The fall colors are absolutely amazing this year. I can't help but talk about it again. It's been a few years since we've seen colors this magnificent.  I find myself wanting to take photographs around every bend of the Gunflint Trail.  I want to hike up every trail with an overlook to capture the beauty with my camera. 

     It's difficult to be inside of the lodge when it smells so wonderful outside. The fresh fallen leaves wet from yesterday's rain are heaven to my nose. The way they stick to the surface of the deck, the driveway and the Gunflint Trail creates colorful artwork.

     We do have a cabin open this weekend for you to stay in.  The geese have been flying overhead, a trumpeter swan was seen swimming in the pond, a family of four deer are visiting Voyageur daily and there are moose on the loose.  

     It's a great time to be on the Gunflint Trail so come on up and stay with us.  Blog readers can mention a special cabin rate of $99/night with a 2 night minimum stay this weekend.  We have a cabin open and waiting for you.

     After a very dry summer September has brought us rain.  Not as much rain as many places south of us have been receiving but the 2nd most we've received in the past 10 Septembers.  It's only half as much as the most rain we received in September of 2007 when 16.65 inches of rain fell.  But 7.15 inches this month and counting is pretty good compared to the 2 inches of rain average for the month.

     You would think the water level in the rapids would be back up to normal for this time of the year.  It's still quite low and challenging to get through the rapids.  Maybe this last dumping of rain will make a bigger impact on the water levels.  We have lots of lakes and streams to fill back up.

     Meanwhile we're enjoying some spectacular fall colors on the Gunflint Trail. Come see for yourself.

     This Saturday is the opening day for the Minnesota Moose Hunt. In recognition of the day various events will be taking place along the Gunflint Trail.  Beginning at approximately mile marker 44 where the trailheads for the Kekekabik and Magnetic Rock Trails are there will be free lemonade stands every 20 or so feet along the Trail.  Along with the free lemonade will be live music presented by various musicians in the area.  A wide variety of music will be played including accordian, bagpipe, drums and more. 

      In addition to the free entertainment and beverages a historical re-enactment will be taking place.  In recognition of the Blankenberg Toll Road that once existed from Seagull Lake to the end of the Trail there will be a toll collected at or around the Seagull Guard Station.  The fee for passage beyond this point will be $1000 in gold coins or copper(pennies).  Travel will be limited to three vehicles per day and these vehicles must be of a make and model consistent with the era of the toll road.

     Finally, for the entire moose hunting season from October 2-17th there will be a twice daily parade along the last 10 miles of the Gunflint Trail.  Marching bands will begin at various locations along the Trail about 30 minutes prior to sunrise and will play for approximately one hour.  The evening parade will begin approximately a half of an hour before sunset and will continue until dark.

     Last but not least. My son will be dressed like a moose so photographers may take photos of him.  He has a great costume and is more than willing to pose for several pictures at a time.  If I happen to see him on the top of your truck or in your pick up truck then I would be quite disturbed so please do not shoot as he is quite precious to me.

Have a safe and memorable Moose Hunt.

     One great thing about having people visit us at the end of the Gunflint Trail is I get to play tourist. This was the case yesterday when I was able to spend a whole day hanging out with a college friend and her husband.

     I was quite happy when I found out they both wanted to do some hiking.  There's nothing I like to do more on a fall day than to go for a hike. I decided to take them on the Centennial Trail because I thought they would enjoy the interpretive brochure that is available at the trailhead.  It's a great way to learn about the history of the area and they enjoyed reading it along the way.  The colors were amazing and after seeing some people at the parking lot upon arriving that was the only time we saw anyone else on the hike. The weather was perfect and the sun was shining brightly the entire hike.

     I thought they would enjoy seeing the view from the high cliffs overlooking Gunflint Lake so that's where we headed next.  After the somewhat taxing hike uphill they were both in awe as they looked out into the wide open into a sea of fall colors.  They enjoyed sitting on the warm rock and gazing out into the Canadian wilderness.

     By the time we were heading back to Voyageur it was 4:30pm and I still wanted to show them Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center.  We stopped in for a brief tour of the museum and they were both thoroughly impressed with the displays and the building.  We hiked a couple of the trails and enjoyed having the place all to ourselves. 

     We hadn't seen any moose all day and they really wanted to see one so after dinner we went for a boat ride.  We drove around as the sun was setting and enjoyed the ride but unfortunately we didn't see any moose.

     It's great to have friends visit because I love playing tourist in my fabulous backyard.

     Wow. It always amazes me when people paddle such great distances. How awesome would it be to be able to spend 16 days in the Boundary Waters?  He didn't do the entire trip in the same year, but it's still a great accomplishment.

By DAVID SHARP (AP) – 15 hours ago

PORTLAND, Maine — An extreme paddler who launched a cross-country canoe trip in Portland, Ore., traveled 3,500 miles through rivers, lakes and other waterways before arriving Friday in Portland, Maine.

Alexander Martin said he also carried his 30-pound Kevlar canoe around 800 miles over land to cover parts of the country that aren't connected by water. The 24-year-old from Kensington, Conn., completed the trip in three segments adding up to six months and said he encountered only four other paddlers during his coast-to-coast journey because he was paddling in the offseason.

"The Boundary Waters canoe area in northern Minnesota is the most popular canoeing place on Earth, and I paddled it for 16 days and didn't see another person," he said.

Martin and a friend already hold the record for completing the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail from Old Forge, N.Y., to Fort Kent, Maine, having done it in 32 days.

Attempting to paddle a canoe across the country is uncommon. Martin said he's aware of only one or two others who have had similar success in doing so. But there are no comprehensive records for cross-country paddles, said Chris Stec of the American Canoe Association in Fredericksburg, Va.

Martin, a Bates College graduate, said he had intended to complete the entire trip in a six-month stretch but ended up doing it in segments. He ran out of money at one point and had to return to work at the National Outdoor Leadership School before completing the final leg.

Powered by paddle and pedal, Martin achieved his goal of a human-powered journey, either paddling in his canoe or using a bicycle to pull his canoe from one waterway to the next.

Martin endured heavy rain on his last night on an island in the Presumspcot River. But the clearing skies created a postcard perfect scene as he arrived at Portland's East End Beach, where family members awaited with balloons and an Allagash beer, which he'd requested.

The first leg of the trip, starting in April 2009, took Martin from Portland, Ore., to Jackson Hole, Wyo. The next stretch, which he started that fall, took him past the Grand Tetons, down the Yellowstone River, across the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota and ultimately to Lake Superior.

There were two low points on that section of the trip: It was so cold in October that ice continually built up on his paddle and on his canoe in Montana, he said. And a month later, in Minnesota, he had to jump into the water to save his canoe, which had floated away when it was left unattended.

"It had been sleeting and snowing for a week so I knew if I got my clothes wet they would never dry. So I stripped naked and jumped in the lake and swam after my boat," he said.

The rest of the trip continued uneventfully, but he recalled one miserable stretch in northern New York in which he was using his bicycle to pull his supplies and canoe through what he described as an Amish community. He said the occupants of one of the buggies let out a chuckle as they passed.

"I don't think they were laughing at me," he said. "It was more like, 'Hey that's something I've never seen before.'"

Martin said he plans to spend a few weeks with his family before departing for New Zealand, where he'll lead whitewater trips.

___

Online:

Martins' blog http://americasriversexpedition.blogspot.com/

     What are you doing today to celebrate National Public Lands Day? There are events all over the United States planned for this special day but you don't have to participate in one of those planned events to enjoy the day.

  There are plenty of things to do and places to go to join in the celebration. You can take a stroll through a neighborhood park and pick up a little trash on your way.  Paddle a river and clean up the shoreline as you go or just take a hike in the woods.  Maybe you could introduce a child to some public land activity by taking a kid  fishing or hunting like we did with Josh the other day.   It was his first time out grouse hunting and after missing the first grouse he shot at he got the next three. Talk about a happy 9 year old! Whatever you do, Carpe diem!

National Public Lands Day 2010 celebrates service and recreation on public lands while educating volunteers about the effects of climate change on our parks. NPLD engages a diverse audience of adult and youth volunteers to get to outdoors and improve their lands, whether at the grandest national park or at an urban park in their neighborhood.

NPLD inspires a new generation of volunteers committed to service on public lands. The event also encourages volunteers to explore and enjoy America's natural wonders through outdoor recreation. After working hard, volunteers can take a hike, a swim, a bicycle ride and get healthy in America's backyard.

     While much of Minnesota is saturated and expecting more rain the Gunflint Trail expects sunshine this weekend.  Forecast calls for temperatures in the mid to high 50's and plenty of el sol.  It is a perfect weekend to come up the shore of Lake Superior and the Gunflint Trail to check out the amazing fall colors.  The red maples are magnificent and the wildlife is out and about. We saw three timberwolves on the Gunflint Trail this morning and the moose are on the move. With southern Minnesota soggy head north this weekend.

 Minnesota Valley State Trail.

 Snake Creek and Trout Valley OHV state forest recreation areas.

 Campground at Beaver Creek Valley State Park.

 Handful of campsites at Whitewater State Park.

     As I was driving the kids to the bus stop this morning I remembered yesterday was the Fall Equinox.  I asked them if they knew what it meant and after saying, "NO" in unison I proceeded to dig deeper and asked if they knew what "Equi" meant.  After no deliberation they told me it was equal day and equal night and then I said, "Yep, it means we have 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness."

     What I didn't know is that isn't exactly the truth.  Looking into the Equinox a little more I found out way more information then one would ever need to know.  Stuff like the Pope had a calendar and Julius Ceasar had a calendar and there's something called the Tropical astronomical year and if we didn't have leap year every four years then we'd be celebrating Christmas in June, or something like that. 

     I did find the following information from the National Geographic Website informative.

Sunrise is defined as the moment the top edge of the sun appears to peek over the horizon. Sunset is when the very last bit of the sun appears to dip below the horizon. The vernal and autumnal equinoxes, meanwhile, occur when the center of the sun's disk crosses what's known as the celestial equator, an imaginary line that projects outward from Earth's Equator, Chester noted. What's more, Earth's atmosphere bends sunlight when it's close to the horizon, making the sun appear to rise a few minutes earlier than it actually does. "Those factors all combine to make the day of the equinox not the day when we have 12 hours [each] of light and darkness," Chester said.

     I guess I didn't remember the fact the Spring and Fall Equinox are the only two days the sun rises exactly in the East and sets exactly in the West.  I do know that before the sun actually rises it produces light just as it does after it sets.  This in addition to the fact the sun is a moving object, light refracts, the earth tilts and most people can't see the horizon without obstruction confuses the issue even more.

     What I learned is that 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light doesn't happen until after the Autumn Equionox.  That day has a special name, "This day is commonly referred to as 'equilux' to distinguish them from the equinox. The equinox is a point in time, but the equilux is a day," Devgun explained.

     Very interesting indeed.  I can say we have noticed how dark it is now when we drive to the bus stop.  We used to come over the hill and be blinded by the sun in our eyes and now it hasn't even started to peak out from beneath the horizon. I guess some day around the 25th of this month we'll actually have equal hours of light and dark.  Then the hours of light will continue to dwindle until the Winter Solstice when once again the hours of light will increase.  I for one am looking forward to the Spring Solstice. 

      We're still outfitting groups into the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park but the days are numbered and I can't help but look forward to next summer when the days are long and the nights are short and I'm paddling beneath the rays of the summer sun once again.

     It's the neatest invention I've seen in the outdoor industry since hammocks with shelters.  The JAKPAK is a waterproof jacket, a sleeping bag and a tent all in one.  When we first saw these Chelsea thought they were so cool and we needed to try them.  She wrote to the company and not long after we received our package with not one but two JAKPAKs in it to try out. 

     Unfortunately the weather has been cold and neither she nor I have had the opportunity to get out and test it in the field properly.  We have played around with it and can't believe what an amazing product it is.  For starters it's an awesome waterproof breathable jacket complete with pit zips.  What more could you ask for in a jacket?

     In addition to being a terrific piece of outerwear the jacket houses both a sleeping bag and a tent that can be detached from the jacket if desired.  The sleeping bag has a waterproof bottom so you can lay directly on the wet ground.  It's quite roomy with a two-way zipper so it's easy to get into and out of.

     The tent part is super neat.  When you think tent don't think about a full dome tent that covers your entire body.  Think more along the lines of the little screen type tents you can buy to put over food on a picnic table.  It is designed to cover your head, neck and shoulders and is easy to set up. 

     This is a seriously incredible product that can be used in so many ways.  The great thing about it is it only weighs about 3 pounds depending upon what size you buy.  That's the total weight of your tent, sleeping bag and rain jacket.  You can buy them online and when you check out you can enter the code "canoeit" to receive an additional $20 off the already on sale price.  The regular price is $249.99 down to $199.99 until October 1st and $179.99 if you enter your promo code.  That's a great price for a waterproof jacket, tent and sleeping bag all in one.  Hope you'll take advantage of this super offer and enjoy using your JAKPAK!

     It's such a strange time of the year trying to make the transition from full time canoe outfitter to part-time canoe outfitter part-time friend, mom, community member or normal person should I say?  Most of the summer we're in our own little world at the end of the Gunflint Trail running Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. 

     The tricky part is trying to figure out how to get back into things without swamping the canoe.  It reminds me of some canoe groups who bring so much gear you wonder is there enough room in the canoe for all of it? One big cooler, 4 big duluth packs, and a huge rubbermaid and the canoe sinks low into the water.  Add a tackle box, bait containers and a fishing rod and water starts to come over the gunwales. What can you afford to leave behind?  You need food, shelter, beverage and recreation...

     I feel like I'm packing a canoe for a voyage. Luckily it's a 24 foot with a good carrying capacity because I can dump alot of Voyageur work in there,  I can put the Kick-off Meeting and Scholastic Book Fair for PTA in front,  Community Center Planning meetings towards the back, coaching 4-6th grade girls volleyball 3 days a week in the middle and sprinkle Elementary Yearbook planning, baby shower preparations, GTVFD trainings, Mush for a Cure and Ham Run throughout the canoe.  There's still a little room in there for other stuff before it starts taking on water. 

     Wait, that was before I got in.  Juggle some stuff around and I'll get it all to fit, somehow. 

      I long for someone to tell me to go take a hike.  I guess no one does because they know I will indeed take a hike and for me, the longer the hike the better it is.  But just like one night canoe trips sometimes settling for a 2 hour hike is better than no hike at all.

     Yesterday Mike and the kids wanted to watch the Minnesota Vikings game.  One bad thing about not having television is you either have to invite yourself over to a friend's house to watch the game or go to a bar.  Since Hungry Jack Lodge rebuilt Mike and the kids have enjoyed watching games there a couple of times.  I can understand why they like to watch games there since it's an absolutely beautiful building in a picturesque setting with three big screen televisions and great service.  I however did not want to spend the beautiful afternoon inside watching a football game so they dropped me off at the trailhead of the Caribou Rock Trail.

     The Caribou Rock Trail trailhead is just before Hungry Jack Lodge on Hungry Jack Road.  I set off with camera in hand and Rugby leading the way.  The temperature was perfect for hiking and there wasn't a bug in sight.  The view of Bearskin is always breathtaking and even more so when the leaves are starting to change colors.  I didn't have time to hike all of the way to Stairway Portage as I would have liked but it was great to spend a couple of hours in the woods.

     I did get to enjoy some time at Hungry Jack Lodge as the game wasn't quite over when I got there.  I went inside to get a drink and then spent the remainder of the time relaxing on their expansive lawn right next to the lake. 

     If you find yourself with extra time in Northeastern Minnesota then head up to Grand Portage.  It's a gorgeous drive up the shore of Lake Superior and there is lots to do in the area especially on September 25th, 2010.

     The grand opening of the new visitor center at Grand Portage State Park will be from 10am-2pm on Saturday, the 25th.  It will be a celebration to remember and a great opportunity to hike to Minnesota's highest waterfall.

    The Grand Portage National Monument   sits right at the edge of the big lake and is a replica of the trading fort that once stood there during the fur trade era.  You can take a tour and learn about the rich history of the area and then head over to the impressive Heritage Center to find out even more interesting facts. 

     There are numerous hiking trails in the area including the Grand Portage.  The Grand Portage is known as "The Great Carrying Place" because it is a 9 mile portage around the system of rapids and waterfalls that flow down to Lake Superior.  It was used by the Native Americans, Voyageurs and fur traders during the 1700's.

     Join in the celebration on the 25th or spend some other time exploring the Grand Portage area. Or if you're interested in paddling the fur trader route then give us a call, we'll set you up. 1-888-CANOEIT

Sept. 25 grand opening of Grand Portage State Park visitor center to take place amid peak color

(Released September 16, 2010)

Against a backdrop of fall color that will be at or near peak and a short distance from the state’s highest waterfall, a new visitor center at Grand Portage State Park will be the subject of a community celebration on Saturday, Sept. 25.

The structure and its surroundings will serve as a new highway rest area, a state travel information center, and park visitor center, complete with exhibits showcasing the lifeways of the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa.

The project is a partnership with the Grand Portage Band, on whose land the park is located; the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR); the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT); and Explore Minnesota Tourism. Family-oriented activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a building dedication at noon. Activities will feature a pipe ceremony and ribbon-cutting, along with local drummers and dancers.

Officials participating in a building dedication ceremony will include:

• DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten.

• MnDOT Commissioner Tom Sorel.

• Norman Deschampe, tribal chairman of the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa.

Laurie Martinson, DNR deputy commissioner, and Courtland Nelson, director of the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division, will be in attendance to thank those who saw the project through to completion. Many tribal leaders and elected officials also will be present and involved in the day’s events.

During the event, naturalists and volunteers will be stationed along the half-mile trail to High Falls, which is accessible to visitors of all abilities. Visitors of all ages will be able to work on make-and-take projects at each location. These educational projects will touch on topics including Lake Superior, traditional wild rice harvesting, fall colors, black bears, moose and wolves. Visitors can bring a picnic lunch or purchase food, including Native American fry bread, from local vendors who will be on site that day.

Construction workers broke ground on June 15, 2009, for the 5,800-square-foot building, which will provide year-round services to travelers. It replaces the seasonal Grand Portage Bay rest area and travel information center, which was open for about five months a year.

The travel information center will be staffed by the Grand Portage Band. A new trail to the falls, a new observation deck overlooking the Pigeon River, and a 30-foot “gathering shelter” to be used for programs and picnicking, have also been constructed at the park.

For more information about the park, call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll-free at 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

     There's always something exciting happening in our neck of the woods it seems.  Thursday night it was seeing a bull moose with a nice rack along with a cow.  I hadn't seen a bull in quite some time so it was great to know he's out there. Mum's the word on where or he'll be dead meat come October during the moose hunt. 

     The wildlife is getting more active and you definitely have to be alert when driving up here.  A black bear darted into the woods Thursday night as well as numerous fox.  Friday morning on our way to the bus stop we saw a doe with three fawns.  When they first emerged from the woods I thought they were a pack of wolves because I had never seen so many deer running together like that up here.  We also saw a fox and a moose on our road this morning.  I couldn't tell if it was Malachai because it made it into the woods too quickly.  That makes me think it wasn't Malachai because he's never in that much of a hurry.

     Thursday afternoon I was sitting in a new shop near the US Forest Service building in Grand Marais and what did I spy crossing the road?  A black bear!  They have been popping up all over town in people's yards that have apple trees in them.  When the locals complain about the bears I smile and say, "If you hadn't come up into the woods to pick all of their blueberries then they wouldn't have to come to town to eat your apples."

     Such is life at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters in northeastern Minnesota.  

     The Quetico Park is looking for comments regarding their "plan" for the Provincial Park.  Much of the plan centers around the Dawson Trail Campground and surrounding area which doesn't affect us at the southeastern entry point into Quetico.  There is however a part of the plan that deals with fly-in options that does affect us.  

     Guests can fly from Saganaga Lake to the edge of the Quetico Park and paddle back to us through the Park.  We've had groups fly-into Beaverhouse but the majority of our guests fly into Clay Lake.  When low water levels have made travel on the Greenwood River near impossible the Quetico has allowed planes to land in Mack Lake.  This was the case at the beginning of the season but it changed around the first of September when we were confirming travel plans for a group of ours.  We were told planes were no longer allowed to fly into Mack, end of story. 

     Our guests wanted to do the route very badly so we had them taken to Ross Lake.  After paddling several hours and traveling across lots of portages(one over a mile in length) they made it into Mack Lake.  Just in time for a float plane to drop down in front of them and let a group of canoeists plunk down into Mack Lake to begin their trip.

     It's confusing to say the least.  It's obvious the Quetico Park needs a plan and one they will stick with.  But I don't understand why just because you can drive to an entry point means you shouldn't be allowed to fly to an entry point?  A fly-in is exciting and it saves time which is very valuable these days.  Is the "plan" to make Americans drive into Canada if they want to access Beaverhouse and Clay Lake?  The folks in Atikokan and outfitters think it's a good idea, well, duh!  Does the Quetico need to force folks to drive into Canada just so they can gain access to the Quetico?  Isn't it enough we already have to use Canadian flight services and pay extra for the camping fees when groups come from the US. 

     And if the Quetico Park "plan" isn't what I've stated above and they just want to get rid of planes then why still allow float planes to drop only Canadians into Cache Bay?  Do Canadians make a different noise when they fly or cause less impact than an American?  Why can't they just drive down here and paddle across Sag to get to Cache Bay like everyone else?     

The park would prefer to continue to allow commercial aircraft on Saganaga (Cache Bay) and Basswood Lake, yet only for Canadian residents. The reason being, said Reilly, is that for Canadians the only other option is to enter through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

     I'm not sure what would happen to a Canadian if they had to enter through the Boundary Waters but obviously Reilly is concerned.  Is it because Canadians would realize the fees for the BWCA are considerably less than they are for the Quetico Park?   

     I have no clue what kind of a "plan" these people can come up with.  For years the outfitters and businesses have been trying to cut off access to the Quetico Park from the south.  It seems to me pretty soon they won't have to because they are doing such a good job of cutting their own throat that very few people want to access the Quetico from the South anymore.  Will those folks drive to Atikokan to start their trip or will they bypass the Quetico altogether and go to Wabikimi or Algonquin or even worse yet, the Boundary Waters?

     They say they want input and public comment about the "plan."  I encourage you to contact them with any of your concerns or questions.  Maybe you'll get a straight answer and then again maybe not.  We'll just have to wait to hear the "plan." 

      New Quetico plan reaches ‘options’ stage  Atikokan Progress on September 15, 2010 

Range of operational changes being considered

Jessica Smith

Quetico Park managers are seeking public input on a wilderness recreation zone around Dawson Trail campground, designated routes and campsites in the interior, a new eastern access, reduced aircraft landing, new hiking trail development and potential allowance of commercial dog sledding.

At the mid-point in the creation of an updated park management plan, public review of eight potential management changes began August 16 and runs until October 15. During this time the public can submit comments, and attend the September 23 open house (at the Atikokan Arts Centre, 4-8 pm) to learn more.

Park superintendent Robin Reilly said the document builds on topics identified by management, stakeholders and public in the earlier stages of the planning process, which began in 2006.

“This document becomes a hybrid of things we want to address and others that people wrote in about and said they wanted to see addressed.”

Each topic outlines the existing mandate and new options, as well as the MNR’s preference. Reilly said those may in fact, be more “slight leanings” toward a certain action, not a strong preference.

“People can say they lean toward one option, or that option with an amendment,” he said. “Tell us what part you don’t like, or let us know if there is something that is outside of any of these options [that you would prefer].”

One key topic is the establishment of a threshold wilderness zone around the campground to allow day-use activities such as cross-country skiing, hiking, and mountain biking. This zone would accommodate widened trails, semi-permanent warm-up tents, trail signage, groomed winter trails and designated walk-in or canoe-in campsites.

The zone is not really new to the activities of the park, said Reilly. Park staff and the majority of the public have viewed the area immediately adjacent to the campground as a blended or transitional zone, due to the fact, that the area includes development such as power lines, old logging roads, and the adjacent highway which cuts through a portion of the park territory (around French River).

“I think most of the public understands that the campground world extends beyond pavement; you don’t walk 10 feet behind your campsite and there’s trackless wilderness,” said Reilly.

Rather, management is hoping to clearly define that area to reduce confusion.

The proposed zone could encompass between 920 and just over 2,000 hectares, but the park’s preference would be a 1,993 hectare area which encompasses the French Lake shoreline to a distance of 60 metres from the water, east to the north bank of the French River, west to the Pines on Pickerel Lake from Baptism Creek, and south from the Pines to Sawmill Lake.

“In total, it’s less than half of one per cent of the park,” said Reilly. “The other 99.5 % is available to those who want to go on that wilderness canoe trip.”

The concept is to provide a defined area that offers a “window on the wilderness”, accessible to young families, elderly and those with disabilities, and educates about Quetico’s unique wilderness interior.

The campground was built in the mid 1970s, and because it pre-dates the park’s wilderness designation, has always existed as an exception to the rule. Reilly said an area around Dawson Trail was clearly envisioned for day-excursion opportunities and natural heritage education programs since the park’s early days, right up to the last park plan revision in 1995, where the current area in question was roughly defined on a map. While the intent was there, the document referenced an approximate 250 hectare area, a size that would only encompass the area of paved roads, and campground facilities.

“If that was the purpose and intent, then somewhere along the line there has to be some property to do this with,” said Reilly.

The creation of this zone complements the 2004 recommendations of the Atikokan-Quetico committee to strengthen the town and park’s connection and to attract tourism to the area. While Reilly said the cost involved in the maintenance of the zone currently off-sets any revenue, particularly due to off-season usage, that may change over time.

Complementary to a new threshold wilderness area is the document’s discussion of allowing mechanized trail grooming in that zone (the Pines, Sawmill Lake and French River Trails.)

Also included is a proposal to re-open a network of old logging roads to encourage backcountry hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing in the north and northeastern corner of the park, where a relative lack of lakes and a rolling topography of valleys and ridges are amenable to hiking. Management is seeking direction on whether long-distance trail development is consistent with Quetico Park objectives. Currently, new long distance trail development is permitted anywhere in the park where it is deemed appropriate and does not conflict with other park uses.

Management is also looking to remove two of four commercial aircraft landings from within the park. Currently it has allowed landing on Mack, Beaverhouse, Saganaga, and Basswood Lakes, as well as permitting the Lac La Croix community aircraft access to one of ten lakes yearly (on a rotating basis). Mack and Saganaga landings have been permitted in recent years on a trial basis.

The Mack Lake landing could be eliminated with the creation of a new road access outside of the park’s eastern boundary, a move supported by local outfitters and the Town. Due to low water levels, visitors have been unable to access the park via the traditional fly-in to Clay Lake and paddle through Greenwood Creek. As a temporary measure, alternate fly-ins directly into Mack Lake during low water levels has been permitted. The park’s preference would be to create a short access road off an existing logging road outside the boundary, subsequently removing the need for aircraft landing there. Another possibility would be to move the entry to Cullen Lake via a portage from Ross Lake.

Beaverhouse Lake landings could easily be removed because a road into the lake has been constructed, also removing the necessity of aircraft, said Reilly.

The park would prefer to continue to allow commercial aircraft on Saganaga (Cache Bay) and Basswood Lake, yet only for Canadian residents. The reason being, said Reilly, is that for Canadians the only other option is to enter through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

“It seems an appropriate concession to allow that to happen, not just because it is convenient, but because there really is no other practical option.” Other options include permitted landing on those two lakes by both US and Canadian residents, or restricting all landings in the park.

Another topic for discussion in the document states a management preference of enforced designated routes and campsites in the interior. Mink Lake Junior Rangers have completed a multi-year project of mapping GPS coordinates of over 2,000 established campsites, and designated campsites would be marked with campfire rings.

Reilly said there is a case to be made for preserving potentially ecologically, culturally, or historically sensitive areas by directing paddlers to established routes where portages and designated campsites (evidenced by a campfire ring), as well as reducing risks of forest fires, and those  associated with lost canoeists. However, he would prefer such a move was only enforced in areas where research identified specific need for protection.

The Quetico Foundation’s Arthur Saunders said he is a little unsure about the designated routes option. “My personal opinion is that Quetico is set up as a wild area and campsites and portages are not marked. It would be my hope that it stayed that way, where wilderness travellers have the option to trek off into [wild, untouched areas].”

He said his opinion would be that allowing people to camp where they wish would in fact take pressure off the traditional campsites.

Management also wants to revisit its vision for Dawson Trail campground and consider whether to create additional campsites, including a few RV sites and a group campsite, and whether non-mechanized recreation will continue to be allowed.

Also up for discussion is whether to allow commercially outfitted dog-sledding in the park. While not really a recognized tourism activity here, it is growing in popularity in the BWCA, and the park is considering allowing it in the park on a five-year trial basis.

Of these topics, the Foundation, which promotes the preservation of the park through research and serves on the plan’s advisory committee, notes that while it hasn’t prepared its response to the options yet, “at first blush” the document and park’s preferred options “look really good.”

“I think the flexibility of the document is very important,” specifically the provision for management to monitor and respond to new impacts on the park, said Saunders.

“We feel that the planning process has been very inclusive.”

After this 60-day review, public input will once again be invited in the fall of 2011on a draft plan, followed by the release of the approved plan, scheduled for spring, 2012.

The public can comment on, or pick up, the current proposed options at the Ontario government building at 108 Saturn Ave. The document can also be viewed at www.ontarioparks.com/english/invit.html.

The open house will provide an opportunity for comments and questions, and Reilly said he is hoping people bring a variety of perspectives and ideas.

“The best thing would be to see all kinds of people with all kinds of opinions.”

     I'm not sure what the goal of this video was. I can't imagine any reason to do what these folks did. Most canoes that go down a falls either get holes in them or get wedged in the rocks and crumpled in half.  Anyway, finding out there are people on this earth that would do such a thing is a bit disappointing.  Sorry if it was you or your loved one that produced the video but I have to say, "What an idiotic thing to do."

     It always seems to happen like someone flipped a switch.  One day the leaves on the trees are green and the next they are filled with colors of varying degrees.  The fall colors have arrived on the Gunflint Trail.

     I wish I could say the story has a happy ending but unfortunately it doesn't.  All of the details still aren't filled in but the man has been found. 

Police find body of missing boater  By tbnewswatch.com

Duluth man drowns in Quetico lake

Ontario Provincial Police have recovered a Duluth man's body from a lake in Quetico Provincial Park.

By: Fox 21 News, Fox 21 News

     Is no news good news? I'll keep my fingers crossed.  This report is so vague it's difficult to understand what exactly happened.  It is unclear whether the individual was alone or if someone witnessed him falling out of the canoe.  It doesn't explain how the GPS beacon was turned on either.  Hopefully more details will follow.

Rainy River OPP searching for missing boater

By tbnewswatch.com 

     If the amount of Sour Cream N Raisin Pie left in my refrigerator is an indicator of how well the Taste of the Trail went yesterday then I'd say it was a grand success.  We had lots of visitors throughout the day yesterday sampling the pie and getting a taste of what Voyageur Canoe Outfitters is all about. 

     My daughter Abby was able to sample tastes at other resorts along the Gunflint Trail.  At Golden Eagle they had donuts available and at Clearwater Abby said they had a delicious wild rice hotdish, brownies and cookies. Boundary Country Trekking was on their tour as was Trail Center.  They didn't stop at Hungry Jack Outfitters or Bearskin but we were told Bearskin was very busy throughout the day.

      Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center was the most popular stop with their Pie and Ice Cream Social.  The place was filled with people all day long and the hiking trails were busy too..  I would venture to say the fundraiser for Chik-Wauk was a profitable hit.

     If you missed this year's taste then be sure to join us on the Gunflint Trail for next year's Taste of the Trail, it's delicious!

     Yesterday I invited myself along to watch Kristi and Adam harvest wild rice.  Adam went ricing with Ian last year but I have never done this.  Kristi and Adam camped out overnight while I had to drive and paddle by myself to meet them. Of course I had wind in my face as I was paddling to them and thought about turning around a couple of times. I'm glad I didn't even though it took me over 40 minutes to get to them.   

     I could only catch glimpses of Adam as he pushed his way through the wild rice.  It was as if he was trying to hide as his head dipped below the tall rice while extending his body along with the pole.  In order to move through the rice a push pole is used to propel the canoe. The pole must have a forked end with forks no longer than 12 inches in length. The poler stands in the back of the canoe while the passenger uses flails to gently knock the rice into the canoe. Flails are kind of like wooden drumsticks and the lighter they are the better.  The Minnesota DNR specifies the flails can't be longer than 30 inches or weigh more than a pound.  Harvesting can only be done from 9am until 3pm and it's a fairly short season from August 15-September 30th.

More photos found on Facebook

     When I finally caught up with the canoe Adam and Kristi had a nice canoe load of rice.  They also had spiders and worms in their canoe which is a large part of wild rice harvesting I guess.  Kristi worked the flails like an expert as she tapped them along the towering rice plants.  It almost looked as if she was doing a dance with her arms stretching out above her.  Adam watched her carefully to know when to pull the canoe to the next plants in line so Kristi could continue to do her rice dance.  It was almost mesmerizing to watch them as they worked in rhythm and quickly disappeared out of my sight.

     I now crave to know more about the whole process of harvesting wild rice and the history associated with it.  It's such a fascinating process and the collecting of rice is just the first step of many.  Before it makes it to the dinner plate there are other steps that must be completed including drying, parching and hulling.  All of the work involved takes alot of time and it would be much easier to go and purchase wild rice from a store. 

     However, like gardening or picking berries there is something very satisfying about collecting ones own food.  To Native Americans wild rice beds were sacred and the wild ricing season was a huge part of their lives.  A good harvest was very important to them and there was much concern about water levels, wind and more.  I can see how the whole process would seem almost magical especially after all of the work and special care that would yield food for their survival. 

Migwitch Mahnomenî - giving thanks for the wild rice.

     While some contests may be gimmicks we're still proud of our Minnesota State Park and small town Ely.

MN DNR Press Release:   Bear Head Lake State Park, just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Ely, Minn., has been voted as “America’s Favorite Park” - in a nationwide campaign sponsored by Coca-Cola.

In addition to the honor, the park received a $100,000 gift - offered through America’s State Parks Foundation, which was made possible by Coca-Cola’s Live Positively initiative.

The America Is Your Park campaign, which ran July 29-Aug. 31, invited Americans to vote online for their favorite state or national park. The campaign’s goal was to encourage families to be active outdoors this summer and to help their favorite park win funding to build, enhance or restore recreation areas in the parks.

Kevin Morris, vice president, public affairs and communications, Coca-Cola Enterprises Bottling Cos., presented the gift today to Mark Holsten, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Jen Westlund, manager of Bear Head Lake State Park. The presentation took place at the DNR Headquarters in St. Paul.

“This is an incredible honor,” said Westlund. “We’re very grateful to everyone, both in Minnesota and nationwide, who voted for Bear Head Lake State Park.”

Holsten said, “We thank Coca-Cola, not only for the generous gift, but for sponsoring a campaign that generated so much excitement about our state and national park systems. This effort is very important to enticing more young families to get outdoors and stay active.”

By inspiring people to vote for their favorite park, Coca-Cola raised awareness about many special places around the country, including some hidden gems like Bear Head Lake State Park. Most parks around the country are working hard to connect people with the outdoors, especially the next generation of Americans - a challenge in lean economic times.

“Minnesotans are passionate about their state parks and trails,” said Holsten. “They demonstrated the same kind of commitment in 2008, when they voted to support the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. This is a state that prides itself on a wealth of natural resources and a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities.”

Westlund said the gift will be used to fund construction of a trail center where hikers, paddlers, snowshoers, and families can gather before heading outdoors to explore the park.

Bear Head Lake State Park, which has about 100,000 visitors a year, received more than 1.6 million votes in the campaign, finishing ahead of larger and busier parks.

“I’m not surprised that this remote park on a beautiful 674-acre lake received such an outpouring of support, given this state’s strong conservation ethic,” Holsten added.

Bear Head Lake is one of 73 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas managed by the DNR Division of Parks and Trails, along with 21 state trails and 32 water trails. There is a state park or trail within 30 miles of nearly every citizen in the state.

For information about any of these recreational opportunities, call the DNR Information Center at 651-646-6367, or toll-free 888-646-6367, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Budget Travel website

On January 22, a month before we launched our poll to find the Coolest Small Town in America, a black bear named Lily gave birth on live webcam, at Ely's North American Bear Center (NABC, bear.org). Days later, Lily and her cub, Hope, became the number one search term on Google, and Lily gained 104,886 fans on her Facebook page (yes, even bears have profiles), where links to our ballot were posted prominently. "Lily's fans worked hard to get her hometown recognized," says NABC biologist Lynn Rogers. That, they did: Ely took nearly a quarter of all the votes cast in our contest.

Ely, Minnesota pop. 3,470
The best backyard in the country

It says a lot about a town when there are more wildlife centers (two) than Wal-Marts (zero), and more canoe and fishing outfitters (27) than, well, anything else. In Ely, you're never more than a step away from the wilderness. The tiny grid of pine log cabins and pubs five hours north of Minneapolis sits within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a million-acre maze of indigo lakes and boreal forest. Each year thousands arrive to canoe, fish, camp—or simply sit back and soak in the North Woods. At the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant, where trophy walleyes are mounted on the walls, locals swap stories over hearty oatmeal stouts (47 E. Sheridan St., boathousebrewpub.com, pints from $4). Nearby, visiting families recap their recent adventures around the stone fireplace at A Stay Inn Ely, a five-room lodge run by Joan and Don Bean (112 W. Sheridan St., astayinnely.com, from $60). More often than not, they've just returned from a fly-fishing overnight or weeklong canoe excursion with Don's Jasper Creek Guide Service (14295 Canadian Border Rd., jaspercreek.com, canoe trips from $150 a day). Some are tempted to stay even longer. Jim Brandenburg travels the world as a National Geographic photographer but always comes home to Ely: "Where else can you sit out on your porch, listen to a pack of wild wolves howling, and then head down to the pub and share the story?"

     It is a beautiful sight to see the morning sun filter through a fog shrouded wilderness lake.  There will be such a showing this morning as the air temperature at a mere 31 degrees is much colder than the water temperature and not a whisper from the wind can be heard.  Only the background music from a singing loon and a solo paddler in the distance can perfect this tranquil scene.

     It's mornings like these I wish I were camped on a wilderness lake with tripod and camera ready to try to capture the beauty of these rare and beautiful sights.  The fog slowly lifts or gets shifted by the wind creating different scenes every moment.  Revealed on mornings like this are cobwebs glistening in the sun, dew dripping off of a leaf and other magical moments.

     Reality places me waking up my children, preparing their lunches and driving them to the school bus for another day at school.  Where does it place you? Can't you get away this fall to come and see it?  Or will you too need to be content with imagining the tranquil scene in your mind... 

     Sixty and sunny sounds pretty good for an extended forecast.  Of course seventy and sunny sounds better but what can we expect, it is almost mid-September already.  The temperatures have been consistently September so far this month with almost 2.5 inches of rainfall accumulated.  The entire month of August we only received 2 inches so we're happy to get some much needed rainfall.  It should help the water levels greatly and with a little luck we'll be towing through the river once again.

     I took advantage of the recent rainfall and paddled Larch Creek on Sunday.  It was a beautiful day and I couldn't stand not to be out paddling.  I took a solo canoe and headed over to the entry point for a few hours of paddling in the Boundary Waters. 

     There was plenty of water in the creek and it was easy to navigate.  Only four beaver dams stood between the entry point and Larch Lake, at times there have been more.  I love the twists, turns and tight corners of the creek and the anticipation of what I may see around the next corner.

     I tried my luck at catching a fish and was rewarded with a lone northern pike.  Trolling around the lake I ended up catching more weeds than anything else.  I didn't mind as it gave me an excuse to paddle the entire shoreline and enjoy all of the new jack pines popping up since the Ham Lake Fire of 2007.

     It was a great day for a Boundary Waters day trip.  It would have made a perfect evening for camping in the Boundary Waters too, but I'll take what I can get.  Hopefully I can get in some more paddling during this next stretch of sixty degree temperatures and sunny skies.

      Labor Day Weekend has come and gone just like most of our summer staff.  We are fortunate to have Chelsea, John, Ron, Elsa and Kristi still here and Eric helping out sometimes as well.  The options for who to hang out with after work have dwindled and I happened to be sitting nearby when Chelsea declined Kristi's invitation to hike the Magnetic Rock Trail.  Kristi must have noticed my sad puppy dog eyes and then said, "You don't want to go hiking do you Sue?" 

     So there we were hiking the Magnetic Rock Trail, Kristi for the first time and me for the who knows how "manyth" time.  I hiked the trail before the Ham Lake Fire and have hiked it quite a few times since the fire.  I look at it with pre-fire eyes.  I imagine the canopy of trees that hung over parts of the trail, the towering pines that shaded the path, the thick woods that lined it in places and how you couldn't see the rock until you were right beneath it.

     Kristi had never seen the Magnetic Rock Trail before.  She was filled with "oohs and ahhs" and "wows and oh my gosh's."  Every few moments she had her camera out taking a picture of this or that. The stream, the hills, the rocks, the plants they all looked beautiful to her.  She was so excited and in awe of the beauty surrounding her I couldn't help but start noticing it too.

     I saw a mushroom.  I noticed how tall the jack pines were growing.  I examined the intricate design on a burnt tree. I saw beauty in the way the sun filtered through the clouds and casted shadows on the hills. 

     Then I asked her, "The burn doesn't look ugly to you, does it?" "No, this is so cool, it's so different than anywhere else on the Trail." 

   So true is the statement, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  Thank goodness no one else was around to go hiking with Kristi or I wouldn't have been lucky enough to experience the Magnetic Rock Trail through her eyes.  I'm glad I can start seeing it differently.

     Ok, so this won't be a normal blog today.  I was thinking about Changes.  The change of seasons, the change that school is starting tomorrow, the change of the landscape where there has been fire and oh so many more changes that happen over time whether they are good or bad. 

     This thinking about change put the song Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes in my mind and I started to try to sing it and realized I had no idea what the lyrics were.  I also had no idea who sang the song.  Thank goodness for internet or what would we do? Immediate answers to any questions we can come up with no matter how silly they are.

     First shocker is the fact that David Bowie sings the song. Never knew that, doesn't sound like him to me.  Second shocker is the lyrics aren't anything like I ever sang and Third shocker is the thread of comments on the lyrics site I accidentally happened upon.  If you are ever in a need for a comedy relief break then check out this website.  http://www.lyricsdepot.com/david-bowie/changes.html

     I couldn't come up with a way to relate his song to the changes I was thinking about because after I started to read the comments I couldn't quit reading them.  Then I realized how much time I had wasted reading them and wondered if it was strange.  Or had it been a strain to read them?  Or was I late for the train in Spain?  I guess I'll never know and neither will you. 

     Here's the lyrics from the website, just in case it matters to you.

Changes
David Bowie

I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't tell t hem to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Where's your shame
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can't trace time

Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes are taking the pace I'm going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Oh, look out you rock 'n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon you're gonna get a little older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time 
 

     One thing nice about the days getting shorter and the nights getting longer is the improved chance to see the Northern Lights.  It's difficult to see them when you're asleep inside at 10pm and it's still light out when you go to bed. With recent solar activity I just might be in luck.

SOLAR ACTIVITY: On Sept. 4th around 1600 UT, a magnetic filament erupted, hurling a bright coronal mass ejection (CME) off the sun's northwestern limb. Today's edition of

http://spaceweather.com features a close-up view of the blast from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. The CME is not expected to hit Earth. Nevertheless, auroras are possible in the nights ahead. A solar wind stream flowing from a coronal hole is heading our way, due to arrive on Sept. 5th or 6th. NOAA forecasters estimate a 50% chance of high-latitude geomagnetic activity when the solar wind hits. With the approach of northern autumn, Arctic nights are getting dark again--dark enough to see the Northern Lights. People in Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia should keep an eye on the night sky this weekend.

     Someone asked me what today's weather was going to be like. I looked outside and saw a cloud filled sky so I said, "Clouds before 7, clear by 11."  This particular person knows me well and replied, "Is that really true?"  I answered, "I don't know, it's something like that or maybe it's cloudy by 7, rain by 11, I'm not sure."

      I guess those familiar or not so familiar weather sayings are only useful if you know exactly how they go. Otherwise those sayings don't help too much when you're out on a wilderness lake wondering if you should stay put or take the tent down and travel.  So, if your memory is better than mine then try remembering some of these more proven weather sayings and you'll impress your friends, or not!

From this website - Among the more reliable weather proverbs are:

The moon and the weather may change together,
But a change of the moon, will not change the weather.

A ring around the sun or moon, means rain or snow coming soon.

When grass is dry at morning light
Look for rain before the night.

Dew on the grass, rain won't come to pass.

Sea gull, sea gull, sit on the sand,
It's never good weather while you're on the land.

When sea-gulls fly to land, a storm is at hand.

Rain before seven, fine before eleven.
Evening red and morning grey, two sure signs of one fine day.

The sudden storm lasts not three hours
The sharper the blast, the sooner 'tis past.

The higher the clouds the better the weather.

Cold is the night when the stars shine bright.

Sound travelling far and wide, a stormy day betide.

When the forest murmurs and the mountain roars,
Then close your windows and shut your doors.

When leaves show their undersides, be very sure that rain betides.

Chimney smoke descends, our nice weather ends.

When the night goes to bed with a fever, it will awake with a wet head.

When stars shine clear and bright,
We will have a very cold night.

When the ditch and pond offend the nose,
Then look out for rain and stormy blows.

Three days rain will empty any sky.

The farther the sight, the nearer the rain.

Rain long foretold, long last,
Short notice, soon will pass.

The sharper the blast, the sooner 'tis past.

If bees stay at home, rain will soon come,
If they flay away, fine will be the day.

The first and last frosts are the worst.

When clouds look like black smoke a wise man will put on his cloak.

A rainbow afternoon,
Good weather coming soon.

A rainbow in the morning, is the shepherd's warning
A rainbow at night is the shepherd's delight.

When the chairs squeak, it's of rain they speak.

Catchy drawer and sticky door,
Coming rain will pour and pour.

The winds of the daytime wrestle and fight,
Longer and stronger than those of the night.

Dust rising in dry weather is a sign of approaching change.

Sun sets Friday clear as bell,
Rain on Monday sure as hell.

No weather's ill if the wind be still.

The squeak of the snow will the temperature show.

When smoke hovers close to the ground, there will be a weather change.

When down the chimney falls the soot
Mud will soon be underfoot.

When the sun shines while raining,
it will rain the same time again tomorrow.

When the wind blows from the west, fish bite best.
When it blows from the east, fish bite least.

If salt is sticky,
And gains in weight;
It will rain
Before too late.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight;
Red sky in morning, sailor take warning.

When clouds appear like rocks and towers,
The Earth's refreshed by frequent showers.

When the wind is in the east, 'tis neither good for man nor beast.

The more cloud types present, the greater the chance of rain or snow.

     And we'll take it, an inch of rain that is.  That's what has fallen to the ground over the past 24 hours and we're thankful for the precipitation.  It should put the Lizard Lake Fire out for good and It should help the water level in the river go up.  

     We desperately need more water in the Seagull River right now.  We've never seen the level as low as it is right now.  It's so low we aren't able to take groups out through the rapids to Saganaga without touching the sides of the boat, the skag of the motor and getting stuck two or three times.  The rental boats are stilll able to go through because they are much narrower and their motors don't have such long shafts.  If we keep our fingers crossed then we might just be able to get through there again this season, but I'm not holding my breath.  We're just boating through the rapids with the empty tow boats and then picking up and dropping off at the public landing which works out just as well. 

     I don't know what got into Mr. Wind but he has been blowing alot of air around the Boundary Waters lately.  Today the trees at Voyageur are bending and thrashing about.  When it's windy in our low spot of the river you can't begin to imagine what it looks like out on the lakes.  That's why we have a few groups hesitating to paddle right now.  We haven't had rain slow anyone down this year but this wind blowing upwards of 20mph with 30 mph gusts is a bit too much.  

     The temperature is just 53 degrees and that's what the high for the day is predicted to be.  The winds and rain are suppose to leave us with the rain being done soon and wind dying off this evening.  Let's just hope the wind stays dead for the Labor Day Weekend.  The sun will be shining the rest of the weekend with temperatures up into the mid-high 60's this coming week.  It's a little cool for me but for some folks they are just fine with relief from the heat. 

     What about you? Want to get away from the real world and visit us in the Boundary Waters?  There are no bugs, very few people and lots of wilderness campsites calling your name.  Hope to see you up here.

     A couple of things I've read sound strange to my ears.  The forecast for one is different than it has been in a long while and jellyfish in the Boundary Waters? WOW. I have never heard that before. I can't imagine how shocked I would be to see that.

Fromboreal website RAIN WITH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL TRACK OVER THE MINNESOTA
ARROWHEAD THIS MORNING. ALTHOUGH THESE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO
BECOME SEVERE...WIND GUSTS AROUND 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE.
ADDITIONAL RAIN SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE COMMON
THROUGH THE DAY.

Northland jellyfish reappear, this time in Namakan Lake

Tiny freshwater jellyfish, seldom seen in Northland waters, were spotted in recent days in Namakan Lake along the Ontario border.

By: John Myers, Duluth News Tribune Tiny freshwater jellyfish, seldom seen in Northland waters, were spotted in recent days in Namakan Lake along the Ontario border.

Thousands of the small jellyfish were spotted Saturday by Steve Geving, a Lake Superior area fisheries

specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural

Resources who was kayaking on Namakan Lake in Voyageurs National Park with his wife, Glenita.

“We were sitting in our kayaks off North Mitchell Island. You could see 10 or more in some spots, then do a few strokes and see nothing. Some were dime- to nickel-size,” Geving, of Duluth, told the News Tribune. “They were whitish, opaque.”

Gary Montz, a research scientist for the DNR, said biologists have speculated that water temperature and abundance of zooplankton, jellyfish food, may play a role in the jellyfish developing to a noticeable size that floats to the surface.

In 2006, another warm summer, Chad Polecheck of Esko, a former Minnesota conservation officer, told the News Tribune that he saw “thousands and thousands” of the jellyfish while fishing on Little Sturgeon Lake north of Hibbing in late July. At first he thought it was pollen in the water, but he captured

several of them in a jar and watched them “pulse” through the water. Another 2006 report came from Dodo Lake near Duluth.

Those jellyfish were on display for a time at Fisherman’s Corner bait shop outside Duluth.

Geving said they snorkeled Saturday among the whitish, opaque jellyfish for some time.

“Pretty neat little critters,” he noted.

While they have been around for years, most people have never seen a freshwater jellyfish because they spend most of their lives as underwater polyps that live on or near lake bottoms.

Only occasionally, and scientists aren’t sure why, do the polyps develop into dime- to quarter-sized jellyfish that can be seen floating and pulsing near the surface.

Most sightings are in August and September, experts say. The “blooms” last only a few days.

”It’s really exciting for us. We’re trying to get more information on it,” said Mike Ward, Voyageurs superintendent, who said park staff would attempt to find more of the critters.

DNR biologists in past years said there is little information on freshwater jellyfish in Minnesota. They often go unreported for years and then several reports come in at about the same time.

Montz said there have been reports this summer of jellyfish in Crab and Banadad lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Long Lake near Cotton and Airport Lake in Winona County in southern Minnesota.

“This year seems to be a bumper crop,” Montz said, adding, however, that seeing a jellyfish is still a rarity. “If people are not out at the right time and looking at the water, you could miss a bloom on a lake.”

It’s still safe to go into the water, officials say. While freshwater jellyfish have tiny tentacles to sting and capture zooplankton, they are too small to sting people like their larger saltwater cousins can.

Freshwater jellyfish — Craspedacusta sowerbii — have been in Minnesota lakes for decades. They are naturally occurring now, but they probably are an invasive species, possibly from Europe. So far, however, there’s no sign of any ecological disruption or damage from their presence.

Some scientists have said there could be more jellyfish now as northern lakes get warmer earlier in the year and stay warmer later. Northland lakes on average now have two weeks less ice cover than they did 50 years ago. Some speculate that, as warmer water reaches the polyps attached to the bottom of lakes, more of the polyps mature into jellyfish “blooms.” The jellyfish-stage critters then reproduced asexually and tiny eggs attached to the bottom of the lake and became polyps, restarting the cycle.

Usually, when in the jellyfish form, the creatures are white or green and nearly gelatinous — 99 percent of their bodies consist of water. The jellyfish lacks a head, has no skeleton and contains no organs for respiration or excretion.

Freshwater jellyfish are found throughout the world but were first reported in 1880 in England. They were first reported in the U.S. in 1908, according to the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology.

     It's always nice to hear positive comments from our guests and it's even better to see them in writing.  If you have some kind words about your experience with Voyageur then we'd love to have you write them down for us and others to see.

I just want to send a follow-up thank you to the Voyageur crew.  We just got back from our annual BWCA trip and it was amazing...the trip itself and also going through Voyageur and using you for our outfitting needs.  Your staff was super friendly, helpful, prepared and just all around nice.  We weren't just another number waiting in long line to get on the water...felt that way using another outfitter last year but won't be making that mistake again. 

Thanks again,  Arlen Stark

Great trip, great crew, great supplies. Thanks for another amazing wilderness experience.         Phil Rollins

We had a wonderful first time in the BWCA thanks to you. Your staff was terrific, helpful and friendly at all times. We fell in love with the area and plan to come back at least once, and perhaps more, each year.

Many thanks,

Gerry Hopklins