Banadad Ski Trails Open for Seaon

A big holiday present to those waiting to ski Northeast Minnesota’s  Banadad Ski Trails.  On December 21, trail staff finally removed the last of the brush and down trees blocking the 41 Kilometer of the Banadad Ski Trail system.  According to trail staff member, Jim Raml,  “while  we still have a bit more clean-up of some of the ice/snow cover brush over hanging the trail, at least you can get through.  The Lace Lake, Tall Pines, Knopp and 4 kilometers of the east end of the Banadad Trails are tracked.  Depending on snow condition the remainder of the Banadad  should be traced by mid next week.”

Opening of the trail this year was delayed do to a wind storm in October that drop many large trees into the trail and a November rain followed by snow that bent over the side brush into the trail.  It took trail crews considerable more time then usual to clear the down trees and side brush.

Most of the Banadad Trails are located within the BWCA and it is the BWCA longest track ski trail.  The system is centrally located along  the 200 kilometer Gunflint Nordic Trail System.  Maintenance and grooming of the Banadad System is provided by Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B .

Storm Clearing Continues on the Banadad

Trail Alert- Portions of the Banadad Ski Trail remain closed due to the accumulating on alder brush and small trees caving them into the trail and making the trail impassable.  Crews of two to four people composed of Boundary Country Trekking's staff, members of the Banadad Trail Association and other Gunflint Trail residents have been out daily clearing the trail but the going is slow, wet and cold. It has been taking the crews four to five hours per mile to clear the brush. Thus far the Lace Lake and Tall Pines Trails are open and tracked. Twenty kilometers of the Banadad's thirty kilometers have been cleared. It is expected that the remainder of the Banadad should be cleared and re-opened by Februrary 10. Stay tuned folks!

Snow Continues on the Gunflint Trail

In the mid-Gunflint Area from the “Pines” to about Gunflint Lake winter still lingers on in the shady spot and in the woods where continues snow from one to two feet remain. Along the Banadad Ski Trail the ski conditions are still great with bare spots only in sunny open areas. Once you get much past the South Gunflint Lake Road where the Ham Lake Fire took place conditions change drastically. Here must of the snow is gone- must likely due to the lack of shad in this area’s burned over forest. Also, as it usually happens, the upper Gunflint area again this winter received a bit less snow then the mid Gunflint, which may have helped it to melt faster.

Temperature are hovering in the 30s to 40s.

Gunflint Spring Snow no April Fool Joke

April Fools Day brought 12 - 14 inches of heavy wet snow to the Gunflint Trail's Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B and along the Banadad Ski Trail. On the morning of the first with guests planning to leave for home the roads and driveways into the B&B's two rental cabins had to be cleared. Plowing began at 7:30 am and five hours later the two and half miles of roadway to the Gunflint Trail was open and the guest were able to drive-out. In departing the guest declared the snow fall was great and they would not have been disappointed had they been snow bound for another day.

Then guess what? It is still snowing- so far another 3 inches today.

The Banadad remains snowed-in. The trail groomer is expected to begin opening the Trail on Friday, after the snow has settled a bit making it easier to groom. It is anticipated that about 5 or 6 kilometers of the east end of the Banadad and the Lace Lake Trails will be tracked by this coming weekend. According to Boundary Country Trekking which maintains the trails, it is anticipated that with the addition of this snow fall the Banadad should remain ski-able well into April.

Total measure snow on the ground at Poplar Creek Guesthouse is now 32 inches.

Gunflint Winter Tracks Festival-2009

Gunflint Trail, MN-The Gunflint Trail presents the fifth annual Winter Tracks, a festival to celebrate winter. This year’s event is scheduled from February 26 March 1, at a variety of locations along northeastern Minnesota’s Gunflint Trail. The members of the Gunflint Trail Association invite everyone to “Come on up and play like we do!”

"We have a well-rounded festival with great opportunities for all ages to experience wintertime fun on the Trail. More and more families are discovering the classic outdoor fun of winter recreation and activities in the northwoods. Go to www.wintertracks.com to view and download our brochure to plan your itinerary,” says Barb Gecas, an
event organizer and co-owner of Heston’s Lodge.

In addition to all the Winter Tracks favorites such as the Mini Winter Olympics, broomball games, snowshoeing, free skiing on the Gunflint Trail Nordic Ski Trail System, snowmobile Radar Run and Poker Run, ice fishing, dog sled rides, indoor traditional crafts and wilderness demonstrations, the Mongolian Firepot Dinner, and, of course, the Snow Boot Ball, there are some exciting new additions to the Winter Tracks events.

Saturday on Gunflint Lake a Ski Kiting demonstration will be conducted by kiter Darren McChristie from Thunder Bay, Ontario. Other new event are the Bearskin Wilderness Pursuit Ski Race (www.bearskin.com/race/index.html) with sprints and kids’ races on Friday, freestyle on Saturday, and classic on Sunday. At the Gunflint Conference Center on Saturday storyteller Rose Arrowsmith Decoux, Artist and Author Kelly Dupre, and Kite boarding Instructor Darren McChristie will be featured.

Other new activities include a Wolf Howling Night Hike and a Boreal Birding Hike at Gunflint Lodge, a Snow Sculpture Competition at Heston’s Lodge on Saturday, and Sleigh Rides at Okontoe throughout the festival.

On Friday evening, the popular radio show The Road House, will broadcast live from Trail Center, courtesy of WTIP 90.7 and 91.7 FM. Enjoy dinner while you listen, then stay for a story telling session.

On Saturday night, everyone is invited to the Snow Boot Ball and Festival Banquet at Gunflint Lodge. Enjoy dinner and dancing with the Trail’s End Band, a local favorite.

The festival is open to the public, and many of the events are free. Register at your host lodge or at Trail Center to receive your festival button.

To learn more about the Gunflint Trail, and to find lodging, visit us
at http://www.gunflint-trail.com or call
1-800-338-6932.

For Winter Tracks information, visit http://www.wintertracks.com or call
1-800-338-6932.

First Skiers Through the Banadad This Winter

Gunflint Trail-With the temperature hovering above freezing, the ski conditions on the Banadad Ski Trail were not great, as Erik and Karl Hoeg became the first skier to complete the entire 31 kilometer Banadad non-stop this winter. The two boys time was about 4 hours. They both are very good skiers and they explained afterwards that had the ski conditions been better they certainly would have made the trip much faster. Their parents shuttled a car to the western end of the Banadad then skied in from the western trail head, about 7 kilometers, where they met-up-with Erik and Karl. The pair were staying at one of Poplar Creek Guesthouse’s cabin with their parents.

The Nordic Ski Season Starts on the Gunflint

The cross-country skiing season has begun along Minnesota’s famed Gunflint Trail as the snow piles up- over nine new inches of snow fell yesterday. More is expected this week. With yesterday’s snowfall, area lodge owners along the Gunflint report eighteen to twenty inches of snow now on the ground.

Beginning in the village of Grand Marais, Minnesota, on Lake Superior’s North Shore, the Gunflint Trail is a paved pathway winding 60 miles through the Superior National Forest to Saganaga Lake on the Canadian border. In winter the lodge owners cooperatively operate the 216-kilometer Gunflint Nordic Ski Trail Network. This trail network consists of three interconnected ski trail areas; the Central and Upper Gunflint Trails connected by the Banadad. Both classic and skate skiing opportunities are offered amidst an unspoiled Northwoods wilderness backdrop.

According to Bearskin Lodge and Nordic Ski Center’s Bob McCloughan, which along with Golden Eagle Lodge maintains the Central Gunflint Ski System, “the groomers are out on the trails. We expect the trails at our end of the Gunflint Nordic Ski Network to be open for great skiing by this weekend.” Those responsible for the Banadad and Upper Gunflint Ski Trails expressed similar optimism.
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Nordic Skiing is by definition an eco-friendly sport but the Gunflint area ski trail managers have taken this one step further. Last year, the Banadad Ski Trail became “carbon neutral” with the purchase of carbon credits to offset the emissions of grooming. This year, the Central and Upper Gunflint ski trail systems are adopting carbon neutral strategies. The cost to sequester the carbon released into the atmosphere from the maintenance and grooming for the Gunflint Nordic Ski Trails will be invested in planting of trees along the Gunflint Trail.

Along with their investment in the environment, lodges along the Trail catering to skiers are offering some new amenities this winter. At Bearskin Lodge, the dining room, which has been closed for a number of years, will open under the direction of noted local chef Judy Barsness of Chez Jude in Grand Marais. Bearskin is also offering dog sled rides this winter.

Skiers skiing the Banadad Ski Trail will find a new Olga’s Hut at Croft Yurt Camp and at the Trail’s eastern end the Tall Pines Trail has been extend to form a new 3.5 kilometer loop trail. Gunflint Lodge is adding a broomball rink. At Gunflint Pines a lighted ski trail is planned. While at Moosehorn Bed and Breakfast skiers will be greeted by new owners.

Winter Events- This winter Gunflint ski lodges are jointing with lodges throughout Cook County in a new winter ski event called Volk ski Festival - planned from January 31 to February 8. Later, Gunflint Trail businesses will celebrate the snowy season during the annual Winter Tracks festival February 26 to March 1.


For more information call Gunflint Skiing at 800-338-6932 or go to Gunflint Skiing.

First Snow- Up Date Snow Still Falling

Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B's Banadad Ski Trailhead

The Gunflint Trail's first snow started to fall Thursday. As of today there is now six inches of snow on the ground. More snow is predicted over the next three days. If you are planning to ski bring your rock skis. Look for temperatures in the 20-37 degree range.