New Trip Report posted by WonderMonkey

Trip Name: Adventure? Who Said Anything About THAT?.

Entry Point: G

Click Here to View Trip Report

Here is the "Get Ready" journal that many helped out in.

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WonderMonkey: "New Trip Report posted by WonderMonkey

Trip Name: Adventure? Who Said Anything About THAT?.

Entry Point: G

Click Here to View Trip Report"

Ah, the joys of group dynamics! Good to hear that while Sarah didn't smile on you, the trip was still enjoyed and that you're already planning another. Good report, good photos, sorry about the canoe.

Is this the beaver dam that contributed to the canoe issue? We went around it the afternoon of September 2...



TZ

Now that, good sir, is a trip report. I'm sorry things didn't quite go as planned, but thanks for turning it into fine reading!

TrailZen: "

WonderMonkey: "New Trip Report posted by WonderMonkey


Trip Name: Adventure? Who Said Anything About THAT?.


Entry Point: G


Click Here to View Trip Report"

Ah, the joys of group dynamics! Good to hear that while Sarah didn't smile on you, the trip was still enjoyed and that you're already planning another. Good report, good photos, sorry about the canoe.


Is this the beaver dam that contributed to the canoe issue? We went around it the afternoon of September 2...





TZ"

Yes! That's it! Broke-Back Canoe Dam!

carmike: "Now that, good sir, is a trip report. I'm sorry things didn't quite go as planned, but thanks for turning it into fine reading! "

Thanks. I left out some things, but I figured it was long and tedious enough!

That report was hilarious. The canoe mishap had me laughing hard. I feel like I know JS. He and his son remind me of someone I went on a week-long fishing trip once. Did they tell the canoe owner what happened or will they be in for a surprise the next time they go to use it?

"...he said he didn't have one and was going by memory."
Oh dear dear dear.
WM great report. Thank you for sharing. So glad you're going back!

45 degrees. Smh.
Ou. Ch. Ouch.

Loved the no map comment "just by memory" OMG...glad you decided at that point his advice was not worth a d***. Pained me to see the canoe picture...big ouch! Sorry, but JS is not someone I would have much patience with...especially leaving the campfire smoldering. You came across as amazingly patient.

We had a do a big route adjustment this summer also. Hard to do at the time, but we were so glad we did. Everyone was much safer and happier for it.

How did the diabetic with heel sore fare? When I first read of it I thought to myself that that fella was desperate for a taste of the wilderness. Jeez...I can't imagine embarking on such a venture if something is not-quite-right with either foot.
Thanks for sharing.

Northwoodsman: "That report was hilarious. The canoe mishap had me laughing hard. I feel like I know JS. He and his son remind me of someone I went on a week-long fishing trip once. Did they tell the canoe owner what happened or will they be in for a surprise the next time they go to use it?"

It's his canoe. His previous group bought three a bunch of years ago and they store them with someone local to Ely.

straighthairedcurly: "Loved the no map comment "just by memory" OMG...glad you decided at that point his advice was not worth a d***. Pained me to see the canoe picture...big ouch! Sorry, but JS is not someone I would have much patience with...especially leaving the campfire smoldering. You came across as amazingly patient.


We had a do a big route adjustment this summer also. Hard to do at the time, but we were so glad we did. Everyone was much safer and happier for it."

Same here on the route adjustment. It was the right thing to do and we had a better trip than we would have if we tried to stick to the original plan just for the sake of doing it.

mjmkjun: "How did the diabetic with heel sore fare? When I first read of it I thought to myself that that fella was desperate for a taste of the wilderness. Jeez...I can't imagine embarking on such a venture if something is not-quite-right with either foot.
Thanks for sharing. "

It was on the ball of the foot, near the toes. I'll give JS some credit here. He took his son because he wanted him to experience what he has done in the past. He was in great pain the entire time but didn't complain about it. It was an opportunity for him to get his son on a trip before it was likely he (JS) could never go again.

That's one doozy of a trip report! Congrats on holding it all together. As I was reading the original character descriptions with initials, I'm thinking "I bet I don't see a lot of group photos in this report". That bit about the yoke giving out and the canoe bending was something else. I'm actually pretty amazed it was able to (seemingly at least) paddle on fairly well.

Jaywalker: "That's one doozy of a trip report! Congrats on holding it all together. As I was reading the original character descriptions with initials, I'm thinking "I bet I don't see a lot of group photos in this report". That bit about the yoke giving out and the canoe bending was something else. I'm actually pretty amazed it was able to (seemingly at least) paddle on fairly well. "

The canoe I bought would not have been able to continue. It's strong but stiff, and I think if it bent like that it would have snapped. The canoes they were in had a material that flexed quite a bit and was able to deal with it. We were all quite amazed.

Great trip report. You sound like you are very patient. :-)

Thank you for sharing.

SevenofNine: "Great trip report. You sound like you are very patient. :-)


Thank you for sharing."

Thanks. I'm patient with others. With myself, not so much.

WM thank you for the report. I don't think I have read a report in a awhile that I laughted, got mad, scared, shocked all in one read. I think you handled it well all things considered. I have only been on one trip with a group more than three (we had 8) and I swore then that never again would I trip with that many....lol I like two or four at the most. I am glad that it all worked out. Time to start planning for next years trips.

Selfsuffi: "WM thank you for the report. I don't think I have read a report in a awhile that I laughted, got mad, scared, shocked all in one read. I think you handled it well all things considered. I have only been on one trip with a group more than three (we had 8) and I swore then that never again would I trip with that many....lol I like two or four at the most. I am glad that it all worked out. Time to start planning for next years trips."

I think the entire group needs to be somewhat compatible. I've done larger camping trips and it's worked. A few of us on this trip (BIL, Mikey) spoke about all this and the more "group activities" that go on, the more difficult it could be. However, if you go there as a loose group of individuals then there are fewer responsibilities to each other. When you want to catch, clean and cook fish, there are certain group things that must occur.

About mid-way through the trip, I started to think of TYPES of trips. If it's an adventure then certain people can go. A base camping, minimal portage trips it's others. Fishing with the ones who I would want to go is a minimal portage and two night at a time base camping thing. And so on.

Wow, quite a trip, way to keep it together. Love the paddling into the fog photo on day 7.

Driftless: "Wow, quite a trip, way to keep it together. Love the paddling into the fog photo on day 7."

Thanks. The photo was taken by my buddy, Mikey.

That was a good read and a good reminder to anyone planning a trip with a new group that you really won't understand your group dynamics until you're out there in the middle of it.

naturboy12: "That was a good read and a good reminder to anyone planning a trip with a new group that you really won't understand your group dynamics until you're out there in the middle of it.
"

Agreed! And getting riled up about it would not have helped either. Any group issue was just brief moments in time, nothing to get too worked up about. Nobody was in any danger, and we all dealt with things just fine.

Added a bit to the trip report.

"When we were out-bound and first went past this camping area, my outdoors buddy and I noticed feathers floating on the water as if a goose had a rough time. When we came back and were now camping we saw a pair of swans hanging out near the grassy area. A bit later a solo swan swooped in and landed and the pair went right over and kicked its ass. Later the pair were noticed with four younger, yet not baby, swans. Aha. The pair was protecting its nesting area. The entire rest of our stay we watched the swans protect the area and sometimes take the kids out for a trip."

WonderMonkey: "

Jaywalker: "That's one doozy of a trip report! Congrats on holding it all together. As I was reading the original character descriptions with initials, I'm thinking "I bet I don't see a lot of group photos in this report". That bit about the yoke giving out and the canoe bending was something else. I'm actually pretty amazed it was able to (seemingly at least) paddle on fairly well. "

The canoe I bought would not have been able to continue. It's strong but stiff, and I think if it bent like that it would have snapped. The canoes they were in had a material that flexed quite a bit and was able to deal with it. We were all quite amazed.


"

Not sure that is what Souris River had in mind when they invented the "Flexible Rib System"......

cowdoc: "

WonderMonkey: "

Jaywalker: "That's one doozy of a trip report! Congrats on holding it all together. As I was reading the original character descriptions with initials, I'm thinking "I bet I don't see a lot of group photos in this report". That bit about the yoke giving out and the canoe bending was something else. I'm actually pretty amazed it was able to (seemingly at least) paddle on fairly well. "

The canoe I bought would not have been able to continue. It's strong but stiff, and I think if it bent like that it would have snapped. The canoes they were in had a material that flexed quite a bit and was able to deal with it. We were all quite amazed.



"

Not sure that is what Souris River had in mind when they invented the "Flexible Rib System"......"

Nor sure they would want to use it as marketing!

You can see in that photo where some sort of damage had already been repaired once.

Dude, you're a tripper. Somebody needs to carve your face in a rock.

maxxbhp: "Dude, you're a tripper. Somebody needs to carve your face in a rock."

It's my first trip! I'm still trying to figure it all out.

I enjoyed your trip report, especially the photos.

It is interesting to me reading about a trip with people who are not "in the groove," as all of my trips were either just with Spartan1 or (in two instances) with people more experienced in wilderness travel than we were. People who just knew what to do, and didn't need any "herding". You say you were not the trip "leader", but really you were. And it sounds like you did a great job.

Because I live with a diabetic, it made me cringe to hear about the foot sore. I hope he will get proper medical help so that he doesn't end up losing his leg.

Thanks for sharing.

Nice report. Too bad some of the company wasn't the greatest but overall it seems like it was ok. I think you will be completely set for the next trip.

Spartan2: "I enjoyed your trip report, especially the photos.

It is interesting to me reading about a trip with people who are not "in the groove," as all of my trips were either just with Spartan1 or (in two instances) with people more experienced in wilderness travel than we were. People who just knew what to do, and didn't need any "herding". You say you were not the trip "leader", but really you were. And it sounds like you did a great job.

Because I live with a diabetic, it made me cringe to hear about the foot sore. I hope he will get proper medical help so that he doesn't end up losing his leg.

Thanks for sharing."

I'm quite sure I contributed to not being in sync early on. About mid-way we fell into a rhythm, though.

I also hope he takes care of that foot. I like the guy.

Yes, go solo next time. You look plenty strong enough to paddle and portage on your own in that portaging pic of you, the canoe, and the pack.

I once took a 13-year old boy. He was in the bow and would simply stop paddling halfway across the lake. Finally, I stopped paddling too and we were blown in slow circles.

Eventually, he turned to say, "Why did you stop paddling?"

I said, "We're a team. When you stop, I stop."

He never stopped again.

Too hard to play cribbage when solo. Bring only Mikey next time.

x2jmorris: "Too hard to play cribbage when solo. Bring only Mikey next time."

He will be a regular. I want BIL and my nephew there as well but we need to make sure it's a trip they enjoy and want to go on. Mikey and I may take other trips that maybe only we would enjoy.

Added photo to trip report.

Photo Credit: Mikey

missmolly: "Yes, go solo next time. You look plenty strong enough to paddle and portage on your own in that portaging pic of you, the canoe, and the pack.

I once took a 13-year old boy. He was in the bow and would simply stop paddling halfway across the lake. Finally, I stopped paddling too and we were blown in slow circles.

Eventually, he turned to say, "Why did you stop paddling?"

I said, "We're a team. When you stop, I stop."

He never stopped again. "

I'll plan some solo trips for sure. I can carry my canoe and heaviest pack on most portages but if it's a nasty one I'd double-portage.

I think that was a fine and gentle lesson you gave with that young man and paddling.

WonderMonkey: "Added photo to trip report.


Photo Credit: Mikey
"

Is this the mean, stern eye you cast at uncooperative fellow trippers in your group?

mjmkjun: "

WonderMonkey: "Added photo to trip report.



Photo Credit: Mikey
"

Is this the mean, stern eye you cast at uncooperative fellow trippers in your group?"

Ha, no. That's the look I give when I see someone focusing a camera on me.

I enjoyed your trip report. Nice pictures too. Sounds like you had your challenges but made the best of it. The highlight for me would have been listening to the wolves howl. Very cool.
I feel your pain as far as having difficult trip members. I had a similar experience this summer and have already decided to go solo in 2020.
Thanks for sharing!

OldTripper: "I enjoyed your trip report. Nice pictures too. Sounds like you had your challenges but made the best of it. The highlight for me would have been listening to the wolves howl. Very cool.
I feel your pain as far as having difficult trip members. I had a similar experience this summer and have already decided to go solo in 2020.
Thanks for sharing!"

The wolves, sitting at night and looking at the constellations, and other moments when our crew was just hanging out were the highlights. Even the times where we were all paddling across a lake were great.