07/28/2026
This past weekend we traded our own tree work for a step back in time at the Rapid River Logging Camp. As tree workers ourselves, it was a fun and educational way to experience Minnesota’s logging history. 🌲🪵
One of our favorite parts was eating family-style just like the loggers did, around long wooden tables with tin plates and tin cups.
🪓 Loggers ate around 5 pounds of food a day (roughly 3,000–6,000 calories) to keep up with the demanding work.
🥞 A logging camp’s cook could make or break the camp’s reputation, with many loggers choosing where they worked based on who was cooking.
🌲 From sunup to sundown, loggers worked through Minnesota’s harsh winters harvesting giant red pines, which were later floated down the Potato River to the mills and turned into lumber that helped build communities across the Midwest.
As tree workers, it gave us an even greater appreciation for the hard work and grit of those who came before us. If you’re ever near Park Rapids MN, it’s definitely worth the stop! 🤎