Pinus banksiana Three pines are native to North-Central Minnesota, The Red (Norway) Pine, the Eastern White Pine, and the Jack Pine. Jack Pine is somewhat less desirable than the other two, both commercially and aesthetically. However, it successfully exploits its niche as the northern conifer best able to thrive after wildfires. A single Jack Pine …
Author Archives: jimr77
Northern Lights, 2024
The exceptional show of Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) over the last few days has been covered extensively in the news. The reason for this event is traced back to sunspot activity, specifically in a sunspot cluster designated Region 3664, which is at least 15 times wider than the earth! Solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections …
Hike to Stewart Falls, April 8, 2024
Stewart Falls is a dramatic, reasonably accessible waterfall near the Sundance ski area; it is east up the Provo canyon from the Salt Lake City metro area. Hiking to the waterfall from the trailhead near Aspen Grove was a 3.6-mile round trip. The change in elevation along the trail is about 780 feet, but it …
Powder Days in April
There was fantastic skiing on April 6 and 7 this year at Park City, Utah. A late season storm provided a gentle downfall of powdery snow. This was a welcome change from two days previous, when warm afternoon temperatures had us skiing in slush.
This Beats a Day at the Office
Mardi Gras in Utah
Just images from a great day skiing in the Canyons section of Park City on Mardi Gras day.
Neff’s Canyon Trail
Mountainous hiking trails are remarkably close to Salt Lake City. One example is Neff’s Canyon trail; its trailhead is shown on the map below, right at the east edge of the Salt Lake City suburbs. The trail is steep, ascending 3562 feet over its 3.5-mile length. For my first visit, on January 9, I only ventured a …
Scenes of Fall in Minnesota
Geese heading south Reflections Foggy morning on the lake In the woods
Signs of Fall in August
Already in August there are clear signs of approaching fall in North-Central Minnesota. It may be that leaves are turning early this year because of our dry conditions. Alder and hazel bushes rimming the shores of our lake are starting to yellow. Staghorn sumac along roadsides is starting to turn red. This maple was red …
The Lost 40; A Remnant of Old Growth Forest in Minnesota
Because of a surveying error in 1882, 144 acres of forest in North-Central Minnesota were never leased to a timber company and therefore were spared from logging. Today the area is designated as the Lost 40 SNA (Scientific and Natural Area) and features a hiking trail of about one mile winding through huge red and …
Continue reading “The Lost 40; A Remnant of Old Growth Forest in Minnesota”
