Showers upon Showers

Lutsen and Grand Marais residents woke up to flooded creeks and rivers, washed out roads and debris everywhere last Thursday morning. The area received 5 inches of rain on Wednesday and Thursday, June 4th and 5th! Eight inches has fallen in the last week! Local creeks and rivers flooded their banks leading to closed county roads and sections of Highway 61. A tranquil Cascade Creek erupted overnight moving large boulders and hurling logs, branches, and part of an old foot bridge towards the mouth of the creek. Some of this debris got wedged under the bridge to the restaurant and had to be removed. The scene was eerily reminiscent to the “July 4th Storm of 1999” on a smaller scale. However, all this moisture is good for many reasons. Here’s just a few: The fire danger will be greatly reduced this summer…meaning we can have campfires and use our grills! Lake levels are on the rise…whereas last summer they were at historically low levels. There should be a long wildflower season followed by a bumper crop of raspberries and blueberries...satisfying both the peepers and the tummies!

Some of the staff went on a fun camping trip this last week to the End of the Gunflint Trail. They encountered moose, bald eagles, deer, and caught some dandy smallmouth bass- some in the 5lb. class range! The campsites sat right along white water rapids on the Seagull River. The party mentioned that they will be returning to the spot again sometime this summer. Here’s to an excellent summer for all, and hopes of getting some of that nice summer weather soon!