The 4 o’clock hour, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026

Ryan Dezurik from Hanover, MN, Jerry Buker from Hanover and Doug Gesme from Jordan, MN: Ryan spoke for them all: “We are on a company trip into the Boundary Waters for four days. It’s ‘KNB Contracting.’ We are a relatively new business. We’ve been in business for three years and we’re to the point to where we wanted to celebrate a successful year and take a trip into the Boundary Waters and escape from the work life a little bit. We are a general contractor, building buildings, bus stations, working on schools, anything and everything related to construction. We go anywhere really. We have a project in Duluth and St. Cloud as well as in the Metro Area in the Twin Cities. We just got here. Jerry and I separately have been coming to the Boundary Waters for 20 years.” Jerry: “Yeah, basically my whole life, making trips up here. Not every year but the last few years, two times a year. So, do it while we still can.” Doug: “The first time I came up here was in the mid-70s as a Boy Scout. And I said I’d never come back and then I couldn’t wait to get back the next year. I’ve probably been up here five or six times over the last forty years.” Jerry: “Ely is a beautiful place.” “Protect the Boundary Waters!” “We’re going out tomorrow morning for four days. We’re going to catch walleyes, sunshine and some good laughs.”

Carrington Kosinski and Avery Ellerbroek: Carrington: “I’m biking around town with my friend for the day. School’s good. Math is being nice to me. Easy math questions.” Avery: “Just biking around town today. Not much happening. School is pretty good. I’ve been homeschooled for a couple years now. I haven’t really been doing much, just school and riding bike. We have to head back home.” Carrington: “Going home to eat food.”

Seraphine Rolando: “I just came from the mine. I spent the afternoon giving tours and I’m emptying my Jeep so I can go to Big Truck Night at the school. So I’ve gotta take everything that is loose out of the Jeep. Kids like to get into things and they like to tinker. The kids love that Jeep, so I run it over there. I’ve done that for I don’t know how many years. So anyway, that’s it. Working down in the mine and hauling all my firewood home. I got all my firewood in back for the winter. I started early so I’m not doing it when it’s snowing. I got the trailer out back. The trailer is empty. The wood pile is full. And I’m done. Basically, what I do is I’m just down in the mine giving tours. It gives me something to do. I still have people coming. If people want to come people can just call my house and I’ll open it up for them. That’s it Pam!”

Finley Chopp and Abby Maki and Joni her dog: “Abby: “I babysit Finley and I work at the elementary school.” Finley: “I went for a walk.” Abby: “I told her we’d go for a walk and listen to a song. What’s your favorite song. Were you listening to Britney Spears? I work at the school and just enjoying the fall weather. I was in the Boundary Waters last weekend. It was very windy but it was very good. I went with my boyfriend. It was his birthday. We covered a lot of ground. We paddled 52 miles on the weekend on a windy day. We had wind the entire way. My arms have recovered now and lots of napping after when we got back.” Finley: “I’m in the fourth grade. You have a nice face. (Abby).” Abby: “We were just going for a walk, waiting for her brother to get off practice for cross country, I assume.”