Take a look outside any window on the Gunflint Trail and you'll see what my daughter is talking about.  The snow, it sparkles in the sunlight like glittering diamonds.  Each day we have been receiving a little more snow and it falls lightly from the sky and you can almost see each distinct flake as it comes to rest on the snow covered ground.

     It is a winter wonderland on the Gunflint Trail and we would love to see you up here.  There are so many fun things to do you just have to come on up and see for yourself.  Plan a sleigh ride, hit the cross-country ski trails or snowshoe through a snow-filled forest.  There are lodges with openings and you are welcome anytime.

     This year's Winter Tracks will be February 28-March 3rd and we'd love to have you as our guest.  There are many great activities scheduled including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skijoring and much more.  The Snowboot Ball will also be held complete with dinner and dance.  It's a great time to come up to the Gunflint Trail and sample all our winter has to offer.

     You'll see the sparkle yourself…

Posted by the Boundary Waters Blog Lady of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters

It was known that last spring’s Ham Lake Fire had burned over a portion of the Banadad Ski Trail but it was not known how much of the forest surrounding the trail was burned. From the fire maps it appeared the fire had burned through the red pine plantation located approximately eight miles west of the eastern trail head near Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B. This plantation was planted sometime in the 1960’s following the completion of the Moon Lake Timber Sale.

When the season’s first trail crew reached the burned over area the other day they found that the fire had passed over a half mile of the trail. And sure enough the fire had burned through that red pine plantation but the good new was that about three-quarters of the red pines survived and the forest floor had been cleared of competing vegetation. Now if, and only if, the surviving red pines should just happen to produce and release seed cones in the next few year the forest floor should be clear enough to regenerate a new red pine forest.

As Voyageur noted in her December 15th entry, we have had some unusually cold weather this early part of December.  We have recorded 25 below some nights which is more like January temperatures.  But today was wonderful and the temperatures seem to be back to normal for our final days before Christmas.  I took advantage of this nice sunny weather to get outside today and photo this Downy Woodpecker.  It is a common enough bird in the area, but he was enjoying the sunshine and the above zero temperatures also today.

     Many of the lakes in and around the State of Minnesota have been frozen for quite some time now. There are ice fishing shelters on lakes south of Duluth and anglers are heading out onto the ice on various lakes throughout the state. One would think all of the lakes on the Gunflint Trail way up in Northeastern Minnesota would surely be frozen over solidly allowing for safe travels by now, think again.

     The bigger lakes on the Gunflint Trail have just now frozen over. Up until two days ago open water could be seen on Gunflint and Saganaga Lakes. The DNR recommends 4 inches of solid black ice for safe travel on frozen lakes. With the cold temperatures we have had on the Gunflint Trail the ice should have frozen solidly, but "should is a fantasy" so they say.

     The large amounts of snow that fell onto the freshly frozen lake ice helped to insulate the ice. This insulating layer may have prevented the ice from freezing over in a consistent manner. This snow could also be the cause of the reported slush pockets on area lakes. The high water levels of this fall have also produced some interesting ice conditions in unlikely places. While traveling on ice is never completely safe there are some times when it is safer than others.

     To protect yourself when planning an outing on the ice always determine the thickness of the ice yourself. Do not rely on other people's tracks since conditions may change rapidly and some people are luckier than others. It's best to bring along some device to test the ice numerous times along the way. The DNR records show that in the last ten years, 52 people have died falling through the ice in Minnesota and 21 percent of those accidents involved children under nine years old.

     Please keep yourself from becoming a statistic and make sure the ice you are travelling on is frozen solidly.

Posted by the Boundary Waters Blog Lady of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters

The fourth annual Winter Tracks Festival will be held on the Gunflint Trail on February 28-March 3, 2008.  Our website is ready, so start making your plans to come up and join in the fun. 

http://www.wintertracks.com

With so many activities and events from which to choose, you'll likely find something for each member of the family.  We've got all of the classic winter sports:  cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice skating, and more.  We also have indoor activities planned, like Northwoods crafts and knitting, and new seminars to enjoy.  Special things for the kids include the popular passport program, and new this year will be a scavenger hunt and mini winter Olympics.  There will be two opportunities to hear live music, and some excellent dining venues.

Visit the website to read all the details, and to veiw the schedule.  Then make plans for your own tracks to the festival. We'd love to see you on the Trail!

The Federal Highway Administration announced grant awards under the National Scenic Byways Program to two Gunflint Trail projects. The Chik-wauk Museum and Nature Center is to receive $180,000.

The second grant awarded was for $12,000 to research and write a "Vegetation Management Plan" for the Gunflint Scenic Byways. For this project the Gunflint Trail Association is contributing an addition $3000 in matching funds. The project is expected to be coordinated by the Byway's Forestry Committee.

In total 276 projects in 41 States were awarded grants. For a complete list of projects by state go to: http://www.bywaysonline.org/news/2007/549.

During the winter months I usually enjoy watching the Today show in the mornings as I am getting ready for the day and drinking my tea. Today the TV crew featured a decorating segment on the popularity of 'Woodland Chic'. Apparently it is the season's decorating craze and I realized just how stylish we were without trying. The segment featured little rustic Christmas ornaments in the shapes of bears and deer, table settings with antlers, carved deer heads for the walls, wood style fabrics and wooden 'root' furniture. I had to laugh because I could just imagine what the centerpieces and wall decorations cost and most of these things I can pick up on a walk in the woods for just the cost of lugging it home.

I woke up this morning to a nice bit of snowfall.  At mid-trail where I am, I would say we had 10 inches of new show last night.  I heard in Grand Marais it was closer to 20 inches. 

Snow is falling on the Gunflint Trail, where resort operators are ready for the winter cross-country skiing season.  Located in a region known for deep snows and exquisite winter scenery, the Gunflint Nordic Ski Trails are among the finest in the Upper Midwest. Skiers will find trail and facility improvements and other positive changes when they visit the Gunflint Trail this winter.

“The trails are in really good shape,” says Lee Kerfoot at Gunflint Lodge. “Everyone has been working to upgrade our trails and facilities.” Three interconnected systems—Central Gunflint, Banadad, and Upper Gunflint–offer 180 kilometers of groomed trails winding through boreal forests and around north country lakes. One route, the Banadad Trail, passes through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness BWCAW.  All of the trails are mapped and marked with signs.

At the Central Gunflint Ski Area, Bearskin Lodge and Nordic Ski Center is under new ownership. Bob and Quinn McCloughan are experienced skiers and racers who plan to emphasize a high-quality ski experience. Beginning and advance ski lessons, guided backcountry skiing and snowshoeing, and special ski clinics are in the works.  The resort will offer an extensive line of ski supplies from Toko and Swix. Next spring and summer, Bearskin will offer Nordic walking clinics for off-season training.The Central Gunflint trails will be better than ever. The Pisten Bully crew attended training to learn how to provide the best possible trail grooming. Nearby Golden Eagle Lodge and Nordic Ski Center has upgraded the Moose Ridge Trail and has placed picnic tables at scenic vistas along the trails.The Banadad Trail System is “going green” this winter.

Boundary Country Trekking, announced the Banadad will be going carbon neutral this year. "The hand tools we already use on much of the trail have never added carbon to the atmosphere,” says Boundary Country Trekking’s Ted Young. “Now we plan to offset the carbon produced by the rest of our operation.”The Banadad will be groomed this season with a new Yellowstone Track Systems Ginzugroomer and Tracksetter. This equipment will significantly upgrade the quality of the trail. If you enjoy skiing from your doorstep, Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Cabins and Wilderness Yurts have added a luxurious, ski-in retreat cabin overlooking Poplar Creek. Complete with a full kitchen, private baths, a whirlpool tub, and satellite television, the cabin accommodates six and is located right on the ski trail.

The Upper Gunflint Nordic Trails are in great shape, thanks in part to trail clearing by the North Star Ski Touring Club. Here, too, skiing is anticipated to be excellent. Gunflint Lodge has added the Adventure Guide to the popular Wild Winter Package. Guests who book the package will get a half-day, customized wilderness trip to experience activities such as ice fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, shed antler hunting, birding,  searching for wildlife, or learning survival skills. In March, noted mystery author Brian Freeman will be part of the annual Books in the Woods event. 

Loon Lake Lodge is open this winter with accommodations at the “Shack,” a modern, two-bedroom log cabin with a fireplace, available from December 27 tro mid March. In addition to being close to the ski trails, Loon Lake is a good base camp for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and ice fishing for lake trout.

Wherever you go on the Gunflint Trail this winter, you can expect to find plenty of snow, excellent Nordic trails, and comfortable accommodations. For current information about snow conditions, go to Gunflint-Trail.com or call 1-800-338-6932.