September 29th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Camping, Food
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 [...]
September 26th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Voyageurs
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 [...]
September 26th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Art, 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 [...]
September 24th, 2008 |
by Arthur |
published in
Camping, Gear Review, Hiking
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…
String [...]
September 24th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Canoeing, Kayaking
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…
September 23rd, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
BWCAW, Environment, Nature, Resources, Wildlife
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 [...]
September 23rd, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
BWCAW, Environment, Wildlife
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 [...]
September 22nd, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
BWCAW, Resources, Winter Sports
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 [...]
September 19th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Environment, Nature
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 [...]
September 19th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
BWCAW, Environment, Wildlife
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 [...]
September 18th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Art, BWCAW, Nature
Fall colors in the Boundary Waters weren’t at their peak last weekend, but we found plenty worth seeing and sharing (despite near-continual rains). Check out our flickr set for some gorgeous sights seen along the South Kawishiwi River.
September 17th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Outdoor Living
Nice. I’d always wondered what that job – that life – was like. Now, I (and the whole world) know at last.
September 17th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Camping, Food
Cram your food pack with this on your next trip –– it’s Crapola. A deliciously sweet-but-not-too-sweet granola loaded with organic ingredients like dried cranberries and apples, my first bag of this stuff barely survived the drive home.
Owners Andrea and Brian Strom make Crapola locally in Ely, where they first began selling it at the farmers’ [...]
September 16th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Canada, Hiking, Wildlife
Thanks to Melissa for sending us this hilarious bear warning sign, as seen at a park in British Columbia.
Hint: Be sure to read the whole thing to appreciate it.
September 15th, 2008 |
by Andy |
published in
Bushcraft, Camping
How to get a better night’s sleep on the trail? Go old skool and fashion yourself a pine duff mattress, of course!We’d read in old camping books how resourceful outdoorsmen would stuff bivy sacks with pine boughs, dead leaves and moss. It provided insulation and padding, making sleep in the wild much more bearable. So, [...]