Boundary Waters Blog

     The night we've all been waiting for is almost here and tonight's going to be a good night! If you don't have a pink prom dress to wear then check out Threads Store in Grand Marais as she has some to choose from.  Or give me a call, I have four of them hanging in my laundry room I'm not using.  Or, just come in your best pink duds and be part of the fun.

     Don't forget to head on up to Trail Center to get your hair cut for a cure and be a part of The Bald, The Brave and the Beautiful.  There's a huge competition happening between Officer Lunde and Sheriff Falk and between Chief Mike Prom and Assistant GTVFD Fire Chief Bob Baker.  Money has been coming in for the past two weeks and the amounts are pretty even so far.  It's going to be a close race to see who will go home bald after tonight's contest.  Remember to bring some extra cash along tonight to help Mike keep his hair or you can donate online just check out http://www.mushforacure.com and mention Save Mike in the notes of your Paypal donation. 

     The Trail's End Band has some special music to play for the Grand March and the Crowning of the King and Queen.  Be sure to wear your dancing shoes and don't eat too much pasta.

     Saturday's Mush for a Cure will be a bit different than in year's past.  After surveying the trail and lakes last night Mary just didn't think it was a good idea to risk the safety of the dogs by allowing them to run in those conditions.  So, the mushers are still coming, there will be a Sourdough Start at Gunflint Pines but there just won't be sled dogs involved.  It will be a sight to see and all events at Gunflint Pines and Trail Center will continue as scheduled. 

     Come participate in all of the fun events and games we have planned for people of all ages on Saturday.  Most of the activities will be held on dry land but bring your lawn chairs, beach floaties, waders and rubber boots in case you want to venture out onto the lake.  Bring your camera too and be ready to have a great time during the 4th Annual Mush for a Cure on the Gunflint Trail.

     Not at all if we're lucky!  "Let's hang on, to what we got, don't let go girl we've got a lot, there's a lot of love between us, hang on, hang on, hang on, to what we've got."  Just 2 more days...

name         Holly H.
status       educator
age          20s

Question -   Why does snow appear to melt at different rates given the
same height and temperature with similar amounts of sunlight?
------------------------------------------------
Holly,

There are many factors that affect snowmelt rate.

The angle of the Sun to the surface is a good example.
Notice the amount of snow on the sloped sides of an
east-west interstate highway.  The south side will
have more snow left because it does not receive as
much sunshine and receives it at a lower Sun angle
than the north side.  The greater the angle of the
Sun to the surface, the less energy it receives from
the Sun.

The type of snow also has an affect. If the snow is
light and fluffy ("dry snow") it may not melt as fast
as heavy, "wet" snow that has more liquid water in it.
A light, fluffy snow also allows more light to filter
through it, thereby distributing the energy through
a greater depth of snow, whereas wet snow absorbs
much of the Sun's energy near the top of the snow and
therefore it melts at the top; the melted snow drips
through the snowpack, making it "wetter" and icy if
temperatures drop well below freezing.

The dirtiness of the snow makes a big difference.  A
new snow reflects more light than an old dirty snow;
the old snow will absorb more of the Sun's energy
and therefore melt faster.

David R. Cook
Atmospheric Research Section
Environmental Research Division
Argonne National Laboratory
========================================================
The melting of snow is a very complex process. Some (but not all of the
factors, for sure) are: flow pattern(s) of the water from melted snow which
tend to be random and chaotic, wind that can push snow and / or water in a
preferred direction, the topography of underlying terrain that can make the
apparent snow depth different than the topography of the snow itself, the
deposition of water soluble solutes that can change the melting point of the
ice from one spot to another, differences in the packing density that result
from wind and / or rate of deposition of the snow, and so on.... and on.

The short answer is the process is pretty complex.

Vince Calder
 

     The University of Minnesota included this in a recent news brief.  Thanks for sharing our story!

Mushing for a cause

Of dogs and men…and women

By Adam Overland

March 2, 2010

Big, burly lumberjacks in pink boas and bras riding behind dogs for a good cause. That sentence might be a little misleading, but it has an undeniable rhythm and all the ingredients of an attention grabber to keep you reading. Still, this strange scenario does indeed cook itself up for a good cause in the cold north once a year, and senior analyst and programmer in the College of Veterinary Medicine Ricq Pattay makes sure he's along for the ride.

Pattay spends much of his time writing web-based software for VetMed, but he also races sled dogs. This year, for the second time, he'll participate in the annual Mush for a Cure charitable event to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. It's a non-competitive 21-mile event on the Gunflint Trail, far to the north. "It's so cool," says Pattay. "It's almost Canada…you feel out there…it's just you, the dogs, the trail, and the sky," he says. Oh, and some "guys that look like lumberjacks dressed up in hot pink headdresses and wearing pink bras." It's quite a different view than what he sees from his cubicle.

No winter, no fun
In 2000, after having lived in North Carolina for the previous 11 years, Pattay decided to make a move to Minnesota. He had a dog with him--a Samoyed, sometimes called the smiling dog (for obvious reasons when you see the happy looking hounds).

"You're going to laugh, but I moved to Minnesota for the climate; winter is my favorite season," says Pattay. He says he was fortunate to be hired at the U within a couple of months. "I embraced the job with open arms because it combined two of my biggest loves--doing something to help animals, and having some talent and skill in computer programming."

With his footing established, he set out to pursue an interest that began with his Samoyed. Shortly after arriving in Minnesota, he joined a local Samoyed club in Saint Paul, and found events like a mushing boot camp run by two skilled women mushers in Togo, MN. But, he says, mushing boot camp isn't necessarily for the dogs.

"It's more training of the human being than it is the dogs. The dogs have the instinct to run--you just have to focus them," says Pattay.

Pattay guides the dogs with various commands once used for plow animals, like "hike" (go), "haw" (left), "gee" (right), and "on by" (as in, "don't chase that squirrel--go on by").

This year, Pattay is running a three-Samoyed team made up of Forest, a 3-year-old male; Mystic, a 4-year-old female; and Dia, a 2-year-old female. Reindeer herders once used these fluffy, white dogs to help with herding and sled pulling, as well as snuggling up to for warmth at night. Samoyeds have a lot of energy and get frustrated without daily exercise. Pattay says there is a saying in dog-mushing:

"You can't push a rope. They have to want to do it instinctively, or they don't," he says.
Indeed, his dogs seem hardly able to contain themselves before the start of the race, but they quickly settle down to an even pace. You can join Pattay and his dogs for a virtual POV ride here, during a video practice run.

You might not guess it by watching the video, but his dogs aren't that fast. He's used to being passed by other teams, but winning the race isn't really why he's there anyway. "If I can be out there in my favorite season of the year, with some of my favorite creatures on this planet, doing what they love, doing what I love, and doing it for charity--this is my idea of perfection. It's awesome."

If you would like to make a pledge on Ricq Pattay's behalf, email Ricq Pattay.

The annual Mush For a Cure on the Gunflint Trail north of Grand Marais, Minn., takes place March 12-13.

(Gunflint Trail, MN)  The long awaited Mush for a Cure weekend is just a few days away and according to event organizer Mary Black, “Rain or shine, or in this case, snow or no snow, the show will go on.”  Gunflint Trail business owner and trail boss for the Mush for a Cure Bob Baker says, “There might not be snow anywhere else but there is snow on the Gunflint Trail.  The trail we use for the event is still packed with snow and there’s snow in this week’s forecast.”  Sunshine and warm temperatures are also predicted for the week but it doesn’t matter since 2/3 of the course is traveled over frozen lakes so the mushers will have a place to run their dogs. 

     The Mush for a Cure is a fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation whose participants raised over $25,000. at last year’s event.  This year event organizers added a Pink Prom Pasta Party and The Bald, The Brave and The Beautiful for Friday night before the race.  Organizers are hopeful this will help achieve their goal of raising over $30,000 this year even though they are not sure what to expect with the economy.

     Sarah Hamilton, owner of Trail Center where the majority of the weekend’s events take place says, “My crew and I are pumped for this weekend, everyone’s going to have a great time for a great cause.”

     With men and women dressed in pink prom dresses Friday night Trail Center will be the place to be.  Live music by the Trail’s End Band will add to the fun of the crowning of the King and Queen and the shaving of heads.  Whether it is Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk or his deputy Leif Lunde or the Gunflint Trail’s Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Prom or his deputy Bob Baker one of each pair will be going home bald depending upon who the public would most like to see bald.

     Saturday, March 13^th the fun begins early at Gunflint Pines Resort on Gunflint Lake.  Ten skijor teams are signed up to Skijor for a Cure before the mushing begins at noon with a sourdough start.  It’s a sight everyone should see as mushers scramble out of sleeping bags, slip on their boots and hurry to get their teams hooked up.  There are 37 teams signed up making this year’s event bigger than ever.  No doubt this year’s event will be better than ever too, no matter what type of condition the trail is in.  The fun is in the name, Mush for a Cure Sled Dog Fundraiser, March 12-13^th on the Gunflint Trail.

###

More information can be found at http://www.mushforacure. 

Please call to request photos. 218-388-2224

Schedule of Events-

5:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Pre-Registration for the mushers that are in town and have their pledges ready. Registration coordinator Phyllis and her crew would appreciate pre-registering as many teams as possible on Friday night. That way she and her volunteers aren’t rushing to tally at the last minute and you won’t have to stand outside the fish house on Saturday!     

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Cut For a Cure Andrea Peterson from Studio 61 Hair in Grand Marais is back with chair and shears. Haircuts are $10 each with monies going to Mush For a Cure!     

 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Pink Pasta Party open to the general public wanting to meet the mushers running on Saturday that are in town and available on Friday night. Cost $6.00, MFAC participants eat free!     

5:00 – 9:00 p.m.: The Bald, The Brave and The Beautiful(?) Competition. We have a few brave souls that are willing to literally “put their heads on the line” by having their heads shaved if enough money is raised! There are two competitions going on at once…the man who raises the most money in each competition gets to “take it all off” (their hair that is). You don’t have to wait until Friday night, send in your vote now. Make your check out to Mush For a Cure and put in the memo “BBB and the name of the guy you would MOST LIKE TO SEE HAVE THEIR HEAD SHAVED. The contestants are: 

Ring #1
Cook County Sheriff, MARK “I Don’t Want to be a Cueball” FALK
vs. 
Chief Deputy, LEIF “Remind Me Again, Why I Said I’d Do This” LUNDE 

Ring #2 
Gunflint Trail VFD Chief MIKE “Good Thing I Sleep With My Hat On“ PROM
vs.
Deputy Chief, BOB “I’m Good Looking Enough, I Don’t Need Hair” BAKER  

8:00 – 10:00 p.m.: NEW THIS YEAR…Pink Prom!!!!!!! at 8:00 there will be a Grand March for everyone who wishes to attend The Pink Prom. We’ll have a band playing music as an appetizer to Saturday night’s Finisher’s Party.    

9:00 p.m.: Pink Prom King and Queen Crowning come and see who is most popular in pink and voted King and Queen. While the royalty is enjoying their victory dance, the Bald, Brave and Beautiful monies will be tallied. (King and Queen get “first shave” on the heads of the BB & B competitors)     

9:30 p.m.: The Bald, The Brave and The Beautiful HEAD SHAVING!!!! Whoever has more money in their bank account at the end of the night between the two pairs will have less hair as he will have his head shaved.     

SATURDAY, MARCH 13TH      

9:00 a.m. – 11:00: Musher check-in/Registration and Pancake Breakfast at Gunflint Pines.     

10:00 a.m.: Skijor Start at the Cross River on the Gunflint Trail and finish at Gunflint Pines.     

11:00 a.m.: Musher Meeting on Gunflint Lake (location TBA).     

12:00 noon: Sled Team Mass Sourdough Start on Gunflint Lake.     

Noon-3:00: Opportunities to see the dog teams along the trail. Suggested sites: Start: Gunflint Pines, Gunflint Resort. Along the trail: Gunflint Lake boat landing, Iron Lake Access, Old Gunflint Trail (both west and east ends) Poplar Lake: Windigo Lodge, Nor’wester Lodge and the finish at Trail Center Lodge.     

2:00-5:00: Finish at Trail Center Teams coming into the finish line at Trail Center Lodge. Finisher’s bonfire, hot dog/marshmallow roast and party tent sponsored by Sarah and the gang at Trail Center Lodge.     

5:00-6:00′ish: Awards/Prizes Prize selection to largest pledge collector(s) in order, and fun trophies for special awards at the big tent on Poplar Lake in front of Trail Center     

7-10:00: Finishers Dance Hang out on the Gunflint Trail for a great time with Sarah and the gang at Trail Center and your mushing friends and dance the night away to Cook County’s Most Wanted: Rod ‘n Real!  

     I spent the past weekend off the beaten path at Black Magic Kennels.  What a wonderful weekend it was.  I volunteered to kennel sit while Mark, Mary and their handler Tara went to Ely to participate in a sled dog race.  Mike had plans to ice fish all weekend, Josh was invited to a friend's house so Abby and I made the journey together.

     The drive to their place isn't really too bad, especially in the winter.  From Grand Marais it only takes about 30 minutes to get to where the plowed road ends; about half on highway and half on gravel.  When you can go no farther in the car you get to hop on a snowmobile for a six and a half mile snowmobile ride to their house. 

     Their place is a jewel tucked away in the woods with no visible neighbors.  Traffic doesn't flow past their house and quiet envelopes their oasis.  Only the howling of the dogs or chirps of the birds break the steady silence. 

     They have solar panels for electricity and an outhouse for a septic system.  Water is hauled in from their well in five gallon buckets and a sauna outside is their shower.  All Abby and I had to do was keep an eye on the two house dogs, one house cat and the unlucky dogs who weren't chosen to race.

     Twenty-two sled dogs looked at us in anticipation as their 16 buddies and three masters left the dog yard.  It was a beautiful weekend for caring for outside dogs with temperatures in the 40's.  Neither Abby nor I minded mixing up their food in three five gallon buckets with a blender on a hand drill.  I didn't even mind scooping poop; fresh or the stuff that kept appearing from thawing snow.  

     It was a welcome weekend of relative relaxation for me.  While staying at someone else's place my unfinished projects or housework couldn't nag at me.  The phone couldn't ring for me and no visitors to Voyageur could find me.  If I had left my computer at home and their internet hadn't been working then it would have been a real retreat.

     As it was I spent some time on the computer, did some light reading, played a few games of Yahtzee, took care of the dogs, and went skijoring a couple of times.  That's a blog entry for another day.  Until then I'll just leave it at it was a wonderful weekend off the beaten path.