I was wondering how many of us knew Sig Olson and if they had ever visited Listening Point?
I took a class at Bemidji State College that changed my life. It was a English class taught by PHD Phillip Saurer. The class title was Significant American Nature Writers, we met on Tues. nights. We read a bunch of nature books to be sure, but the class favorite was Sigs The Singing Wilderness. Doctor Saurer was a good friend of Sig's, when Sig found out that he was our favorite author, he asked Saurer to bring the class to Ely for coffee & doughnuts sometime for a field trip. I was a then a Vietnam Vet, trying to go to college on the GI Bill, I was a most likely a Alcoholic and suffered from PTSD (we didn't know what that was yet). We piled into to cars, all the pretty girls with the good doctor, where they would be safe and off we went, 180 miles to Ely. We were met at the Door by Sig and his lovely bride Elisabeth. Some of us were lucky enough to sit at the feet of the master, others had to use chairs and sofa. Elisabeth served us coffee and the most wonderful homemade doughnuts I have ever eaten. Sig talked to us, gave a tour of his writing shack, asked us questions, answered ours, and posed for pictures. As we left that day, the Olson's invited us to come back any time, we would always be welcome, because young people bring a lot of joy into their home.
I returned many times, paddled around some duck swamps with Sig, even spent some nights at their Listening Point cabin as their guest. The Olson's and I drank many cups of coffee over the years, I learned many thing from them. Sig encouraged me to see Alaska, at that time the last frontier. The last time I saw them was January 10 1978, when I brought my brand new bride to meet them. We have all his books, all autographed, except for his final book. I am grateful for the time I spent in their company, happy that I got to know one of this countries great fighters for wild places. So the next time you post something on the Listening Point Forum, give a little thought to what Listening Point meant to Sig & Elisabeth Olson.

What an awesome story!

great memories!

so, did you go on to become a writer, journalist...?

This was the first post I read this morning. What a great story to start the day.

Thanks for posting.

Thanks for sharing. I can tell the experience meant a lot to you at the time and it shaped who you are today. I would have loved to have met Sig, but I am thankful for reading his words.

What s great story. I can see he changed you in many ways. I have most of his books in hard cover. None autographed, a good friend of mine met him and got his book signed.

So neat to read your story.

We never met Sig, but we have visited Listening Point, and we are members of the Listening Point Foundation, so we get the newsletter. Have read most of the books, too. You are fortunate to have your memories.

Great story! Thanks for sharing it.

Nice story and memories; thanks for sharing.

When I read your story, it reminded me of something Phil Cousineau in his book, The Art of Pilgrimage. He describes a pilgrimage as a "...transformative journey to a sacred center." He continues "What is sacred is what is worthy of our reverence, what evokes awe and wonder in the human heart, and what when contemplated transforms us utterly."

This seems to describe your experience pretty well.

Regards,

Dave

My dream canoe trip would be with Sig Olson, John Denver, and Gordon Lightfoot.

I never met Sigurd Olson but his writings put words to the feelings that I always felt as a child when I was in the wilderness. While I have some different perspectives from him, I definitely appreciate the way he looked at the woods. If I could only write like him.

I was his paperboy , and have hunted Partridge on the Listening Point road hundreds of times.
We had a cabin about 1/2 mile away from his place since I was born, now my year around home for over 42 years.

Did Sig own a property in Winton? Would have been an outfitters cabin. Just curious.

Dodger.

You are truly fortunate and I'm envious; thanks for sharing!

I never met Sig. What an honor it must be for you to have shared all of that time with him and his wife. I have visited SIG's Listening Point and I have all of SIG's books but only in paperback. I am currently reading Listening Point now for the third time but for the first time since visiting the property. Fantastic reading especially while I'm in the hammock while on a wilderness trip. Sig just has a way to put it all in perspective. Thanks for sharing your story. Very cool.

Thank you everyone for your kind words.
Mocha.......
I moved to Alaska, sad to say never became a writer, (can't spell or punctuate). I spent 39 years with the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game, first in Commercial Fisheries, then in the Sport Fish Division. Very few days felt like work, got to see some wonderful country.
Dodger.......
I'm pretty sure he bought out the outfitter that he guided for in Winton, back in the late 1920's. I can not lay my hands on David Backes' book, THE WILDERNESS WITHIN: THE LIFE OF SIGRUD F. OLSON, to confirm that though.
The Great Outdoors..........
To have been his paper boy must have been pretty neat. You must have known Mike HilL man too, I knew his EX, she was the daughter of a good friend.
..........Boreal Barney

You're a blessed person. You probably did not know it at the time, but Sig played a huge part in shaping who you are now. And what you accomplished in life.

Great Outdoors do you remember him have a cabin or camp on Basswood? I seem to remember him having a place on Basswood, this was after other resorts, homes, cabins in the bwca were gone. I recall stopping by with my grandmother during deer hunting. Deer hanging and lots of beer. Could be wrong I was a kid.
My whole family knew him. I have some signed early books of his. My grandmother was good friends with him. Others may of had different opinions

ellahalley,
The only thing that I remember being on Basswood after the resorts and cabins were taken down, were two buildings on the Basswood end of the Four Mile Portage, and Hubachek's.
Hubachek was allowed to keep a place under the scam of it being a "Research Center" for another 25 (???)years.
To BorealBarney,
He was just another customer on the paper route, but he and his wife were very nice people. This was about 55 years ago, long before he gained his notoriety.
Yes, I and everyone else in Ely, knew Mike Hillman! His ex, Julie (if this ex is the one you speak of) lives in Duluth.
His other ex, Kathy, lives in Ely.
Sig did own an outfitters in Winton, possibly Pipestone Outfitters?????? The building is (was) still there last year.

Hubachek's.Thanks that must be what I remember.
Boreal Barney do you know Mike Vivion or John Foreman? Both worked in Alaska in your field. Both pilots.

quote The Great Outdoors: "ellahalley,
The only thing that I remember being on Basswood after the resorts and cabins were taken down, were two buildings on the Basswood end of the Four Mile Portage, and Hubachek's.
Hubachek was allowed to keep a place under the scam of it being a "Research Center" for another 25 (???).
To BorealBarney,
He was just another customer on the paper route, but he and his wife were very nice people. This was about 55 years ago, long before he gained his notoriety.
Yes, I and everyone else in Ely, knew Mike Hillman! His ex, Julie (if this ex is the one you speak of) lives in Duluth.
His other ex, Kathy, lives in Ely.
Sig did own an outfitters in Winton, possibly Pipestone Outfitters?????? The building is (was) still there last year.


"

Sounds like a great route,you probably could do a little ruff grouse hunting at the same time.

Never knew him personally but have always liked having his books along on trips because they make it so much more meaningful. I read that one of his first big trips (1930's?) exited at Sawbill. I like to wonder what it was like back then whenever I go there.

EllaHalley............
Mike Vivion is a name I think I remember, maybe from the Anchorage office. I never heard the name of John Foreman. The Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game is pretty large organization. Big state with not much visiting between offices. When I started there was only two people in the Commercial Fisheries Div. in Fairbanks. We shared a half time Clerk Typist with the Marine Mammals Div. Forty some years later there are in excess of 20 some folks in that Div. The people you mentioned could also be "Game Wardens" which are not part of ADF&G but, are part of Dept. of Public Saftety, the are Fish & Wildlife State Troopers.
Great Outdoors............
I knew Julie when she was a little girl, growing up in Soudan. I trapped beaver with her father one spring up in the Pine Lake country. I learned a great deal from her dad, We have remained friends over the long years and visit each other regularly. I am planning to visit him this fall in Ely where he lives these days. I don't see Julie as much as Bob, but I see often too. One of the things that is great about Northern Minnesota is ruffed grouse hunting, growing up we called them "chickens". We have them up here also, but you will see a couple hundred spruce grouse for every ruffed. I kept a .22/20 gauge at my mothers house for my annual fall trips to MN. I still think of them as the best meat I have ever eaten.

quote DaveOR: "When I read your story, it reminded me of something Phil Cousineau in his book, The Art of Pilgrimage. He describes a pilgrimage as a "...transformative journey to a sacred center." He continues "What is sacred is what is worthy of our reverence, what evokes awe and wonder in the human heart, and what when contemplated transforms us utterly." "

What a wonderful articulation of why I (and I'm sure many of us) travel to wild places. I just ordered Phil's book. (I have a bunch of Sig's already.)