Black's Cliff Birch Bark Blog

Excerpt: Ice going out on the edges, lake turning gray... who would possibly want to go out on the lake? Answer, a certain breed of ice fishermen that love icefishing so much that they take their life in their hands, put on a life vest, spikes on their feet to negotiate the ice and find the one spot on the... Read more

Excerpt: Ski shack got demolished. After sitting for a year with none of us sure what to do with it after Craig smashed it with a tree, it was taken down. Steve has some new ideas for it Only thing left was the floor boards. What will go up in its place... stay tuned Steve is feeling creative. It will... Read more

Excerpt: Cliff took a beating on the ice yesterday. Here are the 2010 entires April 2nd Linda Wrobel April 4th Christine Barden April 5th John Wrobel, Dan Biwan Aprill 6th Tommy Cikowski April 8th Mike Grady, Fritz April 10th Ruth Grady, Bob Moore and Jimmy Cikowski April 11 Terry Legrand, Cody (Cikowski) April 12th Barb Moore April 13th Chuck Schleyer... Read more

Excerpt: Home at last and the snow was gone. The first thing that happened is the bikes were dug out of Eagles Nest for the inaugural bike rally of The Black and Gibson Boys. They flew around the resort at mock 10. No cars or people to run into and they took complete advantage of it. The twins at the... Read more

Excerpt: My guest photographer Sue sent me these pics of the lake showing the melting and fog on the lake Cliff hanging in there and thinking Spring Break in Washington over a soggy lake is looking good even if the Secret Service would have issues with him in Washington Edges always the first to show melting Looks like the snow... Read more

Excerpt: Well I think this pic says it all as to where we ended up. Great Time in Washington DC... Read more

Excerpt: Looks like it got warm yesterday and lots of melting of the snow on top of the lake View from Jack's Landing. Looks like the hillside is becoming bare Enjoying one of the last snow banks after hiking up the hill and being exhausted. Snow is getting sparse at the top of the hill as well More things appearing... Read more

Excerpt: The Gibson family is having fun on Spring Break and are happy to report we survived the waterslides at the Wisconsin Dells While we are gone I have been getting reports from Poe as to what is going on. He is highly excited as you can see keeping Nancy, Jim and Sue busy spoiling him rotten Poe checking out... Read more

Excerpt: Any problems for the next week see Nancy and Jim. They are watching the resort while we sneak away for a trip. Poe is happy to hang with Opal and Hazel. I will be answering the phone from the road and emails. Nancy and Jim will be welcoming folks to the Cliff and keeping things going while we re... Read more

Excerpt: Last weekend in February is the traditional Cikowski Family weekend on ice. Mack and I headed out on the lake to see how the fish were biting. So far only half of the family was on the ice Mack found his buddy Fritz. Fritz and Mack had a meeting of the minds on what day was going to be... Read more

Excerpt: What cabin is the furniture delivery for... Last weekend we had someone lite a couch on fire from a candle (you wonder why I do not leave candles in the cabins). The couch is getting fixed but in the mean time we need a new couch in the system.... Fritz our 2008 Ice Out contest winner could not resist... Read more

Excerpt: Why no posts the last few days? We had a bit of a scare with Poe that is not completely solved but atleast I can type without crying or a lump in my throat. Poe turned up his food starting last Saturday night and Sunday showed signs of distress and not feeling well. Moaning and groaning and lethargic. We... Read more

Excerpt: Cliff made his trip out of the basement for Ice Out 2010 Cliff heading back to the lake for Ice Out 2010 Cliff sporting some fancy shades for the 2010 contest. The sun was bright today and they were needed New for 2010 Cliff is going for comfort and has demanded a more comfortable chair this year Rules this... Read more

Excerpt: Ruby has to be one of my favorite dogs to photograph. She has personality coming out of her ears. Her owners Ben and Deb think that her ears might be the trick to pick up the wireless internet into Muskie Inn. Their friend Mike is convinced that when Ruby sits in his lap and is closer to the computer... Read more

Excerpt: Today I am going to put up a different type of entry nothing to do with the resort and no pictures. Once in awhile I find a link to something that I find fascinating and thought I would share Troy has laughed at me over the years in my love of reading non fiction books about climbing Mount Everest or... Read more

Excerpt: Warning to those we liked the shag carpeting in Bear Den (Nathan and Jamie) the following pictures may be disturbing. As winter winds down the guys start finding fix it projects to work on. First thing this year was to pull the old carpet out of Bear Den's bedrooms and talk about paint on the white walls. At some... Read more

Excerpt: While checking out the guys work at Bear Den I caught these fun pics of huge big flakes coming down in the pines, Enjoy! Our rates lower to the lowest of the year through mid week and weekend. Weekend rates start at 110/night for our regular sized 2bdrs and 125/night for Birchwood. I also rent out our 3bdrs when needed... Read more

Excerpt: I had this classic photo sent to me by Rick Stockton. It is of Millie Black taken about 1983 or 84. She is styling in the loon hat made by my mother Trudy for The Hello Minnesota Loon Calling Contest I was in back in the 80's. Millie is wearing it well Rick also sent me this great pic... Read more

Excerpt: Warm Sunday afternoon was a perfect time to head down the Madeline Trail. It is 10 minutes from the resort. We usually ski at Winter Park, but sometimes taking a break and heading down a state trail is fun. Madeline Trail is out on County J. Follow County J over hwy 47, passed the new Catholic Church to the... Read more

Excerpt: Going into the old photo file today. I think this is late 50's or early 60's based on the slide and pier Do summers ever really change? Add some color and you would have summer 2010 One of the 1st years of the old ski boat. The engine may change but the boat never has Raft with its good... Read more