We Leave the Memories of Fire Behind Us.

Good news! They are calling the Ham Lake Fire 100% contained on the US side, and the Gunflint Trail and the BWCA (with the exception of the Granite River) should be open for “buisiness as usual” starting on Tuesday, if all goes as planned. We’re ready to begin a normal summer here at Tuscarora, and our guests will return on Tuesday.
We woke up to snow.
Andy slept more soundly as the piece of the north side of Round Lake was covered in snow. On May 10th we left Andy to shuttle the fire fighters to attack the blaze from the water. Fire fighter Stefan Moran generously sent us this photo taken from the boat—the scene of the fire on Round Lake that has been haunting Andy since that afternoon.

Like other parents, Andy and I constantly evaluate whether we are doing right by our kids—whether the choices we make help them to grow to be the best they can be. I remember on May 5th, comforting my distressed kids in the car after driving through the flames and I wondered–is this going to mar them for life?
Daniel had a chance to fish today; we’re reflecting on these last two weeks. We’ve had a little taste of displacement, we’ve worried about Andy’s safety, we’ve had moments when we’ve wondered whether we had lost our home and possessions. But we didn’t. We had no tragedy. Maybe this experience will help enhance our compassion for those who have lost their people, their homes and communities to natural disaster or war, for those who do not get to call it over and return to their regular lives after a mini “adventure tragedy”. It has certainly helped us all to count our blessings today.

Snow!

Shelby and Daniel returned to Tuscarora in the snow flurries today. We’re loving the cold wetness–it is beginning to feel like the kind of weather that would make it almost impossible to start a little campfire for dinner.

The unofficial word is that they hope to lift all evacuation restrictions and all entry point closures on the Gunflint Trail (with the exception of Magnetic Lake and Larch Creek) on Tuesday May 22nd. Of course, all depends upon containment and safety, but return to normalcy is in sight.
Wahoo!

Snow

Shelby and Daniel came home today.

We’ve had snow flurries.

Wahoo!

Nothing is confirmed, but the word is that, if all goes as planned, the Gunflint Trail and the all BWCA entry points (except Magnetic Lake and Larch Creek) will be open on Tuesday, May 22.

Four hotshot crews are in camp here tonight.

Shaky return

The moose pond continues to green up. (Blackened photo from May 9th, green photo from May 18th) . I continue to hear that the mopping up crews are holding the lines, and all is going well on the fire.

I returned to Tuscarora today, after several days sleeping in town. The quiet solo drive left me contemplating the past 2 weeks. I remembered driving over this hill (below) in the dark on Sunday evening May 6th. The entire horizon that now looks so blue was red, and it felt as though the entire upper end of the Gunflint Trail was burning (only parts of it did). I could hear the Grand Marais fire department on the portable radio, fighting for homes and cabins. The memories shook me up all over again.

I looked over at Denali, who was so eager to get home,

and I looked at the new growth in the burned areas. I wish I could share a slice of this north-woods peace with all people encountering shaky moments today.

P.S. For all Tuscarora customers with “displaced” vacation plans due to this fire: of course we will return your deposits in full. Thank you to all of you who have been too polite to ask

Good Buisiness?

The fire permiters haven’t change—and containment is on the rise…65% on the American side. The kids and I are still officially evacuated and in Grand Marais >.

We’ve set up an office in Kim and John’s Nelson’s place (High Doubt) just outside of Grand Marais. We miss Andy, the road block is just a mile from our mailbox at Tuscarora–hoping that we can all be home together soon.

In the meantime, we’re trying to figure out how to get all of the BWCA trippers into the woods-if not with us, then with our neighbors. Please feel free to call with specific concerns about an entry points/dates.

Andy and I are “newbies” in the Gunflint Trail buisiness community. We know these woods intimately—we’ve paddled and guided and camped in this area since 1978…but we’re still marveling in the way that small buisinesses work in our neighborhood.

Our friends, our running buddies, our surragate families, our kids’ “next of kin” around here are in largely our direct competitors. They may have benefitted the most if we had burned—yet they were the first ones in to help us when the flames came our way. They were the first to reassure us that we would find a way to serve our customers. They’re not looking for compensation, they’re looking out for people.

We took a “buisiness” trip with Nancy and Dave Seaton (far left–Hungry Jack Outfitters) last October. We were checking out campsites, the changing wilderness, trying out our gear, etc. Rather than guarding our buisiness secrets, we spent the entire time comparing equipment, sharing menu ideas. (We’ve added Santa Fe chicken to our menu–with tortillas– it’s the BEST) , discussiong the pros and cons of the Wenonah Escape vs. the Wenonah MNII. …

Is this good buisiness? Maybe, maybe not. We’ve found that it is the way it works around here. And it certainly makes the Gunflint Trail a great place to be.