Gunflint Trail Celebrates With Winter Tracks 2008

Group tours are flocking to Northeast Minnesota to help celebrate leap year weekend on the Gunflint Trail with the annual Winter Tracks festival February 28 – March 2, 2008.

Now in its fourth year, Winter Tracks continues to grow. Over 50 events are scheduled during this year’s festival. Gunflint Trail resorts go all out to show visitors everything a northwoods winter has to offer.

“Last year, folks had a blast,” says coordinator Barb Bottger, “and Winter Tracks is bigger and better this year.”

Hosted by member lodges of the Gunflint Trail Association, Winter Tracks combines indoor and outdoor activities from art exhibits to an ice fishing contest. There is no admission fee for the festival, but event participants register at a resort when they arrive. Drawing visitors from near and far, Winter Tracks presents traditional winter activities and fun events with a community focus.

“We want people to be out and about, enjoying winter,” says Barb Gecas of Heston’s Lodge. “Winter Tracks has something for everyone.”

Kids have lots to do, including participating in a Mini-Winter Olympics at Gunflint Pines Resort. This fun competition includes sledding, snowshoeing, and other events. Kids also enjoy the snow fort and quinzee tour of frozen structures built at various resorts.

Their Winter Tracks “passport” is stamped at each lodge with an animal track or animal image. While at the resorts, they can look for the items listed in the kids scavenger hunt.

A range of adventurous outdoor activities are scheduled. Ski at no charge, on the Gunflint Nordic Trail System on Friday and Saturday.

Lighted, nighttime skiing is available on trails originating from Golden Eagle, Gunflint Pines, and Bearskin lodges. Learn about dog sledding, skijoring, winter camping, ice skating, snowmobiling, and ice fishing during participatory demonstrations at various businesses. The annual Trout Derby is held at Gunflint Lake on Sunday.Anglers who are quick with a corkscrew can compete in the team ice auger drilling contest at Gunflint Lodge. Slippery sweepers can join a pick-up broomball game at Tuscarora Lodge on Saturday.

Folks who want to rev it up can tour various resorts on a snowmobile poker run. During Saturday night’s festival banquet, the best poker hand wins! On Saturday morning, the Cook County Ridge Riders snowmobile club sponsors a radar run at Windigo Lodge. Sunday morning, newcomers to snowmobiling can take an introductory tour at Gunflint Pines Resort.

“Winter Tracks occurs during the prime snowmobiling season,” says Luana Brandt of Nor’wester Lodge. “Snowmobilers know they can come to the Gunflint Trail when they can’t find snow anywhere else.”

Looking to release your inner artist? Snow blocks are available at several locations for folks to try their hand at ice sculpting. If you prefer more comfortable creativity, join fireside knitting at Heston’s Lodge and northwoods crafts at Gunflint Lodge. Find exhibits by area artists at Gunflint Trail lodges.

Wherever you go, there’s plenty to eat. Gunflint Trail lodges are famous for excellent cuisine and Winter Tracks visitors will get a taste of it. On the Saturday afternoon volks-ski along the Banadad Trail, stop at the Tall Pines Yurt for a Mongolian Firepot buffet.

Trail Center, Gunflint Pines, and Windigo Lodge are offering food specials throughout the festival. At Heston’s Lodge, sample pizza baked in a wood-fired brick oven.

The weekend’s nighttime festivities begin Friday at Trail Center with a 5 p.m. live broadcast of the popular Roadhouse program by local WTIP Radio, followed by the Small Change trivia show. Musical entertainers for the evening are local musicians Bump and Chris. On Saturday evening, the Snow Boot Banquet and Dance rocks Gunflint Lodge, featuring the popular local band Oversized Load. If you’ve never danced in winter boots, here’s your chance.

If you are ready for Winter Tracks and snowy cheer, make tracks for the Gunflint Trail March 28-February 2. For more Winter Tracks information and a schedule of activities, visit www.wintertracks.com or call               (1-800) 338-6932       .

For general Gunflint Trail information, including snow and trail reports, go t http://www.gunflint-trail.com/

Courtesy of  grouptravelblog.com