My wife’s family has a cabin on Devil Track lake, so that’s what introduced the area to me around 2005.  I grew up in a small dairy farm community in Central Wisconsin and like a lot of kids that grow up in rural areas, I moved to the big city after high school.  I lived in various parts of the Twin Cities from 1999 until 2020.  Once we had kids, my perspective on city life changed a bit and I wanted to give them the safety and freedom of growing up in a smaller town like I had.  Grand Marais has a lot going on and it seemed like a great balance between those two lifestyles for me, and thankfully my family agreed.  We took a more serious look at moving during the pandemic shake-up after having thought about it for years, and somehow the stars aligned as we found two full time jobs in our fields and a home in Grand Marais that we could afford; the Cook County trifecta!


As the Cook County Highway Maintenance Technician, you probably have plenty of interesting stories to share.  Is there a favorite memorable work moment that stands out in your mind that you can share with us?

Interestingly, I’m no longer the supervisor, but I do still work at the Highway Department. I missed working outside far too much and stepped down…or over, to a field position in 2022.  In winter I plow snow on the Gunflint Trail, and in summer I primarily work on road sign repair.

One standout story that comes to mind is when a family was stranded at the very end of the Arrowhead Trail after a snowstorm.  If I remember right, we received around 2 feet of snow and then the temperature plunged below zero as it tends to do.  The family there had gotten their plow truck stuck on the side of the road, then their skid steer broke down trying to get the plow truck out, and finally an attempt to leave in a minivan left that buried on the road too.  One of the people there decided to set out on foot down the Arrowhead Trail.  They quickly got cold and started a fire in the road to warmup, and through a stroke of extreme luck, a deputy found them and brought them to Grand Marais.  Later that morning they were seen at Holiday hitch hiking to Duluth, I guess they had enough of our snow storm and wanted to get out of here ASAP.

Dispatch called me early in the morning with this story.  The end of the Arrowhead is a private road, so the county does not plow it, but we’re willing to help in cases of a true emergency.  Being stranded at the edge of the wilderness in an off grid cabin has the potential to be one, but we didn’t have enough information to know for sure. I contacted a local contractor to see if they’d plow them out, but they were understandably hesitant because we didn’t know if the the group in fact wanted to get the road plowed, and of course pay the contractor for their services. I struggled to decide what to do, but eventually I thought the only way to know if there was an emergency was to talk to the stranded people, and the only way to talk to them was to get in there.  So I asked our Hovland grader plow in as far as they could, up to the stranded vehicles, and then I bundled up and snowshoed in the rest of the way to their cabin. 

Thankfully when I reached them they were warm and safe, and a little surprised to see me.  The plowing we did made it possible for their mini-van to make it down to the county road portion of the Arrowhead, and eventually back to their home. I believe that cabin owner still plows the end of the Arrowhead, but now with a sturdy set of tire chains to keep his truck on the road.


What is your favorite season in Cook County and what do you enjoy the most about it?

I appreciate that each season leaves me ready for the next one.  It’s almost August as I write this and thoughts of cool fall weather are already creeping into my head.  But for me the easy answer is winter.  The bugs are gone, Grand Marais feels like a small town again, and there is no end of things I enjoy to do outside. I love the quiet and solitude of being in the woods in winter. I also really enjoy my work in winter, even when the days get long. Plowing roads is very satisfying work when I can look in the rearview mirror and physically see that what I'm doing is making life better for people.


Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy when you are not busy working?

At 45 years old, I’m training for my first marathon this fall, so that has been occupying most of my free time this year.  In addition, the rehabilitation work on the bike trails at Pincushion inspired me taking up mountain biking, which is a blast!  I also get out paddling the wilderness quite a bit, and in winter I enjoy ice fishing, winter camping, and snowmobiling.  For a good laugh, you can also see me attempt to cross country ski from time to time.


Where is your favorite go-to spot in the County when you have a day off?

Anywhere in the woods.  Lately it’s been mostly on the Superior Trail or at Pincushion.  But I’ve got two week-long BWCAW trips coming up so I’ll be back to traveling the wilderness soon.  And for a quick nature fix, it can be just a drive or pedal down our awesome gravel roads.   


If someone is considering a move to Cook County, what would you offer for advice or how would you describe living and working here?

I’m going to borrow an idea I heard on the locally produced "Tumblehome, A Boundary Waters Podcast.”  The cons are also pros, and some of the pros of living here can be cons.  It’s really in your perspective.  For example, we don’t have a lot for fast food or Door Dash, some may see that as a con in terms of convenience, but it’s also a pro because it forces me to cook more at home and eat healthier.  Similarly, I can’t always go out and buy every little thing that pops in my head, I may have to wait for an online purchase to arrive. But the delay in getting that item might lead me to consider, do I really need to buy it in the first place? Put your perspective in the right place and some of the inconveniences of living "at the end of the road" might actually be for the better. But if anyone out there wants to bring bowling back to Cook County, I’m behind you 100%!

That, and make sure to find something to do in winter, preferably outside!  If you’re in the mode of just trying to wait out the cold, chances are it’s going to be a long, miserable season. Cook County might not be for you (year round) unless can you find some enjoyment in winter.