Category: Life at Tuscarora Lodge

Life at Tuscarora Lodge

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

Life at Tuscarora Lodge

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.
Life at Tuscarora Lodge

De-mobilization

The trucks and crews have been streaming out of Grand Marais–and the evacuation line has moved back to the Cross River. With two wet days, it is amazing how the woods are continuing to green up.

The Forest Service is beginning a plan to reopen the woods to visitors–as it becomes safe. As of May 20th, folks can return to the lakes around Trail Center. As of May 29th, the plan is to allow folks to return to the lakes in the upper trail area–Seagull, Saganaga, Cross Bay, Missing Link, Brant, etc. The delay will allow for the Forest Service rangers to get in and check out the portages and campsites–make sure all is safe for travel–and make sure any embers continue to behave themselves.

The kids are looking forward to getting back to their regular lives. We sat around pondering the high and low points of this entire fire experience, and the kids agreed that it wasn’t such a nightmare driving through the flames. The hardest part was the displacement from home. They’re feeling grateful that they won’t be displaced for months, like the kids in other disasters. Aren’t we fortunate that we didn’t really have one?

We’re looking forward to the raspberry and blueberry patches these next few years are sure to bring to our neighborhood!

Life at Tuscarora Lodge

55% Contained

The Lone Peak Hotshots pulled out today—bringing many yards of hoses. We’re so grateful for the competence and ambition these guys bring to their jobs….
The fire appears to be behaving in our area: 55% contained on the American side.
They came and took down the sprinklers from Tuscarora. Tomorrow the evacuation is pushed back to the Cross River—and residents will be allowed to the end of the trail briefly.
The plan is for the fire to be contained by Sunday, May 20th. Contained means the perimeter of the fire is blackened with hose laid all around it.
The fire may not be controlled until late summer or fall . Controlled means that someone signs on a dotted line assuring that the fire will not flare up again.
A drizzly day today enhanced progress, optomism, and the green shoots at the moose pond.
As the active fire moves up on the east end of Saganaga, we worry about the homeowners and buisiness up in Canada….we sure could use another cold and rainy day.

Life at Tuscarora Lodge

It’s Raining

  • Drizzle at Tuscarora this morning. High humidity, good news for the fire fighting efforts–looks like this may be another quiet fire day.
  • They are working successfully to contain the “finger” of the fire extending south of the Gunflint Trail—in the Rush Lake area near Poplar Lake. (http://www.mnics.org/Incidents/incidents.shtml)
  • Power is being restored all the way up the Gunflint Trail,-to properties that were not damaged.
  • The Canadians are working to protect structures on Red Pine Island on the east end of Saganaga. Apparently they are working on back burns in Red Sucker Bay and Northern Lights Lake.
  • Nancy Seaton tells me these plants are called Crooked Stalks.

Welcome!

Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters
193 Round Lake Road
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-2221
info@tuscaroracanoe.com

Winter Hours
Please call between 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

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