With the turn of the seasons and the fall of the snow, visitor questions at the Forest Service change from “When is the peak of fall color?” to “When were the ski and snowmobile trails groomed?” The only color of interest right now is snow-white. Snow levels right now vary a lot across the forest.
There was heavy snow in the southern areas, but along the border, there was relatively little – which makes it very hard to answer that question about ski and snowmobile trails. Most of our trails, with George Washington Pines being an exception, are groomed by trail partners and not by the Forest Service. Partnering with other organizations is a great way to have trails groomed faster than we could do on our own. It also means your best source for up to the minute information about trail conditions is to ask the trail partner.
If you visit the webpage for the trail in which you are interested on our website, there will be links to the trail partner’s webpage which will have the current condition of that trail system. The front desk people at the ranger stations also have much of that information if you call or stop in.
If you are an ice fisherman, you’re probably already aware of the down side of getting a lot of snow early. The heavy snow layer acts as insulation on top of the lake, and prevents a good hard freeze. Instead, you can end up with a layer of slush, which is no fun to get stuck in.
If you are planning to go out on the ice, be very careful. Ice thickness is highly variable right now, with some areas frozen to thicknesses of at least 8 inches, but other areas only having a skin of ice, or actual open water. Be prepared and be ready to self-rescue if you go through the ice. Try to float flat on your belly in the hole you made and “swim” yourself out lying down onto thicker ice. This is where ice spikes in your hands can really help. It is hard to climb out using spikes, but it is much easier to drag yourself lying down across the ice if you have them.
While we worry about thin ice on the lake, we also worry about any ice on the road. Roads are frozen now, so there’s a nice firm surface, but predictions are for some “wintry mix” weather, which could mean ice on roads. Drive with caution, and assume that bad road conditions are right around every corner.
Outside the forest, check the MN 511 app for winter road conditions.
I love having snow in the forest. With snow, you can suddenly see animals which in the summer are virtually invisible. It’s fun to see the appearance of hundreds of mouse tracks from mice who have really been here all the time. It is unusual to see a pine marten or a mink, but it is common to find their tracks as well as those of invisible weasel family members. And, of course, the intensely focused tracks of wolves, so alike, yet worlds away from the exuberant, aimless wandering tracks of domestic dogs.
Snowshoe hare tracks show up as well in places where there’s young edible plant growth, such as recently harvested parts of the forest. Following the hare are the furry saucer-shaped paw prints of a lynx. If you see lynx tracks, take a photo of them, and report them to us. Throw something in the picture for scale: A quarter, a dollar bill, or a pocket knife all work – or if you have a plastic Smokey ruler that Smokey tossed to you during the parade in July, that’ll work best – and then set your phone to record the location of the photo.
Our blanket of snow has also insulated some swampy areas, preventing them from freezing. These wet spots are interfering with some snowmobile trails, and even with some timber harvests. There is some activity, though, which is putting trucks onto the forest roads. On the Tofte District, expect haul trucks on the Trappers Lake Road, Wanless Road, the Evergreen/Mistletoe Road, and the Caribou Trail. Gunflint will have trucks on the Lima Grade, Greenwood Road, Firebox Road, Blueberry Road, Sunfish Lake Road, and the Hall Road.
Last, but not least, it’s the season for holiday greenery! Christmas tree permits are available to harvest a Christmas tree in the forest. If this isn’t a family tradition already, this could be the year to start one. Balsam firs smell so much better than a plastic tree, and they are 100 percent biodegradable.
If you have a fourth-grader in your family, Superior National Forest is again offering free tree permits to fourth-graders through the Every Kid Outdoors program. Visit the Every Kid Outdoors website to get a voucher which can be turned into a pass good for admission to national forests and national parks across the country, as well as the free tree.
You can also purchase a permit to harvest balsam fir boughs for family wreaths; additional permits are needed for commercial use. When you are harvesting holiday greenery, remember that you may not harvest the clubmoss “Princess Pine” (a common wreath “ingredient”) on the forest, and you also can’t cut white pine or cedar for your Christmas tree.
Additional information is on our website or available when you pick up a permit.
Enjoy the snow, and your Superior National Forest!
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