Northern Wilds

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Faith, community and humility

On Sunday morning a bell rings, sounding across the forested hills of the remote North Shore community of Hovland, summoning the faithful to services at Trinity Lutheran Church. As in many small communities, Trinity is the only church in Hovland and as such serves not only as a house of worship, but also as a social gathering place. You can find churches like this throughout the Northern Wilds, even in cities like Duluth and Thunder Bay, where many churches once served immigrant, ethnic neighborhoods.

In this issue of Northern Wilds, we embarked upon a project to find some of those churches and tell their stories. We’re pleased with the results. Some of the churches we feature here are now historic sites, while others still host gatherings of the faithful. In one instance, we feature a community of faith that has no church or, in their case, synagogue. What we discovered is that a common thread runs through all of these stories: None of these churches would exist without a community to support them.

Temius Nate, whose Ojibwe father, Edward, became an ordained Anglican minister and built a church on Miminiska Lake in the northern Ontario wilderness, summed it up best when he said, “A church is just a building, but it has a lot of meaning.” It is at a church where many celebrate the milestones of life: birth with baptisms, the coming of age with confirmations and bar mitzvahs, selecting a mate with marriages and deaths with funerals. A lot of the happiness and sorrow in the lives and times of individuals, families and communities occurs beneath the sheltering roof of a church. That is a humbling thought.

Speaking of humility, we’d like to point you to Julia Prinselaar’s Northern Traditions column, where she reflects on her role as a keeper and instructor of the ancient craft of tanning hides. You may appreciate her perspective. In her Strange Tales column, Elle Andra-Warner writes about an extensive, but little-known ministry that reaches out to seafarers on the Great Lakes—another example of humility. Although they may not necessarily be humble, Maren Webb reports on businesses in Duluth and Thunder Bay that are creating outdoor gathering places called patios and parklets in front of restaurants and shops. As she points out, these little oases are truly communal efforts.

In this issue we are introducing a new column from a familiar face. Actually, Shawn Perich’s Points North isn’t new, but going forward it will be found exclusively in Northern Wilds. Expect him to cover everything from the outdoor life along the North Shore to offering commentary on conservation and the environment. You’ll find other stories by Shawn in this issue, including a fun piece about a Belgian family he recently met at a fly-in fishing lodge. We are also developing an online format where you can read weekly columns from Shawn and related news that won’t be published in our print edition. We’ll keep you posted on that front. But for now, get outside and enjoy summer while it lasts. By the end of September, autumn will be here.—Shawn Perich and Amber Pratt

2017 1st Place People & Pets She spots the fish, I catch them by Britt Trovall 2017 1st Place Landscape Autumn Fog on Heartbreak Hill by Walt Huss

2017 1st Place Regional Icons Two Harbors Train Depot by Larry Paulson

2017 1st Place Wildlife

Copes Grey Tree Frog by Grady O’Donnell

Fellowship defines Cook County’s Jewish community

GRAND MARAIS—The Northland has long been home to a number of small but lively Jewish communities. Many of these small communities have seen growth in recent years, including the Jewish community in Cook County. While Cook County has never had an official synagogue, the Cook County Jewish community is an active group that has been reaching across the distances to celebrate family, culture, and traditions together.

Gary Latz is a member of the Cook County Jewish community. Latz graduated from high school in Cook County and returned to the area a few years ago to find a small but close group of Jews who were getting together to socialize and celebrate their shared heritage.

“In rural areas, Jews came here as the mining industry started,” explained Latz. “There were synagogues in Grand Rapids, Virginia, and Hibbing. But the younger people grew up and left, and the demographics changed.”

As the mining industry slowed and the population shifted, many of the smaller

synagogues in northern Minnesota became less active or even closed. Eventually, Duluth had the last congregation in the area with regular services. Now, however, the population is shifting again, and many people who left the Northland, such as Latz, are returning home. This has contributed to a new growth and renewed interest in the Jewish roots that many in the area have.

When Latz returned to Grand Marais, a handful of Jewish people lived in the area. This small group of people would get together once in a while, and as others heard about them they reached out and became more and more active. Now, the Cook County Jewish community has increased from a handful of people to an active group of about 25 members.

“About half of the group are Jewish by birth,” said Latz, “while others are spouses and converts.” The group also includes some members who have learned of their Jewish ancestry through genealogy testing and want to reconnect with the heritage they’ve recently learned they share.

The community is a social group, and they get together several times a year, usually around holidays such as Hanukkah in the winter, Passover in the spring, and the Jewish high holidays in the fall. Some past activities have included having Seders— the traditional Passover meal—and get-togethers at Hanukkah to sing songs, play games, and light the Menorah.

“The Jewish communities here are very vibrant for their size,” said Latz.

Though the Cook County community is an active group, it does not have a fulltime rabbi or regular religious services. As such, some individuals from the Cook County group are members of the Duluth Temple Israel and travel to Duluth regularly to participate in activities. Temple Israel is the nearest synagogue with services every Friday night and Saturday.

Duluth is still a fair commute for residents of Cook County and beyond, such as the Thunder Bay community, which also does not have a permanent Rabbi. The Cook County group interacts with the congregations in both Duluth and

Thunder Bay, and has organized get-togethers with all three communities, usually held in Grand Marais because it is almost mid-way and because members of the other congregations love coming to Grand Marais. Some activities shared between the congregations have included summer picnics and the occasional religious service in which the Rabbi comes to Grand Marais.

Latz says he enjoys the connection that the Cook County Jewish group brings, and is looking forward to continued celebrations with the Cook County group and the other communities along the shore.

“It’s always fun bringing everyone together,” he said.

For more information on the Cook County Jewish group, please contact Gary Latz at (832) 364-0310 or gary. bohlkeco@oplink.net. To learn more about the Duluth Temple Israel, visit: jewishduluth.org.—Rae Poynter

Members of the Cook County Jewish community get together several times a year, usually around holidays such as Hanukkah, shown here. | GARY LATZ

“Now we understand fishing,” Harry said. “You talk about it at dinner and in the morning, you wish each other good luck. It’s a social thing.”

Luka described how they discovered that fishing wasn’t boring.

“First we thought, only five more minutes,” she said. “Then we had to catch one more fish and then we had to see who could catch the most fish.”

On Day 4, the Belgians went with guide Isaac Nate up to Snake Falls on the Albany River to take in the scenery. Andrew brought Mike and I to a secluded cemetery that contained members of an Ojibwe family who once lived nearby. Afterward, we had fast fishing for walleyes where the Albany River runs into Miminiska Lake. The lodge refers to the spot as The Walleye Mine.

We were among the few who showed up for shore lunch, because many folks, including the Belgians, had taken sandwiches from the lodge so they could explore other parts of the lake and river system. After lunch, we returned to the Walleye Mine. The Belgians were there. In the midday sun, the bite slowed, at least for us. However, our afternoon conversation was often punctuated with, “Luka’s got another one.” The girl was putting on a fishing clinic.

Harry, displaying the bravado that comes from catching more fish than you

deserve (like more than your wife), declared Lieve had caught but one walleye.

“We hooked it on her line,” he said.

I was awestruck. On his second day of fishing, Harry was already telling fish stories.

During dinner that evening, Mike nodded toward Harry, who was seated across the dining room. “Look at him. He’s completely relaxed, talking to everyone and having fun. He’s a changed man.”

After dinner, Luka told me about her day. She had taken a short walk with Nate through the bush to see Snake Falls. I heard all about the steep hill she climbed, the carpet of moss on the boreal forest floor, the moose tracks and the bear poop.

“It was the first time I have been in the wilderness where there is no path,” she said. “It was so beautiful.”

The next morning, it was time to fly out. The Belgians, headed for Toronto and Niagara Falls, were on the first flight. Mike and I said goodbye to our new friends. I don’t know where their future travels will take them. It seems unlikely they’ll wet a line again. But I’m pretty sure that Luka won’t forget catching her first fish. And the next time Harry encounters someone fishing, I suspect he’ll strike up a conversation. Because now that “citiest of city people” has become a fisherman.

—Shawn Perich

Luka hooks her first fish. | MICHAEL FURTMAN

St. Louis Park artist wins trout and salmon stamp contest

ST. PAUL—St. Louis Park artist Richard Goodkind has won the Minnesota DNR trout and salmon stamp contest with a painting of a brook trout. The painting was selected by judges from among nine submissions for the annual contest, and will be featured on the 2019 stamp.

Goodkind is now a two-time winner of the trout stamp contest, having previously won in 2010. Two entries advanced to the final stage of judging during the contest that happened Aug. 2 at the DNR Central Office in St. Paul. The runner-up in this year’s contest was Stuart Nelson of Cloquet.

The DNR offers no prizes for the stamp contest winner, but the winning artist retains the right to reproduce the work. The following species will be eligible for the 2020 stamp: rainbow, brown, splake and lake trout, coho, pink, chinook and Atlantic salmon. Brook trout designs will not be eligible for the 2020 stamp.

The trout and salmon stamp validation is sold for $10 along with fishing licenses and is required for Minnesota residents age 18 to 64 and non-residents older than age 18 and under age 65 to fish designated trout streams, trout lakes and Lake Su -

St. Louis Park artist Richard Goodkind won the Minnesota DNR trout and salmon stamp contest with this brook trout painting. | SUBMITTED

perior and when in possession of trout or salmon. For an extra 75 cents, purchasers can receive the validation as well as the pictorial stamp in the mail. It also is sold as a collectible.

Revenue from stamp sales is dedicated to trout and salmon management and habitat work. For more information on trout fishing license requirements, visit: mndnr.gov/fishing.

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Former synagogue features history, events

VIRGINIA—If you come to see The Singing Slovenes (Sept. 15) or the Harbormasters Barbershop Chorus (Sept. 29) this month in Virginia, you’d do well to arrive early and explore the venue. The B’nai Abraham Museum and Cultural Center tells a story of perseverance, not only for the Jewish immigrants who built the synagogue in the early 1900s but also their descendants, who saved the building from demolition 100 years later.

As the Jewish population dwindled from more than 1,000 on the Iron Range to zero by the early aughts, the fate of Virginia’s synagogue was dire. Similar buildings in three other Range towns were demolished or repurposed. B’nai Abraham was the last remnant of Jewish history in the region.

Charles Ostrov is a Virginia native and member of the Friends of B’nai Abraham group formed in 2004 to restore the 1909 synagogue to its former shape. Like most of those still living and connected to the building, Ostrov moved from the Range to attend school, later opening an ophthalmology practice in the Twin Cities area.

“There are no Jews on the Range,” Ostrov recalled saying over and over again as the group wrestled to gain control of the building. Many of the artifacts had been taken out and donated to synagogues across the state and country. The roof was caving in and mold abounded.

But overall, “the building was in pretty good shape,” Ostrov said. “It was pretty

sad,” he admitted, when group members first stepped into the synagogue. There was wine still on a table. A chalkboard showed signs of a Hebrew lesson. “It was ghost-like,” he said.

Through grants and persistence, Friends of B’nai Abraham brought the building back. Putting in a lift to make the building accessible to all cost $90,000. It meant the group was committed, Ostrov said. By 2008, it was open to the public.

The work was done with an interpretive plan in mind. The synagogue would become a museum showcasing Range history and also a cultural center with special ethnic programs like the two slated for this month. The center does about six events each summer, Ostrov said. The center teams with the Virginia Area Historical Society and has a permanent display focused on the history of Jews on the Iron Range and the efforts to restore the synagogue.

“It’s been positive,” Friends member Dianne Siegel said of the community reaction to the center and its offerings. She said people remain surprised that there was a thriving Jewish population on the Range. And locals are relishing a look inside a building that had seemed so off-limits for so long, she said.

The success in saving the synagogue is today overshadowed by the nagging question of who will take care of the place as the age of Friends of B’nai Abraham mem -

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bers have reached the 80s. “We’re older,” Ostrov said. “What are we going to do?”

While more people have been exposed to the center through its programs and displays, they, too, are older, Ostrov said.

“We need volunteers. We’d hate to see it fail.”

To learn more about the B’nai Abraham Museum and Cultural Center, visit: ironrangejewishheritage.org.—Mike Crege r

DWI law covers all motor vehicles

ST. PAUL—A new law that went into effect Aug. 1 means people convicted of driving while intoxicated—regardless of the vehicle they’re driving—will lose their driver’s license and be prohibited from operating motor vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles, motorboats and snowmobiles. The state Legislature passed the law following the death of eight-year-old Alan Geisenkoetter Jr., who died in January after being struck by a snowmobile driven by a man whose driver’s license was revoked after multiple DWI offenses.

Before the law change, people convicted of DWI in a highway-licensed vehicle still could legally operate ATVs, motorboats and snowmobiles. The changes apply to violations that occur on or after Aug. 1.

“We have zero tolerance for people who endanger themselves and other people by operating a motor vehicle or recre -

ational vehicle while they’re intoxicated,” said Col. Rodmen Smith, director of the Minnesota DNR Enforcement Division.

As an example, a person convicted of DWI in a motorboat, or who refuses testing for a motorboat DWI, would have their driver’s license suspended and be prohibited from operating ATVs, motorboats and snowmobiles for one year. Additionally, first-time DWI offenders operating offroad recreational vehicles or motorboats also will be subject to chemical use assessments, conditional release and plate impoundment—the same as a DWI in a highway-licensed vehicle.

The Minnesota DNR and other law enforcement agencies in the state, along with ATV and snowmobile groups, supported the law change, which passed the Legislature with bipartisan support and was signed into law in May by Gov. Mark Dayton.

Orchard project is bearing fruit

GRAND PORTAGE—The fruit tree project that started a little over a year ago in Grand Portage has continued to grow. As the apple, pear, plum, apricot and cherry trees have grown, so has enthusiasm over this community agriculture project. It is all part of the CACHE (Community Agriculture through Culture, Health and Education) program.

Andy Schmidt, agriculture coordinator for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, is happy to give an update on the fruit trees. Last spring, about 150 trees were planted at the community gardens on Mineral Center Road and on Upper Road. In addition to fruit trees, the Upper Road orchard also has elderberries, grapes, currants and rhubarb.

Schmidt says overall the young trees are doing well. They came through the winter healthy and flowered very early. Perhaps too early, says Schmidt who notes that the trees seemed to bud out before the pollinators were out in force. Despite that, it appears that the trees will bear fruit, but Schmidt says he is researching a possible collaboration with local beekeepers.

Schmidt says it is his understanding that local honey farmers lost a lot of bees last winter and it could help rebuild the bee population if hives were brought to the orchard area. “It could be a benefit to the beekeepers. It could make our trees healthier. And, it could be another educational opportunity for the community,” says Schmidt.

Schmidt says the goal is to have different fruits ready for harvest at different times, such as rhubarb first, then currants in mid-July, and then cherries and grapes. Each harvest offers a number of educational opportunities, such as the making of jams and jellies. Schmidt says the currants are perfect for that, as are the grapes.

Another educational opportunity has led to the expansion of the fruit trees in the community. This spring, community members had the chance to sign-up for fruit trees to be planted at their own home. Fifty-four families came away with two trees each. The most popular tree of choice was apple, followed by cherry, then plums and pears.

With the trees came a training session,

with instruction on how to get them in the ground and started in a good way. The training also included tips on how to keep the trees alive by protecting them from deer and the trunks from damage from moles.

Another 30 trees went to the Picnic Bay apartment building. Schmidt says thanks go to Howard at Picnic Bay, who planted

Looking at the apple trees last fall, it is apparent the fruit tree project in Grand Portage has been a success.

| RHONDA SILENCE

those 30 trees, to be tended and harvested by tenants there.

Trees have also been planted by Grand Portage Community Center staff at the center and by the community baseball fields. Oshki Ogimaag students helped plant trees in the orchard.

“It is a really cool project,” says Schmidt, “It got some people excited about gardening. And it’s perfect for people who aren’t interested in keeping a garden, but want fresh fruit.”

So far the new trees are doing well, says Schmidt. “And it is really neat to see pairs of trees everywhere. It will be really pretty when they all flower in the spring.”

But before that comes fall, and we asked Schmidt how he knows when to harvest the fruit. Schmidt answers that a general rule of thumb for apples is not until after the first frost. However, he adds, “To be honest, the best thing to do is give it the taste test.”

There will be lots of great tasting fruit in years to come, thanks to the Grand Portage CACHE program and the hundreds of fruit trees the community has planted. —Rhonda Silence

Sunday, Sept. 2, Noon - 4 pm

Free admission all day

Lots of homemade pies to choose from. Get a slice of pie ala mode for $5 at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center.

Cary J. Griffith will be signing his new book “Gunflint Burning.”

The North Shore Community Swing Band will play from 12:30 am to 2 pm on the front porch. Check out our Cookbook Rummage Sale & Sidewalk Sale

Saturday, September 8, 2 – 3 pm David Grosshuesch, US Forest Service will give a talk on OWLS

Saturday, September 15, 2 – 3 pm a talk by Staci Drouillard

Saturday, September 22, 2 – 3 pm Peg Robertsen from the US Forest Service will give us information on BATS

Memorial Weekend - October 21 10 am - 5 pm Nature Center 11 am - 4 pm Admission Fee

Moose Pond Drive,Grand Marais 55 miles up the Gunflint Trail. 218-388-9915 info@chikwauk.com www.chikwauk.com

Grand Portage agricultural coordinator Andy Schmidt next to an apple tree. | ANDY SCHMIDT

Churches of the north

A story of resourcefulness

HAINES JUNCTION, YUKON—Resourcefulness seems to be the name of the game in the North. The “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” ethos was especially important during World War II. As I drove through the Yukon on a section of the Alaska Highway from Haines Junction to Beaver Creek, I found that mentality preserved in four little churches along the way.

My first stop was at the St. Christopher’s Church in Haines Junction. The log structure has a big glass window lighting the atrium, and an elegant tree burl connecting the rafters in the octagonal space of the sanctuary.

In the basement I found Kim Henkel watching over the gallery of local art, which becomes a thrift store in the winter. Back in the 1980s, when an older church started falling down, the congregation couldn’t figure out how they were going to manage getting a new building. Henkel told me that her dad, Henry Henkel, volunteered all of his time on the church because he just liked to build things. “Dad had the attitude, ‘we’ll just start and it will come,’” she said.

Construction took place between 1987 and 1991, and that makes St. Christopher’s Church feel relatively new. It replaced an older structure built soon after the completion of the Alaska Highway, and that’s where the other church’s stories began.

The Alaska Highway was built mostly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a supply route connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska. Construction began in 1942, just several weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and was completed in less than a year. Resources brought in to support the soldiers during its construction were often repurposed as the little towns along its length experienced growth spurts associated with road access.

Just down the street from St. Christopher’s stands Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church. This surprisingly elegant structure was constructed in 1954 using a Quonset hut left over from one of the U.S. Army’s road con -

struction camps. Quonset huts are lightweight structures made of corrugated galvanized steel and are semicircular in cross-section. The first ones were manufactured during World War II, when the U.S. Navy needed an all-purpose building that could be shipped anywhere and constructed without skilled labor.

Today, skylights provide ample illumination, and pews placed lengthwise keep the sanctuary from feeling cramped. Mountains in the Kluane National Park and Reserve provide a scenic backdrop. A wooden sign outlines the church’s history and proclaims that it is “the most photographed church in the Yukon.”

Almost 300 miles farther up the Alaska Highway, the Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Beaver Creek, Yukon, sports a similar Quonset hut base salvaged from highway construction days.

Our Lady of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Burwash Landing, Yukon, combined both the road camp reuse and log construction. Father Morrisette was working as the chaplain to the U.S. Army at the road construction camps when some local villagers asked him to start a mission and day school. Always resourceful, Morrisette deconstructed a log mess hall and cabin from the Duke River Camp and moved the materials to Burwash.

When the Duke River Camp was completely abandoned, Morrisette used their leftover cement and plywood to pour foundations for the mission and attached missionary’s residence. The mission opened with midnight mass on Christmas Eve 1944, making it the first church northwest of Whitehorse on the Alaska Highway.

From a can-do attitude; to the recycling of available materials; and the desire to make whatever is built beautiful, these four little churches in the Yukon fit right into a tradition of resourcefulness in the north.

—Emily

M. Stone

Editor’s Note: Emily Stone spent the summer roaming across Alaska.

Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church is the “most photographed church in the Yukon.” | EMILY STONE

St. Christopher’s Church in Haines Junction, Yukon, still hosts a thriving community, as well as an art gallery and thrift store. | EMILY STONE

Our Lady of Grace Church was built from an old Quonset hut used by the U.S. Army during construction of the Alaska Highway. | EMILY STONE

The Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church in Burwash Landing, Yukon, was built in 1944 using logs recycled from an old Army mess hall. | EMILY STONE

Timber-Frear Loop has something for everyone

SCHROEDER—ATVers who are looking for a fall ride with variety will find everything they are looking for on the Superior National Forest’s Timber-Frear Loop.

The ideal starting point for the approximately 25-mile loop ride is at the gravel pit near the bottom of Whitefish Lake Road, off of Four Mile Road (Forest Road 170). There is plenty of room for parking and unloading trailers—and even for self-contained campers, if visitors want to stay overnight.

Heading up Whitefish Lake Road is a pretty drive, shared with motorists until the narrow Timber-Frear Loop turnoff. This is one of the most scenic sections of the ride, with a fairly smooth treadway with trees and brush comfortably close.

The trail meanders through the woods along what appears to have been an old railroad grade. Riders won’t feel as if they are driving up hill, but at some points the trail is level with tree tops, giving glimpses of the Timber-Frear canoe route below. The view is lovely when the leaves are turning—and the vistas more impressive after the leaves have fallen.

The trail eventually crosses the Cross River, a first rest stop for many riders. On warm days, youngsters on a ride can splash in the river, looking for minnows and leeches.

The upper portion of the trail offers some challenges, with plenty of mud puddles to splash through and a rocky trail bed. This part of the trail is definitely slow going and may require low gear in a few spots, but it is lots of fun.

TO GET THERE

From Tofte, turn off Highway 61 onto the Sawbill Trail. Head north for about 14.5 miles. Turn left onto Four Mile Grade (Forest Road 170). Travel about 2 miles to Whitefish Lake Road.

From Schroeder, turn off Highway 61 to the Temperance River Road (Forest Road 343). Drive 4 miles to the 600 Road (Forest Road 166). Drive about 1 mile to Forest Road 346 and then 5.5 miles for Four Mile Grade (Forest Road 170). Travel about 2 miles to Whitefish Lake Road.

This portion of rough and rocky trail is in much better shape this fall due to a major trail clearing project undertaken by the Cook County ATV Club and the Minnesota DNR this year.

Coming back down the loop, another scenic stop is at Bone Lake, where a massive white pine overlooks a beaver dam. This is another great place for kids on an ATV ride. In the spring, they’ll find tadpoles; in the fall, frogs.

And finally, just before getting back to the starting point, a sand pit offers the chance for some tire-spinning fun.

All in all, a great experience for ATVers of all ages and experience levels —Rhonda Silence

Local ATVers enjoy the fall colors while riding on the Timber-Frear ATV Loop.

| RHONDA SILENCE

New book offers fresh look at BWCAW history

GUNFLINT TRAIL—On the North Shore and in the canoe country, the pioneer past is not that far away. Although the region was opened to settlement following the signing of a treaty with the Ojibwe in 1854, the north was so rugged and isolated that pioneers slowly filtered into the region. As a result, some of the pioneer history is within living memory or nearly so.

Jack Blackwell was born and raised in Grand Marais. He went on to have a 40year career with the U.S. Forest Service. Upon retirement, he spent a month in the Boundary Waters, alone except for the company of his Labrador retriever. He spent that time in a specific place deep within the wilderness where few paddlers travel. It was a place meaningful for him, because it was the heart of the trapping country beloved by his grandfather, Alec Boostrom.

Blackwell was a junior in high school when his father was diagnosed with lung cancer and given six months to live. He died five months later. Because he was devastated by the loss, his mother and grandfather decided that he should take some time off from school. He spent the month of April with his grandfather in a camp on Mesaba Lake, trapping beaver. In the evening, when they processed their pelts, his grandfather told him stories about the past. They were wonderful stories. Blackwell listened and remembered.

In 1914, 14-year-old Alec Boostrom got off the steamer America in the North Shore community of Hovland with his older brother Charlie, Charlie’s wife, Petra and their infant son, Donald. They hired a man with a team of horses to bring them 20 miles inland to McFarland Lake, where Charlie had left two canoes. From there

a unique glimpse into the past of a very special corner of the world.

they paddled and portaged westward for two days to reach Moon Lake, where Charlie had previously built a rough cabin. They were home.

They built a second, smaller cabin for Alec to stay in. They put up firewood for the winter and killed a moose for food. Then, as winter approached, they began trapping; first for mink and, when winter arrived, martin and fisher. Alec was initiated into a way of life.

Recently, Blackwell released a book about his grandfather’s life: Boundary Waters Boy, Alec Boostrom’s Pioneer Life in the Canoe Country. In addition to Alec’s stories, Blackwell did extensive background research. The book, which is told in his grandfather’s voice, details a rich history of the Gunflint Trail and the Superior-Quetico canoe country. It provides

If the Boostrom name seems familiar, it’s because Charlie and Petra moved to Clearwater Lake off the Gunflint Trail, where they founded Clearwater Lodge. Charlie became a master log cabin builder, constructing a number of private cabins along the Gunflint Trail. His masterpiece was the imposing Clearwater Lodge, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Alec followed a different path, becoming a trapper and wilderness guide. He first found work with the crew that was setting the monuments along the international border with Canada from 191518. In winter, the crews surveyed the line across frozen lakes. In the summer they set the monuments. The crew was led by two men, an American and a Canadian, who at times had to decide where the border should be.

Alec began trapping and, with his brother, owned a dog team. It was on a trip from Clearwater to Grand Marais with his

dog team that he met the young woman who was to become his wife. Jo Zimmerman’s father Sam, was a white survivor of the Dakota War of 1862. Her mother, Jane Maymaushkowaush Elliot, had lived in Chippewa City, a native community on the outskirts of Grand Marais. This is an important detail in the story, because it drew Alec and his descendants into the native community. As a result, Blackwell approaches some aspects of native life and history with greater detail and sensitivity than other accounts.

An example is the story of Chief Blackstone Two, who lived in a native village on Kawa Bay of the Quetico’s Kawnipi Lake. In 1919, the village was beset with an epidemic. Blackstone, one of his wives and the only other healthy man in the village set off for help. They reached the town of Winton, near Ely, where they radioed the Canadian government that the people in the village were dying. There was no reply. Later, the Canadian government forcibly evicted all of the remaining native people living in the Quetico, including some at gunpoint in the middle of winter. Their

Alec Boostrom arrived in Hovland on the steamer America in 1914 and embarked on a life of adventure. | SUBMITTED

Bush pilot “Hoot” Hautala of Ely flew trappers such as Alec Boostrom deep into the wilderness where they illicitly trapped beavers. | SUBMITTED

Author Jack Blackwell tells his grandfather’s story in his new book. | SUBMITTED

descendants now live in the village on the Canadian side of Lac la Croix. It was 1991 before the Canadian government issued a formal apology.

For decades, from 1909 to 1952, the area that became the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was managed as a game refuge by the state of Minnesota in the misguided hope that the wildlife there would prosper and spread out to the rest of the state. For the local people who were trying to eke out a living from the land, the refuge was a farce, especially during the Great Depression. Alec was among the many men who journeyed into the canoe country every spring to trap beaver, which was one of the few ways they could earn cash. He had a couple of small, hidden cabins where he stayed while trapping. Stealth was important, because game wardens were looking for the trappers.

While Alec travelled through the wilderness on snowshoes and with a canoe, he also used the services of a bush pilot named Ernie “Hoot” Hautala from Ely. At the time, low-level flying in the canoe country was still allowed. Alec recounts that flying back to Ely one night after dropping off a trapper, he counted a dozen campfires from the camps of other beaver trappers. In the north at the time, being an outlaw was a way of life.

The stories Blackwell compiled in the book, including one about windigos—cannibals—on Basswood Lake may not be found anywhere else.—Shawn Perich

Editor’s Note: Boundary Waters Boy is available at area bookstores and at northernwilds.com.

Deer hunters will have more opportunities this fall

ST. PAUL—Additional deer hunting opportunities will be available this fall because numbers continue to rebound across the state and now many areas have populations at or above goal levels, according to the DNR.

This year, there are more deer permit areas where hunters can use bonus permits to harvest more than one deer, and fewer areas where hunters need to apply in a lottery to shoot an antlerless deer. The deadline to apply for the antlerless permit lottery is Thursday, Sept. 6. Archery deer season opens Saturday, Sept. 15, and firearms deer season opens Saturday, Nov. 3.

The regulations for each of Minnesota’s deer permit areas are set to manage populations toward goals established for each area. These goals are based on information from the DNR and local citizens through a periodic public goal-setting process.

BUYING A LICENSE

Hunters who purchase a license by Sept. 6 are automatically entered into the lottery for an antlerless permit. Those who do not wish to harvest an antlerless deer are encouraged to purchase their license after the lottery deadline.

Hunters may apply using both their firearm and muzzleloader licenses. If a hunter is selected for both licenses, only one antlerless deer can be taken.

Deer hunting licenses, lottery applications and special hunt applications are available at any DNR license agent, by telephone at (888) 646-6367 or online at: mndnr.gov/buyalicense. Lottery winners will be notified in October.

PERMIT AREA CHANGES

Changes to permit area boundaries made last year remain in effect this year. In southeastern Minnesota, portions of permit areas 347 and 348 were merged to form permit area 603 when CWD was detected. In northeastern Minnesota’s moose range, all or some of permit areas 122, 127, 176, 178, 180 and 181 from 2016 were realigned to form permit areas 130, 131, 132 and 133.

CARCASS MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS

Hunters who harvest deer outside the state are reminded that they cannot bring whole carcasses of any member of the deer family into Minnesota. These animals include but are not limited to white-tailed deer, mule deer, black-tailed deer, elk, caribou and moose. More information is available at: mndnr.gov/deerimports

MORE INFORMATION

Hunters should review new deer hunting regulations, permit area designations and boundary changes before applying for the antlerless lottery.

Regularly updated deer information, including the DNR’s deer permit mapping tool, can be found online at: mndnr.gov/ hunting/deer

Cook County Higher Ed seeds area workforce

GRAND MARAIS—Change does not always come easy, but for Karen Blackburn and the dedicated team at Cook County Higher Education in Grand Marais, it’s all part of the job.

“Everyone can benefit in some way from our organization,” Blackburn said. “Do you want to earn a college degree? Maybe learn introductory Swedish or hear about beekeeping? Do you want to move up in your job or move to another job? We can offer the training to learn new skills. It’s just an amazing organization that changes lives every day.”

In this sense, Blackburn mentions “change” in the sense of progress, a core principal embedded within the educational roots that formed the organization.

Blackburn said the official mission of Cook County Higher Education (CCHE) is to provide local access and support for college education and training on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Take the case of Alyia Marxen, for example. Marxen, 25, graduated from Cook County High School in Grand Marais in 2011. After high school she went to culinary school and worked in fine dining for several years. Looking to broaden her resume, Marxen said she wanted to pursue other career options and return to the North Shore.

When she turned the direction of her career course, however, Marxen said she initially felt overwhelmed. And then she connected with the team at CCHE, and the process suddenly had focus. Marxen is now taking college courses online through a regional school and pursuing a degree in business administration. Much of the credit for this successful transition, Marxen said, is due to the staff at CCHE.

“I honestly don’t know how I’d be able to take courses remotely like this without them,” she said. “They’re so helpful at helping me pick the right courses and pointing me in the right direction.”

CCHE got rolling under a federal pilot project in 1996. Since then, the organization has largely been funded through state dollars and grants from local organi -

zations. The Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation based in Duluth, for example, is a very important supporter of CCHE.

“We recently received $30,000 from them to provide tuition grants to students in Cook County who are taking long distance college courses while living, working and often times raising families in Cook County,” Blackburn said of the contribution from the foundation.

In addition to those $30,000, the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation also granted CCHE $50,000 to support the students in their efforts.

Referencing back to change, it was a transition not long ago that brought Blackburn to her current post as the non-profit’s executive director. Blackburn took the reins from Paula Sundet Wolf, who led CCHE for 20 years before retiring in 2017.

“Paula’s leadership over her 20-year tenure was remarkable,” Blackburn said. “She led the organization through so many changes, including the current campus purchase and renovations, very lean financial times, staff changes, legislative lobbying efforts and the growth of the program to include all aspects of learning.”

And while CCHE is based in Grand Marais, its services are available to people all over the Northern Wilds.

“We’re an open campus,” Blackburn said. “Recently, we offered boiler-operator training and we had people from all over the North Shore who attended. We’ll do our best to help anyone who comes in our doors.”

Though the mission of CCHE is large, the staff is made up of just four Cook County residents. Kelsey Rogers Kennedy is the program coordinator for CCHE. She said the best part of working for the non-profit organization is the platform under which it operates.

“Our student services provide all the support of a traditional college and all for free,” she said. “We work to tailor our advocacy to the needs and wants of the student we’re working with. This support can, and does change lives in our community.”

Looking toward the future, Blackburn said there are some exciting concepts in the works for CCHE.

“We’re starting the Hibbing Community College North Shore Culinary at the state of the art culinary facility (at the local school district) in January,” Blackburn noted. “This accredited school will offer a one semester culinary certificate, or a two semester culinary degree.”

The culinary school is part of an effort being made by local stakeholders to address the labor shortage impacting many

regional businesses, including resorts and restaurants in Grand Marais, Lutsen and Tofte, Blackburn said. It also fits into the overall mission of CCHE to assist local residents who aspire to remain in these unique North Shore communities.

“Once they graduate, our students get better jobs in the community and can continue to live, work, play and raise families here,” Blackburn said.

For more info, visit: northshorecampus. org —Joe Friedrichs

Cook County Higher Education is located in Grand Marais. | SUBMITTED

The launch system has a transfer bench in two heights that allows the user to sit and slide over on the bench, then drop into the kayak or canoe.

| GLENN WARNER

Nipigon Marina’s floating dock provides inclusivity to paddling

NIPIGON—Getting in and out of a kayak or canoe can be a challenge at the best of times, so how can a paddler who uses a wheelchair for mobility get into a kayak or canoe? A letter to the editor in a local newspaper brought to my attention that new dock equipment at Nipigon Marina was making paddling more accessible for people who use wheelchairs.

Installed in 2016 as a floating platform at the end of the marina, the EZ Launch Accessible Transfer System for canoes and kayaks makes it a whole lot easier for paddlers of all ages and abilities to get in and out of the watercraft, plus use a railing system for safe launching and returning. It provides what the company calls, “universal accessibility” into the water.

How does it work? The system has the innovative feature of a transfer bench that allows the user to sit and slide over on the bench, then drop into a kayak or canoe. Once in the watercraft, the paddler uses

the supporting side rails to pull off for a launch or get back on after paddling. The transfer bench is built with two heights for access from wheelchairs of varying sizes and the transfer slide boards accommodate different watercraft height. The combination of pull rails and guide rollers make it easy to guide on and off the EZ launch.

According to the EZ Company, their EZ Launch Accessible Transfer System is a first in the industry, and provides individuals with disabilities accessibility that exceeds the minimum requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The EZ Launch is also ideal for children, novice paddlers and anyone needing extra stability in launching and docking a kayak or canoe. Kudos to Nipigon Marina for providing inclusivity for paddlers of all abilities. An EZ Launch is also located at the Terrace Bay access to Lake Superior.

The fully-service Nipigon Marina is the most northerly freshwater port in North

instruction panel on the dock explains how to use the transfer system.

America and is located in the Township of Nipigon, about an hour’s drive northeast of Thunder Bay on the Trans-Canada Highway 17. Nipigon is home to the state-ofthe-art Paddle to the Sea interactive children’s park based on the children’s book, Paddle to the Sea; the 12 play stations leading from downtown to the waterfront. And the Nipigon waterways were once the gateway to historic canoe routes going north to James Bay, and a fur-trade history going back to 1665.—Elle Andra-Warner

Nipigon is 1 hour East of Thunder Bay.

An

| GLENN WARNER

Historic Churches COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS

St. Sylvester’s Church: History and Community

By Kim Casey

A church is a spiritual sanctuary. A welcoming refuge for the weary. But what makes St. Sylvester’s Church even more sacred is the role that it has played in the lives of those that have chosen it as their place of worship.

Situated on the shore of Lake Helen (near Nipigon), St. Sylvester’s location was chosen because it was an ideal resting spot for the Jesuits travelling to and from the other missions along the Nipigon River. The land was originally purchased by Bishop Jamot and is now governed by the Red Rock First Nation Band. Construction of the mission church began in 1877, and a year later a smaller building was erected to house the travelling priests. When smoke was seen from the rectory’s woodstove, the local people knew the priest had arrived.

On October 7, 1880, the church’s cross was blessed by Reverend Joseph Specht, SJM. And the 300-pound bell donated by Henri de la Ronde was blessed on July 13, 1884. There are rumours that the bell hanging in the tower is not the original one. Apparently the first one accidentally sunk in the lake.

The cemetery is encircled by a rocky cliff that solidifies the forest’s protective presence. Many of the markers uniquely created, their loving tributes offer hope—that even in death we are not forgotten. It was thought that the first burial was October 3, 1880. But Dee McCullay, a local historian, discovered a gravestone belonging to Ieremias Poulin, who had passed away on October 4, 1878 at the age of 15.

To enter the church is to enter a world that was created shortly after Canada became an official country. There

is a somber yet joyful essence that can be felt with each creaking step across the wooden floor. The worn pews are adorned by faded drawings of children from the area, and near the alter hangs a painting of St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Her origins Algonquin-Mohawk, she was born in 1656 and lost her family to a smallpox epidemic. St. Kateri also contracted the disease that left her physically scarred and visually impaired. Raised by an aunt and uncle, she chose chastity over marriage and duty over ridicule. She is the Patron Saint of the environment, ecology, people in exile and First Nation people.

Norma Lesperance has been involved with St. Sylvester’s Church all of her life. She explained that her parents were

devoted Catholics that believed the best way to encourage people to share in their spiritual practices was by example. Shirley and Albert’s devotion was so strong, that they participated in prayer meetings throughout the region. Norma stated that in their culture, the Ojibway people do not see themselves as just belonging to one piece of land or to a government-created reserve. “We are all connected, we’re all family.” And that some of her fondest memories were travelling to other communities and visiting with relatives and friends.

People from the Red Rock First Nation Band have taken on the task of maintaining the historic building. Bill Tuck Senior, Gerald “Spiner” Cote and Russel Hardy started working on the exterior and the summer work crew finished the painting. Another band member was happy to help with whatever was needed to be done. But he had one stipulation: he would not cut the cemetery’s grass. He had been told by his grandmother that if he did, it would make room for more.

Every spring when Norma and her sister are tiding up the church, people will suddenly appear at the doorway and ask if they can have a look around. Their requests never denied, they are free to take in St. Sylvester’s empowering charm and learn about the Ojibway people. Regular services are no longer held at the church, but it is still being used for weddings, christenings and funerals. Once a year, a special mass is held on Aboriginal Day and all are welcome.

Situated on the shore of Lake Helen (near Nipigon), St. Sylvester’s Church is now cared for by the Red Rock First Nation Band. | KIM CASEY

Interior of St. Sylvester’s Church. | KIM CASEY

Edward Nate’s Church

By Shawn Perich

A lot of people think the center of the world is someplace like New York City, London or Paris. But not everyone thinks that way. Up on Northern Ontario’s mighty Albany River are Ojibwe people who will tell you that Miminiska Lake is the center of their world or, more simply, “home.”

One of those people is Temius Nate, who came to Miminiska as an infant in 1943 and grew up there with his family. But the whole story is older than Temius. We can go back to the fur trade era, even though the story truly begins long before that time. The Hudson’s Bay Company and the Northwest Company both operated trading posts at Snake Falls, just upstream from where the Albany River enters Miminiska Lake. Voyageurs in freighter canoes arrived with staples such as flour, sugar and tea, then left with loads of furs. Given its location along the Albany River, the lake was a hub not only for the traders, but also the Ojibwe.

“Our family was nomadic,” Temius explains, “but they always came back to Miminiska.”

In 1935, his father, Edward Nate, decided to make a permanent camp there on Turtle Island and raise a family. Miminiska was a good place. Moose and woodland caribou lived in the forest. Beaver were abundant along the Albany, which flows through the lake. In the spring and fall, the bays were filled with geese and ducks. And always, there were fish; massive sturgeon, abundant walleyes and northern pike. The fish,

game and furbearers allowed the Ojibwe to thrive.

“We are like wolves. We are hunters,” says Temius. “When we get up in the morning, there is no breakfast. You check the rabbit snares. There is no Safeway, no farm. You have to kill to eat.”

Edward followed traditional Ojibwe beliefs. His wife, Mary, who was half English, was a devout Anglican. They agreed to respect one another’s beliefs and to raise their children, four boys and three girls, to do the same. The family first lived in canvas tents, which were eventually replaced with two cabins. They were frequently visited by friends and family who were travelling on the Albany River or living nearby. As Temius says, everyone always returned to Miminiska.

For income, Edward began guiding American anglers, who arrived in floatplanes. Since he was a good guide and, more importantly, good company, he developed friendships with men who would return year after year. As his sons became guides, he taught them to look after their customers and treat them well, because the fishermen worked hard all year and chose to spend their vacation time at Miminiska Lake. The growing business lead to the construction of the fly-in Miminiska Lodge in 1945, with Edward as a builder on the project. For an additional source of income, a commercial sturgeon fishery was developed on the lake.

“All he had to say was, ‘No. This is my home,’” says Temius. “They (government officials) knew they weren’t going to make him move.”

The family was alone, but not lonely. Summer brought American anglers and others who had become friends with Edward over the years. Throughout the year there were frequent visits from family and friends in Fort Hope and other places. At times, there was sadness. Edward lost his oldest son. His other children grew up and moved away. Then his wife died in 1965.

Edward decided to honor his wife by becoming an ordained Anglican minister. Services were first held in his home. Eventually, he built a tiny church beside his home with the assistance of friends in 1984. The first and only marriage at the church occurred the same year. Services were held every Sunday. A modest, wooden structure, the church has two rows of five pews separated by a center aisle. In the front is an altar and a pulpit. While the church was a place of worship, it had a deeper meaning for Edward and the Ojibwe who gathered there. It was the foundation of their community.

The economic activity, coupled with abundant natural resources, allowed an Ojibwe community of 200 people to live at Miminiska and in the surrounding environs. Unfortunately, what suited the Ojibwe did not suit the Canadian government.

“In 1964 the government moved everyone. I don’t know why,” Temius says.

Many of the Miminiska Ojibwe went to the First Nations reserve community of Fort Hope, 25 miles downstream on the Albany River. Edward was not among them. He and his family stayed at his beloved Miminiska. He had a one-word answer when he was told to move.

Alone and growing old, Edward stayed at Miminiska. He had plenty of company. Depending on the season, guests might arrive at the island by boat, airplane or snowmobile. Because he didn’t speak English, Edward would point to a teapot on the stove to welcome his guests to a cup of tea. Temius says that although his family encouraged him to move to closer to them, he did not want to leave his home. Failing health forced him to move to Fort Hope in 1990. He died in 1991. A funeral service held at Turtle Island was attended by over 300 people who came from far and wide, including American fishermen who he had guided over the years. Per his wishes, Edward was buried beside his cabin, close to the church.

Temius explains, “The church was the old man’s way of keeping the island sacred and protected. He was buried there so he will never lose sight of it.”

Edward’s cabin and the church still stand. Visitors still come to this place. Some are Ojibwe who come to Miminiska to hunt and fish or to guide anglers at Miminiska Lodge, which is operated by Wilderness North Outfitters. The guides often take their guests to the island, where they can step inside the church, see Edward’s Bible and sign a guestbook that includes names from around the world. Outside, they pay their respects at the headstone marking Edward’s grave.

This year, Edward’s grandsons and others began raising money to renovate the cabin and church to prevent them from being reclaimed by the relentless elements and surrounding forest. For Temius, the renovation seems bittersweet, because he prefers to see the home where he grew up as it was when his father was there. But he understands the importance of Turtle Island and its landmark church to the Ojibwe people who still call Miminiska Lake home.

“The church is just a building, but it has a lot of meaning,” he says. “Miminiska Lake is where I’m happiest. I’m proud of my home, the church and the lake, and enjoy sharing them with visitors.”

Edward Nate’s historic cabin on Miminiska Lake is being renovated by his descendants, who plan to work on the adjacent church, too. | MICHAEL FURTMAN

The interior of the tiny Anglican church on Miminiska Lake, which Edward Nate built in honor of his wife. | MICHAEL FURTMAN

Chippewa City Church: Keeping History Alive

By Rae Poynter

A few miles east of Grand Marais, tucked in a grove of trees just off Highway 61, sits the church of St. Francis Xavier. The little white church, though quiet today, was once part of the settlement known as Chippewa City, a town that no longer exists. The church has withstood over a hundred years of change, and is the last building that remains of Chippewa City. Dubbed the “Chippewa City Church,” St. Francis Xavier is now owned by the Cook County Historical Society, and both the building and its nearby cemeteries serve as a reminder of Chippewa City, its people and stories.

Chippewa City was once a thriving community of the Ojibwe who called the Grand Marais area home. While the Native Americans had moved freely around the North Shore, the Treaty of 1854 allowed white settlers to move to the area. When the homesteaders began claiming and fencing off land, many of the Ojibwe in the area built a settlement that would become Chippewa City. Around the turn of the 20th Century, Chippewa City was home to around 100 families.

Alta McQuatters, who has been involved with the Historical Society for 25 years, had relatives who lived in Chippewa City. “I love the history, and have a big passion for the cemeteries,” she said.

With the creation of Chippewa City came the building of the church. While Christian missionaries had long been visiting the North Shore, St. Francis Xavier was the first Catholic parish established in the Grand Marais area. The church was built in 1895, with money raised from the local community.

“The women would make birch bark baskets and fill them with baked goods. We had a lot of lumberjacks who would come and buy the baskets,” said McQuatters.

The church was built by carpenter Frank Wishkop. A step inside the quiet sanctuary reveals the original white pine logs and dovetailed construction. A later addition was put on to provide accommodations for visiting ministers.

“The church’s priest wasn’t full-time,” explained McQuatters. “The addition is where he could stay when he came to visit either by dogsled or boat. There were also sheds on the property to house the dogs and equipment, but those are gone now.”

For many years, St. Francis Xavier was the only Catholic Church in the area. It was fortunate enough to have survived a 1907 fire that ravaged the area. “The church was one of the few buildings saved because people went out in boats and formed a Bucket Brigade,” said McQuatters.

Not far from the church is the cemetery where people from Chippewa City are buried. One half is currently in use, and the other half was used for burials from 19001925. Unfortunately, many of the wooden markers in the old cemetery have been removed or destroyed, making it difficult to know where graves are. Identifying which residents were buried in the cemetery is one of McQuatters’ projects. She noted that John Beargrease’s wife, brother, and nephew are among those buried in the cemetery. A map revealing the names and locations of specific graves can be found within the church.

As the 20th Century progressed, the population of Chippewa City diminished due to a number of factors including illness, lack of work, and the construction of Highway 61 through the city. With the decline of Chippewa City came the last service at St. Francis Xavier on Christmas of 1936. The church then fell into disuse and was vacant for over 20 years. It wasn’t until 1958 that the Catholic Church and the Lions Club began work on restoring the

building. In 1998 the building was donated to the Historical Society.

“We still use the church for events,” said McQuatters. “It’s been fun when we’ve had elders gather there to reminisce and tell stories. And one time I was cleaning in the morning and the sun hit just right, and I discovered the builder’s initials beneath a window. There’s still a lot of stories there.”

The hope is to keep the church around for many years to come. To do this, it will need continued maintenance, particularly repairs on the foundation and a new paint job. Just as initially building the church was a community effort, keeping it main -

tained will also be a community effort, but one that will ensure the church and its stories continue to live on.

For those interested in visiting, the church is open most Saturdays and Sundays in the summer from noon to 2 p.m.

To learn more about St. Francis Xavier Church, please contact the Cook County Historical Society at (218) 387-2883.

A glimpse of the church’s interior. The building is sometimes used for events. | RAE POYNTER

Chippewa City church was built in 1895 and is the only remaining building of Chippewa City. | RAE POYNTER

The

Trail, in

is a great place to enjoy the beautiful fall colors. | JULIE

CHASING COLOR AND KNOWLEDGE

A Fall Drive Up the Shore

By Casey Fitchett

While the words chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and tannins conjure distant memories of a biology course for many people, these biochemicals are crucial to the phenomenon that draws so many to the woods in the fall. Poets, recreationalists, photographers, artists, sightseers; all find overwhelming beauty in the biological process of the changing of seasons. The combination of reds, yellows, greens and oranges provide reason enough to put the car in drive and take a journey to a few spots on this side of Lake Superior.

Our fall color drive will take us through historical sections of Duluth to a loop around Lutsen, on the gravel back roads of Cook County, and across an international border to a popular provincial park in Ontario. The fleeting fall in the region increases our leaf looking haste and quest for scientific knowledge on our drive in late September through mid-October.

The southernmost point in our journey begins in Duluth as we head west on the popular Skyline Drive. The hardwood forest below, which, according to the Superior National Forest Naturalist Notes, “stretches from here to the east coast” is undergoing a change that affects the atmosphere that was enough to pique the interest of those on the land long before us.

“Early settlers in the forest often described the hazy days of autumn and while not so evident now, that haze is thought to have been from the decaying leaves, releasing compounds which filled the air in a haze and can still be smelled when you walk in the autumn woods,” explains the note. “Our local trees are at the border of the eastern hardwoods and the boreal forest, a border where there are intermingled patches of the two forest types, but from here, the eastern hardwood forest sweeps down over half the nation.”

It is here we also begin to take notes about our route from Dennis Lamkin, a knowledgeable Duluth historian. Lamkin explains a few notable spots on our trip to better appreciate our trek.

“You’ll first come upon Spirit Mountain, named as such because the area had special significance to the Chippewa Indians who, at one time, occupied the area. Traveling further west, you’ll come across a monument which, until about a year ago, had long been forgotten. The monument is marked by a newly installed sign denoting that this area was a result of Sam Snively, a four-term mayor who championed the park system and the East to West Boulevard connector,” he explains. “Traveling further west you’ll pass Bardon’s peak, a former

No matter what road you drive down this fall, the colors are sure to impress. | DENISE DUGAN

stone quarry which yielded much of the bluestone (Basalt) used in the construction of bridges, retaining walls and even such places as Fitger’s Brewery.”

After turning left onto Beck’s Road, we drive past the cut face of Bardon’s peak,

through Gary and New Duluth, both established when the United States Steel works were formed. A right turn on Highway 23 brings us to the oldest section of Duluth, Fond Du Lac.

“Here there are ancient Indian burial

Honeymoon

Lutsen,

KINNEY

grounds as you enter the settlement on the right and the former site of a Hudson Bay Trading Post on the left. Still further you’ll pass the oldest remaining house in Duluth, a white clapboard-sided home. The waterway you see is the beautiful St. Louis River, but upstream are two hydroelectric power plants originally put into service at the turn of the last century. Thomas Edison actually signed the engineering statement for the power station.”

Chambers Grove, a city park at the intersection of Highway 23 and 210, is a good place for a respite picnic on the St. Louis River. Turning onto Highway 210, we enter Jay Cooke State Park and stop to admire the swinging bridge, which was built by the Works Progress Administration and Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Lampkin shares that “once you’ve made it to Carlton, you can see where the golden spike was driven to connect the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroads.”

The connection with Interstate 35 completes our Duluth viewing section, and sets us up well for our trek north.

As we race up the shore in our respective cars, the trees are racing to drop their cumbersome leaves. The leaves, which are both a source of water loss and are difficult to protect from winter conditions, begin to fall when temperatures drop and daylight hours become fewer. In the competition to move sugars, proteins, and minerals into the more stable root and branch winter storage, the black ash tend to move the fastest, with maples taking home the silver, and birch and aspen bringing up the rear.

Our travels have been carefully planned and chosen to correspond with “peak” condition maps that have become so prevalent. But why now? Chel Anderson, a Plant Ecologist/Botanist for the Minnesota DNR explains both how species idiosyncrasies

|

and variations in the preceding seasons make each color display unique.

“Timing of color change and leaf drop by trees differs by species, extending the color season. Maples are the parti-colored group but the aspen and birch are brilliant and dazzling in their mass of yellow and gold. Soil moisture and length of the growing season also play a role in timing and affects autumn colors,” said Anderson. “Like the weather, soil moisture varies greatly from year to year. The countless combinations of these two highly variable factors assure that no two autumns can be exactly alike.

A late spring, or a severe summer drought, can delay the onset of fall color by a few weeks. Droughty conditions, like some areas along the Lake Superior shore, can create leaf browning before color change in birch, short-changing the display. A warm period during fall will also lower the intensity of autumn colors. A warm wet spring, favorable summer weather, and warm sunny fall days with cool nights typically produce the most brilliant autumn colors.”

With maples and birch around us, we realize that we have turned onto the Sawbill Trail (County Road 2) in Tofte. The generous display of color continues before we turn onto the Honeymoon Trail and back down the Caribou Trail (County Road 4) in Lutsen. If anyone knows the attraction of Cook County when it comes to fall colors, it’s Linda Kratt, the executive director of Visit Cook County. Kratt encourages visitors to make the most of their time in the area, whether sightseeing by car, foot, or even gondola.

“Make Cook County your fall color drive destination. Not only is the landscape colored in brilliant autumn colors, you can ride the gondola at Lutsen Mountains for spectacular views outside of your vehicle.

The Sawbill Trail in Tofte provides a generous display of colors. | WALT HUSS

Plan your fall color drive to take part in Art Along the Lake Fall Studio Tour; visit over 20 home studios showcasing over 50 local artists,” she said.

Taking Kratt’s advice, we stick around for a second colorful drive in Cook County on a gravel road, The Grade. Also accessible from the Sawbill Trail in Tofte, it weaves its way around numerous lakes and past the trailhead for the hike to the tallest point in Minnesota, Eagle Mountain. Ball Club Road and Devil Track Road at its eastern terminus will bring you to the Gunflint Trail, a 57-mile National Scenic Byway that has endpoints in Grand Marais and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Passing through Grand Marais, Hovland, and Grand Portage on Highway 61 brings travelers across the international border to Thunder Bay and east to its iconic Sleeping Giant. On the northwest end of the Sibley Peninsula and within the provincial park is the Thunder Bay Lookout, a cantilevered (fixed at only one end) overlook platform. From Trans Canada Highway 11/17, we take Highway 587 to Thunder Bay Lookout Road for the opportunity to step beyond the edge of the cliff to see the bay and the Thunder Bay coastline.

Looking down over the 450-foot high

view, we can’t help but notice how all the leaves have been shunned by their respective tree’s circulatory system. Once again, Anderson reminds us of the science behind the show.

“Chlorophyll breaks down allowing colors associated with carotene for orange and yellow to be visible; reds are associated with clear days and cool nights, the sunny days generate leaf sugars (anthocyanins) which build-up in the leaf because the cool nights stimulate a closing off of veins that would move these sugars out,” she says. “A particular autumn’s daily weather plays a significant role; reds in particular will be more common if there are plenty of clear days and cool nights.”

If this drive all the way up the shore—and unexpectedly learning so much history and science—has you tuckered out, backcountry and car camping as well as rustic cabin accommodations are available in the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park until October 9.

Though the options for fall color drives in the northland are as varied as the colors on the trees, it is certain that the variety will eventually be replaced by a layer of white in the woods. As the shift occurs, embracing the natural change brings us exactly where we are supposed to be.

[ABOVE] Go on an adventure this fall. | BETHANY BURNER

[LEFT] The options for fall color drives in the northland are as varied as the colors on the trees.

JULIE KINNEY

Cherry Dirt

By Will Moore

WTIP’s Radio Waves Music Festival returns to Sweetheart’s Bluff at the Grand Marais Municipal Campground Sept. 7-9. This year features seven new acts who have never played the event before.

One of those new groups is Cherry Dirt, an energetic and always surprising duo of husband and wife Ryan and Staci Cihlar of Richfield, MN. Playing “American music with a ukelele twist,” they recreate pop, rock, and classic country numbers in a stripped-down style of only vocals and ukulele. Staci sings while Ryan backs her up with the tiny Hawai’ian instrument.

“Door County is kind of an island, and that’s why the ukulele works so well with my ideas,” jokes Ryan, referencing his hometown in Wisconsin.

If the Cherry Dirt name sounds familiar, it’s because they have become increasingly frequent visitors to Cook County in recent years. They usually play at the Cascade Lodge Restaurant between Lutsen and Grand Marais. They were also part of the North Shore Music Association’s Grand Marais Ole Opry last year. Ryan says though they’ve performed on stage, more intimate shows like the ones at Cascade feel freer.

“When it’s just the two of you, you can be yourself more, and you don’t have to worry about a bandleader that wants to show a certain type of personality. I think we’ve developed something,” he says.

Both Cherry Dirt and the Cihlars’ relationship were formed out of playing with the Bear Creek Band from Wisconsin. Ryan, who’s predominantly a drummer, was playing with the group. The two met at the Hodag Country Music Festival in Rhinelander, WI when Staci, who taught voice in Minneapolis at the time, had to fill in for the lead singer.

“I assumed she was this kind of older woman that teaches voice lessons.” said Ryan. “I met her that night on stage and

thought ‘whoa, this chick can sing! And she’s not 50!’ I threw all my pre-judgments away.”

Cherry Dirt started as a way for the couple to perform the songs they wanted to sing, rather than performing a set covering standard hit songs. Staci was driven to a more classic county focus from her Southern roots.

“If there’s a song with a big arrangement and people know the hooks because of synthesizers or something, we probably won’t do it. That’s why classic country works. Because it’s simple,” says Ryan.

Transforming country songs on ukulele isn’t the only twist on the duo’s sound. Staci is indeed a classically trained vocalist who is involved in several productions of the Minnesota Opera each year. And she says that growing up in Laurel, Mississippi, was a unique upbringing in regards to music, thanks to her parents.

“I had these two extremes of musical influences,” says Staci. “You’d go to these lessons and have to sing in Italian

and learn good breathing technique…then you’d go home and watch Austin City Limits and Grand Ole Opry. During commercials dad is pausing it, kicking back in his recliner and playing, tearing up the guitar, singing what they just sung and mom is harmonizing.”

Her opera experience gained Staci an opportunity to sing in the International Festival of Sacred Music in Rome this October, including a rare chance to perform within the Sistine Chapel.

Even in their spare time outside of work or gigs, the Cihlars stay musical. They joyously recollect an evening of recording at a friend’s studio only a night before.

“It was truly therapy to put the books down and put the headphones on and just sing. It’s an investment in your emotional and spiritual and marital health,” said Staci.

“Music really surrounds our relationship,” Ryan adds.

Cherry Dirt plays on Sunday, Sept. 9 at Radio Waves.

Breana’s PICK OF THE MONTH

Ely artist Annette Mattingly uses pressed flowers and herbs from her garden, as well as birch bark, seeds and other natural materials, to create beautifully intricate geometric and kaleidoscope-type images. Mattingly is one of 125 juried artists that will attend the Ely Harvest Moon Festival, held Sept. 7-9 at Whiteside Park. Her business is called Morning Glory Creations. To learn more about the festival, visit: ely.org.

Permanent Exhibits

New Acquisitions Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Selections of Traditional & Contemporary Native Art Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Thru Sept. 2 Chholing Taha: Every Spirit Tells a Story Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Payton MacDonald & Kenneth Johnson: Sonic Divide Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Jonathan Thunder: Suspension of Disbelief Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Thru Sept. 9 Fragments of the North: Reid Thorpe Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Thru Sept. 22 A Twenty Year Retrospective: James Brinsfield Joseph Nease Gallery, Duluth, josephneasegallery.com

Thru Oct. 20 Children of the Finnish Homestead Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder, crossriverheritage.org

Local Artists Featured Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder, crossriverheritage.org

Thru Oct. 28 Chance: Kathy McTavish Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Thru Nov. 2 Pacific Northwest Native Art from the William J. Saul Collection Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Thru Nov. 25 Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth: Christi Belcourt: A Retrospective with Isaac Murdoch Thunder Bay Art Gallery, theag.ca

Thru April 2019 Moose of the Bold North: Root River Photography International Wolf Center, Ely, rootriverphotography.com

Thru Spring 2019 Quiet Simplicity: Life in 19th and 20th Century America Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Sept. 1-30

Lake Superior Water Color Society Exhibit Lakeside Gallery, Duluth, lakesidegalleryduluth.com

Sept. 3-30

Water on the Move Exhibit (Reception Sept. 3 at 5 p.m.) Art & Soul Gallery, Ely, elyartandsoul.com

Sept. 13-Oct. 28

Amanda Breitbach: Land/People (Reception Sept. 13 at 6 p.m.) Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Aaron Squadroni: Mesabi Land Portraits (Reception Sept. 13 at 6 p.m.) Duluth Art Institute, duluthartinstitute.org

Sept. 14-Oct. 7

Plein Air Exhibit (Reception Sept. 14 at 6 p.m.) Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais, cookcountyhistory.org

Sept. 25-Dec. 31

122 Conversations: Person to Person, Art Beyond Borders Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, d.umn.edu/tma

Sept. 28-Oct. 7

Blue Horses Golden Goat (Reception Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.) Yellow Bird Fine Art, Grand Marais, yellowbirdfineart.com

Cherry Dirt consists of Ryan and Staci Cihlar. | SUBMITTED

Custom Design & Jewelry Repair

Home Decor & Yarn

NIPIGON FALL FISHING FESTIVAL

Aug. 31-Sept. 3 Enjoy four days of family-fun and excitement with the 54th Annual Fall Fishing Festival in Nipigon, Ontario. Kickoff the weekend with the 5k run/walk Friday evening, followed by the biggest slo-pitch tournament on the North Shore. Saturday morning, take part in the kids races on the recreation field, then find a sport on Railway Street to watch the parade. At the main event site you’ll find a classic car display, kids inflatables, food trucks and booths, and a giant penny auction. You can even buy tickets to “Catch the Ace” for a chance to win the progressive jackpot. There will also be two

fishing derbies with prizes for multiple categories; the two-day Family Derby and one-day Huck Finn Derby for ages 12 and under. Other activities include a spaghetti supper, a dance party, and fireworks over the marina Sunday night. nipigonfallfishingfestival.com

HYMERS FAIR

Sept. 2-3 The very first Hymers Fair was held in September of 1912. Since then, the current fair grounds were purchased and many buildings were added, but the true country spirit of the very first market still remains. Located outside of Thunder Bay, there will be live entertainment, contests and prizes, lots of good food, horse

and cattle shows, artisan vendors and exhibits, and locally grown pumpkins. This year’s theme is Autumn Leaves and Country Breeze. Admission is $7 adults; $5 seniors and ages 6-12; ages 5 and under are free. hymersfair.com

SUPERIOR FALL TRAIL RACES

Sept. 7-8 This challenging race, held on the Superior Hiking Trail, offers distances of 100, 50 and 26.2 miles. If the distance isn’t challenging enough, the terrain is. It is a rugged, rooty and rocky single-track trail with near constant climbs and descents. The 100-mile race will begin at Gooseberry Falls State Park at 8 a.m. on Friday; the 50-mile race will start in Finland at 5:15 a.m. on Saturday; and the 26.2-mile race begins in Schroeder at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Each race will contain aid stations and will finish at Caribou Highlands in Lutsen. Race registration required. superiorfalltrailrace.com

RADIO WAVES

MUSIC FESTIVAL

Sept. 7-9 Area residents and visitors of all ages are invited to come together for three days of music at Sweetheart’s Bluff in Grand Marais as part of the 11th Annual Radio Waves Music Festival. The festival takes place under a big tent in an outdoor venue, with food, children’s activities and

on-site camping, held rain or shine. This year’s festival will feature over 30 local and regional bands. New acts to perform this year are Kilborn Quartet, Aho Family, Axtell, Gillis and Stamps, Casey Aro, Cherry Dirt, and Jim McGowan. Other performances include Mysterious Ways, Gene & Amy, Maria Nickolay, SVEA, Rich Mattson & the North Stars, Lake Effect, and Cook County’s Most Wanted. Sponsored by WTIP North Shore Community Radio, this year’s line-up offers a variety of genres, from rock to folk, jazz, swing and country. Admission for the festival is available at the gate; $10 per day, $20 for the weekend, and free to children 12 and under. wtip.org

HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL

Sept. 7-9

Enjoy autumn in Ely with the 25th Annual Harvest Moon Festival, filled with arts and crafts, food vendors, a beer garden, the Saturday Farm Market, live entertainment and activities for the whole family. Held at Whiteside Park, there will be pony rides, a petting zoo, demonstrations from the Ely Folk School, and live music by the Singing Slovenes, Timmy Haus, and others. Shop a delightful mix of original arts and crafts from over 125 local and regional juried artists and craftsmen, as well as locally made merchandise, books and outdoor gear. There will also be a new show this year—the All-Star Stunt Dogs Challenge—which showcases stunt dogs that were rescued from pounds and shelters. They will perform amazing, big air stunts, athletic feats and high-jump challenges. There will be three, 30 minute shows a day with a meet-and-greet opportunity after each show. The festival will be held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free. ely.org/mn/events

The annual Ely Marathon will be held Saturday, Sept. 22. Those wanting a bigger challenge can try portaging a canoe for the entire marathon or half marathon races. | HEIDI PINKERTON

WTIP’s annual Radio Waves Festival will feature Cook County’s Most Wanted. | SUBMITTED

Art of the Elements Gallery

Friday

PLEIN AIR COMPETITION

Sept. 7-14 Plein Air has been an annual tradition, bringing outdoor painters to Lake Superior’s North Shore and the community of Grand Marais for more than a decade. Now, the Johnson Heritage Post is collaborating with Outdoor Painters of Minnesota to continue the event for this year’s competition and beyond. See 75 talented juried artists painting or drawing the breathtaking landscape, creating a work of art before your own eyes. This year’s juror is Jeffrey Larson from the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art in Duluth. He will be part of a panel discussion at noon on Sept. 13. There will also be mini-workshops with various artists held all week, as well as demos and the Quick Paint competition on Thursday. An opening reception will be held Friday, Sept. 14 at the Johnson Heritage Post and the exhibit will be on display until Oct. 7. cookcountyhistory.org

HARVEST FESTIVAL

Sept. 8, Saturday For 25 years, the Lake Superior Chapter of SFA has put on the Harvest Festival, connecting producers and consumers. Located in Bayfront Festival Park in down -

town Duluth, the festival features one of the largest farmers’ markets in the region, along with live music, handmade crafts, a nonprofit showcase, educational exhibits, family activities, a food court, an energy fair, demonstrations and more. Learn about backyard composting, backyard chicken-raising, and beekeeping. Or try maypole dancing at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The festival will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission and parking is free. sfa-mn.org

KIA OF DULUTH DRAG RACES & CAR SHOW

Sept. 8-9 Participate or come and watch as more than 110 vehicles race head-to-head, roaring down Garfield Avenue in Duluth at speeds exceeding 150 miles-per-hour over 1/8 of a mile. There will also be music, ven dors, and a car show, with more than 350 vehicles on display, including those scheduled to race (registration required to participate). New this year, all seating is now first come first served, with standing and bleacher seating available for the same price. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. Kids ages 5 and under are free. kernkompany.com

FESTIVAL OF COLOURS

Sept. 9, Sunday With roots in ancient India, the Colour Festival is a joyful reminder to cast away bad feelings and throw worries to the wind. Join the throngs of people laughing, playing, dancing, eating and filling the sky with a cloud of bright colours. Held at 3 p.m. at Marina Park in Thunder Bay, there will be live musicians, dancers, yoga instructors, colour throwing, and more. The colours used are plantbased, non-toxic and environmentally-friendly. The festival is open to all ages. festivalofcolours.ca

ANNUAL FALL FAIR

Sept. 9, Sunday The 37th Annual Terrace Bay Fall Fair is one of the largest arts and crafts show on the top of Lake Superior. Held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Terrace Bay Arena, this event attracts local residents, individuals from surrounding communities and tourists who are passing through Terrace Bay. There will be hand-made artisan items of all kinds, as well as food vendors. Admission is $2. terracebay.ca/visiting

CARIBOU CHARITY RIDE

Sept. 9, Sunday The annual Caribou Charity Ride was created to give people the motivation to challenge themselves while contributing to the Northern Cancer Fund. Cyclists can choose to ride a 50k, 75k, a new 75k gravel, or the 100k. All you need to participate is a bike, certified helmet and determination. All rides start at the Best Western Nor-Wester Resort Hotel on Highway 61 and travel through picturesque Oliver Paipoonge Township near Thunder Bay. Registration is required. cariboucharityride.com

DULUTH RISING FESTIVAL

The annual Duluth Rising Festival, held in Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, offers numerous family-friendly attractions, including hot air balloon rides, a craft beer tent, food, vendors, weather balloon launches, and live music. The Kiwanis Club of Friendly Duluth will hold a free family kite fly from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15. Also on Saturday, join Disney TV star Peyton

Join us on Saturday September 29th for a fun and educational day of solar energy information and home winterization tips. More details to follow on our website at: www.cookcountylocalenergy.org

Marcia Casey Cushmore acrylic & oil

Hazel Belvo oil

Paul Bandhus stone

Laurie Toth, pastel

Natalie Sobanja, clay

Martye Allen clay

Brittany Foster jewelry

Seventy-five talented juried artists can be found painting or sketching outdoors during the annual Plein Air Competition Sept. 7-14, located throughout Cook County. | SUBMITTED

Oktoberfest

Brewing, followed by an awards ceremony with prize drawings and awards going to the top three male and female riders in each distance category. Race registration required. blacksheepmtb.com

NORTHSHORE INLINE MARATHON

Sept. 15, Saturday Be a part of the largest inline marathon in North America this summer, by joining the 23rd Annual NorthShore Inline Marathon in Duluth. This year’s races consist of: kids sprints, half inline skating, half marathon run, full marathon rollerskiing, full marathon inline skating, a 10k run and the combined race, in which participants skate the half marathon, as well as the full marathon, for a total of 39.3 miles on inline skates. A postrace awards ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Grandma’s Sports Garden. Race registration required. The kids sprints will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14 on Harbor Drive. Registration starts at 4 p.m. and is free to all kids ages 14 and under. northshoreinline.com

PURA FÉ

Sept. 22, Saturday Pura Fé, whose name means “Pure Faith,” was born in New York City and is a member of the Tuscarora Indian Nation. A co-founder of the internationally renowned Native women’s a capella trio Ulali, Pura Fé has been recognized in her solo career for bringing Native contemporary music to the forefront of

the mainstream music industry. Her sound is infused with musical styles from folk to blues to “traditional music from all over the world, wherever the spirit is connected to our roots.” She will be performing at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 22. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at the door or online in advance at aca.tix. com. The box office will open at 6:30 p.m. northshoremusicassociation.com

NORTHERN ONTARIO HOUSING EXPO

Sept. 22, Saturday Whether you are looking to buy, rent, or transition to assisted living, or you want to learn more about affordable housing, or simply learn more about the housing industry in general, the Northern Ontario Housing Expo in Thunder Bay is your one stop for all things housing related. This year’s expo will feature over 40 local housing vendors and 26 housing classes and workshops. There will also be a housing industry expert panel. And have breakfast with this year’s keynote speaker, Kateri Banning, owner of Kateri Construction, Consulting and Design. The expo will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Victoria Inn. Tickets can be purchased online. housingexpo.ca

ELY MARATHON

Sept. 22, Saturday Signup for one of three races in Ely during the annual Ely Marathon. Races include the Northern Lights The 23rd Annual NorthShore Inline Marathon in Duluth will be held on Sept. 15. | SUBMITTED

5k Glow Run at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21 (open to all ages and abilities); the 26.2mile Ely Marathon at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday; and the 13.1-mile Boundary Waters Bank Half Marathon at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Those wanting a bigger challenge can try portaging a canoe for the entire marathon or half marathon races. There will also be a “Kids Marathon” coined the Dorothy Molter Root Beer Run; kids are asked to run 25 miles prior to marathon day. Then, on race day, they will run the remaining 1.2 miles and finish the marathon along with the Ely Marathon finishers. Other activities include a fitness expo, live music, an inflatable obstacle course, food trucks, a beer tent and an awards ceremony. Race registration required. elymarathon.com

LAKE SUPERIOR 20/20 STUDIO ART TOUR

Sept. 28-30 As crisp, fall air fills the atmosphere, you know it’s time for the annual self-guided Lake Superior 20/20 Studio Art Tour, located at various art galleries and studios in the Two Harbors area. Now in its seventh year, the tour offers new artists and a new route to help visitors stay clear of road construction. Held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., glass, ceramics, woodwork, painting, printmaking, jewelry, sculpture and photography will be exhibited and offered for sale. Many sites will provide refreshments, music, and surprise “Pop-Up” artists. This year’s new artists include Jeff Hall, Lisa Kosmo, Sue Stavig, Natalija Walbridge, Michael Kapsos and Jennifer Murphy. Also new this year is the addition of an information tent, located in Larsmont, which will provide info for visitors on how

Take part in the annual 10 km Hike for Health in Nipigon, held Sept. 29. | SUBMITTED

to start the tour and avoid traffic on Hwy 61. A PDF printable map is also available online. lakesuperior2020.com

ART ALONG THE LAKE: FALL STUDIO TOUR

Sept. 28-Oct. 7 Art Along the Lake: Fall Studio Tour will feature a variety of unique, handcrafted artwork by more than 50 artists at 21 locations through -

out Cook County. There will be various art demonstrations, special exhibitions, book signings, artist talks, studio tours, hands-on activities for all ages, Q&A sessions and more. Locations include home studios, as well as galleries with guest artists, such as Sivertson Gallery, Johnson Heritage Post, Grand Marais Art Gallery, The Big Lake, Upstate MN, Frykman Art Studio, Yellow Bird Fine Art, Mueller Studio and Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery. All locations will be open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. visitcookcounty.com/arts

HECK OF THE NORTH

Sept. 29, Saturday This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Heck of the North gravel bike races, which start and finish at the Alger Grade parking lots, north of Two Harbors. Along with the usual 100-mile and 50-mile courses, there will also be a 20-mile course this year; this all gravel route is the perfect introduction for new riders to the world of gravel cycling. All races start at 8 a.m. and each course will have its own checkpoint with Honey Stinger Waffles, water and traditional nutrients to help keep you rolling. After the races, stop by for a bonfire at Heck of the North Base Camp and catch up with the other riders. Race registration required. heckofthenorth.com

LUNAFEST

Sept. 29, Saturday LunaFest is a short films program by, for, and about women. These films celebrate unique and inspiring women in local, nationally and international communities. This year’s films include “Girls Level Up” by Anne Edgar,

Voted Best Wine

“Toys” by Amanda Quaid, “Fanny Pack” by Uttera Singh, and “Waiting for Hassana” by Ifunanya Maduka. The 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; sold at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Violence Prevention Center in Grand Marais and Chicken & Egg Pictures, a nonprofit championing gender equality within the film industry. lunafest.org

HIKE FOR HEALTH

Sept. 29, Saturday The annual 10 km Hike for Health, which takes place along the Nipigon River Recreation Trail, is held on the last Saturday of September. The day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration and opening ceremonies at the Nipigon Waterfront. A light breakfast will be served and fundraising/draw prizes awarded. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., buses will begin shuttling hikers to the Red Rock trailhead. During this rugged trek, hikers can expect fantastic views from three lookouts over Nipigon Bay on Lake Superior, and later relax on the leisurely portion of the trail beside the Nipigon River and its wetlands. New this year is a scavenger hunt that kids and families can do along the trail. All youth ages 14 and under who complete the scavenger hunt will receive a special gift and all participants will receive a wooden participation medal. There will be no lunch this year, but participants are encouraged to visit local participating restaurants where hiker's specials will be offered; they will receive 15 percent off of their meals on the day of the hike (with proof of participation). hikeforhealth.net

Watercolor Classes

SEPT 1 10 a.m. - Noon, and 1-3 p.m.

Landscaping Prints with Kathy Fox Weinburg

SEPT 8 10 a.m. - Noon

Paint a Superior Leaf with Trish Hunter

SEPT 14 6 - 8 p.m.

Wine & Watercolor with Trish Hunter

– Call to reserve your

SEPT 20 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Wine & Beer Tasting with North Shore

Winery & Voyageur Brewery

Tickets: $25 in advance / $30 at the door

SEPT 22 5 - 7 p.m.

Discovering our Heritage of Finnish Log

Construction by Frank Eld

SEPT 29 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Clear Capture with photographer Tim Ostroot

Quilt Raffle!

Rhapsody in Blue Tickets: $3 ea or 2 for $5

Good Times Await

North of the Border

Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth exhibit continues at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery until November 25. The exhibit features artist Christi Belcourt with artist Isaac Murdoch. Together, they produce powerful images championing the restoration of balance between all living beings and the natural world. theag.ca

The movie Coco will play at Marina Park on Friday, Aug. 31 as part of the family-friendly Movie Nights on the Waterfront series, followed by Sherlock Gnomes on Saturday, Sept. 1. Movies start after sunset (roughly between 8-9 p.m.) and admission is free. Be sure to bring warm clothing, a blanket and a lawn chair and enjoy the show on the big screen overlooking Lake Superior. Concessions will be available. thunderbay.ca/movienights

The Red Lion Smokehouse will hold various events throughout the month, starting with a Dawson Trail Brewery Tap Takeover and Chess Night at 8 p.m. on Sept. 5. A Video Game Night will be held at 5 p.m. on Sept. 12, followed by Arts and Craft Beer at 8 p.m. Music Bingo will be held at 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 and Sept. 21. Other events include a Board Game Night Sept. 19, Quiz Night Sept. 26, and Beer and Yoga Sept. 29. facebook.com/redlionsmokehouse

Bang Bang, a drama by Kat Sandler, will open at the Magnus Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 6 and run through Saturday, Sept. 22. In this story, a white playwright uses the shooting of an unarmed young black man by a police officer as a “jumping off point” for his hit play that is soon to be adapted into a major movie. As Hollywood comes knocking for the writer, he makes a surprise visit to the home of the officer involved. With Sandler’s trademark wit, Bang Bang traces the impact of what it means to be inspired by true events. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. magnustheatre.com

Held Saturday, Sept. 8, Doors Open Thunder Bay takes place every other year in September under the supporting partnership of Doors Open Ontario and the Ontario Heritage Trust. This free, one-day event, which takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., offers residents and visitors the opportunity to step through the doors of some of the city’s most unique structures and heritage sites. This year’s participating sites include St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Paramount Theatre, Thunder Bay Masjid, the Alexander Henry, Brodie Resource Library, Historic Fort William, Centennial Botanical Conservatory, the International Friendship Gardens, and more. thunderbay. ca/doorsopen

The annual Festival of Colours will be held on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. in Marina Park. With roots in ancient India, this family-friendly festival features live musicians, dancers, yoga instructors, and the color throw. Made from food-grade cornstarch, the colours used are plant-based, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. festivalofcolours.ca

The 14th Annual Vox Popular Media Arts Festival (originally known as the Bay Street Film Festival) will take place Sept. 13-16. This year’s festival, held at the Trinity United Church Hall (310 Park Avenue), will feature over 55 films from Northwestern Ontario and around the world. There will also be a new media arts component with performances, art installations and more. Festival films include “Dad is Pretty,” “Darkslide,” “Ready for a Baby,” “War Paint,” and “Let Us Dance.” Festival tickets can be purchased online. voxpopular.ca

The Savour Superior Food and Drink Festival will be held Sept. 14-15 at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition Coliseum. Enjoy one of the region’s most fun and delicious culinary, wine, spirit and beer expos. This year’s festival features a variety of Ontario VQA Wines, international wines and spirits, craft beers, gourmet coffee and teas,

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

delectable desserts, mouthwatering cuisine, and locally grown and prepared farmers market produce. There will also be live entertainment, vendors and culinary demonstrations. Must be 19 years of age or older to attend. Tickets can be purchased online. savoursuperior.com

Culture Days takes place the last weekend in September each year. This year’s event will take place Sept. 28-30, with family-friendly activities held throughout Thunder Bay. Attendees can join in free, interactive activities and performances hosted by artists, cultural organizations and the City. More info can be found online. thunderbay.ca/culturedays

Share your love of French culture with three days of music, arts, food and activities for the whole family with the Franco-Fes -

tival, held Sept. 27-29 at the Francophone Center. There will be free concerts by The Winston Band (8 p.m. Sept. 27 at Valhala Inn) and ARIKO (2 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Franco-Festival outdoor stage). There will also be a tournament of cards for seniors, a dance party for 14-18 year olds, hosted by DJ Unpier at La Venendrye Catholic High School, and The Great Seduction at 8 p.m. at Paramount. francofestival.com

Mark your calendars for Northern Delights, held Oct. 9-21. This culinary celebration features many of Thunder Bay’s downtown restaurants, such as El Tres, Silver Birch, Bight and Red Lion Smokehouse. Participating restaurants will offer prix fixe meals for $25 and $35. This is a great opportunity to try something new and celebrate the local culinary scene.

“New Beginnings,” by Christi Belcourt and Isaac Murdoch, is part of the Uprising: The Power of Mother Earth exhibit at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. The exhibit will be on display until November 25. | SUBMITTED

Jim & Michele Miller 7 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com

Sept. 18, Tuesday

Modest Mouse 7:30 p.m. Duluth DECC, decc.org

Sept. 19, Wednesday

Blood Drive 11 a.m. Silver Bay High School, mbc.org

Board Game Night with Toy Sense

8 p.m. Red Lion Smokehouse, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/redlionsmokehouse

Sept. 20, Thursday

Healthy Aging Expo 9 a.m. Amici’s Event Center, Ely, northwoodspartners.org

Blood Drive 9:30 a.m. Cook County Court House, Grand Marais, mbc.org

United Way Chili Cook-Off 5 p.m. Duluth DECC, hlunitedway.org

Grand Marais Writers’ Guild 6 p.m.

Grand Marais Public Library, Facebook: Grand Marais Writers’ Guild

Wine & Beer Tasting 6:30 p.m. Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder, crossriverheritage.org

Book Launch: Naturally Brewed, Naturally Better 7 p.m. Clyde Iron Works, Duluth, zenithcity.com/beer

Gordon Thorne 7 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com

Thunder Bay Horticultural Society

Meeting 7:30 p.m. Oliver Road Community Centre, Thunder Bay, tbayhortsociety.weebly.com

Student Recital: Noah Stephens-Brown 7:30 p.m. UMD Weber Music Hall, Duluth, tickets.umn.edu

Lakehead University’s Alumni Homecoming Weekend Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, lakeheadu.ca/homecoming

Sept. 20-22

Stomper’s Retreat Wunderbar, Grand Marais, facebook.com/wunderbarmn

Sept. 21, Friday

Bocce Ball Fundraiser 1 p.m. Da Vinci Centre, Thunder Bay, calendar.thunderbay.ca

Joe Pollock & Pat Flack 6 p.m. Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmarays

Northern Lights 5k Glow Run

7 p.m. Vermillion Community College, Ely, elymarathon.com

Music Bingo 9:30 p.m. Red Lion Smokehouse, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/redlionsmokehouse

Sept. 21-22

FEmn Fest Sacred Heart Music & Arts Center, Duluth, femnfest.com

Diane Isackson Craft Show/Sale 9 a.m. Little Red Schoolhouse, Larsmont, larsmont.org

Space Monkey Mafia 8 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com

Sept. 21-23

Hawk Weekend Festival Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory, Duluth, hawkridge.org

Sept. 22, Saturday

Chocoholic Frolic Downtown Ely, ely.org/mn/events

Celebration Talent Dance Competition Duluth DECC, celebrationtalent.com

Ely Marathon & Half-Marathon 7:30 a.m. Ely, elymarathon.com

Northern Ontario Housing Expo 8 a.m. Victoria Inn, Thunder Bay, housingexpo.ca

Cook County Airport Fly-in/Drive-in

Breakfast 8 a.m. Grand Marais Airport (218) 387-3024

Dorothy’s Root Beer Run 8:45 a.m.

Ely, elymarathon.com/kids-marathon

Walk A Mile In Our Shoes 9 a.m.

UMD Malosky Stadium, Duluth, udac.org

ATV Ride for Special Olympics 10 a.m. Ely, ely.org/mn/events

Walk for ALS 10 a.m. Boulevard Lake, Thunder Bay, walkforals.ca

LCCC Harvest Festival Noon, Hilldale Lutheran Church, Thunder Bay, lccctbay.org

Bats: Presented by Peg Robertsen

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

Beargrease Beer & Bacon Bash

3 p.m. South St. Louis County Fairgrounds, Proctor, beargrease.com

Frank Eld: Discovering Our Heritage of Finnish Log Construction 5 p.m. Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder, crossriverheritage.org

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

Jean Pendziwol: The Lightkeeper’s Daughter 7 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, facebook.com/drurylanebooks

Pura Fé 7:30 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, northshoremusicassociation.com

Circuit Breakers 9 p.m. Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmarays

Sept. 22-23

NSHCF Golf Scramble Superior National Golf Course, Lutsen, northshorehealthcarefoundation.org

Sept. 24, Monday

A Conversation with Emanuel Ax 6 p.m. Weber Music Hall, Duluth, matineemusicale.org

Full Moon Reading: Rachel Andrus 6:30 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, facebook.com/drurylanebooks

Sept. 25, Tuesday

Author Reading of “Boy” 7 p.m. Cook County Higher Education, Grand Marais, northshorecampus.org

Sept. 26, Wednesday

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

Quiz Night 8 p.m. Red Lion Smokehouse, Thunder Bay, facebook.com/redlionsmokehouse

Sept. 26-30

Oktoberfest Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

Sept. 27, Thursday

Joe Paulik 6 p.m. Gun Flint Tavern, Grand Marais, gunflinttavern.com

Sept. 27-29

Franco-Festival Francophone Center, Thunder Bay, francofestival.com

Sept. 28, Friday

Grand Opening Celebration 4 p.m.

Jeweler of the North Shore & H. Lill’s, Lutsen, facebook.com/jewelerofthenorthshore Downtown Duluth Arts Walk

5 p.m. Downtown Duluth, facebook.com/downtownduluthartswalk

BLCW Harvest Dinner: Feast for the Community 5 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Grand Marais

Portage Band & Billie Johnson

6 p.m. & 9 p.m. Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmarays

Patricia Hampl: The Art of the Wasted Day 7 p.m. Drury Lane Books, Grand Marais, facebook.com/drurylanebooks

Sept. 28-30

Fabulous Fall Nature Geek-Out Wolf Ridge ELC, Finland, wolf-ridge.org

Culture Days Throughout Thunder Bay, thunderbay.ca/culturedays

NCCA Color Rides Washburn, WI, northcoastcycling.com

Craft Show 9 a.m. Little Red Schoolhouse, Larsmont, larsmont.org

Lake Superior 20/20 Studio Art Tour

10 a.m. Two Harbors, lakesuperior2020.com

Cooter, Tonder & Friends Studio

Art Sale 10 a.m. Two Harbors, blueskiesglassworks.com

Sept. 28-Oct. 7

Art Along the Lake: Fall Studio Tour 10 a.m. Throughout Cook County, visitcookcounty.com/arts

Sept. 29, Saturday

Fall Home Tour & Renewable

Energy Event Grand Marais, cookcountylocalenergy.org

Grand Traverse 6 a.m. Fitger’s Brewery Complex, Duluth, grandtraverseduluth.com

Heck of the North 8 a.m. Alger Grade Parking Lots, Two Harbors, heckofthenorth.com

Hike for Health 8:30 a.m. Nipigon River Recreation Trail, Nipigon, hikeforhealth.net

Wasaya–United Way Plane Pull 10 a.m. Wasaya Airways, Thunder Bay, uwaytbay.ca

Photographer Tim Ostroot: Clear Capture 11 a.m. Cross River Heritage Center, Schroeder, crossriverheritage.org

Monday



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

Tuesday

Downtown Farmers’ Market

11 a.m. Lake Superior Plaza, Duluth, downtownduluth.com

Community Yoga 11 a.m. 1st

Congregational UCC: Lower Level, Grand Marais, facebook.com/yogagrandmarais

Ely Farmers’ Market 5 p.m. Whiteside Park, Ely, facebook.com/elymnfarmersmarket

Trivia 7 p.m. Grandma Rays, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmarays

Campfire Music with Joe Paulik 7 p.m. Bluefin Bay, Tofte, bluefinbay.com

Wednesday

Lake Superior Yoga 8 a.m. Tettegouche State Park Visiter Center, Silver Bay Country Market 3:30 p.m. CLE Dove Building, Thunder Bay, tbcm.ca

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

Chef in the Garden 6 p.m. Glensheen Mansion, Duluth, glensheen.org

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

Thursday

Community Yoga 11 a.m. 1st

Congregational UCC: Lower Level, Grand Marais, facebook.com/yogagrandmarais

Finland Farmers Market 5 p.m. Clair Nelson Center, Finland, friendsoffinland.org

Local Food Market 5 p.m. Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais

Live Music 6 p.m. Cascade Lodge & Restaurant, Lutsen, cascadelodgemn.com

Date Night with Live Music 7 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

Friday

Preschool Storytime 11 a.m. Ely Public Library, elylibrary.org

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

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

Renegade Improv 10:30 p.m. Zeitgeist Teatro Zuccone, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Saturday

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

Ashland Area Farmer’s Market 8 a.m. Ashland, WI, ashlandareafarmersmarket.com

Harbormasters Barbershop Chorus

3 p.m. B’nai Abraham Museum & Cultural Center, Virginia, ironrangejewishheritage.org

LunaFest 7 p.m. Arrowhead Center for the Arts, Grand Marais, violencepreventioncenter.org

Michael Monroe Log

Cabin Concert 7 p.m. Grand Marais, michaelmonroemusic.com

Consortium Aurora Borealis: The Glorious Gryphon 8 p.m. St. Paul’s United Church, Thunder Bay, consortiumauroraborealis.org

Kutdown 9 p.m. Grandma Ray’s, Grand Marais, facebook.com/grandmarays

Sept. 29-Oct. 28

Pumpkinfest 11 a.m. Gammondale Farm, Slate River, gammondalefarm.com

Sept. 30, Sunday

Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure 8 a.m. Fort William Stadium, Thunder Bay, thunderbayrun@ccscloud.org

Gitche Gumee Wedding Show 11 a.m. Duluth DECC, gitchegumeeweddingshow.com

Alabama: The Hits Tour 7:30 p.m. Duluth DECC, decc.org

Cook County Market 9 a.m.

Senior Center Parking Lot, Grand Marais, facebook.com/ccfarmandcraft

Two Harbors Farmers Market 9 a.m. Cedar Coffee Company & Spokengear, Two Harbors, facebook.com/twoharborsfarmersmarket

Voyageur Brewing Tours

11 a.m. Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, voyageurbrewing.com

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

Live Music 6 p.m. Cascade Lodge & Restaurant, Lutsen, cascadelodgemn.com

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

Live Music 7 p.m. Lutsen Resort, lutsenresort.com

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

Renegade Improv 10:30 p.m. Zeitgeist Teatro Zuccone, Duluth, zeitgeistarts.com

Sunday

Open Stage with Joe Paulik 6 p.m. Wunderbar, Grand Marais, facebook.com/wunderbarmn

Acoustic Sunday 2 p.m. North Shore Winery, Lutsen, northshorewinery.us

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The North Shore Dish

Pop-Up Patios and Parklets

By Maren Webb

The summer and fall seasons may feel short in the Northern Wilds, but we know how to make the most of them. Two communities are taking it one step further, helping restaurants and other businesses create additional outdoor areas for dining, relaxing, and connecting in the heart of downtown. Pop-up patios and parklets are helping reimagine public spaces and welcoming people to spend time in downtown Duluth and Thunder Bay.

The Waterfront District in Thunder Bay has seen a resurgence in recent years, with new restaurants, shops, and other attractions. A new set of attractions has been added this year with the City of Thunder Bay’s pilot of a pop-up patio program. Inspired by similar projects in Hamilton and Peterborough, the pop-up patios go beyond the regular outdoor patio by allowing a business to use the entire sidewalk for patio space and a boardwalk is constructed in the parking lane for pedestrian traffic. Red Lion Smokehouse, The Foundry, and Apple Chipotle’s are all participating in this first season of the two-year pilot.

Red Lion Smokehouse is likely a familiar name to regular Northern Wilds readers. With a pop-up patio, Red Lion is bringing its fun atmosphere and good food and drink outside. “Being able to sit outside with a cold, craft beer is one of the delights of summer!” said co-owner, Alex Bono. Red Lion has an extensive beer list, including local craft brews as well as ones from the United States and Britain. This season’s patio is sponsored by the Kenora-based craft brewer, Lake of the Woods Brewing Co., who is providing their seasonal beer Thumbs Up Pilsner exclusively to Red Lion Smokehouse for the patio season. A perfect pairing for Red Lion’s barbecue and smoked menu options, with the full menu available on the patio.

Sunny, warm weather may seem like the ideal time to try out the patio, but we northern folk must be pretty hardy. “Even on cooler, damper days, we’ve had die-hard fans wanting to sit outside and dine,” said Bono. The creation of the patio was a real family affair, with their dad, Gerry, and sister, Anna, creating the design, construction by co-owner, John and Gerry, and beautification by co-owner, Alex, Jaden, and Caitlin. “It’s a great way to increase the walk-ability and sociability of our streets and encourage locals and visitors alike to try out new restaurants and businesses that they may not have noticed before,”

said Bono. The Red Lion pop-up patio (28 Cumberland Street South) is open Monday through Saturday to 10 p.m. until October 15. The patio is dog-friendly, with water bowls on hand to keep everyone hydrated.

Another restaurant participating in the pilot is Apple Chipotle’s BBQ Grillhouse, Thunder Bay’s newest traditional BBQ spot. They jumped at the opportunity as

they saw it would provide another option for their guests while enjoying food and drink. The community’s positive response has blown them away. The pop-up patio was built by Tom Palosaari from Cutting Edge Construction. “We believe that our guests enjoy the experience of being outside in the sun and being able to enjoy our full drink and food menu,” said Caitlin Earl, Apple Chipotle’s front of the house

[ABOVE] Three parklets are located in downtown Duluth this season, all of which are open through October. Shown here is the parklet in front of Duluth Coffee Company.

| SUBMITTED

[LEFT] Many parklets are located in front of coffeehouses and restaurants, so Ryan Arola of AROLA Architecture Studio in Duluth decided to buck the trend and host one in front of his business.

| AROLA ARCHITECTURE STUDIO

manager. Apple Chipotle’s pop-up patio (42 Court Street South) will be open until September 10.

“At the end of this season we will consider removing the ‘pilot’ status, [which] would result in a greater number of patios and the City and business could enter into a longer term agreement,” said Joel DePeuter, manager of Realty Services for the City of Thunder Bay. Be sure to enjoy one of the patios this season and help make the case for this to be a permanent program beyond the two-year pilot.

Down the shore of Lake Superior, Duluth has moved from a pilot to a permanent parklet program, creating more public spac -

es downtown. Parklets are extensions of the sidewalk for pedestrian use and include features like tables and seating, plants, bike parking, and public art. Instead of the seating being on the sidewalk and the walkway going into the street, like in Thunder Bay, the sidewalk thoroughfare remains and the seating is added next to the curb in the parking lane. The program started as a collaboration between the Healthy Duluth Area Coalition (now Zeitgeist) and the City of Duluth’s Planning Division to help the community reimagine the use of public space in relationship to public health and the urban environment in 2014. This season, three parklets are up at Duluth Coffee Company (105 E. Superior Street), AROLA Architecture Studio (205 W. 1st Street), and Zeitgeist Arts Cafe (222 E. Superior Street) in downtown Duluth through October.

Parklets are public spaces even if located in front of and sponsored by a business. Many parklets are in front of coffeehouses and restaurants, like Duluth Coffee Company and Zeitgeist Arts Cafe, so Ryan Arola of AROLA Architecture Studio decided he wanted to buck the trend and host one in front of his business to show that it can also benefit a non-food business. People are often seen at parklets like ARO -

LA’s painting and drawing, playing music, having work meetings, bringing their own picnic lunches, reading a book, playing games, and, in this case, The Rambler food truck comes once a week to create a pop-up eatery with the parklet’s seating.

“Nice weather is such a premium in the summer that those who use the parklet love to have a nice spot where they can enjoy being outside for either some work or a weekly stop at the food truck,” said Ryan.

This is the second season of the AROLA Architecture Studio parklet. Furniture from MAVIS is placed during the week Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The parklet was designed by Ryan and built by Meteek & Co. “I would encourage to give downtown a chance and come for a walk during the week, our parklet is just a small piece that makes downtown Duluth a great place to spend some time,” said Ryan.

After a pilot phase in Duluth, the City adopted a policy and permit process for seasonal parklets. “The results of the [original] study indicated that people loved parklets and that we could build them in a way that makes them relatively easy to take down and store for the winter,” said Zeitgeist active liv -

ing coordinator, Shawna Mullen. One of the unexpected, yet not surprising, results from the pilot was how the parklets tend to facilitate conversations and connections between people. “In our study, 47.6 percent of parklet users we surveyed said they had made new connections or met someone new while in the parklet. For us at Zeitgeist, having a connection to others and the places we share is a significant key to building a strong community,” said Mullen. Another finding: temperature did not greatly influence usage, with people using them in temperatures from 40 to 85 degrees F (although rain did reduce usage). The original pilots were funded by the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, and the Legacy Endowment Fund through the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation.

This season, get out to enjoy a patio or parklet, some delicious food and refreshing drink, and maybe meet someone new or make a connection. What’s better than an enjoyable activity that also benefits our communities?

• Facilitating audio-visual and video conferencing needs.

• Providing planning, support and on-call assistance throughout your event.

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Planning an event or a conference can be an overwhelming task, and Lakehead University’s Conference Services Department recognizes your need to look at the bigger picture. Let us handle the details so you can give your delegates the attention they deserve.

This pop-up patio, located at Red Lion Smokehouse in Thunder Bay, is open Monday through Saturday until October 15.

SMOKEHOUSE

Great Garbanzos!

By Rose Arrowsmith DeCoux

Roasted, pureed, or simmered, garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas) should be a staple in every pantry.

Hummus

favorite spice.

ƒ 1 15 ounce can chickpeas

ƒ ¼ cup aquafaba (chickpea liquid)

ƒ 3 tablespoons lemon juice

ƒ ½ tablespoon tahini

ƒ 2 cloves garlic

ƒ ½ teaspoon salt

ƒ 2 tablespoons olive oil

ƒ Seasoning: paprika, cumin, rosemary or curry powder

ƒ Sesame seeds, optional

Puree all ingredients until smooth, adding seasoning to taste. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve with sliced vegetables or crackers.

Roasted Curry Chickpeas

Sprinkle them on a salad, enjoy as a snack, or serve over basmati rice with your favorite curry sauce.

ƒ 2 15 ounce cans chickpeas

ƒ 2 tablespoons olive oil

ƒ 1 teaspoon cumin

ƒ 1 teaspoon curry powder

ƒ ½ teaspoon cayenne

ƒ ½ teaspoon salt

Drain chickpeas, rinse and pat dry. Allow to air dry for half an hour.

Bake at 400F for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Toss in oil and spices, and serve.

Chickpea Pasta Sauce

Satisfying, even for meat lovers.

ƒ 2 15 ounce cans chick peas, with liquid

ƒ 2 tablespoons olive oil

ƒ 4 cloves garlic

ƒ 1 large onion, finely sliced

ƒ 15 ounce tomatoes, canned, with liquid

ƒ 1 teaspoon rosemary

ƒ ¼ cup parsley, minced

ƒ Pepper

ƒ Salt

Puree one can of chickpeas with its liquid.

Sauté garlic and onion in oil over medium heat.

Drain second can of chickpeas and add, along with tomatoes, puree and rosemary.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Simmer 15 minutes. Serve over pasta, topped with parsley if desired.

Canoes Inspired a Couple of North Shore Ales

After a solid day of paddling and portaging, I was over-joyed to open up the food pack and reach for that plastic growler filled with Bent Paddle’s Kanu.

But as we began to unpack for some base-camping, we were interrupted by a fisher, who was not happy that we had chosen such a grown-over, hardly-used campsite, reasons that may have drawn him there. We weren’t happy about it, either.

Eventually, we got around to popping the seal on my plastic growler.

I’d have gone for a fill of Pordij, which seemed maybe more appropriate, but my drinking partner on this trip, my dad, won’t drink heavier pale ales, and Pordij is a double IPA. Kanu is the perfect session pale ale as far as I’m concerned. It’s light, with a 4.8 percent alcohol by volume. But it still packs a lot of flavor, and, in particular, the type of flavor I look for in session pale ales, namely powered by Citra and el Dorado hops, balanced with a light bit of maltiness.

By Javier Serna

Available in 12-ounce cans, or on tap— not to be confused with Citrus Party Kanu, a juicier version sold in 16-ounce cans—it pours a clear gold.

Duluth Brewhouse’s Superior Trail IPA also features a canoe on its can artwork. Of course, that canoe is being hoisted by an angry bull moose, and the occupants of the canoe are but skeltons toasting a pair of frothy beer mugs.

Seems fitting for a hoppy IPA that just made its distribution debut under a new brewery name after years of being brewed and served at Fitger’s Brewhouse in Duluth.

As mentioned in this column recently,

HOOPS FOR THE LOOP: Hoops Brewing got involved with the latest section of the Superior Hiking Trail to be built, which is being done in partnership with the Superior Hiking Trail Association and the City of Duluth. The new loop is at Ely’s Peak, and “will be the third of the Triple Crown of SHT Loops in Duluth.” Hoops hosted the SHTA and served a special “Ely’s Peak Ale” to celebrate on Aug. 1.

LARGER FOOTPRINT FOR EARTH RIDER: Superior, Wis.-brewery Earth Rider announced that it was expanding its distribution footprint to more of the Northwoods.

That includes not only Grand Marais, but west into the Iron Range and Grand Rapids, as well as Ashland and Hayward, Wis.

CASTLE DANGER CHANGES RED HOP CANS: Red Hop, Castle Danger’s hoppy red ale, is changings its container. Previously sold in four packs of 16-ounce cans, Castle Danger is switching up delivery to 12-ounce cans that will be sold in a six-pack. Why? “Think of it as an upgrade,” the brewery’s Facebook page reads. The new regime means 72 ounces of beer instead of 64 ounces.

the brewery is getting around Minnesota’s brewing laws that don’t allow brew pubs to package and distribute beer by forming an entirely separate company Duluth Brewhouse, which is actually being brewed by Barley Johns Brewing Company in New Richmond, Wis.

I did not have the advantage of a sideby-side comparison, but I would say the Duluth Superior Trail is pretty close to the Fitger’s version. Both are hoppy IPAs with a bit of malt balance. Check.

Glad I can pick this beer up at the store from now on.

Superior Trail IPA (left) and Apricot Wheat were the first two Fitger’s beers to be released for distribution by Duluth Brewhouse, which is a separate company than Duluth’s Fitger’sBrewhouse. | DULUTH BREWHOUSE

Get an Annual Exam

By Amy Schmidt

The transition from summer to fall can be hectic. School starts, schedules take on a life of their own, sports practices kick into high gear, preparations for winter dominate and, to complicate matters more, there’s less and less daylight available with every passing day. Something’s got to give and, unfortunately, self-care is usually the first to go. Finding time to care for yourself can seem impossible when the laundry list of to-dos is a mile long and doesn’t even include the laundry that needs to get done. But, maintaining a routine of selfcare couldn’t be more important, especially in the months leading up to winter when stressors and illness abound.

Getting an annual exam is an excellent way to ensure self-care. Whether you’re entering kindergarten or the world of retirement, a regular check-up with your primary doctor is important. An annual exam can help find problems before they start. It can also help find any potential problems early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better. An annual exam is also the perfect time to ask questions. Thanks to the internet, you can find all the information about all the questions but, the information isn’t always credible. An annual exam

offers you the time and opportunity to ask your provider about vaccines, new medications, exercise and diet fads, a changing mole or your two-year old’s refusal to eat vegetables. Your primary provider can discuss your concerns with you, helping chart the best course of action.

At your annual, various screening tools and tests might be used to help your doctor give the best, most personalized care they can give. In-house tests such as a blood glucose screen or a cholesterol test can help rule out chronic disease. Questionnaire screening tools, such as the GAD or the PHQ9, open the door for discussion about any potential mental health or cognitive concerns. Don’t be intimidated, though. These questionnaire screening tools are exactly what their name implies and are not hard and fast proof of a concern. Rather, think of them as a door opened to better health. If you need to walk through that door, your primary provider is ready and willing to help you.

For children, a doctor visit can be scary. But, an annual exam provides a regular opportunity to see a doctor when they are healthy and well, serving to build an important relationship with their prima -

ry provider. A strong, trusted relationship with a provider can be invaluable for the health of a teen or young adult. Start this relationship early by getting your child in for a regular physical.

An annual physical can also establish important health baselines. Your provider will measure your height and weight, take your blood pressure, and listen to your heart and lungs. Doing these things on a regular basis means a troubling change can be easily detected. Having record of these health base -

lines will also aid you and your provider in making future healthcare decisions.

There’s no better time to transition to better health than right now. Do yourself a favor and find the time to schedule an annual exam. You can do the laundry later.

The transition from summer to fall can be hectic. However, finding time to schedule an annual physical can help establish important health baselines. | STOCK

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• DRY equipment before launching into another body of water.

• Dispose of unwanted bait in a sealed container.

Untamed Mushrooms

From Field to Table A Midwestern Guide

By Michael Karns, Dennis Becker and Lisa Golden Schroeder

Minnesota Historical Society Press, $24.95

Wild mushroom hunting seems to continue gaining popularity in the Northern Wilds. Untamed Mushrooms is an elegant book every mushroom hunter ought to have on their bookshelf. Although it is lushly illustrated with color photography of wild mushrooms and foods prepared with them, this is not a field guide. Written from the perspective of the forager and the cook, the book explains what to do with mushrooms once you’ve found them, from cleaning and preparation to the recipes in which you can use them. Beginning with a baker’s dozen of chapters devoted to common edible mushrooms, including morels, pheasant backs, golden chanterelles, oysters, lobsters and chicken of the woods. Most of the book is a seasonal guide to using mushrooms in the kitchen. There are so many recipes the book has a special recipe index. Untamed Mushrooms is sure to become a foraging classic.—Shawn Perich

Isabelle Day Refuses to Die of a Broken Heart

By Jane St. Anthony University of Minnesota Press, $9.95

In Milwaukee, Isabelle Day had a house and a father. Now, as of Halloween, she has half of a house in Minneapolis, a mother as sad as she is, and a loss that’s too hard to think—let alone talk—about. Hovering over Isabella’s new world are the duplex’s too-attentive landladies, sisters Miss Flora and Miss Dora; the gleefully demonic Sister Mary Mercy; and classmates Margaret and edgy Grace. In light of the elderly sisters’ lives, Grace and Margaret’s friendship, and her father’s memory, she just might find the heart and humor to save herself. With sensitivity and wit, author Jane St. Anthony reveals how a girl’s life clouded with grief can also hold a world of promise. This heartening novel about loss and friendship is the companion to The Summer Sherman Loved Me and Grace Above All —Breana Roy

WHY GO: This 403-acre Boundary Waters lake is a short trip in from the Sea Gull entry point, and offers excellent fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. There’s even an abundant lake whitefish population believed to still be in the lake.

ACCESS: The quickest way in is the 100rod portage from the northwest corner of Sea Gull Lake (resist the urge to try the shorter stream portage also in the same general vicinity). That does mean a solid paddle from the east side of Sea Gull, of which the far west basin can get a little dicey in the right (or wrong) wind.

There are also portages from Jasper Lake (for those travelling in from the west from Ogishkemuncie) and from Red Rock Lake (for those coming in from the north and Saganaga Lake’s Red Rock Bay.

VITALS: This 403-acre lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet, according to Minnesota DNR’s Lakefinder data. For such a small lake, it can be confusing because of its irregular shoreline and many islands. In fact, the state says it has almost 24 miles of shoreline, and I’ve on more than one occasion had to point canoers in the right direction on this lake.

GAME SPECIES PRESENT: Lake whitefish, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye and white sucker.

FINDING WALTER: I’ve personally had some great days of walleye fishing, with

both a jig and a leech and slip bobber, but most of these have been in the heat of summer, when walleyes in this area can be quite active.

I’ve had more trouble getting them to bite in later September and October, though I’ve heard that some locals do get them dialed in this time of year. I would assume, at that point, the fish are in water deeper than 20 feet and a bit more scattered, but this knowledge has not produced many walleyes in the fall for me.

I much prefer working for them from an island or campsite with a nice drop-off in the mornings and evenings, with a nice wind blowing in.

SOME DECENT PIKE: DNR’s most recent fisheries survey of the lake in 2002, said northern pike growth rates may be fast in Alpine, noting their access to lake whitefish or perhaps cisco.

A couple members of my canoe camp have lost some mighty pike on this lake over the years, including two fish likely longer than 40 inches.

In both cases, the anglers were not using steel leaders, and they were cut off by the toothy predators eventually, including one friend who had been tossing a fancy, BBfilled jerkbait that he was able to retrieve. We heard the fish for a while as it shook it’s head violently with the rattling bait in its mouth. Eventually, the bait was floating on the surface.

Bird ShotsMug

A Unique Look at North America’s Most Wanted Birds

By Earl Orf with Val Cunningham Stone Ridge Press, $18.95

Written by Northern Wilds contributing photographer Earl Orf, with Val Cunningham, Bird Mug features both front and side views of over 100 North American bird species. For each set of photos, Orf points out interesting features of the two views and describes how he was able to capture the shots. Cunningham, a nature writer who specializes in birds, provides facts about each species. There is also a range map accompanying each bird. This 110-page paperback book is printed in full color on high-grade glossy paper. You can order it online at: etsy. com/shop/earlorfphotos .—Breana Roy

ALPINE LAKE

The other time, my brother had been tossing a white and red Beetle Spin when a giant pike snatched up the offering. I got one good look at the fish, which was well out of arm’s reach boat side, before slicing the line. Had we packed a landing net, we’d have had a chance at it.

Otherwise, we’ve caught a fair number of eater-sized pike from Alpine over the years.

SMALLMOUTHS: Alpine has no shortage of smallies in it, and during those fall trips, I often have to settle for keeping a few when the walleyes refuse to cooperate.

There are many downed trees along Alpine’s main shore and islands, providing that woody cover that smallmouth love to use as an ambush point.

Outlet to Seagull Lake

Portage to Red Rock Lake

Tanning Hides as an Act of Reconciliation Wild Traditions

By Julia Prinselaar

I’ve been brain tanning hides for a handful of years now, mostly self-taught, without much guidance from mentors. In addition to trial and error, most of what I have learned has come from books written by white Americans, workshops offered by white instructors, and demonstrations led by white people. I am white, too.

It’s true for most of us, if we reach back far enough, that we could trace our lineage to a time when our ancestors, at some point, in some part of the world, made shelter, crafts and clothing from animal skins. There are accounts of brains and/ or smoke tanning by the Zulus of southern Africa, the Chukchee of eastern Russia, and nomadic peoples of Asia, China, Japan, South America and North America. The North American fur trade was the backbone of industry development in the 1500s after European contact, and New York later became an epicenter for commercial tanneries. Still, imported leather came from places like Berlin and London.

While there may be as many different methods of tanning hides as there are ethnic groups who developed them (brains, liver, urine, smoke, sweet corn, tree bark, soap and eggs to name a few), the principle of scraping a hide, treating it with a preservative, and pulling it dry remains the same.

Over the years, I’ve received tremendous support for what I do and share, especially recently since I’ve started instructing deer hide tanning classes. And that includes, thankfully, support from Indigenous people. My students are a mix of Indigenous

and non-Indigenous people who come together for four days to work together toward a common goal. To my knowledge, I haven’t been accused of being a white person appropriating an Indigenous cultural skill.

But given the fact that Indigenous nations in Canada are arguably some of the last in the world who remain familiar with traditional hide tanning (many people I’ve

talked to grew up with their mother, auntie or grandmother tanning hides), it often surprises my white friends when they learn that a growing number of students who attend my classes are Indigenous.

“I thought they already knew how to do that stuff,” is a common remark. And yet, I have conversations with the same people about spending more time with our parents and grandparents to learn how to make

certain cultural food dishes before they’ve passed on and the secrets have died with them. So there’s an understanding that the teachings of our elders will disappear if they aren’t lived, shared and maintained. Yet we assume that Indigenous people automatically inherit traditional knowledge.

During the first class I ever taught, I met an Indigenous woman who has now become a friend. She traveled from Sioux

Finished buckskins in Murillo, Ontario. | JULIA PRINSELAAR

| JULIA PRINSELAAR

Lookout, a small northern Ontario town to learn how to brain tan deer hides.

On the morning of our first day, we did a round of personal introductions. When it was her turn to speak, she said something to the effect of, “You know, it’s kind of funny how we’re in this position,” gesturing to another Indigenous woman in the class, “learning this skill from you.” Her tone wasn’t inflammatory or critical, but it reflected an observation of what was, undoubtedly, the elephant in the room: Here I am, a white woman in a post-colonial era, teaching an Indigenous skill to Indigenous people. What was going on here?

My friend Tom Terry once said that it has taken generations upon generations for nations and ethnic groups to develop the skills to live in intimate coexistence with the landscape. Yet in just a fraction of time, colonialism, racism and modern influences have brought these practices to the brink of extinction.

The technological conveniences of a modern world have replaced Old Ways. The snowmobile outran dog sleds. The combustion engine rendered the horse and carriage obselete. And chromic acids have replaced the lengthy and labour-intensive process of tanning animal hides naturally.

In addition to that, the legacy of colonialism in North America and around the world has confined many traditional landbased skills to groups living almost exclusively on the fringes of society. People liv -

ing on islands, in isolated communities, or in the far north still hunt, gather, trap and fish for sustenance. Others living in or around metropolitan areas are being integrated into the lofty promises of convenient modern-day culture. And that includes most of us white folks, only we seem to be the product of civilization at a more advanced stage of alienation from our land. As a descendant of settlers in a new country, I often think of myself as orphaned from the relationship to the home that culturally and spiritually defined my ancestors. The generations that followed have had to forge a new, somewhat unguided path.

Almost one year after that initial class, I found myself traveling to teach. The woman from Sioux Lookout who took my first hide tanning class is extremely crafty, skilled in fashion designing, cooking, and making just about anything with her hands. Tanning is no exception— she’s a natural—and she offered to bring me up to run a class with the intent of apprenticing under me in order to run future classes of her own.

After four days of class, she and I were sitting in front of her home, smoking two deer hides late at night by headlamp. As we watched wisps of smoke billow from between the seams of the hides, we talked about reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Who initiates reconciliation, and what does that look like?

I found myself reflecting on how I’ve been able to reach out to someone who wanted to learn how to tan hides, a skill that is within her living memory, but is seeking repair. The chain was broken. Was I here to help fix it?

“We think that reconciliation has to come from white people,” she said. “And you’ve started a movement. This is like your act of reconciliation.”

At that moment I knew that what I was doing had merit. I had found a bridge, a connection, a meeting point. She thanked me for sharing all that I knew about hide tanning so that she may carry on with her own endeavors. To me, the knowledge is where it is meant to be. We cannot undo the past, but we are capable of trying to cultivate a better future for meaningful coexistence.

Down-home

Northwoods Atmosphere

Dolor uses a rib bone to scrape the hair from a deer hide under the careful watch of his mother, Kanina in Sioux Lookout, Ontario.

The Sneaky, Slippery, Slithery Snake

There is something about the sight of a snake that makes most of us jump and scream. But here in the Northern Wilds, we have little reason to be afraid. There are three snake species found in our area—all of which are non-venomous and therefore harmless.

The ringneck, common garter and the red belly are all snakes we find along the North Shore and into the boreal forest. Red belly snakes are tiny and distinguished by their red belly. They grow up to eight inches long. The ringneck snake is slightly longer, growing 10-15 inches and identified by an orange collar around the neck. The garter snake can grow up to three feet long and has yellow stripes down its sides. Garter snakes are especially important for controlling mice.

Cool Facts about Snakes

Snakes, like other reptiles, are cold-blooded, which means they need help to maintain their body temperature—they can’t regulate on their own. For this reason, snakes are often seen sunning themselves and it’s why they like warm places, such as a greenhouse. Garter snakes are the most cold-tolerant of all snakes in North America.

To reproduce, some snakes lay eggs while others give birth. The

baby snakes receive no help from their parents—they are on their own from birth and can live up to 20 years.

Ecological Benefits

Snakes survive on small rodents, slugs, worms, birds and small amphibians such as frogs. Many snakes are toothless and so they swallow their food whole. Most notably, snakes have a great sense of smell—actually a small organ that detects chemical changes in the environment—and this is how they find their prey.

Hibernating or Hiding?

Unlike bears, snakes do not sleep all winter, but they do need to find an appropriate place to spend the winter—somewhere below the frost line so they don’t freeze solid. They have no stored fat like a bear; instead, a snake’s metabolism slows down, so much so that many snakes don’t lose weight over the winter, even without taking in a meal for months. Most snakes avoid eating before winter because any remaining food in its belly can rot.

Snakes gather in snake parties for their cold weather retreat. Because it can be difficult for snakes to find a safe place to go, they all go to the same place. In Manitoba, garter snakes gather at a place called the Narcisse snake dens and as many as 8,000 snakes have been known to stay there in a winter. That will make those of us with a snakephobia shudder.

Strange Tales

Unsung Heroes: The Seafarers Ministries

By Elle AndraWarner

One Thunder Bay shipping agent called them the “real unsung heroes here in the port”.

He was speaking about the work of The Mission to Seafarers in Port of Thunder Bay where Reverend Ed Swayze and vol unteers offer resources to meet the needs of seafarers from ships visiting the port. Similarly in Duluth, the Seafarers Center with Pastor Paulson, staff and volunteers provide similar services to the crew mem bers of ships that come into the Port of Duluth-Superior. While both ministries are available to crews of ocean-going (“salties”) and freshwater bulk carrier freighters (“lak ers”), most seafarers at the centers are from foreign-flagged ships.

Last year, nearly 400 ships arrived in Thunder Bay, including almost 100 salties, while the ports of Duluth and Superior average about 900 ships per year, with 90 percent being lakers. Since 1959 when St. Lawrence Seaway officially opened, salties travel more than 2,300 miles (3,700 km) from the Atlantic Ocean through the Great Lakes to the heart of the North American continent, about a five-day journey.

The Mission to Seafarers is a world-wide Anglican Church ministry founded in England in 1856. Today with stations in more than 200 ports across 50 countries (eight in Canada, four in U.S.), it’s the world’s largest port-based welfare operator providing a range of supports to 1.5 million seafarers. The ministry website notes that it “strives to meet the needs of all seafarers and their families, irrespective of faith or cultural background. Its simple mission is

to care for the shipping industry’s most important asset: its people.” Its purpose is to “promote the spiritual, moral and physical well-being of seafarers and their families world-wide.”

Thunder Bay’s Mission to Seafarers was established in 1961 and is located in a trailer at Keefer Terminal. The Mission’s services are offered without reference to race, creed or religion with most services free and available to any seafarers in the Port of Thunder Bay. The chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers is the Reverend Canon Ed

Swayze, who started in 1994; he is also the Pastor of St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church and chaplain at HMCS GRIFFON.

Services provided by Thunder Bay’s Mission include ship visits; transporting crews in its 10-passenger van to various destinations like shopping, the seafarers centre, city tour, church, etc.; a chapel for prayer and quiet reflection; a games table, TV, internet, Wi-Fi; donated clothing; a library; and a safe environment. Since 2016, the Mission has delivered Christmas gift bags to ships in port in December; the bags

include the traditional inclusion of two donated knitted items (toques, scarves, neck warmers) per bag. And each June, there is a Blessing of the Fleet by the Mission at the marina.

In a radio interview with CBC’s Lisa Laco on Superior Morning (June 20, 2018), Swayze said the Mission transported about 800 seafarers last year. “Lot of the work is unseen but we look after the seafarers.”

Duluth’s Christian-based Seafarers Center was founded by Duluth’s late Reverend Norbert Mokros, a German-born Lutheran pastor who aided stranded seafarers in the 1960s during a labor strike. Incorporated in 1969 as the Twin Port Ministry to Seafarers, the ministry opened in a waterfront house trailer, then moved in 1975 to its present home, a former Roman Catholic parish house on Duluth’s West Third Street. The ministry’s chaplain is Pastor Doug Paulson, who also works part-time in the campus ministry at University Minnesota Duluth.

An ecumenical ministry, the Seafarers Centre is governed by a board and supported through 13 denominations throughout a seven-state area and private donations. According to the ministry’s website, the Centre’s main purpose is to “offer hospitality and assistance, albeit accompanied by spiritual guidance for those who wish it” and it “strives to provide an agency, a ministry for the spiritual, social and personal needs of seafarers who are in the twin ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin.”

The Center’s services are similar to its counterpart in Thunder Bay. They include ship visits, free transportation by the center’s 12-passenger van, phone cards, Wi-Fi, donated clothing, books, a quiet chapel, Christmas gift boxes, and assistance with special requests. The Center also has a large common area, communal kitchen, pool table, ping pong, darts and TV.

Both the seafarer ministries provide hospitality, assistance, spiritual guidance when requested and a safe trusted place.

On July 18, Reverend Canon Ed Swayze of The Mission to Seafarers did a “Blessing of the Ship” for the former Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker AlexanderHenry, now a museum ship in Thunder Bay. | GLENN WARNER

PIE ISLAND

STUNNING PRIVATE RETREAT FOR SALE in Ontario, Canada

Unique Timber frame building. 6,000 sq.ft. of Family Living or Business opp. Built to address environmental health issues, situated on one of the area’s highest peaks on 158 acres. 30 min. drive via excellent hwy to city of Thunder Bay. Healthy living with clean air, water and soil. Built sustainably to minimize EMF’s. A totally private natural forest setting. Complete with Helipad. Close to International airport.

• Detached double garage with workshop Open concept living, with panoramic views

• Several km. of slow trails Brick patios, perennial and raised gardens

358 acres with 2 miles of beach front on Lake Superior facing south. Also a 1/2 mile of frontage on Perch Lake. Escarpments, hiking trails, great Lake Superior fishing and boating. Ideal for resort development or your very own private getaway. All amenities nearby. 10 miles south of the Thunder Bay Marina. $890,000 CDN

Anti-bacterial copper kitchen counters

• 3 floors, 2 kitchens, 5 bathrooms

Spring water

• Taxes for 2018: $1,600

• Heating: passive solar, outdoor wood furnace, hot water radiant

807-628-9724 807-474-3244 taiga@tbaytel.net buyprivatewildernessretreat.blogspot.com

YouTube: Taiga Wildrness Oasis $500,000 cdn

NIPIGON RIVER

2 miles of waterfront south of Nipigon on the Nipigon River (364 acres) good ground. Many uses available. $498,000 CDN

LAKE SUPERIOR LOTS

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

FAMILY TOE DIPPING FUN ON LAKE SUPERIOR, WALK TO GRAND MARAIS!

It’s about the Wilderness, the Water, and the way they come together around this wonderful Family Style Authentic

located within a stone’s throw to the Big Lake. If you enjoy the journey, you’ll love everything this accommodating home has to offer! Mint Condition home, two plus car garage with heated workshop. EASY Walk to Grand Marais Harbor!

MLS#6026723 $749,900 REDUCED!

LAKE SUPERIOR AT THOMSONITE BEACH! Lake

Shore. MLS#6023379 $524,000 REDUCED!

ON THE NORTH SHORE! Overlooking BlueFin Bay on Lake Superior, this Tofte home has Amazing Lake Superior views! Top Notch Construction, with thoughtful design centered around family gatherings and individual spaces. Gourmet kitchen which will satisfy the fussiest chef,

Seasons, Change Change Change… Fall Leaf Colors

SERENITY NOW AT TAIT LAKE!

Comfortable family lake cabin in Lutsen, on some Sweet Swimming shoreline! 3 bedrooms, full bath, and two half baths! Awesome screened porch, nice family room open to kitchen, great entertaining space! Oversized for boat storage 2 car detached garage! Move in Ready with a Civilized sense of seclusion!

MLS#6073605

$345,000 REDUCED!

oven, Timberframe Sauna, Woodshop and a large garage. End of the Road 4.48 acres, 175’ of frontage, adjacent public land buffers and beckons. Leave Everything behind and just enjoy the Good Life on Deeryard Lake!

MLS#6028689 $579,000

LUTSEN LAKE

SUPERIOR VACATION TOWNHOME AT LUTSEN RESORT!

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

$399,000 REDUCED!

SIMPLICITY OVERLOOKING MOOSE MOUNTAIN! Lutsen Mountain Ski and Summer Resort, if you love Lutsen Vacations, then these Condos and Townhomes are for you! Use as often as you like and make money when you aren’t here! “Hands off or on Ownership” means flexibility for keeping all to yourself for family and friends, or choose a management company that will fit your needs. Some are newly renovated exterior and out, some are not. From Studios (with huge decks) to 3+ bedrms, See them all to find YOUR right fit!

108 BRIDGE RUN $89,900 MLS#6027475

124B BRIDGE RUN $99,900

MLS#6032522

114 BRIDGE RUN $109,999

MLS#6028015

128 BRIDGE RUN $111,900

MLS#2120739

120A BRIDGE RUN $114,900

MLS#6074478

670 MOOSE MOUNTAIN TOWNHOME! $360,000 TONS OF VALUE! MLS#6077716

ROCKY WALL outskirts of Silver Bay! Huge Lake Superior Views, Driveway and Campsite in Place! Maple Forest, Electric, Developed Build Site!

$99,900 MLS#6074084

Whitetail Ridge Overlooking Lake Superior! Just off Highway 1, Enjoy Sprawling Lake and Ridgeline views and Rugged Terrain! Yr Round Access, Electric.

MLS# 6024856 $95,000 REDUCED!

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

MLS#2309327 $129,000

Lakeshore on Ninemile Lake at the Village, common water and septic, build ready, borderscommon land!

MLS#2309096 $37,000 REDUCED AGAIN!

Marks Drive Build Ready parcel in Silver Bay. City Utilities, Super location for a nice family home! Great neighborhood.

MLS#6031871 $22,000

NEW! Crosswinds in Tofte, Walk to Coho! Large pkg lots, Great Value. FROM $45,000 UP TO $75,000 MLS#TBD

10 Ac Parcels of Maples! Rolling Terrain of Mature Maples to a Sweet Building site Perched Over a Mixed Boreal Forest. Year Round Access and Electric at Road!

MLS#2024250 $49,900 REDUCED!

DRAMATIC Mountain Top Views, Rolling Hills, Maple Forests fading in to Spruce and Pine and year round access. $70,000 MLS#2090659 39 ACRES!

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

MLS#6030129 $99,900

LeVeaux Mountain, Super Views and Wildlife Ponds! MLS#2220050 $69,000

SCHROEDER, JUST OVER AN HOUR FROM DULUTH! Home site

just 40 ft from the Big Lake, level easy access, well buffered from Hwy!

MLS#6032752 $250,000

LARGE LAKE SUPERIOR PARCEL, JUST AN HOUR FROM DULUTH! Rolling terrain, level shoreline, and nearly 600 ft of it! Enjoy your own paradise on Lake Superior!

MLS#6032772 $499,900

JUST IMAGINE, A MODERN NEW CONSTRUCTION BUNGALOW ON LUTSEN’S CASCADE BEACH RD! Build it on this Dreamy Parcel, Have Vision!

MLS#2308906 $299,000

ALL TO YOURSELF! 400+ FT, WITH ACCESSIBLE LEDGEROCK, OCCASIONAL BEACH! Rollins Creek Rd Lutsen Locale, Historical Nature. MLS#6031579 $449,900 REDUCED!

Seasons, Change Change Change… Fall Leaf Colors are Near, Head North Soon!

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#2070509 Prices from $24,900!!

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

Maples with lots of Elbow Room, Year Round access and nice location between Cross River in Schroeder and Finland! MLS#6028422 $53,000 REDUCED!

BIG TIME VIEWS of Lake Superior-Tofte, Excellent value at Johannes Toftey MLS#6029322 $59,900

Overlook at LeVeaux Mountain-Tofte! Serene Woodsy setting with Lake Views!

MLS#6029324 $49,000

Maples Galore, Acreage! Schroeder Location with Yr Round Access and Electric!

MLS#6029593 $99,000

LeVeaux Creek Runs Through this Sweet Build Site, minutes to Lutsen Ski Resort! Lake Views!

MLS#6031876 $65,000

New! Crosswinds in Tofte, Walk to Coho! Large pkg lots, Great Value. From $45,000 up to $75,000 MLS#TBD

NEW! Build site ready to go! Affordable! $10,000 MLS#6077643

New! Wilderness land with canoe access to Tait Lake! 3+ ac a stone’s throw to Tait Lake! MLS#TBD $42,000

New! 5 ac in the heart of Lutsen, just above TimberWolff! Great location for family home or Vaca Cabin! MLS#TBD $39,000

New! Caribou Hillside in Lutsen! Maple hillside

JUST NORTH OF SILVER BAY, PALISADE VIEWS OF LAKE

SUPERIOR! Gorgeous Lakeshore, Priced Way Below Tax Assessed Value! Gorgeous Views down the Coastline and Well buffered from Hwy. MLS#2313255 $198,000 REDUCED!

LUTSEN’S ROLLINS CREEK

ROAD LAKE SUPERIOR! Build Ready, good buffer from Hwy, Spectacular Views! MLS#6028455 $199,000 REDUCED!

SIMPLE LIVING ON LAKE

SUPERIOR! A Step up from Thoreau’s Cabin, Enjoy the peace and quiet this lovely little cabin offers on over 300 ft of Lake Superior Shoreline! Electric, and Nice gas Stove makes this a comfy and welcoming Cabin! MLS#6026595

$214,000 REDUCED!

above Ward Lake and Caribou Lake, FABULOUS location for summer and winter fun! Must see land!

MLS#TBD 5 AC $40,000

New! 2 ac at the Foothills of Eagle Mountain at Turnagain Trail! $29,900 MLS#6077521

New! 10 ac on Turnagain Trail, Fabulous Wilderness Build site, minutes to Lutsen Mtn’s. $62,500 MLS#6077523

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

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

MLS#2312987 $119,000

Over 8 ac of Wilderness on Turnagain Trail in Lutsen!

MLS#2216560 $45,000

Prime Build Site(s) just off theCaribou at Jonvick Creek!

MLS#2240533 $49,000

Gorgeous 5 acre parcels in the Heart of Lutsen paved Caribou Trail locale bordering USFS lands!

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

30 acres of Prime Wilderness Land with year round access and electric at street with Views of Lutsen’s famed Clara Lake!

MLS#2080599 $137,500

Maple Leaf Trail at Jonvick, Maples Galore!

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

Foothill Blvd Location in the Heart of Lutsen!

Established build site with Boulder lined driveway in place leading to cleared building site. Camp now and plan for the future, bring your RV, electric is at the build site! Minute’s to Sky access to Caribou Lake in Lutsen! $56,500 MLS#6028429

Jonvick Creek Runs Through It! Enjoy the Sounds of the Creek running by your future build site, Fabulous Lutsen Location just off the Caribou Trail!

RUSTIC GETAWAY LAKESHORE, ISABELLA AREA. Mature pines, end of the road location on Swallow Lake! MLS#2300576 $64,900

HOVLAND’S TREASURE ON TOM LAKE, prime lake only access with large acreage, privacy galore! MLS#6032237 $124,900

LUTSEN LAKESHORE ON DEERYARD! Year Round access, elec/broadband. Maple hillside, Rocky prime shoreline! MLS#6074179 $185,000 REDUCED! Owner is licensed REALTOR

5+

NEW! Cty 44 and Pike Lk Road! 10 acres of high level ground, easy build site at a great price! $55,000 MLS#6076094

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

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

Quiet Side of Town, a Creek meanders Through, Cleansing. Large lots, surveyed and build ready. Just Imagine, New Construction in the heart of Grand Marais! MLS#6031883 $54,900

NEW! Gorgeous 42 acres near Pike Lake, Yr Round access, electric at street and INCREDIBLE ridgetop views! MLS#6073655 $109,900

11 acres yr round access, electric, Nice build site near Pike Lake! MLS#6073657 $44,900

CLARA LAKE IN LUTSEN! Wilderness Lakeshore Site with cleared build site, driveway in place. Electric at road, 200 ft PRIME shoreline. $189,900 MLS#6033095

CHRISTINE LAKE 10 AC bordering Superior National Forest, Yr Round Access, electric/broadband avail. Hill top build site overlooking mature white pine, cedar lined shoreline on Christine. Serenity Now! MLS#6023288 $99,900

PIKE LAKE LUTSEN SIDE! Premium Shoreline, nice and rocky! South facing build site, boreal forest. Lot 6 Willard Lane, must see! MLS#6031145 $190,000 REDUCED! NEW! WILLARD LANE PIKE LAKE VIEW LAND WITH LAKE ACCESS! Rugged elevation, great build site. Shared 20 ft access to Pike Lake for $75,000 MLS#TBD

LAKE SUPERIOR LANDS

INLAND LAKE LANDS

1000’ of beautifully rugged and secluded shore. 6 lots, house structure; you finish the interior, plus more than 30A of land to ensure ample exclusivity and privacy. MLS 6026201 $995,000

Quality

On Lake Superior

1900 E Hwy 61, Grand Marais

Listen

by

or

out the

and watch the waves. Sunny with lots of windows and an open floor plan.

MLS 6075220 $289,900

2942

W Hwy 61

Imagine spending the afternoon hunting Thomsonites on your own coveted beach? Very appealing 3 BR, 2 BA home with panoramic views of Lake Superior and lots of the cabin charm everyone desires. Many new features including a fireplace, Jacuzzi bath, new windows, new septic and new roof. FABULOUS lot with 1.5 acres of mature trees & 254’ of gravel and ledgerock shoreline.

MLS 6076285 $492,000

16 Beargrease Crossing

out guest suite; many south facing windows for views & sunlight. Includes a large heated garage with a studio (or workshop) & greenhouse. MLS TBD $770,000 NEW

22 E Rosebush Lane

Marvel at the views of Artist Point from this stunning 4 bedroom, 4 bath premier home located west of Grand Marais. Must see to appreciate the custom tile work, built-ins, floor to ceiling windows, cobblestone fireplace, decks and expansive gourmet kitchen & much more. Home is complete with AC, back-up generator & oversized garage. Private 2.96 acre lot with 243’ of gravel shoreline.

MLS 6075855 $920,000

Lake Superior Lots

Lake Superior Shoreline!

This massively expansive ledge rock shoreline makes this lot one of the most amazing you will ever see on the North Shore. Shared driveway, very deep for added privacy, healthy mix of trees – what more do you want? Each lot consists of approx. 2.3 acres & is 200 ft. wide with significantly more meandering shoreline. Check out the creek that meanders along the western boundary of Lot 2!

2888 W Hwy 61 $239,900 Fabulous views of both Artist Point and the Sawtooth Mountains!

Stonegate

Inland Lake Homes

100 Sag Lake Trail

Looking for your own BWCA vacation paradise or a successful,

Inland Lake Lots

Septic sites identified and backyard variance already in place.

MLS TBD $139,900 NEW

Lot 8 Wilderness Trail

300 ft of Tom Lake shoreline with spectacular views of the Palisades. Year round access!

MLS 6076298 $97,900

Devil Track Lake

Stunning Devil Track Lake lot on the north shore with 159’ of shoreline and 1.88A for plenty of privacy. Driveway and cleared building sites.

MLS 6074624 $179,900 SOLD

Birch Lake Lovely lakeshore lot on the north shore of Birch Lake with 209’ of shoreline & 5 acres. Convenient mid-Gunflint Trail location.

MLS 6074808 $99,900

Kemo Lake AWESOME fishing on this premier Trout Lake. Private lot with 2.34A & 200’ of accessible shoreline. Power & Broadband available.

MLS 6031924 $139,900

Tom Lake Rare opportunity to find 34+A w/ 600’ of shoreline on a quality Walleye lake. Lot is surveyed & septic sites identified. Potential CD.

MLS 6074852 $119,900

Tom Lake Enjoy stunning sunsets while overlooking Tom Lake! Year round access, 171’ shoreline, driveway and a cleared building site.

MLS 6076516 $49,900

Squint Lake

Mid-Gunflint Trail lot with 2.13A & 221’ shoreline. Gently rolling topography, old white pine trees & abuts USFS! YR access, elec & broadband.

MLS 6028920 $75,000

10 Bucks Trail VERY Private cabin on the coveted Greenwood Lake! 4.59 A, 366’ shore, private bay, very accessible shoreline, dock, sandy swimming area, walking trails, mature trees and year round access. Cabin has full bunk beds, indoor dining and propane stove/fridge.

MLS 6073515 $179,900

Chester Lake

Imagine being the owner private owner on this lake? Property consists of 40A surrounded by USFS & 300’ frontage! Rough cabin sold “as is”.

MLS 6075870 $149,900

Poplar Lake

Convenient mid-Gunflint Trail 2.75 acre building site featuring deeded lakeshore access. Building site cleared, driveway in, utilities available.

MLS 2158160 $52,500

Greenwood Lake Attractively priced lakeshore lot with 4.2A and 300’ rocky shoreline. Coveted trout lake, year round access – perfect for cabin or home site.

MLS 6073512 $139,900

Large Acreage

Whispering Pine – Lot 3

Great

MLS 6077021 $45,000 NEW

Lot 7 LeVeaux Ridge

$29,900 NEW

8XA Irish Creek Road

700 feet of Irish Creek frontage. Septic sites have been identified. Irish Creek Road is now plowed in the winter. Year round access!!

MLS 6076853 $26,000

1XX Quist Road

Five acre parcel all set up for your vacation or permanent home with potentially spectacular views of Lake Superior.

MLS 6076218 $57,000

19XX Camp 20 Road

Affordably priced 20 acre parcel with privacy, situated near Federal land to the north. Seasonal access is off of the Camp 15 Loop Road, which is a great area to go exploring on your ATV, Mountain Bike or Snowmobile.

MLS 6076349 $24,900

80XX Gunflint Trail

Lakeshore access without lakeshore prices! This lot has access to Poplar Lake. Building site already cleared and driveway is in. Build your cabin or park your camper and put your boat in the water.

MLS 2158160 $52,500

XX Wildwood Acres Trail

One mile from Highway 61 in Tofte. Build your year-round home or your getaway. Close to everything the area has to offer. The driveway with culvert is already started--all you need to do is decide on a floor plan and make your dreams come true.

MLS 6031563 $35,000

MLS 6031565 $22,000

MLS 6031566 $32,000

X Snowshoe Trail

Residential lot off the Sawbill Trail in Wildwood Acres. Nicely wooded and waiting for your year-round home or seasonal getaway.

MLS 6031568 $20,000

MLS 6031570 $30,000

County Road 7, Grand Marais

Check out this property with 2.27 acres within city limits. Build your home or consider doing a subdivision.

MLS 6075749 $55,000

W Hwy 61 – Grand Marais

Excellent location and plenty of development opportunities right off Hwy 61. Consists of 7.1A, zoned R1 and Commercial. Additional R-1 acreage available.

MLS 2170380 $149,900

North Rd – Hovland

Affordably price 20 acre lot that is perfect for a private, year round retreat. Power, phone and broadband available at the road. What more do you need?

MLS 6024552 $39,900

West Hwy 61 – Grand Marais

Attractive & affordable building site with 3+ acres & easy access right off of Hwy 61. Minutes from town and connects to the Superior Hiking Trail. MLS 6033459 $44,000

Rosebush Hill – Grand Marais

COOL lot with 25+A close to Grand Marais, healthy mix of trees, creeks & gently rolling topography. Approx. 800’ frontage on the Fall River with building sites overlooking the river. Whether you keep it all as one lot or subdivide, the options are endless.

MLS 6076117 $69,900 PENDING

Rosebush Hill – Grand Marais

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

MLS 6030911 $33,900

XX Rosebush Hill – Grand Marais

5.72A of nicely wooded land with gently rolling topography AND approx. 500’ frontage on the Rosebush Tributaries. Year round access, Electricity & Broadband.

MLS 6076178 $33,900

Railroad Drive - Lutsen

Sweet 1.7 acre building site located in the heart of Lutsen. Gently rolling topography, mature trees – easy building site and near many recreational opportunities.

MLS 6023743 $39,900

Broadway Ave – Grand Marais

Want to live in the country and yet want access to City Sewer & City Water? Check out this over-sized lot that is located on the Gunflint Trail in city limits.

MLS 6031909 $48,000

County Rd 67 – Grand Marais

Enjoy the views of Lake Superior from this 2.24 acre lot. Features year round access, directly abuts State Land to the east, is fully surveyed and has a well-built private driveway.

MLS 6029973 $39,900

Boulder Point Rd - Lutsen

Home or cabin? This 3.55 acre lot is located Lutsen right off the Ski Hill Rd with views of Lake Superior. Abuts the State Scenic and Natural Area.

MLS 6031787 $59,900

Victory Lane - Hovland

Explore this 20 acre parcel & check out the great building sites over- looking a beautiful beaver pond. Very private and plenty of wildlife in the neighborhood.

MLS 6032536 $25,000

10 Murphy Mtn Rd - Grand Marais

SLEEPER LOT! Dream about your future home while relaxing in the screened in porch. Enjoy the Lake Superior views, 5+ acres of rolling topography, driveway & utilities in place.

MLS 6073521 $49,900

5xx South Shore Dr

This non-lakeshore lot on the South Shore Drive of Devil Track Lake is ready for your plans! Build a home, use it for recreation--the choice is yours. Mature trees, gentle slope and a partial driveway.

MLS 6075744 $54,900 PENDING

14x Bloomquist Mountain Rd

Ten acres of mature trees including huge White Pines! Sloping lot with lots of southern exposure for sunshine all year long. Easy drive to town, yet secluded on a private road in a country setting.

MLS 6075850 $59,900

Lake Superior View

RARE GUNFLINT LAKE PARCEL.

Exceptional lot with 344' of waterfront features unreal views and privacy. Use the slope of this lot to your advantage when considering what style to build. Power and broadband available. Borders public land! MLS# 6073686

$175,000

NEW! PARK-LIKE FOREST – PIKE LAKE.

Mature woods with maple trees makes a beautiful home site on 225' frontage. Driveway, dock and open camp area are in place. Gentle shoreline with nice south facing views across the lake to USFS forest land. Power and year round access. MLS# 6077393 $179,900

QUINTESSENTIAL WATERFRONT CABIN.

Literally sitting at the water's edge is this unique, private off grid cabin on a Tom Lake peninsula. Generator power, composting and chemical toilets, gray water kitchen sink and laundry. The 2nd bdrm is in a sleeping cabin steps away from the main. MLS# 6076725

$170,000

END OF THE ROAD PRIVACY – DEVIL

TRACK LAKE. Lrg 10 acre private lot on the remote end of the lake, with good forest road access. The 255 feet of shoreline is on a level lot with a beautiful point. Driveway and clearing with gentle access to the dock. MLS# 6076947 $160,000 A-FRAME ON POPLAR

LAKE. Classic 2 bdrm, 2 bath A-Frame cabin in a beautiful setting overlooking Poplar Lake. Located at the end of the road with year-round access. Very nice, gentle path to the 156’ of lake shore. Nice mix of trees. MLS# 6024438

$160,000

SOLITUDE ON LOON LAKE. These 1-2 acre lots are located on the south side of Loon Lake and offer great lake views, 152-218’ beautiful shoreline and many nice trees. The main road is in place and power is on the lot line. MLS# 6032216-18, 6032220 $120,000 and up

RUSTIC CABIN ON WEST BEARSKIN. Fishing camp on the edge of the BWCA! Small lot and rustic cabin with potential. Half an acre with 75 feet of shoreline and year round access. MLS#: 6076184 $99,000 PRICE REDUCED!

NICE TOM LAKE LOT. Gently sloped 4.34 acre lakeshore lot that would offer some incredible views. Situated in a quiet and peaceful private bay. MLS# 6076728 $110,000 LEGENDARY SAWMILL BAY. Magnificent old-growth cedars and maples frame a corner lot with a high and dry build site. Yearround road access and a terrific wildlife habitat awaits your cabin in the woods. 185' of Caribou Lake frontage. MLS# 6032953 $89,000

TALK ABOUT WILDERNESS! Immerse yourself in a large tract of deep wilderness. 17 acres on Tucker Lake just off the Gunflint Trail. This parcel is tucked up to Superior Nat'l Forest lands with the BWCAW just across the lake. Frontage on the Tucker River, privacy and wilderness all around. MLS# 6074216

$69,900

LOG SIDED CABIN ON TOM LAKE. This 2 bdrm, 1 bath cabin is situated on the shore of Tom Lake with loons and walleye just off the 24' dock. Solar power with quiet generator, though grid electric is available. Features a spiral staircase to a spacious loft and energy efficient windows. MLS# 6030876

$160,000

VIRGIN PINE, GREAT SHORELINE, PIKE LAKE. Two lake lots with wilderness, woods, and lakeshore are waiting for your dream lake home or cabin. Pristine views, towering white pine, +/- 200' accessible shoreline each with crystal clear water and great privacy. Good driveway in place, ideal location, power and broadband available. MLS# 6074687, 6074688 $159,900 each

NORTH FOWL

LAKE CABIN.

Only a lucky few get to own cabins here. Remote water access from the US side, or drive in to the landing on Ontario side. Stunning views, easy access to the BWCA. The 2 bdrm cabin is one of the nicest remote cabins you'll find. Includes a great sauna. MLS# 6023214 $149,900 LAKE PRIVACY ON 20 ACRES.

Beautiful Lost Lake is a remote wilderness lake with only a few privately-owned parcels on the water. No public access! This great lot features huge white pines, pristine views, 20 acres, and 650’ shoreline! Motivated seller. MLS# 6075215 $129,900

GREAT GREENWOOD LAKE LOT.

Tremendous views of the bay and lake. 2.10 acres surveyed and ready to build. A true northwoods setting, nicely wooded, privacy, easy lake access. There is a stubbed in driveway and a building pad. Greenwood lake road is plowed in the winter. MLS# 6076787 $120,000

CARIBOU HIGHLANDS CONDO 113A. This is the epitome of a northwoods vacation get-away. Ski-in/ski-out from this condo overlooking Bridge Run, offering unreal views of the ski hills. Remodeled exterior and remodeled and updated interior. Walk to Lutsen Mountains activities. Comes furnished! MLS# 6074164 $85,700 PRICE REDUCED!

HOMES & CABINS

BEAUTIFUL NINEMILE LAKE LOT. End of the road, large lot adjoins Superior National Forest and Cabin Creek Unit Roadless Area. Great trees, views and building site on 4.1 acres with 397 feet of shoreine. Unique privacy, year round access and power. MLS# 6031840 $59,900

NEW! ESCAPE TO NINEMILE LAKE. Nice, quiet lake between Tofte and Finland known for its recreational opportunities. Very near the BWCAW. Good snowmobile access to the Tomahawk Trail and miles of trail riding. 2.90 acres, 184' frontage. MLS# 6077701 $59,900

PRIVACY AND VIEWS AT SISTER LAKE. Nice lake lot with great forest, and beautiful new building site. There's a high point of the surrounding area with awesome views. Excellent, accessible shoreline. New driveway to a great building site. This is a great area for fishing many lakes in the area. You're also close to Tofte/Lutsen on the North Shore. Priced to sell!! MLS# 6073911 $54,900 PRICE REDUCED! RARE ELBOW LAKE LOT. For the fisherman who has almost everything. This is a very private 1 acre parcel surrounded by federal land with 268’ shoreline. Your own shore lunch spot! MLS# 6031436 $50,000

GREAT PRICE LAKE LOTS. Deep woods, seclusion and nice views from these Tom Lake lots. This is the desired west side of the lake with access from the Camp 20 Rd. Enjoy a peaceful lake property with good access. Great back roads to explore. Adjacent land available. MLS# 6030741, 6030742 $49,900 each NEW! PRIVATE COVE ON TOM LAKE. Nice private lot with vibrant, wooded 255' lake shore. Desirable old growth cedar grove supports a great build site. Driveway and cedar walk corridor complete. Great recreational opportunities. MLS# 6077180 $46,000

LARGE HOME / DUPLEX GRAND MARAIS. This 4400 square foot two level duplex is well built and exceptionally cared for. Each level incl 4 bdrms, 2 baths, large kitchens, dining and living areas, utility/laundry, storage, and a lock out bdrm with bath. Efficient, handicap accessible, Lake Superior views. MLS# 6074189, 6077735 $599,900 A GEM IN THE WOODS. There is quality and detail at every turn in this magnificent 2 bdrm, 2 bath home hidden on 30 acres in the Grand Portage State Forest. Marble stairs and floors, loft, master bath with hot tub & sauna, soaring cathedral ceilings, and 2000 sq ft attached garage. Not your typical home in the woods, this is a rare gem waiting for someone who loves the outdoors, but wants the class of an elegant home at the end of the day. MLS# 6074633 $499,000 LOG HOMEMOUNTAIN TOP VIEWS. The ultimate wilderness retreat - 160 acres surrounded by gov't lands. No one will find you here! The log home is masterfully built and lovingly cared for. Solar power, well and septic. Super nice sauna building. Solitude awaits from this mountain-top retreat. MLS# 6073745 $499,000 HOME WITH DRAMATIC VIEWS. This large, efficient 3bdrm home has panoramic views of Lake Superior and the surrounding hills. Secluded with landscaped yard and 20 acres bordering Gov't lands. Quality features, many windows, shop building and more! MLS#6033328

$429,900 BEAUTIFUL LAKE VIEW HOME. Nearly 3000 square feet of living space with stunning views of Lake Superior, yet only 2 miles from town. 4 bdrm, 3 bath home with an additional loft area. Open design, huge deck, abuts federal land! MLS# 6075065

$410,000

IN PARADISE. This 2 bdrm, 3

and

to

Superior's beauty without the lake-front taxes. Home could be converted to a duplex for extra income. Huge garage/workshop with lake-view windows.

MLS# 6074449 $275,900

REMOTE HIDE-A-

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

MLS# 6029349 $244,000

LARGE HOME ON THE HILL. Privacy and comfort are yours in this quality home with huge garage on 40 acres of high land with distant lake views. Remote off-grid living without being too far off the beaten path. Self reliance is all set up for you with a 4 bdrm, 1 bath home that has beautiful living spaces and room to do more as you see fit. A home or retreat, situated close to Magney State Park and Lake Superior. MLS# 6033566 $269,900

HOBBY FARM OR LOTS OF IDEAS. Large property with open meadows, gardens, orchards, and a beautiful river waiting for your ideas. The living quarters are located above a 6-stall horse barn. 4 bdrms, 2 baths, lots of open living space. Pole barn, gathering hall and more! MLS#: 6075375 $199,900

COTTAGE HOME ACROSS FROM LAKE SUPERIOR. This cute home sits just across the highway from the big lake shoreline. The 2 bdrm, 1 bath cottage has wood floors, beamed ceilings, and a warm, comfortable feel. Septic and well, a small shed and 11 acres of privacy. MLS# 6030154

MLS# 6027412 $159,900

WARM AND COMFORTABLE SMALL HOME – HOVLAND. This charming cottage has warm pine paneling, oak floors and a very pleasing personality. Lots of light, 4-season porch, nice garage with finished guest space, large decks, yard and gardens. Solar array offsets the monthly bills. Simple living with a small creek and thousands of acres of adjoining public land. MLS# 6075176 $124,900 PRICE REDUCED! COMFORTABLE LOG HOME IN BEAUTIFUL WOODS. This 2 bdrm cabin was set up for a simple lifestyle with solar electric, hand pumped well and composting toilet. Charming living room with stone fireplace, large kitchen and comfortable bedrooms. 12 private acres with mature white pine and cedar. MLS# 6076755 $139,900 CABIN RETREAT NEAR

TWO ISLAND LAKE. This sweet off-grid, log sided cabin is in excellent condition with plenty of room and a comfortable feel. Located about 12 miles from Grand Marais. Public land adjoins the 20 acre property with many fishing opportunities nearby. MLS# 6073794 $129,900

BIG OPPORTUNITY, MANY POSSIBILITIES.

Prime commercial location in Hovland, 1000 feet of Highway 61 frontage.

NEW! BEAUTIFUL

SMALL HOME. This incredible home has all you need in just about 120 sq ft of space. Kitchen, full size bed plus sleeper sofa, storage loft, electric and broadband, fabulous deck, fire pit, shed, and a really cool outhouse. Year round living, close to hiking trails. MLS# 6077550 $75,000 NORTH SHORE RETREAT. A little one room cabin waiting for you to make it into something. 3.8 acres on the Lake Superior side of Hwy 61 with decent lake views; you'll feel the lake effect. The cabin is kind of rough, but maybe this is the project you've been looking for. MLS# 6074739 $36,000

Large commercial space with a small 2 bedroom home and 1 functioning rental cottage. Many new improvements and upgrades. Two more small cabins could be rented, and there's room for many more...or other possibilities. Large 2-car garage plus two sheds. MLS# 6026089 $284,900 PRIME RETAIL DOWNTOWN GRAND MARAIS. Main traffic location in the heart of down town. Located on Wisconsin St between Blue Water Cafe and Sivertson Gallery, with 25 ft street frontage and over 2300 sq ft each. Build up for a lake view –lots of possibilities! MLS# 6029930, 6029951 $144,900 each PRIME COMMERCIAL LOTS IN LUTSEN. Two acre-sized lots with Highway 61 frontage-road access and great visibility in downtown Lutsen. Nice creek borders the east property line, nice mature forest. Great location for a small gallery, retail or restaurant. A residential lot is available adjoining to the north. • MLS# 6032971 $99,900 • MLS# 6032972 $89,900

other in Cook County. Over 1100 feet of river frontage. Canoe or kayak in the wide and wild stretch of river just north or Magney State Park. Make this your own secluded wilderness get-away. MLS# 6076100 $249,900

CHARMING CABIN – RIVER FRONTAGE. Updated for convenience and comfort, this charming cabin has seen tender loving care. Solar electric, cute kitchen, great views from the deck. Year round use or rustic rental. 5 acres with mature trees and 360' Little Devil Track River frontage. MLS# 6076762

RIVER/CREEK FRONTAGE

NEW! LOG HOME ON FLUTE REED

RIVER.

Charming homesteader log cabin with pasture. The river flows beautifully through the property. Private and secluded setting with some high views and heavy timber. The cabin is large and comfortable with a drilled well for carry-in water. MLS# 6077654 $132,900

BRULE RIVER RETREAT. Remote 40 acre parcel with small bunk house, covered camp shelter and outhouse. Walk the path to the river with 660' shoreline where you can launch your canoe and fish this placid stretch. Surrounded by wildlife and thousands of US and State Forest land. MLS# 6076495 $99,900

CROWN CREEK – FINLAND. Incredible 40 acre parcel with 700' of gorgeous river frontage. It's a unique property with a healthy mix of varied trees, forest floor growth, native plants and endless amounts of privacy! Just a short distance from downtown Finland, lakes, and trailheads. MLS#: 6075954 $99,900 TWENTY ACRES – GREAT LOCATION. Great larger parcel near Grand Marais with road in to the “top” of the property. Lake views, maple and mixed forest, small creek. County road access with power and broadband close by, borders public land on three sides.

MLS# 6030517 $89,900 WOODS, WATER & SECLUSION.

Three 40 acre lots with 600 to 1000 ft frontage on Mons Creek. Also includes deeded access to Lost Lake. Private and secluded.

MLS# 6073876

$59,900 or MLS# 6073877 $69,900 or MLS# 6073878

$74,900.

HIGH PROPERTY, DRIVEWAY, CREEK FRONTAGE. This 25 acre parcel has great southern exposure and views from a nice building site at the end of a long driveway. Very private setting and frontage on Irish Creek. This property is ready for your cabin in the woods, with good solar potential and lots of seclusion. Easy year-round access. MLS# 6077020

$69,900

NICE HOME SITE NEAR GRAND MARAIS.

Nice elevation and views from this 6.75 acre lot off of County Rd 6 just minutes from town. Frontage on Little Devil Track River, with lowland and highlands. Nice forest and privacy for your home or cabin in the woods

MLS# 6031740 $51,000

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

500’ ON MOHNS CREEK. Mixed topography of beautiful rolling land with many great build sites on 25 acres. Old growth cedar, spruce, pine and birch. Abuts state land. MLS# 6029353 $37,000

LAND/BUILDING SITES

100+ ACRES NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Great location for a home or recreational property just minutes from Grand Marais. Rolling land with creek, borders thousands of acres of federal and state lands. Power at road. Seller willing to subdivide. MLS# 6032474 $277,900

LOCATION, VIEWS, PRIVACY – 80 ACRES. This former homesteaders property has it all: rolling topography, ravines, grassy meadows, mature timber, flowing creek and expansive Lake Superior views! Minutes from Grand Marais, adjoins USFS land. MLS# 6076511 $279,000

TOP OF BIRCH

CLIFF. See 50 miles across Lake Superior – incredible 180 degree views! Private drive and buried power in place. 15+ acres with nice mature trees and public lands on 2 sides. More land is available. This site will rock your world. MLS# 6033563 $249,900

ACREAGE ADJOINS

WILDERNESS - LAKE

ACCESS. This 42 acre parcel includes 400 feet of shoreline on McFarland Lake. Building sites are located across the road on the hillside with potential lake views. Easy access to the BWCAW and Border Route Hiking Trail. MLS# 6024602 $179,000

INCREASINGLY RARE, LARGE RECREATIONAL PARCEL. 190 arces fully surveyed. The perfect retreat. Has a rich variety of trees, ponds, high and low lands, some meadow land and wetlands. MLS# 6029820 $139,000

PROVEN GREAT HUNTING

AREA - 80 ACRES. Prime hunting land in Schroeder. Rolling land with great wildlife habitat incl. stream, beaver dam with large pond, and a good mixture of trees and low vegetation. Older 2 bdrm cabin in a beautiful park like setting overlooking large beaver pond. MLS# 6032712 $112,500

LARGE ACREAGE NEAR TOM LAKE. 128 acres with good road access and an easy walk to the Tom Lake boat landing. Year-round road, power is possible here. The 3 forties may be split - take your pick. MLS# 6027383 $111,000

TWO INCREDIBLE LUTSEN PARCELS. Driveway, electric/ broadband, survey and a cozy camper/RV are all set on Lot 3, while Lot 4 offers unending privacy as it abuts federal land. Christine Lake public boat landing is within walking distance with Poplar and Tait rivers nearby as well. MLS# 6032903 $109,500

HUGE POND-HUGE PRIVACY. Large 45+ acre wooded parcel located across from Tom Lake. Huge pond/lake in the very center of the acreage

MLS# 6029352 $90,000

BEAUTIFUL LAND, TUCKED AWAY

PRIVACY, POLE BARN. This 24 acre parcel is tucked up against the "Hovland mountain range" with mature forest, easy road access and a moderated Lake Superior climate. Large 34' X 56' pole building, utilities nearby. MLS# 6076757 $89,900

LARGE UNDEVELOPED CITY TRACT.This large Central Addition property is perfect for a lot development plan, or as a private home site. City utilities are close, street access on two sides. Many possibilities. MLS# 6076673 $89,900

LARGE LAND, PINES, PRIVACY AND PIKE LAKE VIEW. Outstanding property with adjoining USFS lands, good access on Murmur Creek Rd, and even nice views of Pike Lake. Launch your boat just a half-mile away. Nice planted red pine, power/ broadband close by. MLS# 6074689 $84,900

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

$80,000

HIDDEN GEM IN HOVLAND. Explore the 40 acres of seclusion with dramatic views from the south facing bluff. Enjoy the beautiful mixed forest and abundant wildlife. It even has a small gravel pit for your future building needs. The neighbors have electricity and the road has been kept open all winter through a road association. MLS# 6076192 $75,000

RESIDENTIAL OR RESORT COMMERCIAL LAND. 5.9 acres between Tofte and Lutsen on the Onion River Rd. Resort Commercial allows rental cabins and businesses - a wonderful opportunity. Beautiful mature cedar forest, seasonal view of Lake Superior. MLS# 6032988 $74,900

FORTY WITH PONDS – COUNTY RD FRONTAGE. This 40 acre parcel has beaver ponds, adjoining federal land and easy access with frontage on County Rd 14. Just 15 minutes from Grand Marais, this would be a great large home parcel, or rec land with 1000s of acres of USFS lands on the west border. MLS# 6076727 $69,900

GREAT LOCATION HOME SITES. Just minutes from Grand Marais on black top County Rd 7 are two 5+ acre lots with easy access to power and Broadband. Good building sites. MLS# 6033035 - $42,900 • MLS# 6076972 - $64,900

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

LARGE LAND, POND, LAKE RIGHTS. Densely wooded 60 acre parcel with beaver ponds and access to Lost Lake. Good seasonal road access, many great building sites and southerly exposure. Lots of elbow room, privacy, and miles of forest roads to explore. MLS# 6033463 $64,900

ROLLING LAND, PINES, HOME SITES. Two 10 acre parcels of heavily wooded land within 10 minutes of Grand Marais. Great location with remote feel near trails and thousands of acres of Federal land, yet close to town and the big lake. County road with utilities. MLS# 6076524, 6076539 $62,900 - $64,900

MAPLE HILL - HOME SITE. Heavily wooded 6.45 acre parcel with great privacy, county rd frontage, power and phone. MLS# 6023465 $54,900

SUNNY 5 ACRES NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Beautiful sunny hillside with distant Lake Superior views. This is country living only 2 miles from Grand Marais. Large lot, great home sites with abundant wildlife. Driveway partially in place. MLS# 6077083 $54,900 DEEP WOODS NEAR GRAND MARAIS. Two 5+ acre lots adjoining USFS land with power/phone/broadband. Great location near Grand Marais with good road access and very secluded location with mature trees. Ready for you to build your country home. First time on the market. MLS# 6076518/6076517 $49,900 – $52,900

WOODED HOME SITE. This 5+ acre parcel is only 1.5 miles from Grand Marais and ready for your country home. Mixed forest, with forest service land in the back for exploring or hunting. A driveway and culvert are already in place. MLS# 6026053 $49,900

LAND FOR FUN OR HOMESTEADING. Heavily wooded 39 acres with a large variety of trees and easy road access on Camp 20 Rd. Southern exposure great for solar set up. The Superior Hiking Trail is steps away. Close to county maintained road. MLS#: 6075981 $48,900

BUILDING SITE OVERLOOKING MCFARLAND. This pine studded 7 acre property has easy walking access to the county beach on McFarland Lake. Nice elevated build site with easy county road access. MLS# 6024601 $43,000

BEAUTIFUL WOODED LUTSEN LOT. Beautiful level lot with an open build site for your cabin or new home in a quiet and peaceful area of Lutsen. You'll be minutes away from every type of north-woods activity, including Lutsen Mountains and Superior National Golf Course.

MLS# 6033068 $34,900

5 ACRES NEAR CARIBOU LAKE. Gorgeous corner lot with colorful maples and majestic cedars. Plenty of privacy. Close to hiking trails and the Caribou Lake boat landing. Year round access with power! MLS# 2279179 $35,000

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. Nice 6 acre parcel of mixed forest land only 6 miles from town! Great site for nature lovers, birders and wildlife watchers. The shared driveway is already in and there is a transformer on the property for easy electric access.

MLS# 6074736 $35,000 LAND FOR ESCAPE AND RECREATION. remote yet accessible 20 acres near Judge Magney State Park. Good mix of trees, high building site, some distant Lake Superior views. MLS# 6025397 $34,900

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

$33,000

REMOTE SECLUSION/HUNTING LAND. Forty acres of remote seclusion with Flute Reed River frontage. Good hunting area. Rough access, but walk or ATV. Adjoins State land to the north, with thousands of acres of USFS lands north of that. Want privacy? Here it is! MLS#: 6075271 $29,900