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The NEW Post Your Campsite/gear/knife/hiking/anything Outdoorsy Pic Thread!
- Thread starter Esav Benyamin
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Codger_64
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Man-o-man! Glad all went well Kent! And really neat that your son's girlfriend can walk on water!
Jake and I did another river trip today. There was little serinity (Saturday morning, hundreds of rentals), but the n00bs were a hoot!
The spills and thrills started at the launch this time. Then I planted myself on a gravel bar partway, just up from a tricky snag to watch the carnage. I took pity on the folks with small kids and gave them directions though. It was one of those rootballs in a hairpin rapid (shoal) that had a true route that was hidden behind the rootball between it and the bank... just enough room to squeeze a canoe through if you could pull off the hard draw at the end. Most I let go the obvious route which led to broaching on the rootball and swamping though.
Again, glad you had a great trip to BWCA. Next year for sure. Even if I have to carry an oxygen bottle. And... was that all the pictures you took? More of the refurbished Bell perhaps? Or the Mewolf?
Jake and I did another river trip today. There was little serinity (Saturday morning, hundreds of rentals), but the n00bs were a hoot!
The spills and thrills started at the launch this time. Then I planted myself on a gravel bar partway, just up from a tricky snag to watch the carnage. I took pity on the folks with small kids and gave them directions though. It was one of those rootballs in a hairpin rapid (shoal) that had a true route that was hidden behind the rootball between it and the bank... just enough room to squeeze a canoe through if you could pull off the hard draw at the end. Most I let go the obvious route which led to broaching on the rootball and swamping though.
Again, glad you had a great trip to BWCA. Next year for sure. Even if I have to carry an oxygen bottle. And... was that all the pictures you took? More of the refurbished Bell perhaps? Or the Mewolf?
mewolf1
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http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c205/mewolf1/BWCA/?start=all
More to come from another camera later. (gotta wait for the girl to send them to me)
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I was sick of being indoors all the time and the weather being bad. I had to work yesterday, but I was home at 3P.M. so I had a short walk planned of about 13 km (about 8 miles). I did not have the time to relocate by car or bike, so the walk had to start at my house. In fact, it was a walk from my house to the house of my girlfriend, but we made the walk a bit longer since we moved around the town center and chose to follow the local river "Grote Nete" upstream (remember, we're in Belgium).
The valley of this river really is a beautiful place. A lot of plants are typical for the area, as well as some animals. It was quite hot yesterday, so the animals mostly remained hidden in the woods and the shade. Apart from some common pheasants and a few more rare birds such as the Eurasian Jay, two species of woodpeckers,...
It was a fun trip!
The first picture shows how most of the landscape looks like, before you hit the river valley. A lot of grass and farmland, some trees. In the distance, you can see the church of the small municipality of Itegem.
Closer to the river, the landscape starts to change. Because of the wet ground, there are a lot more trees such as willows.
On one of the meadows, a small whirlwind picked up some of the grass, creating a real treat for the eyes! I was a bit late with grabbing my camera though. In the back, there is still some grass floating in the air.
There were several of these ponds closer to the river. Mosquitos, ugh!
Real close to the river, many grass and weeds dominate the undergrowth. Some of them reach pretty high. It does leave a colorful pallet.
Looking back on our trail, on arriving at the dike/embakment.
Finally, we arrived at the river! The river was dredged and broadened with horse and menpower back in the 18hundreds, over 150 years ago. Knowing that this river is quite long, it must have been quite an achievement with the primitive tools they had available at that time.
Some of the lower parts next to the dikes are swamp-like, and house a small microclimat. Different plants and small animals in comparison to the direct environment.
Whereas most of the environment consists of grasslands with several different grass species and other floral elements typical to the environment. Don't mind my failed attempt at a panoramic shot
.
Here we had a nice view on the town center of Heist-op-den-Berg. Etymologically, the name of this town refers to firewood that people used to gather on the mountain (Berg being the contemporary Dutch word for 'Mountain' and Heist used to be an old medieval Flemish/Dutch word for firewood, this word isn't used anymore now). The mountain is actually a reminder of times that are long gone. At the end of the Miocene era, this area used to be the sea floor. During a relatively rapid decline of the sealevel (called a regression), the large amounts of iron in the seafloor were suddenly exposed to oxygen. The iron hardened quickly, resulting in a landscape that was able to resist a lot of erosion by wind and water. Therefore, the mountain -which was elevated at that time already, being an offshore sandbank- still stands there, almost untouched by wind or water over the course of 11 million years.
The flowers along the Grote Nete river are very nice as well...
A little bird got stuck in the mud on the trail, it must have fallen out of its nest. We put it to the side of the trail, in the undergrowth.
And finally... eventhough I did not get to use these, I couldn't leave without them. Spyderco lightweight Manix 2 and BK14 Eskabar.
Hope you guys enjoyed it!
The valley of this river really is a beautiful place. A lot of plants are typical for the area, as well as some animals. It was quite hot yesterday, so the animals mostly remained hidden in the woods and the shade. Apart from some common pheasants and a few more rare birds such as the Eurasian Jay, two species of woodpeckers,...
It was a fun trip!
The first picture shows how most of the landscape looks like, before you hit the river valley. A lot of grass and farmland, some trees. In the distance, you can see the church of the small municipality of Itegem.
Closer to the river, the landscape starts to change. Because of the wet ground, there are a lot more trees such as willows.
On one of the meadows, a small whirlwind picked up some of the grass, creating a real treat for the eyes! I was a bit late with grabbing my camera though. In the back, there is still some grass floating in the air.
There were several of these ponds closer to the river. Mosquitos, ugh!
Real close to the river, many grass and weeds dominate the undergrowth. Some of them reach pretty high. It does leave a colorful pallet.
Looking back on our trail, on arriving at the dike/embakment.
Finally, we arrived at the river! The river was dredged and broadened with horse and menpower back in the 18hundreds, over 150 years ago. Knowing that this river is quite long, it must have been quite an achievement with the primitive tools they had available at that time.
Some of the lower parts next to the dikes are swamp-like, and house a small microclimat. Different plants and small animals in comparison to the direct environment.
Whereas most of the environment consists of grasslands with several different grass species and other floral elements typical to the environment. Don't mind my failed attempt at a panoramic shot
.
Here we had a nice view on the town center of Heist-op-den-Berg. Etymologically, the name of this town refers to firewood that people used to gather on the mountain (Berg being the contemporary Dutch word for 'Mountain' and Heist used to be an old medieval Flemish/Dutch word for firewood, this word isn't used anymore now). The mountain is actually a reminder of times that are long gone. At the end of the Miocene era, this area used to be the sea floor. During a relatively rapid decline of the sealevel (called a regression), the large amounts of iron in the seafloor were suddenly exposed to oxygen. The iron hardened quickly, resulting in a landscape that was able to resist a lot of erosion by wind and water. Therefore, the mountain -which was elevated at that time already, being an offshore sandbank- still stands there, almost untouched by wind or water over the course of 11 million years.
The flowers along the Grote Nete river are very nice as well...
A little bird got stuck in the mud on the trail, it must have fallen out of its nest. We put it to the side of the trail, in the undergrowth.
And finally... eventhough I did not get to use these, I couldn't leave without them
. Spyderco lightweight Manix 2 and BK14 Eskabar.
Hope you guys enjoyed it!
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Mewolf and Codger, looks like you guys are having a good summer out on the water! The canoe trips always look like a blast. Especially with the fishing and everything. I also envy that you can bring "the good stuff" and never have to carry it any distance 
GS, I see you got out after all Thanks for takin us along on the Grote Nete :thumbup: And thanks for the little interesting tidbits of info, as always! Btw, that's the second lightweight Manix2 I've seen, a couple of John's (Lambertiana) friends had them on the trip I did with John. It's a sign...I must get one....
I'm chuckling over everyone meeting up with mosquitoes in the past few posts.
GS, I see you got out after all
Thanks for takin us along on the Grote Nete :thumbup: And thanks for the little interesting tidbits of info, as always! Btw, that's the second lightweight Manix2 I've seen, a couple of John's (Lambertiana) friends had them on the trip I did with John. It's a sign...I must get one.... I'm chuckling over everyone meeting up with mosquitoes in the past few posts.
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Ha, hell yeah I got out, and I LOVED it. Thanks for the kind comments. As for the LW M2, it really is a beauty, as long as you use it as it should be used (that pretty much counts for everything, doesn't it?). The pinned construction, the steel and the FRpolymer handles don't allow the knife to be used as I would use the BK14. But hey, that's why I carried both of them! If one of them is your go to thrash-around knife, the folder makes a good knife for lighter tasks such as food prep.
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Yeah, I got that sense when I handles it. A nice light duty cutter. :thumbup:
Codger_64
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Mewolf and Codger, looks like you guys are having a good summer out on the water! The canoe trips always look like a blast. Especially with the fishing and everything. I also envy that you can bring "the good stuff" and never have to carry it any distance
...
I'm chuckling over everyone meeting up with mosquitoes in the past few posts.
I guess you missed the part where Mewolf mentioned the portage between lakes. Not only carrying the gear over the trails, but also the canoes. This is a major sticking point for me. I am not sure I could do that these days. And we have very few skeeters here this summer since the drought. Even the rain we have had hasn't been enough to leave standing water except what is moving too much to be good mosquito breeding areas. BWCA and Quetico are notorious for them though.
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I did, and I just might be blind, or it's reading this thread on my phone, but I still didn't see it when I went back to look.
Eta: I did see the part about portaging and back pain, but I didn't realize that was what was meant. Sorry, obviously a newb when it comes to canoeing....
Eta: I did see the part about portaging and back pain, but I didn't realize that was what was meant. Sorry, obviously a newb when it comes to canoeing....
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Got it now, the 380 rods. :thumbup:
Eta: I realize now that my confusion arose from my ignorance of the term "portage". I always thought it meant simply landing and setting up camp in the area (I was thinking ports in terms of ships). I did not know that portage has a specific meaning: carrying your craft and gear over obstacles to reach the next waterway. Learn something new everyday
Eta: I realize now that my confusion arose from my ignorance of the term "portage". I always thought it meant simply landing and setting up camp in the area (I was thinking ports in terms of ships). I did not know that portage has a specific meaning: carrying your craft and gear over obstacles to reach the next waterway. Learn something new everyday
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Codger_64
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Yeah, walking from lake to lake seems to be the norm for frequent travelers up there. Years ago, it would have been no problem for me. I just wonder if Mewolf and his son carried those (lightweight?) canoes and left the packs to the ladies or if they each lumped the whole load in one trip themselves. Many of the portage trails are maintained, but a few are not. And storms and beavers have a way of creating a need for portages that were not needed before, if I understand correctly. Some people talk of crossing portages in sections, like a relay and others pride themselves on making an entire portage in one trip.
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Well then, yeah, that's a lot of work Carrying a pack is one thing, dealing with a big ole canoe is quite another....
Carrying a pack is one thing, dealing with a big ole canoe is quite another....
mewolf1
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Fact is that the vast majority of portages in the bwca aren't that long. I had been in to this area many times and is a know route for me. Taking the girls, I wanted no surprises. There were none. My girl at 61 and a desk job, made it about 100 yards and I found her on her butt huffing for air. Long story short, I leap-frogged the pack AND the boat the whole trail. No problem really, just took my time, and I'm tougher-n-woodpecker lips.
I knew she over packed and it might be a possiblity I would do much of the work, but it was worth her learning how NOT to pack. After a portage like that the rest of the portages are gravy! Codger, you'll be just fine!! I'll have your back
No real need to make a trip with that much Army involved. Plan a more Naval trip:thumbup: with short portages.
I knew she over packed and it might be a possiblity I would do much of the work, but it was worth her learning how NOT to pack. After a portage like that the rest of the portages are gravy! Codger, you'll be just fine!! I'll have your back
No real need to make a trip with that much Army involved. Plan a more Naval trip:thumbup: with short portages.- Joined
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Thanks for the pics mewolf1, so miss the BWCA so much. Haven't been able to get up there in 2 years, but going next year!
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Mewolf, thanks for the posts. I have never seen a trip log of BWCA. I know a few people who have been, and I want to go sometime.
I have never seen a nicer hand made peanut butter knife.
I have never seen a nicer hand made peanut butter knife.
Codger_64
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Mewolf is one crafty dude. I'll try to remember to show you the firebow kit he made for me from a bison's rib bone. It is the schnitz! This is why I was asking more details about his renovated Bell canoe. Someone gave him one in poor shape and he redid it just the week before leaving on this trip. IIRC, both canoes are lightweight kevlar construction. Not sure of the weights, but for sure half or less the weight of my Old Town Guide.