Despite the cancellation of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon in Duluth, dog sled racing will still take place at the end of January – in Grand Marais, one of the state’s only snow-covered spots.

Before the first running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon in 1978, there was the Gunflint Mail Run. On Monday, January 30 and Tuesday, January 31, 2012, locals plan to revive the race in Grand Marais – one of the only snow-covered spots in the state.

“When the Beargrease race was cancelled due to lack of snow, the mushers here were really disappointed,” said Jack Stone, owner of Grand Marais-based Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply. “So the Cook County Dog Mushers and I started thinking: Why not invite the mushers north? We have snow and the conditions are great. So, we put the word out – and they can’t wait.”

The last time this happened was in 2007, when the Beargrease race was also canceled due to lack of snow. For this year’s version, Stone Harbor teamed up with The Landing at Devil Track, the Trail Center, the Cook County Dog Mushers, and the Cook County Ridge Riders snowmobile club to create the race route. It will include the opportunity to experience winter camping at Devil Track, similar to the Sawbill Winter Camping Village that would have taken place during the Beargrease event.

All of the Gunflint Mail Run events are timed to ensure that spectators and participants are still able to take part in the Beargrease-related events that have not been canceled. “It was important for us to make sure we aren’t taking anything away from that outstanding event, which we look forward to sponsoring every year,” said Stone. “We just want to give the mushers a chance to compete, since that is what they love – and what they have been training for.” According to Stone, almost all 16 of the available race spots were filled by mushers from Cook County within days of announcing the race.

The race will begin at approximately 4 pm on Monday, January 30, with an expected finish before noon on Tuesday, January 31. Mushers will travel from Devil Track up the Gunflint Trail, and then to the Trail Center, where they will have a five-hour layover. After that, they will make their way back down to Devil Track, for a total route of approximately 100 miles.

“Most people think there’s been nearly no snow in Minnesota this year, but there has been plenty of it up here on the Gunflint Trail,” said Sarah Hamilton, owner of the Trail Center. “We really enjoy being the turnaround point for the Beargrease each year, and are excited to hear that our musher friends will still be stopping by mid-race.”

Spectators are welcome to join in the festivities at the Trail Center, or at Devil Track. Winter camping at Devil Track will begin on Sunday evening and continue Monday night, with heated tents and other gear supplied by Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply. There will purse and other prizes for racers to win, plus a whole lot of fun for racers and spectators alike. If the weather allows, snow kiting demos, Marquette ski demos, and other winter activities will also be available on site, courtesy of Stone Harbor.

Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply is Northern Minnesota’s premier outdoor retailer, offering gear, tours, and rentals for all seasons. More information can be found at stoneharborws.com. The Landing offers fine dining at Devil Track Resort, a family-owned and operated resort located at Devil Track Lake in Grand Marais. More information can be found at deviltrackresort.com. The Trail Center has been a landmark on the Gunflint Trail since 1938. Originally built as a logging camp, it is now a full service restaurant, gas station, specialty foods, gift store, grocery shop, information center with cabins and a small motel. More information can be found at trailcenterlodge.com.

Note- on the way to Poplar Lake and upon the return from Trail Center musher will run along the road leading to Poplar Guesthouse B&B.

Contact: Jack Stone, Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply, 218-387-3136

Twelve inches of snow now on the Ground after another three inches fell last night. The Gunflint’s Nordic trails are open. Along the Banadad Ski Trail System ten kilometers of trails are tracked on the eastern end. The BWCA longest tracked trail the Banadad has been packed and plans are to track the entire trail early this week  The snow is beautiful!  

While Little Ollie and the smaller lakes froze over more then a week ago, Poplar Lake just froze last night. Today the surface of the lake is cover with a thin ice sheet but with little or no wind and temperature expect to be around 10 degrees tonight, Poplar should get a good layer of ice by tomorrow.

Meanwhile around Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B there is about 4 inches of snow on the ground. Friday, November 25 the Lace Lake, Seppala and Tall Pines Ski were packed. Sunday, the east end of the Banadad was packed up to the Logging Camp.

Banadad Trail Association’s

Annual Meeting

and

Potluck Dinner

Time: 5:30 PM

Saturday – October 22, 2010

Place: Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B

11 Poplar Creek Drive-Gunflint Trail

Annual Meeting Followed by Social Hour & Dinner

Join Us – Public Is Invited

 Banadad Work Day-Volunteers Wanted

In the morning prior to the Banadad Trail Association’s Annual Meeting (BTA), you’re invited to help get the Banadad ready for winter. Weather permitting, we will be clearing the summer’s accumulation of brush and downed trees between the BWCA line on the west end of the Trail and the Dawkins Lake Bridge. Meet for the Trail Work Day at 9:00 am, Saturday, October 22, at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, 11 Poplar Creek Drive (just off the Lima Grand). Hand tools and lunches will be provided to all volunteers. The North Stars Ski Touring Club will be joining us this day.

After the workday plan to stay-on for the Association’s Annual Meeting and Potluck Get-to-Gather

Yesterday afternoon the USFS's Beaver airplane was spotted circling west of Poplar Lake. A check with the sheriff's office confirmed there was a small fire on Skipper Lake. Firefighters were on the scene. Stay tuned on this one!

Early this morning the first flock of geese few over the B&B. They were quite low so it is likely they spent the night in Poplar Lake's Trail Center Bay just north of the B&B.

While it is warm this morning that has not stopped the leaves on the moose maple and some of the birch trees from turning bright reds, yellows and golds.

A Rose Pogonia, a member of the orchid family, is now blooming on the floating bog mat along the shores of Hooker Lake. You will find it by taking  the foot path from the Tall Pines Yurt to the Lake and near the end of the wooden walkway to the Lake on either side you see this beautiful little flower in full bloom. 

For more information go  http://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/rose-pogonia.

The ice went-out on Poplar on Tuesday, May 10. With the fishing opener scheduled for this weekend, an ice free lake is certainly welcome. Many of the summer home people are up now opening their cabins.

Yesterday, May 8,  the ice went out on Little Ollie Lake. Poplar Lake is still ice-in and likely will not be going out for three to seven day. Most of the smaller Lakes are open, Gunflint is open and Sea Gull on the east end is open. Around Poplar Creek Guesthouses there still are patches of snow around and the Banadad has quite a bit of snow left on it.