Presentations

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

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

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.

Rover Andrea recounts her 2018 trip with her family’s scuba club to Mindoro Island, Philippines, to dive in one of the most biodiverse regions in the world.

Description: Which climatic changes are and are not currently affecting Minnesota? What changes do we expect in the years and decades ahead? Where do we have gaps in our knowledge that preclude definitive statements? This presentation will answer these questions by focusing on the foundational data and research available to climate scientists.

Presented by Kenny Blumenfeld, Ph.D.

Gently rolling hills, quaint villages, and picturesque cottages and farms. This is how many people envision England, and the Cotswold Way is quintessential England. I walked this 102 mile path in seven days during summer 2018 solo, not just because I love the Cotswolds, but I wanted to see if I could go the distance and navigate on my own. (And, I couldn’t find anyone to go with me.) I am looking forward to sharing my adventure with you!

Presented by Heidi.

Doug Johnson will share accounts of his travels to the Luzon in the Philippines that include walks in Intramuros in Manila, hikes to the hanging coffins in Sagada, and visiting the World Heritage Site Rice Terraces in Banaue. An amazing country, the Philippines should be on everyone’s bucket list of places to explore.

Over the New Year, four Rovers traveled to Costa Rica. We benefitted from one member’s fluency in Spanish. And with her contacts, we visited with one CR family, home-stayed with another farm family, and visited several small businesses. Costa Rica is a land of many climactic zones, each with a varied wildlife and adventures. Our trip took us from the Guanacaste area to a Pacific coastal town on the Osa peninsula, to the highlands of St. Elena and Monteverde.

Presented by Bruce Clark

Come see all the work that has been accomplished so far!  All the initial buckthorn on the lot has been removed! Lots of invasive work has been done and is beginning to be under control.  Many natives have naturally come up on their own now.  See the future goals and challenges and see where we are going on 2019!

Presented by Cheryl Batson

The Camino de Santiago has been drawing pilgrims for over 1200 years, and pilgrim numbers are growing by 10-20% a year. (Over 300,000 “official finishers” in 2018.) I had the opportunity to walk the “French Way” in the fall of 2018.  A bit of the history of the Camino will be reviewed, along with the how and the why of the walk.

Presented by Tim Potter