Warmer Weather Ahead

Winter is over! Just two weeks ago the temperature didn't get above 0 during the day and we were hibernating.  When we ventured outdoors it was only for a couple of hours and it was usually to open the driveway down to our winter lakeside rental apartment. We had seldom heard any snowmobiles and ice the fishermen where using shelters.

This morning the lake in front of our house is covered with snowmobile tracks. The daytime temperature is already in the upper twenties. People are sitting on 5 gallon buckets to ice fish instead of hauling out their ice houses. 

We're baby sitting our neighbor's dog,Charlie,  so that they could snowmobile into Canada for the day.  Charlie and I took a walk down to the Lodge area and saw that the aluminum canoes are starting to pop out of the snow. This is first sign of spring -- kind of like daffodils popping out of the snow further south.

The best thing about this time of the year is that our personal  activity levels shoot up. I need to drop about 20 pounds and Lin needs to .... loose a little. The warmer weather lets us both get outdoors more. Lin starts taking walks and I can do some outdoors work around the Lodge. OK, I also get the fish for Lake Trout until March 31st.

We may still get some winter like weather. However, waiting inside for a day or two for things to improve is better than facing months of winter weather.

                             

Boundary Waters Moose

Last week the DNR announced that the total estimated Minnesota Moose population was less than 2,800 animals.  The DNR decided to close bull moose hunting in 2013 in response to the steep population decline that occurred in 2012.

After years of research trying to determine why the moose population is declining the cause is still unknown. Climate warming, predators, parasites, hunting and habitat change are all possible sited factors. 

People Watching at Rockwood Lodge


For those of us living along the Gunflint Trail the declining moose population comes as no surprise. Lin and I have gone from seeing a moose on almost every trip into towm to only accasionally spotting a moose! Last year is was a rare event for us to see a moose mom with a calf. While our guests still report seeing moose, the reports are concentrated in smaller areas within the BWCAW.

It is hard for us to imagine living in the North Country without having moose nearby. After years of living here, we are just as thrilled to come across a moose in the wild as our guests. Steps in reducing all of the possible factors that might be influencing the declining moose population need to be taken along with additional research being conducted by the DNR. .  

Lake Trout --The Other Red Meat

Well the open season for Lake Trout fishing outside the BWCAW finally arrived and I have not been very good about sharing some pictures. Lake Trout are a natually aggresssive fish which is one of the reasons they are so fun to catch. They are usually larger than stream trout and are known for being fighters. Best of all, they are a great tasting fish that are especially healthy for you to eat.  

Before moving to Minnesota we use to enjoy catching and eating Rainbow and Brown trout. But after feasting on Walleye and Perch for several years our eating preferences drifted away from stream trout.  While we still don't enjoy the taste of steam trout we have acquired a fondness for Lake Trout.

Last week the nighttime low temperatures were in the negative low thirties and the highs never reached above 0 degrees. For the next couple of days the lows are forecasted to be 40 degrees higher that what we had last week and the highs should be in the twenties.  (I have to admit that ice fishing is much more enjoyable then the temperatures are above 0 degrees.) Tomorrow we have to go into town to get some more minnows! There is a nearby lake that is full of Lake Trout that seems to be calling out my name.

A Couple of Fillets Ready for the Pan

Living with Snow

Dreaming of Summer


Planning a canoe trip



Enjoying Winter

                                                                       Playing Hide and Seek

Snow Groomer Parked For Now

We went to town yesterday and discovered that there is very little snow remaining once you drop down the hill into Grand Marais. A strong wind was blowing across the harbor and creating a rolling wave along the seawall by the Guard Station parking lot. In fact, the parking lot was covered by spray coming over the top of the seawall. The wind was so strong that when the carryout at the grocery store try to load some groceries in the back of a pickup that it blew the roll-top cover over the pickup cab.

  

Up the trail there is still snow cover but nothing like we are use to or like we would hope to have. I took the photo on the right today. This is the road down to the Poplar Lake boat ramp that is never plowed!  Normally this road in not passable in the winter and is only used by snowmobiles. 

The forecast for tonight is rain turning to snow later followed with below 0 temperatures starting on Sunday. Great, just in time for the Trout fishing opener this weekend on the lakes outside the BWCAW. 

We're hoping for a lot of snow so that the groomer has something to do. The trails have a nice packed base but fresh snow always makes for a better ride. When I was in Iowa last weekend there was more snow on the ground between New Hampton and Rochester than what we have up here in the Northland.