Gunflint Trail Association

Wherever you may be this holiday season, here’s a touch of snow and cheer from our neck of the woods to yours.

We’ve reached the shortest day of year. Here on the Gunflint Trail that means 8 hours and 21 minutes of daylight, or about 9.5 hours of visible light. The trail seems clothed in a perpetual dusky glow during these shortest of days. Luckily, we’ve been treated to a series of brilliant sunsets over the last week or so which keep spirits bright.

While today marks the first day of winter, the actual winter solstice won’t occur until 5:30 a.m. on December 22. Technically the winter solstice “occurs exactly when the axial tilt of a planet’s polar hemisphere is farthest away from the star that it orbits. Earth’s maximum axial tilt to our star, the Sun, during a solstice is 23° 26′.”

Winter solstice has always been a time marked by celebration, whether it’s burning a yule log in Europe or druid ceremonies at locations such as Stonehenge and Newgrange. Locally, the winter solstice is celebrated each year with a shadow puppet show and bonfire at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais. This year’s celebration is held today, Wednesday, December 21 at 6 p.m. A community potluck follows the show.

From this day forward, we start gaining daylight, little by little, second by second. But until we gain a noticeable amount of daylight, Gunflint Trail residents keep things merry and bright by stringing holiday lights around cabins, trees, and lodge entrances.

Lin of Rockwood Lodge posted recently about a lit Christmas tree that appeared along the Trail at some point in the last few weeks as if by magic. If you’re headed up the Trail this holiday season, be sure to watch for the tree; it’s located on the far western end of Birch Lake.

Happy Solstice!

Snow continues to drift down along the Gunflint Trail. Although the Trail has yet to receive a massive dumping of snow (the largest snowfall to date is the approximately 5-6″ that fell on the end of the Trail on November 26), the snowflakes are gently adding it up. It will be a white Christmas for sure on the Gunflint Trail.

Of course, as soon as the snow falls,  local lodges and residents can’t wait to get out to pack down the snow. In recent days, many resorts have been out with their piston bully and other grooming equipment to start laying track on the many Gunflint Trail ski trails.

As of Monday, Pincushion Mountains was reporting rolled trails and a thin base. Farther up the Trail, there’s a few more inches of snow and people have been skiing the Central Gunflint Ski System for about a week.  The Upper Gunflint Ski System was receiving grooming attention yesterday. Gunflint Lodge reports that its staff is busy packing dog sled trails as well as ski trails.  If the snow keeps drifting down, little by little, it’ll be skier and dog sledding paradise by this weekend.

If you’re headed up the Trail this holiday season, be sure to throw in the skis, snowshoes, and snowpants.

There is one thing you won’t need to pack for the holidays on the Gunflint Trail this year: your canoe.

Despite some jokes about paddling Gunflint Lake on Christmas day, Gunflint Lake has been steadily freezing over since the weekend. Open water remains on many of the larger Gunflint Trail lakes, but it looks like we’re just days away from a total freeze up.

Whether or not residents in other parts of the otherwise “balmy” state of Minnesota believe it, here on the Gunflint Trail, we’ve achieved “winter wonderland” status. With the Trail lakes freezing over and a snow base built up for the skiers, it’s a great time to start thinking about where you’ll take your next snowshoe trek on the Gunflint Trail.

Snowshoeing is one of the most all inclusive winter sports out there. Unlike skating or skiing which require some special skills, snowshoeing is as simple as strapping some snowshoes (wooden or metal – your choice) over your boots and . . . walking. But where to go?

On the beaten path:

Most, if not all of the Gunflint Trail’s year-round lodges and resorts have packed snowshoe trails available for their guests. Many Gunflint Trail hiking trails can also double as a snowshoe trail. (Keep in mind that a few Gunflint Trail hiking trails, such as the George Washington Pines are groomed for skiing during the winter months.)

Here are a couple trails, you might consider traipsing down with your snowshoes. Remember these trails are necessarily maintained for snowshoers: you may at times be breaking trail – that’s part of the adventure!

Magnetic Rock Trail: Located approximately 48 miles up the Gunflint Trail, the Magnetic Rock Trail offers a 3 mile round trip to a magnetic glacial erratic. Bring a compass along and watch the needle go wild when you hold it up to the rock.

Centennial Trail: Kitty-corner to the Magnetic Rock Trail is the Centennial Trail, a 3.3 mile loop which starts on the Kekekabic Hiking Trail. After 1.2 miles, the trail turns on to a new section of trail built in 2009. At the trailhead be sure to grab an interpretative brochure which explains the various historical points pertaining to an abandoned railroad and mining camp you’ll encounter along the trail.

Northern Light/Blueberry Hill: Located about 13 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais, Blueberry Hill offers a short, but steep 1 mile round trip hike. At the top of the hill, you’ll be treated to a panoramic view of the Brule River, the Gunflint Trail, and the surrounding country.

Caribou Rock Trail: Trailhead is located 2 miles down the Hungry Jack Road, approximately 29 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais. Hike offers several scenic views, including the famous Caribou Rock overlook on West Bearskin Lake. The 7-mile round trip trail will take you all the way to Rose Lake and Stairway Falls.

Off the beaten path:

The real beauty of snowshoes is that they allows you to explore just about any place in the snowy world. There are countless attractions to discover by strapping your snowshoes at a public landing along the Trail and heading down the frozen lake.* Each lake on the Trail holds its own unique wonderment. If you venture out into the Boundary Waters, make sure you fill out a free self-issuing permit at the public landing bulletin board.

Favorite snowshoeing destinations that you can break a trail to include, but are not limited to:

• Crocodile Falls – accessed from East Bearskin.
• Stairway Portage and Falls – accessed from West Bearskin Public Landing (located on the Hungry Jack Rd.)
• Seagull Palisades – accessed from Blankenberg Landing or Trail’s End Campground

*During the early season, please make sure you know ice conditions before venturing out across a frozen lake; check at the nearest lodge or with a local resident if you’re unsure.)

Currently, snowflakes blow and swirl along the Gunflint Trail, slowly building up a base on the area’s many ski trails. After a couple snow-free weeks, the winter enthusiasts on the Gunflint Trail were starting to feel a little anxious. The new snow the Gunflint’s received over the last couple days – between 1-2″ of accumulation – freshens up the forest’s “winter wonderland” effect and gives the world some new sparkle.

But just what is this fluffy white stuff that we rhapsodize about for several months each year?

If you want to get technical about it, snow is a form of crystalline water ice that precipitates to Earth from clouds.

Here are a few fast facts about snow, compliments of Farmer’s Almanac:

• Snow is formed from water vapors in the cold clouds that have condensed into ice crystals.
• Ice crystals fasten onto a dust speck. One crystal attaches to another forming a snowflake.
• Once the snowflake is heavy enough, it falls from the cloud.
• A snowflake is either a single ice crystal or many crystals.
• The size of a snowflake is determined by how many ice crystals join together.

On the Gunflint Trail, snow is:

• A seasonal beautifier
• A playground for skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, snowmobiling and more
• An insulator for cabins
• A substance to plow, shovel and groom
• Something to build snowmen, snow forts, and snow sculptures with
• Necessary for making snow angels

What is snow to you?

Don’t forget, you can grab the latest snowfall and ski conditions here.

If you’re in town for the holidays and looking for a relaxed cross-country ski race to participate in, the North Shore Ski and Run Club (NSSRC) will be hosting their annual Sawtooth Races at Pincushion Mountain on December 31. The races are usually held later in the  winter season but were pushed forward this year to reduce competition with other area races.

Although the course utilized for both races is classified as “intermediate,” according to the NSSCR,  “The Sawtooth Races will provide opportunities for both classical and freestyle skiers and skiers of all ages and ability levels.”  The races begin with a 10K classical race at 10 a.m. which junior skiers are encouraged to participate in, followed by a 20 K freestyle race at 11 a.m. While the timing is tight, skiers who so desire should be able to ski both races.

Race Schedule
December 30:

5 p.m. Race courses closes for race prep
6 – 8 p.m. Pasta feed at the Cook County Community Center

December 31:
8-9 a.m. Last minute registration at Pincushion warming chalet
10 a.m. 10K classical race; mass, self-seeded start
11 a.m. 20 K freestyle race; mass, self-seeded start
Awards following each race in the Pincushion warming building

More information about the races and registration forms are available at the NSSRC and Pincushion Mountain website.

Pincushion Mountain is located approximately two miles outside of Grand Marais, on the right hand side about halfway up the large hill at the start of the Gunflint Trail.

In the last week, snow has drifted down softly on the Gunflint Trail to dust trees, cabin roofs, and shoreline rocks. But snow accumulation hasn’t been the focus of many conversations lately.  Most eyes have been turned on Gunflint Trail lakes as they ice over for the winter.

The string of cold, snow free days this past week has created wonderful smooth, thick ice on many Gunflint Trail lakes.  That base of ice should help with slush on the lakes as winter wears on – good news indeed for ice fishermen, snowmobilers, snowshoers and other winter enthusiasts.So many times, snow falls on the ice as it’s forming, creating ridges and ripples in the ice as well as that dreaded slush. Skate-able ice on the Gunflint Trail is a bit of a phenomenon, definitely not something that happens every year. How novel to be able to skate right into the Boundary Waters!

If you’re planning to strap on your skates, remember that Gunflint Trail lakes freeze over at differing rates influenced by size, location, and other factors. This weekend, Seagull Lake offered 4-6 inches of smooth, safe, skatable ice, but Gunflint Lake was just in the process of forming skim ice. You should always test for thickness before setting out on the ice. The MN DNR offers general safety guidelines regarding ice thickness.

As though the ice wasn’t enough to marvel at, the full December moon has been spectacular the last couple nights.

In the moon-soaked snowy landscape, foxes steal into Gunflint Trail bird feeders to steal treats (suet) to take back to their dens. Several Gunflint Trail residents have witnessed wolves making their way across the new ice. In these quiet early winter days, there’s much to marvel at as we wait for more snowfall.

January 2010, Central Gunflint Trail Ski System

We got a bit of snow over the weekend: about six inches worth of fluffy, “make a snowman” snow at the end of the Trail. Since Saturday’s snowfall, the Trail businesses have been out with the grooming equipment on the Gunflint Trail’s networks of ski trails,  setting the first tracks of the season. While we need a bit more snow to get the trails in tiptop shape,  it is enough snow for the diehards to get a few kms in on.

Cross-country skiing really took on the Gunflint Trail in the late 70s and early 80s, when area business owners began developing ski systems. Today, the Gunflint Trail boosts 200+ km of ski trails and skiing’s major winter activity in this neck of the woods. Whether novice or expert, you can find a trail that’s just right for you somewhere on Pincushion Mountain, the Central Gunflint Trail Ski System, the Upper Gunflint Trail Ski System, or the Banadad Ski Trail.

If you’re planning to ski along the Gunflint Trail, note that both the Central and Upper Gunflint Trail Ski Systems require their own unique ski pass. Those passes can be purchased at nearby lodges, where you can also rent skis and any other necessary equipment.  A Minnesota Ski Pass is required for Pincushion Mountain Trail and the Banadad. Because the Banadad travels through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, you’ll also want to fill out a free, self-issued BWCAW permit at the trail head before embarking.

It won’t be long before skiing becomes an everyday activity on the Trail. Especially not if this forecast starts to repeat itself:

Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of snow after noon. Increasing clouds, with a high near 31. North wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 19. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible

Think snow!

Do you ski? What’s your favorite winter activity on the Gunflint Trail?

On the Gunflint Trail, we’re pretty far removed from Black Friday madness. However,today we’re  certainly having a White Saturday. Large, fluffy snowflakes currently fall outside, re-covering the ground with a white blanket after the warm snap over Thanksgiving melted down much of our snow cover. Is Old Man Winter done flirting and here to stay now?

Not only is it’s a white, snowy Saturday, it’s also Small Business Saturday, a day which urges holiday shoppers, nationwide, to visit small, locally own shops in search of that perfect present. If you’re planning to get some holiday shopping in at local businesses in the Gunflint Trail and Cook County vicinity, you’ll want to pick up a “A North Shore Holiday” coupon book, available at local lodges and merchants. The book’s filled with all sorts of discounts at local businesses.

The coupon books are also filled with an event guide to all the holiday happenings in Cook County this year. You’ll find the idea behind Small Business Saturday reflected in these guides: here on the North Shore we believe holidays are better with a little less hype, a little less stress, and a lot more personality. The guide highlights  five unique weekends chocked full of activities leading up to the Christmas holiday; we hope you’ll have a chance to experience at least one of those weekends with us.

We’re still waiting for a bit more snow to stack up before grooming begins on the networks of ski trails on the Gunflint. We’ll keep you posted as the snow accumulates and remember,  you can check out up-to-date ski conditions right here on the Gunflint Trail website.

Large lakes along the Gunflint remain wide open and it looks like we won’t be seeing a complete ice over of Gunflint Trail lakes until sometime next week, at the earliest. However, some of the small lakes, such as Swamper and Iron Lakes have been iced over for a couple weeks now. At Tuscarora Lodge on Round Lake, they’re currently reporting great skating conditions.

Both winter and the holidays are gently settling in on the Gunflint Trail. Wherever you are, we hope you’ll have an opportunity to share the wonder of this peaceful season with us.

A few days back, we reported that the U.S. Forest Service was evaluating a couple minor changes to how permits for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will be issued in coming seasons. At that time, Forest officials were considering completely eliminating the permit lottery, a sort of pre-application process held annually from mid-December through mid-January.

On November 18, the Forest Service announced: For 2012, the lottery will be retained for Fall Lake entry points D and 24 and Moose Lake entry points F, G and 25. The lottery applications for these five entry points can be made from December 19, 2011 to January 19, 2012. The lottery will be run on January 20^th.  Reservations for remaining permits for these five entry points along all other BWCAW entry points can be made on a first-come, first-served basis starting January 25^th at 9:00 am central time.

Translation: The lottery will be retained for only a select few entry points on the Kawishiwi (Ely) side of the Boundary Waters. You can begin reserving permits for all Gunflint Trail entry points for the 2012 season beginning at 9 a.m. on January 25, 2012.  Since the  “wait and see” aspect of the lottery has been eliminated for all entry points off the Gunflint Trail, all permit reservations for Gunflint Trail entry points will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

You can viewed the Superior National Forest’s official release on the lottery here. You can read our original post on the changes here.

In other news, it appears that you will not be able to issue your own permit online during the 2012 season. Until further notice, plan to pick up your Boundary Waters permit either the day of or the day before your trip at a Forest Service office or a canoe outfitters.

Happy Paddling!