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Monthly Archives: January 2009
1950′s Version of Survivorman Will Learn You a Thing or Two
The National Film Board of Canada just launched nfb.ca, a fantastic collection of online films, many of them full-length. A little digging around and you’ll find enough nature documentaries to sustain a man for some weeks.
“Survival in the Bush” here, is like Survivorman of the ’50s… almost. You’ll see. Purposefully stranding himself in the wild for three weeks, journalist Bob Anderson leans heavily — real heavily — on his able Algonquin guide to get food, get shelter and get them home. Despite the occasional cornball humor, you’ll actually learn how to make a fire stick, snare rabbits and… oh! how to quick whip together a birch bark canoe. Really.
Enjoy, but be sure to grab something to snack on for this half-hour of info-tainment goodness. Dried sturgeon, anyone?
Boundary Waters Baby-Naming Contest Winner
Hey, you — Whatsyerface. In honor of survivalist Bear Gryll’s new kid Huckleberry, we asked you to come up with the craziest outdoors-inspired baby names you could think of. You know, for fun. and we even had a prize for the best name.
Congrats to Joe for submitting the most enviable entry (drum roll please): “Buck Gunner.” Now, who wouldn’t want to have been named that as a kid… it *is* a boy’s name, right?
Way to go, Joe! Your Wenonah repro tin sign is on its way.
Freking Amazing — UpNorthica Interviews Musher Blake Freking
When Blake and Jennifer Freking’s dog teams began their run at last year’s Iditarod, fans in Minnesota anxiously looked on. Jennifer’s hand was still healing from an injury sustained only weeks earlier, during Beargrease ’08. But when tragedy threatened to force the couple out of the Iditarod altogether, all eyes were on them.
A local’s snowmobile accidentally struck two of their dogs, killing one and seriously injuring a second. Staring down their grief with almost a third of the course still ahead, they pressed on to the finish with no ambitions to win. To their surprise however, Blake’s dogs set a purebreed record. And their real victory transcended mere athleticism: they chose to finish together as mushers, as teammates and as companions. Jennifer would go on to win an award for Most Inspirational Musher.
Now, already into the ’09 season, Blake spoke with us about mushing on the North Shore, how Iditarod has changed them and how they’re making ready for Beargrease this weekend.
CamelBak ShredBak
Winter camping leaves us exceptionally susceptible to dehydration, and carrying water is always problematic. But CamelBak’s newest product aims to take care of that little water-freezing-in-your-bottle issue.
The ShredBak is a vest with a built in 72 oz. hydration bladder. Keeping your water unfrozen isn’t the only feature though. The vest actually uses the water to support itself similar to the harness of a pack so it fits comfortably and supports the weight.
Want one? Hold yer water — they’re not available ’til Fall 2009. We are hoping to get one to test though, so stay tuned! Via Trailspace.
Last Call for the Boundary Waters Baby-Naming Contest!
If Sarah Palin can name her kids after things she can see from her house (Track, Willow, etc) then why can’t we?
Today’s your last chance to send us your wacked-out name ideas for kids born in our frigid boreal climes. The winner gets a cool Wenonah repro tin sign. No limit to entries, but sorry, the name Huckleberry is taken.
Tent Peg Bottle Opener
Buyer beware: A bottle opener made from a reclaimed tent peg makes for a novel gag gift, but resist, my friends! Succumb to laying down your money for this and you venture down a slippery slope; first it’ll be a merino wool beer can cozy. Then you’ll just *have* to pick up a two-beer caddy balaclava attachment (wacky straws and all.)
‘Sides, we all know that the wineskin is the choice of true outdoorsmen, when out on the trail. Better leave the Leinies in the truck, Goober. Via The Goat.
UpNorthica Reads: “Snowbound” by Lisa M. Robinson
You rush to the window for a look: Every tree-top branch is traced with careful white lines, while the grass, the walk, the streets have all but been erased. The din of traffic has been swept away, replaced with an almost church-like hush. There’s a certain kind of magic to snow that transforms our surroundings this way. It causes us to bask a moment and reflect on what its heavy cover does to us as well as the landscape.
Snowbound is a meditative collection of Lisa M. Robinson’s photographs (many are viewable on her site.) Taken over the course of five winters, the images simply feature ordinary objects and places against a backdrop of snow.
Beargrease ’09 is Coming
The 26th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon begins this Saturday. We’ve got our faves picked and have stocked up on rawhide treats for snacking. We’ve got several posts planned this week in leading up to the race, so check back soon, often… and a lot.
For the uninitiated, read up on the story of the man John Beargrease, whose sled dog driven mail route is traced each year for the marathon. Makes ‘uphill both ways’ sound like a walk to the corner store.
“What’s Up, Huck?”… It’s the Boundary Waters Baby-Naming Contest ;)
TV adventurer Bear Grylls welcomed his new son, Huckleberry, into the world yesterday [pause for laughter]. I’ll say it again: Huckleberry. Hmm, might not have been my choice in names, but clearly there is a growing trend in giving kids names inspired by outdoor lifestyles. Just ask Track, Willow, Bristol, and Trig (short for “Trigger?”) All seriousness aside, Mr. Gryll’s news did inspire us…
Announcing UpNorthica.com’s “Boundary Waters Baby-Naming Contest.”
We’re inviting you to invent the most outdoorsy, woodsy and weirdsy baby names you can think up. Send them to us via the comments of this post; no limit to entries. We’ll announce the winner in a week, with the Grand Prize being a sweet Wenonah Canoes repro tin sign (courtesy of Wenonah.) And just to get those gears turning, we’ll throw out a couple ideas of our own:
Inspired yourself? Post your Boundary Waters Baby Names now – Good luck, Huck!
Build Your Own Bivy Bag
Every winter camper knows that shoveling out the dough for a bivy sack and/or ground sheet is a necessary evil (as if the cost for an adequate sleeping bag isn’t steep enough.)
But before you go cold on the thought of blowing your budget, check out this article on how to make your own bivy. Not as comprehensive as an Instructable, but some good calls on materials, like silicone-impregnated nylon.
ASIDE: A good buddy of mine has also had luck using Tyvek (usually used for wrapping houses). Anyone out there with some DIY solutions of their own?
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