July 28, 2010
July 28, 2010
Our first stop today is Ely, MN, capital of the Boundary Water Canoe Wilderness Area. I have been here several times. It is a beautiful area worthy of National Park status. Like the National Park it lies along the Voyageur route. In combination with its Canadian counterpart, Quetico Provincial Park, this area is the perfect destination to explore in the footsteps of the historic Voyageurs. You can literally canoe and portage thru wilderness here for hundreds of miles without seeing anything man made. At night you will hear only loons calling each other.
Unfortunately we are just passing thru Ely. We have a pressing reservation tomorrow. We only have time for a brief visit to the International Wolf Center. It is an interesting diversion for a couple hours. We learn a lot about wolves in the exhibit area. While they have their peculiarities, they are amazingly like our pet dogs. I have a fondness for wolves but surprising to me, many hate them. Mostly farmers who blame them for the loss of an occasional calf and hunters who complain of sitting in their tree stands longer to shoot a deer. The centerpiece of the facility is a glass viewing area for watching captive wolves up close. I like it because they keep the glass spotless to improve photo opportunities.
From Ely we drive east to Lake Superior and then north to the Canadian border. Since we arrive late in the afternoon we have only a short time to run through Grand Portage National Monument. It turns out to be a wonderful place to learn more about the Voyageurs and the fur trade. Grand Portage was the longest and most difficult of the canoe carries on the Voyageur route. It was also the main meeting place where Voyageurs from Montreal would exchange trade goods for furs with the Voyageurs who traveled west to live among the Indians. The park is loaded with very knowledgeable re-enactors who make the monument a great place to visit. We need to come back.
Our first stop today is Ely, MN, capital of the Boundary Water Canoe Wilderness Area. I have been here several times. It is a beautiful area worthy of National Park status. Like the National Park it lies along the Voyageur route. In combination with its Canadian counterpart, Quetico Provincial Park, this area is the perfect destination to explore in the footsteps of the historic Voyageurs. You can literally canoe and portage thru wilderness here for hundreds of miles without seeing anything man made. At night you will hear only loons calling each other.
Unfortunately we are just passing thru Ely. We have a pressing reservation tomorrow. We only have time for a brief visit to the International Wolf Center. It is an interesting diversion for a couple hours. We learn a lot about wolves in the exhibit area. While they have their peculiarities, they are amazingly like our pet dogs. I have a fondness for wolves but surprising to me, many hate them. Mostly farmers who blame them for the loss of an occasional calf and hunters who complain of sitting in their tree stands longer to shoot a deer. The centerpiece of the facility is a glass viewing area for watching captive wolves up close. I like it because they keep the glass spotless to improve photo opportunities.
From Ely we drive east to Lake Superior and then north to the Canadian border. Since we arrive late in the afternoon we have only a short time to run through Grand Portage National Monument. It turns out to be a wonderful place to learn more about the Voyageurs and the fur trade. Grand Portage was the longest and most difficult of the canoe carries on the Voyageur route. It was also the main meeting place where Voyageurs from Montreal would exchange trade goods for furs with the Voyageurs who traveled west to live among the Indians. The park is loaded with very knowledgeable re-enactors who make the monument a great place to visit. We need to come back.
posted by Mike and Aimee at 6:42 PM
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