Day on a Dog Sled

Day on a Dog Sled

It’s 6:30 am on a January morning. Granite, the sled dog, pulls his tail away from his nose to look over the dog yard in hopes that his human is bringing soup. Chris, a dogsledding guide and Granite’s human for the season, has just arrived at the mushers’ shed and is...
Sled Dog Capitol of America — That’s Ely!

Sled Dog Capitol of America — That’s Ely!

This article was originally published in the 2009-2010 edition of the Ely Winter Times.    In 1970 a group of ambitious Ely citizens put together a winter event that was to become as big a draw in winter as the Blueberry Festival has become in summer. The booklet...
Christmas Trees by Mike Hillman

Christmas Trees by Mike Hillman

This article was originally published in the 2001 Ely Winter Times.    Perhaps it was a hold over from the Depression, or maybe it was the power of tradition, but picking out a good Christmas tree was one of the things Dad always took care of for our family. One...
A Gift of Lights

A Gift of Lights

This article originally appeared in the 2006 Ely Winter Times.    It is a cold December night in a garage near Ely. Predictions are for twenty-below. Two figures trudge between the house and the garage, lugging heavy pails, taking advantage of these perfect...
Northwoods Light Show

Northwoods Light Show

Photo courtesy of Jim Brandenburg. This article was originally published in the 1999-2000 Ely Winter Times.    One of the northwoods’ winter wonders is the night sky. Away from artificial light sources, the view of the stars and planets is dazzling. The...