Northern Wilds

WINTER READY

Here for the Duration

Every month, managing editor Breana Roy gathers a collection of stunning wildlife images from regional photographers to select the photo for our Catchlight feature. She always has several wild birds and animals from which to choose. She keeps track of what critters have run in past issues to ensure that we don’t run the same species twice within the span of a year or two. This month, her selection included owls, grouse, whitetail bucks and a gray fox.

Even though it is November and hence deer hunting season, the trophy whitetails drew a lukewarm response from our mostly nonhunting crew. Owls are ever-popular, but we decided against running an owl photo at this time. The gray fox was the runner-up, but we held off on choosing it. In the end, as you will see on our inside back cover, we chose a ruffed grouse. This common bird is especially visible at this time of year, when the leaves disappear and it takes to the trees in late afternoon to feed. The ruffed grouse is a year-round resident of the Northern Wilds. If you are reading this issue, it is likely that you are a year-rounder too.

November is the month when the last of our seasonal migrants, both feathered and human, depart for warmer climes. What remains are those of us who are here for the duration; i.e. the coming winter. This is arguably our longest season, because we can expect the snow to arrive any day now and likely not go away until sometime in April…or May. That’s ok, we have plenty of ways to make use of it.

If you are wondering what folks do in the winter around here, read on. In this issue we asked our writers to offer some tips for enjoying their favorite winter activities. They delivered. Ali Juten takes us along on a

snowmobiling excursion. Eric Chandler tells us how to get started in Nordic skiing. Mike Creger explains the popular, and somewhat mystifying, sport of curling. Joe Friedrichs shares some ice-fishing pointers so you can have fun without spending a fortune on new gear.

Our writers also tackled a couple of outdoor topics with medieval origins. Gord Ellis gives us the run down on the crossbow, an ancient weapon which has found new life among Ontario big game hunters. Julia Prinselaar accompanies a Thunder Bay woman who is training a red-tailed hawk to hunt, carrying on the ancient heritage of falconry. Also hearkening to the past, Elle Andra-Warner features two of our Northern Wilds staffers who are direct descendants of people who traveled to America on the Mayflower

On a thoroughly modern note, Maren Webb explains how to make the most of meal delivery services that send all of the ingredients you need to make a great dinner. Javier Serna tastes the offerings from the new Hoops Brewing in Duluth. Amy Schmidt tackles the topic of the flu…and you.

Since November is the month when we honor all of those who served in our armed forces, please read Eric Chandler’s essay, Veteran’s Day: Pay Attention. Eric writes from experience and eloquently so. We are proud to have this contribution to our publication.

Then again, we are proud of all Northern Wilds contributors and staff who work hard to put together every issue. And we’d like to thank our readers and advertisers, who are the reason we make it happen. —Shawn Perich and Amber Pratt

Do you have a question for one of our writers? Or an interesting photo, recipe, or story you’d like to share with Northern Wilds? Please send it to storyideas@northernwilds.com.

Join the Northern Wilds

Our readers and Facebook fans have selected the People’s Choice winners in the annual Northern Wilds Photo Contest.

Our staff will now select the First and Second Place contest winners. You can look forward to seeing those photos in the January edition of Northern Wilds.

1. Landscape

Hollow Rock Sunrise by Patrick Forslund, Eagan, MN

2. People and Pets

Relaxing by Rick Rymes, Thunder Bay, Ont

3. Wildlife

OK, who’s first! by Keith Wendt, St. Paul, MN

4. Local & Regional Icons

Stormy Sunset at Split Rock

Lighthouse State Park by Patrick Forslund, Eagan, MN

It’s easy to join!

Northern Wilds wants to make you a winner. To find new contests:

• Check this ad spot in Northern Wilds

• Follow us on Facebook: NorthernWilds

• Sign up for our Online Newsletter: NorthernWilds.com/Subscribe

• Check our website: NorthernWilds.com

Recent winners!

People’s Choice Photo Contest sweepstakes: Kathi Lavery, Thunder Bay, Ont

Ronald Carl, Duluth, MN

Marlyn Brunskill, Shullsburg, WI

AMSOIL: An entrepreneurial success story

SUPERIOR—Entrepreneurship. Certainly a bizarre concept for those who work a traditional nine-tofive work week. However, the late Albert J. Amatuzio, founder of AMSOIL in Superior, WI, was exactly that, an innovative entrepreneur.

In the 1960s, when the rest of the country was using traditional oil in their automobiles, Amatuzio’s experience as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and squadron commander taught him that synthetic oil was the way of the future. After all, every jet engine known to man survived on synthetic oil, why not apply that same concept to automobiles? After about three years of intense research and development, he had formulated his first synthetic motor oil and, by 1972, AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil was the world’s first synthetic to meet American Petroleum Institute Service Requirements.

In the beginning, Amatuzio’s oil didn’t sell itself. In fact, he struggled to sell it in stores because, at the time, AMSOIL was five dollars per quart while traditional motor oil was 50 cents per quart. That is why today, AMSOIL is sold directly through dealers.

Ed Newman, advertising manager for AMSOIL, said that Amatuzio created the “Dealer Opportunity,” which allowed ordinary people with entrepreneurial ambition to have an AMSOIL business and the dream of being their own boss. Today there are thousands of dealers throughout the U.S. and Canada and more than 50 countries worldwide.

“Al has always been a supporter of ‘the little guy,’ the underdog, because he was once a little guy fighting against the big guys. Big Oil had the capability of making a synthetic oil for cars but they didn’t do it,” he said.

Newman added that people who were truly passionate about the products could authentically and successfully sell it.

“It was a grass roots phenomenon that helped a multitude of other ‘little guys.’”

AMSOIL not only helped the dealers, but it also changed the lives of those who used the products. The benefits of the products were notice -

able at the time, particularly in cooler climates like northern Minnesota.

“Older people would remember this. Before synthetic oil, you would have to keep your car plugged in. If you had to start in the winter time, it wouldn’t start. But if you had AMSOIL, some of the products flow at 70 below. It was the benefit of not being stuck somewhere because your car wouldn’t start,” Newman said.

Today, beyond automobiles, AMSOIL lubricants can also be found in wind turbines, industrial machinery, high-powered boats, dirt bikes and snowmobiles, to name a few. They are also the title sponsor of the AMSOIL National Snocross Championships held at Spirit Mountain each year in Duluth.

In its 26th year, the AMSOIL National Snocross Championships will run from Friday, November 24 through Sunday, November 26. Thousands of Snocross fans will gather to watch the best-ofthe-best compete on snowmobiles. A testament to Amatuzio’s handiwork; sponsors like AMSOIL cover the cost of the tracks that the racers use with their synthetically lubricated machines.

Among the crowd, you’d likely see Matt Judnick, a former Snocross racer. For more than 13 years, he raced for Judnick Motorsports, a Polaris team that his dad manages and also a team that is still sponsored by AMSOIL. He started competing when he was a just a teenager, around 12 or 13 years-old, but at 26 years-old, he retired.

“I was getting tired of getting hurt. I raced for Polaris for a very long time and it all comes to an end at a certain point,” Judnick said.

He suffered a couple broken bones and a torn ACL in a span of three years, cutting his seasons short each year towards the end of his career.

“When you’re a young kid in the sport, you never think you’ll be done. It goes by quick.”

Throughout his time racing though, Judnick shared that the benefits of Snocross were that he was able to travel the country, compete in something he was passionate about and, ultimately, get paid to do it.

Founder of AMSOIL, Albert “Al” J. Amatuzio. | SUBMITTED

Like Al Amatuzio, Judnick is now an entrepreneur, thanks to his racing days. He says that Snocross helped him financially in buying his first house. From there, he was able to acquire rental properties as well as start another small business. It just goes to show that hard work, and a little elbow grease (ahem, AMSOIL) pays off every time.—Ali Juten

Tischer opens new gallery

Gallery will open November 16 in downtown Duluth, featuring exclusively the photography of Ryan Tischer. Tischer is an award-winning Duluth-based landscape photographer known for his iconic large-scale images of the Lake Superior region and across North America.

A Grand Opening celebration will take place Thursday, November 16 from 5-8 p.m., where the Tischers will give tours of the new printing and framing studio and offer complimentary refreshments.

Tischer and his wife Aimee have been a husband and wife team since 2014, when Aimee left her job to work full-time at the growing business. Tischer’s artwork is collected by many regional businesses and may be familiar to those that frequent art festivals across Minnesota.

After participating in the Greater Downtown Council’s Pop-up Storefront Program the past two holiday seasons, the Tischers are comfortable taking the jump and opening the permanent location on Superior Street.

In addition to featuring Tischer’s photographic artwork, the gallery will offer artwork reproduction and framing services to the region’s many artists.

The gallery is located at 5 West Superior Street and will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning November 17, or by appointment.

For further information, contact Ryan Tischer at (218) 391-1827 or visit: tischergallery.com.

Photographer Ryan Tischer will open a new gallery in Duluth on November 16. | RYAN TISCHER

DULUTH—Tischer Photographic

The Wood Wide Web

NORTH SHORE—After the leaves come down, I start to notice all sorts of new things: moss-covered boulders, varying topography, the sparkle of a creek. “Stick season,” say the Eeyores among us. “Seethrough season,” counter the optimists.

While the rough-barked trunks stand stoically separate, delicate twigs trace a burly lace onto gray skies. Although in silhouette they seem to intertwine, in reality they strive to lift their leaves (when they have them) away from the others to claim their own personal space. Occasionally, two trunks or two branches will miscalculate and intersect to squeak in the wind, or groan as scar tissue melds them together until in death do they part. The real connections, though, happen beneath the duff—almost beneath our notice.

Down there, hidden in the soil, lies the Wood Wide Web. No, that’s not a joke. Dr. Suzanne Simard, a forest ecologist from the University of British Columbia, coined the term to describe the relationships she discovered.

Other scientists have backed up her findings. According to German forester Peter Wohlleben, in his book The Hidden Life of Trees, “most individual trees of the same species growing in the same stand are connected to each other through their root systems.” They accomplish this by grafting. Just like orchardists can coax a new twig to grow on the branch of another apple tree, when two roots of the same species meet underground, they can grow together. The resulting network allows sugars, water, minerals, and chemical signals to travel from tree to tree, and provides stability in windstorms.

What Dr. Simard found even more intriguing, though, was that trees of different species can share resources, too, even though their roots don’t fuse together.

If you follow the roots of almost any plant out to their very tips, you’ll find fun -

gal mycelia. Some fungi just sheath the roots; others actually tap into the root cells. Each plant has its preferred method of connection, and certain species of fungi that it consents to form relationships with. Fungal mycelia extend the plants’ reach into the surrounding soil. This mycorrhizal (myco=fungus; riza=root) network is robust and thickly woven. So thickly, in fact, that scientists say you could find seven miles of fungal hyphae in a pinch of dirt, and hundreds of miles under a single footstep.

Using this network, trees and mycorrhizal fungi live in an incredible symbiotic relationship. Trees feed the fungi with sugars produced during photosynthesis, and may share up to 80 percent of their total production. In return, fungal hyphae significantly increase the absorbing area of roots, which protects trees against drought. Fungi actively break down tightly bound soil nutrients like phosphorous and iron and make them available to plants. This intricate web captures and holds nutrients before they can be lost from the system.

What’s more, mycorrhizal fungi can facilitate nutrient sharing between trees and plants of different species, and take an active part in maintaining a healthy forest. Fungi depend on the presence of a mature, stable forest with its humid microclimate and flow of nutrients. Tree diversity is essential, since monocultures are vulnerable to disease and disturbance. Fungi ensure their own survival when they cultivate the long-term stability of the environment they enjoy. Of course, it’s not a zero-sum game. Many creatures, including us, contribute to and benefit from this synergy. All flourishing is mutual.

Just this little bit of knowledge will help you this fall, to “see through” the superficially independent members of the Wood Wide Web.—Emily M. Stone

While trunks may

solitary and twigs look intertwined, the real connections lie beneath the soil in the Wood Wide Web. | EMILY STONE

Christmas wonderland in downtown Thunder Bay

THUNDER BAY—Right in the middle of Thunder Bay’s south downtown is the magical “Christmas on the Second Floor” at Victoria’s Cupboard, open to the public from mid-October to December 24. It’s an enchanted place filled with hundreds of delightful Christmas displays, 60 beautifully decorated trees and thousands of Christmas items for unique gifts and home décor.

Victoria’s Cupboard, first established by Marjorie Knutson in 1990 as a small storefront, moved in 2001 to its present location, a 5,000-square-foot two-story heritage-designated building built in 1900 and originally home to the Fort William Daily Times-Journal newspaper (1899-1972).

“A former employee’s mother had a wonderful suggestion to turn the second floor into a permanent Christmas floor,” said Knutson.

She did, transforming the floor into eight colour-coordinated Christmas-themed rooms.

“The Christmas floor appeals to all five senses—smell, touch, taste, hearing and sight. It’s an overall feast for the eyes,” said Knutson.

Even the names of the rooms fire up the senses and each one has hundreds of distinctive Christmas items.

According to Knutson, most people tour the rooms clockwise, starting with the Soft Gold Room where shades of gold,

cream and snowy white present a quiet, calming ambience amidst angels, cherubs, gold snowflakes, snowmen and musical instruments.

Next is the North Pole Express Room themed around Mrs. Claus, along with helpers, elves and reindeer. There’s also vintage train sets and Department 56 North Pole Village buildings and accessories.

In the Spiced Orange Room—with its spicy scents of ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice, combined with the essence of orange—Christmas trees are decorated in shades of copper, brass and bronze with gingerbread and cookie ornaments.

A stroll down Candy Cane Lane takes you to the Cherry Berry Room, a large room divided into two colour themes— soft pastel shades of pink on one side, purple on the other—based on the Nutcracker Suite theme.

Blue, white and silver colours are featured in the Icy Blue Room, giving it a Nordic winter look. Here you’ll find snowflake ornaments, icicles and white-fur treetop angels reminiscent of a by-gone romantic era.

The large Green Ivy Room has a formal Victorian theme (the Bearington Bears are adorable) in half the room, while the other half is Woodland Rustic with hundreds of items, ranging from feathered birds to angels, Santa, stars, snowflakes and wild -

The champagne dress of the angel compliments the peacock palette of greens, turquoise and blues in this vignette. | ELLE

life. And the room is home to the legendary Christmas Pickle.

The popular Victorian Red Room has an eclectic mix of sports-related items including sports ornaments (hockey is a favourite) and traditional items like snow globes, “Christmas Story” tableware, Santas and Victorian-related décor.

A cup of hot cider greets visitors to the Cashier’s Room as they browse the large

selection of gourmet food items like dips, hot chocolate, mulling spices, cards and a large selection of nativities.

The rooms are creatively decorated by Debra Swanson with Marjorie’s son Peter ensuring everything behind the scenes is hooked up, lit, secured and safe.

Victoria’s Cupboard is located at 115 May Street North, Thunder Bay.

—Elle Andra-Warner

Veterans Day: Pay attention

NORTH SHORE—I ran along the Bow River in Calgary, looking for an excuse to rest. I stopped under the Canadian flag waving over six marble columns that listed 3,000 names of Calgary area soldiers who died from WWI to Afghanistan. The rusted steel of the Calgary Soldiers’ Memorial held the words, “We Will Remember.” Canada memorializes members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty on Remembrance Day, November 11. Tired from running, I was momentarily confused about my own country’s traditions.

In America, on Memorial Day in May of each year, we remember those who died in military service. On November 11, we celebrate Veterans Day. On that day, we honor all those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. On Veterans Day, some of you will get on your Facebook page and ask us to remember those who have died in uniform. As an outraged veteran on the Internet, I’m supposed to scold you for not knowing the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. I’m not going to do that for two reasons. The first reason is because you just read this awesome paragraph that explains the difference. The second reason is I’ve learned to be grateful for any form of support for veterans, no matter what shape that takes.

I had a chance to be part of a roundtable discussion on the radio with Mike Waldron once. He’s a Marine combat veteran and the executive director of a group called 23rd Veteran, based in northern Minnesota. It’s a nonprofit organization with this mission: Empower veterans to lead successful lives. Waldron said veterans are sometimes reluctant to participate in veterans programs.

“If we take advantage of these programs, it makes them feel valuable, like they’re giving back to the military. If more of us knew, by accepting these services, we are actually providing a service for the people that are donating, more veterans would be willing to do so,” he said.

I never thought of it that way. I’m nicer now when someone thanks me.

Being thanked is not a problem.

In a survey taken by the Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2013, 70 percent of the veterans polled felt appreciated at home.

But there are other troubling results. Seventy percent of the veterans polled felt the average American didn’t understand their experience and 55 percent felt disconnected from civilian life. What about the thanks? Forty-two percent polled said civilians were “just saying what people wanted to hear.” This poll mirrors my feelings. I feel appreciated and, simultaneously, I don’t think my neighbors have any idea what my military life was like.

I was at a writing conference last winter and met a writer named Frances Richey. I brought up the “Thank you for your service” conundrum and she was the second person that helped me see it a different way. She asked me, “Well, what do you want me to say then?” I’m not sure I have an answer, but I should. I can only speak for myself and here it goes.

I want you to say what you would say to anybody. Start with introductions. Hello, my name is Eric. What’s your name? Where do you live? What’s your job? Do you like it? Do you have family? Kids? Do you have any hobbies? I’d call that a normal conversation. I stole this next idea from somebody else: “Thank you for your service” is a way to end a conversation, not start it. So, you could end a normal conversation with thanks. But don’t start with it like a left jab, just because you see someone in uniform. I think both people would feel more connected after a normal dialogue. The veteran would feel less like someone threw a yellow ribbon at them and walked away.

Nobody ever needs to thank me again, as long they just use their turn signals when they’re driving. What I mean is: Pay attention, like your mom used to tell you as a kid, but now you’re a responsible

adult citizen. Pay attention when there’s an article in the paper about a terrible VA hospital. Pay attention when you hear about the suicide rate of returning veterans. Maybe you could call your elected

officials and motivate them to deal with the real problems veterans face.

Pay attention when even more Americans are sent overseas to fight in a war that started when my son couldn’t walk

Good Times Await

WHAT ARE

WEEKEND?

HIGHLIGHTS

2018 SLEEPING GIANT LOPPET

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park March 3, 2018

2018 SKI NATIONALS

Lappe Nordic Centre March 10 – 17, 2018

Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth, by Drew Hayden Taylor, will continue showing at the Magnus Theatre, held Oct. 26-Nov. 11. Then, don’t miss the heartwarming play Miracle on 34th Street, held Dec. 7-23. Adapted by Caleb Marshall and Erin Keating, this classic story by Valentine Davies follows a Macy’s department store Santa who turns the commercial world of New York City upside down. A Christmas classic for more than 70 years, this story of triumph of faith over greed, and goodwill over commercialism, is as relevant as ever. magnustheatre.com

Red Lion Smokehouse is turning 3-years-old and you’re invited to help celebrate with Birthday Tap Takeover, held Nov. 1-4. Brasserie Dunham will take over the taps with eight kegs, so don’t miss out; once they’re gone, they’re gone. And don’t forget, if your pint “kills the keg” you’ll win some craft beer gear. facebook.com/redlionsmokehouse

The Thunder Bay Community Auditorium will host some big shows throughout the month of November, starting with Let it Be, a celebration of the music of The Beatles, held Nov. 1. Then,

Inspired by the Slate Islands, the Lighthouse Gallery is a contemporary venue for local artisans to showcase and sell their artwork collections that flow with a nautical sense and representation of Northwestern Ontario. Open: Thurs., Fri., Sat. 11 am - 4 pm 9 Simcoe Plaza, Terrace Bay lhgallery@nocos.com (807) 823-2337

see the legendary, Grammy-nominated Gordon Lightfoot in concert on Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. The modern-day Christmas classic, Elf the Broadway Musical, will be held Nov. 14-15. Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, Elf features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer). And don’t miss Cirque Musica Holiday: Believe, held Nov. 23. Believe is a fun-filled family holiday event featuring the cast of Cirque Musica together with all-time favorite holiday songs performed by the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Cirque Musica is a concert and visual experience with aerialists, acrobats, hilarious hijinks and holiday cheer, so don’t miss out. Other performances at the Community Auditorium include Jesse Cook on Nov. 5; Merle Haggard’s Strangers featuring Ben and Noel Haggard on Nov. 6; The Simon and Garfunkel Story on Nov. 12; and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra Pops 2 performance Nov. 18. tbca.com

The Waterfront Potters will hold a Waterfront Art Sale on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Baggage

NorthernWilds

Walking on Snow

By Shawn Perich

In winter, the snow gets pretty deep around here. Sometimes it comes early. Other years it arrives late. Most winters, the snow just keeps getting deeper and deeper until spring arrives. I don’t think much about the snow depth until it reaches my knees, because I can trudge through lesser amounts. But once it gets to my knees, it’s time to wear snowshoes.

Native people originated snowshoes to walk atop the snow. They are still used for that practical purpose today. The original style of snowshoe, with a wooden frame and hide webbing is still available. But new options exist with frames and webbings made of strong, lightweight materials. Most new models are smaller than traditional snowshoes, which means they are easier to wear and less cumbersome. Some have built-in crampons to make it easier to climb slopes.

Choosing the right pair of snowshoes de -

pends upon how you intend to use them. The snow in the Northern Wilds is usually soft and deep, so you need a snowshoe with good flotation to prevent sinking into it. That’s why I like the traditional Alaskan style, which is long and narrow with upturned tips like skis. Since I weigh 200 pounds, I need a substantial snowshoe to support my weight. Even with these shoes, I’ll still sink deeply into unbroken powder.

I generally use my snowshoes to get around in the forest or traverse lakes and trails to reach ice fishing destinations. Some winters, I’ll make a snowshoe trail to walk my dogs. Since my use of snowshoes is primarily utilitarian, my choice of the Alaskan style may not be best for you. If you are planning to use snowshoes for casual recreation or traveled trails, you may be better off with a modern design.

Just as important as the snowshoe is the binding, which attaches the shoe to your boot. The binding should fit your usual pair of warm, winter boots.

Drill, Sit, Jig: Ice Fishing

You can use snowshoes anywhere there is snow, but it seems silly to me to wear snowshoes when the snow is just a few inches deep. Learning to walk with snowshoes is relatively easy, but if you are just starting out, go to a park or similar place that has a trail for snowshoeing. Don’t use them on cross-country ski trails.

Many shops rent snowshoes during the winter. Trying them out can make for a great family outing. The shop will be able to help you select suitable snowshoes and direct you to a snowy place where you can use them.

Here’s a little pro tip: The best time to go snowshoeing is later in winter, when increasing sunshine thaws the surface of the snow during the day and it freezes at night, forming a crust. The snowshoeing is easy then, especially in the morning, and you can move quickly across the snowpack. It’s a great time to get out and explore the Northern Wilds.

By Joe Friedrichs

If you’re looking for something unique to try on a first date this winter, ice fishing probably isn’t the place to start.

After all, consider the scene: two people walking 500 yards through the blowing wind across a frozen lake near the Minnesota/Canadian border. They crunch through snow and eventually drop their gear and drill a hole in the ice. They set up a flimsy ice house that is essentially a wind breaker and sit inside. Then they sit. For hours…and hours.

However, and perhaps oddly enough, this scene would be the image many men and women in the Northern Wilds would describe as a day well spent. I am among those ranks.

Ice fishing has always been more of a hobby for me than a “sport.” Some days I catch fish, others I don’t. But I always enjoy ice fishing, particularly in northern Minnesota and in Ontario. The diversity of fish an angler can target and remoteness of the region’s lakes only make ice fishing here all the more enjoyable.

And if you’re looking to pick up a new hobby this winter, ice fishing would be my top recommendation. After all, it’s affordable. It’s readily accessible. And, quite frankly, it’s ridiculously fun.

For gear, start with the basics. Warm clothing is, of course, a necessity when you’re spending the day on a frozen lake, so bundle up. Waterproof and insulated boots are essential. Long underwear is a must and coveralls or ski pants on top of that base layer. Needless to say, a winter jacket, hat and gloves should be worn as well.

So now you’re on the ice. Up next, you need to get through the ice. There are several methods to cut a hole in the ice for fishing. I prefer the manual ice drill, commonly known as an auger. A manual auger is great because it can be used in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and Quetico Provincial Park where a gas or electric auger can’t. Many ice anglers in Minnesota and Ontario have both manual and motorized augers, but if you’re just starting out, stick with the manual. Besides, it’s a great workout cutting holes through the ice using just your strength to make it happen.

If the ice is still relatively thin, as it might be in early January, December or even late November, an ice chisel can also be an efficient tool. And taking it a step further, I know a guy in Montana who cuts through the ice using a chain saw, but that always seemed unnecessarily savage to me.

After you’ve cut a hole in the ice, use an ice scoop or skimmer to clear the loose slush and ice. And now comes time for your first serious investment as an ice angler. Will you buy an ice fishing portable shelter or not? There are many, many benefits to owning a shelter. They can hold heat, provide shelter from snow and wind and just make the experience more enjoyable on the ice. However, it is an investment. A decent pop-up portable shelter can be purchased for a couple hundred dollars or more. And if you don’t want to purchase one, it’s time to embrace winter, as you will be at the mercy of whatever the wind blows your way.

Regardless of if you’re going to fish inside an ice house or exposed to the elements, you’ll need a device to catch fish.

Joe Friedrichs (left) and Michael Determan pull ice fishing gear across a Cook County lake. | JONATHAN HAUN

Cross-Country Skiing: How to

By Eric Chandler

You’re up here in the Northern Wilds, pacing a circle into the carpet indoors in the wintertime. You finally decide you’re going to give cross-country skiing a try. Good for you! It’s simply the greatest sport in the world. But skiing outdoors in the winter can be daunting for an absolute beginner. You’re in luck. This article will tackle the basics for a complete novice.

I’m not a professional, but I’ve been cross-country skiing since I could walk. I’ve finished the American Birkebeiner 50k ski race 13 times. I was a volunteer coach for the KidSki and ParentSki programs at Snowflake Nordic Center in Duluth. I’ve tried to boil what I know down to three topics.

There are two primary ways to catch fish through the ice: using a small ice rod or by using a tip-up. An ice rod is essentially a miniature fishing rod. Most are between 24-28 inches long and equipped with a spinning reel. Meanwhile, a tipup is a device that suspends live or frozen bait at a set depth through a hole in the ice. Rather than have to manually work the instrument as you do when jigging from a rod, the tip-up sends a flag in the air when there is a bite without the angler having to be in contact with this piece of gear. Other than on designated trout lakes, Minnesota anglers can have two lines in the water while ice fishing. As a result, many use both a tip-up and an ice rod simultaneously.

Of course, when it comes to ice fishing gear the list could go on and on, but let’s avoid all that today. Don’t worry about using electronics and sonar to find fish if you’re just getting started. That’s where the serious investments come into play. Start with the basics. Drill a few holes. Drop a few lines. See what happens. And though ice fishing can be done whenever there is enough safe ice to do so, it’s key to know what species can be caught at what time of the year. For example, there is no ice fishing for lake trout in Minnesota waters until Dec. 31. And even then, the season only opens for lakes entirely within the BWCAW. The key to following the ice fishing rules and seasons in Minnesota and Ontario is to get your

hands on a regulations book, or do the research online.

There are also a number of ice fishing themed events or contests held each winter in the region. Each March, the Trout Derby takes place on Gunflint Lake, drawing both Canadian and Minnesota anglers to the border-lake competition. Check the monthly calendar of this magazine throughout the winter to find other similar fishing events.

On the surface it might seem strange to encourage people to get outside and stand on a frozen lake when the temperature is below zero. But once you catch that first lake trout through the ice on a beautiful day in the depths of winter, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say “ice fishing is a great way to spend a day in the Northern Wilds.”

1. Visit your local ski shop. The experts at your local shop have the answers to all your questions. They’ll help you figure out what kind of cross-country skiing interests you. Do you want to bash through the woods? Are you mostly interested in getting exercise? Do you have your eye on a local groomed trail? Have a good talk about your goals with a sales representative and they will steer you in the right direction. That leads to the next item.

2. Get good gear. This means skis, bindings, boots, poles and clothing. Once again, I recommend getting this stuff new at your local shop. Modern ski gear is good quality, even at the entry level. You can buy a package with all you need for a reasonable price. It does require a leap to make this investment. But, in my opinion, it’s worth it.

3. At this point, you may need to make a choice between classic style and freestyle cross-country skiing (also called “skating”). Your choice will determine some of your equipment choices. I recommend you start out classic style. That’s the type of skiing that takes place in two tracks and what you probably picture when you think of the sport. We taught kids classic style first at the KidSki program. The balance and gliding you learn in classic will transfer to freestyle. This is a confusing topic for newbies and your shop can help you decide what’s right for you. This whole discussion of technique leads to the next point.

4. Get Lessons. Your local shop can point you to ski instructors. Your local ski club may offer free technique sessions. For example, the Duluth Cross-Country Ski Club has offered free technique sessions in the past. You may ask, “Can’t I figure it out myself?” Maybe. But it could take many years and by the time you figure it out, you may have lost interest. A good instructor will give you enough information in one afternoon

to chew on for a whole winter. You can improve more in one week with an instructor than you could in several winters by yourself. Adults seem reluctant to take lessons. Try to be like a kid. They’re sponges and they get better quick with coaching.

But don’t take it from me. I asked Mick Dodds, buyer and Nordic department manager for The Ski Hut in Duluth what his three pieces of advice were. He makes a living helping people get into the sport. His answers focus primarily on the first two points I made above:

“1. Think about where you want to ski and how you want to ski there. Groomed trails, no trail at all, lakes? Even a combination of any of these. There are different skis, boots, poles, and bindings to suit different experiences.

“2. Be open-minded. In today’s age of online researching there is a lot of misinformation out there. Don’t get stuck on having to have a certain ski. There may be better options that you don’t know about. Also, your racer friend may know what works for them, but they don’t necessarily know what works for you. A good shop wants to sell you what will make you happiest. Because happy customers come back!

“3. Don’t forget about what to wear cross-country skiing! It’s not just about the skis. If you get sweaty and cold you will likely not be having a lot of fun. Your skiing clothes make a HUGE difference in how enjoyable your time on skis will be.”

For a beginning cross-country skier, all of this can seem overwhelming. Don’t worry. Try to remember, this is supposed to be fun. If it’s fun, you’ll do it more. The friendly skiers at your shop, your good gear, and the instructor at your lesson are all on your side. We all want to see your big smile as you stride and glide over the snow in the Northern Wilds.

Eric, Leo, Grace, and Sam Chandler near the Gunflint Trail. | ERIC CHANDLER

A manual auger is a key instrument for ice fishing in Minnesota and Ontario. | JOE FRIEDRICHS

Grace and Shelley Chandler at Boulder Lake Ski Trails north of Duluth. | ERIC CHANDLER

Get Out and Ride: Snowmobiling

By Ali Juten

The sun won’t rise for another few hours, but there is plenty to do before heading up the North Shore. The truck and trailer need to be loaded with snowmobiles, snacks need to be packed, and last but not least, gloves, boots, snow bibs, balaclavas, helmets and jackets that can withstand the cold and wind. It is the end of January and

the forecast for the day calls for sunshine and 28 degrees F., which will be perfect for riding on the North Shore State Trail.

In Minnesota, the DNR states that there are more than 22,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Although not everyone in northern Minnesota owns a snowmobile, most people in the area understand

that our winters are cold, snow-filled, and likely very long. To get through the long season, and with enough snow, local trails are groomed and perfected by local snowmobile groups in conjunction with the DNR. Trails like the one starting in Finland connect to the C.J. Ramstad trail, also known as the North Shore State Trail. The North Shore State Trail runs 146 miles through the rugged north woods from Duluth to Grand Marais and connects many communities in the area, including local eateries.

After the machines are unloaded in Finland the perfectly groomed trail awaits. The woods are quiet, still, and the rumbling of the engines cut through the cold silence as the ride begins. Winding through rugged hills and snow-dusted pines, these are sights unseen without this type of machine. The miles of leaning through the curves go by quickly, and hunger hits right as the trail meets the Trestle Inn. After all, snowmobiling is more about the journey than the destination.

For those who do not own a snowmobile, local shops such as Beaver Bay Sports offer snowmobile rentals and snowmobile clothing rentals. They also offer guided tours to groups who want to be shown the trails. Other places to rent snowmobiles and gear along the North Shore include: Steve’s Sports in Grand Marais, Hungry Jack Lodge, Gunflint Lodge, and Gunflint Pines Resort. Most of the rental places require reservations at least 48

hours in advance, though, since machines are in high demand.

Before taking to the trails, all riders should have completed a snowmobile safety course. The state of Minnesota requires snowmobile certification by law for anyone born after December 31, 1976. The adult course can be completed online for less than $30 and the snowmobile certification can even be printed from home. Some of what the course teaches new riders is that trails typically have a 50 MPH speed limit, to always check trail conditions prior to riding, never drink and ride, and to never ride alone. Even the most accustomed riders know that snowmobiling safely is important, not only for yourself, but for fellow riders. It makes the trails all the more enjoyable in the long run.

With rosy cheeks, we share a few laughs and a hot meal. There’s no real rush, but getting back out on the sleds feels overdue. A quick bathroom break and then it’s time to check the trail maps and choose where to ride next.

Thirty more miles down the timber-lined trail we go, stopping a few times to rest and a few more times because one of the machines is acting up. It is time to turn back. Days are short and we need to make sure that we can get all four machines back to our friend’s cabin in Finland. When we finally arrive, a fire is crackling and beer is waiting out on the porch to cool in the snowbank. It sure was a glorious day on the trail.

Chess on Ice

By Michael Creger

For a woman who grew up in southern California, the peculiarities of curling provided enough intrigue for her to give it a shot. Margie Nelson of Duluth recalls seeing the sport featured in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and saw the Duluth Curling Club as a way to embrace the new climate she found herself in as a college student in the Twin Ports.

“It’s a fun thing to do in the winter,” she said.

She isn’t alone. Activity in curling clubs along the North Shore has seen a definite uptick in recent years. Peter Harris, who helps run instructional leagues for the Two Harbors Curling Club, said participation is up across the state. It’s especially gained a profile through the exposure Nelson saw in the Olympics.

“There’s an awareness of it as a sport,” Harris said. “It’s athletic, adaptable for all ages and fun. It’s a hoot.”

Harris said there has been a definite metamorphosis from curling seen as an adult drinking sport. Children along the North Shore are being exposed to the sport in physical education classes in Two Harbors and Silver Bay. And more adults are taking instructional leagues as they find value in the aerobic nature of sweeping and gain friendships while exercising.

“It’s a thinking game,” Harris said. “It’s

called chess on ice. It’s skill in making the rocks curl and the multiple ways to reposition them. It can be complex.”

There are five curling clubs from Duluth to Thunder Bay. All of them offer instructional leagues for children and adults. They also offer significantly reduced membership rates for first-time curlers. While many open houses and classes began in late October, there are opportunities throughout the winter to get introduced to curling.

The Duluth Curling Club has a new curlers league, a friends and family league and a robust juniors league for children. Its ice on Fridays is reserved for instructional time, generally twice a month through March. There are clinics throughout the season.

The Two Harbors Curling Club hosts a Sunday afternoon fun league with instruction for novices, along with its junior league.

The goal, Harris said, is to create lifelong curlers who eventually populate the experienced leagues.

In Grand Marais, the Cook County Curling Club also has an open beginner league and instructors on hand for classes that run $35 for individuals and $50 for couples, with $10 classes after the initial fee.

Thunder Bay boasts two facilities, the Fort William Curling Club and the Port Arthur Curling Club. Fort William has two

$100 eight-week beginning curling sessions on Sundays, one that began in late October and another that begins in January. Port Arthur has $15 novice classes throughout the winter.

Getting into curling requires little in the way of equipment at the start. Clubs provide most of what is needed. Beginners should bring a light jacket and clean shoes. As curlers progress, the clubs have pro shops for more advanced equipment.

An attitude is also required when first entering a rink, Nelson said.

Black Stainless Month

“Remember it is a social sport,” she said. “While play can be competitive, following the etiquette goes a long way.”

It’s all part of the camaraderie that draws people to the sport, she said.

“Games always start and end with handshakes and saying ‘Good Curling.’ After games, stay after for a little while and get a drink with the other team. Winners buy.”

And beginners can dream, Harris said. “It doesn’t hurt that many Olympians come from right here.”

Junior curlers at the Duluth Curling Club learn the basics of the sport and how to care for the ice during a winter session. | LUCIE AMUNDSEN

They travel to music festivals around the country. Steve Martin needed to modify a banjo that was owned by the late John Hartford (the songwriter of “Gentle On My Mind”). Williams went with Nechville to Manhattan and helped work on that priceless banjo. Not bad, rubbing elbows with a nationally known banjo picker/comedian/ actor after picking up the banjo at age 50.

Williams gave a tour of his shop and the office next to his shop. He clearly believes in creating guitars that people will play. He dismisses some of his more beautiful guitars as “art projects” despite the fact they sound great. One guitar he made with a Koa wood body and a maple neck was an example of beautiful form and function. On the back of the guitar, the grain of the dark wood looks like two wolves.

He quoted his mentor LaPlant as saying, “We aren’t reinventing the wheel here.” Williams uses traditional guitar body shapes pioneered and proven for decades by the manufacturers Gibson and Martin. Many of his guitars have spruce bodies, which is a typical wood choice. Williams has respect for traditional shapes and woods. Williams echoed LaPlant when he said, “You could make a guitar with a weird body shape for a few hundred bucks, but then you’d have to shell out a thousand bucks to get a custom case to put it in.”

Williams respects precedent and players, but he is still excited about the individual character of each guitar. He held out a piece of Macassar ebony that he would use to make a fretboard for a guitar. He talked about the beautiful “chocolate colored” striations in the grain that would give the guitar a unique look.

“Solid black ebony would make it look just like every other guitar in the world,” Williams said.

The joy he takes in making these instruments is infectious. Williams said he has two mottos. His first one is, “No one has more fun than I do.” His second one is, “I strive for mediocrity in all I do.” The latter is easily dismissed as self-deprecating humor. Maybe it’s even a way to take pressure off himself as a builder. “Music is playful and emotional,” said Williams. He repeatedly said that music is an “intimate act” and “cathartic.” The joy and humor of his mottos probably help power the 80 hours that it takes him to make each one of these important music-making tools. He’s about to start his 70th guitar since his first in 2011.

Several “Double d” guitars are in the hands of serious musicians, many in Nashville. Shad Cobb, Tim Carter of The Carter Brothers, and notable session man Smith Curry all have guitars that Williams made. He gifted a guitar to Curry after he had the bad luck of a house fire.

“The night before I string up a guitar, I get so excited, I can’t sleep. I get to the part of the process where I glue the bridge on and clamp it so it’ll dry overnight. This means the following day, I only have two hours of work left to string it up.” Williams said, “This is when I do something pseudo-spiritual. I let the person know that it’ll be done the next day. Some people write a song that they play for the first time on the new guitar. Some people that aren’t local will ask me to play a particular song the first time I string up their guitar. There’s a Latin inscription that some violin makers inscribed into the wood of the fiddles they made, from the point of view of the wood: In life I was silent / In death I sing.”

Not only is he creating the instruments, but he’s proud that he personally made most of the jigs, forms, and even the tools that he uses. He described how he forces the body together in a form, unlike some other makers who choose to bend the wood perfectly without a form. “Wood under pressure is livelier,” said Williams. The guitar braces inside the body give the guitar front and back a slight curve or radius. “The guitar body and the sound hole are essentially an air pump,” he said. After spending time in his shop, you start to see guitars as living creatures.

If you want to find out more about Double d Guitars, look for Tedd Williams on Facebook. Make sure you type two d’s. If you’re still not sure, see if the guy looks like he’s having more fun than you. That’s him.

Tedd Williams bends wood around a guitar body form in his shop.

Tedd Williams shows the giant rasp he uses to shape guitar necks.

Tedd Williams shows how he uses a form to shape the side of a guitar body.

By Breana Roy Artisan’s Northwest

Known as Thunder Bay’s largest and longest running Art and Fine Craft Show, Artisans Northwest was begun in 1975 by Sharon Seibert. It originally took place in the old YMCA building located in Fort William. After a few location and name changes, Artisans Northwest grew from a once-a-month, four-hour market, to an annual two-day event that occurs the second weekend every November at Valhalla Inn. This year’s juried Art & Fine Craft Show will take place Nov. 1112, starting at 10 a.m. daily; admission is free. Art of all kinds will be for sale, from pottery, photography, jewelry and soft toys, to whimsical dolls, pet supplies, painted glassware and metalwork. There will also be door prizes and a silver collection. Artisans Northwest is a not-for-profit organization. To learn more, visit: artisansnorthwest.ca.

originalsandmoreart.com. | MARILYN BOYLE

as one of northwestern

Nikkila and Kirstin

of Love

Studios work together to create statement furniture, such as this marble and driftwood table. They work primarily with found, salvaged and recycled materials. See more at: lovegraffitistudios.com. | LOVE GRAFFITI STUDIOS

Inspired by the patterns and light found in nature, Thunder Bay artist Barbara Kuschak creates intricate floral and wildlife designs on glassware, including candleholders, vases and ornaments. Ten years ago, she and her husband Clint started creating lamps, featuring new and refurbished lamp bases for these light “sculptures.” | GLASS GARDEN

Ceramic artists Debbie and Dave Dubeau operate Up at Dawn Studio in Thunder Bay. Debbie works on the wheel and Dave works with the slab roller, designing unique and interesting pieces for all pottery lovers. To see more of their work, visit: facebook.com/ upatdawnpottery. | UP AT DAWN POTTERY

Known

Ontario’s prominent watercolor artists, Evelyn Konrad has exhibited her paintings internationally. She also operates her own gallery, Mystique of the North. Shown here is “The Norwesters.” To view more, visit konradwatercolours.com. | EVELYN KONRAD

Artist Marilyn Boyle painted this barn owl scene with acrylics on a beautiful strip of wood. Boyle is an acrylic and watercolor artist who paints on untraditional canvases, such as; stones, birch bark, feathers, leaves, shells and more. She also creates jewelry. To learn more, visit:

Vicki

Smith

Graffiti

Boreal Bluegrass on the Banjo

By Casey Fitchett

Musicians from across Minnesota, the United States and Canada will converge November 3-5 to strum, pick and bow their instruments for the 27th time at the annual Bluegrass Masters Weekend.

An event that began as a simple rendezvous between a few lovers of bluegrass has grown into an organized weekend sponsored by the North Shore Music Association. Wayne Russ, a North Shore resident who has organized the popular weekend since its inception, is responsible for inviting internationally-recognized professional musicians to perform and provide workshops that foster impromptu connections.

“It started as a meeting of five or seven guys that came up from the Twin Cities to play music,” said Russ. “I expanded on that idea and started inviting a whole lot of people. Throughout the years we’ve been able to meet and enjoy some of the best bluegrass musicians in the U.S. and Canada.”

Each year, the weekend focuses on a different bluegrass-oriented instrument with a recognized feature artist, with previous years rotating through tutorials on the guitar, mandolin, fiddle, resophonic guitar, bass and singing. This year, South Carolina native Kristin Scott Benson of The Grascals will be leading classes on the banjo. A four-time International Bluegrass Music Association Banjo Player of the Year, Benson will start with beginner workshops on posture and tuning and progress throughout the day to more advanced teaching on chord scales and the role of the banjo in a bluegrass band.

| MOUNTAIN HOME RECORDS

“I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about the beautiful Lutsen Resort, itself, and the North Shore area,” said Benson. “I enjoy events like this that allow me the rare opportunity to spend time with other banjo players, so I’m really looking forward to the workshop portion.”

For long-time residents like Russ, holding the event annually at Lutsen Resort is about more than just available space for

the large number of gatherers, it’s also about reputation and feel.

“The ambiance of the resort is really one of the selling points,” said Russ. “Along with the music, we want people to be able to relax and enjoy the scenery. At many festivals, you have to decide which way you want to run because there is so much going on, but in this scenario you can relax and take a nap, pick and sing, or go to all of the workshops if you want.”

While it is difficult to get a good estimate of the exact number of attendees joining the collective sound throughout the weekend, the Saturday evening feature concert typically averages between 100-130 listeners. This year Kristin Scott Benson will be accompanied by guitarist and singer Chris Jones of the Night Drivers and mandolinist Patrick Sauber at the 8 p.m. performance.

Russ is also very appreciative of the support that the organization gets from outside groups in making the event come together so smoothly.

“We’ve been supported by a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council almost every year since we started,” explained Russ. “We are able to bring together a great group of individuals that want to jam, converse and socialize, as well as many folks who just want to watch and listen to people having fun making music.”

More information about the North Shore Music Association and the Bluegrass Masters Weekend can be found at: northshoremusicassociation.com.

BREANA’S PICK OF THE MONTH

This abstract painting of Toronto, by Thunder Bay artist Biljana Baker, was chosen for the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour in their international juried show. According to Baker, 250 artists applied and only 41 were selected. “It was such a privilege and an honor because there were artists from U.S, China, U.K., and Russia to name a few,” she said. The exhibit ended in October, but you can see “Toronto” at the Artisans Northwest show.

Permanent Exhibit

On the Line: A Military History of Cook County Cook County Historical Society, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

April 2017-May 2018

Arctic Wolf Exhibition: Featuring the Photography of Heidi Pinkerton International Wolf Center, Ely, wolf.org

May 5-Dec. 21

1000 Words Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Aug. 15-Nov. 2018

Pacific Northwest Native Art from the William J. Saul Collection Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Sept. 7-Nov. 12

Window to the West: Nik Nerburn & Brad Tollefson Esmond Building, Duluth, duluthartinstitute.org

Sept. 8-Nov. 12

Reservation Pop: Wendy Red Star Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Sept. 19-Nov. 12

Plein Air Painters: America’s Industrial Landscape Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Sept. 29-Nov. 26

On the Trail: Denise Smith Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Oct. 6-Nov. 19

Kohesion: Quentin Maki Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Oct. 10-March 2018

Modern(ism) Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Nov.-Dec.

Faith King Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Nov. 4-30

Nikki Johnson: Watercolors Lakeside Gallery, Duluth, lakesidegalleryduluth.com

Nov. 4-Dec. 1

The Art of Grief: Mary Plaster & Community Artists (reception Nov. 4 at 4 p.m.) Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Nov. 6-30

Out of Place Exhibit (reception Nov. 6 at 5 p.m.) Art & Soul Gallery, Ely, elyartandsoul.com

Nov. 7-Jan. 13

Manifestation: Juried Exhibition (reception Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.)

Definitely Superior, Thunder Bay, definitelysuperior.com

Nov. 16-Jan. 1

Laurentian: Paul LaJeunesse & Lake Superior Wood Turners (reception Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.) Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Nov. 17-Dec. 16

Begin Continue: NHFS Exhibit (reception Nov. 17 at 4 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

Kristin Scott Benson.

CRAFT REVIVAL 7

Nov. 26, Sunday Now in its 4th year, the bi-annual Craft Revival will take over the Waterfront District of Thunder Bay, featuring 13 local venues and over 100 artisans, musicians and performers.

The Craft Revival first started as a small group of friends gathering in a living room around Christmas time, crafting and trading; but the concept caught on and the event organically grew.

“I have an incredible support network, including my family, close friends and volunteers. It would be impossible to run this event without them,” said Maelyn Hurley, creator and organizer for the event.

The 7th seasonal Craft Revival now encompasses 13 venues: The Foundry, Sovereign Room, Red River Trade Company, Prime Gelato, Prince Arthur Hotel, Red Lion Smokehouse, The Chanterelle, Pneumaticity, Déjà Vu Consignment, Madhouse, Sweet North Bakery, Mars Clothing and The Loop.

“I give huge props to The Foundry, which was the very first location for this event,” said Hurley. “They supported the vision I had and believed in a unique way to support the local art scene in Thunder Bay.”

Held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., there will be handmade products and wares, art, live music, demonstrations, acro yoga, tribal dancing, aerial silk performances, fire spinning, and artisan donated door prizes at all 13 venues. And all musicians, performers and sound technicians for the event are paid.

All musicians, performers and sound technicians for the event are paid. | SUBMITTED

You can also enter to win a two-night stay at Beyond the Giant Nature Retreat. To enter the draw, you must participate in the Craft Revival Passport, where patrons must visit and receive a stamp from at least six of the 13 venue locations. thecraftrevivaltbay.com

NORTH SHORE READERS AND WRITERS FESTIVAL

Nov. 2-5 Held in Grand Marais, the North Shore Readers and Writers Festival locates, celebrates and fosters the literary arts and engagement with the written word. Readers, writers and book professionals will all find a multitude of opportunities through which to learn and engage, including classes, readings, panel discussions, craft seminars and more. The Grand Marais Art Colony will host a full exhibit hall populated by presses, book professionals and booths, including: Minnesota Historical Society Press, University of Minnesota Press, North Shore Press, Drury Lane Bookstore, Beaver’s Pond Press, Graywolf Press and more. Festival authors and book professionals include: Mary Casanova, William Kent Krueger, Erik Anderson, Kari Vick, Lise Lunge-Larsen, Peter Geye, Tim Cochrane and Kathryn Savage. Festival registration required. grandmaraisartcolony.org

FALL FOOD & WINE LOVERS WEEKEND

Nov. 3-4 Bluefin Bay in Tofte has been hosting Food and Wine Lovers Weekend events twice per year—in the spring and fall—for more than 20 years. Each weekend includes a host of activities revolving around food and wine. This year, the guest chef will be Jeffrey Zervas from Lake Avenue Café in Duluth. Chef Zervas and team will partner with Johnson Brothers to create a culinary weekend highlighting food and wine from a variety of different countries in South America. A four course meal with wine pairings will be served Friday evening, and a five course meal with wine pairings will be served Saturday

evening. There will also be wine tasting Saturday afternoon. Registration required. bluefinbay.com

DULUTH JUNK HUNT

Nov. 3-4 Love antique shopping and searching for goodies? Take part in the semi-annual two-day Duluth Junk Hunt at the Duluth DECC, featuring vintage, antique and repurposed treasures from more than 100 of the area’s finest vendors. There will also be a special Farmer’s Market section showcasing local flowers and foods. Admission is $5 at the door (good for both days) or $10 for early admission on Friday, and part of the proceeds are donated to the Encounter Youth Center. The Junk Hunt will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday (8 a.m. for early admission) and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. duluthjunkhunt.com

BLUEGRASS MASTERS WEEKEND

Nov. 3-5 The 27th annual Bluegrass Masters Weekend at Lutsen Resort will feature instrumental workshops and a concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday. This year’s featured instrument is the banjo and the featured performer and instructor is Kristin Scott

The Craft Revival 7, held downtown Thunder Bay, will feature over 100 artisans, musicians and performers. | SUBMITTED

Night the Fitz went Down). And don’t miss the annual Wave Dash at Lutsen Resort; similar to a Polar Plunge. Dashers will receive a special festival gift and can warm up afterwards with a fire on the beach or in the hot tub. A full list of activities, times, and locations can be found online. visitcookcounty.com/events

ARTISANS NORTHWEST ART & FINE CRAFT SHOW

Nov. 11-12

The not-for-profit Artisans Northwest group in Thunder Bay will celebrate their 42nd annual juried Art and Fine Craft Show at the Valhalla Inn, featuring all styles of artists. Admission is free and there will be door prizes and a silver collection. The show will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. artisansnorthwest.ca

EMPTY BOWLS LUNCH, DINNER & SILENT AUCTION

Nov. 13, Monday Twelve percent of Cook County residents go hungry every month. To address this need, each year the Grand Marais Art Colony co-organizes the Empty Bowls Lunch, Dinner and Silent Auction: a community art fundraiser to alleviate local hunger needs. This year’s event will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church on Monday, November 13. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and dinner will be from 5-7 p.m. The silent auction closes at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for a soup meal and $10 for a handcrafted bowl. grandmaraisartcolony.org

WINTERER’S GATHERING

Nov. 17-19 Held at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, the Winterer’s Gathering celebrates the crafts, customs, landscape, history and stories of winter travel and traditional ways of life in the North. The festival includes hands-on courses, a winter tent camp, a gear swap, dancing, a film festival, a chili feed, guest speakers and a poetry slam. This year’s featured speaker is Jon Turk. An avid wilderness traveler across the circumpolar North, Turk will teach two workshops and give a talk

Participants of all ages helped make bowls for the annual Empty Bowls event. | SUBMITTED

on “Communicating with Animals.” And in honor of the North House’s 20th anniversary, an exhibit of instructor craft, titled Begin Continue, will open at the Johnson Heritage Post on Friday. The reception will be held from 4-6 p.m. and the exhibit will remain open through Dec. 16. northhouse.org

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE EXPO

Nov. 17-19 Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis is holding the 65th bi-annual Outdoor Adventure Expo, fea -

turing lots of various activities for the outdoor enthusiast. There will be over 100 presentations and more than 65 exhibitors, as well as food, prizes, vendors, sales, a beer and gear social night and raffle, a kid’s area, and outdoor clubs and environmental organizations to explore. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour will also be held at the expo, featuring different films each night. This year’s featured presenters include Amy Freeman, Rod and Sharon Johnson, Paul Schurke, Larry Mishkar and Mike Summers. The best part? Admission is free (except for the film festival). outdooradventureexpo.com

BENTLEYVILLE

Nov. 18-Dec. 26 Located in Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” invites guests to stroll under the glow of over 4 million lights while enjoying complimentary hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn and roasted marshmallows. Get your photo taken with Rudolph and visit with Santa; available nightly from 5-8 p.m. (kids 10 and under will receive a new knit hat). Mrs. Claus will also be at Bentleyville to tell stories and hand out candy canes. Bentleyville is free (donations appreciated) and opens at 5 p.m. daily. bentleyvilleusa.org

The holiday season is an enchanted time in Cook County. Catch the holiday spirit early this year by attending one of magical events and find artisan gifts for everyone on your shopping list.

EVENTS: Friday, November 24

All Day • Free skiing at Lutsen Mountains (reservations required) 5:30 • Oh Ole Night Parade, Tree Lighting & Fireworks, Grand Marais 8:30 • New Standards Holiday Show, Papa Charlie’s-Lutsen Mountains

Saturday, November 25

All day • Light up Lutsen with Tree Lighting, Christmas Carols & more

WINTERER’S GATHERING

& arctic film festival NOVEMBER 17 - 19

featured speaker • JON TURK hands-on courses • arctic films winter skill speakers gear swap • coldsnap poetry slam winter tent camp and more!

North House’s 20th Anniversary Exhibit OPENING RECEPTION Friday, November 17 • 4 - 6pm

EXHIBIT OPEN Nov 17 - Dec 16

North House Folk School

500 W Hwy 61, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org 218-387-9762

ELY HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS

Nov. 23-25 Enjoy the magic of the holidays in Ely, starting with the Festival of Trees on Nov. 23. This annual fundraiser for Northwoods Partners features decorated trees and wreaths donated by local businesses and community members that are auctioned off from Nov. 23-Dec. 3. It kicks off with a tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving at Grand Ely Lodge, featuring refreshments and entertainment. Then, enjoy a night of shopping downtown Ely, starting at 6 p.m. The Holiday Fantasy Arts and Craft event will take place Nov. 24-25 at the Miners Dry Building. And on Saturday, Nov. 25, the Dancing Snowflakes Holiday Parade will begin at 5 p.m. After the parade, the festivities will continue at Whiteside Park with a tree lighting ceremony, carolers, hot refreshments and cookies. ely.org/mn/events

OH OLE NIGHT

& LIGHT UP LUTSEN

Nov. 24-25 On Friday, Nov. 24, Grand Marais will host the quirky small-town Oh Ole Night Christmas Parade at 5:30 p.m. downtown. Following the parade will be a tree lighting ceremony and caroling in Harbor Park, and fireworks over the harbor. On Saturday, Nov. 25 the party moves to the west end of the county for Light Up Lutsen. Enjoy photos with Santa and Murray the Moose, carolers and tree lighting ceremonies throughout downtown Lutsen. There will also be a bronze pour demonstration at 4 p.m. at Last Chance Gallery and a special tasting at Lutsen Liquor. Festivities will be held from 4-7 p.m. visitcookcounty.com/events

AMSOIL

SNOCROSS NATIONAL

Nov. 24-26

The annual Amsoil Snocross National snowmobile races, presented by Kwik Trip, will be held at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Nov. 24-26. Rider categories include Sport, Sport Lite, 200 Stock, Pro AM Plus 30, Pro AM Women, Jr. 14-15, Jr. 16-17, Jr. Girls 9-13, and more. There will be vendors, food and beverages, and autograph opportunities. This year, enjoy Free Youth Day on Friday; receive a free youth ticket with the purchase of an adult

ticket. Parking will be at the Proctor fairgrounds and shuttle services will be provided. snocross.com

HOLIDAY PET PHOTO RESCUE FUNDRAISER

Nov. 25-26 Adopt-A-Mutt Rescue and Friends of FurBabies in Thunder Bay will host the third annual Holiday Pet Pictures, helping you create a great memory with your pet in a festive holiday scene. This is a Santa-free event, perfect for pets who may be nervous of strangers, and the photo area is surrounded by a visual barricade from other animals waiting in line. Each pose is $10 and includes a digital print; print photos are available for order. Scott Hobbs photography will take the professional photos. All animals are invited, but spots are limited so sign up early. Held at Thunder Pet Inc. pet store in Thunder Bay. facebook.com/muttstbay

SANTA SHUFFLE

Dec. 2, Saturday The Salvation Army Santa Shuffle will be held at 10 a.m. at the Current River Recreation Centre in Thunder Bay. This fun, family-friendly event includes a 1k Elf Walk and a 5k Santa Shuffle Run/Walk. Many participants come dressed in festive attire in everything from Santa hats to Santa and his sleigh. All participants receive a medal and prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers and the most festively dressed. A light lunch of soup and buns will follow the race. All funds raised by this event stay in Thunder Bay and support the services provided by The Salvation Army. Registration is available at The Running Room or online. santashuffle.ca

The Grand Marais Christmas Parade will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 24.

| VISIT COOK COUNTY

Northern Wilds Calendar of Events

Oct. 26-Nov. 11

Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

Nov. 1, Wednesday

Name that Tune Bingo 6:30 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Let It Be: A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Nov. 2, Thursday

Masquerade Gala & Fundraiser

5:30 p.m. Greysolon Moorish Room, Duluth, duluthartinstitute.org

Nov. 2-5

North Shore Readers & Writers Festival Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Nov. 3, Friday

Big Buck Contest: Last Day to Sign Up Buck’s Hardware Hank, Grand Marais, buckshardware.net

SAS Harvest Dinner Fundraiser

4 p.m. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Two Harbors, facebook.com/sociallyactiveseniors

PAVSA’s Autumn Art 5:30 p.m. Duluth DECC, pavsa.org

Top Bartender Thunder Bay

8 p.m. The Rockhouse, Thunder Bay, keynoteevents.ca

Nov. 3-4

Fall Food & Wine Lovers Weekend

Bluefin Bay, Tofte, bluefinbay.com

Gales of November Duluth DECC, lsmma.com

Duluth Junk Hunt 10 a.m. (9 a.m. Sat.) Duluth DECC, duluthjunkhunt.com

Gin Strings 8 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com

Nov. 3-5

Bluegrass Masters Weekend Lutsen Resort, northshoremusicassociation.com

Nov. 4, Saturday

Minnesota Firearms Deer Opener mndnr.gov

Agate Bay Crafters Show 9 a.m.

Two Harbors Community Center

Finland Community Bazaar

10 a.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, friendsoffinland.org

Harvest Festival Noon, North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Top Chef Thunder Bay 4:30 p.m. Victoria Inn, Thunder Bay, keynoteevents.ca

Gordon Lightfoot 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Nov. 4-18

Big Buck Contest

Buck’s Hardware Hank, Grand Marais, buckshardware.net/bigbuck.php

Nov. 5, Sunday

Daylight Saving Time Ends

‘Tis the Season: Show & Shop 11 a.m. Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay, tbchamber.ca/tistheseason

Holiday Arts & Craft Fair Noon, Schreiber Community Hall, Schreiber, schreiber.ca/visiting/annual-events

Willie Kruger Dance Competition

2 p.m. Grandma’s Sports Garden, Duluth, facebook.com/ williekrugerdancecompetition

Jesse Cook: Beyond Borders Tour 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Nov. 6, Monday

Open Mic: Words & Lyrics 5:30 p.m. Lyric Center for the Arts, Virginia, facebook.com/lyriccenter4arts

Merle Haggard’s Strangers:

Featuring Ben & Noel Haggard

8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Nov. 7, Tuesday

Author Lorna Landvik Presentation:

“My Life as a Writer” 1 p.m. Silver Bay Public Library, alslib.info/calendar

Boundary Waters Advisory Committee

15 Year Anniversary Meeting

5:30 p.m. MoZaic, Minneapolis, bwac.homestead.com

Free: Winter Weather Seminar 6:30 p.m. Wolf Ridge Learning Center, Finland (218) 729-6697

Matthew West 7 p.m. Duluth DECC, decc.org/event/matthew-west

Nov. 8, Wednesday

TBAG Creative engAGING Arts Fair

2 p.m. CLE Heritage, Thunder Bay, cle.on.ca

Scrabble Night 6:30 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Nov. 9-12

Fall Quilting Retreat Naniboujou Lodge, Grand Marais, naniboujou.com

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Thunder Bay Gem & Mineral Show

10 a.m. Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/thunderbaygemshow

Nov. 10, Friday

United Way Coffee Drive

8 a.m. Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay, uwaytbay.ca/news-events

Twin Ports Veteran’s Day March & Program 9 a.m. Duluth DECC, facebook.com/northland-veteransservices-committee

Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Beacon

Lighting 4:30 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

Taking Fashion by Storm Fashion Show

5:30 p.m. Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply, Grand Marais, stoneharborws.com

Author Lorna Landvik Presentation:

“My Life as a Writer” 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, alslib.info/calendar Storm Festival Presentation with Lonnie Dupre 7 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Nov. 10-11

Floydian Slip 8 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com

Nov. 10-12

Lake Superior Storm Festival Cook County, visitcookcounty.com

Girls Gone North Weekend Bluefin Bay, Tofte, bluefinbay.com/girls-gone-north

Nov. 11, Saturday

Veterans Day

Remembrance Day

Snowflake Ski Swap 9 a.m. Snowflake Nordic, Duluth, duluthxc.com

Nice Girls of the North Marketplace 10 a.m. Lakeside Lester Park Community Center, Duluth, nicegirlsofthenorth.com

Get Great Stuff Local Art & Gift Fair 10 a.m. Duluth Congregational Church, wendyupnorth.com

Flea Market 10 a.m. CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay, cle.on.ca

Christmas Dessert Tea & Bazaar

1:30 p.m. Lakeview Presbyterian Church, Thunder Bay (807) 345-8823

Storm Festival Craft 4 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Bluegrass & String Band Concert: Dick Kimmel & Pamela Longtine

7:30 p.m. Gunflint Lodge, Gunflint Trail, gunflint.com

Nov. 11-12

Junior League Festival of Trees 9 a.m. (10 a.m. Sun.) Duluth DECC, juniorleagueduluth.org

Artisans Northwest Art & Fine Craft Show 10 a.m. Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay, artisansnorthwest.ca

Nov. 12, Sunday

Craig Williamson Open Weightlifting Meet 10 a.m. Superior Crossfit, Thunder Bay, tbaygiants@gmail.com

5k Trail Rivet Run/Walk Noon, Pattison State Park, Superior, zapevent.com/reg/event/12073

The Simon & Garfunkel Story 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Nov. 13, Monday

Empty Bowls Lunch, Dinner & Silent Auction 11 a.m. & 5 p.m. St. John’s Catholic Church, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Paint Night with Artful Palette 5:30 p.m. Castle Danger Brewery, Two Harbors, createwithartfulpalette.com

Nov. 14, Tuesday

Ruby’s Pantry 5 p.m. Cook County High School, Grand Marais, facebook.com/rubyspantrycc

Author Lorna Landvik Presentation: “My Life as a Writer” 6 p.m. Two Harbors Public Library, alslib.info/calendar

Nov. 14-15

Elf : The Broadway Musical 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Nov. 14-Jan. 5

Baggage Building Arts Centre

Members Exhibition Baggage Building Arts Centre, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/ baggagebuildingarts

Nov. 15, Wednesday

Blood Drive 9 a.m. Northshore Mining, Silver Bay, mbc.org

Name that Tune Bingo 6:30 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Senator Art Eggleton Lecture 7 p.m. Lakehead University: PACI Building, Thunder Bay, lakeheadu.ca/eggleton

Nov. 15-17

Northern Ontario Tourism Summit Conference Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay, northernontariotourismsummit.ca

Nov. 16, Thursday

Give to the Max Day Minnesota, givemn.org

Free Workshop: Basic Genealogy: How to Create a Working Binder 9:30 a.m.

St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth, thehistorypeople.org

Tischer Photographic Gallery

Grand Opening Celebration 5 p.m.

Tischer Photographic Gallery, Duluth, tischergallery.com

Nov. 16-18

Super Battle: The West and the Mirror World 7:30 p.m. Paramount Theatre/ Maple Tops, Thunder Bay, facebook. com/mapletopsthunderbay

Nov. 16-19

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Nov. 17, Friday

Superior Ballroom Dance Studio Masquerade Ball Duluth DECC, superiorballroomdance.com

Author Lorna Landvik Presentation:

“My Life as a Writer” 4 p.m. Ely Public Library, elylibrary.org

Birch Grove Benefit 5 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen, birchgroveschool.com

Christmas City of the North Parade 6:25 p.m. Duluth, facebook.com/ christmascityparade

Nov. 17-19

Winterer’s Gathering North House Folk School, Grand Marais, northhouse.org

Outdoor Adventure Expo

Midwest Mountaineering, Minneapolis, outdooradventureexpo.com

Nov. 18, Saturday

Rotary Christmas Parade 10 a.m. Memorial Ave., Thunder Bay, fwrotary.ca North Country Creations Bazaar 10 a.m. (2 p.m. Quilt Raffle) Schroeder Town Hall, crossriverheritage.org

Book Signing with Linda LeGarde Grover: Onigamiising: Seasons of an Ojibwe Year Noon, Barnes & Noble, Duluth, upress.umn.edu/events_listing

DSSO: Reformation 7 p.m. Duluth DECC, dsso.com

TBSO: Canada Remembers

7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbso.ca

Nov. 18-19

Thunder Bay Potters’ Guild

Christmas Sale Baggage Building Arts Center, Thunder Bay, thunderbaypottersguild.com

Rock and Mineral Show 10 a.m. CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay, cle.on.ca

Nov. 18-Dec. 26

Bentleyville Tour of Lights 5 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, bentleyvilleusa.org

Nov. 19, Sunday

Timmy Haus 7:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com

Nov. 20, Monday

Blood Drive 3 p.m. Tofte, mbc.org

Nov. 21, Tuesday

Blood Drive 9 a.m. Grand Marais, mbc.org

Nov. 21-22

Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos 8 p.m. Greysolon Ballroom, Duluth, greysolonballroomevents.ticketleap.com

Nov. 22, Wednesday

Scrabble Night 6:30 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Nov. 23, Thursday

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day Buffet 11 a.m. Duluth DECC, decc.org

Festival of Trees & Night Shopping

5 p.m. Participating Businesses, Ely, ely.org/mn/events

Cirque Musica Holiday Presents: Believe 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Nov. 23-26

Grey Cup Bonspiel Port Arthur Curling Club, Thunder Bay, pacurling.com/ bonspiel

Nov. 24, Friday

BLACK FRIDAY

Ignite the Fort Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

Oh Ole Night: Parade & Fireworks

5:30 p.m. Harbor Park, Grand Marais, visitcookcounty.com/events

New Standards Holiday Show 8:30 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen, lutsen.com

Nov. 24-25

Holiday Fantasy Arts & Crafts Fair Noon (10 a.m. Sat.), Miners Dry House, Ely, elygreenstone.org

Gin Strings 8 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com

Nov. 24-26

Amsoil Snocross National Spirit Mountain, Duluth, snocross.com

Holiday Market Last Chance Gallery, Lutsen, lastchancefab.com

Nov. 25, Saturday

Holiday Pet Photo Rescue Fundraiser

Thunder Pet Inc., Thunder Bay, facebook. com/muttstbay

Holiday Sale: Girl Scout’s Poinsettia Sale & Bake Sale Lunch by Alyce’s 10 a.m. Grand Marais Community Center

DAI Ceramic Studio Holiday Sale & Small Business Saturday 10 a.m. Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Hovland Artisans Pre-Christmas Sale

10 a.m. Hovland Town Hall

Small Business Saturday Craft Show

10 a.m. Two Harbors Community Center

Shop Local Saturday Craft

& Vendor Sale 11 a.m. American Legion, Two Harbors

Light Up Lutsen 4 p.m. Downtown Lutsen, visitcookcounty.com/events

Ely Holiday Parade & City

Tree Lighting 5 p.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, ely.org/mn/events

Michael Monroe Log Cabin Concert 7 p.m. Grand Marais, michaelmonroemusic.com

Nov. 26, Sunday

Ignite the Fort Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

Holiday Craft Revival 7 10 a.m. Waterfront District, Thunder Bay, thecraftrevivaltbay.com

17th Annual Victorian Tea

1 p.m. Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

Nov. 28, Tuesday

Free Lecture with Tommy Horricks & Friends: Adventures in Music Through the Years 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

Nov. 29, Wednesday

Blood Drive 9 a.m. Two Harbors High School, Two Harbors, mbc.org

Name that Tune Bingo

6:30 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Nov. 30-Dec. 2

Sleeping Beauty Kids and Goldilocks & the 3 Bears Paramount Theatre/Maple Tops, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/ mapletopsthunderbay

Dec. 2, Saturday

Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Open House & Sale 9 a.m. Grand Marais Art Colony, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Santa Shuffle Fun Run & Elf Walk 10 a.m. Current River Recreation Centre, Thunder Bay, santashuffle.ca

Craft Bazaar & Luncheon 10 a.m.

Cook County Senior Center, Grand Marais (218) 387-2660

Holiday Shopping Expo 10 a.m. Duluth DECC, decc.org

Parade of Lights 7 p.m. Starts at Manitoulin Transport, Thunder Bay, paradeoflights.ca

Dec. 2-3

Julebyen Knife River, julebyen.us

Duluth Winter Village 10 a.m. Glensheen Mansion, Duluth, duluthwintervillage.com

WEEKLY EVENTS

Mondays

Open Mic 6 p.m. Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais (218) 387-2974

Tuesdays

Tuesday Trivia 7 p.m. Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais (218) 387-2974

Wednesdays

Country Market 3:30 p.m. CLE

Dove Building, Thunder Bay, thunderbaycountrymarket.com

Open Mic 5 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com

Thursdays

DJ Trivia 7 p.m. Kamloops, Two Harbors, superiorshores.com

Fridays

Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m. Ely

Public Library, elylibrary.org

Live Music Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais (218) 387-2974

Live Music 4 p.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Live Music 8 p.m. Kamloops, Two Harbors, superiorshores.com

Saturdays

Country Market 8 a.m. CLE

Dove Building, Thunder Bay, thunderbaycountrymarket.com

Voyageur Brewing Company Tour 11:30 a.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Open Knitting 1 p.m. Sisu Designs Yarn Shop, Ely, sisudesigns.org

Free: 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 Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais (218) 387-2974

Buy a NEW subscription for only $28 U.S./year ($36 U.S. for Canadian subscriptions) and get a FREE copy of the 2018 Northern Wild’s calendar. The calendar will ship in early December.

Hoops Balances the Hops

Hoops Brewing in Duluth’s Canal Park became one of the better breweries in the region when it opened this summer. The well-designed brewery is brightened by large, wood support beams, and there’s a nice vibe in the room, but it’s the beer that matters. Head brewer Dave Hoops has a reputation as one of the deans of Minnesota’s craft brewing scene, now off on his own after many years at Fitger’s Brewhouse. I started out with No. 21 India Pale Ale. All of the beers are assigned numbers at Hoops, for fun I guess and to differentiate a growing body of work.

If you are into some bitter but balanced hoppiness, No. 21 (7.5 percent ABV) will likely please you. The menu listed the hop variety as a non-specific PNW, for

day of portaging. At 6.2 percent ABV, it’s not considered a session beer, but it’s still a quencher. It’s an approachable ale for those that don’t like bitter beers, whereas No. 21 might be too much for some hop-averse taste buds. This beer does read orange and tropical fruit, as it’s billed.

A selection of Hoops beers are also available in 750ml “crowlers.” Select Hoops’ brews are available around Duluth on tap, and Hoops’ website says “there will be minimal distribution to Duluth and

Minneapolis retailers.”

CONGRATS: Duluth’s Bent Paddle Brewing Co. brought back a gold medal from the Great American Beer Festival in Denver in early October. The brewery’s 14° ESB took top honors this year in the extra special bitter category.

OPENING: Earth Rider in Superior, Wis., started up production in late September.

Founder Tim Nelson, also formerly of Fitger’s Brewhouse, said the beer will be

By Javier Serna

Send any notes and tips on the North Shore brewing scene to outsidej@gmail.com. Serna is a longtime beer nerd who prefers pales, stouts and sours.

showcased in the nearby Cedar Lounge (1715 N. 3rd St.), which also features other Wisconsin-brewed craft beer.

Nelson said the 20-barrel brewery will have an IPA and a pale ale as flagship beers, along with a handful of other yearround beers such as a stout and a light lager, and will stretch the possibilities with some smaller runs of beer.

“We’ll have a rotating fruit beer,” said Nelson, throwing out a cherry porter or apple ale.

Nelson has plans to distribute the beer in Duluth and up the Shore. The beer will be found on tap in the distribution area, and the Cedar Lounge will sell crowlers and fill growlers from other breweries.

The Cedar Lounge, also owned by Nelson, will celebrate a week-long grand opening that opens to the public on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

Hoops Brewing offers No. 15 Pale Ale [LEFT] and No. 21 India Pale Ale [RIGHT]

The Flu and You

By Amy Schmidt

When the leaves have turned gold and the mornings take on a chilly air, there is no mistaking what is just around the corner. That’s right, flu season. Kleenex, cough drops and sick days go hand-in-hand with autumn. No stunning vista view of maples doused in the ruby hues of fall would be complete without at least one sneeze, a cough or an ambiance-disturbing honk of a stuffed up nose. Like pumpkin flavor and lattes, for better or worse, cold symptoms seem to be forever synonymous with this time of year.

Not related at all to the stomach variety of flu, characterized by vomiting, diarrhea or nausea, this kind of flu, or influenza, is a virus that results in respiratory symptoms far worse than the common cold. Flu symptoms come on suddenly, and can include high fever, muscle aches, chills and sweats, headache, fatigue and a persistent cough. It is not uncommon for infected people to remark they feel as though they’ve been ‘hit by a truck’ or that ‘even their hair hurts.’ Symptoms of influenza can last for days, often necessitating multiple sick days from work or school. And while a few days off work, lounging on the couch watching reruns of your favorite show might sound kind of nice, this is no joking matter. Influenza, is very serious, especially for the very young and the very old, pregnant women and those with chronic health conditions. In these populations, influenza can lead to hospitalization or even death.

Influenza is also highly contagious. The virus travels through the air in droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the germs from an object—such as a shopping cart or computer keyboard—and then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth. In other words, if you get sick, chances are you will get someone else sick and vice versa.

It all seems rather dire when spoken of in these terms but fortunately, there’s something you can do: get a flu shot. An annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect yourself, your family and your friends from the flu. Increasing the number of people who get vaccinated each year also helps to protect more people, including those who are most vulnerable. Those who can get the vaccine should, as it acts as a form of immunity for those who can’t, such as children under 6 months of age, persons with severe allergies to eggs, or those with certain immune disorders.

The process is quick, relatively painless and results in few side effects. Redness and irritation at the site of injection are the most common side-effects from the flu shot. While annoying, these side effects are a small price to pay in the effort to keep you, your family and your neighbor healthy enough to enjoy all the pumpkin lattes that fall has to offer. This year, get the flu shot, not the flu.

Uninsured, Losing Coverage, or Changing Plans?

(218) 387-2330 ext. 153

Influenza is highly contagious and can last for days. | STOCK

Northern Trails Some Thoughts on Crossbows

By Gord Ellis

The crossbow is both a deadly hunting tool and a contraption that has inspired controversy among people who prefer a traditional bow. The crossbow is a tool with its roots in ancient medieval history, yet modern forms are highly efficient. Regulations around crossbow use vary from state to state and province to province. In Ontario, a crossbow is not regulated any differently than a compound or traditional bow and can be used during the regular archery season. They have become very popular, and there are a wide variety of companies now competing for the crossbow hunters’ attention.

My first brush with a crossbow took place nearly 20 years ago, at an Outdoor Writers of Canada conference. A company called Excalibur had set up a shooting range during a breakout day. To that point, I’d only seen a crossbow, but had never held one. The owner of the company was there and walked me through the finer points of loading, aiming and shooting a crossbow. The crossbow I was handed was large, somewhat heavy and fitted with a scope. Loading it was interesting as you had to step on the front of the crossbow and pull the string back to a cocked position with a rope. I shouldered the thing, put my finger on the trigger, put the crosshairs on the centre of a target and squeezed. In my mind, pulling a trigger was always followed by a loud crack, so it was a pleasant surprise to only hear the hiss of the string releasing and the bolt flying.

My aim was true and the arrow hit the centre of the bullseye. A second shot was nearly as accurate. So, at 20 yards I was good. We stepped back to 30 yards and I was told to use a pin inside the scope to compensate for drop. That worked too. I was shooting accurately for my first time, which is one of the selling points of a crossbow. If you have the scope dialed in, and know the weight of your bolt and broadhead, you can be a pretty good shooter reasonably fast. However, one of the common misconceptions about a crossbow is that you will have a huge distance advantage over a regular bow. Although a crossbow looks like a firearm, it is just a string and bow pushing a stick. You can’t make 100-yard shots with a crossbow. In my experience, a 40-yard shot is about as far as you should shoot one in a hunting situation.

Shortly after that experience I ended up buying a crossbow very similar to the one

I had shot. I did a couple moose hunts with it but never had a chance to use it in a hunting situation. That crossbow was heavy to lug around in swamps and I started to look for alternatives. Then a hunting friend told me he had a compound crossbow for sale. The compound worked on the same basic principle as a compound bow, with pulleys that made it easier to load. This crossbow was also significantly more compact and lighter than what I was used to. It also had a red dot scope, which was great in low light and a built-in shooting stick that allowed for more steadiness on the stand. I

shot the crossbow a bunch of times and it was deadly accurate. It was time to test it in a hunting situation.

My first successful hunt with a crossbow was on a black bear. I was set up on the edge of a corn field where the bears were knocking down the farmer’s crops. There was a well-worn trail in and out of the field and at dusk, bears would make their way to the corn. I was up on a stand when a 250-pound boar appeared and started ambling towards the field. He was sniffing around and had my scent. When

he stopped, I laid the red dot on his shoulder and squeezed. The bolt shot out and found its mark. He went about 25 yards and fell over dead. It was one of the quietest hunts I’d ever experienced. I’ve taken several other bears with a crossbow since then and hope to harvest a deer and maybe even a moose with it someday. I have full confidence in the crossbows ability to harvest cleanly.

No, a crossbow isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and that’s just fine. However, as a hunting tool it is undeniably effective. They are also fun to shoot and practice with. You can’t ask for much more than that.

[ABOVE] Gord Ellis lifts his crossbow to his stand. | KAIJA KOLEHMAINEN

[LEFT] The crossbow is a medieval weapon that has made the transition into modern hunting. | GORD ELLIS

MUSH LAKE RACING DOG BLOG: Raising the Next Generation

By Erin Altemus

A dog’s average gestation is 63 days, and so on a Monday in June, we made our dog Nancy a cozy spot to deliver her pups.

Nancy appeared to be in the early stages of labor. Her temperature had dropped, which is a sign that puppies are imminent. Twenty-four hours later, her temperature came back up, and she still wasn’t having active contractions. I became nervous. I called our emergency vet in Ely (it was 6 p.m. by then) and the vet didn’t like what she was hearing, so I loaded up Nancy in the Subaru and started the three-hour drive.

Two and a half hours into the drive, I felt sure that Nancy needed a C-section—something must have been horribly wrong. But 15 minutes after that, I heard some grunts and a large whoosh of liquid, then furious licking. I swung over to the side of the road, turned on the hatch light and voila’, a lively puppy.

By the time we arrived at the vet, there were two pups. The vet felt everything was going perfectly, so I turned around and started the drive home, stopping every time I heard Nancy in a licking frenzy in the back. By the time I arrived home at 1 a.m., there were five puppies and later that night, one more.

Three days later, we prepared for our second pregnant mamma, Gabby, to have her pups. We were out of space in the garage by then, so we set up a place at the bottom of our stairwell in the entry way. Her temperature had dropped earlier that day and as Matt and I watched television, we suddenly heard a high pitched “yip-yip!” from the stairs. Gabby’s pups came easy. By morning there were seven.

With six rockstars (Ozzie, Axl, Tina, Stevie, Sting and Bruce), seven from the baby litter (Temper, Tantrum, Teddy, Twinkle, Itsy, Happy and Hush), and one musher-in-training—Sylvia, born April 24—we are looking ahead to the future of Mush Lake Racing. For now, puppy training consists of hiking Sylvia around in the backpack and 13 pups running helter-skelter through the woods. With past litters, I have been able to count each puppy every so often to make sure we haven’t lost anyone—counting to five, six or seven. With 13, I have to wait until an opportune moment when the entire herd runs by on the trail—there’s four, five—three more is eight—nine through 12 run by and we are missing one. Eventually number 13 goes sprinting past and then I start over. Sylvia squeals in delight from her perch on my shoulders.

Training for the big dogs started August 31 this year, the earliest we have ever trained. But overall, September has been much warmer than last year, so in miles, we

are behind. We are adjusting to balancing baby care with running dogs. When possible, we get up early to hook up a team, using the baby monitor to tell us if the baby wakes up. (How a baby can sleep through the noise of a sled dog team hooking up is remarkable.) If she wakes, one of us is on our own to hook up and run. It will only get more difficult as we run further and longer. I envision less and less sleep—a condition for which I am now acclimated with the newborn, but that doesn’t mean I like it.

We have six two-year olds who are vying for spots on the race team. We have plans to take the dogs camping more often—especially the two-year olds that will need to learn how to rest on straw at checkpoints and eat voraciously in between race legs.

The race plan will be similar to the past two years. We might both run a team in the Gunflint Mail Run and I hope to run the Beargrease. After that we may venture to Maine or Hudson Bay.

We find ourselves talking strategy all the time. What can we do to improve on last year’s performances? Should we tweak the training schedule, change their diet or nutritional supplements? For now, we are content to see where training leads and most of all to be running the dogs again. Fall is highly anticipated by mushers and dogs alike and stopping once in a while to just enjoy the colors, the weather, the lack of bugs—that’s northern life at its best.

Mush Lake Racing mushers Erin and Matt, with daughter Sylvia and the rockstar litter of pups.

| ANNIE FONTAINE

Wild Traditions

Hunting with Hawks: The Heritage and Tradition

By Julia Prinselaar

Flight has always captivated the human imagination. We marvel at birds, masters of the sky, who defy gravity and soar into a layer of the troposphere almost entirely foreign to us land-borne humans. We harness flight in our dreams, manifest it through extreme sports, and mimic it with modern technology. To survey from high above represents omniscience and power.

Our flightless human bodies can’t achieve that status alone. But while I was out with my friend Jenn Salo, an apprentice falconer, I realized that forming relationships with birds of prey can also offer the vicarious thrill of flying.

That’s the sensation I felt when I watched her bird, a one-year-old red-tailed hawk, soar above us on a clear afternoon. On this day, we took him out of his pen in the city and down a cut road into an open clearing to fly.

A little over a year ago, Jenn trapped Sitka from the wild on the outskirts of Thunder Bay, signaling the start of her 15 month journey into falconry apprenticeship.

The red-tailed hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey and the most widely-distributed bird of its kind in North America. Valued by entry-level falconers for their forgiving attitudes and aptitude for human interaction, they have a lengthy history of working with people.

“There are so many wild red-tails out there that have come from lineages that have been tamed by humans and then let go again,” says Jenn.

Making use of predatory birds like falcons, hawks and eagles to obtain food is

a traditional form of hunting dating from as far back as 1300 B.C. in regions including Ancient Egypt and the Asian Steppes, eventually migrating into Indo-Pakistan, the Islamic world, and the British Isles, according to the International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey.

The United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) lists falconry as an official example of intangible cultural heritage. Over time, its practice has evolved to become associated with nature conservation, cultural heritage and social engagement within and amongst ethnic communities.

Since Sitka has come under her care, Jenn has been guarding him from the threat of predators and starvation while cautiously straddling the worlds of wild and domestic. The intent is for him to remain an efficient hunter, for both his benefit and hers.

“I’ve kept him safe through the most critical period of his life. Seventy percent of all raptors don’t make it the first year,” says Jenn. “This bird knows he’s never going to starve to death in my care, so that’s where the security of being with a human comes in.”

For a small game hunter like Jenn, hunting with Sitka is about as natural as it gets, and satisfies her need to reconcile a moral dilemma that she’s faced since childhood.

“I was always excited to go hunting with my dad, but felt really bad for the animal because it had no chance whatsoever.”

As a lover of wildlife, she’s also keen to avoid the use of lead, which can accumulate in larger predators as they consume the abandoned carcasses of smaller creatures.

“We’re not leaving anything behind when I hunt with a hawk. When you’re hunting with a gun, you’re leaving gut piles, you’re leaving lead shards. Even when you don’t think you’re leaving lead, yes, you are.”

For now, Jenn’s focus is training Sitka to become her hunting companion before her apprenticeship period ends in December.

“[By then] I have to prove that me and Sitka know what we’re doing... Because if

I can’t hunt this bird, then the chances of me being able to let him go are pretty slim because he doesn’t know how to take care of himself anymore,” Jenn told me during our interview at the end of September.

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This is the pair’s first real season hunting small game. Last year, Jenn focused on working Sitka down to his ideal weight and socialized him with other humans and critters.

Jenn Salo with Koomba, Honey, Sitka and Sky. | KIRSTI HARRIS

“His ideal weight is around 800 grams to be hunting and focused on anything that moves,” she says, placing Sitka on a small kitchen scale in her back yard.

She compares it to boxing: “It’s a fighting fitness. That would be the hunting weight for a hawk—not too fat, and not too thin. You’ve got to find that fine line in between.”

He clocked in at 840 grams: a little on the heavier side, but good enough to fly.

On this September day, the air was crisp and the sun was out—a perfect fall afternoon for us two women, three dogs and a hawk to pile into my car and head down a cut road north of the highway toward Armstrong, Ontario.

Sitka wears a leather hood to calm him while he’s in transit. He also wears anklets made from the same material, so if he ever decided to fly free, they would degrade and eventually fall off. He sat on Jenn’s hand, which was sheathed in a protective leather gauntlet, taking curious stares, smiles of approval, and the odd thumbs up from drivers who stopped beside us at traffic lights.

We drove down a dirt road and came to a clearing dotted sparsely with poplar snags and spruce trees—perfect spots for Sitka to perch while he’s following our pack from a distance.

On that note, Jenn attached bells to her bird’s ankles as we approached our parking spot. After everyone piled out of my car, Jenn took off his hood, detached a leather cord from his ankles, and let Sitka free.

Within seconds, he was soaring with open wings and riding the thermal currents of the wind. As we watched him climb high into the air, I was, like Jenn, captivated by his sense of freedom.

We watched him fly from tree to tree every few hundred meters, staying behind us but following along. Like a hawk in turn, Jenn watched his every move. Eventually she pulled a small rodent from her bag, blew two highpitched peeps with her whistle, and waved the lifeless creature in her hand to call him back to her arm.

No response—Sitka stayed perched a few hundred meters away from us high on the tip of a spindly spruce tree. Clearly, he was enjoying his freedom and in no hurry to return.

“Every time I let him fly, my stomach is in my throat,” Jenn tells me. “It’s his choice for him to stay here or not. He could just tip his wing in the other direction and say, ‘see ya.’”

But this time, he doesn’t. Jenn is prepared. Unbeknownst to me she has another surprise in her bag. She pulls out a tiny quail and ties it to a string. Sitka sees it too, with his ability to spot small prey from 100 feet in the air.

As I hold back the dogs, Jenn places the bird in an open area and stands back. Sitka immediately swoops down from the spruce top, targeting the bait. Once he’s poised above the quail he dives straight down in split-second timing for the kill. In these predatory moments, red-tailed hawks can reach impressive speeds of 120 miles per hour.

Jenn approaches Sitka, who seems quite comfortable enjoying his meal in the presence of bystanders. Eventually I join with the three curious dogs, and Sitka pays no mind as we all sit together in a semi-circle on a crisp bed of fallen poplar leaves.

“He’s pretty much one of the dogs, but with wings,” says Jenn, who’s more relaxed in her demeanor now that Sitka has returned.

“I’m starting to enjoy when he starts soaring. Obviously he loves to soar, and I love seeing him soar—that’s what he’s made to do. Just getting that base of trust and knowing that okay, he kind of likes me, he knows I’ve got food in my pocket. He’s keeping me in sight.”

When it comes to falconry, Jenn finds the relationship with a wild animal the most fascinating. But her intentions only go so far. In good time, and when he’s ready, Jenn will let her beloved, copper-feathered raptor, go for good.

“And then I get to start all over again,” she tells me, as if she’s rubbing her hands together with scheming, childlike excitement. “I one hundred percent can’t wait to try a new bird—I love Sitka to pieces, but I can’t wait until he gets to go free.”

Sitka’s mature feathers. | KIRSTI HARRIS

Hibernation: Time for a Long Winter Nap

Who Hibernates?

Circle the species from this list that hibernate or enter light hibernation.

Hint: There are eight.

We often joke about putting on extra weight to get through the winter and staying in bed until spring arrives. While humans don’t actually hibernate, there are physiological reasons we put on a little extra body fat each fall.

But imagine if you were a species that hibernates. In October, you would look for a cozy place to stay safe and warm. You would try to pack on a lot of extra pounds to save up for a super long nap. And come November, you’d curl up and go to sleep—for months.

Why Hibernate?

Mammals and reptiles that hibernate do so to prolong their survival. We all know winters in the northwoods are harsh and cold. There are many animals who do not hibernate that die every winter simply because they get sick or can’t find enough food and then starve. Hibernation is an adaptation that some species have made to avoid this problem.

How do they do it?

There are two types of hibernators: true hibernators and light hibernators. True hibernators go into a deep sleep and do not wake up all winter. Light hibernators take naps and get up now and then to forage for food.

Bats are a true hibernator that go into such a deep sleep they appear to be dead. Their heartbeat slows from 400 beats per minute to about 25 and they might only take a breath once an hour.

Frogs burrow themselves into mud to hibernate. In the mud they actually freeze up. They stop breathing. In the spring after thawing out, the frogs come back to life.

Skunks on the other hand are light hibernators. During the winter, skunks spend most of their time in a den with their family but occasionally come out to scrounge around for food.

What happens in spring?

Many hibernators expend half of their body fat as energy to survive over the winter. When spring comes along, these animals have to expend large amounts of energy to wake up and get going again. They are likely out of shape and very hungry. And some, such as female bears, give birth during this time. Others will wake up and start mating to produce new offspring.

Remember that extra food we ate in the fall? Like all species that need to survive in the cold, that extra energy helps us get through winter. Remember that it takes extra energy for our bodies to stay warm in the cold, whether you are hibernating or playing in the snow.

A timeless tale with plenty of history and a fair dose of mystery, Edmund Fitzgerald: The Legendary Great Lakes Shipwreck is a fascinating account of the 1975 wreck of the Fitzgerald during a Lake Superior storm and the total loss of its crew.

Raccoon, Chipmunk, Skunk, Bear, Frogs, Snakes, Bat, Turtle

The Mayflower’s Connection to Northern Wilds Strange Tales

By Elle AndraWarner

So, what does the famous Mayflower ship that landed in America almost 400 years ago (November 1620) have to do with people today in our Northern Wilds?

Well, for starters, two people here at Northern Wilds (NW) Magazine are direct descendants of Mayflower passengers. Managing editor Breana Roy is the 14th and 13th great-granddaughter respectively of Stephen Hopkins (a kind of a swashbuckling adventurer of the 1600s) and his daughter Constance Hopkins. Glenn Warner, NW’s distributor in Thunder Bay, is the 10th and 9th great-grandson respectively of James Chilton (at 64, the oldest person aboard the Mayflower) and his daughter Mary Chilton.

Breana said, “Knowing that my roots run back to the Mayflower is amazing, to say the least. The hardships Stephen, and everyone, must have endured are unfathomable. And knowing that I’m standing here today because of him—as well as all my ancestors down the line—is truly remarkable and humbling.”

On September 6, 1620, the 100-foot (30 m) Mayflower left Plymouth, England to sail across the Atlantic Ocean with 102 English men, women and children (settlers that became known as the Pilgrims), approximately 30 crew members, two dogs (mastiff and springer spaniel), and it is believed some goats, chickens and pigs.

During the second half of the voyage, the Mayflower hit rough weather. She was battered by strong winds which shook the ship’s timbers. Sea water seeped in through failed caulking. Passengers became ill from

| ELLE ANDRA-WARNER

the wet surroundings, insufficient food rations, poor ventilation and unsanitary conditions. Finally, after 66 days at sea, they sighted land on November 9.

Their destination was near the mouth of the Hudson River (then Colony of Virginia), however, bad weather pushed the ship north to the tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts (today’s Provincetown). They anchored in the harbor on November 11 and for the next six weeks, sent out exploratory parties, including Stephen, looking for a place to settle.

Ten days later, on board the ship on November 21, 41 men—including Hopkins and Chilton—drafted and signed the historic Mayflower Compact establishing what historians call the first declaration of self-government on North American continent.

The site chosen for the colony was across the bay on the site of an abandoned village of the Wampanoag People. However, the Pilgrims continued to live on the ship, rowing to shore each day to build houses, returning at night, until March 1621 when enough houses had been built for everyone

to live on the land. They named their colony Plymouth (Plimoth) Plantation. (Prince Charles had already named the area after it was mapped in 1614 by John Smith.)

The first winter was brutal with significant hardships; by spring, nearly half of the passengers and crew died. On April 5, 1621, the Mayflower with Captain Christopher Jones and what remained of his crew, left Plymouth to return to England.

So, how do today’s descendants learn about their Mayflower connection? Breana said, “It had been passed down through

my family that we had a relative on the Mayflower, but we didn’t know who. My Grandma later connected us to Stephen Hopkins while researching on Ancestry. I was probably in the fourth grade when I found out.”

Breana credits her Mom and Grandma with doing extensive research into their family history, and while there are some pretty amazing stories about other relatives, her favourite story is Stephen Hopkins, her 14th great-grandfather from her maternal grandmother.

Northern Wilds’ managing editor Breana Roy and the Ontario distributor Glenn Warner are both direct descendants of Mayflower passengers.

Image of the MayflowerII, taken in 2013, Water Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts. | ROBERT LINDSELL

Homes & Cabins

Inland Lake Homes

170A+

120A

Land

W Hwy 61 Great location and development opportunities right off Hwy 61! 7.1A, zoned commercial and R-1. Additional R-1 acreage available.

MLS 2170380 $149,900

North Rd 20A, very private, year round access. Power, phone and broadband available at the road!!

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Coyote Ridge Three 5A, private, beautifully wooded parcels close to town. Babbling, gurgling creek for your boundary.

MLS 6021224 $45,000 - $65,000

25+A close to Grand Marais; healthy mix of trees with a very gently rolling topography. Approximately 800’ frontage on the Fall River.

MLS 6030910 $89,900

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!

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5.72A of nicely wooded land with gently rolling topography AND approx. 500’ frontage on the Rosebush Tributaries. OWNER will consider a Contract for Deed!

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78 Squint Lake Rd 5A surrounded on 2 sides by government land. Convenient mid-trail location.

MLS 6020283 $59,900

Railroad Drive 1.7A in the heart of Lutsen.

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MLS 6023743 $39,900

Broadway Ave Wonderful location, oversize lot is open to many opportunities for development and use.

MLS 6031909 $48,000

Co Rd 67 2.24A, year round access, directly abuts State Land to the east. Fully surveyed and well-built private driveway.

MLS 6029973 $39,900

Stonegate Rd 2A on public portion of desirable Stone Gate Road with lots of potential uses. Power, phone, and broadband are a stone’s throw away.

MLS 6029678 $18,400 PENDING

County Rd 7 Oversize lot on Co Rd 7 but inside the city. The obvious benefits of broadband and other services.

MLS 6028579 $58,000

Super private piece of land with 6.83A that directly abuts Federal land. There is a seasonal camper on the property that is perfect if you are only using a few times a year.

MLS 6031424 $59,900

Silver Fox Rd Two peaceful and quiet 5A pieces close to town with easements onto Federal land.

MLS 6025690 $25,900 - $45,900

Camp 20 Rd 28A located off of the Camp 20 Rd. Surveyed, septic sites have been identified and there is even a wetlands delineation!

MLS 6027375 $27,900 PENDING

Caribou Trail Motivated Seller. Year round 20A surrounded by Federal land on 3 sides, has year round access, electricity and phone.

MLS 6028663 $139,900

County Rd 48 Year round 11A of nicely wooded land, close to town, yet has a country, northwoods feeling.

Partial Lake Superior view!

MLS 6029188 $64,900

2 lots 5-7A, 5+ and 7+A lots at a great country location just minutes from town. Recreation trails close by.

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Quist Rd

Fantastic 5A parcel close to town but private. Driveway already stubbed in, potential Lake Superior views.

MLS 6030846 $49,000

Wildwood Acres 5 parcels in Wildwood Acres! .9A to 1.85A. Nicely wooded and private. Residential neighborhood.

MLS 6031563 $20,000 - $35,000 NEW

Boulder Point Rd 3.55A in Lutsen off the Ski Hill Rd. Abuts State Scenic and Natural area providing hundreds of acres of untouched land.

MLS 6031787 $59,900 NEW

2965 E Hwy 61

Conveniently located near public access to Lake Superior, Kadunce Wayside, Kadunce River, Superior Hiking Trail and more.

MLS 6031864 $15,900 NEW

Bay Suites

Located in the heart of Grand

Includes

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UNIT #9 MLS 6030540 $177,900 SOLD 2BR, 1BA, 1 level living

Onagon

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Inland Lake Lots

November is a Northwoods Dream! Come Gobble Gobble on Lake Superior!

OVER 600 FT OF LUTSEN’S LAKE SUPERIOR! 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

home are Magnificent, from the gazebo with hot tub, to the large library, to the gourmet kitchen with function

Best! MLS# 6019683 $1,197,000

MULFINGER

HOME ON LAKE

SUPERIOR! Wilderness Wonderland on Stonegate, Gorgeous home with incredible quality and design. Lake Superior is one with this Home! Gourmet Kitchen, Warm and Welcoming great room with Basalt Stone fireplace and huge hearth. Really a Must See home! MLS#6028622 $745,000

RUGGED ELEGANCE ON LAKE SUPERIOR! LUTSEN’S CASCADE BEACH RD LOCATION, 200 ft of level access shoreline and a helluva great home! Spectacular Fireplace, Remodeled KitchenIncredible! Master Suite with a bathroom to LOVE. Recently renovated and updated, this home is Move In Ready for your Family to Enjoy! MLS#6029989 $799,000

ROMANTIC LOG CABIN ON LAKE SUPERIOR! Enjoy your space while your guest live it up in the Carriage house! Stunning Lake Superior Shoreline, you’ll LOVE the updated interior and warmth of this cabin! MLS#6030729 $399,900 REDUCED!

WATERFALLS ON LAKE SUPERIOR, WALK TO GRAND

MARAIS!

LAKE SUPERIOR AT CUT FACE CREEK! This home is waiting for YOU to personalize this home and make it your OWN! Mint condition, well maintained, it’s just waiting for you to mold the master bedroom of your dreams in to this lovely setting and home. Plenty of Lake Superior shoreline to afford you lots of privacy! And the location just can’t be beat! Walk to the Cut Face Creek wayside park to look for agates, and come home to Comfort! Minutes to Grand Marais OR Lutsen! A Must See home! MLS#6023379

a fantastic layout for year round living or for your getaway home! Main level master suite, gourmet kitchen and a Great Room to Wow your friends and family! MLS# 6028087 $699,900 SUPER VALUE!

Stunning home in a Wilderness Setting with Incredible Lakeshore, a combination of Ledgerock and pebble beach! Awake in the morning to the sounds of the Waterfall cascading in to Lake Superior just outside your bedroom window! This striking home is move in ready, main level living with a sweet master bedroom and bath. Lower level walk out area for your friends and family to enjoy! Two plus car garage, with an awesome Man Cave with views of Lake Superior! Gorgeous Landscape, Gorgeous Lake Superior Home. A Must See, including the Little House! MLS#6026723 $799,900 LAKE SUPERIOR GETAWAY, MINUTES TO LUTSEN! Sprawling Views, Lovely Mint Condition home with over 300 ft of Lake Superior Shoreline, accessible AWESOME cove all to yourself! Designed for main level living with lower level for guests! 2 car detached, Perfect Getaway! MLS# 6023113 $550,000

GREENWOOD LAKE CABIN, MAKE IT YOUR TINY HOME!

End of the bay bordering USFS lands and some Super Shoreline! Call today for details! MLS# 6027279 $219,000 REDUCED! DESIGN AND ELEGANCE ON DEERYARD LAKE, LUTSEN. Lindal Cedar Home, dramatic stone fireplace set amongst posts & beams of Douglas Fir. Designer kitchen, sunroom, secluded master bedroom and bath with soaker tub. Wood fired oven, Timberframe Sauna, Woodshop and a large garage. End of the Road 4.48 acres, 175’ of frontage, adjacent public land buffers and beckons. Leave Everything behind and just enjoy the Good Life on Deeryard Lake! MLS#6028689

Contemporary Design. Total Comfort. Nice rental income to offset expenses.

$399,000 REDUCED!

MLS#6031145 $199,900 LOG CABIN ON CARIBOU LAKE! Located on the quiet side of Caribou, this Gem of a home is just what the Doctor ordered for rest and relaxation! Excellent location to launch your kayak on to

street, but otherwise the cabin was built for rustic off grid living. One main level bedrm, upper level loft, and Vaulted ceilings in the family and kitchen area spaces. 200 ft of PRIME shoreline! MLS# 6029380 $239,000

Willard

DEERYARD LAKE EAST SIDE,

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PIECE OF PROPERTY JUST EAST OF GRAND

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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 RIDGETOP MOUNTAIN VIEWS OVERLOOKING THE SKI RESORT! Welcoming home with lots of elbow room, Enjoy a glass of wine while watching the Skiers downhill! This home has it all including Gourmet Kitchen, lower level guest rec space, and detached garage with tons of storage and a COOL outdoor sauna!

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COMFORTABLE AND CUTE MINT LOG CABIN! 20 ACRES AND YOUR OWN POND! Screened porch extends the living space in the warm months, overlooking the pond! Rugged terrain, not for the faint of heart! A must see Log Cabin in the Woods, Year Round Living! MLS#6028795 $194,900 REDUCED!

MAPLE LEAF LANE OFF HWY 1 NEAR FINLAND. It’s a quiet getaway cabin, rustic living. Super hunting

Marais and Lutsen, the best 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

your

Superior View Condo just across the Harbor from Grand Marais! MLS#6028366 $344,900

November is a Northwoods Dream! Come Gobble Gobble on Lake Superior!

Hwy 1 area Hunting Cabin on 10 ac MLS#2309318 $64,900

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30 acres Wilderness, Borders lands next to Little Manitou River!

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Rock Road in Silver Bay area!

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NEW! Sweet Build Site in Silver Bay, Desirable Location on Marks Drive!

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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 $49,900 REDUCED!

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NEW! Lot 3 High Ridge Drive, Premier View Acreage New on the Market! Acreage and Awesome Views, driveway in place and build site ready!

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Sawbill Trail Tofte Lake Superior Views, Mature Spruce forest with driveway and well in place!

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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

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MLS#2070509 Prices from $24,900!!

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Maples with lots of Elbow Room, Year Round access and nice location between Cross River in Schroeder and Finland!

MLS#6028422 $59,000

Holy Smokes! End of the Road bordering County land, Tofte. HUGE value with 2 lots sold for the price of one!

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1046 Cramer Rd-Schroeder-40 ac with creek and tons of Maples! OMG it’s a beautiful parcel with high elevations and ravine like creek. Driveway is in! MLS#6028837 $98,000

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Maples Galore, Acreage!

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NEW! Nice large parcel #19 at Sugarloaf Retreats, Boreal Forest land with yr rd access/electric.

MLS#6031140 $44,400

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QUIET CONTEMPLATION ON LAKE

SUPERIOR IN LUTSEN! Creek runs along East Border, with 200+ ft waterfront. Excellent Views, Wilderness Setting. MLS#6028455 $269,900 REDUCED!

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 PARCEL ON SWALLOW

LAKE in Isabella area! 220 ft of shoreline, 2.5 ac! MLS#2300576 $64,900

NEW! OVER 400 FT OF ACCESSIBLE

SHORELINE with beach on Lake Superior, Lutsen’s Rollins Creek Road! MLS#6031579 $499,900

NEW! KAYAKERS GETAWAY ON TOM

LAKE! Sloping Wilderness Shoreline, Water Access Only! MLS#TBD $124,900

Mature Spruce and BIG Lake Views! Walk to Blue Fin Bay, drilled well in place! MLS#2272174 $49,900

Nice parcel bordering USFS land, driveway roughed in, access to Tait Lk! MLS#6023412 $35,000

Woodland Foothills Build Ready lots, Shared Water & Community Septic from MLS#2309328+ FROM $39,000

Heartland of Lutsen, 80 ac at the Foothills of Ski Hill ridge, near downtown Lutsen! MLS#2312987 $119,000

Over 8 ac of Wilderness on Turnagain Trail in Lutsen! MLS#2216560 $45,000

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

Maple Leaf Trail at Jonvick, Maples Galore!

Nice elevated build site. Yr Round access, electric. MLS#6024972 $49,000

Ridgetop Views Overlooking Caribou Lake!

Tuck your home in to the Maple hillside in Lutsen, year round access. Super Location! MLS#6028429 $56,500

Tait Lake area, Legend Trail parcel bordering USFS lands with views of Wills and Williams Lake! MLS#6028619 $67,500

Wilderness Lutsen location at Tait Lake- backlot with Driveway in place! Yr Round and Electric MLS#6029115 $37,500

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

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 $235,000 REDUCED!

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 $440,000

Ridgetop 5+ ac in Lutsen, Ski Hill and Lake Superior Views! Fab Location, Boreal Forest with Maples! MLS#603266 $49,900

Ski Hill Road lands, Boreal Lane is your Key To Mountain Top Living! 5 ac lots from MLS#6029557+ $59,000 TO $99,000

Cty Rd 7 Murphy Mountain Lake View lands! Bargain Buys in young Poplar Forest, easy clearing for Sweet Lake Superior Views for as little as $39,900! Or Enjoy Hilltop Build Site with driveway in place. MLS#1599157 $79,900 REDUCED!

20 Acres near Pike Lake, minutes to the new Boat Landing! Driveway is in place, nice shed. Panoramic Wilderness! MLS#6028569 $69,000

Grand Marais Meadows on County Rd 7, Gorgeous Setting, Super location! MLS#6029849+ $65,000

NEW! 60 Ac East of Grand Marais with the Superior Hiking Trail thru leading to Lake Superior Beach! MLS#6031588 $89,900

NEW! Two Awesome City Lots, Great East 5th Street location. MLS#6031883 $54,900, MLS #6031882 $59,900

MLS#6031145

LOVELY DEERYARD LAKE PARCEL! Lutsen’s Secret Treasure, Deeryard is a peaceful respite from the busy life outside the Northwoods. Maple hillside cascades in to the clear waters!

MLS#6027527 $189,900

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

PIKE LAKE SHORELINE, PRIME rocky s horeline, dropping off to nice depth! Awesome mixed boreal forest, high ground for build site. South facing, year round access, electric. Build your dream home, ask for Lot 6 Willard Lane!

$199,900

awaits on this park-like private retreat property with almost 90 acres, 1793 feet of shore, and 3 classic Aldrich log cabins with outstanding lake views. A rare, unique opportunity! MLS# 6030553 $2,250,000

LUTSEN LAKE SHORE. Exceptional Lake Superior property in highly regarded Lutsen area. 150 feet of accessible ledge rock and gravel beach shoreline. Large, level building site surrounded by mature cedar, spruce and fir trees.

MLS# 6024548 $299,500

LAKE SUPERIOR HOME SITE. Great Lake Superior lot with an excellent site for walkout. Surveyed and level open location for your new home. This 1.07 acre parcel has a very neat, private cove and a 447' of meandering ledge rock shoreline. MLS# 6027506 $299,000

GUNFLINT LAKE HOME – SAND BEACH. This charming 2 bdrm home sits on 4.62 acres, just 40 ft from the dramatic shore on a point. Many custom features and built-ins, 3-car detached garage with a fantastic upper level apartment, lrg storage sheds, plus a very unique and rare sand beach! MLS# 6026327 $529,000

All hookups are ready – septic, water, electric, phone & propane. House plans are available. Only 8 owners share this park-like former resort property. MLS# 6031791 $60,000

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

2 bath home situated perfectly into the terrain with rock outcroppings and stunning views through the tree tops. Deep woods privacy, beautiful features and 220' lake shore. MLS# 6029530 $359,900

MOUNTAIN TOP VIEWS

- LOG HOME. The ultimate wilderness retreat - 160 acres surrounded by gov't lands. No one will find you here! The log home is masterfully built and lovingly cared for. Solar power, well and septic. Super nice sauna building. Solitude awaits from this mountain-top retreat. MLS# 6027934 $524,900

SECLUDED COUNTRY HOME - RURAL GRAND

HOME WITH DRAMATIC VIEWS.

This large, efficient 3bdrm home has panoramic views of Lake Superior and the surrounding hills. Secluded with landscaped yard and 20 acres bordering Gov't lands. Quality features, many windows, shop building and more!

MLS# 6031033 $439,900

MARAIS. This single-level, well maintained 2 bdrm, 2 bath home sits on 24 acres with a huge pond as part of Woods Creek. Great yard with beautiful views of the pond. High maple ridge, adjoins federal land. Huge insulated garage, large covered porch. Minutes from Grand Marais. MLS# 6029005 $317,500 PRICE REDUCED! HOME IN PARADISE. Great views and walk to the expansive Lake Superior beach. Large 2 bdrm, 3 bath home, quality updates, new large septic system, new kitchen appliances, new furnace and on-demand hot water heater. Lower level walk-out can be apartment with 3 rooms, tons of space and plumbing stubbed for 2nd kitchen. A 28 X 64 garage with huge workshop. Everything is ready for you...in Paradise. MLS# 6029522 $299,900 PRICE REDUCED!

REMOTE HIDE-A-WAY.

Charming custom built 2 bdrm, 2 bath cabin tucked in the woods overlooking a beaver pond. A screened porch for summer dining. The living room is open and includes the kitchen and dining. A cozy Franklin stove warms the whole building. The full basement is a complete guest space . Generator power and over 100 acres to explore. MLS# 6029349 $269,000 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 $259,900 PRICE REDUCED!

HOMES & CABINS

BEAUTIFUL HOME IN THE WOODS. Fantastic 3 bdrm, 2 bath cabin with sauna and bunkhouse. The 3.78 acres is surrounded by forest with Ninemile Lake across the road. Large kitchen/dining space, incredible master suite, upper level sunroom. Lots of room for guests! MLS# 6029835 $229,900

COUNTRY HOME NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Nice 3 bdrm ranch style house only 4 miles from Grand Marais! Amazing lot with mixed trees and spacious yard. Deck, sauna, shed, basement, and detatched 2-car garage. Seasonal Lake Superior views and beautiful sunsets.

MLS# 6030908 $229,000

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 $210,000 PRICE REDUCED!

COTTAGE HOME ACROSS FROM LAKE SUPERIOR. This cute home sits just across the highway from the big lake shoreline. The 2 bdrm, 1 bath cottage has wood floors, beamed ceilings, and a warm, comfortable feel. Septic and well, a small shed and 11 acres of privacy.

MLS# 6030154 $169,900

TIMBER FRAMED LOG HOME OVERLOOKING TOM LAKE. Charming log cabin on 78 acres with seasonal views of Tom Lake. Large loft bedroom and covered porch with swing. Stone fireplace, hardwood floors, and metal roof. Yearround access. Furnishings and generator included. MLS# 6027412 $159,900 PRICE REDUCED!

MOOSE VALLEY HOME.

Cute modified timber frame cabin with 10 acres on Moose Valley Rd. Natural woodwork, open floor plan, full bath & loft bedroom. Year-round access, forested setting, outbuildings & deck. Septic, well, electricity, broadband, propane heat, plus wood stove. Kids, Chickens & Berries – you can raise ‘em all here!

MLS# TBD $149,900

NEW! GUNFLINT TRAIL ESCAPE Tucked away overlooking Gunflint Lake are 9 acres of dense forest with a stream. Two small but functional cabins are remodeled and ready for you to move in. Great log sauna. Adjoins federal land - walk to the BWCAW. Public landing nearby.

MLS# 6031608 $129,900 PRICE REDUCED!

NORTH SHORE RETREAT. A little one room cabin waiting for you to make it into something. 3.8 acres on the Lake Superior side of Hwy 61 with decent lake views; you'll feel the lake effect. The cabin is kind of rough, but maybe this is the project you've been looking for. MLS# 6027897 $36,000

STORE –HOVLAND. A bustling business in a beautiful rural community on the North Shore. Bakery, deli, pizza, convenience store, and liquor store under one roof. Large seating area & outdoor patio. Expansion/home site possible! MLS# 6023742 $329,900

PRIME RETAIL DOWNTOWN GRAND MARAIS. Main traffic location in the heart of down town. Located on Wisconsin St between Blue Water Cafe and Sivertson Gallery, with 25 ft street frontage and over 2300 sq ft each. Build up for a lake view – lots of possibilities! MLS# 6029930, 6029951 $150,000 each

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

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 $52,500

RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE

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

TWENTY ACRES – GREAT LOCATION. Great larger parcel near Grand Marais with road in to the “top” of the property. Lake views, maple and mixed forest, small creek. County road access with power and broadband close by, borders public land on three sides. MLS# 6030517 $112,000

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

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 $179,000

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

$154,900

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# 6029820 $150,000

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# 6030177 $149,500

BIG LAND NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR. Four 80 acre parcels located south of Schroeder off Highway 61 with shared access and approved septic sites. Mix of trees, gradual elevation, nice build sites and lake view.

MLS# 6027841, 6027843, 6027844, 6027845 $139,900 each

STONE'S THROW LAKE SUPERIOR. This heavily wooded, private 2+ acre building site sits just across the highway from Lake Superior's shore with a view of the big lake. You can walk the beach or have a bonfire on the State shoreline. MLS# 6029899 $52,900

HEAR THE WAVES, FEEL THE BREEZE. Great building site just across the highway from Lake Superior with great views, dense spruce trees and easy access. The approximately 2 acres is located across from State owned shoreline with miles of beach to comb. MLS# 6029866 $52,900

SALE PENDING

GRAND MARAIS CITY LOT. Great location for a home in the city of Grand Marais. Paved dead end street with water and sewer hookups. Lake view from a second story! More land available. MLS# 6029695 $52,900

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 $52,000

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# 6028922 $51,500

GRAND MARAIS LOT. Nicely wooded lot on quiet street. City street, curb and gutter. There is a property assessment for city water and sewer. Location to be identified. MLS# 6029185 $50,400

SALE PENDING

CASCADE RIVER RETREAT. Deep in the Superior National Forest, good road access and a small 150 s.f. starter cabin with solar power. Frontage on the mighty Cascade with rapids and trout pools everywhere. Views of the valley from nice building site.

MLS# 6029531 $85,900 PRICE REDUCED!

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.

NICE HOME SITE NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Nice elevation and views from this 6.75 acre lot off of County Rd 6 just minutes from town. Frontage on Little Devil Track River, with lowland and highlands. Nice forest and privacy for your home or cabin in the woods. MLS# 6031740 $54,900

FLUTE REED RIVER HOME SITES. These two heavily wooded parcels have the seclusion of 11-13 acres and about 330' frontage each on the trout stream Flute Reed River. Access is easy from frontage on a county road. Power and broadband are available. These lots are the perfect place for a retreat property or a year-round home. MLS# 6030884, 6030885 $49,900 each

DEEP WOODS – PADDLE THE CREEK. Really neat property on Murmur Creek. Navigate all the way to Caribou Lake. Good building sites and remote privacy on this 20 acre property. MLS# 6031403 $45,500 PRICE REDUCED!

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# 6029353 $39,000

LAND/BUILDING SITES

TOP OF BIRCH CLIFF. See 50 miles across Lake Superior –incredible 180 degree views! Private drive and buried power in place. Nice mature trees and public lands on 2 sides. More land is available. This site will rock your world.

MLS# 6029487 $295,000 PRICE REDUCED!

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 $277,900

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

FANTASTIC FIVE MILE ROCK. Great 7 acre property abuts Highway 61 at Five Mile Rock. Beautiful views of Lake Superior. Excellent build site and a 30 x 40 Morton building. Ready for your dreams!

MLS# 6030238 $120,000

PROVEN GREAT HUNTING AREA - 80 ACRES. Prime hunting land in Schroeder. Rolling land with great wildlife habitat incl. stream, beaver dam with large pond, and a good mixture of trees and low vegetation. Older 2 bdrm cabin in a beautiful park like setting overlooking large beaver pond.

MLS# 6029945 $115,000

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

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# 6029352 $99,000

LAND NEAR WILSON LAKE A special piece of the Northwoods – 16 acres with deeded access to Wilson Lake! USA-owned forest is your backyard. Driveway, electric, and a small bunkhouse/shed are in place. MLS# 6028685 $80,000

GREAT LOCATION FOR YOUR HOME. Convenient 7.5 acres located just 5 miles from Grand Marais on a Co Rd 7 blacktop, with some lake views, good building sites, driveway and a tiny cabin set up for your camp outs until you build. MLS# 6027933 $79,900

LARGE LAND, MAPLES, LAKE ACCESS. This 67 acre parcel has high maple ridges, a pond, and an easement to walk to Tom Lake. Good seasonal road access, many nice building sites. A perfect escape property in an area with many trails to ride and forest to explore. MLS# 6030705 $69,900

LARGE LAND, POND, LAKE RIGHTS. Densely wooded 60 acre parcel with beaver ponds and access to Lost Lake. Good seasonal road access, many great building sites and southerly exposure. Lots of elbow room, privacy, and miles of forest roads to explore. MLS# 6029025 $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 surround ing federal land leads directly into the BWCAW. MLS# 6024600 $59,900 RUSTICATE, RECREATE, RELAX. 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 $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 $55,000

REMOTE WILDERNESS. Here is your remote wilderness parcel. 40 secluded acres with big trees, big pond, big hills, snowmobile trails and lots of Forest Service land to explore. East and West Twin lakes are close by for good fishing. MLS# 6029821 $49,900

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

LAND FOR FUN OR HOMESTEADING. Heavily wooded 39 acres with a large variety of trees and easy road access on Camp 20 Rd. Southern exposure great for solar set up. The Superior Hiking Trail is steps away. Close to county maintained road. MLS# 6027896 $48,900

GREAT PRIVACY CLOSE TO TOWN.This 5 acre property just outside Grand Marais sits at the end of a private drive. Potential Lake Superior views, small creek and nice elevation make for a great ready-to-build home site. MLS# 6029451 $47,500

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 $43,000

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 $42,900

WOODED ACREAGE – GM. Private 20 acre lot with hiking and ski trails, and abundant wildlife. A high building site offers seasonal views of Lake Superior. MLS# 2313173 $35,000

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

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

GREAT LOCATION HOME SITE. Wooded home or cabin site near Devil Track Lake. The 1.72 acre lot has nice trees and maybe a view of the lake from a second story. The boat landing is just down the road, as are many other lakes and trails. MLS# 6029872 $29,900

GREAT LUTSEN LOT. Very quiet and private. Choice 2.31 lot at the end of the road, ready to build. Borders state land and priced to sell! MLS# 6031961 $29,900 PRICE REDUCED!

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

SIBLEY PENINSULA

Black Bay. Lake Superior. 98 acre piece with 4700 feet of shoreline facing south. Beautiful property between Superior Shores and Pearl Harbour developments. Seclusion, privacy-water access. $189,000 CDN

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

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

New Levels of Service

The Silver Islet

and flooring. 15 separate bedrooms; 185 feet of lake frontage.

CAVERS COVE ROAD

Incredible setting on shore of Lake Superior on Pays Plat Bay. Over 167 ft. of sandy beach with a panoramic view. Spacious 2,360 sq. Ft. 3 bedrm, 2 bathrm summerhome w. Huge liv/dining rm overlooking bay, lge kitch, mn flr laundry & storage room. Heated by woodstoves in kitch & liv. Rm. Paved road off hwy 17 to parking lot. $239,000 CDN

PIE ISLAND

CDN

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

Lake, Tofte

Great Pricing.

Lutsen

Superior National Golf Course Homesites

Few Golf Courses have been built on land as spectacular as Superior National. And more recently the golf course just completed its nearly $4.5 million course improvement project on the River and Canyon Nines. The homesites listed below are tucked within the Cedar Forest along River 6 fairway and River 6 green. With water, sewer, power and broadband available, combined the sounds of the Poplar River just across the fairway and so much more beauty, the value offered simply is unbelievable. Act now, the golf course will launch its new marketing campaign early 2018 announcing the grandre-opening – with that, lot prices will likely increase next year.

Lot 8 Block 5. Private lot tucked along River 6 Fairway. Water, sewer, power curbside. Great value. (Owner/Agent) MLS 602078 $64,500

Lot 6 Block 5. This was one of the very first lots purchased because of its outstanding location. Nestled adjacent to the River 6 Green - it offers so much. Great build site with outstanding orientation. Access to all HOA utilities. MLS 6028392 $92,500

Grand Marais Area

ruffed grouse

Although biologists consider fruit as “junk food” for ruffed grouse, I question the accuracy of that characterization. In winter, I frequently find them feeding on small crab apples, mountain ash berries, and similar fruit, which would indicate some level of importance. I photographed this ruffed grouse just north of Duluth as it was taking advantage of fruit that had softened after several freeze/thaw cycles. For such large birds, they are very nimble at walking on tree limbs. —Michael Furtman

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT