Winter in the Great Northern

During these dark days of winter and cold, I think it is important to Get Out. I am never one to say no to a crock pot with a jigsaw on a winter's night. But there is also something to be said for the blinding sun against the snow and breathing in that clear winter air. Anyone needing an excuse to lure you out the door, need only look at this upcoming calendar for the Great Northern Festival.

The Great Northern weblink

We have always had the Loppet, the Winter Carnival, the Pond Hockey Championships. But for some reason, no one had ever entertained the notion to put them all under the same umbrella for 10 incredible days of exploring options. There is nothing more tranquil than the Luminary along Lake of the Isles with bonfires on the ice. I have yet to take in the Skijoring races with the dogs in real time. The ice carvings at the Carnival are a joy. We have been a contender in the puzzle competition for 3 years now. We often take in the Hockey Championships although the rules are lost on me; but the spirit and sound of the blades on the ice is palpable. All of these are the big events.

But there are now great smaller events in a variety of areas. Totally inclusive. How about a walk in the lights @ Eagan out at the Viking Lakes facility? The Kite Festival at Lake Harriet along with the Art Shanties? Gallery visits on darkness and light photography at Praxis? How about a Star Party through telescopes being presented by the Bell Museum? I'm looking forward to the outdoor greenhouse in an alley in St Paul!. Hot Baths and Saunas. Anechoic chambers! Panel discussions on climate change at Breweries. Book readings, Church Dances and Film Screening. Concerts at the IceHouse. Waffles and Skiing at Wirth Park. 

It is such a Minnesota Vibe. Growing up out East, those winter blahs were a reason to hibernate for a 3 month stretch while passing time. Here in Minneapolis, it is met with determination and meeting the elements head on. My God, the options are endless. Get Out of the House and Jump in.

My Hair Looks Like #(&%

Now that we are in the throes of our winter Arctic freeze, it seemed about right to draw some attention to this feature.

It looks as if it is/was an annual tradition up North in the Yukon territory of Canada. Most recent photos date back to 2020, so I assume it has not been cancelled; just halted for the mean time. It is a #HairFreezing Contest sponsored by Takhini Hot Springs. I looked it up and it is WAY up North in a corner pocket of the mountains near Alaska. From what I can tell it is more of a campground escape for the locals and not a resort destination for the wealthy masses - but I may be wrong.

The concept is actually kinda slick. To enter you need to schedule a day visit to the Spa when the temperature drops to -20 °. Then it shows a 3 step guide to dunk your head, let nature do its magic and style it while allowing it to freeze and then ring a bell where staff comes and snaps a picture of your entry. Sounds easy and they also state that there is never any permanent damage to your hair! There is a Best Female, Best Male, Best Group and then also a People's Choice and Most Creative category.

Each winner receives $2000 in cash and a year long pass to the Springs! It is also sponsored by #NongshimNoodles and each entrant gets a bowl after their dip. Also sponsored by #TimHortonDonuts of course who ponies up a donation for each person who enters as well. I guess if we do our version of a Polar Plunges here in MN, this seems a bit more up my creative sleeve and a day at the hot springs is a better fit for my tired old body. Check out some of these amazing pics. And then a link to the contest if you feel like a LONG road trip up to the frozen tundra of the Yukon!

Takhini Hot Springs; Hair Freezing Contest!