Monday, December 28, 2009

Ice Fishing....

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.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Guard Rails on the Gunflint?

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.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Get your Christmas Tree in the Superior National Forest

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.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Summer Staff 2010

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.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Sixteen Reasons......



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.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

BWCA Permit Lottery Begins Today


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".

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Deer Count Down

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.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Gunflint Trail Designated a National Scenic Byway

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 .

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Reaching us during the winter months

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




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.




Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Tree Clearing

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.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Clearing Trees on the Resort

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

Saturday, October 10, 2009

October

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

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The First Day of Fall


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.


Monday, September 21, 2009

Bald Eagle


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

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Waterfront Wedding























All the wedding guests have departed and although I think it will take a few days, we are settling back into a normal routine here. There are still small piles of wedding decorations sitting around to be taken care of and lots of food still to eat. Soon we will have a chance to sit down and enjoy the pictures of the wedding. Here are a few of our favorites....
Lynn








Monday, September 14, 2009

At the Dock


When Isaiah (age 4) arrived for his aunt's wedding, he was giving a spiderman fishing pole by his Grandpa when he arrived. We have not seen him without that fishing pole since then. Thankfully it has a red rubber fish at the end or we would all be hooked. He has fished in the parking lot, in the lodge, on the porch. His cast is getting pretty darn good. Yesterday he discovered casting into the water (it takes small steps to build a good little fisherman). While sitting down a the dock, a canoe came in and distracted him momentarily from fishing.


Sunday, September 13, 2009

Relaxing


Normally when we are here, there is not much relaxation time. Relaxing on the porch and running a resort just don't seem to mesh well. With all family and friends here last week I think this was the first time this summer that I sat on the porch of the lodge and watched the water and the dock. It was very peaceful. There was a lot of activity at the waterfront so I just lazily took pictures when it looked interesting.


Here is Adam Trace in the Kayak, Alicia (the bride) sitting in the middle of the dock Cross legged, Ben and Dawn and their two boys Isaiah and Adrian. Faith, in the pink shirt, caught her first fish on this dock.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Another Fly Over Photo


This one is taken from the lake coming into the lodge. You can see our docks at the waterfront center left. It is hard to see much else through the trees except rooflines.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

The Wedding


All the cabins and lodge rooms are full with Alicia and Jon's wedding guests. Tuesday is the rehersal and rehersal cookout and Wednesday at sunset is the wedding. Peggy is here in the garage decorating the wedding arch. It was made by Mike this summer and has been kept hidden until it is ready to go out on the dock for wedding.


Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Fly Overs with Anderson Aero




One thing we like doing is taking fly overs with Anderson Aero. Dan Anderson runs Scenic Tours. This year he got approval to land his float plan in the Grand Marais Harbor. Ben Trace is here for his sister's wedding and since it happened to be his birthday, his gift was a flyover. He started in the Grand Marais Harbor at The Trading Post and flew up to the BWCA.
You can't really see them clearly but several people climbed the palasaides to wave to him as he flew over. He also got several nice pictures of the lodge from the air.
The second picture is of the resort and the soutwestern end of Clearwater Lake.




Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Packing up

As every minute goes by today, it bring me that much closer to leaving Clearwater. Today is my last day at work, and it's scary how fast my time went here. It seems as though it was only a few weeks ago when my parents dropped me off, and now they are probably on the road heading north to pick me up. Like always, good things come to an end, and I have to face the fact that I can not rewind time to re-live this summer. There are a few things I am excited to be able to do back in the cities, but I will miss Clearwater greatly. I was joking around with Lynn, and I was telling her how I have been showering more lately to try to get into my old routine before I go back to Minneapolis, and I think it will take a little time to get used to living in the city again. Being up here has made me appreciate things that I have not really ever appreciated before, and I have learned a lot about myself living up here. Anyways, the lawn isn't going to cut itself today so I am going to wrap this up. I could go on and on with the things that make this place so special but the weather is to nice to be inside any longer. A few things I want to say before I go is anyone who is looking to work up North for awhile Clearwater is the place to be. I would give Clearwater two big thumbs up. I want to thank Mike, Peggy, and Lynn for being the most enjoyable bosses that I have had so far in my life. And for my co-workers (Micheal, Matt, Lilly, Eric, Tori) they helped make this one of the best summers of my life. I am truly going to miss this place, and it is hard to believe that the time has come to say good-bye.

Scott

Sunday, August 30, 2009

First Frost

I have gotten so lazy in my blogging that I forget some days to even post anything. Here are a few things going on...

  • We had our first frost last night. In truth, this is our first frost since the end of the June so only July was a frost-free month. Peggy covered all the flowers we have been nuturing along all summer.
  • It looks to be a beautiful week weather wise. Even though it is going to be a bit chilly at night, the days look warm and sunny. Thank goodness because I needed some sunshine!
  • There is a gathering and book signing at the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center tomorrow. The perfect weather to get out for the afternoon.
  • Peggy and Mike are stepping up the wedding planning. Our wedding guests start arriving a week from tomorrow. Decorations are being organized and the final meetings on catering and cakes.

That's it for today..

Friday, August 28, 2009

A Taste of the Gunflint Trail

A Taste of the Gunflint Trail:
Historic Lodges and Tastes from the Cookbook
September 12, 2009 – 11 AM to 5 PM

The event is a “progressive” tour of the Gunflint Trail historic lodges. Visitors may begin at the either “end” of the Trail, and visit as many lodges as they wish. This event is meant to draw attention to the Gunflint Trail Historical Society, Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, and the history of the area.

Featured Historic Lodges with historians present:

Rockwood Lodge - 50 Rockwood Road - Poplar LakeLoon Lake Lodge - 65 Loon Lake Road - Loon Lake
Chik-Wauk Lodge - approximately 56 miles from Grand Marais on 28 Moose Pond Road (Cook County Road 81, Saganaga Lake)

Tour historic Gunflint Trail lodges and enjoy local taste treats.

Book signing at Chik-Wauk: "A Taste of the Gunflint Trail," John Hendricksson's "Gunflint Cabin," Sue Ahrendt and Kelly Dupre's "Becoming a Boundary Waters Family," and Betty Hemstad's "Wildflowers of the Boundary Waters: Hiking through the Seasons."

Other participating businesses, offering tastes, cookbook sales, and collecting donations:
Bearskin Lodge - 124 East Bearskin Road - East Bearskin Lake
Clearwater Lodge - 774 Clearwater Road - Clearwater lake
Poplar Creek Guesthouse & B&B - 11 Poplar Creek Drive
Hungry Jack Outfitters - 318 South Hungry Jack Road - Hungry Jack Lake
Nor'wester Lodge & Outfitters - 7778 Gunflint Trail- Poplar Lake
Gunflint Lodge - 143 South Gunflint Lake Road - Gunflint Lake
Gunflint Pines - 217 South Gunflint Lake Road - Gunflint Lake
Heston's - 579 South Gunflint Lake - Gunflint Lake
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters - 189 Sag Lake Trail - Saganaga Lake

Event is free of charge: donations accepted and Gunflint Trail Historical Society and memberships encouraged. (Brochures & membership envelopes available at each location.)
Watch for the signs. At those locations selling cookbooks, profits go to the GTHS. Membership forms for the GTHS will be available, as will donation “jars” for cash contributions.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The summer lull

This is the week that it slows down here. We have about a week where it is quiet and then it picks back up from labor day until we close. Add to that we have the wedding September 9th!

Most of our guests are adults and if we do have children here, they are younger than school age. As you saw from Michael's last blog, this is also the time that our summer college staff has to head back. We have heard from Michael and Tori and they got back to school. Matt where are you??? We are lucky this year that we will have Scott until the end of the month and Lily and Erik until we close.

This is the time of year when we all start multitasking. Lily was surprised I could actually clean. She suggested that I might be able to handle the dusting but I did clean a cabin today by myself....and I can feel it in my back and legs. It is time to get in 'cleaning shape' again.

This is also the time of the year when the phones quiet down and emails slow down so I get to get out of the office. I use any excuse I can to walk down the road. Along the way, I pick and eat the raspberries. The weather has been beautiful and I just love getting out and enjoying a little of it before the next wave hits.

Lynn

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Weather Forecast for 28 Miles North of Grand Marais

This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 75. South wind around 10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. West wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 65.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Saturday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.

Point Forecast: 28 Miles NW Grand Marais MN 48.07°N 90.69°W
Visit your local NWS office at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dlh

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Signing Off

Today after work I'll be getting in my car and driving down Clearwater Road. Once I hit the Gunflint I'll take a left and head into town. Only this time I won't be going to town for the bank, the beach, Hughies scrumptious tacos, the library, cell-phone reception or even a quick stop at the Budget Store. I'll continue South on Hwy 61 and start the journey home where I will face the abrupt transition anyone must confront after an extended stay in the tranquility of the BWCA. Unless you live up here and exist to make the rest of the world envious. But for me it's back to school. Back to a city. Back to dreaded cell-phones and back to rent, traffic, sirens, cable television, et cetera, et cetera.
About 5 or 6 months ago I didn't have a clue what I would be doing over the summer. A long-shot application to Clearwater seemed to be my last play and hope was dwindling. When Lynn called and asked, "Do you still want to come work for us?", my outlook on the upcoming summer shifted from apathetic to excited, nervous and grateful for something new that would be stimulating.
Tori and I were talking about expectations the other night and what a let-down it is when they're not met. But with Clearwater my expectations were just off. Not set to high or too low. They were just off and I've never been so pleased about being wrong. What the heck did I know about what it would be like living on the Gunflint?
The summer began with a whirlwind of new experiences and learning new things. It ends with a reflection on those experiences and everything they did for me.
I have to thank Lynn, Peggy, and Mike so much. You can't ask for better people to work for and as owners of Clearwater you can tell they care about this place. They are passionate about making it a wonderful facillitator for people who want a great BW vacation. I really love how well they complement each other and fit together so well as administrators of the camp. Each owner has their own area of expertise and niche combining to cover everything a place like Clearwater requires. I'll miss Lynn and Peggy's banter and Mike's ever so subtle jokes he drops into a conversation as he walks by. No need to stick around for laughter. He knows what's up.
I'll miss the staff. The five people I saw almost everyday for the past three months. In a situation like this it's sort of an immersion relationship. You work with these people daily and then after work it's, "Hey wanna hang out?" Let's go through the crew.
Tori was the first one I met up here. I walked by as she was bleaching every surface of her trailer gloved and determined. Tori was the outdoors-loving, active, geologist from Winona State. She was always trying to get us out paddling or hiking and her persistence occasionally won out over our fatigue or general oafishness. Tori had a heavy load to bear being the only girl up here. I'm sure the overwhelming masculinity took its toll at times but she braved it out like a champ and I'm glad she did. Kudos to Tori. Thanks for putting up with us. We had a lot of fun times.
Scott and Matt, or "the boys" as they were often referred to, worked for Mike. They were the camp's drivers, canoe caretakers, maintenance men, and oddly enough the muscle. They worked together alot and Scott turned it into a custom to try and scare Matt or bug him whenever possible (all in good fun of course). This hobby of Scott's even rubbed off on Tori and I a little.
Scott was the always level-headed, multi-talented, NE guy with a whistle that may just pierce and eardrum. He often brought sanity and fankness back to conversations that had turned downright inane. One of his lasting contributions to Clearwater is his deck. He turned an old electrical wire spool into a table and built the deck around it. I really enjoyed seeing the construction progress and of course enjoying a good sit upon completion. Inspection is what I called it.
Matt was quickly labeled the "city boy" when he came up here, but what he lacked in ruggedness he made up for in perseverance and skills of adaptation. I hope he'll forgive me for saying this but his rapid-fire giggle that slips out when he really finds something funny was a consistent lift for myself and most likely everyone else. Matt was always someone you could talk to and he would lend a sympathetic ear. He's off to England for a semester where he'll study at the University of London. I wish the best for my two summer fishing partners.
I think everyone at Clearwater feels blessed by having Lily on the staff for the summer. I certainly do. She reminds you what determination really is. She is constantly teaching herself more and more English. She is not afraid to try something new (don't let the banana bread deter you Lily). The whole summer Lily was my co-cook for breakfast. She picked up more and more of the jobs and by the end of the summer she could just about do it all. If I didn't know any better I'd think she was after my job. Lily brightened everyones day with her smile, laughter, curiosity and out of place American slang (e.g. rampant use of "piece of cake"). This goes without saying but take good care of Dodo, Lily.
In no particular order Erik is the last member of the staff I've come to. Our fearless leader. The seasoned veteran with wisdom to empart to us all. His resemblance to Paul Bunyan only adds to his credibility as a Northwoodsman. The game at times for "us kids" was try not to get on his nerves. Although stern Erik was fair, and I enjoyed getting to know him over the summer. I think I most enjoyed making obscure pop-culture references and maybe by a half smile know that Erik acknowledged the joke however poor.
So those are the people I'm saying goodbye to. The people who were probably so immersed with Michael's presence it made them sick, but that's how it goes up here. Even if I were to feign boredom or tiredness of the Clearwater life I know I'll miss it all.
Lastly, if there are any Summer '09 Clearwater guests who are avid blog readers I'd like to thank everyone who passed through here and made the summer a mosaic of human interaction. It was so much fun meeting all the people coming from all over the country and every one looking for something different out here in this small corner of pure nature. All of them bound only by a destination.
So these are the memories I'll bear in mind when I'm winding my way along Clearwater Road, then down the Gunflint and South on 61. Goodbye Clearwater. I'll be back someday. Let's hope my expectations are yet again very, very off.

-Michael
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the summer.


















Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Where's the Moose?

At the lodge, we still see plenty of moose and calves but it took less than 20 years for the moose population in the Northwestern to decline from over 4,000 to fewer than 100. The reasons for the decline of the moose in the western part of the state is not known.

A study is being conducted by the University of Minnesota that will help to answer that question "Moose Population Dynamics Studay in NE Minnesota".

What can you do?

Report moose sightings, (dead or alive) on the moose project website at http://www.nrri.umn.edu/moose. Or report them to us and we will go to the website.

Quick Fasts About Minnessota Moose
About 7,000 Moose live in NE MN in 2009
Adult cows weight 500 to 1,000 lbs
Cows give birth to 1 to 2 calves in May
Bulls weight 700 to 1,100 pounds

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Church Youth Group



Tallmadge Church of God, Tallmadge, Ohio brought up a youth group for a paddle and day trips. This is the third time the leaders have brought up a group to experience the BWCA.


The group spends the first two nights at Okontoe and does some day trips and hikes. The last three days they paddle out on Clearwater Lake for a BWCA trip.




Sunday, August 16, 2009

Waterfront


Scott Felicetta had responsibility for maintaining the waterfront and the canoes this summer. That is him under the aluminum canoe. Scott will be a Sophomore at the Univeristy of Minnesta, Twin Cities.
Luckily Scott will be able to stay and help us out to the Labor Day weekend.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Southern llinois University - Department of Forestry




Every summer we have the Southern Illinois University (SIU) Department of Forestry bring a crew to the BWCA for a canoe trip. They drive up from Carbondale IL before the start of the fall semester and take a 5 day trip. This year it was 17 people under the leadership of Dr. John Burde. They went out in 3 groups on Clearwater Lake.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Lumberjack Sports

During Fisherman's Picnic we had a display of lumberjack sports. In Grand Marais a portable pond was set up for log rolling demonstrations and open to everyone to try. There were also chain saw competitions as the weekend went on. On Sunday, there was MN Boom Running competion up at Atkinson's pond on Clearwater Lake.

The pictures are of the fun in Grand Marais and the serious boom running up on the lake.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The weather update

Today: Sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.

Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76.

Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy

Sunday, August 09, 2009

Stories at the Lodge


Harriet Boostrom Taus contines with her stories of growing up in the lodge and on Cleawater Lake on Tuesday nights. Harriet was born in the 1920's when Charlie and Petra Boostrom finished the lodge and she is one of the younger of their 10 kids.

Saturday, August 08, 2009

A moose

Yes, I am running out of titles for the blogs and sometimes ideas for the blog so I love when someone sends me pictures. This is another one from John Marsaa from the family visit last week to cabin 1. This moose was spotted in a marshy area off of clearwater road. It probably has a name, but we always call it the "Moose Pond"

Friday, August 07, 2009

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Weather Report

If you are watching our weather, I think we may have turned a corner. We are looking at sunny, skies, mild days in the 70's and nights in the 50's. With the rain the past weeks, we have no threat of forest fire and no fire bans.

Lynn

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

How did we get here?


The USFS Archaeologist Lee Johnson came to speak last week as part of our Becoming A Boundary Waters Family program. He brought artifacts and talked about how people came to live in this region from the ice age to now. It was very interesting. Did you know many of the camp sites in the BWCA are also archaeological sites and some are still being excavated? The campsites, which are natural places for us to camp were also the logical places for the very first people in this area to establish campsites.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Arts and Crafts Continued....




Peggy always has had an eye for making things. She takes advantage of elements from the northwoods and makes bird houses and flowers pots. Peggy collects bits and pieces from all over the resort to give her houses a northwoods flair.

This year I started making some cedar candles. I work a lot in the office and I like sanding these and decorating them between phone calls and helping guests at the front desk. The boys cut the logs for me and sand them. I have a box of log pieces under my desk ready, handy for whenever I have a few minutes.
Lynn

Friday, July 31, 2009

Arts and Crafts


The Gilbertson family comes every July to stay in cabin 1. Each year Mary Gilbertson brings a art project that the whole family participate in. The mobile made of bits and pieces of the northwoods still hangs in the cabin. This years project was a birch candle. Using pieces of birch trees they made molds with rubber and when that set, cut the mold out and filled it with beeswax. Once the beeswax set they painted and finished the outside to look like a birch log. Each candle is unique as it is formed around a different piece of birch.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Rainy Day Girl


This little one was ready for the rain today. She is staying in cabin 1 with her parents and grandparents.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

How does my garden grow?


If you have been reading the blog, you know I planting a hanging garden on the lodge stairs this spring. It has been an interesting experience. The plants seem to hold the water well and the tomato has flurished. The zuchini now has blossoms but the pepper plants are about the same size as they were when I planted them.
I am hoping something produces veggies before the first frost. But, I can always move this garden into the lodge if it starts getting too cold.
What have I learned about this experience?? It is great for tomatos but next summer I would plant the hanging gardens in the lodge as soon as the heat was on so I could get six weeks of growing time before I move them outside. I would do it again as it has been fun and easy. So far no animals have raided my veggie patch so I have been lucky. It would be great for small space living or rocky ground like ours. If interested, order your hanging containers really early because they were sold out every place I looked this spring and it took a month for my order to come in.
Weather note: Mild but sunny today in the lower 70's. Still good sleeping weather at night in the 40's or good camp fire weather if you are in the BWCA.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Hail


This picture is from when Peggy and I were in Indiana. I was taking some pics yesterday and when I plugged in my camera to the computer there were a number of pictures from the hail storm that happened the day we returned. I thought this one was particularly good.
The picture was taken from the lodge porch towards the waterfront with the lake beyond the colorful kayaks. I think Tori was the photographer.
Lynn

MN State Championship Log Boom Running


Sunday, August 2nd is the Minnesota State Championship Log Boom Running. This is being held at Atkinson Pond on Clearwater Lake beginning at 10:30 AM.


Warm ups will begin at 9:30 AM with tournament beginning at 10:30 AM. Bring a chair and plan to spend the day in the woods. There will be autograph signing, free posters, log rolling demos, merchandise giveaways and opportunities for kids to log roll too.


This is also a fundraiser for the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department. Admission is $3.00 per person at the door.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

This week at the lodge

This week we have two speakers at the lodge so come join us!

7:00 PM on Tuesday a USDA Forest Ranger will be here and talk about 'An Historical Perspecitive of Human Occupation in Northeastern Minnesota'.

7:00 PM on Wednesday Harriet Taus will tell stories about what it is like to grow up in the lodge and on Clearwater Lake. Harriet is the daughter of the lodge's orginal family Charlie and Petra Boostrom.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Hail Fight!


There's nothing like a good summer thunderstorm. Yesterday had a gorgeous 70 degree start, but by noon it started to look like trouble. Huge clouds rolled in, and by just after noon it started to downpour. Midway through the storm it started to hail, and all work came to a halt. I was stranded out at my trailer trying to drain the thousands of gallons of slush water that my awning had collected. After the storm had passed, I puddle hopped my way back to the lodge. I took some pictures of the hail that had accumulated, and while walking past the office window I saw the perfect chance to give Matt a little scare. I gathered all the pea sized ice balls my little hands could handle and threw it at the window. Two minutes later Matt and Michael and I were in a full out hail battle. We threw several hand fulls, until our hands were frozen solid. Lily was sure that winter was just around the corner once again because ice was falling with the rain, but we assured her that it would maybe warm up later this week.
-Tori

Memorial Service for Bob Marchino August 1st

From Marti Marchino's Caring Bridge update regarding Bob's Mass and open house.

August 1, 2009

There will be a mass at 9:00 am at St. John’s Catholic Church
10 E. 5th Ave., Grand Marais, MN.
Coffee and social after mass at the church.

In the afternoon, from 3:00-5:30 pm, there will be an
open house, at Clearwater Lodge. The lodge is located
on Clearwater Lake about 28 miles up the Gunflint Trail and 4 miles in on Clearwater Road. Bob was a former owner of Clearwater Lodge.

Charlie Helbling, Bob's paddling buddy, will offer a few memories of Bob at 3:30.
Anyone who has stories or pictures of Bob please bring them to share.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Enjoying the BWCA


The Devore/Dryg family stayed in a couple of our cabins a few weeks ago. They took day and overnight trips into the BWCA. Hal sent us this family picture which was taken at Rose Falls.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Nessy Is That You?


Bryant Mullis sent us this picture of a behemoth Lake Trout he caught while out on a trip in late June. The numbers on this monster are 37.5" in length, 21.5" around, and it weighed in at a whopping 19lbs. Thanks for the pic Bryant.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

logs, logs and more logs


In the woods, we use logs for parking barriers, decoration and firewood. So as we are doing the brush and tree clearing, we strip some logs to use around the resort. Here is a shot of Matt doing some prep work back near the garage.
Lynn


Friday, July 17, 2009

Big, Black and Not so Cute.


We all know that bears will go wherever they can for food. I just never thought that place would be my living quarters. As I lay asleep in my bed last night, I was rudely awakened by a loud crashing that I slowly realized was coming from my kitchen. As I came to consiousness, I turned on my headlamp and poked my head around the curtain that separates my bed from the rest of the trailer. I was half expecting Michael and Scott digging for something in my cupboards, but then I realized it was 3:09 AM, which is too late even for those boys. As I glanced out into my trailer from my bed I saw a large black coated creature that was surely not a staff member. I quickly shut off my headlamp and tried not to breathe. I crawled back into my sleeping bag and pulled the mummy cover tightly over my head. As I lay facedown and barely breathing, I could tell the bear didn't care about me. I knew that the bear could not be distracted from its feast of granola bars, unopened salad dressing and dried fruit, so I sat there and waited for it to leave. I was in a slight state of panic every time it moved about my kitchen, but it finished its meal and left within about half an hour. When I heard the bear step out my door, I waited for a couple minutes just to make sure it still wasn't lurking in the depths of the trailer. When the coast was clear I pulled on the closest fleece and a pair of shorts and ran to Michael's trailer which is just next door. I told him what had just happened. I had one ear on the door and one on Michael's baffled responses. I could still hear the bear creeping around in the woods surrounding our trailers, so I went outside and started making some noise. After about 5 minutes of banging my fists on the trailer, clapping my hands, and yelling, Scott and his visiting friend were wondering what the heck was happening. I think the bear got bored of me putting on a show, and finally stumbled away with a bloated belly. Needless to say I spent the night elsewhere. After another night of adventure with my co-workers, I now have a new story to tell.


-Tori

Minnesota Morning


Does this not look like a Minnesota Morning? The canoe packs and fishing poles are all lined up on the porch ready to start out on a canoe trip.
Lynn

Thursday, July 16, 2009

What kids will find to do


We don't have any organized activities for kids but they always finds ways to entertain themselves. We had one little guy last week watching some road work we were having done for hours. He was the perfect age to be facinated by trucks. The heavy equipment driver, Mark, took him up into the big trucks for a ride.


All the little kids love running on the lodge porch. It is a wooden porch and the love the sounds it makes when they run on it. It is large enough to get a big run going.


This little one liked to play under and with the canoe that we have up on the porch to be repaired.



Wednesday, July 15, 2009

A Wedding at the Lodge

Alicia Trace (Peggy and Mike's daughter) is getting married at the lodge in September. The wedding date is 9/9/09 and they will say their vows at the waterfront. For a week all the cabins will be full of family and friends to help us celebrate.

We have closed off one of the Bed and Breakfast rooms this summer and it is now officially the 'wedding room'. That is where we are storing wedding decorations, champaign glasses, dresses, tissue paper and silk flowers. Peggy, being the creative one, visits the room every day and tries new things that she thinks might compliment a wedding in the lodge and woods. She now has the caterer arranged, the cake ordered and the flowers ordered.

Peggy and I leave tomorrow and drive to IN and OH for two wedding showers for the couple.

Weather Note: We had some nice rain last night that we needed. It was starting to look a little dry. Temps are still in the 70's during the day and in the mid-40's to 50 at night.

Lynn

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

So It's Come To This: A Pancake Blog

This picture tells the tale of a man and his pancake. The guests were all fed. The staff that came in for breakfast were finishing up. What were we going to do with the batter left in the bowl? I grabbed a spatula and emptied the rest of the bowl onto the hot grill all the while thinking this is a mistake, this is a mistake. The result was one whopper of a pancake. When we tried to plate it a good two inches draped over the rim all around. The main question at hand was, "Who is going to eat this?" In true hero fashion we see Scott amble up the road towards the kitchen donning undershirt and sweat pants having just woken up from what must have been a very tiring sleep, because he came in with an appetite and the ambition to match. Just the man for the job. We set him up with the biggest platter in the kitchen, sat back, and watched in awe. I'll let the reader decide whether or not he finished it all, but in the end Scott's appetite was satisfied, the batter bowl empty and we had a subject for today's blog.

Happy gorging,
Michael