Explore the Northern Wilds
This gorgeously illustrated volume leads young readers on a journey through the ecosystem of a bog, revealing “bog secrets” page by page like breadcrumbs dropped in a trail. Even mature readers are bound to learn something from the captivating, oft-poetic text.
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Many residents of the North Shore region find wintertime pleasure in watching birds gather at their backyard feeders. Some of those residents watch birds for science.
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When a DNR officer or county sheriff’s deputy checks a boat and finds a child under 10 wearing a US Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD), the youngster is awarded a “PFD Panda” certificate redeemable for a sweet treat at Dairy Queen. As per a 2005 law, children under 10 are required to wear life jackets in boats at all times except in specific circumstances, including being below decks on a cruiser, on a boat with a licensed captain, or on an anchored boat used as a swimming platform. But if the child is wearing an unapproved device, or if the boat fails to meet overall safety equipment requirements, the adults on board can get hit with fines of over $100 for each violation.
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Bear Head Lake State Park voted “America’s Favorite”
In early September, Bear Head Lake State Park just south of Ely took the top spot in a nationwide “America is Your Park” campaign sponsored by Coca-Cola, receiving over 1.6 million votes. The honor comes with a $100,000 gift from America’s State Parks Foundation.
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In early September, Bear Head Lake State Park just south of Ely took the top spot in a nationwide “America is Your Park” campaign sponsored by Coca-Cola, receiving over 1.6 million votes. The honor comes with a $100,000 gift from America’s State Parks Foundation.
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Next time you catch crayfish for bait, check to make sure you haven’t caught any rusty crayfish, an aggressive, invasive species with rust-colored patches and green and rust-colored claws. If you do catch or spy a rusty crayfish, dump it in the trash and report the encounter to the DNR or Ministry of Natural Resources, depending upon where you are.
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Basswood Blitz Results in Tickets
During a two-day “enforcement blitz,” Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers checked 125 individuals on a single border country lake and issued 78 warnings, demonstrating that many people are unaware of—or consciously break—fishing and boating regulations.
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During a two-day “enforcement blitz,” Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers checked 125 individuals on a single border country lake and issued 78 warnings, demonstrating that many people are unaware of—or consciously break—fishing and boating regulations.
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Center Opens with Drums, Dancers
The new Grand Portage State Park Visitor Center opened on Sept. 25 with appropriate fanfare, including a pipe ceremony, family-oriented activities, and local dancers and drummers from the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa. Situated half a mile from Minnesota’s highest waterfall, the 5,800-foot center replaced a seasonal facility and serves triple duty as a year-round highway rest area, state travel information center, and park visitor center.
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The new Grand Portage State Park Visitor Center opened on Sept. 25 with appropriate fanfare, including a pipe ceremony, family-oriented activities, and local dancers and drummers from the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa. Situated half a mile from Minnesota’s highest waterfall, the 5,800-foot center replaced a seasonal facility and serves triple duty as a year-round highway rest area, state travel information center, and park visitor center.
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Gonzalez Ingredient In Chicken Soup
A story by Northern Wilds assistant editor Shelby Gonzalez is featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners: 101 Inspirational Stories of Energy, Endurance, and Endorphins, a recent released title in the bestselling anthology series.
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A story by Northern Wilds assistant editor Shelby Gonzalez is featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners: 101 Inspirational Stories of Energy, Endurance, and Endorphins, a recent released title in the bestselling anthology series.
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A familiar face will be missing next time you hike the trail that snakes along the edge of the cliffs at Tettegouche State Park: the sea arch, which curved over Lake Superior adjacent to Shovel Point. The oft-photographed arch collapsed sometime between August 20-21. The arch did not fall in response to a specific stimulus, such as stormy waves or a freak Midwestern earthquake—it simply surrendered to erosion and gravity.
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If statistics are any indication, the blare of video games, school, television and the Internet is drowning out the still, silent beckoning of the great outdoors. The Minnesota DNR hopes to reverse the falling per-capita outdoor recreation participation rates amongst children and young adults by making it easier to plan an outdoor trip—and capitalizing on the human fascination with bright, shiny objects. Four new DNR touch-screen kiosks are now operational, three of them in busy Twin Cities locations: the IDS Crystal Court, the Minnesota Zoo, and Southdale Center. One more kiosk will be nomadic. Currently “living” in the DNR building at the Minnesota State Fair, it will travel throughout the year to community and sporting events.
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New Online Tax and Registration Guide for Boaters
Navigating sales taxes, “use” taxes, registration periods, and other bureaucratic requirements of boat ownership can be tricky—and costly, if you make a mistake or miss a deadline. A recently released guide aims to help boat owners stay informed. The free online “State Boating Tax and Registration Guide,” developed by the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), offers an intuitive state-by-state graphic interface that gives users basic tax, registration and contact information, including:
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Navigating sales taxes, “use” taxes, registration periods, and other bureaucratic requirements of boat ownership can be tricky—and costly, if you make a mistake or miss a deadline. A recently released guide aims to help boat owners stay informed. The free online “State Boating Tax and Registration Guide,” developed by the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), offers an intuitive state-by-state graphic interface that gives users basic tax, registration and contact information, including:
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The new line of fashionable women’s golf shirts by Donna Bonn Designs are made of a soft and stretchable combination of organic cotton, bamboo and spandex.
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To say you’ve perfected the dog leash is a bold claim, but the Perfect Leash from Just Ducky Products is certainly better than your average leash, especially for large dogs that pull against the lead.
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The roomy High Peak Alpamayo pack is a good basic setup at a great price.
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Whether you’re a die-hard ATV fan who ventures far and wide in search of trails or if you just like to rent ATVs once in a while for a day ride with the family, these five trails offer wild rides through the varied landscape of the northern wilds. Visit them often to experience how the shifting seasons manifest as changes in the trees, flowers, wildlife, and weather conditions.
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When I moved to Duluth nine years ago and heard there was a trail running series, I figured I’d give it a try. Here’s one of my early logbook entries: “Epic mud and snow and rain and water. Couldn’t feel feet initially. Up to mid-right thigh in water on way to finish.” I hosed off most of the mud while fully-clothed in the yard before I showered inside. I thought: Now, THAT’s racing.
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My wife Mary and I have been wild ricing since 2006. While searching for a processor for our 2009 harvest, one processor piqued my interest because of her traditional parching method. Most commercial rice processors parch rice in big tumblers heated by gas or LPG. Cathy Chaver hand-parches the rice over an open fire.
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There is something grand about living in Thunder Bay—the largest city beside the world’s largest freshwater lake. Here’s an insider’s snapshot of some activities you can find in the city and area.
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Minnesota’s oldest resort is celebrating its 125th anniversary. Lutsen Resort’s year-long celebration started last spring with a sold-out food and wine weekend, and culminates with a 125th Birthday Party Celebration Oct. 15-16.
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These useful guidebooks are packed with color photographs and information about nearly every creepy crawly you’ll ever encounter in the North Woods.
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