I am settled in cabin 7 for a couple of weeks until Peg and Mike come up and we get the heat running in the lodge and the water on. I have my office set up on the dining room table. Yesterday when I was sitting here just merrily typing away on my PC, a beautiful, golden colored, pine martin came right up to the door to look in the cabin. I wasn't swift enough with my camera to get a picture before he scampered off but I think he is holed up under the deck of the cabin for the winter. I have been putting food out for him each night and it is gone in the morning. I have my camera ready in case he comes back during the day.
The American Pine Martin is a meat eater that belongs to the weasel family. They are a small predator about 24 inches from nose to tail and golden brown fur with a yellow chest. He has a small body with rounded ears that makes him one of our 'cutest' predators. That is he is very cute until he decides to bare his teeth and then you know he is a predator!
Martins eat mice, chipmunks, squirrels and insects. In the summer months he will eat seeds and berries. Mine likes chicken bones and steak bones I found. Hopefully I can get a photo of him soon.
Bob and Marti told us the story that once they had a pine martin the basement of the lodge. They set up the live trap to catch him, but left the live trap in the kitchen and forgot to move it to the basement of the lodge. The next morning, yes you guessed it, there was a pine martin in the trap in the kitchen hissing and splitting. I prefer to enjoy mine through a solid door and not quite that up close. We also make sure that those basement doors are secure so any visitors to the old cellar don't make it into the kitchen.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Back at the Lodge
I (Lynn) am back at the lodge after a winter in Indiana. Shortly before I returned, there was a spring blizzard and 18 inches of snow. My neighbor tried to plow me out but the snow was so wet and deep he was able to plow a parking spot for me in the front of the lodge. In the week that I have been here the weather has been beautiful with temperatures in the 40's and 5o's. Last night was the first night that it did not get below freezing.
Although there is still over two feet of snow in the shade and in the woods, about a foot has melted since I have been here and I actually saw some grass around the lodge.
It is good to be back to the Northwoods!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Gunflint Green Up May 1 - 3
It may be snowing on the Gunflint Trail now, but Spring will come and with it, Gunflint Green Up. We invite you to join us May 1-2, along the Gunflint Trail; we'll be planting trees, releasing some of the 75,000 planted last year and celebrating our community. http://www.gunflintgreenup.com/ There are many meaningful things going on.
Friday, May 1
1:30-5:00 Green Living Fair at the Gunflint Conference Center
5:30-7:30 Welcome Picnic at the Big Top at Gunflint Lodge with music by the Sivertones
7:30 Howard Sivertson shares his stories and images picked up along the shore
Saturday, May 2
9:30 Planting and releasing trees at assigned locations along the Gunflint Trail
5:30-7:30 Thank You Dinner at the Big Top at Gunflint Lodge with music by Gerald Thilmany
7:30 Celebration of the day's accomplishments and the Superior National Forest's 100th Anniversary
8:00 Dance to The Trail's End Band
All participants must register to take part in the program. This year the registration options include ala carte meals, and an option to "plant only". Participants can register for the Gunflint Green Up online at http://www.gunflintgreenup.com/. The registration fee for all meals and programs is $40 per individual or $100 per family (1- 2 adults and their children 16 years of age and younger) and includes Friday's Green Living Fair, dinner, evening presentation, Saturday tree planting, box lunch, dinner, dance, and t-shirt. Please visit the website for ala carte options. Registration deadline is Earth Day, April 22.
Planting a tree is a meaningful experience, please join us for this community building event.
Friday, May 1
1:30-5:00 Green Living Fair at the Gunflint Conference Center
5:30-7:30 Welcome Picnic at the Big Top at Gunflint Lodge with music by the Sivertones
7:30 Howard Sivertson shares his stories and images picked up along the shore
Saturday, May 2
9:30 Planting and releasing trees at assigned locations along the Gunflint Trail
5:30-7:30 Thank You Dinner at the Big Top at Gunflint Lodge with music by Gerald Thilmany
7:30 Celebration of the day's accomplishments and the Superior National Forest's 100th Anniversary
8:00 Dance to The Trail's End Band
All participants must register to take part in the program. This year the registration options include ala carte meals, and an option to "plant only". Participants can register for the Gunflint Green Up online at http://www.gunflintgreenup.com/. The registration fee for all meals and programs is $40 per individual or $100 per family (1- 2 adults and their children 16 years of age and younger) and includes Friday's Green Living Fair, dinner, evening presentation, Saturday tree planting, box lunch, dinner, dance, and t-shirt. Please visit the website for ala carte options. Registration deadline is Earth Day, April 22.
Planting a tree is a meaningful experience, please join us for this community building event.
Monday, March 16, 2009
An investment in our Superior National Forest
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Superior National Forest and Minnesota Conservation Corps
March 12, 2009
Contacts:
Kris Reichenbach, Superior National Forest 218.626.4393
Tim Johnson-Grass, Minnesota Conservation Corps 651.209.9900 ext. 18
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds Superior National Forest Trail Maintenance
in Partnership with Minnesota Conservation Corps through the recently-passed ‘‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,’’ $557,000 of funding will be used to improve conditions on the Superior National Forest’s extensive trail system, including hiking, portage, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ATV, and interpretive trails. Work will be performed through a partnership with Minnesota Conservations Corps (MCC).
Trail work will involve brushing, tread work, installation of water control structures, boardwalk reconstruction, and trail sign maintenance in various areas of the Superior National Forest. A few specific sites include the Kekekabic Trail, Whiteface Campground Hiking Trail, Franklin Lake ATV Trail, and Cascade River Ski Trail.
“This project exemplifies the objectives of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by providing jobs that will maintain and improve existing trails on the Superior National Forest for years. Additionally, young adults employed through MCC to work on this project will gain valuable skills and an appreciation for natural resource management,” said Jim Sanders, Forest Supervisor for the Superior National Forest.
Funds will be awarded to the MCC within seven days, but actual work will not begin until around June 1 and will run throughout the year.
MCC’s AmeriCorps program provides hands-on environmental stewardship and service-learning opportunities to young adults, ages 18 to 25, while accomplishing conservation, natural resource management and emergency response work. In addition to job-skills gained, MCC crew members receive professional certifications such as wildfire suppression, chain-saw safety and first aid. The service they provide restores and improves access to natural resources while changing the lives of young people.
“We’ll be increasing the number of young adults we employ in conservation work by almost 50 percent,” says Tim Johnson-Grass, MCC Operations Manager. “Our corps members are committed to service and proud of their work ¯ that is why they’re in this program. The trails that they maintain and improve in the Superior National Forest will be enjoyed for generations.” For more information about Minnesota Conservation Corps and seasonal trail crews, visit <http://www.conservationcorps.orghttp://www.conservationcorps.org/.
This project was one of several Forest Service projects submitted for funding under the Act. The intent is to help put people back to work, while also providing long-term benefits in terms of developing new skills, enhancing local resources, or adding value to communities, counties, and partners.
Nationally, almost $63 million worth of Forest Service projects creating hundreds of private-sector jobs have already been funded. The remaining projects to be funded, valued at $1.052 billion, will be announced in the coming weeks and are expected to create approximately 23,500 more jobs nationwide. Additional information about how the Forest Service is involved in implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/
Superior National Forest and Minnesota Conservation Corps
March 12, 2009
Contacts:
Kris Reichenbach, Superior National Forest 218.626.4393
Tim Johnson-Grass, Minnesota Conservation Corps 651.209.9900 ext. 18
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds Superior National Forest Trail Maintenance
in Partnership with Minnesota Conservation Corps through the recently-passed ‘‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,’’ $557,000 of funding will be used to improve conditions on the Superior National Forest’s extensive trail system, including hiking, portage, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ATV, and interpretive trails. Work will be performed through a partnership with Minnesota Conservations Corps (MCC).
Trail work will involve brushing, tread work, installation of water control structures, boardwalk reconstruction, and trail sign maintenance in various areas of the Superior National Forest. A few specific sites include the Kekekabic Trail, Whiteface Campground Hiking Trail, Franklin Lake ATV Trail, and Cascade River Ski Trail.
“This project exemplifies the objectives of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by providing jobs that will maintain and improve existing trails on the Superior National Forest for years. Additionally, young adults employed through MCC to work on this project will gain valuable skills and an appreciation for natural resource management,” said Jim Sanders, Forest Supervisor for the Superior National Forest.
Funds will be awarded to the MCC within seven days, but actual work will not begin until around June 1 and will run throughout the year.
MCC’s AmeriCorps program provides hands-on environmental stewardship and service-learning opportunities to young adults, ages 18 to 25, while accomplishing conservation, natural resource management and emergency response work. In addition to job-skills gained, MCC crew members receive professional certifications such as wildfire suppression, chain-saw safety and first aid. The service they provide restores and improves access to natural resources while changing the lives of young people.
“We’ll be increasing the number of young adults we employ in conservation work by almost 50 percent,” says Tim Johnson-Grass, MCC Operations Manager. “Our corps members are committed to service and proud of their work ¯ that is why they’re in this program. The trails that they maintain and improve in the Superior National Forest will be enjoyed for generations.” For more information about Minnesota Conservation Corps and seasonal trail crews, visit <http://www.conservationcorps.orghttp://www.conservationcorps.org/.
This project was one of several Forest Service projects submitted for funding under the Act. The intent is to help put people back to work, while also providing long-term benefits in terms of developing new skills, enhancing local resources, or adding value to communities, counties, and partners.
Nationally, almost $63 million worth of Forest Service projects creating hundreds of private-sector jobs have already been funded. The remaining projects to be funded, valued at $1.052 billion, will be announced in the coming weeks and are expected to create approximately 23,500 more jobs nationwide. Additional information about how the Forest Service is involved in implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/
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