New Trip Report posted by TuscaroraBorealis

Trip Name: Winter #68.

Entry Point: 68

Click Here to View Trip Report

Thanks for the report TB. Told you I would keep an eye out for it. Looks like it was a great trip, and I am glad you all were able to stay warm for the duration of the trip. I was hoping you would have some awesome fish photos and fishing technique success that you could have shared with me, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. I enjoyed your photos from the trip, reminded me of my trip to the area during the summer. In fact, it looks like we stood about in the same spot for these photographs: Mine is from summer of 2006


Your photo

The scenery in this area is just awesome. Which is most of the reason I want to go back to Pine lake. Was anyone else on Pine at any point during your trip or did you have it completely to yourselves?

We seen no one else on the lake while we were there. There was the one snowmobile at the portage between Pine & McFarland. We seen as we headed back. From the tracks it looked like that person just got there and headed west out on Pine.

TB - Thanks for the great report and photos! I am glad the trip went well. I thought of you guys during that cold snap when vickieh69 posted on the "temp check" thread that you were camping. It may have been better that nobody knew how cold it really got except for the bottle of schnapps!

I am glad all the equipment worked well and the camera didn't give you too much trouble. Could the Dutch Oven have been set right in the fire to alleviate the tripod next time? That stew and biscuits looked delicious. I liked those traditional looking snowshoes made out of metal.

Its great that the wind settled down for the most part during your stay.

Thanks also for the other great information and photos you have posted on BWCA.com in the past. It has been very helpful.

sounds like a great trip, thanks for sharing. that winter camping stuff also seems like alot of work !!!!, ironically, i am looking to purchase some land on McFarland so i found it especially interesting.

Great trip report TB. Thanks for including the information on the parking lot and other access points.

What shocked me though was that you used on a Z fold pad? I usually take 2-3 (1/2") pads to insulate myself from the ground. Some day I will simply get a 3 inch closed cell foam pad or Exped mat.

Glad you made it into the brotherhood of winter campers.

Best.

7

Greg,

It crossed my mind that I didn't have enough insulation under me that second night. But it was nearly -40 below and it still did the job. Obviously that was pushing the limits. I'm considering possibly adding another pad as insurance. Or if/when finances permit getting a single thicker mat. But, for now, the setup I have proved it will work in extreme conditions.

Great report, thanks for sharing!

quote Zulu: "
TB - Thanks for the great report and photos! I am glad the trip went well. I thought of you guys during that cold snap when vickieh69 posted on the "temp check" thread that you were camping. It may have been better that nobody knew how cold it really got except for the bottle of schnapps!


I am glad all the equipment worked well and the camera didn't give you too much trouble. Could the Dutch Oven have been set right in the fire to alleviate the tripod next time? That stew and biscuits looked delicious. I liked those traditional looking snowshoes made out of metal.


Its great that the wind settled down for the most part during your stay.


Thanks also for the other great information and photos you have posted on BWCA.com in the past. It has been very helpful."

With regards to the dutch oven issue: That's kinda what I thought as well. But, I personally have little to no experience cooking with these. Mark was our chef and for certain meals (the dessert comes to mind) his past experience was that it would burn to the bottom if it were right in the coals. So the tripod was used. I took his word for it. And I couldn't argue with the results:)

Thanks for sharing your trip. Winter camping has it's own rewards. The deep cold can is a good quick teacher of what works and what does not.

you might add unforgiving as well :)

I really enjoyed that report. And the stew picture made me hungry too! Maybe next winter will be the year for me to try some winter camping. Thanks!

Loved the report - thanks for posting. At -40, ignorance is indeed bliss!

quote KTorell: "sounds like a great trip, thanks for sharing. that winter camping stuff also seems like alot of work !!!!, ironically, i am looking to purchase some land on McFarland so i found it especially interesting."

Land with a cabin or.....? Would be an awesome area to have a cabin. IMO