Just got back from AP and felt I had to post a comment about an incident that happened at Rock Lake on April 24.
We had just set up our camp at Rock and decided to walk down to the beach to watch the waves as it was very windy.Just then,I noticed two canoes that were very overloaded enter Rock Lake from the river. The first canoe was hit by a wave and was swamped, while the bow person was searching for their bailer, a second wave capsized their canoe. I ran down the beach and yelled that help was on its way. The second canoe stopped but was unable to help because of the waves. We sent a boat out to rescue the two people in the water. As I was watching from shore an aluminum boat towing two canoes entered Rock Lake and stopped to retrieve a green garbage bag for them and told the two people in the water they would right back to help them!! THEY LEFT TWO PEOPLE IN THE WATER AND DROVE OFF!!! When we got them to shore none of the five people were wearing life jackets!! The canoe that was swamped, the webbing for the seats was rotted off, the wood gunnels were rotted and half were missing. The canoe not seaworthy at all. One of the wardens visited them and contemplated seizing the canoe becuase of it's condition. I realize this post is rather long but, when will people learn!!!

Probably lucky they are even alive....see people every spring that do not realize what cold water can do to you...We went in a week ago today and checked in at Canoe lake, there was a gentlemen in front of me checking in and 2 ladies waiting down at the lake for him, after checked in we come out to see them paddling away with 3 in a canoe and the one in the middle sitting on top of a pack totally above the canoe, ( an accident waiting to happen ) not sure what can be done, but in your situation you have to risk your life to save theirs....

It happens every year.
A few years back I was soloing through Lavielle and Dickson in early May when something similar occurred.
I was getting my gear together to start the long portage out of Dickson. With me at the landing were at least 3 other parties.
It was incredibly windy that day with north winds whipping up huge whitecaps on the lake.
The bay the portage was in was somewhat sheltered...
While we were all sitting there 2 canoes with 4 people rounded the main lake point attempting to enter the bay.
They turned broadside to the waves and just literally disappeared.
Everyone saw it happen.
I jumped up and dragged my boat down to the water yelling for someone to come and help me.
No one did.
They all refused and watched as I paddled out solo to help the 4 people.
2 were younger kids and absolutely terrified.
I managed to get a rope around both canoes and paddled everyone safely to the nearest shore with everyone clinging on.

I had a few choice words for the guys still waiting at the landing watching the seen.

Still can't believe the reaction from those people..

Cold water, high winds and inexperienced paddlers are a bad mix no doubt.

Yeah, with the easy access and well maintained portages comes the people that don't have the necessary equipment or skills for the conditions. Every year I see people hauling in those mammoth Raddison aluminum things on cart wheels. Sure they're hard to capsize, but if they ever do, the swimmers are in big trouble. Most aren't wearing life jackets either.

Stay safe out there.

"When Will People Learn?"

The answer is "never". Some people are too stupid to live. Yet rather than allowing natural selection to weed them out, we protect and shelter them from their own incompetence. They weaken the species.

For both Camper Ron and SoloPaddler - thanks for doing the right thing.

I don't have a good answer to "When will people learn?". Working in Tech Support for years, the best I can usually do is go back to a quote that we came across a long time ago now:

"Some people make stupid decisions and some people make mistakes, but it's not your job to judge them, it's your job to bail them out."

Now the truth is that we're going to end up making our judgements sooner or later, but at the time this can be a pretty darn good philosphy. Leave the judging until later and "bail them out" now. In a rescue situation, that will always have to be tempered by making sure you ensure your own safety first.



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One year while car camping late Sept.on Rocklake, the water was so bad there were two interior capsized canoes being rescued by the Ministry at different times and they were still letting people go out on the lake. Finally the one rescue boat told the Warden via 2 way radio to stop sending people out. The language was worse than I am using. My point is who should have known better? I couldn't believe the Ministry were letting people go out under those conditions. The Ministry knew they had a bad situation.I know sometimes their hands are tied but then shut down the office so at least people can't go interior if they can't register. These are only my feelings and I'm sure I will get pro and con responses.

Perhaps a communication breakdown? Wardens should definitely be attentive to weather conditions in the early and late months. But it's a complex issue. People should take trips into the Park seriously. I can't fault camper ron or solopaddler for going out to help those in need. Are they supposed to watch the poor people drown and think, ahh, they deserve it. Instead, I praise their heroism. Call them idiots when you get them to shore, and they will probably change their ways or quit paddling altogether. Rob W, good response.

You've got a point, but the reality is it would be a hard thing to do. How does someone in that position determine someone elses ability?
A blanket decision to ban all access or travel isn't fair.


I remember once I was ready to hop on the train in Armstrong with my gear and couldn't 'cause the MNR had imposed a travel ban to the areas west to Savant Lake.
There was a large forest fire burning out of control.
I talked to some bush pilots who had done a fly over and knew exactly where the fires were burning and knew I'd be safe.
Still they wouldn't let me go. I was getting pretty tired of camping out in Armstrong and ultimately I managed to evade my oppressors and sneak on the train in the middle of the night to start my trip.

Made out alright as well, great trip.

Darwin Award candidates. See 'em every year. They look at me and frown when I say I'm going solo, "That's too dangerous for me!" I'm amazed at how many of them resemble Mike Ditka.

Well, then, they should be able to handle just about anything. That is, unless they run into Hurricane Ditka!

DAAH BEARS!!