So here I go again. I’m back on the road to experience a new stretch of the Mississippi River, this time the northern reaches where the river hits the road as it emerges from Lake Itasca. I expect to be up here all summer, as I get to know the river from the Headwaters through
It was a Monday night in January, and I was heading to Bemidji City Park to check out broomball at the outdoor rink. I had not entirely convinced myself that this is how I wanted to spend my time, because: a) it’s freaking cold outside (around 10°F); and b) I have a cold. But, I haven’t played broomball since high school and feel like I need a broomball refresher course, so I can include it in a piece I want to write about the joy that is winter in northern Minnesota. When I noticed that the curling arena next to the rink was busy, however, I was handed the excuse I needed to change my plans and went inside to investigate.
The source of the Mississippi River, Lake Itasca, is a spring-fed bowl-shaped basin of lakes and bogs deep in the pine forests of northern Minnesota. The Headwaters of the Mississippi River can be a crowded place, especially in summer, but the surrounding area can be surprisingly tranquil. Bear still roam wild; gray wolves bay
Views of the Mississippi River from Minnesota.
The Upper Mississippi River is a great place to visit any time of year, it's just that some seasons require an extra layer or two of clothing.
The Snowflake Ski club at Westby, Wisconsin has been hosting a world-class ski jumping competition since 1923.
