Outdoor Writer & Consultant – Wilderness Guide – Custom Canoe Expeditions into the far north
Outdoor Writer & Consultant – Wilderness Guide – Custom Canoe Expeditions into the far north
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 […]
Everyone who canoes the Boundary Waters knows that the maximum group size is nine people and four watercraft. The rule further states that “…you may not exceed either limit at any time or at any place in the BWCA, including portages, campsites or waterways.” Prior to 1995, a crew of ten were allowed. The new […]
Top to bottom: Idaho Knife Works, “Cliff” knife, Grohmann #1 Camper, Spyderco Military knife (this one is left-handed). The Cliff and Grohmann are carbon steel. The Spyderco is high-end stainless. What do you think is the most important tool to have along on a wilderness camping trip? If you said a good sharp knife, you’re […]
Weatherwool’s new Neck-Gaiter is among a handful of outdoor products I’ve reviewed that are done “just right”. Knit in America (!) from fine (lace weight) luxuriously soft, pure merino wool, it excels in warmth, comfort, utility and elegance. Here’s what makes this neck-gaiter special: Size: It’s about 30 percent longer and twice as thick as […]
Hudson Bay Bread is really a moist, high-energy granola bar.Each piece contains about a million calories! Now that the Corona virus is keeping most of us at home, here’s a delicious, nutritious, fun trail food you can make with your kids. Beware though; kids love it and they won’t stop eating it until they get […]
Ask folks what they fear most about canoeing a wild river where help is an airplane ride away and you’ll probably get these answers–in roughly this order: FEAR #1: Bears! They’re afraid they’ll get eaten alive by one! Or, a bear will get their food! FEAR #2: They fear they will paddle over a falls […]
An abbreviated version of this article was originally published in the 2010 Canoe & Kayak Magazine’s Dealer-marketing Guide (long gone). Given the concerns in law enforcement today, I thought a second look might be enlightening. ————————————————————————————————————– Gates of Ladore, Green River, Utah It began at one of Rutabaga’s famed “Canoecopia” events. I stopped to chat […]
NOT SCOUTING A FAMILIAR RAPID Round the bend you see the dancing horsetails of a familiar rapid. Pangs of conscience tell you to check the pitch from shore before you proceed, but you arrogantly dismiss the warning and plunge confidently ahead. Then you see it—a storm-downed sapling that blocks the way. The canoe spins sideways […]
Dear Cliff: I hope you will forgive the length of this email, but I must write to tell you what an impact you have made on the life of me and my family this past month. Since I’m a teacher myself and know how fun it is to hear that I’ve made a lasting mark […]
Upper Wedding-Cake Falls Land of the Lost West of Lake Nipigon, in the rocky shield country of Ontario, there flows a spectacular river called the Kopka. Along its length is one of the most magnificent falls within the tree line. Here, at what was once called “Mink Bridge Portage,” the entire contents of the river […]