It was New Years Day 1968, and the prospect of sitting in front of a black and white T.V. all day watching an endless parade of college football games didn't appeal to the members of the Minnesota Go-4's four wheel drive club. After all, the trails of northern Minnesota were covered in a blanket of snow, screaming to be challenged and explored. So, they went fourwheeling and started a New Years day tradition known as the Sober Up Run.
Ice hides a wide, muddy creek, and offers a natural bridge to cross.
Of course, it's mandatory to thoroughly check the depth of the ice before driving a vehicle across it, otherwise you may not be happy with the results. This year, the 19s ended, and we stepped into the year 2000. One of our favorite trails took our group along the St. Louis River. In the 1800's the river was an easy way for people to get from Lake Superior to the interior of Minnesota. Matt Hughes is one of the warm-blooded northerners who 'wheels in the winter with no top on his truck.