Earlier this summer, two teens from Chaska, Minnesota finished a paddling voyage from their hometown, all the way to Hudson’s Bay. Why? Because they could, of course! During the trip, Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte found thousands of fans and supporters, well before shattering the time set by Eric Sevareid’s similar route documented in his […]
Want to learn how to live “comfortably in the bush on an indefinite basis with a minimal dependence on technological materials and tools?” Or maybe just how to go winter camping, without ending up as the next Jon Krakauer book?
Mors Kochanski is the author of the classic instructional book, “Bushcraft.” And I was thrilled to […]
If you’ve ever wanted to know, here’s a brief but interesting history of the Duluth Pack, perhaps one of the most enduring symbols of the Boundary Waters experience.
Say what you will about the pimped-out canoe packs of today (yes, I have a few myself). But they can’t touch the beauty, character and old-world craftsmanship of […]
Yesterday, the Forest Service announced campfire restrictions for the ‘blowdown’ area and other portions of the BWCA:
Beginning Thursday morning (12:01 am) August 21, 2008, the Superior National Forest will prohibit the use of campfires and charcoal or wood burning stoves in the blowdown area inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). This restricted area […]
Gonna have to bag me one ‘o’ these. Eco-safe cardboard and, like the product description says, no taxidermy required (available in Deer or Moose flavors). Now I just have to get me a cabin to put ‘em in…
I’ve always thought of the Boundary Waters as a ‘one-of-a-kind’ wilderness, but I’m glad to see there’s hope for more places like it in the States.
This article describes a campaign afoot to increase the number of “quiet zones” – lakes restricting gas-powered boats – in New York’s Adirondacks. I was proud to read that advocates […]
If your trip route were a drive through Twin Cities roadways, portages would be the Crosstown Interchange. There’s rush hour, there’s painful bottlenecking and gridlocking… I’ve never encountered trail rage (have you?). But portaging is much less a headache if you adopt a few common sense guidelines. Read on to get yourself schooled.
Observe the rules […]
One of the best trends to hit the interweb in the last several years is the democratization of maps. Used to be that even folding maps was impossible; now you can name them, edit them, share them… Making your mark on the world has never been so easy. Case in point: Kevin at Cool Tools […]
Friend or Foe? Take a new pair of boots over a few days’ worth of root-tangled trails and soggy portages; before long, you’ll know which camp yours fall under. And you’ll spend the rest of the trip either swearing by them, or swearing at them. We canoe campers demand a lot from a boot: Must […]
Everyone has a ‘camping trip from Hell’ story or three. But I’d way rather hear about yours, than mine.
Hiker Hell is a blog dedicated to “learning from other people’s mistakes, so you don’t make the same ones.” Topics tackled include animal attacks, getting lost from your group after pooping behind a tree and the […]
These days, the moss is looking pretty green on the other side. The last several months have seen Canada taking huge steps to preserve its boreal wonderlands for future generations. The latest announcement comes from Ontario and Manitoba, who have agreed to establish and co-manage a new Interprovincial Wilderness Area. And it’s freaking huge [PDF […]
Lots of pure ‘n’ natural photo goodness mixed into this Flickr set of a trip to Lac La Croix.
Some great shots of an eagle and some other wildlife. But what impresses me most though, are the pics that simply focus on beautiful colors, in places I might have otherwise overlooked; a subtle stippling of blue […]
Here’s a pretty cool ‘backwoods hack’ to try next time you go camping. Or if nothing else, a fun game to play with the kids at night. The equation is based on Dolbear’s Law; more on that here. But here’s how it works:
1. Count the number of cricket chirps heard in 13 seconds.
2. To that […]
It’s only natural that a fundraiser for a fire department should involve water being sprayed and splashed in every direction.
Last Wednesday, the Gunflint Trail Canoe Races were held at the Gunflint Lodge, finding participants in outfitters, area residents and even resort guests. Between races that included paddling backwards and with paddles upside down, the well-attended […]
Well, maybe not quite. But Doug over at MNBicycleCommuter has posted a trip report unlike anything you’ve seen in a while. Entertaining as the notion of cycling to the Boundary Waters may be, it should come as no surprise that people’s longing to get out in the northwoods, is still unabated by the fuel crisis. […]
