Part of the North House Folk School’s Winterer’s Gathering was offering classes on making winter gear. Here two young ladies work on snowshoes. It took three days to make a pair of snowshoes with an instructor ready to help at any moment. Staff photos/Brian Larsen
By North House Folk School Director Greg Wright’s estimate, there were more than 600 folks who attended the vast array of activities and events at this year’s Winterer’s Gathering, which was held last Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
While most of the events were well grounded, about 100 people attended recently retired Duluth News- Tribune’s “Astro Bob” King’s lecture about the celestial events in the heavens. Some stayed after to view the moon, which appeared closer and had more detail than one’s fully extended hand when the moon was fully magnified through King’s telescope lens.
Later that Saturday evening King’s former workmate and friend at the Duluth News-Tribune, outdoor writer Sam Cook, took to the podium and lectured to more than 175 people as the featured speaker. All told attendees had 19 films, 12 courses, and 14 skill shares to take part in, as well as a chance to listen to a wide variety of speakers.
Eva Ternes, age 4, got a great look at the moon when she peered through Bob King’s telescope. King was one of the featured speakers at North House Folk School’s Winterer’s Gathering.
Whether filling the woodshop to overflowing during the Snowshoe Shuffle contra dance or hosting a standing-room-only crowd for the airing of the film “Virginia Minnesota” (which was in part filmed in Grand Marais and North House), patrons were busy taking in the sights and sound at North House.
In the red and blue buildings, attendees learned crafts, customs, and the history of winter travel, and traditional ways of life in the Northland.
Grand Marais Recreation Park was also the site of a winter camp where some set up tents and yurts to house themselves in through the three-day event.
Keeping everything moving without a hitch or a hiccup were 40 volunteers who served in roles ranging from info table hosts to campus maintenance.
Another great feature was North House’s hosting the annual Great Ski & Gear Swap with the Cook County’s Lutsen Junior Alpine Program, with over 75 donors bringing items for the swap.
“Winterer’s Gathering is the final weekend for North House’s four 2018 Interns,” noted Wright. “Even as we wished them well, we wrapped up hiring our 2019 Interns—25 applications were received for the four positions which will begin late January 2019.”
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