NEWS RELEASE US Forest Service Superior National Forest Duluth, MN – As part of our ongoing service to the public, managers on the Superior National Forest have been working with a contractor over the past few years on several changes to increase efficiency of the wilderness permit reservation system.One of the outcomes is a reduction…
I just returned from the finish line of the WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog race. This photo shows the 10 dog race winner, J. Ross Fraboni of Duluth, arriving at the finish line in Ely this morning. Fraboni took first place in the 130 mile race, followed closely by Jennifer Freking of Finland, MN, in second…
After a winter season with lakes of all sizes mired in deep and sometimes impassable slush, conditions have suddenly changed. Last week’s warm temps reached almost 60 degrees F and settled or melted the the fluffy lake snow that had insulated the slush. Then, some solidly cold and windy weather froze over the slush. I’ve…
The Ojibway members of the Lac La Croix First Nation village are allowed special privileges to use motorized boats on certain lakes within Quetico Provincial Park, and to use float planes to access certain lakes in Quetico. These designated lakes may vary annually. The 2011 season lakes the Ojibway guides may use motors on in…
These are just some of the examples of amazing snow sculptures exhibited by some wonderfully talented artists in the park in Ely now as part of the Ely Winter Festival.
We celebrate winter in Ely, Minnesota. The Ely Winter Fest is February 3 – 13. I snapped this photo in 20 below Fahrenheit temps this morning. The massive snow cubes are set up in the park in Ely. The next step is for the snow carvers to start there work beginning on Feb. 3. …
The ice road on Shagawa Lake has been shut down due to slush, and advanced dogsled camping trips are making major reroutes due to severe slush on Ely area lakes. While guiding dogsled trips, I am virtually always staying on previously used trails to avoid the slush. This photo shows an example of what happens…
Lily the black bear, one of the research bears studied by the Wildlife Research Institute near Ely, MN, gave birth to two cubs on Friday. This is the second year in a row that Lily gave birth on the Institute’s live webcam. To see what’s going on in Lily’s den and try to spy a…
I’m wrapping up guiding a four-night dogsled trip and Jan, with utmost sincerity, says, “We’ve had very nice weather this week.” You’d never know Jan experienced the coldest week this year – with lows dipping to 38 below zero Fahrenheit. That’s actual air temp. Another morning hit 27 below. While this wasn’t a camping trip,…
I spied this moon halo last night as I drove home from our canoe trip outfitting shop in Ely. Moon halos are created when millions of tiny ice crystals high in the atmosphere reflect light. The shape of the ice crystals results in a focusing of the light into a ring around the moon. Because the…