Snow removal

Mike's been busy this week. We figure we've gotten around 60 inches of snow this winter (so far) and none of it has melted. Since the packed snow weighs about 30 pounds a square foot... and since he did break down and get me my new(er) car this fall... he spent a day this week clearing several tons of snow off the carport roof. At least it was good exercise?

I've been working on our outfitting food order for the summer, which has to be sent in early next month. Mike's new packs and map cases are here, tents and sleeping bags are on order. Despite the weather forecast for today (blizzard warning for the Arrowhead) we're thinking and planning and getting ready for spring!

BIG Visitors!

Mike took the snowmobile down to the lodge this noon - he's trying to pack a path so we can get through the thigh-deep snow and maybe shovel some of it off the lodge roof. Along the way he noticed that someone - maybe two someones - had been hiking the length of Rockwood Road - who on earth would hike through such deep snow when they could walk on the reasonably well-plowed Gunflint Trail?

So... he came back to the house, got me and the camera, and we decided to drive down the Gunflint Trail to the Grand Marais end of Rockwood Road to see where our hikers came from. (I'm waiting for a packed trail before I start hiking through the resort!)

Once we got to the first Rockwood sign - it was pretty obvious! A pair of moose walked along the Trail, decided that our road looked like a better bet (?) and slid and strode their way down the steep ditch behind Cabin 7 and then walked down the road, past the cabins, past the lodge, past outfitting, all the way up to our house! They stepped over the fence between our land and Austin's next door like it wasn't even there and continued down Austin's Landing.

Apparently they were very active last night (as well as very quiet) - we saw tracks on the other side of the Trail wandering around the neighbor's yards as well.

It's fun to know the moose are around - we've seen a few along the Trail - but this is the first pair we've literally had in our back yard in a while. It's snowing pretty hard right now - and blowing - so the tracks won't last long.

BWCA permits and flying squirrels

Clipper (or just possibly Claus) is back! Apparently she/he was pretty hungry last night as she didn't mind posing for photos - of course, it's a little difficult to get a good photo when with flash when it's really dark outside - and snowing (as usual). He really cleared out the seeds in the feeder though, it was totally empty this morning. I haven't seen tracks on the roof since around Christmas, I think she's going from tree to tree now to get to the feeder.

The BWCA lottery permits were awarded this week - we had a first - one of our guests failed to get a permit! They were looking for August 1st, and apparently so were a lot of other people. That first week of August is historically the busiest time in the BWCA, if you can schedule your trip another time you'll have less crowding.

The regular permit system opened this morning and I've already gotten a permit for a group planning a trip for July 14. The more popular entry points (Lizz, Cross Bay, East Bearskin) go first, so it's time to start planning your summer canoeing. We're here - and we'd love to help you! It's a great distraction from all the snow everyone is getting, Mike is out right now for his every-other-day clear the driveway with the snowblower routine!

Rudolph the Deer Sign

On our last trip to Duluth we noticed this delightful deer crossing sign (on Highway 61 near Cascade Lodge) so I brought the camera along today to share it with you!

Notice something else odd about it?

Yup, most of the deer crossing signs in Cook County (not all of them) are ... a little different from the ones in Lake County... well, in almost any other county between here and southern Missouri, at least by our informal survey when we went south this fall.

In Cook County, Minnesota, the deer jump OUT of the road instead of INTO the road!

Check it out yourselves!

Happy New Year!

2011 is starting out just like 2010 ended - more snow! Guess we're all getting the same kind of weather? You can just see "Mike the Snowman" behind the tree at the center of this photo, clearing out the walk from the house to the road with his snowblower. It took him about two hours to clear Rockwood Road from the Gunflint Trail to the parking area, the parking area above our house, and the walkway down to the house... I don't use the stairs so he hasn't cleared them yet. I'm not sure how much snow we got over the last two days but enough... I hear snowmobiles on the trail on the other side of the road today, haven't seen any on the lake yet but I'm sure they'll be by.

The birds are really hitting the feeders, the squirrels have built tunnels under the snow for ease of access (to any seed that hits the ground) and the little animals are also around hoping for hand outs - we have our "daily fox" visits looking for any stray leftovers anyone wants to put up by the garage. I'm ready for a little sunshine, I've laid out my boots and long johns for some winter hiking - I'm told the ski trails are in great shape!