July 15 was a cool, cloudy and windy day but the Gunflint Trail Canoe Races went on with paddlers, workers and attendees flexible dealing with the weather. The gunnel pumpers bounced on the waves and long distance paddlers had to really dig. Once again it was a great celebration of the northland’s canoeing tradition.
But thanks to 86 Canoe Race workers clad in lime green T-shirts the event went off smoothly. Organized under the detailed leadership of Bob and Sharon Baker, the concessions made $14,000 for the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department to be used to help fund a new fire truck, restrooms for the three fire stations and towers for emergency communications.
The race committee wishes to thank the whole community for support: Gunflint Lodge for hosting the event at their waterfront, the paddlers, the 86 volunteers, those who attended, Wenonah Canoes for the canoe donation, WTIP, Boreal, the Cook County News Herald and the many groups which made donations to the raffle. It was a worthy group effort that will help the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department carry on its important fire and rescue work.
Julie Henricksson Gunflint Trail Canoe Race Committee
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