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Monthly Archives: April 2009
Timeless Trip Reports
If you’re a total paddle-head, the kind who spends hours online devouring trip reports, we’ve got a rare treat for you.
Our tour has been one of daily excitement, filled from first to last with grand old forests, noble waterfalls, picturesque lakes, and cascades. A region in which an artist might linger many weeks with profit to both eye and brush, while the recuperation to one’s health by the outdoor life in the dry atmosphere cannot be overestimated.
“Canoe and Camera : a Two Hundred Mile Tour Through the Maine Forests” is a true gem of wilderness reading. Published in 1882, the downloadable book is rich with description and replete with gorgeous illustrations. Although considering the title, there are way more drawings than photos; but no complaints here.
It’s fascinating to see the ways camping & paddling have changed in the last 127 years — and also how they are still the same.
If you’re looking for a great read (for free, no less,) this is a nice way to get into the mood for the paddling season. Thanks, Murat!
UpNorthica Eats: The UpNorthica PB & J
When packing a trail lunch, there are two halves of me that vie for the role of Menu Planner:
The Hiker in me is practical, wanting only raw materials to give me energy. Carbs, proteins, maybe a modest sugar boost, but don’t go crazy. Keep it simple this time, don’t pack a whole picnic. We’re trying to travel light here, he says.
The Foodie in me, however, knows that all this talk means a handful of gorp and the crappy default pita-bread PB & J. Foodie hates Hiker.
So Foodie digs in his heels. Screw the extra pack weight; he wants flavor, texture, fresh (not dried) ingredients and a little variety in his lunch. Oh! and also Nutella, if he can sneak it in there somewhere…
I’ve finally discovered a common ground for Hiker and Foodie in the UpNorthica PB&J. Its ingredients supply serious fuel when I need it and it’s extremely flexible for substitutions. And of course, it’s easy. Who has ever messed up on a PB & J? [pregnant pause] … Nobody, that is who. So Hiker is satisfied. Foodie, meanwhile, revels in the fresh berries… the melange of nutty whole-grainy flavor sensations… He’d keep singing the praises of it, if he weren’t cramming it into his face non-stop. But he does make contented little noises as he eats, because Foodie is happy too.
Hiker just rolls his eyes and asks if there are any more sandwich halves left. Foodie pretends to rummage through the pack, before sneaking a fingerful of Nutella from its hidden jar. “Nope,” he says, “gotta travel light here…”
Click for recipe. MORE
Is the Lake Vermilion State Park Deal, Off the Table?
After almost 2 years of talks, land owner U.S. Steel still isn’t satisfied with the MN-DNR’s offers to purchase 2,500 acres for a new state park. And while the deal’s not officially off, the company has announced they will move towards developing the property.
From DNR Commisioner Mark Holsten:
“They haven’t moved off their price,” Holsten said. “They are a willing seller, but they don’t need to sell.” While the real estate market has crashed, Holsten said lakeshore prices in the region appear to have remained fairly stable.
Bu-u-u-t I did sense a never-say-die tone from the article, so hopefully this won’t be the last post on what would be our first state park in almost 30 years.
Ely MN Submits Last Minute Bid for 2016 Summer Olympics
Citing Ely’s “1.3 million acres of untouched wilderness is beyond compare, so there’s plenty of room for Ely to host thousands of athletes and more than a million visitors, and we have lots of space for the facilities.” Ely says they may me a couple of years late for the deadline for a first bid, but they should be looked at seriously. As far as facilities of sports such as table tennis, mayor Roger Skraba said “lots of folks around here have ping pong tables in their basements. We won’t have any trouble pulling that event together,” said the mayor.
I have to say their proposed logo is an improvement on many recent and not-so-recent Olympic logos (we’re talking to you 1984 L.A. Olympics) More details at the City of Ely’s website, and the official Ely 2016 Olympic site.
Are golden eagles moving into Minnesota?
That’s what I was wondering last week, as several TC news outlets covered the release of a rehabilitated raptor named Golden Eagle 42. And could we expect to see them in the BWCA?
A call to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha brought me the answers: They’ve already been here a while; and No, respectively.
Having taken residence in Southern MN in areas with bluffs and high prairies, golden eagles may not be as common a sight as bald eagles, but there presence is not a new phenom. And while they will range further northwards, the Arrowhead region is pretty much flyover country. Central and northern parts of Ontario are where they settle in warmer months.
Just the same, the flight of our friend #42 is being tracked via GPS, and you can follow the bird’s flight (look for the downloadable PDF). From my phone call, it sounds like there are a few bets going, as to where it’ll end up.
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