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".

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.

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 .

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