Outdoors

January 1, 2021

Tammy and the kids took their new Christmas Ice Skates out for the first time. We went to a frozen pond in Pamela Park. Everyone had a great time! ⛸🤩 Me? I’m not so comfortable on ice skates. 😬

Three people in winter gear pose on a frozen outdoor skating rink, all wearing ice skates, bare trees visible behind them.

November 15, 2020

We had a nice 4.4 mile hike around Pike Island at Fort Snelling State Park today. This is 15 mins from our house but we had never been here! We will definitely be back, maybe with snow shoes next time.

GPS route map of a 4.4 mile loop hike around Pike Island at Fort Snelling State Park shown on aerial satellite imagery

Park bench beside bare winter trees overlooking a snow-dusted riverbank with a bridge visible in the distance

Narrow dirt trail along a snowy riverbank lined with dry golden grasses and bare trees, a bridge visible in the distance

Family of four bundled in winter jackets and hats posing for a selfie outdoors with a fluffy white dog in front

October 30, 2020

Madison Lake, Minnesota.

Bare deciduous trees lining the marshy shore of Madison Lake in Minnesota under a clear blue sky in late autumn.

October 24, 2020

Birds

We returned from a walk and there was a massive congregation of birds in the pine trees.

October 17, 2020

October in Cross Lake, MN. Bikes collecting snow. ❄️

Snow-covered Honda Pilot SUV with Diamondback and Liv bikes on a hitch rack, parked near a Pine Ridge Plaza sign in a snowy Minnesota landscape.

October 16, 2020

First time visiting Black Beach today, just outside of Silver Bay.

Dark sand beach curving toward a rocky island topped with bare trees on Lake Superior, with visitors walking the shoreline.

October 16, 2020

Technically we did hike some of the Superior Hiking Trail today. 🥾🗺

Family of four smiling together on a wooded trail in autumn, dressed in hats and jackets for cool weather.

October 16, 2020

We had a great hike up the Temperance River Falls today.

Temperance River rushing through a narrow rocky gorge with a red footbridge overhead and visitors looking down from it

Temperance River rushing over dark basalt ledges in a wide golden-brown waterfall, surrounded by boreal forest, two visitors stand on the rocky bank

Rocky Temperance River rushing through a forested gorge with whitewater rapids, surrounded by autumn trees under a blue sky.

October 16, 2020

Upper Falls of the Temperance River.

October 16, 2020

Looking at a Winter Snowstorm warning with 3-5 inches of snow we decided to end our MEA weekend early. We detoured back to Cross Lake and are going to dry camp in the parking lot and head home tomorrow. Also, the Weekly Thing will be delayed a day! ❄️