Wildersmith on the Gunflint - June 19
Wildersmith on the Gunflint by Fred Smith
June 19, 2020
Whereas summer has been edging its way in for several weeks, the season is official as this Gunflint scoop hits the air. Summer Solstice is a happy time for some folks and a bit disconcerting for others at the realization daylight minutes will soon begin diminishing. Whatever the case, there’ll be ninety days of fun and sun.
The past few Gunflint days have been quite summer like after a bout of June chill late in week two. While not happening frequently, there have been frosty days in month six. The territory along with most of northern Minnesota experienced a couple mornings of light frost or at least pretty darn close. It was enough to cause serious North Country garden growers to cover up some of their tender sprouts.
As the thermometer has been like a yo-yo, the upper Trail has returned to dust bowl conditions. It sure doesn’t take long for the forest to dry out, and we are choking on dusty back country roads. Early days of the new month looked like we were getting out of the semi-arid rut prior to green-up, but the past week could only muster slightly more than a dampening of the rain collection tube in this neighborhood.
“Mother earth” meanwhile, must have held on to snow melt under the canopy as the bloom of summer is in full swing. The ground level rainbow is spirited with both perennial natives and some beautiful, but noxious non-native invasives. Although not yet at the peak, uncountable golden blossoms are lining the byway, interspersed with lupine and occasional wild roses, and just think, there’s more to come.
Although the Chik-Wauk Museum Campus facilities are closed, many visitors are walking in to trek the hiking trails. I received a report from a foursome who recently hiked the Blueberry Trail, sharing a colorful experience. I’m told they counted 122 (pink) moccasin flowers and a great number of golden lady slippers. Their exercise had to be a wonderful way to brighten what have been some gloomy moments for peoples of the world, during the past three plus months.
While lamaenting the annoyances of our iconic nipping north woods insects in recent weeks, I’ve also observed some pleasant happenings. In recent days, I happened upon a puddling of butterflies, at one of the few damp spots along the Mile O Pine.
One occasion was of the Fritillary family and the other was Canadian Swallow Tails. With uncountable thousands of these delicate creatures on the edge of an “insect apocalypse” it is not only intriguing, but also encouraging to see a congregating of these magic members of our ecosystem.
I was in the lake water this past weekend working with a friend to put in the dock and boat lift. At fifty-four degrees, I must say the water temp was a far cry from the high thirties of May 6th when I set out the wildfire sprinkler system lines. Nevertheless, when waves of the wet stuff splashed over top of my waders, it got my attention.
In other matters of water, brief conversations with a couple fishermen, indicate unhappiness with catching of late. I don’t know if it was the same for everyone, but by indications of packed parking lots at lake access points along the Trail, there were a lot of anglers out having a good time. Fishing is always great, but sometimes the catching is not.
On a related note about floating craft, it makes me wonder if there is anyone in America who does not own a canoe or kayak. They are uncountable traveling up and down the Trail these days.
In closing, since the Wildersmith dock is now into the lake, the Smith’s enjoyed the first of many moments last Sunday, mesmerized by the beauty of blue skies, lush green mountain sides and rippling waters. I assume many others in Gunflint territory are doing the same! Life by the water couldn’t be anymore sparkling! Happy summer!
For WTIP, this is Wildersmith, on the Gunflint Trail, where every day seems unrivaled, until the next!
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