Outdoors

NASCAR on ice? Cars, community drive Minnesota’s frozen lake racers
Cars traveling at high speeds on glare ice might sound like a disaster in the making. But for dozens of drivers in Otter Tail County, it’s a recipe for winter fun. Meet the Bass Lake racers.
Daughter of ‘skiing savant’ speaks to coach’s legacy as Lindsey Vonn makes comeback
At the age of 99, Erich Sailer is still out at the slopes, cheering on his progeny and granddaughters, Lulu and Greta, who are now training under one of Lindsey Vonn’s former coaches. Martina Sailer said her dad always has a crowd of kids looking for feedback at the bottom of the hill.
Before barges start moving, crews head out to measure Lake Pepin ice
Each February, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers starts sending crews out onto the frozen Mississippi River at Lake Pepin to take ice measurements. The information helps determine when towboats and barges can start the navigation season.
Owl ‘irruption’ brings joy for birders, concerns for owls in northeast Minnesota
An uncommon owl “irruption” has brought large numbers of owls to northeast Minnesota, and also brought a ton of tourists and birders flocking to see them. Several owls have been killed and injured by vehicles.
 Photos: Landing on a frozen Minnesota lake? These Forest Service pilots are cool with it
Snow and ice aren’t ideal conditions to take off or land an airplane, but they’re business as usual for pilots who fly through the winter out of the U.S. Forest Service seaplane base in Ely — the only Forest Service seaplane base in the country. 
For Duluth area ultra runner Michael Koppy, age is irrelevant
At 74, Hermantown ultra-athlete Michael Koppy is aiming to become the oldest runner ever to finish the Arrowhead 135 — a grueling race, longer than five marathons back-to-back, across northern Minnesota through the dead of night, often in subzero temperatures.
Photos: Sculptures from artists in Stillwater for the World Snow Sculpting Championship
Twelve teams from around the world finished their chiseling and carving on Saturday, where they on the banks of the St. Croix River since Wednesday. Team Mongolia, also known as Team Falcon, won with their sculpture titled “Voice.”