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Monthly Archives: July 2008
Superior Hiking Trail Pics
Here is some “the week is almost over” fodder for you. We just posted a new set of photos from a late June hiking trip to the Superior Trail from Britton Peak to Caribou. Take a gander and hopefully they’ll inspire you to jump out of your cubicle and get out of town, come on you know you want to.
Skip the Dishes
There are very few things I dislike about camping, bugs and rain don’t really bother me. In fact the only things that I hate to do while camping is the dishes, and I know I’m not the only one. In scouts (yes I was a boy scout) we would go to extreme lengths to avoid dishes, this wasn’t just a case of teenage laziness because the dad’s would do the same. The methods developed through rigorous testing of dish avoidance methods have lead to a few tried and true methods that I will outline below. A word of warning: if you are attached to proper decorum while eating or afraid of plasticizers than these methods probably aren’t for you (so go back to your tea and doilies nancy).
Necessary is a Relative Term
Unless you are an ultra light ounce counter, everyone at some point makes the decision to pack comfort over weight. I’m not talking about hiking with the kitchen sink (unless that’s “your thing”), more like bringing the baking attachment for your camp stove, or the Coleman Camp Coffeemaker (mix this with the Traveler coffee grinder ). I certainly have my own weakness and I’ll start by saying:
Hi my name is Arthur and I’m a camera addict. MORE
Quiet colors of the Boundary Waters
Lots of pure ‘n’ natural photo goodness mixed into this Flickr set of a trip to Lac La Croix.
Some great shots of an eagle and some other wildlife. But what impresses me most though, are the pics that simply focus on beautiful colors, in places I might have otherwise overlooked; a subtle stippling of blue sky on shaded water, backlit green leaves turned gold by a sunrise, even an old outboard motor. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Jay!
Using crickets to gauge the temperature
Here’s a pretty cool ‘backwoods hack’ to try next time you go camping. Or if nothing else, a fun game to play with the kids at night. The equation is based on Dolbear’s Law; more on that here. But here’s how it works:
1. Count the number of cricket chirps heard in 13 seconds.
2. To that count, add 40.
3. The total should equal the temperature.
Give it a shot; although it occurs to me that on many nights in the Boundary Waters, the only sound is almost-eerie deafening silence. I’m going to try it out on an upcoming trip to Colorado… they do have crickets there, don’t they? Via Uncooped.
Gunflint Trail Canoe Races
It’s only natural that a fundraiser for a fire department should involve water being sprayed and splashed in every direction.
Last Wednesday, the Gunflint Trail Canoe Races were held at the Gunflint Lodge, finding participants in outfitters, area residents and even resort guests. Between races that included paddling backwards and with paddles upside down, the well-attended event left more than only smiles and good memories in its wake. Over $17,000 was raised to help support the local volunteer fire department and rescue squad.
Thanks to Sue at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters and Carol (team mom extraordinaire), for the photo. And especially to the men and women of the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad!
Traveling the Boundary Waters – by bike?
Well, maybe not quite. But Doug over at MNBicycleCommuter has posted a trip report unlike anything you’ve seen in a while. Entertaining as the notion of cycling to the Boundary Waters may be, it should come as no surprise that people’s longing to get out in the northwoods, is still unabated by the fuel crisis. Not that this was Doug’s impetus; avid cyclists who bike 231 miles in a weekend, clearly have an equal love for the road.
This first entry in his three-day loop from Duluth to Ely sees him encountering inclement weather, friendly folks in remote places and a mosquito-infested rainy night on unlevel ground… Heh, If you think about it, that actually sounds a whole lot like most BWCA trips by canoe.
Keep going, Doug, and good on you!
Fifth shooter pleads guilty to a “beautiful night” of violence
Honestly, it all started out as just being a “beautiful night” for a boat ride – and booze. And fireworks. And AK-47s.
But despite whatever good intentions [cough] Barney James Lakner began with on the evening of last August 7th, the ensuing marathon of terroristic threats to campers on Basswood Lake left a dark, long-lived stain on that date. The so-called “fifth’ suspect pled guilty on Tuesday to an ammo boxful of felony and misdemeanor charges. Twenty-two charges, actually. Lakner will likely face a mandatory three-year sentence.
One final suspect, age 17, still faces trial.
Here’s to the day when the headlines, the residents of Ely, and all people who love the calm of the wilderness, can put this behind us.
Dream cabin #2
We love every half inch of this 388-square foot getaway. With a loft perched above, bunks nestled away for guests, one huge picture window to take in the view, and absolutely zero space for entertainment centers or computer desks, what more do you need? Just plop it down anywhere within a 50-mile radius of Ely and it’s good by me.
More – and bigger – pictures here and here, with more on the cabin’s architect, here (thanks Chris!)
“It’s my poop in a box”
If you’re camping, say, in the Quetico, where are no latrines, you now have yourself an alternative to digging a ‘cat hole’ (and can I just say right now, I’ve always been totally grossed out by that term).
Shit Box is a collapsible and re-usable cardboard porta-potty, in the truest sense. It comes with 10 biodegradable poo bags and caters to any outdoor setting where take-out is the only option. The manufacturer recommends it for camping, fishing, festivals and as their web site says, “kids caught short”.
But why stop there? Shit Box is perfect for uninterrupted Superbowl viewing; all-night Halo 3 tournaments; too-drunk-to-walk-to-the-portapotty tailgating parties and of course, never-leave-the-line midnight sci-fi movie premieres. Via The Goat.
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