Trail Time – October 18
What glorious weather on the Gunflint Trail right now. Clear cerulean skies reflect into the lakes as a steely cobalt blue. The bright yellow leaves on the birch trees and aspen are fast diminishing in number. Every breeze sends the dry leaves swirling around before landing on the forest floor. Even with temperatures below freezing, there are still green leaves on the willows, raspberries and bunchberries. Of course the tamaracks have started turning color, but still retain their yellow needles.
Our summer extravaganza of migrating birds is done. Just the winter stalwarts remain: chickadees, juncos, blue jays, ravens, nuthatches and woodpeckers; of course, the hawks and the owls as well. Most are quiet now. But there’s a local family of ravens that are quite vocal each evening as the sun sets, which is about eleven minutes after 6. We haven’t heard a loon in a week.
Two days ago I drove my car through snow flurries, which waxed and waned as I puttered down the Trail. We’ve been blessed with a little rain recently — in some areas over an inch! — but I see none forecast for the week ahead.
An inch of rain makes a big difference to a forest, and to the people who love the forest and lakes of the Gunflint Trail, both residents and visitors. An inch of rain lessens the chance of a stray spark starting a wildfire that catches quickly, spreads rapidly and turns so powerful that it strains our firefighting ability to contain it. Three to five inches would ease our worry — and it would bring us back from the high forest fire danger zone where we are now.
Because of the wildfire danger conditions, the Superior National Forest has issued an Emergency Forest Order restricting the igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire, including charcoal grills and barbeques, and coal and woodburning stoves within the Superior National Forest. That order includes the Gunflint Trail as well as the Boundary Waters and campgrounds within the Forest boundaries.
Gas, propane and alcohol cook stoves are allowed throughout the Superior National Forest, including the BWCA and are a safer option than campfires. Stoves or grills fueled by charcoal, or any type of wood are not allowed. These restrictions will continue until further notice.
In light of this very present danger, it boggles my mind that over the past few weeks I’ve heard reports of hot coals dumped in the woods — and not only that, there were several instances of campfire ashes that were left hot when people exited campgrounds. One ember from a small fire could start a blaze that could burn thousands of acres and possibly destroy cabins, homes and businesses, never mind the habitat destruction for all kinds of wildlife.
I wonder what it would take to convince people what a big hairy deal this is. I don’t understand how anyone who knows and loves the north woods wouldn’t bother to put their campfire out all the way. It has become so dry here that some crews canceled work days because one spark from heavy machinery or a chainsaw could start a conflagration.
It strains belief that anyone who camps is ignorant of how to put out fires but maybe it is willful arrogance that makes people presume they are above the law. It’s hard to believe that there are some who just don’t grasp the scope of the possible consequences. And whatever our differences are, we can all agree on this one thing: an uncontrolled forest fire is bad.
If it is ignorance, that’s an easy problem to solve, so here we go, straight from the the US Forest Service:
How to drown a campfire:
1. Drown the campfire with water.
2. Mix the ashes and embers with soil. Scrape all partially-burned sticks and logs to make sure all the hot embers are off them. Stir the embers after they are covered with water and make sure that everything is wet.
3. Add water and stir coals until they are cold to the touch.
Remember this for future use, because in Superior Forest right now and for the foreseeable future, no campfires are allowed for dispersed, remote, backpacking, or backcountry camping. Campfires are allowed only in an established fire ring associated with a home, campground, or resort.
If the problem is not ignorance, but arrogance, I don’t have a solution for that. But think about this: 90% of wildfires are caused by humans. Don’t be that human.
— Marcia Roepke
