Minnesota Snowmobile Weekends – Page 2

Bring on the Hard Water!

mn family resort — Jay is so smart. He’s figured out how to make the pontoons into covered wagons so the snow just slides off the pontoons.

minnesota pontoon rental — Jay had to let the air out of the tires on the trailer to get the pontoon in the shed.

This is one of my favorite times of our year. It’s not like “Top 5” favorite times of the year but it’s close…Top 10 for sure. It follows on the heels of my “Number 1 Least Favorite Time of the Year” which is fall. Love the weather, the colors and the guests. Just don’t love the back-to-school, clean-every-day, do-I-have-clean-sheets-for-the-cabins part of fall. Then at the very tail end of my Number 1 Least Favorite Time of the Year comes the “Really, Absolutely Worst Part of the Number 1 Least Favorite Time of the Year” and that is shutting down the resort. We’re tired and we need a rest after 5 solid months of 24/7 (or so it feels) and the last thing I really want to do is shut down the old cabins, stow the boats and pull the docks. While we are doing the work I realize that it’s never as bad as just anticipating doing the work. Thinking about doing the work is more exhausting than actually getting it done. Anyway, it took many weeks to get ready for winter but finally…whew!…we are here. We pulled docks on Friday and Saturday suffering only minor marital strife in the process. We had the usually hiccups and “what the heck!” moments but overall it’s a done deal. It can snow now without Jay having a major anxiety attack. We’re all(mostly) tucked in for the winter – our nuts are stowed, so to speak – and that’s what makes it a Top 10 time of year. We can finally rest! So now we say, “Bring it on Mother Nature and Old Man Winter!” We’re ready…mostly…pretty much. Okay – I just thought of something we didn’t get done yet. Maybe just a couple more days and then “Bring it On!”…

minnesota winter resort — The shoreline looks cold and lonely without the docks in the lake.

Our Winter Rates went into effect on November 1st and already we’ve had some fun girlfriend weekends that made me green with envy. I love sister-mom-aunt-grandma-girlfriend time. Once I read something in a book that has stuck with me. Basically the idea was that as moms we ‘pour’ ourselves out into our families and those we love but if we don’t take time to refill our pitchers we’ll end up empty. That’s what I always think of when we have ladies’ groups in for crafting or relaxing. Some groups get together to accomplish their scrap booking projects or to finish their quilts and still others just come together to rest. We had a group in over the last weekend that brought in a massage therapist and a chef. And another family group a couple of weeks ago that spent time watching and learning how their grandma made their favorite dish. My husband refills his pitcher with a fall fishing trip each year but I think I would rather go with a massage and girl-talk! Who’s with me?!?!

mn fihing resort — It’s hard to get down to Cabin 4 this time of year since the docks block the way.

I’ll be spending a day or so at the St. Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show that’s being held November 30th through December 2nd at the River Center in St. Paul. I’ll be there representing Visit Grand Rapids as well as Wildwood Resort talking about Grand Rapids as a destination for Minnesota ice fishing trips and Minnesota snowmobiling weekends. Stop by and say hi if you make it to the show.

That’s it for now! Oh…if you’re interested in how the docks come out of the lake visit our Facebook page to see some video.

Kim & Jay

mn fishing resort — Gotta remove the ramps before we can pull the docks out

pontoon rental — The newest pontoon gets indoor storage this year. However, it didn’t quite fit in the shed door. Oops…

Minnesota fishing resort — The docks are stored behind Cabin 4

Vroom! Vroom!

minnesota snowmobiling — The dusting of snow we got last week turned the roofs on downtown businesses white…and got us thinking about our snowmobiles!

We awoke Thursday morning to a layer of snow covering the grass. It wasn’t frost, either. It was honest-to-goodness “but-it’s-only-October” snowfall! At first I wasn’t too happy. But as I headed into town to work that morning I changed my tune. While driving down our road I found myself scanning the ditch where the snowmobile trail comes off the lake. Let me tell you that a few minutes of anticipating snowmobiling flipped my frown up-side-down!! I’m trading in my swimming suit for the snowmobile gear – the hydrobikes for the sleds. Minnesota snowmobiling is the bright spot in our long winter so bring it on, Mother Nature!

mn fall color tours — One of our guests took this beautiful fall photo at the peak of colors

We have spent the last week scurrying around the resort trying to get things done before it gets much colder. We probably look a lot like the squirrels about now. (minus the bushy tails!) Whenever we’ve gotten any kind of break in the weather we have run outside to mulch leaves and strip the bedding in the older cabins. My wise resorter friends spend a lot of time cleaning in the fall before they shut down their winterized cabins. I know in the spring I would appreciate having less to do thanks to fall cleaning. But I just can’t find the energy to care much about the spring right now. So this year I’m just washing and bagging the bedding, removing any food and/or paper items to discourage critters from taking up residence and shutting the door. I’m always just a bit sad to put the girls to bed (that’s how I think of the original cabins) but I figure after 70+ years of sheltering guests at Wildwood they deserve their winters off. 🙂 So far Jay has the kayaks and beach chairs stowed for the winter and next he’ll blow out the water lines on the old cabins. That just leaves putting the boats away and pulling docks and I guess we’ll be ready for winter. I’m hoping for a nice and sunny 70 degree day for that last chore. Somehow I think I’m going to be disappointed!!

mn northern pike fishing — Kent caught this very nice northern last week

minnesota perch fishing — We had a lot of guests find some nice perch this fall

The fall fishing this year was not anything to brag about. Most of our friends with resorts said the same thing. We definitely had groups that did really well but overall the fish just weren’t jumping in the boats for our fishermen. We saw some nice perch which is encouraging. I think we see more perch in that 11″ range now than when we bought the resort in 1999. Several of our long-time guests have mentioned that “back in the day” the big perch were thick on Bass Lake. Hopefully the big fish we see in the fall these days means that population is recovering. We did see a couple of really nice, big northern a couple of weeks ago. I included a photo of one of them…

The fall colors this year were simply spectacular. One of our guests who was visiting during peak colors took some fabulous photos for us. Visit our Facebook page to get a look at them: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wildwood-Resort/129916920113?ref=hl.

Kim & Jay

bald eagles — Fall colors were a perfect backdrop to this photo of the eagles who live next door

minnesota fall colors — The fall colors from the lake were just gorgeous

Minnesota Ice Fishing at Wildwood Resort – March Madness!

We weren’t too happy with Mother Nature when she didn’t support our snowmobiling plans this winter. However, what we didn’t anticipate was that our mild winter would be such a boon to MN ice fishing! We’ve had more fishermen in this year than ever before and fishing has been really good. Our guests have found lots of nice sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike and an occasional crappie. Most lakes are very accessible right now with the low snow totals but be careful out there – spring is around the corner so we’ll start losing ice on those lake!

Minnesota snowmobile vacations — We have so much fun snowmobiling with friends!

We did manage to get out snowmobiling one last time a week ago. Two back-to-back snowstorms left enough snow to enjoy the trails. We traveled from Jessie Lake east to the Scenic Pines restaurant. We had a great lunch (as usual) and then made our way back to our friends’ house. We rode almost 100 miles and loved every second of it. We weren’t the only ones with snowmobiling on our minds, though. It was the busiest day we ever experienced on the trail – I think we saw over 100 sleds!

Minnesota family resort vacation — Just a little something to get you thinking about summer!

Jay and I have started our project list for the coming spring. This is the time of year when we find ourselves wandering around Home Depot for no particular reason. While most couples see a movie on “date night” we tend to go look at flooring, appliances and lumber before coming home at 7:00. Yep. We step out on the wild side every now and then!! Anyway, the list is pretty extensive this year so we’re hoping for an early spring so Jay can get started. He’s going to be a busy guy in a month or so. (He should probably start working out or something.) Our goal is to always provide a good value for the vacation dollar for our guests so we are constantly trying to improve our cabins and grounds. After 13 years we struggle sometimes to see our resort with fresh eyes and can easily overlook issues that have “aways been that way.” What is our project “Wish List” for this year? We’re looking into different heating sources for a couple of cabins and we have to replace some dining room tables and chairs. A couple of bathrooms need some serious TLC, Jay has to build some closets and we need to replace a kayak that we lost in a storm last year. We will do the usual spring cleaning which involves wiping down all the walls in the cabins, washing all the dishes, cleaning carpets and washing all the bedding (again) that we used in the winter cabins. Outside we rake the grounds again to clean up the pine needles and leaves that winter left behind, then put docks in, get the boats out of the shed and into the lake and set up the Lodge with all of our new clothing and gifts. Whew. I’m tired already – maybe I should start working out now, too?!

We are looking forward to getting Wildwood ready for summer!

Kim & Jay

MN snowmobiling — There were just a few snowmobiles on the trails last weekend!

Dear Minnesota Winter: I Think You Forgot to Check the Calendar

: The girls FINALLY have some snow to roll around in!

Well, I doubt we were the only ones shocked by this week’s crazy weather. Just as we had given up on Minnesota snowmobiling and started thinking of Minnesota family resort vacations Mother Nature let us have it. It’s beautiful around Wildwood right now. The trees are flocked and all that brown grass has finally been covered up. We have about a foot on the ground and the Bushwacker snowmobile trail that runs just south of Bass Lake has been groomed for the first time this winter. Jay and I are frustrated today because we’d love to hit the trails ourselves but we are busy with our part-time jobs and getting ready for the ice fishermen coming in this weekend! Maybe we’ll get the sleds out tonight…for just a quick little jaunt. That MIGHT hold us over until Saturday when we can head out for the day. We hope you have the chance to hit the trails this weekend as well. Feel free to plan a March stay with us if you don’t have enough snow where you are – we would love to have you!

Ice fishing on Bass Lake has continued to be really good. Access is slightly more difficult with the deep, wet snow we got this week so we haven’t seen any truck or 4-wheeler traffic out there. However, word on the ice is that the bluegill bite is good. Stay tuned….

Minnesota family resorts support post labor day school start — Senator Saxhaug listening to our concerns.

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday this week down in Minneapolis at the Capitol for the Congress of Minnesota Resorts Day on the Hill. We spent two days (in a blizzard) meeting with Representatives and Senators sharing our message about the importance of tourism in Minnesota and our concerns over the issues that negatively impact Minnesota family resorts like ours. It was interesting to watch government at work and more than one legislator told us how important it is to take time to communicate our concerns in person or via email. Some of our fellow resorters took their kids and it was fun to see those young, resorters-in-training in action! Oh – and we stayed at Hotel340 in downtown St. Paul and ate at All-American Burger while there. Both were awesome experiences!!

Minnesota winter recreation — Jay at work clearing the resort (and getting ready to play pulling the girls on sleds…)

We hope your week is going well and that you get out and enjoy winter now that it’s finally here!
Kim & Jay

Minnesota Capitol Senate Chambers — Minnesota state Capitol Senate Chambers – absolutely beautiful!

The Snowmobiles Are Out of Storage!

This past week we (well, ok it was mostly Jay) got to work on the never-ending job of buttoning up the resort for the winter. He cleaned out the shed to make room for the pontoons and fishing boats. And because of the change of season the snowmobiles got moved out of the storage shed and into the garage. I bet Jay sat on them in the garage for awhile making “Zoom! Zoom!” noises. In recent weeks we have found ourselves really anticipating the Minnesota snowmobile season. For the past few winters we have had the pleasure of snowmobiling every Thursday with our friends. It makes the winter go so quickly when we have something to look forward to. Our weekly outings mean that we usually have first-hand accounts of trail conditions. This winter we plan to use our Blog to provide updates on snowmobile trail conditions in Itasca County. Bring on the white stuff! (after we get docks out…)

minnesota resort — Jay manages to pack the shed pretty tight!

After making room in the shed for the pontoons we started the arduous task of stowing the boats. You would think that after 13 years we would have it down to a science but, apparently, we forget “how we did it last year” and have to re-learn where everything goes each fall. The day was really windy and raining so it was a *PERFECT* day to pull the boats out of the lake. We had the first boat on the trailer and were getting ready to pull it from the lake when Jay made a speedy exit from behind the boat. Apparently a muskrat had made a nest in the bottom of the boat and when Jay went around the backside of the pontoon to hold it in place on the trailer the muskrat was sitting on the battery looking at him. You’ll be relieved to know that he didn’t scream like a girl or anything. 😉 We cleaned out the muskrat nest and maneuvered the pontoon into place in the shed before remembering that the reason we don’t use a 24 foot pontoon trailer is because it’s too long to get it out from under the pontoon once the boat is in place. Hmmmmm….not good. Remind me again: How many years have we been doing this? Anyway, we finally got the trailer out of the shed and back into the lake to pull out the second pontoon.

resorting in Minnesota — Muskrats make a big mess!

We got the pontoon out of the lake just fine but halfway up the driveway that muskrat jumped up out of the back of the boat and ran off! (I’m left with the impression that muskrats aren’t too smart.) Apparently when his first home was removed from the lake he decided that our other pontoon was a good place for the next one. Once the varmints were out of the way we were able to get all the boats put away. I have to say that Jay does an pretty incredible job of packing our shed as full as he can get it. I don’t know if you can tell from the pictures (below) or not but there are mere inches between all those boats. Pretty amazing! The docks will stay in the lake for a couple more weeks yet. We like to wait until it is good and cold out before we start that job. Where is the challenge in pulling docks in 70 degrees and sunshine??!

walleye stocking in bass lake, grand rapids mn — The DNR stocks walleye fingerlings every other year. This year the Bass Lake Association supplemented the DNR stocking program with extra fingerlings.

Earlier in the month we got some footage of the DNR stocking Bass Lake with walleye fingerlings. They do that every other year and this year the Bass Lake Association raised funds to supplement the DNR’s stocking with additional fingerlings. We plan to supplement even more walleye the next time (2013) the DNR stocks our lake. There are some great videos of the whole process on the Bass Lake Association’s Facebook page.

There are lots of great things going on in our area in the coming weeks. The Reif Center has its usual variety of incredible performances including the Cab Caloway Ochestra, The Phantom of the Opera and Paula Poundstone performing for Bambi on the Hood XI. Visit their website at http://reifcenter.org for a list of performances. November marks the start of Bazaar season in our area. Every weekend there are craft sales and church bazaars. However, the largest weekend is the weekend of Firearm Deer Season Opener (Nov. 5th) when 100s of vendors display wares in area-wide craft sales.

As we slowly get Wildwood ready for winter we are getting more and more excited for the next change of season. We live in an incredibly beautiful place and appreciate getting to make our life at Wildwood – muskrats and all. Enjoy these last days of autumn…winter (and snowmobiling) is on the way!

Kim & Jay

minnesota resorts — It was a “little” windy the day we decided to take boats out!

minnesota family resorts — NOW we remember why we don’t use a 24′ pontoon trailer!!

Minnesota boat rentals — Jay is pretty good at that! (Don’t tell him I said so…compliments go straight to his head!)

Minnesota family resort — Doesn’t seem like enough room, does it?

minnesota resorting — With the addition of another pontoon I’m afraid one of them has to stay outside for the winter. Looks like an old covered wagon!

Hello, Fall!

cutie — I know this is a terrible photo taken through the screen on our livingroom window but it was so cute I just had to post it. K. helping her Daddy clean the grills.

I guess that summer really is going to come to an end. It goes too fast!! (I’d like to register that as an official complaint!) However, with that being said it really is time to get on with the year. Our girls go back to school next week and they are ready. Supplies are purchased, new clothes are washed and teachers have been introduced so bring on a new school year!

My parents went back to Big Red country this week and we miss their company. Before they left we were discussing the fact that they were leaving soon and Katie said, “But who will take care of us?!” Although we all laughed she does have a point. Grandma and Grandpa support us through our busy summer and make sure we all eat regular (and delicious) meals, have clean clothes to wear and Grandpa ALWAYS has time to go fishing or for a bike ride. We love them, miss them and appreciate them. THANK YOU, MOM AND DAD!!

minnesota sunset, minnesota resort vacation — Another beautiful night on Bass Lake!

The fishing has been up and down in these last few weeks. Seems like everyone has fish to fry for supper but we’re not seeing too many entries in the fishing contest. We continue to hear about big sunnies as well as a few walleye and northern. The weather this time of year generally doesn’t help. This week we’ve had everything from 80 degrees and sunny to thunderstorms and 60 degrees. The sunsets have been fantastic, though!!!

minnesota snowmobile trip, snowmobile resort, minnesota snowmobiling; grand rapids snowmobiling — Soon we will be cruising over the lake on a snowmobile instead of a pontoon. Are you ready???

Jay and I have both taken calls in the last week for winter stays. It is funny how we get so out of practice! We could hardly remember ANYTHING about winter….too much summer on our minds. The reverse is true during the winter – I can’t seem to remember my summer “self” when all we’ve talked about is Minnesota snowmobile trips! Although I hate to see summer end it is fun to think of the coming winter. We love our snowmobiles and we’re so lucky to have such a great snowmobile trail system in Itasca County. I’m sure I will be blogging this winter about our snow adventures and I’ll give you our version of a snowmobile trail report. I’m including a winter picture just to get us all in the mood for the white stuff. (Did it work??)

That’s it for now. I hope all of you have a great holiday weekend.

Kim & Jay