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Monthly Archives: January 2009
…And Nau For a Trip Down the Yukon’s Snake River
Synopsis: Hugely popular apparel company [that would be Nau], sends a terrifically talented photographer [that would be Peter Bowers], into one of Canada’s most idyllic wilderness areas [you guessed where].
The trip was made to support the conservation efforts of TheBigWild.org. It also causes sudden outbreaks of cabin fever and wanderlust, in every paddler who watches it [that would include me].
The Cross Quetico Lakes Tour
Just as the BWCA wraps up its 30th year, Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park begins its 100th anniversary (wow!) celebration. More on the anniversary itself, in another post, but one upcoming event you should know about is the Cross Quetico Lakes Tour.
Hosted by a local x-country ski club this March, the tour spans the frozen lakes and portages of Quetico. The extensive trail system offers 3 distinct routes of 35, 45 and 55km to pick from. Oh, and skijorers and mushers are also invited.
Sound daunting? Superintendent Robin Reilly says, “A wilderness park might seem too challenging for many but this social event has allowed many skiers to experience the winter in a fresh new way”. Plus, after all the Getting-Lost-in-Quetico stories I’ve heard, at least you can backtrack the groomed trail to the trailhead if you get, uh, ‘separated.’ Via Superior Outdoors.
Science Discovers Mating Mosquitos Sing a “Love Duet”
Researchers at Cornell University have identified a musical mating ritual in our other state bird. As you well know, a mosquito’s wing-beats create a certain and very annoying tone. Well, that tone is normally different for males and females. When courting, however, they will change their tune and actually ‘sing’ harmony (a nonetheless annoying harmony — remember those Aaron Neville/Linda Ronstadt duets years ago?)
The researchers’ next move is to see how this knowledge can aid in mosquito control. They hope to breed and release sterile males into the wild, who will then mate, but with no offspring. But how can knowing about mosquitos’ mating calls help you? Next time a skeeter is plaguing your sleep, wait to pick out a harmony before you swat — maybe you can get a twofer.
Today is Winter Trails Day — Go Do Something Snowy
With the goal of getting families outside in the winter, Winter Trails Day is now in its 14th year. And it’s today (you dressed yet?)
Events across the country offer *free* snowshoe and cross-country ski lessons to all ages. Of course, Minnesota has several in the BWCA area, with the anchor site being at Fort Snelling State Park in Minneapolis. There, you’ll find snowshoeing demos as well as naturalist-guided hikes and workshops on winter camping & identifying animal tracks.
Be sure to fill out the free online registration before you head out the door. Have fun!
Freestyle Snowshoe Boulder Jumping?
In an online competition to “Invent a Sport,” you’re bound to get some creative entries. Especially if it’s sponsored by the fun-lovin’ folks at Horny Toad Activewear. But Freestyle Snowshoe Boulder Jumping, which placed First Prize in the contest, gets my vote too.
While we don’t have the 13′ depths that Tahoe has seen this winter, I’m hopeful I can find a decent boulder with a nice undisturbed drift, next time I’m out camping. Nice.
Kick Some Ice With a Kicksled
Looks like my Christmas wish for this one, never made it to the ‘Pole. KickSpark kicksleds are one sweet means of self-propulsion in the winter months. Imagine a mashup between skating and dog-sledding. Only, *you* are the dogs.
With “allround” runners that send you soaring over ice and packed snow alike, and specialized runners for ice- and snow-only, they look fairly versatile. And fairly fun-as-all-get-out, judging from this promo video (gimp suits with racing stripes, not included.) Soon as earn enough for one, I’ll be kicksledding northwards to deliver a serious beatdown to jolly St. Nick for letting me down.
Should the Kekekabic Trail Be Marked?
Some groups think so. Among them is the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, who’re meeting today with U.S. Forest Service rangers to make those recommendations.
Between the blowdowns and fires of the last some years, parts of the trail have become almost completely obscured — and that’s not just the opinion of the lost hikers of last Fall. Even expert hikers like BWAC founder Martin Kubik report extreme conditions.
It’s the comments from the Strib article that interest me most: Some are for adding stone cairns as a less-obtrusive alternative to wooden signage, while others are for ‘letting the wilderness be wild.’
What do you think? Should the Kek be marked or should it remain on the wilder side of managed wilderness?
What Do Bushcrafters Do All Winter?
Well, they don’t slow down, that’s for sure. Take this entry from the Bushcraft International Toothbrush Challenge, for example. Yes: A competition to make toothbrushes out of twigs. I viewed several submissions on this rather slow news day and found the above video the most inspired, yet efficient, means of staving off gingivitis when lost in the wilds.
I guess it’s more constructive than, say, sitting on your duff and surfing the Net for stuff to blog about… There’s just the question of what to use if that brush leaves splinters in your gums — surely not a toothpick?
UpNorthica Reads: “The Old Way North” by David Pelly
I’m always fascinated by the people and events that came together over the course of many years to create what is now known as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Many times, it almost never was. We have this unique bounty of land that culminated because of numerous hearts, minds and hands.
One of those minds, Ernest Oberholtzer, may be obscure to most. I read about him quite accidentally in a book titled The Old Way North by David Pelly. BWCA lovers will appreciate knowing that he became a fervent advocate for the creation of the Boundary Waters. The beauty of that is the seed that was planted by this, his first expedition into Canada by canoe. Oberholtzer went away feeling awestruck by the value and importance of wilderness areas. That mantle of preservation never left him.
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New to Winter Camping? Read This
If you’ve never done it before but want to learn, there’s an excellent Beginner’s Guide to Winter Camping just posted on Backpacker’s blog. Though brief, it covers the bases well. It also makes clear that the winter camping experience is very different (albeit very fun) from camping in the other 3 seasons. I was happy to see a few budget-conscious tips as well, which will offset the gut-caving realization that you really have to buy a crapload of new gear for winter camping. Via WinterCampers.
Maybe you know a thing or two? Stoke the fire and add few tips of your own to the comments!
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