On Tuesday Aaron and Jake traveled 41 miles to the Seven Island Campsite (on an island) at mile marker 951. The river drops 6 1/2 feet for every river mile between Little Falls and St. Cloud, because of this huge gradient drop there are several dams that all must be portaged. Yesterday Aaron and Jake portaged the Little Falls Dam where they stopped in the little town for lunch. After lunch they portaged the Blanchard Dam. On the DNR map it describes the Blanchard Dam as; "Portage left 300 yards - rugged trail traverses, two railroad grades ... This is the largest hydroelectric Dam on the Upper Mississippi". Imagine making three trips longer than the length of a football field over rugged terrain carrying 400 pounds of gear and a canoe. Needless to say Aaron texted that this portage was extremely difficult.
The good news is they only have two more days of portaging dams because they will begin the lock system near Minneapolis. The bad news is they have three more dams to portage before they hit the first lock at mile marker 853.
Posted by Aaron's dad
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I few words of encouragement ...........
ReplyDelete"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
~That's you two!
And a saying Aaron may have heard.
"The only easy day, was yesterday."
~Always keep in mind why you're dong this. The money YOU raise could find the cure.
Hang in there,
You're always in my thoughts,
Brigitte