Outdoors
Snow coming
We have been warned. Frankie the DIY Weatherman is watching this storm from Nova Scotia.
A Stroll by the Lake
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgvOBjP3Dt8
Boreal Owl Irruption
Video by Sparky Stensaas
An official Magic Smelt transmission
Last week, Neptune was spotted by a PDD contributor making various proclomations. If you were wondering what was up, it’s this video. The Magic Smelt Puppet Troupe has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to put on free workshops for people to build puppets, masks and costumes for the Smelt Parade on April 21st.
Snow Day *Perk* Attention: Parents, students, Mayor Ness and everyone else. Thom Storm is awesome!
I propose the City of Duluth creates a Thom Storm Day!
This man has done so much for the youth of our city through his works at Chester Park/Chester Bowl over the years and he continues to do so.
He just sent out an email this afternoon regarding the winter storm. How is this for fore-thinking and helping parents out if the kids are out of school, and who need to go to work for a few hours tomorrow, if they can get there:
If schools are closed tomorrow due to snow, I intend to open the chairlift from 11-4:30, so parents can go to work, & kids can have something fun to do. I already have early morning grooming of the hill, and snowplowing of the road arranged. The final piece to the puzzle would be to get some parents to operate the concession stand. Volunteers would be needed from 10-45am to 2pm and 1:45-4:45pm. If you would be available to help out, please email me back by 5pm today if possible. This would only take place if schools are closed. If schools remain open, the lift will be open it’s regular hours of 4:30-8:30, and volunteers for the concession are already signed up for those shifts.
Thanks for your consideration.
Thom Storm
Executive Director
Chester Bowl Improvement Club
1801 E. Skyline Dr.
Duluth, MN. 55812-1154
(218) 724-9832
[email protected]
Duluth Snowmobiler Code of Ethics
So I feel like I am about to go to a Baci-esque Defcon 2 level on the snowmobile riders using my yard for their personal burnout entry way to the state trails. I live in Lakeside and after about the 4th ride through the middle of my yard that included track marks below the grass level I got to ask what gives. I am wondering if there is anyone out there who can fill me in on the snowmobile code of ethics. Before I start binge calling the cops I want to know if this is acceptable behavior on any level. I was a finger pointing old man at the guy I caught riding through the yard tonight that wasn’t interested in stopping to discuss the issue. I have no problems with snowmobiles as I use them plenty for ice fishing and certainly appreciate their utility. Does anybody else out there have any experience with this? Does calling the cops help?
Mont du Lac Snowboarding Video!
This is a video of Mitch Larson (and a couple others) snowboarding at Mont du Lac! Mitch is a coach for “TheCrew,” which is dedicated to providing a fun and safe place for snowboarders of all ages to learn the art of freestyle snowboarding.
They have an upcoming two-day slopestyle skiing/snowboarding event at Mont Du Lac on Feb. 16 and 17. For more info about the event you may visit dulaccrewfest.com.
Enjoy the video and feel free to tell me what you think of it!
Outside magazine presents online screening of Wild Bill’s Run
This is your best chance to see local documentary and Arctic crime caper Wild Bill’s Run. It’s screening on Outside’s website on Thursday evening, Feb. 7. You can watch the film anytime between 6 and 9pm (Central Time). Director Mike Scholtz will be hanging out in the comments section at the bottom of the page, waiting for people to ask him questions he can’t answer about snowmobile repair, climate change and the whereabouts of Wild Bill Cooper.
The Perilous Inlet
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7rTiTQI5N0
Three years in the making, the completed 14-minute masterpiece.
I suggest watching it with the sound off since we could not eliminate the camera noise without losing the underwater noises.
The perilous inlet is a death trap for ships and subs, yet life continues. Starring Playmobil toys, G.I. Joes, and introducing Lake Superior as itself.
We’ve released this in segments over time, so if you’re sick of it do NOT watch this final edit. Featuring the Playmobil ship vs. the giant alligator, the Playmobil sub vs. the giant squid, and the GI Joes vs. frozen existential horror, now with more death.
GPS Instruction
Is anyone out there savvy with a Garmin? This fella needs some instruction and he’s looking to hire someone to walk him through his device.
Sax-Zim Bog in New York Times
“Welcome to the Sax-Zim Bog,” said our guide, Steve Weston. “Tonight we’ll be going through the towns of Sax and Zim, population nothing.” Moments later we drove by a snow-dusted, abandoned trailer, the front door hanging off one hinge. This was downtown Sax. Zim, a few miles to the north, wasn’t much more. Both are remnants of failed attempts to farm the bog that date back to the early 20th century. Now they are ghost towns surrounded by 200 square miles of wetlands.
Wicked North Shore Icicles
Former Duluthian here, now a couple of hours further up the shore. My coworker (at the Cook County Visitors Bureau) snapped this photo in the Grand Marais harbor earlier this week. Too awesome to not share.
Photo from Grand Marais, MN on Facebook.
Chester Bowl opening Dec. 20, 4:30 p.m.
Originally scheduled to open this Saturday, Dec. 15, the ski hill will now open Dec. 20 at 4:30 p.m.. The snow makers lost eight days due to the warm weather the last couple weeks.
We got one!
Our Charlie Brown tree came from the Superior Forest. My wife made it pretty.
Lake Superior Debris
My wife and I noticed an unusual amount of debris on the shore Saturday morning — lots of shards of glass, clinkers, ceramic, etc. Why now? Was a shipwreck dredged up?
Where should I get my Christmas tree?
Does anyone know of a good place where you can chop down your own tree?
Kicksled Rental
Now that it’s a winter wonderland outside, my family and I can’t wait to play in the snow! When we’re down in the Cities having fun, we like to rent kicksleds, but here in Duluth I can’t find any place that seems to offer them. I know where to find skis and snowshoes, sleds and ice skates, but I have yet to locate any kicksled rental. Please tell me I’ve missed something. It’s hard to imagine a place much better suited to the fun that kicksledding has to offer, but it appears the Duluth area might be missing out. Thanks for any insight!
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.