What's Your Favorite Restaurant?
“Don’t you ever get hungry? Don’t you ever get hungry? Don’t you ever get hungry?”
So proclaims the fish-burger monger at the annual Fisherman’s Picnic held in Grand Marais every August. Fish burgers may be the tastiest thing going during the five days of the Picnic, but we have many, incredible food choices for the rest of the year. The North Shore is gaining a well-earned reputation as a dining destination for just about anyone who enjoys good eats.
We’ve travelled the roughly 300 miles from Duluth to Nipigon many times, but we are always amazed at the number of good places to eat along the way. You can find even more restaurants if you are willing to make detours away from the highway. We may be in the middle of nowhere, but many North Shore restaurants are serving food that’s out of this world.
We want you to tell us about your favorite places to eat. In this issue, you’ll find the ballot for our 2014 Northern Wilds Reader’s Choice Restaurant Awards on p. 39. You can vote for your favorite restaurants in about two dozen different categories, ranging from the best burger to the best view. The ballot will run in our March issue, as well. You can also vote online at www.northernwilds.com. After we’ve tabulated the votes, we’ll announce the winners in the June issue and in our 2014 North Shore Menu guide.
The contest rules are simple. The restaurant must be located in our coverage area, which includes the North Shore communities between Duluth and Nipigon, including Finland, the Gunflint Trail, and the outlying communities of Thunder Bay. Do not choose the same restaurant for any more than three categories. If you do, your entire ballot will be disqualified. You do not have to fill in every category on the ballot.
—Shawn Perich and Amber Pratt
PUBLISHERS
Shawn Perich & Amber Pratt
EDITORIAL
Shawn Perich, Editor editor@northernwilds.com
Erin Altemus , Editorial Assistant erin@northernwilds.com
ADVERTISING
Amber Pratt, Advertising Manager apratt@northernwilds.com
Sue O’Quinn, Sales Representative sue@northernwilds.com
Jane Shinners, Sales Representative jane@northernwilds.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Katie Viren • katie@northernwilds.com
Kyle Sobanja • www.coroflot.com/kylesobanja
OFFICE
Bev Wolke • billing@northernwildsmedia.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Elle Andra-Warner, Gord Ellis, Joan Farnam, Chris Gibbs, Ada Igoe, Kate Jackson, Margaret Menzies, Marcelle Paulin, Kelsey Roseth, Breana Roy, Javier Serna, Paul Sundberg, Kate Watson
Copyright 2014 by Northern Wilds Media, Inc.
Published 12 times per year. Subscription rate is $28 per year or $52 for 2 years. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part requires written permission from the publishers. Northern Wilds Media, Inc. P.O. Box 26, Grand Marais, MN 55604 (218) 387-9475 (phone/fax)
The winning restaurant in every category will be awarded a plaque
Elder Skiers Stay Young on the Slopes
LUTSEN Karen Floid loves Lutsen—always has, always will.
“As long as there is snow on the ground, I don’t like to get beyond Tofte,” she says.
Growing up in the Twin Cities, she first fell in love with the place in the early 1950s, when she was a camper at the Cathedral of the Pines summer camp on Caribou Lake. In winter, her parents, who didn’t ski, brought Floid and her two siblings to the newly developed ski hill above Lutsen Resort. All three children became avid skiers. Her brother, Chris Anderson, became a ski racer in high school and college, which led him to attend college in Colorado. Sister Kathie Lund and her husband owned the Ski Hut in Wayzata and then moved to Snomass, Colo. and owned an outdoor shop there.
At 73, Floid skis nearly every day at Lutsen, perhaps to make up for lost time after spending several years living in Asia.
“When I lived in Thailand and Malaysia, what I missed was winter, skiing and Bridgeman’s turtle sundaes,” she says.
Upon moving back to the Twin Cities, she got involved in the NASTAR racing program at the Buck Hill ski area. She won the national championship in her age group when she was 65. She has been unable to continue competing in the program because it isn’t available at Lutsen. However, she continues to ski with a group of Lutsen locals, including her husband, Buzz, who are 70-80 years old.
“We meet most mornings before the lifts open,” she says. “Then we head over
to Moose Mountain so we can be the first through the powder or new grooming.”
She even skis on the sort of winter days when not everyone wants to be out skiing. No matter the cold temperatures, Floid and a friend, Colleen Brennan, will head to the hill for “just one run.” Inevitably, one run leads to another.
Do these elder skiers worry about falling down and getting hurt? Floid talks about folks she knows, including Buzz, who have fended off surgeries and various ailments, then went back to skiing.
“It’s the same as with anything,” she says, “you either quit or you go back out.”
And Floid doesn’t intend to quit anytime soon.—Shawn Perich
Surfing Lake Superior in Winter
First 'Best in Snow' Skijor Race
GRAND MARAIS Go Dog North Shore will hold the first Best in Snow Skijor Race on Saturday, March 1 at the George Washington Pines Ski Trail outside of Grand Marais.
The event will feature two timed races; a two-mile race and a four-mile race. Each race will be capped at 15 teams. Teams are limited to one dog per skier, and there is a $25 entry fee per team, per race. The Best in Snow Skijor Race will be held in conjunction with the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s community-wide active living campaign “Move It” during February. Prizes will be awarded to the top teams in each race.
The race is a fundraiser for Go Dog North Shore, a non-profit based in Grand Marais that aims to promote healthy and active human and dog relationships on the North Shore. For more information, see www. godognorthshore.org. For race information call Cathy Quinn at (218) 370-9494 or email quinn@boreal.org
STONEY POINT—You may have seen winter Lake Superior surfers before, gliding across the water on a sub-zero day, and wondered why summer wouldn’t be a Superior surfer’s first choice. According to Superior Surf Club of Duluth, the surf in summer is of lower quality and less frequent. In fact, the high season is considered to be October through April, with the best surf occurring in late winter, when 10 surfable days per month is average.
Bob Tema, founder of Superior Surf Club, says the best conditions usually follow a big winter storm. “The storm itself will often generate strong winds out of the northeast, which drives swell towards the North Shore,” he said, “As the storm blows over, the winds typically switch around to northwesterly winds that clean up and groom waves nicely,” continued Tema. Because the best waves seem to occur in connection with cold fronts, catching a good
wave often means braving even colder than usual air temperatures.
When you take surfing, an already daunting activity, and add bitterly cold water, wind and ice-covered rocks to the mix, you get one seriously extreme sport. “The cold adds another layer of risk that you have to prepare for,” said Tema, “We wear 6mm wetsuits to fend off the cold and watch out for each other in the water to make sure no one is getting to the point of hypothermia."
Stoney Point on Scenic Hwy 61 has been deemed the premier surf spot on Lake Superior by those who brave its winter waters regularly. According to Tema, another favorite spot near the mouth of Lester River is the best place to see winter surfing in action. “There are good waves close to shore there, and you can park and see from your car,” he said.—Kate Jackson
Brian Stabinger, of Superior Surf Club, catches a winter wave at Stoney Point on Scenic Hwy 61. | BOB TEMA
LEFT: Jerry Anderson, of Lutsen, was a champion ski jumper who competed with the U.S. team in the 1956 Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. RIGHT: Senior skiers who are regulars at Lutsen Mountains include (front row) Colleen Brennen, Karen Floid and Jim King, and (back row) Jerry Anderson, Buzz Floid, Betty King, Tisha Anderson and Tom Fredeen. | SHAWN PERICH
Being towed by a dog while on skis is called skijoring. | SHAWN PERICH
Northern Wilds editor Shawn Perich recently participated in a panel discussion sponsored by Field and Stream magazine at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show in Las Vegas.The topic of the roundtable discussion was how the hunting industry's emphasis on trophy bucks may affect everything from hunter recruitment to the public perception of hunting. Panelists from left to right are Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute, Jon LaCorte of Nikon, Perich, and Brian Murphy of the Quality Deer Management Association. Standing at the podium is Anthony Licata of Field and Stream magazine.
Marketing Grants Available for Local Events
GRAND MARAIS How does a small community like Grand Marais manage to have so many great events? Bonspiels, bike races, ski races, sled dog races, tennis tournaments, dragon boat races, the classic car show, the Wooden Boat Show, the art fair, parades, fireworks, music festivals, pageants and puppet shows, and Fisherman’s Picnic all require tireless planning, coordination and plain, old hard work. The time of volunteers and staff from non-profit organizations and the financial support of local businesses and the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association (GMATA) combine to produce and market local events.
Non-profit organizations in the Grand Marais community can apply to the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association for up to $1,000 to promote and market public events held in the city. The one-page application is typically sent out to organizations producing events with a March 1 deadline. Other organizations planning events may apply as well. Applying for grant funding does not necessarily guarantee final selection. Contact the Cook County Visitors Bureau at (218) 387-2788 (ext. 114) for more information and an application.
North Shore Featured in European Magazine
RED ROCK The stunning scenery of Lake Superior’s North Shore will be the backdrop for a story in an upcoming issue of Essentially Canada magazine, which is distributed in Great Britain. The story will be published in Germany, too.
“For a couple of years, I’ve been intrigued with Germany as a market for us,” says Ray Rivard, owner of Quebec Lodge in Red Rock. “This story allows us to get some exposure to that market in a very affordable way.”
The story will focus on two scenic
drives—a loop from Thunder Bay to Red Rock or an extended trip from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie. Both adventures are intended for European visitors flying into Thunder Bay via Toronto. Many area attractions are featured in the piece. Suggested adventures include sailing on Thunder Bay, taking a scenic bush plane tour of the Sleeping Giant and Silver Islet Mine, visiting an amethyst mine and fishing for trophy-sized brook trout in the Nipigon River. Hopes are high that the story will lure new tourists to northwestern Ontario.
Shawn Perich
Become a Master Naturalist
SCHROEDER Beginning Feb. 22, Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center in Schroeder will offer a six-session master naturalist course in Northwoods geology, ecology and geography. In 2013, Sugarloaf offered the master naturalist training for the first time, and 20 participants completed the course.
Instructor Margie Menzies has a master’s degree in education and an undergraduate degree in biology. She is a self-described “bird nerd” and works as a naturalist at several area nature centers, including Sugarloaf and Hawk’s Ridge.
The six sessions will take place both inside a classroom and outdoors. Field trips will depend on weather conditions.
“Last year we were snowed on every single time,” Menzies said. Nonetheless, she tries to fit in a geology trip and a bog trip, among others. Plant identification and recognition, Lake Superior ecology, forest types and wetlands will all be covered.
“It’s a naturalist training, so we want people to feel like they have expertise in the surrounding area,” Menzies said.
Participants from the 2013 master naturalist training enjoy a lively discussion. | MARGARET MENZIES
The training is designed to be a volunteer training program, and it’s the hope that everyone who signs up will commit to volunteering 40 hours in some capacity over the next year – not necessarily at Sugarloaf. Participants come from all over, including the Twin Cities, and they can complete the volunteering in their own community.
Beyond volunteering after course completion, Menzies said the only expectation is that if you sign up, you do whatever you
can to complete the course.
Class-size is limited and registration will end by mid-February or as soon as the course is full. The course cost is $200 and includes course manuals and materials. If the cost is a hardship, scholarships are available.
More information can be found at www. sugarloafnorthshore.org.—Erin Altemus
National Geographic Geotourism Initiative
MINNEAPOLIS
All of us who live, work and visit the Northern Wilds will soon be able to boast about the new geotourism initiative, created in partnership between Heart of the Continent (HOCP) and the National Geographic Society (NGS). Paul Danicic, executive director of Friends of the Boundary Waters and member of the media team for this project, put it this way: “The geotourism project puts this region on par with a dozen other places in the world. It is a way for regions to come together around the very essence of what makes this place special.”
The regional approach is what makes this project unique. Instead of focusing on one city or one county, the geotourism initiative looks at a much larger, even
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cross-border, geographical area—all the way from Thunder Bay, down to Duluth and inland to International Falls and Fort Frances. The project will bring attention to all the unique assets of the communities that adjoin public lands, including their culture, environment, aesthetics and history.
Heart of the Continent is not an advocacy group, and there is no policy agenda. According to Danicic, this is what makes HOCP distinctive: It is a variety of different entities coming together—state, federal and local land-use management, scientists, educators, policy-makers, local businesses, city and county officials, tourism advocacy groups and other stakeholders—anyone that has a interest in the region’s identity. “In a time when the world is full of
bad news, the HOCP is very positive and has been a very positive way for all these groups to work together,” Danicic said.
Beyond the collaborative effort on this project, which Danicic says has been very useful in creating regional partnerships, the final outcome will be a paper map published by the NGS as well as an interactive NGS website that promotes the region’s many opportunities. Links from the website will reach people world-wide. Both website and map are due to be unveiled in the fall of 2014.
Danicic said that fundraising has been very successful and all benchmarks have been met. The NGS has said that many of these geotourism projects haven’t had this much support this early on—“We’ve heard
Beginning in 2013 and continuing through the summer of 2014, in collaboration with Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District and volunteers, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is evaluating water chemistry, macro-benthic invertebrates (aquatic insects), water transparency and other ecological aspects of the Lake Superior North Watershed. Following the evaluation, the agency will issue a report on the condition of the watershed. Related education and outreach activities will occur, including workshops, radio interviews and articles. More information on the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy can be found at www.pca.state.mn.us or call (218) 387-4628.
from the NGS that our project has had much more support from the communities involved than other NGS Geotourism areas at this stage,” Danicic said.
To learn more about Heart of the Continent and the Geotourism Initiative, go to www.heartofthecontinent.org Erin Altemus
STOP Team Keeps Scenes Safe
HOVLAND When he was a kid, Kerry Leeds of Hovland used to watch “rent-acops” direct traffic at small town parades and wished he could do that, too. Years later when he retired to Hovland, he jumped at a chance to fulfill his childhood dream and joined the local fire department’s Safety Team Operational Program, better known as STOP.
To make the team, he had to complete a 12-hour classroom and tabletop training program created by Keck Melby, who also belongs to the Hovland Volunteer Fire Department and the Cook County Ambulance Squad. After the classroom work, Leeds attended a field session to learn how to set up traffic control for an emergency incident. Eventually, he became the captain of the seven-member team.
The STOP team responds with the Hovland Fire Department to traffic accidents, fires and other emergencies. Driving a converted ambulance with collapsible signs, traffic cones, lights and other gear, they establish a safety zone for emergency workers. Since the team was founded in 2008, they’ve earned the respect of local law enforcement officers.
“The deputies step aside and let us do our job,” Leeds said.
They also help out as necessary. Last summer, STOP team members located a missing hiker on the Superior Hiking Trail. Although STOP is a unit of the Hovland Fire Department, they are asked to perform traffic control at emergency incidents and events throughout Cook County. In fact, Leeds would like to see other fire departments around the county develop their own STOP teams to improve traffic safety at emergency incidents. Every community has retired people and others who want to help out, but don’t have the physical wherewithal to become fire-fighters. Because they are retired, STOP team members are often available to respond when others are away at work.
“Other small departments are missing an opportunity to add some enthusiastic volunteers,” Leeds said.
While the notion of having a trained team perform traffic control may be slow to catch on along the North Shore, it is gaining momentum across the country. Melby, who developed the STOP training program, has been involved in national and state efforts to improve traffic safety at emergency scenes.
Leeds plans to have a STOP training session this spring and hopes to attract interested students from throughout Cook County. For information, contact Leeds at (218) 475-2664.—Shawn Perich
Kerry Leeds directs traffic around an emergency scene as part of the Hovland STOP team. | JOAN FARNAM
You Gave Us Your Best Shot
2013 NORTHERN WILDS PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST
PEOPLE CATEGORY
This month we are featuring winners in the People category in our 2013 Northern Wilds Photography Contest.
Sandy Updyke of Hovland won $250 in class credits for the North House Folk School in Grand Marais for her first place photo. Second place winner Kristine Cronstrom Maher will receive a zen hoody from Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in Grand Marais.
We will announce our 2014 photo contest later this year.
1. DOG AND BOY, Sandra Updyke Hovland, Minn.
2. HIKING, Kristine Cronstrom Maher Minneapolis, Minn.
3. KIDS AND WATERFALL, Sandra Updyke Hovland, Minn.
4. KIDS AND GULLS, Carly Swirtz Two Harbors, Minn.
Do You Love the Northern Wilds?
Want to Share?
Northern Wilds is launching a monthly contest that will vary from photos to artwork to ideas. For our inaugural contest, we are soliciting the "Top 10 Reasons We Love the Northern Wilds." Share your top reason on our Northern Wilds Facebook Page. Fans of our page can vote on the top 10 and these will be made into a T-shirt, which will be used for contest prizes. The deadline for our first contest is Feb. 20.
Backroom Treasures Joynes Ben Franklin
By Joan Farnam
Joynes Ben Franklin is a shopper’s delight. You can find almost anything in that store, from notions to beautiful Scandinavian wool sweaters and shoe aisles to die for, plus everything in between.
In fact, owners Rodney and Julie Carlson and Jim Joynes were seriously considering getting Point-of-Sale stickers for their merchandise recently to make inventory control a lot easier, but the computer program they wanted to buy could only handle 60,000 items.
Not nearly enough.
“We’ve got a lot more than that,” Julie said, and laughed.
So it’s true—Joynes is a store that has almost everything.
But there’s another layer to this story.
Julie’s grandparents, Howard and Rosemary Joynes, were absolutely convinced that shelves should stay fully stocked at all times. So if they had one item on the shelf, they had to have three in the back room and six in other storage areas around town, including at home.
And, they never threw anything away. If it didn’t sell, they just kept it.
One can immediately see what’s piling up here: Stuff, lots of stuff—an incredible
potpourri of items dating back to the 1950s and beyond. Julie calls them Howard’s Treasures, and they well might be.
There are little Mini-Tonka dolls, still in their original boxes, hundreds of souvenir salt and pepper shakers of all shapes and sizes as well as sugars and creamers, T-shirts from the ’80s, a complete collection of Beargrease posters (more than one copy of some of them), commemorative tiles for the 75th anniversary of the First Congregational Church, brochures about the opening of the Pincushion Mountain ski trails, old lace-up ski boots, scales for Brach’s candy, a fabric measuring machine, a small cast-iron skillet to melt lead for bullets … the list goes on and on.
And it’s not over yet.
“We’re still finding things,” Julie said. But she doesn’t mind. She loves these treasures from her past.
“We grew up in the store,” she said. “This is in my blood.”
Howard and Rosemary opened the store on Pearl Harbor Day, Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941. They purchased the business from P.E. Alm and renamed the store Howard Joynes Federated Store. At that time, it was located in the parking lot across the street from where the store is now.
Rosemary was a stickler for details and “was very, very businesslike,” Julie said. “She was the perfectionist, he had the
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A souvenir tea cup and plate. Julie found many sets of cards by John H. Spelman, III, a woodcut and linoleum cut artist who taught art in Grand Marais years ago. A duck sewing station. Two cute bear salt shakers from the collection.
busines degree. In 1941, you needed a man to own a business.”
Julie remembers how Rosemary taught her to put stickers on items, for example. They always had to be in the upper right-hand corner. She said she’s pretty sure she put all the stickers on the souvenir treasures she’s found so far when she was a girl.
“And, you weren’t allowed to sit down on the job,” she said.
There was only one exception: During Fisherman’s Picnic, Julie and Jim could sit on a stool so they could reach the numbers on the cash register.
“Rosemary taught us to always give the change back first, not the dollars,” Julie recalls. “And all the dollar bills had to be facing the same way and fanned out. To this day, I train the people who use the registers the same way.”
Incidentally, every cash register ever used in the store has been saved. So are all the ledgers from the original P.E. Alm store. They go back to 1914, Julie said.
What other treasures are there?
There’s a great collection of cards by John H. Spelman, III, many in
“Rosemary taught us to always give the change back first, not the dollars... And all the dollar bills had to be facing the same way and fanned out."
“We’re still finding things.”
the original packages, which included 10 cards with envelopes for $1 each.
Spelman was an art teacher in Grand Marais who did linoleum and woodcut prints. Betsy Bowen, a nationally recognized woodcut printmaker here, took classes from him. “She told me that he inspired her,” Julie said.
The store also has old promotional posters from companies like Lee and Carhartt, which have never been put up and are in pristine condition.
In the back storage area, there’s one shelf, which they call Howard’s Shelf, where one can find an amazing array of things. There is a good selection of outdated cross country ski bindings by Solomon and Besser, for example, as well as skis. “We have a pair of black Head skis with yellow bottoms
with bamboo poles.”
They did find a collection of red long underwear or union suits on that shelf a few months ago, and put them in the store. They’ve been popular.
Much more undoubtedly awaits discovery in the “treasury” of Howard and Rosemary.
When Julie, Jim and Rodney decided to tear down the old hotel next to the store, they removed boxes of things that had been stored there.
Julie is still going through the boxes and discovers something almost every week.
What is she going to do with it?
“I’m not sure yet,” she says. But everyone will get to a chance to see some of it and perhaps purchase a keepsake or two. A table at this year’s Fisherman’s Picnic comes to mind, she added.
One thing for sure—new discoveries “just keep coming,” and that’s just fine with her. She’s going to love using her latest treasure —a 1969 Joynes Department Store calendar. The dates are the same as 2014. It’s already up on the wall.
A few of the ledgers
LEFT: Julie Carlson with a small collection of “treasures” they’ve found, including the trophy the store won during a Fisherman’s Picnic parade and a photo of the float. ABOVE: Howard and Rosemary Joynes, taken sometime in the 1950s.
from the P.E. Alm store, which go back to 1914.
Getting Fat with Fat Bikes
By Erin Altemus
he biking industry's newest slogan is to "get fat"—but this might not mean what you think. Fat bikes, which made their debut on the biking scene in 2005 when Minnesota bike company Surly, came out with the Pugsley, are the newest way for winter enthusiasts to enjoy the snow.
The Pugsley was the first mass-produced mountain bike with extremely large volume tires—making them more versatile for mud, sand and snow. Since then, the trend has escalated and both small bike manufacturers and bigger companies like Trek are all stepping into the game. Fat bike races are popping up wherever there is snow, and some companies like Surly, have a hard time meeting demand from consumers.
Adam Harju, race director for the Lutsen 99er bike race, and Stone Harbor's general manager, Tom Surprenant, gave me a primer in fat biking and explained why people love the wide tires.
"They are like the monster trucks of bikes, you can roll over anything—sand, snow and mud," Suprenant said. "You can use them in any season, but they excel in winter—you can really float on some deep snow ... and on beaches."
Because the fat bikes are such a new phenomenon, agencies that regulate and maintain trails haven't always kept up with defining where people can and can't ride. Harju said you can ride on the state snowmobile trail (legally, though the DNR discourages this because of potential conflicts with
snowmobiles), but the smaller grant-in-aid snowmobile trails are off limits. They are designed specifically for snowmobile use. Forest roads are okay, and one near Grand Marais where Harju suggests riding is on Pine Mountain Road, which is accessible from the Devil Track Road. Anything that has been packed by a snowmobile or snowshoes will work best. Some of the area rivers that are frozen over can also be fun, as long as there isn't glare ice.
A fat bike tire is generally 40-45 percent wider than a regular mountain bike tire, which is 3.7-5 inches in width. The tires are designed to work best at really low pressures—typically 3-6 pounds. The low pressure makes them grip the snow or sand better than a firm tire.
Stone Harbor has three of these Surly fat bikes available for rent, and Suprenant pulled one out for me to ride around the parking lot. I gave the tires a squeeze, and they reminded me of the inner tubes I used for sledding when I was a kid. I climbed on and pedaled my way around the lot. Usually in the winter, I avoid biking, as snow and ice mean I spend more time on the ground than on the bike. But traction didn't seem to be a problem here. I tried veering off into some deeper snow, but it was too loose and my tire slipped, bringing me down with it. This is not like skiing. Avoid the powder.
Like anything in winter, thinking about safety when you go outdoors is essential. Harju recommended using a water blad-
der, (like a Camelbak) that sits under your clothes, so the water won't freeze and you stay hydrated.
"If you're six miles from your car and your bike goes out in winter, having emergency gear is pretty essential," Harju said. He carries a down sleeping bag, for example, in case something happens out on the trail.
Speeds on a fat bike are typically 3-10 mph, making fat biking much slower than mountain biking. But you stay warm, because you're working hard. Harju says he loves winter biking so much, he's hardly used his skis this winter.
"Winter is a fun time to get out and see what wildlife is doing," he said. "And there are no mosquitoes or black flies."
Superior North Outdoor Center in Grand Marais also sells and rents fat bikes. Owners Mark and Melinda Spinler, maintain a full service bike shop and rentals come with helmets, locks, waterbottle carriers, pump and patch kits and bags, as well as careful bike sizing and instruction. Their winter hours are limited, but they offer their summer rentals for purchase at the end of the season, which means, you might find a good deal at the end of the summer on a fat bike for purchase. The Spinlers have 30 years of experience with their bike shop and are a great source of information on trails in the area.
In Thunder Bay, Fresh Air Experience also sells fat bikes. Last year they carried
Surly bikes, but Surlys are in short supply this year, so Fresh Air now carries Kona fat bikes. Rob Moore, the shop manager at Fresh Air Experience says that he has seen interest in fat bikes increasing every year, though interest is not yet as high as it is in Minnesota.
"Minnesota is the birthplace of it (fat bikes)," Moore said. "It's growing in Thunder Bay. Interest has maybe tripled this year. And we're working on getting some races together for next year."
When asked what Moore likes about fat biking he replied, "It brings me back to the heart of mountain biking. It brings me back to my first bike in 1992, a fully rigid hardtail. There is an old-school, nostalgic feel about those bikes—not really going fast, but it's an interesting way to ride and it allows me to do what I love year-round."
There are not as many conflicts about where to ride fat bikes in the Thunder Bay area as there are in Minnesota. Moore suggests Centennial Park, or the Cascades, if you're looking to get into the backcountry— it's scenic and well-packed.
One thing I noticed in talking to these folks is that fat bikes are just as fun and practical in a winter like this one—ample in snow—as they are in some of the recent winters we've had of late when the ground is bare. Fat bikers can get out there no matter what winter throws at us. And that means, we will only be seeing more of them in years to come.
Fat bike rider Chris Gibbs, on Schmidt Creek, east of Duluth, uses a remote shutter release to take pictures. | CHRIS GIBBS
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NorthShore ArtScene
By Joan Farnam
The month starts out with a great art exhibit and sale at the Grand Marais Art Colony with fresh (and sometimes not quite dry) plein air paintings and photographs created by artists at YMCA Camp Menogyn on the Gunflint Trail earlier in the week.
This is the fifth year of the Winter Arts Festival, and it’s always a popular event for artists, even if it gets -20F below on some mornings. They just bundle up and get out there to paint or photograph the glories of a North Woods winter over a one-week period. The opening reception for the exhibit is from 4-6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 31, at the Art Colony. All invited, refreshments served. The exhibit continues through Feb. 23.
The Winter Arts Festival includes the Snow Sculpture Symposium with snow sculptures scattered throughout the county. Sites include Bluefin Bay Resort, Caribou Highlands and Eagle Ridge on the West End, Harbor Park in Grand Marais (sponsored by Joynes Ben Franklin, Best Western and Art House B&B) and Bearskin Lodge on the Gunflint Trail. The snow sculptures will be on view through February and beyond, weather permitting.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and the Grand Marais Art Colony is featuring two events to celebrate the day. It will hold a Community Ink Day on Feb. 1 called “Print Your Valentines” where the public is invited to the print studio to create personal valentines. Experienced printmakers will be there to help. Registration is required. Call 387-2737.
And then on Feb. 14, a special event will be held in the ceramics studio, “Wheel You Be Mine,” where participants can make heart-shaped bowls and enjoy wine and chocolate. Call 387-2737 to register.
Sculptor Ron Piercy will open an exhibit, “Sticks and Stones” at Betsy Bowen Studio & Gallery on Friday, Feb. 7 from 5-7 p.m. “Sticks and Stones” is a collection of pieces Piercy describes as “jewelry for your house” — constructions combining willow and dogwood sticks, sawn and polished stone, silver. All invited.
The snowy months always bring lots of live music opportunities to Cook County, and this year is no exception. Every venue in the county has lots of music during the week (see the Arts & Entertainment schedule for details).
Papa Charlie’s has set aside two days a week for special performances: The Songwriter Series on Monday nights and
North on Wednesday nights. The Songwriter Series will feature Barbara Jean on Feb. 10, Ben Kyle on Feb. 17 and Communist Daughter on Feb. 24. The Wednesday night Spotlight North series features Sarah Krueger Feb. 6, Rich Mattson & Germaine Getterling Feb. 12 and Ian Alexi Feb. 26. The music starts at 8 p.m. for both series. Free. All welcome.
And, if you’re an Eagles fan, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra (TBSO) will present a concert entitled “The Best of Eagles” at 8 p.m. EST Feb. 1 at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Country music star Dean Brody comes to the Community Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. EST Feb. 11, and award-winning Canadian
Look what Betsy is doing!
a classical program. For more info, see www. tbca.com.
Music and dancing go together, and both will be celebrated at North House Folk School Feb. 8. There will be a freestyle clogging class during the day and an Old Time Square Dance from 7:30-10:30 p.m. featuring a band and callers Ann Carter and Julie Young. No experience is necessary for the dances. All are welcome. Call 287-9762 for more info.
For theater, the Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay opens a play about Nunavut entitled “Night” by Christopher Morris Feb. 6. The drama explores the issues that
Spotlight
cello artist Shawna Rolston will perform with the TBSO at 8 p.m. EST Feb. 20 in
Liz Siverston, acrylic, “To What Do We Owe This Honor, Mi Lord.” She will present at Fireside Chats Jan. 22.
Betsy Bowen is creating a drawing every day this winter. She explains it this way: “I’ve been craving that cozy cave feeling of the dormant time of year and taking time just to draw. My idea is to draw something I see every day and fill up my little sketch book.” She posts the drawings on her Facebook page: Betsy Bowen Studio. Here are a few of the drawings she has created so far. They’re in pencil, ink and watercolor.
evolve as a young, well-intentioned anthropologist stirs up controversy and conflict when she visits a small village in the Arctic. Bilingual, with both English and Inuktitut (with subtitles), the powerful tale should keep audiences engaged until the curtain falls. The play runs Feb. 6-23. Evening shows are at 8 p.m. EST with matinees on Wednesday (noon) and Saturdays (2 p.m.). For more info and tickets, visit www.magnus.on.com.
President’s Day weekend is really busy in Cook County and starts with the Fourth Annual Northern Fibers Retreat, co-sponsored by North House Folk School, the Grand Marais Art Colony and the Northwoods Fiber Guild. The event, which is held Feb. 12-17, offers a wide variety of classes and workshops as well as Lunch & Learn sessions, Yoga for Fiber Folk, a documentary film, “Sweetgrass,” a Yarn Tasting Party and more.
“Sweetgrass” will be screened at North House at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13. On Friday, Feb. 14, Andrea Martin will present “Paper Cutting: Drawing with a Knife” at a Lunch & Learn session at East Bay Suites at noon. That night, the Northwoods Fiber Guild will host a Show & Share at the Art Colony from 7-9 p.m.
Also on from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sivertson Gallery will throw a Valentine’s Party and Trollbead Launch with fudge, wine, tea and movies. Trollbead expert Sharon Gatlin will be in the gallery to answer questions. A Trollbead trunk show will be held throughout the entire weekend.
On Saturday, the Northwoods Fiber Guild will host Fiber for Kids! at North House from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Then Kaitlyn Bohlin will present “Textile Traditions of the Peruvian Andes” for a Lunch & Learn at East Bay Suites at noon. That evening, woodworker and artist Bob Carls will give a presentation at Sivertson Gallery in the first Fireside Chat of the season. It’s at 6 p.m.
Raven’s Beak Design will hold a Yarn Tasting Party at The Garage from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and North House will also host a Pie Social and Open Studio session starting at 7 p.m.
For more information and to sign up for lunches at the Lunch & Learn sessions, call North House at 387-9762 or the Art Colony at 387-2737 or visit www.northhouse.org.
Also that weekend, the Johnson Heritage Post will open a special exhibit, the “Art ‘Round Town Mural Project,” a fundraiser for a mosaic mural to be installed on an outside wall at Johnson’s Foods. The show will feature 12inch by 12-inch pieces (including mosaics) as well as other artwork by local artists and will be open Feb. 14-16. The opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. Friday and includes hors
d’oeuvres, wine, and live jazz by Mike DeBevec (piano) and Eric Hahn (sax).
The exhibit is one of several ways that money will be raised to develop and install the mural. Students from ISD 166 will design the mural with the help of Karen Neal, Jeanne Wright, fourth-grade teacher Jana Larsen and Mary MacDonald, the school’s art teacher. For more information about the project and to donate artwork, contact Ann Mershon at amershon@boreal.org.
And last, but not least, the North Shore Music Association brings the “Grand Marais Ole Opry: A Classic Country Showcase” to the Arrowhead Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. This not-be-missed event features a number of local and regional musicians, including The DitchLilies, a Wisconsin American Roots duo; longtime Prairie Home Companion dobro and steel guitar master Cal Hand, his singer/songwriter daughter Amanda Hand and country guitar maestro Dan Lund; Sarah York & Clancy Ward and Yvonne Mills & Barb LaVigne. Tickets are available at the door.
Singer/songwriter Michael Monroe will present a Log Cabin Concert that night as well (218-387-2919 for reserva
spotlight
SHARON FRYKMAN Glass Artist
Have you always lived in Cook County?
No. I grew up in central Iowa, but I’ve been in Cook County for 32 years. I went to the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. That’s where I studied with Birney Quick and ended up coming to the Grand Marais Art Colony to study and teach. I went back and forth for two years and ended up moving here permanently.
What projects are you currently working on?
I’m working on glass fusing projects primarily for our new gallery in our studio in our home. My goal is to fill the gallery over the next year with our own work to get the gallery up and running. I’m pretty excited. And then I’m also working on three small commission projects. I work in both fused glass and traditional stained glass with ancillary copper.
What about your art continues to attract and fascinate you?
It’s all about light and color, and the kiln work (for fused glass) has to do both with being technically good as well as artistic. I like the technical challenges that come with fusing, and working with glass in general. I was trained as a plein air painter, but when I started glass in the ‘80s, the light and color of the glass was addictive.
Where can we see your work?
We (Sharon and her husband Steve, who collaborate on most of their pieces) did the partitions at the reception desk at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, the Angry Trout Cafe partitions and on our Web site at www.frykmanart. com. We are doing commissioned pieces entirely now, which is keeping us busy. We hope to open our gallery sometime later this year. That’s the game plan.
Minneapolis hip-hop star, Dessa will be at Papa Charlie’s on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Gail Hedstrom is exhibiting a mosaic in the upcoming fundraiser, D’Art, at the Johnson Heritage Post.
Winter Arts Festival: Outdoor
Painting & Photography
Jan. 25-31
Experience the beauty of winter with the Winter Arts Festival, comprised of the Snow Carving Symposium and Winter Plein Air Painting and Photography event, located throughout Cook County. Be a participant, observer, student, or volunteer, but dress warmly. Events include painting at Camp Menogyn Jan. 25 through 31. An exhibit and sale of the artwork will be on display at the Grand Marais Art Colony from Jan. 31 through Feb. 23. Visit www. grandmaraisartcolony.org for more details.
Lutsen Mountains
Family Festival
Jan. 31-Feb. 2
Enjoy a family-fun retreat to Lutsen Mountains for a weekend of skiing and snowboarding. Participate in an all-ages family fun race on Ullr Mountain, take a guided tour of all four mountains and enjoy a family comedy night at Papa Charlie’s on Friday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. There will also be a fireworks display on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. Visit www.lutsen.com for more info.
Winter Tracks Festival
Jan. 31-Feb. 8
Celebrate the winter season with this family festival throughout Cook County. Festivities include Winter Plein Air Painting, snow sculptures, Ridge Riders Snowmobile Fun Run, Lutsen Family Fun Festival, the 11th annual Easter Seals Snowarama Snowmobile Ride, and more. Meet the painters and snow sculptors at an Open House reception Friday, Jan. 31 from 4-6 p.m. at the Grand Marais Art Colony. Then embark on a snow sculpture scavenger hunt throughout Cook County. For more info see www.visitcookcounty.com.
Cook County Ridge Riders Fun Run
Feb. 1
Register at Devil Track Landing lower level or Hungry Jack Lodge 9:30 a.m. to noon for first card, then to Trail Center, Windigo, Hungry Jack, Gunflint Lodge, and Gunflint Pines. Have lunch where you choose and get last card at The Landing by 6:30 p.m. Games, food and drink specials, prizes and entertainment. Money raised goes to the Club.
Winter Frolic Festival
Feb. 7-8
Get outdoors and play in the snow at the Two Harbors Winter Frolic Festival. Events include a medallion hunt, pancake breakfast, restaurant chili cook-off, bonfire with s’mores, vintage snowmobile rides, a winter carnival, curling challenge, sledding, and ice fishing. Sign up for the Family Fun Run and 5K or the Mush through the Slush race. Enjoy live music, featuring The Lockpicks, Step Off, The Fractals, Jenny Campbell, and Rage N’ Country. For a full list of events, visit www.twoharborswinterfrolic.com
Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids
Feb. 8
Grab your helmets and winter gear for this annual snowmobile event. The Thunder Bay Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids actually starts at Grand Portage and attracts riders from northwestern Ontario and Minnesota. All Snowarama participants will enjoy a complimentary dinner and Saturday night dance, featuring the Hoolies. Snowarama is a family event: participants can enjoy the trails, a heated pool and sauna and other amenities at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino. Minnesota trail permits are required for those that venture off the Grand Portage Reserve trails. For more information visit www.snowarama.org.
Two Harbors Winter Frolic Festival is Feb. 7-8 this year and features lots of family activities.
David Gilsvik painted a snow sculpture “Bearskin Blues” during Winter Tracks 2012.
Northern Fibers Retreat
Feb. 13-16
Celebrate all manner of fiber arts with inspiring class offerings and cozy community gatherings. North House Folk School, the Grand Marais Art Colony and the Northwoods Fiber Guild are partnering to focus on fibers in the heart of winter. There will be workshops and demonstrations, community gatherings and coursework featuring knitting, felting, sewing and more. For more info see www.northhouse.org.
NSMA presents
Grand Marais
Feb. 15
The North Shore Music Association is proud to present The Grand Marais Ole Opry, a classic country showcase featuring local and regional musicians. The evening lineup includes Praire Home Companion steel guitar master Carl Solander with his daughter Amanda Hand. Also featured will be The DitchLilies, Sarah York and Clancy Ward, Yvonne Mills, Barb LaVigne, and Russ Viton. The performance will take place at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts and include tunes made famous by artists such as Hank Williams Sr., Patsy Cline, and Roy Acuff. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets can be bought at the door or in advance at www.arrowheadcenterforthearts.tix.com Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students. Visit www. northshoremusicassociation.com for more info.
10th Annual Vintage Snowmobile Rendezvous
Feb. 15
The Finland Snowmobile/ATV is sponsoring a vintage snowmobile rendezvous and run Saturday, Feb. 15, beginning from the Wildhurst Campground on Highway 1. All sleds are welcome to this family event, which includes a guided ride on the Moose Walk/Moose Run Loop starting at 10 a.m. Awards will be presented for vintage snowmobiles. There will also be door prizes and a silent auction. Food and beverages will be available beginning at noon. There will be music, too. For more info, contact Leroy Teschendorf at (218) 353-7337.
Central Canada Outdoor Show
Feb. 21-23
Enjoy numerous interactive displays and presentations at the 10th annual Central Canada Outdoor Show, located at the SportsDome in Thunder Bay, ON. Participate in the kids’ Build a Boat contest or test your skills with the Outdoor Photography Contest, presented by Primary Foto Source. Also featured will be fly fishing demos, scuba diving demos, fire safety tips, clean green recipes, paintball, archery, a silent auction, and much more. Admission is $6 and ages 12 and younger are free. For more info, visit www.tbchamber.ca
Attend clinics and learn how to ice climb at the 2014 Nipigon Ice Fest, in Nipigon, ON. Featured speaker will be filmmaker and climber Matt McCormick, who will be sharing his adventures and stories using photos and videos. McCormick has traveled throughout North America, Pakistan, China and England, to some of the biggest mountains in the world. The festival will take place at the Legion Hall in Nipigon, ON. Registration is required. For more info on scheduled events, visit www.nipigonicefest.com
Marais, MN 55604 Climbers gather in Nipigon Feb. 28 - Mar. 2 to get high on the area's many ice formations during the annual Nipigon Ice Fest.
By Ada Igoe
In the BWCAW and Quetico, you’re limited to non-motorized transportation. You may be able to arrange a “freight run” with a local resort which offers dog sledding trips.
If you’re looking for a peaceful winter adventure, consider winter camping. It’s been estimated that as few as 50 people visit the Quetico Provincial Park during the winter months. At its heart, winter camping is all about reducing life back down to the basics: food, clothing and shelter. Winter camping is the place to be if you’re looking for quiet and simplicity.
With the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park stretching out in the Northern Wilds backyard, there are endless winter camping possibilities. Even if you’ve visited the same area during the summer months, you might be amazed at what ice and four feet of snow can do to transform a destination. You’ll need a free, selfissued permit, available at the public landings on the lake where you start your trips, for winter travel in the BWCAW. In Quetico, get a self-issued overnight camping permit at any of the ranger stations.
Your body turns into a furnace during winter travel, so be sure to wear layers, lots of them. If possible, keep natural fibers like wool or silk next to your skin to wick away moisture. Pay special attention to your foot, hand and head coverings. Synthetic outerwear cuts the wind nicely, but one notable feature of wool outerwear is that it won’t melt if you get too close to the fire. Regardless of what you choose for footwear, ski poles help with stability and momentum on steep portages, such as the stairway Portage [LEFT]. If you plan to winter camp with some regularly, you may want to invest in a wooden toboggan to haul your gear. However, a thick plastic sled also gets the job done.
Select a tent spot that’s sheltered from the wind, either on or off the ice, such as a lake bay or natural forest opening.
Winter camping is physically demanding, so be sure to have lots of calorie-rich food, such as cheese, dried fruit, nuts, salami and crackers, readily available as you travel. If you stop for a lunch break, hot beverages help with hydration and keeping the cold at bay.
While you can use a portable stove for cooking food outside of a nylon tent, here a Snowtrekker stove [RIGHT] heats a canvas tent and provides a cooking surface for a “hot tent” winter camping experience. Whichever type of stove you choose, make sure you know how to use it and whether or not it will function properly in very cold temperatures. Contact Piragis Northwoods Company in Ely or Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in Grand Marais for rental options.
As temperatures drop at night, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of warm sleeping bags and blankets along. Remember, it’s not uncommon for temperatures to dip to -40 F in the Northern Wilds, so choose a sleeping bag with the coldest temperature rating you can find. Wool and polarfleece blankets provide extra insulation. Remember to pack books or games for the time between supper and sleep.
Once the fire’s stoked for the night, there’s no shame in burrowing under the covers for a long winter’s nap.
The North Shore Dish
Fueling Your Appetite Along the Snowmobile Trails...
By Kelsey Roseth
When he is exhausted from riding Northern Wilds’ trails in sub-zero temperatures, Finland snowmobiler Steve Floen said he wants two things: a place to warm up and a good meal. Floen puts about 5,000 miles per year on his Ski-Doo, and on this trip, he stopped into Our Place Restaurant in Finland to meet those needs. “It’s rustic and cozy, and the food is good. It’s a good place to stop in and get warm before moving on,” Floen said.
Restaurants across the region are seeing a surge of business from snowmobilers, especially establishments located along the trails. Once weather conditions allow for building prime trails, restaurant owners say their business picks up and stays that way until the snow melts. “If we have snow, there can be 60 sleds parked outside my restaurant. There’s no bones about it. It’s our bread and butter in the winter. It’s the sleds that make it worth being open,” said Our Place restaurant owner Larry Schanno.
Situated in the middle of the North Shore State Trail system, the restaurant’s family focus keeps local riders coming back. “You can’t be all things to all people,” Schanno said. “We focus on families and family values. Think of us as a family restaurant that serves alcohol rather than a bar with a restaurant.” That family feel is evident from the restaurant’s hot sellers in winter like mugs of hot chocolate, lasagna and burgers.
“Our burgers are dynamite, like the California bacon cheeseburger and the mushroom and Swiss burger. We buy a higher-end burger and it’s worth it. It ain’t McDonald’s,” he said.
More than 100 miles northeast of Our Place, the burgers on the menu of the Silver Mountain Station restaurant in Thunder Bay are also a big hit. Chef/owner Shelley Simon said snowmobilers love her bison burgers and grilled prime rib burgers, partly because her sauces are created from scratch and served “in lieu of ketchup, mustard, and relish. None of those are in my kitchen,” she said.
Chef Simon has worked for years to transform the historic railroad station built in 1907 into a casual, fine dining restaurant with a warm and welcoming reputation. Despite the gourmet items such as the Yakima Valley Rack of Lamb for Two, the hearty Bison Chili, or the Berkshire Rack of Pork, diners “like the fact that they can come in here, and they feel like they’re at home. They don’t feel like they have to be prim and proper all the time. The place is homey, but the food is on an upper scale. When I took over, it took a long time for people to get used to that,” said Simon.
Silver Mountain Station is located right on some of Canada’s first-rate snowmobile trails, so Simon said it has paid to be heavily involved with the local clubs. “They can all unload here,” she said. “They can snowmobile here, however they choose to come. Last year, we had semi-trailers full of snowmobiles in the parking lot.” Simon said many of the riders use ATVs in the summer, so she has year-round support from her local fan base. In the winter, though, Simon said the restaurant is calm and everyone is much more relaxed. “It’s a totally different ballgame … people are a lot more friendly and not in a rush. They have been
out on the long trails and don’t want to eat and run,” she said.
Those snowmobilers looking for rest and relaxation also find refuge at the Gunflint Lodge, along the Gunflint Trail. Donald Kufahl, food and beverage manager for the establishment’s Red Paddle Bistro, said their off-the-beaten-path location and quiet atmosphere bring continued business. Depending on snow conditions, Kufahl said between 20 to 80 snowmobiles stop by most weekends, but the flow slows significantly on the weekdays. “It’s way quieter,” Kufahl said. “You are really away from civilization and a lot of people want that. Cell phones don’t work up here and believe it or not, there’s a lot of people who enjoy that.” Kufahl said the Red Paddle’s numerous outof-state guests really enjoy local dishes, like its Northwoods blue salad, and walleye and wild rice quesadilla.
For the Red Paddle, snowmobile season is slower than the summer rush. “There are not as many people that are into the winter skiing and snowmobiling … that’s why you do different marketing this time of year. You are going after different interests. It’s
definitely quieter, there’s no doubt about that. There’s not a business on the North Shore, except Lutsen maybe, that will deny that,” he said.
Snowmobilers frequent Our Place to refuel during their ride.
| KELSEY ROSETH
Haselow.
Juicing for Your Health
By Kim Falter
Juicing is extracting the juice from fruits and vegetables via a compressor, rotary-blade or centrifuge-style juicing machine, leaving behind the pulp. The touted health benefits of juicing have ranged from effective weight loss to a cureall for disease, but what is the real story?
To begin a real conversation about juicing, we have to discuss enzymes and the significant role they play in our bodies. All life processes are a series of chemical reactions called metabolism, and the agents that make metabolism possible are enzymes. Although scientists have identified almost 3,000 different enzymes in the human body, they all fall into three categories: metabolic, digestive and food enzymes.
Metabolic enzymes are in charge of body processes. Each organ has a set of enzymes responsible for its operation. In one study, researchers found 98 different enzymes working in the arteries alone, each with its own distinct task.
Digestive enzymes are responsible for breaking down the food we ingest. Optimal functioning of our digestive systems requires some help from enzymes naturally found in raw fruits and vegetables. This takes the load off of digestive enzymes, thereby making more enzymes available for metabolic activities.
Dr. Edward Howell, author of Enzyme Nutrition, says that, “If humans take in more exogenous (outside) digestive enzymes, as nature ordained, the enzyme potential will not have to waste so much of its heritage digesting food. It can distribute more of this precious commodity to the metabolic enzymes, where it rightfully belongs.
“This rightful distribution of enzyme energy will not only act to maintain health and prevent disease, but is expected to help cure established disease. The old adage that nature will cure really refers to metabolic enzyme activity, because there is no other mechanism in the body to cure anything.”
Unfortunately, our traditional American diet is heavy in processed foods and very light on raw fruits and vegetables. Therefore, digestive enzymes are required to break down all this food that contain no natural enzymes of their own, leaving a deficiency of enzymes for proper metabolic functioning of our organs and tissues, increasing our risk of ill-health, chronic disorders and disease.
Of course, the most important thing you can do to maintain health is to eat a diet filled with lots of fruits and vegetables. And make sure some of those fruits and vegetables are raw. This is why a salad before a meal seems to have become customary; all those raw vegetables contain
Carrots, cucumbers and beets all make delicious and healthy juice. | STOCK
their own enzymes to help break down that meal you are about to consume. We hear constantly how a diet high in fruits and vegetables is best, but sometimes the challenge is actually consuming all those fruits and vegetables. This is where juicing comes in: It’s an easy, excellent way to gain the benefits of a variety of fruits and vegetables.
“We can think of fresh juices as natural vitamin pills with a very high assimilation percentage, and we do not need to do the work of digesting them,” says Elson M. Haas, M.D., author of Staying Healthy with Nutrition All of the fruits and vegetables we have available to us have unique nutritional benefits. According to Haas, lemon may be beneficial for the liver, gallbladder, allergies and colds; apple, the liver and intestines; pineapple, arthritis and inflammation; greens, eczema and digestive problems. Although juicing may not be a cure-all for what ails you, it can be a great support to maintaining a healthy body.
Some things to keep in mind when venturing into the world of juicing: Fresh juice is best! Canned and frozen juices should be avoided as they are high in sugar and devoid of valuable nutrients and enzymes. Make only the amount you will consume in a day as fresh juices lose vital nutrients quickly and can develop harmful bacteria.
To get the full benefits of fresh juice, consume them
within 15-20 minutes of juicing. Fresh, well-cleaned, organic produce is preferred as they are free of harmful chemicals, but if using conventional produce, peel before juicing. Note that juicing eliminates the beneficial fiber contained in all raw fruits and vegetables, so view juicing as a tasty addition to, instead of a replacement for, your vegetable and fruit-rich diet. Happy Juicing!
Fresh Carrot, Apple & Ginger
2 medium carrots (washed & trimmed)
1 crisp apple (washed & stems removed)
1 inch of fresh ginger root (washed)
If you like spicy juice, add more ginger.
Stress Buster
2 stalks celery
½ fennel bulb
2 cups romaine lettuce
½ pineapple (peeled)
Berry Fizz
1 cup cranberries
1 cup strawberries
1 cup raspberries
Juice and add to 1 cup of sparkling apple cider.
Kim Falter is the wellness coordinator at Cook County Whole Foods Co-op. She has a B.S. in biology and a M.S. in holistic nutrition.
Marketing Coordinator
Cook County Visitors Bureau
Immediate full-time position. Requirements include excellent organizational skills, familiarity with website maintenance and social media skills including FB, blogs, e-newsletter, Twitter, etc.
Vertical Stacked Version
All logos also available reversed.
Basic understanding of Google especially related to analytics and SEO. Proficient with Microsoft office suite. Excellent written, oral and personal communication skills. Strong graphic design skills preferred. Competitive salary.
Please respond by February 7, 2014 by sending your resume to Linda Kratt, Executive Director –CCVB. linda@visitcookcounty.com
Valentines
Crimes of Passion
The origin of Valentine’s Day is a long way from the cards and candy we associate with Feb. 14 today.
There are differing theories on how we came to celebrate Valentine’s Day involving three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus who all committed various crimes of love—one performed marriages for lovers in secret after marriage was outlawed in third century Rome; one helped Christians escape harsh Roman prisons and another sent the first valentine, from prison, to a young girl he was in love with and signed it “From your Valentine.” All three were martyred for these transgressions.
Then the Christian church began holding a St. Valentine’s feast in mid-February to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, which was a fertility festival where they sacrificed a goat, cut the hide into strips and took the pieces to the streets where women were slapped with the hides because they believed this made them more likely to be fertile. At the end of the festival, names were thrown into an urn and bachelors drew names to become paired
Feel the Love
Whether you think Valentine’s Day has become an over-commercialized Hallmark sensation or you are a helpless romantic prone to slather your honey in love, we couldn’t let the date pass us by without a special nod.
For the artsy:
Wheel You Be Mine? 5-7 p.m. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than to join your sweetheart in the Art Colony’s ceramic studio for an evening of making heart bowls, drinking wine and eating luscious chocolate?
For the artsy one who likes to prepare ahead:
Community Ink Day at the Art Colony. Print your own valentines on Saturday Feb. 1 from 1-4 p.m. You can experience the Art Colony’s professional Print Studio with coaching and assistance from experienced printmakers as you make your own unique valentines and art pieces. Drop-in throughout the afternoon. Cost is $5.
For the adventurous:
Take your sweetie on a dog sled ride. Several area kennels offer rides or mush-yourowns. Check out www.grandmaraissleddogadventures.com for one area option. Or for a slightly more relaxing pace, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride with Okontoe Lodge (www.okontoe.com).
For the thrifty/thoughtful:
Give your valentine some handmade coupons. Free back-rub, breakfast in bed, and night off from the kids are always wel-
By Erin Altemus
with a woman. At the end of the fifth century, Pope Gelasius outlawed Lupercalia altogether and declared Feb. 14 to be St. Valentine’s Day.
By the 18th century, Feb. 14 became a day for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange handwritten notes or other tokens of affection. By 1900, printed cards replaced the hand-written greetings and now an estimated one billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year.
come—and your valentine will appreciate being able to redeem at any time.
For the athletic:
Cruise the lighted ski trail at Pincushion Mountain. There is a 1.6km section of groomed trail that is lit every night. Or, on Saturday the 15th, Sugarbush Trails will have a candlelit ski/snowshoe from 6-8 p.m. starting at the Oberg Mountain trailhead. Enjoy a bonfire, hot chocolate and cookies at the trailhead.
For the sweet tooth:
The Gunflint Mercantile has heart-shaped chocolate pops on a stick. Chelsea Lueck, owner of the Mercantile, plans to have a special rose-shaped truffle, boxed assorted chocolates and truffles.
For the traditionalist:
Terra Bella Floral Shop in Grand Marais sells upwards of 1,200 roses each year. Most shoppers want red, some get other colors, and the tardy will end up buying a plant, because they will sell out of roses. And remember, they deliver.
• Handcrafted Specials Every Day
• Fresh 1/2# Angus Burger $9.95 (with potato wedges or salad)
• Wood Fired Oven Baked Pizzas (Dine-in or take-out)
• Vegan and Gluten-free Options
• Try our Duck Bacon DBLT $8.75 (with potato wedges or salad)
• Private dining Rooms perfect for celebrations or meetings
• Free WiFi Valentine’s Sweetheart Specials
• Steaks, Seafood, Pasta, Salads
Every Day 11-8, 11-8:30 Fri-Sat Serving Beer, Wine, Spirits & Flavor!
(218) 387-1889 • 411 W. Hwy 61 (overlooking the Grand Marais harbor)
Coupon Special: 1/2 off any homemade dessert with meal purchase
Community Ink Day art by Jerri Jo Brandt.
Northern Wilds Calendar of Events
Jan. 31, Friday
Winter
Jan. 31-Feb. 2
Family Festival Lutsen Mountains 218-406-1320 Gingerbread Arts & Craft Show Miller Hill Mall, Duluth www.simon.com
St. Scholastica Theatre presents “The Liar” College of St. Scholastica Theatre www.css.edu
Jan. 31-Feb. 8
Winter Tracks Festival Throughout Cook County 218-387-2788
Jan. 31-Feb. 23
Winter Arts Festival: Exhibit & Sale Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
Feb. 1, Saturday
Snowmobile Fun Run Devil Track Resort, Grand Marais, 8:30 a.m. www.boreal.org/ridgeriders Community Ink Day: Print Your Valentine Grand Marais Art Colony, 1 p.m. www.grandmaraisartcolony.org
TBSO Pops: The Best of the Eagles Community Auditorium, Thu nder Bay, ON, 8 p.m. www.tbca.com
Jim & Michele Miller Moguls Grille, Lutsen, 3:30 p.m. www.caribouhighlands.com
Briand Morrison & Roxann Berglund Cascade Restaurant, Lutsen, 7 p.m. www.cascadelodgemn.com
The Thunderheads Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 8:30 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
Cloud Cult Papa Charlie’s Lutsen, 9:30 p.m. 218-406-1320
Feb. 2, Sunday
Super Bowl XLVIII
NFL on the Big Screen Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen, 5:30 p.m. 218-406-1320
The Walk A Mile Film Project Premiere Community Auditorium, Thunder Bay, ON, 6 p.m. www.tbca.com
Bay Street Film Festival’s Docs on Bay Finlandia Club, Thunder Bay, ON, 8 p.m. www.baystreetfilmfestival.ca
Feb. 6-16
Ely Winter Festival www.elywinterfestival.com
Feb. 7, Friday
Winter Frolic Mini-Bonspiel Two Harbors, 5:30 p.m. www.twoharborswinterfrolic.com
New Works by Ron Piercy Opening Reception 5-7 p.m. Betsy Bowen’s Studio www.woodcut.com
Timmy Haus Moguls Grille, Lutsen, 3:30 p.m. www.caribouhighlands.com
Mary Bue Cascade Restaurant, Lutsen, 7 p.m. www.cascadelodgemn.com
Gordon Thorne Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8 p.m. www.bluefinbay.com
Floydian Slip Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 8:30 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
EarthCare Community Forum Open House Community Auditorium, Thunder Bay, ON, 4:30 p.m. www.earthcarecommunityforum.com
Feb. 7-8
Winter Frolic Two Harbors www.twoharborswinterfrolic.com
Feb. 7-9
Hope Classic Fort William Curling Club, Thunder Bay, ON, 9 a.m. www.thunderbay.ca
Feb. 8, Saturday
Old Time Square Dance North House Folk School, Grand Marais, 7:30 p.m. www.northhouse.org
James Moors Moguls Grille, Lutsen, 3:30 p.m. www.caribouhighlands.com
Eric Frost Cascade Restaurant, Lutsen, 7 p.m. www.cascadelodgemn.com
Snowarama Snowmobile Ride Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, 8 a.m. www.grandportage.com
Northern Fibers Retreat
North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org
Feb. 13, Thursday
Rich Mattson & Germaine Gemberling
Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 7 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
Jim & Michele Miller Poplar River Pub, Lutsen, 6 p.m. www.lutsenresort.com
Feb. 14, Friday
Valentine’s Day
Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides & Winter Fun at Okontoe 12 p.m. 218-387-2271 ext. 614
Step Rockets Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 8:30 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
Eric Frost Moguls Grille, Lutsen, 3:30 p.m. www.caribouhighlands.com
Timmy Haus Devil Track Landing, Grand Marais, 6 p.m. www.deviltrackresort.com
Gordon Thorne Cascade Restaurant, Lutsen, 7 p.m. www.cascadelodgemn.com
Michael Monroe Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8 p.m. www.bluefinbay.com
Feb. 14-17
A’RT Fundraiser Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais www.mershonwriting.com
Feb. 15, Saturday
10th Annual Vintage Snowmobile Rendezvous Finland, Guided Ride 10 a.m. 218-353-7337
Grand Marais Ole Opry: Classic Country Showcase Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, 7:30 p.m. www.northshoremusicassociation.com
Candlelight Ski and Snowshoe Hike Sugarbush Trail, Tofte, 6 p.m. www.sugarbushtrail.org
Hungry Jack Lake Drag Race
Hungry Jack Lodge, Grand Marais, 11 a.m. www.boreal.org/ridgeriders
The Sivertones Moguls Grille, Lutsen, 3:30 p.m. www.caribouhighlands.com
8 p.m. www.bluefinbay.com
Feb. 18, Tuesday
The Sivertones Poplar River Pub, Lutsen, 6 p.m. www.lutsenresort.com
Feb. 19, Wednesday
Pete Kavanaugh Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8 p.m. www.bluefinbay.com
Feb. 20, Thursday
Timmy Haus Poplar River Pub, Lutsen, 6 p.m. www.lutsenresort.com
Gordon Thorne Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 7:30 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
Feb. 21, Friday
Joe Paulik Moguls Grille, Lutsen, 3:30 p.m. www.caribouhighlands.com
Eric Frost Cascade Restaurant, Lutsen, 7 p.m. www.cascadelodgemn.com
Gordon Thorne Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8 p.m. www.bluefinbay.com
The Last Revel Band Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 8 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
Feb. 21-23
Mixed Bonspiel Community Center, Grand Marais www.cookcountycurlingclub.com
Central Canada Outdoor Show
Sportsdome, Thunder Bay ON Build a Boat Contest for Kids Sportsdome, Thunder Bay ON, www.tbchamber.ca/buildaboat
Feb. 22, Saturday
Briand Morrison Moguls Grille, Lutsen, 3:30 p.m. www.caribouhighlands.com
Jim & Michele Miller Cascade Restaurant, Lutsen, 7 p.m. www.cascadelodgemn.com
The Last Revel Band Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 8 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
Save a Boob Fishing Contest Various Lakes, 9 a.m. Save a Boob Fishing Contest on Facebook 218-370-1207
Every Monday
Songwriter Series Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen, 8 p.m. 218-406-1320
Every Tuesday
Sean Emery: Funny Guy
Feb. 22-23
Wolf Track Classic Ely www.wolftrackclassic.com
Feb. 23, Sunday
Eric Frost Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 7 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
Feb. 24, Monday
Bump Blomberg Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8 p.m. www.bluefinbay.com
Feb. 25, Tuesday
Eric Frost Poplar River Pub, Lutsen, 6 p.m. www.lutsenresort.com
Feb. 26, Wednesday
Joe Paulik Bluefin Grille, Tofte, 8 p.m. www.bluefinbay.com
Feb. 27, Thursday
Pete Kavanaugh Poplar River Pub, Lutsen, 6 p.m. www.lutsenresort.com
Pushing Chain Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 7 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
Feb. 28, Friday
Nipigon Ice Fest Legion Hall, Nipigon, ON www.nipigonicefest.com
Timmy Haus Moguls Grille, Lutsen, 3:30 p.m. www.caribouhighlands.com
Open Skate Party Community Center, Grand Marais, 4 p.m. 218-387-3015
p.m. www.bluefinbay.com
Gypsy Lumberjacks Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, 8:30 p.m. www.gunflinttavern.com
Feb. 28-March 1
NOSM MASH Bash Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, Thunder Bay, ON, 8 p.m. www.thunderbay.ca
Feb. 28-March 2 Photography Workshop Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors 218-226-6372 March 1, Saturday Share the Podium Sleeping Giant Loppet, Thunder Bay, ON www.sleepinggiantloppet.ca
March 4-9
Woodcarver’s Week North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org March 7-8 Mush for a Cure www.mushforacure.com
NORTHERN SKY
FEBRUARY 2014
By Deane Morrison UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA STARWATCH
The knot of bright winter constellations reaches its highest point in the south during the mid-evening hours of February. Most recognizable is Orion, with his glowing sword hanging below the three stars of his belt.
Orion’s two brightest stars are among the most famous: Betelgeuse and Rigel. Both are gigantic stars classified as supergiants. Ruddy Betelgeuse and blue-white Rigel are believed to be less than 10 million years old — much younger than the sun’s 4.5 billion years — and are burning their nuclear fuel much faster than the sun.
Light from Rigel illuminates the Witch Head Nebula, a neighboring dust cloud that’s eerily reminiscent of a human profile. Rigel shines at Orion’s southwestern foot, Betelgeuse at his opposite shoulder. Northeast of Orion, Jupiter is still a big, bright ornament in Gemini. And below Orion, Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, is now at its finest.
In the last week of February, try to catch the faint, lovely zodiacal light an hour or
two after sunset. It glows from sunlight reflecting off dust in the plane of the solar system, and appears as a broad band of light extending up from the western horizon along the sun’s path, dimming with distance from the sun.
In the morning sky, Mars is in the south to southwest in the hour before sunrise, above the bright star Spica, in Virgo. To the east, Saturn glows between Mars and its stellar rival: red Antares, in Scorpius, whose sinuous form rears up from the southern horizon. And east of Scorpius, Venus makes a lovely, if somewhat low, morning star.
February’s full moon, called the Hunger Moon by Algonquin Indians, rises in Grand Marais at 5:31 p.m. on the 14th. Perfect fullness comes just 22 minutes later, so this moonrise will make a round and lovely accessory for Valentine’s Day.
The University of Minnesota offers public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth campus. For more information and viewing schedules, see the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at www.d.umn.edu/planet
Witch Head Nebula NASAJPL | CALTECH
Northern Trails
Yah It's Cold— Now What?
By Gord Ellis
As I tap out this column, on the first day of January 2014, it is -33 Celsius in Thunder Bay. The wind chill is in the area of -46 C. For my American friends, -40 C and -40 F are the same thing. In other words, extremely stinking cold.
It’s been that kind of winter in Northwestern Ontario. It started to get cold in early November, and slowly slipped into a full-blown December deep freeze. The last two days of the month were record breakers, with Dec. 30 registering a delightful -51 C wind chill in T Bay. That broke a record first set back in 1967. It’s difficult to explain what that wind chill feels like, but your skin is so cold it actually feels like it’s burning. A couple good loads of snow have added to the overall wintery feel. This sharp weather made late season deer hunting a challenge and early winter angling a chore. Normally, I get one first ice walleye trip in between the end of big game hunting and the start of a New Year. However, when my auger would only start inside the house, I knew it was too cold for fishing. So it goes.
Yet, it’s now a new year, and my friends at Environment Canada say this cold will be the norm through February. So do I just camp out in the basement throwing wood in the stove and watching Storage Wars Texas? Or do I suck it up? Personal history has shown that at some point, I’ll do the latter. The cabin fever just becomes unbearable.
There is no doubt my hesitation to tangle with the cold has increased with the passage of time. I see it in my long-time fishing
buddies as well. The reasons not to go are becoming more complex and the list is getting longer.
It was not always the case.
There was one trip many moons ago when a friend and I decided to fish a lake that required a 14-mile snowmobile ride in the wilderness. This trip was done on a single lung Polaris snow machine, with two medium large men on board and a sled in tow. We broke trail all the way in at a temperature of -26 C. Luckily, there was no wind, but I do recall having a small spot of frostbite on my face.
Then, once there, we had some walking to do. The lake was at the top of a height of land. This required, quite literally, ice climbing a frozen creek for about 75 feet, and then traversing a steep, snow-covered hill another 250 yards. The fact that we were carrying packs, rods and an auger while wearing snowshoes, made the whole enterprise very difficult. On the lake, the slush was incredible, and we had to carefully pick our way along the edge, often in waist deep snow. By the time we got to fishing, it was nearly noon, and we knew that it was two hours out.
If one of us had got hurt, or wet, or the sled refused to run, we would have been in a serious pickle. It never happened, and we got back without incident. Even got a couple speckled trout. But these days I tend to see the potential problems more than the potential rewards. In retrospect, there are a few times I think maybe someone was watching out for us out there.
The reality is, except for the most bitter temperatures, you can get along outside pretty well if you are properly dressed and prepared. The clothing for cold weather activity is impressive, and very functional. These days, there is almost no excuse for cold feet. You can get boots good to -75 F, and, realistically, that is not going to happen unless you take a wrong turn at Baffin
Island. Sure, you need to be careful, especially about wind chill, because it can be deadly. Just cover that skin, layer well and suck it up. It truly is amazing just how good it feels to get outdoors in the winter, even if
it means some tingling fingers and a snotty moustache. Don’t let Old Man Winter get the best of you. I’ll see you out there. I promise.
tions) and the Moss Piglets play at the Gunflint Tavern
In other art news, Sivertson Gallery’s Fireside Chat series continues on Saturday, Feb. 22, with a presentation by Liz Sivertson,. who will talk about her work and her art. The Chats begin at 6 p.m. Refreshments are served.
Tim Young is exhibiting his work at the Coho Cafe in Tofte through Feb. 28.
Ann and Wayne Russ are hosting six free (couple) dance practice sessions on Wednesdays through February at the 4-H Building They will be held from 7-9 p.m. They are also teaching a class in dance floor technique for couples to learn the waltz, two-step and foxtrot as well as Latin dances. The classes are at the Grand Marais Art Colony from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday evenings. Call 370-8949 for more info.
The Crooked Spoon is exhibiting paintings by Tara Austin
The Attic Gallery of Fine American Craft is featuring functional earthenware pottery by Dave Pottery of North Dakota and stoneware Wild Goose pottery from Fayetteville, Ark.
Kristin Blomberg has new work at Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Great Gifts of Lutsen has a good collection of Northland Woolens from Nelson, Minn.,
including felted patchwork-lined mittens, scarves and wool caps with snowflake designs accented with Swarovski crystals.
Gunflint Mercantile has finished up its brief stay in Duluth and is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Valentine specials include fudge kabobs and truffles.
Raven’s Beak Design in The Garage is holding drop spindle demonstrations with Kim Knutson from 1-4 on Saturdays and knitting demonstrations by Linda Bauer on Thursdays. The knitting group meets on Thursday from 5-7 p.m.
In Thunder Bay, the gallery, Definitely Superior, continues its exhibit of three solo artists: Jean Marshall, Lora Northway-Arvokas and Elizabeth Buset through Feb. 15.
It will hold its Book Launch and Market on Friday, Feb. 21, featuring the sale of the gallery’s anthology of poetry and prose and new issues of Die Active Zine, as well as a community book market. There will also be Soap Box Readings. The gallery is located at 250 Park St. in downtown Thunder Bay.
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery is featuring two exhibits in February: “DeColonize Me,” with works by six contemporary Aboriginal artists and “War & Deception,” an installation by Sam Shahsahabi. The gallery is
located on the campus of Confederation College in Thunder Bay.
The Grand Marais Art Colony has put out a call for the Artist in Residence program at the Art Colony March 31-April 14. The two-week period will provide artists with uninterrupted work time to support the development, creation, and production of new, original works. It will also include a community engagement component. The selected artist will be provided with work space and off-
site lodging. The deadline to apply is Feb. 16. For more information, call 387-2737 or email info@ grandmaraisartcolony.org.
Consider submitting new work for an exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post that opens March 28. The exhibit is entitled “Entry Points to the Creative: Mapping Mystery.” Artists are asked to create pieces with these questions in mind: “How does your creative process parallel your exploration toward the transcen-
ABOVE: Tim Young is exhibiting his paintings at the Coho Cafe through Feb. 28.
LEFT: Rick Allen created this linocut for the cover of a new Charlie Parr/Alan Sparhawk vinyl record by Chaperone Records. The album release show was at Sacred Heart Church in Duluth Jan. 25.
dent? In what uncharted territory have you found yourself?” Works in all media are welcome. For more information, contact Mary Ellen Ashcroft at spiritwilderness@boreal.org.
And, for your winter reading, Drury Lane Books suggests “Little Wolves,” by novelist Thomas Maltman and “Trout Caviar: Recipes from a Northern Forager,” a cookbook by Brett Laidlaw
Reviews
Green in Gridlock
Common Goals, Common Ground and Compromise
By Paul Walden Hansen Texas A&M University Press, College Station
In the public’s eye, environmental politics is often defined more by raucous controversy than by quiet accomplishments. The author, who devoted his career to conservation, including stints as the executive director of the Izaak Walton League and director of The Nature Conservancy’s Greater Yellowstone program, believes some environmentalists’ unwillingness to work with diverse interests and to compromise prevents them from achieving successful outcomes. He gives numerous examples, such as using cap-and-trade on smokestack emissions to successfully combat acid rain, where industry and conservationists achieved common goals. He believes the next generation of environmental leaders must be more inclusive and less confrontational than their elders to address environmental issues.—Shawn Perich
Ruby Jupe Insulated Mini
I was skeptical too. Insulated skirts sounded unnecessarily girly and downright useless in the outdoors. The Ruby Jupe insulated skirt proved me wrong--I now slip this water resistant, poly-fill beauty over tights when I set out for wintry runs, it has become a steadfast part of my cross-country ski gear, and it can’t be beat thrown over jeans for dog walks on chilly days. Ruby Jupe is based in Wisconsin (leave it to our neighbors to conquer the cold), and all three styles of their insulated skirts (mini, midi and maxi) are made in the USA. I tried the mini and found it to be a versatile and toasty piece. The skirt has a full-length front zipper for easy on and off, as well as a shorter back-vent zipper for better mobility. Smart design features include two zippered hand pockets for stashing a ski pass, and two extra inches of length in the back for full coverage. (One tip: the skirt crawled up my torso a bit on my first run, and I found that unzipping it a few inches from the top helped anchor the waistband lower on my hips.) I’m pleased to say, the skirt works: Warmth where you need it without overheating everything else. And
it looks darn cute worn casually. I’m a believer. MSRP $88. See www.rubyjupe.com
—Kate Watson
Why go: It’s one of the most easily accessible lake trout lakes inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Access: Daniels is easiest accessed via the Gunflint Trail and entry point No. 61 on West Bearskin Lake. There is a 60-rod portage to Daniels directly north of the public boat ramp on West Bearskin Lake. The northeast corner of Daniels is but a few hundred yards from Canada. An 85-rod spur trail in the northeast corner of Daniels connects to the Border Route Trail.
Vitals: Daniels is 508 acres. It has a maximum depth of 90 feet, and, according to the Minnesota
DNR, the water clarity is 15 feet. It’s a generally deep lake, with two deeper basins. One of those, on the western end of the lake, bottoms out at about 80 feet. From there, the lake shallows up to about 30 feet before dropping off to its deepest point, about halfway down the lake. The eastern side of the lake has a couple of 60 foot holes, as well as a 50-foot hole.
Game species present: lake trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch.
Forage species present: white sucker.
Lake trout numbers, not lunkers:
While the Minnesota DNR has not sampled the fish communities of Daniels since 2006, the lake continues to be known as a numbers lake, according to Steve Persons, Minnesota DNR’s
Just don’t expect to catch a trophy laker here. That latest survey didn’t turn up any lakers larger than the 15- to 19-inch range.
Survey put off: Speaking of surveys, Persons said the DNR had hoped to do another lake assessment in 2011 or 2012, but couldn’t get there. Now, it’s looking like it will be 2016 or 2017 before DNR is able to sample the lake again.
Catch your limit and walk
away: While Daniels’ lake trout
Grand Marais area fisheries manager.
“There’s still a lot of people fishing there,” Persons said. “Daniels is one of our more heavily fished lakes. It doesn’t look like it’s being overfished at this point. If it were to get overfished, we would expect for fish size to go down, and we haven’t seen that.”
population has shown resilience under heavier pressure than other lake trout lakes receive, Persons said anglers can play a conservation role by catching their two fish limit and leaving, rather than trying to cull for larger trout.
• Inside the BWCAW
• Lake trout, smallmouth bass and yellow perch
For that matter, it’s illegal for an angler to keep one laker, and then release a second catch with the intent of continuing to fish, Persons said, since anglers are required to stop fishing once in possession of the limit.
Using dead bait on tip-ups also tends to be harder on lake trout, since the fish typically has had more time to chew on the bait and is more likely to have a deep hook, Persons said.
“If a person is releasing a lot of lake trout, you have to realize a lot of those fish are going to die,” Persons said. “They are doing more harm. Every one of those fish that are put back, even if it looks right and isn’t bleeding, there’s a 10 percent chance it’s going to die. If it’s bleeding, it’s probably going to die.”
—Javier Serna
The Sourdough Starter Named 'Mark' Strange Tales
By Elle AndreaWarner
When a neighbour gave me a container of ‘’sourdough starter’’ 25 years ago, I didn’t look after it very well, and after a few months, I threw it away. But recently when I heard about the 100-year-old sourdough starter at Metropolitan Moose Beanery & Cafe (The Moose) in Kakabeka Falls, I took notice of sourdough baking and its remarkable history. The original gooey dough can be kept alive for decades, passing from generation to generation in a family or community, keeping its own unique tangy taste without ever using store-bought commercial yeast.
Sourdough baking, which likely originated at least 3,500 years ago with the ancient Egyptians, starts with a mixture of flour and water that, left to ferment for days at room temperature, turns into a bubbling, sour-smelling dough of wild yeast (naturally-occurring airborne yeast) and lactic bacteria (like those found in yogurt). As long as the fermenting mass is ‘’fed’’ by replenishing the starter with flour and water, the dough is active (ready for baking), the culture stays alive and can potentially last indefinitely.
Julia Miles, co-owner of the Moose, said the sourdough starter, which they named Mark, has been living at the Moose for seven years. “Our sourdough was gifted to us by our good friend Mark – American Mark, as we like to call him – who was living in Minnesota at the time and now lives in Northern Ontario. Mark acquired this sourdough starter along with a tattered paper instruction stating that this bubbly, needy little container of goodness was more than 60 years old when [the note] was typed. American Mark then followed the instructions and kept this precious commodity alive for many years. It is not clear when the parent starter developed, but from all indications it is at least 80 years young and many say possibly over a century. “That would put Mark’s creation date between 1914 and 1934.”
Miles said that Mark’s roots are in the Grand Portage vicinity. “With the isolation of the area, it is no wonder that this was passed around from house to house and kept alive for so many years,” she said.
At the Metropolitan Moose, Mark has
become a ‘’living creature at the cafe” with staff and family taking a vested interest in the “bubbly baby.’’ Today, Mark is stored in two 4-litre pails, and his home is on the kitchen counter.
“When we feel that Mark needs a break, one [of the containers] will go to the spa (fridge) for up to a week. Mark gets fed daily a diet of one cup flour, one cup milk and l/4 cup sugar. We started extra pails in the summer season and fed it only rye flour from which I make my favourite Sourdough Rye,” Miles said. Mark is added to just about anything that Miles bakes, from bread, muffins and scones to pancake batter.
Sourdough breadmaking is undergoing a renaissance worldwide with artisan bakers, leading to some unique ventures. In Stockholm, the world’s first sourdough hotel will ‘’feed’’ and look after sourdough starters for about $30 a week while their owners are away. At the Sourdough International online store sourdo.com, bakers can choose from 17 authentic sourdough cultures collected from ethnic bakeries around the world, dried, shipped with the flour they were grown and activated by feeding the dormant mixture. And there are sourdough cookbooks and plenty of helpful online sites to help one establish their own sourdough mixture.
Kakabeka’s Mark at age 80-100 years is in good company. For example, in San Francisco, the Boudin Bakery can trace their ‘’Mother starter” back 165 years to the 1849 California Gold Rush; in Juneau, Alaska, at the Gold Room Restaurant in the Westmark Baranof Hotel, they still use their original sourdough starter now more than 100 years old.
Lots of lore and legends tell of American and Canadian gold rush prospectors guarding their sourdough starters (“sponge”) like a stash of gold, keeping it warm by tucking them in their long johns or dangling sourdough earthenware pouches around their necks or belts. The dough-carrying prospectors who toughed it out for a winter in the Yukon or Alaska earned the nicknamed ‘sourdoughs’ and were immortalized in the classic best-seller “Songs of a Sourdough” by poet Robert Service. The world’s first copy of his book was sold to a bookseller in Northern Wilds area, in what is now Thunder Bay.
While munching on her sourdough bread, I mentioned to Miles that I might just try sourdough baking one more time. She said that next summer she might add jars of sourdough on the cafe’s menu. “And don’t fret about it—if I can keep it alive, you can,’’ she said, laughing.
4 cups flour (white or wheat)
2 cups sourdough starter
l l/2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 tablespoons oil
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
l/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup dried cranberries
Preheat oven to 350. Mix flour, sugar, soda and salt together, set aside. In another bowl, beat pumpkin, milk, starter, eggs, oil and sugar. Mix well, add vanilla. Mix the dry ingredients in very lightly –do not overmix. Add cranberries. You are now ready to fill your lightly greased tins and bake for approximately 20 minutes or until ready.
Help preserve the legacy of Minnesota’s parks and trails.
TOP: Sourdough made from “Mark” the Metropolitan Moose Beanery & Cafe’s 100-year-old sourdough starter. ABOVE: “Mark” is the basis for many of the baked goods, including scones, at the Moose in Kakabeka Falls, ON. | JULIA MILES
Pumpkin Cranberry Sourdough Muffins from Julia Miles, Metropolitan Moose
apratt@northernwilds.com
Best Dining in the Northern Wilds
Vote for your favorite restaurants and win a $50 gift certificate.
Do you have a favorite place to get a beer, eat breakfast or take the kids for dinner? We want to know and so do our area restaurants. The restaurant must be located in our coverage area, which includes the North Shore communities between Duluth and Nipigon, including Finland, the Gunflint Trail, and the outlying communities of Thunder Bay. Do not choose the same restaurant in more than three categories. If you do, your entire ballot will be disqualified. You do not have to fill in every category on the ballot. Only one ballot per person. You can mail in your ballot, drop it off at our office or vote online at www.northernwilds.com. Voting ends March 31, 2014. Look for the results in the May issue of Northern Wilds.
OFFICIAL BALLOT Official Ballot
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And which restaurant is "worth the drive?"
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Northern Farmers Embrace Cold Climate Gardening
By Erin Altemus
For the average home gardener living north of Duluth, harvesting a ripe tomato is not something to take for granted. This past summer, a juicy, red tomato was hard to find.
Now it’s February, the ground is frozen, the landscape white, and the seed catalogues have arrived. With them comes the possibility of a more productive garden. Our climate in this region brings challenges for those trying to grow their own food. We have a short growing season, and the possibility of a mid-summer frost is never out of the question.
Two farmers who have dealt with this challenge are Marcelle Paulin and Brendan Grant, who run a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and market farm near Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, east of Thunder Bay. In 2013, they fed 80 families for 13 weeks. Paulin explained the challenge of growing in their region, at the base of the Sibley Peninsula, an arm of land that juts out from the northern shore of Lake Superior.
“Spring comes really late,” Paulin said. “Things take a long time to dry out, and the soil stays cool for a long time.” Because of the late spring, she explained, it’s difficult to get early-season crops. “We get most of our harvest in September and October,” Paulin said.
Paulin and Grant’s farm, named “Sleepy G Farm” for the nearby provincial park, focuses on the standard vegetables. Root crops, squash and greens all tend to thrive, and the customers like them. Back “30 to 40 years ago, you couldn’t find specialty vegetables in Thunder Bay,” Paulin said. “That’s really changed recently. But people here still have a traditional palate.”
Paulin recommends trying Tyee spinach. Because of the long days in the summer with very intense sunlight, spinach bolts easily this far north. Tyee spinach is bolt-re-
sistant. Most of the varieties Paulin and Grant grow are hybrids—-mainly because of the need for a steady and uniform supply for the CSA. Another variety Paulin recommends is Farao cabbage, a summer cabbage that resists splitting.
“The Pinnacle spaghetti squash has done well for us as well,” Paulin noted, and said it produced in abundance. It is smaller than a traditional spaghetti squash, which helps it reach maturity in a shorter growing season.
Beyond ordering seeds that are suited for northern growing zones, there are a few other tricks that might help extend your harvest or grow those “hot-weather” crops that northerners envy. Paulin and Grant use a plastic and paper mulch to plant into. Black plastic mulch helps warm up the ground and modulate the ground temperature overnight. For many plants, growth slows if the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures is greater than 20 degrees. Brown paper mulch helps with weed suppression and raises soil temperature. Finally, try row cover to increase the heat around young plants.
In fact, row cover, a spun polypropylene fabric, has several purposes:
• It protects against unwanted insects. If you have noticed holes in your arugula or some of your brassicas, you have flea beetles. Using row cover before the seeds sprout or right when you transplant young seedlings can prevent a pest invasion. Row cover can protect against squash beetles, potato beetles and many of the common pests.
• It protects against frost.
• It acts like mulch in that it helps keep the ground from drying out so quickly.
• It can help protect against wind damage.
Paulin and Grant grow tomatoes under row cover with bendable hoops that create a mini-hoophouse frame over the plants.
| MARCELLE PAULIN
Paulin says that most days she doesn’t even need to open the cover, and the tomatoes often do really well.
Cook County Extension’s Director Diane Booth works extensively to help gardeners succeed with their northern gardens. She co-hosts the Northern Gardening Radio Show on WTIP and schedules workshops throughout the year that focus on topics for gardeners and farmers in our region. The Extension office has a handout that lists recommended seed companies and places to buy seeds in our area as well as varieties of fruits and vegetables that do well in our area. Finally, the Extension office has a seed bank where local growers can donate or take seeds that have done well in our area.
Perhaps growing in the north isn’t all bad. Marcelle Paulin explained that in a climate like this, the insect pests commonly seen further south are not able to winter over. They hardly see any potato beetles where they are (a pest that is problemat
ic for most farmers all over the country). And she noted, “We actually get a break. If I lived in a more temperate climate, we would try to do year-round gardening … but I like the break.”
For many of us who garden, choosing and ordering seeds and dreaming about the harvest to come is as much fun as actually digging around in the soil. Things may look
At Hillhaven you’ll have all the freedom you want with just the help you need. Enjoy the independent lifestyle with no worries.
Brendan Grant and Marcelle Paulin at Sleepy G farm in Ontario.
Pinnacle spaghetti squash do really well at Sleepy G farm.
| MARCELLE PAULIN
Grand Marais
517 S Gunflint Trail MLS#6000932 $599,000
Gre AT VACA n T L A nd VALU e S
Boulder Pt Road, Lutsen Lk Superior views, close to Superior National Golf Course & Ski Hill
20 acre parcel
xxx Mountain Ash Ln Cedar covered hillside overlooking Lake Superior in Lutsen.
MLS#29246 $649,000
MLS#6001643 $199,000
MLS#6001644 $135,000 40 acre parcel
Jonvick Creek Beautiful home sites in mature Maple, Spruce and Birch forest. $60,000+
Stonegate Road Private Lake Superior lot in Hovland Includes driveway, electric & new septic. (A/O) MLS# 24409 $399,900
xxx Sawbill Trail 120 Acres located up the Sawbill Trail. Large Maples MLS# 27551 $199,900
293 Mile O’Pine Rd Nice lakeshore on south side of Gunflint Lake. Lots of huge White Pine trees.
MLS#29841 $250,000
Johannes Toftey Homestead Sites
Beautiful hillside lots in Tofte with Lake Superior and Carlton Peak views. $35,750-55,000
Tofte Airport Home Sites Located between Lutsen and Tofte. Convenient Location with outstanding values. $24,750-33,000
Tait Pines Nestled hillside adjacent to Tait Lake in Lutsen, just 13 miles up the Caribou Trail.
$37,950-$57,750
MLS#29842 $100,000.00
293 Mile O’Pine Rd 5 acre parcel overlooking Gunflint Lake.
Caribou Hillside Outstanding homesites tucked along the hillside of Caribou Lake. $52,250-$126,500
Lot 2 Quist Acres 5 acre parcel on Quist Road outside of Grand Marais.
MLS#30439 $47,500
Lot 5 Quist Acres 5 acre parcel on Quist Road outside of Grand Marais, sister parcel to Lot 2.
MLS#30440 $49,900
xxx Mile O’Pine 3.30 acres, Gunflint Trail.
MLS#30837 $199,900
Lot 13 Sawmill Bay 233’ shoreline 2.2 acres $88,000
Sawmill Drive /Caribou Lake Area
This 2.08 parcel is private yet convenient to the Caribou Lake and the Lutsen areas.
Agent/Broker MLS# 24625 $45,000
Sand Creek Post and Beam Lutsen on Boulder Point Rd New Construction commencing fall 2013. Approximately 500 sq ft of Post and Beam living area with
with a
entry
and covered deck. Well and septic included. Private hillside
on 3
the Lutsen SNA (Scientific and Natural area) and snowmobile trail. Beautiful forest
with conifers and Maples with Lake Superior Views. Just off Ski Hill Road on Boulder Point – a private association with Lutsen Mountains and Superior National Golf Course nearly walking distance. All you need to do is put your finishing touches on interior appointments. Call today for a rendering and private showing. $125,000 MLS #6001646
Meeting of Water and Wilderness! 200 ft of Ledge rock sprawling for what seems like a football field in to Lake superior! north of Castle danger, Phenom build site!
Mls#30422 $409,000
and lakeshore! several acres of privacy and way more than 200 ft of Level access Lake superior shoreline in schroeder, near sugarloaf Cove naturalist a rea! Mls#6001554 $320,000
VaCation getaWay at CH ateau
leVeaux! Fabulous
Location, improving rental incomes and tons of interior improvements of Common Lodge entry, swimming Pool, etc! Condo is m int Condition, Great Views! Mls#26043 reduCed! $124,600 asK for #31!
CliffHouse oV erlooK ing l a K e superior! Lake superior Views at Lutsen resort, Fine dining and stylish living at your own piece of the north shore! Finely appointed, this townhome won’t disappoint! Mls#28460 $499,000 or Half sHare at $279,000
l a K e superior and lutsen Leads to the Good Life! sweet Lake superior build ready parcel in the heart of Lutsen, driveway in place all you need is some vision for laying out your home to take advantage
lutsen sea Villas, Level accessible Lake superior! The Lutsen sea Villas are a Great Way for those who enjoy vacationing long term or short term along the north shore! a ffordable association dues make for low maintenance living with a good management company available for offsetting the ownership costs. a nd if you want to keep the Villa all to yourself, you can! One, two and three bedroom Villas available, most recently update and all in the heart of Lutsen just a short shuttle to Lutsen mountains ski resort! From $189,000 Call tOday!
Mls#6001261 B3 $300,000
Mls#6001265 B1 $400,000
Bargain Buy Villas! K3 Big reduCtion! $189,000 e3 $224,900 sWeet!
lutsen l a K e HoMe, Wilderness Living! in between the boundary Waters and Lutsen mountains ski resort with miles of snowmobile and cross county trails between! year round a mazing Cabin, Oversized garage with workshop & bunkhouse! Mls#29855 $379,000
autHentiC l a K e superior Cottage! enjoy 5 plus acres of boreal forest and so much shoreline you could get lost meandering it! Wide board plank interior with stone fireplace, jack and jill bath with two large bedrooms, tall ceilings and plenty of WOW factor! Mls#6001790 $749,900
neW! a rCHiteC tural doozie on CHristine l a K e in Lutsen! Luxury Lodge style home with basalt stone Fireplace engulfed between built in douglas Fir bookcases…Get the picture? total Quality, total serenity from this very Cool Lutsen Lake home with bunkhouse, tons of privacy and wildlife! rental revenues offset ownership costs! Mls#tBa $485,000
HoW aBout foCusing on tHe fisHing?
and
Mls#6001054 $319,000
extra- ordinary lutsen Lake superior home! Unforgettable to say the least, enjoy a Gorgeous superior stone Corner Fireplace with main Level Living, and a modern functional design that welcomes your own touches for updating! Over 300 ft of shoreline, garage and outdoor fireplace! Mls#6000899 $735,000
sK i in sK i out to Moose Mountain! Gorgeous townhome & the Views of moose mountain will knock your socks off! Caribou highlands is top notch, reminiscent of your last stay at aspen mountain in Colorado; the fine decor & quality of these homes are niCe! as part of Caribou highlands resort, enjoy heated swimming pools indoor & out, hot tubs, tons of activities for the kids, & all year round fun at the Lutsen mountains ski resort located a hop skip & a jump away! rental revenues help offset the costs of your future vacation home!!
Mls#6001192-4 Br 4 Ba asK for 503 Moose Mt $299,000
Mls#6000261 studio asK for 108a $76,900 reduCed!!
Mls#6000681 1Br 2Ba $80,000 sold!!
Mls#6001787 1 Br 1 BatH Mint! $109,900 asK for 128B!
siMple li V ing in a one BedrooM Ca Bin W itH guest
BunKHouse! it’s a starter cabin or retirement getaway, you decide! m inute’s to Lake superior’s sugarloaf Cove, a gorgeous piece of land with Lake views and plenty of room to add on to this cute little cabin! Mls#30641 $89,000
eet green
Bin
aCres W itH drea M y green HoMe!
s i Lver Bay to Litt L e Marais to Fin L and & i sa B e LL a!
Swallow Lake Land, isabella a rea Wilderness shoreline in a mature pine area off deep Lake rd. multitude of Lakes abound, much recreational opportunity!
Mls#30253 $99,000
Enough Is Enough! We are talking 30 acres of elevated rolling hills bordering the r idge looking down the Little manitou r iver to Lake superior. Can subdivide, but at this price, you’ll want to keep it all for yourself! Mls#24573 $179,000
Super Views, Super Future! bordering county lands, this 6 ac parcel can easily be subdivided in to 3 parcels, all with views of the big Lake! Or keep it all for yourself! hUGe Lake views, it won’t disappoint! Mls#30736 reduCed! $129,900
Lake Superior Views Sprawl before you on this gorgeous piece of land at White tail r idge, a lakeview community very near to tettagouche state Park with nice Lake superior access! Mls#6000717 $115,000
Sonju Lake Road Large acreage parcels! 40 plus acre lots ranging from $35k to $60k. a ll 170 acres for $180,000
Mls#6001324+
HUGE Lake Superior Views on 5 ac, creek and electric at build site! Gorgous Cliff, borders county land $89,900
Access to Wilson Lake with Acreage! nice little Camping shack in place, enjoy the hilltop views of the maples! Forge a path through the woods to Wilson Lake and you’ll have all the Walleye you can eat, Wilson Lake is the Walleye Capital of the northwoods!
Mls#27884 $109,900
s chroeder a rea n ear the c ross r iver!
30 ac parcel is a combination of marsh lands and meandering beaver ponds with high ground in the north West corner with some nice maples and views of the surrounding marsh grasses and sawtooth r idges, Mls#6001525 $47,500
Perhaps the most unique piece of property on the north shore! Old rock quarry is surrounded by steep ledge rock reaching up to the sky. your own little lagoon like lake on the top of sawtooth mountain ridge, it’s simply stunning. rugged terrain that was touched by man many years ago, time has now passed and the land has gone back to wilderness with mature pines and south facing maples. Mls#6001560-66 froM $95,000
30 Ac and 40 Ac parcel, almost adjoining Prime Wilderness with road access available and tons of wildlife through moose ponds, with some high ground for building sites. Great Value and tons of end of the road feel!
Mls#6001525 from $47,500 for 30 acres!
10 Ac Parcels of Maples! scramble across the rolling terrain of mature maples (breathtaking in the Fall) to a sweet building site Perched Over a mixed boreal Forest, Good Levels of serenity For sure! year round access and electric at road! Mls#6000676 $56,900
Over 5 acres of Young Aspen and Lake superior Views on the sugarloaf road, Walk to superior hiking trail or sugarloaf Cove on Lake superior!
Mls#25632 $29,900
Sugarloaf Retreats on High Ridge Drive, located up the surgaloaf road from sugarloaf Cove naturalist a rea, enjoy large acreage parcels at rock bottom prices! From $62,000!
Mls#25701-4
t o F te a rea n ear B LueFin Bay r esort!
Just Up the Sawbill Trail Grab your little piece of the northwoods, rolling terrain and small community feel with year round access, great build sites!
Mls#6001346 from $24,900
Hilltop Views at LeVeaux Mountain! From spectacular Lake Views to sites bordering superior national Forest… even a site overlooking a Wildlife pond! Give these sites a look if you like location location location!
Mls#27035-26505-30560 from $19,500!!
LOCATION says it all, enjoy nice Lake superior Views and tons of Privacy bordering county lands, toftevaag is a great spot to build your dream cabin, especially for year round living close to all that tofte offers! Mls#2409130549 reduced from $53,000
Lot 9 at Overlook Trail! huge Lake superior Views, year round access & electric $84,900 Mls#6001353
Lutsen Lake v iews & w i L derness Lands!
Boulder Point at Lutsen Mountains! recreational 10 acres off ski hill road, flat Plateau with awesome Views of moose mountain and Lake superior!
Mls#6001621 $75,000
Honeymoon Trail Wildlife Lands! 10 ac nearby Poplar r iver in Lutsen, great hunting or hiking land at a sUPer Great price! nice boreal Forest with build site bordering UsFs lands! Mls#26729 $39,900
Caribou Lake Area Build Site on 5 Ac! at the base of the sawtooth r idge overlooking Caribou Lake is this sweet land perfect for your year round cabin with easy access to all that Lutsen Offers! Mls#6000-049 reduCed! $49,900
30 acres of Prime Wilderness Land with year round access and electric at street with Views of Lutsen’s famed Clara Lake! Mls#6001462 $137,500
Lovely 20 acre parcel located on the outskirts of Lutsen, only minutes to bigsby and Caribou Lakes! nice mixed forest with high ground for choice building sites. Great price for your northwoods getaway! Mls#31531 $41,900
Gorgeous Views of Williams and Wills Lake in Lutsen! year round access, electric, mountain top site bordering UsFs land. a Wonderful place to build your northwoods home! Mls#tBa $79,000
Super Building Site on Honeymoon Trail Lutsen locale with electric and all year access! high ground!
m ls#6001796 $39,000
Bargain Clara Lake site! yr round access, electric at street and cleared build site perfect for your Getaway Cabin on Coveted Clara Lake!
Mls#6001680 $155,000
Grand Marais Location Location Location!
A River Runs Through It! 160 acres of Upland and r iver Frontage on the Cascade r iver near eagle mountain, a r are Find with tons of opportunity. Whether hunting land or Wilderness retreat, this is a Great Opportunity! Mls#31732 reduCed $159,000
Between Grand Marais and Devil Track Lake 60 Acres! rolling terrain and nice mixed forest and grasslands just up the Gunflint trail and devil track Lake rd, this is a great location and an amazing price!
Mls#6000-606 $95,900
Bordering Cascade River Park! Potential to subdivide or keep it all for yourself! nice Lake superior Views from multiple build sites, hike right in to the Park land with access to Cascade r iver falls and Lake superior! Mls#31097 reduCed! $225,000
County Rd 7 Murphy Mountain Lake View lands! bargain buys in young Poplar Forest, easy clearing for sweet Lake superior Views for as little as $39,900! Or enjoy hilltop build site with driveway in place, creek bordering site for $89,900! Mls#25633
$149,000
deV il traCK l a K e 400 ft of priMe sHoreline This is one of the very few left with 400 ft of deep shoreline and nearly 15 acres of land! Long winding driveway through mature pines leads to old cabin site with drilled well ready to go! Give this a look and you will understand the value in being an established build ready piece of land! Mls#6000548 $425,000
deluxe Ca Mp on CariBou l a K e! rustic Lake Living with Log outhouse and shower room, bunk area and year round dock on 150 ft of nice Caribou shoreline! sweet trees and lots of privacy! Mls#31096 $212,000
gust la K e lot in lutsen year round access with drilled well, driveway in place and cleared build site! Just a hop skip and a jump from the bWCa with year round access! oW ner finanCing!! Mls#24313 $144,900
sW eet sHoreline on deeryard l a K e, west of Grand marais, south facing and 10 acres of maples, Old Growth White Pines and ancient Cedars all abutting public land. Current owners got you started: a garage that was their starter cabin complete with power, heat, water and septic tank! Mls#6001066 $189,000 reduCed!
LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES
SPECTACULAR EXECUTIVE COMPOUND
Lake Superior. 4 BR, 3 BA home plus guest lodge. 390’ meandering Lake Superior shoreline with private cove. 45’ x 25’ lakeside deck. Professional design and décor. MLS #31682 $1,250,000.
END-OF-ROAD SECLUSION ON LAKE
SUPERIOR. Custom built
2 BR, 2 BA home affords privacy and 620’ of exceptional ledgerock shoreline. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of state land and shoreline. Home is well appointed; furnishings and other personal property included. 1 BR, 1 BA guest house with attached garage tucked out of view for privacy. Home with guest cottage sleeps 6 comfortably.
MLS #6001064 $799,000
THREE SPECTACULAR LAKE SUPERIOR LOTS AT TERRACE POINT. Outstanding shoreline views all the way to Artist Point & Grand Marais. Each has dramatic shoreline. Great location west of town. Priced from $175,000 to the unique and pristine point at $409,900. MLS 6000590, 6001067, 6001068.
LAKE SUPERIOR CONDO/TOFTE.
Great lake views from this 2 bedroom + loft unit with 2 baths, fireplace, balcony looking up the shore. Chateau LeVeaux offers many updated amenities, indoor pool, sauna, game room, and onsite manager. Facility is in excellent condition for easy and affordable lakefront living or vacation rental. MLS #6000473 $90,000.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES
THE OUTPOST MOTEL.
Thriving business and home with great view of the big lake. The Outpost Motel offers motel rooms and kitchenette suites. In addition there is a loft apartment and a cottage. The great location close to Grand Marais sits directly across the highway from Lake Superior beach. Direct access to the Superior Hiking Trail. MLS #6001280. $689,000.
SPECTACULAR PINCUSHION BED AND BREAKFAST
Updated 5 bedroom, 6 bath home on 14.8 acres. New 2 car garage and two decks. Direct ski in/ski out access to Pincushion Mountain ski trails. Frontage on Little Devils Track River is fabulous. Just minutes from Grand Marais. Resort/Commercial zoning.
MLS 6001839 $374,900.00
KAH-NEE-TAH GALLERY AND COTTAGES. Lutsen’s north shore showcase for local artists. One owner for 23 years. Cottages have amazing rental history and feature stone fireplaces and loaded with charm.
MLS #30877 $350,000.
LUTSEN COMMERCIAL HWY 61 FRONTAGE.
Two acres, zoned GC. Location, visibility, nice forest, lake view. Includes a third (one-acre) parcel zoned residential.
MLS #6001891 $179,000.
INLAND WATER PROPERTIES
CASCADE LAKE
PRIVACY. This is the only private land on the lake. Enjoy the utmost privacy and unspoiled wilderness views with 87 acres and over 3,000’ of shoreline. Includes a well-maintained cabin, sauna, dock and outhouse. Easy year-round access. Unique opportunity to own a private wilderness compound!
MLS #31513 $700,000.
WILSON LAKE LOT.
Strikingly beautiful 5.4 acre lot, 355’ of shoreline with great build sites near the lake or tucked around the bluff for gorgeous views.
MLS #6000757 $265,800.
PRIVACY ON LITTLE OLLIE BAY OF POPLAR LAKE.
Northwoods charm. 2 BR/1 BA, sauna, large deck. Adjoins BWCAW. Walk to Banadad Ski Trail. Nightly rental with good history.
MLS #6000398 $259,900.
INLAND WATER PROPERTIES
FAMILY CABIN— BIRCH LAKE.
Family retreat w/2 BR, 1 BA, large deck, charming log bunkhouse, 1-car garage. Great privacy, large dock on 150’ shoreline.
MLS #31680 $199,900.
CABIN ON TROUT LAKE.
Charming custom-built 1 BR cabin with 150’ shoreline on desirable Trout Lake. Knotty pine paneling, lots of artistic touches. 3.27 acres.
MLS #31258 $199,900.
BORDER, BEAUTY AND BWCAW. Rare opportunity to own a private wilderness escape, North Fowl Lake. 2 BRs, full kitchen, comfortable living room and large deck. Large open yard, sauna, storage shed and dock. Great privacy, 200’ of shoreline, abutting the BWCAW. Water access.
MLS #30184 $199,000.
LEVEL LOT, NICE WOODS, EASY SHORE.
This Devil Track Lake lot has easy access from county road, power, phone and great building sites. South shore, 200 ft. frontage, great views. Build your home on the lake here.
MLS #6001771 $198,900.
GREAT CABIN ON TOM LAKE. End-of-the-road seclusion and really nice lake family retreat. Two bedroom cabin, 2 bunkhouses, sheds, outhouse, dock, huge deck. 188’ of shore and over 6 acres. Unspoiled views.
MLS #31660 $198,500.
LARGE AND PRIVATE LAKE LOT. This Greenwood Lake parcel has great views, classic boulder shore, dense pine forest and easy lake access. Plenty ofelbow room with many nice cabin/ home sites.
MLS #6001764 $192,500
GREAT LOT ON LOON LAKE.
This lot is located on the south side of Loon Lake and offers great lake views. The main road is in place and power is on the lot line. This lot offers a great shoreline and many nice trees. MLS #6001605 $192,000
INLAND WATER PROPERTIES HOMES & CABINS
BIRCH LAKE PARCEL.
5 acres, 209’ shoreline with fabulous views of the length of the lake. Lot build site prepared and driveway in. A private and special place for your home or cabin near BWCAW.
MLS #6001329. $172,000.
NEW! AMAZING HOME NEAR TRESTLE PINE
LAKE. 3 BR, 2 BA home up the Gunflint Trail only a few minutes from many great lakes. The interior has an open bright feeling and is move-in ready!
MLS #6001793 $169,000 QUALITY DEVIL TRACK LAKE LOT.
Heavily wooded south shore lot with 150’ of shore. Easy shoreline, great views, excellent building sites. Power/phone. More shoreline available.
MLS #6001770 $149,900.
CABIN CREEK COVE ON NINEMILE LAKE.
2 lakelots left on the west bay of Ninemile Lake. Lots have excellent bldg sites nestled in a dense mixed forest. Year round access. Power at site. CC&R’s apply. Brochure available.
Lots start at $89,300.
TROUT HAVEN.
Six nicely wooded, west-facing lakelots on Hare Lake. Easy county road access. Power available. Beautiful views, nice shoreline, good trout fishing. Starting at $82,000.
SNOWSHOE RUN AT HARE LAKE. Beautiful lots with maple, spruce and cedars. Privacy, surrounded by U.S.F.S. lands. A trout lake; good fishing. Brochure available.
Starting at $33,500.
HOMES & CABINS
LARGE HOME, TWO APARTMENTS, HUGE LAKE VIEW.
Main level 3 BR home with fireplace, quality kitchen, formal dining room, master suite. Two full apartments on the lower levels, each with private entrances provides great income. Includes 2-car attached garage with workshop, 1,000 sq. ft. heated outbuilding, plus 10 acres with paths and privacy.
MLS #6001835 $398,000
BEAUTIFUL 3-BR LINDAHL HOME. Quality home provides elegant North Shore living. Lovely upgrades, beautiful lake views, access to trails and many recreational opportunities. Great Lutsen location at Jonvick Creek. MLS #6000195 $397,500.
PINCUSHION MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA HOME.
Close to town yet situated in the woods on ski and hiking trails. 3 BR, 2 BA, on 4.75 acres. Large living room with beautiful white tile fireplace and large dining room with Carlton Peak rock chimney. Remodeled kitchen; walk-out basement with sun room. Unique design, lots of wood and windows; several unique handmade doors.
MLS #6001099 $349,000
ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME.
Earth sheltered home with over 55 acres and a creek.
Conveniently located near Grand Marais and Gunflint Trail. 4 BR, 3 BA with a 2-car detached garage. Updated and remodeled with many custom features. This home is designed for the person who wants to live the rural, energy-efficient lifestyle.
MLS #6001251. $297,000
COUNTRY HOME IN HOVLAND.
Lovely 4 BR/3 BA home on 7.76 acres. Master suite with huge walk-in closet. Open living room with stone fireplace, formal dining room, big kitchen. Office/ den opens into the attached garage. 32’ x 40’ pole building has storage for toys. Partially finished basement. Country living at its best!
MLS #6000522 $259,300.
GRAND
MARAIS HOME.
Conveniently located in town with incredible views of Lake Superior. The home features 4 BR, 3 BA with a great layout and tons of storage space. Master BR includes a custom whirlpool tub, skylight, and a separate covered porch overlooking the harbor. The kitchen has been totally redone. Outside you will find a private patio area, heated drive-through garage, gardens, flowerbeds and custom landscaping.
MLS #6001152 $247,000
REMOTE OUTPOST.
The 2 bdr, home sits on 77 acres and features all the creature comforts with solar power and shower house, There’s a large 2-car garage with workshop plus 2 guest cabins that provide plenty of space for the whole family or group. Trails, solitude and wilderness – a perfect place to live remotely or as base-camp for your adventures. MLS# 6001657 $174,900.
CASCADE VALLEY RETREAT. Charming cottage on 30 acres with adjoining public lands. Wellbuilt cabin has great views of the Cascade River Valley from the screen porch. Sauna building with sitting area, fireplace, dressing room and large cedar sauna. Remote location but good access, and only a short drive to Grand Marais. MLS #6001829 $169,900
RUSTIC LOG, ROILING RIVER, MODERN COMFORTS.
This log kit home sits on the scenic Flute Reed River in Hovland, just a short walk to Lake Superior's shore. The seasonal cabin has a great screen porch, modern kitchen and comes furnished with cabin-style furnishings and sportsman's décor. +/- 400' of dramatic river frontage. You can't beat the sound of a North Shore river! MLS #6001631 $169,900.
TIMBERFRAME ESCAPE IN THE PINES. Enjoy seclusion and privacy on 23 acres. Settle in to a large cabin that has charm and warmth. Make this your place to restore the soul. Good access. $84,500. MLS#6001190
REDUCED! sellerseeks offers!
STARTER HOME OR BASE CAMP. Warm and comfortable cabin in the woods. Great place to call home with room to add or expand as you grow. Easy access on lower Arrowhead Trail Power, phone, outhouse, garden space, big potential. MLS #6000609 $54,900
Welcome Sandra & Jack McHugh!
After many years of enjoying time spent on the North Shore, Sandra and Jack McHugh have made their dreams come true by making Lutsen their home, and joining the real estate team at Red Pine Realty. Now, they hope to help you with making your real estate dreams come true. With more than 30 years of experience in project management, and the rewarding experience of finding and purchasing property in Cook County, they are ready and able to make your real estate search or sale a successful and pleasant experience. Put your dreams in their hands and let them take care of the details.
RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE
DRAMATIC CASCADE RIVER PROPERTY.
Twenty acres with 660’ on Cascade River. Good road, building site in cedar. Common property at spectacular waterfalls. Association, assessments. Seasonal access. MLS #31332 $109,500.
10 ACRES ON COUNTY RD. #14.
330’ of bubbling creek runs through this beautifully wooded and very private parcel. Build sites near the water. MLS #31619 $99,500.
STUNNING RIVER AND PINCUSHION TRAILS.
A unique opportunity for skiers and hikers. Trail easement runs through the property. The RC zoning allows for a resort/lodging type business.
MLS #6000298 $85,900.
40 ACRES W/MONS CREEK FRONTAGE.
Easy road access. Good building sites. Mature trees. Deeded access to Lost Lake.
MLS #31103 $79,900.
40 AC – LOST LAKE RETREATS.
Mons Creek flowage with great views and tons of wildlife. Private and secluded location. Includes deeded access to private lake.
MLS #27877 $79,500.
WOODS, WATER & SECLUSION.
Nice ‘40’ with good timber and 1000’ frontage on Mons Creek. Great building site. Private deeded access to Lost Lake.
MLS #31808 $69,900.
NEW! GRAND MARAIS
HOME SITE ON CREEK.
Nice wooded lot with City services: water, sewer and electric at site. Nice south exposure and frontage on Cedar Creek.
MLS #6001830 $63,900
LAND/BUILDING SITES
PINCUSHION TRAIL PARCEL.
This parcel has forest with direct access to the Pincushion Ski Trail system, Superior Hiking Trail and Devil Track River. Resort/Commercial zoning
MLS #6000299 $214,900.
OVER 217 ACRES/CAMP 20 ROAD
Lovely open land with many ponds and streams.
MLS #31645 $216,700.
VIEWS FROM TERRACE POINT.
Two lots for development at Terrace Point. One has townhome foundation in place.
MLS #6001069 $94,500
MLS #6001100 $175,000
MAPLES, VIEWS, PRIVACY.
85+ acres near Hovland. New road access, adjoining federal land. South exposure and views. Seasonal access.
MLS #6001633 $99,900.
5 ACRES ON GUNFLINT TRAIL.
A great lot with an amazing view overlooking Loon Lake. This lot includes legal access to Loon Lake for you to dock your boat, swim and relax.
MLS #6001601 $94,000
FIVE ACRES NEAR TOWN.
Ready to build, Croftville location, Superior view, nice forest, RC/Residential zoning. MLS #6001810 $80,000.
5 ACRES NEAR DEVIL TRACK LAKE.
Deep wooded home site – just steps from Devil Track Lake, and DNR access. Enjoy the lake without the high taxes!
MLS #31534 $74,900.
HIGH VIEWS OF THE BIG LAKE.
Residential home site with panoramic Lake Superior views. Power, phone, private road. Great location between Grand Marais and Lutsen. Walk to Cascade State Park.
MLS#6001372 $70,000. SALE PENDING
FIVE WOODED ACRES.
Surveyed. Septic and access road in place. Close to Devil Track Lake. MLS #6000318 $65,000. Additional 6 +/- acre parcel available.
10 ACRES NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Great piece of property located minutes from Grand Marais, on Pike Lake Rd. Seasonal view of Lake Superior. Many nice build sites. MLS #6001078 $64,900
LAND NEAR GRAND MARAIS.
Beautiful 5-ac lot just minutes from town. Meadow, power/ phone. Driveway in. Great home site. MLS #6001604 $59,900.
LARGE PARCEL WITH POSSIBLE SUBDIVISION POTENTIAL.
Great Lake Superior views on the higher elevations. A small creek runs through part of the parcel. Priced below assessed value. MLS #6001758 $129,000
NEAR DEVIL TRACK.
6 acres, Pine Mt. Rd., quiet & private. Great location. MLS #6000317 $55,000.
DRAMATIC SUPERIOR VIEW.
Three high lots to choose from, southern exposure from the cliffs of Chicago Bay.
MLS #6001901 & 1902 $59,900 #6001903 $54,900
READY FOR YOU TO BUILD.
This 5 acre lot is located only a few miles from town but offers great privacy. Nice slope, great trees and possibility for views of Lake Superior! The driveway is in place.
MLS#60001470 $54,900.
LAKE EFFECT HOME SITE –HOVLAND.
Great 4-acre home site. Close to Lake Superior, with some views, nice forest, easy access off of Highway 61 on shared driveway. A great place to call home or nestle-in with your recreational cabin. MLS#6001463 $52,900.
WONDERFUL VIEWS OF LAKE SUPERIOR! 3 lots available; wooded and private. Minutes to ski hill, Superior National, Lutsen shops. Surveyed, year round access. MLS #6000671 Lots start at $52,000.
GREAT HOME SITE NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Five acres on dead-end road for privacy. Adjoins USFS land. Year round access, electricity at street. MLS #6000408 $51,900.
GREAT CABIN SPOT!
Mixed topography of beautiful rolling land with many great build sites. Old growth cedar, spruce, pine and birch. Mons Creek meanders through the property border where it abuts state land.
MLS #6001242 $50,250.
HOME OR CABIN SITEGREAT LUTSEN LOCATION.
4.09 acres, power and phone. Walk to landing on Christine Lake. Adjoins state land.
MLS #31546 $44,900.
RECREATIONAL PARCEL IN HOVLAND.
43+ acres close to the public landing on Tom Lake. Survey complete; may subdivide into two 20+ acre parcels. Road plowed year round in special taxing district. Owner/Agent. MLS #6001471 $37,500
GOT REMOTE?
Can't beat this property for "off-the-beaten-path". If it's seclusion you seek, a place that's tough to get there, and worth the effort (or, the effort is half the fun), this wilderness 19-acre recreational property is for you. Surrounded by State & USFS lands. Hike in access from Devil Fish Lake.
MLS#6001477 $37,000.
Lake Superior View
$49,700 - Bloomquist Mtn. Road –5.8A 10 miles east of Grand Marais with power at the property, driveway, and several building sites partially cleared!
MLS 6001709
$59,900 - County Road 48 – 5A Excellent location near Grand Marais with tons of privacy, minimal traffic and spectacular views! Surveyed and identified septic sites.
MLS 6001509
$69,900 - County Road 67 - 4 A Enjoy the majestic beauty of Superior without premium lakeshore price! Creek runs through property, and Co. Rd. means easy access.
MLS 6001752
$69,900 - East Highway 61 – 6.8A
Exceptional value on this private parcel. Driveway is in, multiple building sites, and wonderful views of Superior!
MLS 6001736
$85,000 - Birch Drive – 4.5A Just west of Grand Marais with fantastic views of the big lake! Year-round access, electric at the street, and plenty of recreation opportunities nearby.
MLS 6001203
$99,900 - East Highway 61 – 20A
Large, private parcel close to town with elevation, meaning panoramic views of Lake Superior! Large building site has been leveled.
MLS 6000432
$239,900 - Birch Cliff Road - 2.25A
Exceptional views of the rugged Superior Shoreline and 280’ of cliff frontage. Gravel driveway, electric, and cleared building site.
MLS 6001658
Chester Lake, Hovland This 40A is the only private parcel on Chester Lake! 300’ frontage, cabin & outbuildings sold as is. MLS 31502 $179,000
Devil Track Lake, Grand Marais Private 2.97A lot with unique, natural boat harbor and over 245’ of frontage on north shore! MLS 6001302 $229,900 Kemo Lake, Grand Marais One of only 4 lots on south shore. Private 2.34A with 200’ frontage on excellent trout lake! MLS 6000747 $159,900
Poplar Lake, Grand
Lake Superior Lots
Inland Lake Lots
Homes & Cabins
Rent it -- Buy it
Rent is rebated
$329,900 Owner/Broker; Brokers Welcome
Lake Superior Shoreline Located Between Lutsen and Tofte
• 2400 sq ft luxurious comfort
• Soapstone counters, hardwood floors, stone fireplace
• 3 Bedrooms/3 Baths, 2 person jetted tub
• Huge family room to accommodate the family
• Excellent rental clients who pay the bills
PRoPeRT y MaNageMeNT SeRViCe
Vacation Rental: Cabins! Condos! Homes! Check website for details
Long Term Rental: This is the time to invest, Let us do the rest.
Family Property: We can help make the family cabin workable and pleasurable
Call for an appointment for a confidential discussion.
Judy Motschenbacher, Broker Deborah Nelson, Owner
Broadway South, Grand Marais Mailing: PO Box 1276, Grand Marais, MN 55604
Visit our webside to see our current listings: www.superiorescapes.info email: dnelson@superiorescapes.info
Northern Hawk Owl
Our family enjoys watching owls. We especially enjoyed this northern hawk owl that our son nicknamed, Mico. One winter it appeared at our home and began feeding on the mice under our bird feeder. It was a lot of fun to watch it catch mice. Daytime is when northern hawk owls normally do their hunting.
One day I decided to throw out a mouse that I had caught in a trap in the house. I was surprised to see Mico swoop down and get it in the same manner as it had done with the live ones it had been catching. Mico entertained us for almost a month before leaving for another feeding area.
—Paul & Karla Sundberg
Welcome to Golden Eagle Lodge, a family oriented, year-round resort located on the historic Gunflint Trail of Northeastern Minnesota. As the only residents on Flour Lake, and nestled in within the 3 million acres of the Superior National Forest, you can look forward to the quiet and solitude offered only from a true wilderness setting.
Golden Eagle Lodge Nordic Ski Center is world class, nationally-known, and silent sports only. We are located on the Central Gunflint Ski Trail System, a well marked network of more than 70km of beautifully groomed trails that begin right from your cabin’s doorstep. This trail system was built specifically for cross-country skiing and
is tracked for both traditional and skate skiers alike. All ski trail passes are offered at no charge to our cabin guests!
We offer complete skiing and snowshoe rentals for all ages, a heated ski waxing room, a trail lit 7 days a week, and a private use sauna. All our modern housekeeping cabins have a fireplace wood stove, gas, or electric fireplace.
We know much time, effort, and expense is invested in a vacation. We would be honored if you considered us as your vacation destination. We go out of our way to ensure every aspect of your visit will convince you to come back and see us again. You won’t be disappointed!
