March 8, 2015
Greetings! What a wonderful Feb. we had! We kept getting new snow on a regular basis, no big storms, but many days of an inch to three. Certainly not like last year, but it provided great skiing. We now have 22″ in the woods, but looks like we will be losing a lot of it in the next 10 days with highs expected in the mid-40’s. With the warm days and below freezing nights, we should be set up for some great “crust” skiing. The time of year that many locals anxiously look forward to. With relative ease one can skate ski 20 to 30 miles in a day. You stay on top of the crusted snow making skiing pretty effortless. If you come, call ahead first to check on conditions and bring plenty of sun screen and dark sun glasses. Most skiers have a nice tan by April 1st!
We had a very busy February, in fact, our busiest yet. The cabins were pretty much full the whole month. We still have plenty of room for anyone who would like to Ely to watch the transition to Spring…………lots of sun and wildlife sightings.
Wildlife: The bird feeders were somewhat sparse with migrating birds during Dec. We had the resident birds and a few Pine Grossbeaks and a scattering of Repolls. That changed at the end of Jan. when we started getting flocks of 15 – 20 Pine Grossbeaks and 100’s of Redpolls and now the Siskins have moved in. Needless to say, our bird food bill has risen substantially! The Pine Martens are doing well with numerous sighting at all the cabin as well as many tracks on the ski trails. Triangle cabin was the only place where a Fisher was sighted.
Caught on game camera near the Sundew Cabin
The wolves are not doing too well around the Triangle/lark Lake cabin this year. This packs territory has the Fernberg Road pass through the middle of it making it easier for hunters and trappers to get to them. The pack was only 4 last year, but 2 were shot, one legally and the other illegally, so that leaves 2. We saw their tracks quite regularly early this winter but have not seen them for awhile. I assume they are hunting closer to the road, where there are more deer. There are virtually no deer around Triangle Lake/Kawishiwi River this winter.
The new cabin is coming along Slowly, but is shaping up and will be open for next winter. When we are not working on it, we are getting customers in and out of the cabins or working on firewood, a never ending chore. Gathering firewood is lots of work, but lots of fun too, especially when we start splitting it……then we are allowed conversation and a few cold beers!
Motley Crew from Ely
Another 2 years of Sauna wood!
