Superior National Forest Update: May 27

Hi.  I’m Steve Robertsen, Forest interpretation and education specialist, with the Superior National Forest Update - information on conditions affecting travel and recreation on the Tofte and Gunflint Districts of the Forest. For the week of May 27th, here’s what’s going on in the Forest.
On Saturday, we have the premier running of Le Grande du Nord gravel cycling event.  There are both 50 and 100 mile routes, starting from the Point in Grand Marais.  Beyond that, we can’t tell you where the cyclists will be.  Part of the race’s challenge is to be able to navigate using a cue card which lists turns and mileage, so the route is a secret.  If you are driving in the area, just be aware that there could be bikers on the roads.  Since it is a gravel cycling event, they will be using some one lane Forest roads.  Be extra cautious on blind corners and hills if you are driving these back roads.  Good luck to all the cyclists!  Enjoy the Forest!
Those cyclists might be fighting some muddy and wet conditions.  We’ve received between a quarter and an inch of rain over the last three days.  That has really sped along the green up of the woods.  With the rain and the return of foliage on the trees, we have been given a break from the fire danger of the last couple of weeks.  Since the rain was fairly spotty, areas could dry out again fairly rapidly, so the Forest is keeping firefighting resources staged locally. 
In the event of a fire, you should know that rumors spread like, well, wildfire.  Superior National Forest will put out regular updates during a fire through the national website InciWeb.  Links to that site can be found on our website, on our Facebook page, and through our Twitter feed.  This and other official information should help you dispel any rumors that take root during a fire.
There are still prescribed burns planned on the Tofte and Gunflint Districts, but due to the rain, it will be at least five days before they occur.  The same information sources listed for wildfires will keep you in the loop for these planned burns as well.
Our wilderness crews are back in the Boundary Waters.  They report that there are still plenty of fallen branches and trees across portage trails, so be prepared for some extra work and time crossing portages.  There are also plenty of black flies, and people have been finding deer ticks, so make sure to pack your insect repellent.
In addition to the bikes on Saturday, there will be a fair amount of logging traffic.  Weight restrictions are off of most county roads now, so haulers are making up for the weeks when they couldn’t haul.  There are two sales off of the Wanless Road (FR 172), one near Elixir Lake, the other east of Section Eight Lake, so visitors should expect to see log truck traffic on the Wanless.  The Wanless is winding and narrow; be sure to drive defensively. There are also a couple of sales in the Sawbill Landing area.  Log trucks will be hauling on the Dumbbell River Road and the Trappers Lake Road (FR 369). 
On Gunflint District, timber harvests off of Greenwood Road, Shoe Lake Road, Firebox Road, and Trestle Pine Road will result in heavy log truck traffic on Greenwood Road and Shoe Lake Road during the next couple of weeks.  This will be happening during the Le Grand Du Nord cycling event this weekend, so cyclists and spectators need to be very aware and expect to encounter trucks.  A last note on roads – the frost heave that closed the 600 road near Tofte has been repaired, and that road is now fully open again.
Whether on the 600 road or up the Gunflint Trail, this is a lovely time to go for a drive, or a bike ride, in the Forest.  Our Juneberry trees are blooming, and in my mind rival the famous cherry trees in Washington.  Despite the predicted rain this weekend, take some time to get out and enjoy the flowers because they don’t last long.  Until next week, this has been Steve Robertsen with the Superior National Forest Update.