2017

An REI representative will discuss the various aspects of the latest and most popular camp stoves. Also if other people have old or new stoves you really like please bring them along to show them off.

Presented by Chris Fothergill

Great skiers are made in the summer. Come and see and check out roller skis from Hoigaards. 

Presented by Andy T.

​There will be no presentation tonight because many people go to their neighborhood gatherings. If you do want to meet with Rovers there will be the usual discussion about trips and socializing. If you do go to your neighborhood gathering maybe you can chat to people about Rovers and get some Rover business cards to hand out.

Come and learn how to stay found in the wilderness (as opposed to getting lost!). We’ll talk about how to read a map, use a compass, use reverse terrain association (huh, what’s that?), and other tricks to stay found on your next outdoor adventure.

Presented by Don L.

Could you save a life if you had to? Many of us have had CPR training, but a long time ago. Learn the best current techniques from retired teachers and cardiac-arrest survivors Larry Matthews, Bruce Wizik and Rover, Fran Lesicko. They (half) jokingly call themselves “the walking dead”.

They will also show us how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which is actually very easy to use.

​If you’re interested in trying out backpacking or improving your skills, this presentation is for you. Learn what to take, how to pack it and how to secure your pack.

Presented by Mike H.

​We will not have a meeting this evening.

Celebrate the longest days of summer with a cook-off in the park. Show off an old favorite, try an interesting new recipe before you take it on the trail . . . and win prizes! Recipes should be suitable for backpacking, take no more than 20 minutes to prepare and use a single-burner stove. We’ll need lots of yummy entries, so please plan to enter. We’ll also need tasters, so bring plates/bowls and utensils to sample the goodies, find new ideas for Rovers trips and vote for your favorite entry. 

Learn various ways to haul canoes & kayaks on your vehicle. Included the ‘hullavator’ (which does the high lifting for you), and the options the Rover Gear Locker offers.

Presented by: Rob, Dann, Fran & Stephanie

Flat bike tires can ruin a beautiful ride, if you don’t remember how to fix them. Join us for a demonstration on how to repair a flat, and be back on the road in no time. Bring a wheel and your toolkit if you want to practice, before you actually need to know!

Presented by Tom H.

The fat bike movement has gone from a fad to a full blown community and lifestyle of riding. Extremely versatile fat bikes are a great bike for just about anything. If you have a fat bike please bring it to show it off, so people can see a variety of bikes.

Presented by: Alicia Vin Zant, Mom, Owner, Seven Spokes Bike Shop

Ever wondered how you can be less sore after a hard day of climbing, hiking, biking or paddling? Sheila Burns, founder and owner of Bliss Yoga Studio at Como and Snelling, will show us the best yoga poses and stretches to do before and after vigorous exercise. Bring a mat or blanket.

An introduction to maintaining your bike. Topics covered will include lubrication, adjusting both caliper and disc brakes, fiddling with your derailleurs (even while cycling!), and wheel balance. Feel free to bring your bike so you can follow along with it.

Presented by David B.

Here’s where you’ll find quality gear from people who know their stuff. Are you trying a new sport and need gear? Find it at the swap!

Do you have unused or extra gear and it’s cluttering your house? Sell it at the swap!

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

Find out more about all the fun things Rovers do at this digital slide show set to music. Afterward, meet club members and ask questions about the club and the kinds of trips and activities it offers. Held at the Bloomington REI store starting at 7pm.

From Reykjavik to Þingvallavatn and Öxarárfoss to Hið Íslenzka Reðasafn, Iceland is a like no other country on the planet. Come and see photos and hear stories from a whistle stop trip to this Nordic island.

Presented by Jen and Barry

Hadrian’s Wall was once the northern boundary of the Roman Empire and extends coast to coast across 73 miles. Heidi hiked it one week in the summer of 2015. In September 2016, Heidi and Doug spent a week hiking the Great Glen Way in Scotland, 79 miles from Fort William to Inverness along the Caledonian Canal and three lochs, including Loch Ness. They will share their photos and discuss the geography and history of these areas in Great Britain.

Presented by Heidi and Doug

Great Barrier Island is the 6th largest Island in New Zealand. It lies about 100 km NE of central Auckland. About 60% of the island is a nature reserve. Most of its less than 1000 inhabitants live from farming and tourism. The west side of the island is sheltered and calm and has hundreds of tiny secluded bays. The eastern coast has long clear beaches, wind-swept sand dunes and heavy surf. Inland has wetlands, rugged hill country, and old growth and regenerating kauri forests.

Presented by Fran L.

Instead of having our usual program tonight we are encouraging Rovers and guests to go over to Dave & Amy Freeman’s presentation in the John B. Davis lecture hall, Campus Center at 7:30 pm. Here is the description:

The annual Sigurd Olson Lecture Series in 2017 features Dave and Amy Freeman. Through images, video and words, Dave and Amy will deliver a story filled with perseverance, joy, hope and their unwavering commitment to wilderness protection. These stories revolve around the work that the Freemans have done with the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters over the last three years. Come to be inspired and learn how to take further action for the Wilderness you love.

More information

Building location

Thunder Bay, Ontario and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park are only about six hours north of the Twin Cities, and it’s worth the effort to visit because there is so much to see and experience. Fur trade and Native American history at Grand Portage and Fort William, a Native American powwow, Ouimet Canyon, the thunderous Kakabeka Falls, scaling the Sleeping Giant, amethyst mines, and wildlife galore. Grab your passport because you’ll be making plans to cross the border once you see what the area has to offer!

Presented by Shelly G. & Stacey G.