Northern Wilds

A Month of Transitions

November is a month when the Northern Wilds slows down and shifts gears. Along the North Shore, many folks breathe a sigh of relief that they’ve made it through another busy summer and autumn. And this year, by the accounts of many, was especially busy. In the forest, the leaves have fallen and the open water is beginning to freeze over, heralding the arrival of winter.

We await the snow, though some are less patient than others. Especially impatient are hunters, who like to have some tracking snow for the annual deer season. Also feeling flakey (snow flakey, that is) are all of the folks who enjoy winter sports—skiers, snowmobilers, mushers and ice anglers. Soon enough, they’ll find their fun.

With the onset of shorter days come more options for indoor fun. Bluegrass musicians gather at Lutsen Resort for their annual weekend get-together. At the North House Folk School, the annual Winterer’s Gathering attracts folks who are getting ready for the cold, dark months ahead. In Thunder Bay, Lutsen and Tofte they celebrate the coming of winter with a Food and Wine Festival. At Split Rock Lighthouse, the beacon is lit to commemorate the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald. And the Caravan du Nord rolls into Ely to showcase Minnesota musicians.

At Northern Wilds, we’re getting ready for winter, too. We are planning our move into the Grand Marais Professional Building (formerly Swanson Law Offices) later this month. We’ll have more space for our publishing operations and the Print and Copy Shop in a convenient, very visible location on Hwy 61. We’ll tell you more after we finally make the move.

This month, we’re also excited to welcome more members to the Northern Wilds team. Our new dining columnist is Maren Webb of Grand Marais. A Two Harbors native, Maren returned to her beloved North Shore a few years ago to make a home with her husband, Matt and their chocolate Lab, Maya. One of our favorite Ontario writers, Julia Prinselaar, is starting a new column this month called Wild Traditions. Julia has a deep interest in the traditional crafts and ways of the North. In her debut column, she explains the traditional way to tan hides.

We’re happy to welcome a new member to our office staff. Her name is Evee and she comes to us from Ontario’s remote Sandy Lake Reserve by way of a Thunder Bay organization called Paws for Love. She is the newest addition to Amber Pratt’s family.

Inside this issue, you’ll find stories about Ruby’s Pantry food distribution and KTWH, the new community radio station in Two Harbors. We’re featuring a selection of northern lights photos from some of our favorite photographers. Gord Ellis writes about the best time to catch walleyes through the ice, although you must temper your fishing enthusiasm until the new ice is safe for walking.

Elle Andra-Warner shares an interesting story about a Thunder Bay university professor who was on-hand for the exhumation of one of his ancestors, a member of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition. And, with a tip of the hat to the Lake Superior Storm Fest, we devote our arts Spotlight to the majestic Big Lake.

November is a month of transition, but we’ll barely find time for a moments rest as we get ready to move while producing the next issue of Northern Wilds. And we want to get out in the deer woods, too. So we plan to make the most of November. And you should, too.

—Shawn Perich and Amber Pratt

Amber’s new puppy, Evee, is part of our Northern Wilds team.

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, Gary Fiedler, Michael Furtman, John Gregor, David Johnson, Dawn LaPointe, Deane Morrison, Earl Orf, Juila Prinselaar, Amy Schmidt, Javier Serna, 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)

Barred

by Earl Orf

Community radio airs in Two Harbors

TWO HARBORS—A new sound is coming across the airwaves in Two Harbors. The community radio station KTWH 99.5 FM launched Sept. 13. The 100-watt station airs from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays and 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. weekends. In good conditions, broadcasts can be heard along the North Shore from about Knife River almost to Gooseberry. The station can be streamed at ktwh.org.

Two Harbors Community Radio board chair Fran Kaliher says it has taken about four years of planning and development to get the station on the air. She and another volunteer, Leo Babeu, began discussing the idea in 2011 after they learned Congress passed legislation making the remaining air waves available to communities. Since then, the entirely volunteer effort has consumed “thousands of volunteer hours” to make the station come to fruition.

The station’s studio is located in the Harbor Landing Building along Hwy 61. The antenna is sited at the County Highway Dept. shop about one mile north of Hwy 61 on County Hwy 2. Kaliher says the station serves an important role in the community.

“We needed to differentiate ourselves from Duluth,” she says. “We’re able to get out information for community events and get more exposure for local music.”

About half of the programming is locally produced. A live morning show airs from 7-9 a.m. on week days. In the evening, there are different locally produced music

Musician Mel Sando and Dave Anderson, host of The Beat Farm, during a studio live performance. | SUBMITTED

programs. On Friday nights, Dave Anderson has a live program with a local musician performing in the studio. Mondays from 9-10 a.m. is Nordic Roots, a show of Scandinavian music from then and now with Arna Rennan.

The local programming also includes reports from the

county veteran services officer and the Lake County Sex Trafficking Task Force, updates on local arts and youth radio, which includes a sports wrap up and a show about happenings at the Two Harbors High School.

“We are doing more outreach to kids so we can expand our youth programming,” Kaliher says.

Learning how to run a radio station with volunteers is, to some extent, a matter of by guess and by gosh. The volunteers include a mix of folks with some commercial or college radio experience—all 10 or more years ago. Some have no previous radio experience. They are learning from one another and figuring out how to use new software.

“It’s a challenge on many fronts, but it’s a great learning and growing experience for everyone,” Kaliher says.

The station hopes to hire a part time station manager over the winter. There are plans to have more local programming. Eventually, the station may move to a downtown location and, by boosting its signal to 250 watts, expand its broadcast area. Right now, though, a dedicated group of volunteers is having fun creating a new radio station.

“We have an interesting mix of people who otherwise would not have crossed paths,” Kaliher says. —Shawn Perich

The KTWH morning show crew L to R: Mychele Anderson, Ian Fritz, Jackie Rennwald, Michelle Miller and Leo Babeu. | SUBMITTED

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s Sliding Scale Program

assists our patients in covering the cost of medical bills.

Recently, we’ve lowered the percentage eligible patients are responsible for paying, making many services more affordable. Services covered include:

CAT Scan services available at North Shore Hospital that have been requested by a SMC doctor or nurse practitioner.

Dental exams provided by Grand Marais Family Dentistry (Drs. Hedstrom and Lindquist). For medically necessary services.

Doctor or Nurse Practitioner visits at a Sawtooth Mountain Clinic sites in Grand Marais, Tofte or Grand Portage.

Laboratory tests, X-ray and diagnostic tests at North Shore Hospital, when requested by a Sawtooth Mountain Clinic doctor or nurse practitioner.

Mental health counseling with Linda VandenBrook, MA, LMFT; Wayne Arnzen, MA, LP; Kelly Senty, MA, Steps of Change; Sherri Moe, MS, MFT; and/or at the Human Development Center.

MRI services available at North Shore Hospital at the mobile unit that have been requested by a Sawtooth Mountain Clinic doctor or nurse practitioner.

Outpatient consultation Initial visit is covered when referred.

Physical and Occupational therapy services at North Shore Hospital that are requested by a SMC doctor or nurse practitioner.

Prescription drugs obtained at the Arrowhead Pharmacy or the Grand Marais Pharmacy in Grand Marais are covered when a SMC doctor or nurse practitioner writes the prescription. Some limits apply.

Vision Care: St. Luke’s Ophthalmology via NSH

In addition to the services it has always covered, the Sliding Scale Program is now covering the following services:

Chiropractic Care: Malin Aseby-Gesch, D.C. or Loren Stoner, D.C.. Referal required.

Hearing Aid Assistance

Physical Therapy (outside of NSH) (Becky Stoner P.T.)

Acupuncture, Acupressure, Homeopathic, Healing Touch, Massage and Art Therapy

A list of practitioners is available at the clinic.

Individuals must be patients of the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic in order to apply for Sliding Scale coverage and must obtain a referral from our providers for most services. Applications and more information is available at the clinic, on our website at www.sawtoothmountainclinic.org, or by calling 218-387-2330

Available to individuals with annual incomes up to $23,541 plus $8,320 for every additional family member living in your household.

Senty to perform energy audits

COOK COUNTY—Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP)’s Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) is gearing up to work with a new energy auditor in Cook County. Although not new to the county or building, Mike Senty of Senty Construction and Senty Inspection, will become the new REEP energy auditor. He will also offer blower door testing for new construction in Cook County.

Senty has worked in Cook County for 39 years as a log builder and general builder and is a licensed general contractor. Two years ago he incorporated home inspections into his work using his construction background in addition to course work at Kaplan University in Minneapolis. He is looking forward to including his new skills into this work.

Chris Norman, who has worked with CCLEP’s REEP over the past four years, is working seasonally in Florida and is no longer available to do audits in Cook County. With Senty available to do audits, REEP will continue to offer energy audits and promote energy efficiency in Cook County.

REEP is designed to increase the energy efficiency of homes by using home performance energy audits before and after improvement work. The program is open to all income levels. Homeowners pay for the audit ($400) and improvements, but an audit rebate ($300) is available with completion of selected improvements

within 18 months of the initial audit.

REEP audits consist of a blower door test that measures precisely how much air infiltrates a home. Infrared camera imaging measures surface temperatures and is used in conjunction with the blower door to detect where major infiltration occurs, by locating temperature differences. These two tools, along with other devices, allow an auditor to gather more information about a home that may not be obvious visually.

The home performance energy audit also involves a visual inspection of the home to help determine what improvements can be recommended to increase energy efficiency. This also increases building durability, comfort, and saves homeowners money. Audit reports help homeowners decide what improvements make the most sense for their budget and what is best for their home.

CCLEP has a partnership with the Cook County and Grand Marais Economic Development Authority to bring this service to county residents and promote local economic development.

REEP will be able to do pre and post improvement audits beginning the end of November. For more information about REEP see the CCLEP website under programs at cookcountylocalenergy.org. To find out more about REEP and make an appointment, call CCLEP Coordinator Virginia Danfelt at 218-370-9690.

Cook County food drive

GRAND MARAIS—As you may know, the local food shelf is in need. It’s that time of the year when budgeting for your family can be difficult, with additional costs for fuel, winter clothing and gear, holiday expenses and more. So it’s important that the community pulls together and pitches in to help those who need assistance. In an effort to do so, The Senior Center will be hosting a Food Drive starting October 22 and running until November 20. As an incentive to get people to donate, there will be a raffle. With each food or money donation, you will earn a ticket and the chance to win a variety of prizes. Jes Rodne, programs and services coordinator at the Cook County Senior Center, is looking for prizes to be donated by local stores, hotels, restaurants, hair salons, gas stations, churches, grocery stores, etc. To make donations or get more information, contact Rodne at 218-387-2660 or cccoa@boreal.org.

Mike Senty [LEFT] and Chris Norman [RIGHT] met to review energy audit equipment and working with the REEP program. | SUBMITTED

Blaze orange clothing required

ST. PAUL—With Minnesota’s hunting seasons underway, conservation officers (CO) with the Minnesota DNR report some hunters are not wearing the required blaze orange clothing.

“The blaze orange requirement is for safety,” said CO Marty Stage of Ely. “One hunter said that he wasn’t very far from his home, to excuse him from needing blaze orange.”

Making a blaze orange fashion statement this fall might not get you on the best-dressed list, but it just might save your life.

“Wearing blaze orange clothing is a safety requirement to hunt or trap during Minnesota’s small game season or firearms deer season,” said Jon Paurus, DNR enforcement education program coordinator. “It’s important to be seen by others.”

SMALL GAME SEASONS: At least one visible article of clothing above the waist must be blaze orange when taking small game, except when hunting migratory birds from a blind or on the water, wild turkeys, raccoons or predators, when hunting by falconry, when trapping (outside deer seasons) or when hunting deer by archery while stationary.

DEER SEASON: The visible portion of at least one item of a cap and one item of outer clothing above the waist, excluding sleeves and gloves, must be blaze orange when hunting or trapping during any open season where deer may be taken by firearms (including special hunts, early antlerless, youth seasons and muzzleloader). Blaze orange includes a camouflage pattern of at least 50 percent blaze orange within each square foot.

“The failure to wear blaze orange puts a hunter in jeopardy of not being seen by someone who does not take the time to properly identify their target and what’s beyond it,” Paurus said.

“Blaze orange clothing is a tremendous aid in helping hunters maintain visual contact with one another, particularly when moving through dense cover or woods,” Paurus said. “Any hunter who has ever identified someone strictly by seeing blaze orange knows its value in keeping track of other hunters in the field, especially in low light conditions.”

For those who use ground blinds, Paurus said to remember to place some blaze orange on the outside of the blind for others to see.

SOME SAFETY TIPS FOR NON-HUNTERS:

• Wear bright clothing. Choose colors that stand out, like red, orange or green, and avoid white, blacks, browns, earth-toned greens and animal-colored clothing. Blaze orange vests and hats are advisable.

• Be courteous. Don’t make unnecessary noise to disturb wildlife. Avoid confrontations.

• Most areas of Minnesota’s shore, including some state parks, are open to deer hunting Nov. 7-22.

EA open for public review

DULUTH—The Forest Service has completed an environmental assessment (EA) that addresses Twin Metals Minnesota LLC request for special use permits that would authorize access to national forest system lands within the Superior National Forest to collect baseline hydrogeologic (groundwater) data. Prior to making a decision, the Forest Service is inviting the public to review and comment on the EA.

Twin Metals Minnesota is proposing to construct up to 13 monitoring sites on national forest system lands. Associated activities for each site would include improving existing or constructing temporary access, drilling monitoring wells, collecting water data and periodic maintenance.

The proposed site locations are in St. Louis and Lake counties, near Birch Lake and the South Kawishiwi River.

The monitoring sites on national forest system lands are part of a larger Twin Metals Minnesota hydrogeologic study that includes a total of up to 116 monitoring sites across different ownerships in the vicinity. This study is designed to provide a better understanding of existing hydrologic and geologic conditions and hydrogeologic processes in the area.

The Forest Service EA documents an analysis by an interdisciplinary team of resource specialists. The project team considered 101 comment letters that were received during an earlier public scoping period. In response to public concerns about

drilling noise impacting recreation, wilderness and local landowners, the interdisciplinary team developed an alternative that would reduce noise impacts.

For 30 days following publication of the October 10 legal notice announcing the EA, individuals or organizations may submit comments regarding the EA. The Forest Service will issue a draft Decision Notice after the responsible official has reviewed and considered all the comments. Only those who submit a comment are eligible to file an objection to the draft Decision Notice during a subsequent 45-day objection period. More information can be found on the Superior National Forest website www.fs.usda.gov/superior.

No food goes to waste with Ruby’s Pantry

GRAND MARAIS—Cook County residents can stretch their food dollars by participating in Ruby’s Pantry, a nonprofit, faith-based service that distributes nearly outdated or surplus food to over 55 rural communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The service, which began in Grand Marais in May, is also available in Silver Bay.

“You never know what you are getting. It’s always a surprise,” says Ruby’s Pantry volunteer Barb Spaulding of Grand Marais.

Ruby’s Pantry receives donations of surplus food from corporate suppliers throughout the Midwest. If the food didn’t go to Ruby’s pantry, most likely it would end up in a landfill. Spaulding says about 40 percent of the food in the U.S. is thrown away.

Instead, Ruby’s Pantry has two warehouses, one north of the Twin Cities and one in Wisconsin, where the food is collected. The food includes dry goods such as bread, crackers, pasta and cereal; frozen foods like ice cream, sausage and pizza dough; fresh produce and other food items.

“There even a few odd things,” Spaulding said. “We’ve even received chairs and a book.”

Once a month, a semi full of food is dispatched to Grand Marais. When it arrives at the ISD 166 elementary school, a team of 50 to 75 volunteers divides the food into equal shares. A skid steer from Edwin E. Thorson, Inc. is used to unload the goods. Every share contains the same items. Then it is ready for distribution.

Participants are referred to as guests. They register when they arrive and donate $20 to receive a share. Some donate more so that others less fortunate may receive a share. Ruby’s Pantry is not financially based. Anyone may participate.

Once they are registered, guests are given a share number to pin on their shirts. They then wait until they are called to go through the distribution line. Then, armed with boxes, baskets and bins, they pass through the line to receive their share. Volunteers provide carts to place the shares on. They then go get their vehicles and pass through a loop drive, where the volunteers

Where

What you need to know about Ruby’s Pantry Distribution

Food distribution occurs in Grand Marais from 5-6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the ISD 166 elementary school. The donation is $20. Bring two sturdy boxes, bins, coolers or tote bags to carry your food.

To sign up, you fill out an annual registration form with your name and contact information (the form doesn’t ask for financial information). You receive a Guest Loyalty Card that you present at each distribution. You can pick up shares for your friends or neighbors if you present their signed registration form. Like the Cook County Ruby’s Pantry on Facebook.

help them load up the shares.

Northern Wilds in Duluth/Superior?

Generally, many guests arrive at 5 p.m., when the distribution begins. As a result, they have to wait to receive their share. Those who arrive later (distribution lasts from 5-6:30 p.m.) don’t have to wait. After everyone goes through the line, some of the remaining shares go into “blessing boxes,” which are given to people who local churches, social services and other organizations have suggested may need a little help. Any extra food is donated to organizations like the Senior Center in Grand Marais, the elders in Grand Portage, church youth groups and similar groups and organizations. Any food,

VOLUNTEER

Volunteers are always needed to help with the distribution. Contact Barb Spaulding at lbspaulding@boreal.org.

such as produce, that has begun to spoil is given to local farms for livestock feed.

“Nothing goes to waste,” Spaulding said.

After the distribution is complete, more volunteers come to help with the clean-up. They sweep floors, clean and put the tables away and leave the school site as clean as it was when they arrived.

Ruby’s Panty in Cook County was started by a core group of 10 volunteers. Since it is faith-based, it must be hosted by a church; in this case Spirit of the Wilderness. Spaulding, who coordinates the volunteers, has a pool of over 100 people in the community who she contacts monthly to see if they have time to help out.

“We’re always looking for volunteers,” she says. “You don’t have to commit to every time.”

Of the $20 donation, 90 percent goes to pay for the operation’s overhead, such as warehouses, wages and trucking. The remaining 10 percent is used locally to purchase supplies such as bags, gloves and hairnets and to cover expenses, including a small amount to the school district for the use of its facilities. The local group does not build a bank account. Any extra money is given back to the community to various nonprofit programs that provide help to other people.—Shawn Perich

Volunteers Grace Ritchey and her grandma Robin Duchein help with distribution. | BREANA ROY

An assembly line is formed to help the distribution process move along. | BREANA ROY

Comment on Grand Marais area fisheries plans

ST. PAUL—Fish management plans for Grand Marais area lakes and streams— some within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)—will undergo annual review this winter. Citizens can ask questions or submit comments on the draft plans.

“These plans identify specific management activities planned for a lake or stream in the next five to 20 years. Feedback from people interested in these waters is crucial when it comes to making the plans and determining management success,” said Steve Persons, Grand Marais area fisheries supervisor with the Minnesota DNR.

There are two comment periods. Comments on lakes within the BWCAW will be accepted until Tuesday, Dec. 15. For lakes and streams outside the BWCAW, the comment period will extend through Monday, Feb. 15, 2016.

LAKES

The status and preservation of native lake trout populations will be the primary concern in plans being revised for Crooked, Fay, Fern, French, Gillis, Howard, Long Island, Moose, Partridge, Powell, Tuscarora and West Fern lakes. These lakes are all located inside the BWCAW.

Stream trout stocking strategies will be the focus of plans for Bench, Bingshick, Unnamed (Little Portage) and Trip lakes. Options to consider include changes in species, stocking frequency, number stocked and size of fish stocked. Bench and Bingshick lakes are located within the BWCAW.

The plan for Saganaga Lake will be updated to review walleye stocking to date, incorporate the evaluation plan for the new walleye regulation and review the status of walleye, lake trout, northern pike

and smallmouth bass populations. Saganaga Lake is a BWCAW water.

Management of northern pike fisheries will be addressed in plan revisions for Logger, Ruby and Rudy lakes. The plan for Mistletoe Lake will be revised to incorporate new survey results and address walleye and northern pike management strategies. Prune Lake is an unusual lake supporting a population of small black crappie and nothing else. Options for preserving or improving this unique fishery will be considered. Squash Lake is managed as a trophy trout, catch-and-release-only lake. In this revision, the review will address poor rainbow trout stocking success and consider options to discontinue the special regulations on the lake or discontinue stream trout management entirely. Additionally, plans for several other BWCAW lakes in the area, including Gordon, Hub, Jimmy, Long, Lux, Mulligan, North Cone and Stump will be reviewed. Those plans will be revised primarily to establish survey schedules on those lakes for the next few years.

STREAMS

The plan for Flute Reed River—an important steelhead stream—will focus on habitat and water quality, hydrology and watershed issues. The plan for Tait River—a natural brook trout stream (in its lower reaches)—will incorporate results of a 2015 survey and will likely focus on habitat protection, water quality and watershed issues.

Current plans for lakes and streams in the area, as well as recent fish population assessment information are available for review at the DNR’s Grand Marais area fisheries office. For more info, call or email Steve Persons at 218-387-3056 or steve.persons@state.mn.us.

COLORS OF NORTHERN LIGHTS

[FACING PAGE LEFT] This display of lights was captured at Split Rock State Park. | JOHN GREGOR [FACING PAGE RIGHT] This amazing display of light was captured at 4:30 a.m. | DAVID JOHNSON [TOP] Gary Fiedler took this photo over Crooked Lake. | RADIANT SPIRIT GALLERY [ABOVE] Dawn LaPointe captured the corona of the aurora borealis. | RADIANT SPIRIT GALLERY [RIGHT] Green is the color most commonly seen along the North Shore. | DAVID JOHNSON

You Only Need to See One

By Shawn Perich

A sound changes everything. It might be a branch breaking, crunching leaves or a couple of hesitant footsteps. The moment you hear it, you know a deer is approaching. Time stops. Suddenly your world is wholly in the moment.

Just because you can hear a deer doesn’t mean that you will see it. In the North Shore’s dense boreal forests, your range of vision may be as little as a few feet or, occasionally, as much as 50 yards. If you think about it, the odds of coinciding with an unsuspecting deer in thick cover are very low. But I never let low odds bother me.

Every November, I spend as many days as possible during northeastern Minnesota’s 16-day firearm deer season sneaking through the woods, trying to cross paths with a whitetail. Mind you, I’m not looking for just any deer. My preference is an antlered buck, not a trophy, but something more substantial than a youngster sporting his first set of spike antlers. Lest you think that’s snobbery, I’ve no compunction about killing a doe for meat in years when deer are abundant. Currently, the northern herd is still recovering from a pair of severe winters two and three years ago, so a limited number of antlerless permits are available via lottery.

That’s ok, because I really don’t think about does when I’m hunting, anyway. My approach to deer hunting is pretty simple: all I need to see is one buck. When that occurs is impossible to predict. It may happen opening morning, on the final hour of the last day or just about any time in between. All I really know is that it will happen if I spend enough time in the woods.

My father used to say that you spend days hunting deer for a few seconds of action. This is particularly true in the north woods where a buck may pop into sight for just a moment before it disappears again. Within that moment, you must identify the animal as a buck (meaning you must see antlers), have a clear view of its vitals, and then aim and take the shot. There is no time for hesitation or room for error.

Some hunters try to manipulate their surroundings to extend the moment and thus better their odds of killing the deer. They sit in tree stands or ground blinds and ambush the deer as it approaches. They may cut brush to create shooting lanes radiating out from their position to better see the deer. Some use scents ranging from doe pee to apple flavor to attract deer to their position. On private land, some go as far as planting food plots—a legal form of baiting—to lure deer into shooting range. Actual baiting--dumping piles of corn, pumpkins or other foods at your hunting spot—is

very much against the law in Minnesota.

It’s been years since I climbed into a tree stand. And I’ll be darned if I’m going to anoint myself with doe pee or another scent. My only concession to attractants is to carry two deer calls: one makes a bleating sound and the other makes a grunting noise like a buck seeking a mate. At times, using a call may convince an unseen deer to come closer to you. Often, though, they pause and refuse to come closer when they are just beyond your view.

Mostly, I hunt the old-fashioned way: on foot, sneaking through the woods until I cross paths with a buck. In this game, the odds are very much in favor of the deer. I like it that way. If I was hungry for an easy meal, the grocery store is always at hand. Instead, I hunger for the experience of the hunt and the opportunity to step deep inside the natural world. A North Shore whitetail buck has survived harsh winters,

encounters with wolves and all manner of natural calamities. The animal is so wary and reclusive that it likely has been seen by few, if any, humans unless it frequents a winter feeding station in someone’s back yard. Even then, the buck knows the wolf is just beyond the edge of the yard. In contrast, a human hunter is a predator that is fairly easy for a deer to avoid.

You might say using a scope-sighted rifle is somehow unfair, that to truly hunt a buck I should use a bow and arrow. Maybe so, but killing one with a rifle is far from easy. You have to stay downwind so the buck can’t smell you, take silent footsteps so he can’t hear you and move very slowly so he doesn’t see you. Even if you do everything right, the buck may sense something is amiss and either bound off or simply walk away. Wariness is a survival instinct. Curiosity is not.

When you hunt in this manner, the buck nearly always gets away. Often you hear no more than a loud snort and ever more distant crashes in the woods as the unseen buck bounds away. Sometimes you’ll see a flash of its white tail. Even more frustrating is when you get a good look at the buck as it passes through a narrow opening in the trees but don’t have a chance to take a shot.

When any of the above occurs, you just keep hunting, still looking for that one deer. Sooner or later, your paths will coincide. Maybe you’ll hear it coming and have a moment to get ready and perhaps conceal your human profile. Maybe it will just suddenly, magically appear. Either way, time will stop and it will be up to you to make the most of the moment.

Good luck out there.

[FACING PAGE] Wariness is a whitetail survival instinct. [ABOVE] When a whitetail buck steps into view in the deep woods, you have only a few seconds to aim and take a shot before he disappears into the trees.

| PHOTOS BY MICHAEL FURTMAN

Lake Superior Storms

Water is a powerful element. Among the Great Lakes, Lake Superior is the largest and most legendary for its displays of power. It is the deepest, coldest and highest in elevation. It has wrecked at least 350 vessels and claimed over 1,000 lives. This month, we honor Lake Superior and her notorious November gales, with artwork from different artists along the shore, all of whom have been inspired by this force not to be reckoned with.—Breana Roy

Linda Newman of Hovland captured this daunting image of a storm brewing over Lake Superior in May of 2013. | LINDA NEWMAN

Ted Johnson, of the Lake Superior Watercolor Society, depicts a sailboat caught in a nasty storm. | TED JOHNSON

Karen Anderson from the Lake Superior Water Color Society painted this near Lutsen, titled “Icy Superior Shore.”| KAREN ANDERSON

Photo by Ellen Stubbs

This acrylic image of the Spilt Rock Lighthouse was done by Pam Fioritto. | KAH-NEE-TAH GALLERY

Greg Murphy is the artist behind this oil painting, “Superior Waves,” depicting a typical cold and windy autumn day on the big lake. | KAH-NEE-TAH GALLERY

The Eighth Semi-Annual

Featuring Minnesota-made artwork, paintings, photography and unique, handcrafted items such as fine silver jewelry, beautiful beeswax and soy candles, turned wood, glass art, gorgeous pottery and more.

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

Gallery & Cottages Open Year Round Winter Hours:

M, Th-Sa 10-5 •Su 10-4, Closed Tu & W 4210 W Highway 61 Lutsen, MN 55612 Located just between Lutsen and Grand Marais 218.387.2585 • www.kahneetah.com Find us on Facebook @ Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery & Cottages And Instagram @kahneetahgallerylutsen

Friday , November 6th &

Saturday, November 7th, 5-7 p.m.

Storm Fest

Painting and Wine Classes

$25/person includes all supplies needed, instruction by artist Sue Pavlatos, and a few glasses of wine while you create! Take home your own Lake Superior/Storm themed masterpiece! Reservations are required so call to reserve your spot today!

Saturday, November 21st, 4-8 p.m.

Customer

Appreciation Party!

Join us and help us celebrate our 1st year as the “new” Kah-Nee-Tah! There will be food, drink, great music and fun give-aways. It’ll be our way of saying thank-you for helping us make this such a successful, fun & adventurous first year.

Check out our website at www.kahneetah.com

Grand Marais hosts first-ever North Shore Readers and Writers Festival Nov. 5-8

The first annual North Shore Readers and Writers Festival: A Minnesota Voice, will be held in Grand Marais, Thursday, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov. 8. The festival will include workshops, craft seminars, special event panel discussions and reading panels, and an address by keynote author Lorna Landvik.

“The community of Grand Marais has long been known for its love of the arts, including the written word, and for providing a place of inspiration and retreat for writers and artists,” says Linda Kratt, executive director for Visit Cook County.

Well-known authors Lorna Landvik, Faith Sullivan and Judith Guest will share their techniques during, “The Method to our Madness” discussion, teaching writers how to achieve well-crafted, saleable stories, fiction or non-fiction. The seminar takes place on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 7-8:30 p.m., with a question-and-answer period to follow.

Friday’s events include Laurie Hertzel, se -

Sign Up: Building Program

Feb. 3, Wednesday

The Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP), Cook County Extension and other supporters will offer a Building Program in February, 2016. The program will be an all-day course on New Home Construction from Building Permit to Certificate of Occupancy. This course is currently in the process of being approved for seven continuing education credits, that includes two credits of energy by the State of Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). The program is appropriate for all local builders, homeowners and home designers. More info on the course and registration will be available December 1. Visit www. cookcountylocalenergy.org for more info.

Fresh Cut Wood Turning Symposium

Oct. 26-Nov. 4

The North House Folk School is hosting the first-ever Wood Turning Symposium, bringing conversations and techniques to the green wood turning world, appropriate for all skill levels. Both traditional and contemporary turners will have the opportunity to converse and share ideas. The symposium includes 12 speaker sessions, 12 live demonstrations, multiple workshops, mini-courses and more. Featured instructors include Robin Wood, Michael Hosaluk and Michael Cullen. www.northhouse.org.

nior editor for books at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, leading the discussion, “The Art of the Book Review.” The workshop will take place from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

On Saturday, participants will join Catherine Watson, former travel editor for the Star Tribune, as she highlights the travel memoir during the craft seminar “Telling the Traveler’s Tale,” from 10:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m. The travel memoir is one of the oldest forms of literature and Watson will talk about the genre’s more than 2,000-year history, along with tips on how to sharpen travelers’ tales. Then, MPR broadcast journalist Cathy Wurzer will share how she told the story of educator and musician Bruce Kramer’s struggle with ALS in her recent book, “We Know How This Ends: Living While Dying,” from 4:45-6 p.m.

“We look forward to hosting an event that celebrates the literary arts across the spectrum, from reading to publishing. We are pleased to offer sessions with over 20 authors and book professionals as we focus

Art Colony Members Show and Sale

Oct. 30-Nov. 22

The annual Grand Marais Art Colony Members Show & Sale allows artists to share their inspiration with other artists and the public. The event begins with an opening reception on Oct. 30, from 5-7 p.m. and the exhibit runs until Sunday, Nov. 22. This year’s theme is Wabi-sabi, meaning “beauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.” Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase a variety of pieces by local artisans. Visit www.grandmaraisartcolony.org for more info.

Cook County Storm Festival

Nov. 6-8

Treat yourself to a storm-season retreat before the bedlam of the holidays begin, with events taking place throughout Cook County. Head to Stone Harbor in Grand Marais for the, “Taking Fashion by Storm,” show. There will be hors d’oeuvres, craft beer and music provided by cellist Yvonne Caruthers. Event is free and begins at 5:30 p.m. Then brave the cold water with the annual Wave Dash into Lake Superior at Lutsen Resort at noon on Saturday. Other weekend events include the By Way of Water: Our History with Lake Superior exhibit at the Grand Marais Historical Society. And listen to WTIP Radio (90.7 FM) for a special storm-themed broadcast throughout the weekend. For more info, visit www.visitcookcounty.com.

Author Lorna Landvik [LEFT] and broadcast journalist Cathy Wurzer [RIGHT], will be leading seminars at the festival. | SUBMITTED

this year’s festival on the contemporary Minnesota book scene as well as the history of the literary arts on the North Shore,” says Ruth Pszwaro, program coordinator

for Grand Marais Art Colony. For more info on the event, or to sign up, visit www.grandmaraisartcolony.org.

“Taking Fashion by Storm” is a Storm Festival event. |

Bluegrass Masters Weekend in Lutsen

Nov. 6-8

The North Shore Music Association is again sponsoring the annual Bluegrass Masters Weekend for musicians and fans at Lutsen Resort. Listen and learn with instrumental workshops taught by the best bluegrass instructors. This year’s featured instrument is the resonator guitar (dobro) and featured artist is Mike Witcher. Witcher has worked with such artists as Dwight Yoakam, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler and Peter Rowan. He’s also performed on Grand Ole Opry and Prairie Home Companion. The Mike Witcher Band will be performing at 8 p.m. in the Lusten Resort Ballroom, on Sat. Nov. 7. Tickets are $20 adults and $5 youth and will only be on sale at the event. Visit www.northshoremusicassociation.com/ bluegrass for more info.

LUNAfest

Nov. 7, Saturday

LUNAfest is a short films program by, for and about women. These films celebrate unique and inspiring women in local, national and international communities, and 100 percent of all net proceeds are donated to the Breast Cancer Fund and Violence Prevention Center. The LUNAfest program will begin at 7 p.m. at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. For more info, visit www.arrowheadcenterforthearts.org.

Caravan du Nord in Ely

Nov. 7, Saturday

The 5th annual Caravan du Nord, an ongoing project of the Minnesota Music Coalition, will appear in Ely at the Amici’s Event Center on Saturday, Nov. 7. Caravan du Nord is a traveling showcase of Minnesota music, sponsored by 89.3 The Current

and made possible through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This year’s event includes a music workshop with The Current DJ Bill DeVille from 3-5 p.m., followed by a social hour/meet the artists from 5-6 p.m. Concerts by The Pines, Brian Laidlaw and the Three Man Strings and Stuff Band will begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets are available at Ely Design Works. Visit www.mnmusiccoalition.org for more information.

Grand Marais Big Buck Contest

Nov. 7-21

Sign up for the 25th annual Big Buck Contest at Buck’s Hardware Hank in Grand Marais for a chance to win some cool prizes, including a deer rifle and prize money. Prizes will be given to the Largest Deer (dressed weight) and the Largest Antler Spread. A drawing winner will also be selected on Nov. 22. Results for the contest can be tracked online. Entry fee is $10 and you must sign up by Nov. 6. For more info, visit www.buckshardware.net.

Edmund Fitzgerald Commemorative Beacon Lighting

Nov. 10, Tuesday

This year marks the 40th anniversary since the shipwreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior. In honor of the ship’s 29 crew members and other lives lost in Great Lakes shipwrecks, Split Rock Lighthouse, near Two Harbors, will hold a commemorative beacon lighting ceremony. At 4:30 p.m., the lighthouse will temporarily close while the names of the crew members are read to the tolling of the ship’s bell and the playing of the Naval Hymn. Then, the beacon will be lit and the tower will be open for tour. This is the only time each year visitors have the opportunity to climb the beacon-lit tower after dark. The fog signal building and visitor center will be open too, and costumed guides will provide historic

Brian Laidlaw will perform with Caravan du Nord in Ely. | SUBMITTED

Participants at Bluegrass Masters jamming together. | TIM YOUNG

site and shipwreck info throughout the day. Visitors can also watch two films, the 30-minute film “The Edmund Fitzgerald Investigations” and an hour-long film about Great Lakes shipwrecks. For more info, visit www.mnhs.org/event/404.

Empty Bowls Fundraiser

Nov. 12, Thursday

Help bring awareness to the battle against hunger in Cook County with the Empty Bowls Fundraiser, put on by community

volunteers in collaboration with the Grand Marais Art Colony, KIDS Plus and generous business donations. The fundraiser will be held in the lower level of St. John’s Catholic Church. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and dinner will be from 5-7 p.m. The silent auction will close at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds for the event will help battle hunger by funding local programs such as the Cook County Food Shelf, Violence Prevention Center and Good Samaritan Fund. Visit www.grandmaraisartcolony.org for more info.

HOLIDAYS IN SCHROEDER

Cross River Heritage Center Lost Resorts: Resorts back in time and the present Cross River Quilters Ra e “Cozy in Red” -Drawing at 2 p.m. Mrs. Santa Claus Krumkake & lefse demos Blowout Gift Shop Sale

TWO-DAY SALE

Empty Bowls created for last year’s event. | SUBMITTED

The Pines will also be performing with the annual Caravan du Nord in Ely. | SUBMITTED

Duluth Junk Hunt

Nov. 13-14

For more information, visit us at lunafest.org

The 4th Annual

“Oh Ole Night” Christmas

Parade

Friday, November 27, 2015

v Get Your Scandinavian on and get in the Parade –line up starts at 3:30 p.m. in parking areas off Broadway Ave. for 2- and 4-legged entries on floats or walking.

v Win the Travelling Gnome Trophy Best Overall entry, on display at Sivertson Gallery, 2014 winner.

v Cash prizes for Best Scandinavian Theme, Cutest Entry, Best Holiday Spirit.

v Parade kicks off at 4 p.m. Tree lighting and carols after the parade in Harbor Park. We’ll do two loops. On the second one we’ll finish at the park for the tree lighting.

Sponsored by Visit Cook County

Love antique shopping and searching for goodies? Take part in the semi-annual two day Duluth Junk Hunt at Clyde Iron Works, featuring vintage, antique and repurposed treasures from the area’s finest “junk” vendors. Admission is $5 (good for both days), or $10 for early admission on Friday. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Encounter Youth Center. For more info, visit www.duluthjunkhunt.com.

Fall Food & Wine Weekend

Nov. 13-15

Chef and owner Jean Robillard of Bistro One in Thunder Bay will join Chef Rob of Lutsen Resort for the Fall Food and Wine Weekend with a French twist. Friday night’s theme, Diverse Regions, will explore three distinct French wine growing regions, beginning at 8 p.m. Mingle as you make your way to each food station, sampling different wines. Saturday will feature a classic seven course wine dinner at 6 p.m. and Sunday will be a Champagne Brunch at 10 a.m., featuring fresh baked croissants, fruit, crepes, eggs with black truffles and more. Visit www.lutsenresort.com for more info or to register.

Free Day at the Dentist

Nov. 16, Monday

The Grand Marais Family Dentistry is offering free oral health care all day, for children and youth, ages 18 months to 26 years of age. Free services include an exam, cleaning, x-rays, fluoride and/or sealants. Rescheduling will also be available for anyone who can’t make it on Monday, Nov. 16. Call 218-387-2774 to make an appointment or visit www.northshorehealthcarefoundation.org for more info.

Winterer’s Gathering and Artic Film Festival

Nov. 20-22

Celebrate the crafts, customs, landscape, history and stories of winter travel and traditional ways of life in the north. The event will feature guest speaker Tim Cope, Australian adventurer and author. He will be sharing his book, “On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads.” He will tell of his adventures as a wilderness guide in the Finnish and Russian subarctic. Highlights of the event include workshops, winter tent camping, gear and ski swap, snowshoe shuffle dance, international arctic films and a chili feed. Visit www.northhouse.org for more info.

Gnome image created by Mary Schliep

Sample French wine at the Fall Food and Wine Weekend. | SUBMITTED

Winter Outdoor Adventure Expo

Nov. 20-22

Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis is holding the 61st bi-annual Outdoor Adventure Expo, featuring tons of activities for the outdoor enthusiast. There will be over 90 presentations and over 60 exhibitors, as well as food, prizes, vendors, sales and outdoor clubs to explore. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour will also be held at the expo, featuring different competition films each night. Admission to the Film Festival is $15 and begins at 7:30 p.m. The Outdoor Expo will begin at 2 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday. Visit www.outdooradventureexpo.com for more info.

Holiday Sales

Nov. 21 & 28

Schroeder will be holding a holiday sale on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Cross River Heritage Center and Schroeder Town Hall. There will be a Cross River Quilter’s raffle, North Country Creations bazaar, a blowout gift shop sale and Mrs. Claus will demo how to make krumkake and lefse. Also on Nov. 21 is the

Hovland Artisans Pre-Christmas Sale, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Hovland Town Hall.

Then, head to Cook County Community Center and log cabin in Grand Marais on Saturday, Nov. 28, for numerous crafts available. 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. Call Sharon Hendrickson at 218-387-1369 for more info.

Oh Ole Night Christmas Parade

Nov. 27, Friday

Kick off the holidays with the Oh Ole Night Christmas Parade, held in downtown Grand Marais at 4 p.m. Entrants will line-up for the parade at 3:30 p.m. off Broadway Ave. Cash prizes will be awarded for the Best Scandinavian Theme, Cutest Entry and Best Holiday Spirit. After the parade, enjoy some caroling and the lighting of the tree in Harbor Park. For more info, visit www.visitcookcounty.com.

BUCK’S

HOLIDAY SALE

November 27th – 29th 15%

Mrs. Meyers Holiday Collection Amaryllis & Paperwhites Holiday Candies Lupine Holiday Dog Collars

Fleece Throws Tree Stands Wreaths Toys

Additional Discounts on: Tree Decorations

Xmas Lights Wrapping Supplies

Northern Wilds Calendar of Events November

Sept. 11-Jan. 10

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

Sept. 19-Dec. 31

Minnesota Archery Deer Season

Sept. 18-Nov. 15

Plein Air Exhibit Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais www.johnsonheritagepost.org

Hand to Eye to Land to Sky: Shayne Ehman Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca

Oct. 26-Nov. 4

Fresh Cut Woodturning Symposium North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org

Oct. 26-Nov. 7

George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead Magnus Theatre, Thunder Bay www.magnus.on.ca

Oct. 31-Nov. 1

Curling Club Halloween Bonspiel Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais parishgm@boreal.org

Nov. 1, Sunday

Daylight Savings Time Ends

TBSO Presents: Peter and the Wolf 3:30 p.m. Grassroots Church, Thunder Bay www.tbso.ca

The Empty Shop Miller Hill Mall, Duluth

Nov. 1-30

Free Duluth Pack Factory Tours

1 p.m. Duluth Pack Factory, Duluth www.duluthpack.com

Nov. 1, Sunday

Membership Day Noon, Grand Marais American Legion www.gmpost413.org

Nov. 2, Monday

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

Tim Hicks 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Nov. 3, Tuesday

Cook County Chamber & Visit Cook County’s Fall Gala: Featuring MN Creative Art’s Executive Director Sheila Smith 5 p.m. Lutsen Lodge www.creativemn.org

Briand Morrison: Musical Impressions 6 p.m. Tweed Museum, Duluth www.d.umn.edu/tma

Oh Canada What a Feeling! 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Nov. 5, Thursday

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

Nov. 5-8

North Shore Readers and Writers Festival: A Minnesota Voice Grand Marais www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

Nov. 6, Friday

Big Buck Contest Sign Up Deadline Buck’s Hardware Hank, Grand Marais www.buckshardware.net

Nov. 6-7

Fall Food & Wine Lovers Weekend Bluefin Grille, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Storm Fest Painting & Wine Classes Friday at 6 p.m. & Saturday at 5 p.m. Kah-Nee-Tah,

TBSO Presents: Tracy K 8 p.m. Italian Cultural Centre, Thunder Bay www.tbso.ca

Nov. 6-8

Lake Superior Storm Festival Throughout Cook County www.visitcookcounty.com

Scrapbooking Weekend Naniboujou, Grand Marais www.naniboujou.com

Bluegrass Masters Weekend Lutsen Resort www.northshoremusicassociation.com/ bluegrass

Nov. 7, Saturday

Flea Market 10 a.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition: Coliseum, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Lake Superior Wave Dash Noon, Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Caravan Du Nord Featuring The Pines, Brian Laidlaw, Three Man Strings & Stuff Band 2 p.m. Ely www.mnmusiccoalition.org

A Wine Affair 5 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Parent’s Night Out

5 p.m. YMCA, Grand Marais www.cookcountyymca.org

Wolves to the Web: Predatory/Prey Dynamics Webinar 7 p.m. International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

LUNAfest 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais www.hope-4-u.org

Nov. 7-22

Minnesota Firearm Deer Season

Nov. 8, Sunday

Wedding Wishes Formal Fair

11:30 a.m. Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay www.tbchamber.ca/wedding

Sugarloaf’s 13th Annual

North Shore Evening 5 p.m. Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org

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

Nov. 10, Tuesday

Edmund Fitzgerald Commemorative Beacon Lighting Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors www.mnhs.org/event/404

5 Top SEO Tips for Entrepreneurs Noon, Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca

Ruby’s Pantry 5 p.m. Cook County High School, Grand Marais

Nov. 11, Wednesday

Veterans Day

Remembrance Day Parade & Ceremony

9:30 a.m. Waverly Park, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca

Caregiver Coffee Discussions: Asking for Help 10 a.m. Congregational Church, Grand Marais carepartners@boreal.org

Veterans Day Dinner 4 p.m. Grand Marais American Legion www.gmpost413.org

Nov. 12, Thursday

Give to the Max www.givemn.org

Empty Bowls 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 5-7 p.m.

St. John’s Catholic Church, Grand Marais www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

Avan Yu Performs Mozart 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra www.tbso.ca

Nov. 12-15

Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais www.arrowheadcenterforthearts.org

Artist Talk with Cellist Yvonne Caruthers 7 p.m. Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

Three’s a Party Tour: Jason Blaine, TEBEY & James Otto 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Nov. 13, Friday

Portage Band 6 p.m. Grand Marais American Legion www.gmpost413.org

Nov. 13-14

Night Sky with Heidi Pinkerton International Wolf Center, Ely www.wolf.org

Duluth Junk Hunt Clyde Iron Works, Duluth www.duluthjunkhunt.com

Nov. 13-15

Fall Food & Wine Weekend Lutsen Resort www.lutsenresort.com

Girls Gone North Weekend Bluefin Bay, Tofte www.bluefinbay.com

Health & Wellness Expo Noon, Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Nov. 14, Saturday

Green Cheese Trivia Ely Folk School, Ely www.elyfolkschool.org

Natural Ornaments Workshop 10 a.m. Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder www.sugarloafnorthshore.org

Fall Yoga Retreat 1 p.m. First-Wesley United Church, Thunder Bay www.radiantyoga.colleen@gmail.com

Warren Miller’s Chasing Shadows 7 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Nov. 14-15

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

Nov. 16, Monday

Free Day at the Dentist for Youth Grand Marais Family Dentistry 218-387-2774 or www. northshorehealthcarefoundation.org

Styx 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Nov. 18, Wednesday

Technology Workshop

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

Nov. 19, Thursday

Self Portrait Art Fair Great Expectations Charter School, Grand Marais

Community Conversations: Responses to Beauty Noon, Grand Marais Art Colony www.grandmaraisartcolony.org

2 Bit Auction 6 p.m. Canadian Lakehead Exhibition: Heritage, Thunder Bay www.cle.on.ca

Nov. 19-22

Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais www.arrowheadcenterforthearts.org

Nov. 20, Friday

City of the North Parade 6 p.m. Superior Street, Duluth, www.facebook.com/ christmascityparade

Darcy Oake: Edge of Reality 8 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Nov. 20-21

Banff Mountain Film Festival

World Tour 7 p.m. Midwest Mountaineering, Minneapolis www.banffmountainfestivals.ca/tour

Evergreen Grass Band 8:30 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Nov 20-22

Winterer’s Gathering & Arctic Film Fest North House Folk School, Grand Marais www.northhouse.org

Winter Outdoor Adventure Expo 10 a.m. Midwest Mountaineering, Minneapolis www.midwestmtn.com

Nov. 20-Jan 10

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

Nov. 21, Saturday

Holidays in Schroeder 10 a.m. Cross River Heritage Center & Schroeder Town Hall, Schroeder www.crossriverheritagecenter.org

Candlelight House Tour 6 p.m. Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca

Nov. 21-Dec. 27

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

Nov. 22, Sunday

Drawing for the Big Buck Contest

Buck’s Hardware, Grand Marais www.buckshardware.net

Christmas House Tour 10 a.m.

Thunder Bay Art Gallery www.theag.ca

Stuart McLean & the Vinyl Café Christmas Tour

2:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Community Auditorium www.tbca.com

Timmy Haus 6:30 p.m.

Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais www.gunflinttavern.com

Nov. 23, Monday

Wreath Making Workshop 9 a.m. Boulder Lake Environmental Center, Duluth www.boulderlake.org

Nov. 24, Tuesday

Google Analytics Noon, Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca

Nov. 25, Wednesday

Northwood Partner’s Festival of the Trees Lighting Ceremony Pioneer Road, Ely www.ely.org

Pre-Thanksgiving Safety Standdown with Live Music 8 p.m. Grand Marais American Legion www.gmpost413.org

Mozart & Martins 7:30 p.m. Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra www.tbso.ca

Nov. 26, Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Night Shopping 6 p.m. Downtown Ely www.ely.org

Nov. 26-29

Grey Cup Bonspiel Port Arthur Curling Club, Thunder Bay www.thunderbay.ca

Nov. 27, Friday

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

Nov. 27-29

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

Nov. 28, Saturday

Small Town Shop Local Saturday Downtown Ely www.ely.org

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

Ely’s Holiday Parade and Activities

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

TBSO Pops 2: Best of Broadway

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

Michael Monroe Concert

7 p.m. Log Cabin, Grand Marais www.michaelmonroemusic.com

Gene LaFond & Amy Ann Grillo

7 p.m. Lutsen Resort Lobby www.lutsenresort.com

Nov. 28-Dec. 13

Minnesota Deer Muzzleloader Season

Nov. 29, Sunday

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

Nov. 30, Monday

Wreath-Making Workshop 9 a.m. Boulder Lake Environmental Center, Duluth www.boulderlake.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

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

Fridays

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

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

Saturdays

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

Thunder Bay Country Market

8 a.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, Ontario www.thunderbaycountrymarket.com

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

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

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

Sew

Herbalism:

Carve Your Own Canoe Paddle

Holiday Birch Bark Creations

November 14

Wet Felting Wool Slippers

Rosemaling Holiday Ornaments

Make a Firewood Sling

Stained Glass Ornaments

November 21

Make Cornish Pasties Balsam Wreaths

December 5

Basic Bushcraft: Fire and Water

Make a Bohemian Stool EFS Holiday Party For a c lass catalog visit: www.ElyFolkSchool.org

Or

22

The North Shore Dish

North Shore Pie Scene

By Maren Webb

On the North Shore, pie is a year-round affair. During certain seasons it makes a special appearance, often as we gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. A slice of pie may bring to mind memories of our grandmothers or a hole-in-the wall restaurant that served the best slice à la mode. While I do try my hand at baking pies by channeling my distant past as a Betty’s Pies baker and my grandmother’s skills, I have come to also appreciate the local talent of our North Shore pie bakers. What other area would have such an impressive list of places to buy whole pies?

The Pie Place Café couldn’t hide its passion for pie if they tried—the name gives it away. After sitting down to chat with owner Mary Lear, and her bakery manager, Plami Chase, I came away with a new appreciation for the art of pie baking. Over the past twenty years, the Pie Place Café has been creating pies, from the classic pumpkin with vanilla whipped cream to the caramel apple pie. When asked which pie Plami most enjoys to make, she shared that it is lemon buttermilk pie because “it smells like lemons” as she crafts this crème br ûlée-like pie. When I first heard about this pie I wasn’t sure I would like it, but now I can’t pass it up when I see it on the list. Visit www.thepieplacecafe.com for more info.

“Pie is really iconic, connecting people with tradition and family,” said Mary of The Pie Place Café. This may help explain why pie still graces our holiday tables, even if pie wasn’t served at the first Thanksgiving. Or, maybe, it’s just too tasty not to serve.

A new option for whole pies has entered the scene this past year: Elfvin’s Bakery in Grand Marais. Brother and sister team, Rain and Patricia Elfvin, have brought their talent, experience and creativity to baking. When asked about the most unusual request they have received thus far, Patricia chuckled as she remembered a tres leches cake with a shark on it. While that baked delight won’t likely grace your Thanksgiving table, one of their delicious pies would be an ideal addition. This November, they will be offering pies by order, with a special on pumpkin, apple, and pecan pies. If you are looking for another baked option to celebrate the season, order their pumpkin scones with spinach and cream cheese filling.

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| THE PIE PLACE

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Two Harbors has two pie shop favorites, both which started from humble beginnings to become North Shore legacies. My childhood memories include both restaurants, in their original building locations. I appreciate that both have more seating these days. It was quite the treat to stop for a slice of pie then and it still is today.

Rustic Inn Café and Gifts is located just north of Two Harbors in the curiously named Castle Danger. I think the only danger these days is in wanting to try all their pies. Rustic Inn also sells its pies through the Whole Foods Co-op in Duluth, either by order or through regular pie deliveries on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Cranberry apple or raspberry cream sound like a great holiday addition. If you are driving up the shore, it is a worthwhile stop, not only for pie, but also for their great menu and gift shop (www. therusticinncafe.com).

Betty’s Pies is the other Two Harbors spot, with a long history starting in 1956. In the summer months, visiting Betty’s Pies often means a wait in line, but this

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time of year you likely won’t have to wait to enjoy your meal or pie. And if you can’t make it to the North Shore in time for your holiday gathering, Betty’s Pies has an online pie shop. Once you order online, the pies are made fresh per your specifications, fully baked, then frozen and shipped overnight to ensure prompt arrival. Just be sure to give them 48 hours head’s up. Their online site (www.bettyspies.com), has photos of many of the pie options, from caramel apple crunch to strawberry rhubarb.

The Sweet North Bakery has its own sweet story. It started as a vendor at Thunder Bay’s weekly Country Market and has grown into having a storefront in the downtown Waterfront District, opening last November. During the months of November and December, the bakery will be selling pies, including pumpkin, apple, and fruit and custard pies. They also make a SkullRock Stout Ganache pie, made with Sleeping Giant Brewing Co’s SkullRock Stout, chocolate ganache, and topped with real whipped cream and a SkullRock Stout syrup.

“ It’s light and not too sweet but totally decadent!” said proprietor Erinn Delorenzi.

If you have a home brewer or micro brew fan in the family, this may be the perfect pie.

Wondering what to serve to your gluten-free family member? Fear not. The Peartree Bakery in Thunder Bay offers gluten-free (and nut-free) apple, cherry and pumpkin pies. Peartree Bakery is a regular at the Country Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays) in addition to their storefront in Thunder Bay’s downtown Waterfront District. Pies can be ordered for pick-up at the Market or at the Peartree Bakery. The Bakery is also developing new products for the holiday season. Find out more at www.peartreebakery.com.

There are more than a few great pie options on this wonderful stretch of shoreline, from Two Harbors all the way to Thunder Bay. Where ever you find your perfect pie this holiday season, be sure to enjoy it with an extra dollop of whipped cream or ice cream for me.

[CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT] Elfvin’s Bakery in Grand Marais is new to the pie scene. | SUBMITTED, A chocolate stout ganache cream pie

THE SWEET NORTH BAKERY, The Pie Place offers an extensive list of pies. | THE PIE PLACE, Unbaked pies at The Pie Place.

THE PIE PLACE, Fresh fruit complete this pie.

THE PIE PLACE, A freshly made holiday pie.

Reader’s Choice Awards

2015 In February, the polls opened for our annual Northern Wilds Restaurant Awards, featuring 21 different categories, from Best Fish to Best Server. The winners were picked by our readers and the results were posted in May. Here are a few of our winning restaurants, proudly displaying their awards.

Bluewater Café

Bluewater Café, located on the shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais, won awards in four different categories; Best Burger, Best Kid-Friendly Menu, Best Breakfast and the Best Server Award, given to Melodee Riddle (pictured). Bluewater is casual and affordable, staying true to its slogan, “the meeting place in Grand Marais,”

offering lunch and dinner options, and breakfast served all day. The kids menu consists of chicken fingers, grilled cheese, a hamburger or fish. For more details, visit www. bluewatercafe.com.—Breana Roy

Sven & Ole’s

Sven & Ole’s in Grand Marais won the award for Best Take-Out, accepted by Genace Anderson. Sven’s offers all kinds of pizza, from the typical pepperoni or Hawaiian, to vegetarian and their famous Uffda Zah. They also offer breadsticks, pasta, sandwiches and take home frozen pizzas. You can also grab some food and drinks at the Pickle Herring Club bar upstairs. Visit www.svenandoles.com for more details.—Breana Roy

Cook County Whole Foods Co-op

Trail Center

The Co-op in Grand Marais was given the Best Vegetarian award, accepted by Jennifer Stoltz. The new and improved Co-op, which was updated and reopened the summer of 2013, has 2,100 members and is growing. It features local and regional food providers and promotes a healthy and sustainable society. Not only does the Co-op sell groceries, but they also provide occasional cooking classes. Visit www. cookcounty.coop for more info.—Breana Roy

Trail Center won two awards, Best North Woods Character and Worth the Drive. Trail Center is located about 30 miles from Grand Marais on Poplar Lake. Originally built as a logging camp in 1938, Trail Center is now a full service restaurant, gas station, gift shop and lodging area. Because it is located up the Gunflint Trail, it is a popular spot to see wildlife, view the fall colors or grab lunch at before heading into the wilderness. Pictured is Sarah Hamilton, owner and operator of Trail Center. For more info, visit www.trailcenterlodge.com —Breana Roy

Hara Hachi Bu

By Amy Schmidt

In March of 2015, Tony Buettner of the Blue Zones came to speak to our community about holistic living and longevity. The Blue Zones is an organization that claims it can provide greater longevity through a diet and lifestyle regiment. Focusing on the Power 9® (the organization’s lifestyle formula) concepts, Buettner discussed the healthy habits of people who live the longest, healthiest lives.

One of the nine concepts discussed, while difficult to pronounce, is really quite simple. Hara Hachi Bu is a Japenese phrase that means, simply, to eat until you are 8/10 (or 80 percent) full. The people of Okinawa, Japan, a centurion community, practice this concept. Before each meal, they repeat the 2,500-year old Confucian mantra to remain mindful of only eating until 80 percent full. While there are undoubtedly other factors at play, doing this seems to go a long way toward health and longevity.

Because it takes time for our stomachs to communicate with our brains (about 20 minutes), if we eat until we feel full, in 20 minutes we’re likely to feel not just full but uncomfortably full. Where, on the other hand, if we stop before we feel full, once our stomachs have had time to relay their message to our brain, we now feel pleasantly satisfied. Plainly put, stopping before you’re full is a guaranteed way to keep yourself from over-eating.

Now the trick is figuring out what in the world it means to have a stomach that’s only 80 percent full. You can’t very well pull out a graduated cylinder and measure how full your stomach is. And it would be absurd and annoying to divvy your plate’s contents up into tenths, being careful to only consume eight of them. Not to mention, many of us have probably over-ridden our body’s natural inclination to feel full so many times, that its ability to recognize when it’s approaching that point has all but gone to sleep. If we’ve always eaten a whole bag of microwave popcorn during a movie, slowly, over time, we’ll require a bag plus some to feel full, creating a cycle that can seem almost unbreakable.

Thankfully, all hope is not lost. Research has shown a person can retrain their stomach to feel full on less food after about 15-20 meals. To accomplish this, it is recommended that, after eating half the food normally eaten in a meal, a person “checks in” with their body. If they feel stomach pressure, or a feeling of food in the stomach, the eater has probably approached the 80 percent mark and should stop eating. In other words, try to eat until you’re no longer hungry instead of eating until you’re full. Eventually, pleasantly satisfied will become the new normal.

The bottom line is this: overeating is bad for the body in many ways, weight gain being only one of them. If we can reteach ourselves to enjoy the food in front of us, yet stop before we eat too much, we’ll find ourselves a little bit healthier.

*Rubaum-Keller, I. (2011, September 21). Hara Hachi Bu: Eat Until You Are 80% Full. Retrieved October 15, 2015.

The Blue Zones offers a lifestyle formula reported to provide greater longevity. | STOCK

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Northern Trails Northwestern Ontario’s First Ice Walleye

By Gord Ellis

Winter often comes early to northwestern Ontario. Some years, the ice is already making itself known in early November. If the nights get deep cold, and the snow doesn’t come, that ice can become hard and clear very quickly. On some of the more shallow lakes in the region, it can be safe for “on foot” ice fishing pretty early.

The earliest I recall being able to ice fish during the winter season took place about two decades ago on Whitefish Lake, a very popular walleye and perch fishing destination, located about 60 miles northwest of Thunder Bay, near the village of Nolalu. The date was Nov. 10, and as you can well imagine, my fishing partners and I were very careful as we ventured onto the ice. We felt a bit more confident about going out due to the presence of several parties already on the ice. However, we wore floater jackets, carried ice picks in our pockets and took very careful steps as we walked out.

Whitefish is a shallow, clear water lake, with lots of weeds in it. Since there was not a lick of snow on the ice, we could look down and see green cabbage weed beds underfoot. It was like walking on a glass-bottom boat. We didn’t venture far off shore and decided to punch some holes with a hand auger. There was no need for a power auger, as the ice was between 4 and 5 inches thick. It was a bit surreal watching the auger twist through the ice as we were making the holes. We set up a few set lines and also jigged with a leadhead and minnow. As the evening sun started to dip, the fish began to bite. I set the hook and could see the walleye flash below my feet. We ended up with a nice catch, but decided not to stay for the night bite, which can be good. The ice was freaky enough during the day.

It’s hard to say why the first ice walleye fishing is so good, but it generally is. I’ve yet to see a good winter walleye fishing lake that is not at its absolute best for the first two or three weeks after the ice forms. There are any number of reasons why this may be. Everyone who fishes walleye has a theory. My personal opinion is that wild winds and ever colder water in the fall makes the walleye’s world very turbulent. This is especially true in shallow lakes. When the ice forms, the waves are gone, the water clarity improves and the walleye are able to feed just about anywhere in the

Davis Viehbeck of Thunder Bay and a fat winter walleye taken through the ice. | GORD ELLIS WALLEYE cont. on page 32

lake without issue. This may be why shallow, clear lakes like Whitefish are especially good at first ice.

Catching first ice walleyes is not brain surgery. A medium to large minnow hung on a set line just off the lake bottom is likely the best all-around choice. Use a jig head or #6 treble hook and split shot to anchor the bait. I like to use a jigging rod on a balance for this, as your rod tip will often telegraph the approach of a big predator thanks to the nervous minnow’s movements. A tip-up or other device will also get the job done. Jigging with a leadhead and minnow is another good option. Just give the jig a slow, steady movement with the occasional high lift. First ice fish are the most aggressive winter walleye you will ever experience. Bites will be hard.

Nearly any lake with walleyes in it has first ice potential. The afore mentioned Whitefish Lake is a great bet, as it’s both large and shallow. This means just about any section of the lake has the potential to cough up fish. Lac des Mille Lacs, located north of Thunder Bay, near the village of Upsala, is another solid choice. This dark water lake freezes up a little later than Whitefish, but has great fish and tons of water to explore. Obvious spots like main lake points, islands and rock shorelines will usually hold fish. First ice anglers can access Lac at Sawmill Bay, Maki Bay or Pine Point, to name a few spots. Other lakes in the northwest that have decent first ice bites include Northern Lights, Plummes, Wolf, Dog and Wabigoon. Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake also have great walleye fishing, but good ice thickness can come a little later.

First ice fishing for walleyes is a great way to kick off the northern winter outdoors. The bonus is that wonderful tasting fish you catch. Crispy walleye fillets can make an otherwise chilly night a whole lot of all right.

Winter walleyes are most active at first ice. | GORD ELLIS

The Meaning of Wilderness

By Sigurd F. Olson Minnesota of Minnesota Press, $17.95

A conservation activist and popular writer, Sigurd F. Olson was one of the greatest environmentalists of the twentieth century. He introduced the value of wilderness through many of his books, and influenced the environmental movement and writers such as Annie Dillard and Barry Lopez. The Meaning of Wilderness gathers together some of Olson’s best articles and speeches, many of which were never before published or accessible. This is a great read for Olson fans, historians or outdoor enthusiasts.—Breana Roy

Bears in the Backyard: Big Animals, Sprawling Suburbs, and the New Urban Jungle

By Edward R. Ricciuti

The Countryman Press, $14.95

As cities and suburbs continue to grow, wild animals are seen more frequently on human turf, increasing the number of human attacks. Author, science journalist and naturalist Edward R. Ricciuti, uses research to discuss why this is happening, how it impacts us and how to deal with it. Readers will learn how to protect against dangerous wildlife, such as bears, cougars and even alligators, while reading about actual encounters and experiences.

—Breana Roy

Amethyst and Agate: Poems of Lake Superior

Edited by Jim Perlman, Deborah Cooper, Mara Hart and Pamela Mittlefehldt

Holy Cow! Press, $18.95

Anyone who has been around Lake Superior knows the power and inspiration of its beauty. The calm and peaceful serenity it can bring in the summertime, or the shiver of awe it can bring during a violent November gale. Amethyst and Agate: Poems of Lake Superior contains 70 poems by contemporary poets, all who live near and/or have been inspired by Lake Superior. A gallery of full-color images also graces the pages. Any poetry lover will enjoy this book.

—Breana Roy

WHY GO: Deer Yard Lake has an abundant population of small walleyes, making it one of the more reliable places for catching a meal of walleyes.

ACCESS: There’s an access requiring a 125-foot carry on the south shore of the southwest end of the lake. That is reached from a small parking area at the end of Deer Yard Lake Road, which is accessed from Ward Lake Road.

VITALS: This 342-acre lake sits in Cook County near Lutsen. It has a maximum depth of 20 feet.

FISH SPECIES PRESENT: Walleye and white sucker.

ABUNDANT WALLEYES: Steve Persons, DNR’s Grand Marais area fisheries supervisor, said Deer Yard Lake has a reputation for having lots of walleyes. Few are particularly large, but there are many small fish, making it a consistent place to catch a limit of smaller, eater walleyes. A 2013 survey of the lake turned up 66 walleyes between 9 and 11 inches, 22 walleyes between 12 and 14 inches, and 8 walleyes in the 15 to 19-inch range. Only one walleye was collected that was 25 inches or longer. “It’s a pretty solid lake for people who don’t mind catching mostly small walleyes,” Persons said.

WINTER BITE: Cook County walleye lakes are generally not known for any de -

DEER YARD LAKE

cent walleye action, but Deer Yard Lake may be an exception, especially right after freeze up, Persons said. “Deer Yard is a bit of an exception to that rule. First ice, people will do all right ice fishing for walleyes there.” Otherwise, spring and late fall are some of the better times to target walleyes here, according to Persons.

NATURAL REPRODUCTION: While walleyes are not native to any lakes in Cook County, the population is completely self-sustaining. And the fish have no competition, really. “The story I heard on Deer Yard is that it was originally a northern pike lake,” Persons said. “I suspect that walleye just outcompeted the northern pike. Walleye boomed in there and their numbers were really high. Survival of northern pike dropped off to zero.”

BUG DIET: While there are white suckers in the lake, walleyes mostly eat invertebrates. The recent 2013 survey did turn up a few golden shiners, while the lake has been known to support a small population of creek chubs and brook sticklebacks. “They are mainly eating insects,” Persons said. “They probably eat each other a fair amount. There’s no perch in there, so they are fairly limited in their diet. They will eat white suckers, but the problem with white suckers is they tend to grow right past the walleye pretty quickly.”—Javier Serna

A Chandler Family Road Trip

Story and Photos by

Eric Chandler

Italy. New Zealand. Iceland. Paris. We talked about these places over the supper table. My bank account and calendar both vetoed those options. I proposed a road trip and my crew approved. My son trained all summer to race his mountain bike this fall. He demanded some good behavior on this vacation so his training wouldn’t fade. We came up with five goals: be safe, have adventurous fun, eat healthy and exercise, have a good attitude and take notes.

I heard good things about Spearfish, South Dakota, so we headed there first with a truck full of hiking shoes and bikes. I drove the longest the first day (750 miles) since I was fresh. We stopped off in Chandler, Minnesota, of course. The locals looked at us funny as we snapped pictures next to the sign.

We continued our southwest diagonal through the cornfields and white windmills. Road weary in the late afternoon, I hit the turn that led to Badlands National Park. “Shall we?” I asked half-heartedly. “Adventurous fun!” they said, so we made our way through the park.

It was the right call. The greyish-red spires of this surreal landscape were impressive. We stopped at the visitor center and my daughter used her money to buy herself a small, stuffed bighorn sheep. I gave her a hard time since we hadn’t seen one. Then we rounded a turn and a dozen bighorn sheep were crossing the road. That’ll teach me.

We spun through the Wall Drug tourist trap because 300 miles of billboards in South Dakota told me to do it. My bloodshot eyes squinted through the splattered bugs at the bloody red sun as it set through the sky filled with smoke from the wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. It was almost too far, but we made it to the Spearfish exit. We headed to Killian’s Tavern and knew we were in the right place, since the entire restaurant had mountain bikes hanging from the ceiling.

On our first full day in town, we drove to the west and visited Devils Tower. We learned that the locals called it “Bear Home” or “Bear Lodge” for eons, until one surveyor came by in the 1800’s and slapped the current name on it. We walked around the base and saw prayer bundles among the trees and incredible views of this dramatic mountain.

The kids had just watched “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” this year and were excited to find some aliens. Amazingly, the National Park gift shop didn’t have a single little green man. We stopped for lunch outside the gate and they had a whole glass display case full of “Close Encounters” memorabilia. It was a “close” one, but we got our fix.

We got back to town and saddled up for a ride on the paved path that meanders along Spearfish Creek through the middle of the city. We rode south to the mouth of Spearfish Canyon. Then we backtracked north and stopped to dip our toes in the creek in a pretty city park. Cold and clear as gin. A successful first day in the Black Hills. We left our basecamp the next day and retraced our steps to the east toward Mount Rushmore. It was extremely windy, but that didn’t hurt the views of this impressive monument carved into the side of the mountain. We wound our way through the mountains over the Needles Highway to Custer State Park. One of our family friends said we needed to drive this road. It was just the kind of surprise we wanted. My old Dodge ground its way up the mountain passes and hairpins surrounded by dramatic spires of rock. The real showstoppers were the many single lane tunnels directly through the rock. In Custer, South Dakota, we stopped for gas and we decided that it was time for an air freshener. It was only day two and the

PART 1

Four presidents and three goofballs: Sam, Shelly and Grace.

[LEFT]The Chandler family chariot near Devil’s Tower. [RIGHT] Bighorn sheep added to the excitement of the Badlands.

truck was a little swampy. I got a blueberry scented one to match our Minnesota plates.

We drove north to find Crazy Horse emerging from a mountain after 70 years of excavation. The museum at the base of the mountain was almost as impressive as the

giant sculpture. I was surprised to learn that it’s all private money funding the project. So, the kids bought some dreamcatchers to help power the sculpting. We were also interested to learn that the dreamcatcher originated with the Ojibwe. Another reference back to Minnesota. They

The Chandlers passed through Chandler, MN.

brought them into each hotel for the rest of the trip to watch over us while we slept. Earlier, I poured over maps to find a spot along the George S. Mickelson Trail to ride our bikes. I found a tiny town called Mystic where this rail-trail went into some dramatic hills away from the highway in the heart of the Black Hills. It looked like a good spot to ride on the way home from our day of tourism. We pulled into the lot after a long stretch of dirt road. I struck up a conversation with some nice ladies manning an aid station. They were supporting the Lean Horse 100 ultramarathon. I asked if this was a nice section of trail. They said I was at the prettiest section of the 109mile trail. We had a blast riding the old railroad bed over trestles and through tunnels at the end of a sunny day. We cheered on a few ultramarathoners that looked pretty darn good, considering they already ran over 50 miles.

Spearfish day three was all about mountain biking. I researched trails to find something family-friendly. Nothing beats local advice, so I asked around. People recommended the Little Spearfish Trail about 15 miles south of town, so off we went. We drove past a spot where some winter scenes from “Dances With Wolves” were filmed. We stopped at a campground for the ladies to visit one of the vilest pit toilets they’d ever smelled. Then, at the trailhead, I discovered that the front axle of my daughter’s bike was missing a bolt. Duct tape to the rescue. A rough start, but we were finally cycling.

An hour later, I realized we were having Type II fun. The kind of adventure that is only fun when you look back from the safety of the future. The trail went 1,000 feet straight up in 3 miles. We all walked our bikes at some point due to the grade. Most of the trail was bordered by chest deep grass and brush. At the top of the ridge, where I promised my daughter we were “almost there,” we ran into a logging operation where I lost the trail. I can only imagine what the Bobcat driver thought as he suddenly saw a pudgy man in Spandex walking out of the woods to ask for directions. He saved us since he was actually working to rebuild our trail after the timber sale.

We rolled over the summit and thrashed down the hill. My rattling bike rattled louder. My rear hub was coming loose. I felt like somebody was pulling my leg when they said it was a family loop. The trail finally met a pleasant creek and we followed it back to the car below some dramatic red cliffs. The last half hour was quite nice. The first several hours? Not so much.

We limped into town with our two broken bikes and walked into the Two Wheeler Dealer bike shop 20 minutes before closing. Zack, the mechanic, fixed my daughter’s axle and my hub. My wife decided to buy a cycling jersey as her souvenir from taking her “comfort bike” over a giant mountain pass. Kudos to her and her bike.

Shelley and Grace hung out at the pool while Sam and I went for round two at sunset. We found the Tinton Trail just outside of town. We were intimidated since it was part of the Dakota 50 mountain bike race, but it was a nice flow trail with no weeds and a lot less vertical than we did that morning. Next time, Team Chandler will go directly here without bushwhacking first.

Thumbs UP from DOWN river

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

A paved path from Spearfish, SD to Spearfish Canyon.

Along the Needles Highway in Custer State Park.

MUSH LAKE DOG BLOG

Let the Mushing Season Begin

Story and Photo by Erin Altemus

We hit the reset button on Sept. 9, one of the first cool mornings of autumn and also my birthday—a perfect day to think about what lies ahead.

The mushing season—seven or eight months of good dog-running weather— begins again. We’ve taken stock over the spring and summer of everything we did right last year, everything we did wrong and what we want to change. We rested the dogs long enough to heal any nagging injuries from last season’s races and we’ve given ourselves a mental break.

We are excited to hook up the teams and the dogs are out of their minds to run.

Those first few hook-ups are a reminder of how crazy the dogs can be—how Punky likes to jump up and clock us in the face with her chin if we aren’t watching and Cha-Cha will chew at the gangline until go-time. But overall, the runs are smooth. We get up early, run before the sun warms the air too much and then go about the day.

The runs have been great, except that our ATV, the crucial piece of equipment to train a large team of dogs before the snow flies, has no brakes.

Well, it has one hand brake. The foot brake sticks down so hard, I can’t get it up and the left hand brake doesn’t work, so that leaves us with one. We start carrying pieces of firewood around with us to wedge in front of the tires in case we need to stop, but sometimes the trail is so

rough the wood goes flying out the back of the ATV.

On the first morning of October, I take the team. The dogs are in a nice groove. We’ve run 6 out of 7 miles and I haven’t had to stop, which is great, because it’s hard to do without brakes. But then Jazz throws her sister Calypso, who is running right behind Jazz, a nasty look. Jazz isn’t wearing a neckline, which is how we often run her—it allows her a little more freedom of movement on the gangline. She is just attached by the back of her harness—the tugline. If a dog is able to run without a neckline and not get tangled, or dragged, I like to do it.

But today, Jazz is giving Calypso the, “I’m going to turn around and tell you what I think of you” kind-of-look—and her back hair is standing on end. I realize I am about to have a situation on my hands if I don’t do something about this.

Do I stop, get off the ATV, attach Jazz’s neckline, even though I don’t really have a good brake? Or do I continue and hope there is no fight.

I didn’t have a good feeling about Jazz, so I stopped. I tried to tie the hand brake tight to help the ATV stay put, but as soon as I was 10 feet up the dog team, the ATV started to move. As I ran toward it, yelling “WHOA, dogs,” it rolled forward, then off to the side of the trail and before I could do much at all, it flipped.

Now it’s lucky for me that I wasn’t on it.

But believe me, having 12 lunging dogs in front of an overturned ATV is a bad turn of events. I did try uprighting it myself, but that was not happening. I was only a half-mile from home as the crow flies, so I tried giving a few hefty yells for Matt. I waited. I tried calming the dogs down. Finally, I unhooked Judy, knowing she would run straight home. I hoped Matt would see Judy and realize I had a problem and come help.

After some time, it was clear Judy had not relayed the message.

I tried releasing Ringo, but he ran ahead and came back. Now I had a situation for sure. Do I leave the team and get help? How long will I wait here before help actually comes? Could I actually leave the team and come back to find them all intact?

After listening to the dogs go out of their minds for 20 minutes, I finally tied off the front of the team and started huffing it down the trail toward home. Matt and

I connected and we huffed it back to the team. They were fine. Matt heave-hoe’d the ATV and we ran the team home safely. All in a day’s training run.

Sometimes in the early fall, when we’re running five, seven or 10 miles, it’s impossible to imagine how we will build up to 50-or 60-mile runs in just a couple months. But we will.

In January, we will run the Gunflint Mail Run, and at the end of January, one of us will drive the team in the Beargrease Marathon. Until we decide who, Matt and I will both fantasize and fear the Big Race.

For now, we take it one run at a time and try to keep the ATV on the road. We do have an appointment to get those breaks fixed real soon.

Editor’s Note: Erin Altemus and her husband Matt Schmidt are the owners of Mush Lake Racing on the Gunflint Trail.

Wild Traditions

The slow, satisfying tanning process

By Julia Prinselaar

Before plant fibers were spun and woven into the mass-produced textiles of today, tanning animal skins and pelts for clothing was a common practice among civilizations across the globe. Wearing leather and furs was a necessary element of survival. They kept our vulnerable human bodies shaded from the sun and shielded from the harshness of wind, rain and colder climates. They were also used for purposes of magic, spirituality, decoration and prestige that expressed social significance and culture.

As hunters and gatherers before European contact, the Ojibwe people of this region wore clothing made of tanned deer hide. Tepees made from saplings and animal skins were an ideal form of shelter in all seasons, offering shade in the summer and solace from wind and snow in winter.

In a lot of ways, the practice of hide tanning led my foray into the pursuit of traditional crafts. A number of years ago, I attended a primitive skills gathering on Vancouver Island. I arrived a day late and registration for the deer hide tanning workshop was already full. But I watched intently as others in the class scraped the hides on a fleshing beam, stretched them on a rack and smoked the softened skins over a funnel of hot coals. I was determined to learn more so I’ve since experimented with traditional forms of tanning.

Luckily, acquiring ethically-sourced deer hides in Northwestern Ontario isn’t a difficult thing to do—even if you don’t hunt. Most hunters have no use for the skin, and many are happy to give it to someone who does. The best hides aren’t necessarily the biggest hides. Ones that are fresh, well-skinned and contain minimal holes or knife scores are the most pleasant to work with and yield the best results.

There are a number of ways to tan an animal skin, from using traditional methods like animal brains, to using oil, eggs, bark and commercial tanning kits. If the hair is coming off—such as making buckskin for clothing or rawhide for drum skins—it is much easier to manipulate the skin by hand using simple tools.

Making garment-quality furs is more of a challenge; one has to be sensitive to the nature of fur. The animal should be skinned, its hide fleshed (removed of all fat and meat) and worked as soon as possible in order to prevent decay and fur loss. Scraping against the grain of the fur could

also loosen follicles and compromise the pelt’s quality. Depending on how the fur will be used, chemical tanning kits are available that will help preserve the fur and add softness to its underside.

Regardless of what materials are used to tan, certain tools are essential to the process. A fleshing beam made from a log or plastic beam supported on a stand, allows the tanner to lean over the skin and apply direct pressure to scrape the fat, meat and eventually further layers of skin from the hide when making buckskin. Scrapers are typically made from a beveled metal edge, but traditionally the rib of a moose or large animal was used. The trick is to scrape certain layers from the hide in order to isolate the fiber network—the material that can be treated, stretched and smoked into the revered softness of buckskin.

Fleshing, graining and removing the membrane all involve the use of a fleshing beam for the wet-scrape method. Alternatively the hide can be stretched on a rack and scraped with a beveled hand tool. After scraping, the hide is rinsed, wrung out and would traditionally be left to soak in animal brains. It is said that an animal’s head contains enough brains to tan its own hide. The hide is then wrung out once more, racked and worked with the blunt end of a pole to stretch the fibers as they dry. Alternatively—and in my experience—getting a group of friends together to stretch the hide on a sunny afternoon can be a lot more fun. It’s also fascinating to see a damp, wrinkled skin transform into soft, wearable fabric.

The final step is to carefully smoke the hide over a pit of coals, effectively preserving the hide to be water resistant. Any unsmoked skin that becomes wet and dries without working the fibers will become stiff and feel calloused.

While there is no longer a practical need to spend hours and days laboriously scraping, stretching and softening animal skins, this skill has offered a sense of connection to our survival as a species in a way that

is difficult to replicate. The last century has been experiencing a drastic evolution of textiles. Plastics woven into fleece and polyester allow outdoor gear the ability to perform in the elements—much like skins and furs would offer breathability and insulation. Wool is a tried and true example of this. But plastic textiles and other synthetic materials are finding their way into our lakes and waterways in the form of tiny microfibers that abrade every time they are washed. Many of these fibers are so small that they are not captured in wastewater treatment plants, and leading scientific research has detected the

ence of microplastics in the surface water of all five Great Lakes.

While the world appears to be hooked on the convenience and versatility of plastic, processing natural materials for clothing, furniture, shoes and consumer goods continues today. Any widely-produced material calls into question the ethics of industrial scale production. But fundamentally, organic materials were harvested from their immediate surroundings because they were useful and practical. Remnants of that wisdom remains today.

pres -

Close-up of the scraping technique to remove layers of the dermis, exposing the fiber network of the skin. | JULIA PRINSELAAR

Handmade buckskin guitar strap with dyed cow hide finish.

| JULIA PRINSELAAR

Strange Tales

A local Connection to the Franklin Expedition

By Elle AndraWarner

In Canada’s High Arctic, on the barren rocky Beechey Island, there are weather -bleached wooden markers on the graves of three British seamen who died in early 1846: John Hartnell (1820-1846), John Tor rington (1825-1846) and William Braine (1814-1846). They were part of the 129 crew members of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition that sailed from England in May, 1845 on two ships, the HMS Erebus and Terror. Their mission was to search for the Northwest Passage, the fabled Arctic Sea link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. But the ships became icebound and were abandoned. The men perished and the disappearance of the two ships became one of the greatest mysteries of the polar sea.

It was 140 years later, in 1986, that anthropologist Dr. Owen Beattie and his team went to Beechey Island to exhume and do autopsies on two of the frozen men (it was Beattie’s second trip). His team included a great-great nephew of Hartnell, Thunder Bay’s Dr. Brian Spenceley, a Professor Emeritus of Physics at Lakehead University, who became the expedition’s photographer. His presence resulted in a rare moment in history, when a living person comes face-to-face with a relative who has been dead for 140 years.

The Franklin Expedition, commanded by the 59-year-old veteran Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin (1786-1847), was the largest maritime expedition ever sent by the British Admiralty to search for the Passage. Both the Terror and Erebus were state-ofthe-art 105-foot polar sea vessels, that had been on voyages to the both the Antarctic and Arctic. Both ships had reinforced hulls, auxiliary steam engines and supplies for three years.

When no word was received from Franklin for a couple of years, more than 30 government and private search expeditions were launched between 1848 and 1859. In 1851, the Beechey Island gravesites were discovered, indicating the three had died while Franklin and his men had wintered there during 1845-46. In 1859, a note was discovered in a stone cairn on King William Island indicating that 22 men had died (including Franklin on June 11, 1847), the two ships had been abandoned April 25, 1848 and the remaining men planned to head south to a Hudson Bay Company fur-trading post 600 miles away (they never made it).

John Hartnel was a British seaman who died on the Franklin Expedition and whose Arctic grave was exhumed in 1986.| ELLE ANDRA-WARNER/COURTESY OF DR. BRIAN SPENCELEY

Fast forward to 1986 when British-born Spenceley landed by plane on the 2.5 kmwide Beechey Island, just south of Devon Island in Nunavut. Growing up in England, he heard vague references to a family connection to the Franklin Expedition, but he first learned it was his great-great uncle when he got a telephone call from his sister in Virginia after Beattie’s initial 1984 expedition.

“She had read and learned from a magazine about the three Arctic gravesites and the names, including John Hartnell, and made the connection,” Spenceley said.

Spenceley’s great-great uncle Thomas Hartnell—the brother of John—was also on the Franklin expedition, but his body has

The Arctic Medal, instituted in 1857 by Queen Victoria, was granted “to all persons of every rank and class, who have been engaged in the several expeditions to the Arctic Region, whether of discovery or search, between the years 1818 and 1855.” The original medal had the recipient’s name with the reigning monarch on one side [UPPER LEFT], and the other side showed a three-masted ship surrounded by ice floes [ABOVE]. The Arctic Medal for John Hartnell, who died on January 4, 1846, was presented to his descendant Donald Bray a century later on Jan. 6, 1986. | ELLE ANDRA-WARNER/ COURTESY OF DR. BRIAN SPENCELEY

never been found.

Beattie was planning a second trip to Beechey Island when he happened to be at Lakehead University and talked to Spenceley.

“We had a 10-minute walk at the Valhalla Inn and easily came to terms for me to be part of the expedition. I was an academic who had done forensics work, was a relative of Hartnell and a photographer. It all fit … and I wanted to see the Arctic,” recalled Spenceley.

Though there wasn’t a lot of initial emotion or recognition seeing his long-dead great-great uncle, he did notice the long nose.

“We’re a family of long nose people, including my grandmother and her sisters,” said Spenceley.

And he wondered about his great-great uncle, “What on earth he would have thought today?” said Spenceley. “He arrived by steamship, we flew in on an airplane and brought a portable X-ray machine that used a generator run on gasoline.

There had been 140 years of development since he died on Jan. 4, 1846.”

Returning Hartnell to the permafrost grave was emotional for Spenceley. “We had him out for a couple of days and I felt I had got to know him. When it was time to put him back in the permafrost, I felt an overall sadness. He had come back from the grave and now was going back again.”

When asked what stands out in his memory about his trip to the high Arctic and ‘meeting’ his relative, he replied, “I’m astonished that I was there.”

As for the two missing Franklin ships, Parks Canada led a four-vessel flotilla to search for the Franklin Expedition in 2014—the sixth expedition since 2008 and the largest since the 1850s—and in early September, located the HMS Erebus in about 36 feet of water in the eastern Queen Maud Gulf. Just as the Inuit had suggested, Erebus was found far south from the location detailed in the 1848 note. Parks Canada will continue exploring the well-preserved Erebus in 2016 and keep searching for the HMS Terror.

northern sky

NOVEMBER 2015

By Deane Morrison— MINNESOTA STARWATCH

November brings what may be the roundest rising moon any of us will ever see. On the evening of the 25th, the moon rises in Grand Marais at 4:38 p.m., only six minutes before the instant of perfect fullness. And coming just two days after perigee—its closest approach to Earth in a cycle—it will be one of the bigger ones, so try not to miss it. This is the full beaver moon, named for the busy rodents, now preparing their lodges for winter.

The first two weeks of the month offer at least a few moon-free hours for enjoying the evening stars. Go out right after nightfall to catch Capricornus, a chevron-shaped constellation, in the southwest before it sets. Moving northeast, look for spidery Aquarius, then the Circlet of Pisces, and above it, the Great Square of Pegasus, high in the south.

In the morning sky, Venus, Jupiter and Mars rule from their movable thrones in the southeast. Venus, the most brilliant of the three, is just west of Mars on the 1st.

Our sister planet drops away from the Red Planet, but high to the northwest of both, Jupiter distances itself from Mars even faster. On the 30th, you’ll see a diagonal line from lower left to upper right, of: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, the bright star Regulus, in Leo, and a waning moon.

And speaking of the lion, the Leonid meteor shower is predicted to peak on the night of the 17th-18th, between moonset—10:03 p.m. in Grand Marais—and the dawn’s early rays. The morning of the 17th may also be good, although Leonids generally produce only 10-15 meteors per hour. Meteors will radiate from the east, in the Sickle of stars outlining Leo’s head. Leonids are bright and often leave persistent trails and this year no moon washes them out.

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.

more information call 218-591-0985, email to stphn.carlson@gmail.com or Realliving.com/steve. carlson.

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LOT 18 KAM RIVER

Almost 400 feet on the north side of the Kam River with southern exposure. total of 12.36 acres - all high ground. Right in the city of Thunder Bay. $248,000 CDN

HARRY LAKE LODGE

2 well built log homes. Each with log sauna buildings, sand beaches, sheltered mooring area, more building sites and southern views of Scotch Lake. Surrounded by crown land and largest of only a few private parcels on this huge lake. Very secluded and private. Great fishing/ hunting retreat. $850,000 CDN

The ultimate flyin fishing resort. Totally outfitted with all the modern conveniences. 80 miles north of Thunder Bay. Incredible fishing! Main lodge, beach house with sauna and hot tub. Diesel generator, fish cleaning house, boats, motors. Harry Lake is a very large lake with no road access and Harry Lake resort is the only improvement. $295,000 CDN

BLACK BAY

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

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Surfside on Lake Superior

Bluefin Bay Condos & Townhomes

Large

study/home office and detached heated building for additional office.

and unique tees and shrubs. Sincerely, this is an opportunity that seldom if ever presents itself in all of Cook County

Lutsen, MN 48 County Road 34

MLS #6003287

$595,000

It’s simply unusual to find over 5 acres and nearly

400’ of Lake Superior Shoreline in the Lutsen area. Well, here it is. This property is accompanied by a three bedroom lake home that was built for the ages. The lake home is timeless with respect to design and architecture. Three bedrooms, one bath with a Great Room and wood fireplace. Recent updates to kitchen and bathroom. Sincerely, likely some of the best views on the entire north shore with moderate stair access to ledge rock shoreline.Property is currently in the process of an Administration Sub-Division and what is shown on the attached map is two additional parcels with Lake Superior Shoreline with building sites above the gravel road. Parcels 2 and 3 are separate from this transactions and are available for $50,000 each. If desired to be purchased with the main property the overall property will consist of over 12 acres 855’ of total shoreline.

Lutsen, MN 21 Tall Timber Trail

MLS#6004114, MLS#6004113 $329,000 Beautiful Heritage Townhome overlooking Lake Superior, adjacent to Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course and near the base operations at Lutsen Mountains. This three bedroom three bath townhome is tastefully appointed with granite and stainless throughout the kitchen, windows providing

Lutsen, MN 5170 W Hwy 61

MLS#6003083 $299,900

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 consideration. An all around cool place.

The Landing at Devil Track Lake

$530,000

LOG CHARM, SUPERIOR SECLUSION. Beautiful private retreat property. With over 28 acres & 866 feet of shoreline, privacy is assured. Two classic North Shore log cabins have historic warmth and attention to detail, with outstanding lake views along the dramatic, unspoiled shoreline. Each cabin sits secluded from the other. Trails, bridges and

LAKE SUPERIOR PROPERTIES

STUNNING ARCHITECT DESIGNED HOME - LAKE

SUPERIOR. Beautiful timber framed, Mulfinger designed home. Ideal layout is suitable for a couple or a sizable crew. 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# 6003860 $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# 6003965 $750,000

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,

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# 6004331 $559,000

CHARMING, ORIGINAL LOG COTTAGE. New addition includes sunroom, bathroom, and a wrap around deck. New sauna. Gorgeous, easily accessed shoreline with spectacular ledge rock. The gentle walkout to the water encourages swimming, kayaking, and canoeing. The focal point of the cabin is the great stone fireplace, new Anderson windows, compliant septic, etc. Truly a darling hideaway! MLS# 6004336 $449,900

LAKE SUPERIOR, FINISH TO TASTE. This new lake shore home sits on 110 feet of North Shore ledge rock with great views. The 2 bedroom, 2 bath home is quality constructed and partially completed inside. It's ready for you to use now and finish to your own taste and time frame. Kitchen,

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# 6003937 $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# 6004262 $349,000

NEW! GORGEOUS LAKE SUPERIOR PARCEL. Million dollar location with million dollar views! This Lake Superior lot has ledge rock, coves, creeks and a spectacular view of the lighthouse in Grand Marais and the Sawtooth Mountains. Septic built to accommodate 5+ bdrms. End of the road privacy, cross your own private bridge over a bubbling creek to access the site. MLS #: 6004747 $729,000 NEW! 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 #: 6004809 $329,000 SHARED LAKE SUPERIOR. This spectacular building site has pristine views of the shoreline from a nicely elevated lot. The site was prepared and is ready to build your dream home. Water, sewer, electric and broadband are ready for hookup. Only 8 owners share a park-like setting. Secure and private with owners association to share expenses. A

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 #6002594 $299,000

SOLITUDE ON TAIT

LAKE. A slice of the

but with all the comforts and amenities. Spacious home features a GREAT great room, gourmet kitchen with all stainless steel appliances and a Jennaire cook top. Charming master suite has sliding glass and lake view. Stunning open beamed ceilings, gleaming hardwood floors, cozy loft and a huge screened porch you will never want to leave. Comfortably sleeps 10-12. Detached garage connected to the home via boardwalk includes a heated, furnished rec room. MLS#6004494 $559,500

NEW! PRIME PIKE LAKE

CABINS. Private Lake Home or successful vacation rental w/ solid customer base already established. Cabins are set on over ½ an acre of quiet, peaceful grounds &

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES

MCFARLAND LAKE

CABIN.

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 #6003810 $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# 6004182 $259,500

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# 6003484 $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#6004435 $259,000

DEVIL TRACK LAKE - LOT. This Devil Track Lake lot has easy access from county road, power, phone and great building sites. South shore, 200 ft. frontage, great views. Build your home on the lake here. MLS #6001771 $198,900.

SPECTACULAR BUILDING SITE W. BEARSKIN LAKE. Beautiful views, dense forest and

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

SEAGULL LAKE - WILDERNESS VIEWS. This large and rare parcel on SeaGull Lake has 488+ feet of frontage with high building site and beautiful southerly views down the lake. Thousands of new growth pines on the 10+ acre property. The shoreline is easily accessible with a dock and perfect place for swimming. MLS# 6003847 $339,900

GUNFLINT LAKE HOMECEDAR FOREST. This quality built and lovingly maintained home sits in a classic mature cedar forest on 200 feet of accessible shoreline. Interior features include cedar paneling, huge windows, oak hardwood floors and beautiful stone fireplace with built-in bookshelves. Two bedrooms, 2 baths, large living/dining room, office/den and a large family room with wood stove. The 3-season porch is where you'll while away the summer evenings. Large detached garage MLS# 6003825 $468,900 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 #6003205 $97,900

mention! MLS#: 6004385 $355,500 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# 6004402 $189,000

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# 6004514 $225,000 PRICE REDUCTION!

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# 6003448 $279,900 PRICE REDUCTION!

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 #6001605, 6002124, $175,000 and up

INLAND WATER PROPERTIES

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 #6003936 $89,900

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# 6002756 $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 #6003402 $94,900

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 #6003499 $89,600

LOT 1, NINEMILE LAKE

End of the road, large lot adjoins Superior National Forest and Cabin Creek Unit Roadless Area. Great trees, views and building site. Power, year-round access. MLS #6003203 $89,300

TOM LAKE PRIVACY. A great opportunity, only four lots behind the gate. The driveway is in and the owner is looking at all offers. Oh so quiet and very private. MLS# 6004293 $70,000

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 #6003955 $50,000

water trout lake. These beautiful home sites were planned for generations of enjoyment and are protected by covenants. MLS# 6003206 thru 6003212 Prices start at $24,900

SPEND THE DAY ON YOUR BALCONY LISTENING TO LAKE SUPERIOR. Updated kitchen and main level, end-unit location. Very private, very quiet. Experience some attractive rental revenues and offset the ownership costs. MLS# 6004327 $133,000

CLASSIC FARM HOUSE AND 20 ACRES. Simply charming country home with outbuildings and some pasture for your horse! The 3 bdr, 2 bath home has a country kitchen/dining room, huge living room, comfortable den with built-in bookshelves, 3 season porch and full basement with workshop. The land is special with a large wildlife pond, planted pines, open meadow and potential for a lake view. More land is available. MLS# 6004343 $319,900

BRAND NEW CONDO. Terrace Ridge #16 has been designed and built by Bob Davis of Design 1 in Eden Prairie. The principles of Frank Lloyd Wright and John Howe will be evident within the completed unit. Conveniently located between Lutsen and Grand Marais on Minnesota's Lake Superior North Shore. MLS# 6004641 $399,000 HOVLAND OPPORTUNITY. Large home or commercial opportunity on Hwy 61 between Hovland and Grand Portage. This 7 bedroom home has resort/commercial zoning allowing for many options. Located on the scenic Reservation River at the gateway to the most picturesque corner of Minnesota's North Shore. Large deck, stone fireplace, Lake Superior views, +/- 500' of rushing river frontage. A great home for a large family, or your business dream. MLS# 6004601, 6004605 $289,900

THREE-LEVEL LAKE SUPERIOR CONDO. Beautiful views and quality finishes. 3-bdrm, 3-bath, accommodates 10. Outdoor access from each level with two decks and a patio right on the shore. Main floor has open floor plan with great room, kitchen and dining room - perfect for entertaining. Attached garage is a rarity on the shore. MLS#6004513 $374,900

MANY OPPORTUNITIESWITHIN 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# 6004325 $234,900

complete with swing. Ready for your finishing touches! 78 acres of forested land, with year-round access on plowed roads. Furnishings & generator included. MLS# 6004702 $192,900

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

HOMES & CABINS

NEW! 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 (6004361) $99,500

NEW! 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 # 6004740 $79,900

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

SALE PENDING

THE GUNFLINT MOTEL - GRAND MARAIS. Long-established business located just a block from the harbor and downtown shops and restaurants. There are 5 large motel units with kitchens, plus a full lower apartment in the motel structure. All are in great shape. There is also a 4 bdr, 2 bath owner's home that has had many recent updates and enhancements. It features views of the harbor and provides a comfortable and private residence. MLS# 6003528 $419,000

RENTAL COTTAGES - GOOD HISTORY - GREAT LAKE.

WOODS, WATER & SECLUSION. Nice ‘40’ with good timber and 1000’ frontage on Mons Creek. Great building site. Private deeded access to Lost Lake. MLS #6002119 $64,900

40 ACRES - MONS CREEK FRONTAGE. Easy road access. Good building sites. Mature trees. Deeded access to Lost Lake. MLS #6002120 $74,900

GRAND MARAIS - CITY LOT ON CREEK. Wooded lot with City services: water, sewer and electric at site. Nice south exposure and frontage on scenic Cedar Creek. Quiet street. MLS# 6001830 $63,900

NEW! LAND ON THE FLUTE REED RIVER. Enjoy privacy and seclusion in a deep 13 acre parcel with over 300 feet of trout stream in Hovland. Easy access with power, phone and broadband. Nice build sites. MLS# 6004730 $49,900

LAND/BUILDING SITES

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# 6004264 $279,000

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# 6003751 $179,900

HUGE POND-HUGE PRIVACY. Large wooded acreage located across from Tom Lake. The highlight of this parcel is the huge pond/ lake in the very center of the acreage. MLS 6004073 $99,000

NEW! RUSTICATE, RECREATE, RELAX. Reclusive Hovland hideaway – 43 acres with new driveway to “base camp” with a nice camper

GREAT LOCATION, QUALITY FOREST,

These

and

forest, southerly exposure, easy county road frontage and is just minutes from Grand Marais. There are many great building sites and loads of privacy. MLS# 6004295 $68,900, MLS# 6004276 $67,900, MLS# 6004299 $68,900 PRICE REDUCTION!

MAPLE HILL - HOME SITE. Heavily wooded parcel with great privacy, county rd frontage, power and phone. Super location for your home or vacation retreat. Walk to golf course, easy access to Gunflint Trail or Devil Track area. MLS# 6002601 $64,500

NEW! PINES & LAKE SUPERIOR VIEW. Large pine filled lot on the hillside above Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center in Schroeder. Great lake views and a short walk to the public trails at the beach. Power, phone and broadband at the lot. Year round easy access. MLS# 6004756 $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# 6003353 $62,500

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#6004434 $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# 6004624 $167,000

entities....so many avenues one could take!! MLS# 6003947 $269,900

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#6004539 $389,000 GRAND 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. MLS#6004493 $210,000

RIDGES, PINES AND VIEWSARROWHEAD 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# 6004623 $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# 6004009 $159,900 INCREASINGY RARE, LARGE RECREATIONAL PARCEL. 190 arces fully surveyed. This property would be a perfect retreat. Has a rich variety of trees, ponds, high and low lands, some meadow land and wetlands. MLS# 6004255 $150,000

COMMERCIAL LOTS IN LUTSEN. Two commercial-zoned lots fronting Hwy. 61 in Lutsen across from Lockport Store. Great visibility, nice forest, lake view. Third lot to north is zoned residential. Bring your business idea! MLS# 6003506 $179,000

STUNNING RIVER - PINCUSHION TRAILS. A unique opportunity for skiers and hikers. Trail easement runs through the property. The RC zoning allows for a resort/lodging type business. MLS #6003390 $103,900. 40 AC – LOST LAKE RETREATS. Mons Creek flowage with great views and tons of wildlife. Private and secluded location. Includes deeded access to private lake. MLS #6002121 $74,900.

GREAT LOCATION NEAR DEVIL TRACK. Nice wooded parcel, survey, septic site evaluations, and access road in place. Ready to build your home, cabin or recreational activities. MLS# 6003999 $59,900

BUILDING LOT - GRAND MARAIS. A rare find. This lot is located on 8th Ave W in the heart of town with easy walking distance to the harbor and business district. MLS# 6003862 $54,900

QUIET AND PRIVATE. Choice lot at the end of the road in Lutsen, ready to build. Priced to sell! MLS#: 6004354 $54,900

EIGHTY ACRE RETREAT. 80 acres in Schroeder. Rolling land with wonderful wildlife habitat including stream and beaver dam with large pond, MLS 6003804 $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 6003976 $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# 6003658 $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# 6003876 $99,900 MAPLES, VIEWS, PRIVACY. 85+ acres near Hovland. Good end of road access, adjoining tons of federal land, great view of pond. South exposure and views. MLS#6004713 $98,900

READY TO BUILD - NEAR DEVIL TRACK. Nice wooded parcel, survey, septic and access road in place. A quality site for your home, cabin or recreational activities. MLS# 6004076 $49,900 WOODED 2.4 ACRE. Tait Lake back-lot with driveway in and cleared building site ready for your cabin get-a-way. Electric is on site. Owner/ Agent. MLS# 6003727 $49,000

GREAT 4-ACRE HOME SITE NEAR HOVLAND. Close to Lake Superior, with some views, nice forest, easy access off of Highway 61 on shared driveway. MLS# 6003692 $47,900

WOODED ACREAGE – GRAND MARAIS. Two private, rolling woodland 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 from Murmur Creek Trailhead. MLS# 6004687 $46,000 & MLS#6004688 $35,000 BUILD YOUR HIDE AWAY Wooded 20 acres, it's a short walk to Magney State Park.

NICE HOVLAND ACREAGE. This is the "40" you've been waiting for. Easy year-round access. Build your cabin retreat over looking the wildlife pond! MLS# 6004659 $38,000 FIVE SECLUDED ACRES. One of eight secluded and heavily wooded 5-acre parcels bordering on thousands of acres of Govt. land. MLS #6003981 $28,000

REMOTE PRIVACY. If remote is what you're looking for, look no further. Forty beautiful acres abutted by thousands of acres of Federal land. Adjoining property is currently listed (MLS# 6001657). Buy it all and assure maximum privacy. MLS #6003593 $26,500

HOME SITE – TOFTE. A nice lot in a residential development near the the business and services hub of Tofte. Surrounded by thousands of acres of Govt. Forest. Minutes from Temperance River State Park. A great location to build your North Shore getaway. MLS# 6003954 $24,750 WILDWOOD ACRES - TOFTE. Nice and affordable, these wooded lots have great building potential. MLS# 6004526, 6004527, 6004528 & 6004529 $17,500 - $20,000

NEW! THE SECLUDED SIDE OF GRAND

LOTS OF LAND AND LAKESHORE ON LAKE SUPERIOR!

been lovingly maintained by only a handful of families since. Cabins Rock 1, 2 & 3 create this incredible family compound! MLS#6002529 REDUCED! $659,000

WILDERNESS ON LAKE

SUPERIOR! Over 11 ac and 317 ft of shoreline, big Granite Chunks perfect for laying around on, while dipping your toes in the Big Lake! Prowl design maximizes the views up and down the shore, and you’ll love the elbow room this home offers! Two car attached garage, A Must See! MLS#6003874 $799,900

WATER AND WILDERNESS ON LAKE

SUPERIOR! Fab location on Cty Rd 34 in Lutsen, Classic Northwoods Cabin alongside a rambling creek dropping in to Lake Superior, accessible shoreline! MLS#6003653

$399,000

Build ready, driveway already in place! MLS#6004770 $265,000

TEMPERANCE LANDING ON LAKE

SUPERIOR! Spectacular log

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#6003759 $349,000

COMFORTABLE AND COZY ON LAKE SUPERIOR! Wrapped in the history of the North Shore! Accessible and SPECTACULAR 177 ft of Lake Superior in Wilderness Setting! Staggering views of Lake Superior from the kitchen and dining area! You’ll love having your morning coffee on the new deck surrounded by mature spruce and pine! 3+ Bdrms, 3 garages! Sweet location just west of Tofte, walk to Blue Fin, Bike to Lutsen! MLS#6003473 REDUCED! $429,000

ELEGANCE & COMFORT on Lake Superior’s Cascade Beach Rd! Lovingly remodeled, the owners focused on Luxury and Style in the Northwoods: a massive stone fireplace for the ages; a master bath filled with natural stone, steam shower and soaker tub; and a living room noble as the Big Lake! Separate Glass Studio with Billiards, Foosball & darts! Rustic guest cabin captures the Old Time North Shore. MLS#6003535 $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#6004058 $299,000

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#6004417 $799,000

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#6002475 REDUCED! $299,000

MELLOW OUT IN THIS SERENE SPACE! Connect with the Big Lake through a Prow of Windows, or from the owner’s suite where Sunrises From Bed are an everyday occurrence. Or dip your toes in to the Big Lake while enjoying a camp fire on the ledgerock shoreline! MLS#6003870 $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#6003980 $438,900

CRAFTED IN TO THE LEDGEROCK! Sprawling ledge rock shoreline on CASCADE BEACH RD Lutsen Lake Cottage. Functional space perfect for the family, but it’s all about the Big Lake! Come See the shoreline! MLS#6004141 $379,000

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

GUNFLINT TRAIL GREENWOOD LAKE! Incredible Lake cabin on a Peninsula on Greenwood Lake, over 580 ft of meandering Peninsula shoreline where you can cast in to 50 feet of water from one of many huge ledge rocks that surround the shoreline. Mint condition cabin, Must see! MLS#6004220 $429,000

LAKE GEGOKA ISABELLA! 4 condos that share common access to a sweet dock on Lake Gegoka just 6 miles outside of Isabella’s Stoney Creek Café! Rental program in place to off set ownership costs! Very nice accommodations to come back to after a full day of fishing, boating, hiking, biking, snowmobiling and cross country skiing!

MLS#6004247 $132,900

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#6003989 $165,000

WHOA MOMMA! GORGEOUS CARIBOU LAKE

toys! MLS#6004763 $547,500

LUTSEN LOG LODGE! 3 bdr, 2 bath, SWEET FOUR SEASON PORCH, Just a hop skip and a jump to the Lutsen Mountains! Low maintenance living, all you need to worry about is where to go recreate. Great income property or keep for your own! MLS#6004123 $239,900

GREENWOOD LAKE HOME SECLUSION, Peace, Lake. Quality Built by fine local craftsmen, End of the road location bordered by State land! Mature White Pines, level access in to Greenwood Lake. Hand Hewn Log Siding, and TONS of Lake Views! Move in Mint Condition! MLS#6004219 $499,900

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#6004057 $279,000 NEW! NORDIC AT CARIBOU HIGHLANDS! Simple living in your Ski In Ski Out Getaway! MLS#TBA $87,500

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#6004583 $239,700 HEY HEY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SUPER NICE CARIBOU LAKE BUILD SITE! The original cabin was

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#6004071 $184,900 REDUCED!

GENERATING QUARTER SHARE AT SURFSIDE! at Tofte’s upscale Surfside Resort. #7 is a stone’s throw from accessible shoreline you’ll LOVE, this townhome, and it’s affordable with the Quarter Share option! No

TOFTE NEAR TEMPERANCE

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#6002213 $189,000

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#6004211

$199,000

TO THE HARBOR! You KNOW you want to be in the Coolest Small Town in America! You’ll quickly realize you can have the best of both worlds! Easy main level livin’ w/ Owner’s suite, steam shower, walk in closet! Great Rm

LOVELY LUTSEN HOME, SIMPLE LIVING Original Maple & Douglas fir floors, gorgeous wide panel woodwork and original doors! Home sits on a lovely 2+ ac lot, good depth from the Hwy. Walk to Clearview in Lutsen! Detached garage! MLS#6003998 REDUCED! $162,000 LUTSEN CONTEMPORARY LIVIN! Stylish home, small footprint energy efficient! New construction, lake views, 5 ac of wilderness bordering fed land across the private road. 2

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Near Carlton Peak! Good bang for your buck for square footage, this multi-level home is very Cool. Updated gourmet kitchen, new flooring and carpet and two garages! MLS#6001636 REDUCED! $205,000

NEW! 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#6004780 $309.900

STUNNING WILDERNESS HOME ON 20 ACRES! Guest Cabin, pole barn and Sweet home complete this hobby farm setting! Lots of elbow room in the home, great views and awesome deck. Must see home, PRICED TO SELL AT $309,900! MLS#6003788

MLS#6003970 $325,000

WELCOMING GRAND MARAIS HOME ON CORNER LOT! A minute’s walk to the North House Folk School, enjoy making memories with Family and Friends in this lovely home designed for entertaining! No home owners or management fees, just Good Livin’ on the North Shore with Elbow Room! MLS#6003844 REDUCED! $239,900

Slowwww Dowwwwn, Summer’s Over! Happy Hunting and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hwy 1 area Hunting Cabin on 10 ac MLS#6004471 $64,900

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

MLS#6004505 $114,900

30 acres Wilderness, Borders lands next to Little Manitou River! MLS#6004477 $129,000

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

MLS#6003239 $99,000

80 acres for $79,000 Blesner Lake Rd! MLS#6003110

Rock Road in Silver Bay area!

Great build site with creek frontage! MLS#6003859 $45,000

Sonju Lake Road in Finland!Several large parcels from MLS#6001324 $44,900

Little Marais Road Acreage! Build Ready Site, RV Neg. Old Garage, GREAT VIBE! MLS#6004706 $99,000

160 acre parcel of upland maples and boreal forest. Total seclusion. Owned by the same family since 1904! MLS#6002612 REDUCED! $129,000

Lakeshore on Ninemile Lake at the Village, common water and septic, build ready, borders common land! MLS#6004249 $45,000

Commercial Lot for Bar/Restaurant at the Village at Ninemile Lake, in between Finland and the Trestle Inn! MLS#6004416 $47,500

Caribou River Frontage, Simply Gorgeous 38 ac! MLS#6004544 $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#6004106; 40+ ac $109,900 MLS#6004105

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#6000676 $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#6001560-66

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#25701-4

LeVeaux Mountain, Super Views and Wildlife Ponds! FROM $49,900 REDUCED! MLS#6002929, MLS#6002995 & MLS#6004284 $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#6001347 Prices from $24,900!!

Tofte vaag on the Sawbill, Nice Lake Views! Walk to the Coho, great location! FROM $49,900 MLS#30547

Wowser Lake Superior views on Overlook Tr! MLS#6003716 $82,900

Mature Spruce and BIG Lake Views! Walk to Blue Fin Bay, drilled well in place! $49,900 MLS#6003482

Gorgeous 19 acres with creek running through the middle, high ground! MLS#6004399 $65,000

TOFTE AREA NEAR BLUEFIN BAY RESORT! LUTSEN LAKE VIEWS & WILDERNESS LANDS! GRAND MARAIS LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!

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#6004320 $57,500

Lutsen land with lake views. Lake views, driveway, rustic cabin on one parcel! Great value at $80,000 each! MLS#6004613, ask about MLS#6004614 for addl land!

Lutsen Land! Awesome Alfred Creek Rd 8+ ac. MLS#6004612 $95,000

Onion River Rd land, Hiker’s Heaven! MLS#6004477 $45,000

Woodland Foothills Build Ready lots, Shared Water & Community Septic from $19,000 MLS#6004475+

Heartland of Lutsen, 80 ac at the Foothills of Ski Hill ridge, near downtown Lutsen! MLS#6004502 $119,000

Over 15 ac of Wilderness on Turnagain Trail in Lutsen! MLS#6002934 $69,500

Prime Build Site(s) just off theCaribou at Jonvick Creek! MLS#6003188 $49,000

Gorgeous 5 acre parcels in the Heart of Lutsen paved Caribou Trail locale bordering USFS lands! MLS#6002383 From 54,900-$77,500

Creek Build Site just off the Caribou Trail at Jonvick Creek! Rare and Unique Build site! MLS#6003633 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#6002951 SALE PENDING $250,000

Honeymoon Trail Wildlife Lands!

10 Ac nearby Poplar River in Lutsen, great hunting or hiking land at a SUPER GREAT price! MLS#26729 $39,900

3 0 acres of Prime Wilderness Land with year round access and electric at street with Views of Lutsen’s famed Clara Lake! MLS#6001462 $137,500

80 Ac with Poplar River Frontage on the Honeymoon Tr! MLS#6003850 $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#31531REDUCED! $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#6001685 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#6004826 $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#6004007 $49,000

SUPER Views on Birch Drive! Complete with swimming pond on high ridge ledgerock setting, unique! MLS#6004089 $79,000

6 0 Acres Minutes to Grand Marais near Devil Track Lake! Easy walking/biking access across Fed land to Monker Lake!

MLS#6002586 $95,900 SOLD!

Birch Drive, West of Grand Marais!

Wilderness Setting with 5 ac HUGE Value $42,500 MLS#6002349 or HUGE Lake Superior views MLS#6003805 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#31732 REDUCED! $119,900

O wn your own park in the heart of Grand Marais! MLS#6002396 $17,000

Corner Build Site in Town-Walk to Harbor! MLS#6004355 $39,000

60 Ac with Lake Views

E of Grand Marais! Keep this gem all to yourself and enjoy plenty of elbow room! MLS#6002841 REDUCED! $119,000

Wild Plum Drive East of Grand Marais! Nice level build site, yr round and electric avail. MLS#6003492 REDUCED! $40,000

20 Ac With Lake Superior Views! Awesome locale Cty Rd 56, minutes to Grand

SWEET PARCEL ON SWALLOW LAKE IN ISABELLA AREA! 220 ft of

2.5 ac! MLS#6003766 $64,900 DREAMY LAKE SUPERIOR land and lakeshore! Several acres of privacy and way more than 200 ft of Level Access

400 FT WITH 14 AC ON DEVIL TRACK LAKE! What more can we say? Oh yes, there is a nice meandering driveway through mature red pines leading to level access beach shoreline. Quite nice! MLS#6002721 $375,000

TO LITTLE MARAIS TO FINLAND & ISABELLA!

Large Acreage

92A Tom Lake Rd - $69,900

Rolling, wooded, lots of potential for recreation or building.

MLS 6002723

110A W Highway 61 - $649,900

110A wooded, year round land with multiple zoning.

MLS 6002185

MLS 6004110

200A Camp 12 Rd - $159,900 Surrounded by state and federal land. Mature trees, gently rolling topography.

40A Camp 12 Rd - $42,900

40A off of Irish Creek Rd, surrounded on 3 sides by state land. Creek frontage. MLS 6004109

43A County Road 7 - $299,900 Seasonal Lake Superior views, multiple zoning, electric at road.

MLS 6002300

25A Tom Lake Rd - $49,900 25A close to Tom Lake. Enjoy the lake without the high lakeshore taxes.

MLS 6002625

80A Forest Rd 304 - $159,900 of maples, spruce and balsam, Durfee Creek and beaver ponds. Bordered on two sides by public lands

MLS 6003013

120A Reason Rd - $109,900 wooded with trails, wildlife and State land on 2 sides. 1.5 miles from public Tom Lake boat landing

MLS 6003857

40A Lima Grade Rd - $149,900 with solid tree coverage. Rolling land, abundance of wildlife, public land on all sides for maximum privacy!

MLS 6004168

120A Murmur Creek Rd - $119,000

Excellent hunting land located south and east of Deer Yard Lake! Abuts Forest Service and State Land on three sides.

MLS 6004509

Lake Superior Lots

Stonegate Road - $194,900$224,900

3 lake lots with 2+ acres and 200’ shore. Private and wooded.

MLS 6003950

57XX East Hwy 61 - $119,000

4.1A, 280’ shore. Driveway, septic mound and electric in place.

MLS 6003726

14 Stonegate Rd - $199,900

1.17A of nicely wooded, 200’ shoreline in an unspoiled location.

MLS 6003695

318X E Hwy 61 - $79,900

EXTREMELY private Lake Superior lot with 7+A south of 61, 4+A north of 61. 318’ Lake Superior Shoreline!

MLS 6004015

2888 W Hwy 61 - $327.500 views of Artist Point and the Sawtooth Mtns on 1.24A with 200’ of ledgerock shore.

6004222

2884 W Hwy 61 - $327,500 1.30A just past Terrace Point, only a few minutes from town. 371’ of stunning ledgerock shore.

6004223

Homes & Cabins

Inland Lake Homes

Squint Lake

5A surrounded on 2 sides by government land. Convenient midtrail location with easy access to many recreational activities.

MLS 6003242 $69,900

Whippoorwill Ln

24+A with a 1944 sq ft pole building. Great for a hike-in writer’s cabin, artist’s retreat..

MLS 6004636 $89,900

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

Stonegate RD

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

MLS 6003282 $19,900

Rosebush Hill Lane

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

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

Birch Lake Heavily wooded 1.54A, 150’ of frontage on great trout lake. Direct, year round access off the Gunflint Trail.

MLS 6002478 $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

Land

Raven Feather Rd

6.65A of nicely wooded land just west of Grand Marais. End of road location with federal land to the west PLUS incredible views of Lake Superior.

MLS 6003776 $129,900

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

Pike Lake Rd

Wooded 4+A near Pike Lake! Nicely elevated build sites, survey in place and septic sites identified. Just a short walk to the lake.

MLS 6003854 $42,500

Solberg Lane

20A close to town but is definitely off-the-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

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.

6004272 $74,900

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

Co Rd 58 11A of year round, quiet, private, nicely

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

Poplar Lake 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

Inland Lake Lots

CATCHLIGHT CATCHLIGHT

Barred Owl

We often hear barred owls hooting at night so we know they are residents at our home. One day, my wife Diana and I were going to visit some friends. It was about 10 in the morning and this owl was sitting in a tree right near our driveway. It sat calmly while I took some photos and it seemed as interested in me as I was in it.—Earl Orf