Gunflint Trail fire

!In the midst of relocation and a week without internet (is that like a day without sunshine?), I've been worried sick about friends on the Gunflint Trail, where a wild fire sparked by a campfire early last week has burned over 75,000 acres (over 36,000 on the U.S. side). The fire has forced evacuations of homes and businesses, closed BWCA access points on the Gunflint Trail side, and resulted in the loss of property. The fire apparently is now 50% contained on the U.S. side. After a very rough weekend, it appears that things are getting better.

These two sites have good info and updates on the fires. I have also been following the more human scale of the fires on Sue Prom's Boundary Waters Blog. Sue and her husband Mike run Voyageur Canoe Outfitters at the end of the trail; they were evacuated early last week and have been very busy as members of the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department.

As many of you know, finnfam spends a big chunk of July at Bearskin Lodge on the Gunflint Trail and our friends there are like family. Fortunately Bearskin is in good shape so far and we can't wait for our two weeks this year. We have promised them that we'll be there, come hell or high water (something they'd probably love to have right now).

As I wrote last summer, fire is one way that the forest regenerates itself. But this is a very tough start to the summer season on the trail.

THINK RAIN.

Comments

[caraf]

As of Thursday, the Trail is open except for the last 7 miles, so folks can return to their homes and businesses to see what's up. The walleye opener was a bust and some entry points into the BWCA will be closed for a bit, but the resorts are still in business. Update at http://www.twincities.com/minnesota/ci_5913808

[Michelle]

Thanks for the URLs for updates. I'm thinking rain, rain, rain for the BWCA.