7 Wild Winter Adventures

November 2006 Special Sections

When it comes to winter adventure in the Upper Midwest, there is no singular, defining activity. And no, dodging the I-94 traffic after a three-inch “snowstorm” does not constitute winter adventure. You can do better than that!

Just a few hours north of the Twin Cities, an adventureland awaits, in all its glory and variety. Your exploit of choice might be an open-throttle dash under the midday sun, or a serene journey on a moonlit night. Whatever your fancy, here are a few adventures to whet the winter appetite.

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Up to 3,000 fans gather to watch the start of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, and the excitement is palpable. Not just from the fans, but also from the raring-to-go dogs yelping the canine equivalent of “Hey, get this show on the road!”

The Beargrease, which covers 400 miles from Duluth to the Gunflint Trail in northeastern Minnesota and back to Duluth, is a North Shore institution. It passes muster as both sporting drama and spectator showcase. Pat Olson,  president of the board of directors, describes the race’s appeal as “the excitement of the dogs, their eagerness to pull, and watching the relationship between the musher and the dog.”

Fifteen years ago, the race offered large purses and many world-class mushers. After experiencing a bit of a decline, much of it warm-weather-related, Olson says of the Beargrease, “It’s coming back.” The twenty-fifth –anniversary Beargrease starts January 28. The purse has been doubled—the winner gets $25,000, enough to buy a ton of Alpo—and up to eighty mushers could start the marathon and accompanying mid-distance race.

At nine checkpoints, fans can watch the goings-on free of charge. There is prime viewing at the wilderness checkpoint on the upbound part of the course on the Sawbill Trail, where dog trucks, handlers, and veterinarians are not allowed—only Man and His Dog. Many accompanying events are open to the public: a cutest puppy contest, the opening ceremonies and bib draw, and the ticketed Friday night pre-Beargrease gala featuring a silent auction.

American Birkebeiner
The American Birkebeiner is North America’s largest cross-country ski marathon, as well as winter’s equal-opportunity spectacle—participants and spectators can enjoy it equally. And they do. In droves.

This year’s Birkie races are expected to attract close to 9,000 entrants to the Hayward-Cable area of northwestern Wisconsin. Another 2,000 volunteers run the show. And thousands more line the trails, leading to the throng that fills Main Street in Hayward and roars for the internationally renowned racers who battle for the title in the fifty-one–kilometer Birkebeiner, the coup de grace of three days of racing. Farther back on the race course, thousands of citizen skiers live out their own dramas, perhaps straining for a personal-best time or just the mere satisfaction of finishing the race.

“It’s such an incredible thing,” says Holly Henry, executive director of the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce and a Birkebeiner board member. “The people who participate in it, it’s a huge accomplishment for them, and most of them are not elite skiers. There are a whole lot of people out there doing this as a personal challenge and for fun, with their friends, spouses, and children.”

The thirty-fourth annual Birkie races will take place February 22–24, with the Birkebeiner and twenty-three-kilometer Kortelopet accepting registration up until the day before the races.

Snowmobiling in Bemidji and Grand Rapids
The adrenaline rush of a winter adventure isn’t limited to organized sporting events. There’s also the high-speed thrill of navigating Minnesota’s snowmobile trails—more than 20,000 miles’ worth. The cities of Bemidji and Grand Rapids are outstanding launching points.

“We have a saying up here—‘We have more trails than you have time,’” says Gayle Quistgard of Visit Bemidji. The Beltrami County and Blackduck areas feature about 500 miles of trail and connect with systems that lead to Winnipeg, Grand Rapids, and Brainerd.

One of Grand Rapids’ draws is that “you don’t have to trailer out of town to get on the snowmobile trails,” says Cheri Bialke of Visit Grand Rapids Tourism. “People park once when they get here and ride all weekend, and they don’t have to load up when they want to go home.”

The Itasca County Snowmobile Trail Map details close to 1,000 miles of trail tended by thirteen area clubs. Attractions include the remnants of mining towns in eastern Itasca County and the lakes and pines of the Chippewa National Forest north of Grand Rapids.