Presentations

Four MN Rovers hiked 60 miles in the Alps with light daypacks to mountain huts with showers, meals, beer and sleeping bunks. We experienced spectacular scenery with great September weather.

Presented by Mike Hogan

A number of Rovers will show how they use smart phone apps to help them explore and enjoy the outdoors. Come and see these apps demonstrated.

A bucket list conversation with girlfriends prompted us to book tickets to Iceland, and we decided we wanted to see as much as possible in the course of a week.  I’ll share some of the decisions and logistics required to make our trip happen, as well as gorgeous photos. If you like waterfalls, rainbows, glaciers, and northern lights, you’ll want to join me for this presentation.

Presented by Sue Wittkop

We all hear about the extremely low odds of being struck by lightning, but those odds increase dramatically in the vicinity of thunderstorms. Many recreational activities take place in vulnerable settings, with long exposures to dangerous conditions and limited options for true protection. This safety-oriented presentation will provide observational strategies for recognizing thunderstorm potential in the field, so that recreationists have enough time to make strategic decisions and find relative safety.

Presented by Kenny Blumenfeld, Ph.D.

On May 5, 2007, two days into his twenty-seventh trip to the Boundary Waters, Stephen Posniak found a perfect spot on Ham Lake and set about making a campfire. Over the next two weeks, the fire he set would consume 75,000 acres of forest and 144 buildings. More than one thousand firefighters would rally to extinguish the blaze, at a cost of 11 million dollars.

Gunflint Burning is a comprehensive account of the dramatic events around the Ham Lake fire, one of the largest wildfires in Minnesota history. Cary J. Griffith describes what happened in the minutes, hours, and days after Posniak struck that fateful match—from the first hint of danger to the ensuing race to flee the fire or defend imperiled property to the incredible efforts of firefighters and residents battling a blaze that lit up the Gunflint Trail like the fuse to a powder keg.

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

After 8 years of thinking about going to Iceland, my husband Kris and I finally traveled there for 8 days in June of 2018.  Come hear about what makes Iceland such a popular tourist destination. You will get suggestions of what to pack, some tips on how to save money in this expensive country, and some highlights of our very rainy, yet wonderful time in this beautiful country.

Presented by Tina B.

More info to follow.

Backpacker Magazine calls the 40-mile Teton Crest Trail one of the “Best Hikes Ever” with “mesmerizing and constant views of jagged peaks.” It passes through all of the best, most iconic landmarks in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), including Death Canyon Shelf, Alaska Basin, Hurricane Pass and Paintbrush Divide. Besides the towering granite Tetons, there are pristine alpine meadows, crystal clear lakes, glacially carved canyons and some of the boldest marmots anywhere. Paul and his family hiked the trail over four days in July and then spent three days relaxing in Jackson. He is excited to share their photos, talk about the differences between GTNP and Glacier National Park, and discuss a few of his “take-aways” from the hike.

Presented by Paul Stearns

At nearly 500 miles with an average elevation of over 10,300 ft, the Colorado Trail was just the challenge Alison Heebsh was looking for after section hiking the Superior Hiking Trail. In September 2018, Alison completed 104 miles of the trail from Denver to Breckenridge as the aspens were at the peak of their golden autumn majesty from the Lost Creek Wilderness to Georgia Pass. She will tell tales of the ups and downs of trail life on this challenging solo backpacking adventure.

More info to follow.

Come out Tuesday for the Minnesota Rovers Annual Meeting and Board of Directors ELECTION! We need your presence to have a quorum — an easy choice to come out, as we have another great presentation to follow (see below for more details).

More info to follow.

More info to follow.