Memorial Weekend

Ready or not, here it comes! With Memorial Weekend here, that means that summer is just around the corner. How did we get here so fast? Does that feeling have something to do with the last three weeks? How could it not.....Here at Heston's, we all are feeling like a number of calendar days disappeared. Many years ago, I got a chuckle out of Cousin Myrl losing track of one week when he was trying to finish a project and head back to Arizona. Now I know what it feels like.

Immediately after our return, Greg continued with the brush clearing that he had started literally moments before boarding the bus to drive out of here on May 10. He had seen firsthand, up at the end of the Trail, how the clearing of brush and dead branches from larger trees could make the difference in the way a fire burns through an area. For the next several days, we all piled the small trees and brush that he had cut down, and it will be hauled away to the brush pit once it is re-opened. The view is a little clearer around here in some areas, but it means that our buildings and land are in a much better position should another forest fire come through. This is a photo of the brush-clearing party last Saturday, in the snow.

The Firewise program, for the last several years, has been distributing information on ways to make property more defensible in the case of wildfire. Clearing brush from around the buildings and in between larger trees is one way. Metal roofs on buildings are another. Stacks of firewood against buildings are a no-no. These are just a few examples. When the fire was burning on the Canadian side and we were in the process of evacuating, Greg cut down some trees that were very near to buildings, including a white pine in front of the screen porch. For years, he has been planting little trees each spring, and he has worked hard to nurture the white pines that were evident in the early days after the blowdown. Though it must have been difficult for him, he felt it was necessary to cut that large white pine, if by doing so it would help to protect the lodge. Fortunately, we have a batch of new little tree seedlings safely stored in a cool spot, just waiting to be planted.

We've also been busy with getting things opened up and ready for summer rentals. Boats and motors are on the beach, we've been tackling the window washing and other cleaning, all the docks are in the water---it feels like it's getting back to a regular routine. Once again, I hesitate to use the word normal......

Robert has flown back to Alaska, arriving in Fairbanks early this morning. He called a little while ago and told me that after his plane landed at about 1:15 a.m., and his roommate brought him home, they stayed up until 3 a.m. Why? I asked. Because it never got dark last night, he answered. In the two weeks that he had been gone, the sun kept creeping higher, so that they are once again experiencing nearly round-the-clock daylight. This is a first for Robert to see. He arrived in Fairbanks in September, when things were starting to get dark. He made it through the winter darkness and now gets to have the benefit of so much light. I hope to see that one day.

He got home in time to go back to the airport this evening to pick up his sister, Addie, when she flies in. Once again, she is spending six weeks in Eagle, with Grandma Sharlene and Jim. She will be doing some tour-guiding for the Eagle Historical Society, and visiting with her friends up there. Two weeks ago, she wasn't sure that it would all work out for her to take the trip. We're all very happy that it did.

So far the weekend has been cool, and a bit rainy. We don't mind. The forecast ahead contains some sunshine and warmer days, and that is good, too. It's time to be putting in a garden, to once again have fresh lettuce and other veggies to enjoy throughout the summer. Things are growing all around us---the wildflowers are starting to pop up, fiddleheads and ferns are everywhere. We've even been seeing bright green grasses in the areas that were burned over. Green is a lovely color right about now.

With the end of the Trail re-opened, it feels like we're all geared up here, hoping for a good summer. Come on up, if you can, to see for yourself that things are doing just fine. A few views have temporarily changed, but soon those, too, will be covered in green. It's all part of nature's way, and I, for one, am interested in seeing what the next sights are on this path.

Finally--Some Photos

When I try to put photos together with text, inevitably I get sidetracked. So for now, here are some photos.

The two images above were taken by Paul, on Wednesday, May 9th. The Ham Lake Fire had been burning since Saturday, May 4. It had started west of us, had moved up the Trail to Seagull and Sag, and on this day, as part of the fire-fighting operations, a burn-out procedure was planned. This was to burn out fuels on the north and west side of Gunflint and Magnetic Lakes. By doing so, the fire team hoped to keep the fire from roaring down to the populated areas of these two lakes. These photos were taken at about seven p.m., after the burn had begun.

The next two photos were taken on the afternoon of Thursday, May 10--our very rough day. Greg was working with Mark Darling, running propane tanks from the fill station to the sprinkler systems. Mark Dexter and his son Nathan were working with Paul to put up some sprinkler heads on some of our buildings. Addie was making lunch for the guys, and I was trying to pack stuff, in case we were evacuated, as well as answer the phone, and get a cabin ready in anticipation of more fire guys coming that night. When we saw the flames on the Canadian side, we had to pause to take pictures and watch the unimaginable scene unfolding in front of us.

The sky was dark with all of the thick black smoke. The lake was wild with the northwest wind that was blowing. We could see and hear airplanes, which were scooping water to drop on the fire. Then the deputy sheriff came by, shortly before two, and we learned that there was a mandatory evacuation order for Gunflint and Loon Lakes. Greg heard about it while he was on the Trail, and so he came home as quickly as he could.

Here is a picture of him checking on our fire pump, before we left.

The smoke was very thick on the north side, but it was still clear on the south side.

Addie left a with Tim and Maureen, and Greg, Paul and I finished packing. I snapped some pictures, to remember what it was all like at that moment. The picture below is a shot of the sauna, as the smoke settled in on our side.

The next photo was taken Wednesday, May 16, when we returned to the lodge in the early evening. What a difference one week can make.

And finally, here is a view from the dock, also taken on Wednesday evening. The lake and the sky look a whole lot better. Unfortunately, the view of Canada has changed. The hills are blackened. But down near shore, there are pockets of green. Robert tells me that it is a mix of cedar and red pines trees .

Home Again to Gunflint Lake

We're home, and it's beautiful.

It was about five o'clock that I pulled in. The drive up the trail was a quiet one. The roadblocks were lifted at noon, so I think that most people had already arrived at their homes and cabins. I noticed that the trees had really leafed out in my absence, and everything was looking pretty much like I remembered when I left almost a week ago.

Then I neared Iron Lake, and saw the area where the fire crossed the Gunflint Trail. Yes, it was black, and yes, I did see trees standing that were totally burned. It reminded me of burned out areas that I have seen on trips out west, where many more forest fires occur each year. It was my first chance to see the remains of the Ham Lake Fire, and it was up close.

When I got home, and looked across the lake, that was personal. I can see that a forest fire went through. But I can also see pockets of trees. This must be what they mean when they say that the fire burned in a mosaic pattern. I imagine from the sky that it is a lot more evident. Since it was late afternoon, the sun wasn't shining directly on the north shore. So tomorrow will bring another view of it.

As I mentioned before, I have lots to say about all of this. Now that we are back home, I will have better access to the computer, and I hope to begin to tell the story of what happened, and also to share the changes that I know we will be seeing in the days to come. I'll do my best to describe just what is happening, and when I can, I will share photos.

Once again, I cannot even begin to say thank you in an adequate way to each and everyone of you for all of your support throughout this time. I will begin to answer emails tomorrow, as well as tell the stories.

Suposed to Be the Monday Update

Good Morning!

This was supposed to post last night, but I couldn't get it to work. Here I am trying again....

For a few minutes there, I was afraid that I wouldn't get to post! My fingers are very at home with a needle, be it sewing, knitting, whatever. But put me on a laptop and I am all thumbs!

I apologize for posting so late, but it ended up to be a very busy day. We moved to the campground in town, late this afternoon. Our new home away from home, and soon to be office, too. The cell phone is charging, and I hope that tomorrow we will once again be accessible by phone. I will be having our phone calls forwarded to the cell phone, and you may not get me right away, but please leave me a message. My two teenagers will help me retrieve the messages and I will call you back. As soon as I am comfortable enough with the phone, I will be better at answering it! I know all this sounds quite lame for these modern times, but you all know me--I'd much rather be baking pizza and bread in the wood fired oven then learning these new skills! At any rate, it seems that someone found a way for me to come up to speed and join the real world, so here I am. And I'm not even kicking and screaming.

The fire guys had a good day today. They were able to work some more on containment lines, though I didn't hear a new percentage figure. The fire did grow in Canada, so the new size is now 74,800 acres. We got some rain last night, and that helped to cool areas off, which in turn makes it easier to work in the fire area. The fire has burned some areas in a mosaic pattern, so that means that patches of green do remain.

Our neighbor Bob Baker Sr. had to go up to the lake, and he reported other that when driving down the South Gunflint Lake Road, you would not know that there was a fire. It is still green as ever. Imagining that is such a relief.

The latest word is that it will still be several days before we are able to get back in to the area. Naturally, this is a disappointment for many. But we trust that they are making the right decisions and we dig deeper into the well of patience for what lies ahead.

I'm sorry that this is a short post tonight, but I will make up for it soon--perhaps even tomorrow. Paul and Addie have their assignments for the day all lined up, and I will be trying to catch up on my work---not quite "business as usual" but closer than it has been in many days.
Postscript: I am using WiFi at the Gunflint Tavern, and whatever they are cooking, it sure smells good! And I'm not even hungry!