Archive for the ‘Outdoors’ Category

Minnesota Fall Color Getaway

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

After a sultry, humid August it was welcome relief this week to feel the cool breezes that remind us that fall is soon upon us.  We have gone from running the air conditioning all night to sleeping with the windows open.  What a relief!

Root River Valley Fall Colors

Southeast MN Fall Colors

Southeast Minnesota beckons you with vistas and valleys, colorful hardwood forests, clear trout streams, beautiful rivers and plentiful wild life.  Farms form a patchwork quilt of crops awaiting harvest on the rolling country side.   The Amish dry their corn the old fashioned way with rows of corn shocks standing tall to catch the fall breezes.

Fall Colors on Root River Trail

Root River Trail Bridge

Lanesboro, Minnesota and the Root River Trail offer an excellent venue for enjoying the fall colors.  Freshly fallen leaves crunch under your bike tires as you ride under the tree lined canopy bordered by bluffs on one side and the Root River on the other.

After an enjoyable day of biking, savor dinner in one of Lanesboro’s fine restaurants and then take in an evening at the Commonweal Theatre.  The theatre features 2 plays this fall season: “Enchanted April” and “The Turn of the Screw”.  Shows are performed Thursday through Monday each week.

Lanesboro has lodging options suitable to any taste from hotels, to inns, and bed and breakfasts.  Your bed and breakfasts hosts are there to help you get the most out of your stay.  Make Lanesboro your destination for your fall color get away.  Mid-week is a great time to visit when you can have the bike trail or the river to yourself.  Check out the week night bargain on our web site www.hillcresthideaway.com for more details.

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Canoe Trip Down Minnesota’s Root River

Monday, August 9th, 2010

According to www.RiverPaddling.com, “Southeastern Minnesota is a paddlers paradise for both canoeing and kayaking. The Driftless Area of Southeastern Minnesota is quite different than the rest of Minnesota as it contains no natural lakes and the terrain is quite rugged with spectacular scenery.”

Canoe Minnesota's Root River

North Branch of the Root River

On Saturday, I paddled a section of the North Branch of the Root river northwest of Lanesboro, MN.  We put in the river on near Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center.  The weather was hot and muggy.  But the river was cool and clear.  A nice breeze wafted through the valley making for a pleasant afternoon on the river.

The river is great for canoeing and kayaking.  The river is shallow and clear allowing us to see bottom for the entire stretch.  With extra rain this summer the river is high enough so there is no danger of bottoming out.  For a canoe novice like me, the river is just perfect.

The stretch of river surrounding Eagle Bluff is quite scenic with Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures riding the updraft along the 400 foot bluffs that border the river.  Fishing is great along the tributaries of the north branch of the Root River upstream.

Minnesota River Kayak

Kayaks on the North Branch of the Root River

The Root River’s superlative scenery and characteristics make it suitable for many types of recreation.  Family canoe trips are very popular.  Those more adventurous can take advantage of the canoe campsites for overnight trips.  A map showing camp sites and canoe launches can be found on the Minnesota DNR web site.

Outfitters in Lanesboro, MN offer canoe, kayak and tubing trips on the North and Middle branches of the Root River.

Lanesboro, the Bed and Breakfast capital of Minnesota offers 25 lodging establishments to suit any taste.   The historic downtown offers shopping, restaurants, an art gallery, and a live theatre that performs 5 days a week during the summer season.

This blog is edited by Marv Eggert co-owner of Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B in Lanesboro where you awaken each morning to a just-baked loaf of bread delivered to your room.  Come mid-week to enjoy the peace and quiet of the river.  Stay 2 nights and receive a $10 discount per night on your stay.


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MN Cross Country Ski/Snowshoe Journal

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Thursday Feb 11, clear blue skies, bright afternoon sun, 30 degrees, 6 inches of fresh snow – a perfect day for snowshoeing.  I’ve been away from the trails for 3 weeks.    I didn’t feel like trail blazing today.  So I drove near the Old Barn Resort, where there is a striking rock cut along the Root River State Trail.

Root River Trail Groomed for Cross Country Skiing

Root River Trail Groomed for Cross Country Skiing

The sun was at a rare good angle for photography.  The trail was freshly groomed with plenty of room for me to snowshoe at the packed edge of the trail.

Once again, I was struck by the quiet of the woods.  No road noise, no wind, just quiet.  A few crows cut the silence with their annoying call, but not enough to be a true distraction.

Bridge on Root River State Trail

Bridge on Root River State Trail

About 1/4 mile into my hike, the trail curved and revealed one of the many bridges over the Root River.

Arriving at the bridge I found a hawk and a mourning dove perched in trees along the river.  From the bridge I could hear the gurgling of the river where the fresh water broke through the ice encouraging me that spring may be coming soon.

Cross Country Skiiers and their companion

Cross Country Skiers and their companion

Further on down the trail I met Steve and Brenda accompanied by their German Short Hair “Hunter”.  Brenda remarked how great it was to get away from the hustle and noise of life to take in the beauty of the trail.

Hunter was wearing a harness and Brenda had a strap with a line attached around her waist.  When she got tired of skiing or faced a small uphill climb, Hunter was enlisted to play the role of “ski dog” and pull her along the trail.

I watched her hook Hunter up and he pulled Brenda more than 100 yards.  At that point, Hunter got distracted by something he saw along the trail and true to his name he dashed off to check it out.  Needless to say, Brenda had a small crash landing – but no harm done.

The long range forecast looks like we won’t have a thaw any time soon.  So snowshoe and cross country ski conditions should be excellent all along the miles of groomed Root River Trail through the rest of the month.

Lanesboro, the Bed and Breakfast Capital of Minnesota is located near by.  Bed and Breakfasts and Inns to suit any taste await your visit.  A new restaurant “Kari’s” has opened this winter featuring authentic Norwegian Cuisine.   It will be open on weekends throughout the winter.

This snow shoe blog is authored by Marv Eggert owner of Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B where we feature just-baked bread delivered to your room each morning.   Happy Snowshoeing!!!!

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MN Cross Country Ski by Candle Light

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Lanesboro, the Bed and Breakfast Capital of Minnesota invites you to enjoy our winter wonderland in Southeast Minnesota.  The Root River State trail is groomed with dual tracks and ready for cross country skiing.

Candlelight Ski on the Root River Trail

Candlelight Ski on the Root River Trail

Make plans now to join us February 5 – 7 for a “Flurry of Fun in February”  highlighted by the 18th annual Whalen Candlelight Ski on Saturday evening.  Start at the Whalen Town Hall at dusk, ski for a mile by candlelight and warm yourself by the bonfire.  Then ski back to Whalen for another bonfire, homemade soups, sandwiches and hot beverages at the Whalen Town Hall.  Skis can be rented at Cedar Valley Resort.

Lanesboro’s downtown district will be candlelit at dusk where restaurants, shops, Bed and Breakfasts and the Lanesboro Art Center await your visit.

Visit www.lanesboro.com and click on the Winter Weekend link to see a full calendar of events.

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MN Snowshoe Trail Journal – Jan 10, 2010

Sunday, January 17th, 2010
Snowshoe Trail Into the Forest

Snowshoe Trail Into the Forest

January 10, 2010 Snowshoeing week 2.

It is a “warm” 17 degrees today – 10 degrees warmer than last week.  So it seems conditions should be OK to get out the snowshoes again today.  It is much more overcast and there is a stiff wind blowing over the ridges.  The forest preserve seems fairly protected, so I am going for it!

I arrive to find fresh snowshoe tracks on the trail again plus a pair of cross country ski tracks.  Working my way straight up the bluff I’m amazed to see the ski tracks wherever I go.

I can hear the brisk wind in the valley.  But as I enter the pine forest, it is quiet once again.  Encountering a

White Pine Forest

White Pine Forest

sign post with a trail map I learn that the only way further into the preserve is to continue up the bluff.

As I reach the top of the bluff the wind gusts return.  The winter chill is quite brisk up here!  I’m now above the pine tree tops.  So I’ve lost any protection from them.  Even in the middle of the hardwood forest there are small snow drifts across the trail.  The only sign of wildlife up here are deer tracks and I can see why – no protection, bitter wind, and little food.

Do I turn back or continue on?  The hearty skier left his trail here.  So certainly I can continue.  Hiking another 200 yards, the wind is now beginning to make this more like work.  I debate whether I should turn back or continue.  I continue because I think there is a path back down into the valley a little further on.

Panoramic Countryside Vista

Panoramic Countryside Vista

But then I see a small shelter ahead along the trail and a clearing with a view of the surrounding countryside.  Stopping in the shelter, I catch my breath and enjoy the panoramic view.  Despite the overcast sky, the view is breathtaking.

Back on the trail again I follow the cross country ski tracks further into the state forest.  Reaching the back edge of the preserve I discover there is no short cut back into the valley like I thought earlier.  I must continue and circle back the way I came.

Bench Along the Trail

Bench Along the Trail

You can see how deep the snow is by looking at the bench in the photo.  I continue to follow the tracks of the cross country trail blazer.

Because the snow pack is heavy breaking a new trail is not too hard.  However, the deeper snow  collects  on the back of my snowshoes.  Each time I take a new step, the snow laps up on the back of my legs leaving me with wetter and wetter jeans.

Circling back I return to a spot I stopped at earlier.  It is time to head back.  Reaching the pine forest offers a welcome relief from the wind gusts on the ridge.  The birds are even feeding down here.

Back down the trail to my car I head for home where a warm mug of chai tea awaits.

Snowshoe Trail Journal week 2: Marv Eggert, Hillcrest Hide-Away B&B, Lanesboro, MN.

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