Growing up in Wisconsin, I was introduced to the muskie at an early age. My grandfather, an avid angler, would make an annual trip through the lakes and streams of Wisconsin to the dense forests of Ontario in search of the elusive muskie. I recently heard a story that perfectly exemplifies the Midwestern fascination with the muskellunge.

My uncle recalled going on a family vacation as a child to Sawyer County, Wisconsin, ground zero for muskie fishing. He awoke late one night to a figure standing in the door of the trailer holding a long and shaking object. A flashlight revealed my grandfather in a nearly catatonic state holding a large muskie. After fishing for several hours in the dark, he had finally caught the fish of his dreams – one over three feet long!

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, a muskie’s length and weight vary based on the lake. Trophy size muskies have been known to be over five feet in length and up to 70lbs. This beautiful fish of silvery–green became the state fish of Wisconsin in 1955, and “remains one of the most desired trophy fish in the Great Lakes region.” Recent statistics suggest it takes the average angler between 20 to 80 hours to catch a muskie. Wisconsin has produced more record-size muskies than any of the other states with one catch weighing a record 69lbs and 11oz.

The ‘muskie epicenter lies in the small town of Hayward, Wisconsin. This town of 2,000 people is surrounded by many lakes, including Lac Courte Oreilles, Round Lake, and Moose Lake. These lakes are known for producing trophy-sized muskie on a regular basis. Many residents of Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis own cabins in this area so they to can test their angling skills. To make sure that no one overlooks the presence of the muskie in Hayward, the city is also home to the National Fresh Water Fish Hall of Fame which is the site of the world’s largest fiberglass Muskie, measuring 200 feet long.

If you are an avid angler, or just a novice on a quest for a fish deserving of bragging rights, join the hundreds of other fishermen on the eternal quest for the perfect muskie.

Not only have I seen the Alps, but I have officially gone skiing in them. Not only that, but I went skiing on a glacier in the summer! As you may have read from other posts about the Hintertuxer Glacier or Zermatt, I had been debating for a while about where I should go skiing in the summer. My major issues were cost and transportation. The Stubai Glacier was a great middle ground that solved my problems.

I spent one night in the ski village of Innsbruck, the site of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, and headed up to the glacier on Friday morning. I had purchased a package deal at the information office at the main train station beforehand. It consisted of the bus fare, rentals, and the lift ticket for 56 euros. Not bad if you think about it! The bus I took left from platform A, but I was a little bit disheartened by the fact that I seemed to be the only one on the bus who was going to the glacier.

Nevertheless, my mood was lightened when the bus driver realized how excited I was to be there, and he started making stops just for me. He took my picture for me, and he let me take some shots of the beautiful route to the glacier. I must say, Innsbruck was a lot more city-like than I had expected it to be, so I was happy to take in the beautiful Austrian setting and picture perfect ski houses on the way up. The bus driver and I ended up becoming great friends, and he made me promise that I’d take his bus on the way back, and he even brought me food to eat.

An hour and a half later, I was at the Glacier. Not much of it was open; I’m not really sure exactly how many trails were open, but it was small enough to do everything twice. You had to take the gondola to a specific altitude before you could hit the slopes.

The morning snow was great, and it got mushy by the afternoon, but in the end, it was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life.

There are many knots in the sport of fishing. There are knots to attach your lure or hook to the line, there are knots to attach the line to your reel, and there are knots to attach one line to another line. Given the many knots, the Snell Knot is still considered to be one of the best fishing knots. This is because it provides a very good connection and preserves the strength of the line. It is best used as a live bait rig, and it allows your line to be tied directly to your hook. With the Snell Knot, it is no longer the weakest link. This is great, because there is nothing more demoralizing than catching a big one, then letting it slip away because the knot was too weak.

How to tie the Snell Knot:

1. Insert one end of the leader through the hook’s eye, extending 1 to 2 inches past the eye.

2. Insert the other end of the leader through the eye in the opposite direction, pointing toward the barb of the hook.

3. Hold the hook and leader ends between your thumb and forefinger of left hand. Leader will hang below the hook in a large loop.

4. Take the part of the large lower loop that is closest to the eye, and wrap it over the hook shank and both ends of the leader toward the hook’s barb.

5. Continue to wrap for 7 or 8 turns and hold wraps with left hand.

6. Grip the end of the leader that is through the eyelet with your right hand, and pull it slowly and steadily. Hold the turns with your left hand or the knot will unravel.

7. When knot is almost tight, slide it up against the eye of the hook. Grip the short end lying along the shank of the hook with a pair of pliers.

8. Pull this end and the standing line at the same time to completely tighten the knot.

Once you master this knot, you are well on your way to catching the big one.

With their last weekend of the season being this past one, they’ve finally taken the sad step and pulled down the ropes on Monday, May 9th to finish up the season. While most resorts have already been promoting their golf and mountain biking courses, Sugarloaf has still been pushing the diehards to come out for one last run.

However, that doesn’t mean that the skiing season is over on the East Coast. It just means that the lift-operated season is over. Yup, it’s time to put your hiking boots or your ski-skins on and head for Mt. Washington.

Last year I had the amazing experience of going up to Tux (Tuckerman Ravine) on May 1st to put in  two – three hour hikes for two runs. Worth it? Absolutely. I went with my friend and her dad, and it was the first time for the three of us. We had no idea what to expect. Was it going to be hot? How many layers did we need? As we pulled out our heavy bags, we marveled at the people with small backpacks. The snowboarders had it easy – all they had to do is wear their boots (which we skiers had to carry), and stow their snowboard between their back and their backpack. We ended up over packing, but at least we had everything that we needed in the event that we got stuck up at the top.

We had been watching the conditions of the snow and the avalanche warning levels a few weeks prior to our hike. We ended up picking a beautiful day, but due to avalanche warnings, we actually did not head up to the bowl at Tux and instead, opted for the hike that was to the left of the bowl – Hillman’s Highway. It was a tough climb, but well worth it.

By the time we got up there, we didn’t have too much time to do more than two runs. Being inexperienced, we also wanted to make sure that we reached the bottom before the sun went down. Should we have wanted to spend the night, a great place to stay at the top of the mountain is Hermit Lake Shelters. For a very low cost, you can stay there and legally put a roof over your heads for the night.

A Tuckerman Tradition

The original tent design looks something like a teepee or a pyramid. With one pole in the center and typically no floor, it is a very basic design that is commonly used by backpackers. This is because it is an ultra-light design where even the pole can double as a hiking stick – how efficient! The main problem with this design is that it can typically only function in good weather conditions.

If you are looking for something that will survive the rainy or winter months, then you are going to want to look for something more than a teepee tent. What you want is a dome or modified dome shaped tent. Domes are typically easy to set up, and they allow for efficient floor space. The shape of a dome tent can be hexagonal, square, quadrangle, rectangular, or maybe even something different. Most three season tents are dome shaped.

For an all-season tent, you are going to want to look at a modified dome shape. Unlike dome-tents that can come in all sorts of floor-shapes, a modified dome shape tent typically has a square floor. It also has extra poles for stability, and it usually has a tapered end that is lower than the the other side to protect the tent from the wind. Taking it one step further, if you add even more pole intersections in the tent, you’ll be left with a geodesic dome tent. This is the type of tent that is typically put up by mountain climbers or those setting up camp on the side of the mountain (with or without snow).

However, considering that the average Joe doesn’t usually need the sturdiest of tents for his once a year summer camping trip, picking a tent will probably come down to what you like the best. Many people opt for a dome shape, but there are other tent variations out there. Some allow you to move the front door to create a “porch” or a bigger living room while others allow you to build rooms. If you want an intricate tent, you’ll be able to find one!

For many us, working out at the gym probably doesn’t make our list of “my favorite things to do.” Nope, it can be compared to other things such as doing homework, paying bills, and folding laundry. In addition, you don’t have to be Einstein to know that already diminished motivation to workout is going to hit rock bottom when the humidity and scorching heat arrives in the summer; however, most problems have solutions.  There is a solution to this one. The best way to avoid the heat and to get a good workout is water aerobics.

Water aerobics is not only a great way to beat the heat during the dog days of summer, it is also an excellent way to help you lose weight and gain strength all over the body. The workout usually lasts anywhere from 40 minutes to 1 hour, and it consists of exercises that are mostly performed in chest deep water. Movement includes a mixture of upper and lower body exercises, involving the arms and legs. Sample exercises including jumping jacks and running in the water. The goal of water aerobics is to augment cardiovascular conditioning. The resistance of water gives strength and flexibility while leading to better muscle endurance and balance.

There are plenty of benefits of water aerobics. One major benefit is it provides buoyancy and support for the body. Water supports up to 80% of your weight which causes less strain on the joints, back, and torso. Less weight = less injury. Another benefit is muscle endurance.

Moreover, the reduced effect of gravitational force can improve flexibility in your body. The joints can be easily moved through a wider range of motion, which makes water aerobics beneficial as we age. Since there is no joint pain caused, you can perform the exercise without any kind of anxiety.

Plus, water aerobics exercises have been proven to be extremely beneficial in terms of cardiovascular conditioning. In such exercise, the heart rate is at a lower rate when compared to cycling or running. Many doctors seem to think that the condition of your heart will be much improved after exercises in the water.

Obviously, these benefits attract people to take on the adventure of water aerobics. This workout will keep you cool in the summer, and it will help you burn up to 450-700 calories per hour. Why not give it a try during those steamy summer days?

The Charles River Bike Path has numerous noteworthy points. On foot, one might choose to visit Norumbega Park in Auburndale (on one end of the route), the Boston Science Museum (on the other end of the route), or the Esplanade (in between); however, on a bike, the opportunities are much broader. In Cambridge, the Charles can get you just a few hundred yards from the center of Harvard University. Only a few miles down the river, one will quickly recognize the Great Dome of MIT. The field in front of it is a popular place for a picnic. With a bike, you can visit all of the sites in one day!

I love the juxtaposition of nature and city-life along the Charles. I like to bike slowly along the river so I can enjoy the views, often adorned with sailboats and rowers, and the flora and fauna (especially now, with the trees blooming with white and pink flowers). I also like to check out the surrounding architecture, from bridges like the Weeks Footbridge to buildings like the Genzyme Corporation, with its shiny blue-green windows and tall, brick peaks. The Charles is surprisingly beautiful at night as well. Many of the bridges are lit and become stunning features above the water. Unfortunately, the entire bike path is not lit, and without a proper bike light, riding at night can be dangerous because of the scattered potholes and presence of other travelers. (By Boston law, you could be fined if you are not using a bike light after sunset or before sunrise).

The Charles River Bike Path is where urban life and nature come together in a beautiful way.

The sport of water polo is actually one of the oldest team sports in history. It debuted as the first team sport in the Olympics in 1900. The sport is exciting and intense, as it combines all the action of basketball, rugby, swimming, and wrestling.

During a regular match, which takes about a hour to complete, players constantly tread water, swim, sprint, tackle, and block.  If that isn’t enough, they also shove, pull, kick and even punch. It is a short game, but do not doubt the intensity and excitement water polo brings. A regular match offers one hour of continuous high-energy, explosive performance while in the water.

The intensity of water polo makes it a great fitness exercise during the summer months. No, it isn’t the weight training and miles of running that many people are used to doing, but on a hot and humid summer day in August, who really wants to sweat while running and pumping iron in the weight room? Here is another question – who really wants to do that any day? Water polo is a great exercise regime since you will be surprised how much good the sport can do for you.

First, water polo strengthens the shoulders due to the fast-paced back-and-forth swimming.  They are also strengthened by the throwing players must do to score goals for their respective teams. But shoulder strength is only one benefit of water polo; there are plenty other benefits.  Sprinting, blocking, wrestling with opponents, and shooting the ball will give you a whole body workout, including your legs. Finally, water polo gives players an excellent cardio workout.

Water polo is a tremendous sport, and it might be the change of pace you are looking for. Its high intensity, coupled with the fact that it’s played in the water, sure beats the two mile run in your neighborhood.

Although I have never watched a full episode, I will admit that I have seen glimpses and clips of the show.  The entertainment merits of the show did not really matter to me.  But what was of interest, were the great scenes of Alaska and the outdoor activities.

Catching some of the show and seeing Ms. Palin in her “rugged” state, got me to thinking:  Is she the best advocate for outdoor activities?

While she grabs her set of headlines and brings a ton of media spotlight on anything she does, she is also lampooned non-stop.  Her mental capacities are lambasted more than anyone this side of Dan Quayle.  Unfortunately, she makes more mental lapses than just misspelling “potato”.  Sadly, I think all of this just adds to the stereotype of outdoorsmen/women as redneck buffoons who are missing a few teeth and even more braincells.

While I support anyone who can grab the attention of the American public and advocate for how wonderful spending time in nature can be, I also think we need advocates that can break the stereotypical view that of people that love the outdoors.  What our generation needs is a Theodore Roosevelt, someone with an amazing appetite for learning to go along with a passion for anything in nature.

Ms. Palin, please keep loving the outdoors, but please just find someone to campaign with you who can match your love for outdoors activities with smarts to be a great advocate.

I personally come in on the side that hunting serves a useful purpose to the environment and that hunters must do all that they can to portray their viable outdoors activity in the best light possible.

With that agenda in mind, we did a posting over in Idea Offer looking for thoughts about the best steps hunters can take to show their positive effect on the great outdoors.

The winning idea came from tavlesh:

Old-fashioned hunting lodges, with their trophies of mounted and stuffed animals / heads of animals, are what spring to mind to many people when you say “hunting.” Maybe that’s not equitable but it’s hard to argue conservationism when the image you’re up against is more dead glass eyes and stuffed fur than an entire natural history museum.

If you’re going to argue for the positive role hunting plays, you need to emphasize (1) why there are no natural predators (say, largely driven away by humans, e.g. wolves) and (2) what the consequences of lack of predation would be. It’s one thing to ask the public to get behind the idea of “Jimbo” hacking the head off Bambi to mount on his wall, and quite another to ask the public to imagine their lawns, roads, commutes overrun by pesky nuisances multiplying unchecked.

Nothing is more thrilling than walking on a brisk morning as you stalk an animal in its native element.  Hunters need to understand that their actions affect the way this great activity is viewed.  A positive public presence could go a long way in the court of public opinion.