25 POD (Read 3078 times)
Jimbo
Moderator
Inukshuk
Online



Posts: 4537
Location: Florida
Joined: Oct 6th, 2002
Re: POD
Reply #70 - Jan 19th, 2025 at 8:26am
Quote Quote Print Post Print Post  
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
  
Back to top
IP Logged
 
portage dog
Inukshuk
Offline



Posts: 508
Location: Virginia
Joined: Oct 26th, 2010
Re: POD
Reply #71 - Jan 19th, 2025 at 10:05am
Quote Quote Print Post Print Post  
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
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
starwatcher
Inukshuk
Offline



Posts: 686
Location: Duluth, MN
Joined: Dec 21st, 2006
Re: POD
Reply #72 - Jan 19th, 2025 at 10:26am
Quote Quote Print Post Print Post  
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.
« Last Edit: Jan 19th, 2025 at 11:40am by starwatcher »  
Back to top
IP Logged
 
Jimbo
Moderator
Inukshuk
Online



Posts: 4537
Location: Florida
Joined: Oct 6th, 2002
Re: POD
Reply #73 - Jan 19th, 2025 at 11:40am
Quote Quote Print Post Print Post  
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   

« Last Edit: Jan 19th, 2025 at 2:54pm by Jimbo »  
Back to top
IP Logged
 
solotripper
Inukshuk
Offline



Posts: 7985
Location: clarkston MI
Joined: Mar 14th, 2005
Re: POD
Reply #74 - Jan 19th, 2025 at 11:51am
Quote Quote Print Post Print Post  
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
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
portage dog
Inukshuk
Offline



Posts: 508
Location: Virginia
Joined: Oct 26th, 2010
Re: POD
Reply #75 - Jan 20th, 2025 at 6:47am
Quote Quote Print Post Print Post  
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
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
HighnDry
Inukshuk
Offline



Posts: 1017
Location: Minneapolis
Joined: Apr 29th, 2013
Re: POD
Reply #76 - Feb 6th, 2025 at 8:46am
Quote Quote Print Post Print Post  
Beautiful sunrise shot.
  
Back to top
IP Logged
 
solotripper
Inukshuk
Offline



Posts: 7985
Location: clarkston MI
Joined: Mar 14th, 2005
Re: POD
Reply #77 - Feb 6th, 2025 at 9:43am
Quote Quote Print Post Print Post  
Or Sunset shot, either way great pic Wink
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 

 
  « The Put-In ‹ Board  ^Top