Minnesota has long been reputed for drastic changes in weather, but this is pretty incredible even for Minnesota. Last week I was jealous of anyone basking in the sun, and this week temperatures are barely breaching the freezing mark, and there are six inches of snow on the ground.
The arctic blast that came last week was not that unusual for late November; it just seemed that way after enjoying the beautiful weather we have been experiencing this fall. The hard snap was needed to get us back on track for winter, and we are already seeing ice beginning to form on Devil Track Lake. Many of the Gunflint Trail roadside swamps are covered with ice as well.
I went from working outside in a T-shirt on Thursday to pushing snow with my plow truck on Saturday. Winter came overnight, literally, with a massive storm that left up to eight inches of snow on parts of the Gunflint Trail and drifted even higher in parts from the severe gusts that were powering the storm. This week we are predicted to have temperatures in the mid 30s, which will help the roads and lakes begin freezing as they should be.
Last year we started the season with a significant snowfall before the ground had a chance to freeze which caused a lot of problems for plowing gravel roads. It also took a tax on the younger trees that were unable to support the heavy snow that stuck to their flimsy branches. Frozen trees are more rigid and able to withstand a heavier snow load than they would if thawed.
Our forest was designed to freeze, and the weather over the next few weeks will help define the conditions for our beloved winter activities. The colder the temperatures get, the better the lakes freeze, the better the trails set-up, etc. Warm weather should not happen again until spring; otherwise, we could be looking at another sloppy wet season, like last winter.
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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