When we arrived in Duluth, it was a whopping 7 degrees. But that wasn't too bad considering the state's lowest recorded temperature is 60 degrees below zero. Imagine our surprise when some Minnesota Go-4's members started lining up for the trail ride in topless Jeeps. This was going to be interesting.
We were in town for the Minnesota Go-4's New Year's Day Sober Up Run, which, amazingly, the club has held without fail for 32 years. The run was held in the Cloquet, Minnesota, area, which is a short jump southwest of Duluth. For you history nuts, the French explorers arrived in this area in the late 1600s to find two tribes of Indians: the Dakota and the Ojibwa. Although, by the late 1700s, the Ojibwa had pretty much forced out the Dakota tribe, claiming northern Minnesota as its own. Over the years, the area became a major hub of the fur trade, which brought settlers and trappers to the area in a steady stream throughout the 1700s.
After the Civil War, the demand for fur diminished, but the nation needed wood to rebuild its war-torn infrastructure so the area was tapped for its tall stands of timber. In 1878, a sawmill was built at Knife Falls on the St. Louis River, which eventually spawned the town of Cloquet. For three decades, the town grew in leaps and bounds as the state's largest sawmills consumed a steady supply of timber in the area. But disaster struck in 1918 when a forest fire consumed most of north central Minnesota, destroying almost all of Cloquet. The area was quickly rebuilt, though, and Cloquet has flourished over the years. Today, the town boasts several large, successful paper mills.
Our group of 17 vehicles met at a club member's home just outside of Cloquet to begin the run. Interestingly, this home, which was built in 1917, was one of the very few in the area to escape the fire of 1918. The handsome exterior covers an original log structure, which sheltered seven families after the fire. After airing down and packing up, we convoyed to the private property used for the event.
We spent the rest of the day exploring the winding, meandering trails. Even though the area hadn't received much in the way of snow (there was about 4 inches on the ground), it had been considerably cold, so the ground was quite frozen. Most participants had aired down their tires 8 to 12 psi, which offered plenty of bite on the trails. Most of the trails we used were created for logging, but that was years ago and most are now quite tight. The dense woods hide an amazingly diverse terrain, which would be flat one minute then quickly change to a rolling landscape filled with hills and gullies the next minute. The scenery was gorgeous. At one point, a steep, twisty, downhill trail turned abruptly left at the base and ran alongside the beautiful, snow-covered St. Louis River. We enjoyed the outdoors further with a cookout lunch, held over an open fire on the trail.
Being acutely aware of trail angles and conditions is critical in this type of 'wheeling. It doesn't take long for drivers to realize that 4-Lo and the prudent use of brakes is the way to descend long, icy hills. Mashing the brakes will often throw the vehicle sideways, which can lead to a run-in with a tree, or worse, cause a rollover. Another thing to keep an eye out for are obstacles hidden under the snow. Because the area had been significantly logged, there were numerous stumps, which can damage the bottom of a vehicle. Most of the time the trees were cut close to the ground so lifted vehicles could easily cruise right over them. But stock vehicles need to be watched closely so oil pans and brake lines don't get damaged. One more trail tip: Never stick your tongue to the side of a frosty Jeep body. But you already know that one.
After about eight hours of good 'wheeling, our group returned to the member's home for a big potluck dinner, a party, a bonfire, and a series of entertaining gag gifts based on selected members' antics (or goofs) on the trail. The consensus was that the conditions this year created a very enjoyable event. Highs in the 20s and a moderate amount of snow made the day very pleasant to be outdoors. A couple of years ago, the high temperature was in the 10-below-zero range with a couple of feet of snow, and the challenge level was multiplied significantly.
To participate in the 2001 New Year's Day Sober Up Run, you must be a member of the Minnesota Go-4's 4x4 Club. It is well worth joining because they offer awesome winter runs as well as some challenging summer runs. And they're a very organized, friendly club. If you are friends with a member, you can also participate as a guest.
For more information, contact: The Minnesota Go-4's, Dept. 4WDSU, 344 Independence Ave., Champlin, MN 55316, (612) 427-5903.
Keep the Heat Inside
Coming down the runway, ladies and gentleman, was Matt Hughes from Cloquet, Minnesota, modeling the latest item in the Minnesota Winter Collection. It screamed good taste. He was wearing a stunning and functional insulated cap designed to keep your entire noggin' toasty, while being oh-so- fashionable during the most brutal northwoods' winters.
Ok, maybe it wasn't a fashion show, but we saw some cool stuff to keep you warm on your mid-winter trail ride. All wit aside, if you're cold on the trail you won't have a good time, and it's dangerous too. Hypothermia is very real and can strike anyone. Make sure you have a hat. The type in the photo with pull-down earmuffs is very popular in the North, but even a baseball cap will keep some of the heat in your head. Coveralls are also a good idea. We saw that most folks wore the two-piece variety, and Carharts were the most popular. Folks up North joke about having a summer pair of Carharts that have the legs cut off, thus short coveralls - now that's a fashion statement. Layer your clothing. As the day warms up, you can shed a layer or two, and then you can put them back on as nightfall approaches. This is also handy if you're pulling winch cable or doing something strenuous. Good gloves are a no-brainer. Finally, dry feet are happy feet, so wear water-repellant boots or shoes. Water-resistant shoes will eventually allow moisture through, so don't bother with them. We saw a trick pair of insulated boots that had optional screw-in studs in the soles for traction in the really gnarly stuff.
Dressing appropriately for the weather is a must and will add to your enjoyment while you explore the outdoors in the winter.