Minnesota's Giant Jack

All Minnesotans have probably heard of the mammoth 18-foot-tall Paul Bunyan statue in Bemidji. But I'd never heard of our world-record giant Jack until this week.

I've known Kristin Eggerling for a few years now. From her home in Hallock, she's active both locally and in the Twin Cities. A graduate of Augsburg College, she's served on our board of directors and is a freelance writer. She also has a keen eye for nature. Her two sons and husband have happily put up with her tour-guiding them to a sharp-tailed grouse viewing, among other adventures.

This week, she sent me an article on another family outing, this time to the world-record jack pine not far from her home. It's in 3,598-acre Lake Bronson State Park. At 55 feet in height and 121 inches in circumference, it is, as Kristin says, "big, very big."

Enjoy her tale, and other stories from her Hallock outpost.