The same group plus 2 made another trip to Tofte for some late season skiing. This time the travel was uneventful. We arrived on Friday afternoon after stopping at Jay Cooke State Park for a short hike and then another stop in Duluth for lunch at the Amazing Grace Bakery and Cafe. The afternoon was spent settling in to the great accommodations and enjoying the sun streaming in the big windows overlooking Lake Superior and sipping awesome bloody mary's provided by Mark. Dinner was an excellent chicken chili made by Mark.
Saturday, after a great breakfast by Greg, we went skiing on the Sugar Hills trail system. After a freeze/thaw cycle the day before, cold temperatures had returned and made the trails icy. But grooming was characteristically excellent. The skiing was good and the downhills were fast and exhilarating. Worn out, we returned to the the cabin for lunch provided by Bob and another lazy afternoon. A lasagna dinner made by me and a pleasant evening of sipping a good single malt offered by Bob and a fine mescal provided by Jerry rounded out the day.
Sunday morning brought another fine breakfast by Greg and the departure of Jerry for a family event. The rest of us went for another ski. After returning to the cabin for lunch, Bob, Mark and I went for a hike along the Cascade River. Cold temperatures had sent the river back under the ice but a few openings showed the water coursing over the rocks. With the sun inexorably rising in the sky, it would be just a matter of time before the noisy and beautiful cascades would make their appearance again.
Sunday evening bought another pleasant round of drinks and conversation. A Monday morning departure brought us back to the city, pleasantly tired and refreshed by another north woods winter weekend.
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St. Louis River at Jay Cooke State Park
(Click thumbnails to get a larger version). |
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| Saturday morning sunrise over Lake Superior |
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| The 4 musketeers (Jerry is taking the picture). |
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| Beautiful trails through the woods overlooking the big lake. |
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| Mark shows the snow depth. |
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| Another sunrise. |
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| Mid-hike along the Cascade River. |
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| Moonrise over the big lake. |
Here are some videos:
I get a surprise at the end of this one:
The Cascade River flows beneath the ice:
