RCSpartan wrote:

Kiosk was busy last weekend but it was to be expected given the long weekend. We arrived early on the Thursday to get a head start on the masses and secured some primo parking. 
Newbies? Oh yeah. Thurs night we had some backcountry campers on their first trip ever paddle by our camp at 10:30pm in the dark trying to get a site with no flashlight. We ended up letting them stay at our site which, if it didn't help save their lives, most certainly saved their relationship.
Something to hang our food? No, why?
Oh dear...

Wow that is scary.  It never ceases to amaze me how unprepared and un-skilled some folks are when heading out into the backcountry. 
We had a similar scenario last year with some young boys, although it wasn't quiet dark yet.  Needless to say the didn't make it to their planned lake and they ended up camping on the portage across from our site. 

oldboyscout wrote:

I don't understand how someone could undertake such a trip and not at least watch a couple of youtube videos or something just to get a feel for what they're likely to encounter

While I generally agree, you have to keep in mind that YouTube is full of people who have been on a couple, maybe a few trips max, yet portray themselves as 'pros'. Then go on to make videos/write articles on how to camp/what to do, when they themselves don't have the experience, haven't made the mistakes and haven't spent more than a month (IF that) cumulatively in the bush. I've seen/read plenty of videos/articles full tips and tricks that are either illogical or sometimes just a bad/dangerous idea. So who knows - maybe these groups are watching videos - and think they're doing what you're supposed to do. A lot of posers out there, that's for sure.

I agree with Peek, I stopped watching Youtube "instructional" videos years ago because most of them are downright dangerous if not outright terrifying!

trippythings wrote:

oldboyscout wrote:

Saw it last year at Kiosk also. I don't understand how someone could undertake such a trip and not at least watch a couple of youtube videos or something just to get a feel for what they're likely to encounter

I can't count how many times I see people in YouTube videos eating in their tent, feeding wildlife, talking about "I think we'll camp on this lake instead tonight" (not following their permits), and countless other things that would actually be worse for new campers to watch.

I guess I'm a little more discerning in the videos I watch. . . . . .  LOL
But yeah I agree there are a lot of bad videos out there. I was just wondering why anyone would head out into the wilderness with absolutely zero experience. Or knowledge

Last edited by oldboyscout (7/08/2021 9:17 am)

Wait, you’re not supposed to eat in your tent? But it’s so convenient, what with my stove set up in the corner and everything.

trippythings wrote:

oldboyscout wrote:

Saw it last year at Kiosk also. I don't understand how someone could undertake such a trip and not at least watch a couple of youtube videos or something just to get a feel for what they're likely to encounter

I can't count how many times I see people in YouTube videos eating in their tent, feeding wildlife, talking about "I think we'll camp on this lake instead tonight" (not following their permits), and countless other things that would actually be worse for new campers to watch.