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Monthly Archives: March 2009
UpNorthica Reads: “A Little Brother to the Bear”
Through the branches of an alder tree, our view zooms in on the opposite bank of a small river, where a female kingfisher emerges from her hidden nest. Swooping suddenly from her roost in a cacophony of warning calls, she banishes a group of ducks and a hapless frog from the pool below her home. Now satisfied the coast is clear, she summons her four offspring out of the nest. As they begin to practice their diving skills, they are each awarded a dead minnow from their watchful mother. In this “kingfisher’s kindergarten,” Fishing 101 is now in session.
Not Your Grandaddy’s Stove (Or Yours for That Matter)
A new concept product has us looking forward to a future where we can throw out the stove, cook-kit and extra fuel bottles. The Vertigo, designed by Nicolas Bernal is a crank powered device that heats up your food in about 3 minutes.
This eco-friendly stove consists of a thermos and a crank powered heating element. It contains no batteries and doesn’t consume gas. The device will heat up to 150 degrees C so it should be able to heat up anything you make in a pot (which is just about any camping food.)
I have a few questions, though. Much like the early water filters the crank looks small and uncomfortable to use. My second concern has to do with how much it will weigh and how big it is/how will it work with multiple people? This is of course, a concept though, so the pure coolness of the idea is enough for now.
The applications of this to work in the field — not only on camping trips but for working in third world countries and even rescue work — are really exciting. But, if this is really going to compete with other crank powered devices, he needs to add about three different types of lights and a clock/radio. All joking aside, we have to send our compliments to Nicolas Bernal, and are looking forward to getting our hands on one. Via Uncooped.
“Haymaker” T-shirt
Judging from recent posts, March must be Manly Month or something…
That said, the Haymaker t-shirt made me smile. Just consider the ways this fine tee could boost your personal Manliness Index. Or at least compensate…
“Rescue Schmescue, Them Fish’re Bitin’!!”
One especially manly fisherman, Joseph Dake, refused rescue after his territorial ice floe broke loose and went adrift yesterday in Lake Winnebago. The fish were biting, the Oshkosh, Wisconsin resident explained.
But wait! Before you judge… clearly this was the work of a wizened outdoorsman, not some wet-behind-the-ears fella. Exercising extreme caution, Dake had laid a ladder across the open water to access his spot, about a quarter-mile out from shore. According to local authorities, “Apparently, he has done this before.”
Kids, don’t try this at home – wait, lemme amend that – just don’t ever try this, anywhere. Ever.
How to Camp, by Rusty and Larnold
We at UpNorthica have never claimed to be the absolute authority on all things camping, but we thought we had a pretty good grasp. Until now.
We’ve had it all wrong. But thanks to Rusty and Larnold of the South Carolina Manhood Network, we’ve seen the light. Or is that blinding flash of inspiration, just them deer-shinin’ again?
DNR Considering Opening Deer Hunting Early in BWCA
Due to the early and normally harsh winters experienced in Northern MN, coupled with a ban on motors, few hunters take advantage of the availability of the BWCA for hunting.
To remedy this, the DNR is considering allowing hunting for 9 days in an area north and west of Tower, about 2 weeks before the regular deer season opens.
Public hearings will be held in St. Paul, Grand Rapids, Tower, Duluth and elsewhere in the state. You can also provide input on the DNR’s website. More over at MPR.
Boathouses of the Wise and Industrious
Here’s a good problem to have: How do you go about storing your *nine* canoes?
Crap, don’t look at me… Instead, check this article featuring avid canoeist Dave Birren’s boat storage solutions.
Accompanied by numerous reference photos, this article gives some great recommendations on protecting both wooden and non-wooden canoes. Although they should’ve thrown in a disclaimer that in a household full of kids, nothing stored in a garage is safe – nothing.
Give Your Green Thumb a Workout: Gunflint GreenUp & Ham Run Half Marathon
Gunflint GreenUp and Ham Run
In what amounts to more good conservation related news, the second annual Gunflint GreenUp is going on May 1-3. It kicks off Friday with a Green Living Fair in Grand Marais, MN. Saturday, there’ll be tree planting and brush clearing in the Superior National Forest, specifically the area affected by the Ham Lake Fire.
Wrapping up the weekend will be The Ham Run Half Marathon. The race winds along the Gunflint Trail, from Gunflint Lake northwest to Seagull Lake. Register by Earth Day, April 22, 2009 and help to plant 50,000 trees to restore the Ham Lake area.
No Guns in Parks (again)
An 11th hour decision by the Bush administration allowed gun owners to carry loaded concealed weapons into national parks. If that sort of thing floats your boat I hope you took advantage of it while you could.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia reversed the decision yesterday, saying it was ”astoundingly flawed.” For more, go to the Seattle Post Intelligencer Online. (as if there we’re any other way)
We’ll see if the reversal stands but for now, repeat after me: “I will not bring my loaded gun into a park, I will not bring my loaded gun into a park, I will…”
Tap Into Maple Syruping at MN State Parks
This is the best time of year – March 15 through April 20 – for maple syruping, says the MN-DNR. And they want to show you how.
Numerous state parks will be sponsoring family-friendly syruping events, beginning this weekend. You’ll get to help harvest sap, see how it’s boiled down to make syrup, and learn how to do it in your own back forty.
My favorite thing to do is to dip in my whole hand in the sap and start sucking on it, like Pooh Bear with his honey pot. That way, everybody else is too disgusted to want to have samples and you get it all.
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