This forum was established to inform and facilitate discussion about the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area in northeastern Minnesota and the Quetico Park in Ontario, Canada. This forum
was established on October 26th, 1998.
I just learned that there was a fire at Whispering Pines Motel (Highways 1 and 61 in Illgen City, MN). We always stay there when we're on the North Shore. Robert Cox is such a great host -- I really hope he can rebuild.
Barb in KC
____________________________________________
"We listened for a voice crying in the wilderness.
And we heard the jubilation of wolves!"
Durwood L. Allen
It's become somewhat of a tradition to read a book out loud around the fire on our trips. Was wondering if other groups do this and what books they read?
Our books of choice are anything from Patrick McManus....."They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?"
now that you put the thought into my head, a book of limericks would have been perfect to pass around on the trip I did with Nibi, HP, Bogs and PortageKeeper. Except there was a fire ban so it might've been hard to read unless using a headlamp.
And we always bring a book to read aloud around the fire or in the tent.
McManus has been a favorite, but many of our canoe trips came just when the next Harry Potter book was coming out, so we'd lug that along and read aloud.
The kids have always enjoyed taking turns reading aloud each evening...can't think about doing a trip with the kids without doing that.
.
"My life has been a series of campfires." Sigurd Olson
I know every word of it. It's funnier every time you read it. We have brought them and I suggested someone being the designated reader but never happens. "Dig die post hole fahster, fahster" . Great book to keep by the comode.
Our entry this year was on Saturday, September 19th at Moose River N (entry #16). We planned to head up to Oyster, then to Ge-be-on-e-quet. From there we would travel west over to Section 3 Pond where we would turn south and exit through the Little Indian Sioux River. From Ge-be Creek all the way to Upper Pauness Lake would be new territory for us so we were all looking forward to this area. It took some effort to get to this area but it was well worth it with a couple of the prettiest lakes I can remember.
The weather for the week was simply spectacular. Early Tuesday morning we had about 2 hours of rain and Tuesday afternoon had off/on drizzle. The other 6 days were mostly sunny, warm, and very light breeze. Two of the days saw 80 degrees and the remaining days were in the 70s. These warm temps along with very little wind are not only unusual for Sept but by far the warmest of the 23 trips weve been on. This years trip is known as the year of reflection. Every morning and several evenings were dead calm. The glass-like surface of the lakes provided wonderful reflections at each of our campsites. We had sites on Oyster, Pocket, North, and Upper Pauness lakes. Oyster was the nicest site and none were poor. Finger Lake is absolutely beautiful and Id really like to spend more time on it along with Steep Lake.
Day 1: Moose River N. entry to Oyster Lake (10 miles, 7 portages, 580 rods; low=50 high=80)
Since we are exiting at a different entry, John & I shuttled the vehicles while Chris & Craig portaged the gear down to the Moose River. By the time we got back they had all the gear other than our personal packs across the portage.
loading up at Moose River North entry
When John & I arrived at the river we loaded the canoes and started paddling at 7:40. It was very obvious that the river was way down from 2 years ago but was at about normal levels for Sept. The weather was perfect for paddling (mid 50s with no wind) and gave us the nicest start to a trip that I could remember.
view from the bow
The stretch all the way to Nina-Moose was a great paddle. We only saw one group on their way out and a calm river the entire way.
Craig & John on the Moose River
We did have 2 beaver dams to cross and with the lower water levels required us to get out and lift over but not a major obstacle.
Entering Nina-Moose Lake was very thick with rice. There was very little or no fall color along the shore. A nice calm paddle across the lake to another larger beaver dam just after entering the river on the north side of the lake.
beaver dam
After we reached Lake Agnes we stopped for lunch at a vacant sight on a point just south of the portage to the Oyster River. This was a nice site and we were able to find some shade and a little breeze to cool us a bit on this very warm Sept day; temps were in the 70s by this time. We had lunch and relaxed here from about 11:30 - 12:30, a nice break. We could also tell that the wind was starting to pickup a bit but still less than 10 mph.
We crossed the 160-rod portage to the Oyster River. The river here is well sheltered and again provided us with a glass-like surface to paddle on. We then portaged over to Oyster Lake. By this time the wind had picked up quite a bit and created a few whitecaps out on the lake. We had targeted the northern most site on the long peninsula on the west side of the lake. We broke out the binoculars and could see that site was occupied. Rather then cross the choppy lake we headed for the site on the east shore just north of the portage landing and arrived about 2:45. This turned out to be a very nice site and was much better than battling the wind to cross Oyster this afternoon. We didnt know it at the time but this would be the strongest wind we would see all week.
By now the temp had reached 80, which had made for a very warm, humid travel day. The next couple hours were spent setting up camp, swimming (some of the crew), and relaxing (all of the crew).
relaxing at our Oyster Lake site
We started supper early (the traditional steaks with a rice dish) and finished cleanup by 6:30. This gave us plenty of time to relax and have our brandy as we watched the sun set. Even with no clouds to catch the color it was still a nice sunset. We briefly watch the stars appear and turned in about 8:00 since we have another travel day tomorrow.
Day 2: Oyster Lake to Pocket Lake (9 miles, 5 portages, 325 rods; low=60 high=78)
Got out about 6:00 to another very calm morning that was warmer than the first morning. There was a little mist on the water and some nice reflections. This became the norm for the rest of the trip with calm warm mornings every day except Tuesday. We had a leisurely breakfast of oatmeal, broke camp, and paddling by 9:00. This would be another very warm and humid travel day.
Some morning reflections on Oyster Lake:
John is out early
a little mist
We portaged into Rocky Lake and decided to look for the pictographs that are supposed to be on the west shore. We headed to the most likely looking rock face and found them. We were however less than impressed as all we could find were a few slash marks and a cross.
We then continued on to the first site on the east shore of Ge-be for lunch. It was already very warm traveling and Craig had already run out of water by this point so we broke out the filters for a refill. Shade and any breeze were very welcome as we ate our lunch. Other than the site on Oyster that was occupied we had yet to see anyone today. During lunch we discussed our travel plans for the rest of the day. We knew Steve (paddle-faster-pastor, aka: pfp) and his crew were in the area we were headed to with a good possibility that they would be on Finger Lake. We were also unsure of what the travel in Finger Creek would be like. We didnt want to get to Finger Lake late and find the site on the south side of the island occupied so we decide we would look for a site on Pocket Lake.
With our plans set we portaged into Ge-be Creek. The creek was very low with a very narrow channel and had several spots where the rocks would jump up and catch you if you werent keeping a close watch for them. About midway between Ge-be Lake and Pocket Creek we saw the only other group we would see today. They gave us some very useful advised on where to cross the one beaver dam we would be coming to just before reaching Pocket Creek.
Made it through Pocket Creek and portaged into Pocket Lake. The little breeze here made for some choppy water but not bad at all. The plan was to check the site on the island and then head west from there if that was a poor site. We never found a site on the island so checked the first one to the west. It wasnt bad but had an open/exposed kitchen so we decided to check the western one before settling on one. The western most one was less desirable with only one good tent pad so we went back to the first one.
Set up camp and pumped water. With the warm humid day we all had empty water bottles. We planned 2 nights here and the last forecast we heard had called for rain on Monday so we set up the tarp and lean-to. We cleaned up and had our supper of red beans and rice with diced summer sausage added. It was very good and followed by cheesecake with chocolate pudding for desert.
We again finished cleanup early enough so we could sit and enjoy our brandy as we waited for the sunset. The crew was waiting for the show but the site was facing SE so not much to see.
crew looking SE
I went back to a point with a little western exposure and was able to catch some of the real show.
more westerly view
We finished our brandies as the stars (and misquotes, a new Sept experience for us) came out. We did see the space station (ISS) pass overhead just before 8:00. Shortly after this Id had enough of the skeets so I turned in. Another very warm night allowed me to fall asleep laying on top of my sleeping bag, very unusual for a Sept trip.
Woke to another very warm morning but overcast. John was out shortly after me so we heated some water and had a cup of cappuccino as the day brightened and the fish jumped. The overcast sky limited any color during the sunrise but still a nice scene.
overcast morning
A bit later Chris & Craig joined us for a breakfast of cheese, egg, and bacon burritos. The pre-cooked bacon really works nice on these trips.
breakfast at Pocket Lake
By the time we finished cleanup the sun had broken through and was already very warm. We headed for some shade to relax and do some reading. Since it was this warm already we were all glad this was a rest day. Some of the reflections on Pocket Lake.
looking south
looking west
About 9:30 a group of 3 canoes passed by heading east along the south shore so we figured Finger Creek was open. I suspected the group might be PFP and it looked like it could be Steve in the stern of the lead canoe. Found out after our trip that it was indeed PFP and that they had spent the previous night on Finger Lake. Also found out that they traveled all the way to Ruby Lake that day; a very long day as warm and humid as it was. Meanwhile we spent our day relaxing and trying to find shade and breeze to stay cool. Also another afternoon that allowed for swimming. I think Chris (and maybe John) went for a swim every day so far which is very unusual for Sept.
We found that we liked being done with our supper and cleanup before 6:30 so the evening could be enjoyed while relaxing rather than rushing to get things done before the sun set. So we had another early supper, which by now had become our normal time. Tonight we had Mexican spiced chicken and rice burritos, which were very good.
The western horizon was cloudy so the only thing we saw while the sun set tonight was a darker sky. We did see the ISS pass over again. I turned in early about 8:00 to read a bit. I think I heard Chris & John say they saw some shooting stars. Didnt read for long since we wanted to get an early start tomorrow to try and get some distance in before it heated up. That sounds strange for September 22nd.
Day 4: Pocket Lake to North Lake (8 miles, 7 portages, 525 rods; low=62 high=72)
Planned to get up about 6:00 and paddling by 8:00. About 5:30 we could hear it start raining. Unsure about the plans we just laid in the tents. About 7:00 I figured we had to get up if were going to travel at all today. Got up and started getting breakfast going and by now the rain was down to just a light sprinkle. Had breakfast and broke camp. A late start at 9:50. Was cloudy with a mist/drizzle most of the day so almost no photos today.
The first portage followed Finger Creek to the lake. A very nice little stream with several small falls. This portage, along with all the others today, was wet with areas of mud. Something new for us this trip.
Finger Lake is beautiful. Surrounded by hills and some high rocky cliffs. The rocky shoreline is accented with many rocky points and islands. Really want to spend a rest day on this lake in the future. Could spend the day just paddling around the shoreline of the lake.
Thumb Lake is also very nice but a very poor campsite.
Craig & John approach the west end of Thumb Lake
Beartrack, Little Beartrack, and Eugene lakes were kind of bla after Finger Lake and the campsites appeared to be rather poor. Steep Lake is another beautiful lake but the campsite looked to be rather poor.
South and North lakes had very low water levels compared to the previous lakes. It was later discovered that this was due to a large beaver dam between North Lake and Lac La Croix. The site on North Lake looked pretty nice so we took it. Arrival time of 3:50 made it another 6-hour travel day, about the same as the first 2.
Setup camp, fixed super of beef stroganoff (tasty) and finished cleanup by 6:00. We had our barons out on the rocky point overlooking the lake. Since we were all tired from the travel day and overcast skies assured no sunset or stargazing we decided to turn in early. I read until about 9:30 before falling asleep.
This was our coolest night of the trip and still was 50 degrees in the morning. Got up about 6:00 to a fog covered lake. No color in the sunrise due to the fog but still nice conditions for photos.
just starting to get light
sun peaks over the horizon
As the sun rose higher and the fog was starting to dissipate John joined me. I gave him my camera so he could take a few shots of me and the canoe on the water. The conditions were ideal for an early morning paddle.
After I got back to camp the fog had burnt off but still a beautiful morning. A few reflections on North Lake.
island in front of our site
looking north
eastern shoreline across the lake
Its not often we can enjoy our breakfast in short sleeve shirts late in September.
After our breakfast of oatmeal John & Chris took the canoe out for a short day-trip. They headed up to Lac La Croix to check out Snow Bay and some of the campsites in the area. The rest of the day was spent reading and relaxing around camp.
After supper we relaxed with an apricot brandy on the point. Another totally calm evening. This site faces east so we did not have a good view of the sunset but still a very nice setting. We did have a great view of a starry night. Saw the ISS for the 3rd time and several other satellites. Turned in around 9:00.
looking north at sunset
Day 6: North Lake to Upper Pauness Lake (11 miles, 5 portages, 480 rods; low=52 high=80)
Got up about 6:30 just as the sun was rising. Not much color, just an orange tint to the sky and water. Looked a lot like the previous nights sunset.
looking south at sunrise
Had breakfast, broke camp, and started the first portage right from our campsite at about 8:30. A spur trail connected our site to the portage, which saved us having to negotiate the very mudding landing.
We paddled the length of Section 3 Pond (actually a nice little lake) and found the portage on the south end to be flooded due to a beaver dam. We were able to carry to the edge of the dam and put in there. There was another tight area to get through but were able to paddle through to Slim Lake. Slim Lake is true to its name and reminded me of Angleworm Lake on a slightly smaller scale.
We continued on to Little Loon Lake and East Loon Bay.
passing from Little Loon Lake to East Loon Bay
The wind was out of the SW but fairly light so the open crossing from East Loon Bay to the mouth of the Little Indian Sioux was not bad at all. We stopped for lunch at the last site before entering the Little Indian Sioux River. This site was slightly elevated and had a great view to the north.
lunchtime view
After lunch we entered the Little Indian Sioux River. The paddle up the river was very nice except for the one beaver dam. We then came to the portaged along Devils cascade. We started out with a very steep climb at the north end of the portage. Once to the top its nice and level with a campsite between the portage and the gorge down to the river. Kind of a unique setting for a campsite and its also accessible from the Sioux-Hustler hiking trail. The LIS runs through the deep gorge with several rapids along the way. With the lower water level/flow we didnt get any real nice shots but took a few anyway.
Devil's Cascade
Lower Pauness Lake from Devil's Cascade portage
We arrived at camp on Upper Pauness about 2:40. Set up camp and had about an hour to relax/swim. An eagle flew low right over our site just after we arrive as if to welcome us; another glorious afternoon.
looking south from our site on Upper Pauness
Chris enjoys the view as he dries off after a swim.
Chris soaking it in
We had an early supper and finished cleanup by about 5:30. Enjoyed our barons on the rocks as we looked over a nice calm lake. A few shots of the evening reflections on Upper Pauness.
looking east
looking south
The moon also made an appearance.
With the warm temps and no wind the bugs were again bad at this site so we didnt sit out on the rocks as long as we wouldve liked. It was a great last evening of our trip but we did turn in a little early, about 8:30.
Day 7: Upper Pauness Lake to Exit at LIS (entry 14) (4 miles, 2 portages, 100 rods; low=55)
Got up just before sunrise. The fog that had been on the lake was already lifting and blocked the sun at points as it rose. Another nice morning in canoe country.
a little fog lifting at sunrise
completely clear to the south
We had an early breakfast as the day brightened.
early breadfast at Upper Pauness
We headed south across Upper Pauness toward where we though the opening to the river would be. It wasnt there. The weeds were very tall here and made it a little tough to find the opening. We followed the weeds to the east and found it. It was another great day for a paddle along the river so we slowed our progress and soaked it all in on our way up the river.
Craig & John just behind us on the LIS
The one portage we had, followed the river and had a nice little falls along the way.
falls along the portage
The view of the river on the south end of the portage.
We continued up the river and it seemed like the closer we got the slower we paddled. On a day like this you just dont want to leave. The view from the bow as we make our final approach.
Before making the last portage up to the parking area I took one last look back toward the wilderness. It had been one of the nicest weeks in the BWCA that I can remember.
one last look
Our crew at the Pocket Lake site; short sleeves and even short pants.
This was our first time through the area from Ge-be west to the Little Indian Sioux. This is a very beautiful area thats already calling me back. I would like to do a route similar to PFP but would want to spend more than a week doing it. Several of the lakes in this area deserve at least one full day to experience them.
We had used the Moose River N entry back in 2007 just after the area had received over a foot of rain in about 10 days. The level and flow of the river was unbelievable. In 2007 we couldnt even see or notice any of the beaver dam as they were all well under water. At one of the portages between Nina-Moose Lake and Agnes I took a few shots from points that I could remember as a comparison between the 2 years. 2007 was unusually high and this year was about normal for September.
First comparison is just after starting the portage from the southern end.
2009
2007
A little further downstream the river takes a turn.
2009
2007
Just before reaching the northern end the river drops.
2009
2007
The last one is looking north near the end of the portage.
2009
We did that same route in 08, only the other way...LIS to Moose River, hit some different camp sites too. Your photos are wonderful and it sure looks like you had some great weather!
But only courtesy of your trip report. We were supposed to enter LIS North and come out at Moose River North. Didn't happen. But, I see nothing in your report to argue against doing it one of these days.
Thx for sharing your trip and beautiful photography.
I really enjoyed the report and, like everyone else, especially thought the comparison photos were great. It kind of makes you think canoeing that area in September 2007 might have been slightly imprudent. Anyway, I look forward to touring this area sometimes soon, maybe after (crossing fingers) early retirement in a year and a half.
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Our son has just redeployed to Iraq. This is his second deployment over there. He will be returning January 2011. They are back to the fifteen month rotation again. He is working in supply at Forward Operating Base Kalsu which is 20 miles south of Baghdad. He has gotten married and she is also in the army. She will be joining him there in January. "War" isn't what it use to be. He has high speed internet in his two person hut along with hd cable which he is enjoying on his new 46" lcd tv. He communicates with us daily on face book.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sherwin
When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear
the birds sing sweetly in the trees: when I look down from lofty
mountain grandeur and hear the brook, and feel the gentle
breeze: then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee: how great thou art!
Thanks to your son, Sherwin, and to all you veterans here on the CCBB.
I always send my dad an email on this day. He retired after 30+ years in the army (living in Germany now) and I've always been proud of him and appreciated what he did.
Also thanks to all the veterans and active duty men and women in military service.
This evening I will be sharing a meal with Jim S. and his wife at Applebees which is giving free meals to all veterans today. Jim is a Viet Nam vet. My 2 years service was in New Jersey and doesn't compare with Jim's.
i have a book you need to get if you don't have it already: "Rhymes of a Red Cross Man" by our very favorite Robert Service...copyright 1916. i found it by accident . it's a beautifully done. thanks again...lm
I once had a link for an online version of Nessmuks Woodcraft which doesnt work anymore and in the search for another, I found this site which is a great source for some classic books. http://www.archive.org/details/woodcraft00sear I now have it downloaded as a pdf file.
I searched for canoe related books and found this one: A summer in the wilderness; embracing a canoe voyage up the Mississippi and around Lake Superior (1847) http://www.archive.org/details/summerinwilderne01lanm
You are cordially invited to stop byhttp://www.jstroke.com. It is a new site that allows you to promote your paddlesport business and connect with the paddlesport community online.
You can create an account (no strings, emails, newsletters, spam, etc) and log in. Once you're logged in you can create new outfitters, rivers, clubs, etc, that you would like to let the rest of the paddlesport community know about.
Along with that I wanted to give the community a chance to arrange organized paddling events with the broader internet community of paddlers so I created the the idea of a "float". Once a float is created (really just a title, location, and short description) they are posted on a public or private map (up to the user). If the float is public then it will be posted on a google map which has some of the details you entered in the description but most importantly it shows the exact location where the float will start.
So please givehttp://www.jstroke.com a shot and don't be afraid to try it and use the contact page to let me know what I did wrong. I want to drive business to our outfitters and liveries and this seems like a great way to do it.
I hope you guys found the site to be worthwhile (that is if you took a gander:p). Feel free to create accounts and take a look around. I'd love to see some people blog about their experiences on the waters and lakes of the US and I'd especially like to see outfitters and liveries get their business on the site. Can't beat free advertising right?
You are cordially invited to stop byhttp://www.jstroke.com. It is a new site that allows you to promote your paddlesport business and connect with the paddlesport community online.
You can create an account (no strings, emails, newsletters, spam, etc) and log in. Once you're logged in you can create new outfitters, rivers, clubs, etc, that you would like to let the rest of the paddlesport community know about.
Along with that I wanted to give the community a chance to arrange organized paddling events with the broader internet community of paddlers so I created the the idea of a "float". Once a float is created (really just a title, location, and short description) they are posted on a public or private map (up to the user). If the float is public then it will be posted on a google map which has some of the details you entered in the description but most importantly it shows the exact location where the float will start.
So please givehttp://www.jstroke.com a shot and don't be afraid to try it and use the contact page to let me know what I did wrong. I want to drive business to our outfitters and liveries and this seems like a great way to do it.
After a long absence I'm back. Good to see some old friends still here. This past summer was the first in many years that I did not take a canoe trip. But I have a good excuse. My wife and fulfilled a long time dream and purchased a lake home in Minnesota near Park Rapids in May. Since it was a foreclosure and had not been winterized there was a fair bit of repair work to do to make it useable. So I spent my vacation time getting things put back in order.
Having changed jobs a few years back, I only get 2 weeks vacation time. So I stretched it as far as I could. We are close to the Crow Wing and Shell Rivers so I'm looking forward to some river trips next summer. But I don't see a Quetico or BWCA trip happening till I get a bump in vacation 2 years from now. We are still living and working in southwest Iowa but our plan is to retire in 6 years or so and move to Minnesota. Can't wait.
Nov. 10, 1975; today being the 34th year anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Here is a pretty good video commemoration including the Gordon Lightfoot masterpiece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI8bta-7aw&feature=related
Barb in KC
____________________________________________
"We listened for a voice crying in the wilderness.
And we heard the jubilation of wolves!"
Durwood L. Allen
Being the history buff that you are, you'd really enjoy attending the annual
commemoration for the Edmund Fitzgerald. It is very humbling when the names
of the crew are read and the bell is run. It's very humbling to see the lighthouse
beam guide a path across the water. Last night the weather was exceptional for the
event and it was beautiful. While there, you'll have a chance to take a tour of the
lighthouse, view a 30 minute or so video on the Fitz and enjoy being a part of it.
I'd highly recommend that you do this some year. Usually there are family members
present and that sheds a whole other emotion to being there.
Every year, the LSSM hosts an event called the Gales of November. The last many years
it has been at the DECC in Duluth. I'd highly recommend this as well, if you are a
shipwreck, diving, Great Lakes and lighthouse buff. The last session I went to was
a panel of men who had their theories about the Edmund Fitzgerald that night. The
panel included Capt. Dudley Paquette, who sailed behind the ship the night of the storm.
Talk about passionate men... another fellow was someone who previously sailed on the
Fitz. Once again, it was a great weekend event and a chance to meet some pretty
interesting people and converse with some of the top divers in the world. The conference
has changed a bit over the years. It used to be a "small" event held at the Holiday downtown,
then it evolved into a larger event. This year's focus was more historical than on
diving.
I've taken in both events, countless times & it has never been a disappointment.
I read a shipwreck book a couple months ago and forgot all about this. I bet its going to be a beautiful evening at Splitrock. Want to get there for commemoration sometime. Thanks again for posting.
I'm not sure if this was the largest vessel ever to perish in the Great Lakes. But surely the staying-power of this event in the memories of many of us is in a great part attributable to this song.
but the song and wreck mean a lot to me because my dad was a radio operator aboard Great Lakes boats (and ocean going vessels) for a short period about 40 years before the Fitz sank.
It is kind of strange how things are just the way they are before you analyze them and realize why you think the way you do.
It took about 40 seconds for me to become teary-eyed, as is usually the case, when hearing this haunting dirge. I think this song represents in music what the lake is........ big and dangerous and tragic at times.
I remember the day this happened. Thanks for posting on the anniversary.
Mike in Minneapolis
Everybody knows rock and roll acheived perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact.--- Homer Simpson
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest vessel for 13 years, from her launching in 1958 until 1971. She displaced 13,632 tons and was 729 feet long at the time of her foundering.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." Mark Twain
black walnut except for the light colored wood in the base which is spalted Aspen. I selected a piece of walnut with some sapwood that I could cut in a way that the trailing edges of the wings are light in color. Each wing is carved separately from the body and then inserted...so the light sapwood aligns from one wing to the other.
Was watching an episode of FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" last night - funny show for those of you who haven't seen it - and saw that one of the characters, Mac, was wearing a Superior North Canoe Outfitters shirt. Yeah, it's OT, but I thought that was interesting. It's not every day you see a shirt from the BW on tv. I'm wondering how he got it and if he's ever been up there.
After a flight detour to Chicago for a family funeral, we finally arrived down in the Everglades last Friday.
We are getting settled in, had to drive to Naples to get supplies (food, paper stuffs, cleaning stuff, etc). It is really windy here right now as the hurricane winds are coming back down from the northern part of Florida. Right now the bugs are bad, mostly the no-seeums bother me & seem to find my blood very tasty.
As soon as the winds begin to die down, we will be able to take our canoe & our boat out. The islands out in the gulf are fun to fish around & see dolphins but these winds are really dangerous out that far.
If anybody is traveling down this way (I know that is a stretch) please let us know & we'd love to visit with you.
Not to commercialize, but just to let you know I am one of those "outfitter types"
It was 11:30a.m. when we headed the car north, but blue skies reached overhead making it a pleasant day for driving. Marshall and I needed this get-away badly as the previous weeks had been filled with transition: our move to NW Iowa, my 90 year old mother moving in with us, family coming to visit and everything else that comes with getting settled in a new home and job. My mother had been experiencing some health issues and decided to stay at the local respite care facility rather than make the trip to Ely.
It was 11 p.m. when we finally pulled into Wilderness Way. Jock was happy to be back and ran around the living room chasing his purple ball. Outside the air was crisp and still; brilliant stars sprinkled the inky skies giving an aura of peace.
Much of our 10 day trip was spent working on the house, and I was thrilled when my new washer and dryer were installed.
During our stay we attended the Pat Surface and the Boundary Waters Boys concert twice, did some interviews and prep work for several BWJ articles, visited with several CCBB friends, and just took time to relax. We soon discovered that our acreage was carpeted with blueberries, and raspberry bushes edged the road on the east side of our property; I made a lot of shortcake.
Our social calendar always blossoms during our Ely visits. Dinner with Ho Ho, David, and their friend Kirk was a special time, and Heidi (Uncle Mooses wife) joined us for the meal before coming back to our place to see the house.
Tough Old Bird and Casprrr stopped by one afternoon and joined us for some fresh baked shortcakes.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
And no trip to Ely is complete with seeing Timbergirl who was working at the Northern Grounds when we stopped by for dinner.
The weather was cool, and it rained almost every day, but one morning dawned clear and sunny, perfect for a much needed canoe trip. We had visited Ojibway and Triangle Lakes several years ago but had never entered the BWCA from that direction. The purpose for this outing was to paddle the small stretch of the North Kawishiwi River that we had missed last year when our wilderness trip was cut short.
It was about 8:30 when we launched the canoe. Mosquitoes were thick on land, but we enjoyed the breeze on the lake. Puffy white clouds dotted the blue sky, and a loon issued a call from down near the bay.
It took only 15 minutes to reach the roller portage between Ojibway and Triangle Lakes. The sign told the significance of this portage amenity: This historical roller portage between Ojibway and Triangle Lakes was built initially by Louis Monnie Schlacter owner of Deer Trail Lodge, circa 1936. The original intent was to provide access to day use fishermen...
A bald eagle watched us from his perch on an island tree, and browse lines on lakeshore cedars showed evidence of deer. A few cabins were nestled back in the woods unobtrusive to the casual boater. One motor boat puttered slowly on the far side of the lake, the only sign of human activity we noticed.
Both Triangle and Ojibway are crystal clear lakes. Triangle had a number of islands, and we stopped at the campsite on one of them. Wooden steps led to an official forest service fire grate in the clearing. Timbers had been sawed for seating and a makeshift table. The spacious clearing sat under a canopy of red pines and offered good spots for tarps and food bags. Several flat pads would make comfortable tent spaces, and the sitting rocks would be perfect for watching sunsets. A cedar tree had washed up against the shore and was being held between branches of two other trees its roots barely touching the water yet foliage was healthy and green.
Jock kept stopping on the 190 rod portage turning around to make sure that Papa was behind us. Finally Marshall went ahead with the canoe, and Jock trotted quickly behind him eager to keep up. The trail was the typical roots and rocks variety, and at one point Marshalls foot slipped. He dropped the canoe on its side, but thankfully neither sustained any damage. Jock ignored the wolf scat we found on the trail, and he skirted the mud puddles neatly. Even this early in the season we noted a few maple leaves tinged with red and pink.
We met a father and son near the 15 rod river portage, and waterfowl included black ducks, golden eyes, and a family of mergansers. The next 20 rod trek was easy and flat with a soft sand beach on the far end. A half dozen canoes approached from the opposite direction, and despite our encouragement about the portage they opted to line their canoes up the rapids.
We chose the campsite just south of the 30 rod portage as a place for lunch; the spot was not far from where we camped last year. The small clearing offered a 5-star view with a small island to add interest. The wide grassy area could accommodate 3-4 tents, and the grate sat on a rocky point under a shade tree where we enjoyed the cool breeze. The rocky ledge had a steep drop off for good fishing, and ample canoe parking was available at the landing.
Clouds moved in as we ate, but the rain held off until later. I spotted a doe and her fawn scamper toward the woods and disappear into the thicket. We retraced our route back through Triangle and Ojibway, glad that the downpour held off until the last ten minutes.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
Nice report, WM. It's good to hear from you at some length, especially your upbeat commentary about what must surely be a stress-filled time of life.
You mentioned a nice campsite on the Kawishiwi River just south of the 30-rod portage. Just to be sure - is it on the west bank where the river narrows?
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
We had heard that Grassy Lake had experienced a log jam collapse at the outlet stream which lowered the water level 3-4 feet earlier in the summer. I was eager to see first hand what kind of changes had transpired thinking this might make good material for an article. I also knew of a geocache that had been recently placed between Bass and Low Lakes. So after breakfast Marshall and I drove out to the Low Lake landing.
The parking lot was filled to capacity so I parked along the ditch in the last available spot. There was very little evidence of activity on the lake although both campsites were filled. It didnt take long to find the Big Roar cache in its hiding place on the sandy washout. It was named for the collapse of the logging sluiceway back in 1925 which washed out Bass Lake.
From there we paddled down the length of Low Lake to the Grassy River. The winding waterway was choked with water lilies, their wet undersides the color of watermelon as they blew in the breeze. Two canoes approached from the opposite direction, and those women told us that we couldnt get to Grassy Lake because of the mud. They claimed to have walked the portage and reported that it was full of rock, but I had my mind set on a possible article about the lake change and was determined to see it if at all possible.
A pink plastic ribbon caught my attention, and I was convinced that it marked the portage. A broken wooden boardwalk led to the trail so we beached the canoe and explored the area. The walkway was soft and mossy with a log corduroy over muddy spots. Bunchberry displayed bright red-orange berries, and the blueberries were ripe. Tall pines shaded the path where a pile of chopped wood was topped with a rusty can. It soon became apparent that we were not on the portage but possibly a ski trail, and I wondered if perhaps it led an overview of Grassy Lake. My questions were answered with the sudden appearance of a yurt sitting out in the middle of the woods. The Private Property, No Trespassing signs convinced us to turn back.
A ledge rock landing extended the welcome mat for the official 25 rod Grassy Lake portage. Water gushed over a small cataract attracting our attention to the right of the trail. As we followed the smooth sidewalk type walkway, I wondered what trail those women had found. There was no sign of mud on the path or landing either.
The marshy pond at the end of the portage was blanketed with water lilies, and a 6 beaver lodge sat proudly in the middle. The water drained slowly over a small pile of branches in front of the outlet stream, probably the location of the log jam which broke earlier in the summer. Unlike the famed logging sluiceway which collapsed on Bass Lake, this was tiny in comparison. I called it Little Roar.
I was rather disappointed that the main part of Grassy Lake didnt look a lot different from our recollections. Rocks along the side showed a water line of 1-2 feet, but that is not unusual for most wilderness lakes.
There was no sign of the inukshuk at the campsite where we had stopped for lunch several years ago, and previous campers had littered the clearing with garbage. The site was smaller than we remembered with two tent pads and a badly cracked latrine. Marshall and I chose to picnic on a flat rock near the water and marveled at the glacial scouring marks at our feet. Ominous clouds moved in while we ate, and we reminisced about our previous visit when a sleet squall had interrupted our lunch
Paddling down the lake we checked the Tee Lake portage, but nothing looked out of the ordinary there either. Rocks and island shoreline showed the typical 2 foot waterline so we assumed that the lake level had started to rise. Several turtles rested calmly on a floating log, and we questioned if the flotsam was the result of the log jam or part of the seasonal lake turning.
We left with more questions than answers. I had failed to find the dramatic changes that would lead to a good article. Grassy Lake hadnt gained any significant acreage from the drop in water level, and we were glad to see the lake recovering. The search was far from a failure, however, for time spent out on a wilderness lake is always a valuable experience. It also served as a reminder that canoe country is always in a state of change, always offering us a reason to come back.
Storm clouds thickened as we returned through the Grassy River. I took time to smell the delicate perfume of the white and yellow water lilies as our paddles pushed them out of the way. Jock seemed to enjoy the rivers more than the lakes and stood alert at the gunwales watching the scenery.
The wind had picked up by the time we reached Low Lake, and the steely waves taxed our arm muscles. The rain held off until we got back to the landing; we escaped the soaking rain once again.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
that the pile of logs (sticks?) is where the log jam broke to lower the lake. It happened either just before ice-in in late 2008 (not likely) or in the spring 2009, before the 2nd week in June.
I am not sure exactly what your question is regarding the Tee Lake portage flotsam but I can speculate that the logs in that area we both saw are just leftovers from the logging around that area. As you probably saw, there are quite a few logs scattered throughout the lake, well away from shorelines.
Was your lunch spot the campsite on the south side of the lake - the quite open site?
The Forest Service said the collapse was earlier in the spring.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
This is the area my wife and went after she recovered from some surgery a few years back. Paddling out of Fenske, it remains one of our favorite trips. Three days on some pretty little lakes. We liked the lakes enough to come in from Low Lake and Grassy Creek a couple of years later.
As I recall each lake after Little Sletten had at least one good campsite. I found Tee Lake to be very attractive. It reminded my a bit of Hustler with its branching layout.
Now for the punctuation. Lets see if the posts apostrophes are still here. Or how about a hyphen: dog-tired.
"Lets, posts, and dog-tired" should be underlined. You can quote me.
I enjoy the quality of your writing. You can quote me on that, too.
paddledoc
"Walk too fast you leave your feet behind."
I always dilly-dally on our way home, dragging my feet along the North Shore.
Vale Heath had invited us for dinner when we reached Owatonna, and we welcomed a chance to visit her home. The drive back was long and demanding, and we finally pulled into our driveway by 11 p.m.
It was now time to focus on ministry in our new church, but I would be keeping close tabs on the calendar. Six more weeks until we would be enjoying Wilderness Way once again, this time hosting Cossack and Turtle Tracker, entertaining some other friends on an introductory overnight canoe trip, and then taking our much awaited wilderness canoe trip to Gabbro and Bald Eagle Lakes. To be continued.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
...include apostophes and quotation marks when cutting and pasting a report?
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
If you are composing in Word, go to Tools, AutoCorrect, AutoFormat tab, and turn off "Straight Quotes with Smart Quotes" and "Hyphens with Dashes" or whatever the equivalents are in your version of Word. Network 54 does not recognize the fancy characters that Word substitutes when you have those options on.
Casprrr and I had stopped off on our way from GM to Ely. Thank you again for the kind invite to talk and visit. I didn't expect our photo would be posted, but it proves to Evelyn that we were there!
As for apostrophies, etc. In my (and probably most word processing programs) apostrophies are easily inserted by mark at the place needed, type in what's needed, and replace the old form with the new. If there are a lot of corrections, only one replacement is needed unless you're prone to disasterous, unintended losses, like I am.
If you're on a program that simply doesn't permit entering apostrophies, I would paste the whole product back into your wordpro, make the corrections there and then transfer the corrected form back where you want it.
When I got this far, I realized that you likely know all about those steps but somehow they didn't solve your problem.
"Anything you want to know...any question...you can find the answer in nature if you know where to look and how to ask"
--from the book/movie: The Power of One
I would like to share a website with you. I personally like firearms and know some of you do also. I like this site for a couple of reasons. #1 it's sort of like visiting a museum #2 you get a real time evaluation of what certian guns go for. The site is called gunrunnerautions.com. I find it very interesting. I have no stock in this company. I do know the guy who owns the company, he is the cousin of a friend of mine. It's fun to see what's out there.
I spent over two hours outside putting up outdoor Christmas lights (and I'm not yet finished). Which leads to the perennial question...
Ques. If we've developed nuclear weapons and put men on the moon, why can't we produce a Christmas light set and lights which will last more than half the season ?
Ans. The answer is very simple. We could, but NOMA, GE and now the Chinese have realized if they did that, after a year or two they wouldn't be able to sell anymore.
My wife congratulated me for avoiding swearing while involved in this awful work. I explained it was because the neighbor kids (2 to 7 yrs. old) were within range.
Sigh! I remember a SciFi story which involved "The Museum of Supressed Inventions".
drove me crazy putting them up, figuring out which wouldn't work and how to fix them, higher electric bills...no more! Now it's some greens and a pretty wreath, and I'm done. Makes for more peace on earth, and less waste.
...And as to the "planned obsolescence" of your "holiday lights"...wouldn't you agree that the opportunistic manufacturers you revile just might, even if inadvertantly, be promoting a more "sustainable" future?...a future of glorious holiday darkness?
And by the way, have you calculated the carbon footprint of your "holiday lights?"
In this case a 200g thinsulate would be 200 grams of thinsulate in the boot. If it were 1000g, it would indicate 1000 grams of thinsulate.
A boot rep once told me that in the "arms race" to have a higher rated boot they were putting more grams of Thinsulate in the boot so they could advertise a higher rating. One of the challenges is that insulation needs to have trapped air to effectively work, so just because you stuff a lot of insulation into a given area, doesn't mean it will be a "warmer" boot.
One reason Mickey Mouse boots work so effectively is because they utilize a lot of area for trapped air.
I find that 400g of Thinsulate for me...and all heat factors are personal, is enough to keep my feet warm in a hiking style boot in standard Fall fishing, 30* temps, Elk hunting, 20* temps and ice fishing if I have a floor in my tent 0* temps. That being said another person may have their setting at 800g.
The same boot rep told me he thought that most hunting/hiking style boots only have the space for 400g-600g of Thinsulate to be effective.
I've also found that simple felt pads inside the sole of your boot can increase the warmth of your boot if the last is large enough.
and other low top waterproof shoes and boots. First puddle you step in, the water runs in over the top and your foot is wet all day. Waste of money.
I like my boots uninsulated, I wear wool socks and that is all I need. Otherwise, the feet sweat and they end up wet. Wool keeps em warm and dry all year round.
And gore tex baseball hats. What is that all about?
Finally getting around to putting this together. This summer's trip ended up being just myself and a co-worker, Bonnie. Over the years I have entered the BW through several entry points - Ive entered #23A-Mudro two times previously but have always been restricted from camping on Horse Lake. This year I applied early and was able to get the #23 permit - so we can camp on Horse.
We headed up to Ely from the north metro on Sunday, July 19th. We got into town and checked in at VNO. (First time at a bunkhouse in Ely). Dropped off some things and then went off on a day trip to the Hegman pictographs. I have not ever seen the Hegman display and Bonnie had never seen any pictos.
We got to the pictured rocks at about 10:00 am - before the crowds! It was a beautiful sunny morning with no other visitors around. We were in awe of them and just kept floating around them, back and forth, taking photos and soaking up the peaceful sunshine and lapping waves. It was a very nice way to spend the morning.
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If I can do this right, this should be a short video of the sunlight playing along the rock wall next to the pictos.
After about 20 minutes a few canoes arrive with a few more behind them. Time to go. On the short paddle back we met even more canoes! Im so glad we were there early.
Back at the parking lot we load the canoe and have a quick lunch from the cooler. Went back to Ely, parked in town and walked around. I picked up a new thwart for a winter project and some souvenirs that were too cute to pass up. Back at VNO I took a nap and Bonnie read Furtmans Magic on the Rocks that she had just picked up downstairs in the store.
Had a steak supper at the Ely Steakhouse - yum! To bed early for our trip tomorrow.
We were up early, excited to go. It looked to be another nice day but the forecast warned of some precip in the day(s) ahead. It didnt matter - its all good when that day actually comes that youre starting your trip. We had breakfast at Brittons - m-m-m good.
We got to Pickett Creek, our entry point. The parking lot was full! Well, there were a few tight spots left but I was surprised to see it so full. Just like my trip in 1995, the creek was low, low, low. Our paddle began with a walk up the creek. Thank goodness it was a sandy bottom. We only had to escort the canoe around the first few corners until we found enough water to float us.
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We double portaged and made good time into Tin Can Mike. The wind had come up good - white caps on TCM as we looked back from the portage to Horse. M-m, last year we had a hard time with wind on Loon Lake and so we decided the first open site on Horse would be our home for the night. The first site was open and we gladly took it, not worried about how many stars it was.
The site was interesting. A meadow. Id never tented in a meadow in the BWCA. I remembered reading that this site was home to resort or logging camp at one time. We saw artifacts right away, around the fire grate was a wooden/metal yoke type thing and a small garbage (artifact) pile in some nearby trees, with a metal washtub, bent up skillet, a few old glass bottles and some pieces of iron.
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The day was hot and muggy and we plunked our butts in the shade and had lunch. The shade felt good and we laid back on our PFDs and napped awhile in this little meadow. Later in the afternoon we finally got motivated and pitched the tent. We found a spot for a tarp that was half the size of our tarp. Its supposed to rain and I like dry packs in the morning so we put up a pitiful tarp for that purpose.
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Even though this site was by the portage, it was tucked back and not easy to spot unless you were looking for it. We didnt notice the canoe traffic and only heard the clunk of aluminum every once in a while to remind us how close to the portage we were.
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We explored our camp site and could definitely see how this had been either a resort or logging camp. I regret not taking a photo of the largest clump of birch trees I have ever seen. Now I have to go back and snap that picture, darn it. We did find a huge raspberry patch as well as tons of strawberries. We ate them by the handfuls!
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We took a quick swim and had spaghetti for supper. Just after getting settled in the tent for the night, it started to rain. It rained all night and into the next day. Not a stormy rain, just a constant rain with some mild thunder now and then. It was a nice back drop for a peaceful nights sleep.
The all-night rain was now becoming an all-day rain. We ate hot grits for breakfast under the low, soggy tarp. The skeeters were plentiful and quite a nuisance. We wanted to go up to the north end of Horse and find a campsite where we could hang our hammocks and maybe have a better place to swim. But, do we pack up wet for the paddle, knowing if we dont find a site we will portage to Fourtown? Or wait for a while and see if it quits raining? M-m-m, we wait for a while. It keeps raining. Wait a while longer,.rains harder.
Around noon we pack up a very wet tent and tarp and go north on Horse. At least its not windy! We stay positive about it all and decide a nice paddle in the rain isnt so bad. All sites on Horse were occupied until we reached the very north site. Open! And,.its starting to clear up. We quickly set up camp.
I had to take a picture of my Kondos tarp as this was my finest tarp set-up. I am generally knot and tarp challenged but I had to admit that this was not badfor a girl!
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The rain did clear up in the afternoon and the sun came out now and then. We explored our camp site and found that along with a beautiful vista of the whole lake, we had some interesting trails around camp with some mansion-sized boulders and rocks behind us. We hiked back in the woods a ways and gathered firewood for a campfire later on.
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We managed to get our packs and tent dried out. For supper we had cheesy potatoes w/spam and garlic biscuits. After supper we tried to get a fire going but the wood was just too wet. Maybe tomorrow night.
We were treated to very colorful sunset.
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The night got very cold but it was refreshing too. The coolness helped keep the mosquitos down. The moon was just a sliver so the stars were fantastic.
Brrrrr, crisp morning. The cappuccino and grits really hit the spot.
Todays agenda is RELAX and our site had the perfect trees to hang our hammocks. This was something we had set as a goal for our trip - spending the day laying around, reading, swimming, and napping. It was grand! The weather cooperated too!
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My view while I was using my hammock as a recliner.
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For supper that night we had chicken noodle soup w/dumplings. Way too much for both of us to eat and for the first time in a long time I had to pack away quite a bit of leftover food in the garbage bag. So much for lightening up the food pack.
After supper we managed to get a fire going and enjoyed it immensely.
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It was a very pleasant eveninguntil the drone of a ga-zillion skeeters began to descend. Into the tent for some reading by head-lamps and another cool comfortable nights sleep.
Today we will move south to Tin Can Mike for our last night. We dont pack up until 11 a.m. or so, hesitant to leave our beautiful spot. Its another beautiful sunny day. I cannot paddle past Horses gorgeous sandy beach without stopping this time and we spend a good hour there, exploring and hanging out. Next time I will try and visit this beach when theres time to swim there. Its like heaven!
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One tandem canoe comes by and we chat a little with the couple. They are camped on the island near the site we just left and tell us it is the best site theyve ever had. Funny, we think the same thing about the one we just vacated.
We finally move on to Tin Can Mike and have our choice of two sites. We take the eastern site. I actually stayed here in 95 with a friend who has since passed away from breast cancer. I experience a some moments of melancholy throughout the afternoon which are not unpleasant but rather therapeutic in a way. To honor her Ill add that she had a beautiful soul that I am privileged to have known. She loved the BW and was the life of many canoe trips and adventures and 42 was too young to leave. You are missed Cari.
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We have a rabbit visit our little camp and he is brave enough to dig into our lunch pack for GORP and whatever else he can find.
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In our camp we also have a huge tree that has been toppled by beaver activity. And active they are. We have two swimming near our shore who are quite busy, chewing and dragging branches, only to slap their tails at us when we try and get photos up close.
It gets hot enough to take a long swim before supper. Or I should say float as we dont ever actually swim anywhere. We just float out in front of the campsite.
The blueberries are just starting in canoe country and we have a blueberry treat in the afternoon.
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For our last night in the wilderness we have bacon and hash browns in tortilla wraps. We spend a lot of time being entertained by the beavers and loons this evening and the mosquito brigade seems to come early, driving us into the tent. We read for quite a long time, taking sunset pictures by unzipping the screen for a second and snapping photos.
Another good nights sleep with some mild showers off and on through the night.
For many years the last day was alwaysup at dawn to pack up and head out, get on the road, get home. The last few years Ive done it a little different. On our last day we have a leisurely breakfast of oatmeal and toasted bagels. We watch the two groups on the western shore pack up and leave. Take a few more photos around camp and talk about what we want to do next year. Around noon we pack up and head out, knowing the parking lot is only a few hours away.
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We meet up with a father-son group heading out. The boys are all smiles and have had a great trip. Looked hooked for life if you ask me. Its a nice paddle out and the creek is now FULL. No dragging the canoe to the landing. I guess it really did rain a lot those first few days. In the parking lot there are two scout groups waiting for outfitter pick ups. We are able to unload our excess granola bars and cookies. Those scout groups are always good for that!
With everything loaded we hit the road, stopping at Fenske Lake Campground to change into some cleaner clothes and get washed up a little for the ride home. Ely is buzzing as its Blueberry Festival weekend. We stop for pops and begin the drive home, stopping in Virginia to eat.
We agree the years trip was great - Im not sure what it would take to make it NOT great.
Already thinking about next year..- Frost Lake maybe?
(they've been rather scarce lately). If I can persuade Casprrr, maybe we'll take that same trip next year. Sounds like one I could easily manage at my age. Last summer we made a day trip to the N.Hegman pictos. As others have commented, the best I have seen in the BW/Q by far.
Sounds like a relaxing trip. Thanks for the update on the artifacts on that first site. When we were there, there was an old rusty lantern hanging on a post near the fire grate. We stayed at the last site, too.
Frost is a good choice for next year. If you like beaches, there is a fantastic site with a huge wide sandy beach. Tents can be set up anywhere under the canopy of red pine with very little undergrowth. Lots of places to wander around camp, too.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
Enjoyed your report. Looks like you two had a very nice and relaxed trip...took time to enjoy your surroundings. I read your words about the feelings generated by camping at the same site as you once did with your departed friend - read them with much sympathy.
Your photos were very good, only wish they were a bit larger.
Nĺr jeg brřler, blir alle i skogen redd, sa bjřrnen! -Ha, det er vel ingenting sa lřven. Nĺr jeg brřler blir de enda reddere. -Vĺs sa grisen. Det er ikke noe. Bare jeg nyser, tror hele verden at de vil dř!
Has anyone used a Bell Magic for a fly fishing craft. If so did you find its' stability profile ample enough to cast in a variety of directions from the seated position? How does it compare to similar canoes like the Prism for that role?
If you're tipping a canoe over fly casting, it's your technique that needs improvement, not the canoe. I've never been in a Magic, but I flyfish from my Prism all the time. Get the canoe you like and have fun fishing from it.
I've fished out of a Prism before and had no problem, but the Magic is something like 4" narrower at the waterline so didn't know how much more touchy that might make casting from it.
I've fished out of a Prism before and had no problem, but the Magic is something like 4" narrower at the waterline so didn't know how much more touchy that might make casting from it.
and the canoe was rock solid while loaded and in some windy conditions- absolutely tracked great and felt very comfortable after I got the canoe trimmed correctly. That said, I never got truly comfortable while fishing after I unloaded all my gear at camp. I felt somewhat tippy and was actually concerned that if I hook a large fish, I would have a real problem on my hands. I still did some fshing, but, in all honesty, probably not as much as I would have had I felt more stable. I was not fly fishing but maybe this helps you, maybe not. Just my opinion, others' experience may vary.
The Prism is the most comfortable solo I have ever fished from. Either jigging for walleyes or fly fishing for smallies it was awesome. But it was a real killer when a stern wind came in when traveling. The higher bow and stern caught way too much wind. Used this boat for about 7 years before getting the Magic. Loved the tractor seat in the Prism so put one in my Magic. This lost stability so had to lower the seat by 1 1/2 inches and reagained all the stability. This boat handles just awesome in all conditions. Cross stern winds are no problem. I have been fly fishing out of the Magic for 11 years and many giant smallies were not too fond of me and my Magic. Some of those 23 inchers can really pull the Magic around. If you are only going to be fishing on calm water and not travel much-----get the Prism. If you trip----get the Magic. As Kensofe mentioned, when the canoe is unloaded of everything except fish gear it is more tippy than when fully loaded. This is the case in every canoe I have been in. It only takes a minute to get used too. Fly fishing is no problem in the Magic. Use a 9 foot rod.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of playing a fun songwriter's show at the Balsam Mountain Inn. It is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains about 45 minutes south of Asheville. The county it is in claims that it has over 300 waterfalls in the area, so one day Mrs J-stroke and I went up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and found 4 of them:
...the lower falls at Graveyard Fields? I recognize the second as Sliding Rock, the third as Moore's Cove, and the last as Looking Glass, but the first has me stumped. Hope you enjoyed your visit to Transylvania County--it's a great place to visit , play, or live! Did you have time to visit Dupont State Forest while here? It also has several nice falls and a wonderful trail system...
Regards,
TZ
I'm impressed that you knew all those. I've been to the upper falls at Graveyard Fields a few years earlier. Didn't get to Dupont but I had been there a few years ago as well.
Jstroke,
My wife and I have had the good fortune of living (and playing!) in Transylvania County, NC, since the early '70s, except for a couple short forced job-related relocations... Both our kids, now in their 30s, were born and raised here. I'm now semi-retired and do volunteer trail work both on the Pisgah District (home to three of the four waterfalls shown) and on Dupont State Forest...
Regards,
TZ
The one of you and Gracie in front of the falls would make a great Christmas card. We love waterfalls, too. We've hiked to almost all the ones in the Smoky Mountains.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
How to hunt deer with a mountain howitzerhttp://www.buckstix.com/howitzer.htm keep scrolling down. Might be tough to portage into the BW and I can not endorse this method.
Get a hold of "Atomic Annie." Of course, it goes without saying that one would face some serious issues transporting this size artillery piece around the BWCA. Or most places, for that matter.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." Mark Twain
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." Mark Twain
I actually had a friend that was one of the soldiers in the trenches. He used to tell the story how he could see all the bones in his hands when the blasts went off. They would wait for the shock wave to pass and then walk through the blast area. The idea was to give the soldiers confidence in the weapons system and to show the survivability of an nuclear exchange. He was the last surviving person from his squad - all others had died from various forms of cancer.
Talk about hunting the hard way! What's interesting is that in the history of artillery there have always been a few creative, assertive, whacked out, or just plain hungry soldiers who used their large-bore weapons for gathering food. In Officer's Basic (Fort Sill, OK 1973) we were taught that when "in country" (i.e., Viet Nam) food-gathering should be done with small-bore weapons. 105mm howitzer rounds cost about $50 apiece, while M-16 ammunition was pretty much free. Machine guns were frowned upon for this purpose because, although effective, they tended to damage the meat too much.
But I found that really funny, I like the section at the bottom on hunting cats with a Cohorn mortar. Though showing the dead cat may have been going over the line just a tad. I live near a restored 1812 Fort and my daughter was a volunteer there many years. I've watched thousands of cannon and mortar demo with just powder and I always wonder, "What if..." now I know. Thanks,
Dave
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn Pro,"
Hunter S. Thompson
know how you did. I will be hunting south of Longville. Lot of hunters. Too many hunters there, you should have a little more elbow room where your going.
YOU, of all people, are extolling the virtues of the Yankees- THE YANKEES! Are you kidding me- since when did you jump on the YANKEES band wagon?!!! Take it back or blame it on your lackey- I have too much respect for you to think of you in Yankees pin stripes....please, please take it back!
I thought you were a baseball fan?!! I know you take any chance you get to throw some arrows at the Cubs, and they deserve it- BUT, the YANKEES?!!! C'mon, now,....this is truly a sign of the end times!
But being a Yankee hater is a waste of energy.
They are what they are. I just root for the Sox to win....oh, and the Cubs to lose, because that's energy well spent, and it always seems to pay off.
but I still like you Ken
I'm traditionally a Cubs and Red Sox fan, so Yankee hating is mandatory. But I've pretty much lost interest in baseball altogether the past few years anyway.
It opened in 1914 as the Home of the Chicago Whales of the Federal League.
The Cubs (never coming up with anything original, on their own), moved in, in 1916.
They won their last World Series in 1908.
to some terrible officiating. But, eventually I'll get over it. I remember that my dad was an avid Yankee fan all his life (lived to 96+). Appropriately, they put his Yankee cap beside him in his coffin.
it was bad umpiring, not "officiating".
Picky ? maybe, but Baseball is baseball & football is football.
The Twins were robbed. Would it have mattered ? we'll never know.
Actually I feel rather conflicted about the Yanks. As a kid, they were "my team", but that was in the Mantle/Maris/Berra era, managed by Ralph Houk; Micky Mantle was from Oklahoma (as am I) and they were very accessible, always being on the the CBS Game of the Week. Probably the only team to appear on national television every week.(I didn't realize at the time that they were owned by CBS).
About the time that era was ending (late 60's) I quit playing baseball (well, gave up sitting on the bench) and so lost interest. When I regained an interest in the mid 80's, the American league had long adopted the Evil Designated Hitter so I had to go with a National League team. Hence my interest in the Cubs.
The Evil Designated Hitter is the greatest abomination in the grand old game. Greater than the other evils: interleague play, division and league playoff series, and the resulting schedule that extends into November.
And to keep this on topic, those evils are from the same Spawn of Satan that brought us the evil double-bladed paddle!
If dogs don't go to heaven, then when I die I want to go where they are. -- Will Rogers
Yes I had forgotten about them. It does seem that those were a flirtation of the 70's-80's and we are getting away from that - along with 'all-purpose arenas' instead of purpose-built ball parks.
That too, is part of my enchantment with the Cubs. Still playing at Wrigley.
If dogs don't go to heaven, then when I die I want to go where they are. -- Will Rogers
There are usually great exhibitors and speakers, and it's free.
Cold camping is fun, but the warm setup is much more enjoyable. Doesn't take much to build a sled or toboggan, but the tent / stove combo can be a bit spendy. Sure is nice to get out that time of year though.
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"You cannot trust your eyes if your imagination is out of focus"
Anyone have first-hand experience with Cannon Paddles? I see they have a bent-shaft aluminum/plastic model on their website (need to replace one of my duck hunting beater paddles).
I have always used the phrase "high enough to hunt ducks with a rack" and I won't what that pertains to. LOL but use use and paddle and I have to see that.
I would rather be upside down in a canoe than right side up at my desk!
I have some of their earlier models, including the Hawaiian Power Paddle sold by Spring Creek. These are high quality paddles, not beaters like Carlisle or Caviness. Unfortunately, Cannon could not overcome the perception that aluminum = beater so their current bent shaft model is closer to what Pete is looking for.
Is it possible to remove a blade from another paddle and fit it to your old bent shaft tube? Or even taking a cheap (used) plastic aluminum paddle and bending it to your specs? If you know an electrician or metal fabrication shop that frequently bends conduit they may be able to bend it. I have never used a bent shaft but those old Carlisle paddles sure used to take a beating breaking ice on my old muskrat trap line.
and get to it this evening. Still trying to dry out and repair various duck hunting equipment and accessories from the weekend - and we have some ducks to pluck and wax this evening as well.
Then of course the deer hunting stuff has to be sorted through and gotten ready for this weekend. Jr. went ahead and screwed up our hunting plans when he qualified for the State Cross Country race on Deer Opener, but I'll have a big grin on my face anyway. The plan is to have the hunting gear in the vehicle, and we will hopefully be in the deer stand before dark on Saturday night. I told Jr. the faster he runs the race the quicker we can get to the deer hunting.
Life may be a bitch, but it beats the alternative.
The mallards had vanished. No surprise when ducks move on at this time of year, especially given the wind, cold and snow. However, sometimes they don't head south - - but find a spot away from the hunters.
There were several hundred plump mallards Friday, but on Saturday morning they were gone. After a brief search at sunup, we punted and went to Plan B, which was a diver hunt on another lake. As Jr., his buddy and I knocked down a few ringbills and an absolutely stunning pair of drake buffleheads, my mind was feverishly considering the missing mallards.
The mallards had been working the rice beds, and there was still plenty of food available. Could they be possibly be holed up in a nearby beaver pond? Jr. has been on several of these search and destroy missions with me, and shuddered when I broached the subject. His buddy was interested, but Jr. put his foot down and simply said "I'm out - we'll come back here and shoot some 'bills!"
The boys were up and out in the wee hours, but I slept in until sunrise, and then gathered up a light daypack, rousted the pup, and we headed out.
It was snowing - again. The pup was anxious, but settled in at heel as we trudged down the trail. About 20 minutes in, we reached the first water crossing, left the trail, and headed in to the Great Unknown. As we fought our way through the tag alders up out of the flowage, a partridge thundered up - and the pup glared at me when I failed to get the gun up in time.
Up and over a ridge, through brush and over deadfalls, we worked our way to a small flowage that has beaver ponds, some wild rice, and is rarely seen by others. The first three pond areas were fields, with the creek winding lazily through the grass and hummocks. There was plenty of deer sign, a bit of moose activity, but alas - no mallards.
The pup stayed close, and as we topped a small rise I could see water shimmering up ahead. My heart skipped a beat - it was the pond I hoped would be active - and fresh beaver ponds can be a real magnet for mallards.
Stopping to rest for a moment, I stripped off a layer and made sure of the location of shells and binoculars. The pup got a Milk Bone, and we began our stalk of the pond.
Getting through a grassy field that used to be a forest before the beavers dammed it up and killed all the trees can be a challenge, and getting through quietly is another thing entirely. Finally we reached the rocky ridge, and clambered up quietly, and slowly. The pup was into it, knowing we were sneaking up - and he loves the game. We were the predators, the top of the food chain, and we both knew it.
As we neared the crest, both of us were on our bellies, and crawled the last few yards slowly and quietly.
The noise startled me. The pup's teeth were chattering, and he was drooling like he just caught a frog. His head kept swiveling, and I hissed at him - "SSSSSSSSStay". He lay quietly, and I crawled the last few feet alone, only to find no ducks below. The chattering continued, and I carefully looked around - the pup is young, but no fool. Something had him spooked.
Backing down, we worked slowly around the pond, and I finally realized the pond was barren - no ducks for the predators.
There is a nifty little ledge there which has been a lunch/rest spot for generations, so I broke out the Gatorade, a candy bar and the Milk Bones, and the pup and I sat down for a break.
The pup kept staring up at the rocky ridge - and when the wolves lit up I had to smile. There were 4 of them, and they soon came out and sniffed the area we had crawled up a short while earlier, whining and moaning and giving a few barks and yips. The pup was outraged - and the hair on his back looked like a porcupine as he finally squared off in front of me and gave his most ferocious WOOF!
The wolves trotted down the hill towards the water, and I had to call the pup back to heel. Finally, I stood up and the wolves vanished quietly and quickly.
The dominant predators met other dominant predators, and we all fooled one another to a certain extent. We must have been right on top of them during our stalk (Pete the Predator totally missed them), they thought they stood a chance of getting the pup (not likely), and the pup thought he stood a chance against the wolves.
The mallards had indeed headed south. The sun came out a bit as we hiked back to the truck, and the little snow remaining melted off.
It was a good way to spend a Sunday.
Life may be a bitch, but it beats the alternative.
We were doing the portage between Battle & Hassle lakes with our paddling companion Riley....... me with the canoe and my wife with the day pack & paddles. Two thirds of the way to Hassle, Riley alerted and became VERY squirrly. He froze in place and practically had to be dragged the rest of the way - - often looking back on the trail as we went.
He was much relieved to hop into the canoe once it was on Hassle.
By his behavior, I'm pretty sure he sensed the presence of some predator(s), and at the time we weren't so sure that we were the "superior predators" on that trail. It also made us realize that we were trespassing on the turf of the resident critters. All part of the "wilderness" experience.
Our remnants of wilderness will yield bigger values to the nation's character and health than they will to its pocketbook, and to destroy them will be to admit that the latter are the only values that interest us.
Aldo Leopold
Barb in KC
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"We listened for a voice crying in the wilderness.
And we heard the jubilation of wolves!"
Durwood L. Allen
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." --John Muir
TJ had a similar adventure last weekend, and boy was he disgusted. It was a man and his bow, (no dog!), sneaking around the backwoods wearing camo being followed by and encountering several very brave wolves. Apparently they were enjoying his deer scent. LOL TG
I've followed this board on and off since it was established in, gosh, 1997? You all are seriously the nicest group of people - your respectfulness, gratitude and 'passion for the paddle' and everything that comes with it is just awesome.
Here's my story... My childhood paddling mates and I have said for years that when the three of us turn 40, we want to celebrate with our first trip to the Quetico. That year is 2010 and it's time for me to get the ball rolling. Since we've never been there, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed on how to get started and would be very grateful for any 'steerage'.
Some of the decisions are interconnected, but it seems like the most 'advance' thing that needs to be done is getting entry permits? To do that, one obviously needs to figure out where (and when) to go. I don't know if 2010 entry permits go on sale on a specific day, or how quickly they sell out for the more desirable entry points. We have all our gear, but would at least want help from an outfitter for route planning, maybe tow service, and first night/last night accomodations. With all that said, how does this work - should I first pick an area, then find an outfitter, then start thinking about the rest?
If that's the way to approach this, could anyone recommend a general area for us? We think we want the Q vs. BWCA for an extra layer of remoteness & quiet. We're experienced paddlers in good shape (realizing of course that the only way to train for portaging with packs is... portaging with packs ). No real specific trip focuses or needs - scenery is good, fishing is good, solitude is good, take some pictures and just enjoy the splendor. Maybe a couple traveling days, base camp a couple, then a couple more traveling days on the way out. For our first trip, we're thinking something in the warmer months.
Thanks in advance for any help...and sorry for the long post. Obviously lots to get decided and I just need some help getting started. We couldn't be more excited to see & experience such a magnificent place, after all these years thinking about it.
CCBB (officially - even though you've been lurking)! Sounds like you're off to a good start with the most important thing: three guys who are definitely "in" for the trip. I guess the only thing I can add is you'll have to decide whether you go with a 3-man canoe, a tandem + a solo, or 3 solo canoes. (Or add another person)
Looking forward to hearing how the planning progresses and how the trip goes. I think you'll get some great reponses here.
Might be worth it to start in the BW side (Prairie Portage) and make your way up into Q, rather than drive up to Atikokan or wherever. There have been some great trip reports written here about that route.
The permit can be made by phone,5 months before your entry date (Jan 15th for June 15th).With most entry points allowing 2 groups a day we always call that morning as soon as they open 7am EST
http://www.ontarioparks.com/ENGLISH/byphone.html
Though I've only done 3 trips into Quetico all from the US side,Cache Bay or Prairie Portage.The Falls Chain entry would have to be top on my list for scenery and fishing.Not much solitude as your traveling on the river but one jump off the route and you'll find solitude.We had McEwen lake to ourselves for a week one June.I've always done my own routing.Stare at maps for hours,use the SEARCH on here,I always find 2-3 trips routes and then let the group decide at our winter meeting.
Pick an entry day, and a second option entry day.
Decide upon an Entry Point with a back up entry point in case the number one pick is taken.
Decide upon how many days you are planning to be in the park.
Call as mentioned by Kev starting at 7am 5 months to the day of entry. "888-668-7275" Be prepared to call over and over. Some entry days are harder to get through than others.
Unless you enter with a tow from Lac La Croix be prepared to be crossing big water with wind and waves. NOTE: The main reason I tow to Prairie Portage is to get across Basswood Lake before it gets to rough. This also allows for getting deeper into the park on day 1. I have found the deeper you go in, the more solitude you tend to find, in most cases.
Upon securing a permit, then order RABC permit per person, unless entering from the north or Lac La Croix. If you guys plan to fish you will need Fishing Licenses and a Fishing Card per person.
As to the actual planning there are several very good books out there that offer help. If you plan on any of the routes in the picture below drop me an email I can help. I can also recommend a couple outfitters I know personally that will steer you in the right direction.
Thank you! Entering the Q from the south, your tow logic sounds like a good investment to get deeper on Day 1. Thanks also for the words on getting RABCs after nailing down permits, fishing licenses, etc. Wow - have you tripped on all those routes?! I may indeed look into a planning book and/or take you up on your offer of e-mail as we get closer to launch. My gratitude to you...thank you.
In many ways it's easier to pick an entry in Quetico than the BW, because there is less variation in the Quetico entries. In the BW, some entries are teeming with newbie hordes, while others lead over rugged portages with few entry permits and more solitude. In Quetico, they essentially all lead to more solitude once you get a half day in. Some routes are more heavily traveled (Falls Chain), but you can still get away quickly almost no matter where you go in.
The biggest decision is probably North versus South entry. Northern entries have cheaper camping fees and don't usually involve a tow, but require a longer drive if you are coming from the U.S. Southern entries are easier to get to but the fees are more expensive and a tow is usually a good idea, especially your first time. Each entry is associated with a ranger station, and you get the permit at the ranger station as you paddle in, then head toward your "entry" (you have to get the permit at the ranger station on your entry date, but you don't have to reach your "entry point" that day). I like going in at Prairie Portage because it is easy to get to and affords so many options being in the middle of the southern boundary of the park. There are five EPs accessed through PP - Carp Lake leads to the Man Chain and eastern border lakes; Agnes, Kahshahpiwi, and Sarah lead to the Interior; and Basswood River leads to the western border. I'd opt for one of the first four, especially the middle three, to get maximum solitude.
One last thing for now: although you can get a permit 5 months ahead of time, lately the supply of Quetico permits exceeds demand, so there are typically permits available late in the game if you are at all flexible. If you know when and where you want to go, by all means get your permit as soon as possible, but if you don't know yet, don't feel rushed, you'll get a permit.
Thank you, Ho Ho. Seeing your logic on north vs. south was very helpful and I also appreciate the specific route recommendations from Prairie. Also good to know that if something changes or we can't get dates nailed 5 months ahead, that we'd stand a shot at still getting an EP closer to departure. Thanks again!
Thanks for your response! You raise a good point and that is which month we should shoot for. Since our families started having kids 15 years ago, our paddle/camping trips have been almost exclusively early/late season. In fact, I think we've only done a 'warm' trip twice in recent memory. That said, for our first experience in the Q, I think I'm leaning toward a trip in the prime season. Other than the obvious temperature differences, are there any other considerations to going in June vs. July vs. August? Are bugs worse as the season goes on, fishing better, etc - or is it all about the same?
A lot depends on whether we have a cool or hot summer, but here are some generalities:
June - bugs worse including black flies earlier in June. June can be extremely rainy - I remember one June in BW where 28 of 30 days had rain. You can still get some very cold days in June. Fishing - walleyes are generally shallower and feeding and therefore easier to catch. Pike can still be in the shallows in early June if we have a cool spring. Bass can be caught on the spawning beds in shallows. Lake trout are typically out of the shallows moving toward deeper water. Water is cooler (too cold?) for swimming.
July/August - bugs better, especially late July through August. You will still usually have the dusk swarms of mosquitos. Weather is dryer and warmer and can be hot. A cold day is rare. Most would call July/August better weather than June. My recollection is there is less wind in July/August than June. Fishing is still good but can be slow for the inexperienced. You have to go deeper so it can be more challenging. Lake trout are in their summer holes which can be good. Water is warmer for swimming. Can be more "crowded" which makes permits harder to get. The best campsites are more likely taken but you can camp anywhere in Q so you will have somewhere to camp.
Go in from the north and rent your canoes from an outfitter in Atikokan. Let them take care of the permit and have them drive you to Stanton Bay for a quick entry to the park and Pickerel Lake. You could bunk the night before at the local hotel. I think this option could save you lots of hassle.
Thanks! I'll definitely look at the north side as an option. From what you & others have said, it sounds much quieter from that side. We'll be coming up from the south, so I guess we'll have to decide if the extra drive is worth the bene's of a north entry. Thanks again!
There needs to be widespread viewing of this right here in this country as we are rapidly sliding in that direction.
--
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Sherwin
When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear
the birds sing sweetly in the trees: when I look down from lofty
mountain grandeur and hear the brook, and feel the gentle
breeze: then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee: how great thou art!
either you equate trying to fix some things that would help a bunch of people with communism(or socialism, whatever) - in which case you'd have a pretty high regard for communism - or you doubt the sincerity of those attempting to improve things, as if there's some diabolical, Simon Barsinister-type plot to turn us into the Soviet Union. Whichever one you subscribe to, I respectfully disagree. I don't think we're "rapidly sliding in that direction" at all.
I was pointing out that (thankfully) the cartoon is largely preaching to the choir when viewed in this country. Sean Penn aside, I don't think there are too many Hugo Chavez buddies around here.
Howards comment make me wander how many people associate the video with communism and how many associate it with other ism.
Socialism
Fascism
How many people think you can be free and live under any ism.
MagicPaddler
Especially my own. Despite the numerous imperfections of our Western systems, I think they are the best that we can make them, for the majority of people.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." Mark Twain
the post above is the first I've seen here that recognizes that the system we've got in the USA does a rather good job in providing it. Are there descrepancies ? Sure, but a little knowledge of history shows things were far worse in the past, and still are terrible in some places today. Our system of representative democracy, even though it's often "sluggish" in its responses, does keep away from extremes of the "left" and the "right". We have to hope that the middle of the road will continue to be the path we take.
After I had posted a statement describing the US as a "representative democracy", you replied that it is a "Constitutional republic". I have encountered your description before and have always wondered if those making it are suggesting that the two are somehow contradictory. What exactly do you mean when using that expression ?
A constitutional republic is a state where the head of state and other officials are elected as representatives of the people, and must govern according to existing constitutional law that limits the government's power over citizens. In a constitutional republic, executive, legislative, and judicial powers are separated into distinct branches and the will of the majority of the population is tempered by protections for individual rights so that no individual or group has absolute power. The fact that a constitution exists that limits the government's power makes the state constitutional. That the head(s) of state and other officials are chosen by election, rather than inheriting their positions, and that their decisions are subject to judicial review makes a state republican.
Most notable example of a constitutional republic: The United States of America.
A democracy is majority rule situation with no requirement to protect individual rights. There is no limitation on what the the majority can do. That's why the founding fathers avoided creating a democracy and created a republic. The word "democracy" does not appear in the constitution, because the US is not a democracy of any kind. It is a constitutional republic.
that's a pretty significant difference. The terms are commonly thrown around interchangeably.
Those founding father were pretty smart - I appreciate their work!
Hamilton, Jay, and Adams (no they are not a rock band ) made many specific references to the difference between a republic and a democracy in their writings in the "Federalist Papers". The founders were truly visionary in my humble opinion.
I am hoping to do some winter camping this year. I have done mostly "cold" camping in the past, but that was years ago. I am hoping some of you will share some thoughts on cold (more traditional, summer set-ups) vs. warm (wall tents with stove) camping, and where you find yourself camping in the winter. Anybody pull gear into the BWCA? yurt-to-yurt ski trips?
Just figured we might get people to share experiences or knowledge on this now that the open water season is nearing its close.
I usually don't do much winter camping, but there is nothing like pitching the tent before
the snow flies, then enjoying some quiet paddling on the water. This early frosty morning, we were the
only canoe on the lake. The only ripple on the water, aside from the paddle, was the dropping
of the camera into the lake. Still, a great morning! Have fun planning your winter journey!
There are usually great exhibitors and speakers, and it's free.
Cold camping is fun, but the warm setup is much more enjoyable. Doesn't take much to build a sled or toboggan, but the tent / stove combo can be a bit spendy. Sure is nice to get out that time of year though.
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"You cannot trust your eyes if your imagination is out of focus"
Some great info here. I have bookmarked the snow trekker site and will dig in when I can. I had planned on the MW Mtnrng Outdoor Expo. I am a regular at the spring expo, and have had other responsibilities during the winter event. I am excited to check it out this time.
The winter trekker site is fantastic. You can't go wrong with the information or advice you'll find there. I took my first two winter trips last year. Both were traditional winter camping trips...canvas "hot tent" and wood stove. We hauled our gear in on ten foot plastic toboggans made for the trip. If you decide to go the traditional route, and not cold camp, check out the book Snow Walkers Companion by Garrett Conover. Piragis in Ely rents snowtrekker tents, stoves and pulks. The Canoeist in Two Harbors appears to rent everything you'd need to hot tent it.
Where to go can be an issue. Its not as simple as driving to an entry point and unloading. Both of our trips were on east side of the BW. The forest service roads will probably not be plowed and finding parking spots along plowed roads is also an issue. We went in the first trip into Sawbill. Plowed roads and parking make it a great place for a first trip. We encountered significant slush on the lakes in spite of the cold (-23 F ).Because of the slush we decided to try a hiking trail for our next trip so went to Eagle Mt. I learned that toboggans are not made for hauling on hiking trails. I am looking into the Ely area for this winters trips.
Located in Ashland, Ohio Located 90 mi. S of Cleveland. It was her birthday so we popped in for the day. After her presents were opened, she requested we get her out of sight of campus. Being the good dad that I am, a plan was instantly hatched. We would travel 30 mi. east to the little town of Kidron, Oh., to visit Lehman's Hardware. Every 19 year old should have the chance to spend quality time with their parents at a good hardware store. Now this is not your average hardware store, it is more like a museum/hardware/appliance/stove store, with a healthy online business. The place is located in a large Amish community and origanlly catered to their needs. They advertise they are a non-electric store, which is largly true. We spent several hours wandering through the place. You can get an idea of what they carry if you look at their online site, but you really have to see the place. If you get up that way and you are heading to Cleveland and would rather not, swing off I-71 on 250 east and see the place for yourself.
My wife and I went up to Bear Head State Park last weekend. We were going to camp, but decided instead to explore one of the "camper cabins." A really nice experience. The park has five or six of these very simple cabins, quite new. Electricity (to include electric heat) but no other amenities save a table and bunk beds. $50 per night, so much more money than camping, but quite worth it, in my opinion. We found them exceptionally clean, very well maintained, and the place was QUIET (though there was some minor construction going on in the campground area).
No cooking is allowed in the cabin itself, so food prep has to be done outside on a picnic table. Not a bad deal last week, but may be more problematic in the winter time.
We hiked nearly every trail in the park, or so it seemed. Nobody out in the woods where we were. A very nice weekend.
Mike in Minneapolis
Everybody knows rock and roll acheived perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact.--- Homer Simpson
I have always wanted to visit that park and hope to in the near future. When I was at Jay Cooke State Park in August I noticed the camper cabins they had and thought they would be nice to stay in during late fall times.
I have fond memories of Bear Head, but haven't found myself there since I was a child. My grandparents took me there for a couple of years before my grandfather died when I was young. I make it to Ely a couple of times per year, but always stay u pthe Echo Trail or head into the BWCA. I always assume that Bear Head is pretty busy at most times of the year.
I appreciate the info on the camper cabins. Hoping to give those a try in the near future.
look to to be a KOA invention. I was chatting with the manager of the KOA in Billings Montana a couple of years back, and they claim to be the originator the Kamper Kabin concept.
Whoever came up with it, it is a nice concept for the traveler. I have utilized both the KOA and state-run campground versions in a number of states, and been well-pleased. Not all of them are up to par, so buyer beware!! If you are self-sufficient in terms of food and bedding, the freedom of using these types of facilities makes cross-country travel extremely simple and cost-effective.
Beats the heck out of the "facilities" available in Yellowstone.... (but thats another story entirely.....)
Life may be a bitch, but it beats the alternative.
Midwest Mountaineering is having an introductory class called "Getting Involved in Minnesota Caving" at their Outdoor Adventure Expo. The date is November 21 at the U of M Humphrey Center, Room 15, St. Crois Stage. The presentation is further detailed in their Outdoor Expo mailing. I'm sure it's also on their website.
Wanted to make sure I got the word out to you. I know you're into caves.
Mike in Minneapolis
Everybody knows rock and roll acheived perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact.--- Homer Simpson
We spend a week in the two harbors area a week ago and saw some nice waves on the lake. I took a viedo and lots of pics. There are more pics on my facebook page. Heres the link to the viedo
Would bolt out from work at a moments notice to go surfing on the lake in 15-20 waves. He had a webpage he would keep an eye on in Oct-Nov to alert him. Nothing as big as Lake Superior could produce but he thought it was fun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tim Eastman (Woodbender)
Be an example worth following.
Well...... they weren't THAT bad, but it seemed that way at the time!
Our remnants of wilderness will yield bigger values to the nation's character and health than they will to its pocketbook, and to destroy them will be to admit that the latter are the only values that interest us.
Aldo Leopold
The woman on the right is my mother about 1910-11. I think, but an not sure, that the man on the left is her older brother. People sure dressed up for hunting in those days, didn't they?
The wife and I were sitting in the waiting room this morning and she says "Hey, isn't that the stupid video you made me watch the other day?" I looked up and they had the local Fox station on, Fox59 and the hostess was playing the Monster Mash segment, said she found it so funny she could not help herself. I did not hear how she introduced it, and I was not sure if it was the Indy version of a morning show or national show.
It will viral soon!!!
Qpassage is famous, the rest of you stars may have to hide your face for awhile.
I thought I'd add a brief review of the Boundry Waters Pants from Piragis. Just before heading in for our October trip, our crew had time in Ely to stop by the Piragis Outlet, which was having my kind of sale; up to 70% off. I had heard about these pants and seen them advertised but wasn't in the playing field at the normal price. I found these pants at the sale and was even luckier to find one pair left of my size. I picked them up for $20!
But even better than my amazing deal, was how satisfied and happy I was with their fit and performance. They are incredibly comfortable and ideal for canoeing and tripping in the BW/Q. Though they are made of cotton they dried very quickly and were nicely breathable. I thought they made them a little shorter for how they are sized, but that too worked out for the best.
Anyway, I loved them! I better stop before I start sounding like Cliff Jacobson.
Our remnants of wilderness will yield bigger values to the nation's character and health than they will to its pocketbook, and to destroy them will be to admit that the latter are the only values that interest us.
Aldo Leopold
I would have looked good if I could have modeled my new polartec underwear I purchased on the way up north if I could have found them. One in our fine party decided to steal them and use them as filler for his pillow!!!! Far be it from me to rat him out but is initials are Kensofo.
looks innocent enough EH?
The model
I would rather be upside down in a canoe than right side up at my desk!
You pressed the wrinkles out of his "fancy pants"?
You did pack an iron along didn't you?
Doesn't look like there was any need for a curling iron!
Our remnants of wilderness will yield bigger values to the nation's character and health than they will to its pocketbook, and to destroy them will be to admit that the latter are the only values that interest us.
Aldo Leopold
Question for a computer guru, in "Command Prompt" I want to ping a website continously. I know you can add something after "ping yahoo.com" to make it go continously instead of just the normal 4 pings. Any help
...I used to live in Mancos and worked at Mesa Verde. For two years of the 48 years of my life I didn't wish I was somewhere else. However, in 1987 it was hard to make a buck, so we moved. It was the prettiest place I ever starved in. To this day I still have dreams that I have moved back, forever.
...at Cummins Tech Center. They were hit hard by the flooding in June of 2008. It flooded everything along Haw Creek and some of it is still abandoned and falling down. I also do work in Bloomington. They just keep growing. Do you remember the Irish Lion downtown? We like to eat there and have their traditional Irish fare.
I checked weather.gov, wondering when the rain would end here in E. Iowa, and saw that eastern CO was under a Blizzard Warning, up to 9 inches of snow and wind gusts approaching 30MPH - yuck! Light at the end of the tunnel, though, as temps by mid-week are forecast to be near 60*F. Yup, it's that transitional time of year. BTW, the rain here should end sometime Friday morning. No snow from this storm.
working late, hunting tomorrow. would have liked to join you. have fun!
I fish because I love to; because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly; because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed or impressed with power, but respond only to quietude, humility and endless patience; because I suspect that men are going this way for the last time, and I for one don't want to waste the trip; because only in the woods can i find solitude without loneliness; because bourbon out of a tin cup always tastes better out there; because maybe someday I will catch a mermaid; and, finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important, but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant--and not nearly so much fun. robert traver aka john voelker
But good time just the same.
Glydr, Magic Paddler, my wife, daughter & myself.
Some good stories & plans discussed over maps & good food.
Thanks for the evening, guys.
Ed
Two pieces of equipment that I considered pretty well bomb-proof have hosed up on me in the last couple of weeks, leaving me surfing websites for replacements, and experiencing the frustration that comes when a trusted brand lets you down.
My bentshaft plastic/aluminum canoe paddle bit it hard. Shoving our canoe through the mud and rice, I heard a crack, and discovered bits of blade breaking off as we went. By the time we cleared the low water, I was left with a remaining blade roughly the size of my hand. Of course, those paddles are not made anymore, so I mourned briefly while we conducted a short ceremony and laid the remains to rest. Bummer. For those of you have debated carrying an extra paddle - once again I was happy to have a spare!
The second failure was a bit more disturbing, and has left me at a loss. After literally destroying the 2 pairs of Chota mukluks a bunch of us scored on from Cabela's Bargain Barn a few years back, I settled on a pair of LaCrosse Alpha boots. These are a neoprene/rubber model of knee boots, and they are an absolute dream to walk in. Extremely comfortable.
Of course, comfort goes right out the window when the darn things start leaking! Worst of all, when a guy is in the middle of a 5 day duck/canoe trip, things can get pretty ugly. ShoeGoo helped a bit, but the leaks developed where the sole and the upper are joined - where your foot flexes. Repairs were temporary at best.
Those boots were less than a year old - a new record for me destroying a pair of LaCrosse boots! Normally I get 3-5 seasons out a pair of Grange boots, so I was extremely disappointed in the early demise of this pair. Now I'm at a loss as to what to get for replacements. The Chotas really spoiled me as a cool/cold water knee boot.
Life may be a bitch, but it beats the alternative.
We bought some in the past that sound something like that & that company hasn't made them in years. Of course, something that works well, they discontinue!
Not to commercialize, but just to let you know I am one of those "outfitter types"
Carlisle paddles. Gary down at Wilderness used to hand them out to his clients regularly, and that's where I first came across them. Eventually I added a few to my own equipment rack, and have been well-pleased with them until the recent incident. To be sure, the abuse on the paddle was pretty severe, and given the miles on that particular paddle, I've got no complaints, other than being unable to replace it with a similar product.
As you mentioned Lynn, it seems like the manufacturers can't seem to carry on with the lines we have grown to know and love.
Life may be a bitch, but it beats the alternative.
I've seen the paddles, but don't recall the details. Is the shaft bent, or the plastic? If it's the shaft, you might be able to replace the blade by cannibalizing a new paddle. You might also be able to bend the shaft on a new paddle. I've got some tricks to offer if you want to try.
but its the plastic blade thats bent on those paddles.
I was scooting up the Fernberg earlier this year, and spotted a paddle laying just off the road. Being the vulture I am, I stopped the car and picked it up.
It was your basic Caviness plastic/aluminum paddle, that had been run over more than once, bending the shaft severely. Chuckling, I picked it up and dropped it off to Joe at Red Rock, telling him I had discovered the origin of the bent-shaft canoe paddle....
Life may be a bitch, but it beats the alternative.
...of you hunkering down the weeds with a stack of Caviness paddles, and sliding them out onto the road as a car approaches. Kinda like a kid with pennies and a railroad track.
I have a pair of rubber bottom/leather upper pac boots similar to the old Bean Maine Hunting shoe, but much heavier leather and rubber, supposedly made in Montana. The second bird season the rubber bottoms cracked across the top and leaked badly. The company rebuilt them with new bottoms. I got one season out of 'em & the same thing happened. Under the insoles I see the rubber parts are made in a S.E. asian country. I'll finish out the season thanks to ShooGoo and my Muck Boots, but will not have 'em fixed unless they get some better materials. My two pair of Muck Boots, 5 and 3 years old have been outstanding. Been hunting all day in them most of October, I'm tempted to get another pair before they cheap 'em up (or down.)
Cabela's currently has their Gore-Tex snake boots on sale for $110, which is $30 off the regular price. I highly recommend them. They're pretty much bulletproof and have saved my ankles from sprains and twists when my regular hikers would not have. They're also comfortable enough for hiking rough trails. The only drawback is that they don't have little air conditioners inside, as my feet still get a bit damp in them on warm days. Also, if you want them waterproof all the way up, the seams around the inserts at the top have to be sealed.
My first experience with Neos was the Tracker, but they fell apart on a 10 day trip in the BWCA. The Sole seperated from the gaiter.
The Surveyor has been discontinued but can still be purchased from this website. They are great. Myself, my wife and 2 tripping buddies swear by them. The cardura is thick and they have a large rind on them to take a beating.
Best thing is your feet are dry. Easy on and off. No compaints.
Muck boots, I think. They served me very well for a week in Quetico and still look almost new. They were spendy - $120 or so at Gander Mountain, but they did me real well this year.
One nice thing about them was that they fold down like the old Chotas do when you're on the portage so you can vent some moisture. Just don't forget to pull them back up when you step in the water...
_________________________________________________________
"You cannot trust your eyes if your imagination is out of focus"
I needed 9 pack liners this summer, and the $5 price (each) at the outdoor stores was daunting. I wanted something clear because the black leaf bags make it hard to find the small stuff way down inside the bag.
I found Demo Bags at Ace Hardware - "woven contractor clean up bags", 6 mil, 42 gallon, tear resistant polypropylene. They are white, not clear. but still clear enough to light up my pack. The price was less than $1 each, as I recall, in a box of 20.
After a couple of trips, the bags seemed to have avoided the punctures and tears that happen in non-woven plastic bags from pot handles, ball point pens, and whiskey jiggers.
The usual disclaimer of any pecuniary interest - just a satisfied consumer. Kind of like finding the wind is blowing from your back.
These bags have a woven net of 1/4 inch squares embedded in the plastic for reinforcement. They can be closed up with a twist tie for the same degree of watertightness as the standard pack liner.
Whether they will float depends on the specific gravity of the contents - your cast iron Dutch oven will plunge to the bottom no matter how watertight the bag (unless you inflate the bag to displace the same mass of water, per Archimedes' example). Methinks I need to bring some additional PFDs for the kitchen pack.
Make a trip to Mills Fleet Farm. They have 24-count boxes of 3 mil, 42 gallon contractor garbage bags - available black and clear.
These bags are tough and are certainly large enough for most canoe packs. I have a CCS Pioneer pack and it's more than large enough for that. And if durability is a concern, my experience has shown me that the bags are ready for another trip as soon as I get home.
Cost for the box of 24 bags? About $15. That's about 63 cents per bag. Pretty good value in my book.
FWIW, your deal with the woven bags for under a dollar each doesn't sound bad either.
No one ever looks back on their life and regrets the adventures they've had.
______________________________________________________________
Pete
Can't remember the name of the place but they have close out discontiued items (mostly black sheep brand)....
anyhow they had these boxes of 100 Biohazard bags for $10 (for the hundred)...huge bags and seriously tough. You really have to work to put a hole in them..easily as stong as contractor bag.
Even though orange they are transulecent.
I think I'm set for liners for a while.
Was thinking out using them as garbage bags but garbage men and landfill people might have an issue with them...even if I turn them inside out
"Those who stop where reason and instinct command never reach the best and highest places of all" Bill Gilbert
Actually I lucked out a few years ago with some box liners. I had purchased some used food packs at the end of the season from CBO on Moose Lake years ago and also purchased a few cardboard boxes. I happened to notice in the basement of our church this large stack of new cardboard boxes. Had no idea what size they were or what they were for. One day while cleaning out 'stuff' they asked me if I might be interested in them. When I put one together it was the exact dimension of a food pack....only about 2 inches or so too tall...but that's no big deal.
must be 30 of them and if a guy isn't too careless each can last several trips.... might polyurethane one some day to see if they would last even longer.
"Those who stop where reason and instinct command never reach the best and highest places of all" Bill Gilbert
Stumpy or anyone else do a little fall gill netting for tullibee or whitefish. I know it use to be very popular, but the numbers of people doing it has been decreasing it. Wonder what lakes are still popular for doing it close to the BWCA ? Its a cold endeaver this time of year. Any stories ?
really though, I never did it when I had the time, back in the day.
I used to see people up at Prairie Portage netting. I should have tried it....I'll bet Pete Zebich has. I think he wrote about it here.
Kodaska commented on the big Moose picture that he was not sure it was photoshop. Actually for this I used another image manipulation program called Painter though it appears Photoshop is becoming generic like Klenix and pampers, no editorial comment there. So I thought I'd have a little fun and see how close I could get to a visible lie.
The original photograph, a nice pike, but nothing extra and a bit messy,
Step one, rubber stamp clean him up a bit
Step three trace the fish
Step four, copy, paste in place enlarge fish 25%
viola a total lie
Natural male Fish enhancement! a little rough around the mouth, (the pikes, not mine,) however if I had taken more time and care tracing I could take care of that. So the fish looks better, but not much I can do about the fisherman, maybe it's the hat.
Dave
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn Pro,"
Hunter S. Thompson
I like the way you walked through the process. Now feather the sharp edges at about 5 pixels (esp. down the back and around the right portage pad) and reduce the whole thing down to about 70KB with a resolution of no more than 72dpi and you'll have done a nice job of validating my second point about the moose picture, i.e., that the resolution is too coarse to tell if it was manipulated. Since we're on the subject, I offer a couple of my own as examples of photo manipulation: the beginning and ending shots of this trip report: http://www.codabone.net/canoeing/bwca/BW08.htm You could probably do at least as well if not better.
Our remnants of wilderness will yield bigger values to the nation's character and health than they will to its pocketbook, and to destroy them will be to admit that the latter are the only values that interest us.
Aldo Leopold
With those hats and fur collars I hope their shooting skeet, otherwise I can foresee a hunting accident. Hope someone has a spot emergency locator or at least a cell phone.
Dave
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn Pro,"
Hunter S. Thompson
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There is a joy in the journey...
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