It is hard to fully appreciate the changing of seasons in northern Minnesota without witnessing the daily and sometimes subtle transformations. The earth begins to harden with frost while the lakes become covered in ice. Many of the birds migrate south while a few other birds migrate here for the winter—and the sun does not shine every day. Houses creak... READ MORE >
Tamarack are gleaming with the remaining colors of fall—for a few more days at least—and it is beginning to get colder and colder with each passing day. The sun made a brief appearance today, persuading me into believing that it was actually a pleasant day to be shingling a roof, if there is such a day. My thermometer dialed in... READ MORE >
This week could mark the end of another pleasant weather season on the Gunflint Trail. Most of the summer residents have turned south, like the loons, in search of warmer climates and I cannot say that I blame them. At times I am even a little bit jealous, especially when it is 40 below zero. The overnight low temperatures for... READ MORE >
After the cold Nor’easter that came barreling down last Saturday, I would have guessed that fall was going to pass faster than Rachelle’s beef stroganoff. Fortunately the sun decided to make another appearance this week and enough leaves held on to their branches for us to enjoy a little more autumn. Many of the Gunflint Trail hilltops are completely stripped... READ MORE >
Cold weather is coming soon and it is time to get the cabins ready for winter. Draining water systems and removing docks are some of the last projects of the season on the Gunflint Trail for me. As sad as it may be to see all of the summer residents head south, I do enjoy this peaceful time of year,... READ MORE >
Cool nights and bright starry skies paired nicely for evening campfires this week with our visiting family from Iowa. I worked my brothers pretty hard on the garage project by day, and at night we sat by the fire ring absorbing the sweet smell of burning birch to the backdrop of a distant calling loon—what could possibly be better? The... READ MORE >
The warm summer season is coming to an end with frost warnings each night this week. The morning chill is cold enough to create a blanket of fog in the low-lying lands between hilltops, painting a mystical canvas along the Gunflint Trail. The air temperatures have plummeted, especially overnight, while the water temperatures are slowly catching up. I have been... READ MORE >
September is a great month to be on the Gunflint Trail. The leaves are beginning to show some color and the fish are biting. I suppose there are many other reasons to be here, but this is what I know. Saganaga Lake has been giving up a lot of little walleyes in 20 to 30 feet of water and they... READ MORE >
Labor Day weekend has come and gone as the summer slowly comes to an end. The weather was not ideal for camping this week but Rachelle wanted to join her friends who were camping on Iron Lake and bring our daughter Sophia for the first time. I went and helped them get ready minutes before a wicked lightning storm pushed... READ MORE >
Sometime back in July after I had returned from another wet, cold, and windy day of fishing I decided that we would have to visit the Minnesota State Fair in August. I was concerned that we might not see a summer on the Gunflint Trail and my pale white children were being deprived of sunshine. They have certainly spent enough... READ MORE >
