January Thaw

Well, it has happened, or rather it is happening. Since about January 15 or so we have been having mild weather. Global warming? Nah, not this time, just a case of the January thaw, blamed by forecasters on the child, or El Niño.

Martin Luther King weekend (MLK) has been our traditional weekend Up North since Lynn and I were an item, 20 years now.  Always with Lynn's friends from grad school, Joel, Peggy and Peggy's family. The first time to Washburn, then many years to Lakewoods and Telemark near Cable, and more recently, the last five to six years to Big Powderhorn near Ironwood MI.

We moved from Cable to Ironwood when the snow here became too fickle and when our children (that we meanwhile had) discovered downhill skiing and snowboarding. As long as we've been going to Ironwood, MLK weekend was grim, close to 0F/-18C every year. This year was different. A warm-up had been announced for th week before, and while the weather guys are not so good at pinpointing the exact location of precipitation (especially the edge thereof), they tend to pretty good with temps.

For MLK, the weather was nothing short of awesome, down to the drive from the cities: mild temps and no precipitation meant clear roads, high speeds and early arrival. The kids did not have to cover every square inch of skin and for cross-country skiing, my eyelashes did not freeze, enabling me for the first time to admire the sights. The snow was colder than the air, much colder than the 37F/+3C. Great skiing.

The mild weather lingered into this week. Monday night, after returning from Michigan, I had a great Sisu ski class session at Battle Creek Park West in St. Paul and Mellie and I had a great skijoring outing on Wednesday night. But then, precipitation was announced and of course it was rain. And it is rain, it really sucks. Not enough to melt the snow but enough to make sidewalks, side streets and xc-ski tracks really icy. By Sunday Jan 24 it's supposed to be back to snow, I just hope it is going to be enough. By the middle of the weeks, it is going to be back to normal Jan weather, around 8F/-12C.

Canoe Trip Planning for Summer 2010

This is a work in progress and will be frequently updated. If you come across this post and feel like I am missing or mis-representing something, please comment! I would be thankful for any piece of advice!

I am following up on James' and Jack's request for a trip north of the border and have done some research. Got a book, Kevin Callan's Quetico & Beyond and scoured the Internet. By far not as much literature and resources as for the BWCA.

There are several issues.

1. Expense. $20/adult/day and $8/youth/day. For five days with three adults and four youths that would be $140 for the Martis and Langes and $180 for us. (We could have one adult solo, or we need to invite a seasoned paddler, either adult or youth). Plus, there are other incidentals.
   
   
   
2. Remoteness. Direct entry points are in Ontario, or via the BWCA.
   
   1. 262 miles from St. Paul. (Map) The least remote access point is via the Prairie Portage station, from Fernberg Road, about 25 miles NE of Ely. It is almost necessary to take a water taxi at about $60/person round trip to avoid two extra days of canoing across large lakes (e.g. at Williams & Hall). Also, various fees for remote entry into Canada are required. (haven't quite figured out whether this is per person or per group).
      
   2. Similar is via Crane Lake, at 268 miles from the Cities. (Map). Tow via Anderson Outfitters  is about $370/person, which includes a night at the motel, kevlar canoes and the shuttle.
      
   3. 320 miles. Gunflint Trail End. (Map)   Far. $65/person RT for the shuttle by Seagull Outfitters of about 8 miles
      
   4. 391 miles 129 miles farther than Moose Lake. Nym Lake, near Atikokan, ON. (Map) There are more entry points in the vicinity, others further away. Advantage: No need for a shuttle. Disadvantage? Border crossing by car, greatest distance.