The landscape has become slightly less colorful as more and more leaves find their way to the ground each day. One good blow of wind could take away the last birch and aspen leaves, leaving only tamarack trees to show their brilliant golden needles, as the season of color slips away.
I was fortunate enough to savor the sunshine this week while closing cabins on the Gunflint Trail, which is a nice way to end the season. Cabin owners are using their “summer” cabins later each year, because the fall is so spectacular, leaving a short window to drain water systems before risking hard overnight freezes that could damage the plumbing.
The mornings have been chilly with overnight frosts unable to withstand the rising sun. It amazes me that we can begin our day with frost on the ground and before lunchtime we are battling swarms of black flies and annoying little bugs that enjoy hovering around your face. The tail end of one season is meeting the beginning of the next, and this week neither frost nor bugs were able to survive the entire day.
Once the lodge docks have been pulled from the lake, I will be able to hang up the insulated bib waders until spring. Traditionally in November I am still trying to build one more dock before the lakes ice over, so it is exciting to be finished early this year allowing me to focus on the never-ending list of repairs and upgrades needed at the lodge.
The most popular question people have been asking Rachelle and me would be, “How is it going so far?” To which I reply, “Depends on the day you are asking.” Lodge living is not easy most days, but it has been a positive life-changing experience for our entire family now that we are able to spend more time with family and friends, than we could on the Gunflint Trail – so far, so good.
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