Northern Wilds August 2025

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Life by the Lake

Can you believe it’s August already? Just like that, summer is flying by—and honestly, so has the entire year. This month marks a big milestone: my daughter is turning 1. Look out, world—there’s a toddler on the move! As much as I loved being able to sit and snuggle her as a baby, I’m looking forward to her experiencing more adventures as she grows—from blueberry picking and hiking excursions to splashing in Lake Superior and going for a boat ride. And in my opinion, August is the best summer month—the bugs aren’t as bad and the weather is warm, making it the perfect time to get out on the water—which just happens to be our theme this month.

Let’s start with our first feature story, where Kalli Hawkins gives us five easy day trip options that bring the heart of the Boundary Waters within reach, including routes from Ely, as well as the Gunflint Trail. This is a great way to “slow down, listen to the loons, and reconnect with the wilderness, without straying too far from home base,” says Hawkins.

In Along the Shore, Naomi Yaeger takes us down the Duluth Lakewalk, a roughly 8-mile paved path that hugs Lake Superior’s edge. While most people know the Duluth Lakewalk as a scenic boardwalk in the Canal Park business district, it actually begins at Bayfront Festival Park and extends to Kitchi

Gammi Park (formerly known as Brighton Beach). Across the border, Chris Pascone introduces us to the Thunder Bay Yacht Club. And in Ely, Shelby Lonne-Rogentine covers Reflections Dance Company and their upcoming performance, Water 2.0, held Aug. 8-10.

Moving away from the topic of water, Tor Torkildson writes about his 95-year-old father-in-law Joe Houle, also known as the unstoppable Mo Joe. For the past few years, Mo Joe has been hiking the Superior Hiking Trail, with the goal of hiking all 310 miles of it. Last we checked, he only had 88 miles left to go. His motto? Keep on keeping on.

On a different note, Northern Wilds recently spent time in Lake Geneva, Wisc., for the annual Nei-Turner Media Group all-staff company meeting. We did some team building with other NTMG employees while making some delicious food at the Lake Geneva School of Cooking, followed by time spent chatting with everyone, exploring the area, and lounging by a pool. It was fun, and we thank NTMG for hosting us. We can’t wait to see what team-building activity they have in store for us next year.

Summer is in full swing, but before we know it, the kids will be back in school and autumn will arrive, so make the most of summer while it lasts.

Breana Johnson

ENTER YOUR PHOTOS AND WIN PRIZES!

CATEGORIES: Landscape, Wildlife, Adventure Lifestyle, and Macro. Prizes will be awarded to the top three photos per category. Winners will be announced in the January 2026 issue of Northern Wilds.

ENTER BY SEPT. 30

WEBSITE: BIT.LY/LOVEOFNORTH

photo contest

Meet our Judges!

Photo Tip of the Month:

When using an iPhone for night photography, use night mode and experiment with the exposure time. Keep your iPhone steady, especially when using longer exposure times, and reduce exposure in the camera app to enhance dark areas and highlights. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with editing to enhance your photos. Check out YouTube for more tips. —David Johnson

R.

and Canadian books, magazines and newspapers have earned him an arm load of national and international awards. He currently resides in Wawa, Ontario with his wife Francine.

is

photographer from Grand

A fourthgeneration resident of the area, he grew up exploring the area’s vast forests, lakes, rivers, and streams. “I travel the back country all the time taking photos of anything that catches my eye; the northern lights are my favorite, followed by wildlife,” he says.

has done landscape and wildlife photography since the early 1970s. Paul and his wife Karla moved to the North Shore of Lake Superior in 1976 managing several State Parks until his retirement in 2010. They currently reside near Grand Marais where Paul continues to pursue his passion for photographing Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters.

James Smedley’s wiry frame regularly labours under a heavy pack of camera gear in search of fish, photos and outdoor adventure. His contributions to U.S.

Paul Sundberg

David

Johnson

a

Marais.

SERVING THE NORTH SHORE AND THE WILDERNESS BEYOND

PUBLISHER/CEO

Barb Krause bak@ntmediagroup.com

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Amber Graham

EDITOR

Breana Johnson editor@northernwilds.com

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Sue O’Quinn sue@northernwilds.com

Danielle Letenyei danielle@ntmediagroup.com

ART DIRECTOR

Lauren Harrigan lharrigan@ntmediagroup.com

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Jessica Jacobsen Smith production@northernwilds.com

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Kristen Rouse krouse@ntmediagroup.com

OFFICE

Barbara Fisher office@northernwilds.com

Nadine Seitz accounting@ntmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Elle Andra-Warner, Gord Ellis, Virginia George, Anne Graybeal, Kalli Hawkins, Riley Kleve, Shelby Lonne-Rogentine, Michelle Miller, Deane Morrison, Hartley Newell-Acero, Chris Pascone, Joe Shead, Victoria Lynn Smith, Tor Torkildson, Chuck Viren, Naomi Yaeger, Sam Zimmerman

Northern Wilds magazine is a publication of Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. Gary E. Nei, Chairman; William Turner, President; Barbara Krause, Publisher. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by the publisher. ©2025 Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Prepress services and printing by Forum Communications, Detroit Lakes, MN. Unsolicited material must be accompanied by return postage. Northern Wilds magazine assumes no liability for damage or loss.

Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc 400 Broad Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 262-729-4471

Grand Marais Office: 1708 W. Highway 61, P.O. Box 447, Grand Marais, MN 55604

Stocking Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana and all other brands available.

Isak Hansen Home and Hardware in Lutsen has been selling major appliances for over 50 years and has recently expanded to offer all brands of appliances. Whether for your new cabin or updating your existing home, we can deliver, install, and even recycle your old units. Stop in and we will be ready for you!

The People’s Shoreline: Duluth’s Lakewalk and the Power of Public Space

DULUTH—Many people know the Duluth Lakewalk as a scenic boardwalk in the Canal Park business district, but it actually begins at Bayfront Festival Park and extends about 8 miles to Kitchi Gammi Park, formerly known as Brighton Beach.

The first half-mile of the Lakewalk opened in 1986, thanks to forward-thinking city planners and support from the nonprofit Friends of the Lakewalk. Since then, it has grown into a paved route hugging Lake Superior’s edge. The City of Duluth confirms the trail stretches about 7.25 to 8 miles.

A JOURNEY ALONG THE SHORE

The Lakewalk starts at Bayfront Festival Park, where a playground, pavilion, and a replica Statue of Liberty welcome visitors. It winds through Canal Park, past Grandma’s Sports Garden and beneath the Aerial Lift Bridge.

Leaving Canal Park, murals are painted on cement stairways near Gichi-ode’ Akiing— meaning “a Grand Heart Place.” The Chief Buffalo Memorial murals were created by a team led by artist Moira Villiard and were honored in a 2019 ceremony.

Farther east, the trail skirts Leif Erikson Park and the Rose Garden. Visitors can spot Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum, a bronze statue of Norse explorer Leif Erikson, and the Northland Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The trail then becomes quieter, lined with pollinator gardens and lake views.

The route ends at Kitchi Gammi Park, offering parking, vault toilets, picnic tables, ADA-accessible paths, and a new one-way scenic road opened in 2024.

LOCAL VOICES

“I enjoy the Lakewalk as one of Duluth’s most famous public spaces. I frequently run into people strolling, biking, or skating on the path that I haven’t seen in years,” said Bruce Howell. “Even during the shortest winter days, the Lakewalk will have Northlanders inspecting our corner of the Great Lakes as their reward for getting out to exercise.”

Wendy Grethan of Lakeside often hosts picnics with a friend at Brighton Beach.

“Brighton Beach gives people more connection to the lake,” she said. Some sit in their cars and look out, some settle at picnic tables, and others step into the water.

“You can watch kayakers, sailboats, and boats of all sizes go by. Spotting birds is fun too. I enjoy biking or walking on the trail. Looking at the lake, the woods, or even just the sky—its color or its clouds—feels like time spent with nature.”

Former Duluth resident Wendy Williamson said, “Accessing the Lakewalk is easy. There’s parking behind the Circle K (formerly Holiday Station, 2605 London Road) on 26th Avenue East. From there, you can head either direction—one way is more woodsy

Murals on cement stairways leading from Gichi-Ode’ Akiing—formerly Lake Place Park—to Canal Park draw attention. Gichi-Ode’ Akiing is a park built over Interstate 35 and is accessible by sidewalk from downtown Duluth. The cement stairway from Canal Park to Gichi-Ode’ Akiing features the Chief Buffalo Memorial murals, created by a team led by artist Moira Villiard. | NAOMI YAEGER

Will MacLaughlin and Emily Walsh sit under a tree at the Rose Garden in June to listen to handbell music. Both live in New England and said they believe the Lakewalk is special. Walsh is a Duluth high school graduate. | NAOMI YAEGER

and rocky, the other wider with easy access to cozy beaches, city views, and the ever-changing lake.”

She used to walk with AAUW friends weekly, year-round. “Those walks and talks brought us closer—and they still do to this day,” she said.

MUSIC

AND MEMORY IN THE ROSE GARDEN

On June 29, a handbell choir performed a concert titled “Ringing in the Rose Garden” to honor Bill Alexander. The 18-member group began the tradition during the pandemic to stay connected and celebrate June birthdays.

Tom and Karleen Tjepkema brought lawn chairs and their golden retriever, Abby. The Park Point couple said they enjoy all parts of the Lakewalk.

Nearby, Emily Walsh and Will MacLaugh-

lin sat under a tree. “It’s so special,” said Walsh, a former Duluthian now living in Maine. MacLaughlin, visiting from Boston, said, “I appreciate that the Lakewalk has been preserved for people. It’s not full of shops right up to the sidewalk.”

Amy Janzig, visiting with her mother, said she stops by the Lakewalk during appointments. That day, she photographed blooming roses and shared them with Northern Wilds Magazine. “I miss the old-fashioned boardwalk,” she said.

A RECLAIMED SHORELINE

Before the Lakewalk, Duluth’s shoreline was lined with junkyards, rail yards, and docks. Community members pushed back against expansion and helped reclaim the lakefront. With federal funding and repurposed rock, the trail became a continuous path by 1991.— Naomi Yaeger

Amy Janzig took this close-up of a rose before listening to the handbell performance. The Rose Garden draws photographers and flower enthusiasts throughout the season. | AMY JANZIG

TIPS FOR VISITORS

DISTANCE: About 8 miles one way

SURFACE: Fully paved

PARKING: Bayfront, Canal Park, Rose Garden at 14th Avenue East and London Road, 26th Avenue East, Brighton Beach, and some street parking at various locations.

AMENITIES: Bathrooms, picnic tables, benches, vault toilets, gardens

BEST TIME: Spring through fall; open 24/7

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DULUTH LAKEWALK, VISIT: •duluthmn.gov/parks/parks-listing/lakewalk •lsrsduluth.org

•artbymoira.com/chiefbuffalo

Thunder Bay Yacht Club: Bringing Back “Social Capital”

THUNDER BAY—Silver Islet, Pie Island, Porphyry Lighthouse, the Sleeping Giant: these toponyms are magnets to the explorer’s soul of anyone who’s ever drooled over the map of Thunder Bay and environs. All of these locations beckon hearty adventurers to Lake Superior’s clear, crisp waters. Of course the best way to visit them all is by boat. Yet how many residents or visitors to Thunder Bay can say they’ve ever been to Thompson Island, or Sawyer Bay, or Tee Harbor? The Thunder Bay Yacht Club (TBYC) is the city’s answer to those wondering how to approach offshore boat travel on Canada’s North Shore of Lake Superior. With over 220 members, a robust sail racing season, and a wealth of social capital, the TBYC is a club of like-minded boaters with a lust for exploration, plus the know-how and support it takes to get out cruising on wild Lake Superior.

The Thunder Bay Yacht Club has existed for 80 years. Founded in August 1945, the club was a collection of sailing devotees using motorless boats to start. According to the club’s website, it was named “Thunder Bay” Yacht Club from its inception: “It already had members from both the cities of Fort William and Port Arthur, and 25 years later it became the Yacht Club that had a city named after it!” (the two cities joined and were renamed Thunder Bay in 1970). In 1957, the club was able to buy the boat yard it currently uses for winter storage and docking at Mission River, and then began the process of building docks: “Pilings for docks were first driven by hand at the Mission River property, and then using a barge borrowed from Abitibi who were still booming wood. Finally, the club was able to buy its own skid mounted pile driver that was drawn down onto the ice by its own cables. Only two or three members knew what they were doing, but the job got done.”

The club has come a long way from these early days, but the founding principles are still paramount. Paul Morralee, TBYC’s community engagement committee chair, insists that the club’s “social capital” continues to be the key to its success: “Twenty-five years ago I got a membership with the yacht club. It’s not a marina. It’s a group of like-minded people who share a clubhouse, share docks, share launch and haul, and share this entity which in the end creates a more cost-effective way to boat. The organization is very healthy in the sense that when you need somebody to help you, there’s someone there for you. Plus we host events and barbecues. All

the things that our society has lost over time, called social capital.”

Lake Superior is gigantic, and much of its North Shore is pure wilderness, heightening the challenge for new sailors. That’s why being a club member is so valuable: it means access to local knowledge. “Where can I anchor, where can I dock?” asks Morralee. “The Yacht Club is building social constructs. It’s networking, skill-building, and outreach.” Morralee points out two important distinctions. First, the Yacht Club is not “all the people you see at Prince Arthur’s Landing” (downtown Thunder Bay’s marina). It would be a mistake to equate the Yacht Club, which is a group of people, to a place (although some members do dock at Prince Arthur’s Landing for the summer). The Yacht Club’s boatyard is located further south in Thunder Bay, and serves mainly as a focal point for boat storage and maintenance in the off-season. Secondly, the “Yacht Club” is not all yacht. Morralee explains: “Our membership includes equal numbers of sailors and powerboaters. Sailors are very good at checking their sails, and making sure that they don’t spend too much money, and talking sailing jargon with other sailors. Powerboaters are the ones who drop the anchors down, and do maintenance on site. They’re doers. These two groups, power and sail, come together in the Thunder Bay Yacht Club.”

Morralee himself owns a 32-foot wooden motorboat, built in 1963, named Hidora, complete with a wood-burning stove. Morralee lives on Hidora all summer long at Porphyry Lighthouse, located on an island 40 kilometers east of Thunder Bay in Lake Superior’s Black Bay.

Still, it’s the sailboats, with brightly colored spinnakers billowing in the Thunder Bay breeze, that grab the most attention from bedazzled onlookers taking shoreline promenades. Boats with names like Bobsled, Berzerker, Bella, and Blade Runner all compete in the Yacht Club’s various race series, of which there are three: Nearshore Mini Series, Offshore Super Series, and Wednesday Night Series. Not to mention the Mayor’s Cup Race, the Commissioner’s Cup Race, and the Chilly Buns Race (which takes place October 4).

Cam McWhirter is TBYC’s Sail Fleet Captain, and is in charge of the TBYC sailboat racing program. McWhirter started racing keelboats himself at age 25 through the TBYC. Today he owns Bella, a race

- Unique access by train and floatplane.

- The only full-service canoe outfitter for Wabakimi.

- Main base B&B plus 6 remote fishing outposts.

- Full or partial outfitting, with or without guides.

- Permits,

and

boat that he crews with 11 people. “We have been racing together for 12 years, and they are all fantastic people,” says McWhirter. Another source of pride for McWhirter is the results obtained by Thunder Bay sailboats at races around Lake Superior. This year, Thunder Bay boats had many first and second place finishes at Bayfield Race Week in Bayfield, Wisc.

McWhirter is particularly proud of the “New Crew Program” run by TBYC. Taking place over two straight weekends at the end of May/beginning of June, this training program introduces newbies to the sail racing world. Would-be racers get four days of both on-land and on-water practice led by experienced skippers. This crew instruction culminates in the “new crew” getting to sail their own practice race. The New Crew Program also encourages new memberships to the club, of which Morralee says there are 10-15 per year on average. Even if you don’t have your own boat, you can still join TBYC and sail in the huge variety of races held by the club as a crew member.

A final TBYC gem is SUNORA (or Superior North Shore Regatta). This 30 th anniversary event takes place July 25-August 2 this year, and is a unique, family-friendly cruise/ race along the Lake Superior coastline using some of the most beautiful harbours on the way to Red Rock, and return, finishing at Porphyry Island. According to TBYC’s newsletter, “If you’re a sailor, you’re pitting your skills against the rest of the fleet in daily races from anchorage to anchorage. If you’re a powerboater, you’ll have time to explore and discover places along the way.” There is plenty of time for comradery over the weeklong regatta. This is precisely the kind of

The Thunder Bay Yacht Club provides support and know-how for boaters to explore the wild Lake Superior coastline. | SUBMITTED

event that promotes the “social capital” that the Yacht Club espouses.

Altogether, the Thunder Bay Yacht Club is an organization that makes the challenging worlds of boat ownership, cruising on wild Lake Superior, and high-tension sailboat racing more hospitable and approachable. Eighty years of experience boating the big lake gives this club a lot of know-how that those with a lust for learning about Lake Superior can’t be without. To join, or see the club’s beautiful documentary video of “Members’ Memories” of the first 80 years, visit: tbyc.on.ca.— Chris Pascone

TBYC sailboats raft together after another memorable race. | SUBMITTED

It takes two hands to lift this catch during a fishing trip deep in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Anglers come to northern Minnesota for solitude, scenery, and trophy-worthy fish.

| DONNA MEIER

Fishing Still Reels in Visitors to Ely—But It’s One of Many Lures

ELY—Fishing remains a draw for many visitors to Ely, but its role has evolved as part of a broader outdoor tourism economy, according to the Ely Chamber of Commerce.

“Over the years, outdoor experiences have evolved to include a far broader range of recreational activities,” said Eva Sebesta, executive director of the chamber. “Fishing is a part of the tourism industry,” she said, but noted that many visitors come to Ely with other outdoor activities in mind. Some are experienced anglers targeting specific species, while others view fishing as a secondary activity during a vacation.

Jim Bishop, a Spooner, Wisc., resident, took a trip in June with seven friends into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. For Bishop, the simplicity of fishing is part of the area’s deep appeal.

“It is time to be, just be,” he said. “That goes along with the simplicity of the wild country where one only has to fish, eat, sleep, and be.”

Ely does not have individual fishing guides as chamber members, but several businesses in the area offer guide services. Ely Fishing Guide Company, Boundary Waters Guide Service, and Piragis Northwoods Outfitters each work with contracted guides who provide day trips and overnight excursions. Guides may be affiliated with

resorts or operate independently.

Fishing guides in the area often book several months in advance, particularly for wilderness trips. Sebesta said visitors planning to include a guided fishing trip should make reservations well ahead of time.

“We have a mix of day guides used by resorts and overnight fishing guides for canoe trips,” Sebesta said. “Fishing guide services like Ely Fishing Guide Company, Boundary Waters Guide Service, and Piragis Northwoods are experts at finding the right guide for the trip.”

A BROADER ECONOMIC IMPACT

While fishing is just one piece of Ely’s tourism puzzle, it fuels spending in other areas of the local economy.

“The tourism industry is important to our local economy. Fishing is a part of that,” Sebesta said. “When someone books a guided fishing trip, they’re also booking a cabin, eating in town, and often stopping in to pick up last-minute gear. It all adds up.”

Even casual anglers can have an impact. Families who rent a canoe and try their luck with a line in the water may not be fishing-focused, but they still support outfitters, lodging, and local businesses.

“We see families, couples, and first-

time visitors giving it a try,” Sebesta said. “It’s not just the experienced anglers anymore.”

PLANNING AHEAD AND PROTECTING THE RESOURCE

Guided fishing trips into the Boundary Waters require a permit, and many are subject to quotas that fill up quickly during the peak summer months. Visitors are encouraged to reserve permits through the U.S. Forest Service or through local outfitters who assist with trip logistics.

“People sometimes underestimate how much planning goes into a Boundary Waters trip,” Sebesta said. “Even for a day trip, you need to consider permits, fishing licenses, weather, and gear.”

Catch-and-release fishing and mindful conservation practices are strongly encouraged to preserve the area’s pristine lakes. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources sets limits on size, species, and the number of fish that can be taken.

“Fishing here is special because the waters are still so wild and clean,” Sebesta said. “We want to keep it that way for future generations.”

For more information on permits, call 877-444-6777, or visit: recreation.gov.— Naomi Yaeger

Treasure Hunting at Second Hand Rose

BEAVER BAY—Travelers along the North Shore don’t need to look too hard for a unique shopping experience when they come through Beaver Bay. An iconic flea market sits right on the edge of town along the scenic drive of Highway 61. Just watch for the sparkle from the plethora of glassware items, antiques, and collectibles, beckoning travelers into Second Hand Rose. Visitors who stop and browse the grounds will not only find one of the largest collections of glassware, they’ll also be greeted with a variety of items that intrigue both novice and seasoned bargain shoppers and treasure hunters.

Sonya Appling, owner and operator of Second Hand Rose, started the flea market more than 28 years ago. It was a dream she had since childhood.

“I’ve always loved to go to secondhand stores and garage sales and just always knew I would own one someday. I even had the name picked out back then,” Appling said.

She doesn’t care for shopping at the mall and thought this would be a fun business to run and a good way to make a living. In the early years, she collected items at garage sales, and when she first opened the business, she had only a couple of tables set up in the parking lot at the current location. It soon grew, and eventually there was enough inventory that she needed to expand and secure the building that sits on the property.

The building was constructed in the early days when Beaver Bay was a thriving mining community. It was originally the old Mobile station that her father owned. It has since been passed on to her sister, who now runs the flea market with her. Appling and her siblings were born and raised in the house behind the store property, and she now lives just a few miles away near Silver Bay.

Today, the flea market consists of four outbuildings. The main shop houses multiple rooms, including one dedicated to books, others holding classic toys, games, and iconic stuffed animals, and a variety of household goods. The outside grounds boast endless tables of glass and ceramic dishware. In addition, there are dozens of shelves and displays of vintage goods and one-of-a-kind items tucked among the tables.

Appling eventually expanded her search for unique items to maintain a steady inventory and now includes more than 300 vendors who rent space as consignment tenants.

Visitors can browse a variety of goods, ranging from vinyl records, farming tools, and small pieces of furniture to collectible commercial tin signs, yard sculptures, and

antique toys. Each vendor has their own interest, focus, and source for securing items, which provides regular turnover and new finds each visit. Vendors don’t need to be permanent or long-term contributors.

“Stuff comes from all different places— maybe someone inherited their grandma’s glass dishes and they don’t want them— this is a good place to drop them off,” says Appling.

Appling’s favorite thing to collect and sell is Fiesta dinnerware. She finds it impressive that this well-known line of colorful dishes are still made in the same plant where it started back in the 1930s.

Second Hand Rose offers a range of prices. For bargain hunters, this is often the draw—enticing both locals and passersby to stop and check out the market. Studies have shown the brain is wired to feel good when

getting a discount while shopping. Whether it helps with rationalization or triggers a dopamine release that alleviates negative feelings and enhances the joy of the experience, it seems to work.

“There’s not too many who walk away without something,” says Appling, noting that the flea market has become a destination for visitors returning to the North Shore.

The small family business, staffed by Appling, her sister, and nephew, opens for the season May 1 and runs through the end of October, depending on the weather. It’s open seven days a week. There is ample parking and a restroom available for shoppers. Appling always welcomes new consignment tenants; those interested can stop by or call 218-226-4844.— Michelle Miller

All

Kids’

Through August 19 Thursdays 3pm & 3:30pm Dark Sky Shows Through August 14 Fridays 2pm - 3pm Nature Led Hikes Through August 15

August 10 Dr. Seth Moore Indigenous Co-Stewardship of Moose 2-3pm August 16

Gitchi-Gami State Trail Continues Expansion

NORTH SHORE—The Gitchi-Gami State Trail (GGST) is a paved pedestrian trail that stretches like a pearl necklace along the Lake Superior coastline. While most people are zooming right past the shore’s intricate beauty on Highway 61, intrepid travelers choose the GGST, which is generally located on the lakeside of the highway, and is built in the MNDOT right-of-way paralleling the road, and within three state parks. The GGST allows users to slow down and experience the shoreline’s sounds, sights, and smells. When completed, the trail will extend all the way from Two Harbors to Grand Marais, for a total of 86 miles. And while this long-haul trail project is far from being done (36 miles are currently constructed), there are advocates putting their heart and soul into the trail’s growth, including the Gitchi-Gami Trail Association (GGTA), Minnesota DNR, MNDOT, and Cook and Lake counties. Two new GGST sections officially opened earlier this season, creating more human-powered transportation options in two North Shore communities—Lutsen and Two Harbors. Here’s how the new sections add to the North Shore experience.

The new Lutsen segment of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail extends 1.29 miles from Ski Hill Road (the aptly-named access road that climbs up to Lutsen Mountains) east almost to “downtown” Lutsen (an additional 0.3 mile section is currently under design by the DNR to close the remaining gap, with construction estimated to be finished in summer of 2028). Engineered by the MNDNR, the trail offers walkers, hikers, rollerbladers, bikers (including e-bikes) and even roller skiers

a way to get from the popular “mountain” businesses of Lutsen Mountains, North Shore Winery, and Klarhet geodesic domes almost the whole way to downtown Lutsen retail establishments like Fika Coffee and Clearview General Store, without a car.

Meanwhile, the new Two Harbors section extends .89 miles from the RJ Houle Information Center at Park Road east to Superior Shores Road. Two Harbors is now the southern end of the GGST. The next section of development in Two Harbors is currently

in design phase. It will span from Superior Shores Road east to Flood Bay State Wayside, which is managed by Gooseberry Falls State Park. Construction is anticipated to begin in summer of 2028.

Both the Lutsen and Two Harbors sections of the GGST are important as an alternative means of travel for visitors and residents alike in these two busy tourist towns. Instead of taking one’s life in one’s hands on the narrow shoulder of Highway 61, people can now enjoy a more woodsy promenade, or get all the kids on bikes to go get ice cream. Previously, the highway had a transportation monopoly.

And what about all the seasonal staff who inhabit both towns? Guest workers come from around the world to work in the booming local tourist industry, yet they generally don’t have cars, and can’t live on site at the lodging establishments they work for either. Cook County recently built worker housing in Lutsen, and that development is on the trail alignment. The new Lutsen non-motorized corridor give guest workers a simpler, safer way to get to work. The new Lutsen section also connects with the previously built Ski Hill Road to Tofte section, providing non-motorized access to Tofte businesses as well.

Bethany Chaplin, an area specialist with the MN DNR, which owns and operates the GGST, recommends biking the new Lutsen section to see beautiful cedar trees and native plants. Chaplin was part of the ribbon cutting ceremonies for both new sections of the trail on May 29, and stresses that the whole trail allows users to reach local communities safely, without competing with car traffic.

Gitchi-Gami State Trail developers, advocates, and riders got to celebrate two new sections of trail at ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Two Harbors and Lutsen on May 29. | SUBMITTED

In Chaplin’s words, “Everyone wants to see quality trail being built for non-motorized users to travel safely alongside Highway 61.”

Michelle Lyman Pearson, GGTA executive director, notes that “Two Harbors is our biggest North Shore community on the trail corridor.” The GGTA is a non-profit friends group that advocates for the trail, including at the state legislature in St. Paul. “We support the DNR in their efforts to find funds to advance the trail,” Pearson says. Pearson sees the trail gaining momentum, both in terms of ridership and new sections, and wants to keep “grinding the gears.” Pearson notes that the North Shore has much rugged, wild beauty, and that the GGST provides accessibility to this wildness. “This is the place on the North Shore to teach a kid to ride a bike, or push a stroller, or for people using mobility devices like wheelchairs and e-scooters,” says Pearson. “This trail provides that opportunity.”

GGTA’s flagship event is the annual Bike Ride and Roll, and this year is the ride’s 25th anniversary. Taking place on Saturday, August 16, at 9 a.m., this year’s milestone event offers 8-, 28-, 34-, and 55-mile ride options, all starting at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The Bike Ride and Roll is a trail celebration and GGTA fundraiser, and averages about 200 participants. It’s your chance to get out for a beautiful ride, and meet other passionate trail users. Castle Danger Brewery’s 14th anniversary party is happening the same day, and the brewery is providing free drink tickets to all Bike Ride and Roll riders to their big party later that evening in Two Harbors.

The Gitchi-Gami State Trail was originally championed by late Congressman Jim Oberstar, and his dedication, along with that of many local community members, led to the first mile of trail getting paved in 2001. When complete, the GGST will connect eight North Shore communities, five state parks, and several scenic wayside rests. “Building is never simple on the North Shore,” says Pearson, “yet every time we build that 1.5 miles, or .9 miles, people are still excited, because it is making connec-

tions, and giving people access to parks and places they want to go.”

The new Gitchi-Gami State Trail section in Lutsen connects Ski Hill Road east to Railroad Road. | SUBMITTED

The GGST hits all the targets: safety, connectivity, economic development, and access to shared places. It can even be used by adventurers who want to make a circuit with the Jackpot and High Climber mountain bike trails in Tofte and Lutsen, or do a “hike and bike” loop combined with the Superior Hiking Trail. The GGST is a state trail for all Minnesotans and visitors. Check out the new trail sections in Lutsen and Two Harbors, and join the GGTA’s annual ride on August 16. To learn more, visit: ggta.org or mndnr.gov/gitchigami.— Chris Pascone

Tandem riders enjoy the GGST section in Lutsen. | SUBMITTED

SUPERIOR—Minnesota’s North Shore offers countless ways to soak in its stunning natural beauty.

You can cruise up Highway 61 with the windows down, boat across Lake Superior, hike on the Superior Hiking Trail, or pull into scenic overlooks to admire the view.

But there’s only one way to see it all at once: from above.

Skydiving over Duluth offers a view

like no other—a sweeping, 360-degree panorama of the big lake, the city, the North Shore, and the surrounding northern Minnesota landscape. It’s a powerful and unmatched way to experience the scale of the North Shore.

Skydive Duluth has a long-standing presence in the Northland’s aviation and outdoor adventure scene. Its origins date back to the 1960s when local enthusiasts began operating skydiving

services out of the Richard I. Bong Airport in Superior, Wisc.—just across the bridge from Duluth.

The business was family-run for much of its history before being taken over by Dean Beaudoin. Today, it remains the only skydiving operation in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.

With winters occupying much of the year in northern Minnesota, Skydive

Duluth typically operates seasonally from June to September. During those months, adrenaline seekers between the ages of 18 and 70 can book a tandem skydive and enjoy the thrilling activity of jumping out of an airplane at approximately 11,000 feet. A tandem skydive is a type of skydive where an instructor is harnessed behind the passenger and operates the parachute system to ensure a safe descent and successful landing.

Long before strapping into the harness and boarding the plane, participants are required to sign a waiver and watch a brief instructional video outlining the skydiving process. While the professional instructor will manage the technical side of the dive, participants are coached on how to exit the plane, what to do during freefall, and how to land safely. Once the paperwork and the safety orientation are complete, the skydiving experience begins.

The plane takes off from the Richard I. Bong airport and climbs steadily for 15 to 20 minutes until reaching jumping altitude, typically around 10,000 to 11,000 feet. The plane ride offers a preview of what’s to come, with the North Shore landscape below gradually coming into view.

Once at altitude, the aircraft door opens, and it’s time to jump. The following 45 seconds is an intense and unforgettable moment, unlike anything else, as you freefall toward the ground at over 100 miles an hour. Then, at around 5,000 feet, the instructor deploys the parachute, and the atmosphere shifts dramatically. What follows is a chance to stop screaming, catch your breath, and enjoy a peaceful 5 to 7-minute ride above Lake Superior and the Duluth-Superior area.

After landing safely back on solid ground, the adrenaline may stick with you for hours, but the experience and memories will stay with you for years to come.

There is no single reason why people choose to skydive. Some are ticking off a bucket list item or marking a personal milestone, while others are pushing past fear or simply seeking a fresh perspective. Whatever the motivation, skydiving over Duluth and the surrounding Superior area delivers a unique blend of adrenaline and awe. It’s not just about the freefall—it’s about witnessing the landscape in a way few ever do. For many, that brief moment in the sky becomes a memory that stays with them long after their feet return to the ground.

To get your heart rate going while experiencing the sights of Duluth and the North Shore, make a skydiving reservation by calling 218-390-1800 or emailing info@skydiveduluth.com. For more information, visit: skydiveduluth.com.— Kalli Hawkins

Reflections Dance Company Joy in Movement

ELY

—Many people only associate northern Minnesota with stereotypical outdoorsy activities. Hiking, camping, and wildlife watching are all a huge part of the culture here. But another important part of the culture? The arts.

In Ely, a thriving group of artists work together in a collaborative effort to explore the arts and enrich the community with fun new experiences. This group is called the Northern Lakes Arts Association, and it has been around for almost 40 years. The NLAA not only promotes workshops, art shows, festivals, and projects, but it also includes Reflections Dance Company.

In the fall of 2018, the dance company was formed after a standalone performance piqued the community’s interest. Reflections Dance Company joined NLAA in September 2023. “We are really inclusive,” said Molly Olson, the director of the dance company. “All bodies can dance. We do a lot of

contemporary-style dance. It’s very accessible for all dancers. We also do ballet, tap, and jazz. We’re unique in that we have all ages perform together on stage. Our company piece this year includes the youngest student, who is 8, and the oldest, who is in her 60s.”

Olson herself has been doing various types of dance her whole life, from cheerleading to musical theater to dance team. When she decided to create Reflections Dance Company in Ely, she knew it was meant to be.

“Dance, [like other forms of art], is a creative process that is enhanced by having these beautiful surroundings, and it seems like there’s just such a really great support network here for the arts,” she said.

Reflections offers two showcases throughout the year: one in November or December, and another in the spring. In the summer, there are three full-length shows.

“We’re very thematic,” said Olson. “Our previous themes include Looking Skyward, a dance movie: ‘Home on Earth’ during the pandemic, Work/Play, Math in Motion, and a ballet storyline called Matters of the Heart. Last year’s show was Constant Change—this year is Water 2.0.”

Choreographers include Olson, Megan Wind (assistant director), Crystal Poppler, and Cora Olson. Classes are usually an hour long, but in the summer they can run closer to two hours. Reflections typically does 8- to 10-week sessions. “Different kids get busy during different sport seasons,” said Olson. “We do things a little differently than other dance groups in that we have an intense summer, and our off time is usually in the winter.”

Reflections Dance Company has a summer performance coming up in August. Water 2.0 is a continuation of the initial performance that started it all—Reflections on Water. “[The dances will show themes such as] the impact of water in our changing world, our use of plastics and the modern lifestyle, water as a role in our lives as a healing power, promoting conservation, and the idea of our bodies being a vessel for water,” said Olson.

Water 2.0 performances will take place at the Vermillion Fine Arts Theater on Friday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 10, at 2 p.m.

The NLAA has a variety of other events happening this summer as well. Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical and workshops with Rachael Pace are among the upcoming highlights. For more information on the NLAA and Reflections Dance Company, visit: northernlakesarts.org.

“My favorite parts [of dance] are working with the people and seeing their smiles and joy as we laugh and create together, making so many wonderful friends through this company, and showing that movement can convey ideas,” said Olson.—Shelby Lonne-Rogentine

Wherever you go from here, you belong here. Walk into any one of our gazillion convenient locations using our mobile app. It’s the simple, secure way to check balances, pay bills, send payments and more— wherever, whenever. Take the next step at northshorefcu.org/NSFCUApp.

Reflections Dance Company in Ely was formed in 2018 and joined the Northern Lakes Arts Association in 2023. | TARA LARSEN

Reflections Dance Company’s upcoming show, Water 2.0, will take place Aug. 8-10 at the Vermillion Fine Arts Theater. | TARA LARSEN

Day Tripping the Boundary Waters

Easy Routes from Ely and the Gunflint

Trail

By Kalli Hawkins

When most folks think of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, they imagine long portages, heavy packs, and days spent paddling along shorelines deep in northern Minnesota’s backcountry. And while there’s no shortage of those epic journeys, the BWCAW doesn’t always ask for a week’s worth of time or a detailed trip plan. Sometimes, just a single day is enough.

Scattered near the Ely and Gunflint Trail side of the BWCAW are easily accessible routes that offer entry into the expansive million-acre wilderness. Whether you’re brand new to paddling, short on vacation days, or simply craving a few hours of stillness on the water, these day trip entry point locations hold all the hallmarks of a classic Minnesota Northwoods experience.

Here are five easy day trip ideas that bring the heart of the Boundary Waters within reach, no matter how much time you have.

Gunflint Trail Area Day Trips

With a wide variety of day trip BWCAW options, the Gunflint Trail has something to offer all skill and ability levels.

1. Seagull Palisades

Rising from the northern shore of Seagull Lake, the Seagull Palisades offer a stunning and accessible destination for BWCAW day-trippers. The 80-foot-high towering cliffs provide panoramic views of the surrounding dense boreal forest and Seagull Lake islands.

“The Palisades are in a beautiful area of Seagull Lake, and they’re super easy to access,” said Andy McDonnell, owner of Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters.

Begin your day trip at the Seagull Lake boat launch and paddle just shy of four miles across the lake to reach the Palisades. On a calm day with minimal wind, the route is ideal for individuals or families seeking a half-day adventure that combines a few hours of paddling with ample scenery. Once reaching the palisades, hike to the top, have lunch, and take in the quiet expanse of the wilderness.

2. Duncan Lake & Stairway Portage

Duncan Lake is a year-round popular and accessible spot in the BWCAW for paddling, camping, and fishing. From the West Bearskin Lake public access, paddle less than a mile before reaching the 81-rod portage into Duncan Lake. The lake offers day-trippers an opportunity to experience a small paddle and portage-style adventure without taking the full BWCAW overnight leap.

For those looking to add some mileage to a day trip, continue the journey from Duncan Lake into Rose Lake, which borders Canada. From Duncan Lake, take the 80-rod portage to see the iconic Stairway Portage into Rose Lake. In 2022, the historical Stairway Portage wooden steps were replaced with stone steps to improve the wilderness character of the area.

If you are an angler, make sure to bring your fishing pole or fly rod because Duncan and Rose provide incredible opportunities to catch lake trout or smallmouth bass.

The Boundary Waters has many easy day trip options. | KALLI HAWKINS

For the more adventurous day-trippers, the

offers

3. Snipe Loop

Snipe Loop

paddlers a chance to experience multiple lakes, portages, and BWCAW sights. Paddlers can choose to begin the loop from Round Lake or Cross River, only minutes from the Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters property.

Portaging the iconic Stairway Portage on Duncan Lake. | KALLI HAWKINS

“In our immediate area, the Snipe Loop is the most popular day trip,” McDonnell said. If departing from the Cross River side of the loop, paddlers portage 50 rods to Cross River, then 40 rods to Ham Lake. Once paddling across Ham Lake, you’ll reach a 24-rod portage into Cross Bay Lake. This area is known for its frequent moose sightings and fantastic fishing opportunities.

Then, continue the day-trip adventure by portaging 42 rods into the beautiful Snipe Lake. After traversing the large lake, traverse the 136 rods into Missing Link Lake, before making your way to Round Lake and completing the adventurous loop. With multiple lake crossings and portages, plan to start early in the morning to leave extra time for sightseeing, lunch, and a paddling break if needed.

Ely Area Day Trips

Similar to the Gunflint Trail and the east side of the BWCAW, the Ely area offers numerous opportunities for single and multiday trips. One of the popular and accessible areas to set foot in the BWCAW begins along the Echo Trail.

1. South Hegman Lake

Venture up the Echo Trail to reach the Hegman Lake Canoe Access and begin a quarter-mile walk into South Hegman Lake. The lake is 117 acres with multiple shoreline nooks and crannies to explore.

“Once you’re on South Hegman Lake, it has the full-on Boundary Waters feel,” said Jason Zabokrtsky, owner of Ely Outfitting Company.

As an outfitter and guide, Zabokrtsky said South Hegman Lake is one of their top recommendations for day trips. He said it’s probably “90 percent of our day trip clients” because the lake offers the best of the Boundary Waters in a variety of ways. In

addition to the easy access and expansive views, the lake is home to smallmouth bass, northern pike, and perch.

One of the highlights of the area is the neighboring North Hegman Lake. The portage is a mere 300 feet and is an excellent addition to a day trip for those looking to tack on some extra sights and paddling fun. The big people pleaser on North Hegman Lake is a chance to view the historical Native American pictographs that Zabokrtsky said are “vivid and a great destination to paddle out and see.” The pictographs, which include illustrations and symbols valued by the Ojibwe, are believed to be between 500 and 1,000 years old.

2. Lake One

Approximately a 30-minute drive northwest of downtown Ely lies Lake One, a popular destination in the Boundary Waters for day and overnight activities.

“The nice thing about Lake One is you start right at the beach and you have some good options for putting on some miles without any portaging,” Zabokrtsky said.

The lake is 845 acres in size and features numerous islands and shoreline opportunities to stop for a snack or lunch with friends or family. The large lake has something to offer for everyone, including anglers. Zabokrtsky said the lake is a well-known spot for catching walleye, particularly in the spring.

Tips for First-Time Day-Trippers

Exploring the BWCAW on a day trip is a great way to dip your paddle into wilderness travel without the full commitment of an overnight. Even without the heavy overnight packs, it’s still essential to bring the necessary gear to ensure a safe and enjoy-

able day on the water.

Before you go, make sure to fill out a free self-issued day-use permit at the entry point or a local ranger station. Bring the essentials: water, snacks or a packed lunch, a navigation map, a compass, a first aid kit, bug spray, sunscreen, and weather-appropriate clothing.

McDonnell said he always packs some form of a fire starter and a change of clothes in a dry bag, just in case. And last but not least, he said, “Don’t forget to wear your lifejacket!”

If you’re new to canoeing, stick to simple routes with minimal portages, and most importantly, always check the weather. Wind can quickly turn a peaceful lake into a challenge.

“And you’ll want to bring rain gear,” Zabokrtsky said. “Because entire storm systems have been known to be off course.”

The Boundary Waters doesn’t have to be a rugged, weeklong trek to be meaningful. With the right route, a well-packed day bag, and a little curiosity, even a few hours on the water can deliver the solitude, scenery, and sense of adventure that many seek.

Whether you’re hiking to the top of the Seagull Palisades, casting a line on Duncan Lake, or quietly drifting past ancient pictographs on North Hegman, these day trips offer a low-barrier way to experience the heart of the BWCAW. For beginners and seasoned paddlers alike, it’s a chance to slow down, listen to the loons, and reconnect with the wilderness, without straying too far from home base.

“Even if people have a limited amount of time, it’s still a really special thing to go out and explore the Boundary Waters and see what it’s all about,” said Zabokrtsky.

The BWCAW offers great fishing opportunities. These smallmouth bass were caught on Rose Lake. | KALLI HAWKINS

Rising from the northern shore of Seagull Lake are the Seagull Palisades. | TUSCARORA LODGE & CANOE OUTFITTERS

CAMPING TRADITIONS

PART ONE

ADVENTURES AT CAMPSITE #11

By Chuck Viren

[ABOVE] A little down time at the campsite for cousins Bud and Katie Viren. | SUBMITTED

[LEFT] My cousin Bud Viren and brother Paul Viren atop Viren Hill with a nice walleye. | SUBMITTED

When I think of camping traditions, I focus on where, when, and with whom. When I was quite young, but old enough to get into trouble, our family and my uncle Ed Viren’s family used to spend every Minnesota fishing opener at campsite #11 at the Trail’s End Campground overlooking the Seagull River. Yes, we would fish, and feast on walleye, but what I remember most are the adventures we children had roaming the campground and the surrounding hills and cliffs. Somehow, we all survived.

My older brother Paul, six years my senior, was the ringleader. At the time, he was obsessed with mountain climbing. I remember at our home near Mahtomedi he once had us repelling from a tree branch using a clothesline. So, the cliffs that jut from the river were irresistible. The youngest of us in this coterie of climbers was probably five or six. We spent hours adventuring on the hills and cliffs. Going up felt perilous, but getting back down was where things got dicey. Once during a descent, we had to jump down onto a wide, mossy ledge. My landing in the thick moss got me falling forward into a summersault. As I rolled toward the edge of a cliff, I bumped into a sapling and stopped short. I’m sure all my siblings and cousins could relate similar close encounters. There was a spot where we would slide down an escarpment, and once my sister Katie hit a rock and gashed her knee.

As it was fishing opener, we did indeed fish. The campsite sits high on a rocky hill overlooking a large pool in the river. That’s where we fished. Now I believe that pool is off limits during the opener, but back in the 60s that was not the case. I remember fishing with minnows from a boat and also casting from shore. We caught many walleyes using either technique.

When we were not climbing or fishing, we wandered the campground in a pack. Another favorite destination was the store. We would buy candy and comic books. It was at this store that I was first exposed to Mad Magazine. It was a bit irreverent, which caused my parents to dislike it, but I still remember my fascination with the illustrations and Spy vs Spy features.

Those Seagull River camping trips were one of the highlights of my years as a child. It meant adventuring with my cousins in a place that seemed wild and tinged with danger.

CANVAS, CAMPERS, AND COFFEE

By Naomi Yaeger

I’ve been camping since I was 2 years old. I know this because of a photo—me sitting at a picnic table eating oatmeal at Itasca State Park, with a green canvas tent in the background. I remember that tent’s smell—not good or bad, just pure canvas. Tents don’t smell like that anymore. Too much nylon now, maybe.

Mom made the oatmeal on a Coleman stove—one of those vintage green ones with the red metal fuel tank. She’d pump it to pressurize the white gas, and I can still recall the faint chemical tang in the air and the rhythmic sound of the pump. One thing that aids my memory is seeing that in that photo, I wore my dad’s baseball cap. I can’t find the photo anymore, but I remember it well enough to know how early my camping life began.

When I was age 6, we moved to northern Maine and camped in wild places like Baxter State Park. The landscape reminded me of northern Minnesota—full of trees, wildflowers, and big rocks. Mount Katahdin rises there, the highest point in Maine and the northern end of the Appalachian Trail.

When I was 9, my parents bought a Travelmaster camper. It slept six, had a little kitchen, and even a toilet and shower—though we rarely used them. Dad didn’t want to deal with finding a dump station, so we usually stuck to outhouses or campground bathhouses.

My feelings about camping have ranged from joy to fear. Once, while visiting cousins near Rocky Mountain National Park, we camped in that old green tent on a hill

Our family’s green canvas tent—used on camping trips for more than 40 years—is pitched beside our 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass. | SUBMITTED

above their site. I was sent to bed alone. I tried to sleep but heard wolves howling in the distance. I lay there frozen—until one of my cousins quietly climbed the hill and slipped into the tent beside me. She didn’t say much, but I was comforted by her being there. I never forgot it.

Some of the most fun I had was at Acadia National Park, playing with my Minnesota cousins. We explored tide pools, climbed giant rocks, and squirted seaweed water at each other while sitting on the tailgate of a station wagon—probably illegal now. Because of the Maine accent, I used to think it was spelled “ARcadia.” Mainers do tend to add Rs where they don’t belong. But no, it’s just Acadia.

Years later, my then-husband and I drove from North Dakota to New Mexico with that same old tent. In the

Black Hills, a flash flood hit. Hail the size of golf balls pounded our tent, the dirt road turned into a river, and we ended up sleeping in the car. My dad had slipped us an extra $20 “just in case you want a hotel and a shower.” We used it the next evening.

When we finally reached Rocky Mountain National Park, it was closed—it didn’t open until June. So, we camped in Loveland. That morning, we made coffee. Maybe it was the mountain water, or the air, or the moment—but it was the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.

Cousins enjoy time together in the canyons of Utah. From left to right: Martha, Naomi, Jenny, and Jeff. | CHARLES YAEGER

WILDERNESS WEEKENDS

By Michelle Miller

I grew up in central Minnesota, so heading “up north” to go camping meant anything north of St. Cloud. Camping in my family was synonymous with fishing, and it wasn’t an official weekend trip without having the boat hooked up behind the truck.

This was the tradition every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day for the majority of my childhood, and I wouldn’t give up those amazing memories for anything. My parents would often set out with no defined destination or even a reservation for that matter—maybe a general direction, but that was it.

Alexandria, Brainerd, Vermilion, the Iron Range, and all the little lake towns along the way were common stops. Itasca State Park was our favorite—those trips felt like we were heading off to the biggest adventure. Since it was nearly a four-hour drive from home, it usually meant at least a 10-day vacation.

When these trips began, my six siblings and I slept in an old army mess tent my mom had salvaged from a friend. There was no floor, and it was a challenge to set up, but we all thought it was the coolest thing ever. Mom and Dad’s accommodations were the back of the truck with a foam mattress, and we had the minimum of camping equipment for a rustic experience. Eventually, we graduated to a large two-room Coleman tent, a pop-up camper, and all the latest supplies needed for a comfortable stay in the woods—of course, near a lake.

In those days, there were many privately owned campgrounds and “mom and pop” resorts where we were regular patrons—it felt like visiting extended family each summer. Reservations were rarely needed, and our favorite site was usually waiting for us.

As a child, it was truly the best way to spend our

CAMPING WITH MY BESTIES

By Shelby Lonne-Rogentine

Growing up, I went camping a handful of times with my family. We went tent camping once or twice before the tent was relegated to being used only for backyard campouts. With three kids, my parents probably realized that tent camping was harder than it looked. My dad was, and still is, an outdoorsy, no-frills guy. My mom isn’t high-maintenance, but she does enjoy not sleeping on the hard ground.

Eventually, my parents bought a 1990s Dutchmen pop-up camper. We went camping a couple of times in that as well. I have fond memories of my dad’s spooky stories around the campfire, swimming in the lake, and dodging spiders in the vault toilet buildings.

We’ve also gone camping a couple of times since I’ve become an adult. I think this is more fun, because we really revel in each other’s company now. Paddling around the lake, playing board games late at night, and making breakfast over the griddle is always so much fun. But as much as I’ve always loved camping with

The whole gang camping, circa 1970s. | SUBMITTED

school break, exploring the trails, seeing a variety of wildlife, and enjoying the varied terrain around the area’s many lakes. So many memories were created in these lazy days of camping, and many are still talked about today when we all get together.

This tradition has been passed down to my kids, although not going quite as often as we did back in the day. There is a lifelong appreciation and love of wildlife, woods, and water instilled in them. It is a wonderful feeling to know memories are still being created and passed down to the next generation.

BACKYARD CAMPING “TRIPS”

By Victoria Lynn Smith

Our childhood campouts were never planned in advance. Instead, on a nice summer’s day, as evening began to fall, one of my sisters or I would say, “Let’s camp outside tonight.” Sometimes our neighborhood friends joined us. The campsite was always in our spacious backyard near an expansive field of tall grass. In the distance, we could see the woods. That was as close to wilderness camping as we came.

We’d pitch our inexpensive tent, unroll our lumpy sleeping bags, then plop our comfy bedroom pillows on the bags. We’d stock provisions needed by all good backyard campers: flashlights, a pocket-sized transistor radio, comic books, a deck of cards, water, and snacks, which consisted of cookies, crackers, potato chips—whatever we raided from our kitchen cupboards.

There were certain rules for our backyard camping trips. Bravery was expected. Only fraidy-cats chickened out and returned to the house before dawn, but a raucous thunderstorm meant we all headed inside. Everyone had to use the bathroom one last time before it got too late because our camping code stated that no one went to the bathroom in the middle of the night without a buddy. If there were only three campers, we all walked to the house because no one wanted to remain in the tent alone. Even though everyone honored the bathroom camping code, we grumbled if someone had to go in the middle of the night.

Scary tales of ghosts, murderers, zombies, hauntings, gushing blood, and missing limbs were a must. For added effect, the storyteller held a flashlight under their chin recreating a film noir lighting effect, which made the teller of the tale appear malevolent. Because we’d heard all the stories before and knew their endings, the storyteller needed good narrative skills to create tension, making listeners jump in fear at climax.

my family, my core memories have come from the past eight or so years of camping with my friends who have turned into family.

In 2015, my now husband and I moved in together for the first time. Because of our constant togetherness, I think I kind of forced his best friends to become mine as well. After years of hanging out, we would even sometimes spend time as a group without him if he was working. We loved to go to open mic nights, play silly board games, and just chat about anything and everything. In 2017, my husband and I got married at a summer camp (that should’ve been a sign!). Those friends were in the wedding. From there on out, we camped together almost every summer, and it has been a significant way that we’ve kept up our friendship.

One of these friends now owns a resort in Hill City, Minn., so our camping has become more elevated. However, we’ve camped all over the northern part of the state, and it has been mostly tent camping. As we’ve gotten older, more significant others and kids have been added to the mix. Things have changed, but some things have also stayed the same.

Our friend crew loves to try out new campfire recipes. We always delegate certain meals to certain people, and we get pretty creative with it. From tacos in a bag to tinfoil wraps and baguette pizzas to breakfast burritos and classic hot dogs and hamburgers, we’ve tried it all.

We also usually spend a significant amount of time in the sun and water. Sometimes this means tubing down a river, sometimes we’re hiking, and sometimes we’re just wading in a lake.

My absolute favorite part of camping, though, both with my family and my friends, is long campfire chats. There’s just something about staring at the flames and the quiet of nature that makes it easier to start a conversation about just about anything. Most of the time we end up talking until after midnight. When you’re with your people, those are the “fill your cup” moments. Maybe we aren’t “roughing it” type campers, but I’ve always enjoyed camping for that very reason.

We ate our snacks and listened to Milwaukee’s “Fun-Loving” WOKY, our favorite rock ‘n’ roll station. We played Go Fish and War and used our flashlights and hands to create animal shows on the inside of the tent walls.

When sleep overtook us, we drifted off to the sounds of boisterous crickets and the occasional car that rumbled down the road in front of our houses, instead of the hoots, howls, and screeches we would’ve heard in the woods. At dawn, the sounds of chirping birds and the nearby farmer beginning his chores roused us after a night of little sleep. Dampness caused by heavy morning dew chilled us to the bone.

Pillows in hand, we trudged like zombies into our houses and crawled into our beds for a nap. After waking a second time, we’d eat a breakfast of cold cereal and sliced bananas, then return to our backyard to break camp, until the next time one of us said, “Let’s camp outside tonight!”

Three backyard campers all grown up. | SUBMITTED

Lonne family camping trips always include games. | SUBMITTED

Keep On Keeping On: The Unstoppable Mo Joe at Age 95

By Tor Torkildson

In 2010, I asked Joe Houle if I could marry his daughter Caroline. “You both sound happy—sure!” He sounded enthusiastic.

Overtime, we took Joe and his wife Carla on trips into the Boundary Waters, to Alaska to visit the area where Joe was stationed in the Air Force in the 50s, and to Europe, where we lived. Joe and Carla, despite their ages, were easy and fun to travel with. They felt like parents to me.

When 2020 rolled around, I asked Joe, age 90, if he was interested in hiking the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail. “Sure,” he immediately replied with a sparkle in his eyes.

In September of that year, we began our quest to hike the trail from the northern terminus on the Canadian border. I am 33 years younger than Joe. I had thru-hiked the trail in 21 days when I was a young man. It is a difficult trail, with rugged terrain, rocks, and roots to deal with. Fortunately, my wife and I were living on the Arrowhead Trail in Hovland at the time, which allowed Joe and me to go home each night after our hike. We slept and ate well.

Each day we knocked off another section of the trail. We grew stronger. Joe averaged a little over a mile an hour. I let him lead and set the pace. Occasionally, friends of mine joined in our hikes, and expressed

amazement that a 90-year-old man could hike such a rugged trail. On the flats Joe was a very fast hiker. He really seemed to enjoy the trail, the experience, and back at my home we would drink stout beer and recount the day’s events and scenery.

I started posting our daily hikes on the Superior Hiking Trail Facebook page and quickly developed a large following. My computer sounded like a pinball machine with all the hits on my posts. I gave Joe the trail name Mo Joe.

Thousands of hikers piped in enthusiastically: “You inspire me, Mo Joe.” “So amazing.” “I want to be like you, Mo Joe.” “What an amazing man.” I shared photographs and quotes from Mo Joe.

Our trail motto became: “Keep on keeping on,” or “KOKO.”

One day on the trail near Carlson Creek we encountered two attractive female hikers. “Is that Mo Joe?” they asked me, as Joe kept hiking, head down.

“Yes, the one and only.”

“He is amazing.”

I caught up to Mo Joe and told him what they had said. “Jeez, why didn’t that happen to me when I was a young man,” he joked.

Two weeks into our hike, Mo Joe tripped on a root next to the Brule River in Judge Magney State Park. He fell face first and

in Judge Magney State Park. | SUBMITTED

when he sat up, his face was bleeding. I helped him clean up and he was adamant that we should continue the day’s hike. That night at the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic in Grand Marais we found out he had broken a bone in his hand and his eye was badly bruised. Mo Joe wanted to continue.

A couple days later I called off the hike for the season. “We will pick up where we left off next year, Joe.”

Later, I received a book in the mail titled Rocks and Roots: Reflections on the Superior Hiking Trail by Pastor Frank Johnson. He mentions meeting us in the book.

In 2021 the pandemic hit, and our hike was put on hold. I also suffered a serious back injury, leaving me unable, at times, to walk. It was a dark period.

Later that year, Mo Joe and Carla did the 3.8-mile section at the start of the Superior Hiking Trail on the Minnesota/ Wisconsin border.

My back troubles continued into 2022, and I began to wonder if I would be able to complete the hike with Mo Joe. In November of that year, Joe and Carla came to visit us. It was decided that Caroline would accompany him on the trail. Caroline is an accomplished hiker, and I was thrilled Mo Joe could carry on with his quest to hike the entire SHT, and with his daughter. They picked up the trail where Mo Joe and I had left off on the Caribou Trail to Lutsen section. It would be a hilly 6.4-mile section. I dropped them at the trailhead around noon. It would turn out to be an epic experience for both. Being in the middle of hunting season, they wore bright orange and bundled up. It was slow going and the weather turned fickle, alternating between drizzle, sleet, and snow. The sun set. Back home, Carla and I were worried sick about them. I received a few random text messages from Caroline. Joe had fallen and was throwing up. They were too far into the hike to turn around or seek help. Caroline managed, using a head lamp, keeping Mo Joe hydrated, and keeping his spirit up. He dug deep and finished in Lutsen. It had been a herculean effort by both. I was very proud, yet sad, that I hadn’t been with them.

In 2024, Mo Joe was 93 years old and was

keen to continue his SHT quest. My back issues had improved and I thought it was possible to join him and Caroline for parts of the trail. On the first hike of the season, Joe hiked to the Cascade River with Caroline. He was still hiking strong, though slower, and more careful of each step taken.

“I have two issues. I must avoid blowing out my knee, that will be the end of the hike. Two, I cannot fall and hit my head—I am on blood thinners and it would kill me.” He was mindful while hiking.

On the southern end of the trail, Moe Joe and Caroline hiked from Wild Valley Road to Magney-Snively Park. I joined them for the first hour of the hike. Mo Joe averaged 6 miles a day and 1 mile an hour, despite the hot and muggy weather. Mo Joe had completed one third of the Superior Hiking Trail—a truly amazing accomplishment and inspiration for so many. I felt like my entire worldview had changed watching Mo Joe hike onward, despite his age and 93-year-old body. As Mo Joe would say: “Stay busy, be happy, and find something that you love to do in life.” Amen.

Fast forward to 2025. The “Dynamic Duo,” Mo Joe and Caroline “Siffy,” have surpassed the 200-mile mark on the Superior Hiking Trail. Mo Joe is now 95.5 years old. This father-daughter team seem unstoppa-

Mo Joe still smiling after a fall

Mo Joe crossing streams at age 95. | SUBMITTED

Joe Houle—also known as Mo Joe—and his daughter, Caroline Torkildson, on the Superior Hiking Trail. | SUBMITTED

ble and have been consistently knocking out 6-plus mile sections back-to-back. On the harder sections Mo Joe averages .75 miles an hour. If the terrain is not too rugged, he can travel over 1 mile per hour. This makes for long days on the trail. They are both extremely curious people and make many stops to explore tracks, flowers, listen to the birds, and pick mushrooms for dinner. As Caroline is a geographer and cartographer, they rarely get lost. Mo Joe has the occasional fall and Caroline bandages him up like a nurse would.

The other day I received a text from Caroline.

“Pa is moving very slow. He is tired. We

had to cross a stream, and his boots are waterlogged and heavy. I’m not sure when we will be done.”

Caroline always goes the extra mile to ensure her father is hydrated, eats good trail meals, and is safe.

“She is the perfect guide,” he always boasts after each hike. “I could never do this without her.”

I will also add that Mo Joe lives in Forest Lake, Minn., and drives up to our home in Duluth alone, without a phone, to start the next round of hiking. He also works at the fire station in Forest Lake, grows a large garden, and chops and stacks cords of firewood. I would say he is a phenomenon.

“You have to keep on keeping on” is his motto.

A few weeks ago, Mo Joe hiked for four days and did an overnight camping trip at Spruce Creek. Caroline carried the equipment and prepared all the meals—she’s one tough gal. According to Caroline and Mo Joe, there were several comical moments getting in and out of the tent they shared. It rained and was bone chilling cold for Mo Joe, who has zero body insulation, yet his determination makes up for it. It was a tough 9 miles and two days.

“Each year I get slower,” he said.

Back in Duluth I fixed them a large roast dinner and poured them their favorite stout

beer from Earth Rider Brewery. Joe took a long hot shower to warm his weary bones. “That felt so good. I am warm again.”

Afterwards, the maps came out and Caroline tallied the mileage to date. Mo Joe has hiked 222 miles over rugged rocks and roots on the Superior Hiking Trail. Only 88 miles left to go.

“I believe you are going to do this Mo Joe,” I said with enthusiasm.

“I think so too, Tor. I just have to keep on keeping on, as you like to say.”

I am so proud of this father-daughter “Dynamic Duo” and the energy they bring to life on the Superior Hiking Trail.

Author Tor Torkildson and Mo Joe started their Superior Hiking Trail adventure at the northern terminus. | SUBMITTED

This section of the Superior Hiking Trail includes a Lake Superior beach walk. | SUBMITTED

|

By Breana Johnson Art in Bayfront Park

Held August 16-17 on the beautiful Duluth lakefront, Art in Bayfront Park is a free juried art festival featuring over 130 artists. There’s also a Festival Culinary Arts Market, Art in Action demos, food and drink vendors, and more. Here’s a little sneak peek at a few of this year’s participants.

[LEFT] This pendant, by Susan Roskens, was crafted from fold-formed leaves and wire-sculpted branches, featuring real flowers encased in glass and joined using soft soldering techniques. It’s titled “Blooming Vine.” For more art by Roskens, visit: the-pressing-garden.square.site.

| SUSAN ROSKENS

Created by Raju Lamichhane, this mixed media collage, titled “A Wolf,” was made from local newspapers, junk mail, and advertising circulars. You can see more from Lamichhane on Facebook at Raju’s Arts. | RAJU LAMICHHANE

This wood piece, titled “Hati,” was created by Dälarnia Designs owner Aaron Hafvenstein from Cloquet. To learn more, find Dälarnia Designs on Facebook. | AARON HAFVENSTEIN

[ABOVE] “Midnight Aurora” by photographer Ben Cooper. This photo was taken on a lonely gravel road near Hinckley, Minn. For more photography by Cooper, visit: benrcooper.com. | BEN COOPER

This oil and acrylic on canvas piece, titled "Tiger Fish," was painted by Raman Shakir. To see more of Shakir’s work, visit: ramanshakir.com. | RAMAN SHAKIR

Duluth artist Stephanie Anderson created this 9-by-12-inch watercolor painting, titled “Lake Superior Agates I.” Want to see more from Anderson? Visit: thehillsidecreative.com.

STEPHANIE ANDERSON

Going Viral, Staying Grounded THE ART OF GENE BOSHKAYKIN

Creative Space: By Anne Graybeal

“I’ve been drawing seven days a week for the past six years,” said Thunder Bay artist Gene Boshkaykin. “If I take a day off, something’s wrong.”

A member of the Seine River First Nation, Boshkaykin was born in Fort Frances, Ontario, later moving to the Seine River reserve and Duluth.

As his mother struggled with sobriety, Boshkaykin spent two joyful years living with extended family in Seine River. One of their children, Sterling Johnson, had found burgeoning success as an artist with his drawings and paintings of eagles. Captivated, Boyshkaykin took up the practice.

Soon, people noticed. His aunt bought him his first drawing kit. Friends started asking him to draw for them. His high school art teacher, Ben Levine, entered one of Boshkaykin’s pieces in a local art show, where it won an award. Galvanized, Boshkaykin enrolled as an art major at University of Minnesota Duluth, but his own battle with addiction led him to leave school. He moved to Thunder Bay, where his mother had successfully navigated her own recovery— as, eventually, did he.

In the early days of the pandemic, Boshkaykin posted on Facebook a drawing of Indigenous actor Wes Studi. The post took off. “I got 150,000 likes, 13,000 comments, 5,000 shares,” he recalled. “I was walking around work that whole week, just floating.” He sold the piece to a buyer in Ottawa. People began requesting commissions. Suddenly, he had a waiting list.

Indeed, social media is the driving force behind most of Boshkaykin’s sales. A prolific poster on Facebook and Instagram, he has nearly 15,000 followers. After frustrating experiences at local art shows, where potential customers would smile and walk past, he found that he could connect more easily and authentically with clients online. Even so, Boyshkaykin does exhibit his art around Thunder Bay. He has displayed pieces at the Co.lab Gallery, Calico Coffeehouse, and the Chartwell Retirement Residence—with an opening attended by both the mayor and city council. He also received a 2024 Northern Arts Project grant from the Ontario Arts Council.

Much of Boshkaykin’s art reflects the Indigenous experience, particularly close-up portraits of tribal elders. He also enjoys making celebrity art, including renderings of Harrison Ford and Clint Eastwood. He works primarily with acrylic and pencil and is also exploring how to leverage AI to create reference images.

Reflecting on the people who inspire his work, Boshkaykin cited Canadian artists Norval Morriseau and Robert Bateman, as well as his cousin Sterling Johnson, fellow artist Brian Michon, and his mother, now a tribal elder. It was important to his mother to raise him traditionally, but maintaining a connection to his Indigenous identity was difficult in Duluth, where sweat lodges, pow-wows, and language study were not easily accessible.

Boshkaykin has been drawing seven days a week for the past six years. | SUBMITTED

Being Indigenous in Canada remains complex, regardless of reconciliation. “People judge native people by what they see on the street, and they judge them as a whole, but that’s not the true Indigenous community. Because there’s so many First Nations businesses here in Thunder Bay, so many people who have found success. It’s just not fair,” he said. The father of three children, he thinks of Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women and worries for his daughters.

But bright spots remain. Thunder Bay Art Gallery is moving to a new, larger building on Prince Arthur’s Landing in 2027. The Waterfront Gallery’s mission is “the exhibition, collection, and preservation of Northern Ontario art and works by Indigenous artists.” And his robust social media presence and word of mouth recommendations from delighted customers ensure that Boshkaykin stays busy creating the art he loves.

As his star has risen, Boshkaykin has had to lean into the financial side of his work. He often heard from buyers that he was charging too little for his art. Grudgingly, he raised his prices. He also hired an accountant. For now, he is keeping his day job at a local Nissan dealership. For the future? “The sky’s the limit,” he said with a grin.

To see more from Gene Boshkaykin, visit: instagram.com/ genebosh.

Gene Boshkaykin is inspired by Canadian artists Norval Morriseau and Robert Bateman, as well as his cousin Sterling Johnson. | SUBMITTED

Much of Boshkaykin’s art reflects the Indigenous experience, particularly close-up portraits of tribal elders. He also enjoys making celebrity art. | SUBMITTED

Thunder Bay artist Gene Boshkaykin is a member of the Seine River First Nation. | SUBMITTED

Spinning on the Shore

Behind the Craft: By Riley Kleve

Working as a professional fiber artist, I often encounter many assumptions about how, where, when, and why I make my work. People imagine handspinning yarn as a very low-tech activity best suited for winter’s long and cold nights, then abandoned as soon as the weather warms up enough to draw people outdoors. And sure, there’s little I love more in January than making soft yarn while seated next to a fireplace, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to call it quits in the summer. In the spirit of year-round spinning, I recently spent a day around Grand Marais searching for the best spots for outdoor spinning.

I started my excursion along the harbor at North House Folk School, where I’ve been a resident artisan since last September. I brought my hand carding brushes—tools for blending color and texture—and some wool in colors inspired by the maroon sails of the Hjørdis, which was just making her way out of the harbor and onto the lake. As I sat on the dock and carded my wool, I considered where else I should visit on my journey. The previous couple of days had been a little rainy, so I figured Cascade Falls would be a good spot to venture next.

The falls were even more magnificent than I had hoped for! There was plenty of water pouring from the cliffs into the river down below before flowing into Lake Superior. After my initial awe faded, I went back to my parking spot to fetch my spinning wheel and wool. While I had initially planned to spin some blue wool, the ruddy river in front of me inspired me to use the fiber I’d just fin-

ished combing while watching the Hjørdis

As I spun yarn, I chatted with a few groups of hikers passing by about what exactly I was up to. Chatting with strangers is, in my opinion, one of the best parts of spinning yarn in public. Some people tell me about a spinning wheel an older family member once used to make yarn, sometimes I get to talk about how relaxing of a creative pursuit handspinning can be, and still others are curious about the exact mechanics behind the foot-powered machine (my answer: It’s sort of like a bicycle). Perched on a stool, I chatted with

couples and families, some with kids, others with dogs, and a trio of women celebrating their 60th birthdays, all over the course of about 20 minutes, while working on my Hjørdis-colored yarn. When my basket emptied, I packed my wheel back into the car and drove east toward my next destination.

About 20 miles up the road, I pulled off of Highway 61 at an entry point for the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT). This time I brought only my drop spindle and about as much beige-colored wool as I could fit in my pocket. While my full-size spinning wheel is faster

by the hour, so the saying goes, my spindle is faster by the day due to its portability. I walked through the marshy woods while spinning, occasionally stopping to get a better look at the wildlife or to attach more wool to my yarn. Spinning on the go would have been fairly common among shepherds in the Middle Ages, allowing them to produce yarn while simultaneously tending to their flocks.  When I noticed my wool supply was running low, I made my way back toward the car for more, this time grabbing some grays resembling the smooth rocks on the beach. Heading back out on my hike, I crossed the highway towards a section of the SHT that runs along the shoreline. I spun more slowly this time, searching for agates in the water as I twisted the fibers into yarn. I spotted a couple of small agates and recognized the color scheme as similar to that of my yarn. Excited by my discovery, I raced back towards town to ply my yarn, combining two strands together to make them stronger. I plopped down on a bench near the shoreline and pedaled away on my wheel as it twisted the strands into one continuous yarn. The Hjørdis-red yarn layered with tan and gray tones, with bright bits of orange and yellow joining in harmony. The result: beautiful handmade yarn inspired by the best parts of Cook County in the summertime.

Riley Kleve is a fiber artist in the Artisan Development program at North House Folk School, where traditional craft is taught on the shore of Lake Superior.

Lakeside views while blending colorful wool. | SUBMITTED

Riley Kleve’s spinning wheel near Cascade Falls. | SUBMITTED

FISHERMAN’S PICNIC

July 31-Aug. 3 This year marks the 96th annual Fisherman’s Picnic festival in downtown Grand Marais, and there’s a lot to look forward to. There’s bingo, live music, food and artisan vendors, the fish toss and loon calling contests, kiddy rides and inflatables, blacksmithing demos, a trail run, a kid’s tractor pull, a cutest puppy contest, the Grand Marais Playhouse Summer Theater Festival, a raffle drawing with a $10,000 grand prize, and of course, the fishburger stand. Don’t miss the fireworks over the harbor at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, and the parade at 1 p.m. on Sunday. grandmaraislions.com

DULUTH MONARCH WAYSTATION GARDEN TOUR

Aug. 2, Saturday Held by the Duluth Monarch Buddies (DMB), this self-guided tour of seven Duluth certified monarch waystations features gardens with a mix of milkweed, nectar, and pollinator plants that provide habitat needed for the propagation and growth of monarch butterflies. The tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and hosts will be available to show off their gardens and answer questions. To take the tour, visit the First United Methodist Church (Coppertop) between 9:30-10:30 a.m. to purchase a tour brochure with site names, addresses, and descriptions. A $10 fee per vehicle is requested to support DMB planting projects and conservation efforts around Duluth. duluthmonarchbuddies.org

The Duluth Monarch Waystation Garden Tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 2. | SUBMITTED

CLE FAIR

Aug. 6-10 The annual CLE Fair in Thunder Bay features all kinds of fun activities, including Midway rides, games and concessions, kiddie rides, live entertainment, vendor booths, and more. This year’s entertainment includes The Northern Pikes, hypnotist Corrie J, Taylor’s Story: Taylor Swift, The Caverners, Simply Queen, Peppa Pig and George, Bluey and Bingo, and more. There will also be a fireworks show on Aug. 10 at 11 p.m. The fair will be held

at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition from noon to midnight, daily. More information, including admission and ride wristband prices, can be found online. cle.on.ca

LAKE COUNTY FAIR

Aug. 7-10 The Lake County Fair in Two Harbors provides four days of non-stop fun, from a 3k Dirty Dash obstacle race and a watermelon eating contest, to live music, an exotic petting zoo, and the annual amateur talent contest. There will also be kid’s

games and activities, daily prize drawings, food vendors and commercial booths, 4-H shows, MWA professional wrestling, free bingo with prizes, a beer garden, a human tractor pull contest, a hay bale toss and frying pan toss contest, a pie contest and auction, face painting, Torres Family One Ring Circus, balloon twisting, and more. thelakecountyfair.com

LIVE FROM THE ROCK FOLK FESTIVAL

Aug. 8-10 Held at Pull-a-Log Park in Red Rock, Ontario, the annual Live From the Rock Folk Festival is a music and arts festival that is run almost 100 percent by volunteers. The festival offers world class music on multiple daytime workshop-style stages, as well as an evening concert lineup on the main festival stage. This year’s per-

The CLE Fair in Thunder Bay features rides, live entertainment, vendor booths, a fireworks show, and more. | SUBMITTED

Black Beach Inn

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blackbeachinn@grandstay.net grandstayhotels.com

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Sunday, August 31, Noon - 4 pm

Free admission all day. If you would like to volunteer or donate a pie call 218-388-9915

Suggested donation of $6 per slice of pie, ice cream, and beverage.

This day also features the annual Chik-Wauk “sidewalk”sale, homemade pies, great conversation, and a silent auction. This will be a fun way to wrap up the summer and say “So long till next year,” to our friends and neighbors. All proceeds help with the daily operational costs of Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center Campus.

formers include Adam Crossman, Andrina Turenne, Bobby Dove, Honeypaw, Jack Pine, Jing Xia, Kelly Bado, King Cardiac, The Vaudevillian, Pintail, and more. There will be food and drink vendors, an artisan village, community led workshops, campfire jams, onsite camping, and more. The kids will have fun too in the Family Zone, featuring a playground and splashpad, artwork and crafts, face painting, a children’s parade, and more. Tickets can be purchased online in advance. livefromtherockfolkfestival.com

RENDEZVOUS DAYS & POWWOW

Aug. 8-10 Reenactors from across the U.S. and Canada come together during the annual Rendezvous Days, held at Grand Portage National Monument. In conjunction with Rendezvous Days, the annual Grand Portage Powwow, sponsored by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa/Ojibwe, is an American Indian cultural gathering focused on dance, song, and family celebration. Visitors and tribal members alike are invited to watch and participate in the ceremonial powwow. This fun-filled weekend will also include artisan vendors, craft demonstrations, hands-on workshops and special guests, a walk/run, bingo, a turkey shoot, a raffle drawing, a mixed softball tournament, and more. Admission is free. visitcookcounty.com/events

PAJU MOUNTAIN RUN

Aug. 9, Saturday Held in Red Rock, Ontario, the 42nd annual Paju Mountain Run is a 12km route that goes around the community of Red Rock, then climbs 715 feet up the Paju Mountain and back down again. The non-competitive race begins at 8:30 a.m. and the competitive race starts at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided at 11 a.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 11:30 a.m. All participants will be entered into a drawing for prizes. Registration required. facebook.com/pajumountainrun

TORI FINNISH MARKETPLACE & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Aug. 9, Saturday Held as a fundraiser for the Finland MN Historical Society, the Tori Finnish Marketplace and Music Festival in Finland offers fun for the whole family. Enjoy live entertainment, great food, local art and craft vendors, blacksmith demos, museum and site tours, make and take crafts, a silent auction and cash raffle, kid’s activities, and more. This year’s performers are Thug, The Northern Stars, Kisurit Finnish Dancers, and Cowboy Angel Blue. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Finland Heritage Site. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. There will also be a pancake breakfast on Sunday, Aug. 10, from 8-11 a.m. facebook.com/finlandmnhistoricalsociety

FAT GUYS ANNUAL CAR SHOW

Aug. 9, Saturday Hosted by Fat Guys Auto Parts in Thunder Bay, the Fat Guys Annual Car Show truly stops traffic. One of the biggest and best cars show in northwestern Ontario, there will be classic cars, street rods, rat rods, antiques, muscle cars, trucks, and more. Those entered in the car show have a chance to win bags of cash, including $10,000 for Best in Show, and $500 for each category winner, and 100 percent of the registration fees will go directly to the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation. Other highlights in-

clude local food and drink vendors, a beer garden, live music, free face painting and glitter tattoos for the kids, a hot dog eating contest, and more. This year’s special guest is Avery Shoaf from the hit series “Rust Valley Restorers.” The car show will take place at Fat Guys Auto Parts and the surrounding neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. fatguyscarshow.com

LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL

Aug. 15, Friday Head to Terrace Bay, Ontario, for the 13th annual Lighthouse Festival, starting at 1 p.m. on Aug. 15. Set against the iconic backdrop of the Terrace

Bay Lighthouse, this free festival brings together locals and visitors alike. Activities include an artisan market and sidewalk sales, live entertainment, a beer garden, food and drink vendors, a children’s area with inflatables, and more. visitterracebay.ca

PICKUP TRUCK OPERA

Aug. 15-16 Mixed Precipitation, in partnership with North Shore Music Association, is bringing its acclaimed Pickup Truck Opera back to Cook County this summer with a family-friendly, joyful, genre-blending take on Mozart’s Idomeneo in Volume Five: The Return of King Idomeneo. This lively

outdoor performance fuses classical opera with 1950s doo-wop and 60s girl-group flair—all performed from the bed of a blue Ford Ranger pickup truck. Performances will take place on Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hovland Town Hall, and at 3 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Sweetheart’s Bluff in the Grand Marais Rec Park. Pickup Truck Opera will also perform in Ely on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at Whiteside Park, and on Aug. 17 at 3 p.m. at the Finland Heritage Site. All performances are donation based and held rain or shine. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket. mixedprecipitation.org

GGTA NORTH SHORE BIKE RIDE

Aug. 16, Saturday

The 25th annual Gitchi-Gami Trail Association North Shore Bike Ride will take place on Aug. 16 at 9 a.m. The recreational ride will offer 55-mile, 34-mile, and 28-mile route options, as well as an 8-mile family ride on the trail, all starting at Gooseberry Falls State Park near Two Harbors. Refreshments will be provided at rest stops and post-ride. The 8-mile ride will also provide treats and special events for families.

All adult riders will receive T-shirts, and younger riders will receive water bottles. All riders must sign waivers and wear helmets. Registration is required; kids ride free with a paid adult. ggta.org

WESTFORT STREET FAIR

Aug. 16, Saturday

The longest-running event of its kind in Thunder Bay, the 43rd annual Westfort Street Fair takes place in downtown Westfort Village and offers a full day of family fun. There will be live music and entertainment, lots of delicious food and drinks, beer gardens, games, prizes, bouncy castles and activities for the kids, local vendors, artisans, and more. The fair runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and is free to attend. westfort.ca

ANISHINAABE KEESHIGUN

Aug. 16-17

Celebrate First Nations culture at Fort William Historical Park in Thunder Bay. Enjoy a free weekend filled with entertainment, hands-on activities, and

Pickup Truck Opera is returning to the North Shore this month. | SUBMITTED

demonstrations that highlight Anishinaabe culture, traditions, language, and technology. This year’s event will also include a pow wow highlighting regional dancers and drum groups, as well as a community feast. The community feast will be held Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and is open to all visitors. Anishinaabe Keeshigun will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. fwhp.ca

ART IN BAYFRONT PARK

Aug. 16-17

Held on the beautiful Lake Superior waterfront in Duluth, Art in Bayfront Park features over 130 juried artists, as well as a culinary arts market, Art in Action demos, and lots of food and beverages to enjoy. Artwork includes jewelry, photography, paintings, ceramics, metalwork, glass, and more, by local and regional artists. The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Bayfront Festival Park. artinbayfrontpark.com

BLUEBERRY BLAST FESTIVAL

Aug. 16-17 The 24th annual Blueberry Blast Festival will take place in downtown Nipigon next to Paddle to the Sea Park.

This is a free, fun-filled family event with guided blueberry picking tours, food and craft vendors, live music, a blueberry pancake breakfast, a silent auction, daily attendance draws, a cornhole tournament, and more. This year’s performers are Shy-Anne Hovorka, Guilty As Charged, Beatitudes Choir, Jim-n’-I, Dog Head Mountain Boys, and Terry Lynn Johnson and Mike Kivari. For more information, find Nipigon Blueberry Blast Festival on Facebook.

LAKE SUPERIOR DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Aug. 22-23

Head to Barker’s Island in Superior for the annual Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival. Watch or participate in the races, feast on fantastic food, or take part in the 5k fun run. There will also be live entertainment, a tug-of-war competition, a beer

garden, food trucks, activities for kids, and more. Race registration is required. facebook.com/lakesuperiordragonboats

RIBFEST

Aug. 22-24

The aroma of fresh barbecue will fill the Thunder Bay air during the annual Ribfest, held Aug. 22-24 at Marina Park. All weekend long, enjoy saucy creations

from some of the very best professional ribbers, as well as local food and drink vendors, all in support of Our Kids Count. This family-friendly event will also include an artisan market, live music and entertainment, a kid’s zone with daily themes and activities, a 50/50 drawing, and more. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ourkidscount.ca

WAWA SALMON DERBY

Aug. 22-24 The 43rd annual Wawa Salmon Derby in Wawa, Ontario, will take place Aug. 22-24 on Lake Superior. Known as “Wawa’s Superior Sporting Event,” the contest includes multiple categories with prizes, a parade of lights, pancake breakfasts, a fish fry, and activities for the whole family. The winner of the largest salmon wins $3,000 in cash. There is also a five-day pre-fishing contest held Aug. 16-20. Derby headquarters are located at Buck’s Marina. Registration fee required. wawasalmonderby.com

ICE CREAM SOCIAL FUNDRAISER

Aug. 24, Sunday Enjoy some ice cream with the annual Care Partners Ice Cream Social Fundraiser, held from 2-4 p.m. at Sydney’s Frozen Custard in Grand Marais. Make a donation to support Care Partners and enjoy a delicious sundae, plus the opportunity to relax, connect with friends and neighbors, and help Care Partners provide support and companionship for those on the journey of aging and end-of-life in Cook County. There will also be live music from the North Shore Swing Band and a quilt raffle. carepartnersofcookcounty.org

The Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival is held at Barker’s Island in Superior. | KARL EVERETT

Fisherman’s Picnic

JULY 30-AUG 3

GRAND MARAIS,

WEDNESDAY, July 30

Pickup for WISE Buffet-in-a-Box Takeout Dinner Online Orders placed between July 15-27 at selected time when order placed, either 4:30-6, 5-5:30 or 5:30-6. Pickup Location: Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 51 W. 5th St. When you order, you will: select the number of boxed dinner meals you want, pay, then choose one of 3 time slots for pickup on Wednesday, July 30: 4-4:30, 5-5:30, or 5:30- 6 p.m.

Order at: https://www.wisenorth.org/buffet-in-a-box-2

NOTE: This year Buffet-in-a-Box offers only one meal--Dinner--there is no lunch option. Meal availability is limited, so order early! WISE is a non-profit and this is a fundraiser for service and education in Cook County.

THURSDAY, July 31

9 AM Crazy Daze Sales – At participating merchants all over town. See Lions Info Booth for details.

10 AM-2 PM Craft and Bake Sale - The Hub, 10 N. Broadway Ave.

10 AM-3 PM Paint a Piece of Pottery by Grand Marais Pottery - The Hub, 10 Broadway Ave. Paint a piece of pottery, fired and ready for pickup Saturday morning 10 AM-Noon

10 AM-4 PM Ty Sheaffer, doing basketry demonstrations - North House Folk School, 500 W. Hwy 61 on the commons.

10 AM-5 PM Lions Kiddie Rides open – The Hub Parking Lot - 10 N. Broadway

11 AM-7 PM World Famous Lions Fish Burger Stand opens – Harbor Park

11 AM-UNTIL FOUND “DQ Medallion Hunt”, rules and new daily clues at Dairy Queen, $100 prize to the first person to find it –sponsored by Dairy Queen. See store for details.

11 AM-12:30 PM LIVE MUSIC - Briand Morrison and Rox Berglund Harbor Park Stage

11 AM-7 PM Axe Throwing by Valhalla Axe Throwing, W. Wisconsin St.

NOON Bingo Tent Opens –1st Ave. W. & Hwy 61 - sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion

1-2:30 PM LIVE MUSIC – Bug Dope - Harbor Park Stage

3-5 PM LIVE MUSIC - Moonshot - Harbor Park Stage

5-8 PM LIVE MUSIC Bump Blomberg - Gun Flint Tavern - Raven’s Nest (rooftop bar) 111 W. Wisconsin St.

5 PM Dairy Queen Cornhole Tournament - Stop by ahead of time at Dairy Queen to sign up and see official rules. Bring boards and bags if you have a set.  If not just bring yourself - sponsored by Dairy Queen

5:30-6:30 PM Stories that Matter: Sharing the History of Cook County Women Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, 115 W. Wisconsin St. – sponsored by the Cook County Historical Society

7-9 PM Grand Marais Playhouse, “The Spitfire Grill” The Arrowhead Center for the Arts - 51 W. 5th St., www.grandmaraisplayhouse.com

7-9 PM Evening Music – Open Stage hosted by Pete K and Friends (sign up at Info Booth) – Harbor Park Stage

FRIDAY, August 1

9 AM Crazy Daze Sales – At participating merchants all over town. See Lions Info Booth for details.

9-10 AM Oula Dance Class Harbor Park - sponsored by YMCA

10 AM-2 PM Craft and Bake Sale - The Hub, 10

11 AM- UNTIL FOUND “DQ Medallion Hunt”, rules and new clues daily at Dairy Queen, $100 prize to the first person to find it – sponsored by Dairy Queen. See store for details.

11 AM-12:30 PM The Portage Band - Harbor Park Stage

11 AM-7 PM Axe Throwing by Valhalla Axe Throwing, W. Wisconsin St

11:30 AM World’s Best Donut Bingo – Donut Shop - corner of Wisconsin St and Broadway Ave. – sponsored by the World’s Best Donut Shop NOON Bingo Tent opens –1st Ave. W. & Hwy 61 - sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion

12:30 PM Minnow Races – in front of Lions info booth, Wisconsin St. & 1st Ave. W. - sign up at Lions info booth - sponsored by Circle K

1-2:30 PM LIVE MUSIC - Drew Heinonen and Tina Hegg-Raway - Harbor Park Stage

3 PM DQ Upsidedownright Thick Blizzard Race, maximum of 10 teams with up to 4 racers each, register at Dairy Queen, 120 Hwy 61 N, prior to race -sponsored by Dairy Queen

3-5 PM LIVE MUSIC: Brothers In Arms Harbor Park Stage Cook County Basketball Alumni Game – Pam Taylor Gymnasium CCHSSee Featured Events section of schedule

5:30 PM – Women 7:30 PM – Men

Questions? Contact coach Riley - keaton.riley76@gmail.com Register: https://cookcountyschools.org/o/ce

6-6:30 PM Minnesota State Loon Calling Championship – Preliminary Round – Harbor Park Stage, sign up at Lions info booth.

6-9 PM LIVE MUSIC - Barefoot Bluegrass - Up Yonder Bar - Entertainment Complex 1615 W. Hwy 61

7-9 PM Grand Marais Playhouse, “The Foolish Fishgirls and the Pearl”, The Arrowhead Center for the Arts - 51 West 5th Street, www. grandmaraisplayhouse.com

7-9:30 PM Dance Party – DJ Mouwthe – Harbor Park Stage

8-11 PM LIVE MUSIC - Slo Gin - Gun Flint Tavern - Raven’s Nest (rooftop bar) 111 W. Wisconsin St.

SATURDAY,

August 2

Fisherman’s Picnic Trail Run

NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION!

Register starting June 15th, Pre-registration at: www.pincushionskiandrun.org thru August 1st at 5 pm

Fees: $20 - kids, $45 - 5 mile run/race walk/walk and 5k run/walk

8:00 TO 8:45 AM Packet Pickup - Pincushion Chalet

9:00 AM Kid Races 1/4 mile walk/run or 1 mile walk/run

9:30 AM 5 mile run/race walk and 5k run/walk

9-10 AM Oula Dance Class Harbor Park - sponsored by YMCA

9 AM Hoopin’ in the Harbor (late registration) 3-on-3 Tournament –Wisconsin St.

9:30 AM Hoopin’ in the Harbor 3-on-3 Tournament – Wisconsin St.

10 AM-3 PM Cook County Market / all local vendors and products - E. Wisconsin St.

10 AM-4 PM Ty Sheaffer, doing basketry demonstrations, North House Folk School, 500 W. Hwy 61 on the commons.

10 AM-5 PM Vendor and Craft Show – Local and Regional Arts and Crafts

1st Ave. W.

10 AM-5 PM Lions Kiddie Rides open – The Hub Parking Lot - 10 N Broadway

10 AM-5 PM Doucette’s Fun games and Inflatables – In front of the Gunflint Tavern

10 AM-NOON Pickup your Grand Marais Pottery “Paint a Piece of Pottery” - The Hub, 10 Broadway Ave.

11 AM World Famous Lions Fish Burger Stand opens – Harbor Park

11-1PM Kids Corner Art Circle – Across from the DQ on Hwy 61 – sponsored by Roam and Whimsy and Shook

11 AM- UNTIL FOUND “DQ Medallion Hunt”, rules and new clues daily at Dairy Queen, 120 Hwy 61 N, $100 prize to the first person to find it –sponsored by Dairy Queen

11AM-12:30 PM LIVE MUSIC: Billy Manzik - Harbor Park Stage

11 AM-7 PM Axe Throwing by Valhalla Axe Throwing W. Wisconsin St. NOON Bingo Tent opens –1st Ave. W & Hwy 61 - sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion

NOON–CLOSE Yard Party - Yard games, tiki bar & bonfire! - Up Yonder BarEntertainment Complex 1615 W. Hwy 61

2:30 PM Citizen of the Year Award presentation – Harbor Park stage

2:30-5 PM Kids Tractor Pull (ages 4-11) – Wisconsin St. – sponsored by Circle K

3-5 PM LIVE MUSIC – The Splints - Harbor Park Stage

5 PM Joyne’s Rock Painting Contest winners announced – Harbor Park Stage

6-9 PM LIVE MUSIC - Barefoot Bluegrass - Up Yonder Bar - Entertainment Complex 1615 W. Hwy 61

5:30-6 PM Minnesota State Loon Calling Championship Finals – Sign up at Lions Info Booth – Harbor Park Stage

6 PM Cutest Puppy Contest – Harbor Park Stage, sponsored by Rocky Knoll Boarding and Lake County Veterinary – sign up at Lions info booth

6 PM Author Talk with Benjamin Percy “The Ninth Metal”– Drury Lane Books, 12 E Wisconsin St – sponsored by Drury Lane Books

7-9 PM Grand Marais Playhouse, “The Spitfire Grill” The Arrowhead Center for the Arts - 51 West 5th Street, www.grandmaraisplayhouse.com

MN buy a raffle ticket

12:30 PM Minnow Races – in front of Lions info booth, Wisconsin St. & 1st Ave W. - sign up at Lions info booth -sponsored by Circle K

12:30-1:30 PM CCHS Alumni Baseball Game registration & warm up –Cook County High School Ball Field

1:30 PM Rock Skipping Contest (all ages) – Harbor Park- South Beach, sign up at Lions info booth - sponsored by Lake Superior Trading Post

1-2:30 PM LIVE MUSIC – Michael Monroe - Harbor Park Stage

2-5 PM LIVE MUSIC - Pat Eliason - Gun Flint Tavern - Raven’s Nest (rooftop bar) 111 W. Wisconsin St.

3 PM CCHS Alumni Baseball Game – Cook County High School Ball Field, behind school

1-4 PM Bally Blacksmith Demonstrations – Bally’s Blacksmith Shop, corner of Broadway and 1st St. – sponsored by Historic Cook County

2 PM School Tour – Cook County ISD 166 - 101 W 5th St, meet at Main Entrance Doors

7-9 PM Evening Music-Dance Party – LIVE MUSIC – The Evening Stars –Harbor Park Stage

8-11PM LIVE MUSIC - Slo Gin - Gun Flint Tavern - Raven’s Nest (rooftop bar) 111 W. Wisconsin St.

9:45 PM Fireworks over the Harbor – co-sponsored by Visit Cook County & Grand Marais Lions Club

SUNDAY, August 3

9:30 AM Waterfront Worship with Pastor Dale McIntire of Cornerstone Community Church – Harbor Park

10 AM-4 PM Ty Sheaffer, doing basketry demonstrations, North House Folk School, on the commons.

11 AM-UNTIL FOUND “DQ Medallion Hunt”, rules and new clues daily at Dairy Queen, 120 Hwy 61 N, $100 prize to the first person to find it –sponsored by Dairy Queen

11 AM World Famous Grand Marais Lions Fish Burger Stand opens –Harbor Park

11 AM-5 PM Vendor and Craft Show – Local and Regional Arts and Crafts 1st Ave W.

NOON Bingo Tent opens –1st Ave. W & Hwy 61 - sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion

11-1 PM LIVE MUSIC - Watershed Group with opening set by Adam Kirsch - Harbor Park

1 PM Fisherman’s Picnic Parade - Downtown Grand Marais, Route starts at Elementary School Parking Lot, down Broadway Ave. Right on Wisconsin St. and ends at Hwy 61. Send email to gmlionsclub@gmail.com to register parade entries - sponsored by Marathon Gas Station

2-2:30 PM AAD Shrine Drum & Bugle Corps., Duluth – Harbor Park

2-5 PM Lions Kiddie Rides open – The Hub Parking Lot - 10 N Broadway

3-5 PM LIVE MUSIC – Kari Golden and Pure Honey – Harbor Park Stage

3-5 PM Grand Marais Playhouse, “The Foolish Fishgirls and the Pearl” The Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 51 West 5th Street, www.grandmaraisplayhouse.com

3:30 PM Lion’s Fish Toss – In front of the Blue Water on Wisconsin St., sign up at Lions information booth - sponsored by North Superior Fisheries

5:15 PM Grand Prize Drawing $10,000.00 - Lions Info Booth - corner of Wisconsin St. and 1st Ave. W.

6-7 PM Prize Winners Posted - Lions Info Booth. Prizes can be claimed at Info Booth on Sunday night. Starting at 10 AM Monday morning prizes can be picked up at the Cook County News Herald – 1st Ave. W.

10, tickets $5 at local businesses and from Grand Marais lion’s Club members - They’re the ones in the yellow vests It ’s your pass to par ticipate in events all weekend long! *Get Your collectible button!

NORTHERN WILDS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Thru Aug. 2

Lies & Legends: The Musical Stories of Harry Chapin Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, magnustheatre.com

Thru Aug. 10

Biggest Blueberry Contest Gunflint Trail, visitcookcounty.com

North Shore Artists League: Echos of Wilderness, Water & Wonder Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Summer Theater Festival: The Spitfire Grill & The Foolish Fishgirls & the Pearl 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Thru August 30

Summer Exhibition: Movement Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Thru Sept. 1

Aaron Kloss Exhibit: Aurora Borealis Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, aaronkloss.com

Thru Sept. 14

Benjamin Chee Chee: Modernist Painter Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Big Back Yard Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

On a Silver Platter: Kris Goold Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

The Moth Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru Sept. 16

Heidi Wanzek: Within the Threshold Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Charvis Harrell: The Games We Play Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru Oct. 19

Monica Ihrke: Invasive Plants in My Backyard Hartley Nature Center, Duluth, monicaihrke.com

Thru Dec. 31

Can-Car & The Rosies Thunder Bay Museum, thunderbaymuseum.com

July 31-Aug. 3

Fisherman’s Picnic Downtown Grand Marais, grandmaraislions.com

FinnFest Duluth, finnfest.us Spirit Valley Days West Duluth, spiritvalleydays.com

July 31-Aug. 9

Encountering the Invisible: Jaana Erkkila-Hill (Reception July 31 at 5 p.m.) Nordic Center, Duluth, nordiccenterduluth.org Rent 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Zeitgeist Arts, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Aug. 1, Friday

Day Hill Naturalist Guided Hike 2 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/splitrocklighthouse

Aug. 1-2

City on the Hill Music Festival 2:30 p.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, cityonthehillmusicfest.com

Gitchee Gumee Agate Festival 4 p.m. (10 a.m. Sat.) Ursa Minor Brewing, Duluth, facebook.com/ursaminorbrewing

Broadway in the Boundary Waters Gala 7 p.m. Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

Aug. 1-3

Superior Classics Car Club Dragfest Terrace Bay Airport, Ontario, dragfest.ca

Aug. 1-4

Cirque Italia Water Circus Intercity Shopping Centre, Thunder Bay, platinum.cirqueitalia.com

Aug. 1-31

Photography & Art at the Rock: Eric Klepinger

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

Arrowhead Artist Exhibition: Nancy Carlson

(Reception Aug. 2 at 4 p.m.) Studio 21, Grand Marais, grandmaraisartcolony.org

Artist of the Month: Sam Zimmerman (Reception Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m.) Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay, mndnr.gov/tettegouche

Aug. 2, Saturday

Fern Walk 9 a.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

Duluth Monarch Waystation Garden Tour

10 a.m. First United Methodist Church, Duluth, duluthmonarchbuddies.org

Taconite Harbor Reunion 10 a.m.

Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder, crossriverheritage.org

Larsmont CC Annual Fun Day & Picnic 11 a.m. Larsmont Little Red Schoolhouse, larsmont.org

Blacksmithing Demonstration 1 p.m.

Bally Blacksmith Shop, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Night Sky Presentation with Bob King 1 p.m. Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, Schroeder, sugarloafnorthshore.org

Author Talk with Benjamin Percy: Comet Cycle Series 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Can You Knot? 6:30 p.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

Benefit House Concert: New Primitives 7 p.m. Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Fighting Fire with Fire 7:30 p.m.

Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

Fisherman’s Picnic Fireworks 9:45 p.m. Grand Marais Harbor, grandmaraislions.com

Aug. 3, Sunday

Fisherman’s Picnic Parade 1 p.m. Downtown Grand Marais, grandmaraislions.com

Family Art Days 1 p.m. Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Aug. 4, Monday

Lake County Chamber Golf Outing Noon, Lakeview National Golf Course, Two Harbors, lakecounty-chamber.com

Will Sings Songs! 1 p.m. Mount Royal Branch Library, Duluth, alslib.info

Aug. 6, Wednesday

Duluth Hot Ones 6 p.m. Fitger’s, Duluth, duluthkitchen.com

Speaker Night: John Finkle of Noatun Community Boat Works 6:30 p.m. Larsmont Little Red Schoolhouse, larsmont.org

Aug. 6-10

CLE Fair Noon, CLE, Thunder Bay, cle.on.ca

Aug. 7, Thursday

River View Trail Summer Birding Hike 7 a.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

Dinosaurs with the MN Science Museum 1:30 p.m. Duluth Public Library, alslib.info

Benefit House Concert: Martin Zellar 7 p.m. Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 7-9

Moosef**ker, Ontario 7:30 p.m. Spring Street Theatre, Thunder Bay, bit.ly/newnoiseproductions

Aug. 7-10

Lake County Fair Two Harbors, thelakecountyfair.com

Aug. 8, Friday

Free Concert: Martin Zellar and the Hardways 7:30 p.m. City Center Park, Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 8-10

Rendezvous Days & Powwow Grand Portage, visitcookcounty.com/events

Ely Watercross 20th Anniversary Bash Longbranch, Winton, facebook.com/elywatercross

Live From the Rock Folk Festival Pull-a-Log Park, Red Rock, livefromtherockfolkfestival.com

Cats: Young Actors Edition Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Under the Spreading Walnut Tree Art Festival 10 a.m. (3 p.m. Fri.) Earthwood Inn, Two Harbors, Facebook: Two Harbors Under the Spreading Walnut Tree Art Festival

Bayfront Blues Festival 11 a.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, bayfrontblues.com

Reflections Dance Company: Water 2.0 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sun.) Vermilion Fine Arts Theater, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

Aug. 9, Saturday

Paju Mountain Run/Walk 8:30 a.m. Red Rock, Ontario, facebook.com/pajumountainrun

Tori Finnish Marketplace & Music Festival 10 a.m. Finland Heritage Site, facebook.com/finlandmnhistoricalsociety

Fat Guys Annual Car Show 11 a.m. Fat Guys Auto Parts, Thunder Bay, fatguyscarshow.com

Music at the Village Noon, Oliver Paipoonge Heritage Park, Slate River, ophp.ca

Book Signing with Greg Gaut: The War at Home 1 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

Full Moon Poetry 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Full Moon Bike Ride 6 p.m. Real Canadian Superstore, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Sara Kae & Cassidy Houston 6:30 p.m. Terrace Bay Lighthouse Park, visitterracebay.ca

Aug. 10, Sunday

Xterra Sleeping Giant Boulevard Lake and Kinsmen Park, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/xterrasleepinggiant

Aug. 11, Monday

ALS Bookmobile 4:30 p.m. McQuade Small Craft Harbor, Duluth, alslib.info

Dark Sky Caravan 8 p.m. Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium, Duluth, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Aug. 12, Tuesday

Dark Sky Night 8 p.m. Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, mnhs.org/splitrock

Perseid Meteor Shower 1 p.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

Aug. 13, Wednesday

Kids, Cops & Cars 11 a.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, decc.org

Will Sings Songs! 3:30 p.m. Ely Public Library, alslib.info

Pickup Truck Opera: The Return of King Idomeneo 7 p.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, mixedprecipitation.org

Dark Sky Caravan 8 p.m. Tettegouche State Park Visitor Center, Silver Bay, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Aug. 14, Thursday

Free Afternoon Bingo 1 p.m. Two Harbors Community Center, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Will Sings Songs! 6 p.m. West Duluth Branch Library, alslib.info

Livewell 5k Walk/Run/Roll & Celebration 6 p.m. Barker’s Island Festival Park, Superior, bit.ly/livewell5kwalkrunroll

Dark Sky Caravan 8 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Aug. 14-16

Moosef**ker, Ontario 7:30 p.m. Spring Street Theatre, Thunder Bay, bit.ly/newnoiseproductions

Aug. 15, Friday

Will Sings Songs! 10 a.m. Silver Bay Public Library, alslib.info

Lighthouse Festival 1 p.m. Terrace Bay, Ontario, visitterracebay.ca

Ely Rotary Club’s Casino Night 5:30 p.m. Community Hub, Ely, ely.org/events

Pickup Truck Opera: The Return of King Idomeneo 6:30 p.m. Hovland Town Hall, mixedprecipitation.org

Free Concert: Chase & Ovation 7:30 p.m. City Center Park, Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Dark Sky Caravan 8 p.m. Schapp Community Center, Gunflint Trail, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Aug. 15-16

Summit North Trail Runs Spirit Mountain, Duluth, summitnorthtrailruns.com

Aug. 15-17

Rock of Ages: Teen Edition Duluth Playhouse, duluthplayhouse.org

Murillo Fair Murillo Fairgrounds, Ontario, facebook.com/murillofair

Aug. 15-Sept. 7

The Glass Group (Reception Aug. 15 at 5 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Aug. 16, Saturday

GGTA North Shore Bike Ride 9 a.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, ggta.org Westfort Street Fair 9 a.m. Downtown Westfort Village, Thunder Bay, westfort.ca

Heritage Fest 11 a.m. Pioneer Mine Museum & Event Center, Ely, facebook.com/heritagefestpioneermine

Castle Danger Brewery 14th Anniversary Celebration 11 a.m. Castle Danger Brewery, Two Harbors, facebook.com/castledangerbrewery

Beaver Presentation with Emily Fairfax 1 p.m. Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, Schroeder, sugarloafnorthshore.org

Will Sings Songs! 1 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, alslib.info

Ellen Cashman & Nancy Scheibe: Art Demonstrations 1 p.m. Art & Soul Gallery & Gifthouse, Ely, elysartandsoul.com

Pickup Truck Opera: The Return of King Idomeneo 3 p.m. Grand Marais Rec Park, Sweetheart’s Bluff, mixedprecipitation.org

Dark Sky Caravan 4 p.m. Seagull Lake Community Center, Gunflint Trail, bit.ly/darkskycaravan

Summer Matsuri 4:30 p.m. West Thunder Community Centre, Thunder Bay, Facebook: Lakehead Japanese Cultural Association

Dark Sky Caravan 6:30 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Aug. 16-17

Nipigon Blueberry Blast Downtown Nipigon, Ontario, blueberryblast.ca

Art in Bayfront Park 10 a.m. Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth, artinbayfrontpark.com

Anishinaabe Keeshigun 11 a.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

Excalibur Con 11 a.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Aug. 17, Sunday

Kakabeka Falls Legion Half Marathon & 8k 8 a.m. Kakabeka Falls, Ontario, facebook.com/runkbfalls

Supporter Appreciation Open House 11 a.m. Dorothy Molter Museum, Ely, rootbeerlady.com

Duluth Summer Market 11 a.m. Wild State Cider, Duluth, wildstatecider.com

Pickup Truck Opera: The Return of King Idomeneo 3 p.m. Finland Heritage Site, mixedprecipitation.org

Aug. 18, Monday

Will Sings Songs! 10 a.m. Two Harbors Library, alslib.info

Aug. 19, Tuesday

Steve Hoffbeck: Col. William Colvill, Minnesota’s Magnificent Civil War Hero 5:30 p.m. Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Aug. 20, Wednesday

Fern Walk 10 a.m. Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, mndnr.gov/gooseberryfalls

Antique Appraisal Noon, The Depot Rotunda, Duluth, thehistorypeople.org

Creative Writing Workshop: Work-in-Progress

Reading 7 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library, grandmaraislibrary.org

Aug. 21, Thursday

Harbour Fest 5 p.m. Waterfront District, Thunder Bay, waterfrontdistrict.ca

Game Night 6:30 p.m. Larsmont Little Red Schoolhouse, larsmont.org

Benefit House Concerts: Sherwin Linton & The Cotton Kings 7 p.m. Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Community Partners 25th Anniversary Party 7 p.m. Two Harbors Community Center, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Aug. 22, Friday

Science on Deck 11 a.m. Pier B Resort: LLO’s R/V Blue Heron, Duluth, visitduluth.com

Free Concert: Sherwin Linton & the Cotton Kings 7:30 p.m. City Center Park, Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 22-23

Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival Barker’s Island, Superior, facebook.com/lakesuperiordragonboats

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

Tumblestone Music & Art Festival Gorham, Ontario, tumblestone.org

Aug. 22-24

Wawa Salmon Derby Wawa, Ontario, wawasalmonderby.com

Embarrass Region Fair Timber Hall & Fairgrounds, Embarrass, embarrassrfa.org

Ribfest 11 a.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, ourkidscount.ca

Aug. 23, Saturday

Author Meet & Greet: Molly Beth Griffin: Rings of Heartwood 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

The Gin Tonics Band 6:30 p.m. Terrace Bay Lighthouse Park, visitterracebay.ca

Aug. 24, Sunday

Celtic Day 10 a.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay, fwhp.ca

Care Partners Ice Cream Social Fundraiser 2 p.m.

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

Aug. 25, Monday

Free Coffee & Concert: Lighthouse Lyrics 6 p.m. Two Harbors Community Center, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Aug. 27, Wednesday

Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience 7:30 p.m. Decc, Duluth, decc.org

Aug. 27-28

Live on the Waterfront Summer Send Off 6 p.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/live

Aug. 28-31

Duluth Superior Pride Festival Twin Ports, duluthsuperiorpride.com

Aug. 29, Friday

AmberJam Feat: Five Alarm Funk 4 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, tbca.com

Free Concert: Tina and the B-Sides 7:30 p.m. City Center Park, Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 29-31

Fest du Nord Concerts YMCA Camp du Nord, Ely, ely.org/events

Aug. 30, Saturday

Author Talk: T. Williams & David Lawrence Grant: Rewind 6 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Benefit House Concerts: Tine & the B-Sides 7 p.m. Silver Bay, rockywallentertainment.org

Aug. 31, Sunday

Old Fashioned Pie Social Noon, Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

WEEKLY EVENTS

Mondays

Nature Presentations (Thru Aug. 18) 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Waverley Park Concert Series 6:30 p.m. Waverley Park, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/thecoalitionforwaverleypark

Tuesdays

Kids Day: Free Admission (Thru Aug. 19) 11 a.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Hillside Farmers Market 2 p.m.

503 E. 3rd St., Duluth, facebook.com/centralhillsidefarmersmarket

Locals Night with Live Music 5 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Free Concert: Broadway in the Park 5 p.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, northernlakesarts.org

Music in the Park (Thru Aug. 19) 6:30 p.m. Lincoln Park, Duluth, chesterbowl.org

Free Tai Chi in the Park 7 p.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Wednesdays

Happy Hikers Wednesday Hikes 9 a.m. Meet at Parking Lot near Grand Marais Tennis Courts, visitcookcounty.com/events

Power Up the Plaza 10 a.m. Lake Superior Plaza, Duluth, downtownduluth.com

Game Day for Adults 1 p.m.

Two Harbors Public Library, facebook.com/communitypartnersth

Duluth Farmers Market 2 p.m. Duluth Farmers Market, duluthfarmersmarket.com

Thunder Bay Country Market 3:30 p.m. CLE

Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca

Free Concerts on the Pier 5 p.m. Glensheen Mansion, Duluth, glensheen.org

Live on the Waterfront 6 p.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/events

Thursdays

Free Tai Chi in the Park 7:30 a.m. Marina Park, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Sawmill Tours 1 p.m. Hedstrom Lumber, Gunflint Trail, hedstromlumber.com

Dark Sky Shows (Thru Aug. 14) 3 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Lincoln Park Farmers Market 3 p.m. Harrison Park, Duluth, facebook.com/lincolnparkfarmersmarket

Thursday Night Art 3:30 p.m. Joy & Company, Grand Marais, joy-and-company.com

Grand Marais Farmers Market 4:30 p.m. Community Center Parking Lot, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmaraisfarmersmarket

Finland Farmers Market 5 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, finlandfarmersmarket.com

Beer Garden 5 p.m. Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, glaquarium.org

Summer in the Parking Lot 6 p.m. Superior Inn Hotel & Conference Centre, Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com

Date Night with Live Music 6:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Free Music on the Ship 7 p.m. William A. Irvin, Duluth, decc.org

Fridays

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

Summer Kid’s Activities Noon, Joy & Company, Grand Marais, joy-and-company.com

Guided Nature Hike (Thru Aug. 15) 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Barbara Jean & Mike Lewis 4:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us Free Movies in the Park At Sunset, Leif Erikson Park, Duluth, downtownduluth.com

Saturdays

Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca

Duluth Farmers Market 8 a.m. Duluth Farmers Market, duluthfarmersmarket.com

Cook County Market 10 a.m.

The Hub Parking Lot, Grand Marais, facebook.com/ccfarmandcraft

Two Harbors Farmers Market 10 a.m. Seagren’s Home Hardware Outdoors, Two Harbors, facebook.com/twoharborsfarmersmarket

Children’s Story Hour 11 a.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, drurylanebooks.com

Summer Kid’s Activities Noon, Joy & Company, Grand Marais, joy-and-company.com

Harbor History Walking Tour 1 p.m. History Museum, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

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

Sundays

Clover Valley Farm Trail Noon, Two Harbors & Duluth, clovervalleyfarmtrail.com

Free Outdoor Concerts 2 p.m. Chippewa Park Pavilion, Thunder Bay, chippewapark.ca Free Presentations 2 p.m. Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, Gunflint Trail, gunflinthistory.org

Weekend Wine Down 3:30 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

The North Shore Dish

Granola: Handcrafted with Heart

By Virginia George

Did you know that the first granola was developed at a sanitarium as an alternative to the cholesterol-rich American breakfasts of the 1880s? Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (yes, that Kellogg), with the help of a little trademark infringement, developed a version of granola as we know it to support the patients at Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Mich. Dr. James Caleb Jackson developed granola’s precursor, granula, which is an earlier version of what we now call Grape Nuts, and changed the breakfast scene forever. As people sought “healthy” alternatives to a heavy breakfast, the convenience of a cold, shelf-stable breakfast became apparent. Thus, the cereal industry was born. Post and Kellogg were early competitors who remain to this day. The rivalry of the early cereal industry is far more interesting than one would assume, but I’ll leave that to Wondery’s American Innovations Season 19 podcast to give you the whole story. (Is this what I listen to in my spare time? Absolutely.)

Over time, what we think of as “granola” has changed and evolved, but at its heart it is still a cooked and dried concoction of grains. One of the beauties of granola is its endless versatility. In my house, we tend to keep multiple kinds on hand, and we also make it from time to time. Homemade granola is a little like chili—you can sort of add a bit of this and a little of that, depending on what you have in the pantry.

If you want consistency though, look to bakers like Superior Bakes and Brain Storm Bakery for small batch, homemade-style granola that will knock your socks off. Personally, I’m a fan of a dry handful of fresh, homemade granola as I add it to my yogurt or cereal bowl, but the ways to eat it are as varied as the ingredients you find inside. I reached out to each brand owner to find out a little more about their business, their passion, and their food.

Superior Bakes, Thunder Bay

Superior Bakes is a Thunder Bay based business with a focus on balanced and accessible nutrition. Owner and founder Jenni Ritchie began Superior Bakes with the idea of sharing high protein, delicious treats that will nourish your body and satisfy that sweet tooth without the major sugar crash. In terms of granola, Superior Bakes has four flavours (with a u to honor the Canadians): pumpkin spice, banana walnut chocolate chip, white chocolate cranberry, and almond raisin. They also offer energy balls and energy bars for ready-made snacks. In addition to granola, Superior Bakes has a variety of baking mixes to offer. Things like buttermilk pancake mix, yellow and

chocolate cake mixes, and muffin mix are available. These mixes are gluten-free and versatile, and include suggestions for modifications that one might make to suit various dietary needs.

Here’s what Ritchie had to say: “Our healthy baking mix and treat business is

dedicated to offering delicious, gluten-free, protein-based, and low-sugar options for those seeking nutritious alternatives. We pride ourselves on creating high-quality products that cater to a variety of dietary needs without compromising on taste. Our treats are perfect for anyone looking to in-

dulge in a healthier way.

“You can find our products in retail stores and online across Canada, making it easier than ever to enjoy our baked goods no matter where you are. Additionally, we operate a five-day-a-week location inside Goods & Co. Market, offering a convenient spot for

Superior Bakes in Thunder Bay has four granola flavours: pumpkin spice, banana walnut chocolate chip, white chocolate cranberry, and almond raisin. | SUBMITTED

Brain Storm Bakery in Ely has a storefront that serves a variety of baked goods, as well as granola. | BRIAN STROM

customers to experience our delicious offerings in person. Whether you shop with us online or visit our market location, we’re excited to bring healthier baking to your kitchen and beyond.”

Brain Storm Bakery, Ely

The inception of Brain Storm Bakery is a perfect example of how taking a joke too seriously just might change your life. In this case, a quippy Brian Strom said to his wife, “Wouldn’t it be funny if we made cranberry apple granola and called it Crapola?” That was in 2007, and all these years later, Crapola! is still their bread and butter, though

their business has expanded quite a bit in intervening years.

Brain Storm Bakery is home to four main granola flavors: Crapola! (cranberry apple), Number 2 (cranberry orange), Colon-ial Times (strawberry blueberry), and Kissypoo (chocolate raspberry). These granolas can be purchased in 12-ounce bags, or if you really love it, they offer an 8-pound size as well. In addition to their granola offerings, Brain Storm Bakery has a storefront that serves a variety of baked goods. Stop in for some sourdough or cardamom bread, gluten-free cookies, or a raspberry chocolate chip scone, along with fresh coffee.

“We started out as just a wholesale granola bakery in 2007, but have gradually evolved into a full-service coffee shop and bakery,” says Strom. “We have coffee, tea, espresso, and smoothies. For food items, we have granola parfaits, cookies, scones, brownies, tarts, breads, muffins, and sweet and savory specialties on a rotating basis. We also host live music in the summer.”

One of the best things about exploring the dining establishments on the North Shore is learning people’s stories. I love seeing how creativity and passion drive business owners to do new and interesting things. Superior Bakes’ Jenni Ritchie found a hole for

high-protein and low-glycemic treats in her community and filled it. The Stroms took an idea, seemingly made in passing, and in no time flat they turned it into their thriving business, Brain Storm Bakery.

Granola has come a long way from its hard and crunchy predecessor, which needed to be soaked overnight in order to be edible, but of course, it’s also about more than just granola. It’s always about more than the food; it’s the story that brings us together. And thankfully their stories bring us something as delicious and delectable as the sweet snacks we know today.

Brain Storm Bakery focuses on high quality, organic ingredients, with gluten free options available. | BRIAN STROM

Forest Bathing

By Hartley Newell-Acero

If the words “forest bathing” conjure up images of a bubble bath in the woods, that’s understandable—but this kind of bathing doesn’t involve suds.

The term shinrin-yoku emerged in Japan in the 1980s and translates to “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “forest bathing.” This physical and mental practice was intended to provide an opportunity for people to both take a break from technology and to reconnect with and protect the country’s dwindling forests. It’s based on three traditional Japanese concepts: yūgen, komorebi, and wabi sabi.

Yūgen is a subtle yet profound awareness of the natural world. It triggers an emotional response that is too deep to be expressed in words.

Komorebi literally means “sunlight leaking through trees.” It describes the interplay between the sunlight and leaves.

Wabi sabi combines the meaning of wabi (transient and stark beauty) with the meaning of sabi (the beauty of natural aging). Together they refer to the beauty of things that are imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.

Rooted in reciprocity, forest bathing allows people to benefit from time in nature, and hopefully, develop a desire to preserve that environment. Another goal of forest bathing is to bring people deeply into their present-moment experience. A form of mindfulness, it provides an opportunity to simply notice and sense our surroundings instead of judging or evaluating them. Giving our attention over to the sensations of being in the forest allows our brains to pause and let go of worry and rumination.

In the decades since its inception, researchers have confirmed the benefits of forest bathing. The data supports what many of us feel instinctively—being surrounded by nature is good for us. Research has demonstrated that forest bathing can reduce stress hormones, dial back a person’s fight-orflight response, lower blood pressure, ease depression, stress, and anxiety, increase energy levels, and improve sleep. In addition to creating oxygen-rich air, the trees are also emitting phytoncides. These air-borne chemicals are the tree’s efforts to protect themselves from insects, bacteria, and fungi. While they help trees to fight pathogens,

phytoncides also benefit humans. When we breathe them in, our bodies respond by producing cells that help us to fight disease too. One study of extended time in the forest (two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon) saw an increase in proteins that fight cancer and destroy tumors.

How To Bathe:

Find a forest. In the Northland, we’re fortunate to have an abundance of public lands with hiking trails for every ability level. But what if someone lives in an urban area? While research indicates that walking in an actual forest is more beneficial than walking in an urban park, city park walks can still improve mood, heart rate variability, and even memory.

Allot yourself enough time. Even just 15 minutes in the woods can help relieve stress and anxiety. To get the most from forest bathing, plan on spending hours in the woods. Occasional hikes are wonderful, but making shinrin-yoku a regular practice is where you’ll find the greatest cumulative benefits.

Take it easy. This is not the time to go for the burn or push your heart rate. This is the time to calm your mind and body, slow your breathing, and relax your muscles. Exertion increases stress hormones, which is the opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish. Hit “pause” and breathe deeply. Find a beautiful place to sit. Take a moment to get comfortable. Maybe you’d like to try what’s called box breathing. Inhale for a count of 4—hold for a count of 4—exhale for a count of 4—hold for a count of 4, and repeat. Or perhaps 4-7-8 breathing would be a better fit. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8, and repeat. However you choose to slow your breathing down, you’re still sending your body the same message of safety and peace.

Notice what you notice, even if you’re noticing that your thoughts have strayed and taken you away from the forest experience. Simply tune back into all that surrounds you. Pay attention to the sights, sounds, scents, and sensations. Forest bathing can also include time for journaling or art. Mostly though, it’s a time to reconnect with yourself and wonder of the world around you. So, put on your walking shoes and go take a bath.

Don’t Let Your Lake Get These Fleas!

Caribou Lake (BWCA)

DevilFIsh Lake,

Spiny water fleas are tiny crustaceans ⅛ - ¼ inch long with a long tail native to Europe and Asia. They were introduced into the Great Lakes by ballast water discharged from ocean going ships.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

PREVENTION IS KEY!

LEARN to recognize spiny water fleas on fishing gear

CLEAN gelatinous material from anchor! ropes and fishing lines, especially where they meet a swivel, lure or downrigger ball connection (plucking the line like a guitar string helps)

DRAIN water before transporting boats, live wells and bait container REPORT new infestations

IMPACTS OF SPINY WATER FLEAS

Spiny water fleas eat small animals called zooplankton that are important food for larval and juvenile fishes. Fish do not feed on spiny water fleas because their sharp spine tends to puncture through the stomach...ouch!

For anglers, these invaders can clog the eyelets of rods, damage a reel’s drag system and prevent fish from being landed.

Boaters and anglers can inadvertently spread egg carrying females to new waters because spiny water fleas easily attach to fishing gear. Adults will die out of water, but their eggs remain viable due to resistance to drought, heating and freezing.

Devil Track Lake

Flour Lake

Greenwood Lake

GuNFLint Lake

Lake Superior

Little John Lake

McFarland Lake

North Fowl Lake

Pine Lake

Saganaga Lake

South Fowl Lake

Trout Lake

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Photo: Darren Lilja

Northern Trails

Two Unique & Memorable Brook Trout Flies

By Gord Ellis

As a lifelong fly angler for brook trout, I have seen a lot of flies come and go. However, some seem to stick around longer than others, and it’s not always for reasons you might assume. Here are two of my favourites.

The Nipigon Earring

I’m not sure what this fly is actually called, but to me it will forever be the Nipigon Earring—I’ll explain why shortly. This fly is flashy, dark, and probably one of the deadliest flies to use when brookies are focused on subsurface, non-minnow foods like aquatic nymphs and leeches. It is also a fly that will catch a brook trout when nothing else will.

My first brush with this fly took place several years ago on the Nipigon River when I guided two longtime friends from my hometown of Thunder Bay. One of the guys was a gear fisherman, and the other was a fly angler.

During my first trip with these gents, they both managed to catch fish quite well, although the fly angler seemed to have the upper hand on his buddy. This is not always the case when you have a gear angler fishing with a fly angler. The fly angler was also getting larger fish. When I looked at his fly (which he had tied), it was dark, shiny, and looked like something you might see in a jewelry shop. The fly undulated and pulsed in the water and, with a sink tip line, got quite deep. It was an effective fly, and I was impressed.

The next year, the friends were back but fishing was tougher—much tougher. Then, at the base of a rapids, I saw a large fish boil over a submerged boulder. “Cast there,” I said pointing.

Fly guy was ready and let out a beautiful cast with his black shiny fly concoction.

The line tightened and he strip set the hook. Fish on.

The fight was exciting and long, as the brookie used the swirling waters to its advantage. I swung the boat in slack water, and we netted the trout. It was a solid 5 pounder, thick and dark. There were some pics and fist bumps, and then the trout went back in the water.

“A couple more cast boys and we will be done,” I said, feeling good about ending on a high note. The fly guy went back up front and began to false cast. I was getting the boat ready to leave, and turned my focus away from the fly going overhead. Then, as if punched, there was a sharp thump on the back of my ear.

“Oh crap!” said the gear guy, who watched it unfold. My hand went to my head, and I felt the fly. It was embedded in the back of my ear. Fly guy was morti-

fied and apologetic. I assured him it was as much my fault for not watching. We tried to get the barbless hook out, but it was not coming. Two hours later, I was in the emergency room in Nipigon waiting for the doctor. When she finally removed it, with much effort, she asked if she could keep the fly and asked what it was called.

The “Nipigon Earring” was born.

Granato Sasquatch

We have a great fly shop in Thunder Bay called Rivers Edge, which is a good thing because I don’t tie flies anymore. Yet I’m always lending flies to clients that end up in a tree or stump, or get bitten off by a pike. In other words, I need to buy flies. It is part of the cost of doing business. So, one summer day a couple years ago, I was digging through the boxes at the store and found some of the largest, gaudiest flies I’d ever seen. They were like muddlers on steroids. They were way over the top for trout. So, I bought a bunch. There were various shades of the fly including green, yellow, black, and white, and they all got tossed into the bag. A little internet sleuthing turned up the name Nick Granato Sasquatch.

| GORD ELLIS

The next day I was guiding two guys from Ohio. They were up front in the boat, casting beautiful looking wet flies with zero action. We were spot locked in my boat at the top of a rapids, and I was hands free. I’d also bought a new fly rod and was setting it up—not really fishing, just get-

ting it sorted. Once the leader was on, I decided to put on one of the Sasquatch flies, just to see what it looked like in the water. I picked a white one that looked like a baby harp seal. The fly was dropped in the water and immediately a football shaped brookie roared off the bottom—16 feet below the boat—and took the fly off the top. Chaos ensued. My two clients that day were speechless, a decidedly rare occurrence with them. That was the beginning of a very long and happy relationship with the Granato Sasquatch.

Another time, an elderly female fly angler was on the last day of a trip and had yet to land a brookie. She and a male angler jumped in with me for the final outing. I tied a Sasquatch on her fly-line, and she dutifully cast it. In one spot, she cast it to the bank and began to strip it back. A huge brook trout swam up off the bottom and engulfed the fly.

“Set the hook!” I shouted, and she did. A few minutes later she was posing, smiling broadly, with her 24-inch brookie.

The Granato Sasquatch may be gaudy, but it is a money fly.

Ellis with the Nipigon Earring in place.

The Granato Sasquatch (top) and the Nipigon Earring (bottom). | GORD ELLIS

NORTHERN SKY

AUGUST

2025

By Deane Morrison, MN STARWATCH

In August we lose Mars, but we gain Jupiter.

Mars doesn’t entirely disappear, but it gets lost as it sinks deep into the sun’s afterglow. Meanwhile, Jupiter climbs above the predawn eastern horizon to join brilliant Venus.

Early in the month, Venus and Jupiter form a straight line with Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus, the bull. The two planets approach each other rapidly, while Aldebaran pulls away from them and the hourglass form of Orion, the hunter, glides by to the south. Venus and Jupiter pass each other between the 11th and 13th. On the 12th they come closest, with less than a degree of sky between them. This will be a great time to compare the two planets’ brightnesses and colors.

Also in the predawn sky, Saturn rides high in the south to southwest all month. If you have any doubt which object is the ringed planet, a waning moon visits it on the 12th.

In the evening sky, the large Summer Triangle of bright stars is well up in the east to southeast at nightfall. Its brightest star is Vega, in the constellation Lyra, the lyre. Look for a small parallelogram of stars right below Vega; this is the body of the lyre. The second-brightest Triangle star is Altair, in Aquila, the eagle. Immediately east of Altair, a small parallelogram of stars marks Delphinus, the dolphin. Deneb, the third Triangle star, anchors the constellation Cygnus, the swan, and is also the “head” of the Northern Cross.

In the west, Arcturus is the only star in the summer evening sky that outshines Vega. With skies steadily darkening, it’s getting easier to see Arcturus’s kite-shaped constellation: Bootes, the herdsman.

August’s full moon rises the evening of the 9th. Three nights later, the bright moon will play spoiler to the annual Perseid meteor shower, which is predicted to peak the night of the 12th to 13th.

The University of Minnesota offers public viewings of the night sky at its Duluth and Twin Cities campuses. For more information on Duluth, visit: d.umn.edu/planet.

BY JOE SHEAD

WHY GO: If nearby Crescent Lake gets too crowded or windy, dip a paddle in nearby Lichen Lake. This undeveloped lake lies along The Grade and has an abundance of walleyes, plus a shot at a musky—a real rarity in Cook County.

ACCESS: From Lutsen, travel 17 miles north on the Caribou Trail (Cook County Hwy. 4). At the T intersection, turn left onto The Grade and travel approximately 5.5 miles. There’s a small parking area along the road on the northwest corner of the lake where you can launch a canoe or kayak.

VITALS: Lichen Lake is a 253-acre lake with a maximum depth of 17 feet. There’s no development, although the lake runs right along The Grade. Most days you can expect to have the lake all to yourself.

GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Walleye, muskellunge, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch.

WALLEYE: Walleyes are the primary management species in Lichen Lake. The lake has long been known for an abundance of small walleyes, although the last two lake assessments have shown the lowest walleye catches on record. Still, there are plenty of fish to go around. Most will be in the 12- to 14-inch range, but there are some fish in the lake topping 20 inch-

es. Walleyes tend to grow slowly here. Still, if you put in your time, you can usually put a few on a stringer.

MUSKELLUNGE:

County where you will find muskies is Lichen Lake, along with nearby Bouder and Cres cent. Shoepack-strain muskies were stocked in these lakes in 1977, and they have continued to reproduce. Shoepack-strain muskies are the smallest of the muskie strains, with fish rarely reaching 40 inches. Still, you have a legit shot at catching one over 30 inch es, which would definitely be fun in a canoe. You don’t need heavy muskie tackle for these fish. A bass bait-cast ing rod and reel is about the perfect set up, but any walleye spinning rod with a properly set drag should be fine. Spinners in size 3 or 4 would be good bets for muskies.

LICHEN LAKE

NORTHERN PIKE: Pike numbers declined YELLOW PERCH: Yellow perch are present,

Rattlesnake Bluff

A Sam Rivers Mystery

By Cary J. Griffith

Adventure Publications, 2025, $16.95

In Rattlesnake Bluff, the fifth book in the Sam Rivers Mystery series, special agent Sam Rivers faces a deadly mystery after the discovery of an endangered rattlesnake unearths a 25-year-old crime. As Rivers searches for the truth, bodies begin to pile up. With help from his wolfdog and a herpetologist, Rivers must race to find answers before more innocents die. This is a great read for anyone who enjoys fast-paced mysteries and rugged outdoor thrillers.— Breana Johnson

Pollinators & Native Plants for Kids

An Introduction to Botany

By Jaret C. Daniels

Adventure Publications, 2025, $14.95

Pollinators & Native Plants for Kids introduces children to the fascinating world of botany and the vital role that pollinators play in nature. With interesting facts, hands-on activities, and an identification guide to 150 plants, wildflowers, trees, and shrubs, it makes learning about ecosystems fun and accessible. This is the perfect book for any child who loves science and nature.— Breana Johnson

Lone Dog Road

A Novel

By Kent Nerburn

New World Library, 2025, $21.95

In Lone Dog Road, award-winning author Kent Nerburn tells a powerful story of two Lakota boys fleeing from a government agent across the Dakota plains in 1950. As their journey unfolds, they encounter hardship, wisdom, and hope. Rich in emotion and cultural insight, readers will carry this beautifully written novel’s message long after the final page. Ideal for those who value storytelling rooted in history and heart.— Breana Johnson

Betsy Bowen

Studio & Gallery

301 First Avenue West, Grand Marais, MN 218-387-1992

Open Daily

11 am-5 pm

Shop online for books, cards, and prints

Following the Ancestor’s Steps

Cedar Pileated Woodpecker Giizhik Meme

By Zhaawanoogiizhik / Sam Zimmerman

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to get outside and gagaakone (harvest without cutting) some giizhikaandag (cedar bough) medicine, as I had used all of my previously harvested supply. It was a miikawaadad (beautiful) morning with the giizis (sun) above Gichi-Gami (Lake Superior) as I headed up the North Shore. While babaamose (walking about) among gagaanooziwag (the tall) giizhikag (cedar trees) near High Falls in Tettegouche State Park, I kept seeing flashes of misko (red) up in a tree. And then I saw an eko-niizhing (second) flash of red. There wasn’t bezhig (one) but niizho (two) memeg (pileated woodpeckers) chasing each other around a cedar tree. I hadn't seen niizho (two) memeg (pileated woodpeckers) together since my dibishkaa (birthday) last year. As I approached the tree, one of them stopped and watched me. This new piece honors that wonderful moment.

Follow my studio on Facebook and Instagram @CraneSuperior or if you have ideas for a North Shore painting, you can email me at: cranesuperiorstudio@gmail.com.

Strange Tales Lake Superior’s Tides, Seiches, and Meteotsunamis

By Elle AndraWarner

In June this year, Lake Superior experienced some interesting tidal-like water movements that received media attention on both sides of the border, describing tides, seiches, and a type of tsunami wave called meteotsunami. Here’s some background on what was happening in the lake.

For starters, tides on Lake Superior have a no-but-yes answer. Freshwater bodies of water (like Lake Superior and the Great Lakes) are considered by scientists to be non-tidal because of their smaller size compared to the wide-open expanse of oceans, so that’s a “no” answer for tides. But there’s a “yes” part. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “true tides”—which are changes in water level caused by celestial gravitational pull of the moon and sun—do occur twice daily on Lake Superior, but they are so minuscule (usually less than 2 inches) that the lakes are designated non-tidal.

However, water levels on Lake Superior can be significantly altered by a phenomenon known as seiche and meteotsunami (meteorological tsunami), which can produce tidal-like waves triggered by weather factors like severe storms, strong winds, and quick changes in atmospheric pressure. This past June, these waves on Lake Superior produced a massive seiche, which scientists are now studying to determine whether it was actually a meteotsunami.

So, what is a seiche (pronounced “saysh”)? The short definition by NOAA is that “a seiche is a standing wave oscillating in a body of water.” The back-and-forth sloshing results in the rise and fall of water levels— akin to sloshing of water back and forth (oscillating) in a bathtub or coffee in a mug. A seiche can last hours or even days, creating strong currents, and can happen in any enclosed or partially enclosed body of water. NOAA also explains: “Seiches are typically caused when strong winds and rapid changes in atmospheric pressure push the water from one end of a body of water to the other. When the wind stops, the water rebounds to the other side of the enclosed area. The water then continues to oscillate back and forth for hours or even days.”

Along the lake’s shoreline near Thunder Bay, summer camp owners Barbara and Ron Yurkoski were surprised by how long the seiche lasted. “Ron was trying to put in the camp’s water system,” said Barbara, “but the waves kept going out and then rushing back in. We’ve seen seiches a few times over the years, but this time it just kept on going.”

Tsunami on Lake Superior? While traditional tsunamis are created by seafloor events like earthquakes, a type of tsunami wave called meteotsunami can occur on

travelling seiche waves on the Lake

longer than usual. At the Yurkoski summer camp, when the water receded,

than water. |

BARBARA YURKOSKI

Lake Superior during fast-moving weather systems such as severe thunderstorms— though it can also happen from strong winds and quick atmospheric changes. While seiches have travelling standing waves, a meteotsunami has progressive waves that travel through the water, starting at one end of the lake and ending at the other. Seiches are not rare, but a meteotsunami occurs on Lake Superior only a couple of times in a decade.

Was it a seiche or meteotsunami on Lake Superior that began overnight Friday, June 20, and ended Sunday, June 22?

A CBC News article (June 26, 2025) by reporter Michelle Allan, titled “Scientists studying suspected Lake Superior meteotsunami that left residents ‘in awe,’” quotes Eric Anderson, a scientist, associate professor, and meteotsunami researcher from the Colorado School of Mines, saying: “We have enough evidence to say that this was a meteotsunami-like event.” He also noted that it was a huge amount of water change on Lake Superior. “This is a big one,” he said.

The Duluth News Tribune reported that water-level gauges during the event recorded a change of nearly 4 feet (1.2 metres) in Ashland, Wisc.; 1.5 feet (0.5 metres) in Duluth; and up to 3 feet (0.9 metres) elsewhere along the lake, depending on where the gauge was located.

Looking back, some major seiche/me-

Illustration of the phenomenon of seiches in

| FRANKEMANN: WIKIMEDIA

The

Superior shoreline near Thunder Bay on Saturday, June 21, lasted much

docks ended up surrounded by sand rather

a lake.

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Included in the package are a 2024 Bobcat skid steer, a 2024 Kubota mini excavator, a 2024 equipment trailer, a 2013 bunkhouse camper, and two new 40-foot storage containers. This property is well equipped with everything you need to build, work, or simply enjoy outdoor recreation. It is conveniently located just 20 minutes from downtown Grand Marais. This is a package deal and will not be split. Call or text (218)370-8286 for a showing. $499,000.00

teotsunami events on the Great Lakes include:

• Lake Erie, 1844: A 22-foot seiche (6.7 metres) breached a 14-foot-high (4.3 metres) seawall, killing 78 people (NOAA).

• Chequamegon Bay, Wisc., July 11, 1935: A seiche caused a 5-foot (1.5 metres) wall of water that endangered swimmers and flooded U.S. Highway 13.

• Lake Michigan, 1954: A 10-foothigh wave (3 metres) on Lake Michigan caused a deadly surge on the Chicago shoreline that took the lives of eight people. Originally called a seiche, it has since been renamed a meteotsunami.

• Lake Superior, July 13, 1995: A large seiche on Lake Superior caused water levels to fall and rise again by 3 feet (1 metre) within 15 to 20 minutes, leaving some docked boats hanging on their mooring lines when the water retreated. Across the lake, fluctuations were reported in Rossport, Ontario; Ashland, Wisc.; and Marquette and Point Iroquois, Mich.

• Near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Sept. 4, 2014: A seiche was triggered by thunderstorms. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported a 65-inch (1.7 metres) change in water levels. Water returned to normal within 90 minutes.

• Two Harbors, 1998: A seiche caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to vessels loading at the Duluth-Missabe Iron Range Railway dock.

A seiche on Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, at the Saginaw Bay Yacht Club on May 30, 2015. The water level rose approximately 5 feet due to strong north-northeast winds. | NOAA GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY

ease, comfort and getting back to basics. The home is perched just so for scanning miles of pure crystal waters. Current owners remodeled all of it with vision and purpose, while keeping the good stuff: clear Doug Fir flooring, and a classic woodstove! 1 bedroom and the ability to sleep friends or family on a sleeper. A charming front room looks over the woods, lake and expansive deck to enjoy the sounds of the lake and soak up the sunshine. Visit today and start enjoying your time on the shore at your own oasis!

MLS#6120631 $579,000

NEW! LUTSEN HOMESTEAD RANCH

PROPERTY! Welcome to Lutsen- And a whole Lot of it! 52+ acres of woods, wildlife, a home, garages, and a cute timber frame that currently identifies as a she-shed, but could be whatever the next dreamer aspires to. Can’t find this much elbow room in Lutsen, or really anywhere in Cook County with the amenities of paved, public road, power and fiber. The home is 3 bedroom has it all! A spacious Kitchen with custom cabinets, an enclosed breezeway that attaches the two-car garage. Down below, in the dry basement, is a lot of unfinished space awaiting the next owner’s vision. Beautiful, mature yard. Including Jonvick Creek running through these peaceful woods - Take a look around at all the maples. Nice little pond out back makes the wild furry, four-legged and feathered neighbors happy. Abuts public land, so, for those with wanderlust, get ready for some tramping around and discovery! Visit Today!

MLS# 6120632 $999,000

NEW! LUXURY QUARTER-SHARE OWNERSHIP AT SURFSIDE

ON LAKE SUPERIOR IN TOFTE! Escape to the stunning North Shore of Lake Superior with this unique opportunity for quarter-share ownership at the luxurious Surfside Resort. There is your chance to experience the beauty of the area with the convenience and benefits of owning a second home, but at a fraction of the cost and care free –professional management company takes care of everything! Enjoy the backdrop of the Sawtooth Mountains and Panoramic views of Lake Superior in this 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Townhome. Unit 16 enjoys one of the best and commanding lake views of any unit in the entire Surfside development! The townhome can be divided into two separate spaces, offering maximum flexibility for owners and renters. As an owner you can enjoy all the resort amenities: indoor pool, sauna, and hot tub, Fitness center, Tennis court, Complimentary resort activities and guided excursions, Waves of Superior Spa (fullservice spa), Restaurant and coffee shops, Tesla supercharger station and direct access to Gitchi Gami paved bike trail. MLS#6120559 $309,000

NEW! CLARA LAKE RETREAT IN LUTSEN! Nestled inland from Lutsen in an expanse of pure Northwoods is Clara Lake, and on it a classic 1 bedroom cabin resides in the middle of 400’ of pristine shoreline. From the 3 season porch which is perfect for cribbage games to the living room with lake views and a woodstove to take away the spring and fall chills, you will feel the stress melt away every time you visit. Summers will be enjoyed on the deck or in the water itself, while listening to the sounds of the loons. Lutsen Mts and Superior National Golf Course about 20 minutes away, Brule Lake and the BWCA 20 minutes the other way - deeper North. Current owners have it all dialed in, just show up, unpack, and relax. Or, if you like to putter there’s always wood to split and whatever else you dream up: stones to arrange just so, lures to sort, build a shed if you like. Make it your place!

MLS#6120362 $375,000

PENDING NEW! MAPLE HAVEN ON CARIBOU LAKE IN LUTSEN! And, there’s no better in the Lutsen area than Caribou Lake. The home enjoys the privacy of 3.5 acres and 220’ of frontage – lots of elbow room for a lake lot with a ton of Maples to light up the woods in the fall! Two

VINTAGE LUTSEN ON THE BIG LAKE!

Deep off the Rollins Cr Rd, along the shores of Gitche Gummee, is a peaceful red cabin of simple lines, filled with the twinkling light of Superior. Nearly 300’ of shoreline and 5 acres of seclusion just down the road from Lutsen. Stalwart seawall in place. Varied, beautiful shoreline including a point of ledgerock just right for studying waves with bonfire and s’mores. Home has two bedrooms, two baths, stone fireplace, sweet screen porch. Warm wood paneling and wide plank flooring – it’s a classic. Coming down the long, forested, driveway there is a sense of moving through a portal: time slips and worries dissolve. This is a place of retreat, reflection, gathering of family and friends. A place to be away and amongst the elemental Northwoods: pure waters, breezy pines, spring green birch, ice sounds churning in your dreams.

MLS#TBD $995,000

19+ ACRES AND DELIGHTFUL CABIN JUST OUTSIDE FINLAND! This zero-carbon footprint two-bedroom cabin, complete with fiber optic, would make a peaceful full-time home or getaway just for you! The solar power system is supported by a propane generator for the occasionally cloudy winters. The vaulted ceilings, wood-burning fireplace, and delightful 3-season porch bring home the ambiance of the woods. The cabin includes two bedrooms, a multi-purpose room, a charming great room, a full bathroom downstairs and a half-bath in the loft. The property includes 565 feet of Baptism River shoreline, a detached garage, and a shed. Snowmobile and ATV trails are nearby, as are several state parks. Come and discover your Northwoods adventure! MLS#6118387 $389,000 SOAK UP THE LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS AND BOREAL FOREST IN GRAND MARAIS! MLS# 6119867 $545,000

LET YOUR WORRIES MELT AWAY AT EAST BAY IN GRAND MARAIS!

The old timer’s knew the best spots! Today’s East Bay Suites sit right on the same spot that has for years been THE place in Grand Marais to skip rocks, stroll the beach, hunker-in and be amazed as a Nor’easter rolls in. Everything is handy from the East Bay Suites. Park the car, your cares and take a week just wandering around this northern village. This classy, Scandinavian Modern, 2 bedroom is just a stone’s throw from the lake. The kitchen is ready to cook up the trout or get the day’s haul of blueberries mixed into some hotcakes. The living room is spacious with a nice fireplace and spills out onto the balcony. Main bedroom has commanding views over the lake, classy, Additional bedroom is roomy, has ensuite bath, lots of storage Nothing to worry about with this property. Come use it, enjoy, and let it earn while you’re off doing you. Owners related to listing agent.

MLS#6119908 $389,000

the warm sunny Days on the North Shore, Fall colors will be here soon!

CAMPN’, HUNTN’, FUN GETAWAY LAND, INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE!

SCHROEDER AREA

11 PLUS ACRES JUST 8 MILES FROM THE CROSS RIVER IN SCHROEDER! You’ve driven by this nice parcel during a Fall leaf color tour on the Cramer Rd, a beautiful area for your getaway cabin! Year round County Rd access, electric and fiber at the road. Level build site, boreal forest for great wildlife viewing! Lots of recreational opportunities just minutes away including fishing, hiking and biking the old railroad grade, or toe dipping in Lake Superior! MLS#6118380 $79,000

PLENTY OF ROOM TO EXPLORE IN SCHROEDER! Just south of Sugarloaf Cove in Schroeder, and overlooking Lake Superior, are 40 acres of elbow room awaiting a new lover of the North Shore! Hard to find a large acreage parcel, easily accessible, and pitched just so to provide evocative, energizing views of the The Big Lake. Current owners have provided a good start: put the driveway in, cleared a building-site, set up the firepit, heck they even planted a few apple trees. Now it’s your turn to start creating YOUR DREAM! Begin with a little getaway place, put your own touches on the land. Or make it the homestead. Come have a look, stand in the middle of your own 40, deep and away from the cares and worries of modern life. MLS# 6119000 $349,000 PRICE REDUCED

LUTSEN AREA

NEW! ESCAPE TO TAIT LAKE- LUTSEN LOT WITH DEEDED ACCESS! Dreaming of a getaway in Lutsen? This is it-A Tait Lake lot with deeded access provides access to a couple shared docks on Tait Lake for the days you want to fish or swim. This peaceful lot has year-round accessibility and opportunities for outdoor recreation. If you have been searching for the perfect nature base home base, this property has it all –start with a driveway and build it into your forever cabin or home.

MLS#6120556 $55,000

NEW! ACREAGE IN LUTSEN! Rare opportunity to have 34 acres in Lutsen on the Caribou Trail! Plenty of space for you to explore and create your own getaway with wildlife as neighbors! Create a development or keep it all for yourself, why not?

MLS#TBD $300,000

NEW! ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARCELS OF LAND IN THE LUTSEN AREA! Located on the corner of the Caribou and South Caribou, this land is high ground and magnificent in the Fall with the mature maple forest. A Syruper’s DREAM property, make this your own homestead or develop it utilizing the new County zoning ordinance for denser development surrounded by Green Space! Year round access via County roads, and electric and fiber at road. MLS#TBD $699,000

NEW! 40 ACRES A STONE’S THROW TO THE BRULE LAKE ENTRANCE ROAD IN LUTSEN! Sweet views of surrounding lakes from the highest point of this 40 in an excellent location along the Grade Rd. Year round access, and electric and fiber are along one side of the Grade Road. Great location for a Fishing Camp and eventual home or development! Minute’s to the Caribou Trail in Lutsen, or keep on going to the Ball Club Road to Devil Track Rd to Grand Marais! Mature forest, great spot. 40 acres too much? Seller’s will sell the East 20 for $169,000! MLS#TBD $290,900

GRAND MARAIS AREA

NEW! SECLUSION ON 40 ACRES, JUST MINUTE’S TO GRAND MARAIS ABOVE COUNTY RD 7! Excellent location, this 40 acres has nice Lake Superior views, and awesome views of the Sawtooth Mountain Ridgeline above Cut Face Creek, just west of Grand Marais. Rough road in place, there’s an easement for access, you just need to improve the road to your future homestead! Flat land at top for barns, home, whatever you envision. Great sunlight, perfect Solar Off Grid property, or bring in fiber and power from the Bally Creek Rd! MLS#6120419 $400,000

40 ACRES SECLUDED IN THE NORTHWOODS OF GRAND MARAIS! Three sides of the land are surrounded by federal land, perfect for the ultimate getaway from EVERYTHING! While the property has no easement access, there are still plenty of things you do with it! Enjoy the mixed Boreal Forest with wildlife as your neighbors. Prospective buyers are encouraged to contact the US forest service regarding a possible special use permit for a path once they own the property. There is plenty of potential for this property, are you ready? MLS#6119938 $65,000

HOLY SMOKES! HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICES OF GRAND MARAIS HOMES?! Buy this 2+ ac parcel and build your own home on well and septic! Excellent location for in town living with easy walking access to the Y, to the Harbor and to the hospital! Total feeling of seclusion in the City, very, very rare! Get out of the car and give this land a walk, it’s quite nice!! MLS#6114386 $89,000 PRICE REDUCED!!

Red Pine Realty

Locally owned and operated since 1996 14 S. Broadway, Grand Marais, MN | 218-387-9599

VISIT OUR OFFICE TO SPEAK WITH A REALTOR. HOURS: M-F 9AM-5PM, SAT 10AM-4PM

REALTORS®: Sue Nichols, Broker • Jake Patten, Assoc. Broker • Jess Smith • Melissa Gregg • Mike Raymond Rebecca McAllister • Casey O’Brien • Alice McFarlane, Admin.

NEW! NORTHWOODS RETREAT HOME

Come through a stand of towering red pines and catch your first glimpse of Lake Superior. Enjoy a living area and outdoor spaces with Lake Superior views, main floor master suite, office and laundry, with 2 bedrooms and a bath upstairs. Unfinished walkout lower level is plumbed and wired. Garage with workshop and storage space. Explore trails from 15+ acre property to Cascade River State Park.

MLS#6120301 $725,000

LISTING FEATURED LISTING FEATURED LISTING

NEW! SEA GULL LAKE SERENITY

Charming Cape Cod-inspired lake home, outstanding views of the lake and surrounding BWCAW wilderness. Rock outcroppings and pines on 252 ft of accessible shoreline and 3.5 acres. Two bedroom, 2 level home shows exceptional quality. Expansive windows and screen porch, plus upper-level deck. Home is set-up for simple living with composting toilet, outhouse and lake water system.

MLS#6120462 $659,000

FEATURED LISTING

NEW! LUTSEN 2-STORY HOME

Five bedroom 2-story home nestled on 4 acres. Step onto the covered porch and enter the living room with a gas stove perfect for chilly evenings. Main bedroom has a dressing room and full bathroom. Large kitchen with walk-in pantry, and easy conversation space with the dining room. Upstairs has a rec room, with a built-in bar and a gas fireplace. Downstairs includes an exercise room, workshop, laundry room, and a bedroom. Ample storage with 2 garages and a barn!

MLS#6120666 $565,000

NEW! GRAND MARAIS HOME

Carefree living in the heart of Grand Marais. Home has been totally updated in recent years. The only thing to decide is which of the beautiful spaces to relax in! A perfect home for entertaining and relaxing inside or in the beautifully landscaped yard. Lots of storage in the lower level and attached garage. Walk anywhere in Grand Marais and come home to enjoy views of the lake.

MLS#6120399 $549,900

NEW! TOM LAKE CABIN

About as close as you can get to the lake without getting your feet wet! The cabin has been completely rebuilt in the last few years. It's all been done. You get to come and relax! The home is insulated and heated for winter use. Tom Lake has many fans, who enjoy all four seasons in this special area.

MLS#6120138

$349,900

NEW!

SCANDANAVIAN STYLE CABIN

Small is beautiful! Scandanavian style log timber cabin artfully crafted for sustainability. There's so much to do in this area, you won't be inside much while you're here! Conveniently located half way between Grand Marais and Grand Portage. The cabin welcomes you back to a simpler time while including some modern comforts. Most furnishings can be included.

MLS#6120613 $239,000

NEW! OFF-GRID HOVLAND CABIN

This property is an awesome retreat for all kinds of groups. Turn-key, 5 acre off-grid property, has been set up by the sellers to function conveniently and comfortably, and is a great base camp for all seasons of sports and activities. Sellers are motivated.

MLS#6120291 $249,000

SPECTACULAR LAKE SUPERIOR VIEWS

Impressive views of Lake Superior from 40 acres situated 300 feet above the lake. Contact us regarding new zoning allowance for a variety of housing options. Some infrastructure from a home that was removed: garage, sauna, driveway, building pad and electric. Visitors required to be accompanied by licensed real estate agent.

MLS#6120561 $600,000

NEW! ONE LEVEL LIVING

Updated affordable home in an ideal location. One level living. Move right in and enjoy the classy kitchen, relaxing living room with a cozy wood stove, lots of windows throughout, beautiful tile work, and a full basement. Nestled on a private yard near many beloved North Shore sites.

MLS#6120677 $259,000

FEATURED LISTING

LARGE HOMESILVER BAY

Five bed, 2 bath home with plenty of room and comfortable spaces. Hardwood floors, fireplace, updated appliances and new mechanical systems. The large lower level has space for projects or rec-room. Large yard and extra garage.

MLS#6115564

$274,900

OFF GRID

A-FRAME CABIN

Peaceful getaway on almost 9 acres of heavily wooded forest adjoining federal land. A-frame cabin powered by the sun and everything you need to step away from it all, with 3 murphy beds to help utilize the smaller space. Power and broadband are at the bottom of the driveway.

MLS#6119488 $149,000

COZY LOG CABIN ON 83 ACRES

HOVLAND HOME ON 20 ACRES

MLS#6119977 $575,00 FEATURED LISTING

Peace, privacy and adventure! Located on a quiet road, this beautiful and unique 2 bath, 3 bedroom home has an attached 4-stall garage. Garage features 14' doors and a workshop area with plenty of storage. Home sits on 20 acres of serene forestland. Home was designed with both comfort and resilience in mind, featuring high-efficiency appliances and a wood stove.

MLS#6119779 $399,000

MLS#6118409 $279,000 HOMES AND CABINS

Come see this one bedroom, one bathroom, kit log cabin perched atop 83 acres, bordered by MN State land. Interior is accented by beautiful diamond willow railings and custom ironwork. Propane lights, refrigerator and cooking range reduce utility expenses.

MLS#6119194

$289,000

HOME ON CLEARWATER LAKE ROAD

12+ acre property just a few miles from the center of the Gunflint Trail with a gorgeous view of Aspen lake! Two bedroom, 1 bathroom, single-level home is suitable for year-round use, with a wood fireplace and 4-season porch. Detached garage with ample workbench space and storage. Deeded lake access with a floating dock.

MLS#6119382 $375,000

UNIQUE VACATION RENTAL

The “Little Lost Containers” has been crafted with skill to create a unique vacation rental. Situated on a ridge above Lake Superior, it captures magnificent views over Chicago Bay and Chimney Rock. It is all about the view with each room, 3 levels of decks, and the fire circle providing a place to soak in the beauty. Living room includes custom-made furniture that converts to a 2nd bed and the efficient kitchen provides everything for a relaxing stay.

A 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in the heart of Grand Marais with a very private and wooded feel. Bonus room has natural light from windows on three sides and a gas fireplace. Add’l features: gas fireplace in the living room, geothermal in-floor heat, AC, maintenance free siding, fenced in back yard and adjoining wooded lot. Easy trail access connecting to Pincushion Mountain trails.

GRAND MARAIS HOME END OF THE ROAD PRIVACY

SECLUDED GREENWOOD LAKE LOT

Greenwood Lake lot tucked into a quiet southern bay. Electric and broadband are scheduled to be installed this summer. There are 2 flat areas the seller cleared a few years ago. A day of brush clearing and you will have a camping area ready to go while you make plans to build.

MLS#6119255 $250,000

LOON LAKE HOME

A magnificent home nestled on land full of towering trees, trickling streams, a peaceful shoreline and groomed trails. There is a feel here that you are at a comfortable lodge in a state park. This home has all the comforts: in-floor heat, energy efficient windows, three fire places, high end appliances and mechanicals, all within reach of the Boundary Waters or the Mid-Trail restaurants.

MLS#6119716 $1,200,000

SALE PENDING

GUNFLINT LAKE HOME

Nestled in a cedar grove on Gunflint Lake, this 2 bedroom, 2 bath house has all the comforts and the peaceful solitude the Gunflint Trail provides. Includes an open-concept floor plan, a fully loaded kitchen and bonus rooms. Listen to the waves from the screened-in porch. Property has 309ft of shoreline and 4+ acres adjoining public land. Main 2-car garage has in-floor heat.

MLS#6119573 $725,000

HAND-HEWN LOG HOME ON MAYHEW LAKE

A special home treasured by 3 generations, on 400ft of Mayhew Lake shoreline. On the edge of the BWCA, with access to the Border Route Trail and Topper Lake. This hand-hewn log retreat was built by Emerson Morris and designed with flexibility to entertain, accommodate overnight guests or provide places to relax with views of the lake. A 2,500+ sq. ft. heated barn with drive-in doors has power, a workshop area and a loft.

MLS# 6120098 $1,250,000

LOG HOMEPORTAGE LAKE

Pristine 10 acres, 1700+ feet of Portage Lake shore, unique Mid-Gunflint Trail location.

Surrounded by Superior National Forest and BWCA. Beautiful fulllog home, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, porch, 2-car garage and gardens. Peninsula, privacy and views. Pristine location on quiet wilderness lake.

MLS#6118688 $649,000

TOM LAKE LOT

Buildable lot nicely prepped for your future plans. Driveway, parking area and a private building site all ready to go. Arrowhead electric and fiber optic are available at the roadside. From the building site there is a gentle slope to the waters edge that leads to a small bay with southern exposure. Sellers are removing the decks. The dock is negotiable.

MLS#6119721 $150,000

GULL LAKE LOG HOME

Tucked away in a serene setting, this 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom log home offers a peaceful escape. The centerpiece of the home is a spacious lofted great room with stunning views, high wood-beamed ceilings, natural light, and a cozy fireplace. Enjoy 224ft of water frontage and direct access into the B.W.C.A. Apartment above the garage offers additional space for visitors.

MLS#6119879 $825,000

WE’RE NOT THE BIGGEST

We’re a relationship-driven real estate agency that puts people first. With a hands-on, personalized approach, we give every client the attention they deserve. Here’s a glimpse at what we’ve been up to.

This stunning end-unit Cliffhouse Townhome in Lutsen offers three bedrooms, three baths, and breathtaking views of Lake Superior and the Poplar River. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, a walk-out deck, and a private spa room with a jetted tub.

Two-bedroom/one-bath seasonal cabin in a great location. White Sky Rock and the Superior Hiking Trail serve as a scenic backdrop, with east/southeast orientation for year-round sun. Permanent dock ready for a boat. CALL ONE OF OUR AGENTS to learn about similar listings or upcoming opportunities in the area.

This remarkable 202-foot Lake Superior parcel offered breathtaking cliffside views between Lutsen and Tofte. A rare opportunity to own a piece of the North Shore—now sold to a new owner.

STEVE SURBAUGH Broker and Co-owner

CLAIR STODDARD Co-owner

NEW 3X Skye Ridge

Charming bunkhouse with a cozy sleeping loft, nestled on 6.9 acres with the Little Devil Track River as the Northern boundary line. Currently powered by solar, electric & broadband available.

MLS 6120074 • $164,900

172 Boulder Point Rd

Charming 2BR/1BA cabin located on the Ski Hill Road, in Lutsen with stunning Lake Superior views! The property is zoned Resort Commercial/Residential, allowing for plenty of expansion options.

MLS 6119708 • $675,000

Escape to your own slice of paradise with this stunning 2BR/2BA log home, perfectly situated on 40 acres of natural beauty. This tranquil retreat offers a blend of rustic charm and modern comfort.

MLS 6118753 • $599,000

15 Big Cedar Trail

Perched in the serene northwoods, this stunning mountain home offers sweeping views of Lake Superior, Lutsen Mountain Ski Hill, and the Superior National Golf Course. Designed to impress, the home’s three levels of window-filled living space embrace the natural beauty at every turn. The top level is tailor-made for hosting elegant dinners and festive celebrations, all centered around breathtaking views and connection to the outdoors. The second floor features two guest bedrooms with generous windows, while the master suite is a true retreat. The lower level is a private apartment or guest suite. Separate sauna/bunk house.

6119998 $1,120,000

2-BR home on 11 acres with 1,320 feet of frontage along Monker Creek! Follow a wooded trail to the cedar log sauna, then continue a bit further to discover a charming guest cabin.

Exceptional 4BR/3BA home nestled along the scenic Gull Lake, with 467 ft of frontage and approximately 5 acres of land, complete with rock outcroppings, pine trees, stunning views, and plenty of privacy. Ideal for the buyer wanting to enjoy paddling from their dock into the BWCA. Attached heated garage, HUGE spacious heated garage, and workshop, along with two charmingrustic sleeping cabins.

6120188

Charming 2BR/1BA cabin on Clearwater Lake with 3+ acres & 207 ft of lakeshore! Great mid-trail location with access to many restaurants and easy access to the BWCA.

mls tbd • $429,900

Charming 2BR/2BA cabin on the highly desirable Shores Gunflint Lake. Enjoy excellent fishing, generous lake size and quality, and direct BWCA access. Located on a federally leased lot.

6120148 •

of truly amazing easy access Sea Gull Lake shoreline! This 8.5-acre lot is home to a newer modern open design 2BR1BA cabin sitting on a rocky knoll, affording amazing views.

island on Greenwood Lake! Off-grid cabin, solar power, docks, garage, trails, stunning views, and included boat, canoe, and four-wheeler.

Rare Grand Marais investment: three rental homes on 1.3+ acres with expansion potential. Zoned Commercial Industrial—ideal for residential, vacation rentals, or commercial use.

MLS 6120592 • $639,900

LAND

Affordable Lake Superior lot with a beautiful view! Over 300’ of shared lakeshore and over 7A of shared land!

MLS 6119033 • $84,900

Scenic 6-acre lot with impressive Lake Superior views, surveyed with septic sites, broadband and electric coming, easy access to Grand Marais—ready to build!

MLS 6120523 • $249,900

Private 80-acre Northwoods retreat in Hovland, MN with creek, mature forest, utilities at roadside, year-round access, and endless outdoor potential near Lake Superior. 1XX W

MLS 6120506 • $149,900

13th Ave

Have you got a desire to build?

Nicely wooded Grand Marais city limits surveyed lot. Road and utilities not brought in yet.

MLS 6118743 • $59,900

Private 2.3-acre lot on Greenwood Lake with 505’ shoreline, creek frontage, trail system, and nearby BWCA access.

MLS 6120286 • $469,900

new 14XX Tom Lake Rd

Serene Tom Lake lot with over 150’ of easily accessible shoreline, year-round access and completed driveway.

MLS 6120208 • $159,900

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT

black bear

This big black bear showed up in my backyard for a few days, and would just sit in the shade to stay cool in the early mornings, never disturbing anything. It was fun to photograph.— David Johnson

W elcome to Golden Eagle Lodge, a family oriented, year-round resort located on the Gunflint Trail of Northeastern Minnesota, only 30 miles north of Grand Marais. As the only residents on Flour Lake, and nestled in the 3 million acres of the Superior National Forest, you can look forward to the quiet and solitude offered only from a true wilderness setting.

Each season has something special to offer; excellent fishing, canoeing, and hiking in summer and nationally-renowned cross-country skiing in winter. Visit our website to find in detail how each season can help shape your vacation.

We offer fully equipped, modern housekeeping cabins to ensure comfort during your stay in the North Woods. These lakefront cabins each have their own private dock and beautiful lake views as well as high-speed Wi-Fi to keep you connected.

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.