Fifty degrees! Seventeen degrees! Snow! Drizzle! You name it, we’ve had it so far this season. Maybe the chaotic weather is matching the somewhat chaotic events going on in the world this spring – events which are affecting us even in the seclusion of a National Forest.
If you have tried to visit any of the ranger district offices recently, you will have run into some locked doors. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been instructed to screen visitors before admitting them to the building. If your business is non-essential, or can be conducted over the phone or through email, we will ask you to not enter. If your business requires personal interaction, we’ll ask some simple health screening questions before you’re admitted.
We all need to be careful right now to help keep this viral outbreak under control for the sake of our most vulnerable friends and family. We also have many employees who are teleworking, so it is a good idea to call ahead to see if the person you are looking for is even in the office, and if not, what the best way to contact them is.
Of course, the Forest itself is open for business. We are trying to keep our facilities as clean as possible, but it is always a good idea to use hand sanitizer when using outhouses or other rustic accommodations. If you are using hand wipes or paper towels, please do not put them down the latrine. They don’t decay well, and can cause problems when emptying vault style outhouses.
Our winter trails right now are still in good shape, but with the shifting weather, you should always check online before heading out. Our front desk people try to stay on top of conditions, but we have many trails, and online resources are usually the best way to get the most up to date information.
Many roads in the Forest started spring weight restrictions on March 13th. This is due to the softening of thawing roads, and the damage heavy vehicles can do to a soft road surface. Despite the restrictions, there are still some timber harvest operations going on. On the Gunflint District, trucks are using the Sunfish Lake Road, Greenwood Road, and the Gunflint Trail. On the Tofte side, trucks are using the Dumbell River Road, the Wanless Road, and the Trappers Lake Road.
Even if your personal vehicle may be far lighter than a truck hauling logs, you still need to watch for soft road conditions. You can get stuck in mud, but more often the trouble is that mud or soft roads can slow one side of your vehicle down and turn you right off the road into the ditch. Slow down if you think the road is getting soft, and if you think it may be really muddy ahead, get out and check in person rather than drive into a bad situation.
There has been a lot of talk of increasing social distance and doing activities that may only expose you to a few other people. You could isolate yourself inside with a streaming service and a TV, but you can also go outside and binge watch nature. Most outdoor activities are actually best with only a few others, and you can’t beat the woods as a place to just get away from it all in total solitude. So, this week, go out and stream a stream for a while. You’ll never run out of episodes.
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