Today started with snow, changed to sleet, then rain.  Now the clouds are breaking the the sun is actually making an appearance or two.  Bob has gone down to get the water hooked up to the fishhouse since it seems to be in high demand. 

Here's the Tischer party of Cloquet MN and the 6 trout they kept (of 9 caught) during their 3 hours of fishing this afternoon.  These are some nice sized trout averaging about 6lbs.  The trout are shallow right now.  The wind moved the ice around a bit today and it's now got a couple of good cracks across the ice bed from north to south.  Looks like it's on it's way out.

Well, we may still have Ice on most of the lake, but that didn't stop fishermen from experiencing some of the best fishing in the past few years.  This time of year our guests are regulars who have been coming for several years.  They have good spirit, faith, and perseverence and don't waffle at the mention of weather less than pefect. But this year is has paid off!  A world of difference from 2007's dry sunny weather with low water levels and Ham Lake Fire.

The West end of Gunflint Lake is open so the fishermen have been taking advantage of what open water there is.  Among the fishermen here over 30 trout have been caught.  Here Greg Long & Brycen Peterson of Mora Minnesota shows off part of their Saturday Morning Trout Catch.  Bob took the boys out later in the evening and caught 4 trout and brought home a nice walleye for Sunday Dinner.  The Holmes party of Holyoke MN, brought in a nice stringer of 14 trout - hopefully I'll have a picture to share later today.Keep watch for more fish pictures - we'll try to keep posting them.

May 2-4th was the weekend of the Gunflint Greenup event www.gunflintgreenup.com  For those of you who may not have heard the Gunflint Greenup was an event to help reforest the Gunflint trail and Superior National Forest one year after the Ham Lake Fire of 2007.  Approximately 450 people from the Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais & Cook County and guests from all over came to help reforest our woods.  There were speakers on Friday with a welcome dinner in the eventing.  The tree planting event  was Saturday morning & afternoon with bag lunches, a thank you dinner and band Saturday night.As many of you have heard we are having a late spring or extended winter and Saturday Morning we were all stunned to wake up to fresh 1.5 inches of beautiful snowcover.  By mid morning though the skies had parted, the sun came out and it was a beautiful afternoon.  Approximately 50,000 trees were planted by high spirited individuals, families & youth groups.  Thank you to all and your hard work.

Sunday Morning, once again, there was a fresh dusting of snow on the ground but that didn't stop the runners from coming.  Approximately 100 runners turned up for the first annual Ham Run Half Marathon, www.hamrunhalfmarathon.com .   Another 40 or so turned out to run the 5K fun run.  Here Jenny, Laura & Barb from the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department are ready to assist with the race.

       Again the sun came out and the event participants had a beautiful day to enjoy the scenery and the run.  The event was well organized from the transportation, to the chair massages at the end of the race for the runners, to the Lunch and band at the Trails End parking lot.  It was reportedly a huge success thanks to the hard work of the Proms at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters www.canoeit.com and their supporters.  Rumor has it they will be running the event again next year.  Watch the website www.hamrunhalfmarathon.com for more information.

  We opened the campground a week early to accommodate campers who might come to help with the Gunflint Greenup.  We crossed our fingers that the temperatures would not argue with our water supply and bathhouse.  Well we made it, and so did the resillant tent campers from Central Lakes College who came to help with the Greenup. 

   Friday night was chilly, then it rained all night and we awoke to 1.5 inches of snow.  Experienced in winter camping the young college group survived but cold and wet was more than they had bargained for.  Luckily the hot water showers and fireplace in the main lodge were warm and welcoming.  This group of 8 planted approximately 1500 trees and we can't thank them enough!

Mark your calendars for June 5 - 8, 2008.  Come and learn the basics of basket weaving and make a bread basket with handle or a friendship basket to take home.   Bonnie Morton will have 6 hours of class on Friday including lunch and workshop assistance on Saturday.  Bonnie has been weaving baskets for over 10 years and spends her summers here at the Pines.  You can see some of her baskets at her web site.  Class size will be limited so check out the specials page for lodging information or just call us!