Earliest Ice Out on Poplar Lake

Yesterday, April 6 marks the earliest day that the ice went out on Poplar Lake in our record history. Prior to this year the earliest the ice went out was on April 16 in 2005 and 2006. Between 1990 and 2000 the ice went out six times during May with the latest May 22. After the year 2000 the ice has gone out six times in April and three time in May.

Spring is arriving quite early this year- our first robin was spotted over the weekend of March  26 by guest at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B and we have seen many more since then. Trees buds are ready to burst open and the creeks are open and flowing.

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.

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.

Snow Continues on the Gunflint Trail

After three to four inches of new snow the last few days on the Gunflint Trail, Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B now has a measured eight inches of snow on the ground. More snow is predicted for Saturday and Sunday. While the Banadad Trails are yet to be tracked, local skiers have been out. It is expected tracking of the Banadad Trails should be getting underway by next week.

Gunflint Trail- Weather Cold Snow on the Way

This morning with clear skies the thermometer dipped to –20 our coldest reading since last winter. However the wind is expected to shift to the south bringing in warm air and most importantly some “lake effect” snow. The National Weather Service (NOAA) in Duluth is forecasting 3-7 more inches of snow starting late this afternoon.

Thanksgiving Snow on the Gunflint Trail

Last night, Thanksgiving, another two inches plus of snow fell along the Gunflint Trail. With the inch of snow from the day before at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B we now a bit over three inches on the ground. Not quite enough for skiing but we are getting there! More snow is expected over the next two days.

The mid-size lakes are now frozen. Smaller lakes, such as Swamp, Little Ollie and Hooker have enough ice to venture out on by foot.

First Snow

The mid-Gunflint Trail area around Poplar Lake and Little Ollie Lake received its first dusting of snow of the season last night. Not must on the ground but more is predicted. The current temperature at 8:00 am is 25 degrees and very windy.

First Frost at Little Ollie Lake

Last night the eastern end of Poplar Lake on Little Ollie Lake received this fall’s first frost. The temperature at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B early this morning was 28 degrees. This is not to say that frost has not occurred previously in other areas of the Gunflint Trail. Two weeks ago inland from the south shore of Poplar Lake a temperature of 30 degrees was recorded.

Meanwhile along the Gunflint the fall colors are now reaching their peak – the moose maples and pin-cherry trees are bright red and orange and the birch and aspen yellow. It quite beautiful!

Ice Out on Smaller Gunflint Trail Lakes

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.

Snow is Going; Look for a Late Opener

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!

Gunflint Trail- Snow Going but Not Gone

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.

Temperature Goes Up, Lights Go Out

Early this morning the temperature was well above zero for the first time in about a week. Then at about two-thirty a.m. the electrical power on the Gunflint Trail went down. The temperature continued to climb hitting eleven degrees above by nine thirty a.m. when Arrowhead Electrical Coop was able to restore the Gunflint's power. Not that the two events were related but subzero weather was getting "old" and residents of the Trail have become accustom to electrical power for heating, water and their saterlite internet. Needless to say- above zero temperatures and having the lights go on again were welcome.

Cold Weekend on the Trail

Saturday morning at Poplar Creek Guesthouse- the temperature is negative twenty-two degrees and 10-15 mile per hour wind is expected later today. According to the forecast it looks like this cold blast will continue for about another week.

Yesterday while tracking the Banadad the temperature never got above negative ten. However this did not stop to "rangers" from Virginia Minnesota from skiing the entire Banadad.