mastertangler wrote on Dec 12^th, 2010 at 12:50pm:

Sounds good Ben....  Are you bringing the pup? That is one fine animal.

Yep, she'll be training right along side me come spring, carring her pack empty at first and then some wieght. I don't really like leaving her with people to much, my dad took care of her the month I was gone to the Philippines. She likes to play but is pretty respectful and rarely barks in the wilderness which is funny because, at home she's always rolling her ball off the dock then barking at it until it drifts to a spot she can jump in and get it as she's hitting the water. She doesn't really know what a chain is as she is not a runner and I can leave her loose at home. She'll follow people out on the ice when they trudge out ice fishing. But everyone knows her and it's no big deal to them. She loves fishing almost as much as MT. She even caught one off our raft a couple years ago. She dove in and got it and wouldn't let go. I'm in good shape since IC trained her to collect firewood.  ;D

As for waterlevels... I hope to experiance a variety of conditions this year. Of the 27 days I was in Wilderness settings I had three partial days of rain. I'm guessing my luck will run out. I'll have to bring a waterproof map to wrap my dog in... I'm also guessing my run of warm weather will end as we're bound to have a cooler May... I can feel it. Now, I didn't experiance a single woodtick in the WCPP... I'm assuming they are there... Didn't have many in northern MN until fall when they became active again either. I have a number of final purchases to make before spring... Sleeping bag... Rain Fly (IC is going to whip me up a nice one)... and a better pair of portage/paddling boots are the main things. The Timberline is it for another year and unless money falls from my tree out back I likely won't be replacing my day pack... I eventually want to replace it with the Kondo Guide pack... we'll see... MT, the sock liners you suggested worked real good so a couple pairs will be added to my supply along with some new smart wool socks of different thicknesses. I hope to lose enough weight to have to buy new canoe pants... And I'm due for a couple new shirts... My problem with shirts is I need longer sleeves than most, some of the nicest shirts don't come in tall sizes... not like I'm tall... just long arms. Wow, I have a lot to do before spring... Yikes.

Alan, when were you thinking of putting in? And thanks for the correction DD... why was Optic in my head? Yes Onnie may be the put in in June.