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Topic Summary - Displaying 10 post(s). Click here to show all
Posted by: solotripper
Posted on: Feb 6th, 2025 at 9:43am
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Or Sunset shot, either way great pic Wink
Posted by: HighnDry
Posted on: Feb 6th, 2025 at 8:46am
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Beautiful sunrise shot.
Posted by: portage dog
Posted on: Jan 20th, 2025 at 6:47am
Jimbo, I knew I would not be disappointed.  All these years wandering and wondering and the answer was this simple.  It also explains an experience early in my portage days.  I came upon such an ancient jug on a distant lake between such no-name lakes amidst a pile of what I now presume were stone pine gnawings.  I opened the cork with an effervesant pop and took a draw, then immediately spat it out.  My uniformed assumption was that this rancid liquid I'd found was an aged pee jug of some old voyager too lazy to leave his canvas in the dark of night.  Regaining consciousness, a short while later, I noted several bite marks about my appendages - yet not another living being around for miles.  I now understand what I encountered was this fabled pine liquor.  If you ever cross that lake between the no-name lakes, you may just find that jug sitting there. Temptingly. 

While I appreciate your invitation to join the expeditionary search this paddling season.....I've seen your dental work.  Shocked

pd
Posted by: solotripper
Posted on: Jan 19th, 2025 at 11:51am
Jimbo wrote on Jan 19th, 2025 at 11:40am:
portage dog wrote on Jan 19th, 2025 at 10:05am:
Looking at today's pic of beaver downed pine reminds me of all of the pines, cedar, spruce, name-your-evergreen that over the years, I've seen gnawed on by the industrious rodent engineers and said WTF?  Is it a blind beaver, did he lose his sense of smell/taste from COVID?  Did he lose a bet, was it a double dog dare?  Was he trying to use it as a push tree to get the aspen next to it on the ground?  Does anyone know, honestly, why a beaver would chew up a pine?  I'm curious if there's any reasonable explanation.  There's enough knowledge and experience in the QJ crowd that someone should know.  And I'm anticipating being entertained by Jimbo's reply.

pd


The answer is remarkably simple.  This was the site of a "beaver bash."  They were preparing to feast on "pine tree liquor" (see: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) ).
While less common in boreal forests than in Alpine meadows, where you DO encounter this phenomenon up north the resulting carnage can be quite significant.  In fact, voyageur "rendezvous's" in days of yore were originally patterned off of inebriated beaver colonies which had run amuck on pine liquor. Crazed, drunken voyageurs half-dressed in linen shirts, wool caps, and brightly embroidered leggings would race up to each other and mimic the buck-toothed these woodland rodents by gnawing at each others' arms & legs and sing a French song of which the title translates as "Bite Me!"  These festivities lasted as long their supply of the pine liquor spirits did.  The debauchery only petered out when those spirits were exhausted. Before that ever happened, however, some of these deranged woodsmen would inevitably attack the "stone pine" trees themselves. Back in the late 19th century, woodland archaeologists would scour the more renown rendezvous sites and make clay impressions of the fossilized human chomp marks found in the very oldest of the fabled stone pine trees.

These iconic marks have long since vanished with decaying, aging forests.  Only the clay "denture-like" moldings remain. However, I've been informed that, in recent decades, this ancient ritual was briefly resurrected - just for a few years - by certain parties sipping elixir of a similar origin.  It was also distilled from pine and bottled for a while in what became known as "phantom jugs."  I'm told that some of these jugs were buried in the wilds but still exist (one, for sure, is hidden on an island in Baird Lake; others are rumored to be hidden around Cirrus Lake and around those No Names just north of the lower tier of Quetico Lake). 

I, myself, will go on a quest in search of these artifacts this upcoming season.  I expect even richer versions of such Quetico lore to be shared across our campfires... and, with luck and perseverance, a magical jug may appear and "Bushwhacker Balladeering may ensue.

Feel free to join us. Interested parties should feel free to inquire.

We draw the line at tree-biting, however.  We tolerate none of that nonsense. Even we have standards.

Later,

Jimbo   Cool   



  HIP boots optional but highly recommended  Huh Wink Grin
Posted by: Jimbo
Posted on: Jan 19th, 2025 at 11:40am
portage dog wrote on Jan 19th, 2025 at 10:05am:
Looking at today's pic of beaver downed pine reminds me of all of the pines, cedar, spruce, name-your-evergreen that over the years, I've seen gnawed on by the industrious rodent engineers and said WTF?  Is it a blind beaver, did he lose his sense of smell/taste from COVID?  Did he lose a bet, was it a double dog dare?  Was he trying to use it as a push tree to get the aspen next to it on the ground?  Does anyone know, honestly, why a beaver would chew up a pine?  I'm curious if there's any reasonable explanation.  There's enough knowledge and experience in the QJ crowd that someone should know.  And I'm anticipating being entertained by Jimbo's reply.

pd


The answer is remarkably simple.  This was the site of a "beaver bash."  They were preparing to feast on "pine tree liquor" (see: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) ).
While less common in boreal forests than in Alpine meadows, where you DO encounter this phenomenon up north the resulting carnage can be quite significant.  In fact, voyageur "rendezvous's" in days of yore were originally patterned off of inebriated beaver colonies which had run amuck on pine liquor. Crazed, drunken voyageurs half-dressed in linen shirts, wool caps, and brightly embroidered leggings would race up to each other and mimic the buck-toothed woodland rodents by gnawing at each others' arms & legs while singing a French song, the title of which translates as "Bite Me!"  These festivities lasted as long their supply of the pine liquor spirits did.  The debauchery only petered out when those spirits were exhausted. Before that ever happened, however, some of these deranged woodsmen would inevitably attack the "stone pine" trees themselves. Back in the late 19th century, woodland archaeologists would scour the more renown rendezvous sites and make clay impressions of the fossilized human chomp marks found in the very oldest of the fabled stone pine trees.

These iconic marks have, of course, long since vanished as the aging forests  decayed.  Only the clay "denture-like" moldings/impressions remain. However, I've been informed that, in recent decades, this ancient ritual was briefly resurrected - if only just for a few years - by certain parties sipping elixir of a similar origin.  Like the beverage of old it, too, was distilled from pine.  It was bottled for a while, then distributed in what became known as "phantom jugs."  I'm told that some of these jugs were buried in the wilds but still exist (one, for sure, is hidden on an island in Baird Lake while others are rumored to be hidden around Cirrus Lake and maybe on those No Names just north of the lower tier of Quetico Lake). 

As a great fan of Quetico history, I, myself, will go on a quest in search of these legendary artifacts this upcoming paddling season.  It will be a worthy quest.  In any case, I expect even richer versions of such Quetico lore to be shared across our campfires.  With some luck and perseverance, a legendary magical jug may appear... and, certainly, much "Bushwhacker Balladeering" and uninhibited dancing may ensue.

Feel free to join us. Interested parties should feel free to inquire.

Please be advised that we draw the line at tree-biting, however.  We tolerate none of that nonsense. Even we must preserve some standards.

Later,

Jimbo   Cool   

Posted by: starwatcher
Posted on: Jan 19th, 2025 at 10:26am
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portage dog wrote on Jan 19th, 2025 at 10:05am:
Looking at today's pic of beaver downed pine reminds me of all of the pines, cedar, spruce, name-your-evergreen that over the years, I've seen gnawed on by the industrious rodent engineers and said WTF?  Is it a blind beaver, did he lose his sense of smell/taste from COVID?  Did he lose a bet, was it a double dog dare?  Was he trying to use it as a push tree to get the aspen next to it on the ground?  Does anyone know, honestly, why a beaver would chew up a pine?  I'm curious if there's any reasonable explanation.  There's enough knowledge and experience in the QJ crowd that someone should know.  And I'm anticipating being entertained by Jimbo's reply.

pd


My opinion, PD, is that this is old growth forest and not a stick of poplar or willow for the beaver to chew on.   He’s out of place and needs a forest fire or maybe he can dam an area for something to create new growth.
Posted by: portage dog
Posted on: Jan 19th, 2025 at 10:05am
Quote Quote
Looking at today's pic of beaver downed pine reminds me of all of the pines, cedar, spruce, name-your-evergreen that over the years, I've seen gnawed on by the industrious rodent engineers and said WTF?  Is it a blind beaver, did he lose his sense of smell/taste from COVID?  Did he lose a bet, was it a double dog dare?  Was he trying to use it as a push tree to get the aspen next to it on the ground?  Does anyone know, honestly, why a beaver would chew up a pine?  I'm curious if there's any reasonable explanation.  There's enough knowledge and experience in the QJ crowd that someone should know.  And I'm anticipating being entertained by Jimbo's reply.

pd
Posted by: Jimbo
Posted on: Jan 19th, 2025 at 8:26am
starwatcher wrote on Jan 18th, 2025 at 4:02pm:
solotripper wrote on Jan 13th, 2025 at 9:50am:
Hammocks, I have a love/hate relationship with them  Undecided Wink Grin Grin


I'm not much of a hammock person, I usually sleep out under the stars, unless severe weather strikes; but my friend Jason loves them. Here in this photo, he is one with the water.


I sure hope that was just a "day hammock" and not a shelter hammock! 

Wouldn't want to be out there during a storm.  Also, back in my early days of hammock camping, I set up much like that one (except a little lower) on north Crooked Lake somewhere.  I hadn't yet learned to account for the "stretching effect" of rope very well yet.  Yup, you guessed right... I woke up with my butt in the water!  Idyllic?  Yes.  Dry & safe?  Not so much.  In the years since I have routinely set up deeper in the woods (with a careful eye on potential widow-makers).  Too often I learn the hard way, if ever I learn at all....

Jimbo   Cool
Posted by: starwatcher
Posted on: Jan 18th, 2025 at 4:02pm
Quote Quote
solotripper wrote on Jan 13th, 2025 at 9:50am:
Hammocks, I have a love/hate relationship with them  Undecided Wink Grin Grin


I'm not much of a hammock person, I usually sleep out under the stars, unless severe weather strikes; but my friend Jason loves them. Here in this photo, he is one with the water.
Posted by: Jimbo
Posted on: Jan 16th, 2025 at 5:15pm
jimmar wrote on Jan 15th, 2025 at 8:22am:
Jimbo wrote on Jan 14th, 2025 at 8:26am:
solotripper wrote on Jan 13th, 2025 at 9:50am:
Hammocks, I have a love/hate relationship with them  Undecided Wink Grin Grin


I guess they can be a real FUBAR PIA, at times, can't they, ST?

Any hammock aficionado who hasn't read that trip report of yours would be wise to do so in my humble opinion!

Jimbo  Cool


I think I’m going back to my tent and air mattress for my next trip. Although my hammock is comfortable and convenient, I just don’t sleep well. I toss and turn too much and like to sleep on my side, which I can only do, it seems, in a fetal position. No abandoning a hammock, just taking a break. Lips Sealed  Cheesy


Precisely the reason I have given the Haven Hammock Tent a try.  I'm hoping their new "true level" mattress will correct the minor "taco effects" i experienced at times last year.

Jimbo  Cool
 
   ^Top