The Border-to-Border Touring Route spans 750 miles, traversing northern Minnesota by utilizing pre-existing roadways, extending from the North Dakota border to the shores of Lake Superior.

The border-to-border project was initiated in 2015 and represents a collaborative undertaking involving the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota 4-Wheel Drive Association. After a lengthy eight year process, the DNR plans to finalize the route and route management plan in the spring of 2024.

As it nears completion, a Cook County resident and well-known photographer, Bryan Hansel, decided to pack his bags and venture out for a long-distance bikepacking trip in mid-October along the border-to-border route to experience it firsthand. In this week's podcast episode, host Kalli Hawkins talks with Bryan Hansel about his adventure and speaks with Joe Unger with the Minnesota DNR about the project.

Cook County Resident Bryan Hansel Bikepacks The Border-To-Border Touring Route

April 27 Larry Weber Observations

Cook County officials held a Firewise wildfire safety meeting in Hovland on the morning of April 27. This was the first of many wildfire safety meetings that will be held throughout Cook County to help full-time and seasonal residents learn what they can do to prepare for wildfire season. Accuweather recently released a wildfire forecast map that shows a red zone in Northeastern Minnesota for a high risk of significant fire in 2024, due to record-breaking warmth and dryness across the region this past winter and compounded by the prevalence of spruce budworm. 

You can learn more about all the ways you can reduce your risk of property damage from wildfires by visiting CookCountyFirewise.org. There you’ll find educational materials on reducing flammable materials around your home, links to resources including Cook County brush disposal sites and the CodeRed emergency notification app, and you can request a free Firewise site assessment of your property.

Wildfire Preparedness in Cook County

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Spring Update with CEO Kate Surbaugh

Grand Marais author Joe Friedrichs talks with WTIP's CJ Heithoff about his latest book "Last Entry Point: Stories of Danger and Death in the Boundary Waters"

Joe Friedrichs Last Entry Point

Cook County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers tells WTIP about the upcoming candidate filing window for seats on the Board of Commissioners and Soil and Water Conservation District Board.

2024 Cook County Elections - upcoming candidate filing window

Get to know Alex Gugala, the interim director at the Cook County YMCA.

Interim YMCA Director Alex Gugala

North Shore Spring Steelhead Run

Erin Altemus & Anna Hennessy

Agricultural Inspector & Environmental Specialist for the Highway Department, and the Coordinator for the Cook County Invasives Team, Tia Parks gives WTIP an update on noxious weeds in the area.

Noxious Weeds Notice with Tia Parks

WTIP is the community radio station serving Minnesota's North Shore. We share a variety of outdoor news content from the region, including Lake Superior, Isle Royale and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. From fishing and hunting to environmental issues, this locally-produced podcast covers important outdoor news relevant to our broad community of listeners.

Cook County Resident Bryan Hansel Bikepacks The Border-To-Border Touring Route

WTIP Outdoor News Podcast

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