Thursday night, the 18th, I finished getting ready for a long weekend up north going on adventures and photographing Hannah Cowden and Tom Mishler’s wedding. Tom is the younger brother of Joe Mischler, whom I graduated high school with in 2007. He is married to Mandi, whom I also graduated with. Once I was all ready I drove to a bonfire Alex Hiltunen, his sister, mother and mother’s boyfriend were hosting over in Bloomington. Evan Moyle rode his rode bike over there. We ate smores over the fire, had a little other food, a drink and enjoyed each other’s company! Was approximately 10:30pm when I left from there and headed up north.

 

Maia Hiltunen

 

Alex HIltunen

 

 

 

I got to the northern section of Duluth and pulled over into a nearly empty parking lot (one other card), pulled out my guitar, walked across the street and found a spot along the rocks and shore of Superior to write some music. It was approximately 1:00am I believe.  Below is a recording I made while on the rocks looking off into the endless lake of water.

On my way back to my car, just as I was entering the driveway that led to the parking lot two wolf cubs trotted in front of me maybe 75 feet. Naturally it was cute to see the little furballs, but I was instantly aware of the danger I was potentially in and acknowledged I could get into a messy situation with their parents. I calmly continued walking towards my van contemplating the best way to defend myself against a wolf or wolves, and ended up planning on using my guitar case with the guitar in it as my weapon, perhaps being loud and continuing towards my van.

Luckily no parent’s visited me 🙂

So onward I drove, and it was about 2:00am by this point. I drove for perhaps one more hour, then pulled over at a rest spot. Did my best to sleep, but would wake up every 30 or 50 minutes the first couple times, then got in maybe a full hour. I was up by 6:15am for the day, and continued the journey!

Stopped at a gas station, filled up, then went to Gooseberry Falls.

Amazingly gorgeous!!!! I loved hiking around with my bag/camera equipment, observing both the beauty and the potential for nature and modeling photography. So I whipped out my professional cameras and began shooting! Here is a professional photo I took:

And here are a few photos I took with my phone:

After Gooseberry I stopped by Split Rock and Split Rock Lighthouse. I went to an area a little south of it so I could see it from a distance, as I figured that would make for better photos and also save me some money with not having to pay the parking fee of going to the actual location. While I was there I came across a 3 story wooden lookout tower and made an attempt to climb it but climbing a nearby tree. When I was right near the top of the tree I deemed it simply too challenging of a jump, especially considering what I’d be grabbing onto was really iffy and totally looked like it could break. So yes, I wanted to be extreme, but I also was using my common sense and realized there was too great of a chance of it not working out, therefor sending me 30 feet to sharp metal as well as grass. So I climbed down, then pulled out my bike and went riding down a steep and winding bike trail to get to the lake to see the lighthouse from that perspective.

I went through a couple trails carrying Babe as well as my camera equipment that was in my backpack and came out to such a gorgeous sight! I captured some photos of Babe (my bicycle) in the rocks, then of just the scenery with the lighthouse in the backdrop. I then turned around and shot what looked like a really neat island that would be fun to kayak, canoe or swim to sometime, perhaps with someone or some people 🙂

I then drove up to Tettagouchie Park where I got a map and figured out my routes.

First I rode my bicycle down some trails to a place where I could see shovel point well. Fun riding, then hopping off the bike to carry it while running down stairs, then keep jogging, then hop on again for a moment, etc. I got the Superior, left Babe safely behind some rocks then hiked over to a further spot along the shoreline to get a better view of Shovel Point.  Captured this beauty with my cell phone!

I then went to shovel point itself, at least the highest portion of it anyway, where students from St. Johns and St. Bens  were preparing to rock climb/repel down the cliff side. Here’s a selfie of me there:

 

Then biked back to the visitor center where I then road down some roads to a trail, then was on foot running through the woods/trails towards The Cascades… naturally with my backpack of gear and my bike in my arms haha. Still could run pretty quickly! I’d also put the bicycle down and ride it the brief moments I had the option of doing so.

Long jog, but I finally made it! Upon arriving there was a middle aged lady reading a book. I sneaked up behind her and just feet from her loudly said “SO BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE!”. Yep, she jumped and yelled in fright but then immediately laughed about it. We spoke briefly, I informed her that I was a professional wedding photographer up here to shoot a wedding and came up a day early to see all of the gorgeous places the North Shore has to offer. She mentioned how her son may be getting married in the next couple years so she took down my info. I then took photos of Babe posing ever so elegantly, then went climbing into the rapids area.

The Cascades

Quite the challenge rock climbing with a heavy backpack and while carrying a bicycle! But I prevailed. A Bosnian boy took a video of me doing a backflip near the rapids. Video below after it uploads!

After this I managed to jump from one side of the river to the other which was pretty intense, as I was a good 18 feet up and if I fell it would have been onto rocks and a deadly current… that would have pushed me through many more rocks and a waterfall… yeah not good haha. I successfully made the jump, but the jump back was just too far and difficult to risk, so I decided to run up the side of the river until I’d arrive at the High Falls, the largest waterfall in Minnesota from what I heard. I did so, and it took me quite a while! I ended up sprinting along some trails towards the end as fast as I could, as I was trying to be quick because I left my bike and camera things back at The Cascades (partially hidden and difficult to get to due to some fairly difficult climbing).

The high falls were magnificent! I didn’t have my phone or camera with me so I didn’t take any photos, but it was quite the sight. I did however do some rock jumping out into the water with a father and his two children haha. I then went down the river a bit towards the Cascades away from view, then stripped down into my boxers and shoes and RideMN shirt and crossed the river. I then trekked back down the river near the shore, in the water. It was pretty chilly! 50 degree air temp and no idea what the water temp was, but totally bearable not as bad as Superior. Took a long time to get back, and I even had to hike through woods without trails, climbing steep hills, etc.

Then it was the trek back to the visitor center where I had my van, then off to Cliff Dwellers hotel in Tofte where I’d be spending the next two nights.

Gotta go to National Camera Exchange and get ready for more work, so I’m leaving my overnight job now and will continue this later!