"Beauty is composed of many things and never stands alone/ it is part of horizons, blue in the distance, great primeval silences, knowledge of all things of the earth. It embodies the hopes and dreams of those who have gone before, including the spirit world; it is so fragile it can be destroyed by a sound or thought. It may be infinitesimally small or encompass the universe itself. It comes in a swift conception wherever nature has not been disturbed."

-Sigurd F. Olson 'Reflections of the North Country'

Any time spent in America's most visited wilderness area is time well spent. Early this summer I was able to make it up to the second annual Boundary Waters Expo put on by the fine folks of Bearskin Lodge. The expo takes place at the end of the Gunflint at the Seagull Lake Public access point. There were people who travelled from far and there were many familiar faces of people who call that area home. It was filled with talks and demonstrations on all sorts of important know hows to making your next trip a safe and successful one. The weekend even had a light hearted game of dead fish. The spirit of the North Woods was alive and well that weekend.