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CONTRIBUTORS
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Copyright 2017 by Northern Wilds Media, Inc.
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Kids get a natural education at The Forest School
SOUTH GILLIES—In the rural community of South Gillies, there’s a tall wooden staircase that leads to a huge oval hobbit-like door. Through the door is a classroom like no other—you won’t find rows of desks and chairs like in a traditional classroom. Instead, in the centre of the room is a tree house and under the tree house is a puppet theatre. On the floor level is a window, and mosaics adorn the floor and walls. Every nook, hook, shelf and cubby is home to art supplies, books, bones, stones and microscopes. Then there is the other part of the school: the outdoors. It’s called The Forest School—A Centre for Hands-on Learning. (Not to be confused with the movement of nature-based learning generically called forest schools. However, both the movement and The Forest School have similar goals: to get kids outside and connected with nature.)
Sue Holloway has offered alternative learning programs since 2007 to children ages four to 14 on her property in South Gillies, about 30 km south of Thunder Bay. The Forest School curriculum is decided on by the students themselves. Ideas and interests are discussed and then a topic for the term is chosen by consensus. Studies have ranged from the ecosystem of Lake Superior, to pirates, war, peace and politics.
“But it has to be realistic. No skydiving,” said Rowan, Holloway’s 10-year-old son.
He and his 13-year-old brother, Walker, have attended the school since the beginning. All of the programs are age appropriate and address contemporary issues, as
well as outdoor education. Holloway also adds social and environmental elements to each topic.
“I want to make the kids love nature enough that they care about it when they’re older,” said Holloway.
One technique she uses to help children relate to nature is to have them see a plant—to be able to describe it and see its qualities—before giving it a name. For example, Walker described a plant with long leaves, as long as the plant is tall, with a long stem and multiple little yellow petals: a dandelion.
Learning techniques can be self-directed, facilitated, explorative, experimental, and as hands-on as possible, which includes tours and outings. In a study of foods around the world, the students visited Roots to Harvest in Thunder Bay. They got to try on bee keeper suits, and watch and learn about bees and their importance in the environment. The unit ended with a service project: The Hunger Banquet, an interactive meal and a presentation on world hunger and poverty. The children sold the tickets and cooked the food for the banquet. But there was a twist; participants purchased tickets but didn’t know what their meal would be. To represent global reality, 60 percent of the
participants only got a bowl of rice, which represents a low income of under $1,000 per year; 25 percent got rice and beans, representing a middle income of $1,000$12,000; and 15 percent got a gourmet meal, representing a high income of over $12,000 per year. All of the proceeds went to Heifer International, an organization that provides livestock to communities in poverty around the world.
Three terms of programming are offered every year: fall, winter and spring. A typical day starts at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. However, last year, Holloway found that she was pressed for time. She asked the kids if they would like to go until 4:30 p.m., to which the children replied with a cheer. So the spring and fall terms have been extended. The Forest School operates three days per week: Mondays for children ages four to seven, and Tuesdays and Thursdays for children ages seven and older. Many students are home-schooled or attend public school and augment their education with the alternative learning offered at Holloway’s school, where education is based on the other three R’s: Respect, Resolve and Relate.
Learn more about The Forest School at: theforestschool.ca. Or find The Forest School on Facebook.—Kathy Toivonen
The Forest School curriculum is decided on by the students. Topics have ranged from the ecosystem of Lake Superior to pirates. | SUE HOLLOWAY
Sue Holloway began The Forest School in 2007. | SUE HOLLOWAY
New to the outdoors? Just go for it!
LUTSEN—The North Shore draws people like a magnet. Some people are pulled to it for its unique art culture; some for the ability to find peace and quiet from otherwise busy lives; and some for its quaint atmosphere of great food and northern shops. Still, others find themselves vacationing and living here for the abundance of outdoor adventure opportunities. Adam Krey, director of activities at Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior, is one of many who couldn’t say no to the countless trails, wide open water, and impressively maintained cross-country ski trails of the North Shore.
Krey began his outdoor explorations with his family, as many people do. When he was 12, he went on a six-day backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon, with his parents and four brothers. After that, he became hooked on the outdoors. Years later, he went to college and spent his summers in New York, working at a camp where he fell further in love with the wonders of the outdoors.
“I don’t know the route I would have taken if not for the summer camp I worked at during college. We had kids from difficult adult-like life situations who simply got to be kids again when exploring a trail or a frog pond,” said Krey.
After graduating college, Krey worked a variety of jobs, many of them seasonal. He spent time in Oregon leading backpacking-based wilderness therapy programs, in California teaching outdoor education, and sea kayaking in Alaska.
According to Krey, his work has been “directed
toward gaining outdoor leadership experience” and has given him “ample time to be in a place for extended periods and to learn about those places on a more intimate level.”
Throughout his many jobs in outdoor leadership, Krey has had the unique opportunity to see how vastly the natural world around us can affect people from all walks of life.
“I think we can benefit most from what we learn outdoors, and there’s many layers to that. We learn things of ourselves, of our relationships, and of the place we’re immersed in, along with the hard skills to enjoy it or survive it. The benefits to our health go hand-in-hand with that, and there’s a real alive feeling to pushing your comfort level, feeling an adrenaline rush, or simply soaking in sounds that have become foreign to us in our own backyards. Idealistically, we learn why wilderness spaces and the great outdoors are important to take great care of,” said Krey.
Krey has dedicated much of his life to exploring, preserving and helping others experience the great outdoors. As the activities director at Lutsen Resort, he desires to provide an exceptional outdoor experience to as many people as he can, with the hope that they will gain knowledge about themselves and the natural world. However, it is not necessary to take a guided tour at a resort or to grow up backpacking through National Parks to experience the beauty of the outdoors, especially when on the North Shore.
“Just get out and do it!” said Ellyn Peters, a life-long resident of the North Shore and self-pro -
Ellyn Peters climbing the Kadunce. | BAILEY WOLDING
HAM RUN HALF MARATHON
5k Ham Run and Little Runts Run on the Gunflint Trail 10am Saturday, May 6, 2017
Start your running season with a one-of-a-kind race that winds its way through the Superior National Forest on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Ham Run is fun for the whole family!
NEW THIS YEAR! OPEN HOUSE
Can you hike 100 miles?
NORTH SHORE—The North Country Trail Association (NCTA) is sponsoring the Hike 100 Challenge, which encourages people to get outside and hike 100 miles on the North Country National Scenic Trail—or NCT for short.
Started last year in honor of the National Park Service’s Centennial (the NCT is administered by the National Park Service), the initial Hike 100 Challenge reached over 5,000 registrants. Of those, 1,768 successfully completed the Challenge, hailing from 28 states and Canada. Collectively, they walked at least 176,000 miles. An overwhelming majority of those who signed up were not involved with the NCTA before signing up and the NCTA has seen a corresponding increase in membership.
The NCTA is now repeating the Challenge and invites you to participate. To learn more or to sign up for this free program, visit northcountrytrail.org/hike100-challenge. After signing up, you’ll be entered into regular prize giveaways. To complete the Challenge, you only need to hike 100 miles on the NCT before Dec. 31 and submit your completion online.
The miles don’t need to be unique miles—meaning you could hike the same 1 mile 100 times or 100 miles once. The Superior Hiking Trail, Border Route Trail and Kekekabic Trails
count, despite the fact they are still unofficial segments of the NCT. Note: learn more about the NCTA’s effort to make them official and what you can do to help at northcountrytrail.org/house-advocacy
New this year is the second component of the Challenge–the Build It Challenge. For this optional challenge, the NCTA is asking folks to also get involved—attend a Chapter hike, participate in a trail workday, pick up trash on your next hike, donate, etc. People are also challenged to help spread the word about the NCT—invite friends to hike with you, invite friends to follow the NCTA on social media, pass out brochures to hiking friends, etc.
Here is one family’s story from last year’s Hike 100 Challenge…
“This challenge was one of several goals for my 70th year. Because the others took a long time and because of northern Minnesota’s legendary mosquitoes, I didn’t start until October. We had a gorgeous fall, then rain, a huge snowstorm, and below zero temps followed. The days got shorter and because I still work full-time it was tough to get it done just on weekends. But I finished—and getting to walk several times with my grandkids was frosting on the cake. Can’t wait to do it again in 2017,” said Myrna.
Plan your hikes with the NCT interactive map at: northcountrytrail.org/trail/maps
Soaring to purity
NORTH SHORE—Even as the snow melts and signs of spring emerge, green-up can feel far away. Some birds return early though, and their lilting calls or soaring silhouettes can lift our eyes and spirits.
Turkey vultures are one of the earliest returning migrants, even though they may have journeyed back from as far away as South America. They don’t have the jaunty colors of red-winged blackbirds, or a thrilling conk-la-ree! song, but by drawing our eyes skyward, they can still provide us with an early spring mood-boost.
Although their soaring shapes are often mistaken for eagles, a couple of traits set turkey vultures apart. First, they soar with their gray-fingered wings in a V shape— which makes a handy mnemonic: V for vulture. Their flight also tends to look unsteady, as if they are dumping the wind. While it may make them look like awkward amateurs, this rocking flight probably helps them soar better at low altitudes. Turkey vultures are so good at finding and using rising thermals of warm air that they rarely need to flap their wings.
Those rising thermals also carry the scent of dinner: ethyl mercaptan. This gas is found mixed with the propane in your tank, as well as wafting up from decaying animals. Both humans and turkey vultures can detect it at extremely low levels. This helps vultures find food beneath the forest canopy.
Spring is a perfect time for vultures to return, since the melting snow often reveals all sorts of winter carcasses that need cleaned up. Tibetan Buddhists respect the birds for their role in cleansing the earth and continuing the food chain. They have ritualized this in “sky burials,” where vultures consume the dead.
Writer and environmentalist Edward Abbey wanted to be reincarnated as a vulture. In his book Desert Solitaire he wrote, “If my decomposing carcass helps nourish the roots of a juniper tree or the wings of a vulture—that is immortality enough for me. And as much as anyone deserves.”
On a practical level, the scavenging ways of turkey vultures help dispose of carcasses that could otherwise breed disease. And although they prefer fresh meat, they can tolerate pretty rotten fare. Turkey vultures have impressive immune systems that can ward off and even destroy the microbes that cause botulism, anthrax, cholera and salmonella. Their stomachs, gross as they may seem, help purify our world.
Of course, the contents of their stomachs can also be exploited as a weapon. “Don’t get too close to a turkey vulture,” warned the park ranger on my first-grade field trip. “They’ll throw up all over you!” That warning stuck with me.
Projectile vomiting has several benefits. It is a defense against potential predators, including humans. The foul-smelling mix of semi-digested meat and digestive fluids can sting if it reaches the predator’s eyes. Plus, if the vulture was just gorging on a roadside carcass, it probably needs to lighten its load before trying to launch an escape flight.
While their stomachs kill some bacteria, their urine kills others. In order to keep clean while they feed on carcasses, turkey vultures urinate on themselves. This not only kills bacteria on their legs and feet, it also helps to cool them down.
Despite what you may think, keeping clean is important to vultures. They preen their body feathers frequently, but they can’t preen their own head. The bare skin on their head—gray as a first year and red as an adult—allows turkey vultures to stick their head deep into the body cavities of dead animals to get at the choicest parts without getting any feathers gummed up. Then, sunlight sterilizes the skin.
Although they may appear gross at first glance, turkey vulture’s scientific name— Cathartes aura —is quite appropriate. It means “purifying breeze.” What a lovely addition to spring.—Emily Stone
There are many factors to consider when choosing between a
The canoe vs. kayak challenge
GRAND MARAIS—I’ll be frank; when I first received this assignment, I thought, ‘fantastic! This should go smoothly.’ I planned to research canoes and kayaks, and write the article so that an absolute beginner could read the piece, then simply pick one and get started.
Then I met Jack Stone.
The Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply owner laughed kindly and said what I was attempting to accomplish was nearly impossible.
It’s not simply a matter of selecting the watercraft that’s easiest to paddle, or the boat with the best price point. That’s important, of course, but “your number one concern is what you are going to do with it,” said Stone. “It’s a big subject. It’s a wide subject.”
Step into Stone Harbor and the team is trained to start by asking you about your goals. That’s really what determines which watercraft to use.
If your dream is a 10-day trek into the Boundary Waters for camping and complete solitude, it’s best to take a canoe.
“On a canoe trip you can take a lot of gear,” said Stone. “You can’t do that in a kayak.”
But if you have a cabin on a lake, a kayak may be a better choice.
“The beauty of a kayak is that you’re on your own, and you’re paddling at your pace, and you’re on top of the water,” said Stone. “There is a certain wonderful feeling of being one with the boat, and one with whatever lake you are on.”
canoe and a kayak. | STONE HARBOR
Perhaps you picture yourself paddling across Lake Superior on a calm day in a kayak.
Stone said, “As a beginner, you’re not going to be sitting out on Lake Superior.” That comes later.
Stone Harbor will take beginners to test sea kayaks on Lake Superior, but only with a trained guide so that people stay safe. In Stone’s eyes, paddling the Big Lake is not for beginners.
One aspect that people talk about a lot is the type of materials used to make the boats. It’s popular for people to want a lightweight craft, but what works for one per-
son, may not work for another.
“Forget what your friends have,” said Stone. “Weight should not be your number one concern.”
Cost is also a major consideration for most people, but it’s not as simple as selecting the most reasonably-priced craft. The cost range is wide. Canoes can start, on average, at $1,000 for the boat, paddles, and a rack, and it goes up from there. Or, you can buy a kayak at a big box store or a used canoe for just a few hundred dollars.
See how this topic is complicated?
So here’s the secret: there are two factors of your purchase that should matter most.
First, try out your boat with whatever, and whoever, you will be in the boat with. That includes your significant other, your fishing gear, your dog, your cat, your hedgehog—well, you get the idea. Always ask for a test run.
Most importantly, “If I can leave people with one thing,” said Stone, “it’s to find a shop that has experience, and staff with patience who will spend time with you. Find people you can trust, and don’t just buy a canoe because the price is right.”—Kelsey Roseth
Stone Harbor in Grand Marais provides BWCAW canoe day trips, as well as summer kayak tours on Lake Superior. | STONE HARBOR
his observations about wolves, moose and wilderness. When his grandfather arrived at Isle Royale, it was populated with woodland caribou, which still remain on some islands on the Ontario portion of Lake Superior. This native species disappeared from Isle Royale early in the 20th Century, perhaps due to overhunting by sportsmen and settlers. Moose appeared around the same time.
Where the moose came from is anyone’s guess. The official Park Service website says the first moose swam to the island. This is possible, because around this time caribou were disappearing on the mainland, while moose were moving in to take advantage of young forest habitat created by early logging and resultant wildfires. However, local folklore suggests moose were stocked on the island with wild animals captured near Baudette. Some speculate the stocking may have been carried out by a hunting lodge on the island at the time as a replacement for the caribou.
Sivertson said the first wolves to appear on the island were “store bought” from a zoo in 1948-49. They were kept in a wire cage at the Pete Edison Fishery. When they got out of the cage, they began bothering campers and three out of four were shot and killed. The one that got away was named Big Jim and survived for several years.
Wild wolves crossed over on the ice in 1950-51 and became established in 1952. Since then, wolf numbers have rose and fell based on the number of moose available as prey. Over time, inbreeding has limited the ability of the wolves to perpetuate themselves, leading to the present dilemma of pending extinction on the island.
Should we allow that to occur? Or should we stock wolves on the island? For Sivertson, the answer is clear.
“The wolves there now are genuine, they came on their own,” he said. “As soon as you capture a wild wolf, it is no longer wild. As soon as you release that wolf on Isle Royale, it becomes a captive, because it can’t get off the island. I think that conflicts with the idea of Isle Royale as a wilderness untouched by man.”
Some researchers have suggested stocking wolves on Isle Royale to increase the population. | STOCK
He believes the National Park Service is facing pressure from the wildlife research community and tourism promoters, because both groups benefit from the continued presence of wolves on the island. If the wolves disappear, so, too, will the well-publicized predator-prey research project begun in the 1950s.
But what about the moose? Without wolves to keep the population in check, they will likely damage the island’s vegetation due to over-browsing and die off due to starvation.
“What would happen in a primeval wilderness?” Sivertson asks rhetorically. “Let the chips fall where they may. Let the wilderness manage itself. It is egotistical to think we know more than the wilderness.”—Shawn Perich
Minnesota Public Radio’s Paul Huttner Northern Landscapes Festival June 2 - 4, 2017
FEATURING
2017 Spring/Summer course catalog NOW OUT featuring over 200 classes!
20th anniversary
Women’s Expo Raffle Winners
In March, Northern Wilds was an exhibitor at the Women’s Expo event at the Duluth DECC. Armed with freebies to giveaway, we also ran a drawing for prizes. The four lucky winners have been chosen and will be contacted soon. Thanks to everyone who participated.
Ashley Murphy, Duluth
Waterfalls of Lake Superior’s North Shore
Jean Farleigh, Two Harbors
Where the Fish Are!
Jean Vansteenkiste, Moose Lake
Northern Wilds cap
Deb Stewart, Finlayson
1 year monthly subscription to Northern Wilds Magazine
North House Folk School 500 W Hwy 61, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org 218-387-9762
By Eve & Gary Wallinga
www.hedstromlumber.com
Duluth Folk School begins enthusiastic second year
DULUTH—Bryan French’s job fell victim to some budget cuts at the University of Minnesota - Duluth (UMD) a few years back. He brainstormed his next move with Tim Bates, a staff member in the Recreational Sports Outdoor Program at UMD.
French told the origin story.
“I told Tim we should start a folk school. Tim gets a funny look on his face, pushes his chair back, goes into one of his file drawers, and pulls out a business plan. ‘Funny you should say that,’ he says.”
That’s how the Duluth Folk School was born, with French and Bates as co-founders. Their paperwork went through in November 2015 and the school held its first class in May 2016.
The Duluth Folk School makes a trio in the Arrowhead Region, joining the Ely Folk School and the venerable North House Folk School in Grand Marais. The North House Folk School was founded in 1997, and the Ely Folk School, founded in May 2015, has a one-year head start on Duluth.
“We don’t view ourselves in competition with Ely or North House. We’re not trying to compete. We’re trying to supplement,” said French.
He then quoted John Latimer, of KAXE radio, as saying, “There should be a folk school in every community in the world.”
What is a folk school? “A folk school in general is a place where people go to learn traditional skills, to learn crafts, to work with their hands and to experience life at a slower pace and at a more handson pace,” said French.
He referenced the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina as the “juggernaut of folk schools.”
French said, “The Duluth Folk School should do three things: teach people to do
things, build community, and have a good time. We say that everywhere we go.”
The Duluth Folk School has offered classes in chainsaw use, bicycle maintenance, skijoring, knot tying, and sawhorse construction using timbers, to name a few. Upcoming classes include home brewing, sheep shearing, and canoe paddle construction.
“When people think of a folk school,” French said, “a lot of people think they’re going to leave with a thing. But they could be leaving with a skill. They could be leaving with a competency they didn’t have previously.”
The Duluth Folk School isn’t a non-profit, unlike its two neighboring schools.
“We thought long and hard about non-profit vs. profit structure,” said French.
Technically, the Duluth Folk School is an LLC, but Bates and French plan to act like a benefit corporation. Benefit corporations serve the shareholders, but also create public good and contribute to environmental stewardship.
There are several examples of their commitment to this business model. A major storm in the summer of 2016 destroyed a yurt in Hartley Park—they donated money to help rebuild it. An upcoming class will teach basic woodworking—the end product will be kestrel boxes that will be given to the Friends of the Sax-Zim Bog. The Duluth Folk School also reclaimed wood from the floor of a church and the Duluth Rowing Club boathouse, so it could be reused at Camp Miller.
Their goals include paying their instructors a good wage and doing business with local vendors.
“We want to focus on providing opportunities based on instructors from the Twin Ports and surrounding communities,”
Arboreal Writing Contest
GRAND MARAIS—Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais is holding an Arboreal Writing Contest, open to all ages. Participants are asked to submit a 300 word, tree-inspired story—fiction or nonfiction. Owner Gwen Danfelt provided a short story of her own.
“In kindergarten, I brought home a white spruce seedling and dutifully planted in in my backyard. I worried over its slow growth compared to mine, but as I reached double digits it reached my height. Then there were a few years of yellow needles and sickly growth, perhaps mirroring my own angsty teenage floundering. But we overcame, my tree and I, and are now standing tall, productive members of our respective communities.”
Winners will receive a book prize and have a chance to read their piece at Drury
Lane Books on Saturday, May 20, alongside Josh MacIvor-Andersen, the editor of Rooted: The Best New Arboreal Nonfiction, and author of On Heights & Hunger, a memoir of professional and competitive tree-climbing. Everyone is welcome to attend. MacIvor-Andersen will also read from his new anthology on arboreal nonfiction and share stories on writing and editing. Event will begin at 7 p.m.
Entries must be emailed to store@drurylanebooks.com by Saturday, April 29. Winners will be announced mid-May. For more info, contact Gwen Danfelt via email or call (218) 387-3370.
said French. “We want to make it worth the instructors’ time.”
Sometimes, dealing with local vendors is more expensive, but French said, “It’s the right thing to do.”
Right now, after paying their bills, they save funds for a permanent home. They currently float between four different locations in town, including a rented building in the Lincoln Park area of Duluth.
“If we had a building, we could have ongoing classes. It’s a chicken or the egg thing,” said French.
They need more classes to buy a building, but they need a building to hold more classes. However, French’s energy is contagious.
“Everyone we speak with is enthusiastic about this idea. They say, ‘I love this idea!’ I believe that having a good, strong folk school is going to be part of why people want to come to Duluth. The fact that we are serving this community is one of Duluth’s competitive advantages,” French said. “Duluth has some pretty sweet stuff going on. I’d like to think we’re part of that.”
For more on the Duluth Folk School, visit: duluthfolkschool.com —Eric Chandler
Tim Bates, co-founder of the Duluth Folk School. | BRYAN FRENCH
FAMILY TRADITIONS
Grandma’s Sunday dinners, dad’s Italian beef sandwiches, and mom’s famous apple pie.
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HOW TO PLAN
It’s finally happening: your first trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
You’ve secured the trip with a permit from the U. S. Forest Service. The adventure will launch from the entry point you spent hours researching and concluded was the ideal route. With a crisp map of the area in hand, you and the other members of your party prepare to work out the details of the trip. However, much to your surprise and halting your enthusiasm, the portage trails are long and apparently not marked by signs. Furthermore, you have no idea what a “rod” is when it comes to describing the distance between lakes. Suddenly, you feel overmatched and confused. And worst of all, the map is covered with a barrage of red dots decorating the terrain. You think the dots indicate campsites, but how do you know which one to choose?
Like many aspects of planning a trip to the BWCAW, selecting a campsite can be overwhelming if you don’t break it down into its simplest form.
“Nothing on any map is going to indicate a good or bad campsite,” said Andy McDonnell, the co-owner of Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters, located up the Gunflint Trail. “The best way to find good campsites is to explore the lake you’re camping on, do some online research, or talk to an outfitter or someone who has been there before.”
Indeed the complexities of planning that first trip to the BWCAW or Quetico Provincial Park—or even your 100th trip—can lead to an entanglement of emotions and even frustrations if not done properly. The beauty of that sentiment is that “properly” can be 1,000 different things depending on the individual or the group heading out to enjoy the wilderness in canoe country. Some enjoy establishing a base camp and doing lighter adventures from there. Others prefer a loop-style adventure or a through route, never covering the same ground twice. Some trips involve a dozen or more portages. Some have just one. There are no hard-and-fast rules.
Portaging is perhaps the most physically challenging aspect of a canoe trip. | BRIAN KNUTSON
Kevin Kramer enjoys an annual trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. | AMBER KRAMER
“It’s important to set realistic goals on a canoe trip,” said Mike Seim, a co-owner of Rockwood Lodge and Canoe Outfitters. “Don’t try to cover a five-day route in three. Accept the fact your feet are going to get wet. Bring enough food and don’t rely on catching fish or you could jinx your luck and go hungry.”
Realistic goals go hand-in-hand with preparation. And make no mistake, planning a trip can be the key to its ultimate success. For many people, planning a trip is considered part of the fun.
Quinn McCloughan from Bearskin Outfitters up the Gunflint Trail said while planning a trip to the BWCAW is indeed part of the experience, flexibility in the proposed ‘plan’ is equally as important.
“It’s important to leave room for adventure and discovery. There is so much access to information that people can start their trip knowing exactly what they’ll find at every campsite, lake, and portage,” McCloughan said. “And while knowing what to expect can increase your enjoyment of a trip, it also can lead to situations where people are so focused on a single destination they pay little attention to everything found along the way. And you will never enjoy a great campsite more than when it’s unexpected.”
McCloughan said it’s a delicate balance between knowing too much and too little while preparing for your canoe trip.
“For safety’s sake it’s better to err on the side of more information,” he added. “But leave room for the ability to make decisions in the moment on the trail.”
Cliff Jacobson is a Wisconsin-based outdoors writer and a wilderness guide. He is also the author of more than a dozen top-selling books on camping and canoeing. When it comes to traveling in the Boundary Waters, Jacobson said it’s best to plan for rain and pack efficiently.
“Pack everything in waterproof bags,” he said. “The best way is to line each big tripping pack with two heavy duty leaf-andlawn-sized plastic bags. Except for fishing gear and immediate needs, everything should be stuffed into packs. And every -
thing for a one week trip should fit into three large portage packs.”
Indeed weather and other factors, such as weekend crowds, are difficult to control from the recreationist standpoint. And while certain variables are beyond control, when it comes to rain in the spring, summer or fall, Jacobson said there are ways to combat the curveball Mother Nature could toss your way.
“Bring a generously sized tarp for rain and one or two poles for rigging,” he said. “They’re not heavy and a tarp provides a dry place to chat and cook in the rain.”
Though rigging a tarp isn’t exactly scientific by design, there are products and gear that can improve the overall quality of a trip. Durable, waterproof boots are key for getting in and out of a canoe and slogging through a muddy portage. The right water
ing and plan to eat your catch, Seim from Rockwood said “don’t forget the Shore Lunch and oil.” And when it comes to how far to travel during the course of a trip, it all goes back to staying flexible with the group’s agenda.
“…you will never enjoy a great campsite more than when it’s unexpected.”
filter is important as well, and most outfitters suggest a gravity filter these days. A gravity filter involves collecting water in one bag, hanging it accordingly so the water drops down to another bag while passing through a filter along the way. The more traditional means of filtering water involves using a hand-pump system, and again it often depends on the individual.
“Gravity filters are great, but because our trips always involve long travel days I personally prefer a pump filter, since you can filter water on the move,” McCloughan said. “Regardless, I wouldn’t recommend any filter that can’t be cleaned during your trip.”
Other factors to consider on a canoe trip include what type of canoe to travel in, how much food to bring and how far to travel. The vast majority of canoeists recreating in the BWCAW do so in a Kevlar canoe as opposed to an aluminum or plastic model. Generally, Kevlar canoes are faster in the water, as well as lighter and therefore easier to portage. When it comes to food, freeze-dried meals are light and fairly easy to prepare at camp. If you’re fish -
And while there have been a variety of advancements in the camping industry— lighter canoes, stronger tents, warming sleeping bags, improved rain gear, etc.—the core concepts of traveling in the Boundary Waters region remain the same: paddle a canoe from point A to point B and do whatever brings you joy in the process. Planning the adventure is indeed a part of the process, as is the ability to handle and enjoy whatever nature offers.
“Psychologically, we see a fair amount of people who put their canoe trip on a pedestal; where they start their trip dependent on circumstances out their control, hoping to create a great canoe trip,” said Ada Igoe, co-owner of Tuscarora. “These folks want perfect weather, great fishing, easy navigation, no crowds, all trip mates to get along at all times and amazing campsites. Part of taking a wilderness camping trip is accepting that many aspects of the trip are out of your control. A good, adaptable attitude is absolutely the most important thing you can bring on a canoe trip.”
Joe Friedrichs prepares to fish on Meeds Lake in the BWCAW.
| MAGGIE FRIEDRICHS
There are numerous locations to rent a canoe and other equipment based on where you’re entering the wilderness.
| JOE FRIEDRICHS
TECHNOLOGY AND WILDERNESS: FRIEND
OR FOE?
Once upon a time, there were pay phones at many of the put-in/ take-out spots around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Most of them are now gone. While numbers fluctuate from year to year, there are always new-to-the wilderness users out in the BWCAW.
In the event of an extreme emergency in or around the BWCAW, a person or group could paddle to the nearest canoe landing, but if there is no pay phone, and no one around, what good will this do? The idea of an emergency device is appealing in the most dire situations.
YMCA Camp Menogyn, a wilderness tripping camp for teens situated at the edge of the Boundary Waters, elected several years ago to start sending satellite phones on all of their trips.
“The technology has become more reliable and the cost has come down, so they’ve become more practical. We don’t want to send them along for a false sense of security,” said Fred Sproat, program director at Menogyn.
“It’s also a standard within the [outdoor] industry that we have adopted. More and more programs have started sending these into the field as a best practice,” said Sproat.
For many years, the camp had been sending PLBs and then satellite phones on longer trips that forayed into Alaska, Canada and mountain ranges in the west. Now, every trip takes a phone.
Sproat said there have been changes in how the camp uses the phones as well.
“Back in the day, using the phone was only in the case of an emergency. Now, as they’ve been going out on every trip, we see folks calling in with reroute changes. We’re getting more calls for less serious situations. Maybe a group set out with a more ambitious route, but they can call and arrange a shorter route and different pick-up.”
One thing to consider, said Sproat, is that the phones don’t always connect immediately. Sometimes you get 30 seconds to talk before the signal is lost, so the importance of succinct communication is stressed.
“It’s not a magic bullet, but it is a tool that can help resolve a situation,” Sproat said.
One example Sproat pointed to is that especially in the mountain west and Canada, many groups have called in with sightings of smoke or smoke blowing in. Menogyn can help the group obtain updated information from local authorities about where the fires are actually located.
SPOT trackers are available as a basic no-frills model or with additional capabilities. | ERIN ALTEMUS
Menogyn also sends SPOT trackers on longer trips as a piece of redundancy emergency equipment. Sproat likes that the SPOT can send a pre-programmed message that is not necessarily for an emergency, such as “We are fine, but we are going to be a day late.”
Sproat stressed that a wilderness experience is such a great way to unplug and get away from all the distractions that come with technology, and these electronics are great tools, but keeping them as emergency tools is important.
According to Kristina Reichenbach, media spokesperson for the Superior National Forest, another thing to consider is how an intrusion from a rescue operation may impact other users’ experience. For any rescue situation, whether preventable or not, there is often a need for motorized use (something that has to be approved), a large group of rescuers, and sometimes even a plane.
“It’s an intrusion on what people go in there for,” said Reichenbach.
Her message is also to plan ahead and prepare.
“These are nice things to have, but it’s not a good idea to depend on them. Know where you are going, so if your GPS poops out, you can find your way out. Know your limits. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Have good equipment. If someone’s a first timer and not sure about their abilities, go to a service that can help with equipment, or consider a guided service. Before you leave home, leave an itinerary so folks know when you are going out and when you are coming back.”
Menogyn’s Sproat sums it up best.
“Just because you can make a call, doesn’t mean it will save your butt. You still need the tools, strong judgment and training to make it through a wilderness area.”
The Challenge of Northern Gardening
By Casey Fitchett
In northeastern Minnesota, it often seems like winter dominates the year. As the flakes fall and snow accumulates, it's hard sometimes to remember the soil under the frozen layers that is ready to help hopeful growers produce summer vegetables. Many gardeners in this corner of the world lament the short growing season and are forced to be very methodical to prepare themselves for the few months of sufficient sunlight and warmth. For these gardeners, the excitement of spring extends beyond the change in outdoor recreation opportunities; they are anxious to get their seeds in the soil and yearn to be tending to their crop.
Growing crops on the North Shore is a natural extension for many residents who appreciate the subsistence lifestyle. Gardeners from Duluth to Thunder Bay have a
variety of plot arrangements, from small raised beds in the town of Grand Marais, to larger plots or greenhouses capable of producing quantities to freeze, can or dry.
North Shore resident and Master Gardener Diane Booth knows that being a successful gardener in the north can be tricky. She attributes her interest in gardening from growing up on her grandparents' farm.
“My grandmother was a fabulous gardener and little did I know I was absorbing all those little tidbits she shared with us,” Booth said.
Armed with a background in biology and numerous classes to become a University of Minnesota Master Gardener, Minnesota Tree Inspector, Tree Care Advisor and Master Home Food Preserver, Booth is widely considered a go-to for gardening questions in the Cook County area.
She has had success growing just about everything she has tried over the years, from sweet potatoes to melons. Her list also includes corn, tomatoes, winter squash, eggplant, popcorn and wheat, in addition to the staples like potatoes, beans, onions, cucumbers, peas, lettuce, broccoli and rutabagas.
Her set up includes a conventional system with two large spaces, each with a different climate. Having the two different spaces allows her to rotate crops and garden space with cover crops. She’s had these two spaces in operation for just about 30 years.
Her primary advice to beginner gardeners in the northland is to learn about the specific region in which they live—both through hands-on experience and books. The Cook County Extension group releases a recommended vegetable variety list every three years, as well as lists for large and small fruits, annual flowers, perennial flowers, trees and shrubs. This list includes suggested vegetable varieties for home growers in Minnesota, with a special distinction given to varieties that are more likely to grow in the northern segment of the state.
“Many of these recommendations have been made after either personally growing them or talking with reputable gardeners throughout the county,” she explains. “I would recommend beginner gardeners to come by the Extension office and talk with me about where they are located in Cook County. Because we have so many different microclimates, it is hard to recommend specific plantings unless I know their locations and what they want to grow.”
Despite many years of great harvests, Booth also has had efforts that have not gone the way she intended. Attempting to grow red rhubarb proved an unexpected challenge, but not unheard of in the world of experienced gardeners.
“Everyone in the county has beautiful rhubarb, even if they aren't trying to grow it,” she explained. “I have tried three different plantings of red rhubarb in three different locations and they always end up with disease; it doesn’t matter if I apply straw mulch or remove any diseased leaves. When you talk to gardeners, sometimes there is
TRINITY LUTHERAN
Sunday April 16 9:00 A.M. (new Sunday worship time)
The Weberg greenhouse, constructed in spring 2015. | AMANDA WEBERG
Diane Booth’s gardening space. | DIANE BOOTH
one or two plants that no matter what they do, just seem to elude their efforts to grow.”
As with many who live in the middle of a town, the growing space for Amanda Weberg is limited. A transplant from the state of Virginia, her gardening skills didn't transfer as well as she would have hoped during her first summer on the Shore.
“That summer was cool, and the bed was in a pretty shaded location. I don't think we harvested anything from that effort,” she said. “Our gardening experiences in Virginia clearly didn't translate to our new location.”
After attending a class on container gardening at the Community Center in Grand Marais, Weberg and her partner
built a small greenhouse and added some additional raised beds. They also invested in lighting and heat mats to start their own seeds.
Weberg has had success growing things like green beans, broccoli, leafy greens, beets and carrots in her raised beds. Her small greenhouse lends itself well to growing peppers and potatoes have come through in her straw set-up. It hasn't all been a rose garden, however.
“Last summer we kept the tomatoes in the greenhouse, and they didn't really like that. Too much heat or possibly not the ideal soil mixture had us battling blossom end rot all season,” she explained. “We also ran out of room in the raised beds and tried summer squash in containers; that was a complete flop.”
Like Booth, Weberg recommends that beginner gardeners combine wisdom from books, websites and classes with the knowledge of a local mentor to get the most out of the experience.
“Each year presents new challenges, so it’s always a learning experience,” she said. “We hope that someday we have the expertise to help others improve their gardening skills.”
The Master Gardening groups in Duluth, Grand Marais and Thunder Bay are active and ready to help beginner gardeners get the most out of the upcoming growing season. Events put on by the Thunder Bay group include workshops about thrifty gardening, information sessions on native bees and how to garden with them in mind, in addition to an early summer plant sale.
The Cook County plant enthusiasts meet once a month from January through October and are available to offer tips and advice during classes or tours. They are on-call to answer questions and many will take the time to give individual, one-on-
one attention. For truly visual and handson learners, some of the volunteers will even make house calls to help with planting suggestions.
For hopefuls wanting to submit questions electronically, the Duluth News Tribune publishes “Ask a Master Gardener,” Q&A's about anything from guides to starting seeds to tips for growing cilantro. The responses from the master gardeners are archived and can be viewed at any time.
News about plant sales, seminars and workshops is available through the Northern Gardener website. The site, which also includes information about garden clubs across the state, has a mission to help gardeners in plant hardy Zones 3, 4 and 5 and has options for membership benefits. Visit northerngardener.org for more information.
Vegetables grown by Amanda Weberg. | AMANDA WEBERG
By
Breana Roy
Introspective Visions
On Saturday, April 22, Lakehead Art Collective (sponsored by Six Degrees of Freedom) in Thunder Bay will present Introspective Visions, a juried exhibit featuring 11 local artists. Held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Airlane Hotel, the exhibit was organized by watercolor artist Biljana Baker and features mediums of all kinds. The exhibit will then be on display at the Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery in Toronto from May 2-30. Participating artists are Lee Fidler, Julie Cosgrove, Keith Bowey, Biljana Baker, Danielle Kantola, Lesli Shaw, Tom Shewchuk, Stephanie Siemieniuk, Cree Stevens, Eugene Vandal and Greg Zelinski. Visit sixdegreesoffreedom.ca for more details.
“Stepping Out,” by watercolor artist Lee Fidler. | LEE FIDLER
Watercolor artist Danielle Kantola created this stunning piece, titled “Winds of Change.” | DANIELLE KANTOLA
“Thunder Bay Harbor,” created by watercolor artist Biljana Baker. | BILJANA BAKER
“Curious Encounters,” created by acrylic artist Julie Cosgrove. | JULIE COSGROVE
Eugene Vandal created this original acrylic painting, titled “Forest Floor.” | EUGENE VANDAL
“Wiigwaas Transformation Mask,” is a mixed media painting on wood panel. | CREE STEVENS
A Student of Nature with a Gift for Songwriting
By Casey Fitchett
In many ways, singer-songwriter Joe Paulik embodies the North Woods. His connection to the land and the natural surroundings gives his song writing an extra edge and adds a sense of place. With a following of visitors and tourists alike, he has been entertaining along the shores of Superior for over 30 years.
It was the “Sound of Music” musical that sparked a fire in a four-year-old boy that still burns today. Some of his earliest memories include original songs playing in his head that he later recognized to be a propensity towards songwriting. Years after attempting to pick out Edelweiss on the piano, Paulik took his life to a place where he felt a connection.
“I moved to the North Shore in 1982 because I wanted to live in an area that I loved. It turns out it ended up being a great place to not only write but also perform music,” he explained.
Over the course of recording eight albums, Paulik has realized what is important to him when it comes to writing music: the spirit behind the songs. At the beginning of his career, he favored the technical aspects of playing and was more concerned with the precision of the music. The focus now is to make every measure count towards the whole, and to make sure he conveys the story of the song.
Though the vast majority of his music is original work, his latest 110-minute album, a two-disk set, includes two cover songs.
“One of those [covers] is 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,' and the reason is that almost every gig, someone asks for a recording of me doing that song,” said Paulik.
Covering this song is fitting, as his acoustic music is similar to Gordon Lightfoot.
The people coming to his shows propel him forward and give him a reason to keep writing and playing. He knows the shows with the smallest number of people can turn out to have the biggest energy. True to his outdoor lifestyle, he has a special appreciation for playing at campfires on the Shore. When considering a favorite place to play, however, the singer-songwriter believes that every gig can be better than the last.
“Honestly, there is no such thing as a favorite type of gig because as soon as I say that, I have a gig that was finer than the one I speak of,” said Paulik. “To me, enjoying gigs is really about acknowledging that every gig is treated as your last; every gig is the best.”
A student of nature, Paulik listens intently to tracks of birds, animals, insects, water and wind to better understand its language. Attending Tom Brown's “Nature, Tracking and Wilderness Survival School” has had an indescribable impact on the way he views nature and philosophy.
Though motives for playing music vary among musicians, Paulik sees himself as relaying a gift that was bestowed on him from somewhere else. An unaltered passion makes him a great vessel and allows him to transfer his energy to his audiences.
“I am a songwriter; a bird singing its song. I do it because my music and writing have been there since I was four years old,” he explains. “It is a commons from somewhere else. I believe my songs are gifts from somewhere else and I am merely a conduit. I truly love what I do.”
Breana’s Pick OF THE MONTH
In this issue, we have stories for the beginner gardener, fisherman and camper. But what about artist? Well thanks to painting classes, you too can try your hand with a paintbrush. On The Rocks Art Studio and Gallery, located in Duluth, offer group classes with step-by-step instruction from an experienced artist, allowing you to create your own acrylic masterpiece. Sue O’Quinn and her family recently took advantage of this opportunity. For more info, visit ontherocksart.com.
Quilts such as this one, by Evelyn Ponka, can be seen at the Superior Quilt Show in Thunder Bay, April 28-30. | EVELYN PONKA
Feb. 23-April 9
Elizabeth Kuth: Rooted Expression Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org
Carla Hamilton: Gezielt (Targeted) Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org
March 24-April 9
Kindling Curiosity: Lighting the Creative Spark Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, johnsonheritagepost.org
March 25-April 29
Urban Infill: Art in the Core 11 Thunder Bay Waterfront District, definitelysuperior.com
March 31-April 16
Lakehead University
Annual Major Studio Exhibition (reception April 7 at 7:30 p.m.)
Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca
April 1, Saturday
ECR Art Auction 5 p.m. Amici’s Event Center, Ely, ely.org
April 3, Monday
Ely Past Times: A Town’s Proud History 5 p.m. Art & Soul Gallery, Ely (218) 365-7300
April 4-28
Members Exhibition Baggage Building Arts Center, Thunder Bay (807) 684-2063
April 4-30
Annual Student Exhibition Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma
April 8, Saturday
Walls & Bridges: A Poetry & Pottery Slam 11 a.m. Betsy Bowen Gallery, Grand Marais, woodcut.com
April 21-May 14
Cook County High School Student Art Exhibit Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, johnsonheritagepost.org
April 22, Saturday
April 28-30 Superior Quilt Show 10 a.m. (Noon on Fri.) CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay, thunderbayquilters.org
Joe Paulik treats every performance as his last.
| JOE PAULIK
ARROWHEAD HOME AND BUILDERS SHOW April 5-9
The 51st annual Arrowhead Home and Builders Show will cover the entire complex of the DECC in Duluth, featuring hundreds of exhibitors and vendors of all kinds, as well as a variety of activities and entertainment for the whole family.
This year’s show will include a fully furnished and landscaped model home, as well as a tiny home on display. The wacky barbequing duo Mad Dog and Merrill will make an appearance, grilling a variety of foods and providing recipes for you to try. Joey Green, the guru of weird uses for brandname products will also be in attendance, providing outlandish demos while sharing hundreds of inventive ways to save money. Also featured is the Great Gardening Show, discounts from vendors and informative seminars.
Kids will enjoy the Parakeet Landing enclosure where friendly, colorful birds land on your arms and head. There’s also free face painting, balloon animals, and the Rainbow Kids Zone with indoor swing sets.
New this year is the 9/11 Exhibit and Procession. Stephen Siller, a New York firefighter, gave his life to help others on 9/11. In return, his family estab -
lished the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. In Sept. 2013, the foundation dedicated the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Exhibit. Welcomed around the country, the mobile exhibit—a high tech, 53-foot tractor-trailer, which unfolds into a 1,100-square foot exhibit—serves as a poignant reminder of that infamous day. The exhibit will be making its first appearance in Duluth in conjunction with the Arrowhead Home and Builders Show.
At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, there will be a procession of emergency vehicles with their lights on to escort the 9/11 exhibit into Duluth. The procession will take place on the lower side of Railroad Street, in front of the DECC lot, and onto Harbor Drive.
The Arrowhead Home and Builders Show will be held from 5-10 p.m. April 5-6; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. April 7-8; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 9. Cost to attend the show is $10 for adults and $6 for students; ages five and under are free. Admission to the show gains you entry to the 9/11 exhibit. shamrockprod.com
German pianist Andreas Klein will perform at the Grand Marais Bethlehem Lutheran Church on April 22. | SUBMITTED
The Arrowhead Home and Builders Show features hundreds of exhibitors and vendors, as well as activities for the kids. | SUBMITTED
Superior Quilt Show
April 28-30
$5 admission
Friday noon-9pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
Sunday10am-3pm
Canadian Lakehead Exhibition Coliseum Bldg
425 Northern Ave, Thunder Bay www.thunderbayquilters.org
Saturday, April 22, 9 AM - 4 PM Earth Fest brings the whole community together to explore sustainability.
• Locally-made Marketplace
• Exhibits/demonstrations on planetary, community and personal wellness
• Local food - Natural Harvest Co-op and the Shop Coffeehouse
• Live local music - Christopher David Hanson Band
• Farm animals, nature hikes, bike rides, hands-on experiments and more!
Locations: Mountain Iron Community Center, Merritt Elem. School and Messiah Lutheran Church, Mountain Iron
PROPERTY TAX WORKSHOP
April 4, Tuesday Join Aaron Twait from the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence, and Cook County Assessor Todd Smith, to learn what you really need to know about Minnesota Property Taxes. This free workshop will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais. Call (218) 387-2079 or email ccchamber@boreal.org.
THE SUNSHINE BOYS
April 6-9 & 21-23 Lake Superior Community Theatre presents The Sunshine Boys, by Neil Simon. Staring performers George Starkovich and Dan Waxlax, this comedy play is about two old vaudevillians who worked together for 43 years, but hated each other. After being apart for 11 years, a television network wants them to perform their signature skits together again; but can they get along? The Sunshine Boys will perform April 6-9 at 7 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sunday) at the Kelly High School auditorium in Silver Bay. They will also perform April 21-23 at 7 p.m. (2 p.m. on Sunday) at the Two Harbors High School auditorium. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for youth and can be purchased online or at the door. lsct.us/the-sunshine-boys
THUNDER BAY SPRING HOME & GARDEN SHOW
April 7-9 See the latest in home and garden products at the Thunder Bay Spring Home and Garden Show, held on the CLE grounds. This year, there will be exhibitors in five different venues, plus an expanded outdoor display area. There will also be craft and merchandise tables, attendance prizes, and the Country Market will be onsite. Admission is $2 and parking is free.
The show will be held from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. cle.on.ca
MOUNTAIN MELTDOWN
April 8-9 Join in the annual Mountain Meltdown bash at Lutsen Mountains, featuring 10 bands on an outdoor stage (weather permitting), a beer garden and barbecue. Enjoy free music from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. all day Saturday and Sunday, followed by late night live music at Papa Charlie’s. Performances include the Spruce Roots, Feeding Leroy, Ginstrings, Floydian Slip, Galactic Cowboy Orchestra, Briand Morrison and Sam Miltich, Cook County’s Most Wanted, and the Evergreen Grass Band. lutsen.com
DULUTH EMPTY BOWL
April 10-11 Free and open to the public, “Sea of Bowls,” a gallery-style preview of the traditional Empty Bowl event, will be held on Monday, April 10, from 5-7 p.m. Bowls range in price from $25-$100. Then, attend the 24th annual Empty Bowl on Tuesday, April 11, from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. For a $20 admission fee, participants can choose a handcrafted bowl created by area professional artists, community members and kids. Dine on soup, bread and beverages donated by area restaurants, while enjoying local entertainment. There will also be a silent auction, featuring the works of professional regional artists. Both events will be held at the Duluth Depot and all net proceeds benefit Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. northernlakesfoodbank.org
EASTER FUN
April 15-16 Easter activities are taking place all along the Shore, starting with the 8th annual Cook County Kids Plus Easter Egg Fundraiser on Saturday, April 15. Enjoy a morning filled with brunch, games, crafts, raffle prizes, and an Easter Cake silent auction. The Easter Bunny will also make an appearance and there will be an Easter egg hunt outdoors at 10:30 a.m. Activities will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the
Easter activities will be held at various locations along the Shore. | STOCK
Cook County Community Center in Grand Marais. Cost to attend is $15 per family. Call (218) 387-3015 for more info.
The AmericInn in Silver Bay will be holding an Easter breakfast buffet with a waffle bar, starting at 6 a.m. on Sunday, April 16. Cost is $6.50 per person; free for hotel guests. Then, at 8 a.m. the Easter Bunny will arrive for photos, followed by an Easter egg hunt at 9 a.m. americinn.com
Kamloops Restaurant in Two Harbors will also serve an Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 16 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Located in Superior Shores Lodge and Resort, the buffet will include eggs, French toast, smoked ham, potatoes, herb roasted sirloin, smoked fish, bacon, fresh fruit, made-to-order pastas and omelets, international salads, desserts and more. Cost is $22 for adults and $11 for kids. superiorshores.com
Also on Sunday, the Red Lion Smokehouse in Thunder Bay will hold a Blue Grass Easter Brunch event from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., featuring live music, a brunch menu and tasty cocktails. redlionsmokehouse.ca
JOURNEY TO LIFE DINNER
April 19, Wednesday Spend an inspirational evening with Jay Barnard, Chef Recovery. Hear Bernard’s story and discover how he went from living a nightmare to living his dreams. The evening will include the “Step Into My Shoes” interactive experience, a silent auction, a full meal and the incredible story of Bernard and his road to recovery. The event will be held from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay. Tickets can be purchased online. All funds raised will support the Thunder Bay Salvation Army. satbcars.com
ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL
April 19-23 The 8th annual Thunder Bay Environmental Film Festival will screen over 10 excellent documentary films, highlighting environmental and social issues. There will also be filmmaker discussions, a youth project and gala event. Festival will be held at the Bora Laskin Theatre, located on the Lakehead University Campus. Cost to attend is free; donations appreciated. The festival is organized by the Thunder Bay Environmental Film Network. ecofilm.ca
Gardening for Bees and Butterflies Nesting, Host Plants, Food, and Plants they Pollinate For more information: tbmastergardeners.homestead.com $20
Jay Bernard will be speaking at the Journey to Life Dinner.
SUBMITTED
Watch over 10 documentary films at the Environmental Film Festival. | SUBMITTED
MIDWEST EXTREME SNOWMOBILE CHALLENGE
April 22-23 Cor PowerSports presents the 3rd annual Midwest Extreme Snowmobile Challenge at Lutsen Mountains. The races will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday with the Cross-country Race, followed by the Hillclimb Qualifier at 1 p.m. Sunday races will begin with the Hillclimb finals at 9 a.m., followed by the Hillcross Qualifier and Hillcross Finals at noon. An awards party will be held that evening at Papa Charlie’s. Registration required. corpowersports. com/schedule/mesc
OUTDOOR
ADVENTURE EXPO
April 28-30 Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis will hold their 64th bi-annual Outdoor Adventure Expo, featuring something for everyone. This year’s expo includes 10 guest speakers and programs, such as Amy Freeman “A Year in the Wilderness;” Mike Libecki “Climbing the World’s Last Unclimbed Peaks;” Brian Block “Everest: A New Lesson in Suffering;” Lonnie Dupre “Cold Hunter One;” and Rod and Sharon Johnson “Glacier National Park: Historic Lodges, Hiking and Backpacking.” There will also be a canoe and kayak auction, a beer and gear social night and raffle, over 100 exhibitors and vendors, the Banff Radical Reels Tour, a kid’s area, outdoor clubs, food and over 120 presentations. Cost to attend is free; with the exception of the Banff Mountain Film Festival. outdooradventureexpo.com
SPRING WORKSHOP
May 6, Saturday The Thunder Bay District Master Gardeners will hold a Spring Workshop featuring Heather Holm. Holm is a horticulturist and biologist by training, educating audiences about the fascinating world of pollinators, beneficial insects and native plants. The workshop will include talks on: “Common Native Bees: Their life cycle, foraging behavior and pollination of native plants” and “Gardening for Bees and Butterflies: Nesting, food, plants they pollinate, host plants.” The workshop will be held at the Confederation College Lec -
ture Theatre in Thunder Bay and begins at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $20; lunch not provided. mastergardeners.eventbrite.ca
REMEMBERING THE 2007 HAM LAKE FIRE
May 6, Saturday Join the Gunflint Trail Fire Department and the Gunflint Trail Historical Society in an evening of remembrance for the Ham Lake Fire. Learn about a new Ham Lake Fire exhibit at Chik-Wauk Museum, preview the USDA Forest Service interpretive sign to be installed at the Gunflint Lake overlook, and listen to
Plant
presentations from several individuals involved in fighting the fire. Event will begin with a social hour at 3 p.m., followed by food and refreshments at 4 p.m. and the program at 5 p.m.—located at the Seagull Lake Community Center, Gunflint Trail.
FOLKLORE FESTIVAL
May 6-7 The Thunder Bay Multicultural Association presents the 2017 Folklore Festival: A World Tour of Nations. Held at the Fort William Gardens and Curling Club, the festival will feature “shop-theworld” booths, local artists on site, exhibits and displays, entertainment, prizes, international foods and imported beers and wines. There will be a children’s area with free face painting, arts, crafts and games. Saturday includes music by 21 Gun Fun at 7:30 p.m., featuring music from around the world. The festival will take place from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 adults; $3 students and seniors; $1 kids ages four to 12. folklorefestival.ca
Superior Quilt Show 10 a.m. (Noon on Fri.) CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay, thunderbayquilters.org
The Lion King Jr. 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com
April 29, Saturday
MFRC Spring Yard & Craft Sale
10 a.m. HMCS Griffon, Thunder Bay, familyforce.ca
Coins & Collectibles
Spring Show 10 a.m. West Thunder Community Centre, Thunder Bay
Children’s Story Hour with the Muffin Man 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com
Free Family Art Day 11 a.m. Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org
Artist Talk with Holly Newton Swift: In the Landscape & In the Studio: My Working Process Noon, Grand Marais Art Colony, grandmaraisartcolony. org
Reading with Duluth Poet Laureate Ellie Schoenfeld 5 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks. com
Chaban Ukrainian Dance Group presents Kalyna 7 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com
Brantley Gilbert: The Devil Don’t Sleep Tour 7:30 p.m. AMSOIL Arena, Duluth, decc.org
April 30, Sunday
Le Stelle Alpine Italian Dancers
7 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com
Northwest Film Fest SilverCity Cinema, Thunder Bay, nosfa.ca
May 5-6
Spring Food & Wine Lovers Weekend Bluefin Grille, Tofte, bluefinbay.com
May 6, Saturday
Thunder Bay District Master Gardeners Spring Workshop 9 a.m. Confederation College Lecture Theatre, Thunder Bay, tbmastergardeners.homestead.com
Remembering the 2007 Ham Lake Fire 3 p.m. Seagull Lake Community Center, Gunflint Trail
Ham Run Half Marathon 10 a.m. Gunflint Trail, cookcountyymca.org/healthyliving/ ham-run-half-marathon
May 6-7
Area 85 Round Up Current River Community Centre, Thunder Bay, aa-nwo-area85.org
Folklore Festival: A World Tour of Nations Noon, Fort William Gardens & Curling Club, Thunder Bay, folklorefestival.ca
Mondays
Nature Nook 10 a.m. Hartley Nature Center, Duluth, hartleynature.org
My Sketchbook: Making
Art a Practice: Ages 6-9 3:45 p.m. Grand Marais Art Colony, grandmaraisartcolony.org
Open Mic 6 p.m. Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais (218) 387-2974
Acoustics by the Fireplace 8 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte, bluefinbay.com
Tuesdays
Open Studio 12:30 p.m. Duluth Depot, duluthartinstitute.org
Live Music 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub, Lutsen Resort, lutsenresort.com
Wednesdays
Open Mic 5 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com
Thursdays
Live Music 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub, Lutsen Resort, lutsenresort.com
DJ Trivia 7 p.m. Kamloops, Two Harbors, superiorshores.com
Celtic Night 7:30 p.m. Red Lion Smokehouse, Thunder Bay, redlionsmokehouse.ca
Acoustics by the Fireplace 8 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte, bluefinbay.com
Fridays
Live Music 4 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com
Live Music 7 p.m. Castle Danger Brewery, Two Harbors, castledangerbrewery.com
Acoustics by the Fireplace 8 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte, bluefinbay.com
Saturdays
Country Market 8 a.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, Thunder Bay, thunderbaycountrymarket.com
Free Art Films (through April 15) 10 a.m. Zinema2, Duluth, duluthartinstitute.org
Tour the North House Campus 2 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org
Live Music 4 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com
Live Music 7 p.m. Lutsen Resort, Lutsen, lutsenresort.com
Live Music Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais (218) 387-2974
Live Music 10 p.m. Red Lion Smokehouse, Thunder Bay, redlionsmokehouse.ca
Sundays
Classical Music & Dinner 7 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte, bluefinbay.com
The North Shore Dish
Hometown Eats: Two Harbors Edition
By Maren Webb
A maybe little known fact to readers: while I’ve made my home in Cook County, I’m a Two Harbors-ite at heart. I was born and raised in Two Harbors, back when babies were born in the little hospital and we weren’t allowed to cross 7th Avenue to Dairy Queen on our own (cue the begging of parents for ice cream cones). During my childhood, the number of dining options was pretty limited. Today, we are lucky that some of the old favorites are still around and new restaurants have joined the scene. These dining spots have stood the test of time, having been around for decades. You won’t want to miss out on some of these long-time favorites, as well as the new items they are featuring.
If you want a place that serves breakfast all-day, you’ll probably find yourself at Judy’s Cafe. Going on four decades, it has been both a local haunt and a place for visitors to stop as they are passing through town. Described by one customer as a small town diner from a movie, Judy’s has the authenticity of a real hometown cafe. Part of this authentic atmosphere is thanks to the regulars that come in for coffee each morning to catch up on what’s new.
In 2015, long-time server, Lisa Heinonen, and her husband, Eddy Symons, purchased the Cafe. While they have made a few additions to Judy’s repertoire, including several fresh breads baked on-site, they have kept the well-loved menu and atmosphere. Their most popular item continues to be the Scattered, Smothered, and Covered Hash Browns, which are scattered on the grill, smothered with onions, and covered with cheese. The new hit is the homemade Cranberry Wild Rice Bread. Heinonen’s favorite part of owning Judy’s is “still getting to waitress and visit with everyone that comes in.”
During the winter, look for a special menu item called kroppkaka, a Swedish potato dumpling with salt pork in the middle. And if you find yourself stopping in during the summer months, they offer an all-you-can-eat walleye fish fry. Judy’s Cafe is open seven days a week (623 7th Ave.)
As you approach Two Harbors from down the Shore, a large figure greets you: Pierre the Voyageur. He marks not only the start of Two Harbors, but also the location of the Earthwood Inn. Since the 1950s, then called the House of Sweden, the Earthwood has been at this spot. Pierre has been there since 2011, after being
moved from his original location in front of a museum and gift shop on Highway 61 in Two Harbors. In March 2017, Pierre again made the news when he lost an arm to some high winds. In addition to being known for Pierre, the Earthwood Inn is also known for their burgers. A visit to Pierre and a burger? Yes, please!
If you wonder how a restaurant becomes known for its burgers, it seems that offer-
ing 100 percent hand-pattied Angus beef burgers may be a key step. The most popular burger, the Ragin’ Cajun, spices things up with a half-pound burger topped with andouille sausage, grilled onions and pepperjack cheese (also available with chicken breast). For those looking for something less spicy, the Brat Burger may be more your speed; a Bratwurst patty on a pretzel bun with sauerkraut, grilled onions and
bistro sauce. To accompany your burger, the Earthwood has several local beers on tap in addition to domestic options, including Castle Danger Danger Ale, Bent Paddle Bent Hop, and Lake Superior Kayak Kolsch. Homemade chili or soup are also available to top off your meal.
Lunch is also a great time to check out the Earthwood, as they have lunch specials available seven days a week. Choose from
The Two Harbors Dairy Queen has long been part of the community and a frequent stop for visitors and residents alike. | SUBMITTED
The location of the Two Harbors DQ, before it made its home in Two Harbors, was a gas station. | SUBMITTED
The Buster Bar has been a DQ staple since 1968. | SUBMITTED
Recipes
By Kathy Toivonen
Cut 1 large French loaf lengthwise about ¼ of the way down. Hollow it out.
Spread butter and mayonnaise in the cavity of the bread loaf. Place 8 slices of ham in the bottom hollow of the loaf. Thinly slice a tomato and onions and place over the ham.
Lightly scramble 8 eggs in butter, until only half cooked and still moist. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Lightly press the scrambled eggs into the loaf. Top the eggs with 8 slices of cheddar cheese. Add slices of dill pickle Put the top of the loaf over the stuffing.
Wrap in tin foil and bake at 375 degrees F. for half an hour. Let the loaf cool a bit before slicing.
Ukrainian Easter Bread
This recipe was brought to Canada by a Ukrainian immigrant over 100 years ago. Rose Bunza’s recipe; contributed by Kathy Toivonen
Soak 1 level tablespoon of saffron in ¼ cup of warm water and let sit overnight.
Scald 4 cups of milk , and then add:
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
Cool until lukewarm.
While the milk mixture is cooling, dissolve 2 packages of dry yeast according to directions. When the yeast is ready, add it to the milk mixture.
Then add:
6 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 ½ cups flour
Whisk until smooth.
Add the saffron along with the water it was soaking in. Add 5 cups of flour and mix as well as you can in the bowl. Before you turn out the dough to begin kneading, add 2 cups white raisins. Knead well, adding flour if needed.
Put the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a tea towel. Let rise until it doubles in size.
Punch down and cut into three or four loaves. Place into greased bread pans, cover with a tea towel and let rise until it doubles in size.
Bake at 375 degrees F. for about 30-40 minutes. Cover the loaves with tin foil for the last 10 minutes of baking, as the tops may get too brown.
TALK to your family LISTEN to each other INTERVENE if you see concerning behavior
BELIEVE and SUPPORT survivors
SPEAK UP if you hear rape jokes or harmful comments discuss BOUNDARIES obtain ACTIVE, ONGOING CONSENT involve your COMMUNITY
Gun Flint
The Mahnomen 80 Shilling
By Eric Weicht
Ranked by Budget Travel as the ‘Coolest Small Town in America,’ Grand Marais is home to a world-renowned craft school, an art colony that’s been in existence since the 1940s, the World’s Best Donuts shop, and a pair of very solid breweries. A couple of months ago, I highlighted a winter seasonal from Voyageur Brewing Company, so this month I decided to head to the Gun Flint Tavern to see what sort of magic they had going on in the brewery.
The brewing portion of the Tavern is small and unique. It’s comprised of three fermenters and a four-and-a-half-barrel system set against a white-tiled wall with skeleton ceramic tiles lining the top—making the number of styles offered all the more impressive. Of the five Tavern brews usually on tap, I almost always go with the Kölsch. However, I decided to give the Mahnomen 80 Shilling a try; both because it sounded like a fitting beer for a late-winter evening and because Paul Gecas, head brewer at the Tavern, recommended it.
I wasn’t disappointed.
A Scottish ale brewed with a hefty amount of wild rice, the Mahnomen is an earthy beer that is balanced well with a honey-like sweetness brought out by the malt. The Mahnomen is smooth for a Scottish ale, with a distinctive wild rice flavor, making it a North Shore brew that’s well worth trying.
Tavern
Property Tax Workshop
Homeopathy Explained
By Kim Falter
Natural remedies come in many forms. Supplements and herbs, teas and tinctures—wading through the options can have your head spinning. Of all the remedies, homeopathics seem to foster the most confusion. The word itself is often used to explain or encompass all natural remedies, which is simply and profoundly not the case. So what are homeopathics and how can they help?
To really grasp homeopathics, we need to define the difference between a natural and conventional remedy. When faced with an ailment that requires aid of some sort, the approach of a natural remedy is to work alongside the natural healing process, minimize side effects, and to support the immune system. This can be achieved in many ways, most commonly through diet, supplementation, herbs, and/or homeopathics.
The role of conventional medicine is primarily to suppress the symptoms. These medications are typically prescribed by a physician or purchased over-the-counter at your pharmacy.
The remedy is your choice, they simply differ in their approach. Take a cough remedy for example; your natural cough syrup works to promote a more productive cough and support your immune system in the process. Your conventional cough syrup will suppress your cough. The trend towards natural remedies seems to arise from conventional medicines potential for more
severe side effects and their impediment to the natural process of healing, which can lead to a weaker immune system.
A further grasp of homeopathics requires a contrast to other natural options. Supplements rarely get confused with homeopathics as they consist primarily of vitamins and minerals. Their main purpose: to increase vitamin and mineral levels within the body. For example, vitamin C. Many of us reach for this supplement to increase circulating levels for its potential as an antioxidant and to stimulate our immune system in an attempt to ward off, or decrease severity, of the common cold or infection. Herbal remedies, in contrast, are often confused with homeopathics. This is un -
Homeopathy was founded in Germany over 200 years ago. | STOCK
Geezers on the Trail
By Chuck Viren
QUESTION:
What happens when four geezers, aged 54-65, attempt to hike the third most difficult trail in Canada? ANSWER: Quite a bit of pain, and a lot of gain.
In early August, my wife Kathy McClure, friends Kevin Wallace and Phil Deering, and I boarded Keith McCuaig’s 30-foot custom built water taxi for a ride to the end of the Coastal Hiking Trail at Pukaskwa (pronounced Puck-a-saw) National Park in Ontario. For the next five days, this trail would test us physically, as it wound through the boreal forest, over steep inclines and gravel shorelines. The path also led to amazing vistas and the most idyllic waterfront campsites one could imagine.
Pukaskwa, located 320 kilometers east of Thunder Bay, is Ontario’s only wilderness national park. It contains 1,878 square kilometers of boreal forest and shoreline. All areas but the visitor’s center at Hattie’s Cove are accessible only by foot, water taxi or kayak.
After a bone-jarring two-hour ride, our captain lowered the front gate and we disembarked at North Swallow Harbour campground; the end of the trail. A father and daughter were waiting for a ride back. As we settled into the campsite, the father, who appeared quite fit and capable, complained vehemently about the difficulty
of the trail—the steep, exposed path along rocky faces, the lack of a clear trail, the river crossings, the boulders, and the energy-sucking slogs along the gravel shoreline.
We would find that, though his complaints may have been exaggerated, the challenges were real. By the time the sun set on our first day of hiking, aches, pains and an injury required our attention. Kevin, the youngest among us, set out at a rapid pace until his quads began to tighten, presumably from racing up the steep, boulder-strewn inclines. Evening massages and a slower pace enabled him to continue until he acclimated to the conditions.
Phil, the elder statesman in the group and also the most experienced backpacker, avoided injury throughout the trip. On the first day, though, he had an incident that could have been more serious. While crossing a stream on a log, Phil slipped. Rather than falling into the stream, he straddled the log, a scene that might have been comical were it not for age and geography. However, the only injury was his pride as he pushed himself along the log with his feet dangling from either side.
Pukaskwa National Park should be on every experienced hiker’s bucket list.
| PHIL DEERING
That evening at our idyllic beachfront campsite, Kathy incurred the most serious injury of the trip. After a refreshing swim, she settled into some beach-side yoga, only to fall from a handstand onto a stick-sharpened log. The scrape to her knee proved less troublesome than the rib injury, which plagued her for weeks afterward.
I was not exempt from the injury bug. After a second day of boulder hopping, the farthest joint of my second toe began to swell. It throbbed painfully all night and, though it would loosen up during the hike, bothered me for the remainder of the trip. I did find, though, that dipping it in the cool Lake Superior waters was the most effective therapy.
The difficulties and dangers of the trail were easily worth the price, because the wonders of the trail far surpassed our expectations. Long slogs up severe ravines and steep inclines led to stunning vistas of islands and harbors along the pristine shoreline. Trudges around marshes led to inland lakes glittering in the midday sun.
Without question, though, the jewels of the trip were the beachfront campsites from Morrison Harbour to North Swallow Harbour, approximately the outer 35 kilometers of the trail. Here, sandy beaches were tucked into protected alcoves rimmed with islands. Tall cliffs and wooded promontories framed one’s surroundings. The clear water glistened and lapped along the sandy shore.
Arrival at such a sight necessitated a dip into the cooling waters, not long after our packs hit the ground. Refreshed, we explored and set up camp. This was usually followed by another swim. After dinner, a few sips of whiskey took the edge off our aches and pains as we watched the sun arc along the horizon. At Fish Harbour we speculated that the sun might disappear precisely in a narrow gap between two islands. We watched mesmerized as the sun obliged, leaving crimson streaks along the lingering clouds.
| PHIL DEERING
The Coastal Hiking Trail is not to be taken lightly. In 2016, 496 people hiked all or part of the trail. There were three incidents requiring a visitor safety response. Based on our experience, a successful trip is achievable to those who are reasonably fit and have over-night hiking experience. For those who are willing to put up with a little blood, sweat and tears for a phenomenal camping experience, Pukaskwa National Park should be on their bucket list.
Day trips are also very popular at the park. There are trails ranging in length from 1.5-2.6 kilometers. More ambitious day hikers can trek the 18-kilometer roundtrip to the White River suspension bridge. On May 15, a new trail will open. Mdaabii Miikna, which means “go to the shore trail” in Anishinaabe, will connect to new areas of coastline and contain nine campsites. At 24 kilometers, it can be traversed in a weekend.
Visit pc.gc.ca for more info.
| PHIL
Enjoying lunch with an amazing view. | PHIL DEERING
The hike proved difficult at times with rugged shorelines.
[left] We witnessed a beautiful sunset at Fish Harbour. | PHIL DEERING [below] Crossing the White Gravel River.
DEERING
Creekfinding: A True Story
By Jacqueline Briggs Martin & illustrated by Claudia McGehee University of Minnesota Press, $16.95
“Once upon a time, a creek burbled up and tumbled across a prairie valley. It was filled with insects and brook trout that ate them, frogs that chirruped and birds watching for bugs and fish. This is a true story about a man named Mike who went looking for that creek long after it was buried under fields of corn.”
In the words of award-winning author Jacqueline Briggs Martin, this heartening tale of an ecosystem restored in northeast Iowa unfolds in a way that will charm and inform young readers; filled with mystery, nature and big earth-moving machines.—Breana Roy
North of Reliance:
Bush Planes, Sled Dogs, and a Homestead on the Hoarfrost River
By Dave Olesen Raven Productions, $16.95
This is the story of why Dave Olesen and his wife Kristen choose to live 10 miles north of Reliance in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Located on a small river called the Hoarfrost, they built a homestead, made connections and found ways to make a living. Whether dogsledding across Great Slave Lake at 50 below, musing philosophically on the values of a northern life, visiting the nearest neighbors 20 miles away, or piloting a bush plane over millions of acres that rarely feel a human footstep, Dave shares both ordinary and life-changing moments with humor, insight and good writing.—Breana Roy
WHY GO: Spring brings annual runs of steelhead trout up stream to the first set of falls in Gooseberry Falls State Park. Despite being one of the most popular state parks in the state, it typically sees less fishing pressure than other steelhead streams closer to Duluth. Farther inland, the Gooseberry is home to native brook trout and has been known to produce some larger brookies.
ACCESS: Access to the mouth of the stream up to the first natural barrier, the steelhead water, is all via Gooseberry Falls State Park. Outside of the park, the stream is almost exclusively bordered by private land—though one stretch is paralleled by the Superior Hiking Trail. There are a handful of stream crossings that allow anglers to legally access the stream bed, including Hwy. 3.
VITALS: This 23-mile stream is entirely in Lake County. It’s known for its irregular, flashy discharge, particularly dependent on rain, spring runoff and melt. That’s because it drains a relatively small watershed of about 27 square miles. Fisheries management of the stream was recently handed off from the DNR’s Lake Superior office in Duluth to the Finland area office, where supervisor Dean Paron said he’s looking forward to getting to know the stream better.
“It’s in my plans to get to know it better,
but we just inherited it in January,” Paron said.
GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Brook trout, steelhead trout, rainbow trout and coaster brook trout.
STEELHEAD: Nic Petersen, a DNR fisheries specialist based in Duluth, said Gooseberry ranks in the top five in terms of catch rates for spring steelhead; with it taking an average of five hours of angler effort per caught steelhead.
“In steelhead terms, that is pretty good,” Petersen said. “That is better than the Knife River. But it is one that is a little bit deceiving because depending on the year, it gets quite a bit different angling pressure.”
The steelhead run from the mouth on Lake Superior is just under a mile long.
“There is one big run that goes around that first bend, and that’s pretty much where people fish and they stack up,” Petersen said.
That stretch is a deeper pool and estuary, making Petersen wonder if it draws fish (not just steelhead) outside of the spring.
Fresh from the Garden
By John Whitman University of Minnesota Press, $49.95
Drawing on more than 50 years of gardening—and nearly as many years writing on the subject—author John Whitman provides a guide to help you grow the tastiest and most nutritious produce in a cold climate. The guide includes more than 150 edible plants and helps you decide which varieties to choose; where and how to plant, tend, and harvest them; and what to do with your bounty. Whitman also describes various methods of planting to make the most of different sites, whether in containers, raised beds, or on level ground. Fresh from the Garden is a clear, concise guide, with nutrition information tables and hundreds of helpful color photographs.—Breana Roy
GOOSEBERRY RIVER
BROOKIE: Both Paron and Petersen have heard about some decent catches of brook trout on the upper stretches of the stream.
“Upstream it gets into a lot of private land,” Paron said. “There are native brook trout there, and a few locals fish it for some nice brookies in some of the spots.”
Petersen noted that one of his DNR colleagues had noticed in the stream one of the largest brook trout he’d ever seen.
FALL COASTER BONUS: Petersen said the mouth of the Gooseberry is one of the
places DNR goes to survey for beautiful coaster brook trout in the fall.
The last time it was surveyed was in 2013—there were fish in the 12- to 14-inch range, but none of the larger fish approaching 20 inches they were looking for.
“They congregate there in the fall to spawn,” he said, hinting at the conditions then, and it should be noted that the season closes on Sept. 4 this year. “It’s difficult conditions to sample in the fall, particularly when it gets late in the year, and we have ice forming on
The Hanoi Hug Taxi
By Micaella Penning
Amidst the whine and whir of Hanoi’s traffic, small motorbikes carry propane tanks, carpet rolls, hundred-pound rice bags, cages stuffed with ducks and chickens—sometimes alive, sometimes dead— suitcases, bushels of baguettes, aquariums, ladders in an upright position, logs, and wooden crates of toilet paper rolls, five feet tall and wide. Entire families cling to single bikes; toddlers often left to fend for themselves while grabbing the backs of their parent’s shirt. Few children wear helmets; the law requiring their use is enforced only on adults.
Many drivers wear facemasks to guard against pollution, giving an austerity to their faces, with only the eyes visible between the helmet, mask and jacket. In the city, the sun dissipated into a sickly bluegray cast. Breathing the thick fumes added to the feeling of sluggish nausea caused by heat and humidity. But drivers seemed relaxed and nonchalant, as they zipped and zoomed in a viscous mob, honking their horns, weaving around sauntering pedestrians and idling trucks, equally content in the right lane, the left lane, the middle, or the sidewalk. Drivers shouted into cell phones above the roar, and lighted up cigarettes at stoplights. I saw one man idly resting his foot on another bike’s muffler as they careened by.
Crossing the street on foot was a nightmare—it felt as if all of two-wheeled Hanoi was barreling down on me. Several times my toes came within inches of bearing rubber tread indentations. My guidebook had said not to waver when crossing the street, and not to run, stop, or show fear. At first, this felt impossible. I sprinted and stopped, wobbled and waved, quivered and bounced, as if walking on glowing coals. Eventually, I became calmer, trying to emulate the placid ambling of Hanoians. I always tried to wait until other people were crossing, sidling to the group’s edge furthest from oncoming traffic, selfishly imagining them as human shields. But only my nerves were scathed; I never saw anything resembling a run-in, let alone an accident.
It wasn’t only the road that was clogged with motorbikes: the sidewalks resembled giant, skinny strips of parking lot or dealership. In areas, their thickness sent me back on the fringes of the street, as I anxiously hopped back and forth between curb and road, as space allowed. Noodle-sellers stirred steel cauldrons of steaming broth among tailpipes, mufflers and wheels, clad in nón lá, the quotidian, conical-shaped leaf hat. The hat has ancient origins—even people carved onto bronze relics three millennia ago wore them; long before appearing scattered amidst parked motorbikes.
“Lets take a xe ôm instead of a taxi!” my friend Diana excitedly declared as we left the cool, air-conditioned stillness of our guesthouse in Hanoi’s old quarter. “I took
Hanoians amble placidly amidst chaotic traffic, often wearing traditional conical nón lá hats.
| MICAELLA PENNING
them all the time when I lived in Rwanda,” she said.
Nervous but ready for something new, I agreed. A xe ôm is a motorcycle “taxi,” translated as hug taxi. On our first ride, I did just that, as both Diana and I squished on behind the driver. My fingers probably left marks through his shirt, as my knuckles whitened and I clamped on in fear. He’d given us both helmets before we got on. I held mine in my hands and stared at it for a few moments, remembering other sage advice from my guidebook: wear a hat beneath the helmets—they often have lice. I had no hat. I imagined my head encrusted with blood-sucking insects, their eggs glued onto hairs near my scalp. Next, I imagined my brain scattered across the street.
I quickly put the helmet on—my head never got itchy.
But Diana was much slower to decide. She stared at me while I put mine on, wide-eyed, mouth curled in sour perplexity. Finally, she strapped it beneath her chin and climbed on to the hug taxi. The driver cranked on the bike and we buzzed out into the mayhem, quickly becoming engulfed in the surrounding sea of motorbikes and their masked drivers.
The process of finding a xe ôm remained obscure to us throughout our time in Vietnam. Xe ôms weren’t marked or designated in any way. Differentiating between them
and residents on their own missions often felt impossible. One clue was the proficient napping of xe ôm drivers. They tended to congregate at busy street corners, where they’d park and drape themselves in a supine position on their bikes to nap. Some rested their heads on the handlebars; while others faced towards the front, their knees draped down the bike, head on the back edge of the seat. Proactive drivers sometimes approached us, asking where we wanted to go, but we tried to hire those who were quieter. As soon as we started speaking to a driver, a band of others would converge around us, listening and talking amongst themselves. If the person we’d chosen spoke no English, another would voluntarily translate. Or we’d open our crumpled map and point. Usually in our disorientation we weren’t sure if we were on our way to the place we wanted or not. We only knew when we arrived. If we were heading back to our guesthouse, I was always relieved to the see the flashing neon sign advertising a national cell phone company that marked a nearby street corner. Often I felt helpless in my ignorance. Ending up on the back of an illegitimate xe ôm seemed inevitable.
Eventually, we felt safest navigating this way. In Ho Chi Minh City, a taxi driver demanded we pay ten times what the meter read. We tried to leave, but he locked us in. We had no escape. With shaking hands I fumbled through my bag for the money. Only after he counted it did he un -
lock the doors. At least with a motorcycle, we could “jump off” if things got bad. But it never did.
I had expected only terror when we rode out into the melee of wheels, rubber, and exhaust fumes that first afternoon in Hanoi. My long legs meant that my knees were the farthest point on either side of the bike; I clenched them tightly in against the driver, fearing they would scrape against car doors, delivery trucks, lamp posts, other motorbikes, and pedestrians.
Yet suddenly, everything felt smooth, flowing. Our driver gracefully steering around potholes and bumps—the streets seeming to float past, as though we were now a school of fish, acting in concert with the thousands of other motorists. The hum of cheap, internal combustion engines buzzed like a chorus of cicadas.
Stopping at red lights, the air sagged with heat and exhaust. Then the light would turn green, and I felt like I was on the starting grid of a Formula One race, as hundreds of engines revved and raced away, the air shimmering in the heat, smelling of fresh rubber and fuel. Movement eased the temperature, and soon my skin felt bearable again as we whizzed across roads, down alleys, and through intersections, always leaning towards the pavement around corners.
Dust, dirt and bugs blew against my face. But I felt like I was flying, the disorder melding into blissful tranquility. Fluidity fleetingly enveloped the city. We reached our destination and climbed off, stumbling back into Hanoi’s interminable expanse of strident struggle.
A summer monsoon brings torrential downpour to Ho Chi Minh City. | MICAELLA PENNING
GRADUATION
northern sky
APRIL 2017
By Deane Morrison— MINNESOTA STARWATCH
April brings renewal to the stars and planets of the morning and evening skies.
Jupiter, long a morning planet, comes into its own in the evening sky. On the 7th, Earth glides between the giant planet and the sun, an event called opposition because it places Jupiter opposite the sun in the sky. On that day, Jupiter rises in the east at sunset and sets in the west around sunrise. In between, it travels the night sky with Spica, the brightest star in Virgo. Spica, however, is no match for the beacon that is Jupiter.
On the 10th, the full moon follows Jupiter on its nighttime journey. The moment of fullness comes at 1:08 a.m. on the 11th, when the moon, Jupiter and Spica will be near their highest point in the south.
Venus, a fixture above the sunset horizon all winter, fell into the sunset in March and is reborn this month as a morning star. As it climbs steadily in the east, our sister planet moves farther away from Earth, gearing up for its next trip behind the sun. Look for it late in the month, around 40 minutes before sunrise. On the
23rd, an old crescent moon appears with the planet.
Saturn also shines in the predawn hour. The ringed wonder is low in the south, just to the left of the red star Antares in Scorpius.
The real star of April is Leo, the lion, which reaches its highest point during the prime evening viewing hours this month. You’ll find it in the south, prancing westward with the night. Outlining the lion’s head is the famous Sickle of stars, anchored by Regulus, Leo’s brightest star. Just to the east is a triangle of stars marking the hindquarters and tail.
The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to peak in the predawn hours of the 22nd or 23rd, bringing 10 to 20 meteors per hour.
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: d.umn.edu/planet.
Strange Tales
The North Shore’s Mayan-inspired Resort
By Elle AndraWarner
So, how did a Mayan-inspired landmark resort end up on the North Shore?
Back in the 1920s and 1930s, an architecture movement known as the Mayan Revival was popular with American architects, who blended Mayan building styles with motifs of other pre-Columbian MesoAmerican cultures, such as the Aztec. Architect Robert Stacey-Judd’s famous Aztec Hotel was built in 1924 in Monrovia, California and he explained that even though it was a Mayan-styled building, he named his hotel “Aztec” because it was a well-known name, whereas “Maya” was not. His Aztec Hotel is now designated a National Historic Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
About the same time Stacey-Judd built his hotel, a German-immigrant named Rudy Bernhard Illgen and his wife Mary Ann were planning their Aztec Hotel on a 40-acre site, located on Crystal Bay. They purchased the site in 1924 from Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company (today’s 3M).
Previously, Rudy had been the hotel proprietor innkeeper at Beaver Crossing, also known as Old Illgen City. In his article, “Some Vanished Settlements of the Arrowhead Country” ( Minnesota History, spring 1955), Dr. Julius F. Wolff, Jr. wrote, “The settlement was a point of call on the Two Harbors-Beaver Bay sleigh road, which ran near the Alger Line in the upper Gooseberry and Split Rock River areas. The summer stables and pasture for horses used by the Alger-Smith company were likewise located near the town. When the railroad ceased to operate in 1923, the hotel proprietor Rudolph Illgen, moved to the present site of Illgen City, just east of the Baptism River on the North Shore.”
Rudy had gone looking for land to build a resort hotel modelled after an Aztec temple, after learning that an improved highway was going to be built along Lake Superior to the Canadian border. As the story goes, he had been inspired and impressed by the Maya and Aztec buildings after a trip to Yucatan, Mexico.
Born in 1887 in the small German town of Rossleben, Rudolph Bernhard Illgen immigrated to the U.S. at age 21, arriving in New York on November 3, 1908 aboard the ship Kaiser Wilhelm. He listed his occupation as “clerk.” Two years later, he was living in Norwalk, Iowa, working as a farm labourer. A year later, on April 17, 1911 he
and four
The Aztec Hotel as it looked in 1949 when Thunder Bay’s Dave Cano and his father—walking on far right by the unique Red Crown gas pumps—stopped there while on their way to Minneapolis by Greyhound bus. | DAVE CANO COLLECTION
married Mary Ann Panli in Oklahoma. They moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where he worked as a truck driver for an oil company and sometime in the early 1920s, the Illgen family moved to northern Minnesota and became hotel keepers.
According to their daughter Pauline’s memoir, the Illgens could not secure a loan to construct the hotel, so they did all the work themselves. The two-storey
Aztec Hotel they built had a dining room; large lobby with two massive carved pillars; hand-carved 50-foot mahogany bar; electric lights powered by a Mack truck motor system (electricity didn’t come until 1937); and a dozen guest rooms upstairs. At the front of the hotel, there were four Red Crown gas pumps with the distinctive ‘globe’ top (later three).
They named their site Illgen City—a
A brochure for the ‘all-talking’ movie Temptation handed out to theater guests of the Aztec Hotel & Theatre. | ELLE ANDRA-WARNER
name that still stands as an unincorporated community in Beaver Bay Township. It is located 33 miles northeast of Two Harbors at the junction of Minnesota Highways 61 and 1, surrounded by Tettegouche State Park and a half-mile from the Baptism River.
The Aztec Hotel also became the area’s
Aztec Hotel from its early days with “Illgen” letters on the Mayan column-like exterior
1920s Red Crown gas pumps in front. | DAVE CANO COLLECTION
movie theatre in the 1930s. With a movie projector, big screen, 150 folding chairs and a contract with Columbia Pictures, movies like Temptation, Sisters and Acquitted were shown every two weeks.
Rudy was known as a visionary, an innovative entrepreneur always looking for new ideas and opportunities. So, in the late 1930s as more tourists arrived in cars on the improved highway, Rudy designed, patented and built small Quonset-like cabins he called “Cabinolas,” containing one bed and small bathroom. His plan had been to build a Cabinola for each U.S. state, but in the end, only 30 were built for the horseshoe-shaped automobile campground he called Cabinola Park; which also included his Illgen Tourist Centre building.
For over 30 years—until destroyed by fire in 1958—the Aztec Hotel was the halfway stop for people travelling from Canada and Grand Marais to Duluth or Minneapolis.
“My parents and I travelled many times on a Greyhound bus to Minneapolis as my mom had family there and my godparents parents lived there,” recalls Thunder Bay’s Dave Cano. “I remember that many sections of the highway along the North Shore weren’t even paved at the time.”
By the time the Aztec Hotel was destroyed by a fire in 1958, Rudy and Mary Ann Illgen had retired. The Whispering Pines Motel and Cabins, which daughter Pauline and her husband Leonard Petersen had built next to the hotel in 1956, was not damaged by the fire. And in the late 1960s, the Cabinolas were sold to make way for the current Highway 61.
MALCOLM CLARK, Broker
BLANKET ISLAND, ROSSPORT
Your own private island located in the south of Rossport Harbour. Sheltered by the main land, Whiskey Island, and Nicol Island. Approx. 1/2 mile from the town of Rossport. 764 ft of Lake Superior shoreline. Really neat 1 1/2 story cabin with water, shower, cooking facilities with woodstove. Gravity water feed from tank on roof. $199,000 CDN
BLACK BAY SUBDIVISION
Over 2200 feet of Lake Superior frontage, over 15 acres. Sandy beach. Deluxe boathouse with power, kitchenette, bathroom, sauna and loft. Private hiking trails with bridges. Private boat launch. Price is $227,000CDN
NICOL ISLAND ROSSPORT
Tremendous Lake Superior building sites. Lakefront and interior lots for sale with docking facilities. Causeway opened year round. Power and phone. Starting at $55,000CDN
LAKE SUPERIOR LOTS
Little Trout Bay, 20 minutes north of the Minnesota/Ontario border, 3 large estate-sized lots, very sheltered with southern exposure. Tremendous views. Power and telephone available. Priced beginning at $199,000 CDN
New Levels of Service
640 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 0B5 Canada
PENINSULA 358 acres with 2 miles of beach front on Lake Superior facing south. Also a 1/2 mile of frontage on Perch Lake. Escarpments, hiking trails, great Lake Superior fishing and boating. Ideal for resort development or your very own private getaway. All amenities nearby. 10 miles south of the Thunder Bay Marina. $890,000 CDN
Woodland Foothills
•Lake Superior and mountain views
•Slab on grade with radiant in-floor heat
•2 bedroom 1 bath
•Under $150,000
•Energy Star appliances, LED lighting, 2x6” walls with R21 insulation
•Energy Star windows and doors
•Local contractor built on sit
•Hickory kitchen cabinetry
•Stainless Steel appliances
Black Bay. Lake Superior. 98 acre piece with 4700 feet of shoreline facing south. Beautiful property between Superior Shores and Pearl Harbour developments. Seclusion, privacywater access. $189,000 CDN
OLIVER LAKE
North shore. 215.5 acre parcel with 3900 feet of lake frontage. Rugged property-water access. Southern exposure, ultimate privacy. $169,000 CDN
•Hidalgo oak Pergo Flooring
•March move in date
Twenty acres of shared open space, Convenient Lutsen location
Call to see the home
Motschenbacher, Broker
PIE ISLAND
Postcard image of the interesting lobby of the Aztec Hotel, featuring large carved beams in the centre and a 50-footlong wooden bar. | DAVE CANO COLLECTION
2
Frame Classic
Homes
& Cabins
78 Squint Lake Rd 5A surrounded on 2 sides by government land. Convenient mid-trail location. MLS 6020283 $62,900
Railroad Drive 1.7A in the heart of Lutsen. Gently rolling topography, mature trees. Convenient location.
MLS 6023743 $49,900
the road!! MLS 6024552 $39,900
Coyote Ridge Three 5A, private, beautifully wooded parcels close to town. Babbling, gurgling creek for your boundary.
MLS 6021224 $45,000 - $65,000 Rosebush Hill Lane Nicely wooded 5.40A with shared driveway only minutes from town. Identified septic sites and fully surveyed! Approx. 430’ of creek frontage. OWNER will consider a Contract for Deed! MLS 6024624 $49,900
Gunflint Trail Cross country skiers, hikers; this property is connected to the Pincushion Cross Country Ski Trail system with the Little Devil Track River flowing through it MLS 2313364 $69,000
Co Rd 67 2.24A, year round access, directly abuts State Land to the east. Fully surveyed and well-built
$65,000
Broadway Ave Wonderful location, oversize lot is open to many opportunities for development and use. MLS 6025787 $48,000
Fox Rd Two peaceful and quiet 5A pieces close to town with easements onto Federal land. MLS 6025690 $39,900
SUPERIOR SENSE OF PLACE! Meander the tree lined driveway along Lutsen’s Rollins Creek Road, stumble upon the connecting ponds with Fountain and Sculpture celebrating the Sounds of Springtime! Over 8 acres of rolling terrain, experience the manicured path to the ponds, or stroll down the rock steps to the Tumultuous Shoreline, the Waves Pounding the over 600 ft of Rock with plenty of Splash! Inside the Fabulous home your guests will enjoy the Cascade of the Creek to the Big Lake just outside their bedroom window. The master bedroom Welcomes the Sunrises via huge windows overlooking the drooling shoreline… 0r Says Goodnight to the Sun while watching the flickering of the fireplace from bed. All the other parts of the home are Magnificent, from the gazebo with hot tub, to the large library, to the gourmet kitchen with function and charm. See it to Believe it is the Best! MLS# 6019683 $1,197,000
GORGEOUS SHORELINE WITH RARE SEA ARCH! The views are from the deck of a ship. A crafters dream home, lots of elbow room, stone fire place for the ages and lower level walk out living space your friends and family will LOVE! Attached Garage! MLS# 6023379 $549,0000
LUTSEN LAKE SUPERIOR HOME! Vaulted Ceilings and Real Rock fireplace are only a couple of the features this home offers! Big views of the Big Lake, enjoy main level living with a finished walk out with two bedrooms/bath and family room...your guests will love visiting your winter retreat! Two car detached, 300 ft of shoreline! MLS#2038020 $569,900
DREAMY LAKE SUPERIOR CABIN, ACCESSIBLE SHORELINE! Tons of Value in this Year Round Lake Superior cabin nestled Among the Mature Spruce of Tofte’s ledgerock shoreline…stroll along the level ledgerock shoreline in the summer and make this your winter Ski Retreat in the Winter! Minute’s to Cross Country trails, Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort or Tofte’s Hockey Rink! MLS# 2270954 $375,000 REDUCED!
LAKE SUPERIOR GETAWAY, MINUTES TO LUTSEN! The cabin has all you need plus incredible Lake Superior Views from Nearly every room! Oversized deck to soak in the
STYLISH NORTHWOODS HOME, SUPER LOCATION! Minutes to BlueFin Bay on Lake Superior, this home has it all! Gorgeous interior, featuring dream kitchen with tons of cabinetry and spectacular granite counters with built in breakfast bar. A great home for hosting family gatherings, let the kids play on the lower level and enjoy main level living with wrap around deck and upstairs loft bedroom/office space. MLS#6020313 $319,000
BIG VIEWS OF THE BIG LAKE! Tiny Home on a Gorgeous Chunk of
& A JUMP FROM GRAND MARIAS! Charming rustic cabin on 10 acres of south facing forest with distant views of Lake Superior. Bordering public lands, great for hunting or hiking! MLS#6020031 $85,500 REDUCED!
HEY HANDYMAN! Come take a Look at this Tofte home with acreage! Lots to offer, the home is solid and has a nice flow. The kitchen has been upgraded! Large windows allow for lots of light, and accessory buildings are perfect for a workshop and garage! Curious? Give us a call to see this gem!
MLS#6022904 $177,500 NEW ROOF! REDUCED!
GRAND MARAIS FAMILY
HOME! Perfect for the growing family, convenient to school w/ 3 bedrms on main level and additional space on lower level. Large city lot, Chicken Coop in place!
MLS#6022686 $197,500 REDUCED!
of both worlds! Two bedrooms, open kitchen and family room, with a large deck overlooking the lake! Great for year round living or a perfect low maintenance getaway home! MLS#6025328 $195,000 CUTE LITTLE LOG CABIN IN TOFTE, A MINUTE FROM
Sunshine Day Dreams, Here Comes Spring! Walk in the Woods, Listen to the Awakening!
CAMPN’, HUNTN’, FUN GETAWAY LAND, INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE!
SILVER BAY TO LITTLE MARAIS TO FINLAND & ISABELLA!
Hwy 1 area Hunting Cabin on 10 ac MLS#2309318 $64,900
NEW! Whitetail Ridge Overlooking Lake Superior! Just off Highway 1, Enjoy Sprawling Lake and Ridgeline views and Rugged Terrain! Yr Round Access, Electric. MLS# 6024856 $110,000
30 acres Wilderness, Borders lands next to Little Manitou River! MLS#2309327 $129,000
Rocky Wall Overlooking Lake Superior just outside Silver Bay. MLS#2244646 $99,000
Rock Road in Silver Bay area! Great build site with creek frontage! MLS#2308638 $45,000
Lakeshore on Ninemile Lake at the Village, common water and septic, build ready, borders common land! MLS#2309096 $39,000 REDUCED!
SCHROEDER AREA NEAR THE CROSS RIVER!
10 Ac Parcels of Maples! Rolling Terrain of Mature Maples to a Sweet Building site Perched Over a Mixed Boreal Forest. Year Round Access and Electric at Road! MLS#2024250 $56,900
DRAMATIC Mountain Top Views, Rolling Hills, Maple Forests fading in to Spruce and Pine and year round access. Tons of acreage available, or just pick up a 40 for $70,000! MUST SEE, call Emily today! MLS#6001560, multiple#’s call for full map and prices! FROM $70,000 MLS#2090628
JAW DROPPING LAKE SUPERIOR
Ready to build with long winding driveway to build site, surveyed. Defined build site with Huge Views!! Rare opportunity close to Grand Marais and within walking distance from the Croftville Road, very nice for walks.
MLS#6022564 $325,000
END OF THE ROAD SPECTACULAR
280 ft of cliff shoreline with unobstructed Views across Lake Superior! Little Marais area, Build ready, driveway already in place!
MLS#2313255 $265,000
DREAMY LAKE SUPERIOR . land and lakeshore! Several acres of privacy and way more than 200 ft of Level Access Lake Superior shoreline in Schroeder, near Sugarloaf Cove Naturalist Area!
MLS#2090420 $275,000
PLENTY OF ELBOW ROOM ON LAKE
SUPERIOR! Nearly 800 ft of shoreline and 11 ac. of rolling terrain, with signs of the past logging roads and Spruce planted forests providing a sweet buffer from all of those pesky worries of the Real World! Driveway installed in to the mid-section of the land to allow you to explore which building site best fits your desires!
MLS#2309271 $799,000
SCHROEDER AREA NEAR THE CROSS RIVER!
Sugarloaf Retreats on High Ridge Drive, Located a hop, skip and jump from Sugarloaf Cove on Lake Superior! Large parcel, with access to the Superior Hiking Trail! Yr Round access and electric to street! MLS#1598640 $36,200
TOFTE AREA NEAR BLUEFIN BAY RESORT!
LeVeaux Mountain, Super Views and Wildlife Ponds! MLS#2220050 $69,000
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#2070510 Prices from $24,900!!
Tofte vaag on the Sawbill, Nice Lake Views! Walk to the Coho, great location! FROM $49,900 MLS#1615956
Wowser Lake Superior views on Overlook Tr! MLS#2296509 $79,900
LUTSEN LAKE VIEWS & WILDERNESS LANDS!
Mature Spruce and BIG Lake Views! Walk to Blue Fin Bay, drilled well in place! MLS#2272174 $49,900
NEW! Nice parcel bordering USFS land, driveway roughed in, access to Tait Lk! MLS#6023412 $35,000
High Ground End of Cul de Sac borders Superior National Forest! MLS#6021436 $49,900
LUTSEN LAKE SUPERIOR CASCADE
BEACH RD LAND! Very accessible, build site close to the water, listen to the waves of Lake Superior lapping the rocky shoreline! Gorgeous morning sunrises over the Big Lake, a must see!
MLS#2308906 $299,000
SWEET CLARA LAKE SHORELINE!
Level Access from Build Site to Rocky Shores.Superior National Forest Lands! Electric, yr round access, Old Cabin in place to use now and build later!
MLS#1600179 $199,000
LAKESHORE 10+ ACRES BORDERING
SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST!
in Lutsen, year round access with over 10 acres and 200 feet of shoreline! Hilltop building site with cleared path thru cedar forest to Christine Lake, a super wilderness lake great for paddling your days away!
MLS#6023288 $99,900
SWEET PARCEL ON SWALLOW LAKE
IN ISABELLA AREA! 220 ft of shoreline, 2.5 ac!
MLS#2300576 $64,900
HEY HEY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SUPER NICE CARIBOU LAKE
Woodland Foothills Build Ready lots, Shared Water & Community Septic from $19,000 MLS#2309328+
Heartland of Lutsen, 80 ac at the Foothills of Ski Hill ridge, near downtown Lutsen! MLS#2312987 $119,000
Over 15 ac of Wilderness on Turnagain Trail in Lutsen! MLS#2216560 $69,500
Prime Build Site(s) just off theCaribou at Jonvick Creek! MLS#2240533 $49,000
Gorgeous 5 acre parcels in the Heart of Lutsen paved Caribou Trail locale bordering USFS lands! MLS#2174799 From $54,900 - $77,500
Creek Build Site just off the Caribou Trail at Jonvick Creek! Rare and Unique Build site! MLS#2289515 $57,500
30 acres of Prime Wilderness Land with year round access and electric at street with Views of Lutsen’s famed Clara Lake! MLS#2080599 $137,500
80 Ac with Poplar River Frontage on the Honeymoon Tr! MLS#2307399 $95,000
Gorgeous Views of Williams & Wills Lake in Lutsen! Year Round Access, electric, Mountain Top site bordering USFS land. A Wonderful place to build your home! MLS#2107927 $70,000
BUILD SITE!
The original cabin was recently removed, allowing for a nice “established feel” to this lot. Driveway in place, clearing done and electricity available!
MLS#2309132 $150,000 PENDING!
400 FT OF STUNNING LAKE
SUPERIOR SHORELINE minute’s to the Cross River in Schroeder! Rolling terrain, nice Evergreen stand giving nice buffer from ANY highway noise. Worth the walk through the wilderness to see the AMAZING 400 ft of sprawling ledge rock shoreline!!
MLS#2313305 REDUCED! $450,000
PIKE LAKE SHORELINE, SOUTHERN EXPOSURE! Nice big lake lot: 5+ acres, 225’ of frontage! Maples, cedars, fir, ash: a diverse mix of thriving Northwoods. The fall color is dreamy, try collecting maple sap in the spring! Shallow lake access, but it’s there, along with yr round access!
MLS#2313068 $167,700
MAJESTIC WHITE PINES ON TAIT
LAKE SHORELINE! Lutsen’s favorite spot for quiet recreation, this deep lot has 200 ft of shoreline and 3++ acres! Yr round access, electric, only 20 minutes to Lutsen’s Ski Resort! Five minutes to BWCA! Untouched virgin forest, a beauty of a lot! Includes the lakeshore lot and the back lot for TONS of value! MLS#6025368 $209,900
SUPER OPPORTUNITY TO OWN MOST OF DOWNTOWN LUTSEN! Approx. 9 ac bordered by Lutsen creek, this hotspot hosts 5 commercial businesses and a lot of apartments with good long term renters! 13 lot trailer park has been established since the 70’s, w/ each trailer owner paying lot rent. GORGEOUS LAND, mature pines, nice setting for future expansion with zero lot line setbacks. New compliant commercial septic system. Rental housing is in high demand in the Lutsen area, all rentals are full with long term history. Potential add’l income from retail space and garage/warehouse space currently used by seller. Seller Financing optional. MLS#2279185 $1,575,000
SUPERIOR AND INLAND LAKESHORE BUILD SITES!
is a lovely open space with a private office. The master bath suite is exceptional. Upgrades throughout, beautiful maple flooring. MLS# 2308811 $699,900
CONTEMPORARY LOG HOME. Every room has a Lake Superior view! This beautiful home on 6.5 acres features
MLS# 6025439 $449,900
SPECTACULAR LAKE SUPERIOR LOT. Framed by palisades, the nicely wooded property has two or more perfect sites on which to build your special lake home. Views are classic old North Shore looking over Chicago Bay. Shared septic system is in place. MLS# 2308784 $365,000
PREMIER LAKE
AND SPECTACULAR BUILDING SITE ON LAKE SUPERIOR. This site is build-ready for your dream home plus garage lot. Spectacular views and privacy. All hookups are ready – septic, water, electric, phone & propane. House plans
WILDERNESS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY. 2000+ acres of Cook County land with 6 lakes. Over 10,000' of shoreline. Various parcels spread across the Superior National Forest, most accessible via forest service roads. The Mark Lake parcel is 159 acres with 200’ shoreline for sale separately: $219,000. MLS#6025545 $3,100,000
SALE PENDING
floors, cozy loft and a huge screened porch. Comfortably sleeps 10-12. Detached garage. MLS# 2312977 $529,000
RARE GUNFLINT LAKE PARCEL. Exceptional lot with 344' of waterfront features unreal views and privacy. Use the slope of this lot to your advantage when considering what style to build. Power and broadband available. Borders public land! MLS# 6027298 $225,000
SECLUDED AND PEACEFUL - MCFARLAND LAKE. Quality built cabin tucked in a mature cedar forest with great views of the palisade. One bdrm plus lrg loft, nice kitchen, dining & cozy living area with wood stove. A lrg work/storage shed with
MARK LAKE - 159 ACRES. The only private land on Mark Lake! Good northern fishing. 200ft. Shoreline, forestry road or snow-
INLAND WATER PROPERTIES
NORTH FOWL
A-FRAME ON POPLAR
LAKE. Classic 2 bdrm, 2 bath A-Frame cabin in a beautiful setting overlooking Poplar Lake. End of the road privacy with year-round access. Very nice, gentle path to the 156’ of lake shore. Nice mix of trees. MLS# 6024438 $187,500
LAKE CABIN. Only a lucky few get to own cabins here. Remote water access from the US side, or drive in to the landing on Ontario side. Stunning views, easy access to the BWCA. The 2 bdrm cabin is one of the nicest remote cabins you'll find. Includes a great sauna. MLS# 6023214 $168,500 PRICE REDUCED!
POPLAR LAKE-BWCAW ACCESS. Nice 2.11 acre lot with beautiful west views of the lake and 244’ of shore tucked in a quiet bay. A small, updated 1 bdrm cabin sits right at the water’s edge. Plenty of room for a main home and garage. MLS# 6021031 $169,900
AFFORDABLE CABIN ON CLEARWATER
LAKE. Cute 2 bdrm cabin on very special Clearwater Lake with 180’ frontage. Very affordable for up north cabin life. MLS# 6023119 $169,000
SOLITUDE ON LOON LAKE. These 1-2 acre lots are located on the south side of Loon Lake and offer great lake views, 152-218’ beautiful shoreline and many nice trees. The main road is in place and power is on the lot line. MLS# 2093855, 2159458, 2309227, 2309228 $159,000 and up CLASSIC POPLAR
LAKE CABIN. Sweet, older 2 bdrm cabin on a bay of Poplar Lake with 100’ frontage. Great location! Charm in every room. Potentially a great vacation rental. MLS# 6023157 $154,500 SUPREME LAND, SUPREME WATER. Over 20 acres of amazing forest teamed with 300’ of awe-inspiring shoreline that rests at the southeast end of Tom Lake. MLS# 6023688 $130,000
on
5.34
and
MLS# 2203572 $95,000
ON NINEMILE LAKE. Two beautiful, large lots on Ninemile Lake in Finland. Lots adjoin Superior National Forest and Cabin Creek Unit Roadless Area with excellent shoreline and views. Power and year round access! MLS #6019489 $89,300 & MLS #6021813 $69,000
SNOWSHOE RUN LOTS. Set along a high ridge overlooking Hare Lake in a mature northern hardwood forest. Year-round plowed and maintained county roads, power at each property and a clear water trout lake. MLS# 6019490 - 6019496, 6019498 Lake lot prices start at $48,800 END OF THE ROAD PRIVACY ON TOM LAKE. This beautiful wooded lot has its own bay/cove. There is a long curved driveway to a nice cleared build site. MLS# 6021553 $47,500
CONDOMINIUMS
WELCOME TO LAKE SUPERIOR. Warm & beautiful light-filled end unit Aspenwood Townhome. The 2-story walkout style leaves you with plenty of options to get outside and close to the Big Lake. This 2 bdrm, 3 bath home includes 98% of all furnishings & personal property. It is also part of a successful vacation rental pool. MLS# 6022175 $290,000
SUPERIOR LIVING ON THE LAKE. Gorgeous 2 bdrm, 2 bath condo with unobstructed Lake Superior views! This unit has had everything redone and replaced. Convenient location with access to many recreational opportunities. MLS# 6026577 $147,000
STUNNING LAKE SUPERIOR CONDO. Quality finishes, granite tile counters, wood fireplace and spa-like bathroom. Open concept plan with floating island for
HOMES & CABINS
REMOTE HIDE-A-WAY. Charming custom built 2 bdrm,
6022886 $269,000
HOMES & CABINS
CLASSIC FARM HOUSE AND 20 ACRES. Simply charming country home with outbuildings and some pasture for your horse! The 3 bdrm, 2 bath home has a country kitchen/dining room, huge living room, & 3 season porch. A cute log cabin sits near the home, and the land is special with a lrg wildlife pond & planted pines. More land is available. MLS# 2309191 $279,900 A GEM IN THE WOODS. There is quality and detail at every turn in this magnificent 2 bdrm, 2 bath home hidden on 30 acres in the Grand Portage State Forest. Marble stairs and floors, loft, master bath with hot tub & sauna, soaring cathedral ceilings, and 2000 sq ft attached garage. Not your typical home in the woods, this is a rare gem waiting for someone who loves the outdoors, but wants the class of an elegant home at the end of the day. MLS# 6022895 $724,999 PRICE REDUCED! BEAUTIFUL LEVEAUX RIDGE HOME. “Mountain top” 3 bdrm home with calming Lake Superior views. Many recent upgrades, 2 wood-burning fireplaces, and a 2+ car heated garage. Private setting and design, perfect for entertaining or escaping. MLS# 6025932 $349,000
BEAUTIFUL HOME IN THE WOODS.
HOBBY FARM OR LOTS OF IDEAS. This large property features open meadows, gardens, orchards, and a beautiful river. The living quarters with 4 bdrms, 2 baths and open living space is located above a 6-stall horse barn. A large pole barn, huge gathering hall, garage and various storage sheds provide lots of sheltered space. Two wells and septic systems. Easy county road access. What's your idea? MLS# 6018972 $253,900 PRICE REDUCED! MANY OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN CASCADE STATE PARK. Enjoy being surrounded by and within the boundaries of Cascade State Park while taking in the amazing views of Lake Superior. This
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES
BIG OPPORTUNITY, MANY POSSIBILITIES. Prime commercial location in Hovland, 1000 feet of Highway 61 frontage. Large commercial space with a small 2 bedroom home and 1 functioning rental cottage. Many new improvements and upgrades. Two more small cabins could be rented, and there's room for many more...or other possibilities. Large 2-car garage plus two sheds. MLS# 6026089 $284,900
COMMERCIAL LOTS IN LUTSEN. Great visibility, nice forest, lake view, and creek. Hwy 61 frontage. Third lot to north is zoned Residential. Bring your business idea! Rare commercial site in downtown Lutsen. Old blacksmith building collapsed on Lot 1. MLS# 6027064 $179,000
COMMERCIAL LOT IN GRAND MARAIS. Good opportunity for a commercial building with a nice second story view of the harbor. Level 40 x 50 lot. A two story vacation rental could be built with a harbor view. What is your dream? MLS# 6024992 $53,500
RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE
NEW! LARGE TRACT WITH CREEK. This 319 acre parcel has ponds & creek frontage on the Flute Reed River. Has been in DNR management program. Great for hunting or homesteading. Access is by unimproved easement from the Camp 20 Road, near county maintenance. The land may be split - take your pick of "40's"! MLS# 6027384 $258,000
SUGARBUSH, BEAVER, TROUT. Remote 80 acres ,10 miles from Grand Marais with easy access. Surrounded by public land. 700’ of Durfee Creek frontage. MLS# 6024638 $149,000
WOODS, WATER & SECLUSION.Three 40 acre lots with 600 to 1000 ft frontage on Mons Creek. Also includes deeded access to Lost Lake. Private and secluded. MLS# 6021356 $59,900 or MLS# 6021357
$69,900 or MLS# 6021358 $74,900.
LAND ON THE FLUTE REED RIVER. Enjoy privacy and seclusion in a deep 13 acre parcel with over 300 feet of trout stream in Hovland. Easy access with power, phone and broadband. Nice build sites. MLS# 2313215 $49,900
500’ ON MOHNS CREEK. Mixed topography of beautiful rolling land with many great build sites on 25 acres. Old growth cedar, spruce, pine and birch. Abuts state land. MLS# 6021088 $39,900
LAND/BUILDING SITES
NEW! 100+ ACRES NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Great location for a home or recreational property just minutes from Grand Marais. Rolling land with creek, borders thousands of acres of federal and state lands. Great investment and subdivision project. Power at road. Seller willing to subdivide MLS# 6027269 $282,900 LOCATION, VIEWS, PRIVACY - 80 ACRES. This former homesteaders property has it all: rolling topography, ravines, grassy meadows, mature timber, flowing creek and expansive Lake Superior views! Minutes from Grand Marais, adjoins USFS land. MLS# 6027073 $279,000
HOME SITE OR BUSINESS DREAM. This 13.4 acre property could be a great home site or resort-type business location. Adjoins Pincushion Mtn. hiking/skiing/biking trails. Lake Superior view with more land available. Zoned Resort/Commercial. MLS# 6026068 $214,900
LARGE WILDERNESS ACREAGE - LAKE ACCESS. This 80+ acre parcel includes 400 feet of shoreline on McFarland Lake. Building sites are located across the road on the hillside with potential lake views. Rugged property with high topography and old growth cedar and pine. Easy access to the BWCAW and Border Route Hiking Trail. MLS# 6024602 $203,000
OUTSTANDING LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS Gorgeous 14.69 acre parcel located within the boundaries of Cascade State park. Rolling hills, a variety of trees, and only 10 minutes from either Grand Marais or Lutsen. Many opportunities, potential for subdivision. MLS# 6023971 $175,000
MOUNTAIN TOP - WILDERNESS VIEWS. Fantastic vistas into the BWCA and surrounding rugged topography near McFarland Lake. Located at the end of the Arrowhead Trail with easy year-round access. The 122 acres has a high ridge and a “mountain top” for you to name. MLS# 6024599 $167,000
BIG LAND, BIG CREEK, BIG TREES. This nearly 100 acre Hovland area parcel is on the "front range" of the Farquhar Hills with a dramatic backdrop of rock cliffs and escarpments. There is a large creek running through the entire property with many fantastic building sites. MLS# 6024136 $138,900
INCREASINGLY RARE, LARGE RECREATIONAL PARCEL. 190 arces fully surveyed. The perfect retreat. Has a rich variety of trees, ponds, high and low lands, some meadow land and wetlands. MLS# 6023211 $150,000
BEAUTIFUL ACREAGE WITH LAKE VIEWS. Four 80 acre parcels located just south of Schroeder and a stone’s throw from Lake Superior! Each parcel features shared access off State Highway 61. The land features a gradual elevation, tiered building sites, beautiful lake views, and the Caribou River is within walking distance. MLS #6020335, #6021914, #6021916, and #6021918 $149,900 each.
LARGE ACREAGE WITH WATER FEATURES. The headwaters of Irish Creek! Quality 160+ acres, 5 parcels sold grouped or separately. Many great features incl. old growth white pine, ponds, camping and building areas. MLS# 6023457 $149,500
INTRIGUING PROSPECT. High-quality items already in place include an insulated/heated slab for house/porch, insulated garage slab, electricity, driveway, the well, a time-dosed/heated septic system. Over 18 acres of privacy. MLS# 6021384 $114,900
NEW! LARGE ACREAGE NEAR TOM LAKE. 128 acres with good road access and an easy walk to the Tom Lake boat landing. Year-round road, power is possible here. The 3 forties may be split - take your pick. MLS# 6027383 $111,000
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY. Stunning Little Devil Track River frontage and Pincushion Mtn. trail access make this 6.3 acre property perfect for skiers, hikers and mtn bikers. Zoned Resort/Commercial. MLS# 6026067 $103,900
HUGE POND-HUGE PRIVACY. Large 45+ acre wooded parcel located across from Tom Lake. Huge pond/lake in the very center of the acreage. MLS# 6022858 $99,000
UNIQUE 20 ACRES IN SCHROEDER. Beautiful property with driveway and building pad in place. Interesting mix of trees & topography. Stunning views of ridge lines and valleys. Quite a place to explore and see something new every time! MLS# 6027299 $69,000 PRICE REDUCED! RUSTICATE, RECREATE, RELAX. Reclusive Hovland hideaway – 43 acres with new driveway to “base camp” with a nice camper trailer and shed. Trails have been cut throughout the property which adjoins State land. MLS# 2313223 $64,900
PINES & LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW. Large 13+ acre pine filled lot on the hillside above Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center in Schroeder. Great lake views! Power, phone and broadband at the lot. MLS# 2313242 $64,900 GREAT LOCATION, QUALITY FOREST, BUILD HERE. These 10-acre parcels have a mature and mixed forest, southerly exposure, easy county road frontage and just minutes from Grand Marais. MLS# 6023274 $64,900, MLS# 6023275 $62,900, MLS# 6023276 $64,900
MAPLE HILL - HOME SITE. Heavily wooded 6.45 acre parcel with great privacy, county rd frontage, power and phone. MLS# 6023465 $64,500
RIDGES, PINES & VIEWS - ARROWHEAD TRAIL. Nice 20 acre parcel with high building sites and huge pines. The surrounding federal land leads directly into the BWCAW. MLS# 6024600 $63,000
RUSTIC WOODED WONDERLAND. Beautiful 40 acres of maple forest with small rustic cabin bordering Judge Magney State Park. Enjoy the peaceful solitude of Aide Lake, rimmed by an open cedar grove just a short hike from the cabin into the park. MLS# 6025235 $59,900
WOODED HOME SITE This 5+ acre parcel is only 1.5 miles from Grand Marais and ready for your country home. Mixed forest, with forest service land in the back for exploring or hunting. A driveway and culvert are already in place. MLS# 6026053 $59,000
NICE LOT NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Beautiful gardens currently inhabit this lovely lot. Though it rests on Hwy 61 there are nice private niches to rest your home on. Walk to downtown Grand Marais! MLS# 6022810 $55,000
DENSE EVERGREEN FOREST NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Beautiful 5.8 acre property ready for your home plans, with survey and septic sites located, and many good building sites. Heavy trees and open areas. Easy county road frontage with power and Broadband close by. MLS# 6025992 $52,900
PERFECT 5 ACRE HOME SITE. This private and secluded build site is just waiting for your custom plans! Only five miles from town with five acres of great woods bordering public land on two sides. MLS# 6021986 $51,500
30 ACRES - PANORAMIC VIEWS. Rare mountain top property with a 180 degree view of distant Lake Superior and the ridge to the north. Many trails in place with food plots for wildlife. MLS# 6020274 $49,500 WOODED 10 ACRES IN HOVLAND. North woods seclusion plus electricity and broadband! Great forested parcel. The driveway is in leading to a secluded build site with nice trees. Cute shower house and outhouse. MLS# 6024396 $47,900
BUILDING SITE OVERLOOKING MCFARLAND LAKE. This pine studded 7 acre property has easy walking access to the county beach on McFarland Lake. Nice elevated build site with easy county road access. MLS# 6024601 $47,000
5 ACRES NEAR DEVIL TRACK LAKE. Must look! 5 acres in a diverse forest on the paved South Shore Drive. Private yet easily accessible. Lot borders forest service land. Driveway is in, septic sites identified. Ready for your plans! MLS# 6025167 $45,000 POWERS LAKE ROAD PARCEL. This is the beautiful ‘40’ that you have been waiting for. Easy access off Powers Lake Road with electricity and broadband. This is a fine opportunity for the person seeking a remote retreat with some modern amenities. MLS# 6027426 $44,900
5 ACRES NEAR CARIBOU LAKE. Gorgeous corner lot with colorful maples and majestic cedars. Plenty of privacy. Close to hiking trails and the Caribou Lake boat landing. Year round access with power! MLS# 2279179 $35,000 PRICE REDUCED!
LAND NEAR LITTLE MARAIS. Nice, large parcel consisting of 13.5 acres with 1,100 feet frontage on Lake County Hwy 6. Electricity, broadband, and phone available at the road. Views of Lake Superior from the northeast MLS#6025325 $40,000 THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. Nice 6 acre parcel of mixed forest land only 6 miles from Grand Marais! Shared driveway is in, transformer on the property. MLS# 6024077 $39,900
QUIET AND PRIVATE. Choice 2.31 acre lot at the end of the road in Lutsen, ready to build. Priced to sell! MLS# 2309202 $39,500
WOODED ACREAGE – GRAND MARAIS. Two private 20 acre lots with hiking and ski trails, and abundant wildlife. A high building site offers seasonal views of Lake Superior. MLS# 2313172 $46,000 & MLS# 2313173 $35,000
LAND FOR ESCAPE AND RECREATION. Remote yet accessible 20 acres near Judge Magney State Park. Good mix of trees, high building site, some distant Lake Superior views. MLS# 6025397 $34,900
FIVE SECLUDED ACRES. One of eight secluded wooded 5-acre parcels bordering Govt. land. MLS# 2308827 $28,000
WILDWOOD ACRES IN TOFTE. Consider these affordable lots when you want to build economically in Cook County! Nice wooded +/- acre lots. MLS# 6025292-6025294 $17,500 – $20,000
PRIVATE HOME SITE CLOSE TO SUPERIOR. Very nice parcel with driveway, power and cleared building site. Privacy on dead end road near Silver Bay. MLS# 6023748 $19,900
With over 250 acres of fun and ac tivities, there’s something for the entire family! From awardwinning historic programs, concer ts & festivals, to a science centre with an astronomical obser vator y – there’s so much to see and do! an overnight stay
