The window unit air-conditioner was installed in early June and I am happy to say that we are finally using it. I know that many Minnesotans start dropping like flies every time the mercury rises above 80, but I like to see a little heat in the summer. It is not very fun or safe to work outside in the... READ MORE >
Living and working on the Gunflint Trail has proven to be more challenging than I had originally presumed. The longer I live here, the more I learn and realize that nothing can substitute good oldfashioned experience. Our beloved forest is often coined the “unorganized territory” for good reason. Because it is! As soon as we start telling ourselves that we... READ MORE >
Each day becomes more difficult to believe that we will experience any nice weather this summer. I can remember a couple of summers that never seemed to happen and this year could be another one. We are over the “hump” so to speak and if it is going to warm up it will need to happen soon. Rachelle and I... READ MORE >
The berries are beginning to ripen and judging by the numerous vehicles parked alongside the Gunflint Trail, the usual spots are still producing. Last year Rachelle and I did not make enough time to gather berries and the homemade pies were greatly missed. Wild blueberries and raspberries are my favorite fruits of the forest and can be easily frozen and... READ MORE >
If you do not like the weather just wait a minute and it will change. Last week we were dripping in heat and this week I was worried about covering up the tomato plants with an overnight low of 39 degrees. The drastic temperature changes were being fueled by some nasty weather. Big winds with rain and lightning lit up... READ MORE >
The hot and humid weather has done wonders for our towering tomato plants in the garden, but it is no fun to be sweating off the winter weight while doing outdoor chores this week. My family loves the summer heat, even though it feels like a sticky May in Key West to me, so it is hard not to wear... READ MORE >
Rain is always a welcome sight on the Gunflint Trail, but it came down so hard this week that it damaged some driveways. We need a slow soaker without any lightning. The storms this week were packing some voltage but so far there have not been any reports of spot fires happening in our area. The fire danger has been... READ MORE >
Walleyes go through an annual migration around the lake after spawning in the shallow water each spring along with the baitfish in search of the ideal water temperature. The old saying that hawg walleyes leave the shallow bays and migrate out to the main lake rock piles when the daisies have grown to knee-high length seems to reign true each... READ MORE >
The 90-degree temperatures today were enough to make a person want to jump in the lake and cool off. I spent my day above water staring at bobbers on Saganaga Lake with little success. We caught a few walleyes and bass but nothing to brag about. When it is hot and balmy on the lake it feels good to create... READ MORE >
The bugs are out, the trees are green, and the fish are biting—three telltale signs of June on the Gunflint Trail. My tomato plants are slowly rebounding from the cold start but everything else in the forest is growing fast, including the wildlife. While guiding some friends from Iowa last week, we were fortunate enough to witness a black bear... READ MORE >
