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Canoeing and Hiking in Minnesota's Boundary Waters |
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Program Number: |
4852RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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8/4/2013 - 8/10/2013;
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| Duration: |
6 nights |
| Location: |
Ely, Minnesota
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| Price starting at: |
$828.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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Water Sports; Walking/Hiking
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Activity Level: |
t (see description) |
| Meals: |
16;
6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners |
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| Meal
Options: |
Vegetarian; Low Fat; Low Salt |
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In the exceptional beauty of Northern Minnesota’s sparkling lakes and majestic forests, dip your canoe paddle into the calm water of a pristine lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. On another day, lace up your hiking boots and explore glacier-sculpted trails winding between the lakes. On this outdoor adventure, identify plants and wildflowers unique to this northern region and, depending on the week, watch for pipsissewa and wild blueberry. Enjoy trailside lunches on foot and shore lunches by canoe.
Highlights
• Experienced instructors teach safe canoeing and hiking techniques to small groups of beginner to advanced students.
• Presentations on natural history topics complement outdoor field trips, as does a visit to the North American Wolf Center.
• Enjoy an evening paddle amid the haunting call of the loon; another evening explore the quaint town of Ely and happen upon a live outdoor music performance.
Activity Particulars
Hiking up to five miles a day over uneven terrain. Canoeing up to five hours a day.
Coordinated by Vermilion Community College.
Ely
The Superior National Forest, stretching 150 miles along the U.S.-Canada border, encompasses a variety of wildlife and terrain, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Ely is the area’s quaint but bustling gateway.
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Accommodations
Rustic, lakeside cabins, each for one couple or up to three singles (one bath per cabin).
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| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Chris Hegenbarth
| | Chris Hegenbarth has been teaching enthusiasts about the outdoors for more than 20 years. She takes a special liking to gaining and imparting knowledge of an area's plants, animals, and geology. Her favorite outdoor pastime is picking wild blueberries —plentiful in northern Minnesota — with her children. Very much an outdoor person, she enjoys cross-country skiing, canoeing, hiking, and harvesting wild rice. | | | |
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Meals and Lodgings |
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Outdoor Learning Center |
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Ely, MN |
6 nights
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| Outdoor Learning Center |
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Type: |
Cabin |
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Description: |
This facility was formerly a family-run resort. Located on US Forest Service land, it now accommodates participants enrolled in educational programs. |
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Contact
info: |
3255 Fernberg Trail
Ely, MN 55731 USA
phone: 218-365-4613
web: www.elyoutdoorlearningcenter.com/
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Room amenities: |
The small cabins and apartment are furnished simply. Each has a living room, a kitchenette (stove/oven, sink, refrigerator, but no dishes), a bathroom (sink, toilet, shower) and one to three single or double occupancy bedrooms. The apartment has a tub. |
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Facility amenities: |
Quaint cabins are within 100 feet of the lake. Site features short walking trail, canoes, and a beach. |
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Smoking allowed: |
No |
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Bathroom: |
In six of the cabins, the bathroom in each cabin is shared by up to two participants, while in the the other two cabins and the apartment, it may be shared by up to three participants. One bathroom features a bathtub, while the other eight have a shower. |
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Additional nights prior: |
Approximately $45 per person. Please call 218-235-2164 to make arrangements and find out current price. |
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Check in time: |
3:30 PM |
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Additional nights after: |
Approximately $45 per person. Please call 218-235-2164 to make arrangements and find out current price. |
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Check out time: |
9:00 AM |
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| Transportation |
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To
Start of Program |
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Location:
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Ely, MN
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Nearest
city or town: |
Ely, MN
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Nearest
highway: |
Highway 169 |
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Nearest
airport: |
Duluth, MN (DLH)
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From
End of Program |
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Location: |
Ely, MN |
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(Additional
transportation information
same as above) |
Travel Details |
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Ely |
To Airport |
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Service: |
Commercial Van/Shuttle
Vermilion Ely-Duluth Road Scholar Shuttle
phone: 218-235-2164
Advanced Reservations Required |
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Per Person/One Way: |
$40
Prices are subject to change. |
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Travel Time: |
2 1/4 hours |
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The shuttle runs only once, leaving the program site at 8:15 AM on Saturday, and arriving to the Duluth International Airport by 10:30 AM. |
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Ely |
From Airport |
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Service: |
Commercial Van/Shuttle
Vermilion Duluth-Ely Road Scholar Shuttle
phone: 218-235-2164
Advanced Reservations Required |
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Per Person/One Way: |
$40
Prices are subject to change. |
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Travel Time: |
2 1/4 hours |
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The shuttle runs only once, leaving the Duluth International Airport at 1:30 PM on Sunday, and arriving to the program site at approximately 4:00 PM. |
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| Driving
Directions |
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2012 Construction |
NOTE: Due to construction activities on Highway 1, you may want to avoid Options 2 & 3, which this summer will include a long detour over gravel road. |
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An Overview |
There are several ways to reach Ely. Choose a route that meets your time constraints and desire for sightseeing. The driving times indicated are all approximate, depending upon traffic conditions, your driving speed, and the number of times you stop. |
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Duluth (option 1) |
Quickest Route from Duluth (2 hours)
Take Highway 53 North to Virginia. Just after passing Virginia exits, take Highway 169 to Ely. |
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Duluth (option 2) |
Scenic Route from Duluth (2 1/2 hours)
Head northeast on the Highway 61 "Expressway" along the shore of Lake Superior. Once you reach the northeast end of Two Harbors, take County Road 2 North to its intersection with Highway 1. Follow Highway 1 northwest into Ely (turn left onto Highway 1). |
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Duluth (option 3) |
Most Scenic Route from Duluth (3 1/2 hours)
Start out of Duluth on Highway 61 but take the immediate right-hand turn onto the "Scenic Northshore Drive". This road closely follows along the shore of the lake and ends at Two Harbors where it intersects Highway 61. Follow Highway 61 north until you reach its intersection (marked "Illgen City") with Highway 1. Follow Highway 1 northwest until you reach Ely. |
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Minneapolis/St. Paul |
Quickest Route from Minneapolis/St. Paul (5 hours)
Take I-35 north to the Cloquet exit where you will join up with Highway 33 North. Highway 33 will merge into Highway 53 North. Just after passing Virginia exits, take Highway 169 to Ely. You avoid Duluth with this route. |
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Minneapolis/St. Paul (variation) |
The trip from Minneapolis/St. Paul can include any of the scenic routes from Duluth described above if I-35 is taken all the way to Duluth. This adds to the total trip time, which will then be over 5 hours. (Duluth is approximately 2 1/2 hours from Minneapolis/St. Paul.) |
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Once in Ely |
Once in Ely, follow these instructions to get to the Outdoor Learning Center. Starting from the Ely Chamber of Commerce (a log building on the east end of town) travel northeast 3.5 miles on 169. You will pass the small town of Winton on your left. (From the green highway sign marking Winton, the Outdoor Learning Center driveway is 1.5 miles.) Due to sign set-back rules, the Outdoor Learning Center is not well marked, so watch your odometer. Across from the lefthand driveway is a small, green official roadsign. As you turn into the driveway, you will see a white sign announcing "Vermilion Outdoor Learning Center." If you reach a road sign that indicates "End 169" you have gone too far by about 1/3 of a mile. |
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Supplemental Road Information |
A) I-35 is a standard Interstate
B) Highways 33 and 53 are divided 4-lane highways
C) Highway 169 is a 2-lane highway
D) Highway 61 is a divided 4-lane highway from Duluth to Two Harbors on the "Expressway"; beyond Two Harbors it is a 2-lane road
E) County Road 2 is a well-maintained 2-lane road
F) Highway 1 is a 2-lane road with many twists and turns, but it is very scenic; people sometimes occasionally see moose and other wildlife on this road |
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The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.
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Day 2: |
Basic Canoeing Techniques / Tree Identification / Evening Presentation
(Monday, August 5)
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| Breakfast: | Enjoy a nourishing breakfast. | | Morning: | On the ground, learn or review basic canoeing techniques, including points of safety. Once comfortable with the basics, head out onto Fall Lake, putting your skills to work. Small group size allows instructors ample time to help participants one-on-one. | | Lunch: | Enjoy a lunch and comparing notes with your fellow learners. | | Afternoon: | Learn tree identification, becoming familiar with common northern Minnesota trees. Learn about other indigenous plants. Take a short nature walk in the Superior National Forest, leaving right from our classroom door. | | Dinner: | Enjoy a hearty dinner. | | Evening: | Learn about the geology and climate of the area, or another aspect of the natural or regional history of northern Minnesota. | |
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Free Time Opportunities |
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| Ely, MN |
Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Museum
Dedicated to telling the Bois Forte Ojibwe story, this award-winning museum depicts the history of these people through interpretive displays and artifacts. Learn about Ojibwe spirituality, ricing, bead work, and basketry.
For additional information, visit 216.185.198.110/divisions/heritage_center.htm
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Dorothy Molter Museum
The Dorothy Molter Museum is a memorial to the legendary last resident of the BWCAW. Known as “the Root Beer Lady”, Dorothy died in 1986 after living most of her 79 years on Knife Lake. Canoeists often stopped at Molter's home to enjoy her famous homemade root beer.
For additional information, visit www.canoecountry.com/dorothy
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Ely-Winton History Museum
Located on Ely's Vermilion Community College campus, this center shows the local history of the area’s logging and mining through artifacts, photographs and displays. For more information, call 218-365-3226.
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International Wolf Center
The International Wolf Center advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wild lands and the human role in their future. In addition to the award-winning exhibit, there are interpretive programs, two packs of live wolves, and an interactive children’s exhibit. For additional information, visit www.wolf.org
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Mesabi Trail
Located in northern Minnesota between the cities of Ely and Grand Rapids, the Mesabi Trail is a premier Minnesota bike trail winding through some of the state's prettiest regions. One of the longest paved trails in the United States, the trail passes through the communities of Nashwauk, Keewatin, Hibbing, Chisholm, Mountain Iron and Virginia. For additional information, visit www.mesabitrail.com
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More about Ely
As a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Ely is an ideal location for canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing. In addition to the multitude of outdoor opportunities, this quaint town also has many small gift shops and art galleries, particularly in photography. Visitors enjoy many activities year-round, including several annual festivals.
For additional information, visit www.ely.org
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More about Northeastern Minnesota
The Iron Range is a region that is as scenic as it is historically significant. Visitors can enjoy colorful stories about the immigrants who mined and shaped the land. Explore a museum or discovery center, take a tour or participate in a festival. This region has a rich history, and numerous opportunities exist to learn more about it. For additional information, visit www.ironrange.org
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North American Bear Center
See live bears and explore interpretive exhibits at the North American Bear Center, the focus of which is to improve the understanding and appreciation of the North American Bear, their role in the ecosystem, and their relation to humans through education, research, and rehabilitation. For additional information, visit www.bear.org
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Sisu Heritage Homestead Tours
A 15-mile, three-hour guided circle tour in rural Embarrass will give you a glimpse of the how Finnish pioneers lived in northeastern Minnesota in the early 20th century. You’ll view handcrafted log farm structures that are examples of the distinctive construction techniques practiced for centuries in Finland and brought to this country by Finnish immigrants. Call for more information (218-984-2084).
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Soudan Underground Mine
This Minnesota State Park features Minnesota’s first and deepest underground iron mine. Guided tours take you 2,400 feet down and more than 100 years into the past to experience the working conditions of early iron ore miners.
For additional information, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/soudan_underground_mine/index.html
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Trezona Trail
Circling Miners Lake, this trail meanders through mining sites and a variety of habitats. Tucked around the edge of Miners Lake, it’s hard to believe that you are within the city limits of Ely on this four mile walking and biking trail. The surface is mostly paved.
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