August 27th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canada, Canoeing
Earlier this summer, two teens from Chaska, Minnesota finished a paddling voyage from their hometown, all the way to Hudson’s Bay. Why? Because they could, of course! During the trip, Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte found thousands of fans and supporters, well before shattering the time set by Eric Sevareid’s similar route documented in his [...]
August 26th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Bushcraft, North Shore, Outdoor Living, Resources, Survival Skills
Want to learn how to live “comfortably in the bush on an indefinite basis with a minimal dependence on technological materials and tools?” Or maybe just how to go winter camping, without ending up as the next Jon Krakauer book?
Mors Kochanski is the author of the classic instructional book, “Bushcraft.” And I was thrilled to [...]
August 25th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Camping, Canoeing, Gear
If you’ve ever wanted to know, here’s a brief but interesting history of the Duluth Pack, perhaps one of the most enduring symbols of the Boundary Waters experience.
Say what you will about the pimped-out canoe packs of today (yes, I have a few myself). But they can’t touch the beauty, character and old-world craftsmanship of [...]
August 21st, 2008 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Camping, Resources
Yesterday, the Forest Service announced campfire restrictions for the ‘blowdown’ area and other portions of the BWCA:
Beginning Thursday morning (12:01 am) August 21, 2008, the Superior National Forest will prohibit the use of campfires and charcoal or wood burning stoves in the blowdown area inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). This restricted area [...]
August 20th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Art, Wildlife
Gonna have to bag me one ‘o’ these. Eco-safe cardboard and, like the product description says, no taxidermy required (available in Deer or Moose flavors). Now I just have to get me a cabin to put ‘em in…
August 20th, 2008 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Canoeing, Environment
I’ve always thought of the Boundary Waters as a ‘one-of-a-kind’ wilderness, but I’m glad to see there’s hope for more places like it in the States.
This article describes a campaign afoot to increase the number of “quiet zones” – lakes restricting gas-powered boats – in New York’s Adirondacks. I was proud to read that advocates [...]
August 18th, 2008 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Camping, Canoeing, Hiking
If your trip route were a drive through Twin Cities roadways, portages would be the Crosstown Interchange. There’s rush hour, there’s painful bottlenecking and gridlocking… I’ve never encountered trail rage (have you?). But portaging is much less a headache if you adopt a few common sense guidelines. Read on to get yourself schooled.
Observe the rules [...]
August 15th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Outdoor Living, Resources
One of the best trends to hit the interweb in the last several years is the democratization of maps. Used to be that even folding maps was impossible; now you can name them, edit them, share them… Making your mark on the world has never been so easy. Case in point: Kevin at Cool Tools [...]
August 14th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Gear Review, Hiking
Friend or Foe? Take a new pair of boots over a few days’ worth of root-tangled trails and soggy portages; before long, you’ll know which camp yours fall under. And you’ll spend the rest of the trip either swearing by them, or swearing at them. We canoe campers demand a lot from a boot: Must [...]
August 13th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Hiking
Everyone has a ‘camping trip from Hell’ story or three. But I’d way rather hear about yours, than mine.
Hiker Hell is a blog dedicated to “learning from other people’s mistakes, so you don’t make the same ones.” Topics tackled include animal attacks, getting lost from your group after pooping behind a tree and the [...]
August 13th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Camping, Canoeing, Environment, Quetico
These days, the moss is looking pretty green on the other side. The last several months have seen Canada taking huge steps to preserve its boreal wonderlands for future generations. The latest announcement comes from Ontario and Manitoba, who have agreed to establish and co-manage a new Interprovincial Wilderness Area. And it’s freaking huge [PDF [...]
August 6th, 2008 | by Arthur | published in Uncategorized
Hey greasy, yeah you, the guy who has been using the same bottle of Campsuds for his hair and dirty dishes for the past week. You no longer have the excuse of excess weight for bad hygiene on the trail. The new Dissolving Paper Shampoo is a pack of sheets of paper that magically dissolve into mint scented shampoo suds. While their size [...]
August 2nd, 2008 | by Arthur | published in Camping, Food, Resources
The best method for filtering water has always been a passionate debate with proponents for every method (including not filtering at all). If you are looking for a different method to try, or just sick of trying to force more water through that filter the Wilderness Medical Society has published a their new guide (PDF) [...]