Outdoors
Duluth mountain bike trails featured in Salsa Cycles ads
Photo by Gnat
Help inform Duluth to improve city parks
Marketing students at the University of Minnesota Duluth are conducting a survey to achieve a better understanding of how city parks are being utilized. Responses are anonymous and shouldn’t take too long. Thank you for the participation!
Post Election Day Hunt
By David Cowardin
Duluth Outdoors Editor
After the 2012 presidential election, there are only so many things a man can do to come back down to earth. Hunting grouse is one of them.
“Think of it as hiking with a gun,” my friend Luke said.
You see, I’ve never been hunting. Ever. So Luke was showing me how simple it really is.
“It’s really just an excuse to get out into the woods,” he said as he stopped to rub some pine needles between his fingers, telling me how much sweeter they smells after a rain.
We were about 30 miles north on Rice Lake Road, hiking around a small lake listening for the heavy thump of a grouse. The sky was gray and everything was wet: the sweet smell of pine was strong. (more…)
Minnesota Deer Hunting Opener 2012
The 2012 Minnesota deer hunting season opened this morning. I report live while in my stand north of Duluth in Kelsey. Any luck?
What a gorgeous morning. I climbed into my homemade stand in the pitch dark at around 7 a.m., sunrise was 7:57, hunters can legally shoot 30 minutes before sunrise. (more…)
Sparky vs. Coyote
Wrenshall’s Mark “Sparky” Stensaas is in Yellowstone. Things got interesting while he was photographing this coyote. He tells the full story on his Photonaturalist blog.
Outdoor Alliance Meeting
Representatives from the Outdoor Alliance met with local outdoor leaders last night at Hartley Nature Center. The goal was to form a collaborative effort in making local green space more accessible and maximizing outdoor opportunities for Duluthians and tourists alike. Last night’s meeting got the ball rolling in what will likely be a very successful collaboration between outdoor leaders in the region.
Urban Climbing in Duluth
Whoopie Wall, First Steet Boulder and Ely’s Peak.
The Good in America
Who hasn’t thought about what a gift it would be to travel to every state in the U.S.A. just to see what’s within the borders? In the spirit of traveling authors and journalists like Terkle, Steinbeck and Kuralt, Trek Thunder Kelly is doing just that. Traveling through Minnesota, the 35th state on the road of his adventure, Trek stopped in at Loll HQ in Duluth last Thursday to say hi and see what Duluth has to offer.
Read more here.
Heck of the North 2012 Teaser
This is a teaser for the Heck of the North short film premiering soon. It is a short documentary on the Heck of the North Gravel Cycling Classic that is held annually in Duluth.
“I could’a used a little more cow bell”
Bring your cowbells and head to Pleasant View Road off of Jean Duluth Road Sept. 29 to cheer on the racers as they climb to the finish line.
Calling all PDD hipsters, Sept. 29 is your chance to experience one of the more exciting cycling events you’re likely to see in Duluth this year: the third running of the Heck of the North Gravel Cycling Classic. (more…)
Apple Orchards Near Duluth
Google is not returning results on permutations of the search – “Apple orchards near Duluth.” I found one in Moose Lake. Does anyone know of one closer than that? or have favorites?
Minnesota Fall Colors 2012 — From Castle Danger to Split Rock State Park
Pics from the Superior Hiking Trail. (more…)
Do we at least have the Duluth record?
Apparently, the record for heads on a single sunflower plant is in the low 100s. This one from PDD’s West Duluth Headquarters only has about 25 heads — which the Internet tells us is actually rather common. Anyway, some critter chewed this sucker down last night, so our attempt at the record has fallen considerably short.
Precious Waters Flotilla Podcast
In August, I ventured north to Finland to meet a man I had only communicated with via email. Little did I know, you have to hike a mile back into the woods to find his modest log cabin he built for his wife and two sons.
Rory Scoles will be guiding a group of sulfide mining protestors on a 30-day canoe trip from the Polymet Mine Site to the St. Paul Capitol. I sat down with Rory at his favorite look-out, the only spot he gets reception on his phone and the best spot to view the wild rice he is harvesting and that could be in danger if proposed mining projects go through.
Late Summer Swim at the Cutest Little Beach in WI
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=872Wf6FV240
Things I saw.
Lost Creek Falls Trail in Bayfield County
In Bayfield County Forest, across the road from the old Town of Bell Cemetery, is the trailhead to Lost Creek Falls. From there it’s less than a half-hour hike to the falls. (more…)
Minnesota North Shore Fall Colors Report 2012
Are you ready for fall? Minnesota, especially the North Shore of Lake Superior, is known for its vibrate fall colors. (more…)
Conservation district still accepting erosion reports from June floods
Private landowners in south St. Louis County who have yet to register erosion issues from the June floods should do so by Sept. 28. The South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District has already received more than 100 calls. New, undocumented erosion may also be eligible for recently allocated flood relief funds.
(more…)
Wildwoods Updates: Of Sandpipers, Squirrels, and More
The pectoral sandpiper released in this series of photographs was found injured up the north shore, was transported to Wildwoods where triage examination led to a referral to the exotic vets at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in St. Paul. The sandpiper was driven to St. Paul (on a car already headed that way), and cared for at WRC. When it was back to normal, it was loaded back onto a car headed back to Duluth (its other occupants filled with State Fair goodness), transported to Wildwoods, and eventually returned to Erik, who took these amazing pictures of his release.
Duluth and the North Shore in Aug/Sept issue of National Geographic Traveler
“Road trips up the Minnesota shore of Lake Superior begin in Duluth, an industrial harbor town at the southern end of a wooded triangle called the Arrowhead and two-lane Highway 61. Also called North Shore Scenic Drive, the paved boundary between woods and waters delivers views of the ancient volcanic basalt cliffs that plunge into Lake Superior, so vast it merges with the sky on the horizon. At the turn of the 20th century, outbound ships loaded with northern Minnesota’s prized iron ore ranked Duluth among the U.S.’s busiest ports.”
Road Trip: Northern Minnesota
Hartley Trail Signage
I rode the mountain-bike trails at Hartley yesterday and could not help but notice the lack of directional signage. Is there a reason why? Is it to keep the area as natural as possible? Lack of funds? Or the locals know where to go and piss on the newbees?
I am Manitou and so are you
Manitou, referring to spirit beings in Algonquian groups of Native Americans, is also the name of a river along Minnesota’s north shore. The Manitou River runs through George Crosby Manitou State Park where I decided to camp alone Saturday night.
Crescent Moon Campground
By David Cowardin
Duluth Outdoors Editor
If you haven’t been to the mouth of the Lester River since the flood hit in June, it’s worth checking out: Rocks and debris have formed an island resembling a crescent moon about 50 feet from shore.
When I first saw it, many thoughts came to mind:
(more…)
Secret Forest Playschool outdoor program
Secret Forest Playschool is a new outdoor-based learning program for children who are completely potty trained through age 5. It is located off of Arrowhead Road in the Eastridge Community Church. The Secret Forest Playschool has 30 acres of wooded trails and a very clean and modern classroom for children to explore, experience and grow.
The program starts in September, offering a small-group environment, never to exceed more than six children. Tuition is $25/day for mornings only (pick-up before noon) or $35/day full-day.