Loon in the Mist - Chris Williams

Loon in the Mist - Courtesy Chris Williams


Course Details & Tuition
Forests of the Far North - Exploring the Border Lakes

July 14-21, 2012: Ely, Minnesota


Registration includes: Tuition includes seven nights lodging, all curriculum costs, all entrance fees, and all meals from the Saturday evening's dinner through the following Saturday's breakfast on departure day EXCEPT for lunch at the Chocolate Moose on Thursday afternoon, which is on your tab.

Additional Expenses: Participants provide their own car (and flight should you choose) transportation to Ely, Minnesota, as well as any driving that occurs during the event. Car-sharing with other participants will be facilitated if you are interested. Please also plan for the tab of one lunch at the Chocolate Moose ($15-$25) Restaurant at Ely.

Several canoes are available at the lodge for $18/day if you wish to paddle in your free time. On Friday, a canoe will be provided as part of your registration.

Tuition:

  • $1100/person with double occupancy lodge room (may choose two single beds or one double bed)
  • $1800/person with private room
  • $850/person for full curriculum and meals but no lodging

Lodging: Our lodging will be at beautiful Smitty's on Snowbank resort for the entire program. Because rooms are very limited and therefore so is our attendance, we cannot give much of a discount for a private room. Many of our participants choose to be matched with a random roommate of the same gender, and we encourage you to try it, as besides being more frugal, it's more fun! If you do not have a partner but want us to help you look for one, please sign up for shared room lodging, and request that we look for a partner on your behalf (if we can't find you a roommate, so long as you remain willing to share, even at the last minute, we will honor your shared rate).

Camping: If you are interested in camping at Smitty's on Snowbank, please inquire. If there is space available, we will add the camping fee on top of the no lodging registration fee.

Deposit and Cancellation Policy: A $300.00 deposit is due to hold each person's reservation if you are registering before May 14, 2012. After that time, full registration is due. Sorry, no guarantee on a full refund for cancellation after May 14th, unless your space can be filled by another registrant.

Nearest Airport: The nearest airport is Duluth, MN, approximately 100 miles from Ely. See http://www.duluthairport.com/ The nearest large city with nonstop flights to many destinations is Minneapolis/St. Paul, approximately a 5 hours drive from Ely. See http://www.mspairport.com/.

Comfort & Trip Conditions: While the July average temperatures for this region are a comfortable high of 78F and low of 56F, they can easily fluctuate to highs well into the 90s and infrequently lows in the 40s. Therefore, layering will afford the most comfort for your trip. Flying insect pests will be on the decline but biting flies and mosquitoes can still be irritating so be sure to pack long sleeve shirts and a mosquito hat net if you wish. Average rainfall this month is 3.7 inches so be sure to pack rain gear. Several outings will feature wetlands so be prepared with waterproof boots if you want dry feet. Boat shoes or hiking sandals are ok if you don’t mind wet feet. You will probably get your feet wet on the days we canoe as you enter and exit the craft. The small town of Ely caters to wilderness explorers and paddlers so a full line of outdoor gear is available. However, plan to arrive early if you wish to shop as there will be little free time during the event and our lodging will be over 20 miles from town.

Insects: Ticks are not often encountered in mid July and there are no venomous snakes in our destination. Black flies will be over with by July and mosquitoes will be on the decline, but given the proper conditions might still be a nuisance. By July, open forested areas during daylight hours are somewhat bug-free but even this varies from year to year. Participants should be prepared to use some kind of repellent unless their personal experience in the north country gives them the confidence to go without. If you are really sensitive to insects, consider bringing a bug net to cover your face and head.

Physical Condition Required: Participants should be able to hike sustainably over uneven ground for up to 3 miles a day without any discomfort, and be able to be on their feet most of the day. If you can occasionally "push" up to six miles a day without injury or discomfort in your daily life, you should be able to handle the demands of this trip. The Ely region is offers fairly level ground so there will not be much climbing. If you participate in the paddling, basic paddling skills are all that is needed. There will be no white water.

What to Bring

  • We recommend purchasing and bringing along Lichens of the North Woods, Spiders of the North Woods, and Dragonflies of the North Woods - not only are they excellent guide books, but the authors of the books will be joining us to give programs.
  • Day pack—convenient for carrying your lunch on all day canoe trip as well as sundries for wilderness travel.
  • Flashlight - very important!
  • Water bottle.
  • Sunscreen and a light-weight broad-banded hat to cover your head.
  • Insect repellent if desired.
  • Hiking boots or footwear preferred for forest trails—we will not be doing any excessively rough or long trails but comfortable footwear for rocky trails is recommended.
  • Boating shoes or waterproof shoes for bog exploration and canoeing.
  • Daily change of socks.
  • Rain gear.
  • Jackets, vests, and/or coats for layering.
  • Casual shoes and casual wear for your time off.
  • Bathroom is shared by 3 bedrooms so you may wish to bring robe and slippers.
  • Bed linen is provided by the resort, guests must provide towels and soaps.
  • All lodging includes shared use of a kitchen (please note that three fully prepared and hearty meals per day are included in your registration fee. Only exception is lunch at a local restaurant on one day at your expense.)
  • Comfortable clothing for relaxing at the resort, meals and indoor programs. This is a region where local attire dictates every day ‘flannel’ and evening ‘flannel’. There is just nothing fancy or pretentious here, this is the land of dressing to be comfortable in nature.
  • Extra cash for shopping. All fees for scheduled outings are included in your registration fee. However, we will be visiting several facilities which host gift shops if you wish to purchase a remembrance of your trip. Field guides of local natural history are also available as will be artwork from the presenters of the Arts program.
  • Binoculars for birding highly recommended.
  • Hand lens if you have one for lichen study.
  • Cellular phones will NOT work at the resort. There is a land line available for guest use so be sure to bring a phone card for long distance.
  • Your own first aid kit as you think appropriate to your needs.

Questions? Call the Arc of Appalachia Registration Coordinator, Crystal Marvin at 937-402-6918, or email registration@appalachianforestschool.org.

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