Birch Legacies

We are sharing stories celebrating the motivation, the perseverance, and the lifestyle choices necessary to reach the status of Birchlegger - that is, skiers who have completed 20 or more American Birkebeiner ski races.

Contributors

Host

Jon Peterson

Jon is a veteran skier doing his 45th Birkie in 2025. He is a retired science teacher and coach still working in education and enjoying year-round activities to stay active and fit. He loves the outdoors, woodworking, pickleball and managing the huge 1 km trail 'system' at his cabin near Lac Courte Oreilles in Wisconsin.

Jon is an experienced podcaster with a global audience for his education podcast. So, he thought he could help give voice to Birchleggers who each have unique reasons to come back to northern Wisconsin every year to take on the Birkie challenge.

The Birkie has changed so many lives and there are many stories to tell. The Birch Legacies podcast is an attempt to capture and share some of those stories.

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Guests

Guest

Gary Gerst

Gary is skiing his 45th Birkie from wave 35 in 2025. He coached high school Nordic skiing for 30 years and taught high school science in the Osseo school district in suburban Minneapolis. He lives with his wife, Terry in St. Paul and they are proud owners of a cabin in the woods near Stone Lake, Wisconsin to be near the Birkie trail and all the area has to offer for year round enjoyment and adventure.

Gary hunts, fishes, and rides his bike when he's not skiing. He's pictured at one of his favorite places.

Guest

Jeff Ingram

I have lived all my life in Minnesota. I went to school in Minnesota, had a business career in Minnesota, raised a family in Minnesota and am enjoying my 9th year of retirement in Minnesota.

My skiing interest started when, at a young age, my father introduced me to it on wooden skis with cable bindings. Over the years I have found great joy in a variety of silent sports, including cycling, sailing, paddling, backpacking and nordic skiing. The Birkebeiner has been an important part of my life, off and on, for almost 50 years.

Guest

Kitty Earl-Tornianen

Kitty is an avid nordic skier who is passionate about outdoor adventures involving challenging the limits of physical and mental capacity. When she is not dreaming about, training or participating in such activities, she is living in St. Paul, MN,

Kitty is married and has three children. The family is active and nordic skiing is a big part of their lives. After years of MYSL participation, the kids started to train with their local high school, Highland Park.

Kitty works as a Physician Assistant, and is a graduate of University of Wisconsin- Madison Physician Assistant program. She works at Hennepin County Medical Center as an Addiction Medicine Inpatient Consultant.

Guest

Paul Thompson

Paul is a retired second grade teacher, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer where he taught biology in Malaysian Borneo in the early 70's and founded Cool Planet to get people outside to enjoy what they love and protect their communities from a warming, wacky climate future.

Guest

Thom Gerst

I’m a retired family medicine physician from the Twin Cities (most of my life). I’m married to Cindy Gerst since 1991. We live on the Yellow River west of Spooner, WI.

I volunteer with the American Birkebeiner, Neighbor to Neighbor (Spooner), Hunt Hill Nature Center, Wisconsin Master Naturalists and the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum.

I’m an avid traveler, hiker, pilgrim, cyclist, swimmer and enjoy caring for the Japanese-style garden at our home and our two cats, Mugi & Lulu.