In 1913, Oberholtzer (known by many as “Ober”) moved to Rainy Lake, and in 1922, purchased Mallard Island, which would be his home for more than 50 years. His environmental achievements include:

• Oberholtzer served as the first president the Quetico-Superior Council, which was formed in 1928. In this capacity, he lobbied the United States Congress and the Minnesota legislature, testifying before the International Joint Commission and building public support for the council's program.


• In 1935, he was one of eight founding members of the Wilderness Society, which passed the Wilderness Act in 1964. The act enabled Congress to set aside approximately nine million acres as wilderness.


• Oberholtzer strived to create an International Peace Memorial Forest in the Rainy Lake watershed. Although that was not achieved, in 1957, the United States and Canada exchanged formal letters of agreement were regarding the protection of the area, a significant achievement in wilderness management nonetheless.

Oberholtzer was also an author and spoke fluent Ojibwe.  

“These trails of the north are a sermon in harmonious living. They tell not only of a race in conflict with [Western] civilization but of their whole philosophy and outlook on life. We have so much to learn from Indians and no better place to learn it today than portages worn smooth by our Indian predecessors.” Ernest Oberholtzer

Today, Oberholtzer is considered a leading advocate for the preservation of the Quetico-Superior lake area and an advocate of the Native American culture in that region. Before his death in 1977, a large plaque was installed in rock at the highest point of Mallard Island. The memorial reads, "This island was for fifty years the home of Ernest Oberholtzer, pioneer in the effort to save the wilderness, devoted Atisokan to the Indians and cherished friend and companion. 1973"  

After his death, several of Oberholtzer’s friends established the Oberholtzer Foundation, which continues his legacy of conservation and wilderness protection. 

We are into the middle of October and ruffed grouse hunters are starting to flush more birds as the cover has been coming down. Cold and wet weather lately has limited the number of hunters willing to get out.

Fall color watchers are seeing the peak pass them by, although there are still some green leaves. By about October 20th, they will all be gone.

Birders can catch all sorts of migrating waterfowl from swans to geese, and as a reminder, if you hike any of the trails you should wear some blaze orange for safety.

Weather has been a factor for Rainy Lake and Rainy River anglers. While few folk are getting out, those that find the window of opportunity are finding walleye, northern pike and crappie at varying depths around the submerged structure in Rainy Lake. Crappie are also being caught in the west end of Black Bay and up into the Rat Root River.

This post was brought to you by Rainy Lake Guide Association.