June 30th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Art, Hiking
Most of us hikers pride ourselves in ‘leaving no trace’ where our feet have trod. Jim Denevan makes a point of leaving as big a trace as he can. The performance artist has just made the world’s largest drawing in this dry Nevada lake bed (Jim is the tiny speck in the center). This record-breaking […]
June 25th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Camping, Hiking, Outdoor Living
This Saturday, over 20,000 people will be celebrating The Great American Backyard Campout to discover and share the joys of the outdoors – even here in our own backyards. Whether you’re a self-described ‘indoorsy-type’ or a seasoned Boundary Waters canoeist, we at UpNorthica want to do our part to get you outside. So let us […]
June 24th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Camping
Blame it on high gas prices, or on low motivation to unplug the Xbox, but nobody disagrees that Americans have migrated indoors in the past few years. That’s no small tragedy, as it means a whole generation is literally missing out on a world of discovery.
Guarantee yourself a great weekend while you help reverse the […]
June 24th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Camping, Gear, Outdoor Living
We recently spent a camping weekend, under siege by wave after merciless wave of invading mosquitos. Our best defense? A kid-friendly bug spray that was so safe on skin, the bugs were misting themselves with it as a moisturizer. I would rather have smoked them out by lighting my own hair on fire, if I […]
June 20th, 2008 | by Arthur | published in Environment, Wildlife
If you’ve been out in the Northwoods this year you may have noticed it’s a little easier to catch a glimpse of black bears (hopefully not while the’yre eating your food). While they aren’t as thick as mosquitos, the black bear population is at an all-time high. A study done by Timothy Van Deelen, a […]
June 18th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Gear
Hey there, overcompensator! Now you can be your very own Rambo with this 80’s-era “Survivor” knife! The only thing missing from this multi-use marvel, is a collapsible mullet comb (maybe that’s sold separately?)
Favorite line: “…so perfectly balanced, it cuts like an extension of your own hand.” Huh?
June 18th, 2008 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Environment, North Shore, Voyageurs, Wildlife
Recent heavy rains have caused flooded basements and washed out roadways, making things rather difficult (if not disastrous) for human-types in far Northern Minnesota. So, how are the wood-folk handling the high waters?
This article details which fish and wildlife species are struggling, and which may serve to actually benefit from the changes. Most of those […]
June 18th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Art, Canoeing
Give yourself a minute to drool (like we did) over this latest project from Murat, a traditional paddle maker we’ve featured before. We’d love to have taken it on its maiden voyage in the BWCA. The warm tones of the birch bark, the natural lashings, the meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail… lust lust lust.
But […]
June 16th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Hiking, North Shore, Wildlife
We just posted some images from a recent 3-day hike along the Superior Hiking Trail. It’s been a few weeks since, but we’re still enjoying the blazing green hues of new growth; the fresh signs of wildlife in the mud and mossy duff; and the smell of chili with chorizo sausage links at the […]
June 16th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
By Jove, they’ve done it! Chaska residents (and overall canoeing rockstars) Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte, have completed their paddling voyage. A message to their families via locator beacon confirmed their Hudson Bay arrival at 2pm on Sunday.
The final days of the journey seem to have proven to be among their most challenging. They’ve not […]
June 13th, 2008 | by Andy | published in North Shore
If you were planning this weekend to take your first dip of the season, up at the Temperance River swimming hole… better take out a bigger policy. As seen in this slideshow, heavy rainfalls have rivers along the North Shore at near-record water levels.
Swimming may be out, but head up Highway 61 this weekend with […]
June 12th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte, both ‘08 graduates of Chaska High School, are paddling 2,250 miles from their hometown to Hudson Bay, this summer. Though inspired by Eric Sevareid’s similar journey there from Minneapolis, (as told in his classic book “Canoeing With the Cree”) the duo may reach their goal in half of Sevareid’s time. […]
June 9th, 2008 | by Arthur | published in Gear Review
I am darn good at putting holes in socks. From special order Icelandic hiking socks to popular domestic brands, my feet for some reason seem to be genetically designed to destroy socks. Over the last few months I’ve had the opportunity to test new challengers: Darn Tough Socks. I’ve worn them on early spring Lake […]
June 9th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Camping, North Shore
Two things I learned this weekend. If you find yourself in, or near Superior:
DO… Visit Amnicon Falls State Park, where the Amnicon River thunders through serpentine chasms of glacial basalt, like a… like an ancient Thunder Serpent. The spray-veiled river views are wonderful; the staff conscientious; and as far as car camping goes, the […]
June 6th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Bushcraft, Environment, Outdoor Living, Survival Skills
I just listened to an interview with Norm Kidder, VP of a non-profit that teaches primitive technologies (as in stone tools, adzes, bows and arrows. etc). He discusses why primitive tool-making still has a place in our modern world. The highlight, though, comes when he points out the problem with the ‘leave no trace’ ethic.
The […]