2019

As backcountry skiing explodes in popularity across the country and the world, Superior Highland Backcountry, a recently formed group that advocates to expand and protect BC skiing opportunities in Northeastern MN,  has just submitted a special use permit to the Superior National Forest for the Midwest’s first designated public backcountry skiing area, the Moose Mountain Glades Project. It is the first step and cornerstone in fulfilling a vision of a hut to hut trail system along the North Shore, complete with downhill glades, connecting trails and overnight huts. Rory will present this vision, share what the Superior Highlands has to offer the skiing public and his experiences skiing much of the vertical of the Shore.

Rory Scoles is Founder and Director of Superior Highland Backcountry, owns and operates Lutsen Rec, a full service ski shop and lives off the grid in Finland, MN.

Names of locations like the Funeral Mountains, Badwater, the Devils Golf Course and Dantes View, make Death Valley sound like a scary place. With temperatures of 120 F in the summer, only 2 inches of rain a year and flash floods when the rain comes, it is a very tough environment. It is also a very beautiful, interesting place that is 282 feet below sea level. Also a creek with higher salinity than the ocean flows out of a spring in the middle of the valley, and contains a unique species of fish. Learn about what Death Valley has to offer and the see pictures from the Rovers trips there.

Presented by Jen and Barry

In summer 2018 a group of newer sea kayakers took a 4 day 3 night trip to Voyageurs National Park. This program will describe some background and history of the park, the preparation for people who had little kayak camping or big water experience and the trip itself. The trip included 2 lakes 2 campsites, loons, exploring a slough and a river, more loons, a full moon, swimming, warm water, several calm days, and paddling back on a very windy day. There will also be information on planning different kinds of Voyageurs trips.

Presented by Fran Lesicko

Four of us ran the river in 19 days in June/July of 2017.  We completed the entire 540km of the river from the headwaters below Mount Wilson to a take-out on the Laird River.  The upper portions of the river was almost continuous whitewater, the lower portions were very fast and rain swollen.  Obviously we portaged Virginia Falls as it is about twice the height of Niagara Falls.

Presented by Tom Eckstein

Don’t have the 5 weeks to walk 500 miles on the very popular “French Way?” There are many routes throughout Europe leading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Learn about three shorter options offering less crowds, beautiful scenery, and cultural immersion. Rover Steve Mueller walked the Primitivo, Portuguese Coastal, and Finistere Camino Ways in Spain and Portugal and will show photos, give planning tips and costs for these do-it-yourself adventures.

Presented by Steve Mueller.

Come out Tuesday for the Minnesota Rovers Annual Meeting and Board of Directors ELECTION! We will be voting on updates to the club’s Bylaws and electing our 2019 Board of Directors. A quorum of 51 members is required. Please plan on attending so you can vote on these important topics.

We need your presence to have a quorum — an easy choice to come out, as we have another great presentation to follow (see post below for more details).

During the summer of 2018, I cycled 4,200 miles across the US on the Trans America trail, carrying all my gear. Since this is a long ride, this presentation is the second part. I went with a group from Adventure Cycling, which will also be described. We cycled up crazy-steep mountains and had a thrill coasting down. We went through the amazingly flat, straight, and dull roads of Kansas, up the Rockies, and through deserts. I got used to drinking hot water from my water bottle, but I never got used to hot Gatorade. A final part that I’ll briefly mention is that I completed this ride with cancer. Sometimes, other cancer survivors called me an inspiration, and honestly, it doesn’t feel comfortable. But if I can inspire a few more cancer survivors to hang in there, I will.

Presented by Steven Malikowski

During the summer of 2018, I cycled across the US on the Trans America trail, carrying all my gear. I went with a group from Adventure Cycling, which will also be described. We cycled up crazy-steep mountains and had a thrill coasting down. We went through the amazingly flat, straight, and dull roads of Kansas, up the Rockies, and through deserts. I got used to drinking hot water from my water bottle, but I never got used to hot Gatorade. Since this was a long ride, this presentation will be the first of two. A final part that I’ll briefly mention is that I completed this ride with cancer. Sometimes, other cancer survivors called me an inspiration, and honestly, it doesn’t feel comfortable. But if I can inspire a few more cancer survivors to hang in there, I will.

Presented by Steven Malikowski

Historical films from the golden age of trail building recently digitalized from the original 8 mm footage, with “Bridge on the Portage Brook”.

Presented by Omar

In 2016 and 2017, I attended wildlife photography workshops in Nome and Barrow, Alaska.  While traveling through the areas I captured (by camera) many species, including some which are rarely seen. But the areas also have more to experience than wildlife.  I will provide a summary of some things I learned and some photographs of local critters.

Presented by Mike Sweet