Post #29: Mid-Canon, Thursday, May 29

Speed: 6-8 mph

Miles: 32

Time: 6:37 am to 3:30 pm
Campsite location: 
https://www.google.com/maps/place/47%C2%B007'26.2%22N+111%C2%B053'09.6%22W/@47.12394,-111.88599,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en

The Nighthawk rest quietly in the Gates of the Mountains while I hike the area.

After a 7:30 launch, I paddled on flat water and stopped at the Meriweather Recreation Site to view a 1949 memorial to 19 fallen firefighters.

The memorial is surrounded by mountains that reach from the
river to the sky.  It was breathtaking.

I paddled flat water to Holter Dam and had strong breezes

         to the Holter Dam take out.

Tim, the dam manager, made the Holter Dam portage quick and painless. He helped pack my kayak and gear into his truck. He released 2000 gps more over the dam so the river is now at 12000 gps. Tim retires in September and plans on living in Great Falls.

I met Mac who was drift guiding two senior women from Kent, WA, on a fishing trip. I thought I had missed the Dearborne Motel, and Mac offered to drive me back up to it after they finished fishing. An hour and a half later, we realized the motel had been converted to a private lodge. It was late in the day so I set up at Mid Canon which turned out to be the worst site yet.

Dearborne Motel is now a privately owned lodge, so I had to camp at Mid Canon Campground--ugh! It was a 33-mile day from the camp in the gates to this one.

My kayak on Mac's truck.