Got my permit for tomorrow. Enough ice is off to get to certain campsites. Have a great summer. Hope to meet lots of people.
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As Spring nears I need to start getting food for the year. I really only buy a few different things and I buy a lot of it. Here is some of the food I bring. Wild rice, thin spaghetti noodles, honey, maple syrup, pancake mix, flavored oatmeal, granola and breakfast bars, soups, and mashed potato mix. I also bring Crisco, fish batter, small bags of peanuts, tuna and Spam pouches, and powdered cheese. That's about all.
Breakfast will consist of either a breakfast bar, Spam, or pancakes. Before berry season I'll add 1 flavored oatmeal pack with some pancake mix to make some nicely flavored cakes. Mio or any other flavored water enhancer will work as well but don't over do it. That stuff is powerful. For lunch I'll probably have fish or a granola bar. I shop on eBay for my granola bars. Bulk recently expired bars usually sell for a good price. The rest of the time I grab food I find along the trail til dinner. Dinners are my big meals. Wild rice with honey and mixed with berries is amazing. Noodles, tuna, and cheese I really enjoy so that is why I choose to bring that combo. The soup I will do occasionally and add the potato mix to thicken it. The potatoes go well with fried fish too. I eat lots of fish-either fried, smoked, or boiled. I'm made it to Ely today and am planning on entering the BWCA tomorrow. Hope to see you out there. Feel free to come say hi and visit for a while if you see me. I'm the handsome guy with the red kayak. I'm planning on being there til mid October. 6 months is kind of what I'm going for but I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle being alone that long. We'll see what happens I guess. Happy camping!
I'm back in St. Cloud now. What a wonderful summer it was. I met a lot of very nice people and would like to thank all of you for your support and conversations. I love being an independent individual but the loneliness really kicks in after a few months. I'll say this now because I know the feeling won't last long...it's good to be around people again. I've got lots of video and photos to sort through. I'll be adding some photos on the site here and the videos to my Youtube page. This picture was taken on the last portage before I left and headed back to St. Cloud. It's the portage that comes from Ram Lake, which has extremely clear water surrounded by some challenging terrain, and goes to the parking lot at entry point 44.
This year I entered the BWCA on May 2 at Fall Lake. I am planning on staying til around the middle of September. I set a goal to stay until I complete 1 full year over the last 3 years in the BWCA. It's been a wonderful year so far and I should have some good photos and videos to share when I return to town.
I'm testing out adding videos to YouTube and will try to have some cool videos on here. I recorded a bunch of portages and some other things this summer. Hopefully some of the videos help give people an idea of what it takes to travel throughout the BWCA. I've decided that this summer I will be heading home again to the BWCA. I've been working out of town and haven't had the time to commit to the pamphlets as much as I wished I could have. So now that work is slow I decided to bring a better camera and take more photos of different plants. This will be the best way for me to produce a better quality product. This fall I will update my photos and have the pamphlets printed. Have a nice summer and I hope to see you in the woods!
Choosing what to bring with on an extended stay is very important. Weight/size vs. effectiveness is what I consider when packing my backpack. I spoil myself in some areas while optioning out of others. I carry a 2 person tent, a hammock, a mosquito net for that, and a tarp. I don't really need all of that but since I stay for so long, I like to have the option. I have a small Thermarest pad for when I sleep in the tent. I use an Enlightened Equipment Revolution quilt for colder nights. I switched to a quilt because they are lighter and better for hammocks. Also, when the down squishes underneath you in a sleeping bag, it eliminates most of its effectiveness. I couldn't say enough good things about my quilt. Bags are a thing of the past for me.
Wood is important to gather as soon as one arrives at camp. I bring with a saw and a hatchet. My saw is a Sven saw with packs small enough and light. I went with a Gransfors Bruks wildlife hatchet. It stays sharp and can really hack through some wood. I've used cheaper hatchets but investing in a nice one is definitely worth it. Living in the wild comes with many activities one must do on a daily basis. I switch campsites fairly frequently. Usually I stay at a campsite for 2 or 3 nights. Sometimes only a day, but every once in a while I will stay for 4 or more nights. Most daily routines can be avoided if staying at a campsite for a few nights by working hard the first day of arrival. Some of my daily routines are as follows:
1. Gather wood - My most important task. I only use wood as a fuel source. I do not carry any fuel or stove. I search for downed trees, mainly for pine because I am solo and have no need for a long burning fire. I will cut enough wood to keep me supplied for 2 or 3 nights. I look around for a downed, rotted old birch tree where the wood will easily pull free. The birch bark is mostly waterproof. I shove wood of different sizes into the birch cylinder and block off the ends with some extra bark. This is enough to provide an ample supply of dry wood should a storm roll through. Old dead pine trees bark can also sometimes be removed in large chunks to make a rain barrier. 2. Explore and search for some edible plants. The plants are all over but knowing which ones are around which sites will allow you to come back at later times for late season edibles. Always look high and low. You don't want to miss some higher growing chokecherries or some wintergreen hidden by some shrubs. 3. Fish. My main source of protein. I eat lots of fish. Cruising along the shorelines should produce some fish. I find that being super close to shore and casting out produces more pike as being out in the water further and casting in towards shore produces more bass. 4. Clean the campsite. After eating, I will clean up my pan or pot. I also always walk along the shorelines and look for trash left by other campers. Most people seem to walk the shore apparently since this is where I find the most trash. The cleanliness of the wilderness needs our help to maintain its beauty. We are all responsible. 5. Relax. Life can be as simple or as complicated as we make it. Sometimes it's nice to have some simple days. |
Mark Zimmer
Outdoor Enthusiast Archives
May 2018
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