Exploring a Northern Bog & Scouting New Bushcraft Camp

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Lemme know if you'd like to see me build a bushcraft camp here!

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

if it seems like a good spot to you, sure, let's see the build 👍🏻

[@samc705]

Those downed trees that you passed on the way in and then on the way back out look like a great place to set up a nice shelter, not so sure about the coyotes' den being in the vicinity though.

[@JuanRamirez-pm4cw]

Girl in the Woods that would be awesome if you built a camp there. Beautiful location and video.

[@DonnaConrady]

I vote yes!

[@bagboy1942]

Definitely! Looks like a good place to "mine" fatwood!

[@catherinegoldie6724]

It amazes me Brooke how you never get lost, and you just keep going for hours on end. Love your Channel.

[@lindacox8156]

Everyone of your videos restores my soul! THANK YOU!

[@ruthiewrangler9864]

I so enjoy watching your videos. I love the way you highlight and enjoy all of Gods creations. All we have to do is stop......and look around us. Thank you, God bless

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

thank you RuthieWrangler!

[@patlsmith404]

I think it’s so sweet, Da Woof loves you so much! I know my dogs and animals...people not so much. 🐾🐾🥰

[@ellensmith8470]

I have to thank you Brooke. I love the woods. Being outside. I don't see doing much anymore. Can't get out like I used. Got a walker.

[@davidworthen6104]

I see a whole new series of bushcraft episodes coming up. Can't wait !!!

[@johno140]

Such a cool life that you have Brooke girl. You, and Maysie on yet another excellent adventure..Wow, what's not to love about the back woods man; just wow.

[@julieannst-onge108]

Thank you for the Wonderful Hiking.Beautiful place.Yes some great sites for a bush shelter.Love it Brooke!!

[@ralphmitchell9762]

Remember the joy of being in the woods this time of year. Always a thrill to find a bog. You have to build a shelter there!

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

it built two shelters there- go search my videos

[@mitzioden4926]

Yes, I'd like to see you camp at the bog. I love all your videos!

[@kathykermoyan7611]

You don't get lost and you don't feel scared. You are really something.

[@TressaZimmerman]

Lots of great places like you said. So much awesomeness.

[@wandabrady2178]

Just beautiful loved it Brooke! Thank you for sharing!

[@boblatzer]

Super fun video. Thanks for sharing. You’re the best.

[@genefoster9770]

a camp a canoe and a gallon of deepwoods off and that place would be a small piece of heaven in the spring and summer thanks for the great video see you on the next one

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

I intend to do shoulder season camping here.... and fishing! Will see

[@DanoLXF]

That's a great place Brooke, thanks for sharing!

[@bobashmore6442]

An absolutely gorgeous area, I especially loved the view across the pond, there were some clearings there that looked like they'd be awesome to explore. My only thought against building a bushcraft shelter would be that In about two to three weeks the mosquitoes are going to be SO thick there that you could, literally, cut them out of the air with a knife and serve them on a plate. It's going to stay that way until at least late September. Up to you but if you build a shelter there be sure to include a HUGE mosquito net to put over the entire thing in your pack-in supplies. Not to mention the ticks but... we won't mention those. Thanks for another great escape into the woods with Brooke video, you really made my day with this one.

[@johno140]

Wow, sawr some gorgeous White pine there; lovely.

[@GirlOutdoors]

Always love watching your videos, such a beautiful location! Take care :)

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Thank you! Us KZbin girls should get together sometime!! cheers

[@GirlOutdoors]

Yeah for sure, would be great :)

[@jamescarryl9690]

Brooke, vid at the Bog was excellent, I enjoyed thourly. The high spot where the pines are. Please do a video there, showing the construction. Then later in Summer go b ack an do a weekend this with fishing and foraging. Stay safe in the woods.

[@ravenfeather7087]

Bogs are one of my favorite types of wetlands. You probably know that the one you're at was formed about 12,000 years ago as the last glacier retreated to the north. It started out as a lake and gradually filled in with vegetation/organic matter over the years. Bog plants are very unique and include some really weird carnivorous plants like Honeydew and Pitcher Plants that actually trap insects and then digest them. And of course cranberries. Which Canadian geese love. And many other beautiful and unique plants like Leatherleaf and Bog Kalmia. That little pond I think I saw in the background is what is called an ephemeral (intermittent) wetland and is also unique. They are often wet only in the spring of the year and during that time provide a lot of wildlife habitat. And if they're connected to a nearby larger water body even just temporarily serve as fish spawning habitat. They're very unique ecosystems and most people pay them little or no attention. If you look carefully there's all kinds of stuff going on. Black bear depend upon them as a food source (the aquatic plants that grow in them). A swamp is another type of wetland. In politics, draining a swamp is made to sound like a good thing but it is definitely not. They're very good fish and wildlife habitat, and as you know great places to play, and play a big role in providing clean drinking and swimming water. In this part of the world (WI/MI) we've already lost over 50% of our wetlands and many large and extremely important ones biologically (wildlife, etc.) are gone. And politicians keep trying to relax laws that protect them because they don't have a clue how beautiful and important they are. A great place for a small unobtrusive temporary shelter. If it happens to be a cranberry bog you could do some pancakes with local cranberry syrup. Maybe some blueberry syrup to add a little more flavor? This time of year would also be great to watch and photograph migrating waterfowl like Sandhill Cranes and other waterfowl. And this time of year - no mosquitoes! And spring peepers! Chorus frogs! Maybe Redwing Blackbirds! Ravens gurgling! Maybe some of your viewers would enjoy learning more about bogs and other wetlands. I saw someone's little camp on a bog during deer season one year (November). Just a tarp for a roof and one for the bottom. He or she had set it up on a natural mound of sphagnum moss and other vegetation. Imagine sleeping on a thick pile of moss - can't get much softer than that. And you found the right spot you could just reach out and grab a cranberry for breakfast. The bog itself can be pretty delicate as you know. And don't pick the Bog Orchids! And watch out for Bougwahginnini!! He might try to steal your pancakes. No doubt about it if they had cranberry syrup on them.

[@Dusk2898]

Raven Feather thank YOU for your input. I’m learning a lot !! Do you have a channel or an outlet for all of YOUR knowledge?

[@l4v3nd4r]

Raven Feather question: if there is a source of water feeding and passing out of the bog, doesn’t that make it a bog changing into a fen? Yes, I am fascinated by swamps, bogs, and fens.

[@susanstoltz2555]

Raven Feather -Thanks for all the great information. I’m a bog lover too and love to explore them with people that can point out the things you were talking about. I encourage you to start your own channel.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Awesome thanks!

[@ravenfeather7087]

Mary Anne Pietras - You're right. Here's a copy of some text defining a fen from EPA's Wetland Classification site. Glad to hear you're a Fen-atic! And a bog-atic and swamp-atic! They are amazing places. "Fens, are peat-forming wetlands that receive nutrients from sources other than precipitation: usually from upslope sources through drainage from surrounding mineral soils and from groundwater movement. Fens differ from bogs because they are less acidic and have higher nutrient levels. Therefore, they are able to support a much more diverse plant and animal community." www.epa.gov/wetlands/wetlands-classification I'm most familiar with a large bog just across the Wisconsin border and located in the southern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The entire cedar swamp/bog complex is about 3 miles across. And the vegetation ranges from submergent aquatics in the remaining 40 acres or so open water lake to very sort vegetation including cotton grass and cranberries to thick black spruce to dense cedar and tag alder swamp on the edges. So there are all of the successional stages. And it's all surrounded by farm land (upland). This part of the UP is particularly blessed with some large bogs.

[@williampysell2819]

Very good video, Brooke! Got my spring camping juices flowing!

[@xenamolina8]

love watching your video

[@cksoutdoorsathilltopacresf1569]

What a really neat place!! I love to explore with my dog, too. Can't wait to see the shelter build. Thanks for taking us along! ~Kitty

[@phillipbruce2741]

An interesting place for a camp no doubt. There's sure to be a variety of plants (and animals) in the area. Come warm weather a few scented dryer sheets stuffed into clothing (not against the skin) will keep those pesky "skeeters", and other creepy crawlies, at bay. The occasional handful of green pine needles on the fire also helps.

[@kkoktan1601]

❤️the Bog Hike. An 🦉 Pellet WoW! So cool. We have had owls in our forest before. Even a baby last year. He was so cool to hear in the woods. A bit of a cry baby like ‘Mazey’ lol. ❤️the foraging cranberries / blueberries. Wow! Maybe you can show us how to forage wild asparagus. Wild fiddle heads. To cool. My 9 year old daughter and i ❤️your channel. Her makebelieve youtube slogan is ´girls be gone ‘ and ‘don’t forget to get outside and get creative.´ Happy Easter Brooke.

[@Uniquelyyours1]

What a beautiful place. I love that you take the time to show us little things like plants and the different kinds of trees. Stay safe, Brooke and Maysie:)

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

thank you!

[@PrairieDodgers]

Those were some nice White Pines. I bet there are lots of beautiful colors in that area in the summer. Cheers!

[@aaronnelson1099]

You know she loves ya when they burp in your face and drool on your stuff!! Bet this girl in the woods will Indeed be back! Did you say fishing!?! What, where, who did? She Gone! 🎣🌲👍🔥 Happy bunny day B! Ching!

[@crearley]

Brooke you find the coolest places. Can't wait to see the shelter build.

[@opalprestonshirley1700]

Yeah a shelter would be good. It would be great to see the bog in summer. Stay safe.

[@andreapecoraro6972]

Congratulations on the excellent video. It's nice to hike and find new places. I will go out in the tent this weekend. I hope to find equally beautiful places. Bye Bye . . .

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

thanks enjoy!

[@samanvii85]

Ohhh that was so fun to watch!! I love to vicariously explore with you, Brooke! You're so much like my friends and me, finding beauty and wonder in nature! I'm headed out for my first camping trip of the year tomorrow with my son, best friend, and her son! It's going to be chilly up there, but we're just too excited to wait! Loved this bog, and I can't wait to see what it looks like later in spring, and in summer time!! That downed branch *would* make an amazing shelter! I can't wait to see what you come up with!! I hope you have a good weekend!! :D

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Awesome! Have a great time!

[@GaerHampton]

Have you ever read "Woodcraft and Camping" by Nessmuk (George Sears)? There's a part in it in which he describes a long distance trek he made through the wilds of Michigan in the late 1800s. It really is a neat (charming/romantic) window into a mostly lost world when Michigan was still somewhat on the American frontier.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

It's on our bookshelf- would of loved to experience virgin Michigan!

[@uevue4755]

I love to see us guys do a video or a new base camp video at the the siting. ..

[@savagewolf1966]

You bet I would,nice spot, thought there should be blueberrys and fish in the ponds,nice find.cheers.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Hope so!

[@gwendolynjulien4851]

I live in Bangor, Maine and a few years ago Bangor and Orono, Maine share a big bog together and the towns made about a mile and half walk way over the wet bog with some benches along the way and maps and signs that tell and show pictures of what you can find in that area like plants, trees, berries etc. Also in the wooded area there are trails you can walk and that have names like Rabbit trail, or Deer trail, etc. Signs to tell you where you are and where the outhouse is located. lts big and you can get twisted around but not lost, inviting for lots of people to enjoy that would never go on their own. It's a big area a place for a few picnic tables. Got to bring you own drinking water. Also wheel chairs can go on the board walk. We walk it with our dogs Echo a sheltie, and Diamond a Border collie. They update everything in the spring, that our harsh winter did to it. Sometimes adding new adventures. It's nice for everyone. Bikes, wheels chairs, strollers, wagons, no skateboards or skates, because it's ground trails, nothing on the boardwalk except wheelchairs, and their are places for older people to sit and rest. Ok it's a nice idea. Guess you know l am pleased with it and l love the outdoors and love that it opens the opportunity for more people to "get out side, and get happy,"!

[@X_explorer]

Excellent clip!

[@dianetbailey9185]

Great scenery Brooke. Enjoy the videos soooo much. Cooking channel video would be great.

[@christopherwatrous1823]

Eating pizza, drinking pop, watching Brooke Whipple videos...lol!! Too cool!! I am like you in the woods!! A kid in a candy store!!!

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

LOL I know I really just love to explore. Somebody once told me I say "Wow' too many times. Oh well!

[@marilyncunningham3216]

Your dog looks *so*much like my late furbabe Devlin! Loved seeing her in your video.

[@christinaoklaohio7926]

Sure would, looks like a great place to set up camp. Looks cold there today. I am so ready for spring.

[@SpiritForest]

I watched while I worked.. thanks for taking us along. I needed some wilderness/Bog time. :) Cheers!

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Cool- did i hear you say you're a graphic designer??? Wish you were here to camp with me!

[@SpiritForest]

Yes, I am a graphic designer. Hope one day to camp with you.. would be a blast!

[@carmenmasood8477]

Love to see you camp there

[@redcanoe14]

White and Red pines are cool, don't have them over here. Yup...good place to camp for sure Brooke :)

[@gosmoothgolight7567]

Beautiful reminder of one of my favorite hiking areas ... the section of the NCST that winds through Barry County, MI! Lots of glacial bogs and lakes to enjoy ... and so peaceful. Looking forward to watching your brush shelter build (if you choose to make a base camp there). Another great video. Thanks for sharing, Brooke! God Bless you and yours :)

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

nice!

[@captnjax911]

Great area.

[@GODSOFTHEGUITARS]

Great vid Brooke, I agree exploring is so much fun, it’s half the fun of being in the woods and finding a place set up camp or take a break. Speaking of which you should definitely build a shelter and camp there. Btw I love the song can you please to the artist and song title. Have a happy Good Friday ✝️✌️❤️😊 Anthony

[@kellwng]

YES!!!!! Definitely Red. I always look forward to your smiling face.

[@SCSlimBoiseID]

Brooke, that looks like an amazing place to explore - it has "let's camp here" written all over it. It's getting to be that time of the year around my neck of the woods when the camping gear starts making noises like it wants to go someplace. Soon it will. Nice video. Stay safe out there.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

lol love it

[@TheNoonie50]

Owl pellet.....who knew????? cool... :)

[@MikeL-vu7jo]

nice hike in the woods

[@kodiakcopilot]

That's a great find😋 That bog will probably be full of bears when all those berries get ripe🐶

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

yeah!

[@davekibbey7944]

Looks like a good spot to build a camp as long as things don't get too spongy when we finally get a thaw. This area is reminiscent of northern Minnesota.

[@georgelahti6474]

Beautiful scenery, we still have 2 ft of snow here in the U.P.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Yeah! Love that snow!

[@Ac-st7nw]

Love it!!!

[@Mismatch_Monday_Mayhem]

I will take my family to a location north of us where we go "island hoping". It's a bog similar to the one that you found. Your video brought back some nice memories of that. Thanks for sharing it. Maysie is the best! She looks like a wonderful companion for you.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

yeah the bogs are SO cool!

[@cillaloves2fish688]

Nice exploring trek! Lotsa wildlife... Beautiful scenery... Love it! Looks like Maysie did too. Never been in a bog myself... I was a lil scared for you walking on floating land! Yup! Bushcraft camp spot in the making! Lots of cool prospects! Go for it Brooke!!

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

thanks cilla!

[@drewlucero3916]

That was AWESOME as for the camp it would be great. Thanks for sharing and making us HAPPY 😊 📸👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻📸

[@grampawterry8957]

WOW ! What a spot you found .. I bet you can find a great spot for a camp in there

[@scottlippert2988]

I think the trees that are shown at 3:30 would provide a good solid frame for a shelter. It might be a good option.

[@zRockin1]

Hi Brooke, cool area, and a bushcraft camp there would be great, although I bet there are a lot of skeeters there in the spring/summer. Rock On!

[@kjonesy4142]

Yepp, camp here for sure!!👍⛺

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

check out the vid!

[@LindaWolfe20]

Great video! Where those blue berries and cranberries are so are the bears lolo..

[@brianspencer4220]

Hey Brooke : Lots of white pine & interesting terrain . While there is loads of wood resources; access & bugs would be a terror in the late spring & summer I believe. However your on site & experienced so obviously the best judge. Thanks for bringing me along. Brian 77

[@frlouis3266]

I'm not a bog person but it looks nice enough. I really like your taste in earrings.

[@susanstoltz2555]

Great spot for a bushcraft camp, Brooke. Would love to see more of this spot. I’m a big bad bog lover, meself!

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

thanks susan!

[@MorrisonScotch]

I'd use the hard ground and snow for easy log transport and make a small simple cabin

[@christopherwatrous1823]

I say WOW with you, Brooke!!!

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

I know I can count on you!

[@karlsteingall6339]

Love your she gone sign off!!

[@oldgriz816]

I say yes to a camp there! I always wonder if there are any wooly mammoth in the bog. Hunters would store them in boggy areas until needed . There has been several found in lower Michigan bogs. From Saline out to the Irish hills, Dexter, Chelsea, etc.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

that'd be cool

[@lindacox8156]

When I taught we called a bog " Nature's trampoline" and our students would do exactly what you did - jump o it!

[@polishpicl]

Post #2...you look so good in those neat earrings!!!!!!

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

thankyou!

[@ActNaturally]

Awesome new video my YT friend! Keep em coming +1 LIKE

[@TheGhostOfSabotage]

You have a cool looking woodland there. :D

[@cjc9088]

That spot with the trees felled all leaning up where you thought it could make a good shelter...looks like a Squatch shelter. Plus they love deserted spots like that. Maybe you could leave a Gift at the base of the tree for them. They love garlic apparently, not apples, but also sweet treats. I know...sounds like I've lost it...but I've been watching Sasquatch Ontario...he's had a lot of experiences with them...and he's the real deal. Anyway...I love the Bog and I do hope you camp there.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

I'll be on the watch!

[@joycebarnett5813]

Do you have a lot of moose in this area. With the bog, I can see moose foraging there. Great place for basecamp. When are we going to go camping here? Masey is a great dog. I love to watch her as you slow down and she is not ready to do so. Stay safe and happy trails. Love Joyce

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

I'm working on the camp now- stay tuned!

[@bushcraftbaxter]

I wish I was out of school so I could have the ability to explore more!!

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

It's almost summer Spencer!

[@quantum470]

Thanks for yet an other inspiring video! I think it would be fun if you gave Maisie (is that how you spell her name?) her own camera. It would be interesting to see what she explores when she's out of sight. That is, if she doesn't mind wearing a harness and a GoPro! :)

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

great idea!

[@axerxes3981]

Enjoyed your bog adventure. Yes!!! Find a good spot and build a Bushcraft base camp.... and let us watch. Love to see it from the start and how it finishes up. Nice video... although I was surprised you didn't fix your sweet self a cup of coffee out there. Looked like coffee weather. Thanks for sharing............. Ax

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

I was up against a time deadline... had to go to work! No extra time for coffee! Bummer

[@phyllismulkey3778]

nice spot for a camp

[@Lisa1111]

I just love your videos! Lisa in Seattle ❤

[@brianmiller6055]

Really beautiful place. Count me in for wanting to see a bushcraft camp there.

[@shishkebab5306]

Great video thanks Brook. The scenery there was wonderful. Will the bog island be accessible once it has thawed out? Don't know anything about bogs. Be good to see you camp out there.

[@84greenbear]

AWESOME!! Can you imagine the black flies and skeeters and deer flies and horse flies and ticks that may like that place too? HAHA, not trying to scare you off because it would all be worth it if you got to see some moose and have an endless supply of blue and black berries. Maybe even a black bear! Good video as always!

[@polishpicl]

#1 yes do it..build that camp..#2 with all the white pine you walked thru...there is plenty of tea available...But but but mosquitos...have your repellant available and close...or build the fire fast!!!!!

[@andyoutdoors4350]

volume on full in the uk here x great vlog x

[@marcdaigle7701]

It's beautiful but I think that was a T-Rex carcasse, hehe... Careful, Brooke !!! There is a lot of wildlife tracks everywhere, cool ! It's Awesome that you set up all your camera shots...great editing too !! Take care, doggy too !!

[@kenstrampe7609]

great video on finding a good spot to camp, you would have plenty of berries to pick for your treats or desserts and you would also have plenty of wildlife to watch too. hope the fishing will be good. love them earrings. never had the zebra cakes i always eat the ho ho's and the nutty bars, little debbies are great. is this in michigan or alaska?

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

thanks this is MI

[@anncluckey5401]

That looks like a really cool place to hang out. I found something similar the other day, but I didn't go in because I didn't want to die lol I live in Texas and wet marshy places are a mocusons favorite place to hang and probably a rattler as well. Not that I didn't want to though.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Yeah those are yucky snakes for sure!

[@lesleyzimmerman5114]

Hi from OhioYes for the bushcraft camp.I love your dog.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

thank you!

[@kristyh3954]

I love little Debbies cake too. The Christmas trees and the Easter cakes are my absolute favorite. As always i love the beautiful scenery you capture as well as the music you add to top your videos off. I also wanted to add that the last time i sent you a comment I said i wanted to get out and do more with nature. Well i blew my back out again busting wood 2 weeks ago. I had back surgery at the age of 29 and now im awaiting my 9th MRI n 5 yrs... I was so looking forward to getting a workout as well as enjoying the good ole outdoors with my wife. 😞 Well im keeping my faith that i will not have to go through another spine surgery and ill be back outdoors soon. #FINGERSCROSSED I'll keep watching your video's to push my courage to form success and not give up cause nature is beautiful and should not be taken for granted! Thanks a lot Brooke

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

Good luck Kristy! But take it easy out there... you're body has to last you a while!

[@libbyo3907]

Beautiful location! It's interesting too seeing all of the animal tracks too. I would not want to run into a bear though. Yikes. LOL :-)

[@linklesstennessee2078]

Good video such a nice place

[@imaginemakecreate7651]

Yes to camp👍🏼🌲🏕

[@truthhurts7017]

I love hiking in the mountains and staying in my old off grid lumberjack cabin especially with good friends. I love nature but never went hiking without my rifle or shotgun. Friend got attacked by a bear and even when he escaped down to his car. Lucky to get out alive. You are braver then me. Thank you for your videos. Oh, cant forget the in the woods horror movies I watch.

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

I NEVER watch that stuff- can never get it out of your head. I do usually go out with either bear spray or a gun. Not this time tho.

[@truthhurts7017]

Love your videos. Keep up your great work since I always learn something new from outdoor camping videos especially winter camping and survival. I did two tours in Vietnam so horror movies don't really bother me. I don't know why I enjoy them but I do. I love the special effects and maybe its also a safe space for my mind just like camping from all the bull crap that's being pushed by some of our so called free speech news outlets. No, I'm not a Nut so the doctors tell me. LOLOLOL Have a great and peaceful summer.

[@sharonhammonds7769]

Another nice video. My sister and I hiked a couple of trails at Blackwater Forest and came across several small bogs. Nice and shady areas with green moss beds and Cypress stumps scattered throughout. Didn't see any Pitcher plants, although it is Pitcher plant season here in the Florida Panhandle. Is it possible to send you pics of the bogs I took? Also, what is the name of the song and artist that is played at the beginning of the video? Thanks for sharing and look forward to your next one.

[@40belowful]

your a special person brook:) just sayin:) I miss my full size collies:) Sam and Sarah:( enjoy the Maisie while you have her:):) collie are such loyal dogs:)

[@therealgirlinthewoods]

yeah they are great dogs!

[@lorikettle2172]

Yes!!! Close to the larger pond...

[@lorikettle2172]

Just like here in Newfoundland...