ely, mn


In the north woods of Ely, MN and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) you become one with nature. The world stands still as you snowshoe across frozen lakes in the winter months while listening to the howl of the wolf. In the summer, your heart awakens to the stroke of your canoe paddle as it cuts through the water, propelling you forward on your journey. The cry of the loon is deafening as it travels across the glass lake. The smell of pine calms your soul as you work tirelessly to make that portage to the next lake; your canoe heavy on your shoulders and your breath hot and labored. Yes, your feet are hindered by the blisters you've created on your lengthy hikes, but that doesn't stop you from continuing your exploration. It is here, in these north woods, that your soul is free.

bwcaw


The Native American pictographs displayed high on the granite cliffs have endured centuries of exposure to the elements, yet they still remain, as vibrant as ever. As you paddle your canoe out to these pictographs, or hike across the lake when frozen, you realize the beauty of this art and all that it stands for. The BWCAW is an area of memories, history and pure adventure. Explorations are endless.

the silence


The inches of snow that are piled on the forest's limbs provide depth and definition to an otherwise shadowed place. The reflection of snow eliminates the darkness that presents itself during the snowless months. The silence of the woods is startling and in these moments your mind becomes a seamless stream of blank thoughts. Everything seems so clear and perfect. The world is at peace.

which way?


As you follow your map to your next destination, you notice an unmarked side trail. It doesn't seem to be an animal trail however, you aren't confident with regard to it's destination. You being to wonder where it leads and as you stand there, you debate with yourself whether or not you should follow your handy pocket map to the shoreline of the lake or if you should take this unmarked trail to its unknown destination. Against better judgement, you ultimately decide to take the unmarked trail, as adventure and the "unknown" feed your soul. Don't be afraid to take the path less traveled but always be prepared for the unexpected "bumps in the road."

listening point


The fresh snow crunches beneath your moose-hide boots as you walk across the frozen lake that the moonlight is displaying a reflective, sparkling path on. The snow-covering becomes dense as the snow flakes fall from the sky, graciously falling to the ground and accumulating, layer-by-layer. These snowflake layers will exist until picked up by the wind, thrown by a mushing dog-sled team or pushed to the side by a hiker's boot. Until then, they will remain: frozen unique patterns of nature's creation.

sigurd olson


Sigurd Olson, a writer and conservationist, created "Listening Point" in 1956 to serve as a private retreat for himself and his wife, Elizabeth. The vast space beyond the land, reaching across Burnside Lake, provided the perfect environment for Sig's writing. In 2007, this property was named to the National Register of Historic Places. A huge shoutout to the Listening Point Foundation for protecting and preserving this special place and for advancing Sigurd Olson's legacy of wilderness education. Visit listeningpointfoundation.org to learn more, make a donation or schedule a snowshoe tour of this epic property- located in the middle of nowhere.


We can thank Sigurd for all of his work in keeping the wild alive: "He helped draft the Wilderness Act, which became law in 1964 and established the U.S. wilderness preservation system. He played a role in the establishment of Alaska’s Arctic Wildlife Refuge, and helped to identify and recommend other Alaskan lands ultimately preserved in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. Among his many other activities, he played key roles in the establishment of Point Reyes National Seashore in California and Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. In recognition, four of the five largest U.S. conservation organizations — the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, the National Wildlife Federation and the Izaak Walton League — gave Sigurd their highest award." - The Listening Point Foundation, Mr. David Backes


"The movement of a canoe is like a reed in the wind. Silence is part of it, and the sounds of lapping water, bird songs, and wind in the trees. It is part of the medium through which it floats, the sky, the water, the shores.... There is magic in the feel of a paddle and the movement of a canoe, a magic compounded of distance, adventure, solitude, and peace. The way of a canoe is the way of the wilderness, and of a freedom almost forgotten. It is an antidote to insecurity, the open door to waterways of ages past and a way of life with profound and abiding satisfactions. When a man is part of his canoe, he is part of all that canoes have ever known." - Sigurd Olson


voyageurs national park


Hot breath against the cold air creates clouds of frost that disappear as they rise above you. Your core is warm as you push through the mounded snow that has built up, inch-by-inch, over the past week. You are happy to follow the imprints of the thin dog sled tracks as the compacted snow is easier to navigate, making each step less difficult and your journey more swift.