The observation of the Northern Lights while out on a paddling or camping trip is a memory that will stick with you for years to come.  The Aurora Borealis or "Northern Lights" are colored waves of light sometimes visible in the night sky.  Usually they are associated with trips to Alaska or Canada, but you may see them in Minnesota from time to time.  I have a distinct memory of seeing strange colors in the night sky while out for a drive with my son years ago in the Twin Cities metro area.  I wasn't sure what it was until I saw that it was an unusual Northern Lights display on the TV news much later.  If you are planning a trip and clear skies are in the forecast, you can check conditions online.  

The Geophysical Institute in Fairbanks, Alaska provides this service for observing the conditions in your region.   Click on the appropriate part of the globe to see the latest forecast.  

The University of Minnesota shares here that 530 GMT is the best time in Minnesota to see aurora.  This translates to 1130ish Central Standard Time.

Would you like to paddle across endless water and sleep under the stars on your own private island?  You can do this and more in Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park!  Further, if you bring your own gear, you can't beat the cost of admission and lodging: $0!  Voyageurs is a water-based park.  You can take motorized boats to explore the far reaching lakes, but I prefer quietly cruising in a kayak.   I visited Voyageurs late last summer, and can't wait to return!

After setting off from the Rainy Lake Visitor center, an hour of paddling will bring you to a landscape dominated by trees and islands.  Campsites are first come first served, but later in the summer you can have your pick!




I was amazed at how many picture-perfect campsites could be found.  Imagine waking up here and making breakfast by a world class view of the northern wilderness!  Each campsite had one or two locations for a tent, a fire pit, and a pit toilet.




I found a great spot on the northern tip of Dryweed Island.  It was a little rough (new campsite, fresh fire ring) but it was in just the right spot as a basecamp for venture out to explore other islands and "mines" the next day.  I plopped our tent facing north facing Canada on the horizon.


For added convenience there are bear proof storage lockers.  Despite the presence of the lockers I never saw any bears during my multi-day adventure.   What I did see was bats flitting about in the night.  If you sat very quietly and gazed up through the moonlight you could see their little shadows zipping this way and that.


The days in late August were a mixture of clear skies and heat boiling down on a glassy lake, to overcast cool days.  The water was chilly but bearable if you wanted a refreshing dip after a hot day chopping firewood.

I hope this recap and photos of a really enjoyable trip up North inspires you to visit Voyageurs National Park.  I think it's Minnesota's best kept secret!

When the whether allows, Lake Superior is a fantastic place to go kayaking.  On the Michigan side is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  There is a nice sized recreation area on an island near Pictured Rocks, off of Munising, MI.  My recent trip was more about seeing rocky cliffs, aquamarine water, and seeing if I had what it took to bring everything I needed to camp.  At Pictured Rocks you need a reservation to camp, but the cost was minimal: $10-15 a day.  

This trip took place in mid July.  We brought everything we needed on two inflatable kayaks, pictured below.  Prior to the trip we practiced entering and exiting our kayaks in deep water, and wore drysuits for most of the trip.

As far as supplies go, if you are going to do a kayak camping excursion like this, I don't recommend hauling all of your water with you, like we did, it's heavy and hard to transport.  Invest in a nice gravity-driven water filter that you can hang from a tree!



So what kind of scenery can you expect from Pictured Rocks?  Miles of different colored cliffs, different hues of clear Lake Superior Water, where you can see gigantic bolders far beneath you....it's awesome!

If you want to get close to nature and feel very, very small, along side giant rock formations, it's worth the (7 hour) drive to Michigan from the Twin Cities!



After a rain you can catch the spray of temporary waterfall:


We paddled 13 miles on day one (oops, I missed a landmark and skipped our campsite by a couple miles)
But what we got to see was worth it!  


Now for a little commentary on the camping.  We weren't really prepared for the bugs at the ummm....Mosquito River campsites.   There is a nice, long, beach, there is a cool bubbling river emptying into Lake Superior, and there are, when the sun goes down, mosquitos.  I highly recommend looking into some Insect Shield clothing, maybe even a second 'eating' tent if you can find a way to pack it.  I wouldn't take back the memories made on this trip, but I didn't like those skeeters.  

I also saw my first 'bear pole', that is a tall pole you can lift your pack up to so Bear's can't mess with your food.  We would have used a Bear Locker but it was already filled with someone else's gear.  This wouldn't have been a problem but due to my navigation error we set up camp at dusk and once it was dark, we realized our pack was so loaded with food we couldn't lift it up in the air and see what we were doing to find the hanging spot.  I recall messing with using the tall hook to get a rope up there and fashioning some kind of pulley, but we got it up there, and Yogi didn't bother us at night.



Putting the memory of the bugs aside, when we were on the water, it was blissful.  Do I look like I have a care in the world here?


And, once we got settled, our campsite did have a nice view of Lake Superior at sunset.


All in all...find a way to shield yourself from the flying critters at dusk and plan a trip to Picture Rocks National Lakeshore.

The Best in Tent Camping - Minnesota, by Tom Watson, is the best book on where to go camping in Minnesota.  While I've received plenty of personal references to good camping destinations, I really like how Tom Watson describes the sites.  

After a brief narrative about the area near each campground/park, you get the inside scoop on which site numbers are the author's favorites.  So far I've been pleased with his picks.  Tom will help minimize the disappointments that might otherwise come with selecting a random campsite at whatever campground comes to mind.  The author rates each campground on criteria like spaciousness or privacy, so one can quickly pick the best bet for what they are looking for.  If you want to scout campsites and parks from the comfort of your easy chair at home, this book is the best way to do it.

The treasured destination for Midwestern paddlers is Lake Superior, notably the Apostle Islands.  When planning a getaway to the area, if you have kayaking in mind, its important to be aware of the temperature of the water.  For sea kayakers making the trek to Lake Superior, a drysuit and rolling skills are especially important due to the frigid temperature of this northern inland ocean.  While air temperature rises in spring and summer, the water temperature of Lake Superior can chill you to the bone most of the prime paddling season.  An appropriate wetsuit or drysuit is a must!  Late in the summer water temperatures along the shore can rise up to the high 60s and low 70s.

How can you find out the best time (water temperature-wise) to visit Lake Superior?  My favorite resource is the Michigan Sea Grant Coastwatch.  You can pick a region of Lake Superior and observe current or historical temperatures.  For example, below is a snapshot of the area around the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.  Granted, it's early May, but Brrrrr! Check out those 36 degree temps!

Whether you're buying your first kayak, adding to the fleet, or selling one you already own, price is often at the forefront of the decision making process.  What is a 'good' price?  This depends on the following factors:

-Length.  The longer a kayak is, typically the more expensive it will be.
-Materials.  Kayaks become more expensive as you progress from cheap PVC inflatable kayaks, up to plastic kayaks, and on to the premium fiberglass and composite models.
-Features.  Deck rigging, sealed bulkheads, and more comfortable or adjustable seats affect the price of a kayak.  Add on additional dollars for a rudder.
-Age and general condition.  For any previously owned craft this becomes an important factor.

Okay, so what can you expect to pay for a used kayak?  Based on 2010 asking prices on Craigslist, here's a sample of what you can expect for asking prices:

12' Recreational Plastic, or low-end inflatable (Sevylor, Stearns) - $150-300
13' Premium Inflatable (Innova, Aire) - $450-700
14' Recreational/Touring Plastic - $500-700
16' Touring Plastic - 600-900
17+ Sea Kayak, older  (say 6+ years) - $1000-1500
17+ Sea kayak, newer -$1500+

Now, if you are persistent in your search, you may find deals to eclipse the above observations...if you do, don't skimp on other accessories like a comfortable PFD or a lighter weight paddle! Finally, don't forget transport!  A benefit of inflatable kayaks is that you don't need to purchase expensive rack systems and kayak carriers that go with them.

Destinations this kayak has visited (click link for more detail and pictures):
Voyageurs National Park

I had an opportunity to use a Tributary Trinity II (The Aire Sawtooth II, in Blue) this past weekend, and loved it!  It was heavier than the Innova Sunny, but at 15' 3" long, and only 32" wide, its built for performance.  I paddled it solo, and again with another paddler on a lake as well as a river.  The first thing that you notice is the extra space.  This is a full two feet longer than most other tandem inflatables like the Sunny.  Two people fit very comfortably in this kayak and both paddlers have plenty of legroom.  The Aire Cheetah seats provide decent back support and keep your bottom off the floor of the boat.  The next feature of notice is all the loops lining both sides of the floor.  You can tie down gear, or your seat(s), anywhere you want, due to the plethora of loops.



I took the Trinity II on Lake Superior and was not disappointed.   It has bailing holes in the front or back to allow excess water to wash out the front or back. The bailing holes allowed me to play happily in the waves without fear of taking on water, even when loaded down with camping gear.   In addition, due to the moderate width and nice length, you can really get this kayak moving!  I got it up to 6mph solo....3.5 mph was a comfortable cruising speed with the toolless tracking fin added.

Another benefit is the 15' of length which is great for taking two children with you on an adventure!  This weekend I took a 7 and 8 year old out on the beautiful St. Croix River!   We practiced getting in and out of the kayak from the water: both boys were able to get up and over the side tubes and back into the kayak unassisted.  

To summarize:
+Extra length provides lots of options for passengers and gear
+Performance on flat water is outstanding
+Great Tandem kayak, great solo kayak too!
+Bailing holes for rough water
+The seats are easy to reconfigure and provide good back support.
+Nice carry handles at each end.
-This is a bladdered kayak. It's not as easy to clean as my Innova.  I have to tip it on its side for a few minutes after wiping it down and folding it up for transport.  This releases a few more cups of water.  Prior to winter storage I expect I will need to unzip and clean out the chambers holding the air bladders.
-Its bigger, and therefore heavier.  As part of a future update I will weigh the kayak by itself and see if I can get it in a suitcase under 50 lbs.  I think it will be very close to 50 pounds.
-The side tubes are a shiny PVC material, the floor is a dull white material.  
-Does not include a carry bag (I really like those Innova bags!)

Due to the extra length and the bailing holes, the Trinity II has replaced the Innova Sunny as my favorite and most-used kayak!  I've been out to the beach a lot this summer due to the Trinity II!  For easy cleanup on the beach I obtained a 12x16 tarp and take it from the water to the tarp for an easy wipe down with a couple hand towels and fold it up.

The yellow Tributary Sawtooth II is now available from online retailers.  If you want one in blue, however, you'll need to contact The Boat People (Trinity II).   The Boat People will also be offering a 'Made in the USA' Trinity II with full 10 year warranty, and lighter weight, next spring.

Wondering how fast this could go? Try our Kayak Speed Estimator!