Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Clearwater Gift Shop


One of the activities Peggy enjoys is her store in the lodge. She does all the ordering for it always looking for interesting and different things. When Peg and Mike were up here a week ago, Peggy brought some new display cases and spent some time re-organizing things in the store. Here she is lugging some shelving around.

The walls of the store are covered in bark. I had heard that parts of the lodge ceilings were covered in cedar bark at one time but it would drop off in little pieces so it was replaced with wood. Now the store walls and the hall ceiling behind the office have the original bark covering.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Snow Report

We had snow all day yesterday and I am getting good reports from the mid-trail folks skiing. Here is the update from Golden Eagle Lodge from yesterday, January 27th:

New Snow Last 24 hours: .75
New Snow Last 7 days: 1.25
Trail Base: 4.5 to 5.5"
Snow in Woods: Low: low 7" high 12"
Groomed for skating: 77 km
Groomed for classic: 77 km
Surface Conditions: Packed powder
Snowshoe trail: Open
Total snowfall since Nov. 1: 25.65"
Comments:
Both groomers are out today and the entire system should be completed by this afternoon. The trails are grooming up excellent and most of the stubble is disappearing. We have been able to pull some snow with the blade and level out many areas. It is still snowing so there will be a little fresh powder on top!

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Sleigh Ride


Here is another picture of our sleigh ride. In this one at least the horses have their heads! If you cannot tell with all the winter cloths covering us from left to right is Peggy, Mike, Lynn and Stephanie.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Sleigh Ride

We all took advantage of the winter weather for a sleigh ride at Okontoe last night. The ride is about 45 minutes followed by hot chocolate in the lodge. The route is over the Okontoe property and along Bow lake and is lite by 11o lights. We really enjoyed it and the stars in were remarkable. We were bundled up to our noses because it was well below zero during our ride.

I had a really, really hard time getting good pictures because it was so cold. All our camera batteries were dying after a few minutes and part of my camera lense kept icing up as you can see from the picture. I also found that I didn't want to get too close to the horses to take the picture. They are huge Belguim horses and weight about 2,100 lbs each. The pictures were disappointing but the ride was a worthwhile experience.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Ice on the Harbor


Peggy and Mike are up here for a week from Ohio. They are staying in cabin 7. Both are enjoying the lodge in the winter and a little break from the hustle and bustle. Mike has been in here the winters before but this is probably only Peggy's second winter visit.

Peggy took this picture of the Grand Marais Harbor. Lake Superior is not frozen but the harbor has slush in it from time to time. On windy days, the waves cause the edges of the shore to freeze.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Wolves Howling


At 10:00 in the morning yesterday, Stephanie went out to toss some old bread out to the birds and came back in and got me. We stood out on the front porch of the lodge and could hear the wolves howling on the lake. There were several of them, maybe a small pack, and the sound just echoed over the ice. It was quite beautiful to stand there and listen. I went out this morning and last night but have not heard them again.

We do see the wolves or a wolf from time to time, but they rarely stop and pose for a picture. By the time you reach for your camera, they are gone. This photo was taken this summer by Ed and Erik and even if a little blurry is really a very special picture.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

BWCA Permit Lottery



The BWCA Permit Lottery ended and the permits won in the lottery awarded. Starting Saturday, January 20th, permits are now being issued on an availability basis. For each entry point there is a limited number of entry permits per day.

Now is a good time to plan on your BWCA trip. All we need to get your permit is an entry point and entry date. We can help with suggestions on the various entry points.

Give us a call!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

BWCA Permits

Today is the first day you can order BWCA permits online following the lottery. The BWCA permit lottery was run about January 18th and permits awarded. Anyone who was not successful in the lottery was notified by ReserveAmerican on behalf of the forest service.

Thinking about canoe trip? Now is the time to lock down a permit. To get a permit you have to have decided your entry date and entry point. We can help with ideas and suggestions so just give us a call at 800.527.0554

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Sled Dog Marathon Postponed

As I sit here, the snowing is falling outside my window. However, it is not enough snow to hold the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon next week. Since not all the trails have a good 12 inch base the race has been postponed until February 25th. This will be only the 2nd time in 25 years that the race date has been postponed. For more information visit www.beargrease.com.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Web site updates

One of my projects for this winter is learning how to update our website. Last summer, we made software changes that allow us to do all our own web site updating. Along with that, high speed satelite internet came to the Gunflint Trail and we upgraded last June. Part of my winter reading has been books for 'Dummies' on web site HTML and site optimization.

Today I tackled updating all the cabin and and canoe trip rates. That did not take long, but each page I went into I felt needed fresher pictures and better, clearer information. Maybe for someone else with experience this is quick and easy, but I spent about 4 hours just updating the Ultralight canoe trip page with new pictures and new formating. Even after 4 hours I haven't finished all the updates I want to do on that one page. While doing this I made pages of notes on other things I want to update and pictures I want to add.

Most of today was figuring out how the software works. I have been told this is user friendly software but it took me awhile to find the hidden tables and columns you need to actually format a page. I am sure this will get easier the more I work on!

I did go through files and files of pictures. It makes me long for summer and canoe trips after looking at all those photos I collected over the last couple of years.

Lynn

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Winter Life in the Northwoods


I was at a meeting last night in town and I got to comparing notes with several other poeple who were not raised in this area and our adjustments to living in a rural area. Here are a few that caused us to chuckle, not because they are necessary funny, but because we could all relate to them so well.

The main event of my day in the winter is getting my mail. In the winter, the mail is delivered only to the Gunflint Trail. It is a 4 mile trip each way. The dog is excited every morning for her car ride to the mail box. Sometimes we see wildlife, sometimes we just see snow. Sometimes I drive to the mailbox on Sundays just so the dog can get her car ride. Even at 25 below she likes to put her nose out the window.

The last 'overnight' I got from FedEX took two weeks to get here. Thank goodness for UPS as they do deliver to the door.

If I don't plug my car block heater in during January - I have to really cross my fingers when I try to start it in the morning. I have gotten used to everyone having long orange electrical cords attached to their cars.

You can go to lunch in town and every car in the parking lot is left running, unlocked with a big dog inside. Who wants to come back out to a cold car? Beside that, we can't take our dog for her daily car ride if we leave it in a car when it is 25 below out.

There is no 'running out to get something you forgot'. Shopping is a planned full day event. If the weather is bad, it can be an hour plus drive back up the trail. Always watch for Moose!!

Driving down or up the Gunflint Trail, you can drive thru multiple weather systems. It can be sunny when you leave, crazy snow storm at the 20 mile marker and dense fog at the 5 mile marker and sunny again in Grand Marais.

I have given away every piece of clothing that requires dry cleaning as there is no dry cleaners in town.

The closest Walmart, Target, Mall or Movie Theater is 120 miles away. Thank goodness for the Internet and Netflix!

I am not complaining, just laughing. For these inconveniences I also get a spectacular log lodge on a beautiful crystal clear lake, good friends, tall trees, moose walking through my yard and wonderful visitors.

Lynn

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Cold Weather

Yesterday we got a blast of the cold. It was 10 below all day and after some of the milder weather we have been having, the wind took my breath away. Right before the blast of cold, we did get 3 more inches of snow.

Ice Fishing outside the boundary waters opens up this weekend. We have plenty of ice on the lakes so I expect to see a few ice houses going up on Clearwater Lake today.

Lynn

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Travis on Watap Lake


This picture is of Travis on his snow shoe trek through the border lakes. We are having a very light snow today with more in the forecast for the upcoming week.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

A nice snow shoe route

Erik and Travis were trying out snow shows the other day. They started at the lodge, took the Daniel Lake Border Route spur to Daniels Lake. Over Daniels Lake to the BRT to Rove Lake. Over Rove to portage to Clearwater Lake and back to the lodge. Overall they covered 5 to 6 miles and it was a bit of challenge. However, it is such a great way to get out and enjoy the snow!

Monday, January 01, 2007

Snow Covered Bluffs


After a day of rain yesterday, the snow started about 1:00 PM. It snowed about 4 inches in the last 24 hours and the temperature has dropped back into the 20's. I am getting great reports of the ski trails. Snow mobile trails have not been groomed yet.

In the photo taken this morning you see people walking on Clearwater Lake to the very right.