It has been a beautiful week on the Gunflint Trail with plenty of sunshine, and just enough rain to turn the grass green. The birch and aspen trees are beginning to bud as the forest absorbs the remaining moisture left by the winter season.
We discovered there is still a trace of snow lingering in the shadows of the trees, while hiking the steep trail that leads to Honeymoon Bluff, overlooking Hungry Jack Lake. Rachelle and I choose short hikes for our two little children, who often give-up after 10 minutes of walking anywhere. They are getting better as they grow, but I am still forced to bribe them with some type of reward for putting in the effort to hike a trail—this time it was ice cream at Trail Center.
Rachelle and I have waited four years now to take a family BWCA camping trip, and we now believe the kids are going to be ready for an adventure this summer. The short family hikes are actually an attempt to prepare the kids for such a vacation, and to let them discover the beauty of spending time in the wilderness. I am sure many people have camped the B-Dub with younger children, but I know my kids well enough to realize they would not enjoy this type of vacation, and I do not want to ruin it by forcing it on them.
Short hikes to beautiful spots are a good way to get kids excited about camping. Tails from the Trail columnist Cory Christianson did just that recently with a hike to Honeymoon Bluff.
In order to accommodate everyone, I think camping on Seagull Lake for three days would be a good choice for a starter trip. We would not have to portage, which allows us to bring more gear, including a cooler full of real food instead of dehydrated stuff since they are picky eaters. The campsites near Alpine portage are beautiful, with excellent fishing—and if it becomes a disaster we are only a couple of hours away from the truck.
Timing is everything, and it would be ideal to beat the bug season while the evenings are still cool enough to enjoy a nice campfire with s’mores and scary stories. Everyone tells us how fast their children grew up, and we are seeing the truth in their advice each year. Before we know it our kids will be all grownup. It is our job to make some memories with them that will last a lifetime.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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