Hey,
Congratulations to Phgportager, Hexnymph, Pennpaddler and the rest of their gang. They (6 in all) were the only people to make it to the Bushwhackers Jamboree 2005...one can only guess at the tales of adventure told around the fire, at their remote camp that night. ???  They ARE the charter members of the BUG-BIT club....You can pick up your patches at BWJ 2010  ;).

Here goes....

BUSHWHACKERS JAMBOREE 2010....

WHO....Whoever can get a permit and get to the lake on the dates to be revealed later. No daytrippers (campers only)...we will gather in the evening.

WHAT...It will be an informal meeting of tough and hardy travelers, where stories and information will be told. Knowledge, that has been earned, and should continued to be earned.

WHERE...It will be on a lake in Quetico, with no name, no portage trail to it (none), good depth, good water, plenty of bugs and campable shorline, and maybe...just maybe good fishing.

WHEN....It will be in mid-June 2010...when bugs are bad, and so are the voyageurs.

WHY...Because the best information should be earned. Because exploring those no-name lakes makes for great adventure. Because I want to meet other bushwhackers and hear where they've been, and tell them where I've been, and exchange great stories. Because this time I REALLY want to shake the hand of anyone who gets there!!!

On the evenings of June 14 & 15, 2010, we will meet on this lake...
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It's just North of Magie Lake

Thank you,
Stumpy (your humbled scribe)

QPassage has some patches, being made...That he may, or may not, wish to show in advance.

8-) I'm looking forward to actually making it to Secret Lake this time and to meeting you in person, Stumpy!  ;D

Well, technically, our crews' collective 'better halves' don't allow us to start planning our annual trip until january 1 each year.  But methinks that with this revelation, I may jump the gun a bit.

Looks like lots of ways in there Stumpy.  The trick will be, on which way in (and which other way out) will we cut the first and only tracks?

The other question is,how in the world are we gonna get there in two days from a northern entry point?

pghportager, it sounds like you've been looking at your maps.  You know the rule, how dare you!
;)
Hex

So what's the rules... I mean besides showing up on your secret lake.

No parachuting. No cheating.

No bug repellant, no GPS, leave a "no trace" trail, no flashlights... ::)

intrepid_camper wrote on Jan 14^th, 2010 at 12:37am:

No bug repellant, no GPS, leave a "no trace" trail, no flashlights... ::)

and no sweat...

and freeze dried food, and aluminum canoes only... ::)

No shirt, no shoes, no service.  Please dress appropriately.

Oh, and NO WHINING!

freeze-dried foods - yechh!

Bushwacking with a no sweat rule... Now there's a challenge.
Aluminum canoes? I'll have to rob a museum... Oh wait... I usually solo in my '78 Old Town Pathfinder... More museum material... I'm hoping to get a new canoe before the year ends. ::)

NB

No rules.
In fact if you can jump from a plane or helicopter, we will welcome you, but the one who gets in there, via weather balloons tied to a lawn chair......well, they'll get a kings welcome.
I only ask that you come to camp....No day-trippers.

Stumpy wrote on Dec 7^th, 2009 at 3:00am:

010  ;). Here goes.... BUSHWHACKERS JAMBOREE 2010.... WHERE...It will be on a lake in Quetico, with no name, no portage trail to it (none), good depth, good water, plenty of bugs and campable shorline, and maybe...just maybe good fishing. It's just North of Magie Lake Thank you, Stumpy (your humbled scribe)

stumps: sounds like a good time...no, I don't plan on going, as I don't go North of the border, all I need is here  :)...but thought this 1964 map that sold for $00.25 might intrest those planing on attending  8-)  

---

Riversend
That is a neat map.  Can you show us the section to the west of what you have now.
MagicPaddler

magic: To get a little further west, I had to work a little magic with 2 charts  :) but, you know where you're going, so you can put the pieces together  :question... [smiley=thumbup.gif] enjoy

---

Thanks Riversend
I have a photo I think was taken in 65. See any moose trails?
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magic: wow :exclamation...thanks for the photo...I am one of those rare sorts that can  squint hard & adjust the focus of my eyes so when looking at airial photos, I see in 3-D...yep, see those moose trails and beaver passages, but when I look really hard at the photo and concentrate on what things will look like when Mr. Peabody sets the wayback machine wayahead to 2010...it looks like a major blowdown may have passed thru the area  :o...I think if I were to plan a trip to that area, fer sure, I would be looking to get some updated info from a reliable source of what the blowdown may or may not have done in that area  ;D

I suppose Stumpy knows for sure, but I doubt there's much blow down from the July 4, 1999 storm in there.  There's some south of the Man Chain on Emerald and Carp, but I have not seen much evidence of blow down on the Man Chain itself.  I think it just skimmed the southern edge of Quetico and did not get that far north, at least not in a major way.  That's not to say there isn't downed timber from other events.

Bummer...I didn't get the permit that I wanted....Oh well, I never said it would be easy.
See you there !

Don't despair Stumpy, the permit you want might materialize.  I have often found they become available again as other reservations are re-arranged, cancelled, etc.  At one time I thought I was told there is a particular day of the week (month?) that the cancelled reservation dates get put back into the available system.  Has the difficulty alluded to on another thread been cleared up?  I'm going to take my chances and wait till closer to BWR time to work out a permit.  

Stumpy wrote on Jan 27^th, 2010 at 5:14am:

Bummer...I didn't get the permit that I wanted....Oh well, I never said it would be easy. See you there !

They probably couldn't find 'Stumpy's Pond' listed as an entry point... :o

You got to be kidding me!

I have been trying to reserve a permit on the phone, but either can't get through or get someone I can't understand.... don't know French & their English sucks.  :-/

Is there an online reservation system somewhere? I looked & can't find one.

Getting a permit might be the hardest part of the bushwhack!  ;D

Are there American outfitters that will get permits for you?

I need help... I hate jumping through hoops. I don't have a ton of vacation because of a sick Mother, so if I can't get a permit entering from the south... I may not be able to get there.  :'(

Troy

Troy,
Try Williams & Hall ...ask for Dave Sebesta & tell him Ed sent you. I think they'll expect you to use or rent something. They do offer tows to Prairie Portage. They can do the permit legwork though.

Stumpy wrote on Feb 6^th, 2010 at 3:05am:

Troy, Try Williams & Hall ...ask for Dave Sebesta & tell him Ed sent you. I think they'll expect you to use or rent something. They do offer tows to Prairie Portage. They can do the permit legwork though.

Thanks Ed.... I finally did get through to a clearly spoken, english speaking individual & actually got the EP & date I wanted  ;D So I guess you will be seeing my ugly mug on that little lake after all. Still working on getting a paddle partner... I think my brother might be up for it, if not I will be solo.

Woods_Walker wrote on Feb 6^th, 2010 at 2:41pm:

I think my brother might be up for it, if not I will be solo.

Be careful

Stumpy wrote on Feb 6^th, 2010 at 4:32pm:

Woods_Walker wrote on Feb 6th, 2010 at 2:41pm: I think my brother might be up for it, if not I will be solo. Be careful

Well let me clarify the solo thing, I would & may go solo but more than likely would locate a flamingo island & possibly enjoy a Jimoree  ;D
Then do the Bushwhack with a few others.... I am not afraid of going it alone, but am not foolish enough to pass up an opportunity to travel with friends either... it would be better for me to have others to share the struggles & rewards with.

I have my permit reserved too  :D so there will be at least one additional flamingo on the island.... ;D

just 101 days away !

UGHH!  WHERE DID ALL THE TIME GO?  :o
So here it goes.  My 16 year old portage monkey is on board.  I know that his strong will and strong back will go along way to make it to the jamboree.  Next the when and where.  I'm thinking that should be done by the end of the week.  After that, I tell the wife  :'(
If I don't make it back to the thread by next Monday, uh, it's been fun.
RangerDad

---

Hey Ranger Dad,
You crack me up. Nothing quite like a woman with a little spunk though. It took a while but I managed to "break" mine. You just have to dig those spurs in a little deeper. She talks to me on her hands and knees now! I can almost hear her......"get out from underneath that bed you coward and fight like a man"......... :D

Yea, still working on that one.  I almost had the nerve last night but I hit my head on the bottom bed railing and woke up this morning.  I think the best place will be tomorrow night at the boys state hockey tourney.  There are a lot of witness' and I can play dumb with all the noiseand say I mis understood her nod as a yes and not a whatever.  ;D

RangerDad
Explain it to her this way.
Son and I are going to a very remote lake to meet some people we met on the internet.  So we will not be alone.
MagicPaddler

wrote on Mar 10^th, 2010 at 10:23pm:

RangerDad Explain it to her this way. Son and I are going to a very remote lake to meet some people we met on the internet.  So we will not be alone. MagicPaddler

When I used that one back in 2006, you should have seen the looks I got... :o :o :o

Old Salt wrote on Mar 11^th, 2010 at 2:35am:

wrote on Mar 10th, 2010 at 10:23pm: RangerDad Explain it to her this way. Son and I are going to a very remote lake to meet some people we met on the internet.  So we will not be alone. MagicPaddler When I used that one back in 2006, you should have seen the looks I got... :o :o :o

Make sure she doesn't see this :o, you won't make it out of the driveway ;D
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NICE!  Well does anyone have a set of kahunas I can borrow?  We tried the old "didn't we tell you" line coming home from the late OT hockey game Saturday night.  Needless to say I am currently in a holding pattern for now.  Gee, a guy works his entire life trying to find his place, only to find that my place is where ever I am told  [smiley=dankk2.gif]

Maybe this Friday I'll know more... AND THE VERDICT IS....? :-/

RangerDad wrote on Mar 15^th, 2010 at 7:01pm:

NICE!  Well does anyone have a set of kahunas I can borrow?  We tried the old "didn't we tell you" line coming home from the late OT hockey game Saturday night.  Needless to say I am currently in a holding pattern for now.  Gee, a guy works his entire life trying to find his place, only to find that my place is where ever I am told  [smiley=dankk2.gif] Maybe this Friday I'll know more... AND THE VERDICT IS....? :-/

Don't ASK, tell her your going! Assuming your a good husband/provider and not depriving your loved ones by spending money on a trip that will make father and son memories for a lifetime, then you have every right to a GUILTLESS trip!
 The first step to growing a pair is taking charge of the relationship dynamic. If you don't want too do it for yourself, then think of your son ;D  Being P-Whipped is no way for a man to go thru life ;)

Just remember to duck and weave while asserting your new found assertiveness. Who knows, she may find herself surprisingly delighted by your newly found " kahunas "   8-)

Thats exactlly what Dr. Phil and Oprah said ;D

If you can't get past your wife how do you expect to get through a half mile of possible hell to stumpy's lake? She must be some woman.

A woman can be a tricky thing. Mine hasn't been the same since that house fell on her sister..................................I'm kidding, I'm kidding sheesh!!

Kingfisher wrote on Mar 15^th, 2010 at 9:45pm:

If you can't get past your wife how do you expect to get through a half mile of possible hell to stumpy's lake? She must be some woman.

I think, swamps, deadfalls, cliffs, boulder fields, and bugs are easier to negotiate, than the will of some women.
That said....Just do it !

"A woman's breast is the hardest rock that the Almighty ever made on this Earth, and i can find no sign on it."

My wife has never understood that line, no matter how many times she's seen the movie.  But I'll be at the Jamboree just the same :)

pghportager wrote on Mar 16^th, 2010 at 2:13pm:

"A woman's breast is the hardest rock that the Almighty ever made on this Earth, and i can find no sign on it." My wife has never understood that line, no matter how many times she's seen the movie.  But I'll be at the Jamboree just the same :)

Aha!  Yet another "Jeremiah Johnson" fan!!

Jimbo   8-)

"It is easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission... :-*"

Ahhh, true wisdom!  Thanks for the advise IC.  

intrepid_camper wrote on Mar 16^th, 2010 at 8:10pm:

"It is easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission... :-*"

I agree IC... I told my wife I was leaving on the 10th to drive up... entry is on the 11th, which is also her B-day  :o

If I would have asked, probably would have gotten more grief, then again maybe me being gone for 10 days is a great present. I know it is for me  ;D

Troy

Quote:

MAYBE me being gone for 10 days is a great present.

Depends on how long you've been married.....  ;)

IC

In the past I tried every approach with Jack:
Not saying anything and just disappearing, leaving someone else in the family to break the news.  
Telling him WAY in advance so he could get used to the idea.  That didn't work, he just pouted longer (not because he didn't want me to go...but that he worried that much longer about me being out in the woods alone).
Telling him under my breath when he was preoccupied with something else...then saying he must have forgotten what I said.
I finally settled on telling him about a week ahead...he still fretted but not for so long.  
He was always mostly glad when he knew he wasn't going to be asked to come along  ;D
So now that issue all in the past...but I miss the homecomings.
IC

intrepid_camper wrote on Mar 20^th, 2010 at 1:57pm:

Quote: MAYBE me being gone for 10 days is a great present. Depends on how long you've been married.....  ;) IC

Long enough I guess...it will be 19 years in September

We meet in 60 days.

Do you know how many hits "bushwacker's stumpy" gets on google  :o  It's quite amazing  ;D

A simpler more defined search such as   (You need to Login or Register might might yield more useful results. Try clicking the show omitted at the bottom for relevant extra kicks.

The Rendezvous forum is strictly verboten to the search engines. Beyond that, your mileage may vary if Google knows your habits and tries to help out.

Hope you had a good trip IC. I'll assume you did since you're looking forward to another.

Thanks db!  Yes, I had a great trip, wonderful weather and no bugs.
I WAS looking to see what kind of gossip was going on about the BWR.  And I was amazed that two strange words like "bushwacker" and "stumpy" could return such a list of hits  :o

I see in my surfing that another paddlers' council was making guesses as to how many Bushwackers would be showing up at the Rendezvous on Stumpy's Lake.  My guess is 12-14 will make it.   ;)

It 100% official and straight from the horses mouth (she not a horse just a figure of speach), my dreams have been crushed yet again :'(.  I wish you all well in this ultimate trip.  Maybe another time.
Nutless Erik

RangerDad wrote on May 5^th, 2010 at 6:59pm:

It 100% official and straight from the horses mouth (she not a horse just a figure of speach), my dreams have been crushed yet again :'(.  I wish you all well in this ultimate trip.  Maybe another time. Nutless Erik

I respectfully disagree, sounds like a NAG too me ;D
At least you know your being emasculated, now the question is " What are you going too do about it?  ;)

The same thing I've done for the past 19 years.  Ahh the secret to a long and happy marriage.  Did I say long? ;D

Happy for Who :-?
I know, she tells you if your happy or not :(

Opps I better go, I hear her car coming up the driveway.  ;D  Seriously, I hoped it would work out for my son and I to go, but between everything and everything, it just wasn't going to happen this time.  

Hey Stumpy... I'm thinking of a bushwackers winter carival might be the way to go???  The new tent will be ordered next month and the snowshoes will be built by November.  Huhhh?  Sounds like excitment to me.

Have fun everyone!
Erik

Marriage....it's not just a word, it's a sentence.

Stumpy
It’s a like sentence but you can get out early for bad behavior.

MagicPaddler

Well this really sucks  :'(

I was in a pretty major ATV accident on Mothers Day. Lets just say I was going about 45mph & hit a drainage ditch... flipped end over end several times with the 650h1 Arctic Cat landing on me once.

After an ambulance ride while strapped to a back board...I will live.

My helmet saved me from head injury, but it also broke my clavicle on impact. The ATV landed on the back of my lower left leg & my knee don't feel right.

Anyway, I have not ruled out the Bushwhack trip in June... but it is now looking doubtful.

Living hard, playing hard, sure hurts hard.

Troy

Woods_Walker wrote on May 10^th, 2010 at 8:37pm:

Well this really sucks  :'( I was in a pretty major ATV accident on Mothers Day. Lets just say I was going about 45mph & hit a drainage ditch... flipped end over end several times with the 650h1 Arctic Cat landing on me once. After an ambulance ride while strapped to a back board...I will live. My helmet saved me from head injury, but it also broke my clavicle on impact. The ATV landed on the back of my lower left leg & my knee don't feel right. Anyway, I have not ruled out the Bushwhack trip in June... but it is now looking doubtful. Living hard, playing hard, sure hurts hard. Troy

Well, here's wishing you a full and speedy recovery!  But, clavicle fracture and hoisting a canoe overhead wouldn't seem to go together in my book.

Good thing you were wearing the helmet!  [smiley=thumbup.gif]

dd

Troy,

You seem so doggone indestructible I'm sort of surprised even THAT broke your clavicle!

Sorry to hear about your setback.  I'm thinking dd is right about your predicament.  Probably you should be switching your focus to Bushwhackers Jamboree #3 in another five years.

Hey, there won't be any certified flamingo giveaways appearing at (or near) this year's festivities, anyway, so, really, what's the point???

I wish you a speedy recovery!

Jimbo   8-)

I have a close friend and a brother-in-law who suffered major closed head injuries pursuing sport activities that they should of had a helmet on, biking and roller blading.

Other than a severe spinal injury, a closed head injury is just about the worst thing you can have.

I won't tell you how lucky you are, I'm sure you already know ;)

Hope you get back to good health soon!

I should have used this excuse, back in 2005 !

Seriously though Troy, I'm glad you are getting well & I'm sure our canoeing paths will cross again.
Thank God it was'nt worse.

Does this mean the arm wrestle is cancelled ?

Stumpy wrote on May 11^th, 2010 at 7:37am:

I should have used this excuse, back in 2005 ! Seriously though Troy, I'm glad you are getting well & I'm sure our canoeing paths will cross again. Thank God it was'nt worse. Does this mean the arm wrestle is cancelled ?

If I make it I will take on all, with my left arm  ;D

This really sucks, I was laying in the ditch strapped to a back board & all I could think about was not making the June Quetico Trip. Looks like the two flamingos I have will have to wait till 2015 to reunite with the flock.

As bad as I feel, I feel worse for my little brother, I took him & his family on their 1st B-dub trip last year... & he has the canoe bug bad too & was my trip partner for the Bushwhack & now this.

Well it could be worse... at least I should be good for a fall trip.

We meet in one month (June 14), at about this time.
Bring a good story of Quetic/BWCA travels, and maybe some secrets.
See you there !

Now just three weeks away  ;D

Hey,
Bushwhackers Jamboree III, is only about 1843 days away !

I am starting to get excited.  When will you announce the lake?

wrote on May 27^th, 2010 at 5:47pm:

I am starting to get excited.  When will you announce the lake?

Me too...Maybe I'll make it in 2015!  :)  
-tom

GG Stumpy !  You must be all ready to go on BWR II if you can spare time to figure out how long to BWR III.
BTW team Intrepid is ready for the challenge and we are aiming to be the FIRST ONES THERE.... ;)

We'll likely be getting there late, so get a big fire roaring so we can find our way in the dark :-/

Just ten more days and team Intrepid will be on their way to Secret Lake.  :-*

So did any one notice that google earth has a hi resolution section for the bushwhack entering from the south. The new image was taken on June 3 2009.

Hmmmmmmmm ! ???

wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2010 at 12:58am:

So did any one notice that google earth has a hi resolution section for the bushwhack entering from the south. The new image was taken on June 3 2009.

Care to post a link?  [smiley=dankk2.gif]

I think I've been looking at it  :-? and get to it via Google maps, or try: That Man Quetico Provincial Park Ontario.

If you have google earth (A free down load) cut and paste in 48.132796, -91.3146000  .  If you do not have google earth go to   (You need to Login or Register  and paste it in there.  Switch to satellite view and hit the + to zoom in.  Keep the little green arrow in the middle of the screen and you are there.  

Too bad it isn't going to be that easy to personally get there  ;D

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I know most of you will be leaving soon for BWR II, I will not be making an attempt because of my shoulder injury.  :'(

I wish you all a fun, exciting, & safe trip. Really wish I could be there, so at least have a platty for me.

Troy

Jam Boys and Girls have a good time.  

qp

Wish you both would be joining us...we will take lots of pics and make a report when we return.  We are paddling up to Prairie Portage the evening of the 9th and going in on the 10th and hope to be on Magie by the 11th.  ;)  Good thing I have a body guard with all those big bad wolves in the woods  :o

IC,

Please share my regrets and these special sentiments with all BWJ participants upon arrival.  I may be directly quoted, as follows: "Jimbo truly wishes he could be here to give us all the bird... just like he did last time."

I hate that I shall miss all the fun... arm wrestling competition, the bushwhacker-balladeering and Voyageur Rap sing-alongs, the who-can-carry-a-heavier-pack-than-Stumpy competition, etc. & so on.  I leave it for Kingfisher to chronicle these events accordingly for posterity.  Alas, maybe 2015 will be the year for me.

Meanwhile....

MAY THE FORCE (OF THE PINK FLAMINGO) GO WITH ALL OF YOU!!!

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo,

In 2015, you should invite everyone to be on your trip in WCPP. Now that's some real bushwackin' & braggin'. ;)

Not even Stumpy has been where your goin'.

Old Salt wrote on Jun 7^th, 2010 at 4:48pm:

Jimbo, In 2015, you should invite everyone to be on your trip in WCPP. Now that's some real bushwackin' & braggin'. ;) Not even Stumpy has been where your goin'.

OS,

Going in doesn't have me half as worried as getting out!

I suspect those Bushwhacking Jamboreers will have their hands plenty full in the Q.  Over the weekend I was eyeballing topos of that Louisa/Magie Lake area.  Some of those cliffs don't look like they are to be trifled with (not to mention the obvious swamps).

Anyway, wilderness is wilderness.  One should always err on the side of caution. Wrong steps 50 miles north of the border or 300 miles north of the border can both lead to very bad situations and outcomes.  

Use your head out there.  Paddle safely.

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo
You forgot the hide the pack competition.

I leave home in 11 hours.
MagicPaddler

wrote on Jun 7^th, 2010 at 10:27pm:

Jimbo You forgot the hide the pack competition. I leave home in 11 hours. MagicPaddler

Magic,

Re: "leave home".   When you get stuck on that cliff, just make like Dorothy in Oz, click your heels together, and repeat "There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home."

If that doesn't work, click "Help" on your SPOT Messenger & I'll send in some helicopters & the marines.  If the Dorothy approach DOES work, be sure to let me know what you were drinking when (if) you materialize back in Chicago.  I want some of THAT stuff!

Re: the "hide the pack competition".  Yeah, that was one of the real crowd pleasers five years ago.  As a twist, I propose that you consider the "hide the tent" competition.  I imagine the bugs in that vicinity require periodic feedings.  Best to offer up somebody with a lot of meat on their bones....

Jimbo   8-)

Thanks Jimbo we will miss you.
MagicPaddler

I pray for a safe trip for all.

So far it's a safe trip for Magic Paddler.  Just got a SPOT Message putting him in the middle of McEwen Lake & indicating "I'm OK".

No word yet from Intrepid Camper's SPOT.

Kingfisher is SPOTless, so I can't track him & Paddlemaker.

DentonDoc isn't SPOTless but I wish he was.  His message indicates his location as my favorite Woodland Caribou Park fishing hole!  Just thinking about him sitting there is enough to drive me nuts!

I know, I know... short drive.

I'll try to keep folks posted on Jamboree "progress" as it reveals itself to me.  (I can't resist this...)  Information is rather SPOTTY at the moment.

By the way, the guy in the bow of my canoe is generally in for a lot of that sort of remark.  Bow paddlers, beware!

Jimbo   8-)

Stumpy should be flying in, after his Blackhawks win, and the Sox scored 15 runs... Hope the pond is big enough...

Magic Paddler is safely camped on Fauquier Lake as of this afternoon.

Still no message from Intrepid camper.

Jimbo   8-)

For those wishing to follow the play-by-play progression of Magic Paddler through his second Bushwhacker's Jamboree attempt - solo this time - I am providing the locations & dates as transmitted to me via his SPOT Messenger.  Hopefully I am not inadvertently disclosing any especially valued "fishing hole" information (ie. he might be camped near his hotspots... then, again, if he's shrewd like some currently sending SPOT info to me, he won't betray himself!).

So, here are dates & locations for those who wish to track his progress:

6/4/10  =     (You need to Login or Register

6/8/10  =     (You need to Login or Register

6/9/10  =     (You need to Login or Register
(ie. he's getting nowhere fast)

     Later that day...     (You need to Login or Register

6/10/10   =     (You need to Login or Register

6/11/10   =     (You need to Login or Register

So that's the latest on Magic.  He's moving towards a Louisa Lake entry to the targeted BWJ rendezvous on Stumpy Lake.  There are some significant cliffs using this approach, so I'm a bit concerned about his choice.  Looking at the maps, it reminds me a bit of what the cliffs on Cairn Lake looked like five years ago through heavy sheets of rain when my son & I eyeballed an approach to BWJ #1.  Once I arrived I knew I wasn't gettin' in THAT way!  Pghportager & the boys took the long way around but avoided the cliffs & worked with what the topography yielded (streams, marsh, etc.).  They're the only ones able to get through so their approach made all the difference.

Kingfisher & Paddlemaker are tagging along with that bunch.  My bet is they approach it much the same as they did in 2005.  I suspect they'll tackle it either via a southern approach via Magie Lake or maybe start it a little further east.  

Anyway, I hope Magic is careful.  Solo travel on these extreme adventure events requires extraordinary caution.  One busted ankle and you are in some deep guano up there.  Fortunately, he's tough, he has a great deal of experience... and he has a SPOT Messenger for back-up!

I surely hope he remembers to pack in extra drinking water on this bushwhack.  Back a couple years ago when he & Kingfisher decided to bushwhack into McKenzie, it was lack of drinking water that nearly did them in.  It can get hot in the Q, especially when you'll hauling around all your crap in the bush.  Dehydration sets in fast!  A typical Nalgene bottle ain't gonna cut it, folks.  Water weight ain't fun to carry but it is essential in certain conditions.

Ok, enough editorializing.  I'll keep posting location information as I receive it.

It's fun to follow these guys; wish I could be there.

Jimbo   8-)

Here's where the going starts getting rough for Magic Paddler.  See:   (You need to Login or Register

He's established his exploratory base on Louisa.

Fortunately, he's giving himself extra time to eyeball & reconsider his approach to Stumpy Lake.  Maybe he'll make a couple of experimental forays into the bush without equipment, etc., looking for a soft spot.  From this side he will have cliffs to scale & a fair amount of ground to cover.  It doesn't appear heat will be all that much of a factor this week but fresh drinking water will still be important, given the exertion factor.

It'll be interesting going over the next couple days....

Jimbo   8-)

It appears Magic Paddler is hanging tight, still exploring his bushwhacking options from Louisa Lake.  See:   (You need to Login or Register

Still no word from IC.


Jimbo   8-)

Thanks for the updates, Jimbo! It all sounds pretty scary, but by 2015, I may be ready to give it a whirl!! Although it may take the next five years to get the go-ahead from the missus  ;D

I'm enjoying the play by play... I wish that all the groups were doing this, it would be neat to watch the different ways others try to make it.

Keep us posted Jimbo

Hey Woods Walker, Uncle Moose is also bushwhacking in. Here is his SPOT link. He stayed on That Man Lake the last two nights, and has just started heading in.

  (You need to Login or Register

Heidi

I'm a little worried about Team IC :-?
I'm on her SPOT as well, and haven't heard anything either.
Got one test message from her island home, but nothing since.
Hopefully it's just a tech glitch.

Thanks...

Looks like Uncle Moose has been on Stumpy lake since 3:00, wonder if he has company yet?

Well, he doesn't have Magic Paddler in camp with him.  See:   (You need to Login or Register

I guess the cliffs on the south side of Louisa were just too much for Magic.  Frankly, I trust that his discretion is very much the better part of valor in this case.  As I've said, Magic is VERY experienced.  After sizing up his options (probably wet, slippery ones at that), I'm sure he has made a wise decision to "move on" & will have a great time wherever he is heading.

ST, I got the same deal from Vicki... just that first message.  Talk about experience & woods savvy, though - geez - she's near the top of the list!  I think it more likely that the SPOT fell to the bottom of a lake than IC running into trouble that she couldn't deal with!

I'll continue to keep folks posted as feedback comes in.

I suspect the Uncle Moose trek to be the one that proves best.   You got to take what the terrain gives you....

Jimbo   8-)

I agree Jimbo, she's a northern woods women, born and bred ;)
I'm betting its a tech glitch, or she just forgot and left it at home ;D

Yeah, I agree also.. IC will be just fine, she has more trip tip logged up there than most here.

The route that Uncle Moose took is very simular to my 2nd option of the plans I had for entry.

Here's the latest on Magic Paddler's whereabouts:   (You need to Login or Register

Jimbo   8-)

Tom left the rendezvous lake just after 11 this morning. I am wondering if anyone else showed up. I know he was planning on camping there two nights. Ironically, Tom and Magic Paddler are one lake apart right now. It looks like MP already sent an ok message and Tom is still paddling. I wonder if they will inadvertently meet up?!?

Heidi

I can about guarantee you that quite a pile of guys showed up this time.  Surefire bets are: Pghportager & his crew (6), Kingfisher & Paddlemaker (2), Uncle Moose & Cousin Squirrel (2), Stumpy & whoever Stumpy has conned into carrying his packs (2).  That's ten and I'd be willing to wager the total is closer to fifteen.  I'd put even money on Intrepid Camper & son Dan will make that list.  Beyond that, there's bound to be at least 3 sleepers I'm not aware of.  

Then there are the folks who attempted to get there via Louisa Lake.  That's the problem from 2005 at Cairn Lake revisited.

DogDaze, you're probably right about Magic running into some of those exiting Stumpy Lake.  I had the same thing happen to me after I bailed on Jamboree #1 (in favor of Jimboree #1... but that's another story).

Jimbo    8-)

 

;D ;D Hey thats awesome, Uncle Moose went in on what I had planned on my secondary plan & came out exactly where I planned to make my 1st attempt...

I'm sad I got hurt & couldn't make it, but happy that both routes I planned would have got me there.

Troy

For those following along with Magic Paddler, he's gradually moving along towards his towboat extraction point at American Point:   (You need to Login or Register

Jimbo   8-)

Magic Paddler is getting close to his exit point.  See:   (You need to Login or Register    I am waiting for his "pick-up code" to come through (a predetermined sequence of our binary assortment of "Help" & "I'm OK" messages).  I expect I will see this tomorrow.  Then, I get to do my part: call the outfitter with the towboat.

I look forward to seeing the first accounts from the folks who actually succeeded in the bushwhack.  Those should begin to appear by this weekend, I'm thinking.

Jimbo   8-)

Tom made it back around noon-ish today! Sounds like it was a great turn out and lots of fun! I'm looking forward to hearing more about the adventure!

Heidi

I anxiously await the stories & trip reports  ;D

Troy

For those following along, this would be Magic Paddler's location as he awaits extraction near the towboat pick-up location (American Point):   (You need to Login or Register  I made the call awhile ago to Sawbill Outfitters & expect they have secured him by now.

Jimbo   8-)

Hey! We are back!!! I am bummed you didn't get our messages!  They were getting them at home and so was our third members mother.  I don't know what happened there....
We went in at Sheridan where you saw Uncle Moose come out.  Uncle Moose, me and Dan and Mike, and Stumpy and his nephew Jim all came out at the same time on the same route, on the 15th.  We three went up toward Emerald for a couple days, sat out the tornado night in Birch Lake in a cozy spot last night, and paddled a 4 hour jaunt in 7 hours today.  The Moose Lake Chain against 35 mph winds, if they had been any stronger we would have had to give up.  Saw at least three canoes belly up in the middle of Newfound, swimming their stuff to shore and more than 10 other parties pulled up where ever they gave up the battle to get back to Moose.  I am exhausted  :P
The get together was great! 12 made it.  Lots of stories to tell in the future.  As for our group, we named the actual BWR lake Worth It, and the little lake south of it, Not.  :-?

Hey, IC!

Great to hear you and the crew survived the winds today on Moose and are safely back. Another big 'thank you' to you, Dan and Mike for hosting the bushwhacker's little gathering on Monday and for all the other help that made this first-time bushwhacker's journey a little easier.  :)

It was a real honor meeting all of you. The Monday gathering was the highlight of my trip, and no doubt a highlight of my year. You've inspired me to pursue more bushwhacking adventures in the future and to see canoe tripping in a new light.

I'm also looking forward to hearing more from the others, too, about the rest of their respective trips. I'll try to post a report and pics sometime soon.

I made it home.
I bit off more than my body could chew. I did some exploring the possible routs and decided that I should not try it.  I had a good in other respects trip. Sorry I missed the party.  IC that wind that you were paddling against was at my back  as I ventured out on to  Saganaga Lake.  What a ride!!

MagicPaddler

Glad you're safe and sound Magic!  We were all missing you but hoping that you hadn't actually tried getting to us...the lake was scenic wise, fish wise, and campsite wise...a disappointment.  And bushwacking a tiny campsite almost more difficult than the getting there was  ;D
The overall challenge and final get together was rewarding.  Specially nice to get faces for the friends we have through sharing on QJ.
HexNymph and his band of merry men were bent on getting to Louisa when we departed the morning of the 15th.  Now waiting to hear if they make it out of the woods.  The rest of us went home the way we came, since the trails were already there to use.

Hey gang,
Paddlemaker and I are home safe and sound as of last night about 8PM. We took the route in from Sheridan as did IC and crew with a little deviation in the section from Magie to the pond where we followed the creek. Paddlemaker will NEVER forget it and may not forgive me as he had some clothes destroyed during our efforts. How does one rip a fist sized hole in the top of your hat?
Great to meet all of the other bushwhackers at the Jamboree Monday night. We could almost hear you all laughing as Eric and I paddled in circles around the lake after midnight trying to find our bushwhack camp by starlight and one headlamp.
We were up early and back on Sheridan before 8 am and then in the following four days made our way east to the falls chain then back down through Wet, McEwen and Glacier to Louisa. We hunkered down in the storm Thursday night on Louisa, then on to Burke against those 35mph winds Friday morning. There we spent a leisurely day eating and drinking the rest of our consummables and preparing for the paddle out and ride home yesterday.
Happy to hear everyone is safe so far.

Kingfisher wrote on Jun 20^th, 2010 at 12:01pm:

We could almost hear you all laughing as Eric and I paddled in circles around the lake after midnight trying to find our bushwhack camp by starlight and one headlamp.

Naw, we just thought you were still fishing. We figured you couldn't sleep until catching at least one fish on that lake. :)

Glad to hear you're back safe. It was great meeting you guys.

We made it to Louisa.  Our rout in to the lake was tough but the rout north out made us question our sanity.

Welcome back! Can't wait to hear the details of all that. By 'route north' I assume you don't mean the chain of lakes to McEwen (Arp, Star, Fauquier, Rod, Edge, etc). Did you get creative (to Gamp then Glacier)?

Thank you all !
Jim & I are back home...White Sox are on a roll !
So happy to hear that Magic Paddler is ok !!!
I was worried. We should have had you in our group MP, as we had a last minute drop out.
I hope your eye is ok , Kingfisher.
Yes my nephew (Jim) got to catch some trout.
Great to meet the Hex gang. Glad you busted through to Louisa.
IC thanks for the oven.
Tom ...great to meet you !
I need sleep, g'night.

BWJ participants please check your PM's.

Kingfisher wrote on Jun 21^st, 2010 at 12:14pm:

BWJ participants please check your PM's.

I don't suppose KF is inclusive of online virtual participants... :'(  ::)

Old Salt wrote on Jun 21^st, 2010 at 1:17pm:

Kingfisher wrote on Jun 21st, 2010 at 12:14pm: BWJ participants please check your PM's. I don't suppose KF is inclusive of online virtual participants... :'(  ::)

Sorry OS my request for personal info has to be handled this way.

That's ok, I thought perhaps it was a picture of Stumpy holding his record 1/2 lb chub.  ;D

Kudos to hexnymph and crew.  I spent the day of the 13th walking some of that woods. Steep hill sides, dense brush and down trees made me rethink my rout.
MagicPaddler

wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2010 at 4:40pm:

Kudos to hexnymph and crew.  I spent the day of the 13th walking some of that woods. Steep hill sides, dense brush and down trees made me rethink my rout. MagicPaddler

Thanks for the kudos MP, and kudos to you for attempting a solo trip and your planned approach route from Louisa, rather than the more popular approach from Magie.  We wondered if we'd see you on your way in as we were heading out.  Also wondered if you tried the creek bed, found it was choked solid, and turned back.

Yep, steep hillsides, dense brush, and down trees galore.  But what else could we expect?  An open trail?

Pghportager
I could see from the aerial photoes that the creek was choked and drained into Louisa through a swamp. If you had got down the creek you would have wished you had not.  
MagicPaddler

OK guys & girls... its been almost a month & no trip reports  :'(

Your killing me here, I need the details  ;D

PLEASE SOMEONE !

ANYONE !

:(

Sorry Troy,
I'm not one for typing much.
Besides, what happens with the BUG-BIT Club, stays with the BUG-BIT Club  ;)

Really though, I think you'll see some stories sooner or later.
Maybe in the BW Journal eventually.

WW, I WILL write something and soon.  Been thinking about it and better get on with it...the most interesting day was paddling the Moose Chain in 35 mph winds and watching the antics of all the seasoned and less-seasoned canoers. Will follow up with the details soon...I promise!    
IC

intrepid_camper wrote on Jul 6^th, 2010 at 9:54pm:

WW, I WILL write something and soon.  Been thinking about it and better get on with it...the most interesting day was paddling the Moose Chain in 35 mph winds and watching the antics of all the seasoned and less-seasoned canoers. Will follow up with the details soon...I promise!     IC

Still waiting...

>:( I know, I know..... 8-)

I can't seem to get by wanting to write about the last day first....so here goes.  

We stayed on a big island in Birch Lake our last night out.  We arrived early and were all set up when the skies darkened and a big storm blew in from the west (This was the night MN got so many tornadoes down south).  Luckily we were on the lee side of the island and had it pretty comfortable.  I watched a party across from us on a BWCA campsite get ready for the coming storm...they handily moved their tarp from the quiet side of the point to what would become the windy side of the point, and I think they were trying to cover their fire place as it was getting on to dinner time.  When the wind came up their tarp was wild, then it poured rain and blew in under their tarp so they all abandoned the spot and went into their tents.
Mike (our friend along with us) had his tent and tarp set up further out on the point we were on.  As it blew and rained his set up got closer and closer to the ground until it was flat and soon everything underneath was soaked.  He ended up moving into Dan's tent and scrounging a couple small blankets/towels to use for a cover for the night.  
The next morning was a beautiful sunny day but windy and getting windier as we had breakfast.  We found a spot behind a patch of thick small Balsam trees to cook breakfast, then packed up to leave.  The wind was blowing right into our site now, so we had to quickly put the loaded kayaks into the water and jump in before another wave dumped into the boat or tipped us.  The wind was a little southwest so we went to the south shore and followed it up to Birch portage.  The wind still hadn't got to peak velocity so although it was a hard paddle it wasn't impossible.
We found Birch portage busy with campers coming and going, and waiting for the tow boats which drop folks off and pick them up at the portage.  We moved our stuff across and re-loaded.  Here the wind was howling across Sucker Lake into the bay we were putting in at.  
I was last off the shore.  A fellow standing on shore watching us helped me by pushing me into the water off the ledge rock.  It was a rather feeble push and I ended up grounded on part of the rock, waves crashing in around me, but finally got pushed off.  Meanwhile three canoes of Boy Scouts and their leaders where up against shore, being bashed by the waves, and waiting patiently for me to get out of the way.  Their eyes were pretty big when I got stuck momentarily, I think they thought I would go over and end up piled into shore with them.  They took their minds off their own situation long enough for one canoe full of leaders to dump just as I got going.
It took forever to clear the little bay and point, the paddling was nearly impossible by now.  We finally got out around the point and made our way to the south shore for a little relief from the wind.  It was barely any relief but we were actually making headway; we had skirts on our kayak cockpits so even though the waves were regularly going over our decks, the water was shedding off and not into the boats.  Later we wondered why more people do not use canoe covers in weather like that....it would have saved several who ended up swimming their canoes to shore that day.
So with supreme effort we made our way down Sucker Lake and down Newfound past Horseshoe island, after that there was NO relief from the wind which was funelling down the lakes at full throttle.  Other canoes were trying hard to make their way back to Moose Lake.  If it was hard for us, it had to be doubly so for them in high sided canoes catching the wind.  It was so windy that you didn't dare allow yourself to go sideways to it or it would whip you around end to end instantly.  As we continued, almost touching shore in hope of getting some relief from the gusts, we saw at least three canoes swamp or tip over, right out in the middle of the lake.  It was dumb of them to be out there at all.  Dan has had water rescue training to save overturned kayaks and was compelled to go help, but thought better of it, knowing there was little or nothing he could do.  Apparently someone called on a cell phone to the outfitters on Moose, because in about 20 minutes there were several tow boats there to fish the swimmers out of the water.  
As we approached the small islands and narrow channel leading into Moose Lake we found several large canoe parties hauled up onto shore and tow boats picking them up.  We so wanted to join them and get a ride back, but now we had almost finished and we kept on.  Coming around the point we got into the biggest waves yet, easily 4 feet between trough and top of wave.  We would float over one wave, then bury the point of the kayak into the next and be hit by a bucket of water in the face and chest.  It is the worst and hardest paddling I have ever done and obviously nearly impossible for anyone in a canoe.  I tip my hat to the few guys who had managed to paddle that stretch in a canoe; and a couple men were paddling with youngsters as their partners and undoubtedly had to do the brunt of the work and one was solo in a kevlar canoe  :o
We started at nine in the morning and finished at the public landing at four in the afternoon  :-X  It took me about four days to recover my energy after we were home.  Both Dan and Mike (27 and 30) were exhausted too, so I was feeling good about my performance.

I'll continue with the whole Bushwacker trip report next....

The Bushwackers Rendezvous started in April for me.  I went up to Sheridan around the third week in April to scout out a portage into Mitch Lake. (Mitch is the name of the long narrow lake sitting with two other lakes, just west and north of Sheridan).  I worked my way up a small drainage from a local beaver pond and over the ridge in a westward direction.  The terrain suggested an old portage or well used Moose trail, with a beaten path clearly visible through the brush.  Going so early allowed me to be able to see through the still leaf-less brush making it easier to get and keep my bearings.  We estimated later that this portage is about 130 rods in length.
When Bushwacking time came, we headed in on the 9th of June.  Taking our time, we left Moose Lake landing around five in the evening and paddled ourselves up to Sucker Lake near Prairie Portage to camp overnight.  In the morning the guys (Dan and Mike) stayed in camp and I paddled over the PP to pick up my permit.  Back at camp we finished packing and headed out on Birch Lake, paddled to Carp portage, then half way through Carp to a little island I call Otter Palace, to camp for the night.  
Next day we paddled to Sheridan portage and had just finished getting our gear up that short but steep hill when another canoe came up and put in down the shore from us.  Dan immediately spotted the QJ sticker on its bow and I went over to see who it was.  Turned out it was Kingfisher and Paddlemaker; hugs and introductions to the guys followed.  They were planning to camp on Sheridan, we planned to move on at least to Mitch before the end of the day.  By now it was lightly sprinkling rain.
KF and PM went to find a campsite.  We crossed the lake and pulled up on shore where the "trail" started.  After getting our stuff and kayaks off shore, up a steep little hill, and into a grove of cedars at the shoreline KF and PM arrived to walk the trail with us.  They helped us portage some of our gear and in a couple trips we were at the shore of Mitch, but on top of a small abrupt ridge which dropped about 20 feet into the lake in two stages.  We slid the kayaks half way down, packed them, and slid them further down into the water.  The whole portage time was punctuated by light rain which eventually turned into a steady drenching rain and by the end we were all soaking wet.  KF and PM headed back to fish and camp on Sheridan.  We set off northerly for the far end of Mitch, still paddling in steady rain, and thinking we might find a campsite on this lake.  No campsite struck us as do-able and we ended up dragging our boats into another grove of cedars at the end of the lake.  By now we were both wet and cold.  We pitched one of our tarps among the cedars, bailed all our gear under it, and stripped off our wet clothes and got into something dry.  Coffee and lunch revived our spirits, the sun was finally trying to come out and the rain had stopped.  After sitting around about an hour we were getting bored and were ready to tackle the next portage into Magie Lake.

Enjoying so far.... sounds like a hell of a day in the wind you had heading out.... looking forward to more  ;D

From our seats under the tarp it appeared there was a pretty good trail heading in the right direction and along the bottom of the narrow draw between two ridges.  It needed some small rotten fallen timber moved aside and pushing through thinly scattered brush but the track was generally apparent and led about 40 rods to a short floating bog end on Magie Lake.  We lucked out to end up on the shore we did; once into the lake we could see an impenetrable wall of fallen Cedars stacked like cordwood on the other side of the bay.  
We paddled out onto Magie Lake and immediately saw the small island which is basically the only good campsite on the lake, and its very nice fire place.  It was fully overcast again and began to sprinkle.  We paddled the rough perimeter of the lake and quickly determined that the island was the place to be.  Back to the island and set up our tents and tarps out of the wind on a nice open rock deeply covered with moss and lichens. Hung out all our soaking wet stuff on lines.  The wind was blowing into the nice fire place so we stole a couple rocks from it and made a small fire on the side of the island our tents were at.
Mike found the message jar hidden among the rocks of the fire place.  Several messages from Stumpy and other explorers were there to read.
We had the lake to ourselves for the time being.
On day three we spent a while considering how we would approach finding a trail toward our Bushwack destination over breakfast and coffee.  The guys wanted to try a small creek and drainage to get a jump on the distance over land and a good sized ridge.  This was discussed in the notes of the message jar and not recommended by those who had tried it.  I decided I was just going straight north to the next little lake through the woods.  The guys started out ahead of me, I followed after tidying up camp and hanging the food; by the time I reached the shore I would explore they were there and had found a place to get out of the kayaks.
They were well up the hill, the first section of the trail under big Cedars and going uphill under big Birch and Aspen was fairly open and finding our way through that was not difficult.  Soon however the hill turned into a very steep ridge and the guys were ranging around for a route with some switch-backs to allow a diagonal trail up the face.  We were marking the route with survey ribbon and I came along behind the guys and smoothed out the sharp corners and streamlined the route.  Again we were following game trails which generally were the easiest route up/down the hill.  We moved rotten downed wood to clear part of the trail and ended up stepping over a lot of bigger downed tree trunks which were too big to move.  Once to the crest of the ridge it leveled out under large Birch and Aspen and became clearer for walking.  A slight downhill stretch took us into a mossy wet slough and a beaver "run" with enough water to float the kayaks out to the open water while we balanced gingerly on floating bog.  It took the better part of the day to locate the trail so we returned to camp and would portage our gear on day four.
The earlier part of the day was somewhat clear but over the course of the afternoon it clouded up again and began to rain toward dinner time.  As we had dinner we noticed our first company, two guys in an aluminum canoe.  It was raining and getting late so they paddled by without stopping and found a site down the lake.  Dan and Mike had to go scout them out after dinner and shared enough words to determine it was Stumpy who had arrived.  The guys were in a panic, they had set a goal to be the first ones to the Bushwack lake and now here was serious competition!  They made a plan to get going early (not the usual for them  :)) the next morning to ensure being first over the portage.

Great report... I hope I can read more before I head out Monday night to WCPP.

:) :) :) Great... now Stumpy is there to spoil your fun... did he come in the same way you did, or form a different direction?

WW - Stumpy came in from the creek which empties into That Man Lake.  It is a route he had taken before, but he said it was more difficult than he remembered it to be.

On day four, I was prepared to sleep in as long as the guys did...but true to the plan, they were up early.  We had breakfast, broke camp, and on my way to the Bushwack trail I paddled past Stumpy's camp.  They were still in their tent  ;D
We completed the portage; estimating it to be about 100 rods long.  A quick paddle took us across "Not" lake, a silty and undistinguished pond.  On the opposite side we found the outlet of a small creek draining out of the Bushwack lake.  Following a fairly clear game trail less than 15 rods over the hill put us at our destination lake.  
We headed out to explore, paddling first down a pretty little narrow bay which then opened up into the greater part of the lake.  In general the lake was wooded with mature Jackpine, Balsam and Spruce.  There was almost no open rocky outcroppings along the shore and the fir trees were thick.  We paddled more or less around the lake and didn't find much for camping sites; I found a small island tucked up next to a steep cliff shoreline in the north part of the lake and the guys found a somewhat open spot along shore on the eastern part of the lake.  We met out in the middle, wondering what to do.  I looked at their site and determined it was too rough and thick for a camp.  They looked at my island and decided we would camp there since it was the most open spot available.  
The island was small but had some nice large pine on it and at the very top a small open area slightly larger than a big tent.  Not much level ground but with some hunting we found three tiny flat spots to pitch our tents.  A pile of rocks was conveniently near a good spot for a fire pit and we were able to build a nice fireplace for ourselves.  We spent the afternoon arranging camp and finally had a nice comfortable spot to settle down on.
Soon Kingfisher and Paddlemaker paddled by, they had come more or less along our route but did go up the creek in Magie and took a shorter but equally steep route over the ridge into Not lake.  Then Stumpy and his partner Jim came by (complaining a bit that we had made the trail too easy) and somewhat later Uncle Moose showed up.  They were all doing the circle of the lake, looking for a campsite and eventually settled on the islands out in the middle of the lake.

;D Stumpy sleeping late... keep it coming IC

I DO have more ...  but will have to wait till next week.  Today I am going into Trout Lake, BWCA,  for a week.

Well...back from Trout Lake, which is another story.  I'll finish this one first  ;)

After dinner I paddled over to see what the other guys had managed for campsites.  I found everyone at Kingfisher's site having an evening drink and joined them.  Kingfisher explained that first they found a site for their tent, then opened up a little area near shore for a fire.  I asked Paddlemaker if he had been having "fun".  Earlier in the day he had on a full pair of pants but now he was sporting one leg at shorts length and the other at capri length; they had been ripped off him in the portage over the ridge as they crashed through the woods  ;D
I asked Stumpy if he knew this lake was "such a lovely spot"  :-?  He inthought about it a moment and asked "do you really think it is lovely".  I answered that I did not.  He was disapointed too and very apologetic for it not being as nice a lake as it looked like it could be on the PCD photos.
Day five everyone was paddling around exploring the lake and/or fishing.  Dan and Mike happened on a bull moose about to cross the channel and had a "near moose experience" as it crossed in front of them instead of turning back into the woods.  KF and PM fished hard and found a couple deep spots in the lake, but had no luck in catching anything.  Both KF and PM as well as Stumpy and Jim made long forays into the woods behind our island, in the direction of Louisa to see how the going would be to leave in that direction; also hoping to intercept Magic Paddler and make his trail a bit easier should he be coming in.
Late in the afternoon Hexnymph and his band of merry men showed up; if I have it correctly they came in from a creek NE of the lake.  After doing the requisite paddle around the lake looking for a site they settled on an open but steep ridge across from our island site.  We had looked at that too but decided there wasn't enough level area...somehow they managed to make do.
We made a plan to meet at our island site for a get together that evening and after dinner everyone showed up to visit and exchange notes on our routes.  Hex and his group dressed up in button down shirts and TIES  ;D for the big event.  We passed the bottle and reviewed maps until after dark.  Stumpy told us the origin of his nickname and when he left sang O Danny Boy (almost good enough for American Idol) as they disappeared in the darkness.  We watched one set of headlamps wander about the lake in the dark and decided it was KF and PM fishing again.  They confessed later that they were a bit lost in finding their way back to camp  ;)
Day six we all packed up and headed out, going our respective ways.  Hex and his group headed NW to Louisa.  KF and PM got going early, heading back the way we had come in.  Uncle Moose, Stumpy, Jim, Dan, Mike and I all headed out the way we had come in and were out onto Sheridan by mid-day.  We were kind of spread out over the route but all came together on Sheridan and stopped for lunch before moving on.
UM decided to stay on Sheridan.  My group portaged into Carp and went NE to a nice site near the Emerald Lake portage.  We were going to see Emerald the next day but after all that portaging the day before, we were lazy and never did leave the campsite the following day.
Day eight we headed back toward Birch Lake with a nice tail wind.  At the Carp portage there was a ton of people coming and going so finishing the portage took a while.  We arrived at the Birch Lake island early in the day and enjoyed a nice sunny leisure afternoon.  About dinner time it clouded up and by dark we were in a driving rainstorm...the rest of the story is at the beginning of my narration on this thread.
As always it is great to meet fellow avid campers out in the bush and make new friends in person.  If I am still able I will be along for the 2015 BWR  :D

Thanks for the report, IC! It's fun to hear everyone's individual account.

Hopefully I'll get to a report soon too. Lot's of trips to catch up on, though.

Thanks Vicki, I really enjoyed your report & I love that Hex's gang showed up in shirts & ties  ;D Thats a good one
Hex's group seems fearless, when it comes to portage distance & terrain... it would be fun to join that group an a trip!

They ARE unstopable...and it WOULD be fun to join them!  Unfortunately  :'( my legs aren't long enough to keep up in the long grass and floating bogs they seem to favor for routes !  I hope we get to hear a report from them too.

One member said the 'deep-in-the-woods litany' goes something like this:
Guy in front: "Where do I go?"
Guy in back: "Forward."
GIF:             "What direction!?"
GIB:            "Ahead!  Just keep moving!"                           ;D

In 2015, no Kevlars allowed !

Too late to change rules... 8-) Some only have kevlars.

Stumpy,
By 2015 someone may have dragged you kicking and screaming into the 21st century and you MIGHT have given up aluminum.  ;D

I was just kidding, but I'm sure I'll still be lugging the Grumman.

Stumpy wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2010 at 2:02pm:

In 2015, no Kevlars allowed !

Carbon fiber only?

So Stumpy,  What exactly DOES the Grumman weigh.  56 pounds?  That's not much more than a full sized Kevlar is it??

intrepid_camper wrote on Aug 5^th, 2010 at 1:01am:

So Stumpy,  What exactly DOES the Grumman weigh.  56 pounds?  That's not much more than a full sized Kevlar is it??

My grumman weighs 78 pounds...add the portage yoke, paddles shoved in the thawrts, and life vests snapped around the seats, and I'm up in the 80s.

They also made lightweight Grummans (thinner gauge aluminum). Those weighed in at around 65 pounds, before yoke etc..

Although heavy, a Grumman (or Old Town Tripper) is probably the ideal bushwhack canoe.  I can't tell you how many hours I have spent crashing through the trackless bush under a Grumman, while glancing at my compass (all in northern Ontario and western Quebec).  The nice thing is you can drag them through gnarly swamps and pound on their hulls to round up your widely scattered trip mates!

Arctic wrote on Aug 7^th, 2010 at 1:19am:

Although heavy, a Grumman (or Old Town Tripper) is probably the ideal bushwhack canoe.  I can't tell you how many hours I have spent crashing through the trackless bush under a Grumman, while glancing at my compass (all in northern Ontario and western Quebec).  The nice thing is you can drag them through gnarly swamps and pound on their hulls to round up your widely scattered trip mates!

Amen brother !
In fact, I've even used mine as a bridge, several times.