Clearwater Lodge Tales

Tofte Road and Entry Point Update

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:58:00 +0000

From one of the Wilderness Rangers: Yesterday (Monday) I did a run of the Tofte Entry Points. I was able to drive all the way to Homer and Brule, though the road was soft in a few places. No snow on either of the lakes but the ice still looked good. Sawbill looked the same. Also got in to Kawishiwi and Hog Creek. Again, the road was soft but the ice looked good.

Winter Photos of the Lodge

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:22:00 +0000

Lily Anderson, who works with us in the summers and lives on the trail year round took several pictures of the lodge in the past few days an emailed them to me. In both photo's is Doo Doo in what looks like new leggins and coat and hood!

Yikes, phone lines!

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Although fully restored now, a significant line was cut in Duluth which left the majority of us on the Northshore with out phones for 11 hours the other day. There were no landline phones, cell phones and my email went down (and I am in Indiana) and business websites were down. It was a reminder of how dependent we are on our communication tools. Those that still use CB's in the area were the lucky ones and knew what was going on.

As the County representative said, all business stopped when the line went down and all emergency services were distrupted.

I have been thinking of adding a CB to the lodge. A CB tower was added mid-trail and it is a good way to communicate during service disruptions.

Lynn

Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center Site Manager Needed

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

CHIK-WAUK MUSEUM AND NATURE CENTER
SITE MANAGER

Interested in Gunflint Trail history? Love the north woods? A unique employment opportunity is available beginning in May 2010 at Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center.

Museum site manager needed for a full-time seasonal position. Varied duties include office work, gift store management, catalog/record-keeping, and most importantly, helping visitors enjoy learning about Gunflint Trail history. Being a self-starter and strong people skills are a must!

For more information, job description, and application, please go to: http://www.gunflinttrailhistoricalsociety.org/ or email info@gunflinttrailhistoricalsociety.org .
Application accepted until February 28, 2010.

BWCA Permit Lottery has run

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:04:00 +0000

The BWCA permit lottery for 2010 is complete. Starting tomorrow we can start reserving the remaining permits. So, if you know of your dates for your canoe trip, give us a call!

Beargrease Dogsled Race

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Visiting the trail? Be sure to check out the information on the Beargrease Dogsled Race January 29th to February 4th.

2010 Gunflint Green Up Information

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Gunflint Green Up Planting and Other Information

On Saturday, May 8, 2010 join the Gunflint Trail community in the third annual tree restoration and release (removing competitive foliage) event and Ham Lake Fire Recovery.

All release sites are within the Superior National Forest and in the area affected by the Ham Lake Fire of May 2007. Release locations include the vicinities of Trail's End Campground, Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, Kekekabic and Magnetic Rock Trails, Round Lake public landings and the Iron Lake Campground. These are all public lands and participants will be able to visit the trees in the years and decades to come. Participants will be notified of their release location by email in April.

On May 8rd, we'll begin at 9:30 am with training and planting and releasing instructions at the various sites. We'll have team leaders to help the planters. Access to the planting sites will require hiking with your equipment. We anticipate that it will take 3-4 hours. A box lunch* will be provided to all participants.

After releasing you are invited to our Thank You Dinner* under the Big Top at Gunflint Lodge. A dance* with live music will follow dinner.

Early May is a time of great temperature swings on the Gunflint Trail. Participants should come prepared for all temperature options by dressing in layers. Be prepared for rain or snow and to get dirty!

What to Bring:
Personal, refillable water bottle
Sturdy boots
Gloves for planting
Warm hat
Rain gear
Warm jacket
Long underwear
Loppers or pruners (for up to 1" diameter foliage)

* 2010 Registration Rates
$45.00 weekend registration fee per person for Friday dinner & presentation, Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner & dance and t-shirt
$15.00 Friday dinner, only, per person
$ 7.00 Saturday lunch, only, per person
$15.00 Saturday dinner, per person
$100.00 family registration fee for weekend with 1-2 parents and their children age 16 and under
$15.00 One T-shirt, picked up during the Gunflint Green Up event May 1-2, 2009
$20.00 One T-shirt, shipped

http://gunflint-trail.com/ggu/

Rendered Bear Fat....

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:07:00 +0000

Every day I read the current Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail news on the website www.boreal.org. That includes the classified ads. This one today reminded me why our part of MN is unique.......

"You've all heard how using bear fat makes the flakiest pie crusts and lightest biscuits, right? Well, it's true, and it can be used just as you would use shortening. Also makes the crispiest fried potatoes! It is locally produced, organic, of course, and all natural. No trans-fats, no artificial coloring, no additives of any kind. Pure white, beautiful bear fat!!! Try it! $3.00 for a 16 oz container"

Gunflint Trail Volks Ski Fest

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:30:00 +0000

Volks Ski Fest January 23 – 31, 2010
Events on the Gunflint Trail
www.volksskifest.com

Unless otherwise noted, activities are free. However, where indicated please register for the activities due to limited capacities. For more information contact Maggie at 218-663-8058.

Saturday, January 23, 2010
Volks Ski 400 Kick Off Ski Day
REGISTER YOURSELF OR A TEAM in advance and choose a segment of our 400 km of trails to ski. Our goal is to have skiers on every kilometer of trail on that day! This is not a race or competition, just a day to kick off Volks Ski Fest and raise money for Pancreatic Cancer. A $10 registration fee includes a colorful T-shirt. We encourage skiers to time their treks, we will post times that day at trail lodges and on www.volksskifest.com website. Donations will be accepted for Pancreatic Cancer Research at trail check-in areas and a Volks Ski 400 pin is your gift for your donation. Dress in purple to show your support!
REGISTRATION REQUIRED ON WEBSITE OR AT PARTICIPATING LODGES

Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Guided Snowshoe Hike, 1 pm
Meet in Bearskin Lodge at 1 pm. Must have own equipment and transportation to Lodge.
ACTIVITY REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Thursday, January 28, 2010
Guided Back Country Ski Tour, 1 pm
Meet in Bearskin Lodge at 1 pm for an exclusive adventure! You’ll head out with a guide into the winter wilderness of the Superior National Forest.
ACTIVITY REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides, 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Experience an old-fashioned sleigh ride through the woods at the Okontoe Family Homestead 22 miles up the Gunflint Trail, ending with hot chocolate around a bonfire. Rides are available FREE to guests of all Cook County lodging establishments.
Call 218-663-7804 for rates and reservations!

Friday, January 29, 2010
Waxing Clinic, 1 pm, Bearskin Lodge
Learn the best ways to apply wax for a more enjoyable ride!
Meet in Bearskin Lodge at 1 pm
ACTIVITY REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Saturday, January 30, 2010
Skijoring Clinic, 9 am-12:00 noon
Meet at George Washington Pines Trailhead 7 miles up the Gunflint Trail.
Must have own transportation to trail head. Limited to 12 participants
Human participants only, trained dogs will be provided for this how-to clinic!
ACTIVITY REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Book Signing by Andrew Slade
Author of Skiing the North Shore
Lake Superior Trading Post, 1 pm-3 pm, Grand Marais
Skiing the North Shore is the skier's ultimate guidebook.

Every Night!
Lit Night Trail Skiing
Every evening after dusk ski the lit trails at:
-Pincushion (1.5 k loop is lit, and warming house is open, until 9 pm)
-Bearskin Lodge (1.5 k lit until 1 am)
-Golden Eagle (1 k loop)

Ice Fishing....

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:49:00 +0000

In case you are going to enjoy ice fishing on the Gunflint...

Minnesota conservation officers want to remind ice anglers and others that all shelters placed on the ice of Minnesota waters must have either the complete name and address, driver’s license number, or the nine-digit DNR number on the license of the owner plainly and legibly displayed on the outside in letters, and figures at least two inches in height.

This includes ice-skating warming houses and other traditional structures placed on the ice, either temporarily or overnight.
Other noteworthy shelter regulations include: Any shelter (fish houses, dark houses, warming houses, etc.) left on the ice at any time between midnight and one hour prior to sunrise must have a shelter license; the Department of Public Safety now requires trailers used to haul fish houses or dark houses and enclosed trailers or recreational trailers used for fishing to be registered. See your local Deputy
Registrar for trailer registration; a tag, furnished with a license, must be attached to the exterior in a readily visible location; shelters left on the ice overnight need to have at least two square inches of reflective material on each side of the house.

Guard Rails on the Gunflint?

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0000

On the Gunflint Trail, we have remarkable stand old growth white pines called 'The Pines'. Because they grow so near the trail, they were threatened by the road work done on the Gunflint Trail this fall. For safty sake, the pines had to come down or guard rails had to go up in that area. So the next time you drive up the trail, you will see a short span of guard rails along the way.

Get your Christmas Tree in the Superior National Forest

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:40:00 +0000

This sounds like a good get-a-way for the family tree search! Make some memories in the snow.

Superior National Forest Holiday Greenery

Christmas Trees
Cutting your own Christmas tree can be a festive outing to begin the holiday season. The ritual of hiking through the woods with your family and choosing your personal tree from among the millions of spruce, fir, and pine can greatly enrich a holiday season. A permit to cut one Christmas tree on Forest Service land may be purchased for $5.00 at any Forest Service office. Please follow the rules below while choosing your Christmas tree. There is a limit of two permits per family per year.

· Make sure you are on National Forest land, but not within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Maps can be viewed or purchased at Forest Service offices.
· Choose cutting areas away from plantations, developed recreation or administration sites, and Research Natural Areas.
· Walk well off the road side to select your tree.
· Select a tree the correct size for your home. Do not cut the top off of a taller tree. The maximum stump height is 12 inches.
· There is a two permit limit for each household per year.

Balsam Boughs
Gathering balsam boughs to make wreaths is becoming more popular each year. To protect the balsam fir trees on the Superior National Forest, bough gathering permits that specify where and how to cut boughs are issued by the various Forest Service offices in Aurora, Cook, Ely, Grand Marais and Tofte. Permits are required for personal or commercial use.
All bough cutting parties must have a permit. Parties can have up to 5 pickers listed. If you are cutting boughs for personal (non-commercial) use, you may purchase a permit for $20 and cut enough boughs for 5 wreaths. If you are picking commercially to supply commercial manufacturers, there is a minimum permit fee of $50 for two tons. Additional tons may be harvested at $25.00 per ton. Please follow the rules below while harvesting balsam boughs. Note additional rules on your permit.
· Make sure you are on National Forest land, but not within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Maps can be purchased at Forest Service offices.
· Walk at least 50 feet off the roadside, trail, lake, or recreation area before selecting the trees from which to harvest.
· Harvest boughs from trees that are greater than 7 feet high.
· Never fell trees to harvest boughs. You may only harvest branches from the lower half of the tree. Leave a portion of each pruned branch for regeneration.
· Harvested branches should have ends no larger in diameter than a pencil. As you harvest along the branch, leave part of the branch for growth and regeneration. Cutting at a fork will leave one side of the fork for regeneration.
· Keep your permit with you while harvesting boughs.
· Harvesting of Princess Pine is not allowed on the Superior National Forest.

Summer Staff 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Another milestone this month is we start our search for summer staff. Every year we hire 5 or 6 college students to spend the summer with us and work at the lodge. At a resort, everyone shoare tasks and we cook, prepare food for outfitting, pack gear, transport to entry points, manage canoes and boats, helps guests, maintenance and lawn care.

If you know of any students interested in such an adventure, have them contact us for more information and an application! We provide the housing.

Sixteen Reasons......

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I got an email from Karen Geneau several weeks ago called 'Sixteen Reasons why the Johnson Clan loves Clearwater'. In it, she included 16 wonderful pictures of the visits the family has made over the past several years. The 'Johnson Clan' is composed of multiple families....Geneau, Julius, Green, Conroy, and Summer. It may include a few more as I see more of the family come each summer. Years ago, the family had a cabin on McFarland lake built by Charlie Boostrom.

You probably know, I am in Indiana again for the winter. One of the things I really miss about not being at the lodge during the winter is not having the opportunity for pictures to keep posting on the blog during the season. I also miss the extreme beauty of the winter landscape and the deep quiet when out in the snow. But if I am honest, I do like not having to plug in my car at 20 below so it starts the next morning, wondering if I will get 2 or 20 inches of snow and how long it will take me to get out and the cautious driving on the roads. I could go in with the pro's and con's but you get the general idea.

So, I really love it when I get these pictures from our guests from the past summers. I never get tired of seeing the wildlife, scenery and family shots. It always brings back the summer and I can just smell the lodge and campfires. I start looking forward all over again to returning to the spring and getting the resort open and running.

BWCA Permit Lottery Begins Today

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:26:00 +0000

It is that time again, the BWCA Permit Lottery for 2010 permits begins today! From today through January 15, 2010 you can enter for the date and entry point. The lottery runs January 15th and permits are awarded. Following the lottery, permits are available based upon remaining availability.

For a BWCA canoe trip, we can help you decide the best route for your group. We can also arrange to order your permit and have it delivered to our location to issue upon your arrival. If you want to order your own permit or just check things out, the website is www.recreation.gov and BWCA permits are under 'Wilderness Permits'.

To enter into the lottery, you need the date that you want to start paddling and the entry point you wish, trip leader and alternate trip leaders. Starting this year, non-profit groups require the Tax Excempt number to order a permit.

Give us a call, we would be more than happy to help you arrange for your permit. You can reach us at 800.527.0554 or info@canoebwca.com.

This photo was sent in by the "Johnson Clan".

Deer Count Down

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:03:00 +0000

This was on the newswire this morning and posted by WTIP. I thought it was interesting considering how many deer we have been seeing on the Gunflint Trail, mostly at the top of the trail.

Preliminary numbers are in from the first few days of the 2009 firearms deer hunting season in the Arrowhead. Those numbers show the harvest is down substantially across the northeast, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

Overall across the northern part of the state, the harvest is down 16 percent compared to last fall. The 2008 totals were also down from 2007. Tough winters and increased predation have been sited as reasons for lower numbers over the past three years.

The harvest in the Northwestern part of the state is down as much as 36 percent at International Falls. Closer to home, the harvest is down 2 percent in the Duluth–Cloquet area. According to the official registration station at Buck’s Hardware in Grand Marais, over 200 deer have been registered as of Wednesday, which is the same or fewer than last year.

From Saturday through Monday of this week, the DNR reports 23,468 deer had been registered – down by 4,392 for the same period last year. Warm weather and the lack of snow for tracking have made the start of this year’s hunt even slower than usual.

Gunflint Trail Designated a National Scenic Byway

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:46:00 +0000

The Gunflint Trail receives National Scenic Byway designation on October 16, 2009. Known for winding its way through the Boundary Waters Wilderness east-west corridor, the Gunflint Trail is a historic roadway, dating back to the 1800’s with origins as a footpath for Native Americans and geological surveyors. The Gunflint Trail is also known as Cook County #12, and is a paved, 57-mile long two-lane roadway, which begins at Grand Marais, Minnesota, and ends at Saganaga Lake on the Canadian border. The modern roadway serves 22 resorts, canoe outfitters, campgrounds, and bed and breakfasts, and numerous private residents who make the area their home.

“I know my guests start reconnecting with the woods as they drive up the Gunflint Trail,” states Nancy Seaton, Hungry Jack Outfitters. “It's an invitation to be part of our neighborhood; a natural neighborhood that flows through the boreal forest of Northeastern Minnesota; a neighborhood that's home to moose, wolves and loons; a neighborhood that encourages the visitor to enter a calmer time away from the hectic modern demands; a place to reconnect with the natural environment and recharge.”
For visitors who enjoy vacations centered on scenic byways, designation of the Gunflint Trail as a National Scenic Byway provides a natural route transition from the adjoining North Shore Drive, which has the National Scenic Byway designation of All American Road.

Pursuit of National Scenic Byway designation of the Gunflint Trail was primarily motivated by the dedication of local business owners and residents to forever preserve this historic and scenic roadway for current and future generations, while allowing a glimpse into the past of the forests, lakes, and geological formations which grace northeastern Minnesota.

“The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has funded 2,672 projects for state and nationally designated byway routes in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

For more information about the Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway, please visit GunflintTrailScenicByway.com .

Reaching us during the winter months

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:11:00 +0000

Our phones are forwarded to us during the winter months so you can continue to reach us at 800-527-0554 or 218-388-2254. You can also email us at clearwater@canoebwca.com.

Lynn

Cool Summer Canoe Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Paul Cool sent in these pictures from his summer canoe trip with his son Cole and friend Ethan Erickson. The two dads and sons took a 4 man canoe out on Clearwater earlier in the summer. This is an annual adventure for Paul and Cole.

Tree Clearing

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:29:00 +0000

I walked through the property this morning with Dennis and John to review what trees were being cleared out. It will look very nice when Dennis is done. It is mostly all balsam that is being cut. There are a few pines that have to come down because they are either dying or too close to buildings. I will be sorry to lose those pines but I would rather control when they come down then find them on a cabin after a wind storm.

It is only a few days since I have been up to the lodge but with a coating of snow and some ice on the roads, it is clear the first blast of winter is pushing in on us. As we were all standing on the point near cabin 6, we watched several canoes paddle by. Burr..... It is too cold for me for to be out on the water!

The Gunflint trail is now being repaved starting about Hedstrom Lumber for 5 miles. This work started early September and it was nice to drive on it, at least partially, with new paving.

Clearwater Road's county road number has been re-assigned from 66 to 22. The new signs are all up and there is a sign that says it is was formerly 66. I will need to incorporate that change into our 2010 brochures and website updates.

I saw Lily out walking her dog. I didn't have much time to chat. Dodo was frisking about in the snow in his little coat.

Clearing Trees on the Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:36:00 +0000

One of the reasons that I am staying in Grand Marais for a time after we closed is because we are starting a tree clearing project that I was hoping would start before I left for IN. In conjunction with a forest service grant, we are clearing all the balsam, dead and downed wood from our property. Balsam is extremely flamable and needs to be removed. This is being done for fire prevention.

Larger pines are being pruned 6 feet up from the ground. At first I didn't like this look when a couple of trees were cut back but I quickly got used to and like the look. It is also so much easier to keep the ground cleaned up below the trees.

We decided not to start the clearing during the season when guests would be visiting since it is a bit instrusive but I have to wonder now if we missed our window of opportunity with it snowing now.

Lynn

October

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:28:00 +0000

I didn't realize I hadn't posted to the blog since the last week of September. What made me think of it this is morning is IT IS SNOWING OUT. This isn't unusual to have snow in October up here and I was expecting it but that first snow is always a bit of a shock when you wake up in the morning to white.

To catch up, we are closed now for the winter season. Peggy and Mike are already back in Ohio and I am staying in Grand Marais for a week before I head to Indiana for the winter. Since I live very close to Notre Dame University, I will be emersed soon in the ND Football season which seems to be going really well this fall. You can't live in the part of Indiana where I was raised without following ND as part of your daily life.

If my camera wasn't packed somewhere in my car I would head out and get some pictures of this snow. Luckily I visited Ben Franklin's yesterday and got my winter supply of Woolrich gloves and sweatshirts.

Lynn

The First Day of Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Well, it had to happen. Summer had to end and the next season arrive. I am never sure how I feel about this. After a busy summer, I am usually ready for a bit of a break but it takes time to get used to a new pace and that we will be closing at the end of the month.

Fall colors have been marching up the Trail and they just reached us. This morning, and I swear this happens overnight, trees turned on the resort. It takes me about a week to obsorb another season is coming to an end. I find myself standing in the middle of the lodge kitchen thinking, now what?

This brings up serious questions! These are not questions I loose sleep over, but when they flitter through my mind, they seem serious at the time. Will my tomatoes EVER ripen? Will my flowers that I want to collect some seeds from go to seed before they frost? When will the construction on the Gunflint Trail be done so I can drive to Grand Marais without shaking my teeth out? What is that mouse doing in the office just looking at me? Why did that pinecone just hit me on the head? Who the heck left that canoe there?

All well, enough of my musings and time for a picture. This one was sent to us by Randy Wilson. Randy took a recent trip on Clearwater and north to Watap, Mountain and Rove.

Bald Eagle

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Photo by Richard Schramm. Richard took his pictures when staying in a cabin at Clearwater for the week. He got some very nice shots and I appreciate his sharing them with us for the blog.

Lynn

Clearwater Lake Loons Continued

noreply@blogger.com (Clearwater Lodge) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Photos by Richard Schramm