We asked for rain this spring and we sure got it. While our neighbors to the south are suffering from a drought we somehow managed to get enough precipitation, thus far, to keep our woods green. The trees in the forest are flaunting their vibrant leaves while the new branches stretch for the sun. The summer growth is peaking and the woods are full of new growth. It is exciting to see the voids filling in with life, slowly but surely.
The Blowdown Storm of 1999 devastated a lot of acreage in the B-Dub as well as the Gunflint Trail. Our property on top of Loon Lake received its share of damage during that storm and was professionally logged afterwards. I am not aware of many other blowdown areas that have been logged, but I can tell you that our property has really come alive this year. The aspen are growing like weeds and are pushing 20-plus feet tall. The birch are a few feet shorter and are really “bushing out” this summer. Even the countless pine and tamarack that we have planted are showing a lot of new growth.
I held on to one giant white pine that survived the mighty blow. The top third is lifeless and every year it grows a little more moss on its dead limbs. It is one of six survivors on the ridge line that crosses into my neighbor’s property so I have never had the heart to knock it down. My driveway is built around the old soldier, and someday it will be turned into a tree house. I will most likely wait until the kids move out so that I do not have to share it. The big white represents what used to thrive on this hilltop. I know I will never see the trees I have planted grow this big, but somebody will.
The areas that have been replanted are showing some excellent growth as well. It is very noticeable by the North Gunflint Lake Road. This stretch of the Gunflint Trail has been planted and maintained which is why it is growing so nicely. That area used to be one of my favorites (before the storm) with the high cliffs in the background. It was a neat stretch of highway. The “Green-Up” efforts have also been vital to the accelerated growth of the forest. I know that a lot of people prefer to let Mother Nature clean herself up, but the areas that were treated sure look nice.
The burnt north shore of Gunflint Lake (which I thought would be sterile) is even showing some impressive signs of life. The Ham Lake Fire scorched this shoreline so badly that it has resembled the moon for the past few years, and now it is green. Old growth takes a lot of years, hence “old growth,” but it is neat to see how Mother Nature adapts and survives such devastating tragedies.
Saganaga Lake is a good representation of regrowth rates after a forest fire. The Roy Lake fire of 1976 (which is over by Devils Walk Bay) shows you 36 years of growth. There was the 1995 Sag Corridor Fire that looks much different with only 17 years of growth and of course Ham Lake which is still too fresh to talk about. Slowly but surely it all comes back.
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.
Leave a Reply