Opening our eyes to receive what is there for us to see…

 Yesterday I got up early and drove to the North shore of Lake Superior. Highway 1 runs from the East side of Ely to the North shore. It is a winding, rolling, narrow road through some pretty remote country. Countryside inhabited by wolves and moose. OK, so there are a few other animals out there: Black Bear, White Tail Deer, Red and Grey Fox, Bald Eagles, Ringed Necked Ducks, Common Loons, Common Mergansers, and a few others. The difference is, I’ve seen each of the aformentioned animals in the wild over the last 16 days here in Minnesota. Yes I’ve seen wolves here, but the caged variety don’t count, I want to see them live and in the wild.

Spotted these on the drive on Highway 1

So, let’s get back to my drive on Highway 1 to the coast of Lake Superior on Sunday. I woke early, specifically to get on the road at a time when the wild things were more likely to be out and about(How to write that with a Yooper accent?). I drove extra slow. I had just read in The Little Book of Contemplative Photography about how the Native American hunters “are said to have conditioned themselves to see everything but focus on nothing. In that way, anything that appeared, even at the very edges of peripheral vision, would catch their attention.” And being fascinated, as I am, by the Native American culture’s connection with creation, I attempted to practice this sort of mindfulness as I drove through the wilds of northern Minnesota on Highway 1. (In all honesty this is how I drive most of the time. My daughters can attest to this. They don’t always appreciate my ability to point out the hawk or deer, or fox along the road while I’m driving. But this day I was especially attentive)

Ring Necked Ducks

Taken in the midst of a torrential downpour

Of course I needed to focus on the road as I drove, which hindered my ability to fully enter into the experience. But, I did my best to keep on the road and “see everything”. I’m convinced I just missed a number of really exciting animals. I think I passed a moose and calf almost certainly just ready to cross the road. And there was a wolf pack preparing for a hunt that had just entered the woods when I rounded one corner. Another bear was just peering out of the woods when I happened to be looking at the other tree line. I remember one of the 3 times I went deer hunting (unsuccessfully I have to admit, which is why I raise my own beef. I have to keep my meat animals penned up so I can find them when I want to.) and I had to choose between several different tree stands to sit in for the morning. The whole time I was convinced that the big Buck was walking right in front of one of the other stands that I could’ve chosen. Which makes any sighting of wildlife all the more exciting and significant.

Oh yeah! I did see a black bear on Saturday evening. I was coming home from town, not more than 2 miles from my cabin, and there, just emerging from the underbrush and the trees right next to the road was a black bear. I slowed and wanted to stop but it was a bad place in the road to stop. So I went by and turned around, readying my camera in the process. When I returned, the bear was still there and another car was stopped in the middle of the road. As I came up, the bear raised up on its hind legs, looked at me and ran back into the woods. Unfortunately, there are no pictures to share. I drove right up to the place where the bear entered the woods and it was just peaking out of the brush. Before I had a chance, the bear took off into the woods.

The next time I drove by that spot I slowed, anticipating another sighting, but nothing emerged. I know that bear is out there. I have seen it now for myself. I wish I could share a picture of it like I have with my birds, or flowers, or landscapes. But it was not to be. What a thrill though and, so much more satisfying than watching the wolves in the enclosure at the International Wolf Center.

Yesterday I was around the Wilderness Wind base camp without much to do. I did two loads of laundry. And, as my wet clothes were drying in the gentle breeze and bright sunshine I just decided to take my camera out and see what there was to receive through my telephoto lens. I knew there were some Columbine on the slope next to the drive, and so I started there. From there, my eye was caught by a yellow butterfly (Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, I believe) and I was thrilled with a picture of it on a bright yellow dandelion. Next was a tiny little moth/butterfly that came in and seemed to dance for a bit with the larger one. Next, I moved up the drive and was attracted by a flying insect that landed, upon closer observation I was dazzled by a brilliant, iridescent green beetle. After some research on the Minnesota DNR website I’m pretty sure it is a Laurentian Tiger Beetle, common only in Ontario, Manitoba, and Minnesota. And, only in the North Eastern most counties of Minnesota. I am thrilled to have seen one. And then, a wild rose caught my eye with multiple bugs wrestling on it. I found what I would say is a Sweet Pea on the slope beside the kitchen. And finally I walked the Cedar bog boardwalk and found a Marsh Marigold along with stunning green ferns, moss, and other plan painted with the afternoon light streaming through the cedar trees.   

Last night then after watching the exciting World Cup soccer match between the US and Ghana I headed home and took a canoe out on the lake. After several unsuccessful casts with the fishing pole I settled into the bottom of the canoe to enjoy the sunset. I had purposefully chosen not to take my camera and just enjoy the sights and sounds and sensations. The Loons were calling. The lake was completely still with the sun and clouds and trees reflecting off of it like a sheet of glass. But I couldn’t help myself. First I pulled out my phone to record the awesome sounds of the Loons calling. Next I took a picture of the sun as it was shining through the clouds and reflecting off the lake. Pretty soon the battery in my phone was dead and the colors and clouds in the sky were rapidly getting more and more complex and awe inspiring. I found myself paddling back to shore to get my real camera.

On my way back I noticed a man standing in the cattails beside our landing area. He was straining on the end of a fishing pole. Sure enough he had a fish. And a pretty good sized one I could tell from the splashing and the bend of his pole. I saw him pacing back and forth in the cattails trying to figure out how he was going to land this big fish without it getting all tangled in the weeds or getting his pants and shoes wet. Really wanting to get to shore and get my camera, I reluctantly asked if there was anything I could do. Appreciatively he asked if I could retrieve his net in the boat that was tied up at shore. After doing so he took the net and fearing that he would lose his big fish before he could land it, he waded into the water working to get the big fish into his net. It was obvious he was thrilled with his catch. I quickly went for my camera. But upon returning he quickly asked if I would take a picture with him and his father and the big fish. Again, I reluctantly agreed. The colors and the cloud formations were incredible. My lens was not nearly wide enough to take it all in. After clicking a few pictures I finally gave in and simply began turning in circles attempting to take the wonder of it all in. The way the waning light reflected off the clouds, the subtle and vibrant pinks and blues and various shades of white. Such variety and character. Simply incredible.

And here again, just like the sighting of the bear, I am unable to offer you a picture that will convey the gift that I received through my eyes. I’m sure each of you knows that feeling. The challenge of having seen something and yet not being able to capture in words, or a photograph, or even a video just how incredible what you witnessed really was. And then it’s gone. But you know what you’ve seen. And perhaps you will never see it again. And that is perfectly OK, just as long as you don’t stop looking, anticipating something incredible. And just as long as you don’t stop trying to share what you have seen and experienced with others.

A good week

June 13, 2014

I had a great day yesterday despite the rain. It’s been a good week. After working on the drying shed for most of the week and finally getting the roof on the day before yesterday, we worked on two of the canoe trailers for a bit yesterday. We are gearing up for our first group to arrive on Saturday. It was raining steadily all day. We worked in the garage until noon. I came back to the cabin after lunch and read a bit, until we lost power and my lights went out so I headed into town to watch the second half of the first game of the World Cup.

I’ll admit to cheering for the underdog Croatians even though I’ve been to Brasil and own a Brasil National Team jersey. I’ll just say that Brasil’s second goal on the PK was ridiculous. And it changed the game in disappointing ways. But Brasil’s defense played its typical, “they don’t look that good” but somehow they do enough to win the game. Kind of like Italy can look at times on the defensive end and yet they get the job done and the other team just never seems to get a solid shot off or good angle or just miss an opportunity. OK I digress. 

Currently it is 40 degrees, or at least it was last night. I’m cold. Drinking hot coffee and hot cereal for breakfast helps a bit but my toes are cold even with two pairs of socks on. I’m stubbornly trying to save Wilderness Wind some money by not firing up the space heater they provided me in the cabin. And I’m feeling pretty good about that. Last night I wore long pants and a fleece to bed along with 3 blankets. And it was one of those nights where I was warm, but just warm enough. My toes were a little cool but not cold. But I slept fine.

After the World Cup game I traveled North of town about 15 or so miles, out the Echo Trail to the beautiful cabin of Tim Lehman for supper. Tim is the former transitional pastor for both West Clinton and Central. He and his wife now live year round in a log cabin he has been working on for the past 20 years. No running water or septic system, yet. That is coming this year. Currently a gas pump every couple of days brings water from the lake into a large tank on the front porch. I drink 2x filtered lake water in my cabin also. The composting toilet replaced the outhouse in recent years and will soon be replaced by a full septic system. The Cabin has no electricity other than when a generator is running for computer and a cell phone antennae booster. That is about to change within the month. They are installing a solar array soon that will give them full power for lights, etc… currently they utilize little solar lights along with propane lighting.

I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. We talked about church and life in the North woods of Minnesota in a log cabin on the lake. I heard about the male wolf that visited their property regularly throughout this past winter to mark his territory. The yearly weeklong solo Lake Trout fishing trip Tim does into the Boundary Waters each year. The church that they are attending where Tim is volunteering his expertise as a transitional pastor on a half time basis. I left around 9:30 as the light was leaving the sky and caught glimpses of a gorgeous sunset through the trees. The Echo Trail is a road that winds around through lakes and rock formations and timber. And I was eagerly anticipating a wolf sighting or a moose, I did catch a glimpse of a red fox as it shot across the road. I imagined it was being chased by a wolf, though I didn’t see any sign of the wolf. 

As I traveled back to my cabin I was greeted by an especially bright and glorious night sky illuminated by a gorgeous full moon. I had thoughts of capturing some pictures but when I made it back to my cabin the moon was no longer in view. I woke in the middle of the night and had thoughts of going out and getting pictures of it but… It was cold! Maybe tonight? 

As far as birds go, the Loons are by far my favorite of the North woods. Their call throughout the day is so unique… and one just began calling as if on cue. I saw a Bald Eagle last night as I drove out to the Lehman cabin. I think I have identified a tiny little bird that loves the underbrush around my cabin and barely sits still for a second or two at the most as a Ruby or Golden-crowned Kinglet. Almost wren-like, a little smaller than a Warbler. If I can get a picture I will be thrilled and it will be an accomplishment. Of course there are Robins and Dandelions for that matter. On my walk to Kiwishiwi Falls last Saturday I saw what, if I remember it correctly, looked to me to be a Veery. But I can’t be sure. I looked it up when I got back to my bird book but I am not 100%. 

What is it about birding that is so satisfying. I think for me it is seeing the rich variety of birds. The different colors and sizes and bills and patterns. Imagine if all Robins or Starlings were all there was. Not that I dislike Robins or…well I do kind of dislike Starlings (they are so aggressive and nasty) but I think of how satisfying it is to know that there is not one or two patterns for birds. And even amongst the sparrows. You can have a bunch of sparrows in a flock and when you look carefully recognize that there are several varieties present. And this grey camouflaged song sparrow offers a wonderful song. 

I recently taught “bird adaptations” at Amigo Centre to Kindergarten through 3^rd graders. I had no problem speaking with enthusiasm about beaks, feathers, and feet. And how different birds have different beaks, feathers, and feet based on where they live and what they eat. The Loon is a diving bird and can stay underwater for long periods of time. The thing that has fascinated me about Loons is the way they can vary their profile in the water. If you look at the pictures of the Loons I have posted on Facebook you see that sometimes it’s just barely their neck that sticks out of the water as they swim along, like a submarine with its periscope up. The water flows over them like it would over the metal of the submarine. And then at other times they will sit up on top of the water like a duck.

I am also enjoying the staff here at Wilderness Wind. We joked several days ago that we have to be a little “off” to be on staff at Wilderness Wind. Life in the North Woods of Minnesota is a unique experience. It is a wonderfully diverse group.  Only two of the five of us come from traditional Mennonite backgrounds. And four of us currently attend Mennonite Churches. We each have our unique stories to tell and that has added so much to the delight of eating and working together.

I have worked the most with Dave. Dave spends up to half of his year volunteering at a variety of ministries utilizing his carpentry and maintenance knowledge and creativity in Kingdom work. I have enjoyed getting to know him and his rich treasure trove of experience.

     

 Sarah is currently working in the kitchen getting food stuffs ready for the groups who will be going out this summer. She will be leading trips as a guide this summer. She spent last year from April through October completing the Appalachian Trail solo. Her trail name was “Poppins” because, rather than utilize a rain suit she used an umbrella when it rained. It’s a pretty incredible commitment and accomplishment to hike the entire trail from North Carolina to Maine solo. 

Stan is the director of Wilderness Wind and lives in Grand Marais in the UP of Michigan in the offseason. His hobby is running sled dogs. I’ve enjoyed hearing stories about his adventures with his dogs. I would love to watch him run his team sometime.

Annette is from Illinois and is doing a variety of jobs around camp. She too has a unique story although I haven’t had as much of a chance to interact with her.

A few pics from the weekend

Incredibly these dragonflies just hatched. I'm assuming this one from the shell below it. And the mosquitoes were practically non-existent today at the waterfront where the older ones were already flying around feeding. I love dragonflies!!

This Great Blue Heron was hanging out right in front of my cabin. Had to wait awhile in full body armor and a headnet to capture this picture.

I was totally unprepared for him to fly off right in front of me. This pic is out of focus but I thought it was so cool I added it anyways.

Kiwishiwi Falls from the water's edge.

Kiwishiwi Falls from up top looking out over the lake.

Is this a Lady Slipper? Thankfully it caught my eye as I left the falls.

The International Wolf Center is just outside of Ely, MN. These are captive wolves but just as majestic.

Yes! They are wild. No, I don't think I want to try and take their food.

I love their eyes.

Mosquitoes!

June 5, 2014

 

As I sit to write this entry there is (just smashed three before I could get this sentence out) the incessant buzzing of mosquitoes around my ears. The only thing that holds me back from identifying this place as paradise are the swarms, and I mean black clouds, of mosquitoes. They descend on one en mass in the absence of either breeze or movement. Give them 10 seconds on your skin and you will have no doubts whether your blood is red. 

I have to confess there is a ton of beauty to be admired here in Northern Minnesota. But, over the past several days these pesky mosquitoes have tempered my enthusiasm for enjoying it all. I find myself more content to remain indoors behind the protective barrier of a quality screen. They’re so bad that when you come in from the outside you spend the first fifteen minutes killing all of the little buggars that followed you in. I’m still smashing them. What’s quite unpleasant is when you breathe one in and it hits the back of your throat causing you to choke and sputter. They are thick this time of the year.  

Most everybody knows what it means to be bit by a mosquito; the intense urge to itch, the welt that can develop for some. And one is bad enough as you lie awake in the dark hearing it buzzing, not knowing for sure where it is and when it will strike. But when its broad daylight and there are literally hundreds surrounding you looking for any exposed surface they can find. You can kill ten and 30 will take their place. So what to do? Well I definitely wear long sleeves at all times. And sometimes gloves when I’m working. I have a hat. I do have bug repellant. I remember when I was up here earlier in my life I found that the less I would respond to that intense urge to itch it would eventually subside and I was much less irritated by the mosquito bite. Oh, to be young again.

Inevitably there is the question that arises when one is pondering the negative impact of a creature like the mosquito; “Why in the world did God create mosquitoes?” It’s a good question. Not one I can fully answer. It may be a question I ask God when I see the Creator face to face. Of course, what we are asking is really; “Do the benefits of mosquitoes outweigh the negatives of mosquitoes?” And; "Why God, would you create something that didn't have more positives for us, than negatives?" We are a pretty consumer driven culture. This is a line of questioning with which we are all quite familiar. It’s interesting that we find ourselves tempted to ask the sovereign Creator to justify what has been created.  And further, that we act on our cost analysis and feel free to attempt to remove all mosquitoes from the face of the earth.

I could begin to answer the benefits question by talking about the birds and insects that consume mosquitoes as food. I think there are some birds and insects who are quite grateful for an abundance of these blood sucking parasites. And, particularly when they are trying to feed their little peeps, in the case of birds. I love birds. So I guess that’s one positive for mosquitoes. Dragonflies also consume their fair share of mosquitoes. I love dragonflies. A good friend of mine uses the image of a dragonfly on some of his beautiful pottery. And fish, don’t forget the fish who consume mosquito nymphs. I love fish, and frogs too, don't forget the frogs who enjoy mosquitoes. So there are some positives to having mosquitoes around. But is this even the way we should look at mosquitoes. 

If we believe, that God created them in the beginning, then they have value simply because they are alive. There is that scripture “The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” Now I’m not suggesting that we need to learn to embrace mosquitoes in all their fullness by allowing them to consume all the blood they need from us. We don’t need to welcome them into our homes and learn to live hand in hand with them. The key is recognizing and honoring whose they are. I believe this keeps our mindset towards mosquitoes and all sorts of creatures in proper perspective. We can adapt in ways that don’t require us to work towards the extinction of all mosquitoes everywhere. 

Today, I compromised. I have never used a head net before in northern Minnesota. I have, in the past, prided myself in being able to endure and remain non-reactive to them. Prior to coming up, I even said no to a friend in Ohio who offered me her head net, saying quite confidently; “No, I don’t need one.”  But today, I borrowed a head net from the camp. And tomorrow, I will travel into Ely and purchase my own. And it will be well worth whatever price. There is something satisfying about standing in a cloud of mosquitoes and knowing there is nothing they can do. I worked outside all day today and at no time did I have any thoughts that I couldn’t stand it any longer. I could relax and enjoy being outside again. I look forward to fishing and canoeing and taking pictures again with that same ability to relax and enjoy where I am, without feeling the passionate desire to kill every mosquito on the planet. And that, I believe, is a good thing.

Wahohney "Little Flower"

June 3, 2014

I’m finally here. Wahohney (the name of my cabin) will be my home for the month of June. “Wahohney” is Ojibway for “little flower”. And it feels like a little gem on the edge of the woods, with a view of Lake Armstrong out my kitchen window. I have a longer walk to the road at home, than I do to the lake here. I felt a little like Henri David Thoreau as I unpacked my stuff into this one room cabin last night. One of the books I name as a favorite is “One Man’s Wilderness” about a man who built his own cabin on a lake in the remote wilderness of Alaska. He then lived in that cabin for a whole year by himself. At least until Saturday I will be the only one at this spot on the Lake. 

Wilderness Wind has two sites. The other site is about 3 miles away and houses the summer staff, outfitting supplies, and the groups preparing to enter the Boundary Waters. This site (Lakeside) is a place for people to come and get a taste of Northern Minnesota life without the rigors and challenges of wilderness, no trace, canoe camping. I am thrilled to be here.

Inside my little cabin, hardwood floors and open rafters, a simple kitchen and table, a padded chair and dresser, along with a double bed, welcomed me. The bath house offering pit toilets and warm showers is a short walk through the woods. I have running water in my cabin for washing dishes but I fill my two one gallon jugs with drinkable, and very tasty, water (filtered lake water) at the back of the bath house.

A bonus, for those of you who know me well, is the ability to hear the Loon calling from the inside of the cabin. I just read a journal entry of someone who stayed here who said they were able to hear wolves calling here as well. Awesome! But I do have to admit wolves both fascinate me, and freak me out. So I’m hoping to hear them, but maybe not see them, from my cabin. There was also a post that listed an Otter sighting. That would be cool.

To back up a bit and say the drive up here was incredible. I took two days to make the 13-14 hour trip and could’ve easily enjoyed a third day. It was all I could do to pass up photographing some incredible cloud formations, rushing rocky streams, and marsh areas. I even passed two cranes feeding in a marshy area and didn't stop because I wanted to get here before dark yesterday. I still didn’t make it until after the sun had set. Too much to see and savor on the way here through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I traveled along both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. 

It sounds like there will be no lacking for things to do. In talking with the staff there are many projects on the schedule. And did I mention Mosquitoes? I’ve seen and experienced a few. Long sleeves and pants will be the order of the month. It certainly helps that it is 50 degrees at night and in the 70’s during the day.

As I look forward to the coming month my mind is full of hopes and ideas of what this time will hold. My biggest hope is that I can simply be present each minute and hour. I don’t want to paddle or drive or walk by an Otter, or Loon, or Wolf, or Black Bear, or Moose unaware. I want to be available to listen to the still small voice and, to the audible ones as well. I want to see the Northern lights even if it means enduring the Mosquitoes. And I want to take the time to catch my supper and go without if I fail. I want to read, both stuff I have read before and appreciated and, new stuff. I want to write, and take pictures, and dream.