Missouri River Through Paddle 3 Forks : St Louis

[bxh360]

Hello All,

This has been a post that has been a long time coming. I bought a Monarch from @Halpc off of this site. After some issues w/ the rudder during testing, I ended up paddling a Wenonah Encounter w/ a soft deck and a rudder.

I pushed off from Drouillard Fishing Access near 3 Forks Montana on May 17th. I was on the Missouri for 78 days and ended my trip in St Louis on August 1st. While on the trip for 78 days, I didn't paddle the entire time.
14 days where I couldn't paddle due to Wind, Tornado, Lightning or Flood.
8 days where I could paddle less than 3 hours due to Wind, Tornado, Lightning
8 days where I kicked around intentionally exploring.
The longest day paddling on moving river was 57 miles.
The longest reservoir paddling day was 37 miles.
I started early in the season to avoid the heat...(bless my heart) I had 31 days where it was over 100 degrees...
I paddled through 7 states, 6 reservoirs. Due to a PFD that dissappeared on Lake Sakakawea I had to get moved from Tobacco Gardents to Bismarck ND. I also missed ~ 125 other reservoir miles due to a family event.

I lost ~18 pounds, a titanium cook pot (bounced off in a windstorm after dinner..) 1 leatherman, the PFD and my inability to ask for help.
What I found is more important. "when you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen... " Emerson.

I found 100s of co-conspirators; new to me in both real life and Facebook friends. Met River Angels from my second day to my last day on the river. People along the river who provided everything from cold water to a place to sleep, to re-positioning me and the canoe to running portages and taking me to dinner. In my mind, there was no singular "best part of the trip", but the people I met are my co-spirators.

If you are interested, you can see the slide deck from some presentations I gave here in Grand Junction, Co.

Place and People of the Missouri

Thanks to @Halpc for the great Monarch-I am fiixing it now for the next big trip.

It was an astonishingly great trip and can't wait to do it again....

Paddle Up-Paddle On!

 

[Halpc]

Glad to get your report. I have wondered from time to time if you ever made the trip. Sorry you had a problem with the rudder- I think it should be fairly easy to repair. Are you living in Grand Junction now? BTW your canoe is a Sawyer Loon, which is the predecessor of the Monarch, .which was made by Mad River. Thanks for the link- looks like a great but arduous trip!

 

[Erica]

I enjoyed the photos. I was surprised to see so much wild land along the river. I expected it to me more developed. A great trip!

 

[bxh360]

Glad to get your report. I have wondered from time to time if you ever made the trip. Sorry you had a problem with the rudder- I think it should be fairly easy to repair. Are you living in Grand Junction now? BTW your canoe is a Sawyer Loon, which is the predecessor of the Monarch, .which was made by Mad River. Thanks for the link- looks like a great but arduous trip!

Yes, thanks for the correction. I ended up travelling for about a year prior to starting the canoe trip in May of 25.

The problem w/ the rudder had to do w/ me not securing the rudder for the long drive back from your place to home. The wind turbulence created some metal fatigue on the "hinge" which caused it to seperate. Not too concerned. Will need some creativity w/ how the "hinge" is laminated into the stern of the canoe.

Funny thing-when I got off of the river, I said it was the hardest and best adventure I have had. I stopped in Columbia, Missouri in October. Put my canoe in the river and decided I wasn't done.... Looking at doing it again. Higher up and to the gulf....

 

[bxh360]

I enjoyed the photos. I was surprised to see so much wild land along the river. I expected it to me more developed. A great trip!

It was truly extraordinary. I went for 14 days w/out seeing another person. Many times, I went for a 5-7 days w/ seeing no-one. I really appreciated that about it.

 

[ppine]

I enjoyed the Missouri River a lot. We just did the heart of the watermelon. Ft Benton to Kipp Bridge 151 miles.
Reading the Journal of Lewis and Clark. The last three days we saw one human and he was in an airplane.
The bighorn sheep grazing by the river did not even look up when we drifted past.