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Minnesota
By Samantha Brown on May 7, 2009 4:44 PM | Permalink | 18 Comments
Christina, James Demer (sound) and I all land together in the town of Duluth where we then have to drive two and 1/2 hours to the town of Ely (Ellie) self proclaimed Dog sledding capital of the United States. We stop for lunch at a local diner with a down home feel. We know we are in the right place when a board has listed over 15 types of pie.
We all love our mini road trip thru this new place and get even more excited when we see a Target because I need energy bars. We walked through the sliding doors and see a Starbucks. Perfect, our very last cappuccino! Our producer Ginny is wondering where we are and so we tell her we are having little field trips of capitalism before we hear the call of the wild.
When we went out for a dog sledding 101 run I just about froze my tuckus off. I think I have the right gear for this cold but clearly its not enough. We have those heating pads that you put in your boots and gloves. I am thinking about sewing them together to create a pair of heated bloomers.
Our camp is in a beautiful area tucked in the side of a lake. Guides went before to set up the fire for lunch and the big tent with the small wood stove that warms it up to a beautiful 70 degrees. (angels chorus).
My excitement for this new adventure has begun to mellow. For lunch its instant tomato soup, string cheese and pepperoni sticks. The latter two being hardened and tough to eat from the zero degree temp. The instant soup is a surprise instant hit. But it's now hitting me that I am sleeping here tonight.
We now have to start to make camp, that is make "winter camp" which is explained to me as being a lot like summer camping but just colder. I really dislike putting up the tent since the chilled metal poles have begun to freeze dry my hands but I love making an ice hole in the lake with a pick. I ladle in lake water into a bucket that will be boiled for soup.
We just made a bed for our team of dogs. We shovel snow and break off pine tree branches that the dogs will arrange with their own paws to create their comfy place to sleep. I love doing this, taking care of the dogs, tucking them in for the night has calmed my nerves and helped mentally prepare me for my own night on the ice as well. Animals just make everything better.
Tonight it will reach ten below zero and I am sleeping on a bed of ice. I run around to get my heart rate up and body temperature so I will insulate my sleeping bag and remain warm for the rest of the night. But I don't close my sleeping bag properly and almost all my warmth escapes.
Don the guide zippers me in correctly and things are getting better but now I can't sleep. I mean I am wide awake. My feet get cold and I was told by the guides that the best thing to do is to switch your sox while in your sleeping bag which is so tough to do you actually get hot. But here's the thing -- if I do that it draws attention to the fact that I'm in this tight sleeping bag and I start to have a claustrophobic panic attack. So I just lie there, but that's not helping me get warm, so I remember Don told me another trick: do sit-ups until you fall asleep. So that's what I did and it worked until…
The scariest sound I have ever heard. The lake just bellowed a sound it makes when its freezing, like a death charge emitted far away that gradually gets nearer, the ice begins to rumble and the sound goes right under you.
When you use lake water there are small remnants of the woods that still persist to be there even after the boiling. Bits of twig, pine needles etc. it's all harmless but I am not used to my coffee being on the chunky side. I drink using my teeth as a barrier so that only the liquid coffee gets filtered through.
Just got back from Dog sledding in the woods. Got a little hairy on the trails there, one time we even catch some air as we go over a big log. I felt less like I was on a dog sled and more like I was riding on the General Lee. It's the Dukes of Hazard up north. But I realized that falling off the sled was about as much fun as riding it.
Paul just went down, we were shooting a ski scene on the ice and his ankle snapped. He was yelling in pain and just dropped like a sack of potatoes. We think he tore a tendon. We are all really worried about Paul because he is our rock. When he was carried away on the snowmobile we all feel a little empty.
The show must go on and thankfully on this trip instead of having an assistant producer we have another shooter, Josh Otte operating a smaller video camera. Josh is here to help get coverage but he has just been promoted to first camera.
Man I am beat. Two hours of sleep, the biting cold and getting knocked off a dogsled a handful of times have really begun to take its toll. But we have packed up the camp and are heading back to the lodge. We shoot one more dog sledding sequence and it's the coldest yet. The wind across the lake is so brutally frigid and I have still one more scene to shoot: A sauna, then the jump in the lake through the hole cut into the ice. The thought that I am actually going to be colder than how I feel now is simply terrifying.
We get word back from Paul at the emergency room. His foot is broken in two places and he has a torn tendon. The news is worse than we thought.
I did the cold lake plunge-and it was awesome. If you ever have the chance to do this go for it! We end the night with a fantastic dinner by Chef Bernard of Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts. It's a Thanksgiving dinner and it's perfect for how I feel about this incredible experience, my job and my wonderful crew. Overwhelmingly thankful.
Side note: once the dinner was through the rest of my crew: Ginny, James, Josh and even Christina went to the Sauna and to jump into the lake. Paul, the poor guy, was stuck in the lodge with his newly broken foot.
18 Comments
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Samantha,
I don't know how many men write to tell you what a "must see" your show is, but let me tell you, you are the best! You have such an amazingly positive outlook and open approach to the world! I am an American business executive who has traveled overseas a lot, and am always turned off by the need for most Americans to find America wherever they go (instead of a thirst to experience new cultures). You embrace the world with such enthusiasm. Your show sets such an example on the "true" travel experience - that is, learning to explore the new with the intent to learn about the world firsthand. You are a shining star! Your husband is a very blessed man! LOL
Marc
Samantha:
After reading the blog on Minnesota and noticing you were headed to Ely, I had to ask if you have been up to Two Harbors yet? I'm a native Nebraskan, but my son & I years ago came up to Minnesota and up to Two Harbors specifically. Such a quaint little place on the harbor of Lake Superior. Close to state parks and lighthouses, as well. Hope to see that maybe on your many trips.
Samantha,
Keep on rockin'! Have been a fan of yours since 2001 on "Great Hotels". Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Chris
Dear Sam,
Thanks for being such a wonderful host. I love all your shows and one day hope to sing karaoke with you. Stay cool!
Hi Sam! I feel like I know you and you should know me! My husband and I watch all your shows and are looking forward to your new season which starts tonight! We really love you! Reading your blog makes us realize that it isn't always fun for you so thank you for what you go through for us! Love and Kisses, Joan
Hi - Now that I have DVR, I record your show all the time and try to get pointers from each episode. I love traveling, and wish I could do it as a profession. How did you get into this line of work? Great show!
Tracy
Samantha,
Absolutely love your show!!! You are so fun to watch. If you need an assistant, please let me know. I have lived in Texas my entire(43 years)life and I get the travel urge every time I watch your show. I would love to have travel as my profession. As my teenage daughter gets older, I keep thinking it's not out of the question, I'd love to take her with me(homeschooling has definately become an option). How did you enter into this profession? Were you a travel agent or just someone that loved to travel? Would love your thoughts on this(if you have the time of course)
Best Wishes,
Amy
I am so jealous of you! What a job! You are so lucky! My hubby and I have been in bed, watching TV all weekend. We really enjoyed your Europe shows. Keep up the good work!
Thanks to you and our home hockey team in the playoff ,I still think it's winter outside , Love u .p.s go somewhere warn next with some indoor plumbing.
Hi Samantha, you are so awesome. I have lived in Minnesota all my life,allbeit, the Twin Cities, and have never done what you did on this excursion. I have camped, but never before June or after August and not to mention one of the coldest places in this state.
Take care hun, you are the best,
Alan
Hi Sam: I enjoyed your show last night on Ely Mn winter camping. I go in the summer canoeing and camping there. I have wanted to try the winter camping for years. The lakes up there are cold in the summer how did you ever jump into that icy lake in the winter?! I have enjoyed your shows for years. Keep them coming! Take care.
When you retire, can I have your job?
I keep telling my friends, "I am going to be Samantha Brown when I grow up!"
:D
Keep being awesome!
-paige
Love your show, and usually I am jealous of your trips. This one really made me an admirer because it looked so uncomfortable sleeping on that lake! Even the plunge into the icy water seemed preferable because at least it was short! Keep up the good (brave) work so we wimps can live vicariously through your adventures!
Hi Samantha! I totally love your show and always tape the episodes, but for some reason this Minnesota episode did not tape :( I have been wanting to go dog sledding at that exact same place in Ely for a few years now. I was so sad that I missed this episode. Do you know if it will be shown again on TV or if it's available to watch online somewhere??? Keep up the great shows!
Hello Samantha, I started watching your show because as I was flipping the channels here pops up this cute,perky blond. All guys stop on the channel that has a cute woman on it. Then you start cracking jokes and puns. Ok now you are adorable and entertaining! The more I watch I notice all the scenic camera work, excellant, fun and interesting people and places on the show. Then you are sitting in a romantic setting showing your elegant side, dinner, dancing, then a beautiful sunset somewhere in the world. Leaving all of us wanting to be with you! A modern version of Gidget, That Girl and Mary Tyler Moore traveling the world. The episode with you behind the tree in the snow in Minnesots...priceless. "You've got spunk kid." Your wardrobe assistant....fit her in the show more, very photogenic. Thankyou for being......YOU.
It is pronounced "EEE-LEE" as in Ely, England. The closest Target is 50 miles away, in Virginia, MN. Some people retire and move to warm climates; I retired and moved to ELy - and love it, mosquitoes and all. You should come up for canoeing and fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Late September is nice. Very few bugs and the leaves are just starting to turn color.
Thanks Samantha. Especially, the photo so good :) We are waitng your new shows.
I was taken aback by your comment on this show when you were trying to get the harness on one of the sled dogs. I can't believe that your producer allowed that to go on the air.
That aside, I do love your shows!
I have a question though....do you ever have to re-do any of the sequences where you're walking down a street and talking about the city you're in? It all seems so natural but I'm wondering if you ever get tongue-tied and have to do another "take"?