Sunday, January 30, 2011
Beargrease Race is On!
3:32 PM
The dogs have left Duluth on their way to the Gunflint Trail. The John Beargrease sled dog race is the longest in the lower 48 states. The teams left Duluth starting at 1:00 pm today and they will reach us sometime very early Tuesday. Terry and I will be working a road crossing making sure the mushers can cross the Gunflint Trail safely.
The trail is in very good condition with some fresh snow and the temps shouldn't be a problem. We are expecting lows in the teens below 0 and highs in the teens above 0. It may sound cold for you but the dogs like cooler weather.
Monday, January 17, 2011
January Happenings
3:07 PM
Winter on the Gunflint Trail offers several unique experiences. Most of you know about the skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling but there are other activities namely ice fishing and the John Beargrease sled dog race.
The lake trout season opened this last weekend and that means more action on lakes like Loon Lake. The most popular spot to fish Loon in the winter is accessed from the public landing at the far west end of the lake. There is a shelf that runs along the north side of the lake just down from the landing. It extends about 20 to 30 yards out from the shore and then drops off to depths of 90 feet plus. So people fish the shelf where the fish come up out of the deep water to feed.
For almost twenty years, between 1879 and 1899, John Beargrease and his brothers delivered the mail between Two Harbors and Grand Marais. During winter months deliveries were made using sled dogs and today the John Beargrease Sled dog race is a celebration of those years. The race is the longest in the lower 48 states running between Duluth and the Gunflint Trail and back again. Terry and I have volunteer the past few years and have developed a tremendous respect for the dogs and mushers.
The past two years the race course comes down the length of Loon Lake. The teams come off the lake at the Lodge and then up our drive to cross the Gunflint Trail and then run the state snowmobile trail back towards Duluth. We have a front row seat from the house.
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For almost twenty years, between 1879 and 1899, John Beargrease and his brothers delivered the mail between Two Harbors and Grand Marais. During winter months deliveries were made using sled dogs and today the John Beargrease Sled dog race is a celebration of those years. The race is the longest in the lower 48 states running between Duluth and the Gunflint Trail and back again. Terry and I have volunteer the past few years and have developed a tremendous respect for the dogs and mushers.
The past two years the race course comes down the length of Loon Lake. The teams come off the lake at the Lodge and then up our drive to cross the Gunflint Trail and then run the state snowmobile trail back towards Duluth. We have a front row seat from the house.
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| Jerry and a nice Loon Lake trout |
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| Dog team heading towards the Lodge |
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Winter at a Northwoods Log Cabin
10:41 AM
The weather outside is beautiful today! It is about 23 degrees and sunny with no wind. It couldn't be any nicer for this time of year. You may not know that we now are renting out the Shack for winter guests! It is a great cabin with king beds a full living room with wood burning fireplace and a complete kitchen. We just recently finished replacing all the old leaky windows with new ones and putting in a new high efficiently furnace. So, even if you don't want to use the fireplace you are toasty warm.
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| Shack Living Room |
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| Shack Kitchen |
If you are looking for a winter log cabin rental check us out.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
4:26 PM
We did not get our Christmas cards out this year there was just too much happening. So here is our Christmas blog. We celebrated Christmas early with our daughter Lindsay and her family visitling from Alaska and our son Adam and his family were up from Duluth. The kids were excited to open their gifts early!
FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS --HOPING YOU HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
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| Lindsay and Adam |
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| Mya, Lindsay and friends |
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| Hannah |
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| Tanner and Mya |
TOM & TERRY
Friday, December 3, 2010
Lots of Snow
10:49 AM
Here it is just the first part of December and we have had lots of snow. Officially we have gotten over 25 inches so far! At this rate we should have a good winter for all of our outdoor sports. The cross country ski trails have been packed but not groomed as of yet and the snowmobile trails are still being cleared of summer blow down. The smaller lake are frozen over but the main part of Loon and Gunflint are still open with much sign of freezing.
Terry is already to start skiing and I am ready to watch her. Hope you are all getting ready for the Holidays and enjoying family time.
Most of our weekends are booked but there are still midweek nights open and weekends in January so check us out www.visitloonlake.com
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| The bay 11/29 |
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| The Bay covered with ice 12/3 |
Most of our weekends are booked but there are still midweek nights open and weekends in January so check us out www.visitloonlake.com
Friday, November 12, 2010
Quiet Time
12:33 PM
This is a quiet time of the year on the Gunflint Trail. Many resorts are closed during this time to give the owners a chance to recharge their batteries and get ready for the winter season. The weather has been great. Temps have been above normal and it has given Terry and I a chance to do some hiking and just enjoying the area. Summers are busy and we miss out on doing the things many of our guests come here to do.
Our daughter Lindsay and her family are back from Alaska. They are building a log cabin that replaces a cabin that was lost in the 2007 Ham Lake fire. We don't know how long they will be here but we are thankful for whatever time we can spend with the grandkids. We don't get to see Tanner and Mya very often so we are glad they are here during the quiet time of the year.
If you are looking for a quiet few days in the woods give us a call. We are offering the Shack at $89 a night for 2 people from now until the 12th of December! Check it out at www.visitloonlake.com
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| Grandma Terry and Tanner |
If you are looking for a quiet few days in the woods give us a call. We are offering the Shack at $89 a night for 2 people from now until the 12th of December! Check it out at www.visitloonlake.com
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Beautiful Weather!!!
8:14 PM
I can't believe the weather. It has been just beautiful the last couple of weeks. Temps have been 10 to 15 degrees above normal and Terry and I have taken time to enjoy the wonderful days of Indian summer. So much so we have been slacking off getting the resort ready for winter but that will get taken care of soon or later.
Yesterday we walked to Bridal Falls. This summer the Youth Conservation Corp came in and cleared the trail to the Falls. After the Ham Lake fire in 2007 it became difficult to walk the trail because of new growth of Aspen, raspberry bushes and just brush. If you haven't done the trail, it is part of the Border Route Trail and it goes from the Lodge around Crab Lake almost over to Gunflint Lake then to the falls. It take about 2 hours to get all the way to the falls and is a moderate walk.
It was a great walk with a number of great views along the way. We also saw a number of ruffed grouse along Crab Lake. When we got to the falls we sat down in front of the falls and had a leisurely lunch before heading back to the Lodge.
Yesterday we walked to Bridal Falls. This summer the Youth Conservation Corp came in and cleared the trail to the Falls. After the Ham Lake fire in 2007 it became difficult to walk the trail because of new growth of Aspen, raspberry bushes and just brush. If you haven't done the trail, it is part of the Border Route Trail and it goes from the Lodge around Crab Lake almost over to Gunflint Lake then to the falls. It take about 2 hours to get all the way to the falls and is a moderate walk.
It was a great walk with a number of great views along the way. We also saw a number of ruffed grouse along Crab Lake. When we got to the falls we sat down in front of the falls and had a leisurely lunch before heading back to the Lodge.
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| Signs show the damage from the Ham Lake fire. |
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| Low water at Bridal Falls |
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Dinning Room Closes for the season.
9:51 AM
We had a very good summer season which kept the dinning room busy. We started serving meals in May this year. If you were here in 2009 you may remember we had to wait until July because we were working on the Lodge. Well that work was finished and we were able to open this year by mid May. We added a new chicken dish this year and we are making plans to change one or two meals for next year. Our rib dinner continues to be one of our most popular meals followed closely by walleye, steak and duck. The big surprise this year was the popularity of our meatloaf. It is one of the old-time Loon Lake Lodge recipes from the Taste of the Gunflint cookbook.
So thank you to all who made this a great summer season and if you are looking for a winter retreat check out our winter page. We will open after the first of December so give us a look.
So thank you to all who made this a great summer season and if you are looking for a winter retreat check out our winter page. We will open after the first of December so give us a look.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Fall colors peaking!!
8:18 AM
If fall colors are what you are looking for, you should make plans soon. I took this picture from our house yesterday. The leaves are just about at there most colorful. Driving the Gunflint Trail you will see lots of reds and yellow along the road. Maple Hill just out of Grand Marais is very colorful right now. So you have less than a week for peak colors in this area.
We still have some openings starting on Sunday so check out our fall specials and give us a call.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Fall is in the air!!!
4:56 PM
I think it is safe to say summer is over. We have had some cool temps in the morning. We dropped to the low 30s a few days ago. This causes fog in the morning to lay over the warmer water creating a beautiful scene.
The fog stays around until the sun heats up the air and burns it off. A great time to sit on the dock and just take it all in.
The leaves are also starting to turn but not as fast as I would have thought. Moisture or lack of it is a major factor in leaves changing colors and we had a very dry summer. So I thought by this time we would have more yellow in the bay.
The fog stays around until the sun heats up the air and burns it off. A great time to sit on the dock and just take it all in.
The leaves are also starting to turn but not as fast as I would have thought. Moisture or lack of it is a major factor in leaves changing colors and we had a very dry summer. So I thought by this time we would have more yellow in the bay.
We are going to try and keep all of the cabins open until the 10th of October so check out our fall specials and give us a call.
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