May 6, 2023
Here are pictures of ice conditions of several lakes on the Echo Trail. There is still quite a bit of ice, but the upcoming week of weather looks amazingly warm for Ely. Things are going to look very different by Mother's Day.

-The only trees starting to bud out were some willows.
-Saw 4 grouse and heard alot of drumming.
-Heard a Spring Peeper frog.
-Waterfowl have coupled up and are hanging around the shorelines. There were two loons in the open water on Burntside and South Hegman.
-Cinquefoil and clubmoss are the first couple plants coming up.
-The snow is 97% gone. There were some patches along portages.
-There was a 'For Sale' sign at Front Porch Coffee. :(

Looks like it's coming along nicely. I'm not going in until early June, but it looks favorable for the opener with the warming temps.