The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-01-14
The Driftless Area

have been fatal II the lclcle mad LANDED
with the point down.
The Driftless Area
The driftless area Is a region Of
about 10000 square miles In south
western Wisconsin, southeastern Min
nesota and northeastern Iowa. 1t Is
so called because it was not covered
by the continental glacier which af-
fected the surrounding regions.
is the hub of the canoe country and
from its many outlets many of the
most attractive routes have their origin.
1t is still reached only by water, still
wilderness lake Is miles from Ely and
Winton, but boasts some of the finest
lodges and fishing camps in the entire
region. Next in importance is Burnt
side lake, more sophisticated perhaps,
but just as beautiful with splendid
resorts and many elaborate private
homes along its shores. BURNSIDE,
within six miles of Ely on fine road
is typical of the type of Accommodations
desired by those who want to stay
closer to civilization and in contact
with the outside. Then there is White
Iron lake, Bear Island lake, the Kaw-
ishiwi and the semi wilderness lodges
on Moose lake, enough variety to suit
everyone. Each place gives the vaca-
/ zionist something different. He may
fish waters that are still unspoiled for
wall-eyes, great northern pike, trout
Or bass, he can ride and tramp through
miles of trails through big timber, see
| big game and wild life in the finest
remaining big game country in the
middle west. Here he can find peace
and relaxation, swim and loaf and al
ways breathe air fragrant with the
scent of pine and balsam.
But to the lover of the old wilder
ness, the country beyond the resort
areas, the undeveloped lake regions of
the Superior National forest and the
Quetico mean more than all the rest.
Here at the end of all roads is the
jumping off place for the wild and for
the traveller of the canoe trails, life
really begins. Standing at the frontier
towns of either Ely, or Winton just four
miles beyond, one can look to the north
and know that for more than a thous-
and miles the only evidences of civili-
zation are two narrow strips of steel,
the Canadian tranScontinental railways
and one highway, outside of that no
towns or no development, nothing but
the wild. Where else on the continent
can the vacationiSt find such an I'M
usual combination. In the vicinity of
Ely, all the comforts of civilization,
excellent hotels and lodges, modern
stores catering to every want, golf
courses, the best of movies, industry,
wonderful schools and a Junior College,
and just over the ridge short distance,
the wilderness itself, as wild and print
tive as though it were thousand miles
away. For uniqueness of setting it has
no equal There is thrill to being so
close to the wild and yet not of it, a
sense of adventure and excitement that
one cannot find in the older more set
tied regions. The wilderness has its
lure even to those who do not enter it.
It's presence is enough and when one
can enjoy both, as it were-have ones
cake and eat it too, then we have a
combination that is hard to beat.
Ely is the jumping off place to the
lake country of the Minnesota Ontario
border, the most famous canoe country
on the continent land that would be
impenetrable were it not for its count
less waterways. So closely is this en-
tire region traversed by canoe trails
that no part is inaccessible, but so
limitleSS is the network that a man
could spend years exploring and still
not see it all.
Here you can come as did the voy-
ageurs of old, load up with pack and
canoe and step into new world Of
adventure and romance. Instead of
outfitting as they did at some Hudson's
Bay post, you can secure your supplies
from one of the modern outfitting
stations at either Ely or Winton, the
jumping off places of today and strike
north into the maze of waters along
the Canadian boundary. Here you can
travel for months at a time, live the
life of the primitive and escape if you
wish the civilization that has been
crowding you.
Many a time, no doubt, you have
dreamed of taking such trip, but be-
cause of the cost, distance and time
required, it has seemed impossible. Ex-
ploration, you have decided is not for
you. If you were told, however, that
within "a hours of Chicago or Mime
apolis, you could be camping in the
virgin wilderness of the Canadian
border, far from roads, automobiles and
trains, you would still believe you were
dreaming. Yet that is exactly what you
can do and spend few days or several
weeks at less expense than a vacation
would entail elsewhere. A days travel
will bring you to this wilderness from
almost any point in the middlewest and
before you will be the prospect of happy
days of exploration, following the an
Gent trails of Indian and voyageur.