Frosty FantasiesBy Valerie Summers
Visitors to the wild north of Minnesota in winter experience a frozen wonderland of forests and mountains with miles of open spaces, small towns and friendly people. Ah, Wilderness! The Gunflint Trail in northeastern Minnesota near the Canadian border winds through a corridor in the three million acre Superior National Forest. Lodge to lodge skiing or yurt to yurt (a circular, domed portable tent) skiing offers an opportunity for skiers to revel in the tranquility of the of the great north woods. Visitors experience various facilities with meals and gear transport provided while communing with nature and enjoying a great workout. A group of proprietors along the Gunflint Trail have joined together to create a unique opportunity for visitors. “Guest Of All” enables them to stay and play in any combination of places. This courtesy card acts as a credit card and allows the use of any of the cooperative facilities including lodging, ski rentals, activities, and dining. So stay in one place, ski in another and eat in still another and just say “charge it.” This allows an opportunity to explore various facilities. Schedule a day long dog sled ride and maybe take a mushing lesson, zoom around in a snowmobile, revel in the quiet of snowshoing by moonlight, or ski from yurt to yurt for a most unusual night’s lodging , including a Mongolian firepot dinner. Along the 200 kilometers of marked trails, keep your eyes open for moose and deer. Most lodges have saunas or hot tubs, perfect for relaxing at the end of the day. To get from place to place visitors may drive, ski or take a shuttle.
From the edge of one small lake to the edge of the biggest lake of them all, the luxurious Bluefin Bay resort sets on the north shore of Lake Superior. In addition to its spectacular setting, another advantage is its close proximity to Lutsen/Tofte, the largest ski area in seven states. Sixty one runs and nearly 1,000 feet of vertical drop for Alpine skiers, 155 miles of Nordic trails, 100 miles of snowmobile paths and trails to experience the unique Norpine skiing, not quite Alpine, nor quite Nordic, but a combination of both. Bluefin features a variety of ski packages and accommodations range from studios to Grand Superior Suites with rates ranging from $69 -$420. A huge glass walled lakeside superior master bedroom with a Jacuzzi the size of a small swimming pool provides the ultimate romantic setting. Nearby, a smaller but full-service ski area, the chameleon-like Giants Ridge is located just outside the town of Biwabik. The resort dresses for summer in her finest golf attire with the greenest of greens and just like any fashion-plate, dons a white cape of snow for downhill and cross country skiing in winter. There’s night skiing and snowboarding, too. Forty miles of scenic cross country ski trails, initially developed for the USA Ski Team, weave through the north woods offer wondrous cross country adventures and makes this sport a favorite in this part of the country.
Just outside the town of Ely, bushwacking with snowshoes offers a deliciously exciting moonlight adventure in the woods not with those sissy snowshoes, either. Bushwackers need the old fashiioned kind that look like baskets to make it thought the snow. To experience nature is one thing, and to be educated about it is another. That is where the International Wolf Center comes in. At the east end of Ely, the Center enlightens its visitors on the subject of these greatly maligned and misunderstood creatures. Videos, exhibits, dioramas and presentations featuring the center’s resident pack enlighten and amaze. A regularly scheduled 30 minute talk by a ranger on the wolf’s physical and social behavior includes explanations of what makes the alpha male, Lucas, the leader; MacKenzie the alpha female and the characteristics the roles of the supporting members of the pack. The community of wolves amazing displays many of the same traits as humans. The likes of Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs helped to give “the big, bad wolf” a bad reputation which the International Wolf Center works to dispel in an entertaining and educational environment. Winter doldrums have no place in Minnesota. The residents are hearty folk who relish the beautiful, invigorating season of winter with all its quiet and all its activities. They welcome visitors to partake of the joys of celebrations, skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing and learning about life in the great Northwest. For informationMinnesota Travel Information Center Bearskin Lodge Gunflint Trail Association Boundary Country Trekking Bluefin Bay Ely Chamber of Commerce International Wolf Center Guest of All Giant’s Ridge Golf and Ski Resort Gunflint Trail Duluth Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Lutsen |
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Although some like it hot, others like it cold. When soft white snowflakes drift from the sky and cover the trees and earth with a pristine blanket of white, a new mind set comes into focus. Not only are picture postcard settings of cozy homes and roaring fireplaces conjured up, but those of the wonderland of outdoor activities and people all snug in winter wear. Store those bathing suits and shorts and get ready for downhill skiing, snow-shoeing, cross country jaunts, sledding, winter festivals with awesome snow and ice sculptures and sleigh rides. Why would anyone want to go to northern Minnesota in the dead of winter? Because it’s FUN!
The Bearskin Lodge where cross country skiing is the specialty, stands out as one of the nost charming members of Guest of All. Guests at this lodge do not have to forge their own trails through the woods and around the lake. The tracks are already down and meticulously groomed, making this very aerobic sport, much more fun. Skiers glide rather than push. Just as in Alpine skiing, Nordic trails are marked indicating the degree of difficulty. One of the most memorable experiences visitors to Bearskin Lodge will delight in is skiing at the edge of the frozen lake by the silvery moonlight. Revel in a blanket of silence and stop to gaze at a star filled sky. Later, warm up by the huge roaring fireplace on the lower level of Barb and Dave Tuttle’ s rustic lodge and enjoy frontier hospitality. Then retreat to the intimate dining room for a hearty family-style meal of homemade soups, breads and desserts and a variety of fish and meats for well under $20. Accommodations include 11 lake view housekeeping cabins and four spacious, rustic, wood paneled lodges with all the modern conveniences. Rates from $88-$255.
Should you tire of wilderness, the town of Ely hosts a 10-day Winter Festival each February when sculptors from the U.S, Canada, and Latin America convene, snow sculptors, that is. More than 50 works of snow art are created and displayed throughout Ely with the majority of sculptures at Whiteside Park. Some are huge, like a giant beaver and some are thoughtful, like a chilly likeness of Rodin’s The Thinker, and all are works of love. Locals and visitors come out in droves to admire the outdoor gallery. Not to be missed is the Mukluk Ball, snowmobile trips and wine tastings, fishing contests and arts and crafts exhibitions. It’s a real down home celebration and visitors are all made to feel at home