Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Hike to Carlton Peak


 Today I finally decide to hike to Carlton Peak.  It's only supposed to get to upper 60's so it's a perfect day for a 9 mile hike.  We leave at 6:30 a.m.

Sun is out by the time we get to Temperance River 1.5 miles up the road.  Tucson goes for a pre-hike dip and a drink.

Stairs, of course there are stairs, this is Minnesota after all


Oh good a map and a secret password!


At least I know where I am now and only 3 miles to go.

A rest area

With a view!

 2 more miles to go


Tucson spots a squirrel along the way

Down on the boardwalk . . . 


Rocky Road

On a definite incline now


Nice to have a pull assist dog


Uh oh, looks like we've still got a ways to go




More pull assist



The log book is full but I found a page where someone has drawn a dog that looks a bit like Tucson so I squeeze a comment in next to it.

Still not at the Summit


Looks like views ahead






We made it!  4.5 miles in just over 2 hours, not bad


Snack time!

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Grand Portage / Rendevous Days

This weekend is the Rendezvous Days and Pow Wow up in Grand Portage at the 
National Historic Monument. The North West Company held their Rendezvous at Grand Portage. This was the time when furs from wintering posts, which reached into Canada, were delivered down the historic Grand Portage.

Voyageurs were French Canadian indentured servants had to be able to carry two 90 pound bundles of fur over portage, some carried up to four or five.


At the Historic Depot there are three log buildings, the canoe warehouse
 The Great Hall

 and Kitchen

Costumed Docents do demonstrations or talk about the history.
How to gauge the temperature of a stone oven?  Toss in flour, if it turns black the oven is too hot.  Wait 5 minutes or so and try again, the temperature is right when the flour turns golden brown.

At the Voyageur encampments, re-enactors from across the country and Canada gather to camp and challenge each other to games and skills from Grand Portage's past.



Watched this lady making a beaded band for her Moccasins, looked easier than I thought, want to try in my spare time if I ever have any!

I think I could sleep here


In conjunction with the Rendezvous days, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) holds the Rendezvous Days Pow Wow.  There are ceremonial pow-wow dances.