Explore the Northern Wilds
Ever been up a creek without a paddle? How about in the camp without a cup? The H2Duo’s got you covered. This food-grade stainless steel bottle by Seattle Sports Company functions not only as a water bottle, but can be separated into one small and one large cup. This feature makes cleaning the bottle a snap.
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One of the biggest gripes about heart rate monitors is the inconvenience of wearing a chest strap. The ePulse2 by Impact Sports Technologies, changes that. The monitor is a simple, one-piece unit like an oversize wristwatch that straps onto your forearm—no chest strap required. And it’s quite simple to use.
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Lately, we've had wolves in the neighborhood. At winter's end, hundreds of deer that spent the snowy months on the south-facing ridges along North Shore move downhill, congregating near Highway 61, where the warming sun exposes bare ground a few weeks before the deep snow melts in the woods. Along with the deer come the wolves.
Although a natural occurrence, this annual mini migration interferes with people. Most of the North Shore's human population lives along the Highway 61 corridor, so they see the deer and wolves along the roadside and in their backyards. Conflicts are inevitable. Cars collide with deer on the highway. Wolves attack pet dogs—sometimes within view of their owners.
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Over the winter I explored the outdoors in media. In this era when many say America's love for the outdoors is fading, I wanted to find out what, if anything, was new and exciting. I was pleasantly surprised with my discoveries.
My exploration began with The Drake, a fly-fishing magazine I found in an outdoor shop in Grand Marais. I was attracted like a fish to a fly by the bright-colored trout artwork on the cover. The Drake ain't your Daddy's fly-fishing magazine. In addition to being an angler, the average reader appears to be young, male, literate and not impressed by authority. It says something about a magazine when the advertising is as fresh and fun as the content. I didn't learn much about fly-fishing reading The Drake, but I sure enjoyed the ride.
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The Canada lynx may be Minnesota's most reclusive resident, but we know much more about this boreal forest wild cat than we did 10 years ago. A story in the current issue of the Minnesota Volunteer describes how researchers at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, used radio-collars to track lynx movements and learn about their habitat needs, reproduction, range and behavior.
What the researchers learned about lynx has practical applications. Minnesota's lynx are classified as “threatened” on the federal Endangered Species List, which means the animal and its habitat must be considered in forest management and development projects. Perhaps the most important outcome of the radio collar research is a better understanding of how lynx coexist with people. According to the Volunteer, lynx do not need to be a flashpoint for environmental controversy. Unfortunately, the successful lynx study may soon seem like a nostalgic song from the days of wine and roses. Recent news stories suggest the current crop of legislators takes a dim view of science.
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Among the land conservation issues likely to be addressed by the Legislature during this session will be state trust lands and the revenue they produce for schools. This column may revisit the topic as the legislative session progresses. But for now, let’s just answer one question: What are trust lands?
For the answer, I called Dave Schuller, lands program coordinator for the Minnesota DNR, which administers the state’s trust lands. He told me the origin of trust lands goes back to statehood, when the federal government granted sections 16 and 36 of every township to the state for the benefit of schools If those sections weren’t available, other lands were given to the state in their stead. Later, the state was granted swampland for drainage projects intended to encourage pioneer farmers.
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Spring is in the air and my angler friends are stirring. Last Saturday morning, emails from two cabin-fevered trout fishermen proclaimed the opening day of fishing on Wisconsin's Bois Brule is less than a month away. If you chase trout in the Lake Superior country, the Brule opener marks the first day of Spring.
After checking my email, I drove an hour north to Thunder Bay to attend the Central Canada Outdoor Show. The rigs I passed along the highway were hauling snowmobiles or dogsleds. While Spring may be on the minds of some fishermen, Winter is still in full swing. But I also noticed a few patches of rock and grass on exposed hillsides, evidence the sun is gaining strength and winter, reluctantly, is on the wane.
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Recently, en route on the Information Highway to other things, I stumbled upon a 2009 New York Times story about urban dwellers who are turning to hunting as way to acquire healthy, inexpensive meat. Many are drawn to hunting as a logical extension of their effort to “eat locally” by purchasing organic produce from local farmers or growing it themselves. They are taking classes and forming clubs to learn about and participate in subsistence hunting.
The story featured urban hunters in suburban Washington, D.C. And San Francisco who were drawn to hunting as adults due to their interest in healthy eating. In San Francisco, founders of a hunting club largely comprised of young professionals had difficulty finding information about hunting in the Bay Area. They now meet and share meals featuring wild game killed by club members.
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Last fall we looked at a 20-acre parcel the state was selling near Grand Marais, one of several on the North Shore included in a statewide land auction last October. It was land I knew well from grouse hunting and brook trout fishing, because it was crossed by an overgrown path that for decades provided public access to a trout stream. During the 1980s, the land even had a sign indicating is was actively managed for wildlife using sportsman’s dollars.
But that was then and this is now, an era when the Legislature decided to sell some state land in order to pay the state’s bills. That property, as well as many others, didn’t sell in last October’s auction, because not much of anything is selling in the state’s depressed real estate market. The last I heard, the properties may be offered again—this time for less than their appraised value. Apparently the Legislature is so desperate to unload public lands it’s willing to give them away.
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Looking for a comfortable day pack? Check out the RIBZ front pack. Designed by a former Navy SEAL, the RIBZ pack can be used as a counterweight for a traditional backpack, as a day pack or even as a fly-fishing vest. Made of rip stop nylon, the pack has large, roomy compartments and will comfortably carry up to 10 pounds. The nylon webbing is easy to adjust and comfortable to wear.
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The rubber or elastic bungee is an item most outdoor enthusiasts can’t do without, although we must put up with occasional failings when the bungees break or become stretched out. Enter the Perfect Bungee from Just Ducky Products. Made of polyethylene, the company says Perfect Bungee maintains its elasticity, doesn’t break and is impervious to the elements.
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The Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover is a phenomenal cold weather top with an outstanding warmth-to-weight ratio. Although lightweight—tipping the scale at just over 8.5 ounces—it’s quite warm, making it the perfect layer to throw on when you take a ski break or during activity in colder temps. The synthetic insulation stays warm even if it gets wet (which is unlikely with its durable water repellent coating), and it’s great at cutting the wind.
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Last weekend Vikki announced she was giving up on feeding the birds for the winter, because she was overwhelmed by whitetails. The deer appeared every time as she came outside to fill her hanging feeders with sunflower seeds. Although she tried to chase them away, they’d immediately return. She’d seen as many as 15 at one time.
The primary problem was that Vikki can’t reach much higher than a deer, so they could easily empty her feeders. The solution was simple enough—raise the feeders. However, now Vikki must either carry a small step ladder on her feeder forays or sunflower duty will be added to my list of daily chores.
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The northern winter deprives me of rock climbing, my favorite outdoor activity. This year, instead of pouting and waiting for the snow to melt, I seized the season as a chance to expand my recreational repertoire. My plan: learn to snowboard with lessons and advice courtesy of six ski areas in the Northern Wilds and transform into a slope-shredding mountain goddess.
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When winter come to northern Ontario and the lakes skim over with ice, many anglers turn to watching hockey or fishing shows. But, with a little preparation, ice fishing for lake trout can provide some of the best angling thrills of the year.
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The Isis Bliss Vest stays true to the functional, feminine outdoor aesthetic of other Isis gear. Cut long to lock out drafts, the Bliss Vest features a contoured waist and a thick, fleecy interior that feels like comfy terrycloth. The nylon outer surface is treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish to repel moisture.
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Need to charge your cell phone, camera, GPS or another device when you are out in the wilds? Take the Fat Cat Charge Card™ along on your next outdoor excursion. Weighing only 2 ounces, ChargeCard™ is the lightest, slimmest portable charger available today.
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The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon—a prequalifying race for the Iditarod—now includes a week’s worth of events. The race itself starts on Jan. 30 at a location yet to be determined. Mushers and their dog teams race an out-and-back route along the North Shore that totals nearly 400 miles.
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