Karen Jones won the women's race. All photos by Tryg Solberg

By Tryg Solberg - Boreal Community Media - September 29, 2025

Bearskin Lodge hosted the third annual Gunflint Scramble on Saturday morning. With full sun and temps in the upper 50s, riders were provided with excellent riding conditions. Bearskin offered two distances, including the long course—a 21-mile loop—and a shorter, 7.5-mile option. Thirty-eight participants raced the longer distance, and 16 participated in the short course.

Quinn McCloughan, co-owner of Bearskin, served as the race director, timer, and course setup. McCloughan received assistance from his family and numerous volunteers to organize the race. He said that racers finished in good spirits, despite many who were impressed by the difficulty of the course. In addition to running the resort and raising a family, McCloughan has spent his free time putting together a gnarly, hilly course to give participants a true challenge. Racers enjoyed the beautiful weather, local atmosphere of the event, and the free food that was offered.

McCloughan was very thankful for the support of the volunteers at road crossings and the “sweepers” who biked behind the competition to ensure everyone was safely off the course. Johnson’s Foods and World's Best Donuts provided food for the event, and Joynes Ben Franklin, Northern Goods, and other sponsors provided prizes as well.

In the men’s short course, Casey Mitchel came in first, Eli Wharton in second, and Landon Boen in third. Nora Andrus won the women’s short course, with Tina Hjeltman and Carrie Gibbbs coming in second and third. Eli, Landon, and Nora are all members of the local middle and high school mountain biking team.

Karen Jones of Duluth won the women’s long course with a time of 2:08:15. Jocelyn Knoll and Morgan Diederichs placed second and third. Chase Wark of Winona and “Lunchbox Racing” won the men’s race in 1:30:52. Shane Steele and Ian Andrus placed second and third.