Welcome to the Gunflint Trail! Through this blog I will be introducing (or perhaps reacquainting) you to life on the Gunflint Trail in the northestern corner of the state. The Trail starts in Grand Marais on Lake Superior and heads northwest for about 60 miles where it dead ends. It's a corridor through a myriad of lakes, the Boundary Wates Canoe Area Wilderness, private homes, resorts, campgrounds and canoe outfitters. Residents and visitors to the area are active participants in outdoor activities like fishing, hunting and canoeing. They also are fierce protectors of their natural environment. So come along with me and we'll explore the Gunflint Trail.
The fishing season has not opened yet. That is scheduled for May 9th. Most of the lakes still have ice on them but it is very rotten ice. Several rains in the past week have turned the ice black. Bud Darling from Way of the Wilderness Outfitters told me that Saganaga Lake probably will be open by the 9th. Commonly, these lakes go out in a sequence. Bud explained that Gull Lake (which feeds into Saganaga) is about 1/2 open. After Gull Lake opens, Saganaga opens about one week later. We had rain yesterday and last night so that will speed the process along. It is a really windy day today and that will help too.
This weekend on the Trail is devoted to the Gunflint Green Up. In 2006 and 2007 the Gunflint Trail had two forest fires. Local residents led by Nancy Seaton of the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byways Committee decided it was time to give Mother Nature a helping hand. In 2008 on the anniversry of the Ham Lake Fire, about 450 people gathered to plant 50,000 trees in the burned over areas. It was a tremendous success.
I was lucky enough to plant with some Girl Scouts from Grand Marais. They sang, planted and ate all day long. These young girls set the standard for being stewards of the forest. In 20 years they will be able to bring their children back and say, "I planted that tree."
On Friday people from all over will be gathering on the Gunflint Trail and in Grand Marais for the 2nd Annual Gunflint Green Up. Between 300 and 400 people are expected. On Saturday they will plant about 35,000 trees. They will also "release" trees that were planted last year. Releasing is a process that cuts down the broad-leafed plants around pine seedlings. These pines are then exposed to more sunlight for better growth.
And don't worry about the weather for our planters. Last year it poured rain on Friday night. Saturday there were several inches of snow but everyone appeared ready to plant and appropriately dressed. There weren't any fashion statements. It was just a bunch of people ready to go to work and have a good time at it. Maybe we'll see you next year.