As the snow banks recede, we are seeing more natural ground each day, but it is going to take some April showers and sunshine to start the melting process. There is an awful lot of snow in the woods still and the lake ice is just as thick as it was in February.
Shoulder seasons in northern Minnesota can be brutally long, and this spring will prove to be no different. I watch the kids ride their bikes on the only dry patch of gravel in our driveway after school as they dream about the summer ahead. “It won’t be long,” I tell them with confidence as they circle me on their bicycles, but the truth is that any amount of time seems like an eternity to anxious children.
Thanks to the YMCA our seasonally depressed children can “get their sillies” out before coming home from school. Shooting hoops in the gymnasium or taking a few laps in the pool is a great way to get some exercise while entertaining the children, and a chance for parents to unwind from their hectic day as well. It is a great routine for our family during the boring weeks of spring and an opportunity for me to shed some of the extra weight I gained over the winter.
Soon there will be some hiking opportunities arising as the snow melts, especially along Highway 61. We had guests hike to Devil’s Kettle this week and said the trail was mostly clear and the water was flowing fast. It was a little muddy, but there were no bugs to fight off and they weren’t dripping with sweat from the heat of summer. No matter the season, there is always something to do in Cook County.
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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