Northern Wilds

Celebrating Lake Superior

Across the Northern Wilds, when you talk about “the Lake,” everyone knows what you mean. Some call it “the Big Lake,” others “the Pond.” All refer to same body of water: Lake Superior. In this issue, we celebrate Superior, because it is so important to every aspect of life in the Northern Wilds.

Lake Superior defines who we are. It limits our access to the outside world, forcing us to travel the one highway that follows its shores. The only westward highways lead from Duluth and Thunder Bay; nearly 200 miles apart. Equally impressive, you can head north in a canoe from Lake Superior at the Nipigon River and cross only one road between the lake and Hudson’s Bay. We live on the edge of some of the wildest country left on Earth.

The immensity of Lake Superior is humbling. See it for the first time and you may think it is as vast as the ocean. It is not. The lake is 350 miles long and up to 160 miles wide; big enough to influence the weather along its shores. Winters are warmer and snowier near the lake. During the heat of summer, tourists flock to its shores to take advantage of its “natural air-conditioning.” It holds more water, 3 quadrillion gallons, than all of the other Great Lakes combined. While the average depth is nearly 500 feet, its deepest point is almost 1,300 feet. Superior’s water is cold, clear and clean.

The lake’s characteristics are reflected in the character of the people who live along its shores. Nearly everyone makes a choice to live here, because this is not an easy place to live. The weather is tough. Economic opportunities are limited. Urban amenities are few. For many of us, the benefits of being here outweigh those challenges. We have strong, close-knit communities. Outstanding outdoor recreation is available year-round. A few places are as beau-

tiful as the Northern Wilds. It’s no wonder a significant portion of the economy is based upon tourism, recreation and the arts.

This issue reflects a little of everything Lake Superior has to offer. Breana Roy shares some of the works featured at the Bayfront Art Festival, as well as Lake Superior-themed artworks. Elle Andra-Warner tells some stories about historic lighthouse keepers. Erin Altemus takes us into the depths, where intrepid divers explore the lake’s many shipwrecks. Kelsey Roseth introduces us to the avid photographers who capture images of the many ships that traverse the lake.

If you want to have fun outdoors, we offer lots of options. Joe Friedrichs talks with charter captains who take their customers out in pursuit of the lake’s trout and salmon. Gord Ellis explains the wonderful resurgence of Black Bay’s walleye, perch and pike fisheries. Julia Prinselaar talks about the benefits of edible forests. Sparky Stensass identifies many of the rocks you’ll find along Lake Superior beaches. Far across the lake, James Smedley gives us the rundown on the Wawa Salmon Derby.

You’ll find a wide selection of fun events this month. Hungry? Maren Webb takes us to Rib Fest in Thunder Bay. Like music? Head for Two Harbors, where Kelsey Roseth reports on the Two Harbors City Band playing weekly summer concerts. And Casey Frichett introduces us to the Two Harbors Ukulele Group. This is also the month for the annual Live from the Rock Folk Festival in Red Rock.

Of course, the granddaddy of North Shore festivals is the Fisherman’s Picnic in Grand Marais. It’s a massive get-together where graduates of Cook County High School celebrate their class reunions. If you are in town during

Help Prevent The Spread Of Invasive Plants And Animals.

• REMOVE plants, animals & mud from boots, gear, pets & vehicle.

• CLEAN your gear before entering & leaving the recreation site.

• STAY on designated roads & trails.

• USE CERTIFIED or local rewood & hay. Ad-Northern

the picnic, be sure to stop in, say hello and check out our new digs. We’ll be happy to see you.—Shawn Perich and Amber Pratt

AUGUST 2016

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 8 www.northernwilds.com

SERVING THE NORTH SHORE AND THE WILDERNESS BEYOND

PUBLISHERS

Shawn Perich & Amber Pratt

EDITORIAL

Shawn Perich, Editor editor@northernwilds.com

Breana Roy, Assistant Editor breana@northernwilds.com

ADVERTISING

Sue O’Quinn, Sales Representative sue@northernwilds.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Katie Viren • katie@northernwilds.com

Drew Johnson • drew@northernwilds.com

OFFICE

Roseanne Cooley billing@northernwilds.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Erin Altemus, Elle Andra-Warner, Eric Chandler, Gord Ellis, Kim Falter, Casey Fitchett, Joe Friedrichs, Kaelyn Lenski, Anne McKinsey, Deane Morrison, Micaella Penning, Julia Prinselaar, Kelsey Roseth, Amy Schmidt, Javier Serna, James Smedley, Mark Sparky Stensaas, Maren Webb

Copyright 2016 by Northern Wilds Media, Inc.

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Towering Pines Canopy Tour

The Mist of Avalon, which was originally built in 1967, will be anchored in Grand Portage Bay August 12-13. | SUBMITTED

Grand Portage welcomes tall ship

GRAND PORTAGE—Visitors to the annual Grand Portage Rendezvous Days and Pow Wow will have the opportunity to board the tall ship Mist of Avalon, which will be anchored in Grand Portage Bay August 12-13. Pam Neil, chief of interpretation for the Grand Portage National Monument, said the ship is planned to arrive on the afternoon of Thursday, August 11, weather depending.

Because the water depth in Grand Portage Bay is shallow, the ship will anchor off shore. The Sea Hunter, a passenger vessel that runs between Grand Portage and Isle Royale, will serve as the shuttle for free tours to the public on Saturday. Participants will board the Sea Hunter at the Grand Portage National Monument’s dock and then transfer to the Mist of Avalon via a gangway. Tours for the public will take place from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on an hourly basis. On board, the crew of the ship will serve as tour guides.

The tours will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are free and will be available at the national monument’s Heritage Center. You must have rubber soled shoes to board the ship. It is not ADA accessible. No strollers, pets or smoking are allowed. The official tour will be the only way to board the ship. For safety purposes, no private vessels will be allowed within 50100 yards of the ship. For those who are unable to take an on-board tour, the Western Lakes Station maritime reenactment group will be being doing interpretative programming on shore, so visitors can learn about maritime history and the fur trade.

The Mist of Avalon will raise its sails midday on Sunday and depart for Duluth, where it will participate in the Tall Ships Festival. The ship’s stop in Grand Portage is part of the National Park Service’s centennial celebration. The visit was sponsored by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Grand Portage National Monument.

After its appearance at Rendezvous Days, the Mist of Avalon will be headed to Duluth for the Tall Ships Festival. | SUBMITTED

Visitors can take a free historical tour of the ship on a first-come, first-serve basis. | SUBMITTED

The ship was built in 1967 as the wooden-hulled motor vessel Liverpool Bay, which fished for cod off the Banks of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland for two decades. When the cod fishing industry crashed, it was left abandoned at a dock in Halifax. Beginning in 1992, Captain George Main -

guy began converting her to a 19th century Grand Banks schooner. The ship returned to sea under sail in 1997 as the Mist of Avalon. Since then, it has appeared at maritime festivals as well as in feature films and documentaries. —Shawn Perich

The Addams Family, a new musical with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Based upon The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams

TICKETS

The Two Harbors City Band’s last show will be August 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Thomas Owens Park. | SUBMITTED

The Two Harbors City Band

TWO HARBORS—Most people can agree: it’s incredibly challenging to coordinate volunteers and keep them engaged. Despite the obstacles, the Two Harbors City Band has rallied and motivated its volunteer members since the band organized in 1897. It even operated continuously through WWI and WWII.

“We’ve got a real loyal core,” said Jim Glaser, president of the Two Harbors City Band. “We’re holding steady, membership-wise.”

The City Band is an offshoot of the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad Band. In the 1890s, the railroad decided not to fund the band anymore, so it donated the equipment to the city. From there, the city formed the band, but its historical connection to the railroad is not forgotten. Some of the group’s oldest music, from the 1890s or earlier, is stamped with the railroad band’s insignia.

The group has about 40 active members, and people play instruments that are common in concert bands: clarinets, flutes, saxophones, French horns, tubas, trombones, percussion and more. The band schedules about 10 performances every summer at the Thomas Owens Park in Two Harbors, on Thursday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., weather-dependent. “We’ll play even if it’s misting and drizzling and cold. People will either sit in the cars or have rain suits and umbrellas,” said Glaser.

Each time, the band plays new music for a crowd of about 150 people. “Want to know a secret?” asked Glaser. “We only have one practice for every concert.” Glaser said the volunteers who are committed to the band have a passion for music, and there are limited local options for people to perform.

“Music is a life thing. You start playing a piano when you’re five, six or seven years old, and you play it until you die,” said Glaser.

The band’s oldest member is in her 80s, and she directs and plays the tuba. Several local members have been involved for 40 to 50 years.

The City Band regularly plays at venues other than Thomas Owens Park. The group has played at the Two Harbors High School, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, the Silver Creek Cliff tunnel grand opening, and for navy ships arriving in the Duluth Port Terminal. The City Band plays to its largest crowd of 300 people during the Two Harbors Heritage Days, a yearly celebration of the town.

The City Band is always recruiting, ninth grade and up. “We hope to make it another 100 years,” said Glaser.

The City Band is seeking new members (no tryouts needed), and donations for revitalization of the Thomas Owens Park bandshell. To contact the group, visit www.friendsofthebandshellpark.com —Kelsey Roseth

This B-17 Flying Fortress named “Sentimental Journey” from CAF’s Airborne Arizona Museum in Mesa, Arizona, is one of two restored WWII-era planes coming to Thunder Bay the first week in August. Notice the image of the iconic pinup star Betty Grable on the side. | ELLE ANDRA-WARNER

WWII bombers heading north

THUNDER BAY—Aviation buffs may want to mark August 1–8 in Thunder Bay on their calendars. That’s when two iconic WWII-era warplanes from American museums—the four-engine B-17G “Sentimental Journey” and twin-engine B-25J “Miss Mitchell”—will be at the Thunder Bay Airport for a week’s stay. They will provide the public with a static show and on certain days, opportunities to purchase flights on these rare warbirds.

The B-17G will be flying in from its base at the Commemorate Air Force (CAF) Airborne Arizona Museum in Mesa, Arizona, and the B-25J from CAF Minnesota Wing (CAF-MN) base in St. Paul. The B-25J “Miss Mitchell” is one of roughly 45 B-25s still airworthy, out of more than 100 in the world (most in the U.S.).

Airbase Arizona, which is volunteer-operated by CAF’s Arizona wing, is a top tourist attraction in Phoenix and home base to approximately 30 aircraft, including a fully-restored Grumman Guardian (only five left in the world), F-4 Phantom, MiG-15 and the world’s only flying Lockheed Vega. There’s also an extensive collection of WWII artifacts and interesting exhibits.

After spending time in the bare-bones interior with its equipment, 50-cal machine guns, ammunition and bombs, one comes away with tremendous respect for the courageous 10-person crews—usually young men—that flew for many hours in the confines of this cold plane during dangerous missions over enemy territory.

Over in St. Paul, the CAF-MN operates an aviation museum, open to the public, with six aircraft including the B-25J “Miss Mitchell,” large motor pool fleet and collection of WWII artifacts. “Miss Mitchell” served in North Africa and Italy, completing 130 missions with a six-man crew, 12-18 50-cal machine guns, and the rare accomplishment of no crew fatalities during its missions.

The event is hosted by Confederation College and supported by the Thunder Bay International Airport and by the volunteers of the Northwestern Ontario Aviation Heritage Centre. The planes will arrive at the Thunder Bay Airport on August 1 and depart on August 8. —Elle Andra-Warner

Golf

The cockpit of the B-17 at CAF’s Airborne Arizona Museum in Mesa, Arizona. It will be in Thunder Bay the first week in August for the public to tour and have the opportunity to buy a ticket to fly in this rare aircraft. | GLENN WARNER

One of the pilots flying the B-17 to Thunder Bay will be Navy veteran and CAF member Bobbi Carleton (right), seen here with author Elle inside the “Sentimental Journey.” | GLENN WARNER

DRURY LANE

Writer’s

Writer’s

Writer’s

Unsalted Seas in Duluth

DULUTH—The Great Lakes Aquarium opened a new permanent exhibit on July 14, titled Unsalted Seas. The exhibit focuses on fresh water lakes and animals. There will be a 9,000-gallon touch tank filled with multiple types of sturgeon, many of which are found in Russia. The exhibit also features a large bronze statue of a Nerpa seal, which is the only fresh water seal in the world.

There will be five or six sturgeon species in the touch tank, including, Siberian, Beluga, Russian, Starlet, and Stellate. These are all found in Russian waters, including Lake Baikal. The tank will also include lake sturgeon, which are found in the Great Lakes. Many sturgeons are endangered or threatened fish species, so having the opportunity to touch and learn about them will make a great learning experience. Sturgeon have sides and backs that are armored in rows of thick plates instead of scales, so they are not very sensitive to touch. This makes them excellent for a touch tank exhibit. The tank is also large enough that the sturgeon can stay out of reach if they choose.

“There are growing concerns about fresh water around the world. Unsalted Seas will reinforce the important idea

that we should never take this precious resource for granted,” said Jack LaVoy, executive director.

Having the Russian sturgeon and the sturgeon found in the Great Lakes provides a strong educational opportunity to highlight the similarities and differences between the two largest freshwater lakes in the world. One big difference between the bodies of water is age. Lake Baikal is 25 million years old. Lake Superior is only 10,000 years old. Lake Baikal is also rich in biodiversity. Based off current knowledge, it is home to 1,000 plant species and 2,500 animal species.

The sturgeon from Russian waters were bred in captivity and acquired on loan from a sturgeon hatchery in Florida. The Siberian sturgeon came to the U.S. in a box from Thailand labeled “Seafood,” poorly packaged and barely alive. The fish were nursed to health miraculously in the Tennessee Aquarium and remained there after the smuggling case was resolved. Due to limited space at the Tennessee Aquarium, the Great Lakes Aquarium was able to acquire them.

For more info, visit www.glaquarium. com.—Kaelyn Lenski

The new Unsalted Seas exhibit at the Duluth Great Lakes Aquarium will focus on freshwater lakes and the animals that live in them. | SUBMITTED

Bike ride celebrates Beaver Bay

BEAVER BAY—The 16th annual Gitchi-Gami Trail Association (GGTA) North Shore Bike Ride takes place on Saturday, August 20, on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail (GGST) and connecting roads, with 28-mile, 37-mile, and 55-mile route options. The recreational ride will begin and end in Gooseberry Falls State Park.

As an added attraction to this year’s ride, Beaver Bay, the “hub” of all three rides, is celebrating its first annual Rhythm & Roots Festival that weekend. GGTA riders can enjoy music, history presentations, street sales, food and fun events planned for the celebration. The festival commemorates the 160th anniversary of the founding of the city of Beaver Bay—the oldest permanent settlement on the North Shore.

All three routes begin on the longest continuous section of the GGST—14 miles from Gooseberry through historic Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, to the new rest stop at the Beaver Bay trailhead. The 28-mile route is entirely on the GGST, from Gooseberry to Beaver Bay, and back again.

The 37-mile option adds a loop on county roads north from Beaver Bay and into Silver Bay, returning on the trail between Silver Bay and the West Road in Beaver Bay.

GGTA riders can enjoy the first annual Rhythm & Roots Festival in Beaver Bay, August 19-21. | SUBMITTED

The 55-mile option follows the GGST to Beaver Bay and adds a challenging loop north and east on county roads and state highways, returning through Silver Bay to Beaver Bay.

The GGTA is also celebrating its partnership with Beaver Bay Township and the state Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation (MnDOT) in completing the Beaver Bay to Silver Bay trail segment of the GGST. The West Road project will pave the half mile of gravel road from the west trail terminus to Hwy 61, linking Beaver Bay to Silver Bay on an all-asphalt surface,

with completion scheduled this fall or next spring.

Next year, MnDOT plans to reconstruct the bridge over the Beaver River, which will include a dedicated bike lane separated from traffic.

The GGTA Ride begins at 9:00 a.m. A daily pass will be provided by the GGTA as part of the registration fee.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided at rest stops and post-ride. Mechanical, emergency, and sag support will be provided.

Visit www.ggta.org for more information.—Anne McKinsey

Northern Wilds 2016 OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

New this Year!

The top three photos in each category will be featured in the 2017 Northern Wilds Calendar.

CATEGORIES:

All Winners will receive a calendar with their winning photo, plus other prizes.

Deadline Sept. 30

Rules: Please email your entries to contest@ northernwilds.com. Contestants may enter up to three photos per category. All photo entries must include the following information:

1) Contestant’s name, address, telephone number and email. 2) A short description of the photograph indicating where and when the picture was taken and identification of persons shown in the picture. 3) Photo resolution needs to be 10 megapixel or at least 3,000 kb.

4) Contestants agree to allow Northern Wilds Media to publish the photos (with credit) for editorial and publicity purposes.

Frosty Faces, Vicki Schmidt, West Fargo, ND

Brotherly Love Christine Johnston, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Surf’s Up by Philip Schwarz, Menomonie, WI

Lake Loving Dog by Brenda Hadrich, McGregor

Dining on Mountain Ash Berries Tracy Benson, Grand Marais

Wawa’s 34th annual Salmon Derby

WAWA—From August 19-22, Lake Superior’s Michipicoten Bay will be brimming with boats as part of Wawa’s 34th annual Salmon Derby. Brad Buck, president of Wawa Salmon Derby Incorporated, says that he expects well over 150 anglers to participate in the threeday event.

Buck says the prize structure depends on the number of participants, but figures it will be similar to last year; a top prize of $6,000 was awarded to the angler catching the weekend’s largest salmon and cash prizes were paid to the top five finishers. There is also cash for the largest lake trout and a variety of prizes—from an early bird registration draw to an empty creel award—expected to total around $25,000, said Buck.

Most fish are caught by downrigging through depths that can vary from near the surface, to 120 feet or deeper, he said. Popular baits continue to be dodger and fly combinations as well as cut bait and a variety of plugs and spoons. Last year’s winning salmon weighed 12.7 pounds, but salmon over 20 pounds are caught regularly.

Anglers registered can test the waters and have a chance at winning money during the five-day pre-fishing contest from August 13-17, when a daily cash prize will be awarded for the largest salmon. All fishing is in Michipicoten Bay—from Minnekona Point to the North, South to Brulé Point. The event is run out of Buck’s Marina at the junction of the Michipicoten and Magpie Rivers, about five miles south of the town of Wawa.

For more information visit www.wawasalmonderby.com —James Smedley

The author with a pair of Michipicoten salmon. | JAMES SMEDLEY

The event began in the early 1980s when Gary Sittler, owner of Sit’s Place Restaurant and Brad Buck of Buck’s Marina, organized the premier event which attracted 22 teams. The event grew quickly, regularly drawing over 300 teams per year through the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the salmon fishing out of Wawa was at its peak. Buck says the fishing for pink, coho, and Chinook salmon remains strong.

Journey for renewal update

MANITOBA—Chelsea Froemke, Tessa Larson, Whitney Vogel and Steph Branchaud left Seagull Lake on May 29 on a wilderness journey to York Factory, Manitoba. They made it to the Norway House, Manitoba on Monday, July 11. Their trip, called a Journey 4 Renew -

al, is a fundraiser for the Wilderness Canoe Base’s RENEWAL Campaign; a three-year effort to raise $1.2 million to complete the transfer of ownership of the camp to Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp from Plymouth Christian Youth Center.

New Forest Supervisor

DULUTH—Connie Cummins is joining the Superior National Forest as the new Forest Supervisor. Connie brings a wealth of experience, including nine years as the District Ranger on the LaCroix Ranger District, and two years as the Forest Supervisor from the Fremont-Winema National Forest in Lakeview, Oregon.

“While I have thoroughly enjoyed my short time in the West and its many opportunities and challenges, I am very excited to be returning to the Midwest and

to a Forest which holds a special place in my heart,” said Cummins. She is also excited to be close to family, “I am happily looking forward to experiencing some family time as well as dusting off my cross-country skis, lacing up my trail shoes and hitting the trails and lakes of Northern Minnesota.”

Cummins will fill the Forest Supervisor position formerly occupied by Brenda Halter, who retired in June. She assumes her new duties in August.

Jim and Julie Topie improved their new kitchen in more ways than they imagined possible –thanks

The girls have completed the Lake Winnipeg portion of their trip. | SUBMITTED

Voters choose state park plate

ST. PAUL—Following a week of online voting, during which more than 30,000 votes were cast, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith announced the winner of the contest to design a Minnesota state parks and trails license plate. The winning plate features an image of a canoe on the water, surrounded by Minnesota’s four seasons.

“Generations of Minnesotans have enjoyed our extraordinary state parks and trails system,” Smith said. “This new license plate allows Minnesotans to invest in the future of our parks and trails, and proudly demonstrate that commitment on their vehicles.”

The plate provides their owners with unlimited access to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas for the year, replacing the need for an annual vehicle permit (a $25 value).

The plate was submitted by Michelle Vesaas of Coon Rapids. Vesaas’s design received the most votes from among three finalists.

“My design was inspired by being in the outdoors in this beautiful state through all four seasons,” she said. “Even in the coldest days of winter, if you’re dressed for it, there is incredible beauty to be found.”

The new license plate will be available from the Department of Motor Vehicles this fall as part of the ongoing celebration of the 125th anniversary of Minnesota state parks and trails. The cost will start at $60, plus tax. The total includes a one-time, $10 fee for the plate itself, and a minimum $50 contribution (renewable annually).

Proceeds from license plate sales will help fund the operations and maintenance of Minnesota state parks and trails.

The DNR already has eight Critical Habitat license plates from which Minnesotans can choose. These specialty plates—first offered in 1995—provide an opportunity for citizens to support conservation and show their individuality by purchasing a license plate featuring a loon, a moose or another Minnesota-related image.

For more information, contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us

Fish find refuge near Fitger’s

DULUTH—The next time someone hooks a lake trout in Lake Superior, they might have the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to thank for it.

And while it might seem an odd pairing, MnDOT did make a sizeable effort in the early 1980s to build spawning grounds for lake trout in Lake Superior. A fine idea for anglers and public relations, perhaps, but one that came about when the tunnels in Duluth were being blasted and created.

“The truth is, it was a convenient way to get rid of a lot of rock,” said Cory Goldsworthy, DNR Lake Superior Area Fisheries supervisor.

Crews began digging the I-35 tunnels through sections of Duluth in 1983. A total of 179,000 tons of gabbro volcanic rock was excavated in the process. A large percentage of the rock was used to expand the Duluth Lakewalk, which extends between Canal Park and S. 60th Avenue E. near University Park. The rock from the tunnels was used specifically to build a wider strip of beach along the Lakewalk.

The leftover rock from excavating the tunnels was used to build a 1,200-footlong submerged trout spawning reef behind the Fitger’s complex. Officially, the artificial reef was built to address concerns about the environmental impact of the new Lakewalk beach near Lake Superior. A good gesture on the surface, but there is a belief that the rock was dumped on a natural lake trout spawning reef on the re -

mains of Duluth’s old wharf site, just west of Fitger’s. Today, the area in Lake Superior is known as the Fitger’s Reef Refuge.

And while it may have been deemed a move to increase fish-spawning habitat or as an act of good will on the part of MnDOT, the creation of the reef did raise a few eyebrows. In 1990, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission—an international organization that studies and reports on how to best manage waters in the Great Lakes region—released a document known as the International Position Statement and Evaluation Guidelines for Artificial Reefs in the Great Lakes. Among the findings in the publication was this statement: “Under no circumstances should artificial reef development be used as a pretext for the disposal of terrestrial refuse in the aquatic environment.”

The one certainty about the Fitger’s Reef Refuge is that lake trout do indeed spawn there each fall. Goldsworthy said it’s more of a mystery to know if the contents of the MnDOT tunnel project contributed to, or improved the habitat for spawning.

“We don’t know how much it really improved this specific location for spawning,” Goldsworthy said. “But we wouldn’t promote that something like this should take place again. We have more important things we could focus on for lake trout rather than just simply throwing rock in the lake.”

According to the Minnesota DNR, lake trout are the top predator in the Lake Superior fish community and they’re what most anglers try to catch. Goldsworthy noted that to ensure a healthy population, resource managers need to know where their spawning areas are. Goldsworthy said natural reefs found near the Gooseberry River and another near Two Harbors are locations where lake trout are known to spawn. Regardless of where lake trout spawn in Lake Superior, natural reproduction and solid recruitment are the key factors for a healthy population of the fish in the lake.

Perhaps MnDOT was simply looking for a place to dump rock after digging the tunnels of I-35 through Duluth. And if by dumping the rock in Lake Superior they created suitable habitat for lake trout in the process, in this instance that appears to be a legitimate solution to the age-old question often associated with development or uprooting the earth. And that question is, “Where are we going to put all this waste?”

For Goldsworthy, he answered it simply with regard to the Fitger’s Reef Refuge. “In this case, it did appear to be a winwin.”—Joe Friedrichs

A view of the Fitger’s Reef Refuge in Duluth. | FITGER’S INN

museum and nature center

Event

Woods, Winds & Strings Concert

Sunday August 14th 4 p.m. at the A.Paul & Carol Schaap Community Center (Fire Hall #1 on the Gunflint Trail).

Tickets are on sale at Chik-Wauk Museum. Adults $20 each. Children 5-18 are $5 each. Reserve your space now!

Weekly Events

Kids’ Day

Tuesdays, thru August 16, 11 am to 4 pm

Stories, hikes, journal-making & crafts

USFS Presentations

Tuesdays, thru August 23, 2 pm

Various Northwoods-themed topics presented by U.S. Forest Service naturalists

Nature Presentations

Fridays, through Aug. 5, 2–3 pm

Featuring one of the learning stations from the Nature Center

Special Presentations

Sundays, 2 p.m. in the new Nature Center, donations appreciated.

August 7: Wildfire Ecology Presentation by John Stillman

August 14: Gunflint & Lake Superior Railroad by David Battistel.

August 21: Lynx Population in Our Area by USFS specialist Dave Grosshuesch.

Open

Thru October 23, 10 am - 5 pm

Nature Center 11 am - 4 pm

Admission: Adults $4.00, ages 5-18 $2.00, ages 0-4 Free 28 Moose Pond Drive,Grand Marais 55 miles up the Gunflint Trail.

218-388-9915

info@chikwauk.com www.chikwauk.com

THE ROCK PICKER’S GUIDE TO LAKE SUPERIOR

Editor’s Note: The bottom of Lake Superior is paved with stones. However, many people have a hard time identifying what kinds of rocks they are looking at. The Rock Picker’s Guide to Lake Superior’s North Shore by Mark Sparky Stensaas is a great tool for locating and classifying over 15 different rocks. It also includes Lake Superior’s geological history, as well as beach profiles, tips for rock hunters, and detailed images illustrated by Rick Kollath.

Chert & Chalcedony: Flint, Jasper, Carnelian

Most of us are familiar with quartz—the clear large crystalled rock. Now we move into tiny-grained quartz rocks known as microcrystalline quartzes. These rocks were formed from silica that was dissolved out of silica-rich minerals like quartz. The silica travelled as fine particles in water until settling as a gel in cracks and bubbles (vesicles) in the bedrock. Slowly, the water evaporated leaving only the microscopic quartz crystals of silica.

All microcrystalline quartz can be divided into two groups of rocks: chalcedony (translucent and glossy) and chert (opaque and waxy).

HOW TO RECOGNIZE: Chalcedony rocks are nearly pure silica (SiO2) resulting in a translucent stone with a glossy to waxy surface. Examples include Lake Superior agate, red carnelian and yellow chalcedony. Cherts, on the other hand, have some impurities causing them to be less translucent and less glossy.

Though duller and opaque, cherts still come in a huge variety of colors from black (flint) to tan, yellow, gray and red (jasper). Jasper is stained with deep-burgundy sands of hematite (iron-bearing rock). With a little experience even tiny jasper nodules become very noticeable to the observant beachcomber. Their deep red/purple sheen is especially visible in the wave-splash zone at the Lake’s edge.

Chipped edges form half-moon shaped divots. This is called conchoidal fracturing and is a characteristic of all microcrystalline quartzes.

WHERE TO FIND: Jasper is most plentiful at Split Rock. Of the other cherts, tan is found at Kitchi Gammi while yellow shows up on the beaches of Burlington Bay, Flood Bay and Beaver River. Black chert, a.k.a. flint, is found on the Split Rock River Beach while banded flint is possible at Beaver River and Paradise Beach.

Four colors of chalcedony are out there to be discovered. Look for the clear form at Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock, yellow at Burlington Bay and Paradise Beach and smokey-gray amongst the basalts and rhyolites of Flood Bay. Eagle-eyed rock pickers may spot carnelian (red chalcedony) on Split Rock River Beach or Paradise Beach.

Lake Superior Agate

We are lucky that agate is harder than basalt or rhyolite. Why? Because if it was softer, the gargantuan grinding glaciers of the Pleistocene would have not only knocked them out of the basalt, but ground them to dust in the process. Fortunately for rock-hounds everywhere that wasn’t the case. What the glaciers did do, though, was to transport some Lake Superior agates well south of the Lake Superior basin. In fact, many were stranded in southern Minnesota and even Iowa when the glaciers retreated. Not only did the glaciers transport the agates but they also performed as giant rock tumblers, smoothing the rock’s rough edges. Agates on the North Shore were either brought south from Canada or weathered out of our bedrock naturally. Only after the agate is free of the base rock can be abraded and exposed to the air causing the iron-rich banding to turn red due to oxidization. (In other words…rusting.)

HOW TO RECOGNIZE: Easiest to spot when wet. Agates will glisten in the sun. Beach finds are rarely bigger than a walnut and most are pistachio-sized or smaller. Finding them becomes second nature with practice. The alternating red and clear or white bands are distinctive. They are translucent and extremely hard.

Porphyry

A well-known landmark and a massive example of porphyritic rock is the United States’ first national monument, Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. It formed as a giant molten plug which didn’t quite make it to the surface of a volcano. The volcano eroded away, leaving just the plug.

Porphyry is unique in that phenocrysts (whole crystals) of feldspars, quartzes or other minerals formed in still-molten magma before it erupted onto the surface. When the rock spewed out of the earth as lava, the matrix (the base rock; the stuff which was still

Even unbroken agate nodules can be easily identified by their lustrous, dimpled surface.

WHERE TO FIND: Almost any beach with small pebbles will hold agates and probably a prize or two. Remember, the waves of Lake Superior keep replenishing the stock so keep looking—especially after storms or early in the spring. The best and biggest Lake Superior agates are found on the dirt roads and gravel pits of Carlton County, Minnesota.

Basalt

molten while the crystals formed) hardened rapidly, forming a fine-grained rock trapping the largegrained phenocrysts. On the North Shore, the matrix rock can be either basalt or rhyolite. Porphyry is not the same as amygdaloidal rock.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE: You can easily tell phenocrysts and amygdules apart. Porphyritic phenocrysts are boxy and have angular squarish corners and edges. Amygdules form in bubbles so look for roundish mineralfilled shapes.

WHERE TO FIND:

Rhyolite is everywhere and often porphyritic. Basaltic porphyries are much less common but represented on nearly every North Shore beach.

Basalt and rhyolite are by far the most common rocks you will find on Lake Superior’s North Shore beaches. Basalt is one of the four rock-types that make up the basement bedrock of the earth’s crust. Basically it is lava that cooled quickly on the surface. The faster lava cools the smaller the crystals are. Our basalt originated during the Precambrian era 1.1 billion years ago when North America tried to split right down the middle. Millions of tons of lava flowed out from the rifts depressing the land and forming the original basin of Lake Superior. Today as you drive along Highway 61 nearly ever cliff, ridge, rock cut or ledge you see originated from these ancient lava flows.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE: Bluish-black with very small crystals. Can be found in all sizes and shapes from round to flat. An excellent skipping stone.

WHERE TO FIND: Any and every beach on the North Shore.

—Mark Sparky Stensaas

Lake Superior Boat

By Kelsey Roseth

Nerds

1004’

[ABOVE] The Michipicoten departing at sunrise. | TERRY WHITE

Ask Superior resident Terry White what he is wildly passionate about, and he proudly admits—he’s a boat nerd. “They’re pretty unique. The older ones are beautiful and the newer ones, well, they grow on you.”

Lake Superior’s shipping industry has captured White’s attention for more than 50 years. He grew up near Fraser Shipyard in Superior and previously worked as an extra longshoreman, helping load and unload ships at port if additional help was needed. “I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of ships,” he said.

White is part of a unique, close-knit photographer community that will do just about anything to capture a photograph of the magnificent steel vessels slicing across the surface of the big lake. For the past three years, the retiree has studied photography, tracked ships closely, scouted locations along the North Shore, and made it a priority to chase the crafts until he snaps the perfect shot.

Often, when White arrives on location, he’s not the only person there hoping to catch a captivating image. “It’s a community,” he said. “I’ve made many friends.” One of White’s closest friends is Duluth resident Paul Scinocca,

who he met in Canal Park while they were both photographing ships. “Every time I see a ship go by, it brings me a little bit of joy,” said Scinocca, whose dedication to photography dates back to the 80s.

Scinocca first photographed ships to create a calendar for his uncle, who had just retired from the Great Lakes Fleet. The self-taught photographer said, “I went out, at that time, and bought a little digital camera and started taking boat pictures. It became a disease, as I call it.”

Scinocca is a project manager for Hunt Electric, and in

[LEFT]

EdgarB.Speer laying up for the winter with help from the tug North Carolina | TRAVIS CHADWICK

that position, he is under a lot of pressure. Both Scinocca and White say the purpose of their photography is for fun, and relaxation. “Photography is a nice way to end the day, and to relieve stress,” said Scinocca. “It clears my mind.” Occasionally the pair donate their photos, or sell them to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, in addition to business and residential customers.

To further pursue their passions, White and Scinocca started a closed Facebook group called “Great Lakes Shipping Channel” about one year ago. Members, who White calls “boat nerds,” need approval to join. Since its conception, the group has gained more than 4,500 members who’ve posted more than 14,500 pictures. There’s one rule to the group: people are only allowed to post current Great Lakes shipping traffic.

Often, people post comments in the group, saying that the current images provide them relief, knowing their family and friends who work on the ships are at port, and safe. “They can track their loved ones on the ships, through all the other people who contribute photographs,” said Scinocca.

Travis Chadwick is another person with a passion for photographing the shipping industry. He received his first digital camera at age 12, and dedicated himself fully to the hobby in his 20s. He attended a digital photography crash course a few years ago, and then taught himself through trial and error.

About seven years ago, in the winter, Chadwick dropped off his daughter at preschool. While driving over a bridge, he

became enchanted by the ships moving through the “sea smoke;” the steam created when cold air moves over warm water.

“With all the sea smoke coming off of [the ships], it looks like a big, breathing beast,” said Chadwick. That day, it was less than 30° F. Chadwick, with no winter gear, was captivated. He stood outside and snapped photographs for a long time. “I was really numb afterwards.”

The Charter NEX Films extrusion technician became hooked. “I am just fascinated by them. For me, it’s moving history,” said the Superior resident. While White and Scinocca plan their days around shipping traffic, Chadwick is more of an opportunistic shooter. He heads to the docks if he has a free moment. As an introvert, Chadwick said photography is his outlet. “That way, I can express myself without having to use words,” he said.

Chadwick, Sinocca, and White have all sold photographs to Adele Yorde, the Public Relations Director for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. She publishes them in the North Star Port Magazine.

The harbor has been active for more than a century and its 19-mile waterfront spans two cities. Yorde said the photography of White, Scinocca, Chadwick and others helps revive a lost connection between people who live in the Twin Ports and the shipping industry. “Previously, most residents could say a neighbor or family member worked for the industry,” she said. With new technology, “the sheer number of people working [on the ships] are less, so there are less direct connections.”

Yorde said the rise of the Marine Traffic app is helping photographers plan the perfect shot. It shows when a ship is within 10 nautical miles of the port. “So many [people] are armed with iPhones, GoPros and drones. We receive all kinds of really neat shots that weren’t available even one decade ago,” said Yorde.

In Yorde’s opinion, people are passionate for the port because it’s incredibly visible.

“From every vantage point you can see the harbor,” said Yorde, who said in contrast, the harbors in most other communities are hidden. “People from Duluth and Superior gravitate toward the images because that’s their city.” Yorde said the historic images at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, and in the archives at the University of Wisconsin-Superior library, are a popular resource for photographers who seek a deeper connection and understanding of the ports.

To view more of their photographs, or to join the Boat Nerds movement, visit: www.travischadwickphotography.com

North Star Port Magazine (www.duluthport.com)

Marine Traffic App (www.marinetraffic.com)

Great Lakes Shipping Channel Facebook Group

Jumbo Shipping Fairlift departing Duluth. | TERRY WHITE

Canadian Steamship Lines in Thunder Bay. | PAUL SCINOCCA

Snapping the Perfect Picture

All the photographers shared tips for capturing the perfect shot. White said his special locations are the Park Point side of the canal, the old interstate bridge near the John A. Blatnik Bridge, and a few other spots that he’s talked his way into. Chadwick visits the Two Harbors ports and other spots along the North Shore. He is also planning a trip to the Soo Locks, between the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Ontario. It’s a set of parallel locks that enables ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, and a major destination for boat nerds.

In regards to taking the best photograph, Scinocca says, “I always seek the money shot.” Before he shoots, he pictures the perfect shot in his head, lines it up, and simply shoots. At times, he walks away from a location having only taken between four and 40 pictures. That’s no small feat, since digital cameras make it easy to snap hundreds of photographs in minutes.

Scinocca uses a Nikon D7200 camera and has stuck with the brand since day one. “They have very good lenses, are solid machines and I’ve had very few problems with them.” Chadwick prefers the Cannon EOS Rebel T2i, which Chadwick said is a solid camera at a lower price point.

CasonJ.Callaway departing through the Grassy Point Bridge. | TERRY WHITE

Exploring Superior’s Sunken Ships

By Erin Altemus

Lake Superior has become a virtual museum of maritime history. Below the aqua hue of Superior’s surface, ships rest along the bottom, preserved by the lack of oxygen and frigid water, and left for a rare few who explore the wrecks with the help of a dry suit, compressed air and knowledge of physics.

Phil Kerber has a keen interest in this underwater window into history. He has been scuba diving for 40 years and describes diving to a shipwreck like going back in time.

“It’s a time capsule,” he said. “It’s quiet, nothing around you moves. No phones. Nobody to answer to.”

Kerber is certified as a technical diver, meaning he is certified to dive down to 330 feet, which can only be done with mixed gases, such as tri-mix for a bottom mix helium, nitrogen and oxygen and nitrox for decompressing on the way up to the surface (supporting an increased amount of oxygen).

“This gives us an opportunity to dive on the deeper wrecks,” he said.

Kerber describes approaching a shipwreck like “floating in the air, from above.” As you descend, a massive hull appears and while diving you notice how the ship has stopped in time from when it sank, Kerber said. Paint is still on the ships, especially metal ones.

It is a love of the history of these ships that has spurred Kerber’s involvement in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society (GLSPS) of which Kerber is now Presi -

Diver on the bow of the sunken America. | BRETT SEYMOUR

The ornate Chisholm engine in 140 feet. | BRETT SEYMOUR

Ryan Hamlin suits up for a Superior Dive. | SUBMITTED

dent. GLSPS was founded in 1996 to help preserve the underwater shipwrecks and other maritime history.

“We are the only ones in the world that do this,” Kerber said.

Kerber explained that when a shipwreck is found, GLSPS starts the process of getting the ship nominated to the national registry, which includes raising money, documentation, organizing and supporting an archaeological survey and then nominating it to the National Registry of Historical Places, which can be $3,000-$6,000.

GLSPS works to preserve the wrecks as well by doing underwater construction that holds some of the structures together, especially areas of the ships built from wood that are more prone to collapse. This keeps the shipwrecks safe for others to enjoy.

One group that benefits from this work is the Boy Scouts of America 820 Venture Crew (BSA), who have a chance to collaborate with the GLSPS on the S.P. Ely, located in a shallow bay near Two Harbors. The BSA group takes a diving course in a pool and then with the help of GLSPS and chaperones, they visit a real shipwreck in Superior. Kerber said 15 to 20 kids ages 16 to 18 get an “experience like no other.”

GLSPS is based out of the Twin Cities and has projects all over the Great Lakes, but many of these projects are on Lake Superior and Isle Royale, which is the closest to the group’s home base. Another of the group’s roles is to support what’s called PIB, or Put-It-Back. In previous decades, divers to shipwrecks would pilfer artifacts, even removing architectural pieces or in some cases, entire engines or boilers.

In the case of a ship near the Apostle Islands, a gigantic boiler was taken out of the ship and eventually laid to rest on shore. When the land where this boiler sat changed hands, GLSPS was contacted to bring out the 10,000-pound boiler and return it to its ship. Because of heaving ice, the boiler has moved away from the ship itself, and now GLSPS will move it back to the ship and chain it to underwater rock.

Another diver who can’t seem to get enough time underwater, is Ryan Hamlin, a diving instructor from Thunder Bay. Hamlin has been diving for 10 years starting with an open water certification, progressing to deeper and more technical diving certifications and now to the training it takes to teach these skills to others.

Hamlin explained that he opened Lakehead Technical Diving for people that also want to dive deep.

“It’s been a lifelong endeavor to see what’s next. What is the next wreck I have to go see?”

Bay is the resting place of several large decommissioned ships sunk on purpose so that the city could open the marina. Hamlin explained that the boats

Thunder

Divers brave frigid, dark waters to explore a shipwreck. | RYAN HAMLIN

Photo of the S.PEly Project. | DEAN SODERBECK

are completely untouched—in cold dark water but left exactly the way they were when they were sunk.

The Green River, for example, was a 275-foot wooden steamer that is largely still intact. It has “enormous cargo holds,” said Hamlin, and “you can go inside.” Hamlin also enjoys diving to the Puckasaw tug, which sits near the Green River off the Welcome Islands.

Hamlin’s favorite diving experience has been to the shipwreck of the SS America, a passenger and parcel ship that went up and down the North Shore from Duluth to Thunder Bay in the early 1900s. The ship sank in 1928 when it ran aground near Isle Royale. The hull of the America rests just below the surface, but the wreck sits at a fairly steep angle, Hamlin explained.

“I remember diving through the engine room and coming out the other side. There’s a piano in it. There’s a truck in the cargo hold.”

Hamlin said he enjoys diving in Superior because unlike the ocean, “you don’t have to worry about what is trying to sting you or bite you. I got bit by a turtle once,” Hamlin said. “In Lake Superior you don’t have that.”

Hamlin explained that the cold water can be mitigated with a wet suit or dry suit. The hardest part of diving, he said, is suiting up.

“After that, you are weightless,” he said.

Hamlin loves diving because it’s silent.

“The whole world has left and it’s just you,” he said. “You are looking into a window into history. You might see a boot that is still laced up, and you think ‘someone was wearing that.’ All you are thinking about is your breathing and what you are seeing … It’s very moving.”

Diving companies along Superior’s North Shore teach divers the physics of water and atmospheric pressure. Most divers start in a pool and move on to the open water from there. Many companies take divers on tours of the shipwrecks.

Hamlin assured that it’s not dangerous if you follow your training, and always plan your dive and then dive your plan. Never dive outside your training level. This will reduce your chances in becoming a statistic.

“You wouldn’t fly or drive without training,” he said. “Once you are trained, it’s not dangerous. Get in the water, get wet and find out what it is.”

the Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society in Preserving Maritime History by becoming a member.

Learn more at the Upper Midwest Scuba and Adventure Travel Show in the Twin Cities March 25, 2017

Get more info. at glsps.org or umsatshow.org.

Nor’Wester Lodge turns 85 this year, and owners Carl and Luana Brandt are celebrating two Golden Anniversaries: 50 years of marriage and 50 years of running Nor’Wester Lodge — and you get the gifts!

The Luck of the Draw Visit the Nor’Wester gift shop any Tuesday between Memorial Day and Labor Day and draw a card from the Lucky Deck Win 10 - 50% off your purchase of $20 or more.

A fish tug boat in Five Finger Bay at Isle Royale. | BRETT SEYMOUR

FREE CONCERTS AT CHIPPEWA PARK EVERY SUNDAY TBaytel FAMILY STAGE 2:00 PM TO 4:00 PM

Wildlife Park

RV Sites

Thirty-four full-service RV sites are available with water and 50 amp/240 volt electrical service. These RV sites are located along the shore of Whiskey Jack Creek. This area has its own central washroom and shower facilities.

Twelve electrical-only RV sites are available at the campground. Water is only available for filling tanks. Six of the sites have 30 amp electrical service, and six have 15 amp service. Each site has a picnic table. These RV spots are located around the outside of the centre green.

Log Cabins

Seven modern, wheelchair-accessible cabins are available. Cabins are electrically heated and have two queen-size beds, table and chairs, microwave and small fridge. A beautiful wooden deck at the front is perfect for relaxing in the sun.

Tent Sites

Approximately 16 tent sites are conveniently located in a wooded area near the main campground building and a large open playfield. Additional sites are situated on grassed areas adjacent to the treed areas. This unserviced area is also available for group bookings for trailers and tents. This area will hold approximately 40-50 trailers.

Dump

Station

The Chippewa Park Wildlife Exhibit features animals and birds native to Northwestern Ontario, showcased in their natural environment. An elevated, wheelchair-accessible walkway encircles the spacious animal enclosures and provides visitors with a spectacular viewing opportunity.

Amusement Rides

Fun for all ages

July to September (Labour Day weekend)

7 days a week: 1 - 8 pm (weather and crowd permitting)

Tuesday Jam Sessions

Join local musicians for an evening of musical entertainment every Tuesday night through August 30. It is an open jam session with everybody welcome and TFOCP provide a sound system and travelling microphone.

All musicians of all skills levels are welcome and new players and singers are encouraged to join us. Listeners are also encouraged to come out and be entertained and dancing is strongly endorsed. Musicians share a mix of old and new country, folk, old time rock and roll and stuff you can sing along to including some gospel.

Seating is limited to approximately the first 100 so it might be good to bring along a lawn chair or two. There is no admission fee. We will ask for a free will offering to help cover expenses. Coffee, tea and juice as well as cakes and cookies are provided at no extra charge. We start at 7:00 PM and go till 10:00 PM.

See you there!

The public dump station can be used free of charge by registered Chippewa campers. Non-registered trailers/RVs will be charged a fee. For campground reservations or more information call (807) 623-3912 or email:

chippewacampgroundsstaff@thunderbay.ca Check us out at: www.chippewapark.ca

Chippewa Park is located off Highway 61 at the south end of the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Take Chippewa Road then City Road to get to this great family park.

By Breana Roy

CELEBRATING SUPERIOR

This month, we honor Lake Superior. Both beautiful and powerful, Lake Superior is more than just a lake. Many people depend on it for work. For others, it provides inspiration. Photographers and artists flock to it, hoping to capture the perfect image. Tourists plan trips around it. For me, it provides tranquility and serenity, even on the stormiest of days. Because even at its worst, there’s something mesmerizing and empowering about Lake Superior.

A felt portrait of the Hovland Dock, created by fiber artist Jo Wood. | JO WOOD

Windward Shore by Marian Lansky can be found at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais. | MARIAN LANSKY

Shelly Bouquet creates stained glass images, such as this one depicting the Grand Marais harbor. | SHELLY BOUQUET

This image of Lake Superior is made out of polished glass, also known as “mermaid tears.” | ANNE GORHAM

“Shoreline,” an oil painting by Greg Murphy, depicts a cold Lake Superior day. | GREG MURPHY

Nancy Seaton works with blown glass to create Superior inspired totems. Her work can be found at Sivertson Gallery in Grand Marais. | NANCY SEATON

BAYFRONT ART FESTIVAL

The Bayfront Art Festival will be held Aug. 18-21, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., in Bayfront Park, Duluth. This year’s show will feature 170 juried artists of all different mediums, from ceramics and jewelry-making, to painting and photography. The artists are then judged in the category of their choice. To select a winner, judges look at beauty, skill and technique, emotion, and the meaning of the art. Visit www.artinbayfrontpark.com for more info.

The Bayfront Festival will include many jewelry artists, such as Sue Peoples, who creates her own glass beads. | SUE PEOPLES

Breana’s Pick OF THE MONTH

This month, I’m eager to show off the beautiful work of Brienne Moody from Grand Marais, who creates sophisticated leather bags, clutches and totes, and knits hats, sweaters, kids clothing and more, all from home. One of my favorites is this yellow leather clutch, perfect for a summer or autumn day. Her work can be found at www.handmadebybrienne.etsy.com.

Through Aug. 17

D.R. Martin: Duluth Street Photographer (reception July 21 at 5 p.m.) Red Herring Lounge, Duluth www.duluthartinstitute.org

Through Aug. 21

Pottery in Cook County Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais www.johnsonheritagepost.org

Aug. 26-Sept. 11

Jean Ritchie Monahan Retrospective Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais www.johnsonheritagepost.org

Through Aug. 31

The Beehive Design/Test

Their Logik: Art of Resistance Tour Definitely Superior Art Gallery, Thunder Bay www.defnitelysuperior.com

Through Sept. 2

Tim White: In & Out of Context Duluth Art Institute www.duluthartinstitute.org

Through Sept. 4

Vance Gellert: Iron Country Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth www.d.umn.edu/tma

Through Sept. 9

Plein Air Duluth: Paint du Nord (reception July 15 at 5 p.m.) Duluth Art Institute Galleries www.duluthartinstitute.org

Through Sept. 18

Sue Coe and Warrington Colescott: All This Is True Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth www.d.umn.edu/tma

Jeffrey T. Larson: Domestic Space Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth www.d.umn.edu/tma

Through Sept. 24

Leanna Marshall & Celeste Pedri-Spade: The Teaching is in the Making: Re(Store)ied Memories of Anishinabeg Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca Through Sept. 25

Arthur Shilling: The Final Works Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca

Through Sept. 25

The Art of Adornment: Selections from the

www.theag.ca

Gail Anderson creates rock lamps using Lake Superior stones. | GAIL ANDERSON

Sydney Krieger of Mystic Earth Designs uses dye and fabric to create wearable art, such as this silk scarf. | SYDNEY KRIEGER

Dan Neff creates glass art, such as these bottle stoppers. His work can be found at Lake Superior Art Glass in Duluth. | DAN NEFF

Collage artist Kristi Abbott is influenced by pop culture, as seen in her “Marilyn” print.

| KRISTI ABBOTT

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS An International Carnival

The Two Harbors Ukulele Group began as the brainchild of Alan Anderson as part of a worldwide resurgence of ukulele groups.

“We started six or seven years ago in a very humble fashion. I started playing the ukulele and I knew others in town played as well. I put an ad in the paper and sixteen people showed up to play together the next week,” said Anderson.

Following the impressive initial turnout from a small advertisement, the group began scheduling more regular sessions and were soon asked to play at local events. The strictly volunteer-run group now performs between 23-26 times a year. Notable performances include playing for the kids at Birch Grove Community School in Tofte, for the nuns at St. Scholastica, at Bent Paddle Brewery in Duluth and Heritage Days in Two Harbors.

The biggest event of the year for the Two Harbors group is the free International Ukulele Carnival in the town of Silver Creek, located between Two Harbors

By Casey Fitchett

and Beaver Bay. Last year, the carnival saw more than 105 participants hailing from nine different states and two Canadian provinces. This year, participants arriving Friday evening of the festival weekend can enjoy a jam session and dance. Saturday is jam-packed with workshops and an afternoon concert. There is a Sunday morning Ukulele Breakfast and Church Service, followed by a social and jam session before saying goodbye until next year.

Due to steady growth in recent years, this year’s carnival is the inaugural event in a new facility in Silver Creek. The township is converting an old shop building into a hall that will be able to fit about 200 people for the Saturday concert. The addition of a stage and a dance floor will only add to the allure of the biggest ukulele festivals on the North Shore.

“Our sixth carnival will take place August 19–21 this year. There are no limits to the number of registrants and participants can register online. There will be music vendors and an open mic in the old facility,” said

Anderson. “There is also camping available on-site.”

Two new events this year include a live singalong at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19 and a post-concert catered meal following the Saturday afternoon concert.

The core Two Harbors Ukulele Group players enjoy the performances, but pride themselves on their virtuosity, friendship, and camaraderie. Welcoming beginners and being inclusive is important to Anderson, especially at the bi-weekly “Ukulele Saturdays” at the United Church in Two Harbors.

“We are primarily a group of grandparent-age players of all different levels of proficiency,” said Anderson. “There are people who haven’t had a chance to express themselves musically in a long time. It is all smiles all the time and the emphasis is on fun!”

More information about the group and the Silver Creek International Ukulele Carnival (SCIUC) can be found at www.twoharborsukulelegroup.com.

Members of the Two Harbors Ukulele Group from the 2015 SCIUC. | ANDY SAUR

The struggle between two rivals to dominate the fur trade industry in North America drastically changed the course of Canada’s history. | SUBMITTED

Aug. 20-21 Fort Under Siege represents one of the most dramatic chapters in Canadian history, recreating the epic confrontation between two mighty rivals, the North West Company (NWC) of Montreal and the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) of England. Their violent struggle to dominate the fur frade in North America changed the course of Canada’s history forever. Watch as the plot unfolds at Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay, August 20-21.

The arrival of the HBC to Fort William, led by prominent shareholder Lord Selkirk, is a result of the NWC’s suspected involvement in the massacre of HBC colonists on the Red River. Will Selkirk take his revenge on the inhabitants of Fort William

in retaliation for the death of his settlers?

Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with soldiers, join in the emergency meeting of the NWC Partners, help hide muskets and powder, witness the arrival of forces and help with a fort wide search to expose the plot. Kids can sign-up to join the forces of either the HBC or the NWC, but first they must learn how to march like a real soldier. There will also be axe throwing lessons, as well canoe paddling and spy lessons.

Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for ages 13-18 and seniors, and $10 for ages 6-12. Children ages five and under are free. The plot will unravel from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Visit www.fwhp.ca/fort-under-siege

SUMMER THEATER FESTIVAL

July 21-Aug. 14 The Grand Marais Playhouse will be performing Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesserling, and The Addams Family musical. Shows will alternate each night, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $20 adults and $10 for ages 18 and under. Advance tickets are available at www.tix.com. All seating is general admission. www.arrowheadcenterforthearts.org

FISHERMAN’S PICNIC

Aug. 4-7 The 87th annual Fisherman’s Picnic festival in Grand Marais includes something for everyone; bingo, live music, a dunk tank, kiddy rides, vendors, demos, arts and crafts, the Crazy Daze Sales, and of course, the fishburger stand. There will also be dozens of contests—including the Big Fish contest sponsored by Buck’s Hardware and Northern Wilds. The contest will be held July 30-Aug. 6. Visit www.buckshardware.net for more info. And don’t forget to buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win $10,000! www.facebook.com/grandmaraislionsclub

LIVE FROM THE ROCK FOLK FESTIVAL

Aug. 5-7 This annual music and arts festival, located in Red Rock, Ontario, began in 2002 and has become an annual tradition for over 2,000 music lovers. The festival offers music on four daytime work-

shop-style stages and an evening festival concert stage, as well as a family stage, open mic, and campfire jams. This year’s lineup includes Tragedy Anne, The Young Novelists, The Moonshiners, Steve Poltz, Dirty Dishes, Roger Roger and more. There will also be a food court, vendors, a festival pub, an artisans’ marketplace, and activities such as yoga by the lake. www.livefromtherockfolkfestival.com

GUEST SPEAKER AT CHIK-WAUK

August 8, Monday Patricia Emerson will present a program on the underwater exploration of the Granite River done by the Minnesota Historical Society from 1963 to 1970. Emerson will speak about the history of the Quetico-Superior Underwater Research Project. She will have images of the exploration and will provide people with an opportunity to view artifacts that were retrieved during the project. She has some of the nested brass kettles to display and a few other objects. Bruce Kerfoot from the Gunflint Lodge participated in the diving and will add his comments too. The discussion will start at 1:30 p.m. at the Seagull Community Center/Fire hall. The meeting is open to the public. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and the new Nature Center is open from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., every day.

FORT UNDER SIEGE

Step aboard and set sail at the Tall Ships Festival in Duluth, August 18-21. | FUNDACION NAO VICTORIA

MID-TRAIL PROPERTY OWNERS FUNDRAISER

Aug. 10, Wednesday Support the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire and Rescue department with the annual Mid-Trail Property Owners Fundraiser, held at noon at the Schaap Community Center, roughly 26 miles up the Gunflint Trail. Enjoy cupcakes and lemonade while browsing the flea market and boutique, followed by a live auction at 1:30 p.m. And don’t forget to buy a raffle ticket to win a handcrafted “Gunflint Rocks and Waters” quilt, donated by the mid-trail quilting group.

BREW HA CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL

Aug. 12-13 Enjoy a convoy of food vendors, live-local music, educational talks and demos, and of course, craft beer. Choose between a day pass for $20 or a weekend pass for $50, both of which include four sample tokens and a custom Brew Ha sample glass. This year’s featured breweries include Sleeping Giant, Dawson Trail, Stack Brewing, Muskoka Brewery, Steam Whistle and Beau’s. The festival will take place at Prince Arthur’s Landing in Thunder Bay. www.brewhafestival.com

FREE SKY GAZING

Aug. 12-13 The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada-Thunder Bay Centre is inviting people to join them for a weekend of sky gazing at Quetico Provincial Park. It will be held August 12-13 when the Perseid meteor shower will be at its peak. Free presentations will be offered both evenings. Viewing equipment will also be provided. Contact Brendan Roy at novationheart@hotmail.com for more info.

BAYFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL

Aug. 12-14 Roughly 20,000 fans are expected to attend the annual three day Bayfront Blues Music Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. More than 30 different acts will perform on two different outdoor stages. This year’s lineup includes Pat McLaughlin, WAR, Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys, Jennie DeVoe, Javier & the Innocent Sons, Travis Bowlin and more. Ticket info available online at www.bayfrontblues.com.

GRAND PORTAGE RENDEZVOUS DAYS AND POW WOW

Aug. 12-14

This year’s Rendezvous Days and Pow Wow will feature free tours of the Mist of Avalon and Mackinaw ships, anchored at Grand Portage Bay. Other events include dozens of workshops and demos, contests, an 18th century puppet show, presentations, reenactors and tours of the historic encampment, live music, storytelling, a scavenger hunt, a drum ceremony featuring the Stone Bridge Singers and regale dance. Events will take place at the Grand Portage National Monument. www.nps.gov/grpo

KRAUS-ANDERSON BIKE DULUTH FESTIVAL

Aug. 13-14 Organized and sponsored by the nonprofit Kraus-Anderson Community Foundation, the KA Bike Duluth Festival is a family-oriented mountain bike racing event. Races will be held on Saturday and Sunday, August 13-14 at Spirit Mountain in Duluth. Saturday races include the Long and Short Enduro, Downhill, Kids Downhill, Youth Downhill, KA Dirt Ball, and Bike Tour races. Sunday is the Great Hawk Chase XC Race. Register online at www. bikeduluthfestival.com.

PAN SUPERIOR RENDEZVOUS

Aug. 13-14 The annual Pan Superior Rendezvous with the Thunder Bay Yacht Club brings together boaters from around Lake Superior to share in the beauty of Porphyry Island and the lighthouse. Enjoy

The Grand Portage Rendezvous Days and Pow Wow features dozens of workshops, reenactors, live music and more. | SUBMITTED

such as Roots on Rock by photographer Vince Quast can be seen at the Under the Spreading Walnut Tree Festival. | VINCE QUAST

a weekend of barbecue bonfires, hikes around the island, and lighthouse tours. www.clls.ca

UNDER THE SPREADING WALNUT TREE

Aug. 13-14 The annual Under the Spreading Walnut Tree Art Festival in Two Harbors will feature approximately 30 artists, along with this year’s featured artist; photographer Vince Quast. Folk musician Thea Ennen will also provide live music. The festival will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. More info can be found on Facebook.

WATERCROSS RACE

Aug. 13-14 The 11th anniversary of the Watercross Race in Winton (near Ely), will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 1314. Racing starts at 10 a.m. daily. There will also be family-friendly activities, food vendors, product vendors, and live music by Payback. Visit Facebook for more info.

ART IN BAYFRONT PARK & TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL

Aug. 18-21 This year, the Art in Bayfront Park Festival in Duluth will be running in conjunction with the Tall Ships Festival. Guests can take a tour or sail Lake Supe -

Winter is Coming...

Be prepared. Make plans to attend the 2016 Fall Energy Expo

Saturday, October 1st, 10:00-4:00 Cook County Community Center

Pellet Stoves 101 with area vendors. Home Energy Efficiency for the Long Winter with builder & energy auditor Mike Senty. Exploring Solar energy systems for your home or business. With Jason Edens from the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL).

Afternoon Guided Tours:

~ A house & oven powered by the sun.

~ Your maximum efficiency root cellar.

~ Neighborhood solar-thermal sites.

All events are FREE. Light lunch provided. Please RSVP to: localenergy@boreal.org

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Taconite Harbor Reunion at the Cross River Heritage Center Saturday, 2-4 p.m.

Birch Grove School Tour

Saturday, 10:30 am Edwin H. Lundie Book Signing with author Peter O’Toole

Boom Town to Ghost Town: Taconite Harbor

2016 Schroeder Area Historical Society Exhibit:

Photos

Clay artist Joel Cherrico will be at Art in Bayfront Park. He holds the Guinness World Record for throwing the most pots in one hour. | CAITLIN BRUTGER

rior on one of the many historical ships. There will also be educational programs, live music and entertainment, food vendors, over 150 art vendors, demos, a parade of ships and more. Visit www.artinbayfrontpark.com or www.tallshipsduluth.com for more info.

LAKE COUNTY FAIR

Aug. 18-21 The Lake County Fair in Two Harbors provides four days of non-stop fun, from a Truck Mud Run and the 3k Dirty Dash obstacle course race, to live music, street dances and the 4th annual Amateur Talent Contest. There will also be free games, prizes, drawings, commercial booths, a 4-H food stand, family movie night, a pie contest and auction, a shooters competition, Minnesota Old West Living History Camp, 4-H horse show, and exhibits. www. thelakecountyfair.com

MURILLO FAIR & COUNTRY FEST

Aug. 19-21 The Murillo Fair in Ontario will feature a night of pure country at the Murillo Fairgrounds on Friday, August 19 at the Murillo Country Festival. This year’s lineup includes The Road Hammers, Aaron Pritchett, Meghan Patrick and Shantelle Davidson. In addition to live music, there will be food, a beer garden, vendors and fair rides. The gates will open at 3 p.m. and music will be held from 6-11 p.m. on Friday. Purchase tickets online at www.murillocountryfest.com.

WAWA SALMON DERBY

Aug. 19-21 Known as “Wawa’s Superior Sporting Event,” the 37th Wawa Salmon Derby on Lake Superior includes multiple categories and activities for the whole family, including a children’s category. The winner of the Largest Salmon wins $6,000. Other prizes will be awarded at the Sunday ceremony. There is also a five day pre-fishing contest, August 13-17. www.wawasalmonderby.com

HARPETH RISING

Aug. 20, Saturday The (harp-free) female trio Harpeth Rising is often described as “modern progressive bluegrass” or “chamberfolk.” These three classically trained musicians produce original music that’s intricately arranged and lyrically rooted in the singer/songwriter tradition. Layered with the cello, violin and banjo, they create a sound that’s familiar but impossible to categorize. They will be performing at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais at 7:30 p.m.. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.tix.com. www.northshoremusic association.com

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Aug. 26-27 The Duluth Dragon Boat Festival at Barker’s Island is a family-friendly multi-cultural event that also features fantastic food, celebratory music, dancing, a craft fair, a parade, and fireworks. There will also be a magic show, Korean sword demos, a pancake breakfast and children’s activities. An after party with live music by the Circuit Breakers will be held at 7 p.m. after the awards ceremony at the Barker’s Island Inn. www.lakesuperiordragons.com

RIBFEST WITH CAR & BIKE SHOW

Aug. 26-28 The annual Ribfest in Thunder Bay’s waterfront district features Canada’s finest ribbers battling it out. Also part of the festival is the Car and Bike Show on Sunday, August 28. Roughly 100 roadsters, show

Country singer Shantelle Davidson will be performing at the Murillo Country Festival on August 19.

cars and antique automobiles will be on display, as well as 70 motorcycles and show bikes. Admission is free and participants can vote for the People’s Choice Award winners for each category. Ryan Evans from Counting Cars will also be live in Thunder Bay August 27-28. The festival will include live entertainment, prize drawings, a beer garden, and more. www. ribfesttbay.com

SUPERIOR MAN TRIATHLON

to choose from. The

a 1.2 mile swim, 56

Aug. 28, Sunday Run, bike and swim your way to the finish line at the Superior Man Triathlon, held in Duluth at Bayfront Festival Park. There are

bike and 13.1 mile run. The 41.5 Triathlon features a .5 mile swim, 35.4 mile bike and 5.6 mile run. Register online at www.superiormantri.com.

The Lodge: Native Log Lodge built in1937

Overlooking Lake Superior’s Nipigon Bay

60 miles east of Thunder Bay on Red Rock’s Doorstep

We offer: N ightly rates

Meal and Adventure packages

Brook Trout Charters

“Eagle“ Photography in Oct. Hiking

Kayaking, and Sailing

The Duluth Dragon Boat Festival will be held August 26-27 at Barker’s Island, Superior. |

SAWMILL TOURS

Hedstrom Lumber Co. will be offering tours of the Sawmill and Planing Mill JUNE 21 - AUGUST 27

KARL EVERETT

Ribfest in Thunder Bay also serves up live music. | SUBMITTED

Enjoy the Fun Slide at the Lake County Fair. | MELISSA LERAAN.

DON’T MISS RYAN EVANS FROM TV’S COUNTING CARS LIVE IN THUNDER BAY

DON’T MISS RYAN EVANS FROM TV’S COUNTING CARS LIVE IN THUNDER BAY

SAT. AUG. 27 &

SAT. AUG. 27 &

SUN. AUG. 28

SUN. AUG. 28

CAR AND BIKE SHOW SUNDAY, AUGUST 28

Don’t miss nearly 100 roadsters, show cars, and antique automobiles on display.

View the power and spectacle of over 70 Motorcycles and Show Bikes on display.

Plus, purchase a ballot to vote for the People’s Choice Award Winners in each category.

Admission is Free – motorcycle and cars are on display in the Waterfront District on Red River Road between Court Street and Cumberland Street. For information or to enter your vehicle or bike –call 807-474-7601

Don’t Miss Canada’s finest Ribber’s Fri. August 26 to Sun. August 28 on the OLG Casino parking lot on Park Avenue, Thunder Bay.

Entertainment, Beer Garden, Prize Draws and more!

Sponsored by:

Presented by

Presented by

GoodAwaitTimes North of the Border

Seeking a Hip Scene?

Head for Thunder Bay’s Waterfront District and the nearby Algoma & Bay Neighborhood. You’ll find it all: live music, great food, funky galleries, unique shops, the OLG Casino, Marina Park and more.

This ain’t your daddy’s Thunder Bay! www.thewaterfrontdistrict.ca

(Remember, Thunder Bay is on Eastern Time —1 hour ahead of MN time.)

We begin the month with the Festa Italiana at the Italian Cultural Centre on Algoma Street, July 31-August 1. Enjoy home-cooked, traditional Italian food, entertainment, art, vendors and prizes. The festival will end with fireworks at 11 p.m. each night. www.italiancc.com

The free Live at the Waterfront Concert Series continues at Marina Park, occurring every Wednesday until August 24, from 6-9 p.m. Upcoming musicians include The Roosters, Southern Comfort, Kansas Stone, Nick Sherman, The Blues Bangers, Engine House, Paper Lions, JC Wilkinson, and more. www.thunderbay.ca/live

Red Lion Smokehouse will be featuring all kinds of events this month, starting with Beers and Queers at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 6. Then, stretch your sipping muscles with an hour long Pints & Poses yoga class at noon during Brew Ha on August 13. Tickets are available online at www.evenbrite. com. Cost is $35 and includes a yoga class, afternoon festival pass, and beer

tokens. Also at Red Lion is the Video Game Tournament on Wednesday, August 24 at 8 p.m. And on Tuesday, August 30 is Market Day, where you can meet local producers and farmers at 5 p.m. There is also Live Music every Friday night and a Quiz Night on Wednesday, August 31. www.redlionsmokehouse.ca

The 6th annual Thunder Bay’s Strongest Man event supporting Camp Quality will be held on Saturday, August 6. This free event is located in Paulucci’s Wayland Bar and Grill parking lot. There will be local bands performing outdoors, a children’s area and activities, along with the strongest men and women Thunder Bay has to offer, all vying for the title and major cash prizes. Includes the original Thunder Bay’s Strongest Kid Competition, where every child gets a prize for competing, and the top placed children of each age group receive a medal. www.thunderbay.ca

Craft beer enthusiasts should head to Prince Arthur’s Landing on August

12-13 for the annual Brew Ha Craft Beer Festival, featuring live-local music, demos, food vendors and more. This year’s featured breweries include Creemore Springs, Sleeping Giant, Beau’s, Stack Brewing, Steam Whistle, Muskoka Brewery and Dawson Trail. www.brewhafestival.com

The dragons are back for the Dragon Boat Festival on Boulevard Lake Saturday, August 13. Join a race team and pledge to raise money for community charities. Categories include adult and youth teams. www.paddlesport.org

And don’t miss the annual Ribfest August 26-28, held at the Waterfront District and featuring four different barbecue style “ribbers” competing for the number one title. Admission is free and food is abundant. Also included is live entertainment, prize drawings, a beer garden, and a car and motorcycle show, with a guest appearance by Ryan Evans from TV’s Counting Cars. www.ribfestbay.com

AUGUST

Northern Wilds Calendar of Events

April 25-Oct. 9

Mentor Residency Workshops Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

July 21-Aug. 14

Summer Theater Festival: Arsenic & Old Lace & The Addams Family Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais www.arrowheadcenterforthearts.org

July 29-31

Celebrate Nipigon & Blueberry Blast Nipigon www.nipigon.net

Blueberry Art Festival Whiteside Park, Ely www.ely.org/blueberry-art-festival Two Harbors Kayak Festival www.kayakfestival.org

July 29-Aug. 1

Strathcona Invitational Strathcona Golf Course, Thunder Bay

July 30-Aug. 6

Big Fish Contest Cook County www.buckshardware.net

July 31, Sunday

Skyline Parkway 125th Anniversary Celebration 1 p.m. Chester Bowl, Duluth www.duluthpreservation.org

Retirement on the Gunflint with Betty Hemstad 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com

Goo Goo Dolls & Collective Soul with Tribe Society 7 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.bayfrontfestivalpark.com

July 31-Aug. 1

Black River Revue 9 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 1-5

MN Master Naturalist Volunteer Training Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center, Duluth www.d.umn.edu/boulder/events.html

Joe Paulik 7 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 3, Wednesday

Buffet Dinner & Silent Auction 5 p.m.

St. John’s Church Hall, Grand Marais

KISS 7:30 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth www.decc.org

Aug. 3-7

Spirit Valley Days West Duluth www.spiritvalleydays.com

Aug. 4, Thursday

Earth, Wind & Todd Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais (218) 387-2974

Member’s Only Book Sale 5 p.m.

Grand Marais Community Center

Duluth Kidney Walk 6 p.m. Bayfront Park, Duluth www.bayfrontfestivalpark.com

Aug. 4-6

Renegade Theater Company presents: Marie Antoinette Teatro Zuccone, Duluth www.renegadetheatercompany.org

Aug. 4-7

Fisherman’s Picnic Grand Marais www. facebook.com/grandmaraislionsclub

Aug. 4-20

NINE: The Musical 7:30 p.m. The Underground, Duluth www.duluthunderground.org

Aug. 5, Friday

Annual Book Sale 8 a.m.

Grand Marais Community Center

Gunflint Nature Presentation 2 p.m.

Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com

Earth, Wind & Todd Birch Terrace, Grand Marais (218) 387-2215

Howling Moon Festival 6:30 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.twinportsnightlife.com

Aug. 5-6

Floydian Slip 8:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 5-7

Live from the Rock Folk Festival Red Rock, Ontario www.livefromtherockfolkfestival.com

Fisherman’s Picnic Adult Tennis Tournament Grand Marais Tennis Courts www.facebook.com/groups/ cookcountytennisassociation

Aug. 5-7 & 12-14

Day Out with Thomas the Train Duluth www.northshorescenicrailroad.org

Aug. 5-22

Ravellenic Games www.yarnharborduluth.com

Aug. 6, Saturday

Run Like an Animal 5k Lake Superior Zoo, Duluth www.lszooduluth.org

Taconite Harbor Reunion 1 p.m.

Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder www.crossriverheritage.org

Strongest Man 1 p.m. Paulucci’s Wayland Bar & Grill, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca

The DECC 50th Anniversary Duluth www.decc.org

City on the Hill Music Fest Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.cityonthehillmusicfest.com

Early Bird Book Sale 8 a.m. Grand Marais Community Center

Annual Meeting & Ice Cream Social 1 p.m. Sugarloaf Cover, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org

Beach Boys & Temptations 7 p.m. Amsoil Arena, Duluth www.decc.org

Fisherman’s Picnic Fireworks

9:45 p.m. Grand Marais Harbor www. facebook.com/grandmaraislionsclub

Aug. 7, Sunday

Family Bubble Bash

Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.bayfrontfestivalpark.com

Fisherman’s Picnic Parade

1 p.m. Grand Marais www. facebook.com/grandmaraislionsclub

Gordon & Gillis 2 p.m.

Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Wildflower Ecology Presentation by John Silliman 2 p.m.

Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com

Bug Lite 7 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 8, Monday

Granite River Presentation by Pat Emerson 1:30 p.m. Seagull Community Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com

Aug. 9, Tuesday

Brothers in Arms 8 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 10, Wednesday

Vision Pro Optical Blood Drive

9:30 a.m. Vision Pro, Two Harbors (218) 834-3937

Mid-Trail Property Owners Fundraiser Noon, Schaap Community Center on Poplar Lake, Gunflint Trail

Aug. 10-11

Jr. Wolf Biologist Mini-Camp International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Aug. 10-14

CLE Family Fair Noon, Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Aug. 11, Thursday

Rise Above Seizures Walk 5 p.m. Duluth www.epilepsyfoundationmn.org

Maintenance Free 7 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 11-21

Chicago: The Musical & Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (shows alternate dates) The Duluth Playhouse www.duluthplayhouse.org

Aug. 12-13

Brew Ha Craft Beer Festival

Prince Arthur’s Landing, Thunder Bay www.brewhafestival.com

Chris Holm & Mike Munson

8:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Wolves After Dark International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Free Star Gazing Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario novationheart@hotmail.com

Aug. 12-14

Bayfront Blues Festival Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.bayfrontblues.com

Grand Portage Rendezvous Days and Pow Wow Grand Portage National Monument www.nps.gov/grpo

Tall Ships The Mist of Avalon & Mackinaw Grand Portage National Monument www.nps.gov/grpo

J-24 Western Lake Superior Championship Duluth www.duluthkeelclub.com

Aug. 13, Saturday

Dragon Boat Racing Boulevard Lake, Thunder Bay www.paddlesport.org

Free Presentation: Aquatic Insects Cook County Courthouse, Grand Marais www.chikwauk.com

Nice Girls of the North Marketplace

10 a.m. Lakeside Lester Park Community Center, Duluth www.nicegirlsofhtenorth.com

Tori Music Festival

10 a.m. Heritage Site, Finland www.finlandmnhistoricalsociety.com

Edwin H. Lundie Book Signing with author Peter O’Toole 10:30 a.m. Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder www.crossriverheritage.org

Writer’s Salon featuring Michael McConnell & Jack Baker: The Wedding Heard ‘Round the World: America’s First Gay Marriage 5 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais www.drurylanebooks.com

Aug. 13-14

Kraus-Anderson Bike Duluth Festival Spirit Mountain, Duluth www.bikeduluthfestival.com

Pan Superior Rendezvous Porphyry Island Lighthouse, Ontario www.clls.ca

Under the Spreading Walnut Tree Art Festival 10 a.m. Two Harbors Watercross Race 10 a.m. Winton/Ely

Aug. 14, Sunday

Tori Pancake Breakfast Heritage Site, Finland www.finlandmnhistoricalsociety.com

Gunflint & Lake Superior Railroad by Dave Battistel 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com

Gunflint Woods, Winds & Strings Benefit Concert 4 p.m. Schaap Community Center on Poplar Lake, Gunflint Trail www.gunflinttrailhistoricalsociety.org

Aug. 15-19 & 22-26

Murder on the Disoriented Express Duluth www.northshorescenicrailroad.org

Aug. 16, Tuesday

Training with a Pro 5 p.m. Thunder Bay www.prokidsthunderbay.ca

Take It With You: Live Radio Theatre (Episode 5) 7:30 p.m. The Underground, Duluth www.duluthunderground.org

Timmy Haus 8 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 17, Wednesday

Artist Talk with Matthew Krousey: Forest, Prairie, & Frozen Lakes 4:30 p.m. Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

Aug. 18, Thursday

Full Moon Reading with Reed Schmidt 5 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais www.drurylanebooks.com

Variety Extravaganza 7 p.m. CLE Coliseum, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

 “Weird Al” Yankovic: The Mandatory World Tour 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Gordon Thorne 8:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Dat Dere Jazz 7 p.m. Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais (218) 387-2974

Aug. 18-21

Art in Bayfront Park Duluth www.artinbayfrontpark.com

Tall Ships Festival Duluth www.tallshipsduluth.com

Lake County Fair Two Harbors www.thelakecountyfair.com

Aug. 19, Friday

Pottery Demo & Potluck with Bob Briscoe & Jason Trebs 4 p.m. Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

Country Fest 6 p.m. Murillo Fairgrounds www.murillocountryfest.com

Aug. 19-20

Rhythm & Roots Festival 4 p.m. Beaver Bay www.facebook.com/ beaverbayrhythmandroots

Mysterious Ways 8:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 19-21

Wawa Salmon Derby Wawa, Ontario www.wawasalmonderby.com

Terrace Bay Lighthouse Street Festival Noon, Ontario www.terracebay.ca

Murillo Fair Murillo Fairgrounds www.murillocountryfest.com

Aug. 20, Saturday

Cook County Historical Hunt 2 p.m.

Cook County Historical Society, Grand Marais www.cookcountyhistory.org

Nitro Circus Port Arthur Stadium, Thunder Bay www.nitrocircus.com

GGTA North Shore Bike Ride 9 a.m. Gitchi-Gami State Trail, Two Harbors www.ggta.org

Monarch Festival 10 a.m. Soudan Underground Mine, www.ely.org

Lee Johnson: Logging on the Cross River circa 1900 2 p.m. Park Hill School, Finland www.finlandmnhistoricalsociety.com

Harpeth Rising 7:30 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais www.arrowheadcenterforthearts.org

Earth, Wind & Todd Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais (218) 387-2974

Aug. 20-21

Writer’s Retreat with Loft instructor

Peter Blau: The Lost Art of Personal Writing Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

Fort Under Siege Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay www.fwhp.ca

Motorsports Extravaganza Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Aug. 21, Sunday

Lynx Population: by USFS Specialist Dave Grosshuesch 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com

Brothers in Arms 8 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 25, Thursday

The Tribute Fest Country 4 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.thetributefest.com

Tom Mason & the Blue Bucaneers

7:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 25-30

Wilderness Project #2: Kekekabic Trail Clearing 8 a.m. Kawishiwi Ranger Station www.mnnvc.org/events

Aug. 26, Friday

Thunderheads 8:30 p.m.

Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 26-27

The Tribute Fest Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.thetributefest.com

Dragon Boat Festival Duluth www.lakesuperiordragons.com

Aug. 26-28

Ribfest Waterfront District, Thunder Bay www.ribfesttbay.com

Aug. 27, Saturday

Sasquatch 5k Obstacle Run Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center, Duluth www.d.umn.edu/boulder/events.html

Electronics Recycling Collection 9 a.m. Cook County Recycling Center, Grand Marais (218) 387-3630

Writer’s Salon featuring Mary Casanova: Wake-Up Island and Ice-Out 5 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais www.drurylanebooks.com

New Event 8:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 28, Sunday

Superior Man Triathlon

Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth www.superiormantri.com

Care Partners Ice Cream Social 2 p.m.

Sydney’s Frozen Custard, Grand Marais www.carepartnersofcookcounty.org

North Shore Social Doubles

1 p.m. Grand Marais Tennis Courts www.facebook.com/groups/ cookcountytennisassociation

Steve Blexrud 7:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Aug. 31, Saturday

CCTA Annual Meeting Grand Marais Tennis Courts www.facebook.com/ groups/cookcountytennisassociation

Writer’s Salon featuring Faith Sullivan: Goodnight Mr. Wodehouse 4:30 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais www.drurylanebooks.com

Daily

The Mighty Moose & Jr. Wolf Detective 11 a.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Ambassadors to the Wild 11 a.m., 1

p.m. & 3 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Mondays

Nature Nook 10 a.m. Hartley Nature Center, Duluth www.hartleynature.org

Songwriter Series 8:30 p.m.

Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com

Live Music 9 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Tuesdays

Kids’ Day (through Aug. 16) 11 a.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com

UMD Market Day Noon, UMD Campus www.umdmarketday.com

Sawmill Tours 12:30 p.m. Hedstrom Lumber Company, Gunflint Trail www.hedstromlumber.com

US Forest Service Naturalist

Presentations (through Aug. 16) 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com

Dorothy’s Discovery Trail Nature Walks 4 p.m. Dorothy Molter Museum, Ely www.rootbeerlady.com

Farmers Market & Artists Market

5 p.m. Sheridan Street, Ely www.ely.org

Doggie Happy Hour at the Tiki Bar

5 p.m. Fitger’s, Duluth www.fitgers.com

Live Music 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub, Lutsen www.lutsenresort.com

Jam Sessions 7 p.m. Chippewa Park, Thunder Bay www.chippewapark.ca

Minnesota Wild! 7:30 p.m. Grand Marais Recreation Area www.grandmaraisrecreationarea.com

Wolves in the Night 7:30 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Wednesdays

Wildflower Walk 10 a.m. Cascade Lodge, Lutsen www.cascadelodgemn.com

Country Market 3:30 p.m. Moose Hall on Fort William Road (back at CLE Dove Building on Aug. 20), Thunder Bay www.thunderbaycountrymarket.com

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

Timmy Haus 5 p.m. Moguls at Caribou Highlands, Lutsen www.caribouhighlands.com

Live at the Waterfront: Free Concert Series 6 p.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca/live

Stars & Meteors 7:30 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Black Bears 7:30 p.m. Bluefin Bay, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Howling Safari 8 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Spotlight North: Live Music 8 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com

Live Music 9 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Thursdays

Bird Banding Demos 7 a.m. Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org

Live Craft Demos 10 a.m.

North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org

The Nature of Oberg Mountain

10:30 a.m. Oberg Mountain Trailhead, Tofte www.visitcookcounty.com

Fire & Ice: a Beach Walk 11 a.m.

East Bay Suites, Grand Marais www.eastbaysuites.com

Local Food Market 4 p.m.

Grand Marais Community Center

Finland Farmer’s Market 5 p.m.

Clair Nelson Center, Finland

Live Music 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub, Lutsen www.lutsenresort.com

Craft Night 6 p.m. Ely Folk School www.elyfolkschool.org

Music by the Fire 6:30 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Two Harbors City Band Concert 7:30 p.m. Thomas Owens Park, Two Harbors Logging in the Days of Paul Bunyan

7:30 p.m. Caribou Highlands, Lutsen www.caribouhighlands.com

Everything about the Big Lake

7:30 p.m. Eagle Ridge Resort, Lutsen www.eagleridgeatlutsen.com

Live Music 9 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Fridays

Sawmill Tours 10 a.m. Hedstrom Lumber Company, Gunflint Trail www.hedstromlumber.com

Live Craft Demos 10 a.m.

North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org

Timber Raising: A Crash Course in the Craft 10 a.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org

Story Hour 10:30 a.m.

Ely Public Library www.ely.org

Build a Dreamcatcher 10:30 a.m. Eagle Ridge Resort, Lutsen www.eagleridgeatlutsen.com

Nature’s Raw Materials Class

1 p.m. Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org

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

Movies in the Park at Sunset Leif Erikson Park, Duluth www.downtownduluth.com

Live Music 7 p.m. Castle Danger Brewery, Two Harbors www.castledangerbrewery.com

Movie Night 7 p.m. Ely Folk School www.elyfolkschool.org

Music by the Campfire 7:30 p.m.

Eagle Ridge Resort, Lutsen Mountains www.lutsen.com

Amazing Amusing Moose 7:30 p.m. Chateau LeVeaux, Tofte www.chateauleveaux.com

Forest Fire! Friend or Foe? 7:30 p.m. Bluefin Bay, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Howling Safari 8 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Live Music 9 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Live Music 9:30 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com

Saturdays

Country Market 8 a.m. Moose Hall on Fort William Road (back at CLE Dove Building on Aug. 20), Thunder Bay www.thunderbaycountrymarket.com

Cook County Farm & Craft Market

9 a.m. Senior Center Parking Lot, Grand Marais www.facebook.com/ccfarmandcraft

Two Harbors Farmers Market

9 a.m. Thomas Owens Park, Two Harbors Live Craft Demos 10 a.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org

Kakabeka Farmers Market

10 a.m. Kakabeka Falls Legion www.kakabekafarmersmarket.ca

Guest Speaker 10 a.m. Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org

Tracks & Tracking 10 a.m. Caribou Highlands, Lutsen www.caribouhighlands.com

Muffin Man: Stories for Young Children 11 a.m. Drury Lane, Grand Marais www.drurylanebooks.com

Free Saturdays in the Studio 1 p.m. Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

Nature of the Point 1:30 p.m. Artist Point, Grand Marais www.visitcookcounty.com

Tour the North House Campus 2 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org

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

Bronze Pour Demo 4 p.m.

Last Chance Gallery, Lutsen www.lastchancefab.com

Music on the Deck 6 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com

Live Music 7 p.m. Cascade Lodge & Pub, Lutsen www.cascademn.com

Music in the Lobby 7 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

What’s for Dinner? 7 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Music by the Campfire

7:30 p.m. Eagle Ridge Resort, Lutsen www.lutsen.com

Wild Cats of the North 7:30 p.m. Cascade Lodge, Lutsen www.cascadelodgemn.com

Minnesota Wild! 7:30 p.m. Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, Tofte www.sawbill.com

Michael Monroe 9 p.m. Community Center Log Cabin, Grand Marais www.michaelmonroemusic.com

Live Music 9:30 p.m.

Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com

Sundays

Geology Walks 10 a.m. Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org

Live Craft Demos 10 a.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org

Free Concert in the Park

2 p.m. Chippewa Park, Thunder Bay www.chippewapark.ca

Special Presentation 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail www.chikwauk.com

Live Music 5 p.m. Moguls at Caribou Highlands, Lutsen www.caribouhighlands.com

September 9-11

3 days of music at Sweetheart’s Bluff in the Grand Marais, MN Campground

Admission: $10/day or $20/weekend • Kids 12 and under free On-site Food • Children’s Activities • On-site Camping (218) 387-1712

Full music lineup and schedule online at www.wtip.org (look for “Radio Waves Music Festival” in the “Events” drop down menu)

North Shore Community Radio 218-387-1070 • wtip.org

Historic

The North Shore Dish

Sink your teeth into Ribfest

By Maren Webb

From August 26-28, Thunder Bay will transform into a locale for finger-licking ribs, live tunes, and even a car and bike/ motorcycle show during Ribfest 2016. In its fifth year, this event will bring four “ribbers” from Southern Ontario to battle it out in the rib contest, providing the opportunity to try the best of Ontario ribs. While those south of the border may think Americans lay claim to the barbecue genre, Canadians have a long history with barbecue that includes dozens of rib contests across the province of Ontario. Whether you are a ribfest junkie or new to the scene, Ribfest is a great weekend to check out.

This year’s cast of ribbers will include Route 55, Jack the Ribber, Ribs Royal, and Sweet Smoked BBQ from Southern Ontario. They will compete for Best Ribs and Best Sauce, while also offering delicious food for all attendees to purchase. The menu will include slow baked and grilled ribs, barbecued chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket, and sides like coleslaw and baked beans. If you can’t decide what to try, there’s always the menu item called “A Vegetarian’s Nightmare,” with 1/3 rack ribs, 1/2 pound pulled pork, and 1/4 of a chicken. And if you hope to replicate any of this deliciousness at home, rubs and barbecue sauces are for sale, too.

In addition to these ribbers, there will also be a local food showcase for area restaurants to highlight their best dishes. Shikha’s Kitchen, Beaux Daddy’s, Tastebud’s Pitstop, and D’Culture Shock, all local Thunder Bay restaurants, will be serving up tasty fare at the event. From chicken kababs to jambalaya to authentic poutine, there will be a great variety of other foods to try as well as barbecue. And for the vegetarians, be sure to check out these other vendors, especially Shikha’s Kitchen, for vegetarian menu items. Wondering how you’ll wash down this delicious food?

A beer tent is also a mainstay at Ribfest.

Ribfest is hosted in the downtown Waterfront District of Thunder Bay, a short walk from the lovely Marina Park. It will be held in the parking lot of its presenting sponsor, OLG Casino, between Park Avenue and Red River Road. Ribfest is put on by the Waterfront District BIA. This free-entry event attracts tens of thousands of attendees and is a fundraiser for the benefit of Our Kids Count, a community development program aimed at fostering the health and development of children ages six and under. So far, Ribfest has raised

The Thunder Bay Ribfest, August 26-28, will feature four different “ribber” contestants battling it out for Best in Show. | SUBMITTED

over $48,000 CAD for Our Kids Count, thanks to the community and visitor support. Sunday’s main stage will feature family entertainment, welcoming families and children of all ages, and there will also be a children’s area for the weekend. And if the weather is warm, don’t forget about the nearby Marina Park splash pad, if your kiddos need to cool off.

Ribfest has become one of Thunder Bay’s largest events and was recognized as a top 100 Ontario Festival. While Ribfest is known for its ribs and delicious food, it also features a great deal of music and other entertainment. Throughout the weekend there is live music on the main stage and street dances in the evening. Friday night is “Rock 94.3 FM Night” with bands like The Hoolies and The Sensational Hot Rods. Saturday night is “Country 105.3 Night” with Chris Krinkie and Straw Dawg and the Scott Skirving Band. Many more acts will be added to the schedule and available for viewing at www.ribfesttbay.com On Red River Road, there will be the Red River Rumble Car Show. On Saturday it is the bike/motorcycle show and Sunday is the car show. To wrap-up the weekend, the Rib Contest judging and awards is held on Sunday afternoon on the main stage. Will your favorite ribber win?

Red Lion Smokehouse, one of my favorite Thunder Bay restaurants, is located right next to the action during Ribfest. This year, Red Lion will be setting up a pop-up patio like a backyard BBQ with chairs, picnic tables, and grass. Restaurant diners are invited to eat inside or outside on the patio and if Ribfest attendees pur-

chase a drink, they are also welcome to use the patio. Red Lion will have a Muskoka Brewery Tap Takeover, with at least five of their taps featuring Muskoka beer. As the pop-up will be sponsored by Muskoka Brewery, they will be giving away prizes and swag all weekend. The patio will be open Friday and Saturday, noon-10 p.m. It will also feature live music on Friday night by the local band, Mood Indigo.

If you are looking for a place to stay for the Ribfest weekend, the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel and Suites is conveniently located a mere block away from the festival. It has over 100 years of history and has been updated to be a comfortable and convenient place to stay that is smoke-free and pet-friendly. It also offers complimentary parking for its guests. For more information, visit w ww.princearthur waterfront.com

Ribfest has grown into a major Thunder Bay event and this year promises not to disappoint. Whether you swing by for an afternoon or stay for the full weekend, Ribfest is the place to be August 26-28. For more information about the event, visit www.ribfesttbay.com or follow on Facebook www.facebook.com/ribfesttbay

Restaurant Awards

Last February, voting for the 2016 Reader’s Choice Restaurant Awards began, featuring 26 different categories, from Best Coffee to Best View. The winners were picked by our readers and the results were announced in June. Here are a few of the winning restaurants, proudly displaying their awards. We’ll feature the other winners in upcoming issues.

Naniboujou –Best Soup

Angry Trout–Best Salad

The Angry Trout Café, located on the Grand Marais harbor, is this year’s winner of the Best Salad award and Best Use of Regional Ingredients award. The small indoor/outdoor restaurant is open from May-October and serves fresh Lake Superior fish, uses locally grown produce and hand-harvested wild rice. Salad options include the grilled portabella salad, grilled fresh fish of the day salad, maple grilled chicken salad, smoked trout salad and the house salad. The Angry Trout also placed second for Best Fish and third for Best View. To view their full menu online, visit www.angrytroutcafe.com.

Hannah Irvin and Steven Brown at Naniboujou display their award for Best Soup. Located roughly 14 miles east of Grand Marais, Naniboujou Lodge and Restaurant makes all of their soup from scratch daily, using fresh produce and letting it slowly simmer to bring out the flavors. Guest favorites include the French onion soup (Naniboujou’s own recipe) and Hannah’s chicken and wild rice soup, which is often requested as the Soup of the Day. Naniboujou also placed second for the Best Northwoods Character award, second for the Worth the Drive award, and third for the Best Breakfast award. They also received second place for the Best Server award, given to Melanie Stoddard. Visit www.naniboujou.com for more info.

Sven & Ole’s –Best Pizza & Takeout

Sven and Ole’s first began in 1981 with Sid Backlund Jr. and his brother Terry. The two young boys decided to open a small food stand in downtown Grand Marais, selling popcorn, nachos, pop and other items. After many years and a few upgrades, Sven’s now has over 50 employees and occupies 3,500 square feet of space. They are this year’s Best Pizza and Best Take-Out award winners. Serving up favorites such as the Uffda Zah, Hawaiian and plain pepperoni pizzas, they also offer breadsticks, pasta, sandwiches and take home frozen pizzas. Visit www.svenandoles. com for more info.

Fitger’s Brewhouse: Apricot Wheat

By Eric Chandler

It was a beautiful summer night, so I took my family down by the big lake to Fitger’s Brewhouse in Duluth. We had a nice meal and I tried out the Apricot Wheat. This beer is always in the lineup at Fitger’s, so I did some research. It has a nice, light head, amber color, and pleasant carbonation. The apricot flavor is obvious, but nice. It’s light, sweet and straightforward.

I sat down the next day with Frank Kaszuba. He’s been at the Brewhouse since 2001 and took over as Head Brewer in the fall of 2015. I suggested that apricot was unusual. “It might have been unusual in ’99 or so when the beer was first brewed here, but there are all kinds of crazy things going on now,” Kaszuba said. “It’s our biggest seller.” I asked why and he quickly said, “It appeals to women. It’s an approachable beer.”

FFC Booya Committee presents the 4th Annual September 17th 10am - 4pm

I also wanted to understand the difference between an American wheat beer and a German wheat beer. Kaszuba said, “The esters from German yeast give the beer hints of banana and clove. The yeast we use for this American wheat beer has a much more neutral character.”

Well, whether you call it neutral or unusual, just make sure to call it good, too. When the biggest brewpub by volume in the state of Minnesota (2,500 barrels per year) sells more Apricot Wheat than anything else, you should probably check it out.

Turmeric: The Spice of Life

By Kim Falter

There is no doubt that the herb trending right now is turmeric. Everyone seems to be expounding the miracles of this golden spice. From a simple spice popular in Indian curries, it has now blossomed as the cure-all for every ache and pain. But is there any truth to these claims?

Turmeric has been around for centuries. Traditionally called the “spice of life,” it has been used as far back as 4,500 years ago in India, where it is primarily grown. Its first big gain in popularity was around 500 BCE when it played a huge role in Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda is an age-old system of natural healing still practiced in India. The root of the turmeric plant was typically dried and ground to make a paste for skin conditions, burned and inhaled to relieve congestion, or consumed as a remedy for circulation, digestion, and liver problems. It also holds a sacred place in Hindu traditions, where it plays a significant role in Hindu wedding ceremonies and some still wear a piece of turmeric root as a charm to ward off evil spirits. The bright yellow color of this spice has also been used as a dye, famously used to color the robes worn by Buddhist monks.

Fast forward to 2016. We’ve been seeing research for years showing that there may be some validity to centuries of medicinal use of this root. Keep in mind that proving matter-of-factly that turmeric is of use is a difficult thing to do, as it is with all herbs. The use of herbs as natural remedies is a holistic practice, which means that the true benefits come from all of its components. Current research on the benefits of turmeric are primarily focused on one compound: curcumin. All plants contain many compounds, a holistic approach to herbal medicine is one where all compounds work together, synergistically, to bring about healing.

INFLAMMATION: By far the most popular benefit is its ability to keep inflammation at bay. Current research into the benefits of curcumin has shown improvements in skin conditions, brain health, osteoarthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. The most fascinating find was with Alzheimer’s disease. The elderly in India have the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s than any population in the world. Although there is still little evidence that turmeric supplementation is a benefit to those with Alzheimer’s, or beneficial as a preventative measure, Alzheimer’s does begin as an inflammatory process within the brain. We know that one of the factors that sets this group apart is that they consume turmeric on a daily basis. Although touted as a replacement for ibuprofen, the jury is still out. Yet, for centuries, people have used turmeric for relieving ailments

that are associated with the inflammatory process.

ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES: Before refrigeration, turmeric, along with other spices commonly found in curry powders, were used to prevent food from spoiling. Hence research proving turmeric is high in antioxidants, therefore showing promising results in the anti-aging arena, effective at slowing precancerous cell growth, and a helpful tool in lowering cholesterol. Curcumins in turmeric have further shown to slow the progression in colon cancer.

DIGESTION: There is a reason turmeric is in almost every dish in traditional Indian cuisine: it was accepted as an aid to digestion. Turmeric supports digestion by decreasing inflammation. Yet turmeric also stimulates the gall bladder to release bile, further aiding the digestive process. Those with biliary bile duct disorder, or those prone to gallstones, are warned to avoid turmeric due to this action.

Choosing to add turmeric to your life can be a challenge. Of course, food is your best choice, but quality and potency play a role in effectiveness. Powdered turmeric root in an herbal supplement is rarely more effective than simply consuming directly or adding the spice to your food. A high quality turmeric powder may contain around 2-4 percent curcumins, resulting in approximately 136 milligrams curcumins per tablespoon. If you are looking for a stronger dose, extracts are the answer. Available in both capsule and liquid form, these supplements contain around 400mg of curcumin. High quality supplemental turmeric extracts tend to include all the compounds of turmeric, not just the curcuminoids, and risk of contamination is less than with the powdered herb. Turmeric may not be the answer to all that ails you, but history and current research are all proving that adding a bit of this “spice of life” can’t hurt.

Summer Sailing on Superior

By Elle Andra-Warner

Sailing the waters of the Lake Superior—the world’s largest freshwater lake—with Sail Superior Yacht Charters is the ultimate summer adventure, with plenty of ‘wow’ sightseeing moments.

“I encourage people to get the feel of Superior. It is really easy to get on the lake, and there are so many ways to enjoy it by people of all ages and abilities,” said Captain Gregory Heroux, owner of Thunder Bay’s Sail Superior Yacht Charters.

Sail Superior offers an excellent menu of sailing cruises, including 90-minute harbour tours; twilight wine-and-cheese cruises; afternoon or day trips to Welcome Islands, Porphyry Point Lighthouse or Thompson Island; Hike ‘N Sail on Sleeping Giant; Sail-and-Scuba; multi-day Big Lake Adventures; customized sailing cruises for groups, families and special events; and more.

For starters, the 90-minute harbour tour on the 38-foot Journeye r gives a unique perspective of the city seen only from water. The tour allows a close-up of the waterfront’s massive elevators, red-and-white Thunder Bay Main lighthouse, 500-foot former ore dock and even a “saltie” or lake freighter coming in the harbour.

The most popular charter is the afternoon excursion (3.5 hours) on the 40-foot ocean-class Frodo that goes beyond the breakwater to the Welcome Islands, a group of four islands about 6 nautical miles offshore from the city. You can relax and even go for a swim near the shores of the largest island with its high cliffs, former lighthouse site (last keeper left in 1985), birds and a sheltered anchorage that is the perfect spot for an on-board lunch (catered or bring your own). Gaze over to the east for a closer look at the famous Sleeping Giant and to the west, with an interesting view of the city and the eastern high ridges that were once Superior’s beaches.

Sail Superior’s world-class cruises on the Canadian shores of Lake Supe -

rior has received the prestigious tourism designation Ontario Signature Experience (OSE) by Ontario Tourism as one of the best tourism experiences in Ontario. Like the Hike ‘N Sail: Sleeping Giant, a full-day excursion which takes travellers about 13 nautical miles east of the city, past the Welcome Islands, and across the Bay of Thunder Bay to Sawyers Bay, located behind the Sleeping Giant’s head on Sibley Peninsula. A dinghy takes guests to shore where they can hike on moderate, advanced and expert trails. You can venture to the top of the high cliffs, rising more than 1,000 feet above the waters, for a dramatic ‘wow’ panoramic view of islands, mainland and Lake Superior. And for those wanting to stay longer, the trip can be extended overnight.

“Each excursion is unique, as Lake

Superior always has something to say about what you will see and which directions you will take. It is different each time. I never get bored sailing Superior,” says Captain Heroux, who has been sailing on the lake since a young age. He started Sail Superior with his late father in 2001 after sailing across the Atlantic Ocean in Frodo Today, it’s a full-time business with a small fleet.

There’s an exotic romanticism when summer sailing on Superior and experiencing its raw wild beauty and feeling the power and mystique that draws people to return to its waters.

A writer once told Captain Heroux after sailing on Lake Superior for the first time, “I’ve sailed around the world but this is the Mount Everest of freshwater sailing.”

Sail Superior’s 40-foot Frodo sails the bay towards the Sibley Peninsula’s Sleeping Giant. | ELLE ANDRA-WARNER

JUST LIKE A BERRY PICKING HOT SPOT, SOME THINGS ARE TOO GOOD TO KEEP TO YOURSELF.

A GREAT FINANCIAL PLACE FOR EXAMPLE.

In the Northland, the best place to turn for good sound advice is usually your friends and neighbors. At North Shore Federal, we make sure to offer up the products and services that our members need and we consistently offer the best rates and lowest fees around. We operate with a business plan that puts our members first—and that’s a good place to be. So ask around. Like a berry picking hot spot, we’re worth sharing.

Because if you’re up here, you belong here.

Two Harbors | Silver Bay | Lutsen | Grand Marais | Grand Portage www.northshorefcu.org

Uninsured?

Thumbs UP from DOWN river

4

1

Even though Keith Erickson’s family lives just down river from PolyMet Mining’s proposed copper-nickel mine, he’s on board. The third generation miner knows the company has invested in the modern, safe technology needed to protect the environment. And, he says, the environmental review and permitting process will make sure of it.

 Open enrollment for 2016 coverage ended on January 31, 2016. You still may qualify for 2016 enrollment if you experience a life event such as: having a baby, loss or gain of marriage, victims of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment, loss of other coverage or the terms of your employersponsored coverage have changed and is no longer affordable.

Those who qualify for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare can enroll year-round!

 Medical Assistance (MA) - Minnesota’s Medicaid program

 MinnesotaCare - a program for residents who do not have access to affordable health care coverage

If You Qualify You will be able to get medical services at little cost to you:

Deadlines

It is currently the law for most Americans to have health insurance coverage.

per family. To schedule an appointment, or if you have any questions or concerns, contact Rachelle Christianson, MNsure Navigator, at: (218) 387-2330 x156 or rachelle@sawtoothmountainclinic.org

 Medical Assistance does not require you to pay a monthly premium. Members do have small co-pays for some services, usually $1 - $3. This is called cost sharing.

 MinnesotaCare does require you to pay a monthly premium, and it is based on your income. Members have small co-pays.

Northern Trails

The Resurgence of Black Bay

By Gord Ellis

As a young fishing fanatic growing up in Thunder Bay, I’d often dream about fishing the many bodies of water close to home. The mighty Nipigon River and its huge source lake were at the top of the list, due to the legendary brook trout that were said to reside there.

However, the one area not on my radar screen was a huge bay on Lake Superior just east of Thunder Bay. In the 1970s and 80s, no anglers really talked much about Black Bay. This was partially because of poor access to the expansive bay, but mostly due to the huge and somewhat intimidating presence of a commercial fishing industry that seemed to own the bay. Some of that was perception, granted, but there was a lot of netting going on for a very long time. The focus of that commercial fishing was initially walleye, but later included pike and perch. There was some angling done in Black Bay for sure, but it was mostly locals who were located on the water or were very close to it.

Less than a decade ago, things started to happen. For starters, several conservation and local fish and game groups, as well as the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Northwestern Ontario Sportsman’s Alliance, started to encourage the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to take a more active interest in managing the bay for sport fishing. At the same time, the commercial interest on the bay started to decline. Much of the netting in Black Bay stopped. On top of that, a long closed public access near Hurkett was re-opened. There was some re-stocking of walleye in Black Bay. Much of the bay, as well as a large portion of the tributary that runs into Black Bay called the Black Sturgeon River, were closed to walleye fishing (First Nations still harvest there). The huge warm water fishery that had traditionally been in Black Bay started to rebound. And anglers began to take notice.

My first Black Bay fishing experience took place in the winter about seven years ago. My buddy Sandro Fragale, of Thunder Bay, had heard reports of big perch being caught in the bay. Since we had always been trying to find consistent winter perch—without success—it seemed appropriate to at least try and find them on this huge bay. We left from the Hurkett launch and drove our sleds south on the bay. It was expansive beyond our expectations, and we had no clue where to try.

So we did what any other angler would

have done and headed for signs of human activity on the ice; in this case, two empty ice fishing shacks. We dug our holes about 50 yards away, hoping we would be close enough to the hotspot to catch a few perch. Although we had driven several miles out in the bay, the water was only 17 feet deep. We caught about a dozen perch from 10 to 14 inches. True jumbos. The fish were pale and fat—quite unlike the inland perch that were so vividly marked. Our winter perch honey hole was finally a reality. And it was a big one. These days, two outfitters now rent shacks on the bay for perch. It’s become a very popular winter fishery.

In my experience, the Black Bay fishery is unique compared to most fishing on the Canadian side of Superior. It is a warm water fishery with the predominate species

being walleye, pike, perch and smallmouth bass. Most of the water in this giant bay is relatively shallow, turbid and dotted with large beds of cabbage. Islands and reefs are fish magnets as they provide both rocky structures and places for baitfish to hang out. Due to its clay bottom and general fertility, Black Bay grows very big fish. Trophy-sized pike and bass can be caught just about everywhere in the northern reaches of the bay. The average walleye is also large, although fishing for them in Black Bay is only allowed south of Bent Island. Walleye are still in rehabilitation mode and remain well below historic population levels.

As you venture to the southernmost reaches of the bay, the coldwater fishery kicks in. Trolling for salmon at the mouth of Black Bay is a popular summer past

time. The Chinook are relatively numerous and of a good average size. Plentiful herring seems to be the key to Chinook salmon being around. In the deeper water, lake trout are quite common and there are some sea monsters. Lakers over 20 pounds are caught each year from Black Bay.

On the down side, the resurgence of the native warm water fishery in Black Bay has had a detrimental effect on the steelhead and coaster brook trout fishery. Steelhead runs have taken a noticeable and precipitous downturn in all Black Bay tributaries. Lake brookies are also having a hard time. Whether this is a short time dip or the way things will be now remains to be seen. But the boom in the warm water fishery has meant some changes to what’s swimming around in Black Bay.

Giant pike are part of the appeal of Black Bay. | GORD ELLIS

Troll’n, Troll’n, Troll’n

By Joe Friedrichs

On certain lakes throughout the Northern Wilds, it’s worth forking over the necessary funds to hire a fishing guide or charter captain. On one particular lake, it can be a matter of life or death.

Just ask Darren Peck, the owner and charter captain of Lake Superior based Tofte Charters.

“When fishing on Lake Superior, changing weather conditions, equipment failure or lack of preparation can change a great day on the water into a life or death struggle,” Peck said. “Charter captains are not only experienced in catching fish, but also in keeping you safe and getting you back to the dock.”

Certainly safety should be the top priority during any fishing or outdoor adventure in Minnesota or Ontario. Following that, catching fish is high on the “hope it happens” list for many anglers who venture forth onto the massive body of water that is Lake Superior. And because the Big Lake is

so expansive, deep and soaked in mystery, even die-hard anglers find no shame in hiring a guide or charter service when they go fishing on Lake Superior. After all, Minnesota’s portion alone of Lake Superior is 1.4 million acres, which is a tremendous amount of water to cover. By comparison, the rest of Minnesota’s combined fishable waters total 3.8 million acres. There are charter fishing establishments in Duluth, Knife River, Silver Bay, Tofte, Grand Marais and Thunder Bay to assist with narrowing the scope of an otherwise huge body of water.

The recipe for success while fishing Lake Superior often involves specialized equipment. Not every angler can afford or justify the expense of adding downriggers, heavy duty rods and reels, softball-sized weights and other deep water gear to their fishing tackle collection. Charter boats come with all the necessary equipment for fishing Lake Superior. Once the charter vessel and captain are hired, simply climb onboard and prepare for action.

Lake Superior brings visitors from across the globe coming to test its waters. Archie Hoogsteen, the owner and captain of Archie’s Fishing Charters in Thunder Bay, has chartered trips on Lake Superior for people from Russia, Holland, Finland and the Middle East during recent years. The common theme from most clients who book a trip is that without a guided service of some fashion, many anglers are simply lost with where to start, or even what the lake is all about. One guest of Archie’s Charters, a visitor from Saudi Arabia, could not believe Lake Superior was a freshwater lake due to its sheer size and depth. To finally convince the client he was not fishing in saltwater, Hoogsteen sought to collect evidence by filling an empty mug from on board his ship and dipping it in the lake.

“It blew his mind when I gave him a glass of water out of the lake and told him to drink it,” Hoogsteen said.

And drink it the man did.

When it comes to catching fish, lake trout are the top target throughout most of the summer. Salmon are also a target amongst anglers of Lake Superior. Though they are sought out later in the summer, catching the migrating salmon is a bonus, according to Peck. A charter captain with nearly two decades of experience working the waters of Lake Superior, Peck said coho and king salmon were much more abundant in the past than they are now.

Hoogsteen agreed.

“The lake has its ups and downs, some years are better than others,” he said. “The lake trout are always there. It’s the salmon that move in and out of the bay, so they can be iffy.”

As it goes with fishing inland lakes throughout the Northern Wilds, water temperature is key when you wet a line. This complexity provides another reason charter-fishing trips are of value. Charter captains make their living knowing where

Charter fishing on Lake Superior is all about making memories. | TOFTE CHARTERS

Charter captains make fishing memorable for all ages of anglers. | TOFTE CHARTERS

and when certain species of fish will be feeding in Lake Superior. They also have vast knowledge of the lake’s underwater currents and structure.

Depending on the weather, the Minnesota and Wisconsin shorelines near Duluth are typically very good in June for lake trout and salmon, because the surface water is a bit warmer than out on the main lake or farther up the North Shore. By August, surface water temperatures are at their warmest. Trout and salmon are deep and downriggers are the choice of equipment, according to Peck. Regardless of the time of year people hire a charter fishing trip, Peck said the purposes of the trip remain the same.

“Of course, most people want to catch fish,” he said. “But what I hope they take away from it is a great experience and memories to last a lifetime. Fishing with Grandpa or Grandma or spending time with good friends. That is what stays with you long after the trip is over.”

And when it comes to creating memories, Peck is a master of the trade.

“My daughter Katie is 11 years old now,” Peck said. “When she was six we started a Tofte Char-

ters tradition that she catches the first fish of the season. I am not allowed to start the charter season before this happens. I look forward to that day every year.”

Hoogsteen said most of his clients are not only happy catching fish, but simply by experiencing a day on Lake Superior.

“Once they get out on the lake most people are amazed by the beauty of Lake Superior,” he said. “It’s something that you can’t experience anywhere else, fishing on the cleanest and biggest lake in the world. Fishing for salmon and lake trout or just sightseeing ocean ships and lakers anchored out front. It’s just beautiful.”

L. Swanson, U.S.C.G.

Photo by Nick Fancher

Wild Traditions

Cultivating Wild Food Spaces

By Julia Prinselaar

One of my fondest memories of living on the Canadian west coast is hiking the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet. Cutting along the rugged, rocky shoreline of this small Vancouver Island fishing village, the scenic oceanside trail winds through forests of western red cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir. Beneath these towering giants is an abundance of berry bushes—mostly the thick-skinned and mildly sweet salal. Their taste and texture is akin to the Saskatoon berries common in the Great Lakes region.

In Canada, there are more than 200 varieties of what most people refer to as berries, but they’re actually botanically classified into several different categories of wild fruits. These include true berries (i.e. blueberries), drupes (cherries) and pomes (Saskatoon berries), to name just a few.

Plentiful from coast to coast, these fleshy fruits were, and continue to be, a food staple for First Nations. Indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest harvested salal berries, sweet thimbleberries, juicy salmon berries, and dozens more, like cloudberries, soapberries, blueberries, red raspberries and highbush cranberries. Prized for the vitamins, minerals, sugars and calories that weren’t otherwise readily available in a traditional diet, berry patches were valuable food supplements.

Instead of passively harvesting from a given area, many tribes routinely cultivated the land by imparting practices of permaculture, a term coined in the 1970s by Australians Bill Mollison and Dave Holgrem. Permaculture design essentially mimics natural systems in a landscaped environment, using primarily native food plants. Examples of forest gardens can be found all over the world, from the Amazon jungle to the Himalayan Mountains in Bhutan.

Cultivating land was a means to provide a sustainable balance of resources by maintaining the quality and quantity of food production within given territories. Along the north coast of British Columbia, the harvesting areas of the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en First Nations were burned to remove competing vegetation, to kill older berry plants and to stimulate new growth. Historic berry gathering areas were often named, controlled, managed and handed down from generation to generation by particular families or groups.

Today, in some relative form, these practices are cropping up in our cityscapes and

urban neighborhoods. Harvey Ussery, writer for Mother Earth News, is convinced that imitating Nature’s blueprints is fundamental to raising an abundance of food.

“The idea behind forest gardening is that natural forests produce an abundance of food. People all over the world have harvested food from the forest, reaping where they did not sow. Forest gardeners imitate the forest’s natural structure to take advantage of this abundance, but they increase yields even further through careful planning and management. The result is a productive fusion of garden, orchard and woodland. Urban food forests mimic the ecology of natural forests, and create a fusion of garden, orchard and woodland,” he writes.

Roots to Harvest, a Thunder Bay-based non-profit organization that mentors youth by growing food, planted an edible food forest along a busy downtown corridor a few years ago.

“The idea is that there was a space there that wasn’t being used, and Roots to Harvest was able to propose that we use it to grow food,” says Kim McGibbon, program coordinator with the organization.

The food forest is planted primarily with low-maintenance foods like apple trees, gooseberries and currants that don’t take a lot of work and water to maintain.

“There are a lot of people who don’t have access to growing food, who don’t have access to their own land, their own property or their own home. But there’s an open green space there, and people can just walk in and check it out to see what’s growing. It gives people that opportunity to ask questions and to learn about where food comes from,” adds McGibbon.

If you’re near a wild fruit patch and want to try something a little different, here are a couple recipes from Beverley Gray’s The Boreal Herbal: Wild Food and Medicine Plants of the North

Currant Juice

7 cups currants

1 cup water

Put berries and water in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat, stirring and mashing. When fully integrated, remove from heat and strain through cheesecloth or jelly bag into a large measuring cup with a spout (for easy pouring).

The juice will not keep for very long in the refrigerator. I recommend freezing the juice in ice cube trays, then transferring the cubes to a container for use when needed. Add a current-juice ice cube to fizzy water for an excellent natural pop.

Detoxifying Juniper

Sea-Salt Scrub

A circulatory stimulant that removes dead surface-skin cells, leaving your skin feeling as soft as a baby’s bottom! This scrub is nice to do once a week.

2 cups sea salt

2 cups juniper berries, ground 4 cups almond, olive or grapeseed oil 1 cup water

Mix ingredients together in a bowl and pour into a jar for use. In the shower or bath, take a dab of the combo in the palm of your hand and scrub from the chest all the way to the tip of your toes. Do not use on your face.

Be aware that the surface of your shower or tub may become slippery with oil, so be careful stepping out. It’s recommended to use baking soda to clean up afterward so the next person doesn’t slip either.

Among other edible fruits, the organization uses this green space to grow apples, which are picked in the fall to make cider. | JULIA PRINSELAAR

northern sky

AUGUST 2016

By Deane Morrison— MINNESOTA STARWATCH

As August begins, Jupiter comes out in the sun’s afterglow and soon drops out of sight. High in the southwest, the brilliant star Arcturus starts a month-long plummet to the horizon, dragging its kite-shaped constellation, Bootes the herdsman, along with it. And low in the southwest, Mars provides its own spectacle as it journeys eastward for a rendezvous with Saturn and the bright red star Antares, the “rival of Mars.”

Watch Mars as it first sails through the claws of Scorpius and then, in the third week of August, approaches Antares, the heart of the scorpion. Between the 21st and 25th, don’t miss the close encounter between Mars and its stellar rival, as the red planet glides between Antares and Saturn, the bright light above the star. Mars keeps going east and ends the month forming the eastern point of a triangle with Antares and Saturn.

Look just east of Scorpius for the Teapot of Sagittarius, whose spout tips down toward the scorpion’s tail. Above the handle of the Teapot hangs the little Teaspoon of stars.

High in the east, the Summer Triangle of bright stars dominates. Forming its points are Altair, in Aquila the eagle, the southernmost; Deneb, in Cygnus the swan, to the northeast; and Vega, the powerhouse star in Lyra the lyre, to the northwest. Use a star chart to find these constellations and also the Northern Cross, a prominent feature of Cygnus.

The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks on the morning of the 12th. Meteors should begin flying in the late evening on the Thursday, August 11, and after 1 a.m. on Friday. No moon will interfere. Perseids radiate from the northeast and often leave persistent trails.

August’s full “corn moon” arrives at 4:26 a.m. on Thursday, August 18. That’s well before moonset, at which point it’ll still be quite round and beautiful.

The University of Minnesota offers public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth campus. For more information and viewing schedules, see the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at www.d.umn.edu/planet.

The Wilds of Northern Cambodia

By Micaella Penning

Nara pulled the car over on the side of a narrow road and got out to stare up into the sky. With a quick smile, he pointed and I looked up to see the dark flash of a wing. Then he would set up a spotting scope, find the bird at rest, and allow us to look. He always knew their names, long before examining them through the lens: woolly-necked stork, ashy drongo, large cuckooshrike, rufous treepie, black-crested bulbul, rufescent prinia. He could hear their identifying sounds while all I noticed was the rustle of rice stalks or the far-off whine of carts motorized with tractor engines.

My friend Diana and I were spending the day with Nara Duong, a birder at the Sam Veasna Center, exploring the countryside of rural Cambodia, north of Siem Reap. The Center arranges trips into Wildlife Conservation Society sites across the country, in an effort to provide sustainable livelihoods from ecotourism for local communities.

The Center’s namesake, Sam Veasna, was a pioneering Cambodian naturalist who discovered and cataloged many conservation sites across northern Cambodia. He found large populations of crimson-headed sarus cranes, which were thought to be near extinction, in the northwestern corner of the country. This led to the creation of the Ang Trapaeng Thmor Crane Sanctuary, which protects over 10,000 hectares of land, and is also home to other threatened species, like the long-tailed macaque, Eld’s deer, and the Asian box turtle. Often reaching six feet tall, the sarus crane is the world’s tallest flying bird.

In 1999, while surveying the country’s northern plains for the possibly-extinct

The black-crested bulbul is only found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. | SAM VEASNA CENTER

kouprey, a forest-dwelling ungulate, Veasna contracted malaria and died at the age of 33. In the 1990s, there were between five and 10,000 deaths per year in Cambodia due to malaria. Now, according to the National Malaria Center, only 12 deaths occurred due to the mosquito-born disease in 2014.

Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia, is bordered by Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. | MICAELLA PENNING

Nara told us he had not finished high school, and used to work as a driver, making three dollars per day (the average annual income in Cambodia is $750).

“What does a guide typically make in

Siem Reap?” I asked him, politely.

“Around thirty dollars a day,” he replied. “But I’m very poor. For now, I sleep in a room at the birding center I work for. But I’m not sure how much longer they will

Nara Duong, a birder at the Sam Veasna Center, acts as a tour guide through parts of Cambodia. | DIANA GERGEL

Micaella Penning [LEFT] and Diana Gergel [RIGHT] at Beng Mealea. | MICAELLA PENNING

with many of its

allow me to do this. I want to be a temple guide. They can make more money. But first you must pay a very big sum to be allowed to do this.”

We continued walking down a dirt road. Ivy crawled up skinny tree trunks poking through lush stalks of rice, golden in the early morning light.

We saw dozens of bird species that day, but the critically endangered vultures remained elusive. Vulture populations on the Indian sub-continent are plummeting due to the use of the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, which is administered to sick livestock but is poisonous to various vulture species. The Sam Veasna Center now leads tours to the Veal Krous Vulture Restaurant in the Preah Vihear Protected Forest, where visitors have the opportunity to witness a frenzied feeding, since Cambodia’s remaining vultures now rely on supplementary food. A dead cow is provided, and up to 80 vultures descend into the macabre, prandial turmoil.

Passing fields of banana trees beneath a sky splotched with gray-bottomed cumulous clouds, we continued northeast to Koh Ker, a tenth-century city once serving as the capital of the Khmer Empire, moved by King Jayavarman IV from Angkor Wat in the year 921. One of the site’s temples is designed like a Mayan stepped pyramid,

standing over 100 feet tall, with long, thick grass growing on each terraced edge. To the north lay the lowlands and swamps of Kulen Prum Tep Wildlife Sanctuary, originally created to protect the kouprey, and the Thai border. It is unknown whether any kouprey remain in the world.

The sun shone blindingly, the heat all-consuming. I sat on a wood log at the base of the pyramid while Diana climbed up. I was sick with something flu-like, and stayed stationary in the shade, beneath a tree canopy hopping with woodpeckers, nuthatches, and collared falconets. The site was still mostly empty of other people; demining occurred only recently. Cambodia continues to have one of the highest casualty rates due to land mines in the world, though the decades of civil war and genocide ended over 30 years ago.

A few walls and columns of ancient temples remained vertical, amidst a jumble of angular pieces of stone, demolished by time. Trees sprouted up through the rubble, remaining branchless for dozens of meters, their bark smooth and white. Unlike Angkor Wat, scaffolding, metal braces and construction workers were absent. Shards of intricately carved, mossy stones lay strewn in the wreckage.

Leaving Koh Ker, we pulled down a narrow, orange dirt road, stopping to watch

Built as a Hindu temple, Beng Mealea is largely unrestored,

stones lying in heaps. | MICAELLA PENNING

Rent a fat bike now at Superior North Outdoor Center and see what all the hype is about. Big tires means cush, traction and fun.

30 yrs of serving Cook Co.

the treetops of deciduous dipterocarpaceae. Now the birds were more reclusive, as the day grew hotter, the sun high overhead. I asked Nara if I could go behind a tree to pee.

“No, better not,” he answered quietly. “There are still mines around here. May not be safe. We’ll drive to a bathroom.”

Driving back towards Siem Reap, we stopped at Beng Mealea, a sandstone temple complex largely unrestored. Elevated boardwalks of dark brown wood wound through ruins, where thin roots netted the stone walls with their serpentine branches, grasping, suffocating impermeability, avari -

cious for stone. These trees were living spider webs, entwining their prey as if hoping to suck their lifeblood as their own. Gray and white lichens grew like splattered paint on roots and stone alike. Nara sat on a stump in the shade while we wandered beneath the mottled light, staying abreast of the jungle’s tentacles.

“No money, no honey,” he sang in a lamenting tone.

I heard a faint tapping sound.

“Ah! A coppersmith barbet!” he continued, his voice cheerful again.

Trees and thick brush grow over the wall and windows of Beng Mealea. | MICAELLA PENNING

What Would Animals Say If We Asked the Right Questions?

By Vinciane Despret University of Minnesota Press, $30

Let’s Go Fishing!

Fish Tales from the North Woods

By Eric Dregni University of Minnesota Press, $39.95

In the land of 10,000 lakes and be yond, author Eric Dreg ni celebrates all things fish, using historical and fun facts about fishing in the Great Lakes region. From fishing lures to boat motors, and small-town festivals to sport-fishing meccas, this book covers it all, while adding humor, trivia and tradition. It’s also illustrated with postcards, adver tisements, historical prints, cartoons, and tourist snap shots. This book is not only funny, but it’s fascinating and informative for any fishing enthusiast .—Breana Roy

Secrets of the Pie Place Café

By Kathy Rice

Lake Superior Port Cities Inc., $19.95

Grand Marais author Kathy Rice weaves well-kept secret Pie Place recipes with heartwarming tales of the people of “a unique Lake Superior community.” The book contains customer favorites like radish dill soup, Pie Place breakfast potatoes, and maple sausage, as well as dessert recipes for apricot almond crunch pie, north woods apple pie, and lingonberry orange scones.—Breana Roy

Roy

sense of prestige? Do birds make art? Do an imals have a sense of humor? Author Vinciane Despret, associate professor of philosophy at University of Liege and Free University of Brussels, asks 26 questions that stretch our preconceived ideas about what animals do, what they think, and what they want. By exploring incredible and funny animal adventures and their involvement with farmers, zookeepers, researchers, handlers and others, Despret argues that the separation between human and animal behaviorisms don’t exist.—Breana

WHY GO: Good fishing opportunities for catching walleye, bass and a few other species, and there’s a Forest Service campground.

ACCESS: The U.S. Forest Service has a concrete boat ramp, with parking for 10 vehicles and 12 vehicle/trailer parking spots, along with a toilet. To get there, head out of Grand Marais about 27 miles up the Gunflint Trail and take a right on County Road 66.

VITALS: Flour is a 330-acre Cook County lake in the Superior National Forest. It sits to the south and west of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The lake has a maximum depth of 75 feet, average water clarity of 13 feet, and has 8.46 miles of shoreline, according to Minnesota DNR’s lake finder website.

GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Walleye, smallmouth bass, northern pike, lake trout, tullibee and yellow perch.

WALLEYES: You’ll have to put in a little time and effort to find the walleyes on Flour Lake, said Steve Persons, DNR’s

Grand Marais area fisheries supervisor. Persons said walleye numbers could be better at the lake, but DNR is trying, through stocking, to improve the fishery. “There is a wealth of walleye habitat,” he said. “You have to be willing to move around.” Seek out those classic walleye haunts on the lake, Persons said, adding that the lake’s decent clarity can make fishing best in the evenings and other low light-periods.

SMALLIES: The smallmouth bass fishery on Flour is doing quite well, Persons said, noting that it is managed with a 12-inch maximum size limit, allowing one fish over 20 inches. “There are times when it’s hard to find bass smaller than 12 inches,” he said, noting that the rule has been in place since the late 1990s. “We were trying to produce some bigger fish,” Persons said, noting that there used to be lots of smaller smallies.

FLOUR LAKE

The catch-and-release ethic of bass anglers might have more to do with the current size structure of the lake’s smallmouth population, though, Persons said. The most recent lake assessment turned up more bass in the 15 to 19-inch category than in any other category.

“There are some nice fish in the lake,” Persons said, noting that DNR is looking at possibly opening up more harvest on the lake, though such a decision would go through a public process first, and a creel survey is planned soon for the lake. “We would be listening closely to what anglers want there,” he said.

THE REST: Flour is one of those marginal lake trout lakes that is barely hanging on.

A stocking program has kept the fishery going, though no natural reproduction has been documented at the lake, putting the future of that stocking program at risk.

“It’s not as deep as our best lake trout lakes,” Persons said, noting that lakers were in the lake originally, and may have

dwindled in part because of complicated factors following the introduction of walleyes the first half of the 20th century.

The lake also has some northern pike in it.

“Once in a while, we see some nice ones,” Persons said, noting that pike, like all of the lake’s larger predators, benefit from tullibee population that has persisted.

Last but not least, there are a few decent yellow perch in the lake. “There are some, and some of them are big,” said Persons, noting that big for Flour Lake would go about half a pound.

CAMP OUT: The U.S. Forest Service has a 37-site fee campground on the northwest corner of the lake and Golden Eagle Lodge is the concessionaire. Campsites run $18 per night, including tax, and have an 8-person limit per site, though additional vehicles are $9. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777.—Javier Serna

Strange Tales

Stories from the Lighthouse

By Elle AndraWarner

The era of the lighthouse keepers tending isolated U.S. and Canadian stations on Lake Superior may be gone—the last keeper was taken off Superior in 1991— but their stories continue to make fascinating reading.

So, what is it like being on an island lighthouse in a storm? First assistant keeper C. A. McKay at Rock of Ages Lighthouse—located about five miles off Isle Royale - was asked that question by Detroit reporter Stella Champney during a 1931 interview. He replied, “You can’t see anything but water. You can’t hear anything but its roar. See that pier around the tower? It looks pretty high up and safe. Well, in a real storm, heavy green water sweeps over it. You can’t even see it sometimes. You can’t get away from the water even at the top of the tower. Spray sweeps over the tower windows and, when it’s very cold, freezes on the glass. You can’t hear anything but boom! boom! of the seas as they sweep over the rocks, or the crack like gunfire as they hit the tower.” The 130-foot Rock of Ages light went into service in 1908 and had keepers until 1977. It was manned by a keeper and three assistants, and was considered too dangerous for families.

Keepers were tough, courageous and dedicated to giving ships safe passage. During a 1932 blizzard at Passage Island Lighthouse, keeper John Gagnon’s face and ear froze while he kept sounding the fog signal for four days and three nights.

Most keepers stayed at their stations only during the navigation season, usually late April/early May to late November/ early December. Some brought their families with them, including John H. Malone, the keeper of Menagerie Island Lighthouse; a small barren outcropping of rock about 2.5 miles offshore at the entrance to Isle Royale’s Siskiwit Bay. Appointed to the station in 1878, he and his wife Julia had 12 children born (one died at birth) and lived on the island for 32 years, spending winters in Duluth.

One of the many interesting things Malone recorded in his keeper logs was collecting seagull eggs in the spring as an important source of food for the family. In 1887, he reported they had collected 1,478 eggs by first week in June. He also often commented on the weather. On October 28, 1884 he wrote that the island “looked like an iceberg.” A year later on November 4, 1885, he lamented, “This must be the North Pole.”

One Canadian keeper who lived yearround at his remote lighthouse was Andrew Dick at Point Porphyry Lighthouse on the southwestern tip of Porphyry Island, about 26 miles (42 km) east of Thunder Bay. Appointed in 1880 at $400/year, he stayed for the next 30 years, retiring in 1910 at age 78. He and his First Nations wife Caroline had 10 children; five boys and five girls. When his wife died in 1884, Dick was left to raise their children, ages four months to 19 years, on the island with the kids all pitching in to help.

Another long-tenure keeper was Canada’s Charles McKay, the keeper of Battle Island Lighthouse for 36 years, from 1877 to 1913. Known as a “man of fine physique” and legendary fearless mariner, MacKay rowed-sailed almost 300 miles (482 km) one year, in his 18-foot sailboat from Battle Island to Sault Ste Marie to spend Christmas Eve at his family home.

In the 1950s, Battle Island keepers had to deal with a “moose on the loose,” when a young, lone moose decided to make its home on the island. It became a “pet” of the keepers. However, as the moose grew, he created some havoc in the garden and ruined equipment, earning the name Obnoxious. Things turned ugly when Obnoxious became a dangerous nuisance, snorting and charging keeper George Brady anytime he went outside, at times, cornering him in the light tower. The keeper’s plight caught the attention of media, resulting in Brady receiving letters from across Canada and the U.S. By the fall of 1954, Brady had had enough of Obnoxious. After one failed attempt by the game warden to get Obnoxious, the warden successfully got the moose into the water and directed him to another island. To everyone’s relief, Obnoxious never returned.

Living on isolated islands without family could be lonely for keepers, and sometimes the mind played tricks. Passage Island keeper James Gagnon told Detroit reporter Stella Campney during her 1931 lighthouse tour, “Live around these isolated lighthouse stations long enough and you’ll be seeing mermaids. Like John Whelan down at Sand Hills. He says he sees mermaids on the rocks and hears them singing.” And then there was the keeper on Porphyry Island Light that broadcast on marine radio that UFOs were landing on the island.

One keeper tale may be unparalleled to this day. According to a July 15, 1875, log book entry by James Corgan, keeper at Manitou Island Lighthouse, located about three miles off the eastern tip of Keweenaw Peninsula, he and his wife Mary left the station at 8 p.m. on his steam launch “Little Will.” They were headed for nearby Copper Harbor, where Mary would give birth to their second child. But when they were 1.5 miles east of Horsehoe Harbor, Mary went into labour and gave birth to a baby boy right on the boat. James’s log entry finished with, “Soon made all things lovely. I had everything aboard in the way of bed, etc. etc. Sea a dead calm.”

Menagerie Island Lighthouse (also known as Isle Royale Lighthouse) shown here in 2004, was first lit in September 1875. John H. Malone was the keeper here for 32 years, from 1878 to 1910. | WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Point Porphyry

Lighthouse was established in 1873 as Canada’s second lighthouse on Lake Superior, located 26 miles (42 km) east of Thunder Bay. It is now leased to Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior Inc., a nonprofit group which has restored the site. | CANADIAN LIGHTHOUSES OF LAKE SUPERIOR INC./ PAUL MORRALEE.

Newly Constructed by Owner —a Retired Contractor

· Up to 5 bedrooms. Two full kitchens, three full baths, mud room, 2 utility rooms, back porch, storage shed.

· 6' steel artesian well. Excellent septic system.

· Separate

MALCOLM CLARK, Broker

BLANKET ISLAND, ROSSPORT

Your own private island located in the south of Rossport Harbour. Sheltered by the main land, Whiskey Island, and Nicol Island. Approx. 1/2 mile from the town of Rossport. 764 ft of Lake Superior shoreline. Really neat 1 1/2 story cabin with water, shower, cooking facilities with woodstove. Gravity water feed from tank on roof. $199,000 CDN

LITTLE PIGEON BAY

New Levels of Service

640 Beverly Street, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 0B5 Canada

Phone (807) 344-3232

FAX: (807) 344-5400

Toll Free 1-888-837-6926

Cell: 807-473-7105

mclark@avistarealty.ca www.avistarealty.ca

Very unique waterfront property on the outside of Black Bay Peninsula. Flanked by Helen Island, Lasher Island and Coutlee Island makes Blacks Wharf one of the best protected harbours you could find. This is a rare opportunity to own a very beautiful piece of Lake Superior. $200,000 CDN

just 15 minutes north of the Minnesota/Ontario border on Lake Superior. Cozy, comfortable cottage with over 178 feet of shoreline. Mostly level lot with easy access. Asking $219,000 CDN NEW LISTING! 6 LAKE SUPERIOR ISLANDS

NICOL ISLAND ROSSPORT

Tremendous Lake Superior building sites. Lakefront and interior lots for sale with docking facilities. Causeway opened year round. Power and phone. Starting at $55,000CDN

LAKE SUPERIOR LOTS

Little Trout Bay, 20 minutes north of the Minnesota/Ontario border, 3 large estate-sized lots, very sheltered with southern exposure. Tremendous views. Power and telephone available. Priced beginning at $199,000 CDN

Pine Bay Lake $460,Superior 000 CDN

Lake Superior Log Home. 3 large bedrooms, 2 baths, triple glaze windows, solid wood floors, hot tub room, sauna. 2 car+ attached garage. Super sized lot with sandy shoreline. A panoramic view of Pine Bay and Lake Superior. Built for year round living in 2002. Try your offer!

2 to 95 acres. Starting at $90,000 USD

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

Cloud Bay Lake Superior. 2 Great Lots $165,000 CDN & $185,000 CDN

2 New Lake Superior Lots. 176 ft. and 339 ft. lake frontages. Driveways installed. Power, phone and cell available. Beautiful southern hillside exposure and gorgeous view. A fabulous, quiet location for your dream cottage with year round access and fishing right out front.

On Famous Lac Des Mille Lacs $549,900 CDN

Own a slice of Minnesota’s Favorite Resorts

We bring you closer. To the lake, each other and your vacation property dreams.

the river. 3 garages. Over 3 acres cleared. Ideal for horses! Just 30 min. from city.

4 Season 3 bdrm. cedar and pine cottage. Propane + cozy wood burner heat. Furnished guest cabin, refreshing sauna, large garage + carport. Fabulous lot with sand beach and magnificent view! Great walleye and northern fishing year round! Call Wil Salo 627-1267

Frost

Agent, Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts

Eric, exclusive sales agent for Bluefin

BLACK BAY PENINSULA

NEW! WOWSER! LAKE SUPERIOR VILLA! You’ll never tire of the waves breaking over the rock island just off the shore! Enjoy a ton of amenities, pool/spa building, landscaped walking paths meandering the acreage surrounding the Villas, a playground, satellite TV, high speed internet! Nicely updated, Main level bdrm, upper sleep loft the kids will love! MLS#6022854 $175,000

NEW! GORGEOUS SHORELINE WITH RARE SEA ARCH! The views are from the deck of a ship. A crafters dream home, lots of elbow room, stone fire place for the ages and lower level walk out living space your friends and family will LOVE! MLS#TBD $549,0000

NEW! OVER 300 FT OF SPECTACULAR SHORELINE W/ AUTHENTIC BOATHOUSE AND MODERN HOME! Bright and Sunny home with huge deck for enjoying the fabulous views! Main level living, guest space on lower level. 2 car detached, awesome sauna. MLS#6023113 $585,000

NEW! MOVE IN READY ON CARIBOU LAKE! Coveted 200 feet of Prime shoreline with rare earthen landing and a new dock! Sweet swimming shoreline, Family style home where you can relax at the lake while the kids romp around outside! 2 car attached, 2 detached for the toys! MLS#6023227 $495,000

NEW! HEY HANDYMAN! Come take a Look at this Tofte home with acreage! Lots to offer, the home is solid and has a nice flow. The kitchen has been upgraded! Large windows allow for lots of light, and accessory buildings are perfect for a workshop and garage! Curious? Give us a call to see this gem! MLS#6022904 $189,000 NEW ROOF!

NEW! FIVE BEDROOM 4 BATH TOWNHOME WITH RENTAL INCOME IN LUTSEN! Lovely home overlooking the Mountainous terrain, Ski In Ski Out, and an easy walk to the Alpine Slide, the new Gondola, and miles of trails. The Perfect North Shore Getaway! MLS#6022881 $299,000

Ski In and Ski Out Winter Fun, Nice Rental Revenues at Caribou Highlands! Enjoy your options, 108 Bridge Run MLS#6023378 OR 518 Moose Mountain MLS#6023287 $159,900 NEW! AT THE WATER’S EDGE ON DEERYARD LAKE! Nestled in to the shoreland many years ago, this lakeshome captures the Vibe of days gone by. Enjoy some cards at the kitchen table overlooking the Wilderness Lakeshore. Good quality family time at the cabin. And it’s affordable at $164,900. CALL TODAY! MLS#6023865

NEW! NEWER CONSTRUCTION DOVE TAIL LOG CABIN, a Rustic Retreat on a Wilderness Lake! Enjoy the simple things in life…the call of the loons, the buzz of the skeeters… this is the ultimate camping retreat! Soup Lake in the Finland area, seasonal access, off grid cabin. MLS#6023339 $110,000

SANDY BEACH SHORELINE ON LAKE SUPERIOR, AND A HECK OF A NICE HOME! Super value, completely renovated, the interior of this home should be in Architectural Digest! You will love it once you see it in person! MLS# 6022246 $399,000

SUPERIOR SENSE OF PLACE! Meander the tree lined driveway along Lutsen’s Rollins Creek Road, stumble upon the connecting ponds with Fountain and Sculpture celebrating the Sounds of Springtime! Over 8 acres of rolling terrain, experience the manicured path to the ponds, or stroll down the rock steps to the Tumultuous Shoreline, the Waves Pounding the over 600 ft of

DREAMY LAKE SUPERIOR CABIN, ACCESSIBLE SHORELINE! Accessible ledgerock shoreline in the heart of Tofte! Walk to BlueFin for dinner, Enjoy seclusion amongst the Mature Spruce, Year Round living at it’s best. Perfect home to update and make it your own! MLS#2270954 $429,000

SECLUDED SIDE OF GRAND MARAIS ON LAKE SUPERIOR! Just east of the East Bay, you’ll love running your toes through the sandy shoreline on Lake Superior! Lovely Year Round 2+ bedrm home within walking distance to Grand Marais features main level living and room for expansion in the nice but unfinished basement. 2 car garage.

MLS#2313342 $369,900

$349,000

LAKE SUPERIOR LAND!

JAW DROPPING LAKE SUPERIOR Ready to build with long winding driveway to build site, surveyed. Defined build site with Huge Views!! Rare opportunity close to Grand Marais and within walking distance from the Croftville Road, very nice for walks. M

LS#6022564 $325,000

END OF THE ROAD SPECTACULAR 280 ft of cliff shoreline with unobstructed Views across Lake Superior! Little Marais area, Build ready, driveway already in place! MLS#2313255 $265,000

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!

ISLAND VIEW, HARBOR VIEW, SPECTACULAR VIEW!Accessible and Incredible shoreline, One of a KIND Lake Superior Parcel, Must Meander to See how much you will LOVE this Shoreline! MLS#2308826 $429,000 REDUCED! All You Need is Love, And August on the North Shore!

MLS#2309271 $799,000

SHUFFLEBOARD

ANYONE? Drift back to days gone by when you visit this lovely Greenwood Lake cabin! Incredible peninsula, Sweet cabin completely renovated and in tip top shape. Deep shoreline, huge ledgerock surrounds the home, you need to EXPERIENCE this property!

MLS#6023066 $429,000

CRAFTSMANSHIP ON GREENWOOD! Big Waters, views that seem to sprawl for miles! Quality newer construction home, Everything about this cabin is Awesome. Easy lake access, huge views, Mint Condition. Borders State land, End of the Road privacy. MLS#6023062 $499,000

GUST LAKE CABIN IN LUTSEN! Tons of value on a spectacular piece of shoreline! Super fishing cabin on a peninsula point overlooking peaceful Gust Lake and the Boundary Waters a hop skip and jump away. MLS#6020330 $239,000

SECLUSION ON GREENWOOD LAKE’S EAST BAY! Charming newer construction log sided cabin with great Lake Views tucked in to the shoreline of a quiet bay…imagine fishing your days away on Greenwood! MLS#6019922 $249,000

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

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 $529,000

PIKE LAKE SUNSHINE ON WILLARD LANE! Charming property is on the west end of Pike: the quiet side. Step inside the spacious A-frame: paneled floors and walls are warm and inviting, earnest wood stove. A bank of lakeside windows tells of every mood of light. Birch branch cabinet fronts, 240’ of lakeshore. MLS#2313066 $239,700

JUST IMAGINE

LOON LAKE! Let the kids romp and swim down on the shoreline while you enjoy relax on the large deck! It’s a small footprint which means more affordable to maintain and heat! Open concept main level with upstairs sleep space. Year round living on Loon Lake, fish for those Trout all day long! MLS#6022840 $211,000

CRAZY CUTE LOG CABIN ON CHRISTINE LAKE!

Located just off a designated Mountain Bike Trail system, enjoy year round access, electric at street and a TOTAL SENSE OF SECLUSION! Canoe on Christine, Fly Fish in the Poplar or just go for a hike in the Superior National Forest! MLS#2308836 $150,000 REDUCED!

LUTSEN LAKE SUPERIOR VACATION TOWNHOME AT LUTSEN RESORT! Enjoy all that the historic Lutsen Lodge offers…a sandy beach, a cool River, Swimming pool, spa, FABULOUS dining…but enjoy it in STYLE at the Cliffhouse overlooking the historic lodge. Newer construction, Big views, Contemporary Design. Total Comfort. Nice rental income to offset expenses MLS#6021422 $429,000

guests to enjoy! Main Level Owner’s Suite will make you want to keep it all to yourselves! A Must See! MLS#2313246 REDUCED! $465,000 BIG VALUE!

SWEET CABIN ON TONS OF PIKE LAKE SHORELINE! End of the road, year round living in this Grand Cabin bordering the Superior National Forest! MLS#6022181 $349,000 AT THE WATERS EDGE! Rustic cabin on Gust Lake, a Real Charmer! MLS#6022642 $110,000

POPLAR LAKE CABIN ON 440’ OF SHORELINE AT THE TIP OF A PENINSULA!

Ensconced in quiet Boreal environment, Cabin sits proudly above the lake for long views over Poplar’s numerous islands! Home needs a little TLC, priced to sell! MLS#2308952 $259,000 REDUCED!

FUN ON LUTSEN MOUNTAINS!

have a space to romp! 2 car detached, paved driveway all on 8 acres! MLS#2313057 $330,000 All You Need is Love, And August on the North Shore! RUSTIC LIVING A HOP SKIP & A JUMP FROM GRAND MARIAS! Charming

SILVER BAY TO LITTLE MARAIS TO FINLAND & ISABELLA!

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

30 acres Wilderness, Borders lands next to Little Manitou River! MLS#2309327 $129,000 Rocky Wall Overlooking Lake Superior just outside Silver Bay. MLS#2244646 $99,000

80 acres for $79,000 Blesner Lake Rd!. MLS#2234328

Rock Road in Silver Bay area! Great build site with creek frontage! MLS#2308638 $45,000

Sonju Lake Road in Finland! 39 ac Rolling terrain with some maples MLS#2313331 $45,000 SALE PENDING!

160 acre parcel of upland maples and boreal forest. Total seclusion. Owned by the same family since 1904! MLS#2194145 $129,000

Lakeshore on Ninemile Lake at the Village, common water and septic, build ready, borders common land! MLS#2309096 $39,000 REDUCED!

SCHROEDER AREA NEAR THE CROSS RIVER!

Caribou River Frontage, Simply Gorgeous 38 ac! MLS#2313027 $65,000 SOLD!

Maple forest with meandering creek , nice sized pond. Electric/broadband Yr Round access. 15 min from Hwy 61 in Schroeder. 20 ac $49,900 MLS#2308954; 40+ ac $109,900 MLS#2308953

10 Ac Parcels of Maples! Rolling Terrain of Mature Maples to a Sweet Building site Perched Over a Mixed Boreal Forest. Year Round Access and Electric at Road! MLS#2024250 $56,900

DRAMATIC Mountain Top Views, Rolling Hills, Maple Forests fading in to Spruce and Pine and year round access. Tons of acreage available, or just pick up a 40 for $70,000! MUST SEE, call Emily today! MLS#6001560, multiple#’s call for full map and prices! FROM $70,000 MLS#2090628

Sugarloaf Retreats on High Ridge Drive, located up the Surgaloaf Road from Sugarloaf Cove Naturalist Area, Enjoy large acreage parcels at rock bottom prices! Each $39,000 MLS#1598640 REDUCED!

TOFTE AREA NEAR BLUEFIN BAY RESORT!

LeVeaux Mountain, Super Views and Wildlife

Ponds! FROM $49,900 MLS#2216091, MLS#2220050 $69,000

Just Up the Sawbill Trail Grab your little piece of the Northwoods, rolling terrain and small community feel with year round access, great build sites! MLS#2070510 Prices from $24,900!!

Tofte vaag on the Sawbill, Nice Lake Views! Walk to the Coho, great location! FROM $49,900 MLS#1615956

Wowser Lake Superior views on Overlook Tr! MLS#2296509 $79,900

Mature Spruce and BIG Lake Views! Walk to Blue Fin Bay, drilled well in place!

MLS#2272174 $49,900

Gorgeous 19 acres with creek running through the middle, high ground!

MLS#2309247 $65,000

LUTSEN LAKE VIEWS & WILDERNESS LANDS!

NEW! Nice parcel bordering USFS land, driveway roughed in, access to Tait Lk!

MLS#6023412 $35,000

Onion River Rd land, Hiker’s Heaven!

MLS#2309316 $45,000 SALE PENDING!

High Ground End of Cul de Sac borders Superior National Forest! MLS#6021436 $49,900

Woodland Foothills Build Ready lots, Shared Water & Community Septic from $19,000 MLS#2309328+

Heartland of Lutsen, 80 ac at the Foothills of Ski Hill ridge, near downtown Lutsen!

MLS#2312987 $119,000

Over 15 ac of Wilderness on Turnagain Trail in Lutsen! MLS#2216560 $69,500

Prime Build Site(s) just off theCaribou at Jonvick Creek! MLS#2240533 $49,000

Gorgeous 5 acre parcels in the Heart of Lutsen

paved Caribou Trail locale bordering USFS lands!

MLS#2174799 From $54,900-$77,500

Creek Build Site just off the Caribou Trail at Jonvick Creek! Rare and Unique Build site!

MLS#2289515 $57,500

LUTSEN LAKE VIEWS & WILDERNESS LANDS!

30 acres of Prime Wilderness Land with year round access and electric at street with Views of Lutsen’s famed Clara Lake! MLS#2080599 $137,500

80 Ac with Poplar River Frontage on the Honeymoon Tr! MLS#2307399 $95,000

Gorgeous Views of Williams & Wills Lake in Lutsen! Year Round Access, electric, Mountain Top site bordering USFS land. A Wonderful place to build your home! MLS#2107927 $70,000

GRAND MARAIS LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!

NEW! Hammer Road East of town! Two nice Lake Superior view lots, you pick! $49,900 EA MLS#6023581, 586

A Hop, Skip & Jump West of Grand Marais this lot is the perfect location to build. With an apron and culvert installed off County Rd 7, and the survey done you are ready to build! MLS#2313311 $68,900

7.26 ac south facing land west of Grand Marais. White Pine, Maple forest in the Deeryard Lake area- East Deeryard Rd. Power/ broadband. All high ground. MLS#2308855 $49,000

A River Runs Through It! 160 Acres of Upland and River Frontage on the Cascade River near Eagle Mountain. Whether Hunting land or Wilderness Retreat, this is a Great Opportunity! MLS#1940786 $99,500 REDUCED! SALE PENDING!

Corner Build Site in Town Walk to Harbor! MLS#2309203 $39,000

60 Ac with Lake Views E of Grand Marais! Keep this gem all to yourself and enjoy plenty of elbow room! MLS#2208961 $119,000

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!

Lovely parcel just Up the Gunflint Trail, ready to build, mature pines great location! MLS#6022429 $49,900

LAKESHORE BUILD

FT ON CARIBOU LAKE, driveway roughed

Lake, a super wilderness lake great for paddling your days away! MLS#6023288 $99,900

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

PIKE LAKE SHORELINE, SOUTHERN EXPOSURE! Nice big lake lot: 5+ acres, 225’ of frontage! Maples, cedars, fir, ash: a diverse mix of thriving Northwoods. The fall color is dreamy, try collecting maple sap in the spring! Shallow lake access, but it’s there, along with yr round access! MLS#2313068 $167,700 HEY HEY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SUPER NICE CARIBOU LAKE BUILD SITE! The

855’ of total shoreline.

Year-round

Restaurant,

Fully

4 vacation rental units.

Beautiful 2 bedroom owner’sliving quarters on upper level.

Lower level banquet room with walkout patio.

Great opportunity for entrepreneurial enterprise.

Common area waterfront Perfect for weddings, family reunions and special events.

Numerous added value and revenue enhancement opportunities.

STUNNING CONTEMPORARY HOME. Absolutely spectacular soft contemporary home situated above

TIMBER FRAMED DREAM. Remarkable opportunity at a price that's lower than what it cost to build this Mulfinger designed Lake Superior home! 3 bdrm, 4 bath with tasteful and comfortable details. Top notch appliances & features! Views of the 2-story Montana stone fireplace from the kitchen, liv. room & din. room. Over-sized, heated 2-car garage has a 3 bed guest room above with a 1/4 bath.

ing. 5.34 acres of secluded property with 224' of accessible shoreline. MLS# 6020825 $824,900

Elegant and comfortable 3 bdrm, 2 bath contemporary home. Beautifully wooded & private, with dramatic rocks & panoramic lake views on 223’ of easily accessed Lake Superior shore. The

is

with the gourmet kitchen, formal

& living area centered around the Finnish fireplace. The master suite is a lovely open space with a private office. The master bath suite is exceptional. Upgrades throughout, beautiful maple flooring. MLS# 2308811 $750,000

SPECTACULAR LAKE SUPERIOR LOT

CONTEMPORARY LOG HOME. Every room has a Lake Superior view! This beautiful home on 6.5 acres features an open living/dining room with cozy wood burning stove and wrap-around deck. The shoreline is accessible with a fire pit and beach platform. The kitchen has a huge granite island and custom hickory cabinets with lots of storage. The upper family room also has space for guests. Nice basement and extra large garage with room for 4 vehicles. MLS# 6021770 $539,000 PRICE REDUCED!

Framed by palisades, the nicely wooded property has two or more perfect sites on which to build your special lake home. Views are classic old North Shore looking over Chicago Bay. Shared septic system is in place. MLS# 2308784 $365,000

frontage and extra large lot size for privacy and expansive views. Enjoy working from home with broadband Internet! Tettegouche State Park, Palisades and Silver Bay Marina are all within 3 miles! MLS# 2313080 $649,900 EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, STUNNING SHORELINE

CUTE LAKE SUPERIOR CABIN Nearly finished yet entirely functional cabin with Lake Superior frontage across the highway. Over 450’ of shoreline on Lake Superior! Many options to finish the interior, and the lot could be split if desired. MLS# 6021988 $164,900

GORGEOUS HOME ON DEVIL TRACK

LAKE. Impeccably maintained 2 story, 3 bdrm lake home with 3 season porch. Windows all around, vaulted ceilings, numerous upgrades, loads of finished living space. Workshop, landscaped yard and gardens. Easy walk to access the 100+ ft of lake shore and dock. MLS# 6023129 $399,900

GUNFLINT LAKE HOME & GUEST

CABIN. Spectacular views across the lake to Canada! With 2 bdrms + lrg loft, 2 baths, guest cottage with ½ bath & laundry facility, there’s room for everyone with plenty of privacy. The living area features beamed cathedral ceilings, a beautiful stone fireplace & huge windows looking through the forest to the lake. The 200’ of lakeshore is easy to access. MLS# 6021137 $389,900

CHARMING CABIN ON SEAGULL LAKE. Lovely 2 bdrm, 1 bath cabin with 233’ of gentle shoreline with breathtaking views of the lake and islands. Wrap around decking sets only 35 feet from the water's edge. Beautifully appointed, open living space will be sold furnished with a few exceptions of personal property. Crafted built-ins and storage space. Too much to mention! MLS# 6023785 $355,500

SEAGULL LAKE LOT - BWCAW

VIEWS.This 10-acre lot has great views, 489 ft of accessible shoreline and even a nice sandy area for swimming. Rock outcroppings, blueberries and thousands of planted pines cover this classic wilderness setting. Driveway and power are in place with a nice shed to store your gear. MLS# 6021603 $339,900

LOG CABIN GETAWAY. Once "Aspen Annie's" north woods road house, now your log cabin getaway on beautiful and serene Aspen Lake. Easy year round access. Newer insulated roof and new septic system. In the heart of the most pristine lake country and old white pine

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES

EAST BEARSKIN

LAKE HOME. Charming 2 bdrm cabin on 180 ft of E. Bearskin Lake. Federal lease property. All knotty pine interior, brick fireplace, built-in bookcases. Awesome views of the lake, level walk to the dock and shore. Includes utility shed, woodshed, aluminum canoe & boat. MLS# 6023139 $235,900

LAKE PRIVACY ON 20 ACRES. Beautiful Lost Lake is a remote wilderness lake with only a few privately owned parcels on the water. The lots are all 20 acres in size with 600 ft of shoreline. This great lot has huge white pines. MLS# 6019597 $179,000

POPLAR LAKE-BWCAW ACCESS. Nice 2.11 acre lot with beautiful west views of the lake and 244 feet of shore tucked in a quiet bay, perfect for swimming. A small, updated cabin sits right at the water's edge and includes 1 bdr, new kitchen, stone fireplace, and huge windows. Newer composting outhouse and a shower house. Plenty of room for a main home and garage. MLS# 6021031 $176,900

SOLITUDE ON LOON LAKE. These 1-2 acre lots are located on the south side of Loon Lake and offer great lake views, 152-218’ beautiful shoreline and many nice trees. The main road is in place and power is on the lot line. MLS# 2093855, 2159458, 2309227, 2309228 $159,000 and up PRICE REDUCED!

BEAUTIFUL, LARGE LOT ON GULL LAKE. Over 342 feet of shoreline and 4 acres. A great location and many excellent building sites. There is a magnificent panoramic view of the lake with easy access to the water’s edge. MLS# 2308946 $220,000

SECLUDED AND PEACEFUL - MCFARLAND LAKE. Quality built cabin tucked in a mature cedar forest with great views of the palisade. There is 1 bdrm plus loft, nice kitchen/dining area, & cozy living space with wood stove. Features custom built cabinets & bookshelves, large deck & work/storage shed, + beautiful cedar sauna. Comes furnished and includes the dock, boat, canoe and kayak - only a short paddle to the BWCAW! MLS# 6020639 $219,000

LEVEL LOT, NICE WOODS, EASY SHORE. This Devil Track Lake lot has easy access from county road, power, phone and great building sites. South shore, 200 ft. frontage, great views. Build your home on the lake here. MLS# 6020625 $198,900

LIKE NEW LAKE ESCAPE. This newer 2 bdrm, 1 bath home on Tom Lake has a full kitchen with LP appliances and great screen porch. There's a generator system, but grid power and Broadband are now available. Newer septic and well, and the place comes furnished and equipped to start enjoying life at the lake immediately, including a boat, motor, dock and boat lift. The 233 feet of shore is quiet and protected. MLS# 6022499 $197,500

PARADISE ON TOM LAKE. This 2 bedroom log sided cabin is the definition of superb craftsmanship! Charm in every room. Large Pella bay windows, genuine hardwood flooring, Corian countertops & quartz island with new kitchen appliances, and 2 fireplaces - one of which is see-through and heats the master bedroom! Generator power - electricity is at the road. Also features a 30 x 16 carriage house, 8 x 8 shed, & 220' shoreline. MLS# 6022909 $259,900

WILDERNESS SETTING - TUCKER LAKE. A perfect place for your cabin or home with unspoiled views and lots of Gunflint Trail privacy. 3.68 acres and 554’ shoreline. Tucker Lake is a protected lake with added setbacks to protect the lake and views. Direct BWCAW access. MLS# 2309237 $224,900 PRICE REDUCED! CLASSIC

Very private mid-Gunflint Trail lake property. MLS# 6019478 $189,900 PRICE REDUCED!

NORTH FOWL LAKE CABIN. Remote water only access from the US side of the border, or drive in from the Ontario side. Stunning views and easy access to the border lakes and the Royal River on the east end of the BWCA. Lovely 2 bdrm cabin with sauna. The private 200’ of lake-front lot has gentle shoreline and great views. MLS# 6023214 $179,000

GREAT PIKE LAKE CABIN. This 2 bdrm cabin is in great condition with a large deck, storage shed, and 300 ft of shoreline. It sits privately within a common interest community shared with 4 other cottages. The lake views are great. Live here, rent it, or enjoy your weekend escapes. MLS# 6020563 $179,000

AFFORDABLE CABIN ON CLEARWATER LAKE. Cute 2 bdrm cabin on very special Clearwater Lake with 180’ frontage. Sit on the deck and hear the loons call. Very affordable for up north cabin life. MLS# 6023119 $169,000

ASTOUNDING VIEWS ON GREENWOOD. 2.10 acre lot on Greenwood Lake with 230’ lakeshore. Southwest location with incredible views down the lake. Surveyed and ready to build your dream home or cabin. Easy year round access. MLS# 2308929 $159,500

2900’ OF WILDERNESS LAKESHORE. The ONLY private parcel on Monker Lake just

CLASSIC POPLAR LAKE CABIN. Sweet, older 2 bdrm cabin on a bay of Poplar Lake with 100’ frontage. Great location! Charm in every room. Could have a septic and well, and has potential as a great vacation rental. Wood stove and propane heater. MLS# 6023157 $154,500

NEW! SUPREME LAND, SUPREME WATER. Over 20 acres of amazing forest teamed with 300’ of awe-inspiring shoreline that rests at the southeast end of Tom Lake. Private with special views. Nice build site options with electricity and broadband available. MLS# 6023688 $130,000

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES

SNOWSHOE RUN LOTS. Set along a high ridge overlooking Hare Lake in a mature northern hardwood forest. Year-round plowed and maintained county roads, power at each property and a clear water trout lake. These beautiful home sites were planned for generations of enjoyment and are protected by covenants. MLS# 60194906019496, 6019498 Lake lot prices start at $48,800 END OF THE ROAD PRIVACY ON TOM LAKE. This beautiful wooded lot has its own bay/cove. There is a long curved driveway to a nice cleared build site. MLS# 6021553 $47,500

CONDOMINIUMS

WELCOME TO LAKE SUPE-

RIOR. Warm & beautiful light-filled end unit

A GEM IN THE WOODS.

There is quality and detail at every turn in this

QUIET AND PRIVATE CONDO. Spend the day on your balcony listening to Lake Superior roll in and watch the sun rise and set from this lovely 2 bdrm, 2 bath condo. Updated kitchen and main level with endunit location. Very private, very quiet. Great rental revenues. MLS# 6023593 $133,000

LOVELY LAKE SUPERIOR CONDO. Tastefully updated features throughout with main level location, this condo sits close to the pool area, the outdoor firepit and grill area in addition to the stairway that leads to the stunning shoreline. Private and quiet. Attractive rental revenues.

MLS# 6021045 $82,500

MAPLE HILL HOME IN ENCHANTED FOREST. This 3 bdrm, 2 bath split entry sits in a mature pine forest with tons of seclusion and northwoods appeal on 28 acres. Lrg stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings, open plan livingdining-kitchen with patio door to the deck. 1.5-car garage with finished space above plus 30 x 40 shop building. Great location near town, but tucked away in the majestic pines for peaceful privacy. MLS# 6020988 $324,900 PRICE REDUCED!

CLASSIC FARM HOUSE AND 20 ACRES. Simply charming country home with outbuildings and some pasture for your horse! The 3 bdr, 2 bath home has a country kitchen/dining room, huge living room, comfortable den with built-in bookshelves, 3 season porch and full basement with workshop. The land is special with a large wildlife pond, planted pines, open meadow and potential for a lake view. More land is available. MLS# 2309191 $298,900

Aspenwood Townhome. The 2-story walkout style leaves you with plenty of options to get outside and close to the Big Lake. This 2 bdrm, 3 bath home includes 98% of all furnishings & personal property. It is also part of a successful vacation rental pool. MLS# 6022175 $290,000 LUTSEN COUNTRY HOME. Large windows give this 3 bdrm, 2 bath house a bright and sunny disposition. Eat-in kitchen plus formal dining room. Full basement with laundry and sauna. Many upgrades and improvements including new septic system. Garage, lrg private yard, log shed and garden area. State wildlife management area across the road. MLS# 2308800 $186,900 PRICE REDUCED!

THREE-LEVEL LAKE SUPERIOR CONDO. Beautiful views and quality finishes. 3-bdrm, 3-bath, accommodates 10. Outdoor access from each level with two decks and a patio right on the shore. Main floor has open floor plan with great room, kitchen and dining room - perfect for entertaining. Attached garage is a rarity on the shore. Perfect North Shore home or offer as a vacation rental. MLS# 2312996 $374,900 LOG CABIN CHARM. This gorgeous lower level unit walks out to Lake Superior. Updated with top-notch finishes, open concept floor plan, bamboo flooring, stainless steel appliances, and stunning log cabin walls in the bedroom. One of the highest income-generating rental units - it has the only in-unit whirlpool at CL! This unit could come fully furnished allowing owners to earn rental revenues immediately. MLS# 6020672 $81,900

LAKE SUPERIOR CONDO/TOFTE. Great lake views from this 2 bedroom + loft unit with 2 baths, fireplace, balcony looking up the shore. Chateau LeVeaux offers many updated amenities, indoor pool, sauna, game room, and on-site manager. MLS# 2276189 $80,000

. Generator power and over 100 acres to explore. MLS# 6022886 $269,000

HOVLAND

OPPORTUNITY. Large home or commercial opportunity on Hwy 61 between Hovland and Grand Portage. This 7 bdrm, 3 bath home has resort/commercial zoning allowing for many options. Located on the scenic Reservation River at the gateway to the most picturesque corner of Minnesota's North Shore. Large deck, stone fireplace, Lake Superior views, +/- 500' of rushing river frontage. A great home for a large family, or your business dream. MLS# 2313085, 2313088 $289,900 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 $269,900

CABINS IN THE WOOD. Only a stone’s throw to Gunflint Lake with nice views of the lake and Canadian shore, these 9 acres are nicely wooded and feel secluded. There is a super charming log sauna and two small cabins, ready for you to move in. A storage shed and outhouse are included. It adjoins federal land. MLS# 2305426 $124,900

NORTH SHORE RETREAT. Located on the Lake Superior side of Highway 61, these 3.8 acres have decent lake views and the property is accessed from a private road off of the highway. The one-room cabin is kind of rough, but maybe this is the project you've been looking for. MLS# 6020252 $40,000

OUTPOST MOTEL. A thriving business with a long history of impressive earnings, solid base of repeat customers, and excellent online reviews, the Outpost Motel is a turn-key opportunity. The business includes a motel with 10 conventional rooms, 3 kitchenette suites, a cottage, apartment, and 17 acres - room for expansion! Remodeled owner's home has 3 bdrms, 2 baths, and breathtaking views of Lake Superior. MLS# 6020562 $610,000 PRICE REDUCED!

RENTAL COTTAGES - GOOD HISTORY - GREAT LAKE. Devil Track Cabins have been a long standing seasonal resort on the beautiful north shore of Devil Track Lake. 5 cabins plus an owner's cabin needing renovation - a manageable operation for a retired couple, or as a family retreat. Great potential as vacation rental business. Classic charm, nice lake views. private setting. MLS# 6019988 $387,900 PRICE REDUCED!

RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE

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.

GRAND MARAIS - CITY LOT ON CREEK. Wooded lot with City services: water, sewer and electric at site. Nice south exposure and frontage on scenic Cedar Creek. Quiet street. MLS# 2125228 $59,900

LAND ON THE FLUTE REED RIVER. Enjoy privacy and seclusion in a deep 13 acre parcel with over 300 feet of trout stream in Hovland. Easy access with power, phone and broadband. Nice build sites. MLS# 2313215 $49,900

500’ ON MOHNS CREEK. Mixed topography of beautiful rolling land with many great build sites on 25 acres. Old growth cedar, spruce, pine and birch. Abuts state land. MLS# 6021088 $39,900

TOP OF BIRCH CLIFF. See 50 miles across Lake Superior! Only a few spectacular view sites like this exist on the North Shore. You can see 180 degrees from Isle Royale to the east, the Apostle Islands to the south, and all the way down the Sawtooth Mountains to the west. There is a private drive and buried power already in place. Public lands border the 15+ acre property, and more land is available. MLS# 6022768 $350,000

LOCATION, VIEWS, PRIVACY, 80 ACRES. Sweeping views of Lake Superior and Pincushion Mt from expansive open meadows. This former homesteaders property has it all: rolling topography, ravines, grassy meadows, mature timber, flowing creek and expansive views. Great property for horses or crop production. Minutes from Grand Marais. MLS# 6021017 $289,000

RUSTICATE, RECREATE, RELAX. Reclusive Hovland hideaway –43 acres with new driveway to “base camp” with a nice camper trailer and shed. Trails have been cut throughout the property which adjoins State land. MLS# 2313223 $64,900 PRICE REDUCED!

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

PINES & LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW. Large 13+ acre pine filled lot on the hillside above Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center in Schroeder. Great lake views! Power, phone and broadband at the lot. MLS# 2313242 $64,900

HOME SITE NEAR DEVIL TRACK LAKE. Deep wooded home site steps from Devil Track Lake. 5 acres of secluded privacy. Enjoy the lake without the high taxes. MLS# 6022472 $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 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, plus an elevated viewing blind. MLS# 6020274 $55,000

RIDGES, PINES & VIEWS - ARROWHEAD TRAIL. Nice 20 acre parcel with high building sites and huge pines. The surrounding federal land leads directly into the BWCAW. McFarland lake is just a half-mile away. MLS# 2313108 $63,000

NEW! NICE LOT NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Beautiful gardens currently inhabit this lovely lot. Though it rests on Hwy 61 there are nice private niches to rest your home on. Walk to downtown Grand Marais! MLS# 6022810 $55,000

BUILDING LOT - GRAND MARAIS. A rare find! This lot is located on 8th Ave W in the heart of town with easy walking distance to the harbor and business district. All city services are at the street. MLS# 6019287 $54,900

NEW! MARKET, DELI, LIQUOR 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 $349,900

BIG OPPORTUNITY, MANY POSSIBILITIES. Prime commercial location in Hovland, 1000 feet of Highway 61 frontage. Large commercial space with a small 2 bedroom home and 1 functioning rental cottage. Many new improvements and upgrades. Two more small cabins could be rented, and there's room for many more...or other possibilities. Large 2-car garage plus two sheds. MLS# 2308736 $297,500

GRAND MARAIS PROFESSIONAL BUILDING

The options here are endless and the opportunity is great. Ample parking and a nice sized storage building. Own/occupy the entire building, rent out one side & offset your ownership costs, or create “condo offices” & offer space to a variety of entities. MLS# 6020220 $269,900

GRAND MARAIS CABINS. Good income property with long-term tenants. All 5 cabins have had ongoing upgrades - roofs, baths, plumbing, heating. Cabin 1 has fireplace. Charming touches. MLS# 2312978 $210,000

COMMERCIAL LOTS IN LUTSEN. Two commercial-zoned lots fronting Hwy 61 in Lutsen across from Lockport Store. Great visibility, nice forest, lake view. Third lot is zoned residential. Bring your business idea! MLS# 6020464 $179,000

RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE

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# 6019433 $203,000 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# 2313109 $167,000 BIG LAND, BIG CREEK, BIG TREES. This nearly 100 acre Hovland area parcel is on the "front range" of the Farquhar Hills with a dramatic backdrop of rock cliffs and escarpments. There is a large creek running through the entire property with many fantastic building sites. MLS# 2308857 $159,900 INCREASINGLY RARE, LARGE RECREATIONAL PARCEL. 190 arces fully surveyed. The perfect retreat. Has a rich variety of trees, ponds, high and low lands, some meadow land and wetlands. MLS# 6023211 $150,000 BEAUTIFUL ACREAGE WITH LAKE VIEWS. Four 80 acre parcels located just south of Schroeder and a stone’s throw from Lake Superior! Each parcel features shared access off State Highway 61. The land features a gradual elevation, tiered building sites, beautiful lake views, and the Caribou River is within walking distance. MLS #6020335, #6021914, #6021916, and #6021918 $149,900 each.

NEW! LARGE ACREAGE WITH WATER FEATURES. The headwaters of Irish Creek! Quality 160+ acres, 5 parcels sold grouped or separately. Many great features incl. old growth white pine, ponds, camping and building areas. MLS# 6023457 $149,500

LARGE PARCEL. Large private parcel with possible subdivision potential. Great Lake Superior views on the higher elevations. A small creek runs through part of the 25 acre property. MLS# 2308822 $124,900

INTRIGUING PROSPECT. High-quality items already in place include an insulated/heated slab for house/porch, insulated garage slab, electricity, driveway, the well, a time-dosed/heated septic system. Over 18 acres of privacy. MLS# 6021384 $114,900

READY TO BUILD – 20 ACRES IN SCHRODER. Driveway and building pad already in place. A red pine forest climbs up to the highest point with stunning views. MLS# 2308723 $79,900 PRICE REDUCED!

HUGE POND-HUGE PRIVACY. Large 45+ acre wooded parcel located across from Tom Lake. Huge pond/lake in the very center of the acreage. MLS# 6022858 $99,000

MAPLES, VIEWS, PRIVACY. 85+ acres near Hovland. Good end of road access, adjoining tons of federal land, great view of pond. MLS# 2313198 $98,900 BUILDING SITE, CREEK, MAPLE RIDGE. This 47 acre parcel has a lot to offer. There’s a nice south facing building site just off a county road, a trout stream with beaver pond, and a maple ridge adjoining federal land. Great location close to Grand Marais. MLS# 6022087 $69,900

PERFECT 5 ACRE HOME SITE. This private and secluded build site is just waiting for your custom plans! Only five miles from town with five acres of great woods bordering public land on two sides. MLS# 6021986 $51,500

NEW! GREAT PRIVACY CLOSE TO TOWN. This 5 acre property just outside of 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. New driveway this summer. MLS# 6023747 $49,800

OWN A PIECE OF THE NORTHWOODS. 39+ acres of gently sloping, wooded land with easy access on Camp 20 Road. Less than one half mile east of Judge CR Magney State Park, and steps away from the Superior Hiking Trail. MLS# 6022163 $48,900

BUILDING SITE OVERLOOKING MCFARLAND LAKE. This pine studded 7 acre property has easy walking access to the county beach on McFarland Lake. Nice elevated build site with easy county road access. Just minutes from the BWCA by canoe or hiking shoe. MLS# 6019449 $47,000 POWERS LAKE ROAD ACREAGE. This is the beautiful ‘40’ that you have been waiting for. Easy access off Powers Lake Road. Electricity and broadband – a real bonus! MLS# 6022202 $42,000

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 $40,000 QUIET AND PRIVATE. Choice 2.31 acre lot at the end of the road in Lutsen, ready to build. Priced to sell! MLS# 2309202 $39,500 PRICE REDUCED!

WOODED 2.4 ACRES. Tait Lake back-lot with driveway in and cleared building site ready for your cabin. Electric is on site. MLS# 2297619 $39,000 PRICE REDUCED!

WOODED ACREAGE – GRAND MARAIS. Two private 20 acre lots with hiking and ski trails, and abundant wildlife. A high building site offers seasonal views of Lake Superior. MLS# 2313172 $46,000 & MLS# 2313173 $35,000

FIVE SECLUDED ACRES. One of eight secluded wooded 5-acre parcels bordering Govt. land. MLS# 2308827 $28,000

WILDWOOD ACRES - TOFTE. Great building potential. MLS# 2313009, 2313010, 2313011 & 2313012 $17,500 - $20,000

NEW! PRIVATE HOME SITE CLOSE TO SUPERIOR. Very nice parcel with driveway, power and cleared building site. Rock outcroppings, huge spruce and privacy on dead end road near Silver Bay. Very affordable home site or recreational lot. MLS# 6023748 $19,900

Lake Superior Lots

57XX East Hwy 61 - $99,900

4.1A, 280’ shore. Driveway, septic

1.30A

14

MLS 6020138

Two premium lots sited along

Inland Lake Homes

Bluefin Bay - Tofte

Condos

East Bay Suites

2BR, 2BA with views of Lake Superior from both bedrooms as well as in-unit owner storage. End of building and top floor privacy make this a special unit. Excellent rental record and income.

MLS 6023153 Unit #301

$324,900 NEW

Lake Superior View

4.16A

E Hwy 61 - $84,900

10+A, beautiful tree cover, rock out-croppings and great views. Driveway to a great building site and a septic holding tank is already installed. MLS 6022629

Raven Feather Rd - $119,900

6.65A of nicely wooded just west of Grand Marais. End of road location with federal land to the west PLUS incredible views of Lake Superior. MLS 6023225

Morgan Rd - $79,000 NEW

20A, great mix of trees, elevated lot, abuts Cascade State Park to the west, federal land to the north. MLS 6023679

Silver Fox Rd 5A of northwoods privacy with all modern conveniences about 8 minutes from town. Gently rolling with some very attractive building sites. Abuts government land.

MLS 2313028 $39,900

W Hwy 61 7.1A Great location and development opportunities right off Hwy 61! 7.1A Commercial lot (Zoned Commercial and R-1). Additional acreage of R-1 behind. Agent Owned. MLS 2170380 $149,900

Schoolhouse Road 10A close to town. This parcel will be surveyed and have septic sites confirmed MLS 60191333 $44,900 PENDING

4018 County Rd 14 20A nicely wooded year round lot. Electricity and phone, abuts Federal land providing access to incredible amount of land. MLS 2308865 $59,900

North Rd 20A, very private, year round access. Power, phone and broadband available at the road!! MLS 2313046 $39,900

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

MLS 6021224 $45,000 - $65,000

Roman’s Rd 1.72A Close to Devil Track Lake and lots of recreational activities. MLS 2173907 $29,900

Pike Lake Rd Wooded 4+A near Pike Lake! Nicely elevated build sites, survey in place and septic sites identified MLS 6019339 $29,900

Surfside

3BR, 3BA, end units with great views of Lake Superior. Excellent vacation rental history!

MLS 6022906 Unit 14A $189,000 PENDING

MLS 6023870 Unit

11A $210,000 NEW

Bloomquist Mtn. Rd 5.8A - $44,900

10 miles east of Grand Marais with power at theproperty, driveway, and several building sites partiall cleared!

MLS 2313330

1501 W Hwy 61 - $169,900

Almost 3A of commercially zoned property with Lake Superior! view! Very level building area; city sewer and water available. MLS 6019246

E Hwy 61 - $54,900 NEW

20A, 1/3 mile above Lake Superior with great panoramic views. Very nice site near town but also quite private.

MLS 6023934

Gunflint Trail - $97,500

Year round 6.46A on county maintained road with plenty of privacy. Great views of Superior! MLS 6023319

Solberg Lane 20A close to town but is definitely offthe-grid for a real North Woods getaway. Nicely elevated with the possibility of solar and wind power. Rustic outhouse and bunkhouse cabin on the site. MLS 2239163 $72,500

78 Squint Lake Rd 5A surrounded on 2 sides by government land. Convenient mid-trail location. MLS 6020283 $62,900

Gunflint Trail Cross country skiers, hikers; this property is connected to the Pincushion Cross Country Ski Trail system with the Little Devil Track River flowing through it MLS 2313364 $69,000

Diagonal Rd 20A, not-so-remote remote parcel. Year round access to within a few yards. Septic sites identified. Great mixture of tree cover as well as highlands and wetlands. MLS 6021005 $27,500

Co Rd 67 2.24A with driveway in place! Excellent location close to town and county road means easy access.MLS 6021756 $49,900

Casper Hill Rd

19.6A just a few miles from town. Simple lean-to cabin to give you a head start on your get away. MLS 6023494 $45,000

Rosebush Hill Lane Nicely wooded 5.40A with shared driveway only minutes from town. Identified septic sites and fully surveyed! Approx. 430’ of creek frontage. OWNER will consider a Contract for Deed! MLS 2232494 $49,900

Inland Lake Lots

Tom Lake Year round, 1.10A, 171’ shore, nicely wooded, driveway and cleared building site. MLS 6020381 $54,900

Heavily wooded with year-round access. 112’ shore on county maintained road. MLS 2313184 $114,900

Private 34+A, 600’ of shore, surveyed and septic sites are id’d. Will consider owner financing to a qualified buyer.

MLS 6020848 $149,900

Incredible Palisades views! Over 200’ shore, year-round access and healthy mix of trees.

MLS 6023502 $79,900 New

245’ of shore on 1.2A. Shoreline has its own natural boat slip!!

MLS 6024080 $45,000 New

Iron Lake

150’ of shore on 1.2A with year round access. BWCAW access lake, southern views overlooking federal land.

MLS 6021654 $117,900

Birch Lake

Heavily wooded 1.54A, 150’ of frontage on great trout lake. Direct, year round access off the Gunflint Trail.

MLS 2183859 $99,900

Squint Lake

Nicely wooded 2.13A with some lovely old White Pine trees! Excellent Mid-Gunflint Trail location, 221’shore, gentle topography AND directly abutting USFS for added privacy

MLS 2308814 $79,900

Poplar Lake

Convenient mid-trail location with deeded lakeshore access. Building site cleared, driveway in, utilities available.

MLS 2158160 $52,500

Two Island 5+ A of wooded land with 500+’ of shorelineand state land on two sides! Year round access; great recreational area. MLS 6023533 $89,900

Kemo Lake

One of only 4 lots on south shore. Private 2.34A with 200’ frontage on excellent trout lake!

MLS 6021433 $139,900

Loon Lake

Very private, year round 4.4A with 298’ shore. Dramatic building sites overlooking the federal land across the water.

MLS 6023845 $139,900 New

County Rd 7

Devil Track Lake

Beautiful lake lot on 2A and over 150’ of shore. Nicely wooded, close to town. Tons of recreational activities nearby.

MLS 2306066 $199,900

Heavily wooded with 112’ shore. Property is on a county maintained road for use all year long.

MLS 2313184 $114,900

Great location near town with 150’ of shore on 2.88A with some mature trees. New driveway & fully surveyed. MLS 6023852 $99,900 NEW

Chester Lake

The only private parcel on Chester Lake. One of a kind opportunity! 40A, 300’ frontage! Rough cabin sold “as is”. MLS 6022402 $149,900

Wilson

Wooded 5A, with seasonal Lake Superior Views! Nice mix of trees and quality build sites. MLS 2309120 $74,900

Beautifully wooded 7.7A, wonderful views of Lake Superior. Septic and building site id’d. MLS 6019917 $69,900

Oversize lot on Co Rd 7 but inside the city. The obvious benefits of broadband and other services. MLS 2313107 $65,000

Pick your own floorings, colors, materials! Borman Construction will build 2BR,1BA home on 5A. MLS 2309117 $315,000

10A lot in the highly popular Good Harbor Hill area west of Grand Marais. Nicely wooded, small creek flowing through, good home sites. MLS 6023300 $79,900

Camp 20 Rd

200+ A of land, abutting State and Federal land. Mature trees, gently rolling topography. MLS 6020847 $159,900

40A off of the Irish Creek Road. Land is surrounded by State Land for added privacy. MLS 6020846 $42,900 PENDING

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 6022528 $19,900

Railroad Drive 1.7A in the heart of Lutsen. Gently rolling topography, mature trees. Convenient location. MLS 6023747 $49,900 NEW

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT

Raccoon

During a late day hike near Duluth, we heard the cutest purring and cooing sounds coming from inside the tree as we walked past. When we returned later in the evening, this raccoon mom appeared to be taking a much needed break from the kids.—Gary Fiedler

Welcome to Golden Eagle Lodge, a family oriented, yearround resort on Minnesota’s historic Gunflint Trail. Located on the quiet shores of Flour Lake, we are the only resident on nearly 8 miles of pristine shoreline. Here, you can look forward to the quiet and solitude offered only from a true wilderness setting. We offer modern lakeshore cabins to ensure comfort during your stay in the North Woods.

Each season has something special to offer; excellent fishing, canoeing, and hiking in summer and nationallyrenowned Cross-Country Skiing in winter. Visit our website to find in detail how each season can help shape your vacation.

Try our 9-site campground which offers the same quiet and personal service as our cabins; each site comes equipped with water and electric hookups. We go out of our way to ensure every aspect of your visit will convince you to come back and see us again.

We know much time, effort, and expense is invested in a vacation and we would be honored if you considered us as your vacation destination. You won’t be disappointed!