The sound of my boots crunching across a frozen driveway on an otherwise silent morning. Employing the delicate balance of pressure required to open a frozen truck door without breaking off the handle, again. Turning the ignition with angst as the engine slowly whines into a belt squeaking roar—this is how I remember winter in the northland. Our first week... READ MORE >
New Year resolutions have never been important to me. I understand the motivational quality associated with new beginnings, but avoiding an issue until January 1st sounds more like procrastination. The new year reminds me that another has passed and there is no greater time than right now. I have yet to wet a line this season, mostly because of the... READ MORE >
Ice anglers are already squatting above holes on some of the metro lakes, braving the thin ice in an effort to catch some fish. It is hard to believe that they could have safer ice than we do on the Gunflint Trail, but many of the mid-state lakes are shallower, which allows them to freeze faster in the fall and... READ MORE >
The toll of winter in northern Minnesota can be seen in many ways ranging from bitter cold temperatures to massive snowfalls, which have yet to be seen this season. What we have been seeing instead could be described as a mild-tempered winter with little precipitation, which is also taking a toll in a different way. Many businesses depend on a... READ MORE >
Winter activities are still on hold this week while we anxiously await the next snow storm that is expected to bring us five to seven inches—fingers crossed. Two inches a week has barely been enough snowfall to cover the ground, and we are not making any headway with trail conditions. Wet heavy snow is not great for trail building, and... READ MORE >
It is hard getting used to 40 degree weather in December, but for now I am not complaining. The nice weather has allowed for some last-minute outside construction projects to take place, and it has been a beautiful week to spend on top of a roof overlooking Saganaga Lake. Full-blown winter will be here soon enough, but until then, ice... READ MORE >
Trail briefings might sound like an obvious title for many of my articles, but it belongs to the latest addition to the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department website, www.gunflint911.org. On-line subscriptions are available for the monthly “Trail Briefings” newsletter through the GTVFD website. Each edition contains upcoming events, news, run report totals, and even local trivia. The website has always... READ MORE >
Winter may not officially begin until December 22nd, but overnight temperatures have been in the single digits and there is enough snow coverage for me to think it is already happening on the Gunflint Trail. The extended fall weather was cherished by many, and now it is time to face the realities of the season ahead, like warming up the... READ MORE >
Roadside swamps are starting to ice over on the Gunflint Trail as the ensuing winter season approaches. The latest storm left a two-inch blanket of wet snow that weighed heavy on the pine limbs, pulling their branches down with a lesson of resilience. It was a glimpse of winter’s whiteness that held on for a few days, before melting away... READ MORE >
The Buck Fever I was experiencing last week was short lived, like a 24-hour bug that ended with a rifle blast around 8 a.m. Saturday. A nice 10-point buck wandered into my sight on opening day of rifle season, and now I am not sure what to do for the rest of the week. Maybe I should have kept the... READ MORE >
