I am planning on a trip off the upper Gunflint area for next Friday the 16th. There currently is 20-30" of snow on the ground and the ice from what I hear is 20-24" thick. However, starting this Saturday (the 10th), the forecast gets incredibly warm, 40s maybe even 50s with several nights that don't get below freezing. What are the odds that there will still be snow on the ground next by the time we get there (or leave)? Do you think ice will still be safe for travel? In Duluth we had 20-24" of snow on the ground on Monday and we must have lost 4-6" in the past day and a half.

You will be fine, even if all the snow melts the ice will be good for a few weeks yet. When I had sled dogs I remember doing a late March freight run after two days of 60 degree weather. The was probably 12" of water on top of the ice in some bays, but there was still 2' of ice underneath. You just had to work your way around big pockets of open water. I don't anticipate that type of a melt this early in March, but I would plan on probably getting a bit wet while you are out there!

In 2010, I brought a group of students up to Seagul the four days of March. That spring was incredibly early (two straight weeks of 50+ before we went up there). I was really worried that the ice would not be safe.....There was plenty of ice. The ice started pulling away from shore the last day we were there, but wasn't a problem. However, there was no snow.....kept the skis/snow shoes on the bus and brought out the hockey skates.

30 students and I are heading back up there March 22-25. Even with the warm forecast next week, I am not worried due to my 2010 experience.

Kids are really excited, should be a fun time.

Thanks for the replies. It is especially encouraging to hear that ice should still be safe at that time. I will report back what I find.

Can anyone offer an update on conditions? Interested in ice and portage conditions. Thanks in advance.

Don't know if you still need this info, but I got back from a trip on Musquash Lake which is near the first Brule River crossing on the Gunflint Trail. In general, ice was still solid (around 24" or more) and connected to shore with abundant slush. The slush was not particularly deep and it was fairly easy to move around. There were a couple of places on the north side of the lake that baked in the sun all day that looked really sketchy though. We wore life jackets while moving around. In this area, the ground was still generally snow covered (10-18"), but below spruce and pine trees and southern exposed slopes the ground was often bare. We only did one portage to Muckwa and there were a couple of bare spots. I think farther north on the Gunflint there is less snow. In Grand Marais it was gone. Conditions are rapidly deteriorating so if you are going to go out, I would go out now. Let me know if you need any more info.