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The fall "Members Get-Together" is scheduled for Sat, October 10, 2026
FFGT ANNUAL FALL GET-TOGETHER
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10
10 am - 4:30 pm
This is a reminder that our fall "Members Get-Together" is scheduled for Sat, October 10, 2026. Any amount of participation will be greatly appreciated and is important for the following reasons:
Continue to improve and maintain these legacy trails located in the remote and beautiful boreal forest of northeastern MN.
Meeting & Greeting of Board Members
Ballots will be emailed in late September
Ballots must be returned by email in early October
Gloating over the amazing wins/progress/highlights of our past year
Enjoying the fall weather and seeing each other in person together
Note: We are currently inviting/encouraging new Board Members, please forward your interest and a short bio (250 words or less) if you have the spirit within you to join us to ensure the Flathorn-Geogka ski trail system is maintained and promoted for years to come. The following are the responsibilities of a Board Member:
Participate in 4 Board Meetings Annually by Zoom – about 1 ½ hr in length
Support and help Promote/Outreach and Maintain the mission
The agenda for the "Get-Together Day" is as follows:
10 AM – Sign-in at 9905 National Forest Lodge Road, Isabella, MN 55697, the old National Forest Lodge (NFL)
10 AM to 11 AM – Kick-off
Announcements
Intro to Silent Auction
Trail Maintenance Assignments
11 AM to 3 PM - Trail Maintenance Work
3 PM - Food and drink provided by FFGT at the NFL
3 PM to 4:30 PM - Short presentation showing 2024-2025 FFGT Highlights
We will start meeting promptly at 3:30 PM
Food/drinks will overlap with the meeting
Other Announcements & Board Election Results
Silent Auction Results
4:30 PM - Social Hour
This email outlines the proposed Agenda. Please let me know if you would like to add to or edit this Agenda.
What to Bring:
Durable outdoor clothes
Work boots (waterproof a plus)
Bug protection (maybe?)
Durable Raingear
Chainsaw – (if safety certified by USFS, OR you accept all personal liability)
Brush Cutters, loppers, handsaws, or other trail-clearing tools (if you have any)
Trail Saws – if you have any
Durable work gloves are good for rain or shine
Safety glasses – if you have them
Snacks and water to hold you over till late lunch
Ear protection in case you need them
Grit and a smile
The winner of the 2026 Winter Wonderland Photo Contest was Kevin Lee from St. Paul. The photo is shown on the right. It reflects some of the things that make these ski trails special: seclusion, beauty, and wonderful trails. Congratulations Kevin.
EVENTS
There are lots of things happening in Minnesota's Arrowhead. Below are some specific events and links to websites with events. Spend the day visiting our trails and attending a nearby event.
To access websites for the items below, click on the item and a web link will appear. Click on that to get to the website. NOTE that may get a redirect notice. Click on that to get sent to the website.
Blueberry Arts Festival, July 24-26, 2026
16 Unforgettable thing to do in Ely, MN this summer
Grand Marais and North Shore Summer Activity Guide
19 Winter Activities in Ely
10 Things to Do in Grand Marais in Winter
North Shore Events
Lake County Events (Lovin' Lake County)
Festivals and Events in Cook County
Explore Minnesota - Events in Northeast Minnesota
From eclectic small-town celebrations to music and craft beer festivals, you'll find a diverse lineup of exciting events in northeast Minnesota. Discover fun ways to celebrate the seasons, holidays, food, culture, music and more.
NEWS
FLATHORN-GEGOKA TRAIL NEWS
The trail around Flathorn Lake remains largely inaccessible because of damage to bridges from a 2024 storm (see below). The trails have not been maintained as a result.
NE MN UPDATES
Recent rains have somewhat alleviated what was a dry spring. The late winter snow storms delivered a good snow pack that helped rejuvenate soil moisture. Currently there are no restrictions on campfires. A handful of small fires in or near the BWCAW have been suppressed. Unfortunately the Stewart Fire, just north of Two Harbors, resulted in desctruction of some structures.
June, 2024 damages bridges on Flathorn Lake
In summer, 2024, a 1-in-300 year rain event damaged the bridges round Flathorn Lake (See photo on right). Two bridges cannot be used for skiing in their current condition. Since Flathorn Lake was the only access point to the ski trails, the Friends of Flathorn-Gegoka ski trails worked feverishly with the U.S. National Forest Service to establish a new access point on Jensen Road. The new access point to the trails is located on Jensen Trail from Highway 1.
On October 8, 2024, Nancy Schultz, George Lokken, and Jeremy Pischke shared the history and their personal views of the ski trails and the Lake Gegoka area in a Forest North podcast. Click on the link above to listen to the podcast. The home page for Forest North podcasts is found at this link. These podcasts focus on activities, events, resources, and more for the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota.
Improved portion of Jensen Road from Highway 1 to the new ski access parking area, and the trails right off the parking area.
Damaged bridges on the trail around Flathorn Lake
Photos from the Jensen Road trailhead ribbon cutting event, January 18, 2025
Thanks to everyone who worked hard on maintaining the trails this past year. The trails are in great condition heading into ski season, aside from the two damaged bridges on Flathorn Lake.
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