I saw some of what MagicPaddler showed in his picture as well as what DD had in his... minus the "towel". Although my son used his bright pink sleeping bag for his dog for me to find him on Paull Lake like that. My point is you'll see it all and quite often it'll be the tangled mess you found in MP's picture. On better established routes you'll find better campsites and portages for obvious reasons. But I'm guessing like on Jimbo's past trip they had to improvise a lot off the beaten path. I'm looking forward to that myself this year. I'm going to upgrade my saw, but still not going to the power saw or the bear.  And hopefully make some nice places to pitch a tent. It seemed to me Marten actually often times pitched his tent right out on the rock near the lake. I better be ready to do that and have a good mattress. Nothing "boring" about the WCPP. I'm excited to see what other areas have to offer. Thanks Doug!

its_worth_wild wrote on Jan 6^th, 2011 at 1:35am:

Sorry, its not a towel.  Its a "WELCOME MAT" to one and all that might pass by.  My towel is only about 1/4th that size.

Just trying to keep up appearances with Jimbo's Flamingo gang!  They were used on the WCPP group trip in 2009 and it was amazingly easy from a great distance to determine where a party from our group was "hole-up" in a campsite.  Such unnatural colors easily stick out like a sore thumb and if it flapping in a breeze, its an absolute beacon.

I'm a chronic flag hanger on most canoe trips.  It lets others know I'm there (and potentially avoid a long paddle for someone seeking an available campsite.)

dd

Dear Pine Knot

I'd have to disagree with Denton Doc - the photo he showed is not typical at all. I rarely see such colourful towels in the backcountry of WCPP.  Usually they are quite plain andmuch dirtier. Must be at the beginning of his trip!!!
I do agree with your discription tho as you go further north. You will lose the large red and whites - but then life would be boring if we were all the same.  The towel photo is a prime example!!!
The forest is different as it is derived from a different set of conditions.  We do have reds but they are fewer and farther between bscause of the fire regime.  We tend to celebrate those occurances more excitedly as they are at the northern extent of thier range.  Same goes for the Bur Oak that appears here and there.

DentonDoc wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 6:57pm:



You hear that MT now your are officially "white meat" Happy New Year Buddy

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Humaniod, its the OTHER white meat!  

dd

pine_knot wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 12:07am:


Now that's where your off season conditioning program becomes REALLY useful. You duck and roll in a grid pattern approximately the area you want your campsite to be. IF your fast and lucky, you'll have a nice tent pad area and plenty of sawed firewood.
Once that's accomplished, you use the Bear Spray ( non-flaming) and drive the Bear- Saw away

solotripper wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 4:25pm:


Not sure the ten incher would work against this bad boy    :  

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Since we've solved MT'S battery charging issues, why not go GREEN, and get one of these
I would think in Jack Pine it would have enough juice to clear an area big enough for a solo camper.

Maybe even use it to gut/behead those monster NP he'll be catching.
When that pesky bear grabs your food barrel, instead of the flaming Bear Spray, you can whip out your Big 10 Inch  

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In MT's stove...NO. In my stoves, YES , the mix could be burnt to make the bread; fouling could occur I suppose. I suppose the bar oil could work in an Altoid tin candle for those survival sitchiations, and if food grade rape seed oil was used one could have a sublime double use purpose ...oh the bar and pan how  wood that be

Here is a start...

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And a pack to haul it in...

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Might need a high-tech titanium muffler for stealth mode, and kevlar chaps for safety concerns

Just saying...not that I would do it as I am a little set in my ways being the old goat that I am

mastertangler wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 12:42pm:


Then there would be the gas and oil... What could have more than one use. Could that bar and chain oil also cook fish? Could the gas also be used in your stove?