A camper's letter home August 1969

Another camp memory from Greg Gillis.

"Dear Mom, My pants fell came off"

"This letter looks like something Eeyore or a child on the verge of depression might have written, though I know Camp was the thing I looked forward to more than anything in my life," Gillis says. "I knew I should have paid more attention during Grace."

Paddles are good for lots of things

Here’s a faded photo of my two-week group (taken by Jon Cowtan) from ’74 with Ted Spear as tripper.


I'm the big boy, big hair in the middle. My hair’s shorter now, but I still have it.

The photo set up was my making. A guy named Cam (Armstrong or Baldwin?) to my left – he had a drivers licence!


Gary Henning is kneeling beside Ted. I’m ashamed to say I can’t recall the other two, but it was a fabulous trip. Hot and sunny the whole trip, but forest fires and a dry creek forced a re-route along the way.


I was invited on the six week that year (Louis Miller and Dave McGregor were on that one) but financial restrictions at home put the kibosh on it. A regret, but I’ll get over it someday.


Ted (lower right) had his 18th birthday on a smoky day when we were officially lost. Greg Gillis~Winnipeg

Update: From Ted Spear: "The guy on the right is Cam Baldwin (I think). I have gapped on all the others. (The mind is a very disappointing thing!)."