Snowshoe Day Trip to Ely, MN
Recently, I got a chance to spend a day exploring the Northeastern part of the state. Despite the mild weather we've been enjoying in the Twin Cities, it's definitely still winter up here.
The long drive up.
I chose a beautiful mature pine/spruce forest to explore.
Parked the truck and headed out.
Already thankful I brought snowshoes. The snow was up to two feet in some places, and very dense.
Perfect weather for a winter hike. Mid 40's, sunny, with a soft breeze.
Lots of good materials to be found. These dead grasses make a good tinder bundle for a friction fire.
Cattail fluff makes a great flash-tinder, and can even be used to insulate your boots in extreme cold weather.
Birch bark is my go-to tinder when available. I collected some for later.
Surprised to find some turkey tail mushrooms that made it through the winter. Although edible, these might be a bit too old to eat.
British soldier's lichen is edible but bland. I use it as a thickener for soup.
The northern sun.
I found a warm sunny rock ledge to hang out on for a while.
Underneath an ancient white pine.
I gathered some materials for a quick fire, and had it going in no time.
My gear set aside.
Boiling up some water for tea.
Pine needles make an excellent winter tea that's packed with vitamins. I prefer the softer needles of white pine, but any will work. I removed my water from the stove and steeped the needles in hot water until they started to sink to the bottom. Make sure not to boil them.
Very satisfying. It does taste piney, but pleasant.
What a day to be outside..
With the sun getting low in the sky, it was time to head back.
As always, thanks for coming along.
