Return from Pictured Rocks

A group of seven paddlers from 41 North paddled Grand Island and Pictured Rocks for seven days. During this time the group experinced near perfect weather, were exposed to Bald Eagles, Loons, Herons, Ducks, and Bears.

For more read on.











The group left Munising Tourist Campground and began paddling around Grand Island on our way to Trout Bay.







While enroute to Trout Bay we passed the Light House across from Sand Point. The Government abandoned the house many years ago. Recently a private group purchased the lighthouse and has began to restore it.








As the group progress along Grand Island the cliffs began to rise.








Even on Grand Island the cliff faces began to show some of the coloring of the area.









As the day progressed and the temperatures rose we stopped to play in the falling water often.









We also got to cruise through a number of sea caves throughout the week.








Two happy paddlers after rock gardening.

















There was time for play and rock/cliff jumping.








One of the many unique formations we encountered during the week.








A view through the arch at Lovers Leap.








A view of the Mosiquito river and Beach. We all discovered that camping at sites along Pictured rocks was very different than camping on Grand Isle.








View from the beach of our last night before returning to Munising.








I found it very difficult to do justice to a weeks worth of adventure in these paddling areas in a short blog. We took over a hundred pictures each worthy of being in this blog. I hope you would talk to one of us on the trip and ask questions as I know I was effected and improved by this trip and the people on it.

Whitewater Fun on the Yougiogheny

On a late weekend in April the 41 North crew, Marc, Marius, Nic, Josh, John, & Wendy along with Sarah, Damon, & Scott from Riverside Kayak and of course Kelly Blades (BCU regional training coordinator)met to whitewater the Yough.
This is the Ohiopyle falls just above where we put in to go down river.





Here's all of the crew gathered together for some final suggestions before we go down river and a motivational speech for those who are anxious at their first attempt at class III/IV river.






Nic at the bottom of Cucumber falls










Nick making an eddy turn after a good ride on a standing wave.










Marius playing and showing some of his moves.








Mark and Marius waiting in line to play in the waves.








Mark and Marius on the same wave, making it look easy.









Smiles from Josh (j man) after riding some waves.







I know we all had a good time paddling that weekend. For most of us it was a new paddling venue that allowed us to practice existing skills in a new environment. Some of us swam and some didn't. Josh experienced being pinned to rock by the current, and I glad to say he was no worse for the experience. The area was beautiful and being in the gorge was amazing. Hope you are all out paddling and we are looking forward to seeing you this summer.

There is Hope of SPRING!

Just returned from 10 days in Georgia paddling and I know spring is on its way. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and this for me is one of those pictures. For more just read on.








Do to calm conditions, did a little sight seeing. Tybee Lighthouse was interesting. It is in the process of being restored.








It's easy to see there conditions were fairly flat at Tybee on my first day. Next day there were 2 to 3 footers in the Triangle and I had a good time. Forgot to take the camera that day, so just imagine fun in small surf conditions.







Launch day at Crooked River State Park, on our way to Cumberland Island. The island is a National Park. It is one of many barrier Islands protecting the East Coast.







Picture of Harris (he is from Lithuania) on our way down the Crooked River. Tide was on ebb and moving about 2.5 knots







This was our first stop (Plum Orchard) on Cumberland Island. There is a Mansion here formerly the Island was owned by the Carnegie's.







This mansion was built for there son and is quite beautiful both inside and on the grounds.







Early morning shot going through Christmas Creek on the flood tide. Its about 6:30 am left Brickhill Bluff at about 5:00 am. Paddling in salt water in the dark leaves a bio-luminescent trail in the water which has to be seen to be believed.







Landing just beyond the mouth of Christmas Creek after playing in 2 to 4 footers in the shoal off the creek. Wind was from the east and building. Later in the day waves/swells were running 3 to 5 feet making the day much better for playing.







On the third day the waves were 3 to 5 foot with winds from the East 10 to 15 knots and the seas was building to 4 to 6 feet. I had to learn how to get through dumping waves and learn the concept of timing to get out without getting trashed in the process.









This was our home for the 2nd and 3rd night out. The oaks are bent over forming an arch to camp under. Spanish moss was hanging from all the trees and it was warm!!!!! Mid to high 70's in the day and Mid 50's to low 60's at night. Just great weather no rain or especially no snow.








This is just one of the many visitors in our campsite. It's not every day you get to see and armadillo wandering thru.











This was the only night we had a campfire as there are only two campgrounds were its allowed, but it was a great ending before leaving on the last leg of our trip.






The next day we packed up and punched thru solid 5 to 6 foot dumping waves. The surf zone was nearly a football field long with 3 different break zones to get thru. The seas on the outside of the zone were running between 6 to 8 foot swells winds began from the East and then shifted to the South 22 to 25 knots creating waves from the East and South making paddling very interesting. We ended up beaching because we could not make progress into the winds and of course we were heading South to the St. Mary's river. Slogged along the shore until we reached the river, portaged around the jetty and up the River to St. Mary's. There was some hard paddling on this trip but I learned a lot about myself and gained a greater understanding of the sea, tides and currents.

Recycling Fuel Canisters

For multi-day trips, I opt to use a white gas stove. White gas is easy to find, and white gas canisters are refillable. Some people aren't comfortable with the priming process, but in reality, white gas stoves are safe and easy to operate. Maintenance includes periodic cleaning to keep the fuel lines and burner jets free of deposits.

I also carry a MSR Pocket Rocket canister stove. This operates using a pressurized fuel canister which contains Iso-Propane fuel. These are easy to operate (just turn them on and light), which is ideal for that getting the coffee going in the morning when you're cold and groggy. One drawback to these stoves is the fact that the canisters lose pressure as they draw down, so the BTU output reduces over time...they also lose pressure in cold temperatures. In addition, the canisters aren't refillable, however they are recyclable.

How to Recycle a Spent Fuel Canister

>Simply empty your canister of all fuel, then puncture it with a tool (Snowpeak makes a handy one, but a big rock works too!), then put the canister in with your alumnium recyclables.

Check with your municipal works department to determine just what the requirements are for recycling canisters in your area...some will take empty (marked EMPTY with a sharpie), but un-punctured canisters.

Happy paddling!

Campstove Cuisine: Pad Thai

Cooking in the wilderness has its challenges. Limited storage space, lack of refrigeration, and a finite amount of cooking fuel all limit your choices in menu planning. However, meals in the back country don't have to be boring or repetitive.

Each month, we'll bring you a new field-tested recipe to add to your repertoire. My principles for backcountry cuisine: any meal should be simple to prepare, lightweight, nutritionally balanced, take little space*, require a minimum of stove fuel, and should result in a little waste. And most importantly, it should taste good!

This month's recipe: Pad Thai. This Thai rice noodle dish is flavorful, contains plenty of protein, and is wheat and gluten free.



Ingredients

Main dish
- 8 oz. package Pad Thai (wide rice) noodles
- 4 tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1 package extra-firm tofu (in non-perishable, aseptic packaging)
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 4-6 scallions - thinly sliced and the green ends reserved.
- 1/2 cup crushed peanuts

Sauce
- 1 lime
- 3 to 4 tbsp fish sauce (available at Asian foods markets & most grocery stores)
- 3 tbsp sugar (or 4 packets sugar in the raw)
- 1 to 2 pinches red pepper flakes.
- 2 tbsp. cilantro (from tube)

Directions:

- Bring 1.5 liters (that's 1-1/2 Nalgene bottles, or 48 oz) of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add 8 oz. package of rice noodles. Soak noodles for 7 minutes, then drain and set aside.

- While noodles are soaking, make the Pad Thai sauce by combining fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, red pepper flakes, and cilantro. Stir and set aside.

- Heat tofu on a non-stick frying pan to draw water out and toughen the proteins. After browning on both sides, slice the tofu into 1/2" cubes.

- Heat approximately 2 tbsp of vegetable oil to the pan. Add minced garlic and scallions and sautee with the tofu. Toss well.

- Reduce heat to low, then add noodles, sauce, and half of the peanuts and toss well with tongs. Cook for approximately 2 minutes over low heat.

- Garnish with remaining peanuts and chopped greens from the scallions.

Serves 3-4 (or 2 really hungry guys!). A good side dish for this meal is an iceberg lettuce and cucumber salad, tossed with rice vinegar.


Notes:

I keep a "kitchen" pantry of spices, oils, and other cooking condiments. Pre-package liquids (oil, fish sauce, vinegars, etc.) in Nalgene bottles (stored in a ziploc bag for extra leak security). I bring packets of sugar in the raw.

Minced herbs are now available minced and packaged in tubes...these make for easy dispensing, last longer than fresh herbs, and taste much better than dried herbs.

Do as much pre-packaging as you can. This will save time and waste. Remember, whatever you pack in has to be packed out.

On trips I carry a small soft cooler with vegetables. In cold water climates, the bottom of your kayak will remain cold and keep vegetables and other perishables cool. However, you need to time your trips to make certain that perishable items are being used.

* When I say "take little space," I generally aim to fit all the contents for a meal for 4 adults into one quart-sized Ziploc bag.