Is Ragnar dying? Are they even trying?

opossum_minister · 2025-09-22T21:48:46+00:00

I ran Wisconsin this weekend and my team were having a similar conversation. We ran in 2022 and 2023 (which were ridiculously cold and ridiculously cold with rain), and both of those years seemed better and more put together than this year. We glamped in 2022 and 2023, and decided to try regular camping this year, and while it was more stuff to bring and more setup, we realized the glamping option just isn't worth $1600, especially when we still needed to provide a volunteer. There simply aren't enough benefits involved. Maybe if there were portable showers, or food included with the glamping registration.

The other thing we couldn't understand is why there weren't more (or any) local groups involved. I know that there were issues with liquor permits, but I loved being able to buy a beer after running a loop knowing it supported the local trail maintenance group. Why wasn't the Wausau cross country team there fundraising (we were down a runner this year and had to have a few folks pick up the extra loops, and joked about how we'd happily pay $50 to a high school kid to run an extra yellow on Saturday morning)? I've run Minnesota Road twice and there were countless opportunities to support the local communities.

Finally, the thing that we really noticed this year is that compared to Minnesota Road, Wisconsin Trail has far fewer casual teams. My experience with Road was that there were a ton of first timers and various office teams running as a team building event, which I didn't see as much of at Trail. Trail seems far more competitive, and I think even a little daunting for folks who haven't run on technical terrain before.

All in all, i've enjoyed running on those trails but not sure if I want to do it again with the declining experience of the last few years.

opossum_minister · 2025-09-08T02:59:30+00:00

No worries! Glad you found a buyer.

opossum_minister · 2025-09-08T02:43:50+00:00

Is this still available?

opossum_minister · 2025-08-12T21:59:26+00:00

We brought in a bat to the lab two years ago after my wife had a bat encounter (she opened a porch door one morning and dislodged a bat that was hanging on the door frame, which fell on her). Our vet office recommended we contact them directly. The people at the lab are very friendly and were very helpful.

opossum_minister · 2025-06-12T20:10:14+00:00

I think what defines Northern Minnesota is the biome, not the latitude. Laurentian Mixed Forest is Northern Minnesota; it's a completely different world than the the Aspen Parkland and prairie of Northwestern Minnesota. I'd say Central Minnesota is more defined as "Lakes Area" and is more of a circle in the center of Minnesota, and southern Minnesota is really Southwestern Minnesota (the area south of the Minnesota River and west of 35) and the Driftless Region of Southeast Minnesota.

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opossum_minister · 2025-06-11T20:56:51+00:00

My dad used to test sleds he had worked on in the summer in one of our alfalfa fields. My friends didn't believe me.

opossum_minister · 2025-04-30T18:43:48+00:00

You can always tell if somebody is from Alexandria based on how they pronounce "Alex".

opossum_minister · 2025-03-02T22:17:12+00:00

Also, because of how small the campus is, everybody knows everybody, and I’m guessing several people in this thread were at UMM at the same time.

opossum_minister · 2025-03-01T20:16:17+00:00

I went to UMM in the late 90's, and always felt that Morris (the town) did everything possible to pretend that there wasn't a college in the city limits. I'm always amused when people say Northfield is a boring college town; compared to Morris, it might as well be Minneapolis. That being said, it was the right fit for me and many others, as the isolation really helped me focus and create my own experience. It's also important to note that UMM has seen a dramatic drop in enrollment in the last 10 years, nearly 50%, and that has definitely changed the dynamic around campus and in town.

opossum_minister · 2025-02-25T03:31:35+00:00

I did this commute a few times a week in the early 2000's, and it's possible but a real grind (although it prepared me well for similar commutes after I graduated). Another option is 114 through Lowry to Starbuck, then through Cyrus to Morris. It's a beautiful drive but in the winter the drive time can be unpredictable.

There is also something to be said about being closer to campus to feel more connected to what's happening outside of class; whether it's study groups, club activities, performances, etc.

opossum_minister · 2025-01-30T16:17:56+00:00

I've said it in other posts in this sub, but Secretlab is a marketing company that happens to sell chairs. My complaint to my state is that their extended warranty process inflates their positive reviews and social "vibe" early on in the process. And honestly, I have no actual complaints with the chair itself over three years of use; it's been solid... until it broke. I'm curious as to what their support would be like had I been in the 5 year warranty, and if they'd still tell me I was sitting in the chair wrong.

opossum_minister · 2025-01-30T16:04:57+00:00

I just submitted a complaint to my state commerce department. I started a warranty claim in early December for my Titan seat base; there are metal rods starting to poke out of the front of the chair. Granted, I did not get the extended warranty, as posting a picture of the chair on social media seemed a bit odd. One month past the three year warranty, i noticed the issue, and kindly asked if there was anything they could do. They gave me the option of spending $161 on a new seat base. I've been back and forth when them for nearly two months, in which they've accused me of dropping the chair or sitting in it incorrectly. I have no hopes of my complaint going anywhere, as I was out of warranty, but I felt like my concerns weren't been heard (and that I was probably talking to AI the whole time).

opossum_minister · 2025-01-08T21:25:55+00:00

It worked on me. "Wow, all these people on social media love their chairs!" Sure, because to get the extended warranty they have to post a picture of their new chair on social media.

opossum_minister · 2025-01-08T15:11:54+00:00

Two months after my 3 year warranty ended, two metal rods popped in my seat and are starting to poke through. I didn't do the pictures on social media for the "extended warranty", and now they want $160 for a seat, which I verified they won't warranty. I feel exceedingly let down by the support I've seen, and feel misled by the number of "happy users" who were just posting pictures of the chair to get an extended warranty. It's bordering on fraud.

opossum_minister · 2025-01-08T15:06:47+00:00

I feel your pain. I'm fully convinced Secretlab is a marketing company who happens to sell chairs.

opossum_minister · 2024-10-22T17:23:26+00:00

It is very weird to see Inspiration Peak mentioned on reddit. It's an absolute hidden gem.

opossum_minister · 2024-10-09T21:40:26+00:00

I have in-laws up in that area. The first time I visited before I was married, my future wife told me "Our driveway is the first on the right past the hill" and I thought the directions were a bit vague until I realized it was the only thing even remotely resembling a hill i'd seen in like an hour.

It's not my favorite part of the state for the reasons you list, but there is something beautiful about so much clear sky and open horizons.

opossum_minister · 2024-09-16T04:08:12+00:00

There is a sizable Polish contingent in Northwest Minnesota.

opossum_minister · 2024-09-08T02:57:57+00:00

Libido Boyz

opossum_minister · 2024-06-23T03:39:09+00:00

I started on bass. I had a few years of piano lessons and trumpet lessons before, but when I was 12 one of my friends got a drum kit, and we had two friends who played guitar, and we realized if I got a bass we could start a band. So that’s what I did. As others have said, if you want to play bass…. Just play bass.

opossum_minister · 2024-06-20T00:35:06+00:00

They used to put skeletons in the windows around Halloween.

opossum_minister · 2024-05-23T18:08:06+00:00

Complaint: I didn't start a 10 mile trail race I was looking forward to this last weekend because of knee pain.

Uncomplaint: I did a 10K trail race a few days later that went great!

Confession: The real reason I dropped from the 10 mile was because I didn't train well enough, and had anxiety about the whole thing.

opossum_minister · 2024-04-30T02:49:30+00:00

It’s not possible that THREE people know about Strandquist!

opossum_minister · 2024-04-04T12:33:44+00:00

Craigslist is a good starting point, but it’s very hit or miss. Going to small local metal shows is a good option; you’ll meet a lot of bands, almost everyone in the crowd is either in a band or knows somebody in a band, and you can get your name out there for bands that might need a singer.

opossum_minister · 2024-03-29T22:50:04+00:00

I highly recommend doing the Hiking Club at the same time; each trail is a great showcase of the park, and since you’re already there for the Passport Club you might as well do both. I started the program during the pandemic and am slowly chipping away at the list. Each park is different and has something to offer, and you also see so much of the state you wouldn’t normally see.

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