Don’t Miss The Heartbeat of the Homepage–Our Rockwood Newsletter
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Rockwood Newsletter
“I have found that people go to the wilderness for many things, but the most important of these is perspective. They may think they go for the fishing, or the scenery, or companionship, but, in reality, it is something far deeper. They go to the wilderness for the good of their souls.” Sigurd Olson
The man whom many of us consider the godfather of the BWCAW, Sigurd Olson, knew how critical perspective is for those entering the wilderness. You come to our website for the essentials, outfitting packages, cabin and equipment rentals, permit and scheduling information. On Rockwoodbwca.com, you’ll find everything you need for a wilderness adventure or a lakefront vacation in one of our comfortable cabins. It is a practical, transactional space that serves an essential purpose but doesn’t tell the whole story. That’s the task of our Rockwood newsletter.
The newsletter is the heartbeat of Rockwood. It gives perspective, which Sigurd Olson calls the most important thing when going into the wilderness. It’s a place for community, for stories, for wisdom that goes beyond a list of amenities. It’s not about what you can buy, but about what you can experience and who you can experience it with.
Our newsletters feature unique wilderness experiences shared by well-known advocates like Lukas Leaf and Bear Paulson, and people like Steve Dawson, who records more than 50 trips hiking and canoeing the wilderness. For instance, our Rockwood newsletter told the story of Dawson’s hike cut short mid-hike by a health issue he had in 2022, which led to his “revenge hike” completed last year.
We wrote about the adventures of the Holman family, true friends of Rockwood for 15 years. An annual tradition is a week-long summer stay in a Rockwood cabin. They use the cabin as a base for hiking many of the local trails or canoeing and paddleboarding on Poplar Lake. “That’s our family’s favorite week of the year,” patriarch Derek Holman said.
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We have some quirky, practical, and beneficial articles, such as the “What Not to Bring” list we published in August. It’s a great example of content that’s helpful, tells a story, and complements our “what to bring” list on the website. Rockwood’s approach, which is unique and personal, is to help you get the most out of your wilderness adventure.
Rockwood’s newsletter is for true enthusiasts, not only casual visitors. Check out this example of the deep, thoughtful content in “Portages–A Stroll Through the Woods or a Torment for Beginners?” It’s not just about the act of portaging; it’s a reflection on the spiritual and physical challenges of a wilderness trip.
This newsletter is our way to create a community of people who love the Gunflint Trail and the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness and want to feel connected to it even when they’re away. We aim to give everyone a strong sense of belonging and anticipation for the next trip, thereby fostering a sense of connection and excitement.
Read about Suzanne Grindle, Co-founder of The Rescue Pack, an animal rescue group in Minneapolis. Suzanne discovered Rockwood in 2017 for a last-minute visit. She liked it so much, she’s returned every year. Rockwood and the BWCAW are dog-friendly destinations. She brought four dogs with her in October two years ago. All are rescues and well-trained for recall. Although she didn’t want to canoe with the four of them, she did take them hiking.
If you like organized canoe trips, consider our piece on Deb Drexler. Deb and her friend Kelly Kautz have co-led an annual summer women paddlers group into a BWCAW trip since 2018. Typically, the group consists of six people, including both experienced paddlers and beginners.
You may enjoy a bit of history, like our newsletter about the legendary Justine Kerfoot, matriarch of Gunflint Lodge, accomplished outdoors woman, community leader, and writer. As Rockwood reaches 100 years, history is important to us. Check out our newsletter featuring the two decades, 1979-1999, when the Austin family owned and operated Rockwood.
Our newsletters include stories from the trail. Carl Madsen, one of the owners here, is constantly learning about new routes in the wilderness. One day, he explored a new route along the Brule River out of the BWCAW to the Lima Grade road with his old friend, the late Dan Cooke. Cooke was the founder of Cooke Custom Sewing, a company he started in 1980 that produces highly respected and durable gear for wilderness travel, including canoe packs, tarps, and canoe covers.
Last August, Carl paddled and portaged 28 miles to help one of his outfitting clients back to safety after her paddling partner was evacuated from Kiskadinna Lake in the BWCA for a health-related emergency.
Stories like these are not just news; they’re stories of character, resilience, and the real-life adventures that happen on the Gunflint Trail.
Our newsletters are a source of knowledge, not just promotions. We dive into the specifics of the local ecosystem, like the uniqueness of the tamarack tree and its late fall explosion of color, and the importance of the once dominant white pine.
The Rockwood newsletter isn’t just a marketing tool. It is a platform for the owners and staff to share their passions and their lives. It is a blend of practical advice, fascinating stories, and a deeper connection to the place we love, the Gunflint Trail and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. By subscribing, you become a valued part of our community.
Please become part of the Rockwood story. Don’t just visit the website—subscribe to the newsletter. The wilderness is calling, and we’ll tell you its secrets.
