Saturday, June 30, 2007

Clearwater Team 2007


As in years past, we are lucky and have a great summer staff. This year we had 4 returning staff members (Stephanie, Travis, Erik and Ed) and two new ones (Lynnette and Vince). We were determined to get the staff picture by the end of June and we just made it! With days off, transports, cleaning and other resort chores, it is really hard to get the 6 of them together at one time.

Front row is Erik, Ed, Lynnette and the back row is Vince Travis and Stephanie. Sarah, the pup, had to horn in the picture also.

Weather Note: We continue to have the best weather with sunny warm days and cool nights.



Friday, June 29, 2007

Native Wild Roses


From 'What's Doin' the Bloomin' by Clayton and Michelle Oslund:
Several speicies of native wild roses, in a variety of habitats, are abundant in this region. Species differences are subtle, such as the size and shape of the pointed, dried sepals on the hips (fruits). Most have flowers that are vaiations of pink but white or yellow also occur. Flowers range in size less than 1 inch to over 3 inches across. All hav ecompund leaves, but leaflet number varies from 3 to 11.
My thought is that they are just very pretty along side all the roads.
Weather Note: A cool front has brought us back to normal northwoods temperatures. Days are sunny and in the low 70's and the nights are in 40's to 50's. Great camping/cabin weather.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Canoe Trip


Recently Allyn Orlando took a canoe trip with her two grown children. They took a 4 day trip and explored the area starting at Gunflint Lake and ending the trip at West Bearskin Lake. This route is on the border lakes separating Canada from the US and passes by Rose Falls on Rose Lake. Allyn sent us a some great pictures they took on the canoe trip.


Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Wildflowers


This is the time when all the wildflowers seem to be blooming along side the roads. There is a mix of purple, white, orange and yellow blooming around the lodge and up and down the Gunflint Trail.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Douglass Canoe Trip


The Douglass Family returned from a 7 day canoe trip today. They left from our waterfront and did the Clearwater Loop through West Pike, East Pike, John, McFarland, Pine, Caribou and back into our waterfront. This picture was taken upon their return.


Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Dining room lights


We are adding another set of lights in the dining room of the lodge. On dark days it is a little hard to see in the dining room and even harder to play games at the tables. This summer we are adding another set of lights for those rainy days. This photo is of Gary and Todd moving around and hanging some new lights.


Weather Note: We had a cool front come through that brought some rain and cooler weather yesterday and today. Today it is about 60 degrees out and breezy. Personally I love the cooler weather. For the rest of the week we are supposed to have sunny skis are mild temperatures.



Sunday, June 17, 2007

Bird's Nest in Antlers


Right under the main door of the lodge on the outside but protected by the porch are antlers. These antlers are well weathered and worn and look as if they have been hanging there since the 1920's when the lodge was finished.
Every spring a new birds nest appears in the antlers. We never see the bird or chicks but even with all the times the door opens and closes during the day it must be a secure place to build a nest because have a new one every year.
A note on the weather: We continue to have a nice amount or rain. Enough to ensure that we can still have campfires in the BWCA but not enough to ruin any canoe trips!

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Smallmouth Bass Fishing


We are hearing great reports of the smallmouth bass fishing in Clearwater and surrounding lakes. As a resort owner, it is not often that Mike gets to actually go out and fish but he took the time the other day. While often we catch and release, this time he caught a meal.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Ice in the woods


On a recent camping trip, some paddlers found ice in the woods. Even though the tempertures have been in the 70's, there is still enough shade and cover to preserve a bit of winter for a little while longer. I remember a neighbor of mine, who grew up on the lake, telling us that when they were kids that they had a snowball fight in July in 80 degree temperatures.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Watching the Rain


Here is a picture of two of our summer staff folks (Vince and Lynnette) watching the rain while camping. Before it gets really busy we try to give our staff college students days off together to enjoy BWCA trips. After all, this is why they come to work for us for the summer. It is not for the work, it for the adventures in the BWCA.


Sunday, June 10, 2007

Old School House

A forest fire changes the landscape in which we live for many years to come. Each year following the fire, it will look totally different from the year before. In the case of the Ham Lake fire, a supposedly lost building was found far enough back from the Gunflint Trail that most don't remember knowing it was there. The speculation is that this is an old school house that has been abandoned for quite a while. Credit for this picture belongs to Sue Prom of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Moose on the Gunflint


We never get tired of seeing the moose around the roads and in the woods. This photo was taken on the Gunflint Trail of a young moose (not our Clearwater Moose Buddy) last night at about 8:00 PM. She posed nicely for her photo shoot.


Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Sunning on the log


After the cabin guests check out and the staff clean the cabin, either Peggy or I go check the cabin and make sure everything is in order for the next guest to visit. Yesterday I was at cabin 6 and it was just beautiful outside. It was sunny and a little cool. I took a few minutes to sit on the deck of the cabin and enjoy the view down the lake (I really wanted to stay there all day). I noticed down at the water in front of cabin, a turtle had the same idea and was sunning was on a tree down in the water.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Spring Lilacs


After starting off the spring season so dry, we have had some rain most days since May 21st. As a result we have had a wonderful burst of spring green and the forest is vibrant and bright. Just a few days ago our lilacs opened up and I saw the first marsh marigolds. Steph took this great picture of the lilac bush next to the lodge.


Sunday, June 03, 2007

Let your pet carry his own food!


This little pup really, really wanted to come on the family camping trip to the BWCA and not have to stay at the kennel. So she could come along, she agreed to carry her own food and food dish. She practiced for weeks before her trip carrying the pack so that when the time came she was ready and used to the weight and added width.
Here she is, ready to leave on the morning of the trip with one last good-bye to Sarah.

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Swallow Tail Butterflies


We are deluged by butterflies this spring. They are very beautiful when they cluster together in the sunlight. Stephanie took this great picture on Caribou Lake of a cluster.

Friday, June 01, 2007

Cabin 4 New Dock


Every year starting in 2004 , Mike's cousin Rick has come up to stay in a cabin for 2 weeks and rebuilt the dock a cabin. So far we have new docks in cabins 1, 2, 3, and now 4. Each dock has a seating area at the end and room for flower pots. This year Rick, his wife Sandra and three kids came up for two weeks and stayed in cabin 4. In addition to the rebuilding the dock, Rick added stairs from the waterfront to the cabin. We can't thank Rick enough for spending his vacation on these projects!!