Wildersmith on the Gunflint - January 24
Wildersmith on the Gunflint by Fred Smith
January 24, 2020
Our Gunflint January is heading into its’ last stanza, swooshing along like cross country skis on a border country trail. I guess the age of reason is lost when contemplating the way time slips away.
We’ve reached the meteorological coldest point of the season in this part of the world with one month of the winter calendar into the books. By next week at this time, the beam of light from the February express will be barreling toward the station.
That being said, for those longing for warmth of spring, conditions will begin slowly ticking upwards as we’ve already gained a half hour of daylight since the Solstice. A sure sign “Zigwan” (spring) will eventually come, arrived in the mail the other day as I received the first seed and plant catalog.
However, at this point we north woods folks know what can happen over the next three to four months. We have yet to experience a long Polar Vortex and snow in May is almost always a possibility.
The recent “snowmageddon” was intimidating throughout the Arrowhead with a variety of new amounts ranging up to nearly twenty inches. It made for difficult travel conditions, and for the first time since we’ve moved here, there was a warning of “no Travel advised” on the Gunflint Trail during the height of the storm.
Along the Trail, depths ranged from near fifteen inches in the mid-Trail area to six inches up toward end of the Trail at Seagull Lake. Here in the Wildersmith neighborhood, the Smith’s recorded nine.
Since there’s no business like “snow” business, folks needing the white stuff to sustain their cold season livelihood are ecstatic. For those of us who have to plow, scoop and pull it off roof tops, it’s becoming a challenge finding room to stack it all.
While yours truly remains passionate about the build-up and beauty of crystallized liquid, I must confess my aging body groans a little when removal occurrences become too frequent. A couple inches are as bad as a foot, you have to deal with both, and this neighborhood gets frequent nuisance snows requiring attention. This being noted, Gunflint Trail life still beats the mayhem of urban living, and heat of more preferred retirement locales.
As usual, those living along the Trail, in the higher elevations “Snow Zone”, have had much more to date. At Wildersmith our cumulative total is sixty inches since the fluff was first measureable in October.
Heavy snow did not deter fisher people on the opening day of lake trout season. Mini settlements of temporary shacks sprung up on area lakes like spring plant shoots on a sunny day. The first anglers sped by Wildersmith before daylight last Saturday morning.
My good friend down the Mile O Pine, and a couple buddies from Metropolis, report the ice on Gunflint Lake, where they were located, at fifteen inches with minimal slush difficulties.
While their catching fortunes were not too exciting, the adventure of ice fishing is always great. I’m told trout they pulled through the hole were small and not prolific, but its’ likely those circumstances could change at any moment. Other anglers surely hit some big ones on at least some of the 1500 lakes in the county. Regardless of catching fate, the lure of the search will go on as it has for countless centuries.
An interesting critter combination showed up for hand-outs recently. The foxy gal was here as usual and grabbed her treat, retreating some distance to gnaw of the frozen fowl. It was at this moment a pair of whiskey jacks swooped in attempting to grab a share of the goodies. In this case these treats were left-over hash browns.
They had barely pecked up a few shreds when the fox took notice and ran them off, once again, scarfing up another poultry part and moving a way to enjoy. This scene was repeated again with members of the local blue jay clan barging in with their gray cousins only to be dispatched once more. In the end, my furry friend prevailed but it was not a pleasant dining experience having to eat and run repeatedly.
As I digest this happening, I’m wondering if those Jacks (gray jays) were following that fox, knowing wherever it traveled, there was likely a morsel of nutrition to be had, perhaps like ravens and vultures pursuing land based critters to a kill site
Sadness prevails again this week along Gunflint Lake as word on the passing of another longtime resident has been received. Barbara Graham of Des Moines, Iowa and a seasonal resident on the Mile O Pine passed away on Wednesday, January 15th in hospice care at the age of 97.
Barbara and husband John, who preceded her in death, were among the earliest residents along Gunflint Lake on the MOP, dating back into the early 1960’s. Barbara was a charming friend and neighbor. She so loved this special place, Barbara and her family have supported many causes along the Gunflint Trail with gracious philanthropic acts of kindness.
Gunflint Community condolences are extended to her family and many friends.
For WTIP, this is Wildersmith, on the Gunflint Trail, where we savor the majesty of every day in this natural world!
Tweet