Wildersmith on the Gunflint - August 21

Last weekend defined what nice days along the Gunflint Trail are all about. One could say they were near perfect. Azure skies with cool temps and northwest breezes made folks out this way forget about hot and sticky that can be annoying in the latter days of month eight. 
                                             
Precipitation has been minimal during the past seven, but overall August thus far has provided enough to keep fire danger in the moderate category. However, I wouldn’t advise giving thought to pulling in those wildfire sprinkler systems for another six weeks or so.   
                         
It has been a busy week in the territory, not only with visitors flooding the area but also with the end of the summer fundraising drive for our Trail volunteer fire department. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cast gloom over our daily lives, the Gunflint Community gathered forces once again to support our local heroes in a way different from years of Canoes Races, Auctions, Flea Markets and Concerts.                                                               
Friends of the Gunflint Trail Fire Department re-programmed with a couple of raffles, Fire Department calendar sales, on-line T-shirt sales, and from-the-heart donations, in addition to a closing ceremony with the virtual concert, of Woods, Winds, Strings and a Little Jazz.                                   
While dollars of support are still being counted, a preliminary report from organizers indicates over $52,000.00 was raised. Once again, the drawing for the winner of the Wenonah kayak and the Mid-Trail Quilters masterpiece caused considerable excitement, even though it came via Zoom.                                   

The winners were separated by nearly six hundred miles with end of the Trail local, Matt Ritter having the lucky ticket for the beautiful quilt and Colin Smith of Sheldon, Iowa capturing the glossy gold kayak. Thanks go out to all who volunteered from the Mid-Trail Property Owners and the Gunflint, Seagull, Saganaga Lake Property Owner groups for their time and energies to make this happen, and not to miss mentioning organizers and performers of the Concert. And of course, all the charitable donors!                                                                                                                                                                             
It goes without saying, this Community has unmatched determination, and has never failed to produce under the most trying circumstances, come wind, fire or storm of disease!                       

It is amazing what humans can do when they pull together. Such is the case with another event that has been happening in recent years but has also been stalled by conditions of the virus. The Dark Sky Caravan, which has been an end of the trail activity in cooperation with the Gunflint Trail Historical Society for the past couple of years, is canceled too.

However, with human ingenuity and energy, the event will not be face to face in the inflatable GeoDome, but will be produced and actually come through the ebony heavens this year.                                                                         

Dark Sky enthusiasts are invited to join a Virtual Caravan August 24 through the 29th. Celebrate the night skies of northern Minnesota hosted by the Marshall Alworth Planetarium on the Campus of University of Minnesota Duluth and local Partners. Facebook Live shows begin at 7:00 p.m. each evening, and Telescoping Livestream will commence at 8:30 p.m. (weather permitting) to enjoy views of the moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and more. Access the celestial happenings on facebook.com/UMDPlanetarium.                                                                                             
Closer to home loons apparently are looking skyward too. A report has come from Dog Eared Bay on Gunflint Lake telling of independent (lacking parental responsibilities) loons observed gathering. While some loon moms are still parenting, this gathering is signaling a southerly trip plan is underway.                                                                                                                           

Guess this seasonal flight scheming affair matches up with increasing flora signals from goldenrod, roadside dogbane and moose maple pigment changes. Autumn, while officially still a month away, is trying to intrude on its prior season cousin. At moments, along backcountry roads, the woods already seem to murmur a tone of fall.                                                                           

For WTIP, this is Wildersmith, on the Gunflint Trail, where every day is great, with an ever-changing display of Nature’s Glory!