On December 3, the Minnesota Canoeing Association is hosting a day-long symposium for paddling enthusiasts at the University of Minnesota.  Attend workshops by paddling legends like Rob Kesselring and Phil Cotton, individuals who’ve spent plenty of time traveling the rivers and lakes of northern Minnesota and Canada.

Here are some of the great workshops being presented this weekend.

Interested in paddling Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario?  Fred “Jaques” Shermock will suggest three routes, using 3-D technology and his knowledge of the park.  He’ll also demystify the details of getting in and out of this beautiful canoeing country.

Ever dump in frigid water? Some folks serve as an example to others.  Sit in on a session as a panel of paddling experts share their worst stories and the lessons they learned.

Expert paddler, Bear Paulsen spent 26 days paddling in Canada.  He descended the Assinika and Poplar Rivers to Lake Winnipeg.  From there he traveled up the Berens River. Enduring forest fires, severe storms and encounters with wildlife, we’re betting he’s got some interesting tales to tell.

Finish off your day by attending the Wild and Scenic Film Festival.  Sponsored by Midwest Mountaineering, the Sierra Club and Patagonia, the series will feature stories of environmental interest, nature, adventure, and conservation, to name a few.

You’ll have the opportunity to hear about lesser known paddling routes, kayaking trips around the Apostle Islands and how fire and wind affect wilderness areas. Plenty of stuff to inspire paddling trips for years to come.

The symposium will be held in the Cowles Auditorium in the H.H. Humphrey building at the University of Minnesota.  Registration begins at 9:00am and costs $10 before December 3rd or $15 at the door.  You can register through Midwest Mountaineering here.

Photographer David R. Crowe took this intriguing image of pictographs on Quetico Lake, Ontario, in 1977 when he worked for the park service. We wonder what they look like now. We spotted a moose and a caribou. What do you see?

One of our budding interests here at UpNorthica is the emerging sport of stand-up paddling (SUP): Wide surfboards and long paddles on any body of water, waves or no. So we were, uh, stoked to find a few such exhibitors this spring that were new (or at least, to us.)

Photo courtesy MN Surf Co's Facebook page

And then there was the PaddleQuest Adventures booth. You have to read this one.

It was their race promo poster that grabbed my attention: A paddling competition with pirates, super heroes and pro wrestlers? Are you serious? No, I’m serious: Are you serious?

If I sign up, which of those do I get to be?

Cap'n Matt recruitin' fer PaddleQuest Adventures – YARRRR!

Organizer “Cap’n Matt” Kirsch gave me the deets. This crazy upcoming event will send SUP’ers, kayakers and canoeists down the Minnehaha Creek on a quest to clean up pollution, engage in roleplay with strangely-garbed characters, and seek treasures where ‘ere they be. Having fun is just par for the course. Though in its first year in Minnesota, the race’s popularity has grown in Stevens Point, MI since it began there in 2002. You can definitely expect a full post on this, sooner than later. And yes, they are looking for costumed volunteers, if you’re the LARPing type. We won’t judge.

Heading towards the presentation halls, I grabbed a tasty bag of Crapola granola from Crapola co-owner Brian Strom. We’ll have to do that again; it was a little like getting popcorn before a movie.

Andrew Slade and one of his many books on North Shore awesomeness.

All on-hand copies of his new book sold out in no time, so I took his mug shot with another of his works, but you should read that one too.

Another hiking demigod was here this weekend, and that of course would be Andrew Skurka. His web site describes his recent Alaska-Yukon expedition; one that’s gotten him into the pages of National Geographic Magazine, among many others:

The trip’s total distance was about 4,680 miles and it took me 176 days, an average of 27 miles per day. There were 1315 miles of skiing, 2100 miles of trekking, and 1270 miles of packrafting; the route included about 2110 miles of off-trail travel, almost the length of the Appalachian Trail, but off-trail.

Needless to say, his talk on the epic hike packed out the place.

Epic hiker Andrew Skurka, demonstrating must-have gear for, well… epic hikes.

In a second presentation, he brought along his backpack for an informal Q&A session all about gear. Again, standing-room only crowd, every one of us just geeking out over gear. Moreover, it was audience-participatory in a way that more such presentations should be: Skurka and the crowd constructed a prospective multi-day hike along the Border Route Trail, for which he then gave his gear recommendations. But he also allowed a few other seasoned backpackers to inform the discussion. This seemed a little risky – there’s always some guy in the crowd who wants to show everyone just how much he knows – yet Skurka was respectful and moderated quite well.

Recommendations I will now have to try: soft water bottles, ultralight down jackets, and a camp stove made from a Fancy Feast cat food can.

Returning this year was a presentation on The Wabakimi Project, a massive volunteer effort to map canoe routes in Ontario’s second-largest provincial park. Glad I caught it this time. Wabakimi is the place that’s bigger than the BWCA and Quetico combined (really) and gets like, 5 canoeists every four thousand years (not quite.)

Photo courtesy Wabakimi Project

Overall, the project is an extraordinary service to paddlers. If you’re looking for a true canoeing adventure, joining as a volunteer is the way to find it.

Next up was a trip in the wayback machine to learn about Quetico’s Historical Routes. Park Superintendent Robin Reilly’s emphasis as he presented, was on how greatly the area’s geography has shaped its history. The ruggedness of the Canadian Shield’s landscape in the region limits road development even today. But shown here, were the various highways of the Ojibwe and the voyageurs which helped them best navigate the area. Reilly also had a great before/after view of the French River Rapids, originally painted by voyageur-era artist Paul Kane. In recent years, archaeology digs at the site depicted, have turned up numerous artifacts like pot hooks and clay pipe fragments.

You can read a more detailed article on the painting in this article by Wilderness News.

For our final highlight of the weekend, I traveled from the top of North America, to the tip of South America. It was there, in Chile, that The Gear Junkie and his team recently placed second in the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race. The world-class competition makes our own vacation adventure with the Gear Junkie (see Parts 1, 2, 3, 4) look like a walk to the mailbox. Not even back, just *to* the mailbox.

One of Team Gear Junkie's maps: Heavily marked, heavily worn. 'Helmets required,' indeed.

Accompanying him was adventure journalist T.C. Worley, who has documented both races in which Regenold’s competed. His own experience was just as superlatively harrowing and inspiring as any of those ‘inside the race.’ And of course, there was no shortage of fantastic photography, capturing Patagonia’s natural beauty as well as the high-and-low moments of the teams. Worley may have the world’s most enviable job; although certain moments of following the racers through Darkest Chile may not have been wholly enjoyable.

Making a fine finish for the day, I perused the race maps which Regenold and Worley had brought along. The topography alone was awe-inspiring to view; that would have been enough. But seeing the hand-scrawled notes; the obvious abuse the maps had endured, the blood/sweat/tear stains spotting the paper… it made me *want* to almost die trying to win a race in freezing-cold Patagonia. It did!

At the very least, it did what the Expo is meant to do every Spring: to inspire us to shake off the winter blues, get an ample gear fix, and to dream a little farther than last year.

Here is what we think you shouldn’t miss.

Hear how adventurer Dan Blessing and his friend, Marc Vangrinsven paddled from Grand Portage, Lake Superior to the Pacific Ocean over the course of 7 months in a birch bark canoe.  They took 90 pounds of wild rice and two white tailed deer. Covering some of the best known rivers in Canada they trekked over the Rocky Mountains to the terminus of their journey – the Pacific.  What we really want to know this; does he still likes wild rice?

Matt Davis likes to hike.  He currently works as the Minnesota and North Dakota Regional Trail Coordinator for the North Country Trail Association (NCTA).  He’s hiked some of the 192 miles of trails in the BWCAW.  He’ll share his knowledge on how to explore these world class trails.

Got a trip into Quetico on your bucket list?  Author and outdoorsman, Kevin Callan will provide you with insider knowledge and advice from his latest book, Top 50 Canoe Routes of Ontario.  When you figure out where you’re going, can we come along?

Shine up your skills with solo canoe lessons by Dan Cooke – outdoorsman and manufacturer of canoe gear.  Get out on the water and become a more proficient solo paddler.

Canoe + Kayak Demo.  Head on over to Lake Nokomis and try out different models of canoes and kayaks before you buy. Dumping is optional.

Pack the popcorn and attend Rapid Media’s annual Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour.  They have put together a compilation of some of the world’s best paddling films.   Enjoy features created by amateurs and professionals as they tackle flat or white water.

Can’t attend?  Watch for updates from UpNorthica.  We’ll be there checking out the newest gear and trends in paddling.

Outdoor Adventure Expo is free!

No stranger to canoeing, he completed the Canoe Quest twice, an event where paddlers earn a crest when they have visited every one of Quetico Park’s entry stations.  Treating it like a marathon, he completed the challenge, over 300 miles, in one week.

Ranta and his dog will be the only one’s making the journey.  They won’t receive any support. Along with gear that will be locally manufactured, he will paddle a 18′ Souris River canoe as well as XY Paddles.

Taking time off from his oil patch job, he’s got plenty of time to complete the task.  He plans to take his time, with safety being one of his primary concerns. He will not be carrying a GPS, but will take along a spot locator with an SOS button.

A native of Atikokan, Ontario, he will paddle in support of Atikokan Youth Initiatives.

He plans to create a video blog of his adventure. Check here for updates and follow along his paddling journey.

Embarking on a dream come true that he’s contemplated for a long time, he encourages others do the same with planning, persistence and hard work.

Via Atikokan Progress.
Painting by Francis Ann Hopkins

In his book, The New Boundary Waters and Quetico Fishing Guide, author Michael Furtman passes along his expertise for fishing this mecca of lakes. Instead of bringing along every piece of tackle you own, he helps you wean your box down to the most productive tools.  He includes a comprehensive lake index that covers nearly every lake in the region.  You’ll discover where to locate the fish and develop the techniques for having fruitful casts.  We appreciate that the information presented is clear and concise, especially for novice fishermen like us.  A very good, essential resource for anyone who wants to fish up north and further their success.

Buy here.

But we suspect he’d still rather have been in Ontario’s Quetico Provincial Park, where Uttech considers his ‘spiritual home’ to be.

The wildlife, forests and lakes of the region are the focus of his paintings. But don’t think for a moment that any of them are ‘sitting subjects.’ Everything – clouds, boulders, withered jackpines – seems to be or resemble something very much alive or active. Moreover, animals often overcrowd the canvas in migrations of near-absurd proportions. In the midst of otherwise gorgeous classic boreal panoramas, the contrast of these massive exoduses seems to evoke unease. What is happening here? Is the wildlife simply going somewhere – or fleeing from something? All does not seem quite right.

Uttech’s concern for the environmental future of wild places is clear. Yet it manifests in ways that spoken and printed words cannot. And his art transcends the one-dimensional genre of pastoral landscape painting. From a recent interview:

“Paintings can be a way to show how wonderful things can be. Maybe it will make people interested in the environment and then grow to love it. That can lead to knowledge and then concern. This work is as useful as a direct criticism of polluters.”

“This work” needs to be seen a lot more in these parts. While Uttech has many followers in Milwaukee, we think the galleries of Minnesota’s Arrowhead region (and beyond) need to feature him a lot more.

Speaking of the paintings, not all of those pictured here, are necessarily from the exhibition. We took the liberty of showing you some additional ones… because they need to be seen.

“Boreal Conversations” continues through April 9th. Check out the deets here.

Each chapter highlights key elements of the region such as the history and lure of canoe travel as well as the characteristics that make the Boundary Waters-Quetico areas stand alone, while being similar enough to share cooperative border.  Kennedy’s unique perspective of breathtaking beauty combined with elements of camping so familiar to us all, makes the book feel like it could have been our own journey. Breining follows up his informative and descriptive essays with short facts that will make the next campfire stimulating.

The book provides interest to both the novice and the seasoned traveler.

Buy here.

Participant Chris Stromberg took the images and all in all, it sounds like a good race with only a few small injuries. Well done, everybody! Via Canoeing.com.

I’ve been around people when their tank is empty due to a long race or some other event, but my admiration seeing everyone in that canoe marathon at the half-way point, knowing they need to turn around and do it again, some with minimal sleep, is immeasurable.

Taking first place was the team of Kjell Peterson and Joe Manns, with a time of 23:14:17. Finishing only about five minutes behind them were James Burns and Dusty Olsen with 23:18:59. That’s a pretty narrow margin for almost 120 miles of paddling. Third went to Dan Litchfield and Steve Parks, who finished at 25:30:34.

We’re hoping to follow up with some details soon. Until then, congrats to the hardy souls who competed in the race.

In just two days, the waters of Quetico will be astir with twenty-plus canoes in a fervid, knuckles-down race — but not one to claim available campsites.

As the date of the Cross-Quetico Marathon Canoe Race now approaches ramming speed, the teams are undoubtedly coveting the first prize of $5000 cash money. You always have to add that part: “cash money;” it just makes it sound that much better. In addition to the winnings, we’ve gotten more details on the competition, the first of this scope since 1964. Read on, sports fans…

Let’s start with the lowdown on competitors. At last count, the number of teams is twenty strong; twelve of those with Minnesotans in the boat (woo hoo!) While official racer bios haven’t been published, some recognizable names are in the list, like Quetico Superintendent Robin Reilly and canoe racing veteran Todd Ellison. Whoever does win though, will be famous on UpNorthica, so who cares about that prize money.

Next, the race course. This map detail shows not just the 125-mile route for the racers; it also highlights the infamous bushwhacked portages cut by Eugene “Bonhomme” Tetreault and Joe “Sauvage” Meany, the winners of the ‘64 race. But there are a myriad of other portages and serpentine waterways that could yet be exploited, and I hope at least a few teams’ll be ballsy enough to try something new.

At any rate, the race begins and ends in Aitikokan, Ontario. The halfway point is a required overnight at Prairie Portage (along the US-Canadian border,) and we’re hoping to bring you a report with some detail by then.

Which leads to the best news we have to share: the live(!) coverage. Thankfully, you can follow the race in real time on Quetico’s centennial site. Handy dandy SPOT Satellite GPS Messengers will be given each team to track progress, and relay any SOS signals or medical emergencies. But let’s just hope for a few impressive callouses and blisters to show off at the finish line.

Drop in on UpNorthica.com this weekend to keep tabs on this spirited race through some of the continent’s most rugged wilderness.

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.

The event had its moments of gift-giving — albeit with commemorative cups, vs. furs or tobacco — but in addition to toasting cooperated efforts in the past, there seems an optimistic tone that looks ahead to the future. As climate change especially presents new and unfamiliar challenges for the border region, many are expressing a greater desire to work together in sharing information and resources. Ann Schwaller is a SNF officer who joined the crew for several days:

“The trip went above and beyond my expectations and it was just an amazing experience to be surrounded by a group of paddlers all working on behalf of the same beautiful landscape from both sides of the border.”

Many, like Schwaller, are hoping that this represents a beginning of greater cooperation. That would include UpNorthica. After having attended their stopoff in Ely, we’re glad that Heart of the Continent (who organized the expedition) is on our radar. We’ll be watching to see what great things will happen. Salut!

“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…

Despite Thursday’s blustery conditions, this third leg of the expedition has been met with good weather and paddling. Just the same, the weary travelers were happy for the stop. A few of them were actively scouting places to sit down, things to lean against.

Greeting the paddlers at the Fall Lake Campground was a mix of campers, members of the press, and support teams from the various organizations involved. In addition to the group photo session was the exchange of a few goodwill tokens between the organizations. Though not without a sense of ceremony, the overtone was the strengthening of partnerships — and certainly of friendships.

The reception, however, was meant as much for the public, as it was for the expedition crew. Once the paddlers had disembarked, the ginormous canoe was overturned on the beach to become an educational tool in itself. Its underside is a veritable rogues’ gallery picturing zebra mussels, spiny water fleas and other wilderness super villains.

Campers perused specimens of invasive plant species, kept watered in old honey jars. Some of these were of surprise (daisies an invasive species in the boreal forest? Who knew?) Superior National Forest staff displayed vials containing emerald ash borers and spiny water fleas, and answered campers’ questions.

Literature promoting Leave No Trace ethics was distributed, as well as some sweet commemorative pins for SNF’s centennial (got mine.)

Already-exhausted crew members were noble enough to even give a few paddling lessons to the public, teaching them a few voyageur salutes and songs, too. But not how to swear or spit tobacco ‘in the French style.’

In the evening, an informal presentation and lecture made clear the most lasting imprint of this cross-border effort: Comradery. In celebrating the centennials of Quetico and Superior National Forest, it was pointed out how just 100 years ago, these forests were nearly wiped out in places. Efforts from both sides of the border have since made these places a true meter stick of what Wilderness really is. But now, in facing new challenges like climate change, we must work all the more as partners. Reilly’s optimistic reflections here struck a tender emotional chord with everyone present.

Today the Canoe the Heart crew heads towards the Gunflint Trail on the next leg of this legendary journey. The image of so many different people in that 24-foot voyageur canoe, brings with it a hopeful reminder: So much more can be accomplished when we realize we’re all in the same boat together.

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 and the U.S. in a voyageur-style canoe, launch ‘em on a goodwill mission along the Border Region and you’re going to get adventure.

But so far, so good; the first 2 legs of the journey (Atikokan to International Falls, to Crane Lake in Voyageurs National Park) are now complete.

Says Rich Kelley, steering committee chair and board of directors member:

“The Canoe handles well. We had rough water on Rainy lake and treacherous waves and cross winds on Crane yesterday, but the crew handled it well! We covered 33 miles yesterday with a 6:30 departure and a 4:00 arrival. 5 minute breaks every 45 minutes, extended shore break every 2.5 hours, hour for lunch. On the water we averaged 5 mph. The pace of the Bowman is the key.”

Thankfully, the crew’s cook has kept up with that pace; Kelley says after covering 110 miles in 5 days, he’s still managed to gain 5 pounds. Bannock breakfast burritos, anyone?

Next stop for the expedition: Ely. WOO-HOO! UpNorthica.com will be there to bring you the latest words and images of their effort to increase partnership in sustaining our precious public lands. Hoping to get a bite of that grub, too…

The Canoe the Heart Expedition begins today with the launch of a 24-foot voyageur canoe in Atikokan, Ontario. Paddling the tour bus-sized craft are rangers, parks staff and wilderness advocates from both sides of the border.

Along the way, they’ll be spreading awareness of Leave No Trace principles and non-native invasive species. They’ll also be sharing copious bags of Gorp (which hopefully they’ve purchased locally and won’t transport it over 200 miles from its source.)

Updates will follow, as well as some photos (hopefully.) And if you happen to be anywhere near the BWCA in the next few weeks, attending one of their event stops is advisable. Only, if you see the expeditionaries, easy on the ‘waving the lighter’ thing — we don’t want another Ham Lake Fire.