MOTHER'S DAY FIRE 1992 Traditional Cache
eagleyes: time to let this one go- the purpose of showing what an area looks like after a fire and the regrowth is gone as the area is now grown back to mature trees. The road isn't being maiintained and is overgrown. It is not safe to approach from 169.
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Located on a section of old Highway 169. To access going north, turn right at the RIGHT TURN LANE sign, just before the DNR entrance road. No need to access/bushwhack from 169. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY FOOD OR LIGHTERS IN THE CONTAINER.BYOP
I WILL DELETE ANY SPOILERS (LOGS/PICTURES) THAT INDICATE WHERE THE CACHE IS LOCATED.
Road is not plowed in winter- snow depth may prevent access to cache.
MOTHER’S DAY FIRE 1992
This cache is dedicated to the personnel who fight, control and contain forest fires such as the one that swept through the area on Mother’s Day 1992. Today is Mother's Day 2006.
Not only was it the Sunday evening of Mother's Day, but also the Sunday evening of opening fishing weekend. There was a lot of traffic to contend with as well as the fire.
The area around this cache was at the northern end of the fire, which threatened the town of Tower, MN. The fire started mid-afternoon and by early evening had burned 7,000 acres.
The fire started approximately 7.7 miles south of the cache site at the junction of Highway 169 and Co. Rd 26 by the Black Bear Restaurant.
What was amazing was that all the houses you see along this stretch were saved. Driving by right after the fire you could see islands of green grass and trees that had been wet down to keep the fire away.
Fire fighters from 30-40 fire departments from Northeastern Minnesota fought the fire. It was a quick moving fire pushed by up to 50 MPH winds and there was much destruction.
We have been able to watch the regeneration of the burned area from 1992 until now, 2006. It has gone from an area of blackened trees and burned undergrowth to a young aspen forest, which now grows in the area. Charred remains of trees can still be seen, especially in the winter.
While you are here, you may want to check out the MNDNR Area Headquarters(N47 48.002/W092.17.299). This beautiful building was opened in 2001. It combined the Ely and Tower offices of Forestry, Trails and Waterways, Fisheries and Wildlife.
The hours are Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm.
You can collect information on local and regional outdoor attractions like camping, boat landings, trails, public lands and fishing and hunting. In the summer, the Vermilion Lake Resort Association is on-site providing local tourist information.
LICENSES ARE NOT SOLD HERE.
Permission for cache granted by DNR Tower,MN Area Office.
For people collecting bench marks, there is one nearby.
In wet weather, it may be a challenge finding a dry path to the cache without boots.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)