Fe Fi Fo Fum

At the end of October Andy made his annual fall Quetico trip with Hungry Jack Outfitter Dave. They put in at the far Northwest Corner---Beaverhouse Lake, traveled through every lake they could, and ended up back at Saganaga--6 days and many miles later.

On their traverse across the Quetico, they passed through lakes unfamiliar to me--- like Cutty, Sark, Sunday....

In the very middle of the park they came upon huge old growth pines---this is where the kids and I want to go.

We think Andy looks like Jack---who managed to cut down the beanstalk just in the nick of time....and foiled the giant.

Andy said it was very humbling to be in the presence of these giant trees--he said it took the swagger out of him, and he couldn't imagine ever cutting them down.

I chose this photo to exemplify the camping part of the trip. Apparently they had so many miles in their plan that they were getting up at 5am in the blackness, and usually setting up camp in the near blackness. Granted, the days are short in October, but I had to laugh when he came home---and a few of the following mornings we'd wake up at 5am (in our warm bed in our warm house---and still feeling mighty chilly to me)---I would joke---"OK, time to get up---who is in charge of starting the fire and making the coffee?" It sounded a little hellish to me, not a vacation. And I do like to travel a fair amount, but still-

All summer long, Andy looks forward to his turn in the woods, and I don't think he wanted to miss a minute (or a mile) of this experience. I think they got a big kick out of testing their limits, watching the sunrises and sunsets from the boat, and getting the full experience of the northwoods.

Morning Coffee

Andy lost all bets-no ice on the lake this morning. But the hoarfrost on the surrounding trees sure made for a nice view while we drank our morning coffee.

Here's Winter

We got about 4 inches of snow last night, and it feels like it is here for the long haul. The sun made for a bright winter afternoon.

Andy has a bet with us all that Round Lake will freeze tonight. It is dead still outside, about 10 degrees (at 9pm), full moon.

November Sun

Our drive to the mailbox (busstop) this morning was lovely.

Can you see the cow moose in the pond? I wonder if she's too warm today? It's awfully late in the season for her to be knee deep in the water.

We (humans) are soaking up the warm sun!

October Snow

Update on the Trees

In May, 2007--the first official Gunflint Green Up transpired on the Gunflint Trail---volunteers came to private properties (including Tuscarora) and planted trees.

In May 2008, more people came, and planted like crazy in the Superior National Forest during the 2008 Gunflint Green Up Event

This week I went and checked on the little guys. The growing season this year was amazing, so that when I went in with a tree expert in July, it was really hard to find the pines among all of the ferns, poplars and wildflowers.

They were easy to find in October---and they looked pretty good!

In 2009, we'll have another event filled weekend on the Gunflint Trail. My friend the tree guy says that these little ones need tending.....their survival depends upon the sun----there is talk of "releasing the trees," or cutting away all the growth around them so that they have a chance to compete for sunlight.

Denali is sitting by one of the 2007 trees planted in the sun---same batch, but already-been-released. This is one happy tree! Consider a visit to the Gunflint Trail during the first weekend in May. You can help us release the trees, plant a few more---and you could also join us for the 2nd annual Ham Lake Half Marathon. May 2,3,4, 2009. Don't miss it!!!

Washington man indicted for starting the Ham Lake fire

From the news today--- 17 months after the Ham Lake Fire started so close to us.
You'll notice that Tuscarora Lodge appears in this report. This is what we know; and we are still very sad about that day...

Monday, October 21, 2008. A 64-year-old man from Washington D.C. has been indicted in federal court for allegedly starting the 2007 Ham Lake fire that burned for more than a week, destroyed more than 75,000 acres of forest land and cost approximately $11 million to extinguish.Stephen George Posniak was charged October 20 in Minneapolis with one count of setting timber afire, one count of leaving a fire unattended and unextinguished, and one count of giving false information to a United States Forest Service officer.Posniak’s indictment alleges that on May 5, 2007, he did willfully and without authority set on fire timber, underbrush, grass and other inflammable material upon lands owned by the U.S. within the Superior National Forest. Specifically, Posniak allegedly burned paper trash and other items that ignited a fire in the forest that burned approximately 75,000 acres in the U.S. and Canada and resulted in fire suppression costs of approximately $11 million.The indictment also alleges that on May 5 Posniak started a fire within the forest that he left without totally extinguishing, and allowed the fire to burn and spread beyond his control and burn unattended.It also alleges that on May 5 Posniak knowingly gave false, fictitious and fraudulent information to U.S. Forest Service officers by stating that he camped overnight on Cross Bay Lake, not Ham Lake, on the evening of May 4, 2007. Posniak allegedly told officers that he encountered an out-of-control fire already burning at a Ham Lake campsite on the morning of May 5 while paddling back through Ham Lake to Tuscarora Lodge.If convicted, Posniak faces a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison on the setting timber afire count, and six months each on the other two counts. All sentences are determined by a federal district court judge.An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Otteson.