Messages

16

General Winter Camping Discussion / Re: What Criteria Govern Your Choice When Selecting Winter Camping Gear?

« on: April 13, 2018, 09:13:40 am »

Not really a criteria.  But a case of "gear envy" sometimes motivates me to buy.  But I am still slow to make purchases for the most part until I research.

17

Tents and Shelters / Re: Side Wall Poles for Pyramid Style Tents

« on: April 12, 2018, 08:13:45 pm »

I had to look at this a while to figure out what your problem was that you solved.  Your tent has no sidewall poles, so this allows you to use poles to keep your sidewalls tight?

My Baker's tent has sidewall poles so I was slow to see the problem.  Nice fix!

18

General Winter Camping Discussion / Re: We've all been there??? First timers...

« on: April 02, 2018, 08:43:02 am »

Well done video work.  Their trip looked to have perfect conditions, so some poor techniques didn't hamper their good time overall. 

A backyard outing prior to this trip would have worked out some of the "start-up" issues they had.

Looks like they will be back out again.

19

Trip Reports / Re: Pictured Rocks question

« on: March 15, 2018, 08:49:11 am »

I hiked the North Country Trail thru Pictured Rocks a couple of years ago.  There was still snow in some areas in mid-May.

Here is a link with some useful information and additional links... only one short paragraph at the end about winter access.

Hope this helps you get started.  A call to the Park Service would be a good idea.

https://www.summitpost.org/pictured-rocks-national-lakeshore/283781

20

General Winter Camping Discussion / Re: Continuous Camping Club (C3)

« on: March 09, 2018, 05:32:17 pm »

In 2015, I camped in a tent every month of the year.  Add 2 months prior and 1 month following, I camped a total of 15 months in a row.  174 blows me away!

21

Trip Reports / Re: A Comedy of Errors Trip Report

« on: February 22, 2018, 02:21:23 pm »

Great story!  Sounds like a fun time.  Where it the UP were you?

22

General Winter Camping Discussion / Re: Howdy

« on: February 14, 2018, 04:27:30 pm »

Welcome!

What's a yooper?

Cheers
Marko

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is referred to as the "UP". "UP" gradually morphed into YOOPER. So, if you are from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, you are known as a YOOPER. There is a whole language dialect that goes with being a Yooper. Doncha know, eh?

Ya hey!  But if ya move to da UP, yor just a Transplant.  Ya gotta be born dere ta be a Yooper!  I'm a Transplant, but better dan a Troll, eh?

23

Fire and Woodstoves / Re: Woodstove Table Usefulness?

« on: January 30, 2018, 03:28:50 pm »

Never used my water tank and ended up selling it... but the side table attached to the stove is used ALL THE TIME!

24

Trip Reports / Re: Places to hot tent north of sault ste marie?

« on: January 27, 2018, 08:36:25 pm »

troutfisher--wish I had known you were in the area, I would have joined you at Blackjack Springs. It is a favorite spot for my wife and I to go snowshoeing. I have walked back to the springs many times. Did you go in off the forest road where you have to cross the log bridge into the wilderness area? That is my usual entry point.

Yes... the logging road ended at Whispering Lake.  I came in on the north end of the lake and camped on a hill near the NW corner of the lake.  I walked back to the springs one morning and had a wet, chilly walk back to the tent... slipped off a log overlooking the spring.  A fun outing!

25

Trip Reports / Re: Places to hot tent north of sault ste marie?

« on: January 25, 2018, 08:20:31 am »

rbinhood -  Thanks for the advice on Sturgeon River Gorge!  Somehow, I pictured coming in via an open end and avoiding uphill and down.  It's all just a place on the map until you go there.  The United States Congress designated the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness in 1987.  For 2018, my goal is to visit a different Wilderness Area each month of the year.  Googling has been a great help.  January I was near you at Blackjack Springs where I picked a tough route in, but found an easy exit.  Good Sledding!

26

Trip Reports / Re: Places to hot tent north of sault ste marie?

« on: January 24, 2018, 03:14:41 pm »

welcome to the forum... lots of info here.

Closer to home for you are some places I have enjoyed.  The Hiawatha National Forest has lots of potential places.  I often find good access via logging roads to lakes with good fishing.  Big Island Lake Wilderness and Pretty Lakes Quiet Area are fairly close. I have not been to Seney.  Further, but still in the UP are Sylvania, Craig Lake State Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  On my list this year are Rock River Canyon Wilderness (Feb), McCormack Wilderness (Sep), and Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness (Oct)... all in the UP.

Have fun searching for and finding great places to go!

27

Saws, Axes, Knives, Cutting Tools / Re: Ice Augers

« on: January 14, 2018, 07:11:46 pm »

Isn't ice auger heavy ?

it must weight 40-50lbs.

Why do you just randomly assume that they would be 40-50lbs? This is the internet, you can look the stuff up and that way you save yourself a mining less post...https://www.fishusa.com/product/StrikeMaster-Lazer-Hand-Ice-Augers

Once was cute.  Twice, not so much.

28

Fire and Woodstoves / Re: fat wood & super market firelogs

« on: January 13, 2018, 08:18:20 pm »

Ouch... tough reviews from the critics here. 

ps.  It is not worth buying firelogs.  And it is cheaper to find your own fatwood to use as fire starter.

29

Fire and Woodstoves / Re: fat wood & super market firelogs

« on: January 13, 2018, 10:30:55 am »

Does anyone make their own "firelog"??  If so, I would be interested in the recipe.

30

Fire and Woodstoves / Re: rust proofing wood stove?

« on: January 10, 2018, 03:26:03 pm »

I saved these notes from the internet when I planned to paint my stove... never did.  Hope something here helps you.

I used a Scotchbrite pad quickly over all surfaces...think it did better than scraping or sanding...wiped it down w something too, but no memory of if it was turpentine, paint thinner, etc... then I painted.
I went over the stove with some steel wool and spray painted it with Rustoleum Hi Temp BBQue flat black spray paint.
Rustoleum Hi Temp BBQue flat black spray paint for stove (Tremclad high heat enamel black is better)
Remove oil, graphite, or other burned-on substances from the surface of the stove. Put on eye protection and gloves. Use a clean, white rag and pour a small amount of tri sodium phosphate onto the
surface to be cleaned. Scrub the surface with the rag to remove all dirt, or use a wire brush for heavier debris. Wipe the surface with another clean rag.
Remove excess oil. Use a lacquer thinner instead of tri sodium phosphate for very oily stove surfaces. Apply with a clean, white rag and scrub the surface. Use another clean, white rag to wipe it down.
Remove stubborn, chipped paint. Use medium-grit sandpaper on areas of the stove that have paint bubbles or stubborn chipped paint that can't be removed with the rag. Lightly sand the stove until it is as smooth to the touch as possible.