Outdoors
Dead tree or stunted bloomer?
A recent news release from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports that “foresters are seeing many silver maples and some elms with stunted or no leaves and an abundance of seeds this spring. These trees are not dead and will rebound over the next couple of years.”
The image above is of a tree I planted last fall that hasn’t produced leaves this spring. I can’t remember what kind of tree it is, but I think it’s a northern pin oak. The DNR lists elms, maples, ashes and oaks as potential stunted bloomers. (more…)
Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking on the Superior Hiking Trail
Greg Poulton and Logan Faulkingham, experiential education students at Minnesota State University, Mankato, provide advice for people new to backpacking who would like to take a trip on the Superior Hiking Trail. It features tips and tricks for menu planning, equipment selection, packing and cooking, plus footage of the fall colors, waterfalls, Lake Superior and a little wildlife.
Tischer Creek Whirlpool Revisited
Went back the next day when the sun was higher in the sky and got this additional footage, which I set to music.
Great Lakes Trail
If all the existing trails, trails under construction and trails in the planning phases in Duluth aren’t quite enough, here’s a rather ambitious plan that would upset a few local backyards. The Detroit Free Press reports of a plan for the “Great Lakes Trail” — a 10,900-mile trail spanning at least eight states and two Canadian provinces, following the shores of the five Great Lakes.
World’s longest marked trail proposed around Great Lakes
As the Great Lakes states were admitted into the Union, the federal government granted them the lake beds and waters of the Great Lakes up to the ordinary high-water mark — from the point on the bank or shore where continuous wave action has made a distinct mark, to the water.
This was affirmed by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1894, in the Shively v. Bowlby case. The justices found that lands below the high-water mark were “for the benefit of the whole people.” (This may come as news to owners of $750,000 lakefront homes whose deed tells them the shoreline is theirs.)
Spirit Mountain a finalist for $100K in online contest
Duluth’s Spirit Mountain is one of three locations in the running for the $100,000 prize offered by Bell Helmets to fund a trail-building project. Voting in the nationwide contest is being conducted on bellhelmets.com and will continue through June 4.
Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores is the nonprofit organization leading Duluth’s effort. Spirit Mountain is competing for the 2015 Bell Built grand prize against projects in La Grange, Calif. and Knoxville, Tenn.
A Window Into Food Farm’s Soul
The day before yesterday I pedaled 60 miles roundtrip to make an appearance in a Kickstarter video for the Food Farm CSA. An image I’ll leave you with is spandex and rubber boots.
Read more about this fascinating place here.
Peter Juhl rocks!
Minneapolis TV station KARE 11 last night aired a feature from the north shore of Lake Superior, where Peter Juhl balances rocks in ways that defy gravity. (Click the “read more” button to view the video; it starts playing automatically, so we can’t have it on the home page.)
Post some of your favorite rock balancing photos in the comments.
Dude, don’t do it! You’ve got something to live for!
Don’t worry, after contemplating his life at great length he eventually wandered off the railroad track.
Cute Baby Chicks Fighting Over a Worm to “Dueling Banjos” (UPDATED)
Hillside Duluth.
(UPDATE: Now with slomo technopop remix.)
Lester Park Waterfall Time Lapse
Video by Douglas Feltman.
Duluth up for bike park grant in latest online voting gimmick
Bell Helmets is awarding $100,000 to fund a trail-building project in one of nine U.S. cities in the latest online voting contest involving Duluth. Two cities have already been eliminated in the West Coast voting. Duluth is in the lead in the Central Region, which closes voting on Sunday, May 10. East Coast voting runs May 11-24. Voting in the finals will begin on May 25.
Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores is the nonprofit organization leading the effort to improve trails at Spirit Mountain.
Duluthians conquer Switzerland’s “Wall of Death”!
Congratulations to Rick Kollath and Dean Einerson who topped out this morning on the mythic North Face of the Eiger, one of the most sought-after plumbs in alpine climbing (even Clint Eastwood failed spectacularly here in The Eiger Sanction)! The Eiger has claimed more than its share in terms of sensational mountain tragedies, but you can’t keep a good team from the Great Plains down. This ascent is testimony to the physical and mental grit of these two paragons of Duluth climbing, not to mention the world-class local training facilities at Superior Kettlebell Gym and Casket Quarry. Well done, lads!
Al’s Adventures in Duluth and on the North Shore
Boating, hiking, skiing, peppermint schnapping, casinoing and general shenanigans spanning all seasons — featuring Big Al K and friends.
Northern Lights near Duluth
Photographer Derek Montgomery captured these images of the Northern Lights dancing across the sky just outside Duluth, early on the morning of April 16.
Poplar River Falls Aerial View – Lutsen Ski Area
Poplar River falls is just north of Lutsen Ski Area and the Superior Hiking trail crosses the river at the apex of the falls.
Baptism River “High Falls” Aerial View -Tettegouche State Park
Aerial drone video of “High Falls” on the Baptism River. The Baptism River “High Falls” in Minnesota’s Highest waterfall at 60 feet. During spring run-off it flows heavily and is a great time to visit and hear the thunderous roar of the falls. Mid-summer you can swim the pool at the base of these falls. Tettegouche State Park is one of the best campgrounds on the North Shore of Lake Superior. https://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/tettegouche/
Northern Lights on Lake Superior’s North Shore
The sky was dancing last night.
A little spring frolic on the North Shore
Video shot and produced by Buchholz Media.
Northern Lights!
The aurora borealis started off early last night as soon as the sun had set. I captured this image just outside of the Duluth city limits. Enjoy!
Northern Lights at Caribou Lake
The aurora was amazing last night! I stitched stills from last night into a video. Taken at Caribou Lake, north of Duluth.