Kickstarter. Indiegogo. You probably know how sites like these work: Projects and creative ideas of all sorts are submitted by anyone; backers can chip in with pledges to make those ideas happen. Incentives are offered for pledging different amounts, and if the fundraising goals are met, everybody wins.

The last year has seen a dramatic uptick in the number of outdoor gear designs on crowd-funding sites. We love the spirit of that process, so we’ll periodically be featuring proposed gear designs we think are worthy of your consideration. Like what you see? Be one of those who funds them.

Let’s kick it off with our first batch of GearBacker picks.

TrekPak
Status: Funded
If you haul a fair amount of camera/electronics equipment around, you likely have a love/hate relationship with velcro. TrekPak uses a system of removable inserts which use pins instead of velcro. It’s highly configurable, able snugly hold your toys. And it does look far less cluttered. Trekpak has just reached their funding goal, but until their website launches, they’re posting updates on their Kickstarter page. Have a camera case already? See their blurb about RolliPak, which uses the same pin-based dividers to work with existing cases.

MoveeGo
Status: Accepting pledges
The MoveeGo philosophy is a simple one: “When you purchase your camera for $300, you want accessories for under $100.” With that in mind, creator Sylvain Lepoutre has produced the SteadeeGo and the SlideeGo, a stabilizer and rail which are both optimized for compact cameras, smartphones and the GoPro. Both are bafflingly small when packed (they require some assembly) and, as his sample videos show, show promise in elevating the production quality of “basement videographers” everywhere.

ZenTreks
Status: Funded
Solar chargers and other backcountry power solutions have slowly become more mobile. ZenTreks‘ line of backpacks employ flexible solar panels, with numerous ports and charging options (skip to about 2:40 in the video; it’s worth it). Yet they don’t forget the backpack itself: Durable materials, hydration bladder, ‘waterproof’ inner liner and other touches like memory foam pads in the straps. ZenTrek’s product has been used by the military; this project, however, will bring the packs to the public.

The Scrubba Wash Bag
Status: Funded
Say you’re on a long trip with only a change or two of clothes. Say they’re really beginning to stink. The Scrubba offers a tidy way to do the laundry, minimalist-style. It’s essentially a dry-bag with an interal urethane ‘washboard’, allowing for a few items of clothing to be cleansed at a time. A roll-down clip seal keeps the water inside while a special valve lets out excess air. 40 or so seconds’ worth of scrubbing later, your load is clean. The Scrubba has met its fundraising goal, but you can sign up for email updates on a product launch.

Shearwater Paddles
Status: Funded
Paddles that take a cue from nature’s design — sure that’s been done. But modeled after the webbed feet of waterfowl? Shearwater‘s paddles look odd, but if “perfect trailing tip spiral vortexes are generated, as is a very slight blade flex and whip effect to smooth thrust, both just like with birds’ feet”, maybe looks only matter so much? Plus, the blades of the Shearwater fold inward for storage and the shafts collapse as well, altogether fitting inside a 3″ tube. It looks like both kayak and canoe paddles are in the works. Heck, I’d try one out. You?

True, most of these first campaigns are indeed funded. But you get the idea. And we’ll be keeping an ear to the ground for new opportunities for you to back entrepreneurial gear makers like these.

Have you come across any similar projects? Let us know in the comments; we’d love to pass along the word.

What an amazing season so far; we’ve seen lots of trip reports in the last few weeks (have you been on the water yet?)

But despite the early ice-out, it ain’t exactly short-sleeve weather in the BW yet. So for this month, we’re giving away 2 FREE UpNorthica long-sleeve tees; one for a lucky gal and one for a guy. They look awesome, they keep you warm, and they create life-long friends wherever you go. We gave some away at Canoecopia to some happy attendees, but this time, anyone can win.

In a pinch, you can use them to wipe off your tent footprint, but that is not a recommended use.

How to enter for your chance to win.

Entering is easy, but this time we’d like to hear from you about UpNorthica. What are your favorite features, and why? Do you look most forward to gear reviews? Book reviews? Do you most enjoy our longer articles and interviews? Maybe trip reports and coverage of paddling events are your favorites. Or perhaps it’s the staying in touch with your favorite BWCA guides, via the Outfitter Report.

So give us some feedback in the comments section below. And feel free to let us know if there’s something you *don’t* see at UpNorthica that you’d like to.

From all the comments, we’ll draw names for the two lucky winners by week’s end. Watch for those names here, and on our Facebook page (plus our Twitter feed).

Good luck, and thanks for reading!

Our crazy early Spring has everyone itching to get on the lakes again. Which is never bad news for a BWCA outfitter. But the return of the loons is the true sign of the season. Growing numbers of the state bird have been spied in recent days along the Gunflint, reports the Trail Association, who says the “wailing call of the loon now frequently punctuates the night as the loons communicate during the midnight hours”. Can you hear it? We can, too.

A number of moose have been spotted, too (and yes, we know they’ve always been here). The Gunflint Trail blog has posted a ‘Where’s Waldo” shot of a cow in the woods. Mike and Lin at Rockwood Lodge & Outfitters investigated what a flock of ravens was up to, finding a moose carcass, and making some poignant observations.

And paddlers, too, have begun heading out on their first trips of the season. Sue at Tuscarora Lodge & Outfitters got a nice picture of a few canoeists heading out on Brant Lake.

While the Hansens (Sawbill Canoe Outfitters) have been vacationing in British Columbia, they too are spreading some paddling inspiration with video from a trip last Fall. Worth a look.

Hey, BW outfitters, got news to share? The Outfitter Report is about you and all the amazing, touching, inspiring things you see and do each day in the Boundary Waters. We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at outfitters@upnorthica.com today!

Do you see things like chocolate and treats as unnecessary dead weight on a trip? Think again. It’s no mistake that bags of cheez doodles, gumdrops(?), chocolate and snooty cheese are in Gamme’s supply cache… These things fuel morale.

Gamme describes the scene:

This is day 86 on my full return South Pole Expedition 2011/2012. I’m quite hungry and about to pick up my last cache by my second pulk which I left on the way in. As a part of my motivational plan I have on purpose not made notes on what goodies I have left behind in the cache… and on this last one, I didn’t expect very much…

The video is, of course, in Norwegian, but while we here on staff don’t know his exact words, he’s happy enough to be purring (2:50) and singing the Hallelujah Chorus.

Gamme’s notion of planning unexpected delights (no less, for himself!) is a really smart one. Morale can take many different forms, but when it’s bathed in chocolate or hydrogenated cheese powder, it turns even a mundane trip around 180 degrees.

Are you planning a wilderness trip soon? Here are some ideas we’ve used to keep spirits high among our ranks:

Snacks as rewards
I’ve brought bags of individually-wrapped Twix bars on guys’ trips, and used them as rewards in contests of skill. Delicious caramel-coated cookie crunch goes to whomever catches the first fish; or can hit a target with the slingshot, etc.

Sweets as sanity-savers
A dozen or so Tootsie-Roll Pops are always in our thwart bag when we have kids with us. When boredom strikes or bickering ensues, it’s amazing how a little sugar can inspire a ‘tudinal adjustment.

Saving for a rainy day
Stuck under a tarp in a downpour? or worse, in a tent? In times like these, even the smallest bits of happiness can save the day. Go for the secret stash of sweets.

Dessert to the rescue
Nothing caps off a day like dessert. And that doesn’t always have to mean more dishes, or fussing with improvised reflector oven. Candy bars, cookies from home, instant pudding mixed into your drinking cup… anything goes. Your camp mates will never ever forget desserts you serve on the trail. A favorite of ours are packs of mini-stroopwafels we purchase at Trader Joe’s.

I’ve now made it a personal goal to plan a surprise worthy enough to make my friends howl in surprise on our next trip… just like Aleksander.

What are your favorite snacks or desserts to bring on a trip?

Via Trailspace.

Things were no different this year, on the busiest day of the world’s largest paddlesport expo. We found amazing stories, memorable booths and discovered cool stuff; but behind it all were the people. Brilliant and talented people. Hilarious and quirky people. Brave, remarkable and memorable people from all over the Midwest and beyond.

Photographer David Morlock was one person whose presentation we couldn’t miss, as we’ve been big admirers of his work. His topic was simple: How to Take Better Photos on Your Paddling Trips. Pam took copious notes and walked away a new person — or at least a new photographer.

Racing to get good seats, we then headed for the long-awaited talk from the women of Hudson Bay Bound; Ann Raiho and Natalie Warren. The tale of their paddling voyage from the Minnesota River to Hudson Bay was not only epic in the telling; it’ll be in the books as history. Theirs was the first women’s trip to cover that route.

Earlier last year, we’d filmed a video of them, before the trip. Now, upon hearing of their appearance at Canoecopia, we were elated to hear firsthand of their kick-butt adventure.
The tale itself — fascinating. More poignant still were their observations of the environmental state of these waterways. The Minnesota River and Red River of the North wind through lonely rural areas, at times appearing as cesspools full of agricultural and consumer waste. Natalie’s eye-opening perspectives added great depth to what could have been ‘just’ a fascinating paddling story. Good reminders that those privileged to live by water, must care for it.
During the trip, the duo would pass time by making music, and for the audience assembled, they covered Willie Nelson’s “Crying in the Rain.” It was pretty cool, and if they don’t do more paddling together (God forbid), they should do a little recording.

Then, it was on to the next speaker, Rob Kesselring… who did his presentation wrong. and I’m so glad.

He was supposed to have spoken on How to Plan a Far North Canoe Expedition. What we were instead treated to was an inspiring collection of excerpts from his books, plus something more: A call to action. Canadian rivers have been Rob’s passion for decades, and in traveling them, he’s seen how industrialization and other man-made factors have affected the rivers and the creatures who call them home. Rob urged people to visit these ‘last wildernesses’ and to protect them. It was truly the most heartfelt and inspiring talk I have heard him give. and I didn’t even learn a thing about planning my own trip. No worries.

Stand-up paddleboarding figures heavily into my 2012 wish list of things to try. So I rounded out my research phase by attending a preso by ACA Stewardship Coordinator Cate Huxtable and instructor Jimmy Blakeney. While it was more on the textbook end of learning, it served as a good Q&A session on the sport, which is rocketing in popularity. And I left wanting to buy a board and paddle of my own.

Lucky me, it was just then that I ran into my friend, whitewater guru Jeff Pilgrim. He took me directly to the booth for Fluid Adventures. Based in Cable, Wisconsin (right along the lovely Namekagon River), they’re in a prime location for launching SUP voyages into the land of Fun. Owner Rick Pauli answered a slew of questions; the guy generates a tidal wave of enthusiasm for the sport. I hope to pay him a visit soon. I have it in my noggin to do a multi-day SUP trip into the BWCA and I’m sure to gain some skills from Rick.

Once again we took to the floor of the exhibitor’s hall.

There are always new things to see, but there were some items and booths that left big impressions and may have even melted a few faces with their awesomeness.

Can you spot the Pollock-esque canoe by Novacraft? Photo: Arthur Beisang

A close-up of Northern Light Paddlesports' Sectional Greenland Paddle w/ white epoxy edging. Photo: Arthur Beisang

Marshmallow kabobs, anyone? The modular design of the SlatGrill.

Owner/inventor Chris Weyandt is happy with the reception SlatGrills have had. He told me that dutch oven cooking clubs have shown great interest. And obviously something like this seems a fit for scout groups or paddling trips into places where fire grills are absent (look for an UpNorthica review on this, soon.)

Sneak peek! SlatGrill's forthcoming smaller, titanium model.

The display of Helle Knives was especially eye-catching.

The Thule Hullavator was a Jaw. Dropper. So much so, that I had to say that using initial caps. With the use of gas-assist struts, this side-loading rooftop rack just about lifts and lowers 40 lbs of your kayak’s weight, for you. Allowing a single person to load their own kayak is a dream come true for many. I observed a disabled paddler in his later years, talking with the Thule rep. The man had “new lease on life” written all over his face.

Thule's Hullavator goes up in 3…

…2…

…1! The new rack makes side-loading a snap. Photos: Arthur Beisang

His wasn’t the only face that made me smile, though. Every year I’m more impressed with the people here. From interesting characters wearing historical garb, to hipsters in zip-off pants and paddling hats all weekend, the crowd-watching is a treat. I even saw a few attendees walking about with full, framed backpacks; what were they carrying? I don’t know…

As I walked the floor, I met three twenty-something guys decked out in full tweed suits, mirrored shades and trucker’s hats. When I asked about their get-ups, they explained it was a tradition. They’d done trips in several wilderness destinations (including Woodland Caribou) and always dressed this way on their first day of paddling, rain or shine. Brilliant!

Everywhere though, were people with stories of adventure. Waiting to tell theirs and to hear yours. Old guys fascinated with stand-up paddleboarding. Young families who’d taken their toddlers to places still on my to-do list. A good reminder: Look at all the gear, listen to the speakers, stuff your bags full of brochures… but be sure not to miss the people at Canoecopia.

The esteemed Preston Ciere (of portageur.ca) introduced himself to us; a fantastic fellow blogger on his first trip from Ontario, to the expo. It was great to make connections after having followed him on Twitter for a while now.

We also caught up with Dan Cooke (Cooke Custom Sewing), and Scott Sorenson with a crew from Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply. Talk of paddling and even fly-fishing (we haven’t done that in years!) was great to share.

Chef Joey gives a shout-out to his son.

Samples from the Aluminum Chef competition.

The evening later included music from bluegrass musician Jerry Vandiver and his band, at an event for presenters and exhibitors. Music was a new addition to the festivities. The reception was great; I hope that next year there is more of it.

Our time at Canoecopia was shorter this year. Back in the Twin Cities, a funeral brought us home early on Sunday morning.

But the world’s largest paddlesport expo always leaves you with memories, and the desire to create still more of them. This year, we brought home new friends to collaborate with, new trips to save up for, and new things to try out.

What did you come home with?

Change in season moved swiftly this March, as did our whirlwind weekend at Canoecopia in lovely Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to our speaking engagement, we also had staffer Arthur Beisang along with us to bolster our coverage. Snapping pics. Tweeting. Chatting. and drooling in no small amount over the latest gear.

We hit the convention center Friday afternoon, each of us scattering to catch the first presentations of the day.

Especially rewarding were Alan Kesselheim’s selected readings from his new book, Let Them Paddle: Coming of Age on the Water. This collection of stories centers on his family’s tradition of paddling with his teens down some marvelous rivers, like the Yellowstone, the Rio Grande and more. There was no PowerPoint; there was no need. Kesselheim’s robust storytelling and expressive, evocative descriptions were plenty sufficient. We picked up a copy, of course, and are through it already. Go get yours, now.

Steve Nelson discusses the aggressive spread of the Pagami fire. Photo: Arthur Beisang

Then, after weeks of research and prep, we were given the chance to tell a story of our own.

During our presentation. Photo: Preston Ciere (portageur.ca)

But here! Have a look at our presentation yourself (while the online version doesn’t have audio, the images and chronology are worth a gander).

We filled our 150-person room capacity —woohoo!— and among the attendees were several long-time volunteers from the Wabakimi Project whose comments afterwards were a huge reward. One mentioned that in his 9(?) years of trail clearing efforts, he’d thought he had seen everything; but not this.

Also unexpected after our talk, were several other stories shared with us from other canoeists whose paths missed crossing ours by only days. Hearing their fire experiences and perspectives, and re-living those semi-harrowing experiences was unforgettable. In a good way, if that makes any sense to you at all.

Thanks to everyone who attended, new friends and old!

Each of us stole away whenever we could during the evening, roaming the vast exhibition hall in search of the Newest. The Neatest. The Most Notable-est. A few standouts…

Puzzle joints… giving hope to the boatbuilding-challenged. Photo: Arthur Beisang

Pop-up attracts popping eyes: The SylvanSport GO. Photo: Arthur Beisang

As day drew into evening, it was movie time.

The ever-witty Kevin Callan screened his latest film, WildernessQuest. Filmed just north of the BW in Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park, it poses viewers with the question “does wilderness still exist?”
…
Well, no, we’re not going to tell you the answer. You have to get the DVD yourself. Or at least watch the trailer. All kidding aside, it was good to see high-school and college-aged young adults in this feature. Fresh blood, wide eyes and tender feet are much, much needed in the world of paddling. They need to know how welcome — and needed — they are among those of us who love wilderness.

Our evening wrapped up with a stop to our favorite eatery in town, Graze. I would challenge you to find better cheese curds in all the state of Wisconsin.

But that’s only our first day at Canoecopia 2012. Part Two will follow, later this week — stay tuned!

We can’t wait to spread the love with these white long-sleeve tees. And what better time to do it, than while at Canoecopia, sharing our Wabakimi wildfire story.

So here’s the deal: If you’re attending Canoecopia this weekend, look for us in our UpNorthica shirts. When you spot us, come say hello and tell us the name of your favorite lake in the BWCA. The first 5 people to do this will get a free shirt – simple as that!

Hope to see you there, but don’t worry. If you can’t make it to Madison this weekend, we’ll be giving more away throughout the year.

That’s right, one of our favorite tools is up for grabs: a Swedish FireSteel 2.0 from Light My Fire.

No more fretting over waterproof matches you hope to Heaven, are good on their claims. This dependable magnesium fire starter is compact, easy to use, and absolutely more fun than using wooden matches. A nylon cord holds the steel and magnesium parts together, and there’s even an emergency whistle built in (let’s hope you don’t have to use that).

How to enter for your chance to win.

It’s easy. Head on over to Light My Fire’s web site and check out some of their other products. You’ll find several firestarting tinder products, a pretty wicked knife/firestarter combo, and more. Then, come back here and, in the comments area below, tell us what caught your interest.

At the end of the week, we’ll announce the winner here, as well as on UpNorthica’s Facebook page. Good luck!

I’d decided to take a weekend and go winter camping and backcountry skiing. Then I upped the ante by planning to go solo and ultralight. Two things I’ve never done. Although I love camping with ‘less’, this would truly be less. My goal was to select from the gear that I own, but still stay light, warm and dry.

Although I am not an expert and I didn’t stay out in the woods for days on end, I felt like it was a successful adventure and a good introduction to more ambitious trips in the future. For those who want to try it, I’ve included details on my layering and packing systems. While I might have done some things differently, I was happy that it didn’t cost me more than a tank of gas and a camping reservation.

How I did it.

Stay warm, don’t sweat. .
When I skied or hiked, I had two, light wicking layers on. I never took off my Smartwool mid-weight base layers. Over my bottoms I had thin, micro-fleece ski pants. On top I had a poly-blend, long sleeve running shirt. I try to minimize sweat, and although it seemed a little unavoidable, I tried to give myself enough time to dry out before going to bed.

Vapor Barrier System.
When I was less active, and temperatures began to drop, I utilized the vapor barrier layer system recommended by adventurer, Andrew Skurka. Vapor Barriers are non-breathable and trap moisture, thus minimizing evaporative heat loss. Skurka uses VBL’s as articles of clothing. I went the po’ girls route. Vapor systems that I found on the market are expensive, and before spending the money, I used what I already owned. Somewhere I read about someone using plastic found around the house. So, I started to dig out non-breathable materials like bread bags and vinyl gloves. I wish I had learned about VBL’s sooner. I was surprised at how much warmer I felt with them and am convinced that they are effective pieces of ‘gear’ to have for cold-weather adventures.

My layers, in order of how I wore them:
Feet: breadbags, Smartwool socks, boots. (Brought along xtra pair of dry socks for bed.)
Legs: Smartwool mid-weight baselayer, rain pants, fleece pants, ski pants
Torso: Smartwool mid-weight top, garbage bag, poly-blend long sleeve zip top, Nano-puff, waterproof shell
Hands: vinyl gloves, mid-weight fleece gloves ( I brought along a down pair as backup)
Head: wool-blend, fleece lined hat, waterproof shell hood
Face: mask as back up (never used)

If you want to learn about the theory and application of VBL’s from Andrew Skurka, go here.

Go ‘ultralight’.
My base weight was just under 10 lbs. and I brought along 3 lbs. of consumables. I may have been able to lighten my sleep system, however I wanted to use what owned.

Packing list.
bivy: 32 oz.
0° bag: 3lbs. 12 oz.
30° down bag: 2lbs. 13 oz.
pad: 31 oz.
pack: 8 oz.
sacks (2): 3 oz. each
mini-light: 1 oz.
twig burning stove: 7 oz.
2.2 liter pot with lid and handle: 15 oz.
first aid: 2 oz.
repair kit: 3 oz.
fire starter: 1 oz.
lighter: 1 oz.
knife: 7 oz.
hand warmers (4 pairs): 4 oz.
compass: 1 oz.
water bottle: 2 oz.
extra socks: 2.5 oz.
extra gloves: 5.9 oz.
extra hat: 2.5 oz.

total: 153.9 oz. or 9.6 lbs.

The top news item is SNOW! So much so, that it delayed our return home from skiing the Banadad; hence this report posting on Tuesday (Thanks for waiting). Accumulations from earlier in the week made for another 5 or so, all of it with a cotton-candy fluffiness. Sunday’s storm dropped 5-13″ according to the Gunflint Trail Association’s report.

A few lucky groups got to enjoy it all while dogsledding with Boundary Waters Guide Service. Follow the link for some amusing pics.

The Kerfoots of Gunflint Lodge may *say* things are slowing down lately, but there’s always a flurry of activity there. There were several wolf-in-pursuit-of-deer sightings to report. And then there was this trail-cam shot of a lynx – wow!
Also, some very large materials arrived by truck for the planned construction of a zipline on the grounds. Getting them there meant navigating some unique logistical challenges, but it got done. Anticipation is building…

Sawbill crew/family member Carl Hansen hitched on to a thrilling opportunity last week: Helping film the American Birkebeiner.
“He is working for the official film crew on America’s biggest cross country ski race. Carl’s assignment is to ride the snowmobile that precedes the race leaders for the duration of the marathon.” says Bill Hansen. Keep watching Sawbill’s online newsletter; Bill says photos are forthcoming…

Spirit of the Wilderness posted results of a small poll that asked, How many times have you traveled to the BWCA? Whether or not you participated, the results are worth a look.

And lastly, are you ready for Mush for a Cure? It’s only a few weeks away. The Gunflint Trail Association has something of a primer up, with schedules and all. This dogsledding race is unique in so many ways; if you can get up there to see this and all the other connected events, you really should.

Hey, BW outfitters, got news to share? The Outfitter Report is about you and all the amazing, touching, inspiring things you see and do each day in the Boundary Waters. We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at outfitters@upnorthica.com today!

We’ve asked adventure photographer Chris Gibbs for some pointers; and he’s a good one to be giving them out. When he’s not covering races like the Arrowhead 135 or the Vasaloppet for his business, C5 Photography, Gibbs is out there having his own winter camping adventures. Enjoy his photos and his advice.

Winter is a magical time of year and my favorite time to take photos. Here are some photo tips that may help when you and your camera step out into the cold.

It’s okay to overexpose
Snow can trick the light meter in your camera, resulting in dull, gray images. When photographing a winter scene, overexpose 1-2 stops to get white snow and a properly exposed photo.

Don’t be afraid of shadows
During winter, the sun is lower in the sky than it is during the warm months. This provides dramatic long shadows, especially in the evening. Take advantage of them.

Watch the weather
Keep an eye on the weather conditions, and be ready to exploit them.

For example, one of the most dramatic winter phenomenons is hoar frost. Hoar frost occurs when a thin layer of moist air near the ground cools to below freezing and immediately forms ice crystals, without first condensing as liquid (dew). These crystals will coat any cold surface including trees grass, leaves, berries, and even spiders’ webs. When it happens, get out there early before the wind picks up during the day and blows it off.

Ice is nice
Winter brings frozen water, and when it freezes, you just never know what form it may take. Take note of areas that thaw under the heat of the sun and freeze again where the sun cannot reach like rock ledges or cracks.

Take another angle
One of the simplest things to do when taking a winter photograph is to find a different perspective. Look for angles from above or below the subject. This may be hiking up to an overlook or simply laying in the snow and shooting from ground level. Avoid taking photographs at eye level.

Let silhouettes take shape
Oftentimes when it comes to winter photography, you are not dealing with much color. Try keeping it simple by utilizing back light to create a silhouette. Point your camera at the brightest part of your image and press the shutter release button half way, but don’t let go. Then re-compose your image by pointing at the subject and take the photo. This should create a nice silhouetted image.

Capture the moment — every moment
When dealing with cold and the elements, sometimes the last thing on your mind is to take a photo. Often times this is the best time to take a photo because it will usually result in a dramatic image. An image that may show a serious facial expression or the seriousness of the situation. An image that will tell a story.

This is a time of year that every photographer should experience. If you are lucky, you get to experience it for 6-8 months out of the year. Grab your camera gear and get out there.

Earlier this month, Andy of Tuscarora Lodge & Outfitters guided a winter camping trip for a Minnesota Bound film crew. It’s a well-done segment that captures some purely magical experiences, including quinzees, visits from whiskeyjacks and a fish fry in winter. You can watch the whole episode here.

The folks at Poplar Creek B&B and Waterfront Cabins have had some whirlybird sightings. The MN DNR have been flying around at low elevations lately, conducting aerial surveys for moose. Check out the post — especially the link to the 2011 survey results.

Sawbill Canoe Outfitters alumni Dave and Amy Freeman are mushing to St. Paul. They’re taking part in an epic journey for clean water. Follow the link for details on their involvement in a very worthy cause.

And just how did the Volks Ski 400 event go? Well, not all 400k of trails may have been covered in snow, but Bearskin’s blog has a report. Judging from the group photo of staff and guests, it looks like a good turnout, too.

Hey, BW outfitters, got news to share? No blog to post it on? Let us know and we’ll share it with the entire flippin’ civilized world on The Outfitter Report. And better yet, we’ll send the world to your site. We want to hear from you! Drop us a line at outfitters@upnorthica.com today!

Slowly but surely, the selection of winter camping hot tents (those that will accommodate wood-burning stoves) seems to be increasing. The Helsport Valhall is an option that’s new to us and worthy of mention – and not just because of the cool Norse mythological reference.

First off, for its size. The manufacturer claims capacity for 6-8 persons (for winter use, we’re guessing 6). Two ‘rooms’ on the ends comprise the sleeping quarters, but the entries to the main tent can be opened widely. That main body has a stove jack and boasts “standing room throughout most of the tent”.

We’re also intrigued by the flexibility of having 6 entries (4 on the sides, of which 2 have mosquito netting, and 2 vestibule entries).

The main ‘outer’ tent is built with fire-resistant Helsport Rainguard®, and additional inner tents can be used within, too. But while the product description cites its compatability with the Helsport Lavvu Wood Stove, we’ve been unable to find any info on that product.

One big downside: How to get one. While there currently appear to be no dealers in the U.S. or Canada, we’re looking into this one. Anybody out there given the Vahhall a try before?

Despite the cancellation of the Beargrease marathon, sled dogs sure are making plenty of headlines this winter. This time though, it’s not for prize money, nor to qualify for the Iditarod.

Former legislator and Grand Marais-area dogsled racer Frank Moe plans to mush from northern Minnesota to the State Capitol this March. His cargo will be a petition which aims to protect the Boundary Waters from the potential hazards of sulfide mining.

The online petition, penned by the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, resolves that no such mining operations be permitted in the state, should they present a risk to the state’s natural resources and heritage.

And it doesn’t mince words on its supporting arguments. Take this one:

The history of sulfide mining is one of environmental disaster, and there is no evidence that mining for copper, nickel, and other non-ferrous (non-iron) metals from sulfide rock in Northern Minnesota can be done without harming Minnesota’s fresh water resources, fish, plants, wildlife and human health…

A series of video shorts are also being posted on the page for the petition. Each features interviews with scientific experts, as well as local business and land owners.

Weather and snow depths allowing, Moe’s 8-day journey will take place in early March. The petition will be delivered to lawmakers at the Capitol.

Should you sign it? Hey, we won’t tell you how to live your life. But should you read it and watch the videos? And tell your friends to do the same? You absolutely must. Several times, if that’s what it takes.

Seeing this year’s return of the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race was a heartening thing; especially so, after meager snow depths along the North Shore forced the Beargrease to cancel that race.

This video, produced by Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply, will cheer you more still. It features sled dogs (and pups — cute!), familiar landmarks like the Trail Center, and most of all, just some of the great people who pulled the Mail Run together in just 12 days. It’s all good… very good.

While we wouldn’t wish for a winter this lean on snow again, we hope this isn’t the last Mail Run we see.

Did you make it to the race? Let us hear what you thought about it.

Via Stone Harbor.