A brief, but severe storm passed through Cook County on Sunday, June 19, leaving downed trees and power lines in its wake. The storm also resulted in a fatality and injuries to campers at two different Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) sites.
Cook County Law Enforcement received back-to-back emergency calls. At 10:25, Cook County Law Enforcement dispatchers received a call reporting that there was a deceased person and a severely injured person on the northwest side of Duncan Lake. Duncan Lake is in the mid-Gunflint Trail area one portage off of Bearskin Lake, in an area that allows use of boat motors. Emergency responders were able to use the pontoon boat at YMCA Camp Menogyn to motor to the portage and from there traveled by foot and canoes the rest of the way.
As the available volunteers were scrambling to stage at Bearskin Lake to trek into Duncan, a second call was received reporting that another camper had been struck in the chest by a fallen tree. This incident was on Clove Lake further up the Gunflint Trail.
The rescue required a 45-minute paddle through Larch Creek across Larch Lake and then another half an hour to portage gear and canoes to Clove Lake. To complicate matters lightning during the storm had knocked out the area’s communications tower.
The three closest members of the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department (GTVFD) responded to Clove Lake while other responders went on to Duncan.
Joining the GTVFD team were three U.S. Forest Service personnel and the two campers who had paddled out from Clove Lake for help. The trek to Clove Lake was hampered by three beaver dams in the river that had to be traversed and half a dozen trees on the portage trail. Using bow saws and manpower, responders cleared the portage and made their way to the injured man.
The man’s ankle was in a makeshift splint and he had significant bruising on his chest. Not knowing the severity of the injuries, responders got the man on a backboard and loaded into the canoe. Although paddling into the increasing wind was difficult, the most treacherous part of the rescue was carrying the patient on the backboard across the narrow and rocky portage. On the left side of the path was a steep drop to the river and the right, a series of trees and rocks. With six men carrying the backboard with a spotter in front and one in back, responders gingerly made their way out, stopping every 30 yards or so to change personnel. By this time the mosquitos had found them and that also made the trek challenging.
The Clove Lake rescuers finally made their way to land and to the waiting Gunflint Ambulance at 2:41 a.m. The injured man was transported to North Shore Health.
GTVFD responders were pleased to learn that their patient is making a speedy recovery.
That was sadly not the case for the call at Duncan Lake where responders learned that four people were at the campsite, two adult males and two juvenile males—fathers and sons on a Father’s Day camping trip—when the storm’s high winds snapped a mature white pine off at the trunk, killing Craig Anthony Walz, 43, of Rochester, Minnesota.
The tree also struck and severely injured his son, 14-year-old Jacob Walz.
YMCA Camp Menogyn staff assisted in getting the uninjured campers and transporting the young patient out of the wilderness to the Cook County Ambulance. Jacob Walz was transported to North Shore Health and then flown by medical helicopter to Essentia – St. Mary’s Hospital.
Due to violent weather and water conditions, recovering Walz’s body was delayed until daylight due to safety concerns. Recovery resumed at 5 a.m. and Walz’s body was transported to North Shore Health for coroner review. No foul play is suspected and the investigation of the incident has been closed.
According to the Rochester Post Bulletin, Craig Walz was a teacher at St. Charles High School and he was known for his outgoing personality and passion for helping students.
At press time, an Essentia – St. Mary’s Hospital spokesperson said Jacob’s condition was serious. A CaringBridge site established for Jacob shared that he has had surgery on his hip and pelvis and that the surgery went well. However, the young man has a long recovery ahead.
A few days after the event, Michael Valentini of the GTVFD told the Cook County News-Herald, “In retrospect the GTVFD responders were put to the test that night using our limited resources to the fullest.
“This has been a very unusual June for us. We have had a very high number of emergency calls and most of them involving dire life-threatening situations. As a department we rely on the countless hours of training and past experiences to offer our community the comfort of knowing we’re here to offer aid when needed.
“The Gunflint Trail community in return has been very generous in their support of our department and our needs as they arrive. It’s a mutually good arrangement for all of us,” he said.
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