Ice, Ice Baby So Cold
Yesterday was a gorgeous spring day on the Gunflint Trail. The temperature soared to almost 70 degrees and the sun shone brightly all day long. The Seagull River looked inviting and I even considered a swim until I felt how cold the water was.
The freezing cold water reminded me of all of the lakes on the Gunflint Trail that are still socked in with ice. The ponds are open, the creeks and rivers are flowing but the lakes are still covered in ice. The USFS reported the following information.
Little John – Open (as far as I can see from the landing)
McFarland – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
E. Bearskin – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
W. Bearskin @Clearwater – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
W. Bearskin @Hungry Jack – has dark spots
Clearwater – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
Poplar – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
Poplar E. end – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
Swamp-Poplar portage – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
McFarland – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
E. Bearskin – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
W. Bearskin @Clearwater – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
W. Bearskin @Hungry Jack – has dark spots
Clearwater – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
Poplar – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
Poplar E. end – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
Swamp-Poplar portage – pulling away from shore and has dark spots
Elsewhere in the Boundary Waters there is some open water. Over on the Ely side of the wilderness the USFS reported the following as of 3pm on 5/2/11 for the Echo Trail and Fernberg areas.
Open- Crooked, Horse, Fourtown, Basswood/Pipestone, Moose, Ensign, Lakes 1-4, Bald Eagle, Gabbro, South Kawishiwi River, Burntside
Some ice still: Bailey Bay of Basswood, Prairie Portage area of Basswood, Snowbank, Ima, Frasier, Thomas, Alice
