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Monthly Archives: September 2008
Bulk up your food pack
We’ve all done the $9 freeze-dried trail dinners. Tasty? Sure, but nine bucks seems a lot, next to that default packful Rice-A-Roni and Zatarain’s. And crap, let’s face it — anything’ll taste good out there.Thankfully, finding dehydrated and freeze-dried food in bulk is becoming an easier alternative, via the power of the Interweb. This is especially true, if you’re planning menus for a group or an extended trip.CoolTools has posted a review of two online food producers that offer some great values. Ideal for DIYers as well as foodies who hate to compromise their morals, the variety and selection on the sites is worth looking into. Meal ‘kits’ are also offered, if you want to simplify a bit. Because nobody should have to go grocery shopping at REI.
Free entrance to Voyageurs Nat’l Park this weekend… and beyond
Don’t feel badly you missed the fact that tomorrow is National Public Lands Day. Or even that you have no idea what that is — I sure didn’t. But apparently it’s momentous enough an occasion for the NPS to waive all National Parks entrance fees for the weekend. The lakes of Minnesota’s own Voyageurs National Park see a wider variety of boat traffic than the BWCA, including boat tours, houseboats, and those nutty kayak-camping folk. The park offers car-camping, but their miles of lakeshore camping are of the kind that make Minnesota outdoors experiences so unique.Worth the drive up this weekend… even if you didn’t know Voyageurs’ entry permits are indeed, free already 
via The Goat.
Fascinated with Freestyle Canoeing
Cool, as in “beautiful and inspiring”; or Cool, as in “looks like Ninjitsu for canoes” — you decide! Freestyle Canoeist Mark Maier (featured in the video) describes this fascinating style of paddling:
It can remind you of the elegance of figure skating, especially when watching Interpretive Freestyle performed to music. But Freestyle can be a lot more to a paddler than just striving for technical perfection or making a canoe dance. Freestyle is reduction to the essential – water, body, boat and paddle – in perfect harmony. From this perspective Freestyle can even get a meditative quality. When I am on the water practicing, I leave my workday’s pressure and hectic behind me and my mind comes to rest.
After watching several of them, I think Mark’s collection of videos themselves (click on “Videos”) will most eloquently introduce the relatively new discipline to you. Watch and learn, little grasshopper.
UpNorthica Reviews: Big Agnes String Ridge 2 Tent
Big Agnes is the self-proclaimed “Mother of Comfort.” We’d been impressed with innovations in their sleeping bags that backed the claim. So we were anxious to see how their new String Ridge 2 tent, would hold up under scrutiny. And rain – good heavens – lots and lots of rain.
First, a look at the specs…
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Canoe vs. Kayak – which is faster?
HowStuffWorks dares to ask: Which boat is faster – canoe or kayak? Find out for yourself, but the answer may not be as simple as you think.
I could definitely tell you which is less fun to portage, though…
Leave No Trace video
Odds are, you’ll recognize this as the ‘required viewing’ video if you pick up your BWCA permit at the ranger stations. It’s rare that anything you’re ‘forced’ to watch, is going to be much above tolerable. But this short, produced by the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, is actually quite enjoyable. Instructive, but not heavy-handed, with a healthy measure of purty nature eye-candy, it’s worth a viewing. Or a second one, in case you weren’t paying attention when you were a captive audience Up North.
Traces of herbicide found in BWCA lakes
Evidence of the herbicide Atrazine, has been detected in some Minnesota lakes, including a few in the BWCA, the Strib reports.
While levels are deemed far below ‘dangerous’ for now, researchers are more concerned about the “spread rather than the strength” of the chemicals. Some of the lakes in question are located far from croplands, which means it appears to be spreading by wind and rain, in addition to runoff.
Me? My biggest concern is over the matter of deformed frogs who, according to research, may have Atrazine to thank for their extra limbs. Um… would this be a good spot to link to a water filter review?
Clear some time to clear ski trails
Having to claim your ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ vacation hours, is a good problem to have. Here’s a sweet way to get Up North before the snows, as well as do some good.
Volunteer work crews are needed to clear the Banadad Trail for the skiing season. Because of the trail’s location (mostly inside the Boundary Waters,) power equipment is prohibited. Relying solely on people power – people like you – and restoring bridges will be the tough part. Discounted rates at area lodges and well, just being there will be the fun parts. Looks like there are numerous weekends open through mid-November. Plus, you’ll get to use lofty altruistic words like “voluntourism” when you brag about your trip to friends.
Details and signup here.
Ely Fall Leaf Colorization Project
Tourism in Ely, Minnesota is at a crossroads this autumn. The Zueniks are a local family accredited with the annual task of vibrantly hand-coloring all of Ely’s fall leaves, over the years. Now, as the elder Zuenik faces retirement, Ely has issued a cry for help to the public.
More info on the Ely’s fall color crisis, and how you can be a part of the solution, here.
More about less (and less) moose
In the struggle to save Minnesota’s dwindling moose population, the fight is only beginning. While biologists still have no single cause of a trend in alarming mortality rates, this article from Minnesota Conservation Volunteer shows that some are primed to take action. Says Fond du Lac Band wildlife biologist Mike Schrage:
“Some folks have already given up on moose. I think we can keep them around. But we’ll need the best information about mortality and habitat use. And we’ll need to be proactive in managing for moose. And we’ll need funding for all this. So most important, we need the public to stand up and say that it is unacceptable for moose to disappear.”
Also featured is an interesting comparison of the moose population here, versus elsewhere in the US and Scandinavia, where they seem to be largely just fine. Via Canoeing.com.
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