Smokey Bear Slept Here

Yes, Smokey Bear slept here in September of 1992. Well, actually, Smokey's creator Rudy Wendelin slept here. Artist Rudy Wendelin helped conceive and draw the US Forest Service mascot and spokesman for 40 years. He took Smokey from a bear cub to an animated protector of the US Forests. Mr. Wendelin was born in 1910 and died in 2000, but in 1992, he slept at Clearwater Lodge. He left us this little drawing in the guest book of the room he stayed in.

It says....

Thanks to Clearwater Lodge

.....and all my forest fire

preventing friends!

Smokey

by Rudolph Wendelin

9-9-92 who slept here

Winter Camping

The Plahn Party took their annual winter camping trip starting on Clearwater Lake. They skiied to West Pike and set up camp on West Pike for some fishing. This picture was taken before they started out. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to see them when they returned but they left a note that they saw 11 wolves (2 packs) and 9 Bald Eagles.

Cabin and Lodge Books

In every lodge room and every cabin, we have a book where we invite our guests to make comments on what they did while visiting and record thoughts. Although I rarely seem to have time to read the books, I do try from time to time because they are so interesting. When we first bought Clearwater Lodge, I read the book in Cabin 6 where Peg and Mike had been bringing their family for years and I read all the kids notes about what they did when they were little and spending such wonderful vacations in MN at Clearwater Lodge.

Well, I can't get into the cabins during the winter but I have been reading the books in the lodge. Sometimes there are wonderful drawing, sometimes comments on the big fish that were caught or got away. Some of the best enties are from the kids who write what they enjoyed and did. In October 2006 Mike Hardy from Vicksburg, MI wrote this poem before a canoe trip with his son and I so enjoyed reading it again today as I was cleaning the room. We were expecting 8 inches of snow the day of their canoe trip.

If it were just the snow I'd say 'let's go"
What if ? "heavy wind may become our trips end"
Let this adventure unfold. We'll be bold in the cold.
Let us use some common sense! guess we are still on the fence.
A vision of white, lakeshore provides yet another beautiful site.
The waters await as we ponder our fate.
With God by our side our journey is great.
No matter what we decide as we sit here fireside,
We've had some some fun
Just being Father and Son.

MN Fishing License Changes

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers that their 2007 fishing and shelter licenses are good through April 30th, 2008. The State legislature changed the statute last session, so it was not reflected in the 2007 Fishing Regulations Handbook, already in print at the time of the change. The statute now states that the license year begins on March 1st and ends on April 30th of the following year.

We do issue fishing licenses. It is much easier to issue a fishing license if you have your DNR number from your previous year license. So, don't throw that old license away, bring it with you when you get a new one.