Little Fork River Headwaters

Marshall, I just wanted to comment on your Headwaters story. I know exactly where you were trying to get to as I've been there many times. You're right, it's virtually impossible to get there in the summer. You are also right in that there is a fork in the river that surrounds the island and this the true headwaters. The USFS was way off base when they placed the Littlefork River sign on highway #1 (old 22) years ago. I sold the timber on the island back in the early to mid-ninties. Jack Nickolson from Ely logged the island in the winter. The following spring I had a crew of Mexican tree planters flown into the island and we planted it to white pine and white spruce. Access is so difficult our normal periodic seedling inspections went by the wayside and I've often wondered what our success rate was. An interesting side note is on one of the trips out of the island in the helicopter, we experienced engine trouble and had to land in Terry Ketola's yard. We ordered up another helicopter and for a time the Ketola's hosted two helicopters and a Mexican tree planting crew in their front yard. I commend you for your efforts but I think a winter trip is in order. Good luck, Mike Hanson