More beavers

The beaver always amazes me with his relentless work ethic and ability to impact his surroundings.

Transitions...

Hiking last Sunday on the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National Forest west of Longville, MN, the transition from trail to wetland shown here reminds me that the seasons are also undergoing a transition; from fall to winter and from hiking season to hunting season. It's time for hikers to get out of the woods for a few weeks and let the deer hunters in. Good luck and be safe!

Map of the NCT in the Chippewa National Forest

This excellent map of the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National Forest was published by the Forest Service but is now out of print. I am on a mission to get people out on this trail. If you'd like an 11 x 17, 2 sided color paper copy send me your postal address and I will mail it out to you.

Update from Tom Moberg

Tom Moberg has some interesting information to share...quoting Tom below:

"Along with our friend Katie, my wife and I have started maintaining the 3 mile section between FR 2117 and the Soo Line Trail. northwest of Remer where you took several of these photos. Your "Water everywhere" photo shows what we are calling "Old Pine Lake", formerly and sadly called "NoName Lake" in a couple of trail guides. Although the lake isn't much, it has beautiful old red and white pines around it.. Mary and I camped at the campsite in your "Stay for the night" photo a couple of years ago when we hiked from the eastern dead-end of the trail to Highway 200 by Boy River. When there was an opportunity to adopt a trail section, the part including the campsite was the one we wanted. Last summer, Mary, Katie and I fixed up the campsite by putting in the fire ring, installing the wood box, fixing up the privy, clearing more tent pads, mowing, cutting brush, etc. It was an adventure getting everything to the camp site from the FR 2117 trail head. Katie built the wood box at home and hauled it in to the site on a big wagon. I used a wheelbarrow to haul the fire ring, a five gallon gas can, and a bunch of tools in to the site, while Mary drove a string mower.. Anyway, we're proud of that campsite, so I hope you have a chance to use it some day."

Thanks Tom!

Smokey Gold

Every October the tamaracks show off their smokey gold colors.

Abandoned logging railroads

The red and white pine of the Chippewa National Forest were first logged in the late 1800s, now known as the river era of logging. Logs were floated downriver to the sawmill. By the early 1900s these easily accessible pines were gone and railroads were built to haul logs out of the woods. This was a much more efficient and reliable method of transportation. Many miles of abandoned railroad grade lie hidden in the Chip, like the one shown here west of Longville, MN. It seems the wooden railroad ties were left in place here after the tracks were taken up. You can't really see them but you can feel the rippling under your feet as you walk.

Have I mentioned the tall pines?

I could go on and on about how much I enjoy the mature red pine encountered while hiking the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National Forest. Oh, wait maybe I have. Many of these stands of pine were planted by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930s.