Postcards from 2025 January: A postcard from the land of recovery and road trips Greetings from Duluth, where we thawed out from Nutcracker season, packed away the Department 56 villages, and immediately hit the road again for basketball tournaments two hours away, again (and thankful for the extra bedroom at John and JoAnn's). Theo made his percussion debut at his first band concert. Katie launched a New Year's Resolution to try a new art medium each month. January's was printmaking. Wish you were here (to help clean up). Basketball wins Ice skating in January February: A postcard from Snowy Utah Hello from Park City, Utah, where we saw moose and only misplaced one child. Ski patrol searched everywhere, but he eventually strolled into the condo after skiing to the base, putting his skis in the rack and walking a full mile in his ski boots - because he was mad at his sister. We now understand why parents use Apple watches as kid-tracker...or leashes. Right after that advent...
Aurora Borealis: dancing pretty lights Since moving to Duluth, MN in 2017, I have yearned to see the Northern Lights. I joined the Great Lakes Aurora Hunters Facebook Group. I downloaded the SpaceWeather Live app. I allowed push notifications for anything Kp4 or higher, which could signal aurora activity is visible in my area. I've studied the Kp-indices, solar flares, solar wind speed and interplanetary magnetic field. I learned about not only the moon phases but moon rise and moon set times as optimal aurora viewing requires a minimal amount of moonlight if possible. I've bookmarked the NOAA graphical forecast page to check the sky cover for cloudy weather. I've scouted out a couple viewpoints that are unobstructed, northern facing away from the city lights. (One is a large soccer field complex, the other is a dog park without too many tall trees or buildings blocking the view.) Auroral activity: https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/auroral-activity.html Sky cover: https:...
How to plan to a trip to the BWCAW T minus 7 months Discuss route options. Call outfitter for suggestions. Read trip reports on BWCA.com. Decide on 1st and 2nd choice options and preferred entry dates. Mark calendar for end of January when BWCA permit portal opens. Secure permit for Entry 33 Little Gabbro (only 1 per day) T minus 6 months Reserve canoes at Piragis outfitter in Ely Book a room at Canoe on Inn for Saturday night T minus 7-14 days Plan menu and meals for trip Make packing list and start to pull out gear T minus 3 days Charge electronics: walkie talkies, headlamps, lanterns, camera, flextail mattress pump , etc. Go to Marine General to get fishing permit and buy new lucky lures and jigs T minus 2 days Pull out all camping gear ready to pack Buy last minute items Buy groceries Prep food T minus 1 day to entry Pack all gear, food, clothes into 3 canoe packs, 1 bear barrel, and 4 backpacks and a small cooler Pack overnight bag (PJs, toiletries an...
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