Answer: Same reason people carve their names on rock ledges and in the bark of trees...people are morons....
I'll vote for this explanation Still we've had discussions about people taking items that others left/cached for whatever reason. Maybe whoever took those items was carrying that to the extreme or even worse they saw an opportunity and took it.
You would think something as obvious as a portage yoke/shoes would be left but then again how many times have you heard people say " Finders keepers, losers weepers" in regard to others property.
Posted by: Paddle_Guy Posted on: May 25th, 2012 at 3:11pm
Why would anyone take a yoke without at least leaving a crappy one? Big group by accident? Maybe.
Like no one will come back for it since a yoke isn't really needed and whoever forgot it wouldn't notice until they were unpacking at home?
Answer: Same reason people carve their names on rock ledges and in the bark of trees...people are morons....
If we are to preserve our wilderness and our wilderness experience, we must act and be people of integrity. This means putting other peoples needs ahead of our own.Why doesn't the Golden Rule apply when no one else is looking?
Sorry, I'm preaching to the choir. I just find myself becoming increasingly disillusioned with the lack of regard for those who have come before us...and after us.
Have a blessed Memorial Day Weekend!
Posted by: pine_knot Posted on: May 25th, 2012 at 11:55am
I've had kids forget a thing or two over the years during daytrips or portages. Nothing of great consequence. But I agree with others as to why someone would take something as critical as a portage yoke and shoes...
I recall a couple years ago on a solo, I was just getting ready to push off on the last of a 10-portage day in July with temps mid-80s. I was bushed. As I put the last pack into the canoe and looked for my rods/reels, I realized I had left them at the end of the end of the previous portage. Arrgghhhh!! So I had to unload the canoe, carry the canoe back to the pond, paddle across the pond to retrieve my rods and then return to the end of the 10th portage. Now I was really bushed. Thankfully, the rods were still there. Not sure what I would have done if someoner had picked them up....
Can't believe anyone with even half a brain would take shoes and a portage yoke left behind at the end of a portage. That's two things that are very likely to be worth a return trip by the owner to retrieve.
Posted by: Joe_Schmeaux Posted on: May 23rd, 2012 at 4:53pm
Forgetting your only pair of shoes? That's gotta be a first eh?
When I took my teenage daughter to Q a few years ago, she left her shoes behind at the end of one of the portages. We didn't find out until we got out of the canoe to make camp. Fortunately it was only a few km's back.
Just another thing you have to watch when you take kids camping
Posted by: Preacher Posted on: May 23rd, 2012 at 1:34pm
I've run ports barefoot and even once forgot my shoes, but never forgotten long enough to have shoved off and left them behind. My shoes do cost $500 more than the average person's, custom orthotics.
There's something truly awesome about being barefoot out there. It makes me feel like this: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
Posted by: wally Posted on: May 23rd, 2012 at 12:15am