The missing box disaster

JULY 5, 2006: DISASTER

Yesterday we packed all of our hiking gear and food resupply packages into the car and drove to my parent's house in Penticton where we would store our car and extra clothing for the summer. The plan was to relax for a couple of days in Penticton before leaving on Friday for Waterton Lakes National Park and the start of our trek but when we unpacked the boxes from our car last night I discovered that one box was missing. One very important box containing our wilderness permits, hiking itinerary, guidebook, topographical maps and all of our blank DV tapes... the one box of items that without could mean the end of our trip.

After a quick phone call to Jeff in Vancouver, he searched the apartment, lobby and parking area for the missing box but no luck. If it was accidentally left behind it had been swiped by someone before we had even noticed that it was missing. So there we were, only days from the planned start date of our big hike and we had no maps, no guidebook, no permits and not even a single video tape to record all of the drama that unfolded yesterday. No wonder I felt sick to my stomach all day today.

After several phone calls today, I managed to get our National Park hiking permits and itinerary faxed to Wateron Lakes Visitor Centre where we could pick them up on the weekend. Thanks to a call to Dustin Lynx in Canmore, he tracked down a copy of his guidebook at a Canmore bookstore which we can pick up on our way to Waterton. We may find topo maps of the Rockies there also. And Costco in Kelowna carries mini-DV tapes.

I can only shake my head at the almost-disastrous situation and hope that I haven't forgotten anything else that may have been in the missing box...