Post by harpskiddie on Oct 18, 2007 14:57:26 GMT -6
I spent four months in the Coast Range of British Columbia in 1974, and never saw another human during that time. The only indication of humans was a caved-in small log cabin, probably once used by hunters or prospectors, and the odd airplane flying over at 15,000 feet or so.
One day, I decided to hike around the lake I was on, with my trusty topo map in hand [or pocket] and figured it might take me five or six days, so I traveled light, carrying only my weapons, a tarp and some food and matches. The lake was about five miles long and perhaps a mile across at its widest point. I was camped about two miles up from the south end, on the west side. I headed north.
The first half mile or so was easy, following a game trail along a bluff on the edge of the lake. Then I came to where the game trail veered to my left because of a sheer rock outcrop, so I followed the trail which narrowed until it was no wider than my hips, and every three or four yards I had to clamber over fallen trees. The trail kept leading up, and I wanted to go around, but the forest was almost impenetrable because of the windfalls, so I retraced my steps, and tried to get around the cliff by climbing along the actual lakeshore. I made it, but just, and after sleeping under a tree in the rain, I awoke about a mile or so from my starting point, with no prospects of the going getting any easier, so I went back via the high country and the various game trails I found.
I wouldn't [couldn't anyway] do it again, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. At least once in your life, you have to sit under a tree where no one has ever sat before, and scare the wits out of a moose calf by saying "Boo!"
Gordie,
she looked so fine, now you know she's my Gum Drop, Gum Drop........................................
One day, I decided to hike around the lake I was on, with my trusty topo map in hand [or pocket] and figured it might take me five or six days, so I traveled light, carrying only my weapons, a tarp and some food and matches. The lake was about five miles long and perhaps a mile across at its widest point. I was camped about two miles up from the south end, on the west side. I headed north.
The first half mile or so was easy, following a game trail along a bluff on the edge of the lake. Then I came to where the game trail veered to my left because of a sheer rock outcrop, so I followed the trail which narrowed until it was no wider than my hips, and every three or four yards I had to clamber over fallen trees. The trail kept leading up, and I wanted to go around, but the forest was almost impenetrable because of the windfalls, so I retraced my steps, and tried to get around the cliff by climbing along the actual lakeshore. I made it, but just, and after sleeping under a tree in the rain, I awoke about a mile or so from my starting point, with no prospects of the going getting any easier, so I went back via the high country and the various game trails I found.
I wouldn't [couldn't anyway] do it again, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. At least once in your life, you have to sit under a tree where no one has ever sat before, and scare the wits out of a moose calf by saying "Boo!"
Gordie,
she looked so fine, now you know she's my Gum Drop, Gum Drop........................................