Ed Beamish’s annual overnight back pack trip into Cairn’s cabin was again a great success. Cairn’s Cabin is located in Riding Mountain National Park 15 kilometers down the Ochre River Trail. This trail winds it’s way north easterly from it’s trail head about 15 minutes north of Clear Lake on # 10 highway, working its way down off the escarpment. . It’s elevation drops substantially the farther along the trail you go. The popularity of this event has made it a necessity to go in in two groups.
Members of the first group going in on Friday Oct 22nd were Alf & Janis Stanley, Roger Winger, Brian Paterson from Brandon, Sylvie Labossiere with guest her brother Jean Pierre(JP) from Winnipeg. Also Guest Emilie Lombardo from Toronto who works as a volunteer with Katimavik program and is doing a term volunteer work in Winnipeg had joined us. Sylvie , JP. and Emilie had driven from Winnipeg Thurs evening and spent a night at the Stanley’s cottage in preparation for an early start the next morning.
The trail had about two inches of fresh snow and lots of water from the past week of wet weather. There were creeks running where there had never been creeks before. Despite these conditions the hikers made very good progress until they arrived at the first major creek to cross. Janis had improvised a pair of hip waiters out of garbage bags and everyone except Brian used them to cross in
Brian made a big splash when he tried to cross on some logs, Needless to say he was very wet.. At the second crossing everyone did the frog hop across a very icy tree, which had fallen across the creek. This became necessary after JP had tried to do a balancing act walking across the tree and had slipped off making the second big splash of the day. I do not know if he was trying to out do Brian or not. The cabin was a very inviting site when we arrived tired and wet.
The cabin was very clean, wood box full and kindling split ready for arriving hikers. A great thank you to the previous user groups. After an enjoyable night at the cabin Brian, Roger, Alf and Janis headed off for the long climb back up to the trailhead. The other three were staying behind for another night and joining the second group. The hike out was very enjoyable with the temperature above zero and most of the snow melted. A brief meeting was held to share adventures stories as we met the incoming group of six at the half way mark. We must thank the group of Westman Wilderness Club members who built Cairn’s cabin in 1989.
Submitted by Alf Stanley