MN>Finland State Forest>17-20 Jan 2013 - 2013 Minnesota Frozen Butt

Sorry but I did not make it up Nort this weekend.............Sat. got side tracked and Sunday we got socked in w/snow............started to drive up this morning in my 97 2wd ford ranger w/empty bed except for gear......no traction and top speed didn't break 40..........4 hour drive was looking like 8...........cars in ditches....even passed a highway snowplow in the ditch....made the decision you all were not worth it:lol:....sorry, please do not take it personally:lol: Will get up there in the next few weeks...........added 280 lb of ballast (big difference) and looking at snowtires.........on the upside, the snow has started...........:boggle:

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Originally Posted by MacEntyre

Since I have a 35lb Akio, I will bring it. :cool:

Last year my brother in Chicago gave me his traditional snow shoes, which he has not used in 30 years. When I had a leather and cat gut lacrosse stick, we treated it with some kind of oily stuff... can't remember what it was. Should I give the old snow shoes a similar kind of treatment? :confused:

- MacEntyre

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If they have had linseed oil applied that is what to use in the future.

All of mine were always sealed with marine grade spar varnish

I had a Ford Ranger and had the same concerns. I had new tires, 500lbs in the back and I still had a few hills I could never make it up. Drove that truck more close to ten years this way. You made a wise choice.

Thanks for the update. I downloaded using my Garmin subscription the birds eye topo is high res for the entire area where we will hang. If you want me to email this to you, i.e. it's too large to post, send me your email address.

Fritz

Got most of my travel worked out for this as well. It's a long drive from Madison, WI. I got it easy compared to Mac and TZ though. I will be in Vegas working the SHOT show for Browning and my business. Since Jason will be coming again on this trip, I will drive to Duluth and park at his house. Then fly to Vegas for the SHOT show and return back to Duluth on Thursday, January 17. Friday, January 18 we will drive to the trail head and hike / snow show in to the hang. Looking forward to this very much, three years in a row now. Maybe I need to design some type of Frozen Butt patch for the surviving members.

Toe warmers - Not sure if everyone had tried this or not at the Frozen Butt Hang. The last hang I used Grabber Toe warmers with the peel and stick adhesive to help keep my toes warm. At the really cold temps we have seen at the last hang, i.e. -20F, these toe warmers are really important. I sleep very warm and am seldom cold, but would not consider not bringing a few of these along. I am not a fan of a warm water bottle as the severe problems it would create if it leaked.

TZ is correct. Try to figure out if possible what was used to seal these in the past. If it's still has an oily smell or feel it could be linseed oil. If it look like a really thick coating it may be spar varnish. Spar varnish is what I use on my canoe paddles and it's tough stuff.
Usually it's a urethane compound. I think the old style snow shoes are hard to beat usually because of their size and great floatation. Where they don't work as good as modern snow shoes is on hills. I have the old school Surplus magnesium shoes. They float great, but the bindings are cumbersome to use with mittens.

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Originally Posted by TZBrown

All of mine were always sealed with marine grade spar varnish

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Thanks, Tom! These are also sealed with varnish.

After inspection, I don't think I will do a thing to them, other than to remove the oxide that has accumulated on the buckles of the bindings.

What would you call this type of snowshoe?

- MacEntyre

Bear paw rounded front with Ojibwa tail.

That type of traditional snowshoe is often referred to as an Alaskan or L.L. Bean pickerel. In many areas, snowshoe types were often called many different names.

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Originally Posted by MacEntyre

Thanks, Tom! These are also sealed with varnish.

After inspection, I don't think I will do a thing to them, other than to remove the oxide that has accumulated on the buckles of the bindings.

What would you call this type of snowshoe?

- MacEntyre

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Nice shoes.....
I love my traditional Ojibwa shoes. They float so well. Tough to haul a pulk uphill on a trail with them though. May bring both.
Shug

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