Spring on the Gunflint Trail

 Spring arrived several weeks early this year. The ice went out the earliest on record. Our ski trail, the Banadad closed in March- this has never happened before. The spring bird migration is well under way - robins were seen by Guests at Poplar Creek Guesthouse way too early. Not sure what is going on but it is beautiful on the Gunflint. We will likely have an early green-up, the lakes are already open for canoeing and during April you do not even need to make overnight reservations for the Boundary Waters. This is great time for a visit – join us at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, at one of our cabins or for the  adventuresome stay at the Tall Pines Yurt. During this time Special Quiet Times rates apply.

Plant Trees along the Banadad Trails- Join Us at the Gunflint Green-Up - May 7th and 8th

Join other friends of the Gunflint Trail at the Trail's annual Green-Up for a weekend of tree planting and tree care. At Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B and cabins we plan to plant Red and White Pines seedlings in the Poplar Creek/Little Ollie area and along the Banadad Ski Trail. Please join us!

We provide tree-planting instruction, planting equipment and tree seedlings, two nights lodging with Barbara's famous breakfasts each morning. One day planting trees with a trail lunch. Also included during your stay, Ted will make a presentation on the area's "Fire history, and Reforestation." Rate for two nights is $89/person/plus taxes, double occupancy.

To register for the Green Up at Poplar Creek call 800-322-8327 or email  us at bct@boundarycountry.com.   

Additional Tree Planting Weekends

Unable to make the Green-Up weekend but still want to help reforest the area, no problem. Join these additional tree-planting weekends. Same deals as during Green-up To register for these weekends call 800-322-8327 or email  us at bct@boundarycountry.com

·        April 30 and May 1 - Rate for two night is $89/person/plus taxes, double occupancy

·        May 14 and May 15 - Rate for two nights is $89/person/plus taxes, double occupancy

Banadad Trail Association Contributes to Tree Plan

1. For the third year running the Banadad Ski Trail remains carbon neutral. The Banadad Trail Association is contributing $168 to offset the CO2 produced in the grooming and maintenance of the Banadad this past winter. This contribution will go towards the purchase of 372 red and white pine trees seedlings to plant along the Banadad during the first three weeks in May. 

Guests Encounter Lynx along the Banadad

Early this March guests staying at the Poplar Creek Retreat Cabin had quite an experience. The event is told in the following article from our local newspaper-

Cook County News herald- Faris and Bonnie Keeling of Duluth had an adventure many northlanders can only imagine—an encounter with a Canada lynx. The Keelings spent the weekend on the Banadad Trail where they said they enjoyed “blue sky, sunny days and clear, starry nights and skiing and snowshoeing.” However, the highlight of the trip was seeing the lynx.

Reached by phone on March 9, Bonnie Keeling said they spotted the animal far ahead on the trail and quickly leashed their German Shepherd Fernando. Barely “a dot,” the creature dashed into the woods, only to appear back on the trail a few minutes later within 10- 15 yards of the Keelings and their dog. “There it was, a Canada lynx— uncomfortably bigger than we thought they were. For several seconds it carefully examined us with a fierce, intense stare. Then it apparently decided we were harmless and uninteresting, neither predator nor prey—despite ‘Nando’s yipping and whining and straining at his leash, wanting to give chase. It casually turned its back on us, showing off its high haunches, its short, black-tipped tail, and its tufted ears in profile.”

Keeling said it continued leisurely traveling up the trail ahead of them for at least a quarter mile, occasionally stopping and staring back for a few moments, as they followed at a respectful distance.

Barbara’s Kitchen

Breakfast chef Barbara-This summer at the Bed and Breakfast, I will be serving some new entrees.  These were tested this past winter and came up winners. You might be served Ebelskievers filled with spiced apples or croissants filled with scrambled eggs into which boursin cheese has been stirred.  The fruit plate always amazes guests as they count the number of artfully arranged fruits.  Of course, I will continue with some favorites such as the stuffed French toast and puffed oven pancake. Do not forget there is always breakfast dessert.

Lesley continues on our staff. This past winter she put together and served quite a few Firepot dinners at the Tall Pines yurt. If there are four or more guests that want to order this special supper, just let us know a couple days beforehand.  We still do this at the yurt during the warm months too. Lesley also cleans the rooms and cabins and guests have commented on the cleanliness. We are so glad to have Lesley here!

Earliest Ice-Out Ever- Early Spring

The ice went out in Little Ollie Lake on April 2 followed by Poplar Lake on April 6. While we have not kept records for Little Ollie, we have been keeping records when the ice went-out in Poplar. Guest what? For Poplar this is earliest ice-out date we know off. Prior to this year the earliest the ice went out was on April 16 in 2005 and 2006. Between 1990 and 2000 the ice went out six times during May with the latest May 22. After the year 2000 the ice has gone out six times in April and only three time in May.

The weather has been great here. If it continues it should be an early green up and that means we will likely be planting our garden in May instead of our usual time of mid June. Spring on the Gunflint Trail is a beautiful season - Very quiet, no mosquitoes, hike, mountain bike, animal viewing and bird watching or just relax.

 Spring Quiet Season Special Rates at Boundary Country- March 29 through May 13, 2010

Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B - all rooms about 20% off-

·        Dorothy's Room $95/night with breakfast for two

·        Ollie's Room $120/night with breakfast for two.

·        Barbara's Suite $105 without breakfast. $125 with breakfast for two.

Little Ollie Lake Cabin - Great Savings

• Regular Rate weekday $150- Special Rate $99/night
• Regular Rate weekend $175/ night- Special Rate $125/night
• Regular Weekly Rate $999/week- Special Rate-$750

Also Checkout our new last minute Specials for even more savings!

Join other friends of the Gunflint Trail at the Trail's annual Green-Up for a weekend of tree planting and tree care. At Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B and cabins we plan to plant Red and White Pines seedlings in the Poplar Creek/Little Ollie area and along the Banadad Ski Trail. Please join us!

We provide tree planting instruction, planting equipment and tree seedlings, two nights lodging with Barbara's famous breakfasts each morning. One day planting trees with a trail lunch. Also included during your stay, Ted will make a presentation on the area's "Fire history, and Reforestation."

Rate for two night is $89/person/plus taxes double occupancy and Green Up registration fee for additional meals and more. 

Featuring Noted Artist and Instructor Sue Pavlatos 

Time: The weekend of April 24 –26

Location: Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B

                11 Poplar Creek Dr                 

                 Grand Marais, MN 55604

Content: Sue Pavlatos will demonstrate and give individual design and painting instruction.  She will instruct you in painting a water color picture that evokes a feeling of the Gunflint with a variety of techniques. 

Includes: One 4 hour art lesson taught by Sue Pavlatos, wine and cheese get together with the artist, two night lodging with breakfast each morning, buffet lunch and dinner.

Sue Pavlatos is an accomplished artist and teacher. She owns a gallery and studio in Cloquet and Minneapolis. Sue is proficient in watercolor, acrylic and casein along with oils and pastels. According to Sue, -"Painting is a way to capture the moment. I enjoy connecting my life to the earth and water with paint. My images reflect nature's impact on my life."

Sue exhibits regularly. Her work was included in the '94, '95, and '97 Ohara, Japan painting competitions. A member of the Duluth Art Institute and the Lake Superior Watercolor Society, Sue has exhibited nationally in the Great Lake Regional Art Exhibit, as well as the Arrowhead Art Exhibit and Red River Valley National Show. “Growing Wild” was the title of a recent one person show she did at Full Circle Gallery in Sioux Falls, SD and “Survivors on the Edge”, was a one-person exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery in Grand Marais, MN. These paintings celebrate man and nature, and partnership and stewardship.

Join Sue – At “Art Options Along the Gunflint Trail”

Little Ollie Lake Blowdown Tree Planting

May 8-10, 2009

We provide planting instructions, planting equipment and tree seedlings, two nights lodging with Barbara’s famous breakfast each morning. One-day planting trees with trail lunch. Picnic-barbecue dinner at B&B on Saturday night. Also included during your stay is a discussion on the Area’s Fire History and Reforestation

* Two (2) nights (May 8-10) $89/person plus taxes- double occupancy at B&B/4 person minimum at cabins.

For more information or to make reservations contact Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B

800-322-8327

People, Trees, and Community — Coming Together for a Better Future

Grand Marais, MN ­ The second annual Gunflint Green Up takes place May 1-2 at various locations along the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway in northeastern Minnesota. All planting and release sites are located within the Superior National Forest, in the area affected by the Ham Lake Fire of May 2007.

Gunflint Green Up begins with a Green Living Fair on the afternoon of Friday, May 1, at Gunflint Lodge’s conference center. The Green Living Fair is inspired by the idea that green living and planting trees go hand-in-hand, and that good stewards of the forest must be good stewards of the environment. The Green Living Fair offers a collection of local experts to assist the community and its visitors in that direction. Stewardship begins at home, whether home is the Gunflint Trail or hundreds of miles away. Following the Green Living Fair, there will be a picnic in the big top at Gunflint Lodge, music by the Sivertones, and a presentation by local artist Howard Sivertson. Saturday is tree planting and release of the overgrowth around the trees planted in 2008, trail lunch, dinner in the big top with music by Gerald Thilmany, celebration of the 100th anniversary of Superior National Forest, and dance with Trail’s End Band.

All participants must register to take part in the program. This year the registration options include ala carte meals, and an option to “plant only.” Participants can register for the Gunflint Green Up online at www.gunflintgreenup.com. The registration fee for all meals and programs is $40 per individual or $100 per family (1-­ 2 adults and their children 16 years of age and younger) and includes Friday’s Green Living Fair, dinner, evening presentation, Saturday tree planting, box lunch, dinner, dance, and t-shirt.

Please visit the website for ala carte options. All planting and release sites are within Superior National Forest and the area affected by the Ham Lake Fire of May 2007. Planting locations include the vicinities of Trail's End Campground, Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, Kekekabic and Magnetic Rock Trails, Round Lake public landings, and the Iron Lake Campground. All are public lands; participants may visit the trees in future years.

“Green Up participants found the event to be a time they could give back to the Gunflint Trail, a special place that has given them so much through the years,” said Nancy Seaton, chair of the Gunflint Green Up Committee. “Planting a tree can be a powerful experience when you think of all the animals and people who will find a home in its branches or beauty in its shadows. Last summer people stopped me on the streets of Grand Marais to say they were going up the Trail to visit ‘their’ trees. Green Up really gave the planters a sense of ownership, a sense of being a part of the community. Green Up is as much about creating a greater community as it is about planting the trees for future generations.”

Sunday is the Ham Run Half Marathon (separate registration required). Information on the marathon can be found at www.hamrunhalfmarathon.com. The 2008 Gunflint Green Up was awarded the Explore Minnesota Tourism “Sustainable Tourism Award” and the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region Honor Award “Connecting Citizens to the Land.” Registration: www.GunflintGreenUp.com . Questions: email hjo@boreal.org.

Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B and Cabin is offering a Green-up Special for more information click on- Green-up Special.

Mongolian Firepot Buffet at the Tall Pines Yurt along the Gunflint Trail Sunday, February 1, 12:00 to 2:00 $10/person. Call 218-388-4487 to reserve a spot or for more information.

Enjoy a delicious luncheon buffet of Boundary Country's famous Mongolian Firepot at the Tall Pine Yurt. The yurt is accessible by a 1 km ski on a groomed trail from the Tall Pines Yurt's parking area, a 3 km ski from Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B or from Bearskin Lodge through the Central Gunflint Nordic Ski Trails.

Beargrease race officials are looking forward to an exciting race this year. The snow cover along the race route -from Duluth to the Gunflint Trail is excellent. The race, which will start on Sunday January 27th in Duluth, should arrive on the Gunflint Trail late Monday evening.

 The Gunflint Trail's, Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B is located along the race route. According Barbara Young, proprietor of the B&B “you can get a great seat for the exciting action as the musher past the Guesthouse on their way to and from the race turn-around point at Trail Center Restaurant .” For those that are interested in following the race from start to its finish in Duluth, the Ellery House B&B in Duluth and Poplar Creek Guesthouse are offering a special Beargrease Package. For more information go to “Front Row at the Beargrease under Event Specials .” This year’s race is the 25 anniversary of the running of the Beargrease.

Take in all the race excitement, starting with pre-race events, the action packed start in Duluth, the mushers progress along the race trail, the festivities during the mid-trail turn-around at Trail Center Restaurant on the Gunflint Trail and the mushers return and finish in Duluth. Spend January 26 and 27 at the Ellery House Bed and Breakfast in Duluth, a classic Victorian B&B inn (voted one of the "Best in the Midwest" by Arlington's B&B Journal). Take in the Race Opening Ceremony and seating at the exciting race start. On January 27, follow the mushers as they travel the race route along the North Shore with VIP at Sawbill checkpoint with "on the trail" lunch. Spend January 27 and 28 at the Poplar Creek Guesthouse Bed and Breakfast located on the race route, one mile from Trail Center the race turn-around point on the Gunflint Trail. Hosts at the Guesthouse are Ted Young, former musher and his wife Barbara. Ted was one of the organizers of the Gunflint Mail-Run Dog Sled Race in the mid 1980's. The Mail-Run was the predecessor to the Beargrease Race. Ted and his team raced in the "first" unofficial Beargrease Race. The evening of January 27 there will be a presentation on "The History of Dog Sledding on the Gunflint" at the Poplar Creek Guesthouse. On January 28 follow the mushers as they return to the race finish in Duluth. Price- $360/person double occupancy, plus taxes