What's Going on in the North Woods


This newsletter is designed to help keep you current on the issues of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Quetico Provincial Park, to give you information on Williams and Hall Outfitters, and to share some of our knowledge and love of the outdoors and the wilderness around us. We hope you enjoy these articles and share them with your friends.

Around The Base

One thing is for sure this winter.... there's no such thing as average! This morning we woke up to a balmy -18˚ and two days from now we're supposed to be near 40˚above and get some rain. It certainly makes for interesting road conditions out here around Moose Lake.  Another one of the by-products of this inconsistent weather has been the amount of slush on the lakes.  The slush makes getting around on skis, snowshoes or just boots difficult, especially on the really cold days as the wet slushy snow freezes on everything soon after it's exposed to the frigid air.  All that being said, getting out into the silent woods and on the frozen lakes is a great way to see the Boundary Waters in a very different light, offer great physical activity and stem the "tide" of the mid-winter blues.

 TV / Movie Critic

Have you ever been enjoying a TV show or watching a movie when all of a sudden you think to yourself....hey! Something doesn't sound right. When you live in a certain area much of the time or visit a place often enough, you get attuned to the things that are deemed to be "normal".  Well I would argue to anyone that the most often incorrectly used sound effect in TV and movies is the indiscriminately used "call of the loon".

From the old Sears Die Hard battery commercial (set in Death Valley) to the currently popular movie "The Revenant" (set in the Rocky Mountains...in the dead of winter), the sounds the common loon makes have been popping up for years,  in some pretty odd times and places in motion pictures and TV.  Oh! And the next time you see a bald eagle soaring across the big screen, note the sound he's making...and then compare it to a red tail hawk.

 

So, remember this...take what you hear, trust what you're sure to be true and real and know what is right and wrong. (Maybe "sound" advice...in an election year).

The Fishing Corner

by Dave Sebesta

Fighting the Urge 

So here we are, its mid-February in BWCA Canoe Country. Most of us have had a mild winter…but not necessarily “rake the yard” pleasant. You can feel it coming on. We’ve been here before. The urge for something “spring” tugs on your sleeve.  But alas, the snow flies once again. You’ve seen him before. Its cabin fever…. rearing his head once again.

Consider this just a friendly reminder. When the weather won’t quite let you get on the golf course or dust off the boat or canoe, try killing some time by saving some time later. That is, take the not so nice late winter or early spring days to get your “act” together. Remember those gear repairs you meant to do last fall or the fishing reel you wanted to clean & oil? Now’s the time to replace old fishing line, organize maps & gadgets and maybe re-varnish that canoe paddle. I’m sure each of us can come up with a dozen things we should or could be doing….before we have to do them.

Trust me, it’s easier to “take care of business” before the really nice weather gets here in the spring! After all, it’s more fun pouring over the maps and planning the next adventure when you have all your chores done .

The Scouter's Scene 

Five Reasons to Take a Troop on a High Adventure

One of the most important experiences for a Boy Scout is a high adventure trip.  Here are five reasons to do it:

  1.  A challenging experience offers growth

  2. Something out of a young man's routine

  3. A high adventure requires special thought and preparation

  4. Scouting skills and knowledge can be put to use

  5. Scouts get to experience true wilderness in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area

It's Time to Secure Your 2016 Permits

Quetico Park permits are available no sooner than 5 months, to the day, ahead of the actual start date and Boundary Waters permits are available for application now. All BWCA permits became available first come, first serve in late January.

Remember...We are happy to secure your Canoe Country permits at no extra charge!

 

Stay Warm - Spring is Coming Soon!

We look forward to helping you plan your 2016 Boundary Waters Paddling Adventure!

From your friends at Williams and Hall,
Charlene, Blayne, Dave and Kevin
Williams and Hall Outfitters and Canoe Adventures
williamsandhall.com
(218) 365-5837
canoe@williamsandhall.com