Wednesday, July 26, 2006

A Little Vacation

This is our last blog for a few days. Peggy, my sister, and I are driving to Indiana to visit with family. I will be back at my PC with updates again August 2nd.

The Minnesota State Bird - The Common Loon



Paul Spadino sent us this nesting Common Loon photo following his canoe trip from Clearwater Lodge. There are five different Loon species, but the Common Loon is the one that you will see in Minnesota. It is the Minnesota state bird. A few fun loon facts....
  • the bones of most birds are hallow and light, but loons have solid bones
  • the extra weight helps them dive as deep as 250 feet to search for food
  • they can stay underwater for up to 5 minutes
  • Loons need a 100 to 600 foot 'runway' in order to take off from a lake
  • Loons can fly more than 75 miles per hour
  • the red in the Loon's eye helps it to see underwater
  • scientists think Loons can live for 30 years or more

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Fifth Anniversary Canoe Trip


Eric and Kimberly decided to celebrate their fifth anniversary with a BWCA canoe trip. They started their trip out on the East Bearskin Lake entry point. East Bearskin is a great trip with smaller lakes and portages. There are great campsites and different route options. The wildlife is wonderful with plenty of eagles and moose and the fishing isn't too bad either. Among the side trips you can take are are an abandoned silver mine on Spalding Lake or a wonderful waterfall. This photo is of Eric and Kimberly in the outfitting building going over the trip route and the maps with Travis.

Cavity Lake Fire: Unless something significant changes, this will be my last update on the blog on the Cavity Lake fire. The containment percentage increases every day and the fire has not expanded. We are also having favorable weather conditions to support the fire fighters. Most all of the entry points that were closed due to the fire re-opened yesterday. If you are interested in additional information, the forest service is putting out updates daily at http://199.134.225.50/nwcc/t1_pnw2/2006/cavity-lake/.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Fire Managers Re-Open Portages and Lakes

From the Cavity Lake Incident Command Post as of July 24, 2006 at 12:00 PM.

Due to improved weather conditions and a fire containment of 30%, Forest Service managers, coordinating with the United Fire Command, are re-opening several portages and lakes on the northeast asnd east sides of the Cavity Lake Fire. The following areas within the BWCA will be open effective Monday, July 24 at 12:00 PM.
  • Red Rock Bay on Sag Lake
  • Devils Walk of Sag Sag Lake
  • Cross Bay Entry Point (Ham Lake)f
  • Missing Link Entry Point, however Tuscarora Portage to Owl Portage remains closed
  • Seagull Lake is open to camping east of a line from Paulson Lake Portage, north, to the Palisades. Paulson Lake Portage remains closed. The remainder of Seagull Lake west of this remains open for day-use only.

In order to go in, you must still have a day permit or overnight paddle permit.

Good news everyone!!!!

Black Family Canoe Trip


The Black family returned for a canoe trip to Clearwater Lodge. The two familys (brothers Rob and Greg) try to take a trip regularly. They were headed to Caribou Lake this morning to base camp, fish and enjoy the wilderness. This photo was taken when they were eating a pancake breakfast at the lodge this morning.

Cavity Lake Fire Update: Good news - the fire acreage has remained the same and it is now 30% contained. I guess that rain did help that we had yesterday!

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Sunday Rain


I woke this morning to a nice steady rainfall and snapped this picture from the porch of the lodge. I think it is always so pretty in the mornings when it rains.

It has been raining for several hours but I am not sure what impact this rain will have on the Cavity Lake fire yet but the good news yesterday was that Seagull Lake was re-opened for day use (not overnight).

Saturday, July 22, 2006

A beautiful Saturday

We are having just beautiful weather here today. It is sunny and in the 70's. There is good news on the Cavity Lake Fire as it has been stable for 3 days nows. We could still use some help from Mother Nature in the form of a few days of steady rain. On the news last night the discussion had started on how the pine trees will re-seed themselves. This has been a hot fire to the ground, which is actually good for natural regeneration of some types of pine trees.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Enjoying a quiet moment on the dock


The Reinbold family stayed with us recently with their two sons; Wyatt and Morgan. They sent us some wonderful pictures and this was one of my favorites of the boys sitting on the dock. They canoed, hiked, fished and swam during the week so here they are enjoying a quiet moment together.

Cavity Lake Fire Update: Yesterday (July 19th) was a critical day for the due to the shifting winds. The fire fighters did a great job and the fire did not expand much. Still 35 miles away here at the lodge there is no effect from the fire.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Bentley Family



I always enjoy it when multiple generations of a family come up and stay in the cabins and enjoy the BWCA. It is always a pleasure to meet them and help them enjoy their time here. I think it is very special that a family can come from all over the country and enjoy time together in a relaxed setting that has activities for the entire family. We have several families that make visiting Clearwater Lodge a regular family event. Just recently we had 4 generations of the Bentley family in 3 cabins for a week. They posed for a great family picture on the stairs of the lodge that I am sure they will all treasure.

Cavity Fire update: The fire continues to burn about 35 miles north of us but is being monitored closely by the forest service. There are no roads to the area so the fire is not being faught on the ground yet but still by planes dropping water. As of last night the fire did not expand in size. Here at the lodge and generally mid-Gunflint Trail, there is no effect from the from the fire.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Cavity Lake Fire Information

Sitting here mid-Trail at Clearwater Lodge, the only way you would know that there was a forest fire would be just a slight hint of smoke in the air. It is no more than if you were camping and someone had a campfire nearby. Other points at the top of the trail are getting a lot of smoke. There is no wind today, which is good for not pushing the fire, but it does let the smoke settle in one place.

From an unofficial source, the fire is behaving as expected, it is headed to a previous perscribed burn area which will slow it down and into the lake shore of Seagull Lake. Although there is certainly a risk to homeowners and businesses around Seagull Lake, no evacution is scheduled or deemed necessary at this point in time.

Our temperatures are expected to be in the expected to be in the mid-70's and it is pretty out today. We keep you updated if anything changes.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Level II Fire Restriction

The forest service has just announced a Level II Fire Restriction going into effect at midnight on July 18th. A Level II is when campfires are not allowed in the restricted area at anytime of the day. Camp stoves are allowed all day.

We will keep you updated if this changes.

Cavity Lake Fire Information

The Cavity Lake Fire is approximately 35 miles northwest of Clearwater lodge and is still burning. Here at the lodge we will smell some smoke now and again but mostly are not aware of anything out of the ordinary.

The wind is out of the North so the fire is currently being blown back onto itself. The USFS has closed entry points, lakes and portages within the BWCA. In addition to yesterday's closures Missing Link entry point has closed, Round Lake, Red Rock Lake, and Seagull Lake as well. If you have a permit for any entry point on the Gunflint Trail then please call your outfitter or the Forest Service because there are plenty of other canoe routes not impacted by this fire.

There are a lot of rumors about road closures, national guard, storms and everything else floating around that make the fire seem a lot worse than it is so please make sure you are talking to a reputable source for information. As we find out information, we will update our blog.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Cavity Lake Fire Information

The Cavity Lake Fire is near the end of the Gunflint Trail on the eastern side of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It is centered in a highland region between Seagull Lake to the north and the Kekakabic Trail to the south, in part of the blowdown slated for a prescribed burn this fall. While caution and safety are top priorities, actual extinguishing of the fire is not top priority. Rather the plan is to steer the fire away from valued resources, homes and population areas while cleaning up some the blowdown in a natural way. The fire is headed directly into areas already burned in prescribed fires completed over the last few years where containment lines are practical.

While paddlers entering Brant Lake and Seagull Lake are being asked to travel in adjacent entry points no other entries are closed or restricted. In fact some may get a good air show as the CL215s begin water bombing the fire in the days to come. Forest service personnel are contacting campers in the area to inform them of the fire and let them know if there are safety concerns they should be aware of. Many paddlers will see or smell smoke from the fire but should not have their trip affected by it.

Sunscreen


Don't forget to put sunscreen on your feet!

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Cavity Lake Fire

A lightening strike started a fire near Cavity and Rog Lakes. The fire started sometime after 3:00 PM on Friday July 14th in a remote blowdown area of the BWCA. The location of the fire is South of Seagull Lake, North of Howard Lake, and about 7 miles in on the Kekekabik Hiking Trail. Water scooping aircraft were working on the fire and efforts will continue today. Ground crews have not been sent in. Entry Points 52 (Brandt) and 56 (Kek Trail East) have been closed.

As a result, a level 1 Fire Restriction has been placed by the forest service. This means that camp fires can be burned between 7:00 PM and Midnight only. Cook stoves can be used all day.

Cavity Lake is approximately 35 miles northwest of Clearwater Lodge.

Friday, July 14, 2006

Moose Twins


This photo was in the Cook County News Herald today taken by Jon Vezner. These moose twins were in plain view waiting for mother to return. As the paper said, they are sure cute but you have to be very, very careful not to get between mother and young. The cow will become very aggressive if she feels her young are threatened. This photo is one of the best moose photos we have seen this year. It is really hard to get a picture of moose so young.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Well, a little warmer than yesterday...

Several days ago I wrote that we were having wonderful mild temperatures. Well, I spoke too soon because today the thermometer is approaching 90 degrees. This heat looks like it will last a few days and then cool off to our normal Northwoods summer of upper 70's to lower 80's. But for now, a cooling off swim in the lake is in order.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Beautiful Days

We sure cannot complain about the weather this summer. We are having warm days with cool mornings and cool evenings. This is just perfect camping or cabin weather. It is cool enough to have a campfire in the mornings or evenings but still warm enough to swim during the days. We are having just enough rain that we have not had any fire restrictions.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Grand Marais Fisherman's Picnic

The Fisherman's Picnic this year in Grand Marais is August 5 - 8. This is a big festival in the town. The Big Fish Contest is Saturday, July 31 - Saturday Aug 7th. Hundreds of dollars of prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd for the biggest Walleye, Northern, Small mouth Bass, Lake Trout, Salmon, & Brook Trout. You must be registered by 12:00 Noon, Aug 2nd, at the sponsor: Buck's Hardware Hank. For more information on this year's Fisherman's Picnic visit this link http://www.grandmarais.com/fishermans.html

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Melyssa and Anna


Melyssa and Anna always wear their bug head nets on the portages. The girls just spent a week at Clearwater Lodge in a cabin with their family.

Friday, July 07, 2006

What should you have in a BWCA Tackle Box?



Fishing Gear: Light and compact is easiest to portage with and will catch more fish than one might lose absent heavier equipment. Light to medium action rods are good for the BWCA. Many prefer to bring two piece rods since they are easier to travel with. Fresh fishing line is very important and should be 6 to 8 lb. test. Don’t bring your full tackle box, remember, you have to carry it all! Put together a small tackle box with soft plastics (natural colors) which provide a good base for all fish species. In our store, we carry the Yamamoto line and get excellent results fishing with it. Also bring a conservative addition of top-water baits, crank baits, spoons, and spinners. A good supply of jigs and hook/sinker rigs (1/8th to 1/4th ounce) will be necessary due to the abundance of underwater cover in our area of the BWCAW. Supplemental equipment will include snap swivels, needle nose pliers, stringer, leaders, slip bobbers/bobber stops and a filet knife. A short handled net maybe helpful if you have room.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Northern Lights

In addition to fire works last night, we had a nice display of nothern lights after mid-night.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

4th of July

It is a beautiful day on this 4th of July on the Gunflint Trail. The weather is mild with temperatures in the low 70's along with sunny skies and a gentle wind. It is the perfect weather to be outside enjoying the holiday, family and friends. Grand Marais will have a parade and fireworks this evening at sunset over Lake Superior.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Luna Moths


We were surprised this spring by the very large moths flying around and then quickly dying. After some research, we found that they are Luna moths and they only live one week! I found this information about them on the internet. Luna moths are one of the most unusual and beautiful of the North American moths known as Saturnidae. They are well known for their green-yellow colors and long tails, and although they are often seen in pictures, they are a real surprise when found in nature. Although they are common throughout the eastern U.S., their night flying habits and short life span as an adult moth, only about 1 week, combine to make them a rare find. The luna moth, with a wingspan of 4.5-5.0 inches, is one of the largest moths in North America and is very common in many of the eastern states from Maine all the way to Florida. They usually are seen less as you go westward to Texas and the Great Plains. It is also found in southern regions of many Canadian provinces such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskachewan.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

Need a paddle?


The Brown Party was out on a BWCA adventure recently and found themselves a paddle short after a difficult portage. The paddle was not to be found so the group was able to improvise and create a new paddle and continue on with their adventure.