Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

...to the point of it sounding like they're trying to convince themselves that snow the first week in May is a good thing...

I think 99% of us were tired of this s**t several weeks back and I suppose denial is just a matter of coping if you get down to it.

Besides people rationalize the negatives of where they live to justify their choice to others everywhere. If you live near smog, tornado alley, constant rain, wicked heat, earthquakes, flooding, etc. but you choose to live there and you love it, you're going to justify that to haters. Cripes I can rationalize my time in the Middle East with the best of them (and I have friends that still live there 15 years later that still do the same). It's not a uniquely MN characteristic.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

What I get from "up north" is way beyond "fun" and certainly can't be found on Bourbon Street, in Manhattan or London or some restaurant.

But you can only hear the silence and feel the weight of time in certain places and the north woods is one of those places. It's very spiritual and I've talked to many others who feel the same way.

agree. there aren't many places left where you can lay on your deck and watch Northern Lights and hear wolves howling.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

At least I didn't toss it.

I had you pegged as a tosser.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

I don't think we're talking about the same thing.

What I get from "up north" is way beyond "fun" and certainly can't be found on Bourbon Street, in Manhattan or London or some restaurant.

Sure, you can water ski anywhere that there's sufficient open water or fish anywhere there's fish.

But you can only hear the silence and feel the weight of time in certain places and the north woods is one of those places. It's very spiritual and I've talked to many others who feel the same way.

I've been to the Keys several times (actually got engaged on a beach on KW) and the Caribbean several more. It's great down there and I love it - can't wait to go again, but it's for very different reasons than the north woods.

Very, very well said.

Edit: I'll very much agree with the part it being about the silence and the weight of time. I've fallen asleep on the end of the dock up north at my buddy's cabin under cloudless skies pondering many a topics. Reading your post definitely gave me goosebumps thinking about going up there again this summer.

There is absolutely nothing that can equal it. I thought what huskyfan said also nailed it.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

Very, very well said.

Edit: I'll very much agree with the part it being about the silence and the weight of time. I've fallen asleep on the end of the dock up north at my buddy's cabin under cloudless skies pondering many a topics. Reading your post definitely gave me goosebumps thinking about going up there again this summer.

There is absolutely nothing that can equal it. I thought what huskyfan said also nailed it.

Yep. For me, just sitting by a campfire under the stars, just chilling. Hearing the sound of nothingness. So relaxing.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

One of the most rewarding experiences of my life was at the end of a summer camp I went to in high school we had to hike out deep into the woods alone, build a campfire, and write a letter to ourselves. I still have that letter. I haven't read it yet and I have absolutely no recollection of what I wrote.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

One of the most rewarding experiences of my life was at the end of a summer camp I went to in high school we had to hike out deep into the woods alone, build a campfire, and write a letter to ourselves. I still have that letter. I haven't read it yet and I have absolutely no recollection of what I wrote.

Didn't have to do that, exactly. For a BSA badge, we had to hike out into the woods, build a lean-to/shelter of some sort from branches/etc, and camp out overnight, each person had their own shelter, and you were in a group of 3-4 people. A counselor would inspect the shelter when finished, head back to main camp, and then come out and inspect again the next morning to see how it held up.

Quite challenging, and also relaxing.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

I got the same merit badge (Unrelated to my original post)

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

I got the same merit badge (Unrelated to my original post)

Nice!

 

[Gurtholfin]

Yep. For me, just sitting by a campfire under the stars, just chilling. Hearing the sound of nothingness. So relaxing.

So relaxing and sometimes, terrifying.

On a trip to the BWCAW a few years ago, we took the boys and got a cabin on Lake One - right near where the Pagami Creek fire was. Anyway, this was before the fire by several years. This is an area where the water is BWCAW and the shore isn't, hence the cabins.

Anyway, I was the last one up out by the fire and I eventually fell asleep in the hammock watching the stars. Woke up about 4am freezing as the fire had gone out in DEAD silence and darkness. I was 30 feet from the front door, didn't want to even move and was sure something was following me all the way to the door once I finally did move.

I love that silence, but it can also freak you out if you let it or if you wake up in the dark unexpectedly.

It's a good kind of terrifying though. Reminds you that you're alive - and VERY puny in the grand scheme of things.



We should have a North Woods thread. I'm sure we all have a million stories.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

I'm sure we all have a million stories.

'
You would be correct. I only have 2-3 that I truly remember, but yeah.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

So relaxing and sometimes, terrifying.

On a trip to the BWCAW a few years ago, we took the boys and got a cabin on Lake One - right near where the Pagami Creek fire was. Anyway, this was before the fire by several years. This is an area where the water is BWCAW and the shore isn't, hence the cabins.

Anyway, I was the last one up out by the fire and I eventually fell asleep in the hammock watching the stars. Woke up about 4am freezing as the fire had gone out in DEAD silence and darkness. I was 30 feet from the front door, didn't want to even move and was sure something was following me all the way to the door once I finally did move.

I love that silence, but it can also freak you out if you let it or if you wake up in the dark unexpectedly.

It's a good kind of terrifying though. Reminds you that you're alive - and VERY puny in the grand scheme of things.



We should have a North Woods thread. I'm sure we all have a million stories.

My most terrifying was the scariest single moment of my life. Long story short, I was alone at the tent area on Boot Lake and the nearest person was over a mile away across the lake. Black bear started moving our tent.

 

[Gurtholfin]

My most terrifying was the scariest single moment of my life. Long story short, I was alone at the tent area on Boot Lake and the nearest person was over a mile away across the lake. Black bear started moving our tent.

Yep, I got a bear story too.

Somehow the advice of "make lots of noise, they're more scared of you then you are of them" doesn't hold up at 2am when woken by one.

Scared the the ever-living **** out of me.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

My most terrifying was the scariest single moment of my life. Long story short, I was alone at the tent area on Boot Lake and the nearest person was over a mile away across the lake. Black bear started moving our tent.

Many Point for me. Bear walked through the camp, about 50 yards away. Just walked through, minding his own. We all f*ing froze instantaneously.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

Yep, I got a bear story too.

Somehow the advice of "make lots of noise, they're more scared of you then you are of them" doesn't hold up at 2am when woken by one.

Scared the the ever-living **** out of me.

Oh ****, the thought of making a noise never even crossed my mind. I don't think I breathed for a minutes at a time.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

Oh ****, the thought of making a noise never even crossed my mind. I don't think I breathed for a minutes at a time.

This. It was the "Oh sh* what do we do? I don't know. Um, don't. Move. Sure, that sounds good. Ok, not moving, not moving not moving. Phew, bear is gone. Wait, don't move for a couple minutes more, just. In. Case."

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

Got out my old topo maps to see where my bear encounter was. Ensign Lake which is the first one just north of Boot Lake.

Probably the same ****er. What was that bear's name from the Great Outdoors?

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

I will share the coolest story I have about wildlife.

Was going to tUMD. 4 of us driving around town about 11pm on a Fri (weren't bar-age, and didn't feel like partying that night anyway). About 1am, started driving north. Hit Two Harbors. Stop here? Naw, let's keep going. Driver said he'd turn around when we voted to do so. Hit Grand Marais. Finally, my friend Michele said, "Screw it, let's go to Canada." We all said, eh, sure.

Along the way, we hit some small town where there might be a building or two on the main drag, speed limit of about 30-35. I look over from the passenger seat, and see a wolf running alongside us on the grassy part next to the shoulder of the road. Kept up for a few yards. Just running. Friggin' beautiful to see. First and last time I ever saw a wolf


And to finish the story: hit Thunder Bay, ate McD's for breakfast, turned around, and drove home.

 

[Gurtholfin]

I will share the coolest story I have about wildlife.

Was going to tUMD. 4 of us driving around town about 11pm on a Fri (weren't bar-age, and didn't feel like partying that night anyway). About 1am, started driving north. Hit Two Harbors. Stop here? Naw, let's keep going. Driver said he'd turn around when we voted to do so. Hit Grand Marais. Finally, my friend Michele said, "Screw it, let's go to Canada." We all said, eh, sure.

Along the way, we hit some small town where there might be a building or two on the main drag, speed limit of about 30-35. I look over from the passenger seat, and see a wolf running alongside us on the grassy part next to the shoulder of the road. Kept up for a few yards. Just running. Friggin' beautiful to see. First and last time I ever saw a wolf


And to finish the story: hit Thunder Bay, ate McD's for breakfast, turned around, and drove home.

Awesome!

I haven't seen a wolf. Heard them howling in the BWCAW once, but that's it.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Minnesotans Still Arguing About the Weather...

I got the same merit badge (Unrelated to my original post)

Same here.

One of my college roommates has one of the freakiest wilderness stories I've heard. He was out hunting with his dad when he was 12 or so, and his dad told him to cross a stream to see if there was a good spot on the other side or something like that. So my friend crosses and starts walking while his dad stayed put. All of a sudden his dad pulls his gun up and points it at him. My friend thinks he's just trying to scare him and shakes it off and keeps walking. Looks over at his dad again, and he's still aiming the gun at him. Needless to say he's really confused and a little scared at this point. Then his dad fires, and he hears the bullet whiz by him. Turns around, and there's a dead cougar 10 or so yards away that had been stalking him ever since he crossed over. Never saw him.