WHAT’S WRONG WITH GASOLINE TRAIL STOVES?
My favorite trail stove is the long defunct Optimus 111B. Known for its power, simplicity and reliability, the B still retains a strong following. One of my favorite B’s is over 50 years old and though it’s been hammered to death on scores of northern trips, it still runs fine. I can’t say the same […]
THREE GREAT WOOD BURNING TRAIL STOVES
Littlbug Stove TREK STOV EmberLit Stove Most of today’s self-propelled campers rely on liquid-fueled (propane, butane, gasoline, alcohol) stoves for all their cooking. But there’s a hard-core minority who prefer the lightweight and reliability of wood. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of wood-burning trail stoves. This said, I almost always bring one on my […]
A SMART NORTHWOODS SURVIVAL KIT
My first job after college was as a forester for the Bureau of Land Management in Coos Bay, Oregon. One rainy January morning I was re-marking the cutting line that defined the area of a timber sale. It was Thursday and I had Friday off and big plans for the weekend, so I hurried to […]
THE DEVIL’S GRIN–A RIVETING TRUE STORY BY AUTHOR/PHOTOGRAPHER, Toni Harting
Book Review: “The Devil’s Grin”, by Toni Harting by Cliff Jacobson Paddlers who are familiar with Toni Harting’s earlier books, “Shooting Paddlers (photographic Adventures With Canoeists, Kayakers And Rafters)” and “French River: (Canoeing the River of the Stick-Wavers)”, will be surprised by this book which was written in 2013, just before Toni died.”. Unlike his […]
PUSHING THE ENVELOPE
North Knife River, Manitoba: the water is very high and shore-line eddies are washed out. It is 45 degrees and raining. A rocky island hides two killer falls that lie below. The right falls can be lined; the left must be portaged. The river runs well into the trees—lining is out. We must portage! We […]
REVIEW: Exped Torrent Pack
Sometimes a product comes along that’s done “just right”. The new Exped 30/40/50 series Torrent dry packs are one of them. The number (30, 40, 50) indicates the volume in liters. The 30 liter model I received for review is ideal for day trips or go-light over-nights. At first look, this pack appear to be […]
REVIEW: NORTHSTAR PHOENIX CANOE
Cliff (L), Larry Rice (R). Both Phoenix canoes. Yellowstone River. CCS spray covers. Bear Paulson, Phoenix canoe Cliff, Phoenix canoe. Upper Missouri River, Montana The Phoenix is a slightly larger version of the no longer manufactured Bell Wildfire/Yellowstone solo canoes. Its extra volume (I judge about 15 percent) is carried more forward and aft than […]
YOU SAVED US! Or, How Not to Stay Lost!
This is from Caitlin Looney, a wilderness therapist in Colorado. Caitlin was guiding a group of teenagers and turned a “lost experience” into a confidence-building, inspirational event. Caitlin did everything exactly right. Follow along on the map as you read her story. Note that her choices reflect an in-depth understanding of backcountry navigation. Cliff —————————————————— […]
TOP TEN CAMPING ITEMS
Newcomers to camping are often put off by the all the things they “think they need” to have a good time. Frankly, you can get by with very little, especially if you are an expert and know what you’re doing. Witness the tales of mountain men like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson who traveled desolate […]
HOW TO SHARPEN A KNIFE
Quick! You’re going on a wilderness trip. What tool do you value most? If you said “a good sharp knife”, you’re in agreement with the experts. Most people use a mechanical device of some sort to sharpen their knives. This is fine as long as “moderately sharp” is good enough and you have space to […]