The forcast for us the week of Sunday December 28 - January 3 is:

Today (Sunday) - Partly sunny, Hi 19, Lo 11, W winds 5-10 becoming S, 60% chance of 1-2 inches of new snow.

Monday - Chance of snow, Hi 19, Lo 1, S wind 10 - 15 becoming NW 20 - 25 gusts to 30, 30% chance of snow before noon.

Tuesday - Scattered flurries, mostly cloudy, Hi 15, Lo -11, Calm wind becoming N 5-10.

Wednesday - Mostly Sunny, Hi 8, Lo -10

thursday - Chance of snow, mostly cloudy, Hi 15, Lo -4

Friday - Chance of snow, mostly cloudy, Hi 10, Lo -3

Saturday - Partly Sunny, Hi 16

Happy Holidays everyone!  Christmas day is always a treat for the Bakers here at the Gunfint Pines.  This is the only day of the year we do not open for business so we celebrate by sleeping in (at least until the kids decide they can't wait any longer to open presents).  Then after the unwrapping event, we usually play with the newest toy additions while eating marshmallow puff crescents - our yummy Christmas time tradition, while the dogs gnaw on their new bones. 

This year we opted to make a Turkey dinner for Christmas eve, which set us up nicely for  - no cooking Christmas day so in the early afternoon friends joined us and we suited up to enjoy the beautiful sunny day outdoors.  For several years now we have taken a traditional Christmas Day snowmobile ride.  This year was no exception.  The recent Ice report for Gunflint lake had indicated that there was around 8-10 inches within the first couple hundred yards of shore and 5-6 inches closer to the center - so while we wouldn't be running the lakes yet we did run from here to the public landing.  We did encounter slush on Gunflint so we kept it moving - so as not to get stuck. 

We ran the Gunflint Trail (snowmobile trail) from here to Windigo lodge (ususally the only thing open on Christmas.  I don't know whether they were offically open or just allowed us to crash their family party - but they welcomed us and we chatted for a couple hours while the kids played pool and drank hot chocolate. 

I have not kept up on the snow report either so you may be interested to know that we now have 13-18 inches on the ground. The trail was packed but there had been very little traffic as of yet.  We had a great ride - not meeting a single soul until the ride home when we met a party of 2 going the opposite direction. 

We still have openings for New Years - so perhaps you would like to join us in the Northwoods.

So much has happened in such little time since I last posted.  most importantly Gunflint Lake finally froze over this past Sunday!  By morning most of the lake was frozen and Bob and Sharon were able to watch the final patches freeze over throughout the morning.  It continues to snow lightly every day or couple days and we now have about 4 inches on the ground.  We are beginning to contemplate when we can safely begin packing ski trails and the yearly maintenance on the Pisten Bulley Groomer is nearing completion.

Some of the deer have begun making appearances again, though we have not yet begun to feed them to see how much of the herd survived the summer and fall hunt.  The wolf population is very high and wolf sightings are not uncommon by guests as they drive the trail.  The moose sighting on the trail are increasing again also.  It seems lately that each time I drive to town or back I spot one or two.

Unfortuntaely some of our recent events have kept me from posting as easily.  As is usual in the Northwoods we have had some challenges as of late - Our internet service went out about a week ago so I have been going next door to check e-mail, which presents a difficulty since our reservation system is on the desktop back in the lodge.  (perhaps for you more technically savy people this would not cause any greif but it's just another hurdle for me).

Lately we have been having phone outtages again also.  So if you call and the phone rings with no anwer or answering machine, or it picks up and clicks - we are without phone service again.  Loosing one lifeline to the connected world is challenging, but when the internet and phones are down it presents an interesting challenge.  While we might enjoy the momentary solitude, we do have children in school in Grand Marais 43 miles away, and hope they have not fallen ill, forgotten homework or need to contact us for other reasons.    You may remember cell phones do not work up here either - which we prefer.

Well I'll sign off for now, and try to keep in touch.  Happy holidays and start thinking about summer. - shari