Posted in Activities & Events, Adventure, Camping, Canoeing, Outdoors, Outdoors for Kids, Photography, tagged Canoeing, Crow River, Eden Prairie Outdoor Center, FML Outdoors, Guide Services, Map, Minnesota, North Fork, Trail on October 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Today‘s Featured Canoe Trip (Crow River, North Fork): Unseasonably weather brought 80-degree temperatures on this fall canoe trip. Friday we ventured to Lake Maria and boiled up Crayfish with Mussels, while roughing it with some homemade brew. Saturday was a tummy-buster with Pot Roast, carrots and potatoes. The half-mile trek to our campsite kept us in shape for dessert — Homemade Apple Crisp!
Crow River, MN
Posted in Activities & Events, Adventure, Camping, Canoeing, Outdoors, Outdoors for Kids, Photography, tagged Canoeing, Crow River, Eden Prairie Outdoor Center, FML Outdoors, Guide Services, Map, Minnesota, North Fork, Trail on September 4, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Today‘s Featured Canoe Trip (Crow River, North Fork): A one-hour drive west of the Twin Cities puts you in your canoe and paddling one of Minnesota’s best rivers. This narrow river, with a procession of large oaks and maples trees along it’s banks, challenges paddlers attention. Dead-fall and low hanging branches are around every corner — making manoeuvring this river a fun attraction in low water months.
Crow River, MN
Posted in Activities & Events, Adventure, Camping, Canoeing, Lake Trout, Outdoors, Outdoors for Kids, Photography, tagged Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness, Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Brule Lake, BWCA, Canoeing, Eden Prairie Outdoor Center, Ely, FML Outdoors, Guide Services, Map, Minnesota, Outfitter, Sawbill, Superior National Forest, Trail, Zumbro River on August 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Today‘s Featured Canoe Trip (BWCA): This was my third trip into Minnesota’s largest untouched ecosystem, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. With my guiding hat on — seven hardy paddlers from Eden Prairie, Minnesota’s Outdoor Center, set out to explore and experience this large majestic forest. Along our trek we found many kinds of mushrooms, moss and granite protrusions.
Preparing for any trip outdoors requires planning and preparation. Knowing that conditions can — and most often WILL change require you to respond and act appropriately when conditions turn unpleasant. On the fourth day, we had rain, lightning and hail. By having a shelter, such as a lean-to tarp or canopy, everyone was able to enjoy a hot meal.
Brule Lake, MN
Posted in Activities & Events, Adventure, Canoeing, Outdoors, Outdoors for Kids, Photography, tagged Canoeing, FML Outdoors, Guide Services, Minnesota, Zumbro River on August 1, 2012| 1 Comment »
On The Itinerary: Today, I guided three lovely ladies for a sun-soaked day canoeing on Minnesota’s Zumbro River. The river was filled with summer-seeking individuals and a doe — wading to cool off.
Zumbro River, MN
Posted in Canoeing, Outdoors, tagged Canoeing, FML Outdoors, kinnickinnic river, Paddling, Wisconsin on September 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Fishing, Largmouth Bass, Outdoors, tagged Big Bass, Canoe Cart, Canoeing, Fishing, Hidden Lakes, Minnesota on September 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »
On this trip, Chris and I took the canoe to a hidden lake near Minneapolis. There’s no boat landing and the lake is completely landlocked with lavishly designed homes. So we grabbed my canoe cart and proceeded to walk with our gear down a freshly paved bike path. There’s quit a few hidden gems like this one; perhaps in your backyard as well?
Posted in Camping, Canoeing, Outdoors, tagged Boundary Waters Canoe Area, BWCA, Camping, Canoe, Canoeing, Minnesota, Most Popular Tents, Paddling on June 28, 2009| 1 Comment »
Chris Walden continues his quest to help others plan and prepare trips to the majestic waters and rugged lands of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area.If the canoe is not the most important piece of gear on a BWCA trip, your tent is. Anyone who has sat inside a tent during a rainy night understands this completely. Whether you were wet or dry, you understood the value of a quality tent.
Posted in Camping, Canoeing, Canoeing Videos, Outdoors, tagged Boundary Waters Canoe Area, BWCA, Camping, Canoeing, Minnesota, Paddling on June 15, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Posted in Camping, Canoeing, Outdoors, tagged Camping, Canoeing, Paddling, Upper Iowa River on June 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »
On this years spring canoe trip to the Upper Iowa river we experienced something called, “Fresh-Air Apnea” a condition sometimes brought on by over-paddling, staying up late and consuming numerous beers by the fire.
What’s the cure? Apparently, a good dose of antiquing, breakfast at the local bakery and an a espresso in the neighboring town of Decorah, Iowa. Everyone recovered and is feeling OK now.
Posted in Camping, Canoeing, Outdoors, tagged Boundary Waters Canoe Area, BWCA, Canoeing on June 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »
The first thing to do when planning a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is to plan your entry point and route as soon as possible. This should be done several months in advance allowing you to reserve the desired entry permit. Some points only allow one access per day, so the earlier you decide the better. So, what should you consider when deciding where to go?
Posted in Camping, Canoeing, Outdoors, tagged Boundary Waters Canoe Area, BWCA, Canoeing, Minnesota, Paddling on June 11, 2009| 1 Comment »
By Chris Walden
A few summers ago a friend invited me on on a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for a six night trip. I had not been camping in twenty years, and never in a wilderness setting like BWCA. Reluctantly, I agreed. Fortunately, I loved it! I’ve been there a few times since and am eagerly awaiting my next trip later this summer.
Having a good plan is paramount to a successful trip.
I’ve learned a lot about what to do (and not to do) while in the BWCA — some thing’s I wish I would have known before heading out. Having a good plan is paramount to a successful trip. In this series of articles I will to share some tips about wilderness camping.
Articles will include how evaluating your group and planning a route. How to choose a canoe — including: materials, types of canoe, sizes, and just enough technical information to understand rocker and weight distribution and even a video about paddling basics and what do if you capsize. We will talk about tents, tarps, and other necessary equipment. I will discuss choosing a good campsite and how to pack enough food without having too much.
With good plans and correct expectations — you can have great trip. A bad plan can ruin a vacation quickly. Fat Man’s Landing wants you to enjoy your wilderness adventure and we are here to help. Check back soon for the next article.
Posted in Camping, Canoeing, Outdoors, tagged Camping, Canoeing, Iowa Camping, Iowa Canoe Rivers, Iowa River Trails, Morel Mushrooms, Paddling, Upper Iowa River on May 21, 2009| 2 Comments »
Upper Iowa RiverThe Upper Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River located in the northeast corner of Iowa. This weekend we canoed the most picturesque portion, bordering rolling hills and shear limestone cliffs, from Bluffton to Decorah, Iowa.
There’s a wonderful campground just outside of Decorah called, Pulpit Rock Campground. We arrived late Thursday night. Once our tents were assembled, we cracked-a-cold-one and proceeded to sit around the fire-pit swapping stories and conversing about the news.
We didn’t have any firewood so, I placed my Coleman LED lantern in the middle of the fire-ring, which gives-off a yellow glow when set to low. As the cold night air began to take over and the conversation grew wearisome, I quickly scooted off to bed. (more…)
Posted in Camping, Canoeing, Outdoors, tagged Beer, Camping, Canoeing, Cold, Coleman Coolers, Cooler, Drinking Water, Food Storage, Spoil on January 9, 2009| 2 Comments »
Over the years, my caneoing buddies and I have learned to simplify and pack our food and equipment much more efficiently. I’d like to share three simple tips to keeping your cooler cold and it’s contents dry. (more…)
Posted in All Videos, Canoeing, Canoeing Videos, Outdoors, tagged Canoe, Canoeing, Lake Delton, Paddling, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Dells Ducks, Wisconsin River on November 26, 2008| 1 Comment »
It’s sad to think that the wonderful waters of Lake Delton have run dry due to the dam braking last spring. Experience the Wisconsin River as it was, as we paddled the waters of the Wisconsin Dells; one year before the flood.
Dedicated to those who love exploring, being active and always outdoors.
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