The Grey Wolf will officially be removed from the federally endangered species list on January 27th 2012.   There may acutally be a managed hunting season as early as the fall of 2012.  While I love wolves and am glad they were protected for many years – I do believe the herd has overgrown the area and will look forward to a managed hunt. 

Wolf sightings are no longer rare occassions in our neck of the woods.  Over the past couple years I have seen them on our property, and even seen packs on the Gunflint Trail.  I’ve also heard of pack sightings in the surrounding woods. 

Wolf/Deer Kills are a fairly common occurance here – but not by cars.  Today while the boys were out having Airsoft gun wars in the campground with friends, they spotted a fresh kill on the ice out front of Campsite 4 on the freshly formed ice.  Par for the course Sota and Shadow scavagened a leg.  One of the few remaining parts left behind by the wolves.  

Neighbors have reported seeing a mangy wolf along the south shore.  A guest reported seeing a wolf cross the lake carrying a stick.  I’m thinking it wasn’t a stick, but another leg.  Thus is life in the northwoods.

Gunflint Lake finally gave up the ghost and froze over on the 27/28th.  With 4 fresh inches of the fluffy white stuff falling yesterday and overnight, Bob is out in the Pisten Bully repacking and laying track. So if you’re a Cross Country Ski-aholic and need somewhere to stretch your legs over the New Year Holiday – call us up. We still have a cabin or two open!

Bob, Jaret, Wyatt and I (Sota & Shadow too) want to wish each and everyone of our past, present and future guests, friends, and aquaintances a happy holiday season. We pray that your life in the upcoming year brings joy and fulfillment for you and those you care for, and peace and understanding for your losses.
Happy Holidays! – Shari

The good news is we recieved 1/4 inch fresh snow last night, and have 1-2 inches in the forcast for tomorrow. The ski trails are packed and open for skate skiing, but the fresh snow in the forcast means we may be able to lay a track around the system soon! On the other hand if you come up and are unable to ski – perahps we’ll dig out the canoes – the lake has yet to freeze over!

     While it seems much of Minnesota does  not have any measurable snow to speak of, on the Gunflint Trail we have a good 8-10 inches on the ground.  Here on Gunflint Lake, we received  a fresh inch or two today.   While we don’t have enough snow yet to begin setting classic tracks on the ski trails, we have begun rolling some of them to allow skate skiing, and begun packing other trails in preparation.  We fully expect to have skiable trails for the Christmas/New Year holiday week.

     Gunflint Lake finally began to freeze over last night.  It froze in a strip straight across from us, but didn’t quite fill in the center areas to the east and west.   While the forcasted temperature is favorable for completing the job this evening, the wind is not.  It seems the wind should be picking up this afternoon and this evening.  Perhaps we’ll be able to canoe on Christmas day in addition to our usual snowmobile trip. 

    Many years the lake freezes over somewhere around the first week of December.  While it is a little later than usual, it is not unheard of and seems to be following the suit with the seasons of this year as spring and fall seemed about 2 weeks behind as well.

     We have begun to see the deer around camp again as they move into their winter hangout; part of which is our campground.  The suet ball is shrinking as we have a downy wood pecker feeding on it daily.  The holiday lights are up, there is a warm fire in the fireplace and snowmobiles are awaiting renters – life is good in the Northwoods.