Wildersmith on the Gunflint: March 27

Since we last met over the WTIP waves, spring has backed off somewhat along the Gunflint. The final stanza of March is dwindling, and the “madness” of the month has consumed many of us with NCAA women’s and men’s events in basketball, hockey, and wrestling to name just a few.

The basketball bracket sheets in the Wildersmith house are amiss with red ink as we stumble along the picking trail. About the only thing that I can predict with any certainty is the “mania” video programming format will contain mostly marketing propaganda with a little basketball sandwiched in between. How could any of those round-ballers ever get tired with all those TV time-outs?

Back to the Trail, more seasonal temps returned with a couple nights below the zero mark here in our neighborhood. Meanwhile, the same old record is spinning from a precipitation standpoint, still dry as a proverbial bone and getting drier. When our snow is gone, border country is going to be in a world of hurt with fire danger as ground-level brush will be crunchy dry. We can only hope the decision makers will react with burning bans proactively and not wait for wildfire to break out like happened in 2007. Furthermore, a little message to the snow/rain gods is more than welcome!

With winter character on the wane, activities are nearly at a standstill. The last of what will be a farewell to trout season happens Saturday and Sunday with Trail Center’s annual catching event on Poplar Lake. For details, give Sarah a call at the restaurant.

Cross country ski trails are still useable but slick with frozen crust which cannot be endearing to the inexperienced. Snowmobiling pathways are pretty much beaten to death so the sledding season is about “kaput,” unless new snow would do an April curtain call (it does happen you know).

Speaking of the “s” word, our spectacular white landscape along backwoods byways is grudgingly taking on the ugly look of usual urban accumulations. Receding under watchful beams from a surging March sun, it’s sad to say goodbye to such nature-made beauty. With recent daytime temps back at hanging out below the freezing mark, “Old Sol's" rays are doing just enough to barely melt exposed surfaces on roads and walkways causing them to re-freeze to Zamboni exactness.

In my brief time up here, I’ve not seen walking and driving conditions in many protected locales so scary slick and they seem to be worsening. There’s a growing icy concoction on the Mile O Pine now giving vehicle operators a stern test of maneuvering skills. Urban dwellers who whine about winter driving obstacles ought to see this mess. I thought it was bad last year, but the 2015 rendition of deep icy ruts in the mini-glacial build-up near the North Loon Lake Road intersection may be the topper during my time of watching spring rituals. It’s the ultimate in “speed bumps.” Key to getting through is four-wheel-drive and don’t stop, or one might be there until June.

A week ago I mentioned the return of crows in our area. That the crows are back is an understatement. The last few days has seen hordes of them in the yard picking through winter's remains. It seems they find some undigested items in “deer droppings” to their liking, yuck. It’s amusing to watch when they are spooked, and take flight. It’s like a dark storm cloud swooshing through the forest.

Deer visitors in our neighborhood have been in absentia for several weeks. I don’t know what is going on other than wolves have been managing the herd over the past several years so there’s just not many left. We did have a couple come by and hang out in recent days, but they had to share the corn hand-out with two adopted “chicken birds” while avoiding those under-foot ebony pickers at the same time.

Pussy willow buds are burgeoning with anticipation in a few spots along the Mile O Pine, and our forest floor is taking on the look of a spotted dog. Where the winter wind whisked snow away, melting has left bare ground. Then there are other places where the white stuff remains a couple feet deep.

It's sugar time in the forest as sweet juices of life begin oozing into spires of the wilderness.

Keep on hangin’ on, and savor a thought of green leaves and rippling sky blue waters.

(Photo by Mo Barger on Flickr)