Excerpts From Reed Ryan's Log - cont'd

July 26

Today we did The Portage. Not only was it 2 ˝ miles, but it was the most physically challenging thing I have ever done in my entire life. Right away, the portage started with 500 yards of alders straight up a hill. They were so thick that we had to pull our canoes up. Then, afterwards, we had to go straight up the mountain on loose pebbles, boulders, and moss. 

   From there, we could see yesterday’s waterfalls. Next, we climbed straight up a saddle of the mountain that looked like a sorcerer’s mountain (you could see it from miles away) to the top. We could see Richmond Gulf from up there. I never would have thought, looking at the mountain from the river that I would actually portage to the top of it. 

   From there, we walked down a bunch of rock steps until the “trail” to the end stopped in front of a forest. We got into an alder field that lasted for at least 700 yards. Vick, Owen, Andy, and I dragged our canoes down the mountain through all the alders not knowing which way to go. Then, it started to rain, then pour, then thunder and lightning. I seriously felt like I was in Vietnam. Once everything was over, we ate bannock and honey at 5:30. It had taken us 7 ˝ hours to complete the portage.  

 

 

The Portage

                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                  

 Photos: Stephen Penske

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