Winter is around the corner

Our Fall is over. The trees are bare and we had our first snow. The snow didn't accumulate or even stick to the ground, but I marked my calendar for the first snowfall. Looking back at my calendar last year, we had an ice storm right about this time.

I am still working on the final items to close everything down for the winter. I check something off my list every day. A lot of this is outside work and it is nice to enjoy the crisp cool weather before we got socked in the for winter months.

This picture is from Alan and Judie Johnston from their visit in September.

Snow in our forecast

When I was driving down the trail today I was enjoying the last of the fall colors but I kept thinking that winter was just around the corner. Back at the lodge I checked my trusty mid-Trail weather forecast and yup, there is snow in the future - tonight. I frequently feel that we got from summer right into winter some years. I could use a longer fall season.

We are in what I call 'winter mode'. The summer cabins are closed up and cabin 7 and the lodge are now open for winter. Peggy and Mike are back in OH for the next 6 months enjoying the grandson Isaiah. Outfitting is pretty much closed up although we do have a few intrepid paddlers out there coming back in over the next few days.

We have had rain, boy have we had rain. September broke all types of records and I heard from 12' to 20' inches in different places on the trail. It has been raining non-stop for the past 3 days and that is what may turn into snow tonight. The docks on Aspen Lake as I drove by today are underwater. Clearwater Lake is filling up nicely but our docks must be higher because there is no threat of them being under water yet. After the Ham Lake Fire this spring and the Cavity Lake Fire last August, I have told myself I will never complain about rain again - so this is NOT a complaint.

We have certainly broken our drought cycle. It makes me wonder how much snow we will have this winter if this keeps up. You will have to come and see!

Broad Wing Hawk

This picture of a broad-winged hawk was sent to us by Al and Judie Johnston following their stay at Clearwater.

Changes to BWCA Permits in 2008

Beginning in 2008, permit fees for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness will be:

Adult per trip fee: $16.00
Youth per trip fee: $8.00
Adult Seasonal Fee Card: $64.00
Youth Seasonal Fee Card: $32.00

This increase of the cost of the permit, which is still very reasonable, is based upon the Consumer Index. User fees generated through this program come directly back to the Forest and help to fund the wilderness management program, including staffing with wilderness rangers, and funding campsite and portage maintenance, permit issuance, and wilderness education programs.

Another change for 2008 is the permit lottery will begin on December 1st 2007. In the past the lottery has begun on November 1st.