July 29th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Art, Environment, Nature
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…
July 28th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Camping, Gear, Survival Skills
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 [...]
July 27th, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Canada, Canoeing, Environment, Quetico
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 [...]
July 23rd, 2009 | by Andy | published in Canoeing, Resources
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 [...]
July 23rd, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, North Shore, Resources
View Larger Map
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 [...]
July 22nd, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Camping, Canada, Canoeing, Flim
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 [...]
July 22nd, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Canoeing, History, Voyageurs
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.
July 21st, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Canoeing, Outdoor Living
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 [...]
July 15th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Camping, Kayaking, North Shore
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!
July 10th, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Canada, Canoeing, Environment, Quetico
“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 [...]
July 9th, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Camping, Gear
Ely outfitter Jason Zabokrtsky conducts this little experiment in his million-acre northwoods lab.
Testing the bouyancy of not one, but two fully loaded packs, his findings might surprise you. Will factors like duck canvas, plastic pack inserts and semi-air-filled items (air mattresses & aerosol cans) keep the water out and the weight afloat? Place those bets [...]
July 7th, 2009 | by Arthur | published in Art, Environment, Wildlife
Next time you try to shoot a deer out of season you might be the one getting bagged.
Across the nation, poaching is a growing problem. It further endangers protected species and threatens the health of the overall animal population. The amount of illegally killed whitetail deer is estimated being equal to 25-30% of the annual [...]
July 7th, 2009 | by Andy | published in Camping, Food, Hacks
Ever reach into the food pack for some mallows, only to discover the sun’s heat has fused the bagful into one huge, sticky clump of Stay-Puft? …Is that really such a bad thing?
Here’s an easy hack to guarantee less s’mess with your s’mores.
At home, empty the bag of marshmallows into a large ziploc.
To it, add [...]
July 6th, 2009 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Canada, Canoeing, Environment, Quetico
Day-long hard paddling made bearable by frequent breaks, a little esprit de corps… and a lot of second helpings at supper time.
The first report from the Canoe the Heart Expedition sounds strikingly similar to a day in the life of the voyageurs. Minus, that is, the pipe-smoking at every break. Put nine people from Canada [...]
July 3rd, 2009 | by Arthur | published in BWCAW, Environment, History
Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of the July 4th, 1999 storm that caused so much devastation in the BWCA.
As in so many natural events, it seems difficult to resolve the violence with the idyllic beauty we expect. Thankfully though, if you’ve been up to the BWCA recently, you can see the evidence of the storm [...]