Christmas is right around the corner, and it looks like we are in for a white one after all. Snowstorms are brewing for next week in the tune of eight inches which should be enough snow to cover downtown Grand Marais in a blanket of white for the holidays.
Over the hill, the snow has endured the warm weather, and a short drive up the Gunflint Trail feels more like traveling through seasons, as the brown grass becomes white snow.
Nordic skiers have already been enjoying nicely groomed trails, ice anglers are safely fishing their favorite walleye lakes, and a few brave snowmobilers have been riding the un-groomed trails.
The lake ice has continued to grow with many lakes sporting over 12 inches of ice, despite the warm-up last week, and the local future hockey stars have been using our little skate rink in front of Skyport Lodge. The lake ice is flat, other than a crack leaving behind a 2-inchwide gap across our rink, and the kids have been skating every night after school for an hour before the beautiful pink sunsets over Devil Track Lake.
There is no better place to watch the stunning sunsets on Devil Track Lake than Skyport Lodge during Happy Hour. The blaze orange sun turns to pink as it settles below the tree line while illuminating the barren ice patches to create a sea of pink before the darkness prevails.
It truly is a magnificent event that I rarely miss seeing from our dining room windows.
The phone has been ringing off the hook with inquiries about sledding, and we have reluctantly been telling folks to wait for more snow. If the forecasted snowfall next week is correct, the winter season will officially begin, and trailers full of snowmobiles will be en route to enjoy the fresh powder.
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. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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