Winter storm Cleon is bearing down on the nation this week and it appears that we are going to get a lot of snowfall. The storm has already left a foot of snow on Two Harbors and the second wave of precipitation is expected to bring more. I say, let it snow.
Now that I am no longer hunting and my outside chores are as done as they are going to get for the year, it would be a great time to jump into winter with both feet forward. Snow is a great boost to our local economy and it creates a lot of fun activities up here. Lately it has been a little too quiet in these parts and I am ready for some winter commotion. It was actually kind of nice to be awakened by the plow truck this morning.
Last winter we were able to take a couple of extended weekend vacations and each time we packed up the family and left town for a couple of days the snow would fall. Not little storms, mind you, but big, disrupting storms, it was uncanny.
This would seem lucky to many people but I also have a plow business and it is never a good thing to be in Iowa visiting family when the Gunflint Trail receives 18 inches of snow. I have friends who are willing to help cover my accounts while I am gone but snowfalls that large need immediate attention.
This winter I will not be taking any vacations since my wife Rachelle has a new job and will not be able to take any time off for a while. Most people would be bothered with such a schedule but I really enjoy staying home as much as possible. As long as my family is around, I have everything I need right here. Our Gunflint Trail home is comfortable and there are endless outdoor activities to choose from— what more could I possibly need?
It is a blessing to be able to spend the amount of time exploring the Superior National Forest that I do, and with a little luck my children will grow to love this place as much as I do. If they don’t…we are moving back to Key West because winter on the Gunflint Trail is fun but it is also very long.
The bigger lakes were covered with snow today, making them look like they were solid, but I can assure you they are not. I have heard reports of good ice on most of the smaller lakes but I have not been out on any of them with an auger to drill test holes. I feel safer when I have checked the ice in a few different spots on a few different lakes since it can be so inconsistent, especially this early in the season. Early ice is typically the best fishing so I expect to hear (or tell) some good stories soon.
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.
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