Winter Caretaker’s Blog Volume 5

Hello from Ganglers again!  We have reached our half way point of our winter stay up here in the Sub- arctic of Manitoba and things continue to go well .

2025 started out with a snap… a snap of cold air with temperatures averaging a windchill in the -40 C daily.  With the cold weather we also saw an increase in daytime sunshine with more days of clear skies and more solar power for the cabin.  The days are already longer with the sun setting at 5:15 pm.   On the days when temperatures did warm up we made our way to the lake to fill our water supplies , getting closer to adding an extension to the ice auger as the ice is reaching 3 ft deep !  

Dennis drilling thru 3′ of Egenolf Lake ice to get water

The addition of high winds added a new scenic view on the lake creating a variety of drifts and snow dunes throughout the landscape, often blowing over our trails throughout the camp. With snowfall amounts in January reaching 6 ft. for this 2024/2025 season, wandering off the trail right now could result in waist-deep snow and a good digging-out required. 

5 PM dusk on the North Seal

Regular weekend visitors also pass through with locals on the hunt for the caribou.

Their ability to travel this far through the variety of temperatures and conditions continues to impress !  We have been very lucky to have the benefit of their skills when sharing fresh caribou with us…what a treat on our dinner table!

With a few months to go, we are still looking forward to what comes next here at Ganglers North Seal River Lodge.    My camera does not do the aurora justice here , the stunning lights shining across the sky here has been fantastic at times !  Hoping for some clear skies this week during the full moon, the whole place lights up reflecting off the snow, no flashlights required !

Bunkering down on the cold days with a good cup of tea and the cribbage board, or a couple rounds on the dart board and snuggling with the Dachshunds on the couch – it’s a Sub-Arctic wonderland.