Northern Wilds - Explore the Northern Wilds

Excursions on the Bay

Elle Andra-Warner — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:46:09 UT

Our Northern Wilds has in its midst the world’s largest freshwater lake—Lake Superior—yet many northerners have never actually been ‘’on’’ the lake waters. Now thanks to Sail Superior, an afternoon day-tripping can take urban adventurers sailing past the breakwaters and out into the open waters of Lake Superior.

Tags: DownEaster, Sailing

Riding the Wind on Superior Sailing Through the Portal of Doom

Eric Chandler — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:40:39 UT

Luke shouts, "Big wave!"

"What?" I ask, before a frigid wall of Lake Superior smacks me. I snort water out of my nostrils. My rain jacket is now a soaking joke. And we haven’t even started racing.

Tags: Duluth Yacht Club, Sailing

A Bowman Island Adventure

Shawn Perich — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:25:53 UT

"We are leaving for another world," remarked Captain Gary Lange as we slid away from the marina dock and headed down the mighty Nipigon River for Lake Superior.

Four of us were aboard the 47-foot trawler, Anica Lee—Lange, his friends Karlo Kaustinen and Chesley Imhoff, and myself. Lange described Karlo as "the only person other than my daughters who can operate my boats." Imhoff, known as "Ches," has roamed the island-studded waters of Lake Superior’s Canadian North Shore since the 1950s.

Tags: Bowman Island Charters, fishing, Lange

Hiking: Bean & Bear Lakes

Eric Chandler — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:07:13 UT

Grace shouts, "Blue sign!" every hundred yards or so. I get a nice shot of adrenaline when she hollers this from six inches behind my head. We’re on our way along the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) above Silver Bay, and I need the prodding to go uphill with her 30 pounds on my back.

Tags: Bean Lake, Bear Lake, Hiking

Black Ducks, Mallards, and Some In Between

Dave Benson — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:57:21 UT

In the winter in Duluth, I am often asked, "What are all those ducks in the harbor?" The answer, for the most part, is "mallards," but they’re usually joined by at least a few of a more interesting species: the American black duck.

Tags: Black Ducks

Raccoons are Moving North

Dana Johnson — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:51:50 UT

The raccoon is a common Minnesota resident. It is easily identified by its stout gray/brown body, striped tail, pointed nose, and of course its characteristic black mask.

Until recently, raccoons were not often seen in the northeastern Arrowhead region of Minnesota. A warming climate and, to a lesser extent, expanding farmland are speculated reasons for the move northward.

Tags: Raccoons

It Feels Like ‘’HOME’‘ Founders' Museum & Pioneer Village

Elle Andra-Warner — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:42:06 UT

Thunder Bay, Founders Museum, Pioneer Village

Planked Trout

Kevin Bovee — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:29:37 UT

Today when you mention planked trout or salmon, many people think of the thin, cedar planks that you can buy at many sporting goods outlets to cook fish over the grill on. But what we are talking about for this story involves something quite different, can feed larger crowds and is just as delicious.

Tags: Planked Trout, Trout

The Pups are Here!

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:46:59 UT

On May 9, the International Wolf Center, in Ely, MN, welcomed two male wolf pups to join 8-year-old arctic wolves Malik and Shadow and 4-year-old Great Plains wolves Maya and Grizzer as part of the interpretive facility’s ambassador Exhibit Pack.

Tags: Ely, wolf center, wolves

Bright Woodland Singer: Purple Finch

David Benson — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:38:34 UT

Late winter is finch time. When the cone supply runs out in other areas, flocks of finches sometimes show up at this time of year. One of the most common finches is the purple finch. The name of this species (like so many others!) is a bit misleading. Not purple at all, male purple finches are suffused with a dusky rose color over bold brown-and-white streakiness. Females lack the rose color.

Porcupines

Dana Johnson — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:21:52 UT

The North American porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, is Minnesota’s second largest rodent surpassed only by the beaver. Like the skunk, this is an animal best given some space if encountered in the wild.

Preparing for a Fly In Fishing Adventure

Gord Ellis — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:13:49 UT

As my fishing buddies will attest, I like gear. But my travels as a fishing writer have forced me to scale down my gear to the bare essentials. What I’ve learned is for 90 percent of my fly in trips, I can get by comfortably with 10 percent of my usual tackle. Here’s a look at how to prepare for a fly in.

Terry Fox Scenic Overlook

Elle Andra-Warner — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:01:31 UT

When I chat with Thunder Bay visitors about their favourite day trips, one spot consistently ranks high–the impressive Terry Fox Scenic Lookout at the northeast entrance to the city.

Maple Syrup Sugaring

Shawn Perich — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:51:46 UT

One of the first sure signs of spring in the Northern Wilds is when the sap starts to run in the sugar maples. Don Mount of Two Harbors has made maple syrup for 30 years. He says it varies somewhat with weather conditions, but the middle of March through the first two weeks of April is when the sap flows in the sugar bush. Usually, the run doesn’t begin until snow has melted away from the base of the trees.

Duluth’s First Lighthouse

Kevin J. Bovee — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:36:19 UT

If you are looking for an interesting walk that will take you back in history, drive to the end of Duluth’s Park Point and hike about two miles to the site of the old Minnesota Point Lighthouse. It doesn’t look like much today, but the dilapidated tower was the first high-powered lighthouse on Lake Superior.

Tags: Duluth, Lighthouse, Park Point