Page 41 - Allison's Magazine ~ Issue #99

ON JANUARY 31, 2019, THE HIGH
temperature in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
was three degrees below zero; the low
was twenty-three below. Most people
wouldn’t dare to brave weather like
that—even with the help of multiple
layers and insulated boots.

But the people of Minnesota are a
different breed. They are dedicated to
making the most of their environment,
taking full advantage of the wealth
of outdoor adventures available year-
round. The annual City of Lakes Loppet
Festival, which takes place toward the
end of January each year, is a shining

FOR THE LOVE
example of just how unfazed most
OF LOPPET Minnesotans are by the cold—and how
they choose to embrace it.
written by alexa bricker
photography by f/go
The festival began in 2002, thanks to a
group of organizers led by Minneapolis
mayor R.T. Rybak and two park board
commissioners, Jon Olson and John
Erwin. The group wanted to help foster
a passion for outdoor exploration in the
greater Minneapolis area, with a focus
on inclusivity and creating a lifelong
dedication to being active. With skiing
being such a popular winter activity in
Minneapolis, they decided to hold a
point-to-point ski race modeled after
some of the area’s other cross-country
races. More than eight hundred skiers
participated in that first event, and its
success led to the creation of the Loppet
Foundation, which now organizes not

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