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Located in the heart of the Twin Cities Metro area, TCOA consists of a growing number of outdoor enthusiasts who thrive on sharing new experiences, while building camaraderie with others who also appreciate the great outdoors.

Get Off the Couch

If it’s exercise you’re after…come breath in the fresh, clean air and feel rejuvenated. Join us in planning fun-filled activities such as hiking, biking, camping and many other exhilarating outdoor pleasures.

Outdoor Learning Activities

If you’re interested in knowing more about the outdoors…growing TCOA connections in the community have led to a plethora of learning opportunities, including how-to camping seminars, wildlife identification field trips, local geocaching events and more.

The Right Gear

Having the proper equipment is essential to every safe, successful outdoor experience. If you’re a little low in the outdoor gear department, don’t worry. TCOA’s 1000-plus membership allows us to pool our efforts, so participants have access to the appropriate equipment for their event. Additionally, local sponsors offer informative seminars highlighting equipment, tips and techniques to further ensure that our outings proceed as planned.

Community-Grown Success Starts with our Members
As the foundation of our growth and success, TCOA members are committed individuals who generously share knowledge, volunteer and help plan outdoor activities while engaging others to do the same.

Join us in pursuing our mutual passion for the outdoors! FREE! Join TODAY!

It was my turn to plan this years springs canoe trip. After searching the Minnesota DNR’s website and fumbling through piles of river maps, I narrowed my search to two rivers.

The first river I chose was the Cannon River, located 60-miles south of the Minneapolis. Like the Jay Cooke and Gooseberry Falls State Parks this river has Nerstrand Big Woods State Park and Rice Lake State Park, which are easily within driving distance.

The second river called, “Long Prairie River” located north of Alexandria Minnesota is approximately 3 hours and 142 miles from Minneapolis.  So, why did I pick one river so close to home — and another so far away?

A successful camping trip begins with a back-up plan

Being in charge of planning a successful trip includes keeping tabs on the weather and having a back-up plan. I’m glad I had a second choice. Torrential downpours and threatening weather were expected for southern Minnesota — especially around the Cannon River area. I quickly transferred my reservation to  Lake Carlos State Park. The state reservations office will allow you to transfer your reservation to another state park or move to a later date.

Within the 24-hour window, if you decide not to use your reservation you will pay a $10 cancellation fee, plus the non-refundable reservation fee of $8.50. It’s a small price to pay knowing you won’t be forced to sit in the rain.

Preparing For Hunting Starts at Home

The hunting season has ended and it’s time to collect piles of camouflage and blaze orange laying on the floor and behind the seat of your truck. You’ve listen to complaints from your spouse all season-long, and finally — you decided it’s time to pick up your gear! Sound familiar? This scene is repeated daily in many hunting households.

Hunting apparel is an investment

Before you purchase your next jacket, I want to share with you simple advice that will keep your investment long-lasting and in great shape.

Pick Up Your Clothes, Not Unwanted Scents

If you want your clothing to stay in great shape and avoid spooking that big buck, my advice to you is:

1. “Send your spouse flowers” and
2. “Pick up your clothes each time you return from the field.”

By hanging your clothes in a closet, you keep them from attracting unwanted smells; like the dog — that feels, “The next best thing to hunting pheasants is laying curled-up in his masters jacket.“

Not just a fashion-statement.

A wrinkled jacket, laying on the floor, not only looks terrible but will wear out faster than a jacket organized neatly on a hanger. Each crease you create stretches the fibers and weakens the threads. If they lay creased for a long period of time, wear spots can form. Also, by eliminating exposure to ultra-violet rays you reduce the effects of fading.

Hey, this isn’t difficult! It’s simply the best way to increase the life of your clothing and reduce wear on your relationships.

If the canoe is not the most important piece of gear on a BWCA trip, your tent is. Anyone who has sat inside a tent during a rainy night understands this completely. Whether you were wet or dry, you understood the value of a quality tent.

Most good quality tents are made of a breathable nylon material, which allows airflow though the tent to prevent condensation on the inside. The downside is that a steady rain can also penetrate this material so you must also use a “rain fly.” This is a secondary piece of waterproof nylon that covers the tent with a few inches of clearance, providing the needed weather protection while protecting the tent’s ability to breathe. Ensure the tent you use comes with a rain fly that reaches low enough to cover any windows, or even all the way to the bottom of the tent.

Other materials include heavier polyester/cotton blends that are typically used in large cabin tents. These tents tend to be less expensive than nylon, but they don’t breathe well, leading to heavy condensation on warm summer nights. Poly/cotton tents are also heavier, and unnecessary weight is an enemy on a BWCA trip.

A two or three person dome tent is perhaps the most versatile tent shape and size. They tend to have ample size and stability while staying small and light enough to not be burdensome. 4-5 person tents mean carrying fewer tents as a group, but they can be tough to find a place to pitch them properly. Larger multiple-room family tents are heavy behemoths that I would not recommend taking.

Another thing to consider when buying a new tent is a “footprint.” This, like the rain fly, is a tough piece of material to put on the ground below the tent. It protects the bottom of the tent from wear, and provides a little extra water resistance to the tent floor. I once woke on a rainy morning to learn that I mistakenly pitched my tent in the path of water running off a nearby hill, directly under my tent. Without the footprint, I may have had a wet night. Not all tents come with footprints, so ask the retailer about the specific tent model. Another option is to simply use a tarp from any local hardware store. Again,  make sure it fits the base of your tent.

Finally, when it comes to tents, you get what you pay for. A $30 tent from a big blue box store may be enticing, but will not be nearly the same quality as a well made $250 tent from a specialty store. Even if it means renting a canoe the first few trips, do not skimp on the tent. Spend the extra dollars to make sure you stay dry and comfortable.

Popular Tent Brands:

• Big Sky Evolution
• Coleman
• Eureka
• Kelty
• MSR Mutha Hubba
• Paha Que Pamo Valley
• REI Half Dome 2 HC

Learn more at: http://www.consumersearch.com/tents#

(Shown left to right) Aluminum, ABS and Kevlar canoes.

Continually renting from an outfitter is like golfing with rental clubs. It’s OK the first few times, but you end up needing your own custom gear selected for your own needs. The first – and arguably most important – piece of equipment is the canoe itself. Let’s discuss some of the materials and lengths to consider, and a few other important features to keep in mind.

Different Types of Canoes

Modern canoes come in many materials with varying strengths and weaknesses. The most common of these materials are aluminum, ABS, and Kevlar. Wooden canoes are still made. They are beautiful, but are too fragile when bumping up on the endless rocks in BWCA, and tend to soak up water making them very heavy on a portage. Carbon fiber hulls are gaining popularity, but are still rare and more expensive.

Aluminum

Aluminum canoes are heavy, making them a beast to portage between waters. They also dent pretty easily when encountering rocks, and are tough to repair if the are punctured. They are fairly inexpensive however, with new 17′ canoes starting around $1,000.

ABS and Rolalex

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, also called ABS and Royalex, is a lightweight and durable plastic material that has become the best selling canoe material. They are lighter than aluminum making them much easier to portage, and are less likely to be damaged on rocks (particularly in whitewater). Good quality ABS canoes start around $1,250.

Kevlar

Kevlar is becoming the material of choice for serious BWCA visitors. Canoes are very lightweight, durable, and can carry more gear than their counterparts. Longer three and four seat Kevlar canoes can be easily portaged with one person. But at $2-3,000, they are the most pricey.

Don’t forget the Rocker

Another thing to consider is “rocker,” the amount of arc that a canoe has from bow to stern. High rocker means more arc and more maneuverability; low rocker means more flat and more speed. High rocker is needed when agility is required, like in a quick river with rapids. This is unneeded in the BWCA, where most paddling is on lakes and slow rivers, and the few rapids should be left to the pros. Most 16′-17′ expedition canoes should have 1” -1.5” of rocker.

Canoe length is the third thing to consider. A 16′-17′ two-seater canoe is a good all-around workhorse. They are seaworthy, maneuverable, and can hold lots of gear without being cramped. I’ve have two kids, age 6 and 8, who sit comfortably on the middle seat of my three-seat, 20′ model. Four-seat canoes are out there for those with bigger kids, like to carry lots of gear, or just like to boat with others. Longer canoes are also faster; three less experienced paddlers can keep up with two veterans in a smaller canoe. Longer boats are more expensive, of course.

No yoke about it…

A portage yoke with shoulder pads is technically unneeded, but I think they are vital. I wouldn’t take a canoe without one to BWCA.

To sum up, there is no perfect canoe for everyone. Cost, construction, and size need to be chosen according to each need. Now go and start creating fun memories!

Fat Man’s Landing Logo

Good Times Had By All

Do you have a memory of your father fishing or perhaps an old hunting story that gets a few laughs each year at deer camp?

I invite others to share your experiences, tips and pictures that will help others appreciate and enjoy the great outdoors.

Please respond within Comments (shown below) and I’ll get right back to you as soon as possible!

A great way to relive and archive precious moments with family and friends.

On this trip — Avid outdoorsman, Erik Paulsen and I, along with our two daughters, planned a three-day weekend on Lake Four within the BWCA. We enjoyed all kinds of weather from 50-mph squalls to sunny 60° blue skies. In the BWCA you have to plan for just about everything. The week before it snowed!

The story behind these pictures…

On this years spring canoe trip to the Upper Iowa river we experienced something called, “Fresh-Air Apnea” a condition sometimes brought on by over-paddling, staying up late and consuming numerous beers by the fire.

What’s the cure? Apparently, a good dose of antiquing, breakfast at the local bakery and an a espresso in the neighboring town of Decorah, Iowa. Everyone recovered and is feeling OK now.

This article was submitted by Chris Walden. Follow Chris, as he provides helpful tips and techniques for planning your BWCA Canoe trip. More great information to come!

First, I like to think about who is going with me. Keep in mind your group’s age and experience. If I have my young kids with make it easy. Try to keep paddling time short and minimize portages. If I go with my friends who are National Guard cavalry scouts, I can cover 15-miles a day and handle 300 rod portages with ease.

Secondly, I think about our goals for the trip. If sightseeing is the main purpose, look for routes with waterfalls and pictographs. Some lakes are better for fishing than others. Many campers seek isolation. Entry points with the fewest daily permits and longest portages tend to have the fewest people. Stargazing is amazing in the BWCA. If you take binoculars or even a small telescope, you will see things much more clearly than can be seen under the haze of city lights.

Larger lakes open up larger areas of sky for optimal star-gazing.

The final thing to think about is availability. Popular entry points can run out of permits several months in advance, particularly for Friday or Saturday entry. Tuesday and Wednesday are available for longer, but will still need some time in advance. If you need to enter on a certain day, it may be best to see what entry points are available on that day, and choose a route from what is available. This is the only way to begin planning if you wait until the last minute! Permit availability can be checked by your outfitter or online at www.recreation.gov.

There are many resources available for information on route planning. Many books are available, such as Robert Betmer’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area series and Cliff Jacobson’s Boundary Waters Canoe Camping. Both books have suggested routes for beginners and experts alike. If you are using an outfitter to rent gear, they can (and should) also assist in planning.

Your route is the first thing to think about when planning a BWCA trip. Do your best to match the trip to your group’s abilities and expectations and you have a great chance of enjoying your vacation before you even pack.