Explore the Northern Wilds
"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.
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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.
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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.
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Raccoons are Moving North
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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.
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Thunder Bay, Founders Museum, Pioneer Village
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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.
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Historic Quebec Lodge Now B&B
A historic log lodge in Red Rock, Ontario opened this year as a bed and breakfast. The Quebec Lodge was a retreat for corporate executives at the town’s paper mill, which closed two years ago. The 4,000 square foot lodge was built in 1938 and overlooks Lake Superior’s Nipigon Bay. It can accomodate 10 people.
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A historic log lodge in Red Rock, Ontario opened this year as a bed and breakfast. The Quebec Lodge was a retreat for corporate executives at the town’s paper mill, which closed two years ago. The 4,000 square foot lodge was built in 1938 and overlooks Lake Superior’s Nipigon Bay. It can accomodate 10 people.
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Gunflint Outfitters Promote Family Fun!
Along the Gunflint Trail, canoe camping is a family affair. Canoeing groups of all ages venture into northern Minnesota’s famed Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to explore a wonderland of pristine lakes interconnected with forested portage paths. For many children, a BWCAW visit is their introduction to camping and the outdoors.
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Along the Gunflint Trail, canoe camping is a family affair. Canoeing groups of all ages venture into northern Minnesota’s famed Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to explore a wonderland of pristine lakes interconnected with forested portage paths. For many children, a BWCAW visit is their introduction to camping and the outdoors.
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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.
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Insects of all sorts are easy to identify with this new, comprehensive field guide.
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Apocalypse Deer!
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Whop, whop, whop, whop. Bang!
Where are we? Hunkered down in some Third World hellhole? Nope, we’re exterminating deer in northwestern Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR recently called in the troops, so to speak, using airborne sharpshooters to wipe out whitetails in an area where bovine tuberculosis was found in cattle and deer.
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Lake Superior Surfing
Last Friday, as a feisty snowstorm plummeted northern Minnesota, I watch an enormous Hawaii Five-O breaker run the length of Grand Marais harbor. The wave kept a perfect curl until it crashed into the shore. Lake Superior was surly and curly.
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Last Friday, as a feisty snowstorm plummeted northern Minnesota, I watch an enormous Hawaii Five-O breaker run the length of Grand Marais harbor. The wave kept a perfect curl until it crashed into the shore. Lake Superior was surly and curly.
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Is The Arrowhead Moose Herd In Trouble?
In recent years, folks have been commenting that there seem to be fewer moose in northeastern Minnesota. The big black critters haven’t disappeared entirely or even become uncommon, but you see fewer of them along the roadside and back in the brush. This concerns many folks, because moose are not only popular with hunters, they are enjoyed by nonhunting residents and visitors alike.
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In recent years, folks have been commenting that there seem to be fewer moose in northeastern Minnesota. The big black critters haven’t disappeared entirely or even become uncommon, but you see fewer of them along the roadside and back in the brush. This concerns many folks, because moose are not only popular with hunters, they are enjoyed by nonhunting residents and visitors alike.
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Bright Woodland Singer: Purple Finch
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Singing Life of Birds
Birdsong, welcome music as spring arrives, is a wondrously diverse method of vocal communication. The author, a leading expert in “avian vocal behavior,” explains how and why birds sing and how we can better understand them through their songs. The book contains a with recordings of bird songs that , when matched with graphic sonograms in the book, allows the reader to hear birds sing as never before.
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Birdsong, welcome music as spring arrives, is a wondrously diverse method of vocal communication. The author, a leading expert in “avian vocal behavior,” explains how and why birds sing and how we can better understand them through their songs. The book contains a with recordings of bird songs that , when matched with graphic sonograms in the book, allows the reader to hear birds sing as never before.
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Wild About Minnesota Birds, A Youth’s Guide to the Birds of Minnesota
This visually attractive book presents a wealth of information about the bird species common to Minnesota’s forests, fields, and cityscapes. Although the target readers are youth, anyone with an interest in birds will enjoy this book. In addition to life histories of various birds, information about habitat types helps the reader understand why birds live where they do.
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This visually attractive book presents a wealth of information about the bird species common to Minnesota’s forests, fields, and cityscapes. Although the target readers are youth, anyone with an interest in birds will enjoy this book. In addition to life histories of various birds, information about habitat types helps the reader understand why birds live where they do.
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The Fish House Book, Life On Ice In The Northland
Ice fishing occurs in many cold places, but a book like this could only be produced in Minnesota. The author is a professional photographer who chronicled the state’s fish shanty culture. For ice anglers, this book is a tour of the familiar. For everyone else, it’s a window to another world. In either case, it’s a job well done.
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Ice fishing occurs in many cold places, but a book like this could only be produced in Minnesota. The author is a professional photographer who chronicled the state’s fish shanty culture. For ice anglers, this book is a tour of the familiar. For everyone else, it’s a window to another world. In either case, it’s a job well done.
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