It has been a while since my prior post here and I thought I would update you all. My buddy Sam and I made the trip to Armstrong in late May and were chewed up and spit out. Our goal was Cliff Lake but we did not get past Ratte where we spent 3 days and 3 nights in a cold rain waiting for the ports to Cliff to get a chance to dry. We did not want to risk a fall on the steep climbs necessary to get to Cliff. On the fourth day, with no sign of improving weather, we decided that our window was closed and we headed toward our exit which was south on the Pikitigushi. Enroute we missed a portage and had a great deal of difficulty with Gooseneck rapids. One of my projects this weekend is to refinish my SR17 which took a severe beating. We survived and were never in dire trouble. Just humiliating circumstances a person does not enjoy remembering.

They become fond even cherished memories in time.

I've had more than one trip up north where it all kind of fell apart or I just bailed for various reasons. It's all a learning experience and perhaps, motivation to return for another go in the future. It sounds like you and your partner hit some fairly grim weather and it's never a bad decision to call it quits if it isn't letting up!

The west side of Wab has kicked me in the teeth 2 years in a row. Why be humiliated by natural forces way beyond our contol?

Too bad you couldn't get to Cliff... One of the best pictograph lakes in Canada. I remember one of the portages heading in from the south was TOUGH--even though it was only about 400m long. Years later, I learned it was called the "Bad Medicine Portage".

we came into Cliff from the north, and compared to some of the other portages we had already crossed, in and out of Cliff wasn't in the top 10 as far as difficulty. i was portaging the Q18.5, never stopped, never set it down.

it ain't always easy in there, if it was, we wouldn't go.

Get 'em next time, Thwarted. Anything worth accomplishing is worth doing...

quote jdrocks: "we came into Cliff from the north, and compared to some of the other portages we had already crossed, in and out of Cliff wasn't in the top 10 as far as difficulty. i was portaging the Q18.5, never stopped, never set it down.

it ain't always easy in there, if it was, we wouldn't go."

Yup, the north route out of Cliff is pretty easy--but very brushy and un-used back in the day. A wood/canvas canoe and a month's worth of food did add to the workout, though...

Came across this yesterday at xkcd.com and thought it apropos

Thwarted - Where did you start your trip?

at least you made it back to tell us you failed

sometimes people don't

Once again, I agree with OOk.*

*Is 00 a license to shoot straight?

An old adage learned and re-learned many times, one that makes it easy to accept whatever happens:

"Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans."