Northern Wilds

We’re Making a Move

December is a big month for us here at Northern Wilds. We’re moving into our new offices at 1708 Hwy 61 (on the hill coming into town), which you may know as the Grand Marais Professional Building or the former Swanson Law Office. This is a good move for us, because we have more space for staff, more room for the print shop and more parking for our customers. By the time you read this, we’ll be in our new location.

Packing for the move didn’t disrupt our ability to produce this issue; a credit to our excellent staff. In celebration of the holiday season, we have some special treats in store for you. Topping the list is our feature story about the quest to discover the historic painting sites of Canada’s famous Group of Seven, artists who painted the landscapes of the North Shore and Algoma region nearly a century ago. These are among Canada’s most famous and treasured works of art, yet until recently, many of the locations depicted were unknown.

Enter Northern Wilds friends Joanie and Gary McGuffin, well-known adventurers/photographers and their friend Michael Burtch, an art historian, who used original notes, maps and the paintings themselves to track down dozens of locations where the Group of Seven sketched and painted. Gary, an extraordinary landscape photographer, then took pictures of the vistas, providing a unique “then and now” look at the land. We have examples of the Group of Seven and Gary’s work in this issue, as well as photos from the making of the documentary “Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven,” which tells the story. We believe we are the first to announce the documentary will be shown in Grand Marais in 2016. Call this story our Christmas gift to you.

You’ll find a great mix of other interesting stories in this issue, too. A writer new to Northern Wilds, Scott Stowell of Ely, pays a visit to Arctic explorer Will Steger’s new solar-powered wilderness conference center. Another new writer, Casey Fitchett, shares her experience of listening to a practice session of the Borealis Chorale. Food columnist Maren Webb tells us where to find that slowly vanishing Scandinavian Christmas delicacy, lutefisk. Dare we say, that is if you care to find it. Assistant editor Breana Roy has compiled a lengthy list of holiday happenings and events from Duluth to Thunder Bay. If you are looking for something to do, be sure to peruse our Holiday Traditions story and the Events and Calendar sections.

Out in the woods, the ever-intrepid Erin Altemus takes her dog team across a beaver pond…before freeze-up. Elle Andra-Warner writes about another adventurous woman, Elizabeth Taylor, (no, not that Elizabeth Taylor) who ventured into the Nipigon country more than a century ago. Outdoor writer Gord Ellis tells us what he wants for Christmas; you know, boys and their toys.

Here at Northern Wilds, we have a Christmas wish list, too. It begins with a thick layer of fluffy white snow to transform this place into a winter wonderland. Then we would like a warm Christmas dinner, good fellowship and cheer for all of our readers. Most of all, we hope that you get to spend some time during the holiday season with the people who mean the most to you. May you and yours have a happy holiday season and a happy New Years.

PUBLISHERS

Shawn Perich & Amber Pratt

EDITORIAL

Shawn Perich, Editor editor@northernwilds.com

Breana Roy, Assistant Editor breana@northernwilds.com

ADVERTISING

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

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Katie Viren • katie@northernwilds.com

Drew Johnson • drew@northernwilds.com

OFFICE

Roseanne Cooley • billing@northernwilds.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Erin Altemus, Elle Andra-Warner, Eric Chandler, Gord Ellis, Kim Falter, Casey Fitchett, Joe Friedrichs, Nace Hagemann, Deane Morrison, Juila Prinselaar, Javier Serna, Scott Stowell, Maren Webb

Copyright 2015 by Northern Wilds Media, Inc. Published 12 times per year. Subscription rate is $28 per year or $52 for 2 years U.S. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part requires written permission from the publishers. Northern Wilds Media, Inc. P.O. Box 26, Grand Marais, MN 55604 (218) 387-9475 (phone/fax)

—Shawn Perich and Amber Pratt

ADMISSION:

THURSDAYS: The

THURSDAYS:

FRIDAYS:

SATURDAYS:

A new drive terminal was installed [LEFT] and airlift installation was required [RIGHT] for the new gondola lift. | SUBMITTED

New gondola

at Lutsen Mountains

LUTSEN—There’s only one ski gondola in the Midwest. And its recent upgrade is about to take Lutsen Mountains to a whole new level.

“We outgrew the capacity of the old gondola,” said Jim Vick, sales and marketing director at Lutsen Mountains. “The old gondola carried 300 people per hour. The new one can carry 1,000.”

Eventually, Vick continued, rider capacity will increase from 300 to 2,400 people per hour this winter with the new lift.

Crews at Lutsen Mountains broke ground earlier this year on the new $7 million Doppelmayr gondola, which became operational in mid-November.

And while the gondola will be open in time for the 2015-16 ski season, its function won’t be confined to the winter months. The gondola will be incredibly valuable when snow conditions are appropriate for skiing and snowboarding, Vick said. However, it will also be an asset for weddings, motor-coach tours and sightseeing.

“Fall color is one of our busiest demand periods, often exceeding our peak ski days,” Vick said.

Included with the red-car gondola were 11 steel towers that required air-lift installation from a helicopter onto Moose Mountain at the resort. This took place in September and was a smooth process, though it was highly technical.

The addition of the new gondola is part of a 10-year, $25 million transformation that aims to evolve Lutsen Mountains into a state-of-the-art ski destination, Vick said. The addition of the new gondola was the focal point of the expansion, which was announced last December by resort co-owner Charles Skinner, who has the lofty goal to double the resort’s skiable acreage, if his plans are approved by officials with the Superior

National Forest (SNF). Lutsen owners and management have expressed interest in expanding the resort onto 400 acres of land that is now part of the SNF.

Doppelmayr, an Austrian company that manufactures chairlifts, cable cars and gondolas, is the largest lift manufacturer in the world. To have such a quality product in Minnesota will continue to elevate Lutsen as the premier ski destination in the Midwest, Vick said, as it is the only such gondola in the region.

“Similar lifts are found in the Alps, Rocky Mountains and Andes,” he noted.

In addition to the purchase and installation fees of the gondola, the multimillion-dollar project involved building a new beginner ski slope at Lutsen and a remodel of a restaurant kitchen at Eagle Ridge Resort, a sanction of Lutsen Mountains. The restaurant’s kitchen needed to be updated to handle increased traffic created by the gondola, Vick noted.

“The gondola is designed to expand with our business and is a strategic part of our long term plan,” Vick said.

The new gondola at Lutsen Mountains will replace the original gondola that was installed at Lutsen in 1989. The original gondola was purchased from Loon Mountain in New Hampshire.

“That lift will be retired,” Vick said. “We will sell the old gondola cabins individually this fall as mementos.”

Lutsen features 95 runs for skiing/snowboarding and is widely recognized as one of the most popular tourist destinations along the North Shore. It is located on Ski Hill Road off Highway 61.—Joe Friedrichs

A pump truck was used to build the new Doppelmayer gondola. | SUBMITTED

Steger’s small energy footprint at wilderness center

ELY—Life is all about “self” for polar explorer Will Steger ... as in self-sufficient, self-sustaining, self-contained and self-determined. Most recently it’s exemplified by a stand-alone, renewable-energy, conference retreat center in the wilderness outside of Ely. But it’s more than a demonstration model for viable energy solutions and environmental stewardship. The Will Steger Wilderness Center offers a living example of what “self” can do to affect collaborative problem-solving, innovation and inspiration for global and social issues.

Steger said that ever since he was a child, self-sufficiency was his main principle in life. He envisioned himself chopping trees, building a cabin, clearing a back 40 and having a garden. He wanted to live a life where he didn’t need personal materials and waste his precious time working at a job for stuff he didn’t need.

“To me, a true American is self-sufficient. That means we don’t need fossil fuels. We don’t depend on the big corporations,” he said.

Phase I of the center’s “island-mode” power grid was completed this fall. This $80,000, self-sufficient electricity system combines solar and battery sources. It supplies up to 20 kilowatts of power to main buildings in the complex. The power grid can also be monitored online to remotely observe its daily operations. It’s a unique educational tool for schools at all levels.

Prior to the island-mode power grid, the center operated on seven generators. Now they’re reserved as back-ups. In the short time since throwing the switch to solar power, Steger said generator use has already dropped by two-thirds. His goal is to cut it to two percent.

The Castle is the centerpiece of the complex. It’s the conservatory, still under construction, that will become the primary conference center. It features 3,000-square-feet of glass and Douglas fir timber framing. The stonework is from locally harvested granite, and defines the aesthetics of the foundation, walkways, gardens, wading pools and small waterfalls that will flow through the center’s first floor.

The lodge is currently the main conference building. It’s also the kitchen and dining area. Steger said a new dining hall will be forthcoming and include proper shower and washroom facilities necessary for conferences.

The workshop played a large role in the construction of the center’s buildings so far and will be vital to its completion. It houses a highly organized array of heavy machinery, power tools and hardware. Recycled wood, stained glass, routers and an inner shop area for detailed woodwork such as intricate door designs will be part of the finished project.

Along with a focus on clean, sustainable energy, the center will feature additional programs that take on other critical and complex issues of the day. These will also

offer opportunities for personal and professional growth like intern residencies, apprenticeships, and service learning and leadership programs.

As an explorer for over 50 years, Steger directly participated in important polar expeditions returned with eyewitness accounts of accelerating climate change. He relies on the small-group dynamics of those expeditions and wilderness inspiration for potential problem-solving.

Steger said he felt the biggest impact of his life would be to reach decision-makers and leaders. So the wilderness center will host leadership programs designed for small groups of seven or eight people to

unleash “breakthrough thinking and discovery.” According to Steger, “good, offgrid living” is the best way to spark inspiration and attain levels that are very hard to reach anywhere else.

Peter Wahlstrom is an ethics instructor at Anoka Ramsey Community College-Cambridge (ARCC) and is the advisor for the environmental club. He said ARCC serves a rural community where many of the students typically haven’t had a strong push to seek higher education. Along with examining theories of controversial ethical issues, he includes a service learning component as part of the coursework. It helps students break from their mold and show them their own capabilities. One option is for students to work at the Steger Wilderness Center and observe “ethics in action.”

Wahlstrom said the experience helps him address how ethics theories are put into practice. Plus it comes with the bonus of working on student psyches when they realize they’re working for a greater cause. Though there can be some initial grumbling about this type of “homework,” he sees a transformation in students. In the span of three days they’re different people. Some say the experience changed their life and they return to volunteer more, even after graduation.

“From an educator’s standpoint, that’s just gold. I’ll spend a whole semester [in the classroom] trying to achieve that transformation. I can do that in one weekend up here.” Wahlstrom said.

Riki Cummings is one of those returning students. She graduated from ARCC and continued studies in dental hygiene. Initially, she said she was turned off about the course assignment because she wasn’t the “camping” type and she didn’t like bugs or dirt. At the time, she also questioned why she was working so hard for a person she barely knew, Will Steger. But those challenges created a community with the people she worked beside and now the center is an escape for her.

“I just want to help him out and try to help him achieve his dreams and his goals,” she said. “It’s interesting how you don’t know someone, but would do anything to get the job done.”

Steger gratefully acknowledges those who have made invaluable contributions to the project so far. They range from on-site volunteers and technical experts, to donations and consultation from partners like Sundial Solar, the University of St. Thomas, Cummins Power Generation, tenKsolar and BAE Batteries. But there is much more to do to finalize the center and he wants to complete it soon.

“I don’t have 30 more years,” Steger said. “What I want to do before I’m over the horizon is to have a program defined, a philosophy defined, so it can go on its own … This is much bigger than myself.”

Follow events and updates at the center online at www.stegerwildernesscenter. org.—Scott Stowell

The Castle, featuring 3,000-square-feet of glass and Douglas fir framing, is the primary conference building at the Will Steger Wilderness Center. | SCOTT STOWELL

The stress on solar panels, batteries and software is being pushed in one of the harshest climates in the U.S during the dark nights of winter. | SCOTT STOWELL

Audubon Christmas bird count

GRAND MARAIS—Volunteers are needed for walking, driving and watching feeders for the 2015 annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The count will be held Saturday, December 19, for the Grand Marais area.

This is a 7.5-mile radius circle from a point three miles south of the middle of Devil Track Lake. The count circle covers Hwy 61 to Lindskog Road and north, some of County Road 60, Gunflint Trail to the landfill road, Pine Mountain Road to the backside of Elbow Lake, Devil Track Road to Bally Creek Road, Ball Club Road to The Grade, Pike Lake Road, Hwy 61 west to Cascade Lodge, and all of the lakeshore between Lindskog Road and Cascade Lodge.

Birders can cover as little or as much ground as they want and the CBC is open to bird watchers of all skill levels. Watchers need to be able to identify birds and count the highest number of a single species in an area.

There will also be a “count week” three days prior and three days after count day. Birders are asked to record the species of birds they see in the count circle during this time.

For count day, you will need a guide book, binoculars, a scope for lake birding, warm clothes, a log book to record your observations and a keen and quick eye to count the winter rarities. If you are a feeder watcher, keep you feeders full up and through count day to encourage birds to come and have various foods available in feeders and on the ground to entice as many species as possible.

Audubon’s National CBC efforts first began Christmas day, 1900. However, the first known Minnesota CBC’s were conducted on Christmas day, 1905, in Minneapolis and Red Wing. During the last 109 years, the CBC

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has been conducted uninterrupted in the state and has grown to include almost 70 census circles and involve more than 28,000 participants. Each and every year, more than 1,000 participants canvas the state to conduct the survey. These participants have logged nearly 77,000 total hours and traveled approximately 548,000 miles. The Minnesota CBC has tallied over 8.5 million birds of 201 species.

Contact Jeremy Ridlbauer at sundew@boreal.org or call 370-0733 to report on what area you can cover. Participants who are able, will meet at 4:15 p.m. at The Blue Water Café on count day to compile results.

Inc.

Hours Thursday, Dec. 24th – 8:00 a.m. - Noon Thursday, Dec. 31st – 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CLOSED Friday, Dec. 25th and Friday, Dec. 31.

After Hours call

November 27th - December 16th

North Shore Federal Credit Union is accepting donations through December 16th for the Lake & Cook County Food Shelf Programs as part of our annual Giving Tree Holiday Helper Donation Program. Bring your non-perishable food or cash donations to any of our branch locations. Cash donations will be matched by NSFCU up to $500.00 total for each Food Shelf Program. All donations will be delivered to the respective Food Shelf for distribution during the holiday season. Help bring a brighter holiday season to our community.

13 S. Broadway, Grand Marais 218-387-2186 ∙ bike@boreal.org www.superiornorthoutdoor.com Hours: Th & F 11 am - 5:30 pm Sat 10 am - 3 pm

Arts and culture means business in Cook County

ST. PAUL—Arts and culture enhance the quality of life, bring diverse communities together and make the Cook County area a magnet for jobs and businesses. A new study by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Cook County Chamber of Commerce, Grand Marais Art Colony, North House Folk School, Sivertson Gallery and Minnesota Citizens for the Arts shows that the nonprofit arts and culture sector is a substantial industry in Cook County, generating over $4.6 million in total economic impact annually.

Creative Minnesota is a new effort to fill the gaps in available information about Minnesota’s cultural field and better understand its importance to the quality of life and economy. The Cook County report is the second wave of a concentrated effort to collect and report data on the creative sector every two years for analysis, education and advocacy.

Creative Minnesota found that 17 nonprofit arts and culture organizations in Cook County support the equivalent of 127 full time jobs and that 78,000 people attend nonprofit arts and cultural events annually.

Although Cook County ranked 16 of the 17 local areas studied in size of population, the county ranked seventh in overall economic impact. Cook County ranked

third among the cities studied in this report, behind Minneapolis and St. Paul, in per capita economic impact from the arts and culture, with $889 for every one of the county’s 5,176 residents.

Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, said “The results for Cook County were a real eye-opener. I knew the arts were important to the area but the arts and culture footprint here is vastly out of proportion to the population. The arts are a core part of the county’s economy.”

The 17 organizations included in the Cook County study are: Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, Art ‘Round Town, Borealis Chorale and Orchestra, Cook County Community Radio Corporation, Cook County Historical Society Museum, Empty Bowls, Good Harbor Hill Players, Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais Playhouse, Gunflint Trail Historical Society, North House Folk School, North Shore Music Association, Sky Blue Jazz Ensemble, WTIP North Shore Community Radio, Hovland Arts Festival, Schroeder Area Historical Society, Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center.

Creative Minnesota was developed by a collaborative of arts and culture funders in partnership with Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA). The report leverages new in-depth research made possible because of Minnesota’s participation in the Cultural Data Project (culturaldata.org). The first round of studies, released last February, looked at the state’s 11 arts regions and at the state as a whole. The other northeastern Minnesota communities that were studied include Virginia, Duluth and Grand Rapids.

The Creative Minnesota team includes Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, The McKnight Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota, Target, Bush Foundation, Mardag Foundation, and Jerome Foundation, with in-kind support from the Minnesota Historical Society and others.

All of the research developed by Creative Minnesota is available at www.creativemn.org.

Locals would like to prevent the Hovland dock from slowly sinking into Lake Superior. | SANDRA UPDYKE

Looking for ways to save a historic dock

HOVLAND—The one thing most everyone agrees upon is that they want to save the historic Hovland Dock, which once was the community’s only connection to the outside world. Boats, such as the famous steamer America, once arrived at the dock to deliver goods, mail, people and even livestock to the pioneer settlement. It is the last remaining pioneer-era commercial dock on Minnesota’s North Shore.

The details of just how to save the Hovland Dock are not agreed upon. An oversight committee called the North Shore Scenic Drive Council has proposed the site, which is owned by Cook County, be developed as a highway wayside with related amenities. At a public meeting held in Hovland on Oct. 28, a large turnout of local residents were less than enthused with the proposal, which they believe would direct more traffic on the primarily residential Chicago Bay Road and lead to safety concerns at the road’s two intersections with Hwy 61.

The meeting was held by the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, which provides technical assistance to the Scenic Byways program. Andy Hubley, ARDC’s divisional director of regional

planning, said some design work has been done for the site, which was shared at the meeting. He stressed the design is a first step in the process, which will have ample opportunities for public input and involvement. The top priority, he said, is to save the dock from falling into the lake.

“We are committed to assisting efforts to save the dock,” Hubley said. “But the chances of receiving grant funding to do so are better if the plan includes small improvements to the site.”

Those improvements could include a small gravel parking area, a parking pad for people with disabilities and a short trail to the dock, as well as a 400-squarefoot shelter reflecting Hovland’s commercial fishing history. While a traffic analysis of the site hasn’t been done yet, Hubley doesn’t anticipate a great increase in visitors to the dock. An additional improvement would be the installation of a standard dry hydrant for the local volunteer fire department at the dock.

Hubley said no plan or funding request can move forward without the approval of the Cook County Board.—Shawn Perich

Cisco shortage this winter

ELY—Frozen ciscoes are a favorite bait of ice anglers pursuing lake trout in the canoe country. But this winter, frozen ciscoes may be hard to find at local bait shops. Jim Maki of Great Outdoors in Ely, the region’s primary cisco supplier, was shut down from his usual seining operation at Prairie Portage by the U.S. Forest Service. The agency said federal rules prohibit commercial harvesting in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

“We’ll know how many ciscoes we’ll have in another four or five days,” Maki said at press time.

Maki was granted a USFA permit extension to continue his operation this year. He said unless there is a federal regula -

tion change, this will be the last year he can harvest ciscoes at Prairie Portage. The ciscoes he catches there are 5 to 7 inches long; a perfect size for bait and significantly smaller than the ciscoes found in most lakes.

“There’s not many places where you can get ciscoes that size,” Maki says.

At Buck’s Hardware in Grand Marais, John Muhich says they are looking for alternatives to Maki’s frozen ciscoes, such as frozen smelt. He did not believe that Lake Superior herring (cisco by another name) could be used as substitutes, because they have not been certified as free of the fish disease VHS by the Minnesota DNR.

H ILL HAVE N

Celebrating our Traditions

Julebyen

Minnesota is known for many Scandinavians, so it’s no surprise that the Knife River Julebyen event, now in its third year, is a big hit.

Julebyen (pronounced Yool-eh-been), means Christmas Village in Norwegian. This two-day family-friendly event features all things Scandinavian and Christmas; lefsa and krumkakka demonstrations, Santa, carolers, characters from Norwegian and Swedish mythology, a live nativity scene with animals and loads more.

“Julebyen is a celebration of Christmas that honors the village’s Scandinavian heritage,” said Julebyen chairperson Carol Ojard Carlson. “But you don’t have to be Scandinavian to enjoy the creativity and talents of musicians, storytellers, good food and more.”

Knife River’s Yulebyen was created to replicate a Christmas Village in Egersund, Norway after residents Anne and Chris Skadberg visited a Julebyen four years ago while visiting relatives.

The first Julebyen brought 600 visitors. Last year, roughly 190 people volunteered for the event with over 6,000 volunteer hours and roughly 1,400 visitors attended. This year, the numbers are expected to continue to grow.

“A correspondent from the Norwegian Broadcasting System is flying out from Washington D.C. to film and photo Julebyen for several stories to be broadcasted in Norway,” said Carlson.

Julebyen offers activities, including

ice skating, candy making, blacksmith demos, a bonfire, a gold medallion scavenger hunt, a snowshoe obstacle course and a children’s herring run. Inside the heated tent, or “Gnome Dome,” is live stage entertainment, including local musicians, storytelling and a chil dren’s show. There will also be a tour of homes, featur ing three houses decorated for the holidays. Tickets can be purchased at the door and are $15 per person.

There is also an out door marketplace, offering handmade gifts, decorations and food. Vendors are from the area and selected through a juried process. There’s also an indoor bazaar, featuring seasonal handcrafted items such as wreaths, Jul logs, cards, ornaments, hand-stitched goods and everlasting moss creations.

Bentleyville

Drive through downtown Duluth at this time of year and Bentleyville is hard to miss. Located in the Bayfront Festival Park, it is America’s largest free walk-through lighting display, featuring millions of lights and hosting thousands of visitors each year.

It all started in 2001 with Nathan Bentley and his continually growing holiday light display, making his home known as, “the house with all of the lights in Esko.” After two years, his display went from a “drive by” to a “walk-through,” and even included Santa Claus visiting on the weekends. Soon, it became known as Bentleyville, a spinoff of Dr. Seuss’ Whoville. After moving from Esko to Cloquet, Bentleyville was quickly outgrowing its location.

In 2008, Nathan received a call from Duluth Mayor Don Ness, who invited him to move his lighting display to Bayfront Festival Park; and the rest is history. Bentleyville now includes lighted tunnels, fire pits for marshmallows, free popcorn, cookies and hot chocolate, reindeer, music and a small gift shop. Included in the massive lighting display is a 128-foot tree, lit up with 100,000 LED lights and made of 17 tons of iron.

Santa is also a regular guest, visiting every night from 5-8 p.m. Children 10 years and younger will receive a free knit Bentleyville hat and a bag of cookies from Santa.

And what’s a festival of without food?

Risgot (rice pudding), Lake Superior herring sandwiches with tartar sauce, julopolse (sausage on a bun or on lefse with lingonberries), lapskaus (stew recipe directly from Norway), homebaked Nordic breads, mulled cider and hot cocoa will be served.

Bentleyville is an official collection site for the Salvation Army so bring a non-perishable food item or unwrapped toy. Donations will be given to the Salvation Army Crops in Duluth, Cloquet, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Virginia, International Falls and Superior, Wisc.

Julebyen is held Dec. 5-6. Saturday events begin at 9 a.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. Admission is free. Visit www. julebyen.us for more info.—Breana Roy

While admission to the lighting display is free, donations are certainly welcome. Bentleyville is a non-profit organization, so all donations will go towards the operation. Volunteers are also needed year-round.

Bentleyville is open Nov. 21-Dec. 27. Visit www.bentleyvilleusa.org for more info.—Breana Roy

Julebyen provides fun for the whole family. | SUBMITTED

Bentleyville is a must-see for anyone visiting Duluth during the holidays. | NORTHERN IMAGES

Pepperkakebyen — Gingerbread City

Sparkling white Christmas lights, fragrant gingerbread, and a mug of hot mulled cider: all signs that the holiday season has arrived. But in this case, it also means you’ve walked into Pepperkakebyen—the Duluth Gingerbread City at the Nordic Center. And it is truly a gingerbread city, with hundreds of gingerbread structures of all kinds. Last year, a replica of the Glensheen Mansion was one of the showstoppers, constructed by artist Patrick Mulcahy. This free event is a chance to enjoy the sights of the Gingerbread City and learn about the history of gingerbread, also known as pepperkaker, in Scandinavian.

The idea for Pepperkakebyen came to Duluth with Bente Soderlind, a native of Bergen, Norway, where the original Pepperkakebyen has been presented for 25 years.

“While working at Takk for Maten Café, we had a small gingerbread version of the Tech Village and when I saw the excitement it created amongst the ones who participated, I became more hopeful that some day we’ll have our own little walk through Pepperkakebyen,” said Soderlind.

In 2012, the first Duluth Gingerbread City was presented and it has grown since then, with a Gingerbread Decorating Workshop each November, the invitation for home bakers and artists to participate by dropping

off their creations in late November, and a showcase of the city through early December. Last year, there were 200 structures on display thanks to hosts, the Nordic Center and Nortun Lodge/Sons of Norway, and many volunteers.

“My favorite part of Pepperkakebyen is having people come in from the cold and be transported to a magic world of wonder and creativity,” said Alison Aune, artistic and education director of the event and UMD art professor. “As an art educator, I en -

Winter Solstice

On the darkest day of the year, about 200 folks gather beside the Grand Marais harbor at the North House Folk School to celebrate the return of light with a shadow puppet show, performed by the Good Harbor Hill Players. The audience is outside, looking at the show on a screen inside the building.

“Dress warm. The show lasts about 15 to 20 minutes,” said musician Barb Lavigne. “After the show, everyone can come inside and warm up.”

At press time, the group hadn’t decided this year’s theme, but the nonreligious show is always about enduring winter and the return of light. It is accompanied by live music. Everyone is welcome to attend both the show and the potluck supper afterward.

A big part of the event is the bonfire. Everyone is invited to bring a “gloomie,” a symbol of something they want to let go, to toss into the fire. Often the “gloomie” is something written on a piece of paper.

This year, the solstice program received a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council to pay the director, performers and musicians. Some of the grant money is used to purchase construction materials, pay the North House for the use of space and rent sound equipment.

A similar event celebrates the Summer Solstice, though it attracts a larger crowd, including tourists. The Winter

joy sharing the history of the cultural crafts with our visitors.” She created an activity booklet about the history of Pepperkakebyen for attendees. Pepperkakebyen is open Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 21-Dec. 13, from 1-5 p.m. at the Nordic Center (21 Lake Street, Duluth). All ages are welcome with free admission, complimentary refreshments, Nordic crafts to make and take, and books to read to children. More information available at www.pepperkakebyenduluth.wordpress.com —Maren Webb

Borealis Chorale and Orchestra

The gentle, melodic notes wafted into the vaulted ceilings of the church and melted any hint of unease in every corner of the room. Though the warm-up sounds produced by the singers were unintelligible to the non-musician, they were clearly pleasing to director Bill Beckstrand. He engaged the group effortlessly during each of the fluid exercises, demonstrating the proper pitch and volume to the enrapt audience.

I had assumed that listening to the Monday evening rehearsal of the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra from the church lobby would constitute a portion of research for my story. After a bit of coaxing from a fellow lobby-sitter, however, I learned the true understanding comes when you are engulfed by the sounds of the room.

“People do this to be part of the tapestry,” he said. “Many sing because it makes them feel like they are part of something and provides a feeling of interconnectedness.”

Following his advice, I took my place in the back row. I found myself closing my eyes to remove all the visual distractions. I was quickly swept away in the moment, feeling the highs of the loudest notes and the gentleness of the quietest.

Solstice is more of a local celebration. Lavigne said it is always held on Dec. 21, regardless the day of the week, because the locals will show up.

“It’s for the people who are stuck here,” she said. “It feels more like family than the summer production.”

The Winter Solstice Festival will be held at 6 p.m. at the Grand Marais North House Folk School. For more information, contact Lavigne at (218) 387-2137.—Shawn Perich

Before the practice began, I spoke with Philis Anderson, a 50-year participant in the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra, as well as a former principle oboeist with the Duluth Symphony.

“The Borealis Chorale has evolved from the Symphonium Music Club that started back in the late 1950s with Ora Wilcox,” Anderson explained. “She was the instigator of the group that became associated with the American Federation of Music Clubs. For over 50 years we have been playing Handel’s Messiah with different conductors, including 30 years with director B.J. Muus.”

She explained that Bill Beckstrand took over the Symphonium Music Club in 2010, bringing with him a new format and name. The newly branded Borealis Chorale and Orchestra (BCO) performs fewer messiah pieces than they were used to doing, as well as different orchestra pieces and Christmas carol-type pieces in the December concerts.

Community members and visitors who want to feel as part of the tapestry will have the opportunity in both winter and spring annually. The Christmas concerts will be held on Dec. 6-7 at the Bethlehem Church, 1st Ave West, in Grand Marais at 7 p.m. They will have a variety of snacks and baked goods after the concert in the lobby. Though the concert is free, they ask a free-will donation to help with the musical costs and director support. —Casey Fitchett

The annual shadow puppet show is a Winter Solstice tradition in Grand Marais. | SUBMITTED

Participants can create their own gingerbread houses. | MICHAEL ANDERSON

Participants rehearse for the upcoming concert. | CASEY FITCHETT

In Artist’s Footsteps

THE PAINTED LAND OF THE GROUP OF SEVEN

BY SHAWN PERICH

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF GARY AND JOANIE MCGRIFFIN

A drone hovers above the production crew during the “Painted Land” filming at Slate Islands.

About a century ago, a group of Canadian artists made a series of excursions by train to the Algoma region and the North Shore of Lake Superior. Traveling throughout the area by canoe and on foot, they made hundreds of sketches. Later, in their studios, they worked some of these into larger canvases. They developed a body of work becoming Canada’s first art movement. In 1920, these painters formed the Group of Seven.

Anyone who has visited places such as Agawa Canyon and Ontario’s Lake Superior North Shore will appreciate how an artist could be inspired by the distinctive geology, unusual landforms and spectacular autumn colours. The Group of Seven certainly was.

Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald, Frank Johnston, Franklin Carmichael and A.J. Casson, the group members that visited this particular part of northern Ontario, captured the country as it had never been seen before. They applied paint to their boards in a way that was as colourful and rugged as the north country they were in.

The Group of Seven travelled into the North by train, the primary form of transportation after WWI. For two of the eight trips into Algoma, the painters stayed in a specially outfitted railway boxcar which served as a base camp at various railway sidings, including Agawa Canyon. Later, they discovered that log cabins were available for rent from the ACR, these being close to the railway. From wherever they were staying, the painters would set off on foot or in canoe, sometimes being directed by the locals to overlooks with commanding views.

But despite their paintings achieving international fame, little has been known of the actual scenes and the places from where they painted.

At least until now.

Enter Canadian explorer couple Gary and Joanie McGuffin and their friend, art historian, Michael Burtch. This trio set themselves a challenge: to see if they could find the actual locations where these artists made their paintings so many years ago. The McGuffins are widely known for their paddle- and pedal-powered journeys across Canada and around Lake Superior documented with stunning photography, which has been displayed in art exhibitions and eight published books such as “Where Rivers Run,” “Superior Journeys on an Inland Sea” and “Quetico Into the Wild.” Together with Burtch, a teacher of art history and the past director of the Art Gallery of Algoma for 29 years, they began researching the painters’ field locations across northern Ontario during their formative years between 1912 and 1928. It felt, at first, like searching for needles in

J.E.H. McDonald, Agawa River, 19…, McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

Gary McGuffin’s photograph of the Agawa River.

J.E.H. McDonald, The Little Falls, 1918, The Art Gallery of Ontario.

Gary McGuffin’s photograph of the Little Falls.

Lawren Harris, North Shore of Lake Superior, 1922, Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Gary McGuffin’s photograph of the site of Lawren Harris, North Shore of Lake Superior.

a haystack. Any trails that existed in the 1920s have long since grown over.

But as time progressed, clues surfaced on lakes, in hills, at beaver dams and waterfalls. Even the archive of railway history created by Michael’s late wife, Linda, proved invaluable in solving mysteries about the painters’ whereabouts.

Over the course of several years, the McGuffins and Burtch have researched and located hundreds of painting sites. Through the Group of Seven’s own personal letters, writings, sketches and black and white photographs, they have been piecing together a puzzle. As they find sites, Gary photographs them. He often returns multiple times to the same places to capture, as accurately as possible, the same season, weather and light. To their amazement, these famous works of art are not just symbolic and inspired by a landscape—but they represent very real places that are recognizable today.

They’ve also discovered unexpected sites. “When I was first shown this map discovered in the National Gallery archives, sketched by Franklin Carmichael, I thought I was looking at lakes on the land,” says Gary, “but as soon as I saw the artist’s words, I recognized it as a map of the Slate Islands located eight miles off Superior’s North Shore. Finding that map led to uncovering sketches done in the Islands.”

One may ask, so what is the point of doing all this? In part, Gary, Joanie and Michael see the project is an opportunity to bolster cultural and ecotourism. The McGuffins are working with the communities of Marathon and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Pic River First Nation) to develop an interpretive Group of Seven trail along the Lake Superior coast. Closer to home, the three of them have been involved with the Coalition for Algoma’s Passenger Train, a group dedicated to preserving the train experience similar to that which the painters enjoyed in the 1920s.

Perhaps most importantly though, they feel their Group of Seven project has uncovered a rich heritage that they hope will eventually receive the national recognition and landscape protection it deserves.

Meanwhile, Gary, Joanie and Michael have co-produced a documentary film about their project with White Pine Pictures. “Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven” was recently released in Canada. It will be shown in Grand Marais at the North House Folk School’s Northern Landscape Festival in June 2016.

For more information about the project and the film, visit www.themcguffins.ca.

The filming of the documentary “Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven” occurred on location along the Algoma rail line north of Lake Superior.

Editor’s note: Northern Wilds thanks the McGuffins for the cheerful assistance they provided to produce this story.

Actors depicting members of the Group of Seven inside the period boxcar that was recreated for the documentary.

Michael Burtch, Joanie and Gary McGuffin combined their skills to discover and photograph the actual painting sites of the Group of Seven.

‘Tis the Season

Oh how quickly December sneaks upon us, bringing the magic of the holiday season. Sparkling light displays, the hum of the all-toofamiliar Christmas songs, family get-togethers, snowflakes, mistletoe, the crackling of a warm fire, the smell of gingerbread and hot cider brewing… and the list could go on. In spirit of this magical month, we’ve put together holiday and winter inspired artwork, of different mediums, from artists along the North Shore. Happy holidays!

—Breana Roy

|

[LEFT]

Kathy

| KATHY TOIVONEN

Brad Nelson, owner of B.E. Nelson Design Silversmith & Gallery, creates different sized cross pendants. | BRAD NELSON

[ABOVE] This hand-printed woodcut by Betsy Bowen is from the storybook, “Shingebiss: an Ojibwe Legend.”

BETSY BOWEN

Thunder Bay artist

Toivonen created this watercolor piece titled, “Reindeer,” enhanced with moss for antlers and raw wool around their necks.

“Joy Tree,” by Sandra Pillsbury Gredzens, is one of many watercolor Christmas images, all of which have been made into notecards and gift tags. | SANDRA PILLSBURY GREDZENS

paintings,

and

glass art,

pottery and more. *Check out our free book exchange, just bring a book and take a book*

A North Shore Holiday

Cook County’s series of themed weekends in November and December will create a memorable holiday season for everyone. Notable weekends include O Ole Night Parade and Holiday Market on Nov. 27-28, Handmade Holidays on Dec. 4-6 and Chill Out on Dec. 19-23.

Amsoil Snocross Race

Nov. 27-29

Get your tickets for the 24th annual Amsoil Championship Snocross Race at Spirit Mountain in Duluth. This highly anticipated event brings thousands of fans and racers from across the country and features the top names in snowmobile racing. Food and drinks will also be available and seating is first come, first served. Adult tickets are $30 a day or $55 for the weekend. Youth tickets for ages 17 and under are $25 a day or $45 for all three days. Purchase tickets online at www.spiritmt.com.

Giving Tree

Nov. 27-Dec. 16

The North Shore Federal Union is accepting donations for the Lake and Cook County Food Shelf programs as part of the annual Giving Tree Holiday Helper Donation Program. Donate non-perishable food or cash to any NSFU branch, located in Grand Marais, Lutsen, Grand Portage and Silver Bay. Cash donations will be matched up to $500 total for each Food Shelf Program. Help support those less fortunately this holiday season. www.northshorefcu.org

Donate cash or a non-perishable food item to the Giving Tree at any NSFU branch.| SUBMITTED

A Glensheen

Christmas

Nov. 27-Jan. 3

Explore the Glensheen Estate in Duluth for a truly magical event. This self-guided experience highlights the holiday décor of the mansion, including more than 15 decorated trees, over 500 feet of garland and over 5,000 lights. Staff will be stationed around the home to tell the Congdon’s Christmas story as guests freely explore. There will also be free hot chocolate, coffee and shortbread cookies, made from Clara Congdon’s very own recipe. Christmas self-guided tours and offerings will be held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon-4 p.m. Cost is $15 for adults and free for ages 12 and younger, with a paid adult. www.glensheen.org.

If you’re feeling festive, then head to Duluth for a Glensheen Christmas. | SUBMITTED

A living room at the Glensheen mansion is decorated for the holidays. | SUBMITTED

The Amsoil Snocross Race features racers from across the country. | SUBMITTED

Borealis Chorale & Orchestra

7:00 p.m.

Sunday December 6

Monday

Holiday Sales

Nov. 28, Saturday

Get in the holiday spirit with the 10th annual Holiday Market at Last Chance Gallery in Lutsen from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Featured will be special holiday art, food, a bronze pour demonstration at 4 p.m. and traditional caroling and the lighting of the Christmas tree at 6 p.m. (www.lastchance -

fab.com). Or head to Hovland for the Artisans Pre-Christmas Sale, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Hovland Town Hall. There will also be numerous crafts available at the Grand Marais community center and log cabin. The Girl Scouts will have poinsettias for sale and there will be a bake sale. Lunch will be provided by Alyce’s. The sale will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Banff Mountain Film Festival

Dec. 4-5

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international film competition about mountain culture, sports, adventure and environment. It takes place annually in Banff, Alberta over the course of nine days before touring internationally. This year, the festival will be returning to the Duluth DECC for two nights, featuring a different set of films each night. Doors open at 5 p.m. for food and beverages. Films will run from 7 p.m. to roughly 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Get your tickets at www.decc.org or learn more about the festival at www.banffcentre.ca.

Holiday Art Underground

Dec. 4-5

Betsey Bowen Studio in Grand Marias will feature over 30 artists at the Holiday Art Underground event, starting with a sneak preview and sale on Friday, Dec. 4 from 5-8 p.m., featuring treats and music by local musicians. An open house will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with holiday gifts for sale by local artists of all mediums, including painters, sculptors, photographers, furniture makers, printmakers, fabric artists and more. The show will continue through Thursday, Dec. 24. www. woodcut.com

Holiday Market

Dec. 4-6

Head to Knife River on the North Shore Scenic Drive for holiday shopping, arts and fun. The Holiday Market event includes B E Nelson Design (facebook.com/benelsonsilversmith), Russ Kendall’s Smokehouse (facebook.com/russkendalls), Playing with Yarn (playingwithyarn.com) and Burton Forge & Gallery (burtonforgeblacksmith. com). Visit Russ Kendall’s for glass blowing, pottery and jewelry. There will also be live music all day Saturday until 6 p.m. the Yarn Shop will feature live demos. Burton Forge will be holding a bonfire outside with marshmallows for roasting. And B. E. Nelson Design Silversmith will be decorated for the holidays and provide malt cider and treats for guests. Each business will be marked with a handmade wooden Scandi

navian heart sign outside.

Lutheran Church

providing rehearsal and concert space. Borealis is a partner with North Shore Music Association.

The Holiday Art Underground at Betsy Bowen’s studio will be open until Dec. 24. | SUBMITTED

Angel Chimes, created by B.E. Nelson Design in Knife River. | SUBMITTED

Dec.

[ABOVE AND LOWER RIGHT]

Jewelry Trunk Shows

Sat., Dec. 5

silvercocoon: Tia Salmela Keobounpheng

Fri.&Sat. Dec 11-12

Holiday Trollbeads Party Fri., Dec. 11, 5-7 pm

Trollbeads Trunk Show

Dec. 12 - All Day

[LEFT] Gift Certificates can be won by all ages. [ABOVE] A life-sized snow globe creates great family photos at the Arrowhead show. | SUBMITTED

The Arrowhead Ice Fishing, Snowmobile and Holiday Show will provide unlimited fun for the whole family. Manufacturers will be available for questions, as well as numerous holiday and outdoor vendors. Also featured is the free Frozen Basin fishing hole, where you can catch a variety of multi-colored tagged fish. Each colored tag represents a certificate that can be redeemed at any of the participating show vendors. There will be over $10,000 in certificates and merchandise prizes. There will also be live penguins on display, food, free daily seminars and a life-sized snow globe, great for a free, colored family photo. The show will be held at the DECC in Duluth. www.shamrockprod.com

Minnesota Ballet

the Nutcracker

Dec. 11-13 (Duluth) & Dec. 18-19 (Thunder Bay)

Enjoy an evening of holiday magic, whimsical music and elegant dancing with the traditional Nutcracker, performed by the Minnesota Ballet. Watch a fierce battle between toy soldiers and mouse warriors, Mother Ginger and her mischief making gingerbread children, and the Sugar Plum Fairy balancing delicately on pointe. Performances will be held at the Duluth DECC Symphony Hall, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., and at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium at 7 p.m. both nights. To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com for Duluth and www.tbca.com for Thunder Bay.

Ice Candle & Holiday Gathering

Dec. 19, Saturday

Visit with neighbors and friends over coffee and a light lunch for the Embarrass Holiday Gathering, held at the Embarrass Town Hall from 4-6 p.m. There will be crafts and goodies for the young children, and Santa Claus might stop in to say hi. Volunteers will meet before the event at about 2 p.m. at the cemetery, to place and light the candles. For the best view, wait until at least dusk to drive through the cemetery. If you're comfortable driving with only your parking lights on, you will have less "light pollution" for your pictures and viewing pleasure. www.embarrass.org

An Evening with Sinatra

Dec. 31, Thursday

Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra presents An Evening with Sinatra. Ring in the New Year with crooner impersonator Michael Andrew, as he performs classic hit after hit of the influential actor, producer and jazz singer, Frank Sinatra. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the DECC Symphony Hall in Duluth. www.dsso.com

Ice candles are found in Embarrass during the holiday gathering. | SUBMITTED

Santa Clause usually makes an appearance at the holiday gathering in Embarrass. | SUBMITTED

TWO-DAY SALE

Friday, Dec. 5 & Saturday, Dec. 6

at: Java Moose, Lake Superior Trading Post, East Bay, Watersedge Trading Company, and Betsy Bowen’s Holiday Sale.

The Minnesota Ballet will perform in Duluth and Thunder Bay. | SUBMITTED

Northern Wilds Calendar of Events

Sept. 11-Jan. 10

Preservation | Desire to Fill: Carol Kajorinne & Susan Kachor Conlin Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca

Sept. 19-Dec. 31

Deer Hunt Minnesota Archery Season

Nov. 10-Jan. 10

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow Exhibit, Lakehead University Alumni Exhibit and Maggie Phillips & Peter

Langes Multimedia Artisans Exhibit Baggage Building Arts Centre, Thunder Bay www.facebook.com/ baggagebuildingarts

Nov. 14-Jan. 10

Gratitude: Woodcuts & Lithographs

Northern Prints Gallery, Duluth www.northernprintsgallery.com

Nov. 20-Jan. 10

Unlimited Edition Exhibition (Organized by Kamloops Art Gallery) Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca

Nov. 21-Dec. 13

Gingerbread City 1 p.m. Nordic Center, Duluth www.pepperkakebyenduluth. wordpress.com

Nov. 21-Dec. 27

Bentleyville Tour of Lights Bayfront Park, Duluth www.bentleyvilleusa.org

Nov. 27, Friday

Oh Ole Night Christmas Parade 4 p.m. Grand Marais www.visitcookcounty.com

New Standards Holiday Show

8:30 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com

Nov. 27-29

Amsoil Snocross National Spirit Mountain, Duluth www.snocross.com

Nov. 27-Dec. 16

Annual Giving Tree Holiday Helper Donation Program North Shore Federal Credit Unions: Silver Bay, Lutsen, Grand Marais & Grand Portage www.northshorefcu.org

Nov. 28, Saturday

Holiday Sale 10 a.m. Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais 218-387-1369

Holiday Market 10 a.m. Last Chance Gallery, Lutsen www.lastchancefab.com

Hovland Artisans Pre-Christmas Sale

10 a.m. Hovland Town Hall

Holiday Fantasy Arts & Crafts Fair 10 a.m. Miners Dry House/Arts & Heritage Center, Ely www.elygreenstone.org

Bay & Algoma Christmas Open House 11 a.m. Thunder Bay www.bayalgoma.com

Ely’s Holiday Parade & Activities

5 p.m. Whiteside Park & Downtown Ely www.ely.org

Nov. 28-Dec. 13

Deer Hunt Minnesota Muzzleloader Season

Nov. 29, Sunday

Jay Leno 7 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Nov. 30, Monday

Free Community Forum: “Brain Development in Young Children” featuring Molly Harney, Ph.D. 6 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais www.northlandfdn.org

Nov. 30-Dec. 12

The Book of Everything by Richard Tulloch: Based upon the novel by Guus Keijer Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay, Ontario www.magnus.on.ca

Dec. 1, Tuesday

Tweevening with Bill Shipley 6:30 p.m. Olive Anna Tezla Library at Tweed Museum, Duluth www.d.umn.edu

Home Free 7:30 p.m. The DECC Symphony Hall, Duluth www.decc.org

Chris Young 7:30 p.m. AMSOIL Arena, Duluth www.decc.org

Dec. 1-5

The (Curious Case of the) Watson Intelligence 7:30 p.m. Marshall Performing Arts Center: Dudley Experimental Theatre, Duluth www.sfa.d.umn.edu

Dec. 1-31

Sandi Pillsbury Gredzens Art Display Tettegouche State Park Visitors Center, Silver Bay www.sandipillsbury.com

Dec. 2, Wednesday

Lutefisk, Salmon and Meatball Dinner Noon, First Lutheran Church, Duluth Northwoods Partners Wine Tasting 5 p.m. Grand Ely Lodge, Ely www.northwoodspartners.org

Dec. 3, Thursday

Writer’s Read Forest Service Office, Ely www.ely.org

Boyd Blomberg 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub at Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Gene LaFond 6:30 p.m. Gunflint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Dec. 4-5

Night at the Museum: Secret of the Wolves International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Art Underground 10 a.m. Betsy Bowen Studio, Grand Marais www.woodcut.com

Banff Mountain Film Festival

The DECC Symphony Hall, Duluth www.decc.org

Dec. 4-6

Handmade Holidays: A North Shore Holiday Along the Shore www.visitcookcounty.com

Holiday Market Featuring B. E. Nelson Design, The Yarn Shop, Russ Kendall’s Smokehouse and Burton Forge & Gallery Knife River

Dec. 5, Saturday

Jewelry Trunk Show Silvercocoon: Tia Salmela Keobounpheng Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais www.sivertson.com

Fireman’s Ball 5:30 p.m. Caribou

Highlands: Building A, Lutsen Volunteer Fire Department on Facebook

Rotary Craft Show 9 a.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition: Coliseum, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

The Northwoods Fiber Guild Holiday Open House & Sale

9 a.m. Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

Little Bit of Everything Market 9 a.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition: Heritage, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Santa Shuffle 10 a.m. Current River Community Centre, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca

Paint a Pot Workshops 1 p.m. Baggage Building Arts Centre, Thunder Bay www. facebook.com/baggagebuildingarts

The Heck Yeah Holler String Band

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

RidgeRiders Membership Kickoff Party

5 p.m. American Legion, Grand Marais www.ccscridgeriders.wix.com

Appreciation Party 7 p.m. Ely Folk School www.elyfolkschool.org

Parade of Lights 7 p.m. Thunder Bay www.paradeoflights.ca

TBSO & Consortium Aurora Borealis

8 p.m. Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra www.tbso.ca

Dec. 5-6

Julebyen Knife River www.julebyen.us

December Dreams Christmas Craft Sale

10 a.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Dec. 6, Sunday

Hanukkah Begins

Craft Show 11 a.m. & sale 10 p.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Dec. 6-7

 Borealis Chorale 7 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Grand Marais

Dec. 7, Monday

Visual Artist Gatherings 5:30 p.m. A Taste of Ely Restaurant www.ely.org

Dec. 8, Tuesday

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

Maria Nickolay 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub at Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Dec. 9, Wednesday

TBSO Classical: Midnight in Paris 8 p.m. Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay www.tbso.ca

Dec. 10, Thursday

Light up a Life 6 p.m. East Bay Suites www.carepartnersofcookcounty.org

Gordon Thorne 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub at Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Dec. 11, Friday

Jingle Bash for ALS Canadian Lakehead Exhibition: Coliseum, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Holiday Trollbeads Party 5 p.m. Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais www.sivertson.com

Christmas Opening & Craft Sale 6 p.m. Gallery 33, Thunder Bay www.facebook. com/gallery33.tbay

Portage Band 6 p.m. American Legion, Grand Marais 218-387-2974

Dec. 11-12

Night Sky Photography with Heidi Pinkerton 3 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Tim & Adam 8 p.m. Gunflint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Dec. 11-13

The Minnesota Ballet presents The Nutcracker The DECC Symphony Hall, Duluth www.minnesotaballet.org

Arrowhead Ice Fishing, Snowmobile & Holiday Show The DECC, Duluth www.shamrockprod.com

Dec. 12, Saturday

Trollbeads Trunk Show Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais www.sivertson.com

Bizzare Bazaar Arts Market 11 a.m. Baggage Building Arts Centre, Thunder Bay www.facebook.com/ baggagebuildingarts

Community Ink Day 1 p.m. Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolonty.org

Mrs. Claus Party 1 p.m. Amici’s Event Center, Ely www.ely.org

Parent’s Night Out 5 p.m. Cook County YMCA, Grand Marais www.cookcountyymca.org

Curry Cook-Off & Broadway Musical Showcase 6:30 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais www.grandmaraisplayhouse.com

Holiday Concert 7 p.m. Vermillion Fine Arts Theater, Ely www.ely.org

Holiday Pops: Cirque de la Symphonie 7 p.m. Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra www.tbso.ca

Dec. 13, Sunday

Holiday Cookie Swap Ely Folk School www.elyfolkschool.org

Metre Eaters Frostbite Run Neebing Roadhouse, Thunder Bay www.metreeaters.ca

Christmas Cheer 9 a.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition: Coliseum, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Craft Show 10 a.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition: Heritage, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Dec. 15, Tuesday

Pete Kavanaugh 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub at Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Dec. 16, Wednesday

Technology Workshop 6 p.m. Grand Marais Public Library www.grandmaraislibrary.org

Dec. 17, Thursday

Community Conversations Noon, Grand Marais Art Colony www. grandmaraisartcolony.org/index.cfm

The One Hundred Days Project with Cathy Benda Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

Briand Morrison 6 p.m. Poplar River Pub at Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Dec. 18-19

The Minnesota Ballet presents The Nutcracker Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Reina Del Cid 8:30 p.m. Gunflint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Dec. 18-20

Chill Out: A North Shore Holiday Along the Shore www.visitcookcounty.com

Dec. 19, Saturday

Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count See event blurbs for location info sundew@borel.org or 218-370-0733

Jewelry Trunk Show Tradsaga: LaplandInspired Bracelets Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais www.sivertson.com

Ice Candle & Holiday Gathering

4 p.m. Embarrass Town Hall, Embarrass www. embarrass.org

Dec. 20, Sunday

The Wrong Omar 6:30 p.m. Gunflint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Dec. 22, Tuesday

Winter Solstice Shadow Puppet Pageant

6 p.m. North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org

Dec. 24, Thursday

Christmas Eve

Dec. 25, Friday

Christmas Day

Dec. 26, Saturday

Canadian Boxing Day

Bug Lite 8:30 p.m. Gunflint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Dec. 27, Sunday

Timmy Haus 6:30 p.m. Gunflint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Josh Von Mink 7 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Dec. 27-28

Christmas Caroled Dinner Naniboujou, Grand Marais www.naniboujou.com

Dec. 27-30

Winter Family Adventures Audubon Center of the North Woods, Sandstone www.audubon-center.org

Dec. 28, Monday

Joe Paulik 7 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Dec. 29, Tuesday

Joe Paulik 6:30 p.m. Gunflint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Jim & Michele Miller 7 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Dec. 30, Wednesday

Winters Eve Dinner 6 p.m. Bluefin Bay, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Eric Frost 7 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Dec. 31, Thursday

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve Party Naniboujou, Grand Marais www.naniboujou.com

New Year’s Eve Family Frolic 6 p.m. Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay www.fwhp.ca

Boyd Blomberg 7 p.m. Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

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

New Year’s Eve for Youth 7 p.m. Cook County YMCA, Grand Marais www.cookcountyymca.org

Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra: An Evening with Sinatra 7 p.m. The DECC Symphony Hall, Duluth www.decc.org

Floydian Slip 9 p.m. Gunflint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Jan. 1, Friday Happy New Year!

Weekly Events

Mondays

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

Songwriter Series 8:30 p.m. Papa Charlie’s, Lutsen www.lutsen.com

Live Music 8 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Tuesdays

Yoga in the Yurt 4:15 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. Hartley Nature Center, Duluth www.hartleynature.org

Trivia Night 7 p.m. American Legion, Grand Marais 218-387-2974

Wednesdays

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

Gordon Thorne & Bob Bingham 8 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Thursdays

Astronomy Centre: The Star of Bethlehem Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay www.fwhp.ca

Fridays

Astronomy Centre: Tours of the Universe Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay www.fwhp.ca

Christmas City Express Fitgers to the Depot, Duluth www.northshorescenicrailroad.org

Self- Guided Christmas Tour Noon, Glensheen Historic Estate, Duluth www.glensheen.org

Geology Walks 2 p.m. Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org

Live Music 8 p.m. Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Saturdays

Astronomy Centre: Night Sky Snowshoe Treks Fort

William Historical Park, Thunder Bay www.fwhp.ca

Christmas City Express Fitgers to the Depot, Duluth www.northshorescenicrailroad.org

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

Thunder Bay Country Market 8 a.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition: Dove Building, Thunder Bay www.thunderbaycountrymarket.com

Santa & Reindeer 11 a.m. Fitgers, Duluth www.fitgers.com

Self- Guided Christmas Tour Noon, Glensheen Historic Estate, Duluth www.glensheen.org

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

Campfire Music 7 p.m. Bluefin Bay, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

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

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

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

Sundays

Football on the Big Screen American Legion, Grand Marais 218-387-2974

Christmas City Express Fitgers to the Depot, Duluth www.northshorescenicrailroad.org

Santa & Reindeer 11 a.m. Fitgers, Duluth www.fitgers.com

Self- Guided Christmas Tour Noon, Glensheen Historic Estate, Duluth www.glensheen.org

Restaurant Closing

The Pie Place Café family has a big transition in our future. After nearly 20 years as a restaurant, we are continuing our pie and catering business, and closing the dining room as a full-service dining experience.

What this means to our beloved customers is that you will be able to order your favorite and new foods from us for your parties, business meetings, individual at-home events. As we expand our dreams you may even be able to buy our pies in your local supermarket. Meanwhile we will also be concentrating on providing our best hospitality to our hotel guests.

Our run as a full-service dining room has been a wonderful experience; we have learned many important lessons, made many friends among our guests and our employees, and see this transition as a way to continue our traditions as well as create new ones, all within the needs of our changing family.

Our deepest gratitude goes to all of you who have supported us over the years and have become so dear to us. We hope you’ll stay at the Harbor Inn when you come to town, that you will drop by to see our new endeavors, that you’ll stay in touch as friends and colleagues, and that you will support all the best things in our great city, The Coolest Small Town in America.

Sincerely, The Pie Place Café Family for catering or pies call 218 387 1513 email info@pieplacecafe.com or MaryLear100@gmail.com and follow our updates on Facebook

The North Shore Dish

Holiday Food Traditions

By Maren Webb

Each December, my Mom and I mark the start of the holiday season with a trip to our alma mater for Gustavus Adolphus College’s Christmas in Christ Chapel and the accompanying smörgåsbord dinner. When I was a student, we all knew when it was the smörgåsbord week as the lutefisk gave the whole campus center a special fragrance, unidentifiable by the non-Scandinavian-American students and all too familiar to me being 100 percent Scandinavian-American. Lutefisk, or lutfisk for the Swedes, has become more infamous than pickled herring or blood sausage— likely because you are either a die-hard lutefisk lover or you don’t want to go near the stuff. But lutefisk represents one of many traditional foods that North Shore residents and visitors enjoy during the holidays, helping us rekindle the regional and familiar traditions of the past.

While lutefisk may be notorious, it isn’t always easy to find. Thankfully, First Lutheran Church in Duluth, among a smattering of other local churches, hosts its annual Lutefisk, Salmon and Meatball Dinner the first Wednesday of December each year. The Lutefisk Dinner tradition started when the church was first built, although it saw a hiatus while I-35 was built through Duluth. In 1992, the church ladies reinstated the dinner and moved the event to coincide with the start of the holiday season, as lutefisk was traditionally served by Scandinavians at Christmastime. Since that time, the event has grown in popularity, now serving up to 1,200 people each year.

When asked whether all attendees partake in the lutefisk, organizer and wellknown cookbook author Beatrice Ojakangas shared, “My husband loves to tell the story about the lady who whisked past the lutefisk. He tried to convince her to try just a little piece. ‘NO!’ was her answer. My husband replied, ‘Well, don’t you want to get to heaven?’ She replied, ‘There’s got to be a better way!’” At the dinner they have also had children try it for the first time and love it.

As sometimes families are divided on their fondness for lutefisk, meatballs and salmon are also served. A congregation member, Dave Rogotzke, is a commercial salmon fisherman and provides the Alaskan salmon for the dinner. As is tradition, the lutefisk is served with cream sauce and

FOOD cont. on page 28

Lutsen Resort holds an annual Christmas day buffet. | SUBMITTED

melted butter—anything tastes good with enough butter, right? In addition to the lutefisk, salmon and meatballs, a crew of church ladies, including Beatrice, makes homemade lefse for the event. Also served are steamed potatoes, coleslaw, pickled beets, homemade limpa rye bread and cranberry salad. Whether Scandinavian-American or not, this is definitely a chance to enjoy some real Scandinavian-American treats and start the holiday season out right. The dinner will be held this year on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 12-7 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 1100 E. Superior Street, in Duluth. Cost is $15 per person or $5 per child; take-outs available.

If preserved fish is your thing but you are on the other side of the border, the Hoito Restaurant in Thunder Bay has salt fish, or Suolakala, on its regular menu. This Thunder Bay mainstay has been in operation since 1918. And if fish isn’t your thing, they are also known for their Finnish pancakes and also serve mojakka, a Finnish-American stew with beef. When ordering these dinner-plate-sized pancakes, be sure to pay the extra fee for real maple syrup. The Hoito is located at 314 Bay Street in Thunder Bay and it is a mandatory stop for us when visiting the area.

Another North Shore institution, being the oldest resort in Minnesota, is Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior. Each year, they try to give “a nod to tradition but also bring in new tastes,” said executive chef Rob Wells. Swedish meatballs and Swedish crème are two signature classics that grace their regular menu. The resort also hosts

buffets on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, complete with ice carvings. When Chef Rob first came to Lutsen Resort, he had never done any ice carvings before, but he was handed a chunk of ice and a chainsaw—nothing like learning on the job.

Their Swedish crème might be the most talked about dessert in Cook County, or at least it is in my circle. Served in champagne flutes and topped with lingonberry preserves, this dessert was developed from a recipe in Good Housekeeping magazine in the late 50s or early 60s. It was a favorite recipe of Inga, the owner’s wife, who

SurfSide Resort on Lake Superior, Tofte, MN 218-663-6877

Winters Eve Dinner

4 Courses paired with Champagne & Wines New Year Party Favors Wed., December 30th, 6 pm Seating

Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea Weekend Brunch

Open Sat. & Sun. 8 am – 3 pm

Wine

Choose

$.50

Spa Open 9am - 6pm Spa 218-663-6888 www.surfsideonsuperior.com

was one of the primary chefs at the resort during that era. Lutsen Resort, while a beautiful spot year-round, is extra special during the holidays. Just be sure to try the Swedish crème.

Looking for more Scandinavian delicacies to try? The first weekend of December each year brings Julebyen to Knife River. This Saturday and Sunday festival includes a tour of homes and a Scandinavian outdoor market, complete with festive foods in addition to the handmade art, crafts and other gifts. This year, the New Scenic Café will be serving potato leek soup

with a herring fishcake. The event will also have Julopolse (sausage on bun or on lefse with lingonberries), Lake Superior herring sandwich, Lapskaus (stew recipe directly from Norway), and Risgot (rice pudding). If you are looking to replicate First Lutheran’s salmon, Forrest “Fish” Johnson will be selling frozen boneless wild Alaskan sockeye salmon filets and fillet portions. This is my family’s source for salmon and it is delicious. There are also lefse and krumkakka demonstrations during the event. For more information about Julebyen, visit www.julebyen.us.

Breakfast Ser ved All Day Lunch • Homemade Soups

We’re Open Before t he Fish Bite!

Open 5 am - 2 pm Ever yday!

Just when you think the whole North Shore is Scandinavian, you might come across Cascade Restaurant and Pub in Lutsen. Michael O’Phelan grew up in St. Paul and his father was one of the founders of St. Paul’s St. Patrick Parade. Now he and his wife, Maureen, run Cascade Lodge and Restaurant, incorporating Irish traditions with their pub, menu and events, like celebrating halfway to St. Patrick’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day. Typically only closed on Christmas Day, this year the restaurant will be closed December 7 and reopen on December 17 for a remodel. Be sure to stop in for some bangers and mash or another Irish treat when they open back up.

The holidays are a time to spend with family and friends and enjoy good food. Whether you’ll be creating a new tradition or sharing an old one, such as lutefisk, have a happy and healthy holiday season.

Beatrice Ojakanges starts the line at the Lutefisk, Salmon and Meatball Dinner in Duluth. | SUBMITTED

Family Time!

GAME RECOMMENDATIONS

In my family, the holidays mean an overabundance of delicious food and spending quality time with the entire family, which means digging into the game chest for entertainment. Here are a few of our favorite games that are sure to keep your family occupied over the holidays —Breana Roy

Pit

Published by Winning Moves

This fast-paced card game, for three to eight players, is designed to simulate the outcry bidding of the stock market exchange.

Players will simultaneously trade cards, or goods, such as wheat, cocoa, silver and gold, by yelling the number of matching cards being traded. Be the first player to quickly collect all the cards of one commodity and slap the corner board to win. Loud, crazy and a bit chaotic makes this a great and easy party game for all ages.

Telestrations

Published by USAopoly

Despite being a drawing game, no drawing skills are required. Imagine the classic “telephone game” put visually; miscommunication at its best! Each player picks a card with a word and sketches it on an erasable note pad. After 60 seconds, pass your drawing to the left. Now that you have someone else’s notepad and drawing, write down what word you think they tried to sketch. Pass your notepad to the left again and draw the new word written down by the previous player. Continue guessing and passing until each

notepad is back to the original artist. Now flip back and see the hilarious results. You’ll laugh as your word most likely took a turn in the wrong direction. This game is tons of fun for the whole family.

Catch Phrase

Published by Hasbro

Form two teams for this timed word guessing game. Girls versus guys perhaps? Take turns getting your team to guess the word displayed in the plastic disc and pass the disc to the other team before the timer runs out. Unlike charades, verbal clues are allowed, as long as it doesn’t rhyme. Don’t be caught with the disc in your hand when time runs out or the other team scores a point.

Membership Drive

Support your Community Theater! Join or renew by check and the Playhouse keeps 100% of your donation. Allow us to process your credit card and the Playhouse keeps 98.2% of your donation. Renew through online services and the Playhouse keeps 95.1%.

Name:

Address:

Phone: email:

Amount: $ CC# Exp:

It is through the support of our membership that we are able to continue to provide high-quality theater and educational opportunities.

Please consider a donation to the: Grand Marais Playhouse P.O. Box 996 Grand Marais, MN 55604 http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Grand-Marais-Playhouse

Digesting the Holidays

By Kim Falter

The holidays are a special time of year. We spend time with family and friends, the air is full of festive spirit and wonderful food is abundant. But, flip the coin on all the holiday spirit and we see that all this time with family and friends can feel a little busy and we become overindulgent when it comes to all the wonderful food. Very aware of the food that may cause digestive discomfort throughout the rest of the year, we throw caution to the wind when it comes to the holiday season. An extra cookie here, some over-eating there, and by New Year’s Eve we are weighed down by all the excess food. It’s no surprise that most New Year’s resolutions are about weight loss. We all head into the holidays with good intentions. We tell ourselves we will practice portion control on Thanksgiving and we will limit our cookie intake leading up to Christmas, but the temptation … So what do we do now that we have overindulged?

Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes are proteins, produced by our cells, which work via chemical reactions to break down our food. There are enzymes to break down carbohydrates, enzymes for proteins and others

specific to the breakdown of fats. When you eat, these enzymes are called to action so all the vitamins and minerals, fats and proteins, carbohydrates and fiber, can all go where they need to so your body can function. Several factors affect the amount of digestive enzymes available to break down your food. Age is a huge factor. Our digestive enzymes de crease as we get older, but a food intolerance, a compromised immune system, or simple overeating, can all disrupt enzyme levels. Supplementation with a digestive enzyme gives you extra support in the breakdown of your food during those times of overindulgence, especially for those who suffer from a food intolerance such as to gluten or dairy.

Digestive Bitters

First accounts of digestive bitter usage are from the 16th century when it was used as an all-purpose cure for most ailments, especially stomach maladies and sea sickness. In 19th century America, it was discovered by bartenders as a way of softening the flavor of harsh liquors, thus the cocktail was born. Composed of bitter herbs, roots and peels, digestive bitters are still commonly found in contemporary cocktails, but their original benefits

in aiding digestive discomfort are making a comeback. Think of really dark chocolate, black coffee or an orange peel; they all produce that bitter taste. This bitter flavor is important and helpful to digestion because it calls your digestive enzymes to action. The difference between a digestive enzyme and digestive bitters is that the enzyme supplement does the work for you and the digestive bitters trigger your own natural enzyme response. Similar to eating a salad before a meal, a salad composed of leafy greens (such as kale) and other raw vegetables trigger your digestive enzymes into action (and actually contain some of

their own for some additional support). So you can have a nice kale salad at your next holiday party or have a nice aperitif of digestive bitters in some sparkling water or ginger ale. Before, during, or after your meal, digestive bitters put your system to work. If you want the support and want to strengthen, bitters are your solution.

Probiotics

Our intestines are filled with bacteria, some of it good and some of it bad. To be healthy, the good bacteria needs to be in larger quantities and keep the bad in check. When bad bacteria begins to gain in numbers, we see a whole host of problems in the body. Current research is unveiling the role intestinal bacteria imbalance can also have on our immune systems and our mental state. So how do we keep strong numbers of good bacteria and inhibit the bad? This is where Christmas cookies come in to play. Sugar feeds the bad bacteria. Too much sugar and bad bacteria are having a party in your gut. Probiotics help digestion by increasing good bacteria and by competing for space with the bad bacteria. This is also true of bacteria that can lead to illness, so probiotics have the added benefit of improving immune function.

Staying healthy is important to all of us, yet we overindulge over the holidays. However, we don’t have to fall apart. If we practice supporting our digestive system in these small ways, a great holiday can be had by all.

FREE FLUORIDE WELL WATER TESTING

From Nov. 15, 2015 to May 15, 2016

The Oral Health Task Force is offering free fluoride well testing for Cook County and Grand Portage Reservation families. Families include: pre-natal mom’s, children, and young adults up to 26 years old.

11am - 8pm

Fluoride is safe and a huge benefit in providing good oral health and helps in the prevention of tooth decay. Water fluoridation is estimated to reduce tooth decay by 20% to 40%. The EPA recommends wells should be tested every three years.

How do I do this? It’s simple. Just stop in at the Cook County Court House/Environmental Health Office (Planning and Zoning) or the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic to pick up a form and a bag for the water. The bag of water and completed form is then returned to the Environmental Health Office (Planning and Zoning) for testing. Results of the test will be sent by letter from the Environmental Health Office.

If you have questions, please contact Georgene Daubanton at the Oral Health Task Force at 218 387-2334 or Joseph Routh, Fluoride Analyst at 218 387-3631 or 387-3630.

BEST BOOKS

FOR A NORTHERN WILDS WINTER

From Breana Roy

“Little Bee” by Chris Cleave: This book is so much more than it appears. It’s one of those powerfully emotional and thoughtprovoking books that stays with you, and possibly haunts you, forever. This fictional story is about a 16-year old Nigerian refugee girl, Little Bee, who changes the lives of a British family after a brief and devastating encounter on a beach. Despite Little Bee’s horrific and traumatic past, she remains strong-willed and stubborn, saying, “A scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived.” I highly recommend this book, filled with moral dilemmas, a blending of cultures and a message of strength and love.

From Nace Hagemann

“The Traveler’s Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success” by Andy Andrews: This is one of my favorite books. He’s a great story teller

and weaves thought provoking ideas about taking action in life into a very good story. I also read most of it by candlelight as I waited for my electricity to get hooked up at my first cabin. I had just bought my land and was living in a 10x16 cabin. It’s a great book and an easy read. It reminds me that life seemed a little simpler then.

From Maren Webb

“Moosewood Restaurant

Simple Suppers: Fresh Ideas for the Weeknight Table” by Moosewood Collective: Cookbooks may seem like a thing of the past in the age of food blogs, Pinterest and quick recipe searches online, but this cookbook will forever have a place in my kitchen. The recipes are inspired by what is served at Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, NY, but catered to be simpler and more realistic for a weeknight meal. This doesn’t mean reduced flavor or less satisfying meals. From spinach burritos to green fried rice to Navajo stew, most of our favorite recipes to

make and eat come from this book. It would be a great gift for the foodie in your family, the young person getting out on their own and anyone else that cooks or enjoys good food. I received my copy as a college graduation present and it’s been well used ever since.

From Drew Johnson

“The Dark Tower” series by Stephen King: The Dark Tower series is a surreal futuristic time-traveling western and is the only series that Stephen King has written thus far. The story, unlike other Stephen King books, isn’t a horror. It follows a Gunslinger; Roland Deschain on his journey through a world that is falling apart. I greatly enjoyed reading about the many cameos of his other books hidden within the series and the characters he portrays in this world. I recommend this series to anyone who has read many of Stephen Kings other works or for those who find his other works too chilling.

Northern Trails

All I Want For Christmas

By Gord Ellis

Ah, Christmas. The family, the friends, the tree, and oh yes, the gifts. That is part of the deal at Christmas, giving things to people. Most folks are pretty happy to get the typical presents: socks, bath soaps and gift cards. However, the outdoors-minded person creates a different set of challenges for the Christmas buyer.

What do you get the person who already has everything? It’s a difficult question. So, if I was that person you were buying for, here is a few of the things that are on my “wish list.”

A Good Hunting Knife

You really can’t go hunting without a knife. You need a solid blade for so many tasks, up to and including the dressing of the animal in question. There are many, many choices out there and great names to choose from, including Buck.

I like a fixed handle and chunky, but not huge, knife when I hunt. Something that can cut ropes, peel bark off a tree and skin out a deer with no problem. Last fall, I acquired a really fine blade made by a company called Camillus. The Camillus Cutlery Company is one of the oldest knife manufacturers in the United States as its roots date back to 1876. The Company produces blades of all shapes and sizes. They recently brought some of their products to Canada and it was love at first sight.

The Camillus blade I picked up has a 9 inch, carbonitred titanium fixed blade with a bamboo handle and nylon sheath. The bamboo handle is both warm and easy to grip and I love the dark blade. Ti -

tanium doesn’t flake, chip or peel, and is up to 10 times harder than untreated steel. It’s a serious blade for serious work. I can’t imagine any hunter not being thrilled with getting one.

Hearing Protection /Amplification

Ok, so I played a little rock ‘n’ roll in my day. And yes, I did sight in and shoot many, many guns. Never mind the thousands of hours sitting with my head a foot from an outboard motor. Maybe my hearing isn’t as good as it could be. Perhaps I want to save what is left.

This is familiar ground for many people, but there are answers. The Walker’s Game Ear® Alpha Power Muff 360 Quad offers sound enhancement—so you can hear an animal walk in—as well as sound-activat-

ed compression hearing protection. This means when you pull the trigger, the sound is squelched. The Alpha 360 Quad features four wind resistant, high frequency, stereo microphones with 9x hearing enhancement and 50dB power. The sparrow 50 yards away will sound like it’s on your lap.

There are two independent volume controls, allowing you to set the volume for each ear. Sound-activated compression (SAC) gives you 24dB noise reduction to protect your ears while shooting or from hearing other loud noises. Yes, they look a little goofy at first and make your ears sweat a bit, but once you get used to wearing them there will be no going back. A great gift for the hearing deprived angler, hunter, shooter or bird watcher.

High Tech Feet Warmers

Nothing kills outdoor fun quicker than

cold feet. You can be insulated like a Yeti from the ankles up, but turn those tootsies into popsicles and going home becomes a desirable option. Wool socks are great, as are insulated boots. But to really fend off the winter foot chill, how about some high tech heat via heated insoles?

The ProFlex Heated Insoles made by ThermaCELL allow you to control the level of warmth in your feet with a one touch remote. You can go for two different levels of heat or shut it off entirely. The batteries in the insoles are rechargeable and can be changed without taking the insoles out of the boots. Each battery is good for about five hours and you can recharge them about 500 times. It may all sound like a bit much, but they work and are worth their weight in gold if you suffer from cold feet outdoors. I can’t imagine an ice fisherman, football game watcher or tree stand sitter not being thrilled to get a pair.

These three items are bound to satisfy any outdoor lover. | GORD ELLIS

Photo © Gary Alan Nelson

Come, You Taste: Family Recipes from the Iron Range

By B.J. Carpenter Minnesota Historical Society Press, $19.95

The Iron Range has a culinary language of its own, influenced by places such as Finland, Sweden, Slovenia and Italy. Enjoy traditional stories and recipes passed down from generations from the early 20th century during the pursuit of rich iron ore by immigrant workers. Recipes such as viili, or Finnish yogurt, and svensk pannkakor, or Swedish pancakes, as well as lingonberry sauce, lefsa and lutefisk, make this cookbook a must have for any Scandinavian.

—Breana Roy

Glimpses of the Wilderness

By Kevin Proescholdt

North Star Press $14.95

Kevin Proescholdt’s name is synonymous with the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. For decades, he’s been a tireless advocate of wilderness protection and preservation. This book shows another side of Proescholdt as a wilderness user. The book contains a series of short vignettes about wilderness adventures and experiences ranging from encountering a pair of mating snapping turtles to losing the trail on a winter snowshoeing excursion. In each vignette, the author shows a facet of the wild. Taken together, the book thus displays the gem that is the Superior-Quetico canoe country.—Shawn Perich

Plants Have So Much To Give Us, All We Have To Do Is Ask:

Anishinaabe

Botanical Teachings

By Mary Siisip Geniusz

University of Minnesota Press, $22.95

Author Mary Siisip Geniusz has spent more than 30 years working with, living with and using Anishinaabe teachings, recipes and botanical information. She gained much of her knowledge from working as an oshkaabewis, or traditionally trained apprentice. She was also a friend to Keewaydinoquay, an Anishinaabe medicine woman from Michigan and a scholar, teacher and practitioner of native ethnobotany. Geniusz shares her own experiences, as well as stories from other American Indian traditions, while explaining the uses, meaning and history of plants. She explains how to create food, simple medicines and create practical botanical tools.

—Breana Roy

WHY GO: Tom Lake is a solid option for walleye, with the chance of catching some high-quality fish. It’s a lake that’s off the beaten path, keeping fishing pressures low.

ACCESS: There is a DNR boat ramp with parking for six vehicles, though sometimes DNR Forestry pumps may block the dock and landing. Head north on the Arrowhead Trail from Hovland for 11 miles. Turn left on Esther Lake Road and follow for two miles. Turn left on Tom Lake Road and follow for three miles. Take a right on Brumbaugh Road. The boat ramp will be on the left.

VITALS: This 404-acre eastern Cook County lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet.

FISH SPECIES PRESENT: Walleye, northern pike, eelpout, lake whitefish and yellow perch.

WALLEYE WAY: Steve Persons, DNR’s Grand Marais area fisheries supervisor, said Tom Lake, which was most recently surveyed in 2013, seems to have about an average amount of walleye in it, with most fish in the 12- to 18-inch range. “But there is much more potential for big-sized fish,” Persons said. How big? “You could get walleye in there up to 25 or 26 inches, occasionally kicking out something a little bit bigger,” he said. A 2013 survey found that walleye, which are produced naturally on Tom Lake, were fairly abundant. There were 12 year classes of walleyes found and the 2010 year class was going pretty strong.

NORTHERNS, TOO: Persons noted that Tom Lake is a good place for those that like to catch northern pike for the pan. There’s good numbers of fish in the 20- to 25-inch

TOM LAKE

range and the lake produces pike up to 30 inches. “There is a decent northern pike population,” he said. “But it doesn’t have the conditions to grow trophy northern.” The 2013 survey didn’t turn up any northern pike in the lake, but that has been the case in the past and the species has always recovered here.

TRY A FLY: Tom Lake, though not particularly deep, is also home to lake whitefish and most of the whitefish that turned up in the most recent 2013 survey were in the 20- to 24-inch range. “It has some big whitefish in it,” he said. “If people want to try something different, they could give it a shot.” Persons thought it would be possible to catch whitefish on a fly rod in the summer, when mayflies emerge on the lake surface. “I’ve also seen walleye feeding on the surface in July there,” he said. “It could be a way to get a walleye on a fly rod. They will really gorge on mayflies at times.”—Javier Serna

Chandler Family Road Trip PART 2

Photos and story by Eric Chandler

We drove out of the Black Hills, across Wyoming and through the Medicine Bow Mountains. I screeched to a stop for a picture next to a Chandler ranch gate (no relation), while Shelley rolled her eyes. In Kremmling, Colo., a nice sheriff took the time to pull me over and remind me of the speed limit. We stopped in Dillon for a good topo map of the Mosquito Range since we were shooting to hike a fourteener the next day. After 500 miles, we hit the grocery store and immediately hit the hay in Leadville, Colo., at the Victorian-era Delaware Hotel. You know you’re doing it right when even your bed is at 10,000 feet.

We piled into the Dodge in the pre-dawn darkness and headed around the mountains to the Kite Lake trailhead. We parked at 12,000 feet, after negotiating six-miles of “road.” This was the first time I have ever had to put my truck in 4-LO. We started up Mt. Democrat under crystal clear blue skies, still in the shadows of the high ridges. Everywhere you looked, old mines and tunnels pockmarked the mountain. Shelley spotted a mountain goat perched at the top of a nearly vertical gully. This was a first for all of us. The kids added this to their list of firsts that already included bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope.

We made it to the saddle below the summit and took a long snack

break. I was cracking the whip and trying to be encouraging at the same time, as I watched the clouds start to build over the summits. We had an awesome view toward Breckenridge and Quandary Peak. I picked this hike because it was one of the easiest to do. I originally planned to ridge-run and get two or three other nearby summits, but I could already tell that this one peak was plenty. We were a lot higher up than Lake Superior.

I strapped my 11-year-old’s backpack to my chest to carry her burden and we zigzagged up through the boulder field to the summit ridge. Little pikas were scurrying around us in the rocks and were a welcome distraction from the effort. We found some snow and views of Mt. Elbert (Colorado’s high point) and Mt. Massive to the west. Grace gained energy along the summit ridge and took the honor of topping out first. The views were fantastic in all directions.

Grace and I got back to the truck at the end of the day. “Did I earn a root beer?” she asked.

“You sure did,” I said. Amazingly, people were still headed uphill out of the parking lot into the rain clouds as we drove back to Leadville. I was glad for our early start.

The next day, we all groaned as we got out of bed with aching quads and saddled up. We rode the paved Mineral Belt Trail that circles the town of Leadville for 12 miles. It travels through both abandoned and active mines. In one tree-lined

Team Chandler summits Mt. Democrat near Leadville, Colorado.

[ABOVE] Ouray Hot Springs were refreshing and scenic. [TOP RIGHT] Box Canyon Falls in Ouray, Colorado. [RIGHT] Sam negotiates a hairpin on a trail called The Big Cheese in Ridgeway, Colorado.

stretch, we found a quarter mile of nonstop raspberries along the trail. Grace and I hunkered down and did our best impression of grazing bears. The trail had a really fun last half as we swooped and turned our way back to town.

Later that day, we drove north of town past Ski Cooper where we stopped to see the 10th Mountain Division Memorial at the top of the pass. We continued north to the valley where Camp Hale used to be. It was hard to imagine the green, empty valley filled with tens of thousands of troops, training to go fight in the mountains of Italy during World War II.

The following day, we drove south past the Collegiate Peaks and over Monarch Pass in the cold, driving rain; a good day to be traveling and not hiking. We found some blue skies at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. We drove to an overlook and stood with open mouths as we looked across at the 2,500 foot tall Painted Wall. My daughter, the future botanist, thought the piñon pine, juniper, sagebrush and other labeled plants along the trail were pretty cool. Sagebrush has a unique pungent smell, heating in the sun after the rain. I knew this from a long time ago and now the kids do too.

We rolled into Ouray, Colo., and checked into the Box Canyon Lodge. We walked out of the parking lot and hiked up to the Box Canyon Falls, a dramatic slot canyon filled with roaring water and black swifts. We found a scary bridge above the falls and I got the willies as we looked down at the town. It really is the Switzerland of America in a giant bowl of rock. That night, we soaked our still aching bodies in the hot springs just behind the hotel.

The next day, we drove to Ridgway about 10 miles north of town and mounted up on the bikes, to ride the RAT (Ridgway Area Trails). We parked at the trailhead for some of the new single-track. First, all four of us rolled downhill to the paved trail along the river. The views south to the San Juan Mountains, crowned by Mt. Sneffels, were spectacular. The grasshoppers were also spectacular, which agitated the youngest member of our group, so we headed back to the truck. Sam and I started up the single-track trail called The

Big Cheese, while the ladies waited in the most scenic parking spot. We had a blast through dozens of hairpins and even got to thank a trail crew that was out building more trail. We had lunch in the True Grit Café where we learned that the John Wayne version was filmed in Ridgway. We went back to Ouray and soaked in the municipal hot springs pool. It was nice to float in the soothing heat under the giant cliffs. There was also a waterslide, which was no fun at all. My kids struggled with the idea that their parents had soaked in the same spot long before they came along.

Each basecamp stop was a day shorter than the previous. We left town after just two nights and drove to Denver. The I-70 corridor over Vail Pass was more dramatic than I remembered. We checked into a hotel and recharged our batteries. We had tickets to see Trampled by Turtles (our local Duluth band heroes) at Red Rocks in a few hours. My wife had been there, but Red Rocks was a first for the rest of the gang. It was great to see the full moon rise over the stage. Due to the new local laws, my wife was delighted to see that smoking wasn’t allowed in the seating area. Good in theory, but not in practice. The band was doing great, but when I looked over and saw my three companions had their sweatshirts over their faces like gasmasks, I decided to head for the exits. This was the musical equivalent of the Little Spearfish Trail. Sometimes, adventures don’t work out. I had a huge craving for cheese puffs and pizza, though. Weird.

We hauled ass across the plains for two days and after 1,100 miles, we pulled into our Duluth driveway. Halfway, we stopped in Omaha for the night. We went to the movies and watched “Jurassic World.” I mowed down a bag of Reese’s Pieces in the air conditioning that worked better than my truck’s. I realized this wasn’t “healthy eating” per our goals, but I was past caring. I couldn’t stand the sight of the (now ineffective) blueberry air freshener. After 3,500 miles, I had perfect squeegee skills wiping bugs off the windshield. We had priceless new stories about “adventurous fun” in the high country, all symptoms of a properly executed road trip. I earned that candy, thank you very much.

Ouray, Colorado. The Switzerland of America.

MUSH LAKE RACING DOG BLOG: Marsh Mushing

By Erin Altemus

Last year at this time, I vividly recall freezing my extremities in frigid November weather. We had enough snow on the ground to provide a little cushion on the dogs’ paws and winter felt imminent.

This year, we are enjoying 50-degree days and it barely freezes at night, if at all. We’ve had a couple bouts of flurries and long stretches of rain. While the extended fall is nice on our woodpile, it’s stifling our training program.

We’re trying to really bump up our training mileage. We started November with a top run of 18 miles, but we’ll end it doing two 30-mile runs back-to-back with a fiveor six-hour break in between. But it has to cool down. When the temps are cold, the dogs pick up their pace. Ideal November training weather would be a nice coating of snow on the ground and 20 degree temperatures. I read that 87 percent of Minnesotans are happy about the warm November. Mushers are not with the majority.

Still, the only recourse is to pull up the different weather websites several times a day and curse the forecasters and then global warming, followed by el Niño. But none of this makes it any colder and we still have to run.

Since I can’t complain about long, frigid hours on the ATV, training runs have been fairly smooth. I give due credit to Matt here, because he has run the dogs much more than I this fall, on account of me being in full-time nursing school, which requires me to leave town for long stretches of time. But, there was a harrowing moment a few weeks back.

I hooked up a team of 11 dogs, anticipating an 18-mile run. I had a route picked out, one not yet run this season. Matt helped

me hook up and I grabbed my phone so I could play some tunes along the way.

Nine miles into the run, I came upon what last year had been a little creek and was now a full-fledged beaver pond. In a split second, I calculated my choices. I could stop the team abruptly and turn them straight around in the middle of the trail—a move that almost always goes terribly wrong and involves a huge tangle of harnesses, gang-line and fighting dogs, not to mention being bad training because it teaches dogs to turn around when you may not want them to. Or, I could just keep going, straight into the pond and hope we found a trail under the water to lead to the other side. In that moment, I thought about the Iditarod and how teams have to swim through overflow in rivers every year. I thought—this would be good training.

So that’s what we did. “Alright!” I called to Judy and Beezus. And they listened. They bolted ahead, running straight into the water. I measured in my mind how far in they’d be once the ATV hit the pond … and I hoped they’d be to the far side. Pretty soon, I could see they were swimming.

One thing we’ve learned is that Alaskan huskies have absolutely no love for water. I’ve taken our huskies to lakes many times and even made a couple of them swim. They have zero interest in doing so. I’m certain I could throw a large tenderloin steak into the water and our dogs would sit on the shore and look at it with sorrow.

So to see an entire team swim across a beaver pond was breath-taking. Until I realized the water was deeper than the ATV.

Soon Judy and Beezus were crawling out on the far shore and I was being pulled

through a pond with water sloshing into my boots. Then the whole team was out and the ATV hit land and we stopped. The back end was in the water and the front left wheel was trying to emerge from the mud. I wasn’t sure if I should move.

“Okay!” I yelled. And they tried. But they couldn’t seem to get enough “oomph” to pull me out.

There was some pandemonium then. No sled dog likes to swim across a pond, only to get stuck on the other side because of a driver that can’t get the ATV out of the mud.

I ran to the front of the team and tried to encourage them. I hastily sent an email to Matt that read “Stuck in a swamp!”

I tried pushing and pulling and giving it gas. I wondered how long it might take Matt to reach me, if he actually received my email.

But then, somehow, I turned the front tires just right and pulled and shoved just so, and the dogs pulled and I yelled encouraging words, and we made it out.

I hastily sent Matt another message saying, “never mind.” We were on our way. When we got back to the dog yard, I just assumed he must have read my note and that 11, wet, muddy dogs and one soaked and dirt-streaked freezing musher would have given it all away. But I guess that’s what we look like every time we get back from a run. He hadn’t read my messages and had no idea.

I was really glad we made it home and I’m pretty sure I can trust my dogs to swim across a river should I ever ask them to again. Unless it’s a really warm year, we won’t be doing any swimming in the Beargrease.

Erin and Beezus share a moment after Beezus led the team through the pond. | MATTHEW SCHMIDT

Strange Tales

Minnesota’s Elizabeth Taylor: Victorian Adventurer on the Nipigon River

By Elle AndraWarner

During the Victorian Era, it was still the norm that non-native women didn’t do northern wilderness travelling on their own for pleasure. But Minnesota’s adventurer-explorer, author, artist, self-taught botanist and ethnologist, Elizabeth Taylor, bucked society’s expectations. At age 32, she began a lifetime of solo travelling as a tourist, beginning in the summer of 1888 when she went on a 13-day canoe trip on the Nipigon River to McIntyre Bay on Lake Nipigon.

Described as a “soft-voiced, frail, bespectacled small woman,” her lifestyle certainly didn’t match the stereotype. In 1892, four years after the Nipigon trip, Elizabeth became the first non-native woman to travel as a tourist down the Mackenzie River system (Canada’s longest) to the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic, a difficult three-month journey that earned her a spot as the only woman on the U.S. government’s 1908 list of Arctic explorers. A year later, she was the first English-speaking woman to travel over the remote mountain plateau Hardangervidda in northern Norway, the largest such plateau in Europe. In 1895, she visited Iceland for 10 weeks and later stayed a total of 10 years on visits to Denmark’s desolate Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean between Scotland and Shetland Islands (five of those ‘marooned’ there 1914-1919 during World War I). Besides sketching, making notes, collecting plant and fish specimens for notable museums like the Smithsonian and Oxford, and writing essays on nature, folklore, rituals and culture, she wrote travel articles about her journeys that were published in American and British publications.

It wasn’t until 1920, at age 64, that she gave up the traveling life and returned permanently to the U.S. Four years later, she built a primitive, two-room log cabin home at Wave Robin, North Hollow, Vermont, where she died on March 8, 1932 at age 78.

In 1948, her great-nephew James Dunn Taylor, a former librarian at the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS), obtained the large archival collection of her articles, notes, journals and letters. In 1997, he edited 39 of her travel articles into a 309-page book, “The Far Islands and Other Cold Places: Travel Essays of a Victorian Lady,” which won the 1998 Minnesota Book

Award for Personal Papers.

Elizabeth was born on January 8, 1956 in Columbus, Ohio as the fifth daughter of Chloe Langford and lawyer James Wickes Taylor. That same year, the family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1870, her father was appointed the U.S. Consul in Winnipeg, a position he held until his death in 1893 (he was confident that Canada West would eventually join the U.S.) He couldn’t afford to bring his family to live in Winnipeg (then a village of 100), so the family continued to live in St. Paul while he lived in Canada. Called by friends a ‘vagabond spirit’ who loved nature and the northern wilderness, he often took Elizabeth with

him on trips throughout Canada, Minnesota and Washington.

In the summer of 1888, Elizabeth tackled her first solo wilderness venture. After her father used his Hudson Bay Company (HBC) contacts to arrange for travel arrangements, Elizabeth arrived at HBC’s Red Rock House at the mouth of the Nipigon River, ready to start her canoe trip. It would be a trial run to see if she could handle the rigors of wilderness travel; her goal was a Mackenzie River trip to the Canadian Arctic in 1892.

From Red Rock House, she walked a mile alone in the bush to join up at Lake

Helen with her canoe companions. Their destination was the Anglican Mission on McIntyre Bay on Lake Nipigon.

“I was about to start on a canoe trip of 120 miles in a birch-bark canoe with perfect strangers, with Indian guides to paddle us,” she later wrote, the strangers being the Anglican missionary’s wife Mary Renison, her young son, her First Nations servant and two First Nations guides. They’d all be travelling in one canoe, loaded with cargo and people. “I looked over the lake we were to cross, where the waves were running high with a strong north wind and climbed down the bank and into the canoe with the calmness of despair.”

For the next 13 days, Elizabeth in her “rough camp-dress” slept in a tent; trekked over 18 rough, stony portages (longest was 2.5 miles); fought heat, fog, rain, sudden storms and big waves on the lake; faced hordes of black flies and mosquitoes; braved fatigue; caught her first trout with a fly-rod; took notes on plants, birds and fish; and enjoyed the, “banquet fit for gods and men: bacon fried with onions, and eaten from a tin plate with an uncertain steel fork.” And she did something few men had dared to do—she successfully ran the dangerous Victoria Rapids which most opted to portage.

Later, she wrote a friend in Cincinnati about the Nipigon trip, “I am proud of the fact that I successfully accomplished the longest trip by a fisherwoman on the river at the time and saw the beautiful Lake Nipigon. I had a perfectly beautiful time; I never spent a happier 13 days in my life.”

The guides were to take down the canoe that morning, to load it for the homeward trip, and soon after I lost my fish we started for the camp. They stopped at the head of the portage, for me to land, and I was about to step out of the canoe, when Joseph said, “You would not like to go down the rapids with us?”

“Is it dangerous, Joseph?” I asked.

He hesitated a moment, and then replied, “The gentlemen do not often run these rapids; sometimes they go down near the shore.” Then after a moment, “We will be careful, if you feel that you would like to go down with us.”

I thought a moment, looked at the rapids running white below us; then, turning to the waiting guides, “I’ll go down, Joseph”. He gave a nod of approval, said a few words in Indian to the under–guide, and pushed off from

shore to the middle of the stream. I settled myself in the bottom of the canoe, grasped the thwarts firmly and wondered if I was very foolish. I had a curious sensation as the fierce current seized the canoe and I felt there was no going back. The canoe reared on the edge of the big rapids, seemed to pause an instant, trembling on the brink and then came a dizzy downward plunge; then we rose to a fierce struggle with the waves, the canoe pitching and tossing to and fro, the guides silent, watchful, guiding it with quick, powerful strokes. It was over in two minutes, we floated swiftly down past the camp, and as I drew a long breath and sat up straighter, Joseph smiled with a satisfied air...”

Elizabeth Taylor, “Up the Nepigon” (online Nipigon Museum Blog). Originally appeared in Harper’s Monthly, 1889.

Elizabeth’s great-nephew compiled this book. | SUBMITTED

Red Rock Hudson’s Bay Post at the mouth of the Nipigon River.

| HARPER’S MAGAZINE

Elizabeth Taylor Runs the Victoria Rapids

Wild Traditions

Wild Traditions: The Art of Basket Weaving

By Julia Prinselaar

From the delicately woven fibers of a bird’s nest to the intricate spinning of a caterpillar’s cocoon, the natural world inspires human design.

Baskets were one of the first vessels used by cultures around the world. Depending on the region, available resources and needs, they take different shapes and forms, each unique to a culture or people’s artistic embellishment. No one human group can be credited for their invention, but baskets and containers were valuable items born out of necessity and universally used to gather, carry and store essentials.

Most baskets are constructed using three basic techniques: the stitched method of coiling and the plaiting and twining methods of weaving.

Pine needles, for example, can be coiled and stitched into tight, compact layers. Some needles measure more than a foot in length, like those of the longleaf pine tree that is native to the southeastern U.S.

The flat leaves of cattail and long strips of cedar bark can be folded or plaited—a technique that is also used for making mats. Spruce roots can be tightly woven to make waterproof hats, mastered by First Nations craftspeople living in the Pacific Northwest.

Europeans first introduced the rib or melon basket to Native Americans living along the eastern seaboard, according to Sarah and William Turnbaugh, authors of the book “Indian Baskets.” This form was adopted by many other groups, including the Cherokee of today’s southeastern U.S. and the Iroquois and Algonquians of the northeast.

Pictured here, this melon basket is primarily made from two types of material: the strong, grassy leaves of ornamental Siberian Iris and the straight, flexible branches of the red-osier dogwood shrub. A valuable edible for moose, white-tailed deer, beaver, grouse, wood ducks and small mammals, its showy, ever-burgundy bark

is preferred among basket weavers.

The iris leaves can be cut in the fall before they wither and die. Once dry, they can be stored for months and revitalized with a little misting or soaking. The leaves are twisted into long strings of cordage, securing the hoops that form the axis of the rim and handle. The diamond-shaped “God’s Eye” pattern also stabilizes the ribs and supports the frame.

Hoops and ribs can be gathered several weeks before weaving; the branches are

[LEFT] A typical example of a stitched coil basket, made in Grenada. [ABOVE] Before people, birds were the world’s first basket weavers, carefully interlacing fibers to build shelter and comfort.

| JULIA PRINSELAAR

coiled or bent, then bound with yarn to dry slowly and hold shape. Finally, fresh dogwood branches are gingerly woven around the frame to make the walls.

Like many tools of survival, the craftsmanship of basketry marries function with art and reflects incredible patience. Each container, no matter the size, can take hours to complete—often days. The painstaking intricacy of most baskets cannot be replicated by machine, so it is truly a marvel of our age to witness global commerce at work here. Today, an imported

Cook County Ridge Riders Event Dates

handmade basket can be exchanged for a handful of small bills.

When browsing baskets (or anything handmade), consider the time and effort it took not only to make the product, but to gather and prepare materials. If they are on hand, most craftspeople are happy to answer questions. This direct connection between artisan and consumer is a valuable element, often absent from the modern shopping experience—and one that may leave you more informed, educated and inspired by tradition.

March

Annual

Lot For Sale

Minutes from Grand Marais

Private beautifully wooded 5.57 acres west on County Rd. 7 with apron and culvert installed. Building site and driveway with rock base. Seasonal Lake Superior views. Surveyed with septic sites id’d. Abuts federal land. Priced to sell at $66,900 below tax value. Contact Vince at vince.brian@comcast.net.

Property

• Onion River Road: 6 acre zoned resort commercial/residential. $79,000

• Barker Lake Road: 20 Acres --remote property with great access. $62,000

• The Grade: 39 acres at the corner of the grade and Brule Lake Road: 10 acre zoning year round access. $199,000 •

northern sky

DECEMBER 2015

By Deane Morrison— MINNESOTA STARWATCH

In December, the bright winter stars make their grand entrance into the evening sky. On the 1st, Orion clears the eastern horizon by eight o’clock; luminous Procyon, harbinger of Sirius, the Dog Star, is up by nine; and Sirius, last and brightest of all, appears by ten. As the days go by, these stars and constellations rise earlier and by January, they’ll all be shining for us by eight o’clock.

In the west, the stars of the bright Summer Triangle crowd the northwest horizon. This is a great time to look for the Milky Way’s closest neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy. Grab a star chart, go out an hour after sunset, find the Great Square of Pegasus high in the south and follow the string of three stars extending from its northeastern corner. Above the middle one, the galaxy appears as a faint, fuzzy oval.

In the morning sky, Venus reigns supreme. Our sister planet will be blazing away in the southeast an hour before sunrise, with Jupiter high in the south. Between these two beacons are Spica, the brightest star in Virgo; and reddish

Mars, still rather dim but getting higher and brighter as Earth gains on it in the orbital race. Watch the line connecting the three planets stretch as Jupiter climbs ever higher and Venus drops en route to its next swoop behind the sun. On the 7th, don’t miss the close pairing of a crescent moon and Venus.

The moon becomes new the morning of the 11th, then begins its trek from west to east across the evening sky. On Christmas Eve, a nearly full moon rises in the midst of the bright winter constellations; perfect fullness arrives at 5:11 the next morning.

Winter officially begins at 10:48 p.m. on the 21st, when the Northern Hemisphere is tipped farthest from the sun and the sun shines directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.

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

purchased with the main property the overall property will consist of over 12 acres 855’ of total shoreline.

Authentic and classic late 1940’s - 1950’s log home located in Lutsen near Caribou Trail. Deep, private and recessed 2 acre lot. Home has been meticulously maintained and well cared for spanning four decades and two generations within the same family. Septic non-compliant. Cool cabin, cool piece of real estate, mutli-options present themselves for future use

Call:

Email: stphn.carlson@gmail.com or Realliving.com/steve.carlson.

4

Beautiful

Lower

Numerous

Lynne Luban

Realtor Specializing in Urban Cabins/Condos and Up North Living for 10 years. Cell: 612-599-6986 Email: lynneluban@mac.com

208 Fireweed Lane

Great home or vacation home with rental availability. This beautiful sunny 3 BR, 2 BA home has in floor heat on main level with floor to ceiling stone gas fireplace. Pine ceilings throughout adds to the charm of up north living. With 2 secluded patios great for enjoying warm summers. Walk across street to deeded access of 900 ft lakeshore on Devil Track Lake. Only 8 miles to Grand Marais. Sold furnished.

MLS# 4590545 $249,900

STUNNING ARCHITECT DESIGNED HOME - LAKE SUPERIOR. Beautiful timber framed, Mulfinger designed home. Ideal layout is suitable for a couple or a sizable crew.

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES

Tasteful, well thought out & comfortable details make it an impressive place. Top notch appliances, custom cherry cabinetry, black iron custom forged hardware, central air, custom front door w/ stained glass and more. Open main level offers views of the 2-story Montana stone fireplace. Hear the crackle of the fire & the roar of the waves at the same time! The screen porch is a favorite place to spend time. The over-sized heated 2 car garage has a 3 bed bunkroom/guest room above with a 1/4 bath. MLS#2308599 $925,000

EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, STUNNING SHORELINE. Elegant and comfortable contemporary home, architecturally designed and built to fit into the ledge rock hillside of Chimney Rock. Beautifully wooded, and private, with lichen-covered dramatic rocks and panoramic lake views on 223 feet of easily accessed Lake Superior shore. The great room is shared with the gourmet kitchen, formal dining, and living area centered around the Finnish fireplace. The master suite is a lovely open space with a private office, plus quiet reading corner. The master bath suite is exceptional. Upgrades throughout, beautiful maple flooring, fabulous storage on all three levels. MLS# 2308811 $750,000

GORGEOUS LAKE SUPERIOR PARCEL. Million dollar location with million dollar views! This Lake

access the site. MLS #: 2313232 $729,000

SUPERIOR A-FRAME. This 3,300 sq ft Lake Superior home with original A-Frame was expanded in 2006, adding 2,000 sq ft w/quality finishes. Stunning kitchen with large island, hickory cabinets, granite & lake views. 3 bdr, 3 bath, large gathering spaces and deck. Master bdrm with attached whirlpool/glass shower. Sleeps 12+. 418’ frontage and extra large lot size for privacy and expansive views. MLS# 2313080 $689,000

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

LAKE SUPERIOR COTTAGE. Exceptional Lake Superior property in highly regarded Lutsen area. 150 feet of accessible ledge rock and gravel beach shoreline with long magnificent views up and down the shore. The cabin could be refurbished or this could be the build site for your north shore getaway . MLS# 2309109 $349,000

LOVELY LAKE SUPERIOR LOT – LUTSEN. Great lot with excellent site for walkout. Surveyed and level open location for your new home. Parcel has a very neat, private cove and meandering 447' of shoreline. MLS # 2313294 $329,000

LAKE SUPERIOR -BEAVER BAY LOT. Elevated site with slope to lake. Rugged shoreline. Towering white pines, spruce, birch and cedar. Must be seen to be appreciated. Views to offshore island. Great building site. MLS # 2196267 $299,000

LAKE SUPERIOR HOME-GRAND

MARAIS. Enjoy the big lake and great convenience to downtown from this great one-level lake home. Large great room with a wall of glass, updated kitchen, huge master suite with outstanding lake views. Warm wood paneling, wood stove and comfortable space makes for a cozy atmosphere. The lot is extremely tucked away and private, yet within easy walking distance to downtown. The 114 feet of shoreline is gravel beach and great for beach fires. Vacation rental history is excellent and would help off-set expenses. MLS# 2309178 $559,000

RETREAT. Just you the lake and the wilderness. This is the only private land on the lake. Enjoy the utmost privacy and unspoiled wilderness views with 87 acres and 3000 feet of shoreline on Cascade Lake. There is a neat, well-maintained cabin, sauna, dock and outhouse. Easy year-round access. Great fishing and wildlife sightings. This is one of the last of its kind in Cook County. MLS# 2309037 $669,000

PRIME PIKE LAKE CABINS. Pri-

SOLITUDE ON WILSON

LAKE. The log sided "carriage house" has great views overlooking Wilson Lake. Building site has been prepared down by the shore. There is even a private sandy beach on part of the shoreline. The well and septic for a 4 bedroom home are in. Private driveway.MLS# 2300551$310,000

LOG CABIN, TOWERING PINES, WEST BEARSKIN LAKE. Totally charming Charlie Boostrom log cabin sits in a forest of towering pines. The cabin has been lovingly maintained. The 2 bedroom cabin is a summer-use place to reflect and escape. Hardwood floors, beamed ceilings and large kitchen. It comes furnished and is ready for you to move in. The BWCAW is just a short paddle. MLS# 2269631 $279,900

MCFARLAND LAKE

CABIN. Beautiful cedar log cabin on McFarland Lake. Cozy hide-away with sauna building, log guest cabin, storage building. Great shoreline with new dock. Partially furnished. Large deck, nice cedar trees. Great view of palisade. MLS# 2144634 $249,500

LARGE PARCEL - HARRIET LAKE. Tons of privacy with 92 acres and approximately 1300 feet of west facing shoreline. Many great building sites with views, mature mixed timber and lots of land to ramble around on. Adjoins thousands of acres of state and federal land. Good seasonal road access. MLS # 2304121 $250,000

WILSON LAKE-READY TO ENJOY. Wilson Lake is a magnificent layout of 29 private, pristine, and premier lake shore home sites. The driveway is in and the electric is at the site ready for your custom get away. Sparkling waters. Lot 11 Boasts great building sites near the lake or tucked around the bluff for gorgeous views. True solitude! MLS# 2309030 $259,500

WILDERNESS SETTING - TUCKER LAKE. A perfect place for your cabin or home with unspoiled views and lots of Gunflint Trail privacy. There's only a few parcels on this peninsula. Property boasts two lotsone on each side. Tucker Lake is a protected lake with added setbacks to protect the lake and views. Direct BWCAW access . MLS# 2309237 $229,900

HARRIET LAKE RETREAT. Want seclusion? Here is a classic homestead property at the end of a private road. It has 87 acres and 1300 feet of shoreline on a peaceful bay of Harriet Lake. There is no other private land on the bay. It's just you and the Superior National Forest! There are two older cabins that can be swept out and put to use. MLS# 2272123 $310,000

CLASSIC CABIN ON CLEARWATER LAKE. Well maintained by the same family for over 60 years. 205 feet of shoreline on much sought after Clearwater Lake with direct access to the BWCA. MLS# 2309283 $259,000

2900 FEET OF WILDERNESS LAKESHORE! The ONLY private parcel on Monker Lake just minutes from Grand Marais. Well built log cabin, snowmobile garage and log shower house. Custom cabinets, oak flooring and loads of charm with a loft bedroom. Groomed trails lead you to the open lake shore and canoe launch. Another trail goes to a campsite at the water’s edge. No driving access in the winter - snowmobile or ski in. MLS# 2312997 $225,000

PERFECT LAKE CABIN - MCFARLAND LAKE. This custom built cabin shows quality and detail. There is 1 bedroom plus a loft, nice kitchen and dining area with a cozy living area with wood stove. The deck and views overlook the palisades through a forest of mature cedar trees. The lot feels private and peaceful. There’s a large

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES

CARIBOU LAKE - HOME SITE. New price is well below tax assessed value, and seller is open to offers. Magnificent old-growth cedar and maple trees frame a corner lot with a great, high build site on Sawmill Bay.185' of lake frontage. MLS# 2203572 $95,000

MID-TRAIL SOUTH FACING LOT. In a private development of 11 Squint lake lots surrounded by US Forest land. Heavy tree coverage of mature of red and white pine and cedar. Minutes from the amenities of the mid Gunflint Trail area. MLS# 2265840 $94,900

BIRCH LAKE CABIN. Two bedroom cabin plus charming log bunkhouse, small garage and shed on 150 feet of shoreline. Boat dock/platform and cart path to lake to launch the boat. Comfortable but simple accommodations with permanent lake water system and graywater septic system, generator power. MLS# 2309054 $194,900

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

NORTH FOWL LAKE CABIN. Remote water only access from the US side of the border, or drive in from the Ontario side. Stunning views and easy access to the border lakes and the Royal River on the east end of the BWCA. The private 200 foot of lake-front lot has gentle shoreline and great views. MLS# 2309250 $189,000

SPECTACULAR BUILDING SITE W. BEARSKIN LAKE. Beautiful views, dense forest and direct BWCAW access. High building site affords spectacular views, level shoreline has lots of room for the dock and boats. Newly installed stairway system makes for easy access to the shore.

MLS# 2291292 $178,000

LAKE PRIVACY ON 20 ACRES. Beautiful Lost Lake is a remote wilderness lake with only a few privately owned parcels on the water. The lots are all 20 acres in size with 600 feet of shoreline. This great lot has huge white pines, a cabin site on a knoll looking south over the whole lake and great accessible shoreline for your dock. MLS# 2309079 $179,000

BEAUTIFUL LOON LAKE LOTS.Solitude on the south side of Loon Lake. Two lots with wonderful shoreline on a private road. Electric available. MLS# 2309227 & 2309228 $179,000 each

SOLITUDE ON LOON LAKE. These lots are located on the south side of Loon Lake and offer great lake views. The main road is in place and power is on the lot line. These lots offer a great shoreline and many nice trees. MLS# 2051958, 2159458, $175,000 and up

GREENWOOD LAKE LOT. Private and secluded Greenwood Lake lot with spectacular views of the Big Bay and islands. Driveway and building pad are in. A pristine 2100-acre lake provides great sport fishing for lake trout, bass and whitefish. Flyfish the many bays for rainbow and brook trout. MLS# 2309032 $162,500

ASTOUNDING VIEWS ON GREENWOOD. Nice affordable lot on Greenwood Lake. Southwest location with astounding views down the lake. Surveyed and ready to build your dream home or cabin. Easy year round access and only 20 minutes from Grand Marais. MLS# 2308929 $159,500

CHARMING COTTAGE - POPLAR LAKE. A sweet, small original cabin on a quiet and private bay. 2 bdrs, open living room great view of the lake and picturesque bay. Has an outhouse that is heated with a woodstove and propane heater. Would make a neat rental property. MLS# 2308928 $159,000

LOT 8, NINEMILE LAKE. Spectacular point with 548' of shoreline. Property features 2.3 acres with ledgerock outcroppings, mixed tree cover, and outstanding views. For added privacy, lot adjoins State of MN lands. MLS# 2242117 $97,900

SISTER LAKE PARCEL. Nice lake lot with good tree cover, high and level building sites. High point has awesome views. Excellent shoreline, partial driveway already in place. MLS# 2273977 $89,600

TOM LAKE CLASSIC. The original "Grandpa's Cabin" nestled in the woods right at the water's edge. Cute, the perfect getaway from town or work on those lazy days of summer. MLS# 2308782 $89,900 GREAT LOT – TOM LAKE. End of road privacy on Tom Lake. Lot 16 on Wilderness Shores. Beautiful wooded lot that has its own bay/cove. MLS# 2308801 $50,000 LOT 1, NINEMILE LAKE

HOMES & CABINS

CLASSIC FARM HOUSE AND

COUNTY ROAD 60 - GRAND MARAIS.

Earth home with over 5 acres and a creek. South exposure with stone hearth and charming details. 4 BR, 3 BA with a 2-car detached garage.

is

HOVLAND OPPORTUNITY. Large home or commercial opportunity on Hwy 61 between Hovland and Grand Portage. This 7 bedroom

has resort/commercial zoning allowing for many options. Located on the scenic Reservation River at the gateway to the most picturesque corner of Minnesota's North Shore. Large deck, stone fireplace, Lake Superior views, +/500' of rushing river frontage. A great home for a large family, or your business dream. MLS# 2313085, 2313088 $289,900

NEW! HOBBY FARM OR LOTS OF IDEAS. This large property features open meadows, gardens, orchards, and a beautiful river. The living quarters with 4 bdrms, 2 baths and open living space is located above a 6-stall horse barn. A large pole barn, huge gathering hall, garage and various storage sheds provide lots of sheltered space. Two wells and septic systems. Easy county road access. What's your idea? MLS# 6018972 $279,900

CABINS

VALHALLA – HISTORIC HOUSE AND BARN. Two charming historic Hovland structures dating to 1912. Partially redone with a new steel roof, bathroom, electrical work, etc. Fantastic location, 100 yards from Lake Superior with public access at the Hovland dock. You can spend more, but you cannot get more for less $$. Some work needs to be completed to your taste. MLS# 6018581 $65,000 PRICE REDUCED! BIG DROP!

MARAIS CABINS. Good income property with long-term tenants. All cabins have had ongoing upgrades - roofs, baths, plumbing, heating. Cabin 1 has fireplace. Charming touches.

MANY OPPORTUNITIES - WITHIN CASCADE STATE PARK. Enjoy being surrounded by and within the boundaries of Cascade State Park while taking in the amazing views of Lake Superior. This home has been used as a successful vacation rental, a long-term rental and a primary residence in the past. Hardwood floors, coved ceilings, and nice sized rooms with a lot of windows to catch those lake breezes! MLS# 2309172 $234,900

2309191 $319,900 LOCATION, VIEWS, PRIVACY, 80 ACRES. Sweeping views of Lake Superior and Pincushion Mt from expansive open meadows. This former homesteaders property has it all: rolling topography, ravines, grassy meadows, mature timber, flowing creek and expansive views. MLS# 2309111 $279,000

ESCAPIST’S CABIN – HOVLAND. Cozy cabin on 43 acres with all the comforts you need. Trails lead to State land on two sides. Year round access and close to Tom Lake, yet with deep seclusion. MLS# 2313225 $79,900

LOG CABIN NEAR

TOM LAKE. Charming log cabin perfectly sited for seasonal views of Tom Lake. Solidly built with timber frame & logs, paned windows, stone fireplace, hardwood floors, & metal roof. Large loft bedroom. Covered front porch complete with swing. Ready for your finishing touches! 78 acres of forested land, with year-round access on plowed roads. Furnishings & generator included. MLS# 2313187 $192,900

cabins, ready for you to move in. A storage shed and outhouse are included. It adjoins federal land and you could walk to the BWCAW, or drive to the public landing just down the road. MLS# 2305426 $132,500 SUNNY DISPOSITION. Country home on 10 acres in Hovland area. Bright and sunny living room, with beamed cathedral ceilings, open floor plan, new flooring, updated kitchen with new appliances. Master bdr with bath, 2 lower level bedrooms with family room. Large open and private yard. Large 2-car garage with workshop. MLS# 2280673 $198,000

RENTAL COTTAGES - GOOD HISTORY - GREAT LAKE. Devil Track Cabins have been a long standing seasonal resort on the beautiful north shore of Devil Track Lake. 5 cabins plus an owner's cabin needing renovation - a manageable operation for a retired couple, or as a family retreat. Great potential as vacation rental business. Classic charm, nice lake views. private setting. MLS# 2313022 $389,000

RECREATIONAL BASE CAMP. Great Tofte lot has 2 garage buildings. They could easily become living space, one has a second story. Property has room for a home with views of a dramatic creek gorge with waterfall and Lake Superior view. 4.54 acres, year-round road, power, phone. MLS# 2299624 $179,900

OUTSTANDING VIEWS OF LAKE SUPERIOR. Almost 15 acres within the boundaries of Cascade State Park. Rolling hills, a variety of tree species, and just 10-15 minutes from both Grand Marais and Lutsen. Potential for subdivision. MLS# 2309282 $175,000

MOUNTAIN TOP - WILDERNESS VIEWS. Preserve this large acreage for your exclusive annex to the adjoining wilderness. Fantastic vistas into the BWCA and of the surrounding rugged topography near McFarland Lake. Located at the end of the Arrowhead Trail with easy year-round access. The 122 acres has a high ridge and a "mountain top" for you to name. MLS# 2313109 $167,000

GRAND

Own a slice of Minnesota’s Favorite Resorts

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

RIDGES, PINES AND VIEWS - ARROWHEAD TRAIL.

Large parcel with first rate, high building sites with huge pines looking south and west over the wilderness. The surrounding federal land leads directly into the BWCAW. Excellent year-round road access on the Arrowhead Trail. McFarland Lake is just a half-mile away. MLS# 2313108 $63,000

BIG LAND, BIG CREEK, BIG TREES. This Hovland area parcel is on the "front range" of the Farquhar Hills with a dramatic backdrop of rock cliffs and escarpments. There is a large creek running through the entire property with many fantastic building sites. MLS# 2308857 $159,900

INCREASINGY RARE, LARGE RECREATIONAL PARCEL.

190 arces fully surveyed. The perfect retreat. Has a rich variety of trees, ponds, high and low lands, some meadow land and wetlands. MLS# 2309103 $150,000

EIGHTY ACRE RETREAT. 80 acres in Schroeder. Rolling land with wonderful wildlife habitat including stream and beaver dam with large pond. MLS# 2303407 $120,000

LARGE PARCEL. Large private parcel with possible subdivision potential. Great Lake Superior views on the higher elevations. A small creek runs through part of the 25 acre property. MLS# 2308822 $124,900

INTRIGUING PROSPECT. High-quality items already in place include an insulated/heated slab for house/porch, insulated garage slab, electricity, driveway, the well, a time-dosed/heated septic system. Over 18 acres of privacy. MLS# 2291419 $119,900

READY TO BUILD. Driveway and building pad already in place. A red pine forest climbs up to the highest point with stunning views of high ridges and valleys. MLS# 2308723 $99,900

MAPLES, VIEWS, PRIVACY. 85+ acres near Hovland. Good end of road access, adjoining tons of federal land, great view of pond. MLS# 2313198 $98,900

HUGE POND-HUGE PRIVACY. Large wooded acreage located across from Tom Lake. Huge pond/lake in the very center of the acreage. MLS# 2308921 $99,000

RUSTICATE, RECREATE, RELAX. Reclusive Hovland hideaway – 43 acres with new driveway to “base camp” with a nice camper trailer and shed. Trails have been cut throughout the property which adjoins State land. Road maintained in winter with power possible in the future. MLS# 2313223 $69,900

The Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts is unmatched in its intimate proximity to Lake Superior. We offer three distinct ownership opportunities to achieve what you’ve been dreaming of for years.

• Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior: Award-winning property, Minnesota’s Favorite Resort. One, two and three bedroom condos & townhomes on Lake Superior with access to restaurants, pools, saunas, tennis court, gift shops, & full service spa.

• Surfside on Lake Superior: New, spacious luxury townhomes on Lake Superior. Home to Waves of Superior Spa & Café. Offering shared ownership opportunities.

• Temperance Landing on Lake Superior: Distinctive log home luxury on ledgerock and cobblestone beach near Temperance River. 3 BR, 3BA custom log homes with access to resort amenities at Surfside.

Eric Frost

Sales Agent, Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts

Let Eric, exclusive sales agent for Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts, provide the details about each property and guide you through the process. Contact him today to learn more.

218-663-6886 | eric@bluefinbay.com

LAND/BUILDING SITES

GREAT LOCATION, QUALITY FOREST, BUILD HERE. These 10-acre parcels have a mature and mixed forest, southerly exposure, easy county road frontage and just minutes from Grand Marais. MLS# 2309143 $68,900, MLS# 2309123 $67,900, MLS# 2309147 $68,900

MAPLE HILL - HOME SITE. Heavily wooded parcel with great privacy, county rd frontage, power and phone. MLS# 2192740 $64,500

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

THIRTY ACRES - PANORAMIC VIEWS. Rare mountain tops with a 180 degree view of distant Lake Superior and the ridge to the north. MLS# 2260709 $62,500

GREAT LOCATION NEAR DEVIL TRACK. Nice wooded parcel, survey, septic site evaluations, and access road in place. MLS# 2308847 $59,900

QUIET AND PRIVATE. Choice lot at the end of the road in Lutsen, ready to build. Priced to sell! MLS# 2309202 $54,900

READY TO BUILD - NEAR DEVIL TRACK. Nice wooded parcel, survey, septic and access road in place. MLS# 2308925 $49,900

WOODED 2.4 ACRE. Tait Lake back-lot with driveway in and cleared building site ready for your cabin. Electric is on site. Owner/Agent. MLS# 2297619 $49,000

WOODED ACREAGE – GRAND MARAIS. Two private, 20 acre lots with hiking and ski trails, and abundant wildlife. A high building site offers seasonal views of Lake Superior. Good winter access via ski trails. MLS# 2313172 $46,000 & MLS# 2313173 $35,000

REMOTE 40 – POWERS LAKE ROAD. Easy access off Powers Lake Road. MLS# 2304124 $42,000

NICE HOVLAND ACREAGE. Easy year-round access. Build your cabin retreat over looking the wildlife pond! MLS# 2313144 $38,000 FIVE SECLUDED ACRES. One of eight secluded wooded 5-acre parcels bordering Govt. land. MLS# 2308827 $28,000

Surfside on Lake Superior Bluefin Bay | Surfside

Bluefin Unit 41

2 BA. Upper unit, incredible lake views & refined interior. Great rental income history.

Bluefin Unit 64 & 65

3 BA. Largest townhome with $100K in annual income.

Bluefin Units 45 & 49 3BR, 3 BA. Just rebuilt from top to bottom with exceptional upgrades and appointments

Bluefin Bay Condos & Townhomes

Bluefin Unit 16 2BR, 2 BA. Sweeping views. Rent as 1 or 2 units to maximize income.

Bluefin Unit 2

2BR, 2 BA. You can’t get any closer to the lake than this.

NEW! THE SECLUDED SIDE OF GRAND MARAIS ON LAKE SUPERIOR! Just east of the East Bay, you’ll love running your toes through the sandy shoreline on Lake

LOTS OF LAND AND LAKESHORE ON LAKE SUPERIOR! Well maintained Family Compound with yr round newer home on 8+ ac and 340+ ft accessible shoreline! But’s it really about “The Shining Rocks” The “Rock 1” log cabin was built early 30’s, and it’s been lovingly maintained by only a handful of families since. Cabins Rock 1, 2 & 3 create this incredible family compound! MLS#2187245 REDUCED! $659,000

PEACE, SOLITUDE AND THE BIG LAKE! When all you need is a little getaway from it all, a place to enjoy the incredible views of Lake Superior from the lower level plateau perched above the lake, a simple cabin that’s easy to leave behind without worry. See it to believe it!

MLS#2290920 $399,000

NEW! END OF THE ROAD SPECTACULAR

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

SIMPLE LIVING ON THE BIG LAKE! Great vibes resonate from this home, comfortable in its design, it’s about the nice views from the entire main level, including main level bedroom! Nearby Taconite Harbor, watch the big boats pull in to the harbor!! MLS#2300030 $349,000

SWEET LAKE SUPERIOR SHORELINE, GREAT SKI GETAWAY BUNGALOW ON LAKE SUPERIOR! Ski at Lutsen Mountains, Dine at BlueFin Bay Restaurant! Super location for Easy Living on Lake Superior! Meander the Sprawling Ledge Rock Shoreline! MLS#2270954 $429,000

THE ULTIMATE FAMILY RETREAT, WHERE LUTSEN MOUNTAINS MEETS LAKE SUPERIOR! Enjoy gathering en masse around the floor to ceiling massive fireplace, talking of the day’s Ski Adventures with Lake Superior and a welcoming hot tub awaiting you! Fine Finishing very conversation worthy, you’ll LOVE the whimsy of this Lake Superior home! Complete with Rec Sun Building with billiards, perfect for entertaining! MLS#2277490 $899,000

LUTSEN LAKE SUPERIOR CASCADE BEACH RD LAND!

Very accessible, build site close to the water, listen to the waves of Lake Superior lapping the rocky shoreline! Gorgeous morning sunrises over the Big Lake, a must see! MLS#2308906 $299,000

ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED, GORGEOUS TERRACE POINT ON LAKE SUPERIOR! Quality crafted townhome features an owner’s suite so luxurious your family and guests may wonder if you’ll ever reappear! 476’ of shared shore w/ a point that juts dramatically into the lake forming Good Harbor & Cutface Creek beach. Water, sewer, ext. maint. covered by Assoc. MLS#2183691 REDUCED!

$299,000

400 FT OF STUNNING LAKE SUPERIOR SHORELINE minute’s

TEMPERANCE LANDING ON LAKE SUPERIOR!

Spectacular log home on level accessible shoreline, Vaulted ceilings, tons of windows to Soak in the views! Nice main level owner’s suite, plenty of elbow room for friends and family! MLS#2313000 $689,000

PLENTY OF ELBOW ROOM ON LAKE

SUPERIOR! Nearly 800 ft of shoreline and 11 ac. of rolling terrain, with signs of the past logging roads and Spruce planted forests providing a sweet buffer from all of those pesky worries of the Real World! Driveway installed in to the mid-section of the land to allow you to explore which building site best fits your desires! MLS#2309271 $799,000

LUTSEN’S LAKE SUPERIOR HAVEN! Mint Condition and Move In Ready, you’ll love the location, minutes to Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort and a short drive to the Harbor at Grand Marais! Quality, energy efficient home designed for one level living and low maintenance…more time for you to soak in the views from the Prow Windows in the Great Room! MLS#2308717 $579,900

ISLAND VIEW, HARBOR VIEW, SPECTACULAR VIEW!Accessible and Incredible shoreline, One of a KIND Lake Superior Parcel, Must Meander to See how much you will LOVE this Shoreline! MLS#2308826 $438,900

RUGGED TERRAIN AND SECLUDED BUILD SITE ON CARIBOU LAKE! MLS#6002791 $250,000

POPLAR LAKE CABIN ON 440’ OF SHORELINE AT THE TIP OF A PENINSULA! Ensconced in quiet Boreal environment, Cabin sits proudly above the lake for long views over Poplar’s numerous islands! Home needs a little TLC, priced to sell!

MLS#2308952 $269,000

HEY HEY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SUPER NICE CARIBOU LAKE BUILD SITE! The original cabin was recently removed, allowing for a nice “established feel” to this lot. Driveway in place, clearing done and electricity available!

MLS#2309132 $179,900

CARIBOU LAKE MEETS LUTSEN MOUNTAINS! Ski Your Winters Away, Snowmobile from your front door and Snowshoe across Caribou Lake for views of White Sky Rock! Fine Quality Family Style home that’s made for entertaining with complete guest quarters on lower level and upper level Rec Room! Gourmet Kitchen, Gorgeous Owner’s Suite walks out to deck over the Lake! Plenty of garage for cars and toys, Move In Ready!

MLS# 2313246 $547,500

LOG CABIN A SHUTTLE AWAY FROM LUTSEN MOUNTAINS!

Mint Condition, Move In Ready, keep for your own Northwoods Lutsen home in a FAB location, or participate in a rental program to offset your ownership expense while you Ski Your Winter Away, Snowmobile from your Front Door! MLS#2308971 $239,900

DEERYARD LAKE WEST GRAND

MARAIS 2000 sq ft Log Home on 100 ft Deeryard Lake, 2.5 ac, south facing, built in 2004. Large insulated, heated garage. 4 person sauna, 2 bedrm, 2 bath, 4-season porch. Power/broadband, water/septic. Maple and White Pine. Quiet, Northwood’s setting, not far from Grand Marais. MLS#2308905 $279,000

CROSS COUNTRY SKI PARADISE ON LAKE

GEGOKA! On the way to Ely just off Hwy 1, this Turn Key Condo in the Wilderness has it all…shared amenities like sauna house and spectacular shoreline! Groomed trails nearby, Call today, Ski In to the New Year!

MLS#2309094 $132,900

ON DEERYARD LAKE, with garage/workshop/cabin with 100 ft of Nice Shoreline and nearly 3 acres of south sloping land. Electric, well, septic tank, AND dock! Can’t beat this value for Lutsen Lakeshore Living! MLS#2051927 $139,000

LUTSEN DEERYARD LAKE 175 FT SHORELINE, S weeter than the sap flowing in the abundant maples on the property! View across the lake is miles of public land! Roughed-in driveway and dock materials. 15 min. to Lutsen for skiing, food, music, golf. Owner is licensed MN REALTOR® MLS#2308919 $184,900 REDUCED!

CRAZY CUTE RUSTIC LOG CABIN ON CHRISTINE LAKE! Located just off a designated Mountain Bike Trail system, enjoy year round access, electric at street and a TOTAL SENSE OF SECLUSION! Canoe on Christine, Fly Fish in the Poplar or just go for a hike in the Superior National Forest!

MLS#2308836 $165,000

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

comfy and welcoming, the perfect spot to relax after a long day of Skiing! Must See Rental Revenues, these units are Selling fast! MLS#2174823 #61 MINT CONDITION! $554,999 HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A LAKE SUPERIOR STORM ROLL ACROSS THE LEDGEROCK? You’ll HEAR it too from this lovely little LUTSEN Villa on the water’s edge. Super Amenities in the Pool Rec Bldg only a hop and skip away, Make this your Romantic Retreat and Lutsen Ski Getaway! MLS#1336097 $169,000

LOVELY LUTSEN HOME, SIMPLE

TOFTE NEAR TEMPERANCE

RIVER! Lovely home is set up as a Duplex, an upstairs home and a lower level apartment, which could be a perfect rental for extra income. Hike to Lake Superior’s Temperance River State Park, just a stone’s throw from the bike trail MLS#2309057 $199,000

FAMILY FRIENDLY HOME IN TOFTE in between Lutsen and Tofte, just a minute to the Ski Hill or Sugarbush XCountry trails! Garage, tons of space! MLS#2165564 $189,000

Great recreational spot nearby to tons of trails and minutes to Grand Marais for shopping! Newer construction, Detached garage and Move In Ready! MLS#2309294 $280,000 BIG BANG FOR THE BUCK!

carpet and two garages! MLS#2097402 REDUCED! $205,000

SWEEPING HOME ON MAPLE HILLSIDE, DISTANT LAKE VIEWS AND RAVINE! All you can ask for, acreage, Maples!, and a huge garage with plenty of firewood storage for winter warmth! Newer construction, huge walk around deck and wide open living, Awesome Owner’s Suite, Tons of potential in walk out level! Must See! MLS#2313265 $304,900 REDUCED!

SILVER BAY

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

Wilderness Retreat! Sweet cabin and Storage on 39+ acres of Boreal Wilderness!

MLS#2312989 $114,900

30 acres Wilderness, Borders lands next to Little Manitou River! MLS#2309327 $129,000

Rocky Wall Overlooking Lake Superior just outside Silver Bay PRICE REDUCED!

MLS#2244646 $99,000

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

Rock Road in Silver Bay area!

Great build site with creek frontage!

MLS#2308638 $45,000

Sonju Lake Road in Finland!Several large parcels from MLS#2313331 $44,900 Little Marais Road Acreage! Build Ready Site, RV Neg. Old Garage, GREAT VIBE!

MLS#2313191 $99,000

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

Lakeshore on Ninemile Lake at the Village, common water and septic, build ready, borders common land! MLS#2309096 $45,000

Commercial Lot for Bar/Restaurant at the Village at Ninemile Lake, in between Finland and the Trestle Inn! MLS#2309264 $47,500

SCHROEDER AREA NEAR THE CROSS RIVER!

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

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

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

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

Sugarloaf Retreats on High Ridge Drive, located up the Surgaloaf Road from Sugarloaf Cove Naturalist Area, Enjoy large acreage parcels at rock bottom prices! Each $49,900 REDUCED! MLS#1598640

Beat the Holiday Stress and Head North for some RELAXATION!

LeVeaux Mountain, Super Views and Wildlife Ponds! FROM $49,900 MLS#2216091, MLS#2220050 $69,000 & MLS#2309131 $59,000

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

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

Wowser Lake Superior views on Overlook Tr! MLS#2296509 $82,900

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

Gorgeous 19 acres with creek running through the middle, high ground! MLS#2309247 $65,000

10 acres with driveway, gorgeous views from cleared building site and a building concrete pad, ready for your cabin or garage! A Hop and a Skip to Pike Lake Landing! MLS#2309168 SALE PENDING $57,500

Lutsen land with lake views. Lake views, driveway, rustic cabin on one parcel! Great value at $80,000 each! MLS#2313098, ask about MLS#2313099 for addl land!

Onion River Rd land, Hiker’s Heaven! MLS#2309316 $45,000

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

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

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

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

Gorgeous 5 acre parcels in the Heart of Lutsen paved Caribou Trail locale bordering USFS lands! MLS#2174799 From 54,900-$77,500

Creek Build Site just off the Caribou Trail at Jonvick Creek! Rare and Unique Build site! MLS#2289515 REDUCED! $57,500

What an opportunity!

30 plus acres on Lutsen’s Ski Hill Rd, Lutsen Mountains. Great views of Lake Superior and toward Moose Mountain. MLS# 2217142 SALE PENDING $250,000

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

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

Hunters and Fisherman take note: Desirable 20 acre parcel located on the outskirts of Lutsen, minutes to Bigsby, Ward, Deeryard and Caribou Lakes! Nice mixed forest with high ground. Murmur Cr. frontage. Great price for your Northwoods getaway! MLS#1914043 REDUCED! $24,900

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

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

7.26 ac south facing land west of Grand Marais.

White Pine, Maple forest in the Deeryard Lake area- East Deeryard Rd. Power/broadband. All high ground. MLS#2308855 $49,000

SUPER Views on Birch Drive! Complete with swimming pond on high ridge ledgerock setting, unique! MLS#2308937 $79,000

Birch Drive, West of Grand Marais! Wilderness Setting with 5 ac HUGE Value $42,500 MLS#2173005 or HUGE Lake Superior views MLS#2303398 REDUCED! FOR $71,000!

A River Runs Through It! 160 Acres of Upland and River Frontage on the Cascade River near Eagle Mountain. Whether Hunting land or Wilderness Retreat, this is a Great Opportunity! MLS#1940786 REDUCED! $119,900

O wn your own park in the heart of Grand Marais! MLS#2178139 $17,000

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

60 Ac with Lake Views

E of Grand Marais! Keep this gem all to yourself and enjoy plenty of elbow room! MLS# 2208961 REDUCED! $119,000

Wild Plum Drive

East of Grand Marais! Nice level build site, yr round and electric avail. MLS# 2272729 REDUCED! $40,000

20 Ac With Lake Superior Views! Awesome locale Cty Rd 56, minutes to Grand Marais, yr round access & Elec at Rd! MLS# 2306551 REDUCED! $69,000

LAKE SUPERIOR land and lakeshore! Several acres of privacy and way more than 200 ft of Level Access Lake Superior shoreline in Schroeder, near Sugarloaf Cove Naturalist Area! MLS#2090420REDUCED! $275,000

Lake Superior View

Bloomquist Mtn. Road 5.8A -

$44,900

10 miles east of Grand Marais with power at the property, driveway, and several building sites partially cleared!

MLS 6004895

Silver Fox Rd - $69,900

Year round 5+A east of town. Utilities are all available. Mature trees, rolling topography, a babbling creek.

MLS 6004546

County Rd 67 - $69,900

4.16 A with the lake so close you can see the waves rolling in to the state-owned shoreline, right across the street.

MLS 6002892

Gunflint Trail 6.46A - $127,495

Year round 6.46A with plenty of privacy. Great views of Superior!

MLS 6004495

Murphy Mtn Rd - $59,900

5A, close to town. Surveyed, pins are all clearly marked, utilities in place and septic sites identified.

MLS 6004463

Raven Feather - $99,900 NEW 6.63A private but close to town. Septic sites have been identified, the parcel is surveyed.

MLS 6004800

Fall River Rd - $43,900 NEW

Nearly 10A, year round, wooded, close to town. Gently rolling topography, electric and Broadband available.

MLS 6004801

Homes & Cabins

Inland Lake Lots

Poplar Lake

$99,900

Kemo Lake One of only 4 lots on south shore. Private 2.34A with 200’ frontage on excellent trout lake!

MLS 6004734 $139,900

Devil Track Lake Beautiful lake lot on 2A and over 150’ of shore. Nicely wooded, close to town. Tons of recreational activities nearby.

MLS 6003833 $199,900

10A of wooded land with driveway and building site in place. 255’ of shore with fantastic views.

MLS 6004496 $185,000

Squint Lake Nicely wooded 2.13A with some lovely old White Pine trees! Excellent Mid-Gunflint Trail location, 221’shore, gentle topography AND directly abutting USFS for added privacy

MLS 6003969 $79,900

Leo Lake 169’ shore, on 3.70A, mid trail location, with public access to other lakes nearby.

MLS 6004265 $134,500

McFarland Lake BWCAW lake lot of 5+ A with 244’ shore. Surveyed and all boundaries are fully flagged

MLS 6004373 $147,900

Two Island 5+ A of wooded land with 500+’ of shorelineand state land on two sides! Year round access; great recreational area.

MLS 6004214 $89,900

Convenient mid-trail location with deeded lakeshore access. Building site cleared, driveway in, utilities available.

MLS 6002116 $52,500

Very quiet 1.8A, over 200’ shore. Driveway and garage are in. Multiple portages into BWCAW.

MLS 6004001 $174,900

Tom Lake

Year round, 1.10A, 171’ shore, nicely wooded, driveway and cleared building site.

MLS 6003815 $54,900

Year round, 1.3A, 200’ shore. Nice gentle walking trail down to lake.

MLS 6004165 $69,900

Private 34+A, 600’ of shore. Property is surveyed and septic sites are id’d.

MLS 6004108 $149,900

Heavily wooded with year-round access. 112’ shore on county maintained road.

MLS 6004699 $114,900

Chester Lake

The only private parcel on Chester Lake. One of a kind opportunity! 40A, 300’ frontage! Rough cabin sold “as is”

MLS 6004004 $149,900

Pike Lake

3.7A, 200’ of accessible shoreline. Healthy tree coverage; abuts federal land to the south for added privacy

MLS 6004324 $179,900

Squint Lake 5A surrounded on 2 sides by government land. Convenient mid-trail location with easy access to many recreational activities.

MLS 6003242 $69,900

Silver Fox Rd 5A of northwoods privacy with all modern conveniences about 8 minutes from town. Gently rolling with some very attractive building sites. Abuts government land.

MLS 6004545 $39,900

Roman’s Rd Close to Devil Track Lake and lots of recreational activities. 1.72A

MLS 6002323 $29,900

County Rd 7 5A to build your home or cabin, close to town. Close to Pike Lake and has lots of wildlife!

MLS 6004124 $49,900

Wooded 5A, with seasonal Lake Superior Views! Nice mix of trees and quality build sites.

MLS 6004272 $74,900

Beautifully wooded 7.7A, wonderful views of Lake Superior. Septic and building site id’d.

MLS 6004338 $69,900

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

MLS 6004622 $65,000

Pick your own floorings, colors, materials! Borman Construction will build 2BR,1BA home on 5A.

MLS 6004271 $315,000

Stonegate RD 2A with lots of potential uses. Power, phone, and broadband are a stones throw away.

MLS 6003282 $19,900

Land

Rosebush Hill Lane Nicely wooded 5.40A with shared driveway only minutes from town. Identified septic sites and fully surveyed! Approx. 430’ of creek frontage. OWNER will consider a Contract for Deed!

MLS 6003093 $49,900

W Hwy 61 Great location and development opportunities right off Hwy 61! 7.1A Commercial lot (Zoned Commercial and R-1). Additional acreage of R-1 behind. Agent Owned.

MLS 6002301 $149,900

Diagonal Rd 20A, not-so-remote remote parcel. Year round access to within a few yards. Septic sites identified. Great mixture of tree cover as well as highlands and wetlands.

MLS 6003602 $27,500

Pendant Lake Tr 5A, with year round access. Power on sight, phone close by. Beautifully wooded and privacy but only 12 minutes from town.

MLS 6003893 $48,000

E Hwy 61 Conveniently located near public access to Lake Superior, Kadunce Wayside, Kadunce River, Superior Hiking Trail and more.

MLS 6003752 $18,000

Schoolhouse Road

10A close to town. This parcel will be surveyed and have septic sites confirmed

MLS 6019135 $49,900 NEW

Solberg Lane 20A close to town but is definitely offthe-grid for a real North Woods getaway. Nicely elevated with the possibility of solar and wind power. Rustic outhouse and bunkhouse cabin on the site.

MLS 6003176 $72,500

4018 County Rd 14

10-20A nicely wooded year round lots. Electricity and phone, abuts Federal land providing access to incredible amount of land.

MLS 6004017 $44,900 - $74,900

31 Bloomquist Mtn Rd

Beautifully wooded 6+A in a great neighborhood. Easy drive to Grand Marais but feels ultra private.

MLS 6004132 $40,000

Irish Creek Rd

23A, off grid living on a year-round road means easy access while maintaining that secluded feel.

MLS 6004611 $29,900

Quist Rd

Two 5A parcels with potential spectacular views of Lake Superior. Close to town, but very private!

MLS 6004290 $40,000 - $42,000

North Rd

20A, very private, year round access. Power, phone and broadband available at the road!! MLS 6004563 $39,900

Coyote Ridge

Three 5A, private, beautifully wooded parcels close to town. Babbling, gurgling creek

Whippoorwill

$49,999-10598 Mitawan Lake 1.46 Acres MLS# 6019242

$69,900- XXX Gunsten Lake Rd 10+ Acres MLS# 6018259

$84,500 XXXX Gunsten Lake Rd

1000’+ lakeshore MLS# 6015996

Allow me to guide you step by step through the process of Buying or Selling in Real Estate in Northern Minnesota. It is time for you to: Think Minnesota

Larsmont Full Ownership, 2 Bed

Rental History, Two Harbors

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT

Wolf

This was taken off the Gunflint Trail last January. The wolf was eating something on the side of the road when I first saw it. After it took off into the woods, I sat and waited and it popped back out into this little clearing for just a few seconds. I wish that I had more time to get more pictures, but it didn’t hang around long. I haven’t seen many healthy looking wolves in several years now.—Nace Hagemann

EARLY WINTER HOURS

FRI 11/20 4pm-11pm SAT 11/21 4pm-11pm SUN 11/22 12pm-7pm

THU 11/26 3pm-11pm

FRI 11/27 3pm-1am

SAT 11/28 11am-11pm

SUN 11/29 11am-5pm

FRI 12/04 3pm-11pm SAT 12/05 11am-11pm SUN 12/06 11am-5pm OPEN