Voyageurs National Park Association » park news

Winter Ice and Trail Conditions Report: 1/11/12

Kari — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:44:53 +0000

From the National Park Service, 1/11/12:

Snowmobile Trails – see trail status list at end

Winter weather conditions have allowed the park to open the Green Trail from Ash River to Crane Lake. Now, the entire Green Trail is open from Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Crane Lake.

Hazardous pressure ridges continue to be an issue along the Green Trail on Kabetogama Lake. Staff continue to re-route the trail in problem areas to provide a safer passage through the pressure ridges. Due to frequent and extreme changes to the pressure ridges, snowmobilers should use extreme caution and only cross the pressure ridges at designated crossings along the staked route. Slow travel speeds are highly recommended. Snowmobile land portages have rough riding conditions due to minimal snow cover.

Park staff are checking ice along the Blue Trail from East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake today and will determine if there is sufficient ice to stake the trail. At this time the trail remains closed.

Outstanding scenery is one of the reasons why Voyageurs National Park was established. Please enjoy the scenery as you ride and follow the snowmobile speed limit of 45 mph on frozen lake surfaces and 25 mph on all overland portages. Speed limit signs are posted at trailheads and overland portages

Ice Roads – see trail status list at end

In addition to the ice road on Rainy Lake, Voyageurs National Park will open an ice road on Kabetogama Lake. The anticipated date of this opening is Saturday, January 14, 2012. Ice and snow conditions this winter have allowed the park to provide this opportunity for visitors to enjoy a scenic drive, watch wildlife, ice fish and explore the park. Similar to the Rainy Lake Ice Road, the Kabetogama Lake Ice Road will have two-way traffic. The road follows a route along the south shore of Kabetogama Lake between the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center and the Ash River Visitor Center. Written authorization from the park is required for individuals to plow any lake surfaces off an ice road.

Snowshoe Trails – see trail status list at end

The Sullivan Bay snowshoe trail is now open and tracked. This trail is located along the Ash River Visitor Center entrance road. Travel about two miles in on the entrance road and look for the snowshoe sign on your right that marks the trail.

Cross-Country Ski Trails – see trail status list at end

Snow conditions are limiting the opening of park ski trails. Forecasted snowfall has the potential to improve trail conditions.

Regular weekly winter trail conditions reports are available on our website at www.nps.gov/voya.

Snowmobile Trails
International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open & Staked
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) – Open & Staked
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open & Staked
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Not Open
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open & Staked
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Not Open

Ice Roads
Rainy Lake Ice Road – Open to Rainy Lake City
Kabetogama Lake Ice Road – Starting, Saturday, January 14 – Open between the Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center Boat Launch and the Ash River Visitor Center Boat Launch

Ski Trails
Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open with minimal snow cover
Black Bay Ski Trail– Not Open
Tilson Connector Trail– Not Open
KabAsh Trail– Open with minimal snow cover

Snowshoe Trails
Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open with minimal snow cover
Sullivan Bay Trail – Open and tracked
Oberholtzer Trail – Open with minimal snow cover

“STAKED TRAILS MAKE SAFETY SENSE”

ORANGE IDENTIFIES HAZARDS

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 395 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Winter Ice and Trail Conditions Report: 1/4/12

Kari — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:40:49 +0000

From the National Park Service, 1/4/2012:

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minnesota: On Wednesday, January 4, the Purple Trail from International Falls to Kettle Falls and the Yellow Trail from Ash River to Kettle Falls opened due to improved ice and snow conditions.

Hazardous pressure ridges remain along the Green Trail on Kabetogama Lake. Staff have re-routed the trail in some spots to provide a safer passage through the pressure ridges. Due to frequent and extreme changes to the pressure ridges, snowmobilers should use extreme caution and only cross the pressure ridges at designated crossings along the staked route. Slow travel speeds are highly recommended. Snowmobile land portages have rough riding conditions due to minimal snow cover.

Park staff continue to find insufficient ice along the Green Trail from Ash River to Crane Lake, requiring this section of the Trail to remain closed. Staff will evaluate ice conditions early next week as cooler temperatures are expected to settle into the area.

Snowmobile Trails
International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open & Staked
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) – Open & Staked
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Not Open
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Not Open
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open & Staked
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Not Open

Rainy Lake Ice Road – Open to Black Bay Ski Trail

Ski Trails
Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open with minimal snow cover
Black Bay Ski Trail – Not Open
Tilson Connector Trail – Not Open
KabAsh Trail – Open with minimal snow cover

Snowshoe Trails
Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open with minimal snow cover
Sullivan Bay Trail – Open and tracked
Oberholtzer Trail – Open with minimal snow cover

STAKED TRAILS MAKE SAFETY SENSE”

ORANGE IDENTIFIES HAZARDS

Winter Trail Conditions Report: 12/29/11

Kari — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:46:51 +0000

From the National Park Service, 12/29/2011:

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minnesota: Voyageurs National Park staff, in northern Minnesota, is regularly checking ice and snow conditions in anticipation of opening the park’s 110 miles of snowmobile trails and 10 miles of cross-country ski trails when conditions are safe.

As of Thursday, December 29, lake ice and snow conditions are improving slowly in Voyageurs National Park; two inches of snow fell on Wednesday evening. The only snowmobile trail currently open is the Green Trail from Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama to Ash River. Snowmobiling conditions are marginal in the park because the lake surface has little snow and numerous bare icy spots. Several hazardous pressure ridges have formed along the Green Trail on Kabetogama Lake. Use extreme caution and only cross the pressure ridges at designated crossings along the staked route. Slow travel speeds are highly recommended. The park’s land portages have very rough riding surfaces due to the lack of snow.

The rest of the park’s snowmobile trails remain closed and are not safe for travel this weekend. The park will perform more lake ice checks next week and update the snowmobile travel status at that time.

The Sullivan Bay snowshoe trail is now open and tracked.

Snowmobile Trails

International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Not Open
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) – Open & Staked
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Not Open
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Not Open
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Not Open
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Not Open

Rainy Lake Ice Road – Not Open

Ski Trails
Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open with minimal snow cover
Black Bay Ski Trail– Not Open
Tilson Connector Trail– Not Open
KabAsh Trail– Open with minimal snow cover

Snowshoe Trails
Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open with minimal snow cover
Sullivan Bay Trail – Open and tracked
Oberholtzer Trail – Open with minimal snow cover

“STAKED TRAILS MAKE SAFETY SENSE”

ORANGE IDENTIFIES HAZARDS

Winter Ice Conditions: 12/14/11

Kari — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:35:43 +0000

From the National Park Service, 12/14/11:

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minnesota: Aircraft observations last Sunday, December 11, 2011 revealed extensive open water and new thin ice on all major lakes within Voyageurs National Park. The existing ice is deceptively attractive and near shore testing by park staff has revealed ice thickness ranging from 1 ½ inches to 11 inches. In addition, the ice lacks visible signs of diminishing thickness without removing and inspecting ice wedges for quality and thickness.

During the overflight, open water was observed on the following lakes:

Rainy Lake north of Black Bay and east to the eastern shoreline
Kabetogama Lake from Blind Indian Narrows east to the eastern shoreline of Namakan Lake
Sand Point Lake — middle lake area

Current conditions are not adequate to support snowmobile use and travel is not recommended on any lake surface.

“STAKED TRAILS MAKE SAFETY SENSE” ORANGE IDENTIFIES HAZARD

Voyageurs National Park Holiday Hours

Kari — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:08:08 +0000

The holiday hours for Voyageurs National Park’s Rainy Lake Visitor Center will be as follows:

Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, 2011 – closed
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, 2011 – closed
Wednesday-Saturday, December 28-31, 2011 – open 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2012 – closed

Regular winter hours resume on Wednesday, January 4, 2012. The visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Visitors are invited to come to the visitor center to view winter exhibits, watch the park’s film, and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. Keep in mind that the park has cross-country skis for rent (adult sizes) and loan (child sizes) and snowshoes for loan. Enjoy winter in your national park!

Call the visitor center for details at 218-286-5258.

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 395 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Winter 2011-2012 Park News Now Available

Kari — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:54:03 +0000

Read the Winter 2011-2012 Voyageur Messenger, the official newsletter of Voyageurs National Park.

What’s Inside:

Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring in Voyageurs National Park
1936 Kabetogama Peninsula Fires
Ellsworth Rock Gardens Repairs
Exotic Species Education & New “Boot Brush Stations”
International Community Congress – Gateway Community Teams Develop Action Plans
2011 Fall Volunteer Rendezvous with VNPA

Snowshoe Lacing Class Open for Registration

Kari — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:12:25 +0000

From the National Park Service, 11/7/11:

Have you always wanted to make your own snowshoes or perhaps finish a pair you have started? Here is your chance. Join Laurentian Environmental Center’s Senior Naturalist Jim DeVries as he guides you through a full day of instruction on how to lace snowshoes on Saturday, February 4, 2011 from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Pre-registration and a fee are required. Fees range from $110.00 to $140.00 depending on the type of snowshoe. Participants need to bring a sack lunch. The deadline to reserve a seat is Saturday, January 7, 2011. Call (218) 286-5258 for more information.

This class is recommended for ages 13 and up.

For detailed information about the park go to www.nps.gov/voya. Plan your visit today!

Photo by the Laurentian Environmental Learning Center.

Notice of Buoy Removal

Kari — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:27:31 +0000

From the National Park Service, 10/11/11:

Beginning the week of October 10, 2011 the removal of hazard markers and regulatory buoys maintained by Voyageurs National Park will begin, as weather conditions allow.

Sites Near Bald Eagle Nests Reopened in Voyageurs National Park

Kari — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:20:17 +0000

From the National Park Service, 7/28/11:

Four of the park’s 239 developed visitor use camping and houseboat sites and four undeveloped areas that were affected by temporary closures in May to protect bald eagle nesting pairs are now reopened for public use. The areas were marked with closure signs and buoys.

The four reopened developed areas are:
• Namakan Lake – Sexton Island (N 62) campsite
• Rainy Lake –Sand Bay South (R25) houseboat site.
• Kabetogama Lake – Feedem Island (K39) and Yoder Island (K 37) houseboat sites.

The four reopened undeveloped areas are:
• Kabetogama Lake – West Sphunge Island Inlet, North Wood Duck Island and West Harris Island Point.
• Rainy Lake – The North Diamond Island undesignated houseboat site.

The park is obligated to follow the conservation management actions of the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Management Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668c, 1940 as amended). Each year since 1992, the park has temporarily closed the land and water areas around active bald eagle nests to visitor use during their critical nesting periods.

Voyageurs National Park biologists found 74 nests within the park boundary this breeding season. Three nests observed in 2010 were gone this year either because nest trees blew down or nests fell from nest trees. One new nest was found on Kabetogama, Rainy and Sand Point Lakes for a total of three new nests.

Two non-incubating pairs were observed by nests in known breeding territories on Kabetogama and Rainy Lake. Adults were observed incubating at 36 nests compared to 33 in 2010, 38 in 2009, 30 in 2006, 26 in 2004 and 2005, and 20 pairs in 1999. Incubation occurred at 1 park nest on Crane Lake, 1 on an interior lake, 14 on Kabetogama Lake, 8 on Namakan Lake, 9 on Rainy Lake and 3 on Sandpoint Lake.

Twenty-eight young fledged from 24 park nests: 1 at Crane, 16 at Kabetogama, 5 at Namakan, 3 at Rainy, 2 at Sand Point and 1 on an interior lake. Fifty-seven per cent of all fledged young in the park in 2011 originated from 13 nests on Kabetogama Lake.

Nesting failures occurred at 12 territories: 6 of 9 areas on Rainy, 4 of 8 areas on Namakan, 1 of 14 areas on Kabetogama and 1 of 3 areas on Sand Point Lake. Rainy Lake in particular experienced an unusually high proportion of nest failures in 2011 (67%). By comparison, only 7% of nests failed on Kabetogama Lake. It is unclear why Rainy Lake experienced relatively more nest failures than previous years.

The number of young produced per occupied breeding area for the 2011 breeding population in Voyageurs National Park was 0.74. Sixty-three per cent of breeding pairs occupying a breeding area successfully raised at least one fledgling. Breeding success of 70% and productivity of 1.0 are considered characteristics of a healthy bald eagle breeding populations; long-term averages for Voyageurs National Park approach these thresholds.

Superintendent Mike Ward said, “We appreciate the public’s assistance in protecting the bald eagles of Voyageurs National Park.”

Voyageurs National Park Conducts Deer Tick Survey

Kari — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:55:54 +0000

In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Voyageurs National Park staff and volunteers are collecting data on deer ticks within the Park during summer 2011.

Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick or deer tick) transmits the pathogens that cause Lyme disease, human anaplasmosis (sometimes called “ehrlichiosis”), babesiosis and Powassan virus in humans.

Voyageurs National Park (VNP) is approximately 50 miles north of the known range of I. scapularis ticks. But in recent years, tick-borne disease incidence in Minnesota has increased, and case-patients have reported a geographically expanding zone of exposure risk to many parts of northern and northwestern Minnesota.

The MDH has partnered with public lands across the state since 2005 to collect deer ticks in order to determine tick distribution and infection prevalence with the pathogens that cause human disease. The purpose of the proposed effort at VNP is to document the presence of I. scapularis ticks within the Park, especially in areas frequented by visitors.

Deer tick collection is done primarily by dragging a cloth through the tall grasses and trailside vegetation at specific locations. Any ticks found on the cloth or the skin or clothes of sampling personnel are preserved in labeled vials with 70% ethanol and recorded on a field data sheet.

At the end of the collection season, VNP will send data to MDH for analysis and, resources permitting, collected ticks may be tested for various human pathogens. This is an effort that could be repeated in future years.

VNP staff members and volunteers are helping to collect the data in five permanent sampling locations within the park: Rainy Lake City, the Kab-Ash Trailheads at Meadwood Road and the Ash River Trail, Cruiser Lake Trailhead and Kettle Falls. Additionally, staff are opportunistically collecting samples as they conduct regular work near campsites, visitor centers, hiking trails, and areas in the Kabetogama Peninsula backcountry.

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Health. In this photo, the tick on the left is an adult female blacklegged tick, which is red and dark brown. To her right is an adult male blacklegged tick, which is smaller and dark in color. A nymph blacklegged tick is the second from the right, and a blacklegged tick larva is to the far right.