Blackwater Lodge

I wanted to put up some pics to dispel the notion that winter in MN only consists of huddling by the heater in turns. Somehow, we've managed to grow used to a climate much harsher than the benign Portland fog. Our friend Scott has a cabin in North central MN. He and Jill extended the invitation to join them for a weekend of ice fishing, four wheeling, gun shooting, and heater huddling. We of course accepted.
We arrived to find the driveway only partially snowed in. While we shoveled and blew snow, the cabin began its slow climb from 3 degrees. We kept busy, getting our licenses, setting up tip-ups and all the Friday afternoon preparations that come with a cozy cabin stay. We ended up catching a few slime darts (northern Pike) which Chuck spun circles around barking and growling as if the fish had the capacity to jump up and run away.

The following day brought several more inches of wind whipped snow. We set up the Eskimo shelter, and waited for fish that had no intention of biting. But not to worry we brought some beer along to cheer us up!
Riding the quad around gave Jamie quite a scare, as it was unnerving to suddenly be bogged down in eight inches of slush on a lake you want to believe contains nothing but rock hard ice. Of course the ice was still two feet thick beneath that layer, but its tough to not believe your eyes.