SOME NOT-SO-POSITIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR NATIONAL PARKS
You are REQUIRED to hang your food in Yellowstone NP. Note that the bear-hanging pole is directly over a prime tent spot. Way to go, trail crew! DO NOT exit your car for a photo op! Animals have a minimum safe distance. Get too close and you’re toast! I grew up in Indiana, a few […]
SOME ADVICE FOR TRIP LEADERS
A bright summer morning on any river. A crowd of canoers prepare for a downstream float. It’s 9:30 a.m. and confusion abounds. “Weren’t we supposed to shuttle at 9?” someone asks. What! You say the shuttle’s gone? I didn’t hear any announcement. How’m I gonna get my car to Reedsville landing?” Between the mix of […]
WHAT? A NEW SURVIVOR SHOW!
I recently got a call from a casting director in California. She was casting for a new TV show, similar to “Survivor”. The idea was to pit an expert wilderness traveler (who often spends weeks in the wilds) against a gear-head with limited backwoods time. The wilderness pro will have basic stuff: map and compass, […]
MY FIRST BOUNDARY WATERS TRIP
Cliff: above center: Note LLBean boots Cliff: Right. Note leather boots. I learned fast that rubber is better! Above: Cliff with Eureka! Drawtite tent–a great tent for its time Above: Cliff center When I was a kid I dreamed of canoeing the Boundary Waters. But my Chicago home was a long ways from Minnesota, and […]
THE BEAR TRUTH!
#1. Bear climbs tree, chews through rope #2 Bears climb trees. Really! Readers who are familiar with my books know that I don’t recommend hanging food packs in trees to keep the food away from bears. Over the years, I’ve come under considerable criticism for this approach because II refuse to comply with what appears […]
HOW TO PICK A GOOD CAMPING KNIFE
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 […]
THE TRUTH ABOUT MAGAZINE/WEB PRODUCT REVIEWS.
Snake River, Yukon, Canada Kopka River, Ontario Point Lake, Nunavut, Canada I am often asked this question: “We’re planning a wilderness canoe trip and want to be prepared with the best equipment. I hear there’s a great new trail stove (tent, rain parka, canoe pack etc.) on the market that is absolutely terrific. It was […]
ONE SHOE FITS ALL IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS!
I recently returned from my annual fall solo canoe trip into the Boundary Waters. My experience began at the Tofte ranger station where for the nth time, I was asked to watch the seven minute ethics video that is required of all visitors. I politely told the ranger that I had seen the video at […]
IT’S IN THE GENES!
Mariscal Canyon, Rio Grande River, Texas Rio Grande River (“The Great Unknown”) I was born in Chicago and spent the first 14 years of my life there. We lived on the third floor of an apartment building in the heart of the city. There were no wild places nearby, not even a city park. The […]
HUDSON BAY BREAD–YOU’RE GONNA LOVE IT!
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 […]