Ten years ago the Ham Lake fire devastated the forest on the upper portion of the Gunflint Trail. To celebrate the regrowth of the area there will be a commemorative event, held at the Seagull Lake Community Center on Saturday, May 6. The Ham Run will also be held the same day.
More than 75,000 acres in the Superior National Forest, near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota and across the border in Ontario burned during the Ham Lake fire in early May 2007. The Ham Lake fire was the second largest forest fire in Minnesota since 1918.
Visitors are invited to gather with the local community for an all-day event to celebrate the 10-year anniversary at the Ham Run and Ham Lake Fire Celebration of Community on the Gunflint Trail on Saturday, May 6, 2017.
The Ham Run is Cook County’s first running event of the season, offering three distance options: a 13-mile Half Marathon, a 5k Fun Run and the Little Runts Run for kids. “Participants get to experience the rebirth of lush young greenery, which covers and replaces nearly all of the charred landscape along the course. The half marathon comes with serious bragging rights for its rugged terrain and extreme spring weather!” says Linda Jurek, executive director for Visit Cook County. Ham Run Race Schedule
At 10 a.m. on Saturday the Ham Run Half Marathon will start at Gunflint Pines Resort.
Also at 10 a.m. the 5k Fun Run will start at Seagull Creek Fishing Camp.
Both races will cross the finish line at Trail’s End Campground and Way of the Wilderness Canoe Outfitters, and awards will be given to the top overall male and female finishers and the top finishers in each age division. A ham dinner will be held after the races, which will be free for all registered runners.
Registration for the half marathon and the 5k Fun Run is open from March 23 – April 19, 2017 and costs $50-$70. A Celebration of Community: Remembering the 2007 Ham Lake Fire
Following the races will be a Ham Lake fire commemorative event “A Celebration of Community: Remembering the 2007 Ham Lake Fire” at the Seagull Lake Community Center, 7 Seagull Lake Access Road on the Gunflint Trail from 3 to 6 p.m. A Ham Lake fire interpretive sign will be unveiled. The sign will be permanently displayed at the Gunflint Lake/Magnetic Lake Overlook and parking area on the Gunflint Trail. During the event, all those involved in the Ham Lake fire will be invited to share their memories.
This winter community members have been gathering stories, photos and videos for an extensive exhibit at the Chik-Wauk Museum on the Gunflint Trail, which will have a grand opening celebration on July 2, 2017. Anyone with experiences related to the Ham Lake fire of 2007 is encouraged to share their stories and photos at www.hamlakefire.org.
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