this thread

You ain't gonna believe this . . .

WOW! Shaking my head...

Just when you thought you heard it all. Didn't see him hitch hiking did ya Steve?

Not after I left him on Polly, Ben :). I'm even more flabbergasted now that I got the reply from Sawbill on how it turned out.

Remind me not to trip with either of them.

wow

Amazing story.

When I was a teenager, I remember one guy that threw his crew member off his sailboat in the middle of a race (this was before we wore life jackets).

Race officials DQ'd the thrower. Fortunately, the swimmer was picked up by another sailboat.

Unbelievable, Wow and a few other words come to mind. Just leave the guy out in the woods, good plan.

We spent Sunday night at the campsite next to them at Sawbill. They were a couple of okay guys. They had only been there a couple of hours when we arrived to set up camp. Shortly after dark Drew came over and introduced himself. About 30 minutes later Pete joined us and the group of 6 of us sat around the fire for a good while. They told us the whole story. Drew was an experienced paddler, Pete was an experienced fisherman. They were friends for many years but hadn't spoken in 6 years. Pete's wife was killed in a car accident back in April and about that time they had reconnected. They set out to do the Lady Lakes chain and once on Polly, Pete decided that he didn't want to go on. Drew left him there and finished the loop. I told them that they were a pair of idiot's for their little stint and neither disagreed. They came over the next morning to wish us well on our trip from the Sawbill EP and we wished them well on their journey back to Indiana. They both indicated that their friendship was likely over for good.

You can't fix stupid. I've tried...can't be done.

Wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least there wasn't a homicide out there. The one fellow loosing his wife so recently had a lot on his plate and his 'friend' should have cut him some slack and come to a compromise. Can't imagine leaving a guy out there.
dr bob

Thanks for the additional information and background, northwoodsman. Sounds like they were two guys with different experience, goals, and expectations for the trip.

I am glad I continued on to Sawbill as quickly as I could that day and that everything turned out OK in the end. At first I had just assumed that his friend would cool down and go back in an hour or so, but apparently that did not happen.

I am glad they were able to patch things up enough to get back home together.

Your in the Bwca why would any of that matter? It's one thing not to be able to fix stupid. But this goes beyond stupid. I no comprehend.

Your in the Bwca why would any of that matter? It's one thing not to be able to fix stupid. But this goes beyond stupid. I no comprehend.

quote nctry: "Your in the Bwca why would any of that matter? It's one thing not to be able to fix stupid. But this goes beyond stupid. I no comprehend."

I don't care how stupid or obnoxious they are, you DON'T LEAVE YOUR TRIP MATES LIKE THAT, PERIOD! No excuse. What dipshi_'s they BOTH were, but especially the idiot that left him.

quote ozarkpaddler: "

quote nctry: "Your in the Bwca why would any of that matter? It's one thing not to be able to fix stupid. But this goes beyond stupid. I no comprehend."

I don't care how stupid or obnoxious they are, you DON'T LEAVE YOUR TRIP MATES LIKE THAT, PERIOD! No excuse. What dipshi_'s they BOTH were, but especially the idiot that left him. "

I was amazed and bothered about this since I read the initial post and subsequent details. I'm don't feel the need to add my $0.02 often but this has been on my mind off and on for days ---- UGH! I came here feeling compelled to comment but see I don't need to say much about this incident. However..... The BWCA, even in areas with significant traffic, is not a town park; it is a wilderness area. Adult judgment and behavior can only be assumed to exist in those who are issued a permit to use the area. Neither of these two individuals exercised these needed traits. I fully and heartily agree with Terry. You don't leave your tripping partners behind just because you're having a disagreement. What foolish and foolhearty behavior by supposed adults!

Was Drew expecting to send people back for Pete? Or just assume he could find his own way out? Either way, the decisions leave me dumbfounded.

quote OBX2Kayak: "Amazing story.


When I was a teenager, I remember one guy that threw his crew member off his sailboat in the middle of a race (this was before we wore life jackets).


Race officials DQ'd the thrower. Fortunately, the swimmer was picked up by another sailboat."

I'll assume he was dq'd because the swimmer failed to do penalty turns after interfering with a boat that had right of way.

Totally baffles me too, Ben.

I don't know Andy - it seems like a lot more hot temper than cool thinking.

beyond immaturity and foolhardiness.
the one who deserted his trip partner is not an OKAY guy. not in my book.

This story blew my mind. I heard about it on my way out on 9/12 from Kelly lake. The guy who told me about it made a good point in saying it should be considered manslaughter!
I'm no stranger to disagreements but this one takes the cake.

I feel like both of these guys names should be "Flagged" so they are not allowed to secure future BWCAW permits? I STILL can't imagine leaving someone outside of fearing for my own life because they were dangerous? I would love to tell the trip mate that left his friend what a despicable excuse for a human being he is. I'm still shaking my head

I wonder how they would have felt if the other one had a major injury, or died, because of this stunt. Do you go home and tell the tale? Make up an alternate story? I hope I choose my trip mates better than this.

I'd say Drew was definitely not following the Leave No Trace principles! Wow.

quote OneMatch: "I'd say Drew was definitely not following the Leave No Trace principles! Wow."

LoL!

quote ozarkpaddler: "

quote nctry: "Your in the Bwca why would any of that matter? It's one thing not to be able to fix stupid. But this goes beyond stupid. I no comprehend."

I don't care how stupid or obnoxious they are, you DON'T LEAVE YOUR TRIP MATES LIKE THAT, PERIOD! No excuse. What dipshi_'s they BOTH were, but especially the idiot that left him. "

I suspect one had a "Make America Great Again" hat and the other a "I'm With Her" T-Shirt ;)