The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-04-04

Chosa, superintendent of the Super
Tor State Game Refuge, plotted the
party. The dog teams used were
those owned by the state game and
fish department, and the mushers
were game wardens stationed in that
district.
Following the trip all members
of the party expressed surprise IN
the beauties of the Superior Forest
in winter, and declared that such
trips will soon be made on large
scale by sportsmen who enjoy for
est travel.
According to the Ten Thousand
Lakes of Minnesota Association
which was represented on the trip
by Donald Hough, director of pub
Lefty, the trip, aside from its Off
cial purpose, means the opening up
of northern Minnesota forests to
winter travel for sport.
1.-THE north woods are even more
beautiful in winter than in sum-
mer," said Mr.. Hough, "and each
year more outdoor people are max
ing this discovery. Inquiries as to
winter accommodations are increas-
ing at the Ten Thousand Lakes Office.
Resorts are making arrangements to
handle this business. Minnesota
soon will be not only the summer,
but the winter playground of mil
lions of people, and it is the inten-
tion of the Lakes Association to de-
velop both seasons in this respect"
Miss Ruth O'Brien, a teacher in
Duluth Central High School was one
of party of seven who made trip
through the game refuge last winter
and this is what she has to say re
garding winter touring. Consider
ing that the thermometer was be-
low zero on the greater portion of
the trip, her account will prove of
interest. She spoke to the News
Tribune as follows:
Maybe you too are an Izaak Wal
ton enthusiast whose passion for
virgin forests and the simple life
has taken you, in or out of mosquito
season, to the north woods. And
you may remember how as you
padded around a densely wooded
point, say on Saganaga, suddenly
there was revealed to you scene so
lovely in its perfection of colors and
lights and silence that you involun-
tarily held your breath for NOM
emit. And you may remember how
somewhat later the chilling thought
came to you that this loneliness was
for a season a. too short; that for
at least six months out of the year
this was a waste bowling forest.
"But that last conclusion is just
where you made your greatest mis-
take. know because I've tried
both canoe and snowshoe trips, and
my vote is for the latter. Last
Christmas a party of seven of us
were the first to accept the states
invitation to inspect the work being
done under Leo Chosa, supervisor
of the state game refuge.
"On arriving at Winton we found
Leo cordial as ever, but regretfully
explaining that the long delayed
snow had made it impossible for
him to get the dogs into condition
to travel, but that he was going to
run US out to cabin on Evergreen
island in Eastwood where he would
return for US in day or two with
the dogs.
Here for three days we made
our headquarters, spending most of
the day in snowshoe trips around
every enticing island and point,
near and far; in fishing through the
ice; in following sometimes for
miles the fresh trail of a deer, IN
visiting JEFF Seeley, the Canadian
forest ranger; and it must be added
in getting IN sufficient wood to with
stand the rapidly falling temper
allure.
"On New Years day, Leo and his
team of excited dogs arrived, now
ready for the rest of the trip. The
departure from Evergreen island
the next morning was noisy one;
impatient to be off, every dog set up
deafening clamor, each apparent
ly trying to Guido the others in Civ
ing vent TO his excitement. Finally
everything was ready, and we were
off. The temperature was balmy-
southeast, in the face of a gentle
SHOW SIOrm IhaI gave promise OF De-
coming more interesting.
"a portage brought US into Wind
Lake, singularly unattractive place
in summer because of the ravages
made by forest fires and logging
crews, but now transformed by the
magic of the snow. Another port
age, difficult one this time,
brought US into Moose Lake Rare
ly have I seen a sight so beautiful;
long narrow lake closed in by
irregular hills stretching away
toward the setting sun; several
islands heavily wooded, their stately
pines dark and restful, stamped
against the sky; and everywhere
vast stretches of whiteness unbroken
save by the tracks of an occasional
deer or fox.
THAT night we spent in tent
on Moose lake, even though the
temperature was 80 below fact
which we never suspected at that
time-and the next day made the
remaining 20 miles in the face of q
biting wind that, unobstructed
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