Northern Adventures

ICE FISHING ON THE

Iron Range

THE HEALING

POWERS

of Soup

IT'S ICE SKATING

Season

ADVENTURE

ON THE SNOWMOBILE

HOW TO SPOT THE

WARNING SIGNS OF

FROSTBITE &

HYPOTHERMIA

trails Winter 2021

Virginia Dial-A-Ride $1.75/ride or $32.50/unlimited monthly pass AVAILABLE 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY; 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. SATURDAY; & 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M. SUNDAY

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(800) 862-0175 opt. 1 www.arrowheadtransit.com

ALISON STANAWAY

Welcome to the winter edition of Northern Adventures.

I think we can all agree that this has been one long winter, especially in the midst of the worldwide pandemic.

Take a little break from it all and enjoy stories about winter in the Northland. We’re lucky to live here where our winter wonderland offers spectacular outdoor opportunities. As one writer states, “we might as well bundle up and enjoy the white stuff.”

Two stories sure to warm your heart focus on sledding and celebrating in style, highlighting special winter family traditions.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From articles on ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating and hockey, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Another good winter pastime is making soup as you read the article entitled the healing powers of soup along with some tasty recipes.

Cover photo by Zach Diede

We’ve also included an important insight on frostbite and hypothermia, good information to have on hand.

From all of us here at Northern Adventures, our very best wishes to you and yours. Get out and enjoy the fresh air and breathe. Here’s to a very healthy and happy 2021.

Take care, Alison Stanaway

BRACE YOURSELF

A SMILE IS THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF CONNECTION People who smile often appear more likable and competent, developing stronger interpersonal skills and healthier social bonds. Let’s bridge the gaps.

Schedule a free consultation at arrowheadorthodontics.com or 218-722-4484 Duluth | Superior | Two Harbors | Hibbing | Virginia | International Falls

No referral needed.

LIVE LIFE SMILING

About Us

©NMNGirlfriends 2021 Published 2021 by APG Media of Minnesota, LLC 704 7th Ave. S. Virginia, MN 55792 218-741-5544

Publisher: Alison Stanaway

Editor: Lori Luukkonen

Contributing Writers: Lee Bloomquist Marie Tolonen Lori Luukkonen Ben Romsaas Valerie Hernandez

12

Lora Langowski Jesse White

Creative Designer: Lora Langowski

Contributing Photographers:

26

30

CONTENTS The Healing Powers of Soup.................................................................6 tasty recipes

Lora Langowski Mark Sauer Photography & Fine Art

Sledding in the Northland.................................................................... 12

Zach Diede

a family tradition

Deana Mikolich

Celebrating in Style...................................................................................18 connecting with family Local Doctor Gives Insight............................................................................22 on frostbite and hypothermia Keeping Outdoor Rinks .....................................................................26 running smoothly Ice Fishing ........................................................................................30 it's all about family and friends Explore Northern Minnesota..............................................................36 the premier destination for snowmobiling

36

1121 SPUDVILLE ROAD (HWY 169) • HIBBING HOURS: MON - FRI 7AM - 5PM • SAT 7AM - 2PM (218) 262-1966 LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Enjoy un Winter F New with the nco Ford Bro Sport!

Lundgren’s

HWY 53, EVELETH MN • www.lundgrenford.com • 1-800-662-5745 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 5

6 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

By Lori Luukkonen ON A COLD WINTER’S DAY AFTER AN AFTERNOON OF ICE FISHING, SNOWMOBILING OR SHOVELING, WHAT BETTER WAY TO WARM UP THAN TO ENJOY A NICE BOWL OF HOT SOUP?

Making homemade soup is one of my favorite pastimes.

It’s a great way for me to relax. I find soup making therapeutic; chopping up vegetables, simmering the broth and adding just the right mix of seasonings and bouillon act like a stress reliever for me.

No soup I make is ever the same, and that’s what makes it fun. I like to make variations of chicken soup, for example.

When I have leftover rotisserie chicken, sometimes I’ll make chicken vegetable barley or chicken rice with lentils and potatoes or chicken vegetable or the old favorite chicken noodle.

The best part about making soup is you can change it up every time and add a little of this and a little of that and create your own masterpiece.

Then make it a nutritious meal by adding a side salad or some crackers and cheese or a sandwich.

Soup is good for you

Soup definitely has medicinal benefits.

During the winter, it’s important to keep yourself hydrated. People tend to lose fluids through daily activities and exercise, and since soups contain a lot of liquid, they’re a great way to stay hydrated and full.

Soups also give your immune system a boost. Soups can help you fight off colds and flus, and they just make you feel better when you’re sick. Most soups are loaded with disease-fighting nutrients. In fact, studies show that chicken soup in particular can help prevent the common cold, especially if you load it up with fresh garlic, onions, celery and carrots. (They all contain powerful immuneboosting chemicals.) A bonus: the hot liquid helps soothe a sore throat. I also add turmeric to chicken soup which helps reduce inflammation and adds a nice tint of orangey/yellow color to chicken soups. Adding chives,

dill weed, parsley, chopped celery hearts and celery leaves also increases the healthiness of your soup. You can prepare healthy soups by reducing the amount of salt you use and adding fresh herbs for flavoring.

Another tip I’ve learned is how to get the excess grease off of the top of your soup. Drop a few ice cubes into the pot.

The excess fat will stick to the cold ice cubes and then you can remove them with a slotted spoon.

Most soups serve as a great vehicle to meet your daily quota for veggies. Take advantage of the vegetables you have on hand and throw them into your soup. In the summer, you might have an abundance of carrots, cabbage, parsnips, turnips, butternut squash and kale from your garden. Try them in your soup. If you have produce that’s about to pass its prime, tossing them into a soup recipe can give them new life. You can even drop frozen vegetables into boiling broth without compromising taste or texture. Sometimes, I like to add a fresh cob of corn into my broth and let that boil and simmer with the rest of the ingredients; it adds a good taste.

Then when you take it out, you just take the kernels off the cob with a knife and throw them back into the soup.

Stirring up good memories

When I make soup, I don’t know if it’s the mindless chopping that takes me back to a variety of memories that makes me enjoy it so much, or sometimes it allows me to forget about any troubles and think of nothing but the prospect of how good the soup will taste.

I find myself reflecting on cherished memories that involved good times around making soup.

From creamy potato, split pea, and navy bean to chicken barley, chicken noodle, beef barley, hamburger barley, French onion, cream of broccoli, cheesy cauliflower and wild rice, soup options are endless.

Soup also freezes well. You can whip up a batch on the weekend and store half in the freezer to enjoy later. If you’re feeling under the weather or too busy to cook one night, just go to your freezer and pull out some homemade soup.

N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 7

WHAT’S ON THE MENU TONIGHT? SOUP! EASY CHEESY WILD RICE SOUP •

¾ cup wild rice with 1½ cups water.

Simmer for 45 minutes or until water is gone.

(I use 1 cup of wild rice with 2 cups of water, gets nice and thick.)

• ½ pound of fried bacon cut into pieces

(I put the whole pound in) • ½ cup sauteed onions chopped

(or more if you like) • 2 cans cream of potato soup (10-3/4 oz. each) •

½ soup can water, ½ soup can milk (or you can use one whole can of chicken broth instead or combination)

• 1 quart whole milk •

2 ½ cups shredded American cheese

•

1 teaspoon white pepper if you have it; otherwise, black pepper works fine

Combine wild rice and water in a saucepan; cook over low heat for 45 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Fry bacon pieces and onion in skillet until bacon is crisp. Drain bacon and onion on paper towels.

Place canned soup in large saucepan. Add ½ can each of water and milk. Stir in 1 quart of milk, bacon, onion, cooked rice and white pepper.

Add cheese, stir until cheese is melted.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.

8 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

CAULIFLOWER-CHEESE SOUP •

1 Tbsp. unsalted butter

•

Salt and pepper

•

1 Tbsp. olive oil

•

1 cup whole milk

•

1 medium onion, chopped

•

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

•

2 cloves garlic, minced

•

1 large head cauliflower, coarsely chopped

•

1½ cups shredded sharp or extra sharp white cheddar

•

4 cups low sodium chicken broth

•

Croutons for serving, optional

In a large pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add cauliflower and broth, season with salt and pepper and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until cauliflower is very tender, about 20 minutes.

Remove from heat, let cool slightly. Working in batches, puree soup in blender. Return soup to clean pot; stir in milk and mustard. Bring back to a simmer over medium heat. Add cheese and stir until cheese has melted (do not boil). Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with additional cheese or croutons, if desired.

Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 35 minutes. Serves: 8

HAMBURGER BARLEY SOUP •

1 pound lean ground beef

•

¼ chopped onion

•

1 cup chopped celery

•

1 cup chopped carrots

•

1 cup chopped cabbage

•

1-28 oz. can tomatoes, undrained

•

28 oz. water

• •

⅓ cup uncooked barley 4 teaspoons beef bouillon base (concentrate)

•

½ tsp. basil

•

½ tsp. thyme

•

Salt and pepper to taste

•

1 tablespoon brown sugar

•

2 teaspoons vinegar

In a kettle or Dutch oven, brown beef just until no longer pink. Add remaining ingredients, except the brown sugar and vinegar. Cover, bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat. Simmer one hour. Add brown sugar and vinegar.

N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 9

CORN AND CHEESE CHOWDER •

4 tbsp. (½ Stick) Butter

•

3 c. Chicken Stock Or Broth

•

1 whole Onion, Chopped

•

2 c. Half-and-half

•

3 slices Bacon, Cut Into Pieces

•

1 c. (heaping) Grated Monterey Jack

•

3 whole Bell Peppers, Finely Diced (Red, Yellow, Orange)

•

1 c. (heaping) Pepper Jack

•

5 ears Corn, Kernels Sliced Off

•

⅓ c. Sliced Green Onions

•

¼ c. All-purpose Flour

•

Bread Bowls

In a large pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook onions for a couple of minutes. Add bacon and cook for another minute or so, then add diced bell peppers and cook for a couple of minutes. Finally, add corn and cook for a minute.

Sprinkle flour evenly over the top and stir to combine. Pour in broth and stir well. Allow this to thicken for 3 or 4 minutes, then reduce heat to low. Stir in half-and-half, then cover and allow to simmer/thicken for 15 minutes or so.

Stir in cheeses and green onions. When cheese is melted and the soup is hot, check seasonings. Add salt and pepper as needed.

Ladle into hollowed out bread bowls and serve immediately.

BEEF BARLEY SOUP •

1 teaspoon canola oil

•

¼ head of green cabbage, chopped

•

1 small onion, chopped

•

⅓ cup pearl barley

•

3 carrots, peeled and chopped

•

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

•

2 ribs celery, chopped

•

2 teaspoons onion powder

•

4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth

•

½ teaspoon crushed celery seed

•

8 oz. lean sirloin steak, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces

•

½ teaspoon oregano

•

15-ounce can of low-sodium diced tomatoes

•

Black pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, sauté onion in canola oil over medium heat until soft. Add carrots and celery and sauté 5-10 minutes. Add broth, meat, tomatoes, cabbage, barley, parsley, onion powder, celery seed, oregano and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Variation on beef barley soup: Use leftover roast beef and put in pot with below and boil, then simmer: • Parsley

• 1 cup diced potatoes

• 4 cups fat free beef broth

• Beef bouillon

• 1 medium onion/diced

• 30 oz. can crushed tomatoes

• Beef broth

• 3 ribs celery/diced

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 medium turnip/diced

• ½ cup uncooked barley

10 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

HAM AND POTATO SOUP •

⅓ cup unsalted butter

•

⅓ cup all-purpose flour (plain flour)

•

1 cup large carrot peeled and diced

•

2 cups low sodium chicken stock (or broth)

•

½ cup diced celery

•

2 teaspoons chicken bouillon

•

3 cups peeled and diced potatoes

•

3 cups milk (whole milk or 2%)

•

4 cloves garlic minced or finely chopped

•

pinch of salt, if needed (adjust to your taste)

•

1 onion finely chopped

•

fresh cracked black pepper

•

1½ cups cooked ham, diced (add more if desired)

Heat the butter in a pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, celery until beginning to soften (about 4 minutes or so).

Add the ham and potatoes, cook for 2 minutes; then add the garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 30 seconds).

Mix the flour through and cook for 2 minutes.

Stir in stock and bouillon, mixing all ingredients together. Increase heat and bring to a boil until potatoes are just fork tender, about 10 – 12 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium low, add the milk and stir over the heat until thickened (about 5 minutes).

Taste test and season with salt and pepper, if desired.

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP 1). 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts

(or leftover rotisserie chicken, chicken thighs, etc.)

GREEN SPLIT PEA SOUP •

1 lb. dry Green Split Peas

•

1 Tablespoon olive oil

3). Quarter one onion

•

¼ pound smoked ham, diced (smoked ham hocks and use some diced ham too)

4). Cut ⅓ top of celery for leafy part

•

1 small onion chopped

5). Boil above for two hours

• •

3 celery ribs, diced 1 teaspoon minced garlic

•

1 medium carrot, diced

•

Chicken bouillon

•

Salt and pepper

2). Put in soup pot full of water

6). Skim fat off 7). Take chicken out/shred or dice meat 8). Add 4 to 5 big carrots, diced 9). Add some diced celery 10). 3 Tablespoons chicken base (Gourmet Award) 11). Add chicken back in.

12). Boil noodles before adding into soup.

Sort and rinse peas. In a 6 to 8 quart pot, heat oil and add ham, onion, garlic and carrots, cooking 5 minutes. Add 6 cups of water, peas, bouillon and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until peas are tender. Add more hot water if necessary. Season to taste.

13). Cook ½ hour on simmer Lori Luukkonen is a freelance writer living on East Bass Lake in Cotton with her husband Mike.

N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 11

By Valerie Hernandez MINNESOTANS ARE KNOWN AS SOME OF THE TOUGHEST PEOPLE OUT THERE. IF YOU’VE LIVED THROUGH EVEN ONE WINTER IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, YOU’RE LIKELY TO AGREE WITH THIS OBSERVATION. Each year, this land of snow and ice encapsulates us in its frigid and unpredictable grasp.

Many of us adopt the “grin and bear it” mentality as the season of windshield-scraping and slush-shoveling drags on. However, in the midst of the not-so-fun aspects of winter, we’ve learned that we might as well bundle up and find ways to enjoy the white stuff. A lake riddled with ice houses, the familiar buzz of a snowmobile and the tracks left by a cross-country skier are all signs of a joy that can only be found in the cold. For my family, this joy is found in a 20-year-old backyard tradition.

12 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

At five years old, anything outdoors was fun. The yard was big, and my imagination was bigger. When my extended family came to our house for Christmas in 2000, I’m sure I expected to recruit a couple volunteers to spend an hour or two in the snow with me. Maybe we’d build a snowman or throw a few snowballs. There was no way to know that what would ensue instead would be the start of a yearly highlight for our entire family.

It was my uncles, Jon and Joe, who first started brainstorming. They took a look at the hill in my parents' backyard and thought, “What if…”. Hours later, a makeshift ramp had been formed at the top of the slope, with a slippery track making its way down to our pond.

I had become the “test pilot” for the sledding adventure we were spontaneously embarking on. Using a five dollar

plastic saucer that had been buried in our shed, I waited for my uncles to give the signal, and off I went. I slid down that hill and ran right back up countless times, as the treads of my saucer formed the tracks for our slide. Before long, my older siblings, cousins and all the adults were joining in too. As the night went on, the track got faster, and the squeals got louder. As we hung up our snow clothes to drip dry that night, we couldn’t wait for day two.

Day two turned into year two, as the next Christmas found us ready with more shovels and sleds to enhance our sledding experience.

We began experimenting with ways to make the slide better.

Twenty years later, that experiment hasn’t stopped.

One regular change has been in the mode of transportation. In the early years, we used plastic saucers and toboggans. We soon learned that these tend to dig into the track and are much less forgiving in crash landing scenarios. So we switched to something softer: blowup tubes from L&M were the perfect solution! That is, until we began having to regularly lay them to rest in their trash can coffins as a result of slow leaks or, in some cases, more explosive situations. Nothing kills the party like all of your sleds going flat, so, in recent years, we’ve found the investment in more durable tubes to be worth the extra bucks. The tubes used these days are similar to those used at the Giants Ridge sledding hill. More money upfront, but less trips to the store for replacements. And a much more comfortable ride for all ages.

There’s also been many changes to the track itself.

We’ve certainly gotten less subtle in our location and design.

We used to make the track on the very edge of the backyard.

Back then, we’d have to take a chainsaw to the brush at the bottom of the hill to ensure a safe landing. Eventually, we opted for a more front and center location. The track now runs through an obstruction-free zone in the middle of the yard. The starting ramp has gotten a few makeovers as well.

A packed pile of snow provided a bit of an extra boost, but the need for speed prompted design changes. After a few years, my uncle Jon decided to ditch the shovel and grab the

N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 13

hammer and nails. He built a wooden ramp that remained stationary throughout the year. When the snow fell, all it took was a little packing and forming to get us a much bigger start. This was sufficient for a while, but we soon opted for a bigger platform with stairs leading up to it.

The satisfaction with this model lasted a bit longer, but by 2017, we bumped things up another level. That fall, Jon grabbed his tools again. And this time, he wasn’t messing around. The ramp that we have today is quite the sight.

With upgraded stairs and a starting point long enough to accommodate a train of five tubes, we’ve found ourselves more than content... Well, for now anyway.

The bumps, banks, ramps and sleds are not the only things that have evolved through the years. Our family has grown and changed. Little ones have been born.

Boyfriends, girlfriends, spouses, and friends have been

14 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

added to the mix. And what once used to happen only around Christmas now occupies three or four weekends a year.

I’ve long since passed the test pilot baton to my younger cousins. As a member of the “always cold” club, my time spent outdoors during our sledding sleepovers has waned a bit through the years. But what never changes is the sense of togetherness and adventure we experience during these times. The more I’ve reflected on our sledding tradition, the more I realize it has very little to do with where we slide or what we slide down on. It’s about four generations of family joining in on the same activity. Watching Grandpa ride down with his grandkids and great grandkids. Late night laughs, hoots and hollers and hot cider and board games inside the house as our noses and toes thaw out. Singing and catching snowflakes on our tongues on the way back up the hill. Yelling “Grab my feet!” as the tube in front of us starts slipping away.

Memorable wipeouts and hilarious footage.

While there’s plenty of activities to choose from in this winter wonderland we call home, nothing beats those done with family and friends. I’m forever grateful for that first Christmas, when an experiment with a shovel and saucer turned into a journey that is still twisting and turning to this day.

Valerie Hernandez is an aspiring writer living in Ely, Minn.

She enjoys playing the guitar and exploring the great outdoors with her husband Tony.

EAST RANGE Holy Spirit Church

306 S 2nd St., Virginia • 741-6344 Fr. Brandon Moravitz WEEKEND MASS TIMES CONFESSIONS Saturday........................4:30 p.m.

Monday & Sunday .....8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday..................4:30 p.m.

DAILY MASS TIMES Saturday ..........................3:00 p.m.

Monday & Wednesday ...............5:30 p.m.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Tuesday & Tuesday & Thursday Thursday................... 8:30 a.m. .....................9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Marquette Catholic School 20-21 school year -- PreK - 7th grade PARISH OFFICE

Trinity

Lutheran Church 231 2nd St. SE, Cook, MN 55723 • 218-666-5965 Pastor Erika Foss

Worship Service and Holy Communion 9:30 a.m.

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. | Closed Fridays Memorial-Labor Day

Worship with us online!

Please call the parish for Holy Day and liturgical season time changes.

Service broadcast on Facebook and YouTube

www.holyspiritvirginia.com

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA

Aurora United Methodist Church

110 East Fourth Avenue, N. Aurora, MN 55705 218-229-2113

Pastor Barbara Hegfors Sunday Worship at 10:30 am

301 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Hoyt Lakes, MN 55750 218-225-2715

FIRST COVENANT CHURCH 3rd Avenue W. at 5th Street S., Virginia 741-7117 www.firstcovenantvirginia.org Pastor Dennis Anders

Rev. Charles Barnes

Worship Worship Service Service

10:0010:30 am • am Drive In Broadcasting to parking lot and Hoyt LakesDrive on 88.1 In FM Summer

We Are opeN! Worship service 9:30 a.m.

Holy Communion Weekly

Handicapped Accessible

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church - LCMS 6959 Hwy 169, Virginia 218-741-1977 Pastor Don Stauty

Service Time 9:00 am Communion every Sunday

Redeemer Lutheran Church - LCMS 500 W Central Ave, Aurora, MN 218-229-3208 or 218-741-1977 Pastor Don Stauty

Service Time 11:00 am Communion every Sunday

Both churches have a plan for social distancing and safe distribution of communion.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD

Pastor Brad Felix Worship Service: Sunday Mornings, 9:00 a.m.

Holy Communion 1st & 3rd Sundays

We are following Covid guidelines.

Check out our new website at tlcvirginiamn.com

900 S 13th St., Virginia • 218-741-1911

Faith United Lutheran Church 8964 Hwy 37 • Iron, MN 55751 218-744-2784 http://www.faithunitediron.org Reverend Christina Kadelbach

Worship Service Time: Sundays 9:30 a.m.

Holy Communion: 1st and 3rd and Festival days Messiah Lutheran Church, ELCA

8590 Enterprise Dr. S. Mountain Iron (218) 741-7057 www.messiahmtiron.org Deacon Kari Olson

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, ELCA 1111 8th St. South Virginia (218) 741-6207 www.oslcmn.com Pastor Erik Roth

Listen to worship services every Sunday on KRBT 1340AM at 9:00 a.m.

Worship services are also available on our Facebook pages, YouTube channels, and Public TV Channel 5.

Messiah and Our Savior’s Lutheran Churches plan to begin having in-person worship services in February. 9:00 a.m. at Our Savior’s and 10:30 a.m. at Messiah.

N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 15

Hibbing, Chisholm, Nashwauk & Pengilly areas

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 113 SW 4th St. • Chisholm

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church

118 Pennsylvania Ave. • Buhl Fr. Paul Strommer 218-254-5703 Weekday Mass Schedule: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Buhl 8:00 am,Tuesday & Thursday St. Joseph’s in Chisholm - 8:00 am, Wednesday & Friday Sunday Mass Schedule: 8:00 am - Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Buhl & 5:00 pm - (Saturday Vigil) St. Joseph’s 10:00 am - St. Joseph’s in Chisholm Confession Schedule: St. Joseph’s in Chisholm - 5:30 - 6:15 pm, Fridays; 3:45 - 4:45 pm, Saturdays Eucharistic Adoration: St. Joseph’s in Chisholm 8:30 am – 7:00 pm, Wednesdays

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2201 Second Avenue East, Hibbing 218-262-3413 firstpreshibbing1903@gmail.com

Pastor Katie Larson Visitors always welcome Handicapped accessible

St. Archangel Michael Orthodox Church 701 E 40th St, Hibbing, Minnesota 55746 Visit www.stmsoch.org for the schedule of services or call Fr. Dean Franck 218-969-5511.

Call church office for additional information or pastoral care

Grace Lutheran Church 4010 W. 9th Ave., Hibbing

4220 3rd Avenue West, Hibbing

218-262-6685

Sunday Worship 9:30 am www.hibbingalliance.org

Hibbing Christian Assembly

2201 2nd Avenue West 218-929-1940

Sunday Services 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Wednesday Eve 6:30 PM Thursday 6:00 PM NAN’s Craft Corner

16 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m.

Education Hour 10:15 a.m.

Children of Grace Childcare Education Center

263-LOVE

First Baptist Church

605 E. 41st Street, Hibbing

Worship 10: a.m.

Evening PraisePraise 6:00 p.m.

Evening 6:00-(Via p.m.Zoom) Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:00 p.m.

263-6672

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH ELCA

2201 Third Ave. E. • Telephone: 263-8388 www.firsthibbing.org • e-mail: office@firsthibbing.org www.facebook.com/firsthibbing

Sunday broadcast schedule: 9:30 am with the Reverend Sarah Fike

No in-person worship at this time Traditional morning service broadcast on Hibbing Public Access channel 5 or online at https://hpat.org/hpat-internet-channel/ on Sundays at 9:30am and other times during the week.

Hibbing, Chisholm, Nashwauk & Pengilly areas

Priest: Fr. Gabriel Waweru Blessed Sacrament Parish information: Address: 2310 7th Ave. E. Hibbing Phone: 218-262-5541 Weekday Mass Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am First Saturday of each month, Latin Mass at 8am Sunday Mass Schedule: Saturday Vigil 4:15pm Sunday 8:00am & 10:00am Memorial Day through Labor Day 10:00am Mass at Side Lake Chapel Confession Schedule Thursday 12:00pm-1:00pm Saturday 10:00am & 3:00pm Eucharistic Adoration Blessed Sacrament Main Church 12:00pm-5:00pm Thursdays www.blessedsacramenthibbing.org

Faith Lutheran Church ELCA 302 SW 1st Ave., Chisholm Sunday Worship Service 9:15 AM Communion every Sunday Sunday FLY (Faith Lutheran Youth) Nursery through 5th Grade: 10:30 AM Sept. through April Wednesday FLY 6th through 8th Grade: 6 PM Sept. through April Faith WELCA meets First Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM Lutheran World Relief Quilting: Thursdays 9 AM-Noon

218-254-2251

Grace Lutheran Church 508 Chisholm 508NW NW 9th 9th Street, Street, Chisholm (218) 254-3466 (218) 254-3466 glcchisholm@gmail.com Summer Worship Services - 11 a.m. Sunday (TBD) VacationBible BibleSchool School- -July (TBD) Vacation 8-12 Datesfor foryouth youthgroup group activities activities posted on Grace Lutheran’s Dates Lutheran’s Facebook FacebookPage Page

THE LUTHE THERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD MISSO

Pengilly United Methodist

31870 Jefferson Blvd.

St. Basil of Ostrog Orthodox Church

Worship on Sundays at 9:00 am “Facebook Live”

543 6th St SW • Chisholm 218-254-4112

Nashwauk United Methodist

Fr. Milos Zivkovic, Parish Priest Saturday Evening Vespers: 5:00 PM Sunday Divine Liturgies: 10:00 AM Holy Day Weekday Liturgies: 9 AM Please join us!

230 3rd Street

Worship on Sundays at 10:15 am

Pastor Diane Bolles 218-885-1467

Chisholm Baptist Church 5001 Hwy. 5 • Directly behind the Ironman Statue• 254-3007

Pastor Dan Dan Erickson, Erickson, Senior Pastor SeniorPastor Pastor PastorPastor Mark Mark Anderson, Pastor of Evangelism & Outreach Anderson, Pastor of Evangelism Pastor Ron Anderson, Visitation Pastor & Outreach, Pastor Ron Anderson, Visitation Pastor

Morning Worship Services ...................................9:00 & 10:45 am Morning Worship & 10:45 am Nursery &Services.......................9:00 Kids Church Nursery & Kids Church Adult Sunday School............................................9:00 & 10:45 am Adult Sunday School 9:00 & 10:45 Children & Youth Sunday..............................

School.........................10:45 am am Children Time & Youth Sunday School .....10:45 am Fellowship ..................................................10:15 pm Fellowship ..............................10:15 Sunday EveningTime Service ......................................6 pm pm Sunday Evening Service...................6 Wednesday Adult Bible Study...............................7pmpm (year round) Wednesday Adult Bible Study................. 7 pm (year round)

www.gracelutheranchisholm.org

www.chisholmbaptist.org

www.chisholmbaptist.org

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church 422 SW 2nd Ave. • Chisholm St. Nicholas Orthodox Church was founded in 1915

by Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants to the Iron Range.

The church is currently being cared for by the St. Nicholas Preservation Society, a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of St. Nicholas Church and the experience of Eastern Orthodox Christians on the Iron Range.

Services are not held weekly but there are occasional services throughout the year.

For more information contact: Ann Kraemer 651-434-3891, Lisa Kruchoski 612-987-8605, or Mary Kaye Kuzma 612-812-6432.

Nashwauk Lutheran Church 304 Third Street, Nashwauk, MN 218-885-2369 • nashluth@gmail.com

Pastor: Aaron Lofgren

Sunday Worship: 9:00a.m. to 10:00a.m Holy Communion first, third and fifth Sunday of each month

CHISHOLM ASSEMBLY OF GOD 430 Iron Drive Chisholm, MN 55719 Phone: (218)254-0026 Lead Pastor: Rev. Micah Reed Family Pastor: Rev. Laura Reed Youth Pastors: Rev. Bethani & Brad Monson Worship Service Time: Sundays 10:15 AM Special Mention: You can watch us online at www.chisholmag.com or on our church facbook page. Instagram-chisholm_mn_ag N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 17

By Lora Langowski FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN CELEBRATING THE DAYS PRECEDING AND FOLLOWING NEW YEAR’S EVE AT OUR LAKE CABIN. NEARING THE END OF 2020, IT SEEMED ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO CARRY ON THIS TRADITION…

Late in the afternoon on December 30th, my husband, our daughters and I packed up our truck with food and supplies (and our dog) and headed out to our cabin on Eagles Nest Lake #3. Luckily, our cabin is only a short 35-minute drive from our house, but oftentimes it seems a world away. All of us were very excited to get out to the lake and enjoy our annual end-of-the-year celebration.

18 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

We arrived at our cozy little cabin a short time later and got to work. Because we shutter our cabin for the winter, we needed to heat up our fireplace to warm things up and turn on the propane and power. We don’t have running water over the winter months, so my husband also sets up a makeshift outhouse…FUN. However, the most important task in my mind is stoking the sauna stove! Being a true Finnish girl, I believe we can’t have a celebration without a good, hot sauna.

That evening, our girls skated outside on the lake while I stayed inside and made dinner. We’re lucky in the fact that every year my father-in-law (grandpa) works hard on creating an ice rink in front of our cabin. It’s always the

biggest hit of our celebration. The kids spend hours skating and playing on the rink; and occasionally the adults do too, and that evening it was no different. After enjoying skating, dinner and a nice hot sauna, we all settled in for the night, dreaming of the fun and food we would partake in the next day on New Year’s Eve.

I awoke the next morning to the smell of bacon and eggs sizzling on the stove and my youngest daughter chatting to her father in the kitchen. My oldest daughter, being a typical teenager, was still sleeping. I always love waking up at the lake and realizing there aren’t as many daily distractions and that we have more time to connect as a family. I get to simply sit on the couch and look out at the beautiful lake before me, enjoy my cup(s) of coffee and discuss with my family what to do (or not do) for the rest of the day.

As the morning drifted into the afternoon, my brother, sister-in-law and my nieces and nephew arrived at their cabin. We are blessed in the fact that my brother’s cabin is directly across the road from our cabin. Our children are all roughly the same age, and they all get along. It makes time at the lake even that much more special.

Throughout the day, the kids played and skated on the lake; my husband put out a line for ice fishing, and I went for a long walk on the lake. Later in the afternoon, we gathered items together to start our annual fish-fry.

This year, we decided to prepare our catch two different ways — beer battered and baked. We also added french

Creating strong bonds through an annual family tradition According to VeryWell.com, people create and maintain family traditions because they bring meaning to celebrations and foster special bonds. More importantly, traditions create positive experiences and memories for everyone by nurturing a family's connection and giving them a sense of belonging.

Benefits of Family Traditions • Make memories for families that last a lifetime • Provide children a sense of security by providing continuity • Give family members a strong sense of belonging • Help pass on family values including cultural and religious heritage • Keep generations connected and give them a family history to share

N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 19

Food, laughter and conversation tend to bind families together, and it did this year as well…

fries, onion rings, fruits, veggies, dips and salad to the menu.

Normally, we celebrate with our extended family, neighbors and friends. However, due to Covid-19, we decided on a smaller gathering. Nevertheless, we all still had a great time. Food, laughter and conversation tend to bind families together, and it did this year as well, even if it was a bit different from previous years celebrated.

After our big fish dinner, the kids joined together to play board games and get in some more skating. The adults

20 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

sat around the fireplace and talked about the new year to come and the passing of the current year, and once again we stoked the sauna stove.

The old year quietly passed into the beginning of the new year with not one of us being able to stay awake to midnight. We all drifted quietly into sleep by 10:30 p.m. It was actually quite nice to have 2020 pass quietly into the night and just fade away.

Parmesan Crusted Walleye • • • • • • • • •

We awoke to the new year with a beautiful bright shining sun and warm weather, and we fell into our morning routine again. The kids hit the skating rink, and my husband and I were able to enjoy a nice long walk. It was truly wonderful just to enjoy the slow pace of the day and marvel at the beauty of the landscape and wilderness surrounding us. I am extremely grateful that my family and I get to enjoy this time together connecting; it is a true blessing.

Looking back, although the COVID-19 pandemic may have made it harder to honor our family tradition— especially with extended family—I am grateful to be able to spend time enjoying the outdoors and my family, and I can’t wait to do it again next year. Cheers! Here’s to a very healthy and very happy 2021.

Lora Langowski is a creative designer and freelance writer living in Britt with her husband Harold and two daughters.

Bhupesh Pattni TrentiLaw.com

Walleye Fillets 2 Eggs ½ Stick Butter ½ cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese 1 cup Italian Bread Crumbs Garlic Salt Pepper Fresh Lemon Wedges Tartar Sauce

Preheat an oven to 425F. Grease a 9x13 glass baking dish.

Lightly beat the eggs in a bowl until smooth; set aside. Combine the bread crumbs and ¼ cup parmesan cheese in a separate bowl until evenly mixed.

Dip the walleye fillets into the beaten egg, then press into the bread crumb mixture. Place into the prepared baking sheet. Season the fish with garlic salt and pepper to taste. Spoon melted butter over the coated fish. Sprinkle the fish with the remaining ¼ cup parmesan cheese (adding more if you like).

Bake in the preheated oven until the fish is opaque in the center and flakes easily with a fork, about 20 minutes. Serve baked fish with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.

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N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 21

LOCAL DOCTOR GIVES INSIGHT

ON FROSTBITE AND

HYPOTHERMIA

By Marie Tolonen

NORTHERN ADVENTURES RECENTLY REACHED OUT TO DR. PETE OLSEN, M.D., VICE PRESIDENT OF MEDICAL AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PHYSICIAN AT FAIRVIEW RANGE, FOR INFORMATION ON THE DANGERS OF FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA. BELOW ARE HIS REPLIES. Q. What are signs that you might be experiencing frostbite or hypothermia?

A. Hypothermia occurs when a person’s body becomes so cold from exposure that it can’t warm up on its own.

A normal body temperature is 98.6° Fahrenheit (37°

Celsius). Shivering, bluish skin and difficulty

talking are signs of mild hypothermia (defined as

a body temperature of 90 – 95 degrees Fahrenheit).

Shivering stops below 90 degrees, the cut-off for

moderate hypothermia, and the point where medical

attention is necessary for continued assessment and

reversal of hypothermia. Severe hypothermia is

defined as a body temperature less than 82 degrees,

which is accompanied by loss of consciousness,

respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest. Often, people

forget that the temperatures above refer to core body

temperature, so a rectal temperature is preferred since a

peripheral thermometer (forehead, ear, under the tongue)

may misrepresent the actual temperature in hypothermia.

Additionally, most peripheral thermometers don’t read

low enough to accurately assess hypothermia. Medical

thermometers continuously monitor the extremes of

temperature accurately.

22 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

Frostbite occurs when circulation to an extremity decreases due to cold temperatures. This is associated with numbness and a waxy appearance to the skin, as well as difficulty moving the affected extremity. Skin from prolonged exposure to cold temperatures begins to die, turning black in color days later.

Q. How common is frostbite

and/or hypothermia in

our area?

A. Hypothermia is common in the Midwest due to the prolonged cold temperatures throughout the fall and winter.

Q. How dangerous is frostbite?

How dangerous is hypothermia?

A. If not treated early, both frostbite and hypothermia may quickly worsen.

Every year, multiple people lose fingers and/or

toes from frostbite when their circulation is literally

frozen and no longer provides oxygen to tissues.

The tissues themselves freeze and die. Hypothermia

requires intervention since a person’s body is not

able to heat itself on its own. As body temperature

drops, hypothermia progresses to organ failure

including cardiac arrest.

Q. What should a person do if they suspect they or someone they are with has frostbite or hypothermia?

A. Removing the person from the cold environment and getting them to a warm location is most important. Next,

removing any wet clothing is critical to prevent

ongoing heat loss. Covering with warm blankets and

providing warm beverages may be helpful.

However, ongoing or moderate/severe symptoms may

require calling Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

for immediate assistance. Frostbite, as well as

moderate and severe hypothermia, are best assessed

and treated in your local emergency department

because there are varying interventions required

based on the degree of hypothermia. Once frostbite has

been treated, it is important not to re-expose the

affected extremity to cold temperatures.

Q. Is there a timeline in which someone should seek medical attention if they have either of these conditions?

A. If a person demonstrates signs of moderate or severe hypothermia such as lack of shivering, confusion, inability to walk/ navigate normally, difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness, it is important to immediately seek medical attention, likely contacting EMS for safe transfer.

Q. What is the typical treatment for frostbite? How about hypothermia?

A. Medical treatment of frostbite includes gradual, active rewarming of affected areas with warm fluids as well as medications to restore blood flow.

Medical treatment of moderate or severe hypothermia

can require specialized active warming techniques

including heated intravenous fluids or even invasive

methods of rewarming the chest abdominal regions

through continuous heated water irrigation.

Q. What can you do to prevent frostbite and/or hypothermia?

A. Minnesotans are often well-versed in wearing multiple layers. It is especially

helpful to wear a thin layer of polypropylene or

similar material close to the skin to wick away

moisture (preventing heat loss through conduction) as

well as bulky over-layers that trap warm air

(preventing heat loss through convection). A hat

prevents a tremendous amount of heat loss (some

estimates suggest that up to 10 – 15% of a person’s

body heat can be lost this way). The best way to

prevent hypothermia, however, is to carefully limit

exposure during particularly cold weather spells with

prolonged subzero temperatures.

Q. Are there certain segments of the population that are more prone to frostbite and/or hypothermia?

Who are they?

A. Because young children have a large surface area relative to their body size and because the elderly have less efficient mechanisms to heat themselves, these populations are more prone to frostbite and hypothermia.

Q. Any other advice for people wanting to enjoy the outdoors?

A. There is no greater feeling of freedom than that which accompanies being outdoors and experiencing all of Minnesota’s beautiful seasons. As you

explore, be sure to be prepared for each season’s

weather, bringing multiple layers of clothing, water and

an emergency signal device to safely enjoy the outdoors.

Marie Tolonen is a staff writer for the Chisholm Tribune Press and also covers Chisholm for the Mesabi Tribune.

N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 23

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By Ben Romsaas KNOWN AS THE STATE OF HOCKEY, MINNESOTA HAS LONG CARRIED THE TRADITION OF EXCELLENT HOCKEY PLAYERS, BIG TOURNAMENTS AND EVENTS AND A RICH CULTURE RIVALED BY NO OTHER SPORT.

Boasting a record setting state high school tournament, historic programs and teams at every level of the game and innumerable names etched in the history books, hockey is a way of life in Minnesota.

And while much of the focus is on what happens in the expensive, indoor arenas, many players will tell you their love of the game came from playing on outdoor rinks. Be it right in town, on a lake, or even in their own backyard, outdoor hockey rinks are where some of the best memories of the game are made.

Below are a few stories from area residents who have taken outdoor hockey into their own hands in recent years.

1995 Eveleth-Gilbert graduate Chad Pontinen has spent his entire life around hockey. Born and raised in Sparta between Eveleth and Gilbert, Pontinen spent many days growing up playing with his younger brother and their friends at the Sparta rink. As he got older, he took a job working at that same rink, flooding it out, shoveling off the snow and just skating around it when he had the opportunity.

The passion for hockey still burning, Pontinen is happy to pass that passion on to his kids. But instead of finding a town rink to play on, Pontinen decided he would construct his own. In 2014, he built a small “rink” on a flat spot next to his driveway. This would be only the beginning.

Sydney Spelts and her friend Katelyn Torrel play some oneon-one hockey on Ely Lake.

Photo by Mark Sauer Photography & Fine Art

26 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

By 2016, he had cleared out some land on his property and moved the rink. He built it up over time, slowly adding more and more to it each year. Now, it sits at 40 feet wide by 80 feet long and has its own warming shack on the side.

Pontinen’s oldest child, Eli, started learning how to skate when he was four, right when his father built the first rink.

Now 10, Eli plays organized hockey for Virginia, and the rink in their own backyard has helped grow the family’s love for hockey.

“We’d have our practices in town, and then we’d go home and just be able to skate out on the rink a little bit,” Pontinen said. “Being able to come home and do that really helped grow our love for the sport.”

Pontinen says his eldest son’s friends and teammates will stop by to skate around. At that point, it’s not even about hockey. The kids create their own games and find their own ways to have fun out on the ice.

“The kids go out there, and they just make up games with each other. There’s no rules. The parents aren’t coaching or lecturing; they just get to go out and have fun and be creative.”

Along with his wife Abby, Pontinen says skating is 100% a family affair. Pontinen’s younger kids are just starting their own journey on ice skates with four-year-old Watson recently learning how to skate, and three-year-old Quinn recently putting on skates for the first time.

Pontinen knows the memories his children make on the outdoor rink will be valuable, just as the memories he made when he was a kid were.

“My parents had bought an old 1972 Ski-Doo, and they would let me drive that up the road, across the tracks in Sparta to the rink with my skates across my lap. Back then we didn’t have our cell phones, but by the end of the night, you’d have 20

The current version of Chad Pontinen’s backyard hockey rink stands at 40 feet by 80 feet and has sufficient lighting to allow for play after sundown.

of your buddies out there playing hockey. People would just show up, and we’d be skating as long as we could.”

Pontinen recalls hockey practice running until around 5 p.m. and then heading straight to the Sparta rink right after.

“Suddenly, it was a full rink, and it was really something special to be out there just enjoying the game of hockey.”

Getting the rink started each year is all about waiting for the right time. After flooding rinks for about 10 years now, Pontinen says he has a pretty good grasp on the process.

“You gotta flood it out a few times when it starts getting cold. Make sure you’re always brushing the snow off, but there’s not much work to do once you establish the ice. Once in a while, it gets really cold so you might want to put a fresh flood out there. The nice sunny days won’t really melt it in the winter, but it’ll work out the grooves and the cut marks from the skates just kind of go away.”

Maintenance on the rink during the offseason isn’t too demanding, but Pontinen enjoys putting in the work to improve the rink as much as possible.

“It’s just a little brushing of the boards in the summertime,” he said. “We put a fresh coat of paint on them, and then this year I went with a liner, and that probably gained me a couple weeks of ice time.”

The rink’s warming shack is one of Pontinen’s favorite parts of the entire setup. After building it himself, he slowly started decorating the inside with various hockey memorabilia.

“The inside has Eveleth, Gilbert and Virginia stuff now.

There’s even some stuff from the Sparta hockey team too.

Things like that make for great conversation pieces. People will N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 27

come and see it and offer up their own things to include in it. If they say they have a Greenway jersey, I’ll tell them to throw it in the shack. Every little piece just adds to it.”

As the winter rages on and indoor rinks remain closed due to COVID-19, Pontinen can look outside and see Eli and his friends skating, knowing they’re having a good time.

“I’ll just peek out the window every once in a while.

I’ll bring him and his friends some Gatorade or water, and they’ll just keep skating. They just love it. Our entire family loves it.”

Eveleth-Gilbert head hockey coach Jeff Torrel is one of around a half-dozen people who have been doing their part to keep the Franklin rink in Eveleth going.

Growing up in Eveleth and graduating from EvelethGilbert in 1996, the rink right next to Franklin Elementary School carries a lot of significance for Torrel.

“That’s where I grew up,” Torrel said. “My buddies were there. We spent our nights there after or before practice. It was just a great place to be, a great place to play hockey and have fun.”

For a time, there was no ice on the Franklin rink. It was one less place for kids to skate in the winter time. Torrel and a few other volunteers decided it needed to make a comeback.

“I wanted the kids to have that opportunity that I had.

It didn’t feel right that there was no one taking care of that rink; so me and a few other guys got it going again, and we’ve been going pretty strong ever since. Now we even have some younger parents involved and committed to keeping it up and running.”

In a year where access to indoor rinks is closed off, keeping the outdoor rinks running smoothly is even more important, according to Torrel.

“It gives the kids something to do. It gets them outside and playing with their friends. The lakes being super clear this year is just awesome. It’s just something you don’t see every year. Having so many options for skating is just great. There’s so many rinks to think of just in Eveleth and the Fayal area, and they’re all community-type rinks where people take care of them.

“With kids not being able to be in school every day and not being able to play organized sports, getting them on the ice outside is a great thing. Outdoor rinks are kind of special. There’s no one telling the kids what to do. It’s just about going out and having fun.”

28 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

Not having any type of authority in charge of the kids skating on the rink is a huge part of the charm according to Torrel.

“To me, outdoor hockey was always something different. It’s different from practices and games. You go out there, and there’s no structure, no parents, no refs.

You played games with your friends, and there was the pecking order from oldest to youngest; and the younger kids had to learn and grow up like the older had to do when they were younger.

Once you got out there, you started having fun, and you were hooked.”

The mild start to winter was a blessing for outdoor rinks everywhere, according to Torrel. Making sure the weather cooperates is half the battle when it comes to maintaining an outdoor rink.

“We were lucky to not have a lot of snow at the start of winter here. There’s a lot involved with the flooding and making sure the rink can take a beating with kids skating on it all day. There’s a lot involved, but making sure those rinks are ready for the kids is important.”

As rinks appear as full as ever, Torrel believes the mild winter also helped drive skaters to the ice and he’s definitely thankful that they’re taking the opportunity.

“We’ve had such great weather so far. Without the warming shacks being open, the kids can still get out and play and not be too cold. You can always find someone out there skating, sometimes more than a dozen kids. It’s pretty cool that we’re still able to keep this going and give the kids something to do.”

“Even in a year like this, I wanted the kids to have the same opportunity I had playing on outdoor ice. It’s just a very special feeling to be out there.”

In a year where traditional indoor skating options are limited, Willie Spelts says the ability to put a rink right on his property on Ely Lake has been a savior for him and his family. Setting up a rink for the second year in a row, Spelts plans to take advantage of the lake every year he can along with his wife Beth and daughter Sydney.

“It’s been amazing to have something like a rink in our backyard.” Spelts said. “It gives us a chance to give the kids something to do. It gets all of us out of the house to shovel it and try to maintain it. Then we get to stay out and skate on it. It’s a fun family thing for us to do.”

Special to lake rinks this year is the clear ice that has formed due to a lack of snowfall when the ice began to

solidify. Spelts says it’s hard to describe what it’s like skating on clear ice with the bottom of the lake so clearly visible.

“This is the first time in a long time I’m hearing that the lake froze over before it snowed. With that came the most unbelievably clear ice that lets you see all the way to the bottom. Skating on it for the first time was awesome, just absolutely incredible.”

Possibly in greater numbers than previous years, Spelts says the number of skaters out on the lake appears high, from kids just learning how to skate all the way to veterans skating from Sparta Beach to Ely Lake Beach.

“People are out skating this year as much as they can, and it’s just awesome to see. It feels like a big playground out on the lake from kids pulling chairs as they’re just learning to dads pulling their kids and everyone in between. We all just want to skate all day.”

Meghan Mikolich watches her brother and the older hockey boys play earlier

A 1987 graduate of Virginia High School, some of this month at the Franklin Elementary rink in Eveleth under a sunset sky.

Spelts’ earliest skating and hockey memories came from Photo by Deana Mikolich outdoor rinks growing up on the Range.

“Randy Babiracki and I reminisce all the time about going to the Midway rink. At that time, you’d throw your stick and your skates in your sled and slide all the way down the hill to the rink. When you were old enough, you moved on to the rink with the boards, and that felt like a big rite of passage.”

Later, when Spelts’ family moved into Virginia, he found a new outdoor home in the Miners back rink.

“Back then, it wasn’t a covered rink. We all went there as much as we could. We’d beg ‘Padge’ to bring the zamboni out to flood the rink, and when he did, it was the best ice ever. Before it was covered, it was just tremendous.

“Then we’d find a way to sneak into the front of the Miners to buy a pop and sneak out and run to the warming shack. We might have broken through some chicken wire on the way, but those are the memories you make.”

Hoyt Lakes have their own rinks, and I’m sure there’s many

His daughter now a hockey player, Spelts wants to more I’m forgetting. There are so many options, and it’s really provide her with the opportunity to make her own memories great that the volunteers and the cities are keeping the rinks on the ice every winter. open for kids. This doesn’t happen without them.”

“I see her out there, and it brings me back to when I

In the end, Spelts wants to encourage everyone, if they was her age. You’d just be out skating all day; and other kids can, to get out to an outdoor rink this winter. would show up, or their parents would drop them off. You

“Once people feel safe enough with social distancing didn’t want to come off the ice, but you’d have to hurry into and everything, hopefully they find a way to take advantage the warming shack for just a bit so you could keep going. if they haven’t. This is probably the best year in a long time

“One of the funny things I noticed when Sydney was out there when it comes to skating outdoors. I think hockey as a sport with one of her friends, Mylee, suddenly people started coming has started to reinvigorate itself with how the outdoor rinks down from all directions to play with them. Maybe they skated have been doing lately. there or walked down the road or maybe they four-wheeled. But

“So hopefully people end up wanting to try it. It’s a safe now they’re just skating, and that’s super cool. Everyone comes and fun thing to do, and some of my greatest memories have together to do the same thing and have some fun.” come from these outdoor rinks.”

And when it comes to options for skating outdoors, there is no shortage on the Range.

Ben Romsaas is a staff writer for the Mesabi Tribune.

“There’s Franklin’s rink in Eveleth, Jefferson up on North Side, Ridgewood in Virginia, the Midway rink. West Eveleth has a rink; Fayal has a rink right by the Shortstop. Gilbert and N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 29

By Lee Bloomquist

SIX YEAR-OLD BEN LORENZ FIGURED HE HAD HOOKED A BIG ONE. Well, it felt like it was really heavy,” Lorenz said about the 24-inch northern he pulled through the ice while fishing with family near Moccasin Point on Lake Vermilion. “Like I was trying to pull it up, and it was fighting hard.”

After catching some nice fish during summer, it was Ben’s first fish of the 2020-2021 ice fishing season.

“I thought this thing was going to be big, but it was a little one,” Lorenz said. “It might have been my biggest northern ice fishing.”

Ice fishing in northeastern Minnesota is a life sport.

And a memory-maker.

30 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

Ice fishing as a youth with family, or on a frozen northern Minnesota lake as an adult with children, grandchildren, or buddies, is all about family and friends.

“I remember as a five-, six- or seven year-old going with my dad, brother, grandpa, and cousins,” Brian Kemp, 38, of rural Mountain Iron said. “We would do Pleasant Lake and a lot of lakes around Gilbert. That’s what hooked me.”

Ice fishing with family and friends sticks in anglers’ minds forever.

It also offers a nearly unparalleled opportunity to “get away from it all.”

Solitude. Sunrises. Sunsets. And smiles.

“It’s the peace and quiet and the scenery,” Dustin Pittman, 40, of rural Mountain Iron said. “You get up in the north part of the Lake of the Woods, and it’s amazing. It’s kind of like Vermilion where there’s lots of rock, but there’s no houses.”

Serenity is the word of the day for every ice angler.

“You’re out there in the fish house alone, and you have lots of time to think,” Tim Thompson, 60, of rural Eveleth said. “You get that time when all you hear is the hum of the Vexilar, and you think about the past and the future. You think about your wife and kids.”

Ice fishing is thriving this winter in northeastern Minnesota.

Ideal early ice-making temperatures, coupled with a lack of snow, turned lakes from the Iron Range to the Canadian border into glass-like sheets. Ice thickened up rapidly. By mid-December, ice anglers were flocking to area lakes.

“I try to get out twice a week if I can,” Kemp said.

“Being close to McQuade (Lake), I take my eight-year-old son Hoyt out there. I spend a lot of my bigger trips going to Lake of the Woods with my dad and my son.”

There’s ice anglers.

And then there’s ice anglers.

As a 21-year-old, Kemp spent a total of 53 days over the course of one winter on Lake of the Woods.

“Kent (Bielejeski) and I were having a contest who could be there the most,” Kemp said. “It’s kind of funny.

Whenever my wife and kids and I go on vacation, we go north. She likes to be outdoors too. I love Lake of the Woods. I would live there if we could.”

Bielejeski, 45, of Iron, says for 13 years he fished 50 or more days each winter on Lake of the Woods.

“My second goal was 25 fish of 25 inches or more,” Bielejeski said. “There was only one year that didn’t happen.”

Ice fishing is entirely different than summer fishing, Bielejeski says.

Ben Lorenz smiles holding his first fish of the 2020-2021 ice fishing season. Photo submitted.

“Ice fishing I find more relaxing than summer fishing,” Bielejeski said. “You get the house, go to Lake of the Woods, bake cookies and watch movies. There’s no schedule, no nothing.”

Socializing is also a big part of ice fishing, Bielejeski says.

On some lakes, there’s hundreds of ice houses, forming what looks like an ice house shanty village.

That leads to lots of conversation and meals with fellow anglers.

“It’s more of a camaraderie thing,” he said. “You can go up to all the guys out there and ask how they’re doing, and they won’t lie to you. We used to do a trip on the last weekend N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 31

“I use an axe to chop my holes for in March where we had 18 to 25 guys. We the first month of the year. I have cheap would fish, eat like kings and maybe play gear, but you don’t need to have expensive some cards.” equipment to catch fish.”

Mike Zganjar, 22, of Iron, spends pretty

Zganjar started fishing at age six much all his spare time on frozen lakes. with his father Mike.

“I’m fishing at least five times a

“Many days I was sitting in the old week,” Zganjar said. “It’s definitely like an S-10 pickup watching tip-ups,” Zganjar addiction. The only time I don’t go out is if said. “That’s where it all started.” it’s 20 below, and there’s a snowstorm.”

Zganjar on occasion fishes with

Many ice anglers have thousands or friends. He also tries to take a family trip tens of thousands invested in equipment. once a year to Lake of the Woods.

Insulated portable ice shelters and - Ben Lorenz

But most of the time, he’s alone heated “wheel houses,”equipped with on Iron Range lakes. amenities such as digital television

“I see good luck on the local lakes,” Zganjar said. “I put antenna, stereo, cooktop, and toilet, make ice fishing a in the time and that’s what you need to do to get fish.” different game than in the past.

About 10 percent of Minnesota’s 1.5 million licensed

Fish-finding sonar, electric or drill-powered augers, summer anglers head back to fish frozen lakes, according to underwater cameras, high-tech rods, fancy fishing line, and warm Explore Minnesota. clothing, can help bring success and comfort to ice fishing.

“It’s the electronics,” Thompson said of the difference from

Pittman spends summers boating with his family. years past. “When I started fishing for walleye and crappies, it

But when area lakes ice-up, he’s on them like a jiggle stick on a panfish. was just drop your line to the bottom. You used to just go off the Pittman packs an auger and portable shelter onto his point of a bay. Now, with the electronics, portable ice houses and the sleds, it’s run and gun. It’s a lot easier.” specially-equipped snowmobile and heads into remote northern Minnesota lakes where few others venture.

But, there’s still those like Zganjar, who choose to keep

“I like to take back country trips into the woods,” it simple.

Pittman said. “I try to get into the smaller lakes. You drill

“All you need is a chisel, tip-ups and bait,” said Zganjar.

“My favorite thing about ice fishing is like when the flag goes up. You have to go running for the flag.”

32 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

holes, you get the heat on, and you catch fish.”

Ice fishing is much more relaxed than summer angling, Thompson said.

“You have the anticipation of the big fish,” Thompson said.

“You’re sitting there, and you have lots of things going on in your head. It’s not like trolling on Lake Vermilion and having to watch out for every boat.”

Thompson also began ice fishing as a youth.

“Pretty much after graduation, I started fishing with my buddies,” Thompson said. “Then, I started going with a friend, Norm Skur. We made trips up into Canada on snowmobiles. Even if we didn’t catch a fish, we had a good time.”

A photograph with a nice fish is memorable for any angler. A photograph with a limit is even better.

But being on a frozen lake is more than just catching fish for most ice anglers.

It’s simply about being outside, enjoying the natural beauty of northeastern Minnesota. And the friendship of fellow anglers.

“All the scenery I am able to see is just beautiful,” Zganjar said.

“You have the best views. And you can converse with anybody on the ice. They’re all nice people.”

After decades of fishing, it’s mostly about creating memories and passing the sport off to a new generation, Thompson said.

“Lately, it’s been a lot of fun because I have an 11 year-old granddaughter who really likes to fish, so that’s been really nice,” Thompson said.

For that new generation like Lorenz, the memories are already forming.

“You don’t know if it’s going to be a big fish or a little fish,” Lorenz said. “My favorite thing about ice fishing is like when the flag goes up. You have to go running for the flag.”

Lee Bloomquist covered the Iron Range for 24 years as a reporter for the Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune and Duluth News Tribune. He also worked at Minntac Mine and 9 ½ years as an information officer at Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation.

Photography by Mark Sauer Photography & Fine Art N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 33

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By Jesse White WHILE MORE THAN 22,000 MILES OF GROOMED SNOWMOBILE TRAILS ARE LOCATED IN MINNESOTA, ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT ANY TIME ON A POLARIS, SKI DOO OR ARCTIC CAT IN THE BACKWOODS OF THE ARROWHEAD REGION KNOWS SOME OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST CAN BE FOUND IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

The area is so popular when the snow falls that major snowmobile publications on the Internet and in print oftentimes list it as one of the top 10 destinations in the entire United States alongside gems like the Upper Peninsula in Michigan and West Yellowstone in Montana.

Each year, thousands of visitors plan their weekend winter getaways around the two major state trails in the area - the Taconite and the Arrowhead - but once they get here, they quickly learn that that’s just the beginning of the endless adventures that can be found thanks to hundreds of

36 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

miles of local trails groomed and maintained by some of the most dedicated volunteers around.

Together, the system makes up the Iron Trail, which runs through the central region of Mesabi Iron Range and north to International Falls.

Cities along the state trails and the spurs that connect it all include Aurora, Babbitt, Biwabik, Buhl, Buyck, Canyon, Chisholm, Cook, Crane Lake, Ely, Embarrass, Eveleth, Hibbing, Hoyt Lakes, Lake Vermilion, Mountain Iron, Nashwauk, Orr, Side Lake, Tower and Virginia.

The 165-mile Taconite Trail and the 135-mile Arrowhead Trail, both maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, are the backbone of the system.

The Taconite Trail runs from Grand Rapids to Ely, and according to DNR literature it, “winds through forests of birch and aspen intertwined with pine, leading the visitor by many isolated lakes and streams.”

From Grand Rapids heading north, you see the impact of the taconite and iron mining industry. The northern portion of the trail terrain is rolling and tree covered as it winds through state and national forest land. At the trail intersection east of the David Dill/Arrowhead State Trail, this segment is called the David Dill/Taconite State Trail.

Eight trail waysides and picnic facilities offer scenic vistas of the hills, lakes and rivers of this area. The trail links to state parks: Bear Head Lake, Soudan Underground Mine, and McCarthy Beach. The landscape in and around Bear Head Lake State Park is very rolling and rocky.”

There are various spots to pick up the trail with parking and access available in Ely, Tower, Highway 169 south of Tower five miles past Buyers Y Store, at Highway 1 about four miles north of Highway 169 and on Highway 53 just north of the trail crossing.

The Arrowhead State trail travels through remote areas and provides access to snowmobiling in Voyageurs National Park. According to the DNR, the David Dill/ Arrowhead Trail extends from the intersection with the Taconite State Trail near Tower to three miles south of International Falls.

The southern part of the trail features rolling hills with numerous lakes and streams. Many of the hills have large areas of exposed rock and enormous boulders. This part is heavily timbered with a mix of hardwoods and conifers.

This mix of trees is spectacularly colorful in autumn.

The northern part of the trail is relatively flat between International Falls and the Ash River. The higher ground is mainly forested with aspen; lower ground has a mix of spruce and ash.

If the state trails are the backbone of the Iron Trail system, then the local Grant-In-Aid trails are the heart and soul.

Groomed and maintained by local snowmobile enthusiasts, trails like the Laurentian, the Bearskin, the Iron Ore, The Moose, the Wolf Track, and more – and the spurs that connect them – are sometimes the favored routes

for those who know where to go to find some of the best scenery, the widest sections of straightaways and the most remote experience.

Incredibly, of the 22,000 miles of groomed trails in the state, 21,000 of those are maintained by local clubs led by people extremely dedicated to the sport.

“Northern Minnesota is one of the premier destinations in Minnesota and the country to enjoy the great sport of snowmobiling. From the pristine forests and lakes to the iron ore mining areas, you will ride through and witness some of the most spectacular scenery on the finest trails anywhere,” said Dan Marich, President/ Trail Administrator of the PathBlazers Snowmobile Club. “You will find all the amenities that you will need along the vast trail network in Northern Minnesota - from gas, food and lodging to service for your machine if needed, all with a gracious dose of Minnesota Nice to welcome and help you.”

Marich’s club maintains and grooms 67 miles of trails, from the Alborn Grade in the south to the Taconite Trail to the North, traveling through Hibbing, Chisholm and the Side Lake area with spur trails to Keewatin, connecting to the Lawron Trails and a spur trail to Buhl, connecting to the Kinney Trail.

Some of the highlights along those trails are excellent examples of the type of experience one can have snowmobiling anywhere in northern Minnesota.

Hibbing, for example, is the childhood home of Bob Dylan, the hometown of NBA Hall of Fame and Boston Celtic Star, Kevin McHale, the birthplace of Greyhound Bus Lines with its museum, the “Castle in the North,” the historic Hibbing High School and many other points of interest.

In Chisholm, the snowmobile trail runs right by the statue of the “Ironman,” which is located next to the Minnesota Discovery Center, which honors the rich history of iron mining of the Range and its importance to our country and world, Marich said.

The Side Lake area, Marich added, features the Sturgeon chain of five lakes and McCarthy Beach State Park with unsurpassed beauty.

N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 37

“The Side Lake area is also your point to connect to the mighty Taconite State Trail,” Marich said. “From the Side Lake area, you can travel west on the Tac to Grand Rapids or head eastward on the Tac all the way up to Ely, passing through other communities along the way via spur trails, that offer gas, food and lodging. (All) while enjoying the best trails anywhere with breathtaking beauty at every turn.”

The Minnesota DNR offers the following safety tips for those who are enjoying the many miles of trail available in the state each year: •

Don’t drink alcohol and ride. Alcohol is a factor in more than 60% of all fatal accidents in Minnesota, as well as many non-deadly snowmobile accidents. Alcohol and drugs have a negative effect on the driver’s vision, balance, coordination and reaction time.

Don’t ride with people who drink and ride! Minnesota is part of a larger coalition of snowmobiling states that support ’Zero Alcohol’ consumption before or during your ride.

•

Never ride alone. Always ride with a friend on another snowmobile. This way if one machine is disabled, you have another to get help.

•

Dress for safety and survival. Always wear a quality DOT helmet and facemask. Wear layers of clothing to keep warm and dry. Snowmobile suits, bibs, jackets, gloves and mittens should cut the wind, repel water and keep you ventilated.

•

Slow down. Excessive speed is a major factor in many accidents, especially at night. To help avoid accidents, keep your night-time speed under 40 m.p.h.

38 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021

•

Stay to the right. Almost every trail is a “two way” trail.

So stay to the far right of the trail, especially on hills and corners. Obey all trail signs and cross roadways with extreme caution.

•

Stay on the trail or stay home. Trespassing is a major complaint about snowmobilers and can result in trail closure. Always stay on designated snowmobile trails.

Venturing off of trails can result in accidents. Only ride private property when you have landowner’s permission.

•

It is safest to avoid riding on lakes and rivers. If you must ride on ice, wear a life jacket over your outer clothing. Stay on the marked trail and stay off of ice that has moving water (current) near or under it - ice in these areas may be thin and weak

• Minnesota requires that snowmobiles be registered to

use the snowmobile trail system.Seehttp://www.dnr.state.

mn.us/licenses/snowmobile/index.html. If the registration

is from outside Minnesota, an out-of-state trail permit

is also required. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/ snowmobile/trailpermit.html •

In addition to the snowmobile registration, if you are a Minnesota resident and your birthday is after December 31, 1976, Minnesota law requires that you have a snowmobile safety certificate to operate a snowmobile in Minnesota. Minnesota offers two courses to promote snowmobile safety and to train snowmobile operators.

Both courses will lead to a Snowmobile Safety Certificate upon successful completion of the course.

Jesse White is a lifelong resident of Northern Minnesota and has covered the outdoors for the Mesabi Tribune (formerly the Mesabi Daily News) for more than two decades.

Photography by Mark Sauer Photography & Fine Art

8401 Enterprise Drive N., Virginia/Mt. Iron (1/2 Mile West On Highway 169) •741-6690 N O RT H E R N A DV E N T U R E S W I N T E R 2021 39

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