UpNorthica

When I recently learned of the Department of Agriculture’s plan to treat 85,000 acres along the North Shore this year to fight gypsy moth infestation, I had two questions.
The first was, “Whoa, just how big an area is that?” It certainly sounded alarming. I really wanted to see a visual; some way to better understand [...]

If you’ve been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, we want to hear from you. We’re starting to build an online planning tool that will be a fresh, unique resource for folks like all of us. Yeah, we’re pretty jazzed about it.
This site will be for you. So we really need your help and [...]

I’ve never taken a kayak into the BWCA, but while touring a stretch of the St. Croix a year ago, it didn’t take long to see some differences between kayak-camping and canoe-camping. Wish I’d read this article by seasoned kayaker Rob Lyon, there are great tips you can take away, even if you can’t afford [...]

An area photographer shares some user-friendly tips on how to get the best shots of the Aurora Borealis. Every bit helps, for a guy like me that still can’t turn my flashbulb off in broad daylight.

One day last fall, my family and I put in on Snowbank Lake. On that day, there happened to be 40-mph gusts, with waves reaching 2-1/2 feet high. While passage across the lake gave me a newfound respect for Nature’s power, I was most impressed with all the windfalls literally crashing around us on the [...]

It’s the perfect getaway plan: Simultaneously a way to give back to the BWCAW, and a valid excuse to squeeze in one more trip up north this summer. The American Hiking Society has posted their 2008 Volunteer Vacations schedule. Join a small crew to help maintain trails for about a week in August, paddling and [...]

Well, not quite. But I’d choose this over High School Musical any day: An original drama portraying events leading to the passage of the BWCAW Act, was a noted entry at a History Day competition held at UMD last weekend. “An Environmental Conflict: The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Compromise.” was produced and performed by [...]

Both per trip and seasonal fees for the BWCA will be increasing this year. For an adult this means an increase from $10 to $16, children $5 to $8. This is the first increase in 10 years, and is merely an adjustment for inflation covering the past few years and the next five. It will [...]

And one or two of the sailors who had been oldish men when the voyage began now grew younger every day. Everyone on board was filled with joy and excitement, but not an excitement that made one talk. The further they sailed the less they spoke, and then almost in a whisper. The stillness of [...]

When’s the last time you got to plant 150 red and white pines along the Gunflint Trail, to enjoy them decades later with your great-grandchildren? That’s right, you never have, but you’ll get that chance on May 2-4. From the organizers of the Gunflint GreenUp:
The residents, resort owners and outfitters realize that while we are [...]

A collaboration between artists, scientists and educators, “Paradise Lost: Climate Change in the North Woods” does more than spread awareness about climate change. On exhibit through April 11 at the Bell Museum of Natural History in Minneapolis, it’s inspiring as much as it is, sobering. And in a more digestible format than Al [...]

I had to link to this shot of reindeer moss by Boundary Waters Flickr Pool member, tseWmadA. The colors are amazing…borderline fantastical; I’d love to see this printed as largely as possible. Enjoy.

Shoe up for a several upcoming events at Voyageurs National Park, including a guided showshoe hike and a bit of voyageur history for kids.

Bright blue hyperlinks and yellow “NEW” tags announce the very latest cross-country ski trail reports on the homepage of Skinnyski.com. And just as with the blazing neon “HOT NOW” beacons in a Krispy Kreme window, the subsequent rush of endorphins cannot be ignored. In the wee hours of this morning, I read about trail conditions [...]

Headed up into Quetico this year? Here’s a heads-up about new regulations, effective January 31, on acceptable forms of identification as you cross into Canada. Sounds like, “Hi, I’m Me, and I’m an American” won’t cut it anymore…