My bunch entering at Pickerel on the 8th of July. Sorry we missed you guys, would love to put faces to the iconic names I've seen on the forum. One day I'll get there in June.

Pickerel Lake - 2024, with the group of solo paddlers and the visitor from Switzerland. Too windy for a fire, but still an interesting discussion and good time.

At least a couple of them, I think.  Certainly not the dude, 2nd from left, in the white hat, of course...unless you've traveled extensively in Switzerland.

As pictured, from left to right, you have: DD,  the Swiss dude, Wally13, MagicPaddler, & me.  It was VERY windy & quite chilly that day so we are well-bundled up and availing ourselves of warming spirits (please note the small flask at my feet).  Also, as much of us as you can actually see in the pic is likely a good bit more gray than the last time we met in person.  Jimmar, of course, is unseen & behind the camera.  Also, Quentin had been with us that trip but I believe he broke camp that morning. He left early for French Lake in order to avoid the worst of the winds that were forecast.

FYI

Jimbo 

From left to right: Jimmar, Quentin, DD, Jimbo, MagicPaddler, Wally13

Jimbo 

JimJ -

Well, they just stopped putting fluoride in the water down here.  Perhaps we can get them to stop adding the Wacko Sauce, too?  Clearly mutant strains of something weird have gained ascendancy in the state's genetic heritage.

Alas, the hour may be too late for such remediation.  Quarantine may be the best option. 

In fact, I recommend enforcing that option immediately after I exit the state in a few weeks to head north to Quetico.  Won't break my heart if I don't get to come back for a while, particularly during the god-awful hot season (ie. 7 months of the year). 

Little doubt the extreme jungle-like conditions exacerbate the Wacko Sauce effects on human testosterone to further drive these "Florida Man" types "over-the-edge." 

It's an endemic epidemic, I tell you!  My escape cannot come too soon!

Jimbo 

July 4th in our camp is a multi-sensory, muti-faceted experience. We feature a grand old flag - a high-flying (Pink Flamingo) flag - fluttering proudly in the breeze. We got duck calls, owl hooters, and various other whistling paraphernalia in full throat. In some years we sport pink flamingo buoys, whirlagigs, & streamers.  To appeal to taste buds, Old Salt once prepared a party-sized batch of pink flamingo fish stew. Also, celebratory libations abound, numerous toasts being offered to commemorate the occasion.  And, when Denton Doc cranks up with his rendition of the national anthem, a veritable chorus of wolves & coyotes chime in and the entire experience approaches a crescendo of wilderness sensory glory.

Yeah, DD has that knack for really stirring them up.  He could easily hire out with those Forest Service groups that go about counting critters & such.

Some year we aspire to cap off the spectacle and our wanton festivities with Phantom Jug accompanying DD on his bagpipes while the rest of us march about in circles around camp, wrapped in tattered bandages playing our fifes, drums and flutes.  Alas...someday.  We can but hope....

So that's a brief summary of July 4th in our camp... which is just a mere shadow of how we truly let loose on Canada Day a few days earlier....

Jimbo 


P.S.  In all seriousness, if you haven't heard DD sing or PJ play the pipes, you're really missing out.  And OS's Pink Flamingo Stew, well...it's mana from heaven going down (and does wonders for any constipation issues you might be experiencing on its way out); keep the latrine area within easy walking distance.

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I'm hoping to persuade THIS guy to join us at this year's camp bash.

Perhaps a duet?

Jimbo 

Well, I can't do Tibetan, I CAN do this:

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Every year or so I'll have a couple of drinks at a karaoke gathering and let-her-rip!

Jimbo wrote on May 24^th, 2025 at 11:23am:


I'd be careful Jimbo, that God awful sound might drift over to the Native People at the Beaverhouse Ranger station?

They might call in one of these to put a stop to that caterwauling

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Your trip could be a very smoky affair. You will be SE of fires that combined size is equal.to 3x BWCA.

I just got off the phone with my buddy Quetico Dave.
He's living full time at Warner Lk now.

I asked him about the smoke around his place?
He said it wasn't a big problem so far. He said they had rain for 3 days and the temps have been in the low 70's and cool at night. Rain in the 10 day forecast.

Unless that changes I think the people going in at BH and staying to the West of Pickerel should be okay?

Did anyone return?

HighnDry wrote on Jul 14^th, 2025 at 8:22am:


Is this a what happens on Cirrus, stays on Cirrus thing 
I figured by now with that group the posts would be flowing.

Marten wrote on Jul 14^th, 2025 at 7:43am:

At this point, the question is not whether they returned, but whether they went at all. No report/pics = didn't happen.

In response to popular demand, here is a pic of DD warming up on the morning of July 4th to sing his annual rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner." 

We're camped at site 2Z on Cirrus Lake's lower tier.

If I can figure out how to attach the 95 second video of this event, I'll do so.  It's memorable.


Jimbo   

Jimbo, do you post pics on a online web hosting sight?

Try joining Imgur it's free. You can BULK load all your trip pics into a album you name. They tell you how to do it.

I had the same problem a couple of times losing trip reports when I hit Post Message.

Now I use a Open Office app and write them out.
I open Imgur and keep it open to my trip pics and click on any picture I want to put in report.

On right side of screen is a vertical box that allows you to size the pic to whatever format you are posting in. I use the one that says BBCode.
Click on COPY then paste into report or post.

I save all my trip reports in my Open Office file.
Never lose a report again and you don't have to look for pics either because the link is saved too.

That's super helpful, ST.  Thanks!  I'll give it a shot at my earliest opportunity.

I used to work with another hosting site up until they switched over to a subscription basis.  I didn't use it often enough to justify the expense.


Jimbo