June 24th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Fishing, Food
A simple but fantastic way to cook your fishes without the dishes.
I’m a huge fan of cooking with the flames, coals and ashes of a campfire — the meal always tastes better. This is gonna happen in my near future. You bring the catch and I’ll get a fire started. Via Backpacker.
June 23rd, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Environment
Tensions over copper sulfide mining near the Boundary Waters are mounting, as the Duluth News Tribune reports. Over 100 companies have vied for exploratory drilling permits in the last 2 years; 70 have been granted them.
Cause for alarm? Uh, just maybe — since all the rivers flowing through all of the proposed drilling sites, flow [...]
June 23rd, 2009 | by Andy | published in Art, Canada, Canoeing, Outdoor Living, Wildlife
Shmeaceful shmolitude — it’s high time for a frickin’ all-out canoe marathon in the Border Region!
The kind with like, grueling 8000-rod portages. Lots of whitewater (they’d have to fly that in.) Perilous swarms of mosquitoes. Flocks of camp-raiding, gorp-stealing whiskeyjacks. And speed — sweaty, cussing man-powered speed. Oh, and injuries; a few good paddle-to-the-face ones. [...]
June 22nd, 2009 | by Andy | published in Art, BWCAW, Nature, Resources
Every so often, we’ll see a photo on the Boundary Waters Flickr Group Pool that’s worthy of mention.
“Words Can Not Begin to Describe,” (above) left us a little speechless.
Taylor, a photography major at University of Central Missouri, also has several others he’s taken in the Best Place on Earth Ever. Speaking of which, Matthew — [...]
June 19th, 2009 | by Arthur | published in Outdoor Living
Still looking for something to do with the old man this weekend? If you happen to be near a National Park or Monument this weekend, you can get in for free.
Fee Free Weekends means over 100 parks that usually charge entrance fees, are waiving them during a few select weekends this sumer. In Minnesota, that [...]
June 19th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Outdoor Living
… And so do all the locals in Ely and Grand Marais, but they won’t tell it to your face.
So have a look at this list of 5 Items Needed To Be an Outdoor Poser (Vehicle Edition) and find out just how far down that road you may’ve gotten.
Myself, I fared pretty well, with only [...]
June 18th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Camping, Gear
This looks curious: Chemfire Capsules are a new product that, when paired with a few drops of solution, start your fire chemically.
Potential as a UL alternative to a box of waterproof matches? Hmm, maybe. But unscrewing a glycerin capsule, setting half to the side, then reassembling the thing, all in the rain? At least [...]
June 17th, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Canada, Canoeing
It’s coming this July: Canadians and Americans paddling the Boundary Waters together in a voyageur-style canoe — trading perspectives, forming friendships and sharing resources under the banner of preserving our Border Lakes Region.
Just please tell me that hitting the Trail Center for beer and Goober Burgers, figures into that somewhere. You just can’t leave that [...]
June 16th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Camping, Gear, Gear Review
A message to all you holdouts who still use Hefty Bags to haul gear into the BW:
Granite Gear loves you and they just want to help.
Yes, it’s true that tall kitchen garbage bags could be considered within ultra-light weight class. And the newer models with Country Lemon Scent, do cut the odor of the hiking [...]
June 15th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in on Erik Simula, the wilderness guide who’s paddling across Minnesota’s Arrowhead in his birch bark canoe.
So what’s he been up to? Oh, poling up rapids, hacking through 6-mile portage, meeting bear and cougar — in the same night… Stuff like that. Read on for the latest [...]
June 11th, 2009 | by Arthur | published in Food, Gear, Outdoor Living
It’s summer, time to breakout the “kiss the cook” aprons and charcoal. But grilling anywhere outside of your backyard generally requires you to show up at the park a 3AM to squat on a grill, or try to avoid starting a massive wildfire with your Hibachi (I’m looking at you, guy who used to use [...]
June 10th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
Proud as I am of the BWCA and the many other waterways of Minnesota, once again I have to concede that everything is better out west: Conan goes canoeing in the L.A. storm drains.
Seeing Andy Richter in an orange summer camp PFD just makes me laugh out loud. Enjoy the scenery. Via Canoeing.com.
June 5th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Art, Camping, Environment, Hiking, Resources, Voyageurs, Wildlife
This week, President Obama proclaimed June “Great Outdoors Month,” and with good reason. There’s a slew of celebrations during the month, including National Trails Day, National Fishing and Boating Week, National Get Outdoors Day, and the Great American Backyard Campout.
But before you start Googling all those, check out our list of Five Free Things offered [...]
June 4th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Art, Wildlife
We found this piece of silhouette art, rather to our liking. It did bring about a certain air of mirth as we recalled our many prolepses incurred whilst in the pursuit of Inspiration. Via Silhouette Masterpiece Theatre.
June 2nd, 2009 | by Andy | published in Wildlife
We’ve posted before about efforts to relocate pine martens, but nobody’s ever asked them how *they* feel about it.
Here’s one cantankerous pine marten offering opinions of its temporary housing situation. It’s also the first-ever recording of an animal dropping the f-bomb (could be my imagination.) But if you do understand the language of martens, this [...]