Only the Bold Run the Cold!

​That’s the tag-line for the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run here in International Falls, where it can be cold and you’d have to be bold to sign up for a race. People have been doing it for 37 years now and it’s a big event with runners coming from all over the upper Midwest and Canada. This year, the event will have special significance because our area has issued a challenge to Grapevine, Texas, where the Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers hold their “Bold in the Cold” 5 and 15k races the same day, January 21, 2017.

Chamber of Commerce President Shawn Mason made a public challenge on Tuesday, January 10. At stake will be bragging rights to the coldest temperature at 9:30 am, greatest number of runners and frostiest facial hair and eyelashes. Grapevine is located a little north of….and between Dallas and Fort Worth. Their Bold in the Cold event may have an edge in numbers since there’s a much larger population within a reasonable drive. However, it’s almost a certainty International Falls will have the lower temperature and produce the frostiest facial hair.

Events for Icebox Days are all listed on our Calendar of Events, just click here. There are a lot of fun events in addition to the Freeze yer Gizzard Blizzard Run.

Lake Grapevine looks like a very inviting place, and I’m sure a fish or two are caught there regularly. Here in International Falls though, our anglers are walking on water to catch walleye and crappie. Snowmobile trails and some of the ice roads are open on Rainy Lake and people with portable ice fishing gear can really get out and explore. Along with the snowmobile trails, the cross country and snowshoe trails are also open and they are a great opportunity to see some winter wildlife while enjoying the quiet solitude and beauty of winter.

In our previous post, we mentioned an upcoming snowshoe lacing workshop at Voyageurs National Park. That’s one of many winter events planned at Voyageurs National Park. again, the full schedule can be found under our events tab, or just click here.