Along the Portage

Outdoor Columnist

Winter X-rays the trees. It strips flowers, leaves, and distractions of color to reveal form and silhouette. Trunks and branches have a beauty all their own, the defining growth of a species and a character of line.

Take willow for example, from the Salix family. There are 18 species native to Minnesota according to Trees & Shrubs of Minnesota by Welby Smith (an excellent comprehensive guide published in 2008). While most of these reach only the stature of shrubs or small trees, a few – such as black willow, peach-leaved willow, and whitecrack willow (non-native but naturalized) – can become larger. Whichever species is in the Mississippi floodplain at the back of our property, it has tall straight trunks with a distinct diamond-fissured bark pattern reminiscent of ironwork.

In contrast, silver maple is very different, maturing from a smooth, light gray wrap on young trees to thin plates of bark on old trees that hang in strips as if someone had pulled upwards from root to canopy with a drawknife and left the shavings attached. Very old trees, leaning outward from a bank into the open space above water, may have a decided spiral twist to the trunks.

And then there are oaks, sturdy and unyielding. Where maples seem graceful and limber, oaks appear rigid and stiff. Their trunks meet the ground like fenceposts, straight in and packed tight. The branches thrust out and up in a claim to space, a rounding of form. The genus name, Quercus, is from a Latin name meaning “beautiful tree.” While there are 90 species in the United States, Minnesota has just 7.

Unlike these deciduous trees, conifers have a consistent shape year-round thanks to needles that drop on a staggered schedule. Red pines nose upwards with stout rounded tops like rockets ready to launch; their complete shape is that of a pullet egg. Black spruce resemble traffic cones, tall thin spires with wider bases that mark a route through bogs. The scattered white pines, once plentiful in our county, rise up with …

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The ALS Association, Minnesota Chapter

The largest snowmobile fundraising event in the world, the Black Woods Blizzard Tour, achieved a new fundraising milestone raising more than $503,000 at its annual event, held February 4, 2010. There were 153 riders, the most ever, who rode nearly 400 miles over three days, raising money for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known at Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The group included the event’s celebrity host, former Minnesota Twins catcher, Terry Steinbach. Steinbach lost his father to ALS in 1999. He was joined by Twins Skipper Ron Gardenhire, hitting coach Joe Vavra and former Twins first baseman, Kent Hrbek. Hrbek also lost his father to this disease in 1982.

Riders collected a minimum of donations between $900 and $1,200 to participate in this fundraising event. (Past riders collected $900; new riders collected $1,200.) Participants rode in organized groups from Proctor to Lake Vermilion on day one, over 150 miles. On day two, riders rode from Lake Vermilion to Two Harbors, another 150 miles. Riders traveled the last leg of the trip on the third day, from Two Harbors to Proctor, approximately 70 miles.

This year’s top fundraiser was the Polaris team of Roseau, Minnesota. The team raised more than $67,000 through local community events and pledges. Jane Evans, representing Polaris, accepted the Polaris 600 IQ Shift snowmobile donated by Polaris Industries. The sled will be used to raise more money for ALS and the Black Woods Blizzard Tour. Second place went to Dave Telschow (Savage, Minn.) who raised $30,800. Minnesota Twins manager, Ron Gardenhire, raised $21,800 to win third-place honors. John Malinosky (Enfield, Conn.) raised $12,478 to take home fourth-place honors. Rounding out the top five was Ted Kowalski (Prior Lake, Minn.) who raised $10,490.

Nearly $3 million has been raised from the Black Woods Blizzard Tour in …

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Managing Editor

Saturday, February 13, was a balmy winter day, filled with sunshine, crisp air and fishing – lots and lots of fishing. A regular winter day usually brings several anglers onto Lake Minnewawa, but this was no regular day. The several anglers that usually hit the ice quickly multiplied as the Minnewawa Fishing Contest, sponsored by the Minnewawa Sportsmen’s Club, took place.

Over 300 participants drug out their rods and reels to try to reel in the prize money. The contest started at noon with anglers rip ready and roaring to go. All around, the ice anglers dropped their lines in the water with high hopes.

Although dreams of big fish first danced across the ice, it wasn’t long before hopes started to fade. It would appear that the fish were not in the mood for a bite to eat.

Shortly after the contest started Brandon WallRaff reeled in the first fish of the day, a northern weighing 2 pounds and 15 ounces. He was awarded $50 for the first fished weighed in.

As the day passed, participants enjoyed much conversation and camaraderie. Several other prizes were given out for the oldest, youngest and farthest-away angler and more. However, the fish were just not biting.

At the close of the contest, Brandon WallRaff was declared the only angler to catch a fish. His 2 pound 15 ounce northern was the only fish of the day. Along with his $50 for having the first fish, he also took home $100 for the biggest fish and $50 for the last fish – sweeping all three categories.

The balmy winter Saturday may have drawn hundreds of people to the Minnewawa Fishing Contest, but …

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