Wildersmith on the Gunflint - January 15

Wildersmith on the Gunflint     by     Fred Smith
January 15, 2021    
           
All is quiet on the northern front heading into the second half of chapter one in ’21. The recently new, “Great Spirit” moon is in crescent over “Chinook” like conditions. “Old Man Winter” has remained AWOL for another week in border country.                                                  

One has to wonder if this is the best “he” can do, it will likely prompt the first garden seed catalogs, definitely a call to spring with winter not even a month old.                                                     

In spite of winter being relatively subdued, the past week has featured several days of crystal beauty throughout the forest. Atmospheric warm air inversion has trapped low level cloudiness, producing nighttime fog and accumulation of moisture freezing on contact with every component in our natural world.                                                                                                    

Better known as “Rime Ice” in meteorological circles, they say it is not the same as “hoar frost,” which happens on bitter cold nights with just the right humidity. Nevertheless this frozen magic is equally elegant. North Country photographers have no doubt been in heaven, capturing memories of the fragile cut-glass dendrites adorning our mountain high coniferous spires.                                                                                                                                                   
We’ve seen little of “old Sol” along the international border for days, but territory is still sparkling. And any breathe of air brings a blizzard of the feathery splinters showering down in ghostly veils.                                                                                                                                              
A venture out and about the upper Trail region during this time has been the most breathtaking I’ve ever observed. I swear that every one of these “Jack Frost” spectacles seems to be better than the last, they kind of fit into the same category of those best ever Canadian sunsets in the summer time. However, his current icing performance tops them all, so far!              

Being able to exit into the Gunflint world of frosty majesty has been a welcome distraction from the grim reminders mankind has been enduring for way too many months.                   

Besides scenic viewing, another aspect of cold season fun will be added to the list of north woods activities this weekend. The trout fishing opener will bring an onslaught of visiting anglers to their favorite drilling spots on area lakes.                                                                                
We’ve added no additional snow over the past week, to further insulate lake surfaces. With only a couple semi-cold nights, and mostly mild daytime temps, little has happened assist in firming the slushy sandwich between existing snow and truly hard water in most places.                    

In any event, this is always an exciting time to drill a hole in the ice, sit on a bucket (or in a warm shack) and wet a line to tempt a denizen of the deep. Good luck to all and be safe!         

The unusually warm days since the week before Christmas seem to have altered critter behavior. I’m not seeing as many birds around the feeders, even those annoying blue jays have become scarce, and the regularity of neighborhood pine martens visits has ground to a halt. The only hangers-on are squirrels, and they are content with un-interrupted access to all the cafeteria stations. And the friendly fox is leaving only a trace of having been here in the dark, being invisible during the day.                                                                                                                       

So, will the “wild neighborhood” and the great spirit of the north” return the north woods to winter normal, only time will tell.                                                                                                  
For WTIP, this is Wildersmith, along the Gunflint Trail, where every day is great, and abundant with wonder of days gone by!