Nothing beats sitting in the moss next to a campfire with a warm cup of instant coffee, cozy in a Lagom Fleece Hoodie while watching the sunrise stretch across the water. Canoe trips on Lake of the Woods, winding through Northern Minnesota and Canada, have always been a cornerstone of my family’s outdoor adventures.
My name is Linnea Harren, the daughter of two of Wintergreen’s owners, Jackson and Solveig. This past June, my dad and I took a weekend canoe trip into a small cluster of Canadian lakes- a pause from our busy lives to do what we both love and value: spend quality time in nature, being adventurous together.
Hitting the water!
Paddle Tips: Pack Light, Wear What Works
“Take out the fluff” is the rule canoers live by when packing for a trip. Wintergreen apparel made up the majority of the contents of my wet bag: my Merino Wool Kine Crewneck, Boundary Waters Shell Pants, Boundary Waters Canoe Shorts, Nordic Jacket, and Crunch Cap. Along with a few other necessities, these pieces became my daily wardrobe as we paddled and portaged through the beautiful Canadian wilderness.
After setting up tents and cooking dinner over the fire, I’d always find my dad in his bright red Boundary Waters Hooded Windshirt, casting for bass off the rocky shore. My evenings were spent relaxing in my hammock — “mocking”— preferably strung between two trees near the water with a sunset view. Wrapped in my Lagom Fleece Hoodie and Merino Wool Stocking Cap, I felt like the embodiment of Wintergreen Northern Wear.
The embodiment of Wintergreen.
Wintergreen Northern Wear, Clothing Built for Real Adventure
Throughout the trip I would often say, “Dad, take a picture!”, tossing my digital camera back and forth whenever I spotted a good photo-op of one of us wearing the clothes exactly as they’re designed to be worn. But by the last day I didn’t bother. My Kine Crewneck was dirty and my Boundary Water Shell Pants were wrinkled from last night’s dewfall.
The thing is, that’s the essence of Wintergreen: durable, functional, comfortable clothing, handmade for exactly this kind of adventure.
Preparing some "camp charcuterie".
I may be biased, but although I packed an extra pair of shorts, a shirt, and rain pants, I didn’t need to take them out from the bottom of my pack. The Kine Crewneck proved to be the Merino Wool magic my Uncle Gabriel, another Wintergreen owner, raves about. Its breathable fabric kept me comfortable for hours of paddling under the hot sun, and when wind and rain rolled in, a rain jacket over top kept me warm and dry. We made periodic stops on rocks or islands for “camp charcuterie” lunches and a dip in the lake. My Boundary Water Canoe Shorts never failed to dry by the time I climbed back into the bow of our Kevlar canoe for the afternoon.
Even this short paddle through beaver dams on a no-name lake and swamp just over the Northern Minnesota border captured the pillars of family and the values Wintergreen strives to represent. My dad has always shared his love for the outdoors with us, his kids, encouraging us to get outside. Wintergreen is the epitome of that same spirit. Life is an Adventure - Wear It!
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