Spring cleaning is never enjoyable, but it was at least comforting to know that the weather was too nasty to be working outside this week. I think it would have been difficult convincing our staff, and myself, to work inside had the sun been shining.
It has been strange for me to see the lakes open, and not be preparing my guide boat for a busy summer of guided fishing. Instead, I am designing new menu items for the restaurant, cleaning gutters, and interviewing cooks to work in the kitchen this summer. I will most certainly miss my previous career on the water, but I am also excited for the next chapter ahead – especially since the new plan comes with a better potential for retiring some day, since fishing guides never actually retire.
Rachelle and I both learned a lot about owning, and raising a family in a lodge/restaurant this winter, and will continue to learn as the business, and our family grow together.
Operating a restaurant is similar to having your first child in the sense that you are never truly “ready,” and was likely advised that it is more work than you could ever imagine – which is both very true. I have never been one to take advice, good or bad – must be the Swede in me.
Our local forecast is calling for warmer days next week, which should make it safe to open winterized cabins and begin testing wildfire sprinkler systems. The overnight lows are not supposed to be below freezing, and it would take temperatures in the teens to cause a hard enough freeze to actually damage the sprinkler systems.
It is comforting to get an early jumpstart on testing the wildfire systems each spring since there could be repairs to deal with, and this weekend will reflect the 10th anniversary of the Ham Lake fire.
It was unusual to have such dry conditions in May, but it happened before… and it could happen again.
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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