Outdoors Posts

First Thursday Motorcycle Ride returns!

You know the drill, right?
Get on your motorcycle, ride it to the co-op, have a cup of coffee, BS for a few minutes, then go for a ride with a bunch of random people, who knows? Maybe people you know. Whatever. Maybe we’ll even have a beer when we’re done. So get there, unless it’s pouring rain we do this. All bikes and all riders welcome. Tell your friends, find it on the Facebook … Twin Ports First Thursdays. See you there!

B-Cycles: Why own when you can share?!?!

We need this is D-Town. Decrease our carbon footprint down to nothing and, let’s face it, it’d just be plain fun!

bcycle.com

Boundary Waters? Nah, this year, let’s paddle Nebraska.

When I was growing up in Nebraska, “tanking” was not … um … a thing.
I went tubing several times, but never tanking.
And I guess I got tanked.

I hope Nebraska doesn’t steal all of our tourists away.

UMD Spring Sustainability Fair – Thursday, April 22nd – 9am-2pm – UMD Kirby Student Center

This semester the theme of the UMD Sustainability Fair is Art and Design.  What can you do at the fair?  Attend an engaging conversation with community experts!  Architect David Salmela, FAIA, will discuss architecture and sustainability. Pastor David Carlson of Duluth’s Gloria Dei Lutheran Church will talk about his experience with the Early Adopter’s training and how the Natural Step Framework as affected the congregation.  Susan Meyers, graduate of UMD’s Masters of Liberal Arts program, will talk about her project, Creating a Journey into Healing with Art.  Ryan Jordan, UMD Admissions Diversity Counselor, will present on Music and Social Change.  You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about sustainability efforts in the Twin Ports by visiting over 20 community and campus organization’s informational and interactive booths!  Also, check out UMD and Duluth elementary student art on display at UMD Stores Express and around campus! Sustain Fair Poster Spring 2010

UMD Parking Q’s: www.d.umn.edu/parking

Check out UMD’s Sustainability website: www.d.umn.edu/sustain

Anyone around here see this last night?

Video from an Iowa sheriff’s deputy’s dashboard camera, about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Public Input Needed for Bicycle Routes

If you ride your bicycle in Duluth, here is your chance to help improve the existing bike route network! On March 8, the Duluth City Council unanimously approved a Complete Streets resolution that would help instruct city engineers on how to design roadways for all users, instead of just for automobiles.

The ticks are here

Dear Duluthians,

I went to Jay Cooke for a (muddy) hike yesterday, and returned home to find a little tiny adult male deer tick upon my pant leg.
Let this be your first seasonal warning. Sorry, Paul, but I am still looking forward to your first tick-o-rama, as well.

Where to hike in Duluth when it’s muddy

Where are your favorite places to walk during the sloppy season? (Other than the obvious: Lakewalk, Munger Trail, Skyline Parkway and Western Waterfront Trail.)

Happy early Spring on the North Shore — Things are breakin’ up out there

Check out a few river shots from this past weekend.

Google Bike

Google biking. Very rad.

Cross City Trail — A photo tour of the proposed section from Clyde Park to the Lakewalk

In a Feb. 18 post the maps for the proposed Cross City Trail – which will connect the Munger Trail to the Lakewalk – were laid out, with photos showing the various route options for the westernmost section shown in the comments. A Feb. 28 post showed a photo tour of the middle section of the proposed trail.

In this post, the route options for connecting Clyde Park to the Duluth Lakewalk are shown. Here are the maps to follow along with:

29th Avenue West to 18th Avenue West
18th Avenue West to Mesaba Avenue
Mesaba Avenue to the Lakewalk

Countdown to spring

The ski hill at Chester Bowl is scheduled to stay open through this weekend, but it looks like Mother Nature may not be patient and cooperative. Already this weekend, the creek started flooding the bottom of the hill. So if you’re interested in taking or watching a waterskiing run at the Bowl, today might be your day. The lift is open from 4:30 – 8:30 tonight (Monday 3/8). The next scheduled day the lift is open will be Thursday, but that’s a long way away. Lift tickets are $5 at the concession stand. While you’re there, pick up a nifty Chester Bowl Hoodie or long-sleeve T-shirt at the concession stand.

Voices of the Lake Speaker Series

Full Circle: Hike Around the Greatest Lake
Presented By: Mike Link and Kate Crowley
Thursday, March 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Great Lakes Aquarium Lobby
Free

Full Circle Superior is not just the first shoreline circumnavigation of Lake Superior by foot in recorded history – it is an incredible international bridge that brings together people, ideas and issues from areas as diverse as science, community, economy, education and the environment intricately into a web interlacing around and in the midst of this great lake. Join us as Mike Link, executive director of Audubon Center of the North Woods and Full Circle Superior hiker, describes the planning, preparation, and goals of this historic hike.

For more information call Sara Kubarek at 218-740-2013.

Duluth in Winter on a Fixie

This YouTube video has gotten a decent amount of traffic recently. Check out the icy hills of Duluth from the saddle of a fixed-gear bicycle.

Earth Hour 2010

Designed: Chelsey L

Earth Hour will be coming back to the Duluth area this March! From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on March 27 the World Wildlife Fund asks individuals and businesses to turn off their lights for the hour. Nearly one billion people from 87 countries participated in Earth Hour last year!