traditional typing, and takes months, perhaps years, to learn.
The first standardized shorthand machine was the Stenograph, invented in 1877 by an official court reporter, Miles Marshall Bartholomew (1844-1933). Originally from Belleville, Wisconsin, he was considered the “Father of the Stenograph.” His first machine was launched in 1879, by his company United States Stenograph Corporation of East St. Louis, Illinois. It had 10 keys that could be pressed one at a time to make a series of dots and dashes on a paper strip, akin somewhat to Morse code. In 1883, he wrote, “The old prejudices against machine stenography are giving way to confidence in and acknowledgement of its superiority over the pen, and the tide of public favor is rising rapidly in the field.”
Moving forward, shorthand machine technology continued to develop and today, it replaces handwritten shorthand in court rooms, conferences, captioning, and more. Training is quite difficult, as is achieving professional status.
Minnesota’s Victoria Dudeck in Aitkin County, certified as a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), describes what’s needed to achieve that RPR designation (a basic credential for steno court reporters). “One must pass a strenuous skills exam wherein we listen to, take down, and transcribe three five-minute dictations, a 180 words per minute literary passage, a 200 wpm jury
Used for recording in shorthand, the stenograph or stenotype machine has a specialized typewriter and chorded keyboard. This one is a Stenograph Stentura 8000 LX (2012). | RA BOE, WIKIPEDIA
charge passage, and a 225 wpm two-voice testimony passage. We have a finite amount of time to transcribe.” She adds, “The transcripts must be at least 95 percent accurate. We are not allowed an audio recording to assist. Then we must pass a strenuous written exam as well.” After achieving the RPR designation, steno court reporters must maintain membership in the professional organization, the National Court Reporters Association, plus every three years complete 30 hours of continuing education.
Dudeck uses two steno machine writers, both precision instruments made by Stenograph. A new steno machine costs about $5,000 and uses specialized and expensive software. “We are constantly programming and altering our software to match our own personal writing style,” said Dudeck. “Each steno reporter, in essence, throughout their career, creates a personal dictionary embedded within their software that allows for real time translation of what they input using their steno writer.”
So, how does someone record human speech on a shorthand machine with only 22 keys? And how is it like playing a piano?
“We do ‘write’ on our steno writers in the same manner one would play the piano,” said Dudeck. “The 22 keys can be depressed individually or in any number of combinations, and the writing is syllables rather than letters. With our left hand, we write the beginning of a syllable, our right hand writes the ending sound, and our thumbs write the middle portion. By doing this, we are able to write at high speeds, and our hands actually don’t move any
The first successful mechanical machine for shorthand, the 10-key Stenograph, was invited in 1877 and launched in 1879 by court reporter Miles M. Bartholomew, who became known as the “Father of the Stenograph.” | MARTIN HOWARD, WIKIMEDIA
faster than a good typist’s hands do. We utilize something that we call briefs, which are basically short forms of long words or phrases. So, for example, with one stroke I can write the phrase ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ by stroking the letter combination of YORD on my writer.”
Interestingly, the steno machine’s keyboard layout is laid out to enable pressing multiple keys at the same time to form “chords” (aka syllables), akin to playing musical chords on a piano. According to the Art of Chording website, chording is the “key to capturing speech at lightning speed.”
Besides being used in courtroom and legal proceedings, steno machines are used by Closed Captioners (e.g. text on TV) and Captioners for Communication Access
Realtime Translation (CART) delivered either remotely or on location. Other places, for example, are at stadiums providing live captions on a Jumbotron (massive screens), music festivals, concerts, or at events like the Indy 500 or the Oscars during press conferences. Steno reporters also volunteer with the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress Folklife Center to transcribe interviews of veterans about their military experience.
“Our primary role is to capture the record being made. I love being able to use my skills to help others better understand and process what is happening in a proceeding, a deposition, or a conversation,” said Dudeck, adding, “Memorializing important events is so important to the human experience.”
Charming recently renovated cabin with new kitchen, 3/4 bath, Murphy bed and large decks. A mini-split provides year-round cabin comfort. The stunning views, underneath the towering pines, is classic wilderness lake front. Desirable north shore lot is ready to use with new dock with benches, solar boat lift and cover, including a pontoon boat, motor and trailer. Furnishings and newer appliances included.
MLS#6117479 $519,000
CARRIAGE HOUSE/ GARAGE – PORTAGE LAKE
Mid-Gunflint Trail lakeshore, 1 bedroom apartment above garage on 5.24 acres. Apartment is ready to move in. The 233 feet of shoreline is ready to launch your wilderness adventure. Portage Lake has direct access to the BWCAW by portage, good trout fishing, and no easy public access.
MLS#6116510 $285,000
PORTAGE LAKE –MID-TRAIL LAKE LOT
Wilderness serenity surrounds you. Direct access to the BWCAW, or just enjoy it from your deck. 5.13 acre lot, 400 feet of accessible lakeshore, nice building sites amid typical boreal forest landscapes. Huge rock faced cliff guards a pond, deep forest and pristine lake views.
MLS#6116512 $209,000
Red Pine custom crafted log cabin tucked into a stand of peaceful woods. Easy access to Mid-Trail lakes and recreational opportunities. Enter the home through the light filled sunroom and enjoy the wooded views throughout. Each space has ample windows and the vaulted ceiling gives this home a more spacious feel. Enjoy a fire in the wood stove or let the forced air system do the work for you. One bedroom home plus a loft and a full walkout basement.
MLS#6117406 $425,000
WILDERNESS PRIVACY LOG HOME –PORTAGE LAKE
Pristine 20 acres, 2500+ feet of Portage Lake shore, unique Mid-Gunflint Trail location. Surrounded by Superior National Forest & BWCA. Beautiful full-log home, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, porch, 2-car garage and gardens. Peninsula, privacy and views. Pristine location on quiet wilderness lake.
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 $259,000
Stunning 130-acre expanse featuring nearly 4000 feet of shoreline. Located 40 miles from Grand Marais in the popular "Mid-Trail" area with access to lodges, restaurants and outfitters. Property has mixed zoning: Lakeshore Residential with a 1-acre minimum and Forest/Agriculture Residential, with a 5-acre minimum. Potential for development, splitting off s ome parcels or preserving as a private retreat.
MLS#6117248 $1,200,000
A charming gambrel style home nestled in the woods within an easy drive from Grand Marais or Grand Portage. The house has all the comforts of home with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, large rooms and an upper loft area. There are trails through the woods or head to the garage with plenty of s pace to pursue a hobby.
MLS#6116783
$349,900
This could be the most impressive private land in Cook County. Situated 300 feet above Lake Superior, the views rival those at Pincushion Mountain. The 40 acres is surrounded by county & federal land with the Superior Hiking Trail running through the SE corner. Historically known as the Jagerhaus Bed & Breakfast. An opportunity to create something new after a fire in 2023. The foundation and other buildings remain. Visitors are required to be accompanied by a licensed real estate agent.
MLS#6116536 $600,000
Nestled along Cascade Beach Road, this charming oneroom cabin offers an idyllic retreat with 93 feet of private Lake Superior ledge rock shoreline. Inside, you’ll find a cozy space featuring a stone fireplace, warm wood floors, and a compact loft for additional sleeping. Unwind on the inviting 3-season porch, where you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic sunrises and the shimmering waters of the lake. The ledge rock is incredibly accessible, and you will spend hours pondering life at the lake, while listening to the waves roll in, it just doesn’t get any better. Ideally located in Lutsen, just minutes from golfing, skiing, hiking, and biking trails, as well as countless opportunities for fishing and canoeing, this rustic cabin is the perfect home base for all your North Shore adventures.
MLS 6117188 $579,900
Looking for a stunning Cascade Beach Road retreat? This Scandinavian inspired 3BR/2BA home on 200’ of Lake Superior shoreline is it! Whether you dream of waves lapping on the ledge rock shoreline, the moonlight glistening on night waters, or vibrant painted sky sunrises, this property does not disappoint. The well-appointed kitchen with granite counters and maple cabinetry is open to a lovely dining room complete with a fireplace and an amazing expanse of windows framing a spectacular lake view. The living room boasts custom built-ins, a cozy atmosphere, and patio doors that open to the lakeside deck. The spacious primary bedroom is a true sanctuary, with vaulted ceiling, skylights, and panoramic view of the lake. A walk-in closet and luxury bath with 2-pereson jetted tub plus walk-in shower completes the suite. The property includes a 2-stall garage with an attic space.
MLS 6117163 $1,295,000
Dreaming of luxurious log home living on over 300 feet of pristine Poplar Lake shoreline? Look no further! This exquisite custom-built home features 4 bedrooms and 4bathrooms, complemented by a massive, attached garage. This home features a gourmet kitchen, inviting living spaces, a spacious library, and a bonus room. This property combines elegance, functionality, and breathtaking natural beauty for the ultimate lakeside living experience. With direct BWCA access, close proximity to many quality restaurants, this is a premier location. MLS 6116128 $1,595,000
Welcome to your private retreat nestled on 10 acres, with abundant national forest land just beyond your doorstep. This charming 3BR/2BA home offers 1,846sqft of inviting living space. Inside discover a warm and welcoming interior featuring vaulted ceilings and expansive windows. The open floor plan connects the kitchen, dining, and living areas. Cozy up on chilly fall evenings by the woodstove. The 2+ stall garage offers ample room for vehicles and workshop area.
MLS 6115762 $425,000
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
This delightful 4BR/2BA farmhouse blends rustic appeal with modern living, set on 20+ acres with mature trees and a serene pond. Inside, it features an open entry, spacious living room, versatile bedroom/office, and a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Enjoy a cozy screened porch, large second-floor bedroom with walk-in closet, and a three-season porch with wood stove. A vintage log cabin adds historical charm, all just miles from Grand Marais.
MLS 6116800 $499,900
Great location for your recreational getaway or year-round home! Just minutes to downtown Grand Marais. Driveway, garage and well already on site.
MLS 6117320 $129,900
Exceptional 26+ acre property nestled on the scenic Bally Creek Road, with the Cascade River flowing right through it. Offering unparalleled privacy, this land directly adjoins state and federal land on three sides. The gently rolling topography will easily accommodate your planned cabin or camp site. Access the river for a perfect spot to cool off during summer months or just relax and enjoy sounds of the rushing water.
MLS 6117080 $175,000
2025
Thankfully, one thing is for certain. We’re grateful to live and play in a part of the world that steadily holds its appeal and its many forms of value. It always provides a respite to us and holds its doors to the
Reach out if you’d like to discuss all things real estate. We appreciate you!
Bent Paddle Brewing
Burger Paradox
Canal Park Brewing Company
Canal Park Lodge
Co-op: Denfeld
Co-op: Hillside
DeWitt Seitz
Dove Tail Coffee
Edgewater Hotel
Grandma’s
Hampton Inn
Hungry Hippie Taco Inn on Lake Superior
Keyport Liquor
Lester Park Info Center
Lift Bridge Lodge
Mount Royal
OMC
Pier B
Sara’s Table
Super One Miller Hill
Super One West
Duluth
The Suites Hotel TWO HARBORS
AmericInn
Betty’s Pies
Candy Kitchen*
Larsmont Cottages
R.J. Houle Info Center
Rustic Inn
Castle Danger Brewery
Cedar Coffee Company
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Northern Wilds is distributed freely at over 150 locations from Duluth to Nipigon, Ont. You can also subscribe or
Superior Shores
Super One
Tom’s Logging Camp
VACATION CONDO ON THE
This condo is part of Caribou Highlands Resort situated on the ski runs at Lutsen Mountains! Very functional lay out – listed as a 1 bedroom, but there is bonus loft sleeping area, full kitchen, full bathroom on each level and deck overlooking the outdoor pool and Moose Mountain, along with Lake Superior. End unit on the upper floor. Great opportunity to own a North Shore retreat free of hassle. MLS#6117492
Hike,
or
your front door in to the Superior National Forest, with a spur trail to cross country ski trails nearby! An outdoor enthusiasts dream home, close to everything the North Shore offers!
MLS# 6115360 $549,000 PRICE REDUCED
CREATE YOUR OWN GETAWAY ON THE PIKE
LAKE ROAD!! Prime location north of Babineau Corner – out in the wonderful woods of the Superior National Forest! Yet not too far to Grand Marais and all the fun and doins’ there! Cabin is all about functionality and creating memories! Two bunkbeds make this place the ideal deer camp, family getaway, or open it up and make the place a studio for dreaming big and making stuff! Big ‘ol deck for BBQing, bird-watching, aurora borealis viewing, or just watching the sunsets each day… heck take a nap. Spacious shed keeps all the tools and a Legitimate, tidy outhouse. North side of lot has a good build site, well away from the cabin. 13+ acres of elbow room and “plays” even larger, abutting public land on the north side. The SW corner “kisses” public land, too. Come have a look: dream a bit and get going on that vision of realigning with your goals, the plan of getting a foothold Up North!
LUTSEN’S OZ! YOU’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE… AND THIS DREAM IS REALITY!
MLS#6116829 $169,000 SOLD SOLD SOLD
MLS#6116947 $199,000
MLS#6115382 $495,000
CUTE CABINS TUCKED AWAY IN THE WOODS OF GRAND MARAIS!
ENJOY THE QUIET LIFE IN FINLAND! Settle in and enjoy the sounds of the woods on 15 acres. This property connects directly to snowmobile trail, making it ideal spot for the outdoor winter enthusiast and is on a county road! The backside of the property has a pond and marsh, great area to see the local wildlife!
MLS#6116819 $49,000
EXPLORE THE WILDERNESS IN FINLAND!
What a great spot for your vacation getaway cabin!! This lot has great views 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 Summertime 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! 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 a year round plowed road and the Association plows the roads within the development! This is a great opportunity to build your dream getaway!
MLS#6113406 $60,000
OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST’S DREAM AT NINEMILE LAKE! Start enjoying your Inland Lake Dream! This lot was 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
NEW! SAVOR NATURE AT TAIT LAKE!
Amongst the Tait Lake Pines in Lutsen, at the end of the road, is this nearly three acre lot. Feels larger as it abuts miles of public lands to the south and dedicated open space to the east. Current owners have provided a good start with clearing, dirt-work preparation and building sites. Great Location close enough to all the fun: skiing at Lutsen Mts, golf at Superior National, paddling the BWCA, hike Eagle Mt. 2 private HOA docks provide access to Tait Lake. Come get your foothold in the cool north, living life in a Lakeland wilderness.
MLS#6116905 $92,500
LUTSEN PARCEL- MOUNTAIN OR LAKE VIEW – YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE! Over 5 acres of high ground overlooking Tait Lake in Lutsen. Nice views of Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Minnesota and High views of Tait Lake, framed by mature old growth White Pines. Year-round access, power at the build site and lake access available to Tait Lake owners via 2 HOA docks!
MLS# 6117010 $95,000
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. Visit today and start your dream of enjoying the North Shore! MLS#6114386 $111,000 PRICE REDUCED
NEW! BEAUTIFUL, REMOTE 40 ACRES WITH DRAMATIC LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS! Close to Grand Marais, part of Murphy Mountain, off the Bally Creek Rd. Access road in place. Subdivision possible or keep whole as a dreamy preserve and home site. Abuts miles of public land! Price reflects incredible vibe, views, solitude and grandeur! Make it your own. MLS#6117131 $400,000
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! Plenty of elbow room to expand the mind and soul. Get away from it all! MLS#6113905 $62,000 PRICE REDUCED
I was at home when I saw a female ruffed grouse eating the last of the mountain ash berries in a tree outside. A second female grouse was in the spruce tree behind it, and at the base of the spruce was a male ruffed grouse in full display. You see this regularly in the spring and fall when the males are competing for the females, but this is the first time I have witnessed a male displaying in the winter. He was definitely trying to impress the females who didn’t seem to be paying attention.— Paul Sundberg
•
•
•
•
• Ski passes available to cabin guests at no
• Ski and snowshoe rental available for all ages
• 1.5km lit trail for night skiing
