Boreal Access

The sunset last night was pretty great.  I was driving into Grand Marais and took this picture from the shore of the camp ground.  I love how it shows the outline of the Sawtooths! – Kris

Sunday was probably the warmest it has been up on the North Shore for 2010.  I can’t remember a mid-March day when I was not wearing a jacket and my husband was in short sleeves!  We went out for a walk to enjoy the nice winter/spring treat we were having and I was so surprised to see the pussy willows blooming, but then in the distance we could see people skiing at Lutsen Mountains.  It was just not a normality in March.  I keep telling myself it is spring, but remember having snowfalls in April here on the North Shore in past years.  We’ll see if 2010 can pull through as one of the earliest springs…I would definitely like that! – Kris

Up Close – Pussy Willows, in the distance, snow at Lutsen Mountains

The past two weeks have brought some fascinating wildlife experiences.  While riding to a friend’s house in Lutsen, we saw what you always think you are going to see, but never do – a VERY large wolf chasing a deer.  They both ran in front of our car.  We stopped and watched the wolf slow down through the woods and go out of sight.  It is amazing how many wolves I have seen this year – way more than I have in past years.  This wolf was by far the healthiest and largest.   

On our way home from Duluth on Sunday we started to count the deer.  We got to around 50 when we lost count because of some pretty close encounters with the deer and our car.  Just after Schroeder we spotted 2 wolves walking in the grass along Highway 61.  We turned our car around and watched as they proceeded to lay down in the grass about 20 feet away from each other.  They laid there for about 5 minutes, and then started walking along the bike trail towards Tofte.  I normally see a lot of deer in that area after I pick my son up from daycare.  Not on that day!  And just when you think we can’t possibly see any more north woods animals, we see a bright orange fox cross the road.  Little things like that really make my day. -Kris

Animals are smarter than we know!

On the way to work I was following a car traveling on Highway 61 and had passed the Cascade State Park. Two deer slowly walked into the road. One of the deer stood on the yellow center line. This caused both of us to come to a complete stop. I was wondering how long he would stand there and why had he not bolted into the woods.  He looked into the woods and just then not one, not two but six deer ran across the road one by one. He then looked both ways and slowly crossed over the side of the highway. I was wondering where his crossing guard vest and sign were. As I drove on I kept wondering “did that really just happen?” – Tala

I just wanted to share this photo I took of the moon this weekend.  The days have been so clear here on the North Shore, it has made for great daytime moon sightings.  -Kris