Speaker Bios

Tyler Fish -Saturday Night Keynote Speaker

Wilderness explorer Tyler Fish is a man of many talents. An expert cross-country ski racer, wilderness survival expert and youth counselor, he has extensive experience of not only achieving his own goals but helping others reach theirs as well.

For many years he has directed the Outward Bound Intercept Program for at-risk teenagers in Ely, Minnesota. The program helps teenagers from around the US and other countries, demonstrating anti-social or destructive behaviors, to realize their potential through outdoor experiences. Tyler is now the staffing manager for Outward Bound in Ely.

Practicing what he preaches, Tyler is an avid adventurer and now explorer. Along with expedition teammate John Huston, he became the first American to reach the North Pole in an expedition that was unsupported by resupply or assistance from aircraft throughout the journey. For 54 days Tyler and John dragged all their supplies across 475 miles (764 km) of floating ice to reach the Pole on 26 April 2009.

He has participated in dog-sledding expeditions in the Canadian Arctic and paddled several remote Canadian rivers. Over winter, Tyler competes in long distance cross-country ski marathons and coaches a local ski team. He also has plenty of adventures with his two-year old son and wife in their local neighborhood.

Tyler's Keynote Presentation:
This presentation is about the heat that gets us through the blessed cold. From the fires on the icy lakes that warm your heart... to the fire inside that keeps you alive on the ice of the Arctic Ocean.
I'll cover the First American Unsupported North Pole Expedition and the Catlin Arctic Surveys of 2010 and 2011. I will talk about the preparation, the journey and the lasting effects.
Forward Expeditions

Mors Kochanski- Friday Night Keynote Speaker

Mors is widely know and well-respected throughout North America as well as Europe for his extensive work in outdoor education, survival and wilderness living.
His passion for the northern forest and his desire to learn everything there is to know about the wilderness has made him one of the worlds for most authorities on wilder-ness skills and survival.
In over 40 years of work as an instructor he has taught at the Canadian Air Force Northern Survival school .Was an Assistant Professor for 25 years at the University of Alberta in there Outdoor Education Dept. Has been flowing twice by the King of Swe-den to pass on his extensive skills to the Swedish army survival instructors.
He wrote the best selling book “Bushcraft” who to some is considered the bush crafters bible . As well as writing other extensive articles and booklets on wilderness living skills.
Mors is truly the “Old Dog” of the forest. With a life time of experience of living and working in the outdoors. He’s is one of the unique individuals that not only knows but is also able to teach what he knows. He lives in rural western Alberta with he’s wife
Diana .

Mors will be one of two Keynote Speakers.

Mors Kochanski

Lucas Will

Lucas is the Director of Recreation & Activities at Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior. After graduating from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in Recreation and Outdoor Education he spent time teaching and guiding in western Montana and the Pacific Northwest. He enjoys winter trips into the Boundary Waters as much as summer ones. You'll find him Nordic and stream skiing along the North Shore during winter. He lives just outside of Grand Marais, MN with his dog, Tischer.

Glen Hooper

Glen Hooper lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he works for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as a forest and wildlife biologist. Glen spends as much time as possible in winter snowshoeing, skiing and hauling sled through the bush and over frozen lakes of Northwestern Ontario. Glen has been winter camping for about 14 years now, and laments that he waited too long in life to get into the activity. Glen is co-owner and lead writer for the winter camping website Wintertrekking.com, and moderator of the active discussion forums. In the website’s E-book main content, and in his several posted photo trip reports in the Forums, you can read about some of Glen’s winter gear and camping styles, both hot and cold style. Last year Glen started his YouTube channel “Wintertrekker”, and he has uploaded several videos of recent winter treks where he enjoys showing gear, practicing skills, and discussing winter forest and wildlife ecology.

Dick Pula

Dick is a seasoned veteran of winter camping and solo travel, Dick has written articles and is involved in product development to expand the knowledge, safety, and enjoyment of winter travel and camping.

Dick will be teaching a class on “Solo winter travel & camping”
Description: presentation of the skills and equipment needed for safe and enjoyable winter solo camping. Will actually be setting up camp so you can see and ask questions. This presentation is geared to all skill levels and will cover how to get started.

Jarrod StoneDahl

Jarrod lives in Northern Wisconsin with his wife, April, and their four children. Jarrod is of Scandinavian descent and much of his woodworking style is taken from this. He has been working with wood professionally since 1993. Using primarily hand tools, Jarrod carves spoons and bowls, builds skin boats and birch bark canoes, and log and timber framed homes and much more. WOODSPIRIT, their business, is dedicated to the preservation and use of the items that were used in earlier times through day to day living.

Crooked Knife: Craft Your Own
The crooked knife, formally known as the mokotagan, is a very old type of woodworking tool unique to North America and predominantly found around the Great Lakes region. It is a nomad’s tool, born out of the need to be versatile yet easy to transport. The knife is used one handed and pulled toward oneself which gives the user great control and frees up the other hand to hold the wood being worked. When in use, a properly designed crooked knife a joy to use. These knives historically have been used for carving paddles, snowshoe frames, and the primary tool for birch bark canoe building, but can be used in place of a drawknife or block plane. In this class we will discuss the stock removal method to create the shape of the blades and then how to harden and temper the steel in a forge, We will mount a blade made by Jarrod to custom fit handles of your creation. Instruction will also be given in how to use the tool efficiently.
Woodspirit Gallery

Duane Lottig

Duane Lottig, an avid winter enthusiast is the owner and founder of Snowtrekker Tents, LLC. He has been designing, manufacturing and selling equipment for the traditional winter camper for over 17 years. His lightweight canvas tents are expedition quality and can be found in use from Alaska to the Arctic regions of Scandinavia and anywhere else it gets cold. Duane continues to create new tent designs and refine his existing ones on a continual basis. 60 years young Duane lives with his wife Margot, his indispensible partner, in Solon Springs, WI. His business started in his garage and continues in his garage to this day.

Class Description:
The Joys of Winter Car Camping or I’m Just Too Cheap to Rent a Room.
Snowtrekker Tents

Ian Andrus

Ian lives in the woods outside Grand Marais without running water or electricity in a yurt he built himself, spending much of his time gathering wild foods, firewood and craft materials. He is inspired by traditional lifestyles and is always seeking to uncover the lost art of living off the land. Aside from yurts Ian makes black ash and birch bark baskets, birch bark canoes, and other utilitarian crafts. Ian is a former North House Folk School intern.

Fred Boulay

A.J. (Fred) Boulay is currently living in Maplewood, Minnesota and has been winter camping from childhood. Fred's first winter adventure was with the Scouts Canada in Sudbury, Ontario. His troop campout was his first winter experience at age 10 and since then, he has been hooked on camping. Today, Fred is a local expert on camping and outdoor activities and will be sharing his knowledge and trick about winter camping.

Fred is also an inventor, renowned speaker, group leader, and talented winter camper. His motto is have fun and enjoy the outdoors.
Fred was the Golden Spatula Award Winner from the 2010 Winter Camping Cook-Off.

Scott Sorensen

A Minnesota native originally from South Minneapolis, Scott Sorensen moved to Grand Marais nine years ago. He is the hard goods buyer/sales manager at Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply, and also a guide for Stone Harbor Tours. Scott leads fly fishing, ice fishing, ice climbing and winter river tours.

Chris Evavold

Chris Evavold has been making tools and equipment since his start carving cedar canoe paddles back in the mid 80’s. Dogsleds and hand-hauling toboggans are the most widely used of his creations. His sleds have been used all over North America in events like the Iditarod and UP200 as well as sledding loads on caribou hunts in Alaska or Lake Trout trips into the BWCA. “There is nothing more satisfying than making something that has a practical use and is appreciated.” Chris and his wife Ingrid live with their three kids on the Black River (northwest Wisconsin) within earshot of Big Manitou Falls and the coal and taconite train whistles in the river valley.

Chris will be teaching a Toboggan Workshop (HDPE) on Sunday Morning.
Black River Sleds

Chris Gibbs

Chris Gibbs is an outdoor/adventure photographer living with his family in Cambridge, Minnesota. Chris' passion for adventure and the outdoors provides him with inspiring subject matter and takes him to places seldom seen by others, resulting in breathtaking images.

"The BWCA and Quetico Under Blanket of Snow"
Experience the BWCA and Quetico during the coldest parts of the year with outdoor photographer, Chris Gibbs. Utilizing traditional methods of travel, Chris spent a good part of three winters exploring these areas with his camera. Hear the stories and see the stunning images of places often visited by canoe but seldom seen under a blanket of snow and ice.

John MacEntyre Allen

John MacEntyre Allen, known in the woods as MacEntyre, is a chemical engineer who has been self employed for 25 years. He is the owner of Molly Mac Gear, whose products he designs and makes. Molly Mac Gear includes the versatile Molly Mac Pack, canvas and nylon hammock socks, nylon gear hammocks, canvas Anoraks and Mukluks, as well as ultra light weight hammock insulation. MacEntyre lives in North Carolina, where he tests his gear in unforgiving conditions. Molly Mac Gear is called "Gorge Tested" from MacEntyre's time spent on the rugged trails of Linville Gorge. Each winter, he seeks cold, high locations in the snowy Appalachian Mountains, such as Roan Mountain and Mt. Rogers. Find out more about MacEntyre's adventures at his YouTube Channel: http://www.YouTube.com/user/MollyMacPack.
MollyMacGear

Kevin Kinney

Kevin is a Penn State graduate, outdoor industry veteran, and lifelong silent sports enthusiast. He cut his teeth working for other companies with the goal of building his own. Now, nestled into a quiet Duluth shop, he draws upon 30 years of experience as designer and athlete, to craft outerwear using traditional textiles that offer timeless performance.
Empire Wool & Canvas Company

Michael Maruska

Michael Maruska, one of the three brothers has been consumed by winter camping and winter gear design especially micro insta-yurts. In the winter of 2009/2010 Michael spent 3+ months living in a micro yurt of his own creation right here on the shores of Sturgeon Lake. Wood, metal, canvas and wool 'Modern Traditionalism' shows in all his creations. In the winter camping off season Michael lives and works in remote central Idaho as a Forest Ranger for the US Forest Service.

Brian Maruska

Brian’s biggest passion in life is designing, fabricating and constructing effective durable winter camping gear. To him, there is no off season – it’s just the time to be building! Brian is a true do-it-yourselfer and his energy and humor shines through each of his presentations. Whether you want to build it on your own and are looking for his tips or you just want a good laugh, Brian’s seminars are full of entertainment and education.

Rhonda Reynolds

Rhonda lives on a tick farm on a lake at the end of the road in da Nort Wuds of Wisconsin. She was the first winner of the "Golden Spatula" award in 2008. She promptly sold the solid gold spatula to "Cash For Gold" and has been living of the proceeds ever since. She has been winter camping for more than 10 years. She hosts the Winter Rendezvous the first weekend in February each year in Northwest Wisconsin.

Jason Gustafson

Jason Gustafson is the owner of Lester River Bushcraft
He is a knife builder, outdoors man,bushcraft enthusiast and student of survival and self reliance.
"I'm a father, adventurer, and craftsman. My hands tell me as much about the world around me as my eyes. From the simple angles of a bevel to the last knot in a cord, I build deliberate gear so you can use it with purpose. So when all of the glitz and technology of the catalog pages fail you in the woods, my tools will be there in your hand. No 12V plugs, microchips, or fancy interlocking pieces- just steel, sharp and solid."
Lester River Bush Craft

Paul Anderson

Paul will be demonstrating "The Jam knot and 7 Best Bush Knots"

Paul is a student of bushcraft and of Mors Kochanski and Don Kevilus. "I like to spread the word about bushcraft and simplifying things. In the past I have mainly taught Scouts. And I have assisted Mors and Don in their different endeavours."

Don Kevilus

Don is the proprietor and owner of the Four Dog Stove Company. He has been designing and building portable wood stoves for the past 23 years. From a 2¼oz titanium back-packing stove to a large steel stoves that can heat a 14’ x 20’ wall tent at -30 below. He is known as the leading innovator in trail stove design and construction. All stoves are hand crafted with his wife, Roxanne on their back 40 acre Minnesota-based workshop/farm, where they enjoy family, friends, raising a large garden, chickens and working their mules. Don’s passion for creating time tested and proven items for use in the harshest wilderness conditions is evident by the testimonials of hunters, trappers, outfitters, guides and adventures throughout the globe.
Four Dog Stove

Warren Peterson

Warren Peterson is from Medford, Wisconsin. He's been making knives since 2001 after getting a knife making book from a friend. His specialty is a Scandinavian-style knife, which is a combination of wood, antler, birchbark, and occasionally mammoth tusk, as well as making all leather sheaths or wood, leather, and antler sheath combinations. Warren will also make knives with all wood or antler handles for a more traditional look. His knives are being used throughout the states, with one even making it to Alaska. Warren is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying camping in all the seasons as well as canoeing, kayaking, cross-country skiing and hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Ed Bouffard

Ed Bouffard is a seasonal Ranger at Glacier National Park and the owner of EWS. EWS focuses on helping people enjoy the great outdoors in the coldest of winter by providing info on building your own pulk and also selling several different pulk models and components. Eds pulks haved been used around the world and at both poles. His systems have been covered by the Boundary Waters Journal, Backpacking Light and will be featured this year in Back Country Magazine.

Peter Boulay

My real fascination with weather began when I started to keep a daily weather log on when I was nine years old. I won the grand award at the State Science fair in the seventh grade for my project on weather forecasting. My exhibit was so large that it had to be tied to the top of my parents’ station wagon! My interest in meteorology continued into college and I graduated with a BS in Meteorology from St. Cloud State University in 1996. While still in college I provided on-air forecasts for a company called Weather Eye Inc. In 1996, I was hired at Kavouras Inc. and forecasted for places around the world including obscure places like Easter Island. I joined the Minnesota State Climatology Office as an Assistant State Climatologist in 1998. I act as an operational climatologist and typically handle most of the data requests that arrive at the office. Some of my other interests include being a DJ at a local roller skating rink and a Cub Scout Leader with my wife Nancy. I have two sons who are avid weather watchers: Ben and Charlie. I still keep a weather log with my backyard station and watching for the next big storm.

Greg Burns

MN Naturalist and Property Manager of YMCA Camp Miller, Greg Burns, will
take you on a hike around camp’s 340 acres of boreal forests. Learn
something new and share your knowledge about the land you camp on! Grab
your coffee mug and meet on the front porch of Mitchell. Greg will also be
leading the snowshoe/canoe paddle dip in front of the maintenance shop by
the basketball court.

Sam Usem

Samuel is the Camping Department Coordinator at Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis. He has been with the store for 5 years serving as a sales associate, group sales manager and now department head. He grew in the souther half of MN but his adventures keep sending him farther north. From hot tenting in the BWCA, cold camping in Northern Wisconsin, and mushing in the UP of Michigan Sam loves to be out in winter, and this winter will be testing out his most fun idea yet, "why not hammok in winter?"

Midwest Mountaineering