JIMBOREE (Part One)

At the close-out of the other thread it was mentioned that it would be interesting to hear "what got left out" of the tales from Jamboree AND "what tall tales got added" to it.  I'll take a shot at documenting my perspective on some pre-Jamboree activities.  I'll leave the rest to others.  I'll be as anxious as you are to see how the tale ends.

My small "sidebar" to the whole Jamboree Adventure was something called "Jimboree".

The 2005 edition of Jimboree was held - impromptu - on an island in south central Cairn Lake.  Ben, my son, & I were the first to arrive... mid-way through 36 hours of soaking, cold nasty rain.  We had grinded our way through the beautiful (but rough) Cutty Creek area to get there.  All the portages had been wet or submerged or interesting mudslide variations.  Tripper & QP, getting in & out of Baird was all you guys said it could be!!

Anyway, I digress.

Ben & I arrived first.  We quickly erected a lean-to tarp on the head rock at the bottom of the island & somehow nursed a small fire out of soaked kindling.  We had put a couple of my "calling cards" on high ground where other hapless, misguided souls could not possibly miss them.  

Anyone want to guess what these pink items were???

The calling cards worked like a charm!  In they came!  QP & Woods Walker arrived in about a half-hour from the south, battling wind-driven rain right in their faces. Our site was plenty big & had numerous tent pads.  We welcomed the company.  About a half hour after that, the first of two kayaks was flagged in.  It was Kawishiway followed by my new friend, Intrepid Camper.  They scrambled up our rock & each found suitable spots to stake out their tents.  IC is one of the most impressive Voyageur/campers I've ever met.  She is a minimalist who exists off what Nature gives her.  After she got set up, she got back into her kayak & managed to pick her way along the shoreline to find wood that would actually burn in our struggling fire.

Just as we were all getting settled in around the tarp, we heard voices from behind the lean-to.  It was MagicPaddler & his 72 year-old brother, cold & wet after some tough travelling out the Mack Lake area.  Our "calling card" had fetched them in, too.  There was plenty of soggy space available... no, make that SATURATED space.


[To be continued]

[JIMBOREE, Part Two]

While MP & his brother warmed up in their bags, we finally stabilized the wet, smoky fire enough to sit around it & chat.  Our faces & fronts were warm & wet; our behinds were dry & chilled.  QP livened things up by pulling out a laminated map of the Chub Pond, ostensibly to discuss "approaches" to the Chub Pond.  HOWEVER his laminated map contained some strange verses on the reverse side. I think he called it Bushwhacker Balladeering & Voyageur Rap by some strange, demented artist.  I found myself coaxed into impromptu renditions of the same, cadenced to the tune of the pounding raindrops.  Ah, the ambience!!

Eventually MagicPaddler & his brother made it over to our pitiful fire.  We had been concerned that he & his brother were verging on hypothermia.  Ben & I had thought WE had gone through some tough places.  I don't even want to think about what THEY must have gone through.  EVERYTHING they had seemed soaked!  Anyway, I'm afraid the fire didn't provide them all that much warmth. 

Warmer, however, was the Rendezvous comraderie around those miserable flames.

Gifts were exchanged, modern-day Voyageur style.  MP presented ME with a very large, flat decorative "pink flamingo"!  Ideas about approaches to Stumpy's Pond were discussed.  The wisdom (or lack thereof) of approaching Stumpy's Pond was discussed.  We figured Stumpy & Rangeline were already in there.  Those wet cliffs looked fairly intimidating.  Jokes & stories were told.  Camping & canoeing equipment was compared.  Wet, bedraggled faces could now be put on Internet "handles" (id's).  You really couldn't see all that much more than faces... raincoats, ponchos, & weather gear covered it all up.

I think those sour conditions made our "Jimboree" all that much sweeter, though.

I was the first up & about that next morning after another long soaking night of rain.  It was strangely bright with alien sunshine, however, & I flung the tarp flap back to reap some of the welcomed, gorgeous dawn as the coffee water boiled.  Intrepid Camper rousted next & came over to join me for a cup as we contemplated the utter change to the Quetico world about us.  What an impressive lady!  She lives on an island near the BWCA & needs to paddle her way on & off it to get around in soft-water season!  We spread clothing out on the rocks to dry in the sun & freshening breeze.

As others walked up the rock to our tarp, we chatted about the day.

It was then that I told them all that MY "vision for the day" no longer included "Jamboree".  It felt very strange to say that, especially after a couple long years of talking about it.  Nevertheless, sometimes you take what the Park gives you.  THAT day, after a few days of rough travel through Cutty Creek, the soaking rain, my threatening psiatica, and the thought of what might lie ahead, well... I easily conjured up OTHER, safer, more pleasurable thoughts of what that day & our vacation could become.

Disappointing??  Yes, mildly.  Nevertheless, other than meeting with Stumpy's party & others that MIGHT make it into the Pond, we had already seen a lot, done a lot.  Staying healthy, we would have the chance to do MORE.  So, ultimately, the "choice" didn't pass my "Risks versus Rewards" analysis (ie. I wimped out).

Well, now I wish I had talked more to Brian and found out if it was the right lake?  Or maybe he just has a really good poker face and was teasing me?

I hope someone took lots of pictures?!

Only an event such as this one would allow such a bird to flock with the loons.  Am I color blind or is that thing really PINK?  Amazingly as it may seem, we not only found this rare bird in the Cairn Lake area but as well lashed to canoes and one even marking a campsite on Burke Lake.
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An then there's the area near the Chub Pond
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qp

Congratulations Brian Hess,
I don't doubt you were there....I stood next to your canoes while you were on your recon mission. That was the route I intended to take there. We then camped up on Rose island, and I chose to go in from Cairn the next day. The next day we were met with some injury and a hesitant crew. I will elaborate further at another time....I just got home.

I owe you and your group an apology.
I felt like an awful cad, not being there to greet people on Wednesday night.
I am embarassed and humbled.
I did have a steak along for you WW...I will owe you one.

I did hike in Thursday and found no one there.
Looks like you and your crew get to pick the 2010 location, Brian. I had been figuring 1 vote per atendee...or those there would apoint someone to pick the next lake.

Brian, I am sorry.
My name is Ed Deacy.

Thank you all.