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Kim, where was today's POD taken?  Just curious.  Looks like Beaverhouse, but I didn't think your trip took you there ... and it all looks so similar after a while!
-Tom

Good guess! Yes this is Beaverhouse, the rapids just before the short portage into Quetico.  It is a beautiful little rapids, however, some of my friends flipped there years ago, and I always line up the rapids now.  This was one of three trips I took last year.  I love this area.  The other two trips were in the Southern part of the Q, bushwhack into Swartman and easy trip to Emerald.....

ToothFairy wrote on Apr 8^th, 2011 at 3:10am:

... some of my friends flipped there years ago....

Thanks.
My son got dunked there last year.  Maybe that's why I remember it so well! (Trip report & a few pictures to follow...someday).
-Tom

I think I recognise today's shot?  Mosquito Point?

wherever it is....I like

Quetico lake campsite east end.  

I love the last series of photos; particularly the close-in shots of the plants, mushrooms, blueberries, indian pipe.

Thanks Kim!  :)

starwatcher

Always enjoy the fungi photos.

dd

There's a sight you don't usually see!  Lady in the stern.  Kudos to the progressive pair.

Quote:

There's a sight you don't usually see!  Lady in the stern.  Kudos to the progressive pair.

PC  and stereotypes aside, I pretty sure that's a gal in the bow too :-/
From previous POD'S submitted by Kim, I think her " crew" is well represented by the fairer sex.
So it maybe it's as much about necessity as progress ;D

solotripper wrote on Apr 27^th, 2011 at 3:31pm:

pretty sure that's a gal in the bow too :-/

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Whoops!   :-[

I was wondering when this would happen to one of my pictures! I appreciate the picture of the "egg in face" because it means you get it.  I am not refering to this incident but to others on this board and other canoeing boards. Don't consider this a rant but an observation I have had for along time.   I really am amazed that in this day some men don't think women can steer a canoe, many men don't think women like to camp and canoe, or that women wouldn't like to fish or hunt. Or, wouldn't like a longer canoe trip than a shorter one. Etc. Etc.I know many women don't grow up in families that encourage this but many do.  I guess I hang around with people where both husbands and wives do all these things and I just consider it normal.  I know my husband loves that I love to do these things, it is one of the things that drew us together.  When I heard he canoed also, I was hooked. No pun intended.  Our daughter as well as our son loves to camp, fish, deer hunt, duck hunt, hike, and she can do everything as well as he does.   Sometimes I think men should invite their wives along on a canoe trip and they might just find they have a partner who will grow just as passionate about it as they are.  I take many more canoe trips than my husband, and he hunts more (I don't hunt but take pictures).  Thanks for the opportunity to share......

How about this arrangement:

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My wife and I have been paddling with her in stern since she taught me to canoe in 1973, an arrangement that was especially appropriate when we started to race together. Then there is an advantage to having the power in the bow and control in the stern. (We will even take special passengers) Yeah, we get comments about it from time to time but it works.

Hey, it's scary up there in the bow! Oh, I mean some of us have legroom issues. ;)

FWIW - I felt a need to make the egg on face shot go b-bye. It served it's intended purpose. I'm thinking photographer, assistant, model, food stylist ... not an easy shot t'boot. Could be a rubber egg I guess but still, I'd send me a bill on that one.


Anyway - Reminds me of a favorite 'sound carries' story:
Towards the end of a trip a GF and I were coming out of the river onto Twin into a stiff, steady breeze. We see two guys rounding the island paddling towards the river. We hear the bow paddler yapping constantly which ticked us off to begin with. Then he says something like: "Hey, Is that a chick? ... That looks like a chick! ... What's a chick doing here? Mann, that guy's got a chick up here...." Now GF is quite pissed and we begin discussing all sorts of judgmental unpleasantries that could wait until we were upwind to let fly.

We pass, ~20-30ft extending normal pleasantries.

About 100 yrds upwind, well within earshot..., GF turns to me and LOUDLY proclaims: "Wow! Did you notice the BOOBS on the bow paddler!"

It still cracks me up.

My question about today's POD: You gonna eat that thing?

Probably used it to tow 'em to the next portage. ;)

db,

That cracks me up ;D
I have a male friend who to put it kindly, is a " beefy" guy.
Yet, he used to never miss an opportunity to take his shirt off.
Much to the dismay of both friends and strangers alike.

One time a group of us were camping just for one night in a family campground, we chose becasue it had showers.
We would go down in groups of two, one could shave the other shower.
I was with my beefy friend. It wasn't even warm, but he had spotted some women camping with little kids sans men, so figured they were single, so of course he had just a pair of shorts on :P

As we strolled by, he makes a point of trying to initiate a conversation with one of the gals. She acknowledges his greeting, but it's obvious ( at least to me) that she's not interested.
Right about the time it's getting " uncomfortable", one of her kids comes up and exclaims " Mommy, why is that guys boobs bigger than yours?".  She turned beet red, I almost wet myself trying not to laugh and my buddy started wearing his shirt more, especially around little kids ;)

jimmar wrote on Apr 28^th, 2011 at 11:26am:

My question about today's POD: You gonna eat that thing?

Nope.  Let it go.  It survived to terrorize again.

prouboy

@ToothFairy - TESTIFY!  Just social commentary and decreasing prevalence that it's a anomaly.  When I was windbound on Batch there was crew of women, seniors, who headed out on water I was too chicken to try solo.  Represent.

My current TV crush is Ariel Tweto on Flying Wild Alaska.  She had me at "I like to fish & hunt...".  Too young for me  :'(


Great Pike!  Either that or prouboy's really short.   :D

Preacher--I love the stern, dislike the bow.  I will paddle in the bow if I have to--with certain people only.  

Nice fish.  

I'm going to the Dental Convention to think about teeth.  I would rather be paddling or hiking....

I, for one, appreciated your comments, Kim.  While I do paddle in the bow, my daughter paddled stern when we took our two teenagers on our only family canoe trip and it worked out very well for them.  And as a woman who loves long canoe trips (our longest was 22 days) I have always been irritated by those posts that suggest a short, easy trip when one is "taking the wife along".

I have greatly enjoyed the POD's from your trip with the "ladies".   ;)

Lynda

I know we guys can be meatheads at times.........it's likely most of us are speaking from personal experience when we talk about taking our wives along and making the trip a cakewalk.

My wife's idea of roughing it on a canoe trip would be a leisurely paddle around the lake with NO bugs for an hour or two in the evening and then retiring to a really nice cabin with a roaring fire in the hearth.

And I'm good with that. It's just not her thing. So that's reality.......if I took her it would absolutely have to be a very kind sort of trip.

I also get that there are gals out there who could outride, outshoot, and just plain walk me into the ground.

And. . . .I would enjoy that kind of trip, too.   :)

[quote author=Preacher link=1301982349/10#19


Great Pike!  Either that or prouboy's really short.   :D[/quote]

That's not me!  He's a brother in law of my buddy.   Never went fishing before....  I think the trip ruined him for life.  

prouboy

I could stand to be so ruined!

Don't let this happen to you! As per previously advised combining Deet and Permethrin can lead to some very unpleasant results.

I believe this picture was taken on the small lake known as MEDUSA LAKE.  ;D

Nice Filson Packer on that inukshuk!  

Had to do a double-take as it looked every-bit as well-weathered as my own...thinking to myself "hey, I don't remember taking any pictures like that!"

There's no doubt that from a physics point-of-view, the strongest paddler should be in the bow and generally in a mixed pair, that will be the guy.

That doesn't address the control issue, though.  Lot's of guys have trouble giving up control to the better half, especially in a "manly" pursuit like wilderness canoeing.  And even if the guy is willing to give up control, his partner needs to be willing to take that control as well.  That is nearly as big of a stumbling block to many pairs as the first issue.  Navigation can be part of what makes it a stumbling block, of course.  Most tandems delegate that aspect to the stern paddler as he/she needs to make the decisions and course corrections necessary to get where you want to go.

Bottom line, there is a lot of psychological and social barriers that must be overcome to pull off the pairing that physics might dictate to be the most efficient.

My wife rarely paddles with me anymore but when she did, she always paddled bow.  Physics-wise, we'd have been better off with her paddling stern.  However, she doesn't have the confidence in her navigational or steering abilities required to be truly comfortable back there.  Physics lost out to both of us being more in our comfort zone in other ways.

Back to women and bow vs. stern.  Our group has been going on our annual October canoe trips for about three decades.  We invite friends and acquaintances of all type, gender, age (12 to 70+) and experience level.  Although dominated by men, we have women participants also.  Our crew experience level is from advanced to novice beginner.  Either way, we swap canoeing partners daily and everyone has the opportunity to take turns at riding bow or stern if they wish.  Granted, first timers might drive a little wiggly crisscrossing the lake, but you will never learn if you are not given an opportunity.

The previous week I went to a presentation by Wiki Wiki Wahine.  They are a group of Duluth women Dragon boats racers.  
  (You need to Login or Register Dragon boats are basically long canoes with twenty paddlers racing a 500-meter course.  Although we felt pretty good that my coed dragon boat team came in thirteenth overall out of about 90 entries;  Wiki Wiki Wahine came in first in their division and beat us out at fourth place overall in our Dragon boat races last summer in Duluth.  They went on to win the national races in their division and they earned the honor to complete in the international event being held in Hong Kong in 2012.  Wiki Wiki Wahine in Hawaiian translates to “Speedy Women” and we could of used more of them on our team.  :)

starwatcher

That was really interesting, thanks for the link.  I've never watched an event and have thought it would be so much fun to participate.  Hope they do well in Hong Kong!  

If you are interested in participating, we are rounding up teams for our tenth annual dragon boat races that will be held on August 26 - 27 at Barker's Island in Superior, WI.  So far we have 60 teams signed up for this charitable event.   (You need to Login or Register

Oh, by the way, back to the POD topic, nice picture of Jesse Lake today. Beautiful contrast!

starwatcher

Beautiful photo of Jesse Lake today.  I wish I was there.

starwatcher

Nice pic!  Looks like it was taken at or near the north side of the island campsite on the far western end of the lake.  I looked down that stretch of water early one morning to watch a large moose swim across the lake right about where those rays of sunshine are hitting it.

Jimbo   8-)

Great shot!  I can't decide if I want to go for a sunset paddle or have a smoke & a coffee and just watch from shore.

IF there's a more majestic man-made " Cathedral", I'd like to see it 8-)

wow - that one's a jaw-dropper.
Beautiful, just beautiful.  -Tom

Pretty shot today! [smiley=thumbup.gif]

I have been here a little over a year and so far this shot takes 1st prize in my book. It puts a yearning in my bosom (or in English........"I can't wait to get the heck out there")

solotripper wrote on May 2^nd, 2011 at 4:21pm:

IF there's a more majestic man-made " Cathedral", I'd like to see it 8-)

Cathedrals, although grand, don't quite do it.  The only man made object I'd put in a class just below the picture would be Bernini's sculpture of   (You need to Login or Register (Borghese Museum, Rome).  Near perfection in stone.  So close to reality, you expect to see them move, if only you waited long enough.

dd

Love the sea gull shot. ...

As far as women in Quetico, I'd love to spend two weeks in the remote wild with my wife, chasing her around an island. Unfortunately, her tolerance for discomfort (cold, wet, weariness, bugs, hard ground, campfire smoke) is rather low (OK, non-existent) so a trip together will NEVER happen.

But I can't wait to take my niece up there. She'd fit right in (does mini triathalons(sp?), skates under "Natural Disaster" nickname on Roller Derby team, hunts deer ...)

We don't discriminate: In fact, some of our most memorable deer-hunting photographs over the years feature my niece (with big buck, surrounded by uncles, brother and Dad) and my sister the teacher (with blonde braids, dead deer and a .35 Remington), and my daughter (then 4) helping to skin.

But my question about canoe placement is this: Adhering to the theory of power in front and steady control in back, doesn't the weight differential typically pose a challenge? I'm 205, my wife is 135. Hypothetically speaking, if she did like to canoe and had skills with a Bending Branch, how could we possibly put her in the back?

Is this a problem for anyone else?

-- kypaddler

Not about to get into the subjective comparison of random nature vs. human design & accomplishment except to refer to Kris Kristofferson, "Everything is beautiful in its own way."  That's 'refer' Kris, not 'reefer'.

Great shot today.  When I was young we used to skip stones and much discussion was had regarding stone selection & technique.  Do you look for seagulls with flatter bottoms?  Is it more of a wrist flick or full arm/body action?  

:D

kypaddler wrote on May 3^rd, 2011 at 12:49pm:

As far as women in Quetico, I'd love to spend two weeks in the remote wild with my wife, chasing her around an island. Unfortunately, her tolerance for discomfort (cold, wet, weariness, bugs, hard ground, campfire smoke) is rather low (OK, non-existent) so a trip together will NEVER happen.

KYP - I think we married the same woman.  ;)

I would love to have her along but since I took my her on a trip to Quebec not long after we married; cabins, powerboats, electricity, hot showers... and she vowed never to go back. A trip to the Q is out of the question. Since I only get up there every other year, a trip she fully supports, we spend the off year doing what she wants to do. A compromise I am happy to make.

To keep this post on point, I have really enjoyed the last few days of pics!

J

JChief wrote on May 3^rd, 2011 at 8:18pm:

kypaddler wrote on May 3rd, 2011 at 12:49pm: As far as women in Quetico, I'd love to spend two weeks in the remote wild with my wife, chasing her around an island. Unfortunately, her tolerance for discomfort (cold, wet, weariness, bugs, hard ground, campfire smoke) is rather low (OK, non-existent) so a trip together will NEVER happen. KYP - I think we married the same woman.  ;)

OMG!

She's three-timing us!  Clearly too busy to go on any vacation.

kypaddler wrote on May 3^rd, 2011 at 12:49pm:

But my question about canoe placement is this: Adhering to the theory of power in front and steady control in back, doesn't the weight differential typically pose a challenge? I'm 205, my wife is 135. Hypothetically speaking, if she did like to canoe and had skills with a Bending Branch, how could we possibly put her in the back? Is this a problem for anyone else? -- kypaddler

Yes it can be a problem but typically a canoe trip includes a few packs that can be loaded stern heavy. Obviously it's a big advantage to have less of a weight difference. My wife and I used to have an 85 lb weight difference and it became a problem. I decided to do something about it and we now have a 35 lb weight difference and I got stronger too. No I didn't fatten her up.

I like this talk about women in the Quetico.  Sorry your wives didn't like it, sounds like you all have worked it out though.  Glad you are inviting/including nieces and daughters.  Just wanted to keep you on your toes......See you in the Q or the BW.   Kim

Well there is a 100# difference between my son and I now; and we have done just fine and I am pretty sure that has nothing to with gender or a weight differential.

So is there a story that goes with the bushwack towards Malone??

No real story on the Bushwhack... Found the Freshwater sponges and was hoping that the lake had some decent fishing, nope just hammer handles.

Found Sun Dews, Picture plants and heard wolves on on the same day  so it was really a great day ;)

I also found that when crossing the high grass bogs it was easier to drag the canoe with a lead rope than carry it...the hull glides over the grass and makes stepping in the unseen holes much easier with out the weight on your back.

Nice study of contrasts.  Line and shape; bold yet supple.

dd

DITTO what Doc said [smiley=thumbup.gif] really nice pic wishing I was there... [smiley=dankk2.gif]

ToothFairy wrote on May 4^th, 2011 at 1:48am:

I like this talk about women in the Quetico.

I do to......one of my very favorite subjects. I love everything about them. The way the wind moves their hair, the grace with which they walk, the cheerful twinkle in their eye when they smile.........sigh.

Then they have to go and ruin it all by speaking..................OHMIGOSH!   Did I really say that........I'm kidding! Honest! No, really I am............ I will be the first to admit I have like waaaay better than I deserve in that department so please gals don't be mad at me.

This is the new "MT light". No more Mr. Grumpy politics pants for me. No sireee......................................................well, maybe just a little.    

I really was just kidding you know. Too cute by 1/2.

Time for a long walk off a short pier.

mastertangler wrote on May 9^th, 2011 at 11:17am:

Time for a long walk off a short pier.

Second!

Yellowbird wrote on May 9^th, 2011 at 4:21pm:

mastertangler wrote on May 9th, 2011 at 11:17am: Time for a long walk off a short pier. Second!

Thanks YB........I rekon I deserve no mercy.

Re: POD May 10,2011
Been just lurking for quite awhile, but today's POD was particularly interesting for me. I believe it is along one of the portages between Roland and Little Roland, maybe along Siohban River. Somewhere I have a photo of myself standing on rock ledge to right of falls. Haven't been there in over 15 yrs.
Thanks for the memory...

Wind-in-Face

wrote on May 10^th, 2011 at 10:02pm:

Re: POD May 10,2011 I believe it is along one of the portages between Roland and Little Roland, maybe along Siohban River. Thanks for the memory... Wind-in-Face

You're correct WIF, that photo was taken in late July 2009 on one of the portages along the Roland chain.

Pat

mastertangler wrote on Apr 28^th, 2011 at 8:52pm:

I know we guys can be meatheads at times.

second!

Those falls out of Roland are one of the prettiest little waterfalls in the park IMO. It's unmistakable yet easily missable to those in a hurry.

Last trip thru Roland we came up from the south and then into Argo.  I don't have my map available here, but I'll have to check the falls out next time.

starwatcher

Not only a great companion but hunts and fishes for his own food. Great picture.

My childhood dog was a setter.  Great shot.  For a few seconds I was 10 years old again.  Thanks.

This one makes me smile!  :)

These are re-runs.

Is that "fat-Elvis"?

Re-Runs?!?!  You just have "tripping envy" and wish you were in that boat.

Fat Elvis?  No, that's sunburn Elvis.

Love today's shot.  With the day dawning like that how do you manage to stay in the tent long enough to take the shot!

beached-canoe.  it captures the essance of Q for me.

On reruns:
I do my best to avoid them. It's not unusual for people to send me things they've sent before. Sometimes I remember the shots, sometimes when I save them I'm asked if I want to overwrite a file. Arrrgh. FWIW - The names your camera gives them have always worked better than anything descriptive.


wrote on May 6^th, 2011 at 5:46pm:

I also found that when crossing the high grass bogs it was easier to drag the canoe with a lead rope than carry it...the hull glides over the grass and makes stepping in the unseen holes much easier with out the weight on your back.

Looks like you're in good company. I saw this shot tonight while working on the gallery and remembered that comment.
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Great picture today [smiley=thumbup.gif] Thanks..As of yet I don't have a trip planned but after looking at this pic I think I better change that 8-)

Awesome Picture!  So many years f wonderful memories I bet.

satchmoa wrote on May 23^rd, 2011 at 12:00pm:

Great picture today [smiley=thumbup.gif] Thanks..As of yet I don't have a trip planned but after looking at this pic I think I better change that 8-)

Hey Satchmo, I'm glad I could help motivate you to get back into the land of sky blue water!

prouboy

Hey, Spartan Iⅈ how's it feel to be coming up to the fortieth anniversary?  My fortieth high school reunion is this summer also.

starwatcher

Looking forward to new adventures this year, but they will be in September.

Forty years--how can that be??  

Love today's picture, Lynda.  Gloomy and beautiful.

"This was when I decided that I really was going to like canoe tripping after all"

I agree.

starwatcher

Great series of pictures, Lynda  :)  [smiley=thumbup.gif]

As always, looking forward to more!

Great photo today Lynda!  I bet Curtain Falls is one of the most photographed places in the BWCAW.  I'm always drawn back there.

starwatcher

You know, it is odd, perhaps, but I don't particularly like Curtain Falls.  I think part of the problem is that I have never been there in really nice weather.  Usually drizzly, one time cold rain, never when I felt like I could enjoy it.  I wouldn't mind photographing it again now that I have a better camera.

But there are waterfalls in the canoe country that I like better.  Johnson Falls comes to mind.  

And I loved this little one on the portage to Ge-Be.

---

Lynda, funny how weather influences our perception.  My two most memorable lakes are Hustler and Sark, and it for sure was a magical event based on weather.  Also, who we are with.  Curtain and and Louisa and Rebeccah for me.

Your pic today of Lower Basswood.  The drop looks "way short" to me.  How about to you?  High water?  That's the Canadian side, correct?  You know, I've never seen the US side for more than a few minutes.

We have had quite a discussion tonight, Wally, and we can't answer your question, perhaps because we haven't been there since 1985.  We think this was the U. S. side, but we don't really know.  In my trip report (posted here last winter) I had several photos of the falls, but my narrative isn't very clear about where exactly they were taken.

I would guess the water level was quite high at the time we were there.  And I didn't have a good camera, just a Kodak Instamatic, so the perspective isn't the greatest.

Maybe someone who has been there more recently and taken some better photos can shed some light on the questions?

thanks for you insight
I was thinkin' it could be the less photographed side...when I compare it to pics of the Canadian side.

I would guess that yes, it is the American side and judging by all of the turmoil in the foreground the water was quite high. Visited last July and the water was much lower which gives the American side a third drop if I remember correctly and makes them appear taller/bigger.

Regarding Lower Basswood Falls, from the Canadian portage, there is a walkout spot about 1/2 way up/down the falls. It appears that this pic was shot from that place.

OS...I remember that vantage as having more elevation over the water?

I'm thinking OS is correct. This is a pic I took last July from that spot, looking in the other ("downstream") direction:

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I thnk that's the spot, but I could be wrong  :P

It's steeper than the picture makes it look, too.

(I really should make that picture smaller--sorry...)

Cirrus Lake?

wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2011 at 3:11pm:

Cirrus Lake?

I would say yes.  The 1st site after the portage from Quetico is my guess.

wally wrote on Jun 1^st, 2011 at 4:06pm:

OS...I remember that vantage as having more elevation over the water?

There is a rock one can walk out on. If you get low to rock, that is the view.

[smiley=thumbup.gif]I am enjoying this POD for today..just wish I was enjoying this cup of coffee while being there instead of at my desk at work... [smiley=dankk2.gif]

satchmoa wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2011 at 12:06pm:

[smiley=thumbup.gif]I am enjoying this POD for today..just wish I was enjoying this cup of coffee while being there instead of at my desk at work... [smiley=dankk2.gif]

Agreed!  Where's that shot from? Quetico from Eden Island looking at the Q river heading toward BH?

That looks like one of my tent pads ::) [smiley=thumbup.gif]

I was gone this weekend,  This campsite and the shots from above are on Emerald Lake on the east end of the lake.  Nice campsite with lots of woods to explore above.  Wishing I were there.  Although, we were at our lake cabin fishing and had a great view as well...Kim

What's for desert?   :D

I like today's picture.  Looks like a nice peaceful evening to end the day.

starwatcher

Didn't anyone notice that nice fish yesterday?

Looking at today's POD; I wonder why they scattered all those bolders on that nice hiking trail?  Actually, it reminds me of those two long, angle-breaking portages from Sunday Lake to Agnes in the Quetico.

starwatcher

This is a pic of the Maria-Jesse portage trail improvements, it was a nice walk way, must have taken some hard work to position those big rocks.

I just got a chance to look at today's POD at 10 P M.  It is exquisite!  Thanks.

Few things more hawt than a cute chick with a big fish!

Very nice  [smiley=thumbup.gif] I can almost hear the loons and smell the coffee and Pine.

J

Yes, it's a beautiful mood shot.  Thanks.

Where did you find/build the inukshuk?

I did not build it, it was at site YG on Batchewaung when we arrived.

picture of the gull is the best I've ever seen of this subject.  Nice job.

prouboy

Reminds me of a hand puppet.  ;D

starwatcher

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Quote:

Few things more hawt than a cute chick with a big fish!

... maybe a cute chick (woman) with a big buck?

(It's a camo thing).

-- kypaddler

But congrats to the angler. Nice fish.

This ain't rite today :( almost like I am being punished :-[ what did I do to deserve this >:( I need my POD fix :'(