One of the few things I like about Facebook is that every now and then it reminds me of what I was doing a year or two ago on the present day. Before I had the blog, I still documented my trips as photo-journals.
I recently got a chance to spend some time up North, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to test out some winter clothing, as well as my ability to make a fire in extreme cold conditions.
Continuing on the theme of my last post, here's another Fall trip we took in Northeastern Minnesota. This was in the Superior National Forest, in early October of last year.
The cattail is one of the most easily identifiable and recognized plants in North America, and also one of the most useful. Growing throughout the entire state of Minnesota, they are always easy to locate, usually forming dense growths around lake shores, ponds, and swampy areas. Let's take a look at some of the ways we can utilize this plant in the field.
Fire is perhaps our most important tool in the wilderness. We rely on it for warmth, light, cooking food, and purifying water among other things. The ability to start a fire in less than ideal conditions is especially important, as that's when we need it most. On this trip we'll practice a few techniques to see what works and what doesn't.
