Explore the Northern Wilds
If you’ve spent time fly-fishing on the trout lakes of the Gunflint Trail, maybe you’ve met Reuben Swenson. For nearly 25 years, he’s fished and camped along the Trail every summer for weeks or months at a time. For Swenson, age 67, fly fishing is life. But there is more to the story.
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Talon Stammen of Grand Forks, North Dakota was in Grand Marais recently to take a birch bark canoe-building class at the North House Folk School. For anyone unfamiliar with the school, North House is a place where you can learn traditional crafts ranging from boat building to bread baking. But even in the eclectic environment of the folk school, Talon stands out. That a 17-year-old high school senior will travel over 300 miles to learn how to build a canoe is unusual. But taking a class and then spending the rest of the summer on an island in Lake of the Woods building a birch bark canoe is Talon.
This was Talon’s third visit to North House. He first came to learn how to build his own cross-country skis. The second time, he learned about blacksmithing, then went home and built a forge so he could make his own tools. On this trip, he spent six days learning about building bark canoes from expert craftsman Eric Simula of Hovland.
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Chanterelles are a powerful distraction. During the past week, I've spent several hours walking through the woods and staring at the ground, oblivious to mosquitoes and horseflies, in search of the
butter-yellow mushrooms. I've been successful. Nearly every night we've had butter-sautéed chanterelles for supper. And yes, they are that good.
Along the North Shore, chanterelles appear in July and provide good pickings for a few weeks. In a wet year, you may find edible chanterelles into September, although it is more likely the picking will end during August. Chanterelles are easy to identify, easy to find, abundant and, best of all, delicious.
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While snow may not be on your mind just yet as you savor the last of summer and the brightness of autumn, it’s never too early to get psyched for winter. You can’t beat the Northern Wilds for a wintertime getaway.
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If you’ve ever dreamed of celebrating the beauty of the Great Lakes and having your creativity immortalized on a beer coaster (who hasn’t?), here’s your chance. Biodiversity Project’s Great Lakes Forever program has again partnered with Budweiser to sponsor the 7th annual photography and art contest that celebrates the beauty of the Great Lakes through the talent of local photographers and artists.
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Most recreational boats in the US are “trailer” boats. Stored in the backyard or driveway, they are trailered to the water and enjoyed for the day. They are also refueled at your local gas station or minimart, which may soon offer a fuel, E15 (or 15 percent ethanol), that is prohibited by the federal government for use in boat motors and violates engine manufacturer warranties.
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This one’s for the birds. Improved conditions in much of the waterfowl breeding habitat in Canada and the prairies of the north-central United States have contributed to higher populations of many species of ducks, including a record abundance of blue-winged teal, according to breeding population estimates released by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Got trails? In late June, Boy Scouts and adult Scouters from the Boy Scouts of America’s honor society—called the Order of the Arrow—traveled to Grand Marais to build new trails and improve existing ones in different areas of the North Shore.
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Despite the term “doggy paddle,” not every canine is a strong swimmer. If you plan to take your dog on a canoe trip or water-related adventure, you might want to invest in a life jacket.
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We all know we are supposed to be drinking more water, but unless you’re sitting at your desk or riding in a car, it can be a real pain to carry that jug around. Enter the Go Caddy.
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Even near Lake Superior, there are days in the summer when keeping cool outdoors is an unavoidable priority. So when we received a Magic Cool Personal Cooling Cloth by Grabber at a trade show, I couldn’t wait to give it a try.
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David Thompson was an extraordinary explorer and geographer who mapped much of western Canada and was the first European to navigate the entire Columbia River.
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Imagine a poetry society in Thunder Bay comprised of quirky poets from all walks of life. Then imagine a published anthology of poems from the Bell, Book & Candle Poetry Club of Thunder Bay. With his tongue firmly placed in cheek, this is what author Bill McDonald has done in Brandy & Summer Wine.
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Every now and then, an author comes along who gives conventional wisdom a gentle nudge and causes us to look at the natural world in a new way. Ian McAllister, a naturalist who has observed and photographed the daily life British Columbia’s coastal wolves for 20 years, provides a lucid view of these fascinating, family-oriented animals.
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Long before the concoction of aniline (coal-tar-based) dyes that yield Technicolor hues, people dyed with natural materials gathered in their backyards. Everyday organic materials like plants, wood, mushrooms, roots, bark and lichen can be used to dye fibers and fabric, producing rich, earthy colors.
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Two reasons people travel to Africa are the dramatic landscape and the wildlife. Travelers shell out for airfare and safari fees and arm themselves with cameras in hopes of absorbing the beauty of the savanna and the majesty of the Big Five: lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinos and elephants. You don’t have to cross an ocean to experience awesome animals. The Northern Wilds boasts its own Big Five: moose, wolves, black bears, lynx, and eagles. If you are sharp-eyed and lucky this fall, you may spot one of these creatures against the backdrop of the forest in full color.
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There’s nothing like the taste of a homegrown tomato or a handful of sugarsnap peas fresh off the vine to tell you that summer is here. Fresh, locally grown vegetables are not just available to gardeners, either. Consumers from Thunder Bay to Duluth to the Iron Range can find locally grown produce in an increasing number of venues all over the region this summer.
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Duluth has a bounty of trails: cross-country ski trails, the Superior Hiking Trail, and the Lakewalk. Not enough for you? How about 100 miles of singletrack woven into the city? It’s called the Duluth Traverse, and it is the vision of the Duluth-based organization Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores.
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