Boundary Waters Blog

     One of the perks to working at an outfitter for the summer is getting to go out camping and fishing.  Adam and Billie took advantage of this opportunity and spent two nights camping in the BWCA this week. 

     While enjoying their campsite the other night they heard a strange sound.  They got up to investigate the noise and saw what they heard out in the lake.  They saw a cow moose swimming across the lake and as they got a closer look they saw her calf riding on her back!  What an awesome thing to see!  Of course they didn't have a camera but they did watch in awe as the calf would slide off of it's mother's back into the water for a short swim then get back up onto her when it was tired. 

     The canoe country is filled with amazing things.  You don't have to come and work at Voyageur to experience these incredible things, but you do have to get up here.  Give us a call and we'll help you plan an adventure of your own. 1-888-CANOEIT

     We're happy to report a moose calf was born somewhere around Sag Lake Trail recently.  The first sighting was earlier this week by the Browns down the river.  Diane shot a great picture of Missy the Moose and Maxie her new calf. 

   According to Diane it looked like Missy was taking Maxie for her first swim.  They left the shore of Gull Lake and started swimming towards the cabins across the river.  Maxie wasn't sure about the cold water and Missy had to swim back towards the calf numerous times to coax her to continue.  Diane said one time it looked like Missy had to have a long talk with Maxie in order to get her motivated to swim the rest of the way across.  What an amazing thing to see.

     Missy and Maxie have been spotted numerous times since Monday.  One of our guests saw them walking in the rapids and another some them on the road.  I have yet to see Maxie and I'm having a difficult time waiting.  There's something about wildlife babies that I really enjoy.  I'm hoping I'll get the chance to meet Maxie real soon.

 Some of you regular readers may have noticed I'm a little bit slower than normal in publishing my blogs.  I'm really busy this time of the year with my main job, being a mom. 

     Yesterday I was able to go along on Abby's field trip.  It was a trip up to Grand Portage to visit the Fort, the Museum, grade school and take a hike to the High Falls.  I'm embarassed to admit I had never been to the Fort and the museum had just opened up so it was new to me.  It was very interesting to learn more about the history of the area with the fur traders and Voyageurs.  We even learned about the art of making birch bark canoes and I had to laugh when one of the kids raised their hand to say, "We have a canoe."  I nudged Abby and said, "You should tell him how many canoes we have!"  Thank Goodness she hasn't inherited all of my sarcasm and snappiness.

     The best part of the day was the hike to the High Falls.  This is a very easy hike on a paved trail and it  takes you to the highest waterfalls in Minnesota.  The Pigeon River flows out to Lake Superior and there was plenty of water flowing yesterday.  It was surprising how many of the kids in Abby's class hadn't visited the falls or hiked for that matter.  I thoroughly enjoy spending time with Abby's class and the field trip was a blast. 

  Today I have to report to work again but this time as Josh's Mom.  He has a field trip today that is a walking tour of Grand Marais.  We'll visit the Heritage Museum and some other historical places in town.  The kids in his class are always fun to be around so I am excited about that little adventure later on.

     For now I have to work at my part time job, Voyageur.  I cooked some breakfast for staff and guests today, am doing laundry, answering the phone, checking e-mail and making sure the bunks and cabins are clean.  We have some trips to pack as well as our building project so there's plenty to do before I go and plenty will be waiting for me when I get home.  I really enjoy my part time job too!

     So, if I'm a little late in posting my blog, don't worry, I'm having fun there's just too many jobs and too little time to do them in.  I'm sure you can relate.

     Two Years and Two Hundred and some Thousand Dollars.  This is what we have left to get the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center pulled together.  On Memorial Day we had a Gunflint Trail Historical Society Meeting and the main topic of conversation was the Museum. 

     The Chik Wauk Museum and Nature Center has been the focus of the GTHS since it began three years ago.  It will be an amazing museum when it is completed.   Split Rock Design Studios along with GTHS Trustees have been planning and creating incredible displays for visitors to enjoy.  Historical information, photos and items have been collected for the museum, nature trails have been plotted and clearing has begun.  There has been much work done on the actual building already and there is much more to do. 

     Fundraising for Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center continues.  Money has been obtained through grants, gifts, donations and memberships.  People have also donated money in memory or honor of a special person or for a special person's birthday or anniversary.  Donations of all sizes are welcome and volunteers are always needed for various tasks. 

     This is a very exciting project and I hope you will all take the time to learn more about it by visiting the Historical Society Website.  Please show your support of this worthwhile endeavor by becoming a member or donating your time or money.  The Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center will be a place to remember and we want you to be a part of this initial excitement.  

     It is a little difficult to believe there was frost on my windshield this morning, but there it was.  Looking outside the window right now you would never have guessed it got so cold.  The sun is shining, the sky is blue and there isn't a cloud out there.  The trees are budding, the marsh marigolds are blooming and there's a hummingbird outside my window looking for food.  Shoot, gotta go and get the feeder filled, sorry to cut the blog short, but I can't let my little bird down.

     Have a great day everyone.   

     The fishing reports we have heard have been pretty good, especially for those who have been out in the wilderness canoe camping.  Two of our guests who went up into the Quetico and returned yesterday after a 5-day trip reported catching hundreds of walleye.  They had plenty for eating and threw back some really big ones.  Other guests have had great success with fishing for lake trout out in the wilderness. 

     The lake trout have been biting and people have been catching them. They are in shallow water this time of year but as the water temperature warms up they will start moving deeper.  Fishing with ciscoes and trolling spoons has been working well for both lake trout and northern pike.  The smallmouth bass haven't started to bite too much but it won't be long before we're fighting to keep them off of our hooks.

     Josh and Mike went out fishing the other night and had a great time.  Josh was extremely happy with the four northern pike he caught in such a short amount of time and Mike was happy with reeling some northern and a walleye in.

    Josh is content now that the Seagull River is open and he can fish off of the dock.   I haven't been out fishing or catching yet but am very excited to do so.  Now all I need to do is get all of my work done so I can get out there and wet a line.

These methods take a few more minutes to get your grill going, but avoiding lighter fluid's toxic chems (and toxic taste) is well worth the time.

     When you live on the Gunflint Trail you have worries, they just aren't the same as most folks who live in a city.  I seldom worry about being mugged, car jacked or being shot at during a drive by shooting.  I started to think about this topic when the electricity flickered off and then on again last night.  Then it went off for good around 5:30 until almost 9:30 so I had plenty of time to think.

     When the power goes off at our place there aren't too many things to do.  Luckily I was in the middle of cooking dinner and we have a propane stove so everything went off with the lack of electricity un-noticed.  That's a good thing when you're cooking for 15 hungry stomachs.  I couldn't do the dishes after dinner because we didn't have water and I didn't want to go to the river and bring a bucket full up to the house.  Back to what I worry about.

     The first worry that came to my mind was, "Is every one ok?"  I didn't know if Bob or Mike was messing with the electricity or not and the fear of them electrocuting themselves was on the forefront of my mind.  After I determined they were both fine then I thought about the line people who have to go and fix the electricity.  What a dangerous job they have and to be called in to repair something right when they got off of work would be a bummer.  Not to mention they would miss out on supper with their family.  Next the thought of why the power was out and for how long it would be out.  My brain worried on...

     I was thankful for many things as I ran through the computer in my brain.  "At least it isn't because of a fire."  "Good thing we aren't too busy or we couldn't be using the cash register, computer or fishing license machine."  "At least the kids can't beg to watch a movie."  I was also thankful for the quiet; no refrigerators running, the phones not ringing and no buzz of electricity could be heard.

     I tend to worry about way too many things.  I never thought I would be a worry wart as I used to call my own mom.  Funny how that happens even though we try to resist.  I know I'm not worrying about the same things living on the Gunflint Trail as she about living in a city.  Take for instance the other day when I was told there was a lure stuck in Josh's carpet.  Now my mom would have been worried about the carpet, she would have been really upset if it got snagged.  Me?  I was worried  about how I was going to get the lure our without bending or dulling it. 

     If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine." – Morris West

Worry is Negative Goal Setting...  Find more information about worrying on Dr. Jill Ammon-Wexler's website.

And in the meantime:
1. Refuse to worry. Remember -- worry is a very powerful form of negative goal setting.

2. Create a new mental image. Create and hold a mental image of how life will be when you reach your goal. The more emotion you pack into that positive image, and the more often you put your mental focus on it, the stronger the neural networks holding that image will become.

3. Bust your stress. Unless you manage your stress, it will continue to build "negative neural networks. Don't kid yourself about stress -- it is at the core of many serious life-threatening bodily conditions, and has a way of "pretending not to be there." Brainwave training is the fastest answer to instant stress reduction.

4. Build your self-confidence. Take some steps to build your self confidence. A huge medical study showed that low self confidence and negative thoughts cause your brain to physically shrink as much as 20%. Self confidence is not a lightweight issue -- it places unrealistic limits on your entire life!

5. Take care of your physical self. It can be easy to just take your mental and physical health for granted until something happens. Simple dehydration equal to two glasses of water, for example, has been shown to reduce your mental performance as much as 50%. Add a walk and 20-minute workout to your life, and you’ll start to produce more feel-good brain neurotransmitters.

6. Grow your mind power. Your brain truly follows the same rule as your muscles -- use it, or lose it! And today's scientific evidence is that your brain is either growing, or it's physically shrinking

     If you are still looking for something to do this weekend then look no further.  We have our Black Bear Cabin available and would love to see you up here.  It is our rustic cabin that is across the river, accessible by boat or canoe only.  There is a back room with 4 twin beds and a queen sized bed as well as a living room/kitchen area.  There is running water in the kitchen and a bath house with showers and toilets a short distance away.

     There is plenty to do up here this weekend.  The lake trout are biting, the water is warming up for the walleye bite and the northern pike are plentiful.  The bugs have not shown up so the hiking and paddling are perfect.  The day trip options are endless.

     If you are really bored then come on up and lend a hand.  There is plenty to do around a resort in the spring.  This weekend we're planting trees, building staff housing and much more.  Give us a call, we'd love to see you up here! 1-888-CANOEIT!

     It seems like yesterday when it was just our family around the dinner table.  How quickly things change, sometimes overnight. 

     We had 3 new, but familiar  faces at breakfast on Tuesday morning.  Andy, Billi and Adam arrived Monday night for their summer at Voyageur.  Andy is a third year employee who is thrilled to be back up and we are so happy to have him here.  Billi is a 2nd year staff member and is anxious to experience a full summer in the northwoods.  Adam worked for our neighbor doing Ham Lake Fire clean up last year so it's his first year at Voyageur, but not for living and working at the end of the Gunflint Trail.

     Excitement and enthusiasm can be felt in the air at Voyageur.  It's a great time of the year when everything is fresh and new.  Young moose calves roam the woods and drink from ponds, new plants pop up through the soil and all sorts of critters are being born.  Every day there is some sort of change to experience. 

     Most of the changes are good but there are a few we do not look forward to.  One of which is Sheri leaving for a vacation to Alaska today and then off to graduate school. later in the month.  We're happy for her but it's always difficult to have her leave. 

     Even with her departure we still have to make room at the breakfast table for a couple more staff members when they arrive.  Jessica and Val will be joining us for another season at Voyageur and Jennifer and Brady will be spending their first season at the end of the Trail.   There will be another growth spurt and before we know it staff will be heading home after the season.  Change, it always seems to happen overnight.

     Rugby did not make me happy this morning.  I know I am responsible for my own happiness but sometimes I just let things bother me.  Today started out like any other school day... 

     Wake the kids up, get them in the shower, make sure they are dressed, encourage them to eat  their breakfast quickly,  inspect their brushed teeth, make their lunch and make sure they have everything before we head out the door.  We drive to the bus stop, stop the car and proceed to the parked bus.  Rugby is always the first one on the bus for his special treat from the driver.  I give the kids a kiss good-bye, tell them the plans for after school and attempt to coax Rugby out of the bus.  He's usually frantically searching underneath all of the seats for a snack or a piece of gum.  But today after he grabbed his treat he did not linger on the bus.

     I didn't notice Rugby had left the bus and by the time I had figured out what had happened he was no where to be seen.  Annette, the driver, said she saw him cross in front of the bus and head down the Trail, towards town.  After she pulled away I started to walk that way with Rugby's leash in my hand.  I don't normally put his leash on until after the bus leaves because he normally sticks around. 

    I easily determined what Rugby was up to.  I saw fresh moose tracks on the side of the road and knew he was on a chase.  I yelled and whistled as I followed the tracks all of the way to Seagull Outfitters, about a mile.  At that point I couldn't tell whether I was on the fresh tracks or old tracks so I decided to turn back.  I still kept hollering and whistling all of the while hoping Rugby was at home. 

     In case you don't know Rugby I should explain he is not a large dog.  He maybe weighs 15 pounds and is a Cavalier Spaniel, a lap dog according to most people.  Well this lap dog was on a journey and I wish he had had a camera on his collar to record it.

     I decided to take County Rd 81 or Moose Pond Road and then cut through the woods back to Sag Lake Trail.  I continued to shout his name and whistle for him and then out of no where he appeared. 

     My moment of relief and excitement was quickly replaced by anger.  I looked down at the dirty dog and immediately attached his leash to his collar.  With mud and sticks from his tail to his nose we walked the last half of a mile home.  

   He was looking for love and my normal chatter and I wasn't giving it to him.  When we got home I went downstairs to start working and he followed me.  He scratched at my legs wanting to assume his position on my lap and I refused.  He sat staring at me with his pathetically sad eyes and his unbelievably dirty body.  Then, with one last glare and a sigh of disgust I scooped him up off of the floor and onto my lap.  Now we both need a bath.

You can see Rugby live in action on a segment of On The Road.

     Our dumpster is located approximately five miles from our place so it's a task to get rid of our garbage.  Garbage in itself is quite the job at any resort but it is one I enjoy doing.  Yesterday I got to go to the dump; our dumpster along with others down a gravel road.

     The dumpsters are a good source of food for some animals so it isn't uncommon to see wildlife there.  Everyone tries their best to carefully replace their bar above the lids and secure it with a lock.  Sometimes it doesn't work as well as others as some of you may remember from reading last year's entry about the bear.  In any case, some of the dumpsters are a little bit older and rustier than others and some even have holes in them.  Critters like to get inside of the dumpsters sometimes trapping themselves.

     Yesterday when I pulled up to the dump I noticed it looked quite messy around many of the dumpsters.  I took a little bit of time to pick up trash before unlocking mine.  I thought the bear may had been back already looking for food and when I started to move my bar away from the dumpster I heard some growling.  I stopped what I was doing to listen and then the noise stopped too.  I began to move the bar again and the growling started up.  I could determine the noise was coming from within the dumpster so I proceeded slowly.  I carefully lifted all four of the lids as the critter continued growlling. I couldn't see the critter so I began to jostle the bags around and finally got a peek at the pine marten who was feasting on our trash. 

     The pine marten was quite content being inside of the dumpster and had no intentions of leaving.  I wanted to get the garbage out of my truck and get back home but I didn't want to throw it on top of the pine marten.  I decided to move more of the old bags around in the dumpster and then took a stick to try to coax the little bugger out.  Finally, after way too much fooling around the pine marten sprang out of the dumpster and up a tree.

     I quickly disposed of my garbage, locked the dumpster and headed back home.  I was grinning at myself as I thought about all of the different encounters I have had while taking garbage.  Even when someone inadvertently places fish guts in a bag for 5 days at 100 degrees or white little rice shaped things are crawling over the bags, taking garbage is an experience.  As I rounded Moose Pond I saw the two moose drinking from the pond and that only confirmed my thoughts... Ahhhh, the joy of garbage.

     Just in case you didn't already know, the ice is off of the lakes.  The big chunk on Sag disappeared yesterday after being pummeled with wind and rain.  We were able to get around on most parts of the lake before that but it just took a little bit of creativity and a few detours.

     We're spending our time preparing for the season.  Motors need to be put on boats, registration stickers on canoes, outfitting food onto shelves, t-shirts folded, cabins spring cleaned, bait ordered and our biggest project of the year, the staff housing. 

     Progress on the staff cabin was slow during the week due mainly to the weather.  Last weekend our hockey friends the Roy's and Wieben's came up from town to lend a hand and this weekend more hockey families came; DuChien's and Bockovich's.  Those extra hands sure make a difference and thanks to all of their help, the walls are almost all done. 

     Of course none of this is happening soon enough as we already have Adam, Mike and Sheri here and more staff arriving this week.  They are being good sports about the housing and their flexibility is a blessing.  We'll be happy when we can get them into their new home and they'll be even happier. 

     Gotta get going, the sun is shining and there is work to be done.

     It can happen before you know what happened.  One second you are sitting upright in a canoe nice and dry and the next thing you know you're sucking in a long drag of ice cold water down into your lungs.  You sputter and surface quickly while your body temperature drops instantly from the freezing cold water all around you.  You look around for your companion with no luck in locating him, your stomach rolls over as you remember he wasn't wearing a life vest.  Shore isn't too far away and your brain is telling you to swim for help.  Your water logged clothing and boots are weighting you down and your legs and arms begin to feel like they are made of cement.  You can't keep swimming but shore is right there, help is there.  Those are your last thoughts before you slip into unconsciousness.

     The next thing you know you are in an ambulance being rushed to a hospital.  You remember your friend and your heart sinks.  What will you tell his wife and kids?  A week later they finally find his body so there can finally be a funeral.

     This happens all over the United States and the sad fact is these deaths can be avoided by one simple thing, WEARING A LIFE VEST!  Just WEAR IT. 

Angler falls from canoe and drowns in Fawn Lake

By MATT ERICKSON

Staff Writer

A 20-year-old Rice man drowned after the canoe he and another man were in overturned Saturday on Fawn Lake near Crosslake, the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department.

Timothy R. Maehren and Joshua A. Seehusen were making their first trip of the season onto the 73-acre lake, located just southwest of Crosslake, and were fishing for panfish when their canoe flipped, Sheriff's Sgt. Scott Goddard, Crow Wing County Sheriff's Boat and Water supervisor, said.

Seehusen was able to make it to shore and call for help. Maehren went under the water and did not surface, the sheriff's department reported.

Law enforcement was notified that Maehren was missing at 3:36 p.m. The Crow Wing County Dive Team located Maehren about 30 yards from shore in 17 feet of water.

Goddard said ice was off the lake but the water temperature was about 40 degrees.

Goddard said it wasn't immediately known why the canoe overturned but neither Maehren or Seehusen were wearing life jackets. One of the men's families had a seasonal home on the lake, Goddard said.

The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department is reminding the public that at this time of year water temperature is extremely cold - a person will lose body heat 25 times faster in water than by air.

"Just be careful, be cautious," Sheriff Todd Dahl said. "It doesn't take very long when you're in the water for you to get very cold and lose all control over your faculties."

The sheriff's department also urged people venturing onto lakes to wear a life jacket and to stay with the watercraft if it does capsize or overturn.

Goddard said the bow of the canoe Maehren and Seehusen were using was still out of the water when law enforcement arrived at Fawn Lake.

"It's a gamble to swim away from the watercraft," Goddard said. "You're better off to stay with it so you can keep afloat."

     I apologize for posting my blog so late today.  Last night I stayed in town and thought about biking to work today to celebrate National Bike to Work Day.  I just thought about it, I didn't actually do it and if I had my blog probably still wouldn't be up.

     I think if I lived in a city I would bike to work every day.  As a child I biked everywhere around town.  It gave me so much freedom and was so much fun.  I never realized it was exercise as a kid but it sure was a good health benefit.  I still like to ride bike but I don't get the chance to do so very often because of where I live.  The Gunflint Trail doesn't have shoulders to bike on and the logging roads and snowmobile trail are quite the work out.  With the price of gas these days you better believe I would be biking everywhere if I lived in or near a city.  

  I know it isn't always practical to ride your bike.  If you're picking up groceries or going to a formal dinner then I can see taking the car.  But many work places these days have facilities for their employees to change clothes or even a shower which makes getting ready for work after a bike ride a breeze.  Saving money, getting exercise and helping the environment are all ways biking to work is a great idea.  Take time during National Bike Month to consider all of the benefits of riding a bike and then get your bike out and hit the road. 

On the average, individuals spend over an hour each day commuting in their vehicle to and from work.  If you spent even some of that daily drive time pedaling instead, the rewards would be:

• CLEAN AIR The number of communities that will fall out of compliance with the Clean Air Act is expected to triple within a decade. Motorized vehicles are responsible for 70% of the carbon monoxide, 45% of the nitrogen dioxide, and 34% of the hydrocarbons people produce. Riding a bike is a simple way to improve the environment.

     A common question we hear in the outfitting business is, "How are the bugs?"  My sarcastic, snappy side likes to say, "We don't charge extra for them."  Or if a person asks, "When's a good time to come when there aren't any bugs."  I like to answer, "We usually don't have many in the winter."  Seriously though, the bugs aren't that bad.  I've been many places and have seen lots of different bugs and if you're outside, you're probably going to encounter them.

     When you're out canoe camping in the wilderness you are bound to experience more bugs than when you're locked up in your house in the city.  Mosquitos can be ferocious on wet portages or at dusk and dawn but generally speaking they are nothing like the mosquitos I found in the Everglades.  A little bit of repellant and alot of common sense can keep a person relatively bite free.  There are other bugs too; biting flies, horse flies and black flies to name a few.  I'm not sure I know the difference between all of these species and fly bites don't normally affect me much.  They have the tendency to make my daughter swell up and some people bleed from where they have been bitten. I found this interesting information on a website  about black flies in Maine but I thought I would share it with all of you.

When is "Black Fly Season"?
    There is actually no single, uniform "black fly season."  The maps in the Maine Nature News archive are based on scattered local observations. But, there is enough information there to draw some tentative general conclusions for some locations in Maine.
Do the black flies persist after July? What is the best time to camp and hike in Maine and avoid the flies?
    You have asked a very good question.  The season can begin no sooner that late April in Maine because the black fly larvae, which hatch in clear running streams, do not hatch until everything thaws and the water temperature has also risen a bit. The black fly season moves, in general, from South to North and simultaneously from the coastal plain to inland areas and from lowest elevations up to the highest. So there is no precise "end" to black fly season in Maine. However by mid-July in most places after the birds have start gobbling them up, and after the black fly adults have bred for the season and go into "dormancy", the numbers dwindle drastically almost everywhere. 
     Here are some more key pieces of information, as a further general answer to your question:

• Black flies breed in running water, unlike mosquitoes, which breed in still water. Because there are about forty species, not all flourish at the same time.
• Black flies can travel several miles from their breeding site, so those environmental rules cannot be counted on completely, as a means to avoid them.
• Strong breezes tend to disperse them, as they are a very small insect.
• I have found, and others confirm, that black flies are generally inactive until the air temperature has risen to at least 50 degrees F., even in black fly season.
• I have also found that they seem less numerous at higher altitudes, probably because of a combination of the above three factors: the lack of expansive breeding sites, cooler temperatures and the more consistent presence of breezes.
• "Black flies are strongly influenced by color -- they find dark hues more attractive than pale ones, and blue, purple, brown, and black more attractive than white or yellow. A light-colored shirt, therefore, is a much better choice of clothing than a dark blue one. It is a moot point, however, whether blue jeans might not be better than pale trousers: if they are carefully tucked in at the ankles and are without holes, jeans may help to attract the flies away from the head region.":  Courtesy Rocco Moschetti, IPM of Alaska. ¹
• "Black flies often swarm around a person's head because they are attracted to carbon dioxide in the breath. ... Bites are concentrated on exposed areas of skin, especially along the hairline, feet, ankles and arms." Courtesy Jeffrey Hahn, University of Minnesota Extension Service. ²
• "The bites can produce a variety of reactions ranging from little or no irritation to considerable irritation and swelling. Sensitivity varies from person to person." Courtesy Jeffrey Hahn, University of Minnesota Extension Service. ²
• In general, unlike mosquitoes, they will not come indoors, nor fly at night, nor penetrate most clothing.
• Local variation is the rule. Local people are usually the most helpful resource, as they observe these things very carefully.

I'm trying to get hold of pest control operator (PCO's) or university/government experts who treat farm or indoor accounts that are bugged by this bug. Do you know of PCO's who treat hotels, resorts, lodges, factories, homes, barns, etc.? Or perhaps you can steer me towards a dos-and-don'ts-type check list for preventing, discouraging, or treating black flies? Are there PCO's who are involved on government committees for area-wide black fly control efforts?  Any help you can provide is appreciated.
    A few pieces of information bear on your question, at least as it applies to Maine:

• According to the Eastern Cereal and Oil Seed Research Centre (Ottawa, Canada)
  • "Unlike mosquitoes, black flies seldom attack indoors or even in in a vehicle; once they sense being trapped their attention seems permanently diverted to escape and they spend the rest of their lives crawling up the screen or window pane."
    (Note:  For the context of this quote, please go to their web site.)
• Black flies breed in running water, unlike mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water. Although there are some studies about black fly larva control, there are logistical and environmental concerns:
  • a)   Most public water supplies originate in streams and other running water bodies.
    b)   Larvae locate in very localized clusters, in dispersed, inconspicuous locations, making pesticide application much less cost effective than for other insects.
• Black fly appearance is characterized by a succession of flourishings of as many as 20 or 30 species in a locality, each with their own breeding time and cycle (some twice a season) complicating the management of any attempted control measures.
• 
  Why are they called black flies when bigger houseflies are also 'black'?
      Almost every animal and plant has a scientific name and a common name or names. The scientific name is universally used by scientists and students worldwide.  The common names are used in daily life and may vary from one place to another for the same animal or plant.  The group of true flies includes: house flies, deer flies, horse flies, black flies and many other species.  The scientific name that the insect family of all black flies share is Simuliidae.  However this insect has many common names such as:  black fly, blackfly, buffalo gnat, and reed smut.  In French-speaking Canada they are known as mouches noires, in Latin America as jejenes, and so forth.
      To the European explorers who first came to the Western Hemisphere black flies were almost unknown in their home countries. When they encountered them here they gave them various names, usually by comparing with insects already known.  According to Roger W. Crosskey's book The Natural History of Blackflies (Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, 1990) the name was first used in New England, by at least the late 1700's.  The earliest non-Native persons to encounter them were merely describing the "new" insects in terms of the known insect group "flies" and the fact that they are dark-colored and that they are a type of fly.   Thus the name "black fly" came into common use, as there was no commonly used alternative.

     Thanks to the Grand Marais Border Patrol and Sue Ahrendt for putting together this list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the I-68.

Outfitter Information and the I-68 Permits  

I-68 Issuing Offices: 

1.         Pigeon River POE, Grand Portage, MN (21 475-2244

            24 hours a day, 7 days a week

2.         Customs Officer Border Patrol Office Coast Guard Station Grand Marais, MN (21 387-1148 or (21 370-0111

            Beginning May 15th, 2008

            Monday-Thursday, 8am-4pm

            Friday-Sunday, 6am-8pm

3.         Midway Airport Chicago, IL (773) 948-6330

            Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm

4.         Humphrey Terminal Minneapolis , MN (612) 725-3480

            Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm

5.         Federal Building Duluth, MN (21 720-5201

            Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm

Applicants are advised to please call ahead to guarantee personnel are available. 

Applicants should have a birth certificate and photo ID, or a passport to process an I-68.  I-68s will cost $16.00 for individual permits and $32.00 for a family permit.  An I-68 is only valid for persons returning via watercraft and for one year from the date of issuance. 

All persons entering Canada have 2 options: 

1.     Purchase an I-68 permit at the above offices. 2.     Enter Canada without an I-68. 

All persons returning from Canada , via Quetico Park/BWCA:

1.     Persons with an I-68 can call the Customs Officer at the Border Patrol Facility in the Coast Guard Station (21 387-1148 or (21 370-0111 and report that they have returned to the US during the hours noted above.

2.     Persons with an I-68 can call Customs at the Pigeon River Port of Entry (21 475-2244, 24 hours a day to report that they have returned to the US .  

3.     All persons without an I-68 must stop and check in at the Coast Guard Station in Grand Marais to report that they have returned to the country.

4.     All persons without an I-68 returning after hours must call the Pigeon River Port of Entry to report that they are back in the US .  Because these persons do not have an I-68, they may be asked to wait for a Border Patrol Agent for an interview. 

FAQ:

Should weekly fishing guests and homeowners call in to the customs office every time they return to the US from Canadian waters? 

            Yes, this is the main purpose for an  I-68.  Each time a person makes a meaningful departure from the US , he/she will need to call in and report the return.  These persons should have an I-68.

What does “meaningful departure” from the US mean? 

            This means that the person or persons have stopped on Canadian soil, dropped an anchor in Canada waters, or met with another boat in Canadian waters.

What about people fishing in Canadian Waters-i.e fishing guides, guests?              If the fishing guides/guests do not drop an anchor, do not pull up to another boat, or do not step on Canadian land, these folks do not need to call into US Customs and report that their boat happened to be in Canadian Waters part of the time.  There was no meaningful departure in this case.

What if we have a large group of guests returning to the United States —i.e. a big group of boy scouts? 

            If outfitters call the U.S. Border Patrol ahead of time (21 387-1770, the Border Patrol will make every effort to send an agent to your outfitter or landing to check in the large group and save them a trip to the Coast Guard Station in town.

Do folks returning from Canada require I68 permits? 

   No, not if they physically report their return the Customs Officer in the Border Patrol Office at the Coast Guard station in Grand Marais during business hours.

 What if they don’t have I68 permits and the Grand Marais office is closed? 

             They must call the Pigeon River Port of Entry and report that they have returned to the US .  They may be requested to remain on sight for an interview from a Border Patrol Agent, but this is not likely.

Are these rules going to be enforced in 2008?

            The Border Patrol is striving for 100% compliance in 2008.

            Remember, Customs is the I-68 issuing agency and the Border Patrol is the enforcement agency.  Any and all questions concerning issuance of the I-68 should be directed to,  Customs and Border Protection, Pigeon River Port of Entry (21 475-2244 or (21 475-0060.

     Earlier this Spring I made a comment something like, "It can snow everyday if it wants to, at least then the fire danger will be low and people can still go out and camp."   I was just kidding but apparently Mother Nature didn't realize it.  

  I think we have received more snow this May then we did in February or March.  Over 5 inches of the white stuff has fallen with 1.75 inches of it on Mother's Day.  First snow, then rain, then snow again; the cycle continues.  Talk about exact opposites of weather from last May to this May, it couldn't get any more different.  Sunshine, dry, hot and windy in 07 compared with clouds, snow, rain, cold and calm in 08.  Crazy.

     What's even crazier is we have groups out camping in this.  Call me a fair weather freak but I prefer to go canoe camping when there is water not ice covering the surface.  Yes, there is still ice on many of the lakes up here on the Gunflint Trail.  It disappears little by little each day and if the wind doesn't move the ice then you can get around by following the edges or breaking through the thin areas.  That's what the die hards have been doing. 

   We have heard great reports from those who have ventured out into the woods and water.  Very few people are out and the fishing has been excellent.  Lake Trout are shallow and biting like crazy.  Where you can get onto Gunflint Lake to fish there have been dozens of nice Lake Trout caught and hopefully some have been released.  The Northern are aggressively biting too so I guess the reward for heading out into the frozen wilderness is worth it.

     The water is obviously cold and when the snowflakes are falling the air temperature is very cold too.  Hypothermia sets in quickly with these conditions so please be cautious if you intend to go out paddling or fishing.   Although I am anxious to go out fishing I think I will wait until the ice is gone so I don't end up hitting an iceberg like the Titanic.  Be safe out there, wear your life vest, tell someone where you are and don't forget to wear sunscreen, this Minnesota weather changes quickly. 

      I can hear them singing in the trees and see them flying through the skies.  The DNR is encouraging people to check their birdfeeders and here is why.

Late arrival of spring affecting migrating birds

Spring is an exciting time to see wildlife in Minnesota. Birds are returning from their winter homes, but this winter has been too long for many species, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Many bird species are back to Minnesota to nest, but they’re dying of starvation. Insect-eating birds are not finding enough food and the late snowfalls have had a harsh effect on many species. 

Over the last week, DNR managers and officers have received reports throughout the state of dead swallows, bluebirds, kinglets, sparrows, robins and warblers. All of these species are insect eaters, according to Carrol Henderson, DNR Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor. 

In Brainerd, 19 dead swallows were found in nine different nest boxes. At Crow Wing State Park, 27 swallows and two bluebirds were found dead in nest boxes. “Though birds are dying in other places, people with nest boxes should check them for dead or dying birds and report any banded birds found,” Henderson said. “Citizens can help by putting out meal worms for blue birds and other worm-eating birds.  Unfortunately, there isn’t anything we can do for the swallows, who rely on flying insects for their main food source,” Henderson said. “Temperatures above 60 for a period of two to three days should produce enough insects to revive birds currently in peril.” 

“Migrating birds are always pushing the snowline” said Conrad Christiansen, retired DNR biologist. “Birds such as woodcock return about mid March. If we experience a heavy, late snowfall, some birds will suffer.”   A similar situation occurred in 1969, when there was a late April snowfall in Minnesota. 

     Just be sure you don't use a plastic bottle that contains the highly publicized BPA.  I've been preaching about using Sigg Bottles because they are not made of plastic that can leach into your drinking water causing harmful chemicals to enter your body.  I wish I would have placed my order for Sigg before the news release came out.  I do have a few available, some kids ones with soccer kids on it, but most of my adult ones are sold out.  Here's what Idealbyte has to say.

Wanna Try?

• Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles marked with a 7 or PC (polycarbonate).
• BornFree Bottles - each bottle holds 9 ounces of the white stuff. Also: a glass version ($27/3).
• Babylife Wee-go Bottle - another 9-ouncer that comes in a protective, dishwasher-safe silicone sheath to avoid breakage ($1.
• Camelbak Better Bottle - 25-ounce bottle made from a new, clear, safer plastic called Tritan; in 5 colors ($9).  
• Alternative-material bottles cost a bit more than the usual polycarbonate-plastic ones, but they're widely available and you can worry less about nasty chems slipping into your and your kids' drinks.

DNR Fishing by the Numbers 

Anglers  

• 2.1 million: Number of people who fish in Minnesota each year  
• 1.4 million: Number of fishing licenses sold  
• 25 percent: Anglers who target specifically walleye when they fish  
• 88: Number of fishing licenses sold per minute during peak of sales 24 hours before the fishing opener 

Walleye  

• 16 million: Estimated statewide walleye population of harvestable fish  
• 3-4 million: Average annual statewide walleye harvest  
• 85: Percent of walleye harvest that is naturally produces fish  
• 1,200: Number of lakes in Minnesota with fishable populations of walleye  
• 58: Number of walleye lakes with special walleye regulations  
• 78: Number of lakes that provide nearly half the state’s walleye harvest  
• 900: Number of Minnesota lakes stocked with walleye on a rotating basis  
• 1880: The year walleye were first stocked in Minnesota  
• 212 million: Number of fry to be stocked this year in 319 lakes  
• 160,000: Pounds of fingerlings stocked by the DNR this year  
• 17.8: Weight in pounds and ounces of Minnesota’s record walleye (Caught by Leroy Chiovette in 1979).   

Weather  

• 4: Number of fishing openers (of the last 54) in which a trace of snow was recorded  
• 24: Lowest temperature recorded for a fishing opener (International Falls, 1996).  
• 91: Highest temperature recorded for a fishing opener (Minneapolis, 1987)  
• 1 in 4: Years in which measurable precipitation is recorded on the fishing opener

Economics 

• 43,812: Fishing-related jobs in Minnesota

•  $2.8 billion: Fishing-related retail sales 

   

   
   

   

   
   
   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

• $4.7 billion: The ripple effect of fishing-related sales on Minnesota’s economy 

• $1.36 billion: Fishing-related salaries, wages and business earnings 

• $342.2 million: Fishing-related state and local tax revenues

    We took our first guests out onto Saganaga yesterday afternoon.  They didn't get too far, but they are out canoe camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  The paddling season has arrived...

ICE STATUS as of 1530, Thursday, May 8, 2008

 ICE FREE

 Alpine, Banadad, Brant, Crocodile, Cross River to Long Island, Iron, Jap, Little Saganaga, Missing Link, Moon, Ogishkemuncie,  Portage, Round, Sawbill, Tucker, Two Island

SOME ICE REMAINING

Alton, Cherokee, East Bearskin, Flour, Frost, Hungry Jack, Kimball, Little Trout, Meeds, Mink, Seagull (especially on western end), Swan

FROZEN

Bearskin, Birch, Brule, Clearwater,  Davis, Duncan, Elbow, Gabimichigami, Gaskin, Gillis, Greenwood, Kemo,  Loon, Mayhew, McFarland, Musquash/Misquah, North Fowl, Pine, Poplar,  Rose, Saganaga (quite frozen, according to the pilot), South Fowl, Trout, east of Kimball Lake Campground), Tuscarora, Winchell

 The pilot feels that things will change quickly with the exception of the eastern side of the Gunflint Trail (Clearwater, Greenwood, Duncan, Pine, etc).

[read more]

     There are numerous places to float your boat on the Gunflint Trail today.  Yesterday's early morning rain and afternoon sunshine with temperatures into the 60's was just too much for some sheets of ice to deal with.  They succumbed to the open water and left quietly. 

   We took a boat ride out onto Saganaga to see what the ice situation looked like.  As predicted the ice was gone in the narrows and all of the way out to the main part of the lake.  Clark Island, as seen in the photo, is still iced in, but that is expected to change by the end of today.  The edges of the lake are open and navigable while the main lake remains frozen.   Today's ample sunshine will work through the layers of the ice and the open water attempting to beat the ice down.  Will the ice on Sag be off by opener?  That remains to be the number one question and my answer is yes, it will be off by Saturday.  This is by no means a scientific answer, it's just using the S.W.A.G. Theory(Scientific, Wild Ass Guess).   

 We don't have to use the SWAG Theory to know there are open lakes to enjoy.  It is a fact Sawbill's ice is off, Iron, Little Iron, Larch Creek, Seagull River and many of the small lakes of the BWCA are as well.  The USFS plans to assess the situation by air later today, so we'll see what they have to say.  Until then go ahead and find a small lake to float your boat and remember to wear your life vest, that water is cold!

     That seems to be the question of the week at Voyageur and elsewhere around the state of Minnesota.  You can check the ice out status of lakes in Minnesota at this website.  Yesterday was warm, 64 degrees and the forecast is calling for warm temperatures for the rest of the week.  There's some wind in the forecast too so that should help the ice out process. 

     The ice is rapidly changing each day.  It turned a very dark black yesterday and is getting more porous as the minutes go by.  The ice is pulling away from the shore more and more and bays are opening up.  One thing is for sure, if the lakes are open for opener then the water is going to be cold.

      DNR warns early season anglers about danger of cold-water shock (May 6, 200

 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds early-season anglers about the danger of cold-water shock and the importance of wearing a life jacket, especially in May and early June.

“The shock of a fall into cold water is certainly one of the biggest hazards for early season anglers,” said Tim Smalley, DNR boating safety specialist. “The gasp caused by sudden immersion in icy water can cause the victim to inhale water and drown if they aren’t wearing a life vest.”

It was once thought that good swimmers who drowned after falling overboard into cold water were succumbing to heart attacks, Smalley said. While that may have happened to some victims, researchers find that most drown due to the torso reflex rather than a cardiac episode.

“The torso reflex is the gasp that happens when your face and chest suddenly enters cold water,” Smalley said. “The gasp is automatic and nearly impossible to stop. If your face is underwater when it happens, it’s often fatal, unless of course you’re wearing a life vest.”

Boats must have one U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device (life jacket) of the proper size for each person readily accessible on board. Boats 16 feet and longer also must carry a U.S. Coast Guard approved type IV throwable seat cushion or ring buoy on board.

The DNR recommends that everyone wear life jackets. “While the emphasis tends to be on children wearing life jackets, it’s the adults who die most often in boating accidents,” Smalley said. “There have been a fair number of cases in Minnesota where an adult has drowned in a boat accident, but the child who was wearing a life jacket was just fine.”

More boating safety information and the “Minnesota Boating Guide” can be obtained free by calling the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll free at 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367). Information can be downloaded from the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/boating.

     The Cinco de Mayo is over and the sixth of May is here.  Things are normal, as normal as they can be in the springtime at an outfitters after organizing a run that is.  I am happy to be busy with the every day list of things to do.  As long as we are not out fighting a forest fire then things are good.

     Yesterday was the 1st Anniversary of the Ham Lake Fire.  It was a day I couldn't shake out of my head.  Anxiety and fear are words to describe how I felt about that day whenever I thought about it after the fire started.  Similar to D-day for some or like Mother's Day and May 16th(my mom's birthday) since she has passed away.  They are days I dread and am so thankful they have passed when they finally do. 

     It isn't healthy to have that much negative energy towards a particular day.  I started thinking about ways to combat that feeling and others started thinking along those general lines but probably not for the same reasons.  I needed something to focus on to keep my mind occupied and hence, the Ham Run Half Marathon and 5k Fun Run were born.  The Ham Run allowed me to channel my energy in a different direction and for that I am very grateful. 

     I guess you could say the Ham Run consumed me similar to how the Ham Lake Fire did without me even realizing it until the day of the race.  As I was filling coolers with water at 4:30AM on Sunday morning I thought to myself, "What in the world am I doing?"  I had been obsessing over the race for months and my stress level was soaring from trying to squeeze the last drops of energy out of my already depleted stores.  Then it hit me.  I was doing all of this so I didn't have to think about the Ham Lake Fire.  The things people do.

     Well, I guess it worked.  Yesterday I had to drive to Duluth for an appointment and run errands.  It wasn't until I sat down to dinner at a restaurant and they served nachos that I realized it was the 5th of May, Cinco de Mayo.  The First Anniversary of the Ham Lake Fire.  I guess my therapy worked. 

  EVERYONE!  Today I especially appreciate all of the hardworking folks who made the Ham Run sucessful.  What a wonderful community we live in where friends will get up at 4 in the morning, travel 60 miles one way and spend their Sunday volunteering their valuable time to help with the Ham Run.    

  Through the help of many people the First Annual Ham Run Half Marathon and 5k Fun Run was a big hit.  All I have heard from people is what a wonderful race it was, how well it went and how helpful and enthusiastic the aid station volunteers were.  Everyone was kept safe by the careful planning and preparation of the race course and no one was hurt during the event.  

   All of the spectators had a great time and the participants were pleased.  We had over 140 registered runners and they did an excellent job.  The times they had were amazing considering the number of hills on the course.  I'll be posting photos and results on the Ham Run website if you are interested in reading more about it.  But for now, I just want to say a big thank you to everyone, the volunteers, the participants, the spectators and even Mother Nature for providing us with a beautiful day for a run.

Thank you to the Sponsors 

Upper Shore Center for Fitness and Athletics

Grand Marais State Bank

Lake Superior Trading Post

Christie Printing

Bernick’s Pepsi

Wenonah Canoe

Northern Wilds

Upper Lakes Foods

Scott Smith Attorney

Gunflint Trail Association

Cook County Events and Visitor Bureau

The Ham Run Half Marathon and 5k Fun Run would never have been possible without the support of the following… 

Margo Furcht

Mike Prom

Rick Johnson

Sue Ahrendt       

Sheila Wieben

Susan Roy

Bob Baker

Stephanie Humphrey

Bob Morrison

April Morrison

Sandy from Boreal

Sue Ahrendt

Kathryn Ramberg

The Sponsors

The Volunteers

The Participants

A Special Thanks to… 

Rick Johnson and the Boundary Waters Ham Radio Club

Chris Callender and Gusto Hams

Gunflint Pines Resort and Campground

Seagull Creek Fishing Camp

Mark Darling & Way of the Wilderness

The Birch Terrace

Massage Therapists of Cook County

The Trail’s End Band

Dick Parker and the Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club

Bob Baker and the members of the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department

USFS   DNR  and Cook County Highway Department

The Voyageur Canoe Ou tf itters Family-

Adam Maxwell Bob, April, Bailey, Chance, Dawson and Easton Morrison

Abby and Josh Prom

Last but not least

Mike Prom

     Some folks aren't as interested as how the ice goes out on a lake as they are in when the ice will go out on a lake.  But for those of you who are wondering and for those of you who are waiting, here's the scoop on ice, no pun intended.

How Lake Ice Melts

A wonderful description of how lake ice melts away appeared on the web blog "Air Mass", hosted by the Star Tribune's Bill McAuliffe. Ed Swain, of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency describes the process of freezing and thawing lakes.

1. In the late fall, the lake loses heat to the atmosphere, and then on a day or night when the wind is not blowing, ice forms. The ice gets thicker as long as the lake can continue to lose heat.
2. In most Januaries and Februaries, snow both reflects sunlight and insulates the lake. With a thick snow layer, the lake neither gains nor loses heat. The bottom sediment is actually heating the lake water slightly over the winter, from stored summer heat.
3. Around March, as the air warms and the sun gets more intense, the snow melts, allowing light to penetrate the ice. Because the ice acts like the glass in a greenhouse, the water beneath it begins to warm, and the ice begins to melt FROM THE BOTTOM.
4. When the ice thickness erodes to between 4 and 12 inches, it transforms into long vertical crystals called "candles." These conduct light even better, so the ice starts to look black, because it is not reflecting much sunlight.
5. Warming continues because the light energy is being transferred to the water below the ice. Meltwater fills in between the crystals, which begin breaking apart. The surface appears grayish as the ice reflects a bit more light than before.
6. The wind comes up, and breaks the surface apart. The candles will often be blown to one side of the lake, making a tinkling sound as they knock against one another, and piling up on the shore. In hours, a sparkling blue lake, once again!

     I really want to compost in the summer.  I hear objections each time I mention it, "The bears will get into it." "The bins they make are too small."  "It will stink."  The last time I asked I heard, "Fine, if you want one then figure it out and build it." 

     I'm not a carpenter and I don't have a clue how to go about creating a compost bin that would keep bears out and not stink.  If you have any suggestions or places to look, then please let me know.  I'm willing to give it a try.  Here's what Idealbyte has to say about the subject.

 How can yesterday's table scraps feed hundreds?

The Bite
Of worms, that is. Easy: Compost your organic waste and use the soil for your garden or houseplants for smiles all around.

The Benefits

• Meals, not dumps. A Biter household can keep 500 lb of perfectly biodegradable kitchen and garden waste out of landfills every year (and most stuff doesn't decompose in landfills).
• Fine botanical dining. Composting recycles nutrients in your scraps, producing soil that's like a gourmet dinner for your plants.
• It's as simple as 1-2-3-flora. New in-kitchen compost gadgets make composting easy and isolate the stink, so your house won't smell like a barn. Some cities even offer curbside bin pickup (à la recycling bins).

 

Personally Speaking
Jen gives each of her seven chickens turns in the compost heap while she works in her backyard.

Wanna Try?

• Just a few of the items you can compost: bread, cereals, and pastas, coffee grounds and filters, eggshells, fruits and veggies, grass clippings, and most teabags.
• Check with your garbage company, and see if it offers curbside bins for compost pickup.
• EnviroCycle Composter - 5-gal composter for your garage or yard; just give it a spin for easy mixing and aerating ($169).
• Worm Chalet - three-tiered worm-based composter; keep it in your kitchen if you collect the fresh compost from its spigot regularly. Also: worms ($159).
• Kitchen Compost Crock - nifty, stinkless ceramic pot you can put on your counter or under the sink for collecting compostables until you get around to carting them outdoors ($24).
• The Complete Compost Gardening Guide - new, easy-does-it guide, including DIY instructions for making your own compost bins ($14).
• Compost Guide - everything you ever wanted to know about composting, and then some.
• Compost This - UK site that lets you know what you can and can't compost (aubergine means eggplant, BTW).

If 10,000 Biters compost 3 lb of kitchen scraps each week, we'll keep the weight of more than 10,000 sanitation workers worth of waste outta landfills every year.

     The Gunflint Green Up begins at 10:00AM and continues throughout the weekend.  There is plenty to do besides plant trees or run a half-marathon so be sure to check out all of the planned activities.

     Friday has a full schedule of events to kick off the Green Up.  It begins at 10:00AM with Boreal Forest Walks and Talks.  You can take a hike on the Magnetic Rock Trail and learn all about fire ecology with Steve Robertson.  If you would rather relax and listen then join Lissa Grover at the Gunflint Conference Center to find out about fire and the Jackpine.  If you can't decide which one to attend then don't worry, they will present the same information again at 2:00PM.

     The Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department will be demonstrating wildfire sprinklers from 4:00PM-6:00PM at the Gunflint Lodge waterfront.  These sprinklers proved quite useful during last year's Ham Lake Fire.  Watch the volunteers as they show how these systems help protect structures from burning.

     There will be a picnic with food supplied by local restaurants beginning at 5:50PM.  Layne Kennedy will begin his presentation in the tent after the picnic starting around 8:00PM.  Then everyone should get a good night's sleep so they can be ready to plant trees early Saturday morning.  A dinner and dance with music by the Splinters will conclude Saturday's events.

     The Ham Run Half Marathon and 5k Fun Run will begin at 10:00AM on Sunday morning.  The races will be followed by food, music and fun at the Trail's End Cafe.  There is so much to do this weekend and you really don't want to miss a minute of it.

     Head up the Gunflint Trail for the Gunflint Green Up and prepare to have a great time.

[read more]

     I'm happy to report all of my weather forecast watching friends are reporting great weather for this weekend's Gunflint Green Up Events.   If ever there is a time the weather people can be right I'm hoping it is this time.  They are calling for partly sunny skies and temperatures up into the 60's!

     Everyone is gearing up for the big weekend on the Gunflint Trail.  We're busy at Voyageur getting our place ready for the arriving guests and with last minute plans and preparations for the Ham Run Half Marathon on Sunday.  There are over 140 runners registered, most are for the half-marathon.  The details involved in planning a race are dizzying and I was dizzy enough to begin with.

     We've been checking things off of our list to be ready for the weekend and we think we are.  This is in part because of the help of some awesome volunteers.  Sheila Wieben has been organizing the volunteers, Rick Johnson is in control of the radio communications, Mike Prom is responsible for traffic control, Sue Ahrendt has bus and shuttle transportation secured, Bob Baker lined up the necessary medical personel and the all so important porta-potties, Susan Roy and the Grand Marais State Bank have registration materials printed & cups for the aid stations,  Mark Darling has the food and entertainment covered, Chris Callender has the hams, Shari Baker has special awards for the winners, Margo Furcht has registration under control, Steve Deschene is coordinating the timing efforts, Maria Callender has the massage therapists ready, Stephanie Humphrey is taking care of packet pick up and I think all I need to do is my usual, sit on the sofa with a package of bon bons watching As the World Turns.

     I know I have not mentioned everyone who has helped out and I apologize.  There are many who have just been around to put their hand between the wall and my head as I tried to pound against it.  Thank you to everyone.  This run will be a successful event because of the involvement of all of you.

  I know it is going to be a fun weekend, I just hope everyone joins us because this forecast is going to be right on!