Throughout the 1930s, tourism spread rapidly into the roadless areas in the east from Grand Marais, and in the west from Ely, where Basswood Lake became a primary destination. It was reachable by seaplane, boat, or by a combination of rough roads and motorized portage. Basswood offered easy access to fishing on both sides of the Canada/MN border, and a network of islands and secluded bays. By the late 1950s there were more than 20 resorts on Basswood alone, and at least two successful resorts thrived on nearby Crooked Lake… MORE >
I didn’t know Ted Hall. But I really wish I had. I have always thought that if I could spend some time with a departed historical figure, it would be Mark Twain – to revel in his unique humor, adventurous spirit and tell-it-like-it-is approach to religion, politics and every other topic under the sun. Ted Hall had all of that, plus a dedication to preserving the natural magic of the boundary waters area surrounding his favorite place in the world: Ranier, Minn., and Rainy Lake… MORE >
Imagine that a doctor gives you only one more year of life. Would you head for the wilderness for one last trip? Only a few years out of college, that is precisely what Ernest Oberholtzer did in 1909 and his health “improved with every stroke of the paddle”. Taking strength from the wilderness, Ober, as he was known to all, lived on to 1977, when he died at the age of 93… MORE >
