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At his cabin about three hours north of the Twin Cities, Alan Page carries on a tradition that he and his late wife, Diane Sims Page, started more than a decade ago: tapping maple trees and making gallons of sweet, sticky syrup.
The former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and Hall of Fame NFL football player continues to make the syrup, often with his grandchildren. They save a few bottles every year to auction off at the Page Education Foundation gala, to raise money for students of color pursuing post-secondary education.
“The syrup that comes from our trees tastes very sweet with just a hint of butterscotch,” he said. “Maple syruping is ... certainly one of my favorite activities.”
We asked Page, 79, more about his outdoors hobby:
Q: How did you get into tapping maple trees for syrup?
A: We knew there were maple trees on the property [near Outing, Minnesota] because when the leaves turn colors they are just spectacular. But for the longest time it never occurred to anyone that we might start syruping. Diane just one day decided that’s what she wanted to do and so we did and we had a ball ... The first year I think we tapped 13 trees, we’ve tapped as many as 80. We’re down to about probably 50 a year now [tapping] the ones that produce the most sap rather than every maple tree in sight.
Q: What have you learned about yourself from maple syruping?
A: There’s something magical about sitting in the North Woods, in the fresh air, watching sap boil. It’s that simple. You get a sense of accomplishment and you get the benefit of being proud.
Q: What was your best day outside?
A: Every time you can get out and enjoy the world around you, whether it’s boiling hot or freezing cold, every day [outside] is a good day. There’s something about being outside on foot. You see the world in a totally different way than you do in a car or on a bicycle.
Q: Worst day?
A: Just because every day that you’re outside is a good one doesn’t mean that some of them aren’t painful. It just means that the good overshadows the bad. Go out and run a marathon and you’re exhausted at the end. You’re sore, you’re tired, you’re beat up. You feel like you’ve had a bad day, but it’s really a good one. The other piece is you go out when it’s 35 degrees below zero. The paths are treacherous, that’s unpleasant, but yet you were able to do it. You did it. That makes it all worthwhile.
Q: What do you think is your favorite place to be outside in Minnesota?
A: Our cabin, that’s one of my favorite places, and the other is the city’s lakes. We’ve got an incredible, incredible jewel here in Minneapolis, with the Chain of Lakes. Each one is has its own personality, and being able to be around them is pretty special.
Q: You’ve been given the chance to go on your dream outdoor adventure: What is it? Who would you want to bring with you?
A: I get out on my dream adventure every single day. Up in the morning and out the door and experiencing the freshness, or at times the staleness or smokiness, of the air. Every day is an adventure. I’ve developed a whole group of friends that I see out every day. They’re all a part of my life, part of what makes every day and every walk meaningful. I have some friends that walk with me regularly. And if there was one person I’d love to do it again with, it would be with Diane because we did it every day for almost 20 years.
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