Awards/Press
December 16, 2008
Snowstorm Brings Breathtaking Waves to Lutsen Resort
LUTSEN, MN—Gale-force winds produced a spectacular display of waves along Lake Superior's North Shore on Sunday, while a blizzard dropped seven inches of new snow. Guests at Lutsen Resort had a front-row seat to the winter wonderland.
Though the annual arrival of the "Gales of November" was a month late, it was an extra special site during this winter storm. Tourists and locals alike gathered on the rocky beaches to view the awesome power of North America's largest freshwater lake.
"Whenever we get the wind blowing like it was this weekend, the waves are simply amazing," said Bryan Hansel, Lutsen Resort's director of activities. "People just love to check out the beach and watch the water come smashing in."
Lutsen Resort's location, at the mouth of the Poplar River, is the perfect place to view the waves and partake in winter sports
Wherever you have rivers coming into the lake, the mouth forms an underwater delta that provides a place for waves to break," Hansel said. "The beaches at our resort are ideal for seeing that breaking surf everybody loves."
With wind gusts exceeding 30 m.p.h. on Sunday, giant waves were seen from the shore as well as the warm confines of Lutsen Resort's main lodge and log cabins.
"On our Lakeshore Trail, which runs along granite and basalt rock, waves were crashing in and splashing high into the air," Hansel said. "This time of year for our activity program we do guided snowshoe hikes, and depending on which direction the waves are coming from, we can go snowshoeing at different nearby areas that emphasize how big these waves can get."