As I drove out of the woods last Sunday I couldn’t help but smile. Not only was it a beautiful autumn day, it was a day full of interviews with great people. People who are fortunate enough to have camps in some of the most remote and beautiful spots in the lower 48 states. I was told by someone that I was going to enjoy doing this documentary for the camps I would see and the people I would meet. He was right. The experience of doing this documentary is second to none. I’ve met genuinely good, nice people who share a passion for the outdoors. We are all in the same boat and that makes it easy to walk up to their camps, introduce myself, set up my camera and have a nice long chat about why these camps are so important to them and to the area. Having a camera there hasn’t bothered any of them. They want their story told.
On a trail off of CC Road between Bruce Crossing and Paulding are two neighboring camps; the Kangas “Just a Shack” and Rinne Camp. Neighbors by about a half mile or so. I made arrangements with the Rinne family to meet them at their camp and it just so happened that the group from the Kangas Shack was also going to be up for the weekend. I stopped at the Kangas camp first for a couple hours and chatted with the group over coffee. They had been out all weekend and were on their way home after the interview. Home for the group is Ironwood, Michigan; Menominee Falls, Wisconsin; Brown Deer Wisconsin; and Beach Park, Illinois. They come a long way just to spend time together in a little octagon shaped shack in the U.P. Family and friends, the group consisted of Kim and his son Kyle, Dave and his son Brandon and Tracy, Dave’s brother and friend of Kim’s. They try to get together a few times a year, do some hunting, balsam bough picking, drink a few beers and play cards. Kim was the big card winner of the weekend and cleaned out everyone's change cups.
On a trail off of CC Road between Bruce Crossing and Paulding are two neighboring camps; the Kangas “Just a Shack” and Rinne Camp. Neighbors by about a half mile or so. I made arrangements with the Rinne family to meet them at their camp and it just so happened that the group from the Kangas Shack was also going to be up for the weekend. I stopped at the Kangas camp first for a couple hours and chatted with the group over coffee. They had been out all weekend and were on their way home after the interview. Home for the group is Ironwood, Michigan; Menominee Falls, Wisconsin; Brown Deer Wisconsin; and Beach Park, Illinois. They come a long way just to spend time together in a little octagon shaped shack in the U.P. Family and friends, the group consisted of Kim and his son Kyle, Dave and his son Brandon and Tracy, Dave’s brother and friend of Kim’s. They try to get together a few times a year, do some hunting, balsam bough picking, drink a few beers and play cards. Kim was the big card winner of the weekend and cleaned out everyone's change cups.
After capturing stories from the Kangas Shack I drove down the trail to the Rinne Camp. Along the way I met Lissa bird hunting along the trail with her two dogs. It’s a week later and I’m still kicking myself for not getting out of the truck to get video of her hunting and walking the trail. The leaves on the ground and some colors still left on the trees made for beautiful scenery. I stopped to introduce myself and didn’t want to put a camera in her face right then. I was going to ask after the interview and birthday party if we could go for another walk down the trail. I didn’t get a chance to. My SD card was full by the end of everything else. I know better now that 1 1/2 SD cards is not enough for a 2 camp shoot day!
Lissa, her father Bob, 2 kids Annika and Colton, and other family members were at camp that day for Colton’s 8th birthday and to chat with me about the camp. When I asked if that Sunday would work they figured since Colton spent his first birthday and many more at camp, it would be the perfect opportunity. After the interview with Bob and Lissa, Colton shared some stories he wrote about camp earlier that morning and Bob gave me a tour of the camp. The most unique feature of this 2-story camp is the bridge from the upstairs to the hill just behind the camp. Uncle Mike built it as a fire escape in case of emergency. It is also the first 2-story camp I’ve been to and Lissa is the first woman I’ve interviewed. This camp is not the stereotypical men’s hunting getaway. It’s a place for the entire family to enjoy each other’s company, let the kids run around freely, eat great food and relax. Don’t get me wrong, they hunt too. Lissa shot an eight point buck last year, the biggest buck at camp. We had venison chili from it for the birthday party. I left shortly after Colton opened his presents. My birthday wish for Colton is that he can spend every birthday at this camp, even his 100th.
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