Well, OK.....

First, I for one was not disappointed that nobody else made it.  Don't get me wrong, I would have certainly enjoyed meeting some of you folks who wanted to make it.

We decided to make the bushwhack, because we have done it before, and the timing of the jamboree was near enough to when we usually go.......So, we decide what the hell, we don't have to think about exactly where to go anymore.....Agnes, Kawnipi area it is to Stumpy' pond.

For any who are interested....I think pghportager eluded to this before, but the reason we chose the west entry, and the south exit was due to the fact that we figured coming from Carin would be the most direct route and the one most would choose to come in and go out.  The common thought in our group was that nobody would come in from Kawnipi (Although I now see Stumpy pondered that route), and head out to Williams through the swamps and bogs.  My point is, even in the bushwhack, we were trying (like anyone else for the most part) to avoid people - until the party of course.

Second, Stumpy I think you may have been closer than you think - now that I hear you were toting a Grumman.  We arrived on the pond by 1530 - 1600, we set camp and went back out to fish.  Hex may want to verify this, but we were pretty damn sure we heard a Grumman banging off trees sometime around 1730 - 1800.  The sound came from the woods on the western side of the pond about half way between the north and south ends.  We did get excited for a while, but then remembered we were crazy.


We faced the rain like everyone else, and we were cold and wet Tues. night/wed morning.  We had a backpack that needed repaired 2 days in a row before entering, both shoulder straps busted off the frame.  We had 2 SR18.5's and a MNII to get through the woods (Not impossible).

Finally you don't need a Jamboree to go bushwhacking.  The woods are always there to kick your ass when you need it.  Oh yes, we did get beat up just the way we wanted.  If you folks need a party to be the focus of your trip then I would say db is right, go where you are sure all the guests can make it.  If you are looking to get off the beaten path...Take the route you are sure nobody else is going to take.

It was well worth it.  We were unsure Wed. evening why we were the only ones there, but not disappointed.  We would have liked to have met some others there.

And I think I can speak for the group when I say, yes, there is a great amount of satisfaction in the idea that we were the only ones who were willing and able to get there.

I do believe that I read earlier that Stumpy has given us (or Hex) the right to choose the next location in 2010.  I can assure you it will not be any easier to get to.  It will be a bushwhack.