Points Unknown, LLC: Dog Sled, Paddle, Hike

06/14/2024

06/12/2024

We put the shade umbrellas up right in time for the rain. Now we're just enjoying the lazy rainy afternoon.

06/05/2024

VRBO Review Tiny Tuloon Cabin - Russell on May 25, 2024
"A cozy, well designed and built cabin in the distant woods was my retreat last weekend and it was terrific! The cabin is just the right size for one person or two that enjoy each other. There is no electricity, internet, plumbing, or cell service but I had everything I needed, especially peace. The screened in porch was delightful in the evening as dozens of species of birds and frogs filled the woods with song. The propane wood stove was on a thermostat and provided charm as well as warmth. Fresh, delicious well water in a five gallon jug with a spigot was sufficient. And the seat in the outhouse was always warm. Seriously. I helped with the morning feeding of the Huskies and found the pups to all be well-mannered, disciplined, and fun! Linda, the proprietor, is friendly, no-nonsense, and eager help you enjoy your stay. I'm going back this winter for a ride on the dogsled. I recommend this place to anyone who loves the woods, adventure, and dogs." www.points-unknown.com/stay

06/04/2024

Shuttle Service! A business partner and I are currently researching what it will take to provide a fully permitted and insured, quality Superior Hiking Trail shuttle - Superior by Nature! (It's all in the name, right?) And, to start, it would be just in Cook County. Part of this research is getting input from folks who love the trail and would use the service.

What are the most important things to you when using a shuttle for your hikes? What's on your wish list? If you have a business in Cook County, please share what your guests have been asking for and how we could serve you as business owners. We'd love to hear from you!

Right now, I am able to provide one FREE shuttle service to any of the trailheads on the Arrowhead Trail with a THREE night stay at Points Unknown. It's a start. https://www.points-unknown.com/stay/

Please tell us what you want and we'll see what we can do.

06/04/2024

Roman was so happy he gets to go to puppy class. Trying to get some exposure to this for him before the new CDC regs take effect August 1st. And then we have no idea what to expect. Fingers crossed that we can still take our dogs across the Canadian border and back for the valuable classes!

06/03/2024

A little (BIG) reminder about how you can keep the bugs at bay.

We live in a remote wilderness area that contains an abundance of wildlife and that wildlife includes bugs!

We don't mind them so much because we have ways of avoiding them, however, our sled pets live with them. In this album, you'll see what we do to make their lives more comfortable at this time of year.
www.points-unknown.com

06/02/2024

Did a little R&D this afternoon for a new experience we're offering. Roman is endorsing it. No worries! We drove slowly and he was fully and double secured the entire way. I was happy to see how relaxed he was on this bumpy adventure.

06/02/2024

Feels like Summer! Puppy sled dog enrichment at the Big Lake today. Reka is a water lover. You could be here! UNPLUG, STAY, & PLAY with us! www.points-unknown.com/stay

06/02/2024

06/01/2024

Behind the Scenes at Points Unknown! Sled Dog Enrichment: Oytu goes to class. The Dog Classroom Dog Sled, Paddle, Hike, Stay with us! www.points-unknown.com/stay Sled Dog Cuddles Included.
Videographer - Angelina Elido

05/31/2024

Superior Hiking Trail DAY TRIPPERS! We are now offering one FREE shuttle to one of the trailheads off of the Arrowhead Trail, close to the northern terminus, with a THREE night stay with us. Additional shuttle services available. Book your stay with us NOW! www.points-unknown.com/stay

*T

05/31/2024

It's a beautiful spring day. You could be here! UNPLUG, STAY & PLAY! www.points-unknown.com/stay

05/30/2024

Oytu is doing so well at his puppy obedience class. We love keeping our sled dogs busy during the "off" season with obedience and agility classes, along with all day supervised free play with their friends, in our big enclosures. It's a big dog park every day! What do you do to keep your pups enriched this time of year? www.points-unknown.com 📸Angelina Elido

05/29/2024

The Big Lake smoothes and soothes.

05/24/2024

This is my 11th Anniversary month of cashing in EVERYTHING, giving up my real estate appraisal business, and moving off grid into the middle of Minnesota's *remote* wilderness with the sled dogs and my beeswax candle business. ELEVEN! Yeah!

At the time, the fact that the satellite internet was installed and all of a sudden I was LIVE, was extraordinary. I was elated, as you can see by my expression. There was no grid power, no land phone lines and no cell coverage. I had to use a 40' post with a special antenna and two booster systems in order to boost an intermittent cell signal from Canada. I also had, and still have, 16 solar panels, 24 deep cycle batteries to store the energy, and 2 propane generators (one is a back up for the other) to use to top the batteries when the solar panels are covered in snow or it is not sunny.

A LOT has changed in 11 years that I NEVER thought would. About 3 years ago, I got a call from a very excited intern while I was out of town. "I'm calling from the woods!" she was saying over and over again. They apparently turned on an AT&T cell tower on the US side and within reach of my homestead. We now had cell coverage! My first thought was "There goes the neighborhood" but I do like the safety it provides and it's good for my businesses. I'm not happy, however, to see 5 bars when I'm 6 miles out on the trail. It just highlights the addiction.

Another change - Arrowhead Electric received a federal grand to bring high speed internet to everyone in the county. This means that in order to do that, it has to run with the power. SO, they are bringing power up past my house this fall, they say. Power and High Speed Internet! Well, there goes the neighborhood x 2. BUT Ok, power. I can hook up and sell back to grid and still use my solar.

And yet a "There goes the neighborhood" x 3 - I got word that there are funds to PAVE the Arrowhead Trail up to my road and then I'll still have 4/10 of a mile of gravel to my house. Ok, pavement. I suppose that I will, at least, have a clean truck now. And then there are the safety aspects associated with a paved road. So, I guess I'll just roll with what they call "progress" and make the best of it. There *are* upsides to it all. After all.

So, Happy 11th Anniversary to ME and THE DOGS! I can't wait to see what changes will take place in the NEXT 11 years.

05/23/2024

MPR recently contacted us for their special segment on thanking a stranger. We have many strangers to thank for helping us find Zhing. A remarkable story it is. And just one "Thank you" is not enough.

Social media and the dog’s mother helped a woman find one of her prized Hedlund Huskies named Zhing that got loose in Ely.

05/22/2024

We were inspired by all of the wonderful ideas for our new Spring - Fall Experience! We have the name! The main inspirations came from TWO of our followers/friends. Chriss Joyce & Linda Bauermeister! Please send me a private message and we'll get rolling on sending those hoodies out to you. Ready for it??

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Nature's Wonders Tour on Wheels - A guided back country introduction to the flora and fauna of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region.

Thank you to all that provided your suggestions.

05/22/2024

Join us for a DAY trip into the BWCA just up the road from Points Unknown! We'll take you there! Sled Dog Cuddles included. Video created by Angelina Elido

05/21/2024

Welcome Angelina to the Points Unknown Team!

Angelina is a nature-loving soul-searcher raised on sand, saltwater, and sunshine on Oahu, Hawaii. She has her B.A. in Economics from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and a Certificate in Digital Media from University of California San Diego.

She’s lived in different areas all over the Western US as she converted her van home on wheels and worked various seasonal positions including a glamping company near the Grand Canyon and a ranch in Montana.

In her free time, you can find her practicing yoga, capturing and editing an ever-growing collection of photos and videos, flying her drone, meditating, or enjoying the outdoors in some form.

Angelina pursued Points Unknown to grow her confidence in off-grid living, build a relationship with sled dogs, slow down, escape the matrix, and solve the mystery of surviving a proper winter season. One day, she would like to create a homestead of her own and cultivate a community space for artists, healers, foodies, farmers, sustainability enthusiasts, and health and wellness practitioners alike. We are happy to welcome her to the 2023-2024 team!

05/20/2024

Stay with us! Paddle with us! Hike with us! Sled Dog Cuddles included. www.points-unknown.com/stay

05/19/2024

Another chance to WIN a Points Unknown Hoodie! HELP US NAME A NEW EXPERIENCE. If we use the name you suggest, the hoodie is yours! In the photos, you'll see the machine we affectionately call "Buggy Blue". Last winter (so-called), we had to purchase Buggy Blue in order to still provide our guests with a dog-based adventure. Now, we want to use BB for a Spring - Fall experience without dogs because it will be too warm for them to help pull it but we have so much beauty in our area to share. Now, keep in mind that Sled Dog Cuddles are ALWAYS included with anything we offer. So here goes....

It will be a back country, off road, gentle experience in our remote area, providing a tour of all of the beauty that surrounds us in the north woods. It will be educational and will include plant medicine ID, wildlife tracking and habitat topics, to name a few. The most exciting thing about this tour is that we will go through a remote Scientific Natural Area that visitors to the area may have difficulty accessing otherwise. What do you think? Give us your suggestions. We can't wait to hear them!

05/19/2024

Sunday Shenanigans

05/18/2024

Come and join us for one (or more!) of our year 'round Women's Lifestyle Immersion Experiences. www.points-unknown.com/women

05/17/2024

The end of an era. Ryden was the most loyal and gentle soul with an impeccable work ethic. Once the harness went on, it was all business. He had endless patience for teaching youngsters to lead. He was a leader from 10 months old and on one of his very first puppy runs. He bit the line in point position (behind the leaders) so intensely that I got frustrated and just put him up front. There are no lines he could bite there as long as he was facing forward. And that he did, until he retired just this past winter on the second to the last run of the season at 11.5 years old. Ryden peacefully passed earlier today after living with a very large abdomen tumor since the beginning of April. I will miss you sweet boy. You were so loved.