The White Earth Diabetes Day/Camp has become an annual event at Maplelag organized by the White Earth Diabetes Project. The organizers and facilitators did a great job providing workshops and seminars on managing diabetes, nutrition and exercise. This year the National Kidney Foundation was on hand to provide screening for participants. The day ended with Diabetes Bingo!
http://picasaweb.google.com/6birdman6/WhiteEarthDiabetesDay2009
About as nice as it can get for a early May day. Light winds, mix of sun and clouds and pleasant temps. We had over a half inch of rain yesterday afternoon which really perked up the grass and underbrush. Many buds popping out on the treess and lots of forest plants starting to emerge. The shot of rain was timely as we finished planting the trees moments before the rain. The warmer temps this week should really get things moving in the woods. The forest is bursting with activity of nature…a great time of the year to be in the woods etc. The mountain bike course is open and in very good condition. Some of the best riding of the year with good sight lines, nice temps and no bugs!! We will sign the course the next week. A few low spots soft and holding water here and there but all in all good conditions and some great riding.
http://picasaweb.google.com/6birdman6/May6thTrailReportPhotos
This Spring, just over 2500 coniferous trees were planted at Maplelag. The trees were planted near and along the ski trails and also in the remaining open areas in the skinny field. The trees planted include Norway pine, spruce and fir balsam. Over the years, close to 100,000 trees have been planted!! It is rewarding to see trees planted as seedlings 25 years ago now tower 20-30f feet high. Around 90% of the 650 acres at Maplelag has been enrolled in the MN Sustainable Forestry Initiative Act (SFIA Program) as of 2005. Photos below of this Spring.
http://picasaweb.google.com/6birdman6/TreePlantingPhotosMay09
A nice weekend in the woods. A few more signs of Spring as recent rains and warm temps slowly bringing the forest to life. We finished blowing out the singletrack for the mountain bike course and have mowed/cleared the ski trail sections where it is not to wet. Still a few low areas wet from high water tables but all in all for May 2nd the course is in great shape. Riding over the weekend was very nice and a handful of folks hitting the trail. We will sign the course this week and the trail is open for riding. The cormorants and pelicans that stopped by last week (photos below) on Little Sugarbush have moved on with only a few cormorants still around.
http://picasaweb.google.com/6birdman6/April29thTrailReportPhotos