Another Detour for Jim Colbert!

Jim Colbert from Iowa State wins the prize for canoe trip detours, 2 years in a row. Last year we set up a detour for him, and Jim Holz and their biology students. They put in on Poplar in May, because the Ham Lake fire kept them out of our neck of the woods. They camped on Omega---the fire was 12 miles away when they started out….and they wondered if it was still 12 miles away?????--but not---and they were escorted out through Brule Lake.



















This year, Jim and two students were good Samaritans as they escorted a camper in trouble all the way from Little Sag. Then they had some soup, stocked up on fresh cookies and Mountain Dew (in the Nalgene bottles, of course, model BWCA campers that they are) and headed right back. We hope that they are back on Little Sag right now! We really like these guys---and bet that they’ll sleep well tonight!!

Minnesota Bird Feeder

No bears at Tuscarora this spring---just Denali. My brother sent me an update from another spot in Minnesota...
Ever worry about squirrels getting into your bird feeder? Well, look at this.

Don't Worry About the Ice

We're having beautiful spring weather--the word is that ice is gone everywhere. With the exception of a sheet on Saganaga that is causing a few detours, but not stopping anyone. That pesky sheet should be gone any minute now. No worries!

Fishing Opener Pioneers Return

The first hearty groups returned yesterday and today---happy to have been the pioneers, all have had their fill of Lake Trout!

Highlights:

• A mother moose gave birth to twins on the shore of Rib Lake-
• Tuscarora was frozen to the edges on Friday so John Ewerts group floated/towlined their canoes along the shore (where they couldn't paddle) to the Little Sag portage. Tuscarora is all open now.
• Fishing was great in the Peter/Gabi/Gillis areas. John Ohman's group really enjoyed the views around Peter--their favorite part of the trip. He called it a mountain lake---and can't wait to come back and explore. The moose are plentiful, the scenery is so different. They loved that.
• On Friday Gillis was also an ice adventure to paddle---and they could only get through on the north side of the lake to the French Lake portage.
• A few sunburns, stories of a snowy Saturday morning, unanimously happy campers.

Purple Poplar Morning

The lake looked purple this morning--the bark on the poplar trees turns purplish before the leaves pop. It's going to be a day!
Yesterday we opened the shower house and the dining hall--the 2008 paddling season has begun.

First Annual Ham Run Half Marathon

We had a great day for the half marathon and 5k races on Sunday May 4th. The sun was out, the runners were cheerful, all went smoothly for this first annual event. I was part of the Transportation Team---I’ve never been part of the organazional side of a run like this. The runners that I shuttled were very pleased with the logistics, surprised that all could run so smoothly for a “first event.”

I had to smile as I watched Mike and Sue Prom, Tom Lynch, Bob Baker---with all the people involved with their radios and their logistics. They were running this with the same procedural structure as a fire incident---of course it ran smoothly, they’ve had LOTS of practice with that! The happy runners were already looking forward to bringing their friends next year….better get training!!! http://www.hamrunhalfmarathon.com/results.html


Jana claimed that she and Mike weren't in a race, they were on a date.


Gunflint Pines hosted the start of the race.

The Trail's End Band played for the Ham lunch following the races.

Ice Out

Daniel went out paddling on Round the evening of May 4th and took some photos:



Still plenty of ice at the start.







But he watched it melt as he paddled.

And took photos of the reflections. Nothing like still waters.

Today, only one soggy sponge layer is left out in front of us on Round Lake (10am). Andy and Shelby paddled to Missing Link last night: no ice on Missing Link. The way is clear into Tuscarora!! Bigger lakes are also breaking up----the ice just can't hold up against the intense sun we're getting today!