Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters

The Mohan Family took advantage of our Boundary Waters Family package—and they sure spiced up last week here at Tuscarora. On Tuesday, Maggie took them paddling, Jen took them blueberry picking, Cass took them to Chik Wauk, Lindsay taught them campfire building and cuisine over lunch at Blankenberg beach, , Kelley took them hiking on the Centennial Trail where they stumbled upon a moose—or actually she nearly stumbled over them.

On Wednesday Daniel and I paddled out with them for their first night in the woods. It was great fun. We started out in a downpour, buckets of rain— yet they were very good sports about it. We had a tarp, we hunkered under at the end of the portage with some jerky, some fruit snacks, some good conversation. It’s such a conquering feeling to navigate such rain. I was hiking back for another load thinking—I LOVE this. I love it here. You can see that Matt never lost his smile.

Daniel shared some fishing tips, and I had a chance to share some of the finer points of wilderness snacking with TJ and Malachy. They were so game for anything. Funny boys, reminded me of Bob Snodgrass who introduced me to formic acid (in ants) 25 years ago. Do they use formic acid in lime sweet tarts? I don’t really know, but they taste surprisingly similar. If you can’t see this video full screen—you might miss TJ’s hands describing the taste explosion (and he is right on!) —or karate-kid-Malachy, who couldn’t seem to hold back his shimmies.

The next morning after breakfast, with memories of a good evening of hide-and-go-seek sardines, swimming, fishing, s’mores,,, Daniel and I reluctantly headed back to Tuscarora and left the Mohans to find their own ants to eat. On the trail, they crossed paths with another Boundary Waters Family-sponsored group. On these work trips, family teams take the opportunity to join some US Forest Service Rangers to camp and volunteer with work projects. The outfitters on the Gunflint Trail partner with the US Forest Service and we’re really excited about all of the things happening in the program this summer. And upon return, that group had a weekend full of stories to tell.

The big idea, the cool truth is—time in the woods strengthens families. And we’re lucky we get to facilitate some of that. We get to meet some great people that way too. And the kids are like the formic acid in the ants—they always surprise us with the taste explosions. Oh Yeah!

Tuscarora guests–the Mickelsons visited a local road this morning–and they were greeted by an entire wolf pack. They watched—then came back to get their kids, and drove back to observe the puppy antics some more.

If we can figure out how to hook up the video camera to my computer, I can later include a video of the puppies learning to howl. It gives me goose bumps every time!

Thanks to Greg Mickelson for sharing these great photos with us.

They wondered about so many pups—seeming like two different litters (4 littler guys, 3 bigger ones—???) Obviously together…but my understanding is that the pack allows only one female to mate with the Alpha male–and they all take care of the pups.

This group was a little different. Perhaps they came from a polygamous belief system? Or maybe–some just grew faster than others.

Could she be the only mother?

This smaller male was a baby-sitter of sorts.

They didn’t get the photo of the large beautiful male they were guessing was the alpha–but apparently he was bi–ig.

I just read about the pups–and Greg said that they were beginning to pounce on little critters and hunt a little—

Maybe they were somewhere between 6-10 weeks old? You can bet I’ll be on the lookout for this big family!

If you’re from Middlebury checking up on your kids –we welcomed them in good spirits about 9pm last night.

They completed orientations last night–and headed out in calm waters and sunshine this morning.

All is well—it looks as though it is going to be a great week.

The only snag….Jamison lost his sunglasses. He visited the lost and found this morning. No worries–but it looks as though he’s going to need those this week!

Maybe the same kind of guy that drops out of college to join the circus? That would be our friend John Lorenzen. (After the circus part came the law school part—but I like the circus story infinitely better).

Here are three Lorenzen men paddling the path of the Voyageurs….sort of. John did throw in a few detours … the kind of guy who decides he’s going to start in Loon Lake and portage to Mayhew…and then Partridge— it was a conglomeration of permits and unique portaging opportunities.

John’s guys came to conquer the Grand Portage last year, but they were not successful. It’s not that the Grand Portage that skunked them, it was actually the anticipation of this 8.5 mile trek. Isn’t that the way life works sometimes? At any rate, I believe it was more important for John to have consensus in the group than to conquer their original goal.

But– THIS year, everyone on the trip had a unified mission.

And last Thursday they did it—all 8.5 miles from Fort Charlotte to Lake Superior!

They had many tales–of moose in the Pigeon River, of beautiful bluffs, of weather, of challenges.

What is a life without stories to tell?

Dr Mark Wheeler was diagnosed with ALS in May…and former staff member Becca sent a note about her dad last night.

……I was on a remote mountain in Montana during this and tried to get home as fast as one could given the circumstances. At 9am this morning I was flying over the Mission Mountains thinking about him which is about the time he took his last breath. He died peacefully which we are all very thankful for. And he was wearing his favorite Tuscarora tshirt.

We’re grateful to Mark for raising such a strong and competent daughter. As we grieve for the entire Wheeler family, we’re taking an extra moment to savor our lives and our surroundings…and the people we love.

Our hearts go out to you Becca and your family today….we’re all sending our wishes for comfort and visions of still waters. We love you.