Appleby College - Argus Yearbook (Oakville, Ontario Canada)

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- r— Is it not a milestone in the evolution of man when he no longer appreciates nature ' s ar- tistry which in fact created him- self? Cutting through the peaceful waters of a Northern Lake gives one an opportunity to experience a multitude of sounds and sights. They impress man as permanent awarenesses of con- ciousness. What in the drudgery of daily routine can be forgotten suddenly becomes so very im- portant. It is, however, un- fortunate that those who often determine the fate of nature are the victims of the city life, who blindly put a price on the early morning welcome of the whiskey-jack. It is inevitable that what will come of this exploitation shall not be favourable. Just as the chemical balance of the human body is both intricate and sen- sitive, so is the balance of the human body is both intricate and sensitive, so is the balance in nature most complex and delicate. The beauty in the randomness of Nature has never ceased to inspire me. Like seven innocent ducklings following in the wake of an ex- perienced mother, the patrol followed their instructor into the swirl of blowing and falling snow. Breaking trail at the front of the defensive unit is hard work for the unaccustomed legs. The novelty and satisfaction of being the leader soon gives way to fatigue. Each stride reveals two sensations, uniquely different. Firstly, the shoe sinks into the powdery upper lay er and then, when the full weight of the body is upon the shoe, a crusty layer gives way. The jolt of breaking the crust makes it hard to create a rhythm. The patrol is now half-way to their destination. The conditions could neither be described as ' j w V IK Bl m 1 M '

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sleeping outside in ttie wilds. But don ' t be conned! Certainly while we were on the four-day trip I can vouch -that all the members of Rob Maslon and David ' Kink ' Stuart ' s groups lived in a veritable paradise. On Wednesday March 10, Kink ' s group, consisting of Don Hamilton, John Toles, Colin Richards, Andrew Newell and myself - also that merciless slavedriver Dave Stuart - set off for Base Camp at about 9:30 a.m. Six miles of snowshoeing and one lunch later, we arrived. The base camp at that time was two tents and a small stove, all dug down to the ground, but since John Wright ' s group, who had set it up the night before, had been pushed for daylight, it was necessary to fix things up a bit. We dug out the tent holes a bit better and laid soft spruce boughs on the ground under the tents whose openings pointed to the stove at a 50 degree angle to each other and away from the wind. We made use of the water hole chopped in the ice and set- tled down to an evening highlighted by roast chicken aux ananas , a visit by John Wright ' s group and extreme com- fort. The next morning, Thursday, Rob ' s group arrived, having spent the night nearby. The two consolidated groups dug in two more tents and made a doorway to the east side, thus forming a circle. Then, with tentpoles galore and pine boughs and nausea we built walls and roof to our camp. The woods were alive with the busy chopping of boughs and firewood. When we had finished, we had a five room shanty featuring wind-tight con- struction .... well almost wind- By night-fall our shelter was completed in every last detail. There was not a crack in the roof or wall that could give access to the slightest draft. The north and east sides were guarded by four- foot high walls made of snow blocks and a gracefully curved doorway of the same was six-feet high, representing the only opening to the impressive struc- ture. Inside, the scene was a spectacle of cosy organization, quite unlike the average camp- site. A huge pile of wood made a sitting place for Paul Manifould as well as keeping us warm throughout the windly, stormy night. It was so warm inside, that everyone was stripped down to their once - white T-Shirts. Sup- tight. That evening we had spaghetti with a thick meat sauce as we bashed in the fruits of our hard labour and talked away the hours over the red-hot stove. We had all the comforts of home right in the middle of the wilderness. Following a luxurious night we got up and set to perfecting our shelter and making a bobsled run. The run did not come out so well but the trees we cut down were readily converted into good firewood. Friday progressed at a leisurely pace - up until sup- pertime, I had caught Kink out of his sleeping bag only twice. One of those time was when Mr. Noble came on the snowmobile to pick up Graham Leggat who was suffering from a heavy chest cold. Mr. Noble was very im- pressed with our natural abode which pleased us no end. per was a delicious mixture of maccaroni and ground beef followed by mountains of fruit preserves. Conversation lazily changed from hockey to music to food to girls then back to hockey again as the empty fruit cans piled up one by one. Some stayed up until the small hours of the morning. That evening was probably the best that any of us have ever had outdoors. It was a great tragedy to have to pull down base camp on Satur- day morning, but necessary. As we started to leave at 1:00 p.m. we could see the naked frame. More fun was awaiting us up the trail but those four days taught us all that camping is only as un- comfortable as one makes it. C.T.

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- .Jif adverse nor pleasant. If one of the members of the patrol had been asked, he would have probably replied that the con- ditions were tolerable at present. The point of departure and the terminus of the group were obscured by surrounding curtains of snow. Three days earlier, a trail had been made in the very direction the group was now headed. By feeling his way along the hard packed ridge, the remains of an obliterated path, the instructor attempted to lessen the burden of breaking trail. It also serves to keep a correct course with limited use of the compass. The trying march is reaching a conclusion. Some one hundred yards up the lake and to the west is a bay. At the extreme end of this bay and hid- den back away from the exposed shoreline ' is a base camp with heat and shelter. Visibility in- creases and the patrol fans out across the ice by order of the in- structor. This is done to minimize the pressure on any one section of ice. The danger of thin ice, especially in such bays, can never be taken too lightly. Much snow had accumulated on the evergreens surrounding the camp. This confirmed the hopes of the patrol that had situated the Base Camp. It is always best to select a spot with dense forest surrounding the camp, thus en- suring adequate shelter. Becoming acquainted with the situation again leaves the boys gazing in all directions while the instructor formulates an efficient method of setting up camp. With enough wood for meals, a tent, and more appealing, a wood bur- ning stove inside that tent, the procedure is reasonably easy. It is still day but a penetrating chill warns us all that night is ap- proaching. Food must be prepared while the sun still per- mits the chef enough light to ob- serve his masterpiece. All huddle around an assuring fire in readiness for the meal. An entree of hot soup followed by a meaty stew satisfies the campers. Nightime has come and as the burning logs become a bed of embers it is noticed by one of the boys that the wind has died. This scene, unknown to the urban man, becomes a catalyst for thought as everyone heads to the comfort of the tent. One boy, awaiting his turn to en- ter, glances to the heavens and wonders what adventures tomorrow will bring. J.W.