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Best view of the crowd and racers at the Gunflint Trail Canoe Races was from the rescue boat. Photo courtesy of Chad Kieper
While the weather was iffy to start, and the wind kept the water choppy, more than hundred people registered to race and several hundred more came to watch and cheer at the 2022 Gunflint Trail Canoe Races. After a two-year hiatus, this annual event that benefits the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department (GTVFD), raised substantial funds from raffles, t-shirt and food sales. This was the 43rd time for the Races along the Trail.
The funds will be used to support the volunteer EMTs, EMRs, fire trucks, ambulances and three Fire Halls along the Gunflint Trail. “We greatly appreciate the hard work and contributions of the many volunteers and visitors that help us improve the fire department and rescue squad every year,” said GTVFD Chief Jim Morrison,
The 16 different canoe races for multiple ages and abilities provided the action the crowd hoped for, and they cheered on their favorites. New this year was the coveted Trail Cup, a competition among resorts and outfitters along the Gunflint Trail. Voyageurs Canoe Outfitters took the Cup, with a second-place tie for Menogyn and Gunflint Lodge.
As the food tent went down at end of the event, Libby Sullivan poses with the Paddleboard won by her 3-year-old nephew Theo Gurgen. Photos courtesy of Vi Nelson
The food tent, with a flavorful Mexican-style entrée by the Gunflint Lodge culinary team, was sold out before the last race. Another sell-out was the snappy souvenir Canoe Races t-shirt. This year’s new logo was created by Libby Sullivan of Seagull Lake.
Libby also held the winning raffle ticket for the Potager Paddle North paddleboard which she accepted on behalf of her 3-year-old nephew, ticketholder Theo Gergen, of Minneapolis. Theo will certainly “grow into it,” said Libby. The second raffle for a Kestrel-120 By Current Design Kayak was won by John and Rose Schloot, former owners of Cross River Lodge (now Borderland Lodge).
Additional raffle tickets are still available for a cozy, homey queen-size “Hygge on the Gunflint Trail” quilt made by the Gunflint Trail Quilters. Complete with matching shams it exudes warmth through woodsy scenes and iconic Buffalo plaid. The winning ticket will be drawn on August 1, 2022, and tickets are at various resorts and Trail Center.
The Canoe Races are great for reunions. Left to right: Bruce Kerfoot, Dick and Ronny Smith and Sue Kerfoot.
An active steering committee of Gunflint Trail residents organized the 2022 Gunflint Trail Canoe Races. Visit Cook County and WTIP-North Shore Radio, broadcasting live from the Races, also helped make the event such a success this year.
As this year’s overall chairman, Craig Kirchhoff, president of Gunflint Lake Property Owners, concluded, “we are all so glad to bring back our Gunflint Trail Canoe Races. They have always told a real success story of how our Gunflint Trail Community works together to make living in the wilderness an even better experience for residents and visitors alike.”
Lots of canines, like Linus Muttasaurus of Gunflint Lake, enjoyed the races and the crowds of adoring fans.
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