Outdoor Thread

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:56 am

I just bought my permits for a trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area - a beautiful chunk of wilderness on the Canadian Border in Minnesota that's remained largely unmolested for the last 70 years. If any of you are familiar, I'm going into Snowbank, up to Thomas, and back down the 4, 3, 2, 1 chain - about 35 miles.
One of my best friends is a Navy Seal and he's got some leave in June and he said he wanted to do something awesome that wouldn't remind him of the desert at all. I think this should do the trick.

Given to Fly · Post by **Given to Fly** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 12:34 pm

Barely_Oakely wrote:I just bought my permits for a trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area - a beautiful chunk of wilderness on the Canadian Border in Minnesota that's remained largely unmolested for the last 70 years. If any of you are familiar, I'm going into Snowbank, up to Thomas, and back down the 4, 3, 2, 1 chain - about 35 miles.
One of my best friends is a Navy Seal and he's got some leave in June and he said he wanted to do something awesome that wouldn't remind him of the desert at all. I think this should do the trick.

I did this about 20 years ago. Not sure where we went exactly though. We packed way too much stuff and it was just way too heavy to carry in the canoes during portaging. Two trips each time. :oops:

Pack only what you need! Are you fishing or just taking it all in? Either way, it's beautiful up there. Enjoy!

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:20 pm

We'll hit a bit of everything - I've been up there several times, but this'll be my first trip in a few years. My only question is if I want to portage in my guitar or not risk it.

Given to Fly · Post by **Given to Fly** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 2:32 pm

When we finally set up camp on day one, we hit the water to go find some dinner. 30 min later I dropped my brand new pole into the water and then proceeded to fall out of the canoe trying to retrieve it. Lost the pole, but I was able to get back into the canoe without toppling it over along with all of our gear.

One of my greatest accomplishments.

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 2:51 pm

Well done! I'm bringing a pair of friends of mine from Illinois - I'll be strapping everything to the boats so if they tip we won't lose anything.

Given to Fly · Post by **Given to Fly** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:08 pm

I'll see if I can round up some pics from that trip. All my suff is in boxes currently.

On a side note Barely, if we ever become friends & do this trip together...don't bring the guitar.

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:16 pm

Hehe - Maybe I'll bring my mandolin, it'll portage easier.

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 3:42 pm

I just bought a new pack over the weekend. A portage pack by Frost River Packs out of Duluth, MN. https://www.frostriver.com/shop/old-no-7-pack/

I've always had packs made by "Duluth Pack," but I talked with the folks at Frost River and I guess that when Duluth Pack went under new management they cut some corners and sacked a few of the old timers. Those folks wanted to keep making high end packs, so they founded Frost River. Putting it next to some of my old portage packs this thing is killer. Tough waxed canvas construction, heavy duty rivets on everything and a lifetime warranty. Their business model alone has made a returning customer out of me. I'll probably end up picking up one smaller day pack and then a larger portage pack over the next few years.

ramonz · Post by **ramonz** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:13 pm

Last year was the 20th anniversary of a kayaking/canoeing trip a buddy and I take. Haven't missed a year since we started in 1993. Went from talking about girlfriends/getting laid/work stuff.....to wives/not getting laid/work/kids stuff. Same drunkenness around the campfire, laughing and reminiscing. Really good stuff. We have pics from all 20 years, and vid/pics from the last 10 or so. He has steel trap memory, and recalls every river (mostly in WV, VA, and NC), big rapid, camp spot, etc. since we started.

Any ideas on the best way to "archive" it? Could do a book, but then no vids. Could do something online, but then nothing fun to lazily thumb through. What do you guys do when you want to combine all the elements? Thanks.

Beebs · Post by **Beebs** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:31 am

Barely_Oakely wrote:I just bought a new pack over the weekend. A portage pack by Frost River Packs out of Duluth, MN. https://www.frostriver.com/shop/old-no-7-pack/

That is one freaking awesome pack. That makes me want to wear wool and cook on cast iron. And bust out some sweet whittling.

ramonz wrote:Any ideas on the best way to "archive" it? Could do a book, but then no vids. Could do something online, but then nothing fun to lazily thumb through. What do you guys do when you want to combine all the elements? Thanks.

I'm sure there are better options, but when we do a road trip with the Alaska family or something like that that needs documenting (particularly since having kids) we usually pull together one of the photo books you can make on IPhoto. Basically sort through, crop and edit your photos, plug them into one of templates, add text, maps, etc. Boom. Then we order up a few for grandparents and the like. We keep ours fairly simple and I think they run about $20 each. Like I said: I'm sure there are better and cheaper options that don't come with the Apple price tag.

Seems like it would be pretty easy to edit up a CD of videos and such to go with it. Cheaper option would be to put pictures and everything on a CD, but then you don't have the physical book to thumb through.

I've already got a paddle trip on the calendar for the end of April. I got on the water quite a bit last year. Last trip was Halloween weekend and still I'm already itching to get back out.

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:13 am

ramonz wrote:Any ideas on the best way to "archive" it? Could do a book, but then no vids. Could do something online, but then nothing fun to lazily thumb through. What do you guys do when you want to combine all the elements? Thanks.

Personally, I'm a fan of books. It'd be bad ass to do one of those apple books for every year, or groups of years (1993-1995, etc), almost like a yearbook of shenanigans.

That said, the internet would be the best way to do the videos, I think. If you could put everything together chronologically, it's be cool to be able to scroll through the evolution of your trip. Scanned photos from the 90's, then the first digital photos, then videos and iphone pics. Do a cool write up of every year with maps and such. That'd make a good read.

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:18 pm

I definitely don't document nearly as much as I would like to. It makes me glad I got rid of my last smartphone and it's terrible camera.

My new toy for 2014:

bovine knievel · Post by **bovine knievel** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:21 pm

Iowan wrote:I definitely don't document nearly as much as I would like to. It makes me glad I got rid of my last smartphone and it's terrible camera.

My new toy for 2014:

^^^^^^
awesome!

I bought this last summer.

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:30 pm

Nice! Is that one of the models designed for easier fishing?

bovine knievel · Post by **bovine knievel** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:04 pm

Iowan wrote:Nice! Is that one of the models designed for easier fishing?

yea, it is supposed to make it easier to fish but it is really only that they raised the seat up about 4 inches. At first I thought it would make it top heavy but that hasn't been the case. The cool thing about it is that I can slide the seat all the way back (or remove it altogether) and use it like a SUP. This boat is super stable.

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 6:28 pm

Iowan wrote:My new toy for 2014:

One of them canoes for people without friends?

Just fuckin with ya

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 9:04 pm

Barely_Oakely wrote:
Iowan wrote:My new toy for 2014:

One of them canoes for people without friends?

Just fuckin with ya

I've got a 20 year old Alumacraft sitting out behind the garage.

My old man and I shared my first beer in it on the Upper Iowa.

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:03 pm

Boats are damn good for memories, that's for sure.

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:35 pm

Beaver Creek Valley, Caledonia MN

Beaver Creek

Downtown Decorah, IA (home of Toppling Goliath) from the top of Palisades

Base of the Palisades

Mrs. Iowan looking up at the Palisades

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 2:55 pm

I've driven through Decorah many times, I've always wanted to stop by and go for a hike, but I'm always going somewhere. Looks beautiful.

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 5:19 pm

Barely_Oakely wrote:I've driven through Decorah many times, I've always wanted to stop by and go for a hike, but I'm always going somewhere. Looks beautiful.

There's a great network of hiking, mountain biking, and road bike trails ringing the city, and they're beautiful. Not too real remote or anything, but beautiful none the lest.

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Thu Apr 17, 2014 5:26 pm

Iowan wrote:
Barely_Oakely wrote:I've driven through Decorah many times, I've always wanted to stop by and go for a hike, but I'm always going somewhere. Looks beautiful.

There's a great network of hiking, mountain biking, and road bike trails ringing the city, and they're beautiful. Not too real remote or anything, but beautiful none the lest.

Are there any decent campgrounds around there? I've been looking for some good places to hide out this summer.

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 12:16 am

Barely_Oakely wrote:
Iowan wrote:
Barely_Oakely wrote:I've driven through Decorah many times, I've always wanted to stop by and go for a hike, but I'm always going somewhere. Looks beautiful.

There's a great network of hiking, mountain biking, and road bike trails ringing the city, and they're beautiful. Not too real remote or anything, but beautiful none the lest.

Are there any decent campgrounds around there? I've been looking for some good places to hide out this summer.

Twin Springs is a nice place right in town.

If you want to get out in the woods, Yellow River Forest has some remote campsites (that you have to pack in to). Also, there are two campgrounds in Bluffton (tiny burg upstream of Decorah - absolutely gorgeous), one in Kendallville, and numerous rural campgrounds like Harvest Farms and Hutchinson Farms.

Barely_Oakely · Post by **Barely_Oakely** » Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:51 am

Well, color me interested. I need some fresh air. Is it spring down there yet? We just got more snow yesterday...

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 8:43 pm

Hiking at North Bear Creek, Highlandville IA

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 8:44 pm

Barely_Oakely wrote:Well, color me interested. I need some fresh air. Is it spring down there yet? We just got more snow yesterday...

Spring is officially sprung down here

Clams · Post by **Clams** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:02 pm

This is the Manatawny Creek in Berks County, PA. Mason and I went up there on Friday to fish for trout. We didn't catch a damn thing but it was still a good day.

'Scratch · Post by **'Scratch** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:55 am

Iowan, you're a lucky man given where you live. No Driftless trip this year due to all the snow days killing spring break, and I am really bummed. I would give a lot to rent a little cabin somewhere by you and spend my days fishing, reading and generally fucking off.

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 3:32 pm

'Scratch wrote:Iowan, you're a lucky man given where you live. No Driftless trip this year due to all the snow days killing spring break, and I am really bummed. I would give a lot to rent a little cabin somewhere by you and spend my days fishing, reading and generally fucking off.

That's a bummer! I was looking forward to a trip to the Fireman's Inn. I'm sure there will be future trips though.

Yeah, we're pretty lucky here. An abundance of natural beauty, and fucking no one knows about it, relatively speaking. This winter was damn tough, and I'm not wasting a minute of spring.

Iowan · Post by **Iowan** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 3:33 pm

Clams wrote:

This is the Manatawny Creek in Berks County, PA. Mason and I went up there on Friday to fish for trout. We didn't catch a damn thing but it was still a good day.

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were fishing the Middle River near Winterset, Iowa (Bridges of Madison County).

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