Some Updates on Fire Ban, Permits and Clearwater Lodge

The summer continues to be busy with Erik still here to help out. Erik will be staying through closing so we are really thankful for that. If only I could get him to keep writing the blog. This week we have additional help with my Mom and friends. My neice and her friends come up on Saturday for a little more help. After labor day, it will start slowing down to the peace and quiet of fall in the BWCA.

We had our first frost of the fall season several days ago! It is early for a frost but it was not quite cold enough to hurt our gardens or dull the bugs. I hope it holds off a few more weeks before the next frost because I have flowers planted late this spring that have yet to mature and bloom! There is a slight coloring in the understory of the forest which hints at fall colors but that will be a few weeks yet before we start to notice a change in the trees.

A couple of important things........

1) Even though we had rain the last two nights, the forest service is continueng the fire ban. The fire restrictuions are evaluated so stay tuned to the blog for more updates.

2) BWCA Overnight Paddle Permits. Due to a change in the reservation system, we (and you) will be unable to make advance reservations for permits starting 9/14. If you are thinking of coming any time after 9/14 through the end of September, please call us to reserve your permit as soon as possible.

Permits will be issued first come/first service from 9/14 through 9/30. The permit season and our outfitting season ends 9/30. By first come/first serve, the forest service means you cannot make an advance reservation but we can call in the day before or the day of your trip and see if there is a permit available. All payments for permits during this time must be made by cash or check due to changes being made in forest service credit card services.

Everything will be back to normal in time for the permit Lottery starting December 1st.

For an update on the resort.......

The bunkhouse was re-roofed this summer.

We almost have the kitchen floor down in the lodge. That was a bit of a balancing act since we had to work around meals and the kitchen is the central meeting place for everyone. So it has been slow going but getting there. There are still edges to trim, doors to trim and coats of finish to go down but I have at least stopped tripping over boards.

We almost have finished staining the outfitting building and laundry building. This is another 'almost' since the trim still has to be done.

We are laying new gas lines to the lodge, cabin 7 and cabin 1 in the next week or so. It depends upon when the excavater and the propane man can coordinate schedules. We expect all that work can be completed in one day.

After we have these tasks done it will be time to focus on starting the fall clean up and working on our closing plans. As you have seen from our newsletter, we are closing this winter. The cabins will be open until 10/5 and canoes and outfitting until 10/1.

Fire Ban

From the Forest Service:

We received this from our Duluth office this morning. Please call the Gunflint District Office (387-1750) with any questions you may have.

Subject: Restrictions to begin in blowdown area Thursday 8-21-08:

The decision is to implement the following restrictions in the blowdown restricted zone on the SNF (Level II restrictions) effective Thursday8-21-08: • Use of campfires or wood/charcoal burning stoves not allowed in restricted area at any time. • The Kekekabic Trail, east of Disappointment Lake, and Border Trail (with associated connector trails) will be closed to all use. • Use of gas or propane cookstoves will be allowed anywhere in the restricted area at any time of day.This means that as of 12:01 am on Thursday morning these restrictions arein effect.

August Goodbyes

Though these August days are still bright, sunny, and warm, the recently cool nights and mornings signal the winding down of summer. Our wonderful summer staffers are also headed their respective ways for the next year. We've had a great time together over these past three months, so it is sad to see people go. For those of you who visited or have been tracking with the blog, here is an idea of the staff's fall plans:

Eric was the first to leave us to embark on a 10 day canoe trip from Ely to Poplar Lake. Vince, a previous staffer, accompanied him. Eric will be continuing the Northern Life living in Ely this fall and going to school.

Donny and Kevin headed out yesterday and will both be returning to college for their sophomore years. Donny will be at Bemidji State and has plans to hunt everyday, practice his goose calls, and pretty much enjoy the outdoors as much as possible. He and his housemates will have all of the hunting/fishing equipment ever needed like boats, fish houses, trailers, decoys, snowmobiles, etc...Sounds perfect for Donny, the next Ron Schera. Kevin is headed to St. Johns and will be playing Rugby. I'm not sure if canoe lifting muscles are used in rugby, but if so, he'll be in good shape.

Will and I are going back to the cities to return to the crazy life of graduate school. Will will be getting his masters in counselling at the end of the year, and I will be finishing up classes for my Ph.D program. We will definitely miss the carefree days of badminton, campfires, and canoe trips.

AJ will be returning to Northern Michigan University for her senior year of college. She began training for a marathon this summer, and is shooting for an April marathon in lower Michigan. Probably a little less likely to run into a moose or bear on that run.

Kwasie is helping Mike and Lynn at the lodge for a couple more weeks before heading up to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens point, which is a huge help. Only a little bit longer before returning to the land of beer and cheese, Kwas.

We were really lucky to have met and spent the summer with all of these guys. Great Summer. Some may even call it Legen......wait for it......dary.

Kirsten

Quetico Trip

Ann and Todd Loehrke sent this picture in from their recent Quetico trip. Could there be a better moose photo? This is a classic.

August 4th

Oh my, I see all my bloggers seem to be on vacation from the blog and we haven't updated in a while. So what is going on at Clearwater?

We have stained the outfitting building and laundry building - thanks to Erik and the crew.

We have many canoe trip groups and cabin guests visiting.

We are getting ready to put down a new kitchen floor in the lodge.

The bunkhouse building will be reroofed as soon as we can get time on the roofers schedule.

Both septic pumps took a lightening strike and Mike and Mike had to spend some not so refreshing time down the septic holes installing new pumps and electrical connections.

Water levels are high and there are no fire restrictions.

The warmest day we have had is 81 degrees but mostly it is in the 70's. Cooler weather means more moose sightings.

Staff have started the count-down to return to their respective colleges. They start leaving us August 15th.

Lynn