I pray for a safe trip for all.

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

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 to view media files and links)

6/8/10  =   (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

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

     Later that day...   (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

6/10/10   =   (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

6/11/10   =   (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

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  

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

Still no word from IC.


Jimbo   

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