2017

42 years ago when I was 18 I left home to pursue a dream of Cycling the World. My journal of the first year of that journey is now posted online with photos here. 18 years ago I showed slides of that trip when I was a new Rover. This will be a repeat performance by an old Rover.

Presented by David Byrne

Six lucky, adventurous Rovers tested their limits by hiking down Paria Canyon in Utah. Only 20 people a day are given overnight permits for this hike through the slot canyon. All 6 returned to tell the tale of the first day: a thirteen mile, twelve hour hike/swim/scramble. Come see the amazing pictures, get some tips for your own adventures, and maybe see me get heckled by my trip mates.

Presented by Megan C.

Bob Gagner will share the principles for enjoying winter camping including layering, food, shelters, winter first aid and answer the two big questions: why winter camp and how to stay warm.

Bob is the founder of the Northwind Winter Adventure program for the Boy Scouts of America and the YMCA Winter Adventures program. The programs were designed for introductory winter campers and give over 800 campers an outdoor winter camping experience each year.

Backpacker Magazine calls the North Circle Route the best alpine hike in America. Besthike.com calls it one of the best in the world. Typical itineraries range from 45 to 75 miles and pass through many of the most storied areas of Glacier National Park including Fifty Mountain, Stoney Pass, Ptarmigan Tunnel, the Highline, and Many Glacier. Wildlife is plentiful and views are stunning. Paul did a 56-mile version of the North Circle with his family in late August, capped by a stay at Many Glacier Hotel, and he is excited to share their itinerary and photos, suggest an ideal itinerary, and discuss the planning process.

Presented by Paul Stearns

I landed in Pyongyang in Spring 2016 amidst North Korean rhetoric of ‘sea of fire’ on the South Korean presidential office.

Places I visited include the Panmunjom, USS Pueblo, and the Cemetery for the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, etc…..

It had been a struggle on whether or not to share this experience with the public. I have decided to do so.

The presentation will be of a landscape nature, not a political one.

Presented by: Eva  Cheng

Eleven intrepid Rovers explored the Four Counties Ring in the West Midlands of England. Along the way, we discovered tranquil landscapes, dramatic viewpoints, ancient castles and churches, and intriguing remnants of bygone industries. Presented by the crew of the narrowboat “Riverdance”.

Presented by Bob Jarvis

Eleven intrepid Rovers explored the Four Counties Ring in the West Midlands of England. Along the way, we discovered tranquil landscapes, dramatic viewpoints, ancient castles and churches, and intriguing remnants of bygone industries. Presented by the crew of the narrowboat “Riverdance”.

Presented by Bob Jarvis

With the cost of any fuel stoves and lightweight pots making your own from readily available “trash” makes you not only green but also frugal. In this presentation I will show how to make some any fuel stoves and a lidded pot from empty food cans. In addition I will show how to make an insulated cozy to wrap around you new pot or adapt to any other thing you want a custom cozy.

References to how to videos will be provided.

Presented by Rich Hunt

Mike first went to Cambodia while in the military during the Vietnam War. The presentation is about traveling back to Cambodia years later on three separate trips to three different areas of Cambodia and the experiences he had.

Presented by: Mike Smith

Marin Byrne and Nancy Nelson from the Loppet Foundation will present a program on Loppet Foundation programs, the new Trailhead building at Theodore Wirth Park and what it will mean for outdoor activities in Mpls. and also the upcoming World Masters Championships in January 2018 – how you can participate either as a racer or a volunteer.

In the spring of 2017, two Rovers traveled to and among the Galapagos Islands, trying to replicate the experiences of Charles Darwin. While those experiences are not really possible, their planning and visit resulted with some rewarding experiences and insights that may help planning and expectations of others.

Presented by Jennifer Frost and Mike Sweet

Bob Gagner and Chris Bennett-Gagner climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa this past winter and will share their “Trip of a Life Time.”

They will share the challenge, beauty, routes, best times to go, training, costs and equipment. They’ll also throw in some ideas on a post-climb safari.

In this illustrated presentation, Rovers Heidi Hammond and Doug Johnson will share their experiences on a 10 day trip to the Czech Republic they took last July. The majority of the trip was spent on a “boat and bike” cruise from Prague to smaller towns along the Elbe and Vltava River. Biking from 18 to 30 miles per day while the boat followed, the presenters visited castles, cathedrals, town squares, ossuaries, and a concentration camp in both Prague and small Czech villages during the week. Get some tips on enjoying biking in Europe. And learn what a turdlo tastes like!

Cruising Lake Onega, Volga-Baltic waterway, Moscow canal, with stops at St. Petersburg, Mondrogy, Kizhi Island, Yaroslavl, Ugliich and Moscow.

Presented by John Elliott

The longest diagonal across Britain is from Land’s End, in Southwest England, to John O’Groats in Northwest Scotland. Steven Malikowski cycled this route while carrying camping gear. At the time, life was easier by owning a folding bike, so he used that for the trip. This presentation will show the many landscapes of the UK in pictures and videos, and contain some funny moments of the misadventures along the way. Steven’s cycle blog is here.

Presented by Steven Malikowski

This is an introduction to making your own dried camping food, but it is not a comprehensive how to laboratory exercise. I will cover the tools required, foods which can be dried and used. It will show some examples of home dehydrated foods and some commercially available just add water mixes which can form the foundation for different meals. There will be a short overview on how to prepare the foods in the field.

You will be given find references for two books on the topic and sources for the necessary tools.

Presented by Rich Hunt

Come to hear about some interesting places in England, Scotland and Wales shaped from over 5,000 years of history. You will also hear about some good hiking opportunities if you want to travel by foot.

Presented by Barry Shillingford

Full information here.

Quality used gear from people who know their stuff.

* Got Gear? Spring cleaning? Unused gear cluttering your house? Sell it at the Swap!

* Need Gear? Trying a new sport? Looking for advice? Find it at the Swap!

Set-up starts at 6:30 p.m. in Como Park in St. Paul (first outdoor meeting of the season). Open to the public, feel free to bring friends and family.

Here are some of the items available:

MSR Water Filter Hand Pump, like new

MSR Whisper-lite stove and cook set for 2, good condition (uses isobutane fuel)

2005 Giant OCR 1 Road Bike 48cm frame

Specialized stump jumper mountain bike hardtail 15 1/2″ frame

18 foot Wenonah Sundowner tandem canoe 18 foot tough weave foam core

Show off your favorite tips or handy items that make camping easier and more fun. One example: creating a tent lantern by strapping your headlamp onto a gallon of water. 

Learn from others and show your own MacGyver-like techniques or handy products/items for being safe, light and happy when camping.

Facilitated by Barry Shillingford