Thursday night's temperature dropped to negative 3 at the Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B. This marks the first below zero since last winter! With only a dusting of snow on the Banadad Ski Trail, the below zero temperatures served to freeze the wet spot along the trail. What this means is that when the snow does come it will make grooming much easier. As for snow some is predicted for this weekend although it does not appear to be in significant amounts. Please "think snow" the frozen trails are ready.

It's always a wonder to see a son or daughter on their first successfull hunting trip.  Here Jaret is with his first Grouse.  We're still finding them in the woods - and since the weather has been so warm they're still out sunning themselves during the day.

It's a story you have to read to believe and then it's still amazing.  Check out the article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune at the Boundary Waters Blog.

Members of the North Star Ski Touring Club, a Little Ollie Lake cabin owner and Boundary Country Trekking's staff spent two days cutting open the remaining sections of a new ski loop off the south side of the Lace Lake Ski Trail.

Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B provided lodging for the club and supervised the trail work.

     This weekend the Prom family, owners of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters on the Gunflint Trail, visited a special place in the woods, Black Magic Kennels.  Mark and Mary Black own and operate this kennel where they raise and train sled dogs for racing. 

     The Black's have started a special program where you can adopt a sled dog and make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.  If you adopt a Varsity dog from their kennel then $100.00 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through Pink Paddles.  Pink Paddles were designed by Sue Prom and are lightweight, bent-shaft, graphite canoe paddles that are sold to raise money for breast cancer research.

     We all had a great time visiting Black Magic Kennels and meeting all of the wonderful sled dogs.  We decided to adopt Zena and are excited to follow her these next few months and see how she performs during the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.

     If you're looking for a unique gift this Christmas then adopt a dog and help save a life through  Black Magic Kennels Adopt a Canine Klub. 

When we say we're on the border, we mean it literally.  Here's a picture of the U.S./Canada Boundary marker as it sits in a rock at the entrance from Gunflint Lake to Magnetic Lake.  That's just across the lake to us!  Come check it out sometime!   - Shari Baker

We woke to a beautiful covering of snow on the Gunflint Trail today.  Winter is coming soon and all the fun winter sports with it.  This is just the first taste of what is to come. 

The photo at the left was taken on Clearwater Road.

Watch for more updates….  Lynn, Clearwater Lodge 

I usually carry a camera in my car because you never know when driving around here when you might see something interesting and unique.  Recently I had been hoping to get a good shot of the wolf every one keeps telling me that they are seeing on Clearwater Road.  However, when driving up the trail the other day, the only animal that would pose for me was this nice little fox.   I still have hopes of getting a good picture of the wolf. 

The weekend of Novermber 3-5 volunteers spent two days chainsawing, hand cutting and clearing a one and one-half kilometer trail connecting the Lace Lake Trail to the Tall Pines Yurt. Perviously skiers had to travel along the un-tracked supply trail to get from the Lace Lake Trail or parking area to the Yurt. According to Ted Young, trail administrator, "this new trail is the first section of a planned 3.75 kilometer loop trail. Hopefully we will complete the entire loop in time for next winter's ski season. This new trail loop is on Minnesota State land and was authorizied by the Minnesota DNR as an extention of the Lace Lake Ski Trail"

The trail will become part of the Banadad Ski Trail system. The Tall Pines Yurts is operated by Boundary Country trekking as part of their yurt to yurt ski program.

While those of us living on the Gunflint Trail have enjoyed the warmer weather of the past week, (almost 70F yesterday) the hunters have found it more challenging.  The deer have not been as active, content to bed down for the day and enjoy a sunny day or two of rest and relaxation.  Last night though the weather began to turn.  The winds kicked up and this morning they seemed to be moving a little more.   

More to come! - Shari