The sun feels more powerful now that it is officially spring, and our parking lot is showing a little more gravel with each passing day. Puddles are forming on top of the ice-covered lakes, and the once silent creeks are beginning to be heard again as the melting snow finds its way back to the lakes. Eventually, the lake levels... READ MORE >
For those of us who live and work in the tourist industry, it is important to take advantage of the micro-seasons, which occur at either end of summer and winter. Peak season is too busy for us to escape, but the brief windows of opportunity when business begins to slack are also the best days of the entire year to... READ MORE >
Cook County resorts are winding down in business for the season, mostly due to the lack of snow to accommodate the popular winter activities we are so famous for. The forecast for this coming weekend will define the remaining few weeks of the winter season, and as much as I would like to see a couple more weeks of revenue... READ MORE >
The wind huffed and puffed enough to make our building creak and crack with every passing gust that came barreling off of the lake today. The rainfall we received on Monday evening, the night before, had also found its way to our shoreline causing a small pond to form on top of the lake. I was startled at first glance... READ MORE >
As we bid an unusually warm February goodbye, and welcome March with hopes of more snow and cold enough temperatures to keep it around until April, it sounds optimistic, but that was the pattern last winter, and it could easily happen again. I often talk about the “unique” conditions we face in the great north woods of Minnesota, but the... READ MORE >
It seems we are amidst a mid-winter melt-down, reminiscent of last winter, and strong enough to do some damage to the trail conditions. Devil Track Lake began to show some gray color after the rainstorms that hit us this weekend, causing slushy conditions across the entire lake, but most of the riders brave enough to ride in the rain were... READ MORE >
Mid-thirties are not temperatures we are used to seeing in the middle of February unless there is a minus sign in front of it. The occasionally sunny days are nice enough to melt the sidewalks, yet windy enough to not enjoy spending extended periods of time out there. The wind has not bothered the little forest critters like the squirrels... READ MORE >
The still peacefulness of a winter evening is hard to explain without witnessing it yourself. Imagine a big moon reflecting off the snow-covered ground, illuminating the forest as it rests for the evening. The mist from my breath crystallizes in the crisp night air, and a peaceful silence temporarily distracts me from the problem at hand: how am I going... READ MORE >
The John Beargrease Sled Dog race passed through Skyport Lodge checkpoint without a hitch on Tuesday morning. Teams silently traveled through the night after a mandatory eight-hour rest in Grand Portage and began arriving here at Skyport early Tuesday morning. I am used to seeing the takeoff of a sled dog race, which is a loud and hectic experience as... READ MORE >
The John Beargrease sled race begins this Sunday and will be coming through the Skyport Lodge checkpoint sometime Monday evening into Tuesday morning. There had been some talk about changing the course due to the trail conditions after the rain showers this past week, but as of now, the race course is staying as scheduled. The times of arrival could... READ MORE >
