Portage
Journal 2005 07 01
Portage
Lewis and his party easily answered the question about which fork to follow to the Pacific Ocean. The snow-covered mountains in the distant west give them reason to hope that the source of the Columbia River is not far from the beginning of the Missouri. The journey through the mountains would require much work and some hardship. River navigation was equivalent to our modern highway systems.
Now, the immediate task is to portage all the gear around the Great Falls of the Missouri (in Montana for those who are easily confused, like me!). The men believed from their Indian friends that their portage around the falls would take a day or two. After Lewis’ sublime discovery of great natural beauty and wonder, reality of a twenty mile portage sets in as the men set their backs to the task.
Much as we would today, Clark sets out via survey stakes a path for the men to follow. Twenty-two miles later the path is complete. Put this into perspective. The portage was the length of 405 from Christ Church Kirkland to Sea-Tac Airport. How would we fare today with a task of hand carrying gear for that distance?
In addition, Lewis kept several men busy hunting for elk hides to cover his “high tech” portable boat. This portage would require bigger boats to be left behind. While the hides were being sewn into a boat covering, Lewis was experimenting with some sort of concoction to coat the hides with that would waterproof them and preserve them from damage. Have you ever attempted to build something new in the midst of great labor? Our hope is to ease the labor and advance the mission. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. The fate of Lewis’ iron framed portable boat won’t be known for a time. Yet the labor goes on.
Upper and Lower Camps have been established. Small parties are left at both to protect their gear. Sacagawea regains her health. Mostly after she is given salts and a quinine solution laced with opium and then left alone from some of the treatments of the day.
Men use primitive carts to ease their labor across the prairie. In the process they discover a new enemy, the prickly pear cactus. It penetrates their moccasins and brings out their inventiveness in attempts to combat its lancing of their feet. No real solution is found. Extra layers of elk leather on their moccasins helps, but not totally.
Their normal enemies were abundant. Especially the one that captured their attention and respect earlier, the grizzly bear. At Upper Camp Lewis forbids the men to leave camp alone for any reason because of the bear threat. Two men firing and reloading their muskets could fend off the great bears. Alone, well, the risk was just too great. Rattlesnakes were in abundance along the route of the portage also.
Now, lets put bears, cactus and rattlesnakes onto the journey from CCK to SeaTac and see who still wants to volunteer for a great adventure. Adventure requires risk or it is not adventure. Pastor Norm spoke of being adventure challenged last year. Are we willing to fulfill the adventure God has in store for us?
Portage
Lewis and his party easily answered the question about which fork to follow to the Pacific Ocean. The snow-covered mountains in the distant west give them reason to hope that the source of the Columbia River is not far from the beginning of the Missouri. The journey through the mountains would require much work and some hardship. River navigation was equivalent to our modern highway systems.
Now, the immediate task is to portage all the gear around the Great Falls of the Missouri (in Montana for those who are easily confused, like me!). The men believed from their Indian friends that their portage around the falls would take a day or two. After Lewis’ sublime discovery of great natural beauty and wonder, reality of a twenty mile portage sets in as the men set their backs to the task.
Much as we would today, Clark sets out via survey stakes a path for the men to follow. Twenty-two miles later the path is complete. Put this into perspective. The portage was the length of 405 from Christ Church Kirkland to Sea-Tac Airport. How would we fare today with a task of hand carrying gear for that distance?
In addition, Lewis kept several men busy hunting for elk hides to cover his “high tech” portable boat. This portage would require bigger boats to be left behind. While the hides were being sewn into a boat covering, Lewis was experimenting with some sort of concoction to coat the hides with that would waterproof them and preserve them from damage. Have you ever attempted to build something new in the midst of great labor? Our hope is to ease the labor and advance the mission. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. The fate of Lewis’ iron framed portable boat won’t be known for a time. Yet the labor goes on.
Upper and Lower Camps have been established. Small parties are left at both to protect their gear. Sacagawea regains her health. Mostly after she is given salts and a quinine solution laced with opium and then left alone from some of the treatments of the day.
Men use primitive carts to ease their labor across the prairie. In the process they discover a new enemy, the prickly pear cactus. It penetrates their moccasins and brings out their inventiveness in attempts to combat its lancing of their feet. No real solution is found. Extra layers of elk leather on their moccasins helps, but not totally.
Their normal enemies were abundant. Especially the one that captured their attention and respect earlier, the grizzly bear. At Upper Camp Lewis forbids the men to leave camp alone for any reason because of the bear threat. Two men firing and reloading their muskets could fend off the great bears. Alone, well, the risk was just too great. Rattlesnakes were in abundance along the route of the portage also.
Now, lets put bears, cactus and rattlesnakes onto the journey from CCK to SeaTac and see who still wants to volunteer for a great adventure. Adventure requires risk or it is not adventure. Pastor Norm spoke of being adventure challenged last year. Are we willing to fulfill the adventure God has in store for us?
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 1:30 PM
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