Under smoky skies, the border opening is in sight
A few days before we completed production of this issue, Canada announced that fully vaccinated travelers will be able to enter the country beginning August 9. As of this writing, the U.S. hasn’t announced when or how Canadians will be allowed to enter the country. We will share more information on northernwilds.com and our Facebook group Outdoor Adventures on Lake Superior’s North Shore as it becomes available. We do suggest potential border crossers become familiar with the ArriveCan app, which you will be required to use to provide your covid-related health information in order to enter Canada.
Hopefully, we’ll have received at least a couple of inches of rain by the time you read this, because the Northern Wilds is suffering from severe drought. An absence of blueberries and other wild foods will lead to difficult foraging conditions for black bears and other creatures. Bone-dry creeks and high water temperatures will tax trout and other fish dependent on cold water. Everyone living here is on edge about the growing risk of wildfire. We’ve endured many days where smoke from distant wildfires creates an acrid haze.
While the drought presents challenges, it hasn’t stopped us from enjoying summer. It seems that everyone is out and about participating in activities that were put on hold for the pandemic. We have a full-page calendar of upcoming events and three pages of event announcements—the most since the pandemic began. The Grand Marais Fisherman’s Picnic is back, although it will remain somewhat unusual due to ongoing construction along Highway 61. Still, residents, former residents and lovers of Cook County will be able to meet and catch up with one another as they have for 92 years.
We think you’ll enjoy this issue, where we’ve paid special attention to Lake Superior with stories about ship-watching, sailing, photographing waves, shore-casting and more. We’re introducing a new dining columnist, Kitty Mayo of Two Harbors, with a tip-of-the-hat to outgoing Chuck Viren for his excellent work on the food beat. We also have an inspiring story about a new program to bring young people from the Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation in South Dakota to work seasonal jobs along the Gunflint Trail and in Grand Marais. We even have the first winner in our new Trophy Trash section! So, turn the page. You’ll find a lot of fun inside.—Shawn Perich and Amber Pratt
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