The Fleider family were enjoying a northwoods break between Christmas and New Years.  With help from big brother, the kids were trying out their new cross country skis.  In addition to trying out the skiing, they enjoyed a hike to Honeymoon Bluff and the Border Route Trail to Daniels Lake………

Lynn 

www.clearwateroutfitters.com

We hope everyone's holiday went well!  Here on the Gunflint Trail Christmas was a beautiful day.  We have less snow than usual, but people are still out enjoying it.  Snowshoeing, skiing and slow snowmobile touring.  

Gunflint Lake froze over Christmas night.  It took 3 tries this year but we think it's finally here to stay.  The past couple nights have been cold enough to keep making more ice and the guests have been listening it moan and groan and occassionally zing across the lake.  

So many people are calling looking for snow.  Well we have it, perhaps not as much as we would like yet but it'll do.  The Upper Gunflint Ski trail system is approximately 80% packed with a 3-4 inch base.  We have not been able to set tracks yet, but it won't be long now.  If you're still looking for a Holiday Vacation check out the Specials and packages page of this site at www.gunflint-trail.com/specials. 

We get to enjoy dog sledding and hunting as a winter sport but that was not the case in the early days on the Gunflint Trail.  Along with winter trapping, deer hunting was more than a sport.  It supplied an important source of food for the family living through the winter at the lodge.  Dog Sledding was means of transportation in many cases.  In 1932,   Charlie Boostrom and a friend did their hunting using dog sleds.   Clearwater Lodge was built by Charlie Boostrom and his wife Petra and completed in 1926.   The Gunflint Trail is rich in history for all to enjoy.  Lynn www.clearwateroutfitters.com.

Just a little snow update:  We had roughly 3 more inches of snow today with more expected tonight.  It was a wonderful day to take a walk and just enjoy being in the woods. 

There doesn't have to be a lot of snow to have winter fun in the Northwoods!  This past weekend some guests were out enjoying the sunny day and stopped by to look around.  They had a toddler on  sled and asked if they could slide down the hill.  I offered them 4 more sleds and they had a few runs at it.  When's the last time you went sledding.  It's still as fun as it used to be as a kid (but the hills seem a little tougher to walk up and the hot chocolate is much more refreshing when you're done.)

We have had temperatures ranging from below zero to above freezing the past week.  Today we even had a little rain mixed in.  There is snow in the forecast for the upcoming week.  With the temperature changes, we got a few icicles.  These came crashing down seconds after I took the picture from a second floor window.  Lynn, Clearwater Lodge.

The Banadad's first skiers this fall - Kathleen and Rus Vinton , former co-directors of Adventurous Christians on the Gunflint Trail and who now make their home in Grand Marais skied from the eastern trailhead out and back about 10 kilometers. While trail crews are still working on the trail and tracks of not yet been laid-down, the Vintons said the skiing was "great." and the trail beautiful.

It is anticipated that the trail work will be completed by the end of next week. When the trail work is complete the Banadad will be tracked with the next snowfall. The Banadad Ski Trail is maintained by Boundary Country Trekking.

     The folks on the Gunflint Trail are enjoying the wonderful weather and snow on the Gunflint Trail. People are cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and having a great time playing in the snow. Many of the smaller lakes have adequate ice to travel by foot while the larger lakes such as Saganaga, Gunflint, and Loon still have open water. For more winter fun on the Gunflint Trail check out the Boundary Waters Blog.

Posted by Sue from Voyageur Canoe Outfitters