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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Wabakimi :: Humiliation
 
Author Message Text
Thwarted
09/02/2016 09:54AM
 
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.
 
billconner
09/02/2016 12:33PM
 
They become fond even cherished memories in time.
 
jcavenagh
12/07/2016 10:49AM
 
Came across this yesterday at xkcd.com and thought it apropos



 
jcavenagh
12/07/2016 03:32PM
 
Thwarted - Where did you start your trip?
 
arctic
12/06/2016 01:30PM
 
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...



 
ZaraSp00k
12/08/2016 04:54PM
 
at least you made it back to tell us you failed


sometimes people don't
 
missmolly
12/22/2016 11:29AM
 
Once again, I agree with OOk.*


*Is 00 a license to shoot straight?
 
gkimball
01/21/2017 11:38AM
 
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."
 
arctic
09/13/2016 04:31PM
 
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".
 
jdrocks
09/13/2016 08:57PM
 
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.
 
Jackfish
09/14/2016 12:19PM
 
Get 'em next time, Thwarted. Anything worth accomplishing is worth doing...
 
jcavenagh
09/10/2016 06:46PM
 
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?
 
HighnDry
09/03/2016 07:25PM
 
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!