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Monthly Archives: July 2009
Environmental Art — Inside the BWCA?
Maybe it’s their close harmony with the boreal landscape, that attracts me. But Finland’s apparently thriving community of environmental artists, like Olavi Lanu, produces some truly beautiful works.
But how would you feel if you saw something like this in the Boundary Waters? Read on and join the conversation…
Commemorate Your Weekend Disaster With Demeritwear
How to salvage an epic adventure turned epic fail? Reward your buddies with Demerit Patches for surviving it all.
For everyone who may have has had a less-than-perfect camping experience, Demeritwear takes a little of the hurt off, with their selection of tees and individual patches. Tent get flooded out? Critters enjoy the food pack more than you did? Get caught skinny-dipping by unexpected visitors (ask Pam about that one)? There’s a patch to heal up almost every painful memory here.
I’m actually considering stocking up on a number of these, to give out on last nights of future trips. Shoot, if you’ve suffered as many mishaps as I have, you’ll rack up your 15 pieces of flair in no time. Via Backpacker.
Canoe the Heart Expedition Report: Wrap-Up at Ft. William
To the sounds of traditional dances and the firing of musket and cannon salutes, the Canoe the Heart Expedition has come to a close at Historic Fort William in Thunder Bay.
Its crew of Canadian and American park officials, forestry staffers and avid paddlers alike, pulled into port and was greeted by guests in costumes from 1815; a fitting finale to their weeks-long journey in a large, voyageur-style canoe.
How To Measure Your Perfect Paddle Size
How to find the right-sized paddle for you? Sheesh, I still struggle in remembering how to fit a backpack for hikes on the SHT. So I’ll gladly hear how the folks at Duluth Pack do it.
Check out the methods they use, maybe you’ll learn something too. Unless, that is, you have a method they don’t cover…
How do you get yourself fitted for a paddle?
Google Maps Street Views of the North Shore
Hey, when’d Highway 61 get Street Views? I sorta found out by accident just yesterday and so yeah, I had to do a little sightseeing.
The ‘coverage’ goes all the way up to the tip ‘o’ the Arrowhead, allowing for visits to faves like the Silver Creek Tunnel, the bridge over the Cross River in Schroeder, the Honking Tree in Two Harbors (unchopped-down and preserved forever on the internet,) Pincushion Mountain overlooking Grand Marais, and let’s not forget Pierre, the Pantsless Voyageur. Poor Pierre, now you must face the whole world with your shame; no wonder you have that look on your face.
In contrast, I was glad to see the street views stop just a couple miles up the Gunflint Trail, at least for now. Maybe since it’s a road leading to roadless areas? While I love the Google Maps team, rest assured that if they start trolling the lakes of the BW with cameras, I’m gonna go Earth First! all over ‘em…
Surviving Crooked Lake: Hollywood Teen Drama Set In the BWCA?
If you ever did summer camp in the Boundary Waters, Surviving Crooked Lake will probably float your boat.
The feature-length indy flick, opening this Friday, has all the wrong right elements of a teen thriller: 4 girls and their “slightly older male guide” go canoe camping in the wild. Romance, jealousy and mild peril ensue. But hopefully, no gunwale pumping, if you catch my drift.
So, is it set in “our” Crooked Lake? Well, the synopsis sets the movie in the “endless wilderness of the Canadian Shield,” which technically could be the one we know, but I’ve not found any solid info yet. Doesn’t matter, though, the cinematography itself will hold my interest longer than the latest Hollister ensembles of the cast. Plus, anything to get the kids to move on from the hype around Twilight, is more than welcome.
UPDATE: Sucks! Looks like we’ll have to wait for the DVD; the movie’s only playing in Colorado theaters for now…
Arrowhead Journey Update: Paddling Through History
Knife Lake at Dawn (photo by Erik Simula)
The past three months of Erik Simula’s story have been set in his homemade birch bark canoe, circumnavigating Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region. Now, as his journey towards Grand Portage brings him at last through the BWCA, it’s easy to see how interwoven Simula’s history is with that of his stomping grounds.
Gunwale Pumping Not As Dirty As It Sounds
It’s actually a lot of good clean fun, and an overall fave at last week’s Gunflint Trail Canoe Races. This video shows the two leaders in the Women’s competition; apparently a third competitor took the plunge early on.
Other races included Backward Paddling, Broken Paddle and a pulse-pounding cream puff eating contest (actually, that does turn me on just a little; those things are delicious.)
Proceeds from race day benefit the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, among whom there is not a single cream puff. More power to ya, GTFD — thanks for being unafraid to get down ‘n’ dirty when danger calls! Via Boundary Waters Blog.
Gone Fishin’, Swimmin’, Kayakin’, Campin’
Posts will drop off for a few days, as we’ll be vacationing this week along the sun-drenched Minnesota Riviera. Check back next week for more of UpNorthica.com!
Canoe the Heart Expedition Report: Crane Lake to Ely
“Canadians and Americans joining forces to fight invasive species and tackle climate change — two nations in one canoe, on a mission for Good in the heart of the continent.”
…Sound like a movie trailer? or one of those DC/Marvel comic book crossovers?
Maybe that’s on account of the heroic push the Canoe the Heart Expedition made yesterday, outpacing a rainstorm to arrive in Ely two hours ahead of schedule.
Of course, it could also be the idea of so many leaders and protectors (like Quetico Superintendent Robin Reilly, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, and Wilderness News‘ Tim Eaton, to name a few)… all assembled to empower the people towards a greater advocacy of public lands. Read on…
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