The EDGE: Dirt from the Yurt and other Chatter from the Edge of the Boundary Waters

Banadad Ski Trail Carbon Offset Award Announced

2008-05-13T05:34:00.000-05:00

Seagull Lake Resident, Jim Raml was the recipient of this year’s Banadad Ski Trail Carbon Offset Award of $134.44. Raml is planting some five thousand trees on his property ravaged by last Spring’s Ham Lake Fire. The planting of his property got underway this week.

“This award,” according to Ted Young, Banadad Trail Manager, “should at least help Jim plant a small portion of the tree needed to reforest his burned over property.”

According to calculation made at the end of the ski season this year’s maintenance and snowmobile grooming of the Banadad released 1.733 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. The CO2 was produced by five mid size cars and one large van traveling some 3900 miles with volunteers maintenance crews to and from the Twin Cities to the trail, and 995 miles of snowmobile trail grooming.

In calculating the cost of off-setting this carbon the Chicago Climate Exchange's "Forest Accumulation Tables” for the amounts of CO2 that can be sequestered/acre by age group of white and red pine surviving for a least ten years was used. This was then multiplied by the amount of CO2 the Trail produced times the number of trees planted/acre times the cost/tree. From this it was determined that in order to sequester the carbon the Banadad produced this past year 335 trees would have to be planted at cost of $.134.44.

“It should also be noted” Young went on to state “that, Raml was the driving force behind and the author of a quarter of a million dollar Scenic Byways grant application, that if approved, will provide much of the funds necessary for the Gunflint Ranger District to implement their proposed Ham Lake Fire reforestation program.”

Mid-Gunflint Lakes Ice Out

2008-05-11T16:45:00.003-05:00

Poplar Lake Ice, according to Chrisy at Windigo Lodge went-out yesterday afternoon, May 10. Hungry Jack and other mid sizes lakes are also open. Clearwater which is normally one of the last lakes in the mid-trail area for the ice to go out was clear this morning. For Poplar Lake this year's ice out is the latest since 1996 when the ice went out on May 22.

Ice Out on Smaller Gunflint Trail Lakes

2008-05-08T06:06:00.004-05:00

The ice went out on Little Ollie Lake yesterday (May 7) and two days ago ice was out in Wampus and about out in Aspen along the Clearwater Road. Jim Raml on Seagull Lake reported the that Meditation Lake was free of ice two days ago also. Seagull was beginning to open in the bay infront of Raml's house but the main part of the Lake was still ice covered.

However, even the mid size lakes in the mid Gunflint Trail area, such as Poplar, West Bearskin, Hungry Jack, were still socked-in and it is unlikely that most of them would be open before the fishing opener this weekend.

Gunflint Green Up in spite of the Weather -Thousands of Trees Planted

2008-05-04T06:51:00.007-05:00

Saturday morning as the Gunflint Green Up was about to begin and in spite of four inches of fresh snow, which had fallen during the night, an estimated four hundred and seventy five tree planter armed with planting equipment fanned out over the site of last springs Ham Lake Fire. By noon as the planters stopped for their lunches the sun had come out the temperature risen and most of the snow had melted. Nancy Seaton, Gunflint Committee Chairperson proclaimed, "that the weather had turned into a great day for planting."

Vicki Grassl, from Pine City Minnesota, and who was staying at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B claimed that she and her friend Debra Erickson from Wyoming Minnesota planted well over three hundred trees. Another guest at a Poplar Creek, Steve Alderson, from Minneapolis, and who in the 1960's was a fishing guide on Sag Lake felt that by participating in the tree planting help him to reconnect with his earlier life, "I feel like I really belong to the Trail," Alderson said after a day of tree planting.

While the final number of trees planted has yet to be totaled it is estimated that the Gunflint Green resulted in the planting of some 40,000-50,000 young red and white pines trees.

According to Dennis Neitzky, Gunflint District Ranger-USFS, who assisted the Gunflint Green Up Committee in coordinating the tree planting, "the project was a huge success and a was great start in renewing the forest burned over by last year's Ham Lake Fire."

Snow is Going; Look for a Late Opener

2008-04-30T06:15:00.004-05:00

Finally the snow is slowly disappearing. In sunny places it is all gone. However in the woods and where it is shady several inches of snow remains. Also there is still snow along the Banadad but not enough left to ski. With morning temperatures in the low twenties it will be awhile before the few remaining snow patches in the woods leave us.

As for the Lake ice, not even the small lakes such as Road and Swamper, which are among the first to open, have even started to lose their ice. I suspect it will be at least the second week in May before the ice is off most of the lakes and even then many of the larger lakes might still be cover with ice. So folks- look for a late fishing opener!

Grand Jury Indicts Border Patrol Officer on Lessor Charges

2008-04-25T07:28:00.005-05:00

According to WTIP radio , the Cook County Grand Jury has returned an indictment for Careless Driving and Failure to Drive with Due Care against 27-year-old Border Patrol Officer Maranda Marie Weber in the death of Dr. Kenneth Petersen on October 31^st. The charge of Felony Criminal Vehicular Homicide was dropped.

Gunflint Trail- Snow Going but Not Gone

2008-04-24T19:59:00.004-05:00

Snow along the Gunflint Trail is slowly melting away, In sunny areas the brown vegetation is completely exposed yet in the woods up to a foot of snow still remains. Most of the snow went when a heavy rain drenched the area on Monday night.

Banadad Ski Trail- May 24, 2008

This morning the temperature is hovering at 38 degrees but rain followed by snow is expected by tonight and into tomorrow. The lakes remain ice covered.

The Poplar Creek at the foot bridge below the Poplar Creek Guesthouse is still well below flood stage.

Poplar Creek foot bridge- October 24, 2008

If the predicted rain and snow occurs, this bridge will likely be underwater.

Banadad Ski Trail – Plenty of Snow but No Skiers

2008-04-18T13:25:00.000-05:00

There still is six inches of snow on most of the Banadad and there are very few bare spots. However the trail is no longer being tracked. Morning temperatures this past week have been in the lower twenties; afternoons have warmed to the mid forties.

Photo taken today at the eastern trail head.

The snow cover on the trail should last for another week at least. For you die-hearts, who want to make your own tracks, the Banadad remains open for very good spring skiing.

Border Patrol to use Grand Marais Coast Guard Station

2008-04-09T10:29:00.002-05:00

Submitted by Cook Country News Herald 04/09/2008-

The Border Patrol will use space in the Coast Guard Station as well as its present building on Highway 61 instead of building a new facility in Grand Marais as originally planned.

The announcement was made on Tuesday.

The General Services Administration canceled its solicitation for offers for building a new facility in Grand Marais on Monday, according to a GSA spokesperson.
And Shelbe Benson, U.S. Border Patrol, Grand Forks Section Headquarters, wrote in an e-mail: "Border Patrol is not actively seeking a new facility at this time." Instead, it will use both buildings.

The Border Patrol in International Falls has also moved into a satellite facility and will be retaining its primary facility, she said. Although, she added, “The Border Patrol is working on the logistics of a new facility for International Falls, and the logistics of the Duluth Border Patrol facility is still being worked out."

Gunflint Lake's Rail Roads – Iron Ore to Logging

2008-04-05T09:54:00.004-05:00

If you are interested in the history of the Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railroad, which ran from Port Arthur to the Paulson Mine, go to- http://members.shaw.ca/padwrr/. The railroad extension into the Minnesota was first to reach the iron ore at the Paulson Mine north of gunflint lake. When this venture met with failure, the Pigeon River Lumber Company constructed a side spur called the Gunflint & Lake Superior Railroad from Little Gunflint Lake, 3 and ½ miles to Crab Lake in 1903. For several years this logging venture succeeded in shipping a rich harvest of timber from the Crab Lake area onto the mills in Port Arthur.

The website by Dave Battistel, Thunder Bay, Ontario traces the history of the rail road from it inception in 1872 through its demise in 1938 and then traces the disposition of the rail line's route and facilities up to 1999. The site also includes many historical and recent images of the rail line.

For additional articles on the History of the Gunflint Trail can be viewed at http://gunflinthistory.blogspot.com/

Season's First Bear Goes After Dog

2008-03-30T05:07:00.004-05:00

The other day following work, cutting brush on the Banadad, Jim Raml and his dog, Blonca were walking up to his truck at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B’s parking lot when he spotted an all black animal headed his way. Next thing Jim knew a bear yearling went after Blonca. Unable to restrain the dog and fend off the bear at the same time, Jim called back to the Guesthouse for help. I responded! With me pitching snowballs and yelling at the bear to distract it, Jim was able to get Blonca into the safety of the truck cab and then drove-off.

The bear hung around the parking lot for a bit longer and then left. We have not seen the bear since.

The yearly bear after spending the winter in a den with its’ mother was likely “booted-out" to make room for this year’s cubs. The bear was wondering around in the snow hungry and looking for something to eat. At least this time it was not Blonca.

Ted Young

Hungry Jack Lodge Destroyed by Fire

2008-03-27T05:57:00.004-05:00

The large log lodge at Hungry Jack Resort was consumed by fire yesterday. The fire start early afternoon and by the time the Gunflint Fire Department arrived the building could not be saved. Luckily no one was injured. Cause of the fire is still unknown.

This is the third time Hungry Jack's main lodge building has been destroyed by fire. The original building a rustic-log cabin build by the resorts first owner Jesse Gapen burned to the ground in 1931. Gapen had this building replace by the summer of 1932 with the help Bob Zimmerman and a crew of some forty men working throughout the winter. At the time it was competed it was the largest log structure in the Midwest. In December of 1972 shortly after Jerry Parsons had purchased the lodge, it was destroyed by fire.

Parsons then purchased, a log no longer in use, Minnesota DNR building in Grand Marais. With the help of Archie Kirk Jr. and crew, the building was taken apart and moved from Grand Marais to Hungry Jack . The moving and reconstruction of this third log lodge was completed by mid December of 1993.

Forest Parsons who had taken over the resort following his fathers death in December of 2006 was devastated but like his father whose log lodge building burnt to the ground shortly after he purchased the business, Forest is expected to rebuild.

Mush for a Cure Huge Success

2008-03-22T07:11:00.002-05:00

Some twenty-dog team ran from Gunflint Lake to Poplar Lakes Trail Center in the second annual Mush for a Cure held March 15. The event raised over $13,000 for breast cancer research. See article in Cook Country News Herald.

Our award for the most outlandish customs at the event goes to musher Mark Black and "Ranger Bob"- Bob Maki, both of whom came dress in drag with lovely pink outfits.

Your Help is Needed at the Gunflint Green Up

2008-03-19T05:08:00.004-05:00

The Gunflint Green Up is a tree planting weekend May 2-4 and you're
invited to be part of it.

The centerpiece of the Gunflint Green Up is the planting of 75,000
pine seedlings in public areas affected by the 2007 Ham Lake
Fire. We know we can't replace the trees and cabins that were lost
last year, but we can look ahead and plant a pine forest for our
future. We are doing this for the Gunflint Trail neighborhood, and
also for the greater community who find peace and meaning in this
special place.

To facilitate organization of the anticipated 500 planters, we have
registration on line- go to sign-up

Registration is $30/person and includes the Friday Welcome Picnic,
Saturday box lunch and Thank You dinner and dance, event t-shirt and
the cost of trees and equipment for the planting weekend. Please
register by Earth Day, April 22.

Need lodging for this important event or for the following weekend to help replant in the Poplar Creek-Little Ollie Lake area? Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B has set-aside their lodging for these two weekend and is offering a lodging - Special to volunteer tree planters.

Boundary Country's Owners Featured in Local Paper

2008-03-17T06:01:00.004-05:00

Barbara and Ted Young owners of Boundary Country Trekking, a northern Minnesota adventure travel company and the Gunflint Trail's Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B were featured in the latest Cook County News Herald. The article appearing on the New Herald's Senior Page was entitled, "Lifelong adventurers Ted and Barbara Young package fun for all." To view the article click on News Herald.

Border Patrol States- Fishing on Sag in the Winter is Illegal but OK

2008-03-08T08:29:00.007-06:00

The Gunflint Trail Association met with Joe Kempa, of the Department of Homeland Security- US Customs and Border Protection, "agent in Charge," and two other agent on March 5. The purpose of the meeting was to clarify current rules governing returning from Canada at remote locations i.e. Sag and Gunflint Lake, and other issues and concerns expressed by Gunflint Trail residents.

Joe Kempa, started at the start of the meeting his regrets about the accidental killing of Ken Petersen by a Border Patrol officer but stated "that since the case was still under investigation he could not discuss it."

The first question to come up was whether it was legal for ice fisherman to cross into Canada through Sag in the winter or for that matter for cabin owners and residents on the Canadian side of Sag to return to the US through Sag. Kempa after a long discussion stated it was against the law to cross into the US in the winter through anyplace other then an "Official Border" crossing office i.e. Grand Portage. He then went on to state that the Border Patrol however is not enforcing this law.

Therefore folks it is your choice- you can fish or got to your homes on the Canadian side of Sag but it is illegal to return to the US but the Border Patrol may not be "looking".

Kempa went on to state that in the summer, it is legal to return to the US from Canada through a remote location provided you have a I-68 form and you call-in your return to the Border Patrol. The I-68 is a photo/finger prints document that must be obtain in person at an "Official Border" crossing office. Mike Prom, of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters stated that , "this not a very convenient option for someone coming from Chicago and who is planning to go into Quetico on a canoe trip." It was noted that there are special video-phones that have been installed at other remote border crossings in Minnesota that would deal with this problem. Congressman Oberstar has stated in the past that he would help secure these phones for at least the Sag Landing and on Gunflint Lake. Prom said he would follow-up on this with Oberstar.

The question was then raised about Border Patrol agents that have been traveling at excessive speed on the trail, particularly through the 40 m.p. h. in the mid trail area. Kempa stated that after hearing from many people about this, he has issued a memo to his officers that they are required to obey the legal speed limits. He did go on to acknowledge that while Minnesota State regulation require that official vehicles responding to an emergency must have their flashing red lights and/or siren on, the Border patrol is not required to abide by this State regulations. Therefore Border Patrol officers sometimes maybe speeding when responding to an emergency call and not bothering to turn on the lights or sirens.

The final item discussed was the impress by many Gunflint Trail residents that the Border Patrol officers were not very friendly or willing to talk to local residents. Kempa agreed he has heard this concern and will try to encourage his officers to be a bit more open with the community. He stated that, "this meeting is at least a start in this direction."

Winter Tracks' Volksski Today

2008-03-01T06:12:00.003-06:00

Join us today, Saturday for a Volksski (peoples ski) on the Banadad
and Lace Lake Trails.

From noon to 2:00 P.M. enjoy a luncheon buffet featuring Boundary
Country Trekking’s famed Mongolian Firepot at Poplar Creek Guesthouse
Bed and Breakfast. Charge for luncheon- $10.

Winter Tracks Begins Today on the Trail

2008-02-28T07:45:00.006-06:00

The Gunflint Trail's annual winter festival - Winter Tracks begin today and run through Monday, March 3. The event is put on by the lodges and people of the Gunflint to celebrates the "best of winter." This year along the Gunflint Trail you will find snow sculpture carved by local artist at Swamper Lake, Trail Center, Laurentian Divide and Gunflint Lake Overlook. Snow "huts" are displayed at Bearskin and Trail Center.

You can find local artwork for sale during Winter Tracks at Bearskin Lodge, Trail Center, Gunflint Lodge and Gunflint Pines Resort. The festival's grand prize is Nancy Seaton's orginal art work- "A Snowflake" a copy of which is on this year's Winter Tracks button (above). Seaton's painting will be award at a drawing from Winter Track participants following the festival.

Events begin at Golden Eagle Lodge at 10 am today with an introduction to snowshoeing and a guided trek followed by "knit by the fire" at Heston's Lodge from 2-4 pm. See all the events scheduled for Winter Tracks at http://www.wintertracks.com.

Gunflint Trail Dog Sled Fun Run Invites Mushers to Participate in Second Annual Event

2008-02-27T06:55:00.003-06:00

Lutsen, Minnesota ─ The newly-formed Cook County Events and Visitors Bureau, in partnership with Gunflint Trail Association members, today announced the Second Annual Mush for a Cure Fun Run to be hosted on the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais, Minnesota Saturday, March 15. The Mush for a Cure Fun Run is a non-competitive sled dog race that will raise funds to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Mush for a Cure is a celebratory season-ending race intended to celebrate the history of dog mushing along the Gunflint Trail and raise awareness about women’s health and wellness. Accomplished dog musher Mary Black and Gunflint Trail resident Sue Prom founded Mush for a Cure by combining their desires to help support efforts to find a cure for breast cancer. In 2007, Prom created a special bent-shaft Pink Paddle to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and in 2007, Black and Prom teamed to coordinate the 1st Annual Mush for a Cure.

Mary and her husband, Mark Black, raise and train sled dogs. The couple married in 1989 and dedicated their lives to competitive dog sled racing, training and education. Mark ran his first John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon in Northern Minnesota in 1985 and has run the famed marathon 15 times. He won the grueling race in 2005. One year before, in 2004, Mary ran the John Beargrease race and finished an impressive 4th. The well respected athletes and educators have teamed with the Gunflint Trail residents and lodge owners to organize this event. Awards will be given for the most outrageous pink outfit or costume, but this award is not limited to the race participants as the handlers, volunteers, event organizers and spectators are all encouraged to participate. Prizes will also be awarded at the conclusion of the race at the Trail Center to the racers who raise the most money. All proceeds benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation
There is a mandatory entrance fee of $50.00 for all racers that will cover the cost of trail permits and insurance. Participants are encouraged to secure individual pledges above and beyond the entrance fee in advance of the event as part of the fundraising campaign. Promoting the event and collecting pledges is the responsibility of the participant and is to be presented during the same-day registration.

Mush for a Cure
Saturday, March 15, 2008

Where:
12:00 Noon start Gunflint Pines Resort on Gunflint Lake. Finish at Trail Center Lodge on Poplar Lake on the historic Gunflint Trail.

Length of Fun Run:
24 miles

Entry Fee:
$50.00 - The mandatory entry fee will cover the cost of insurance and trail permits. Pledge money and registration payment will be
collected during registration the day of the event.

Team size:
5-8 dogs

Type of start:
Sourdough / Shot Gun Start. Mushers hop out of their sleeping bags, put on their boots and hitch up their team before taking off down
Gunflint Lake. There will be optional poker cards handed out at select road crossings for the drivers that would like to participate

Parking:
Due to parking limitations at the start location the Mush for a Cure Fun Run is limited to 50 teams. Visit MushForACure.com and click on
the “Reserve a Parking Space” or e-mail info@MushForACure.com for more information.

Pledging:
All donations should be made payable to Mush for a Cure.

Reserve your Lodging:
Visit Gunflint-Trail.com or call (888) 922-5000.

Racer Registration, Pledging, Sponsorship information:
Mary Black at info@MushForACure.com or Tel. (218) 349-7960

Schedule of Events:

9:00am
Musher check-in and registration opens at Gunflint Pines Resort at Gunflint Trail mile 43.

12:00 Noon
Mass Sourdough Start on Gunflint Lake.

Noon - 3:00pm
Watch the race along the Trail. Suggested sites: Start at Gunflint Pines, Gunflint Resort, Gunflint Lake boat landing, Iron Lake Access,
Old Gunflint Trail (both west and east ends), Windigo Lodge on Poplar Lake, Nor'wester Lodge on Poplar Lake and finish party at Trail
Center Lodge at Gunflint Trail mile 30.

2:00- 10:00pm
Teams finish at Trail Center Lodge. The Finishers Bonfire and Dance Party tent are sponsored by Sarah Hamilton and the gang at TrailCenter Lodge. Enjoy hot dogs, cider and marshmallows while the teams are finishing! The Closing party is at 7:00pm with live music by “Rod and Reel” at the Trail Center Lodge. Awards presentation for largest pledge collector(s), most outrageous pink outfit and best Five Card Stud poker hand. There will also be a special drawing with prizes.

Gunflint Green Up- Tree Planting along the Trail

2008-02-24T07:24:00.008-06:00

JOIN OTHER FRIENDS OF THE GUNFLINT TRAIL planting trees along the Gunflint Trail during the Gunflint Green Up . For Green Up Specials at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B and Cabins - go to Reforesting the Gunflint or call 800-322-8327.

Planting scheduled for:
May 2-4 Planting trees in the Ham Lake Fire Area
May 9-11 Planting trees in the Poplar Creek Area

Good Morning America- Weekend Window on the Gunflint

2008-02-17T14:53:00.001-06:00

Skiing the Banadad, Firepot Dinner at a Yurt, Sleigh Ride and Snowshoeing featured on this morning's "Good Morning America." To view go to "winter on the Gunflint. and then click on "weekend window" on the upper right hand side of your screen.

Gunflint Trail on Good Morning America

2008-02-15T06:28:00.006-06:00

Grand Marais and the Gunflint Trail were recently selected by Good Morning America to be a featured destination for their Sunday morning program segment, Weekend Window. Following the theme of “Winter Destinations – Off the Road”, the production team came to discover the
harbor village of Grand Marais and the historic Gunflint Trail. The shoot took place February 12th and 13th , and notification came today that this segment will air during the last 5 minutes of the hour-long program this Sunday, February 17th .

Producer Jennifer Pirone selected three activities up the Trail for the project. The cross country ski adventure features five skiers –skiing the Banadad Ski Trail to the Tall Pines Yurt for a Mongolian firepot dinner. The skiing activity was hosted by Boundary Country Trekking. Next was the nostalgic sleigh ride with 2,000-pound Belgian horses and a lantern-lit trail at Okontoe Family Campground. It was a “wrap” with snowshoeing at Pincushion Mountain, with its Lake Superior backdrop. Local citizens provided the “talent” for the activities as well as the narrative to describe just how terrific a winter in the area can be.

The Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail segment, in addition to being aired this Sunday morning on ABC, will also be available for viewing onwww.abcnews.com , (click Good Morning America,
then scroll down to GMA Weekend). See for yourself why our winter wonderland is among Good Morning America’s choices for “one of the most beautiful places in America”.

Gunflint Lodge Prepares for the Next Kerfoot

2008-02-14T07:04:00.002-06:00

The following email was received from Lee Kerfoot of Gunflint Lodge-

At Gunflint Lodge we are in the process of trying to transition from one generation (Bruce & Sue Kerfoot) to the next (Me). The resort does not generate anywhere near the necessary cash flow to pay for the shares of the resort my father owns, even at a severely discounted rate. We need to come up with the financing to pay for this transition.

We will be taking 13 of our already existing cabins (there will be NO new construction) and creating a planned unit development. The cabins in the PUD will be sold as 1/5^th fraction, which is technically a timeshare. We will be protecting all of the open space in the PUD so it can not be built on in the future. Once these cabins are sold Gunflint Lodge will be the management company and will rent these cabins. To someone eating in our restaurant or just renting a cabin, nothing will look different then it does now. It will continue to look and operate as one resort called Gunflint Lodge. Some of the cabins will have multiple owners, but Gunflint Lodge will be cleaning them and making sure they are properly maintained. Obviously since we will be renting the cabins in the PUD it is in our best interest to ensure they stay in good shape as they would reflect back on the rest of the property.

The alternative to not doing a timeshare is to either sell some of the land (which will ultiately be developed by whom ever purchases it), or to do a residential planned unit development (which has other significant negative implications), or we could build a hotel (again this has many negative implications). We have no interest in doing any of these, and we believe by creating the proposed Planned Unit Development it will keep things the same and the property will not significantly change.

In summary we will be building NO new cabins, we are trying to change things as little as possible, we do not want to build a hotel, or ask for a residential PUD, and we will be protecting in perpetuity all of the common space inside of our proposed PUD. Additionally we told the Gunflint & Loon Lake Home Owners association about this at their annual fall meeting. Furthermore we also told the Gunflint Trail Association about our plans at their annual fall meeting.

If you would like to discuss any of this further please call me and I will be happy to answer your questions as best as I can.

Regards, Lee Kerfoot

2008 Mush for the Cure/Fun Run

2008-02-11T05:25:00.000-06:00

The second running of the Mush for the Cure Dog Sled Event will be held March 14 starting with a mass start in front of Gunflint Pines Resort. Mushere will run about twenty miles ending at Trail Center. According to the event organizeers. “this event is a fun run (non-competitive) to end the season, have a party, enjoy other mushers’ company and benefit a local charity (Pink Paddles/Breast Cancer Awareness).”

At Trail Center additional evening activities will include live music and a bonfire.

The planned race format will be “poker run style”- at check points every few miles; mushers will receive a card- Finisher with the best hand will wins prizes. Teams are limited to 5-8 dogs.

Mark your calendar now- more information (including trail route/ exact mileage and registration forms) available the week of February 18. If you have a dog team and are interested in participating notify Mary Black at maryblack@boreal.org

"Good Morning America" Comes to the Gunflint

2008-02-07T05:09:00.000-06:00

A three-person production crew from the TV show "Good Morning America" video filmed on the Gunflint Trail and along North Shore this week.

The production crew’s first stop was at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B where they filmed skiers traveling along the Banadad Ski Trail to the Tall Pine Yurt. The crew then filmed the skiers arriving at the yurt and next inside the yurt enjoying Boundary Country Trekking’s Mongolian Fire Pot Dinner. Local skiers who served as models for the production were Jan Sivertson, Peter Monkres, Jan Lemke, Debbie Benedict, and Barbara Jean Meyers.

The crews next stop was at the Mark and Nancy Patten’s Okontoe for the filming of a horse drawn sleigh ride followed by hot chocolate at the Patten’s 1903 log homestead

The following day the production crew were guided on a snowshoe hike up the North Shore’s Kedunce Creek by Kelly Dupre and Judie Johnson. The hike took them along the creek’s scenic deep gorge and past “caves” and water falls.

It is expected that "Good Morning America" will be airing the production sometime within the next few weeks.