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BBQ Wednesdays Coming soon!!!
July: Bighorn Mountains Backpacking
August: Bighorn Mountains round two!
Monster Pike Weekends-2011
For the first time in the history of our Monster Pike Weekends we did separate groups on two different weekends. The first weekend was the elementary/middle school group and the second weekend was the high school/college group. Although the Monster Pike didn't cooperate we still caught 8 or 9 in the 4-8 pound range. Of course the fishing wasn't even the adventurous part. After a 55 degree day on our 2nd weekend with the older kids, we made it back to the landing that was now a raging river. Did we make it back? One will never know!
Winter Camping in the BWCA-March 2011
This was our first winter trip into the BWCA and I'm sure it won't be our last! Seven of us made our way deep into the wilderness by cross country skis all while pulling 4 days worth of sleeping, eating & fishing gear on sleds. It was a unique trip for all of us and a great opportunity to really get to know a few boys. Did we catch fish? Well.....You'll just have to ask about that!
2010 Pheasant Fest December 11th
Our day begain with 13 boys and men eating a breakfast of doughnuts and OJ at the Timber Bay House. It was 20 below and it was hard to get motivated to leave the warmth of the inside. THAT, and doughnuts are hard to eat with gloves on! As we eventually made it out to pheasant country we were greeted with large snow drifts and a stiff north breeze. It had warmed up a little, and the make-shift facemasks we created that morning came in handy. We spent the day jumping pheasants and deer. We shot a good number of roosters and educated a few more. We had a great lunch of grilled venison steak and beans that were frozen solid until we warmed them up. We walked miles and miles through drifts over our head. By dark we were ready to stop. We stopped for pizza at our traditional spot and enjoyed another round of the now annual, "Shock Collar Game". (ya....it's exactly what it sounds like!) It was another excellent adventure with some of the greatest young men I know. What an amazing privilege it is to spend time with them! Make sure to check out the pictures in the photo albulm!
2010 Arise, Kill & Eat October 20-23rd
Our 5th annual Arise, Kill & Eat trip was another success. We had such an amazing time it really is hard to put it into words. We left Wednesday after school and made camp right at dark. We camped literally in the middle of no where. No stores. No house. No electricity. No bathrooms (at least nothing other than a nearby tree). Each night greeted us with a full moon and something we all needed--peace and quiet....well, as quiet as 24 boys can be. The grouse were thick as the kids shot over 30 including quite a few "firsts". The duck hunting has been better in the past but for the first time we were able to bag snows & blues almost daily. We ended up with 9 for the weekend. Some of the boys had never shot a goose PERIOD and they bagged S&B's. SPOILED Smile. We capped off the trip with an awesome "Black Hole" like experience. We again found another flooded spot WAY back in the bog. It was another mile walk across ditches and swamp....and then through thick willow. But the sight we saw was worth every drop of sweat and cold water (through leaky waders). Mallards, Pintails, Black Ducks and even Cans in the flooded timber. This hole is so remote it makes the original Black Hole look urban.
What I again realize after 4 days with the boys and now a day without them is that this is life. Every day with them is a true adventure. Living in wall tents, crapping in the woods all while laughing and crying and enjoying life together. What an amazing journey this is!
Bighorn Backpacking-July 17-24
A trip out west is always an adventure and this year was no exception. 15 of us crammed into a van (the same van that broke down last year) and drove 2,000 miles to the Bighorn Mountains of North Central Wyoming. Once to the mountains, we hiked in 9 miles to our base camp. Our camp was located in a large valley where moose roamed every morning and evening. During the day we made trips to fish and explore in nearby lakes. Stops in the Black Hills and Wall Drug on the way home completed our journy. Thanks to all who helped make this trip possible.
A trip out west is always an adventure and this year was no exception. 15 of us crammed into a van (the same van that broke down last year) and drove 2,000 miles to the Bighorn Mountains of North Central Wyoming. Once to the mountains, we hiked in 9 miles to our base camp. Our camp was located in a large valley where moose roamed every morning and evening. During the day we made trips to fish and explore in nearby lakes. Stops in the Black Hills and Wall Drug on the way home completed our journy. Thanks to all who helped make this trip possible.
Snow Goose Hunt April 15-18
70 degrees in April? We'll take it. As we drove west toward the Dakotas it felt more like we were heading out to fish, not hunt. But hunting we would go and oh what a trip it was! Most of the kids had never seen a snow goose, let alone shot one. Twelve of us total lay in the blinds that first Friday night and the snow & blue geese attacked with vigor. With smiles that wouldn't go away, the boys had some excellent shooting for their first chance at snows. Little did we know, this was only the beginnig to something very few snow goose hunters have ever experienced! To read more, go HERE.
Monster Pike Weekend on LOW March 20-21
Our annual Monster Pike Weekend took place this past weekend. The weather was windy Saturday allowing us to use our tarps as wind sails across Lake of the Woods. The only bad part was that after sailing we had to walk back!
Sunday the weather was perfect. Sunny, warm and no wind. We fished without jackets and caught tons of monster pike.
This was one of our largest outings in awhile with 20 guys joining us. Through ice fishing (or more like ice wrestling) we bonded like brothers. It was an awesome time getting to know these amazing kids a little better.
Check out our PHOTOS!
Call Making Weekend with C&S Custom Calls-February 19-21
It wouldn't be a trip if we didn't have some sort of problem. Our van broke down late on Friday night in Maple Grove. We were on our way to Rochester, MN to make duck and goose calls with our good friend Mike Stelzner. The calls will be sold on auction to help pay for future adventure trips for the boys.
Once again, we were blessed by the generosity of people and how God lines them up to be there at the right time.
It was an awesome weekend with 7 other young men. There was little sleep involved, but it was worth it! Stay tuned for information on the calls that will be on auction.
Rooster Weekend: December 19-20 & January 2nd:
Through snow drifts and cattails we will go chasing the illusive rooster pheasant. It may look more like an orange militia walking across the field, but it's just a bunch of boys working off all the pizza we will eat AFTER the trip. To learn more about the trip or how you can help, email Matt at mattkeller@timberbay.org
Arise, Kill & Eat III Boys Hunting Trip: October 14-17
Through snow drifts and cattails we will go chasing the illusive rooster pheasant. It may look more like an orange militia walking across the field, but it's just a bunch of boys working off all the pizza we will eat AFTER the trip. To learn more about the trip or how you can help, email Matt at mattkeller@timberbay.org
Arise, Kill & Eat III Boys Hunting Trip: October 14-17
20+ boys on a hunting trip of a lifetime with mentors who are they because they love them. It really doesn't get much better than that. On a farm up near the Canadian border, we'll break into small groups to hunt ducks, geese, grouse and deer. Many shells will be burned and even more memories will be created. This trip is a vital 3 days in the lives of these boys. It forges relationships that will continue for years to come. If you're interested in helping make this trip possible, we can always use financial help. Our cost is roughly $50 per person for 3 days of unbelievalbe hunting, great food, and so much more. If you're interested in sponsoring a kid or two or donating food or gear for the trip, please email Matt at mattkeller@timberbay.org. Thanks so much and God bless! For pics of the trip, check them out here: http://www.forum.minnesotawaterfowler.com/viewtopic.php?p=130133#130133
Big Horn Mountains Backpacking Trip
All of our trips are adventures but from the beginning, we knew this one would be special. 13 of us packed tightly in our big van and trailer and headed west on the morning of the 22nd. Full of excitement and energy drinks, we made the overnight drive to Buffalo, Wyoming in good time. We made good use of the last public restrooms and hot food cooked by someone else before we headed up the mountain.
We were only 5 miles up the mountain when trouble hit. I went to pass a cement truck that was going very slow. As I passed him we lost our transmission. I had nothing. I pulled over quickly knowing there wasn't much we could do.
To see how this adventure ends, click HERE.
All of our trips are adventures but from the beginning, we knew this one would be special. 13 of us packed tightly in our big van and trailer and headed west on the morning of the 22nd. Full of excitement and energy drinks, we made the overnight drive to Buffalo, Wyoming in good time. We made good use of the last public restrooms and hot food cooked by someone else before we headed up the mountain.
We were only 5 miles up the mountain when trouble hit. I went to pass a cement truck that was going very slow. As I passed him we lost our transmission. I had nothing. I pulled over quickly knowing there wasn't much we could do.
To see how this adventure ends, click HERE.
Check out our upcoming and past trips!
Timber Bay Outdoor Adventures
