Tag Archives: camping

6 reasons I love winter camping

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Kym Zest

If my vacation is miserable enough, life seems easier. Just kidding.  Sorta. When I was a kid I cursed my parents for living in stupid boring frozen Minnesota.  When I grew up I was leaving.  Then I grew up and found … Continue reading →

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No Pictures of Purgatory

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Kym Zest

In the dark.  Walking on the side of highway 61.  At the end of our 19th day in the woods.  After hiking the historic Grand Portage to Lake Superior.  There was light.  We looked down onto a field of parking … Continue reading →

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Crippling Grand Portage

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Kym Zest

18 days and 238.5 miles we were finally done paddling. We had paddled and portaged in heat, illness, stillness, wind, snow, rocks and ice. There was just a measly 8 miles to walk to hot showers, cold beer, and toilet … Continue reading →

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Evil Pigeon River

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Kym Zest

Arrrrrrg. This story is daunting just to write. The last two days were so epically weak, so tragically hard, yet so stupidly simple, I can’t do it justice. It needs some good cinematography and a soundtrack. Perhaps David Attenborough could … Continue reading →

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First Kitten, Second Fish.

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Kym Zest

Two years ago we stumbled out of the woods onto highway 61.  Twenty days of marriage and deprived of just about all comforts except each other.  It was the epic honeymoon trip that felt far more momentous than the ceremony. Last … Continue reading →

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Have Fun. Don’t Die.

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Kym Zest

I had an odd experience. I’ve been puzzling over it for a month now. You know when something happens that makes you stop and think? You wonder “huh, that’s different” or maybe it was strikingly familiar. Either way it feels … Continue reading →

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Women In The Woods

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Kym Zest

We had fun in the the woods, in the sun, and the wind. Fun making friends at a remote bar and playing dress up with a park ranger.  A camping trip with so much fun I can’t begin to fit … Continue reading →

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Raging for the final push

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Kym Zest

It was a very good day. Day 16, rested and ready.  We were a paddling portaging machine! 8:30am to 6pm, 23.75 miles. It started with a family of swans and included a stop for Amazing Woodsman Willy.

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Rain, tears, and tea on the Gunflint.

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Kym Zest

The day started with a headwind. After so much portaging the day before we had been looking forward to longer stretches of paddling. A strong south wind made it slow going and quickly sapped the relief right out of it. … Continue reading →

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Bluckville in Portage Hell

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Kym Zest

Imagine a honeymoon in the pristine north woods. Deep clear lakes ringed with low sweeping cedars, majestic white pines, and dancing gold aspens. Secluded, peaceful and potentially very romantic. Which I suppose it was until day 13 and 183 miles … Continue reading →

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