Thursday, May 20, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Boundary Waters Trip
After finals and a quick pack-up of my dorm room, I and a large number of my fellow Biological/Pre-Medical Illustrators headed north to the Boundary Waters at 5:30 on Sunday morning, May 9th. There were 20 students and three chaperons. Our mission: camping and drawing. Our obstacles: black flies, cold, wind, rain, and Sasquatch (just kidding about Sasquatch- he lives farther west.) Best Part: getting to deepen friendships with other BPMI-ers.
Sunday afternoon, we stopped at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth to look at the exhibits and make sketches before stopping in Ely for dinner and a stay at the PackSack Bunkhouse. The next day, we went to the International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center before heading on to Tuscarora Outfitters Bunkhouse by the BWCA (Boundary Water Canoe Area.) The wolf center was definitely well worth the visit. They opened the facility just for us and gave a special presentation. I had been to wolf center with my dad before, but with only a window pane separating the viewer in the museum from the wolves on the exterior, this facility allowed a very close viewing of these amazing animals. We were also very lucky because it was early in the morning and they had just received their food so the wolves were very active. As they interacted with each other, the educational presenter was able to point out certain characteristics and behaviors that demonstrated the pack hierarchy. At both facilities, we had time to sketch the live animals along with the stuffed ones.
On Tuesday, we headed into the BWCA. Because of size limits, we were divided into three groups. We spent most of the day canoeing and portaging to our camp site. Because the boreal forest is very dense, the only way really to get around efficiently is through the many lakes and across man-made portage paths between these water systems. Portaging is hard work. Our group had four canoes, 3 food packs, and 1 tent pack. Along with this, each person had at least one personal pack. We would usually canoe as close to the landing site as possible, try to balance on some rocks to pass the packs over to dry land, and then lift or drag the canoe up to the start of the portage trail. Then, someone from the group would flip the canoe over and carry it on his/her shoulders to the other end of the trail. Keep in mind that these trails were very rarely flat, rock-free or mud-free. The people not carrying canoes would carry packs and help load up the canoes at the other end. Except for one portage, I mostly carried packs.
We were unable to get as far as we had hoped due to very strong winds that made canoeing very difficult, but we had a nice spot that was on high ground but still protected from the wind with the surrounding black spruce. Cooking meals and cleaning pots and utensils took a lot of time because we first had to collect water and then boil it or use a hand filter, and unlike a stove top at home with five burners, we had two (there was a burn ban in the area due to a dry spring.)
On the second day in the BWCA, we went out in the canoes to do some exploring and do some sketching. It was a beautiful, sunny day with little wind. Unfortunately, this meant that we were invaded with black flies- nasty buggers that nibble at your skin along your hairline. But besides that, it was great. I even took off my jacket for a little bit! For the entire time in the BW, I had two pairs of wool socks, winter boots, under armor leggings and long-sleeved shirt, insulated, water-proof pants, short-sleeved shirt, long-sleeved shirt, wool sweater, wool mittens, stocking cap, and a water-proof jacket, and I am going to tell you that I was still cold for the majority of the trip.
The third day was very cold and rainy. We mostly hung around camp, made a few specimen sketches of fungi and some flowers, napped, played cards, and drank lots of tea and hot chocolate. My friend Amy and I did canoe out for a bit after getting tent fever and were able to see some beavers close up.
On the fourth day, we woke up early, packed up, and moved out. Although there was some wind and mist, we made it back much quicker due to our improved canoeing and portaging skills along with the burning desire for showers. Before driving over to Rockwood Lodge Bunkhouse near Grand Marais, however, we had a nice hike up to Magnetic Rock which was pretty cool.
Saturday was a free day in Grand Marais where people were free to wander around the shops, galleries, and harbor area, and then on Sunday, we left a little before 6:00 a.m. to head back to Iowa. On the way, we stopped at the Palisades and Gooseberry Falls.
It was quite the experience, and although I do not think I will go camping in the Boundary Waters again, I am really glad I did it, and I learned a lot. As Dean and Steve, two of our chaperons now in their 60's, fondly retold shared memories of their experiences in the Boundary Waters, I had the feeling I will be doing the same with friends from this trip in 40 years. For some reason, experiencing the same conditions and challenges create some of the best bonding memories. Plus, I feel that if you are still friends after a week of not showering, the friendship is meant to last.
Sunday afternoon, we stopped at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth to look at the exhibits and make sketches before stopping in Ely for dinner and a stay at the PackSack Bunkhouse. The next day, we went to the International Wolf Center and the North American Bear Center before heading on to Tuscarora Outfitters Bunkhouse by the BWCA (Boundary Water Canoe Area.) The wolf center was definitely well worth the visit. They opened the facility just for us and gave a special presentation. I had been to wolf center with my dad before, but with only a window pane separating the viewer in the museum from the wolves on the exterior, this facility allowed a very close viewing of these amazing animals. We were also very lucky because it was early in the morning and they had just received their food so the wolves were very active. As they interacted with each other, the educational presenter was able to point out certain characteristics and behaviors that demonstrated the pack hierarchy. At both facilities, we had time to sketch the live animals along with the stuffed ones.
On Tuesday, we headed into the BWCA. Because of size limits, we were divided into three groups. We spent most of the day canoeing and portaging to our camp site. Because the boreal forest is very dense, the only way really to get around efficiently is through the many lakes and across man-made portage paths between these water systems. Portaging is hard work. Our group had four canoes, 3 food packs, and 1 tent pack. Along with this, each person had at least one personal pack. We would usually canoe as close to the landing site as possible, try to balance on some rocks to pass the packs over to dry land, and then lift or drag the canoe up to the start of the portage trail. Then, someone from the group would flip the canoe over and carry it on his/her shoulders to the other end of the trail. Keep in mind that these trails were very rarely flat, rock-free or mud-free. The people not carrying canoes would carry packs and help load up the canoes at the other end. Except for one portage, I mostly carried packs.
We were unable to get as far as we had hoped due to very strong winds that made canoeing very difficult, but we had a nice spot that was on high ground but still protected from the wind with the surrounding black spruce. Cooking meals and cleaning pots and utensils took a lot of time because we first had to collect water and then boil it or use a hand filter, and unlike a stove top at home with five burners, we had two (there was a burn ban in the area due to a dry spring.)
On the second day in the BWCA, we went out in the canoes to do some exploring and do some sketching. It was a beautiful, sunny day with little wind. Unfortunately, this meant that we were invaded with black flies- nasty buggers that nibble at your skin along your hairline. But besides that, it was great. I even took off my jacket for a little bit! For the entire time in the BW, I had two pairs of wool socks, winter boots, under armor leggings and long-sleeved shirt, insulated, water-proof pants, short-sleeved shirt, long-sleeved shirt, wool sweater, wool mittens, stocking cap, and a water-proof jacket, and I am going to tell you that I was still cold for the majority of the trip.
The third day was very cold and rainy. We mostly hung around camp, made a few specimen sketches of fungi and some flowers, napped, played cards, and drank lots of tea and hot chocolate. My friend Amy and I did canoe out for a bit after getting tent fever and were able to see some beavers close up.
On the fourth day, we woke up early, packed up, and moved out. Although there was some wind and mist, we made it back much quicker due to our improved canoeing and portaging skills along with the burning desire for showers. Before driving over to Rockwood Lodge Bunkhouse near Grand Marais, however, we had a nice hike up to Magnetic Rock which was pretty cool.
Saturday was a free day in Grand Marais where people were free to wander around the shops, galleries, and harbor area, and then on Sunday, we left a little before 6:00 a.m. to head back to Iowa. On the way, we stopped at the Palisades and Gooseberry Falls.
It was quite the experience, and although I do not think I will go camping in the Boundary Waters again, I am really glad I did it, and I learned a lot. As Dean and Steve, two of our chaperons now in their 60's, fondly retold shared memories of their experiences in the Boundary Waters, I had the feeling I will be doing the same with friends from this trip in 40 years. For some reason, experiencing the same conditions and challenges create some of the best bonding memories. Plus, I feel that if you are still friends after a week of not showering, the friendship is meant to last.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
I am done with finals!
Some of you may not want to see the nude drawings so I am posting the skeleton drawings from earlier in the semester and one that is nude but you cannot really see anything. If you would like to see more, send me an e-mail and I can show you some more.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The End is Almost Here
The images were both created using PhotoShop. For the horse hoof, I first drew the image and scanned it into the program whereas the femur was created from scratch in PhotoShop. By the way, Walcom Tablets are awesome. It is a flat board that you hook up to a computer, and you can "draw" or "paint" with the pen-shaped mouse.
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