Two years after the Ham Lake Fire burned 75,000 acres of land in the Superior National Forest of Northern Minnesota, Gunflint Trail residents, business owners and friends are once again taking an active role in the land’s recovery. The award winning Gunflint Green Up—recognized in 2008 with the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region Honor Award and Explore Minnesota Tourism Sustainable Tourism Award—is back.
May 1-3, 2009, volunteers will come together to aid Ham Lake Fire Recovery efforts and celebrate the Gunflint Trail region they love. The highlight of the weekend will include planting thousands of white pine and other coniferous seedlings procured by the U.S. Forest Service and the Quetico Superior Foundation.
Of course it won’t all be hard work—organizers have created a weekend of festivities, including a green living fair, a thank you dinner and dance, a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Quetico Superior region, and the Ham Run Half-Marathon. Last year’s event drew just under 500 people, and this year’s promises to be another great success.
Register online. You can also read more about the Ham Lake Fire and past Gunflit Green Up efforts in the Wilderness News Archive, Summer 2007.
Photos courtesy Gunflint Green Up