Hi you guys,

Does anyone know how the 1999 blow down impacted Brule Lake.

Thanks much!

I've been to Brule 3 or 4 times since the blow down. There was damage, but not to the extent as other places. I was there in 1999 after the blow down and had no trouble getting around.

I was ON Brule July 4th 1999. Our campsite got hit very hard. We were camped on site 970. I was actually half way across the portage to Vernon, with my younger brother at the time it hit. My father, older brother, older sister, my two kids, and one of my younger brother's kids, and my brother -n -law were back at camp. It was very scary not knowing whether they were ok.

Just prior to the blow down, the air was very still, so thick you could chew on it, and had a slight greenish color to it. We knew we were going to get hit, but didn't anticipate anything that severe. I don't recall it looking like mount st. Helens just blew though. It was kind of hit and miss. Some areas were leveled, others not. Our campsite got smoked, so did the portage to vernon, but I remember a campsite back by the entry that didn't get touched.

Our gear was such a mess, we actually made two trips back to the entry to pack out. We couldn't fold up the tents nicely, because the poles were all bent up. It was easier just to throw stuff in the canoe, and worry about it later.

It took us about 5 hours to get out of there. We helped another couple retrieve their canoe from across the lake. I remember what impressed me the most, was two pickups full of guys, and chainsaws, had cut through a very long stretch on the Sawbill or the Grade, I don't remember which. I just know there were stacks of trees across the road, and they cut a path through them. Somewhere I have pictures of our truck, with canoes on the top, traveling UNDER down trees. They cut a hole under some trees to drive through.

I recall stopping at Hardees in two harbors, and there was a crew that was returning from the gunflint trail. They had been cutting trees that had fallen across the gunflint. They were talking about a live moose, that had been trapped inside a handful of down trees, right on the road, and the adventure they had, trying to cut the moose out, without getting trampled.

All 7 of my extended family members, huddled under the silver tarp in the pictures below. They had a foot or two of room under the tarp. We were all very fortunate that the trees that fell on the tarp were relatively small. There was one giant pine tree in camp, but it fell a different direction.

Thanks very much!

Thanks for the info....you guys were extremely lucky!!

WOW! That's an incredible story...with mind-boggling photos to go with that! Glad you all could tell the tales after the fact!

analyzer: "I was ON Brule July 4th 1999. Our campsite got hit very hard. We were camped on site 970. I was actually half way across the portage to Vernon, with my younger brother at the time it hit. My father, older brother, older sister, my two kids, and one of my younger brother's kids, and my brother -n -law were back at camp. It was very scary not knowing whether they were ok.


Just prior to the blow down, the air was very still, so thick you could chew on it, and had a slight greenish color to it. We knew we were going to get hit, but didn't anticipate anything that severe. I don't recall it looking like mount st. Helens just blew though. It was kind of hit and miss. Some areas were leveled, others not. Our campsite got smoked, so did the portage to vernon, but I remember a campsite back by the entry that didn't get touched.


Our gear was such a mess, we actually made two trips back to the entry to pack out. We couldn't fold up the tents nicely, because the poles were all bent up. It was easier just to throw stuff in the canoe, and worry about it later.


It took us about 5 hours to get out of there. We helped another couple retrieve their canoe from across the lake. I remember what impressed me the most, was two pickups full of guys, and chainsaws, had cut through a very long stretch on the Sawbill or the Grade, I don't remember which. I just know there were stacks of trees across the road, and they cut a path through them. Somewhere I have pictures of our truck, with canoes on the top, traveling UNDER down trees. They cut a hole under some trees to drive through.


I recall stopping at Hardees in two harbors, and there was a crew that was returning from the gunflint trail. They had been cutting trees that had fallen across the gunflint. They were talking about a live moose, that had been trapped inside a handful of down trees, right on the road, and the adventure they had, trying to cut the moose out, without getting trampled.


All 7 of my extended family members, huddled under the silver tarp in the pictures below. They had a foot or two of room under the tarp. We were all very fortunate that the trees that fell on the tarp were relatively small. There was one giant pine tree in camp, but it fell a different direction.










"

I will add that you wouldn't know there was a blowdown on most of the lake unless someone told you. There is some noticeable blowdown on the east side but for the most part, the lake is unscathed.

Tom

Like tumblehome said you'd really have to look to find evidence of the blow down now. If the question was originally asked in order to decide whether its impacting the lake now the answer is definitely no. If you look at some of the hill sides you can see the top of an odd tree broken off here or there or see areas where the trees are younger and not as tall. However, in and around camp or paddling through you'd never really know unless you know to look for it.

I think the same is true of the gunflint trail. There was a swath or two near the end, where the path of destruction came through. Otherwise, it was largely untouched. I frequent Zephyr, and I think the 1999 storm cost that campsite ONE tree. It certainly wasn't a direct hit that far west.

When we were standing on the top of the portage to Vernon, there were trees falling all around us. We took shelter under a tree that had already fallen. But it's not like all the trees came down. I would say well less than 50% at the portage. Maybe as little as 20-25% where my brother and I were standing.

I always find it interesting how many birch trees snap off near the top. Next time you are traveling across the lake, take note of how many birch trees are missing the top 1/4th of the tree. Even as you drive south on 61, you will see lots of them like that. Birch trees must be awfully weak, and top heavy.