Day One on the River

Day One on the river was a cold, damp day in Montana. It had been a long road trip after months of excitement and the day had arrived. After a long interview with the local Bozeman Newspaper, Joe departed from the headwaters of the Missouri at 10 am.

The water was moving fast, around 10 mph, because of the spring runoff. Nice for Joe, he was able to make great time to the dam at Toston (2.5 hours). According to Norm Miller, an experienced paddler and history buff from Montana, this section is usually an overnighter.




















With the aid of Norm and the Elder Joe Forrester, Joe hauled up over the dam. He continued on downstream ending physically tired, but ready for tomorrow on the Canyon Ferry Reservoir. It is his first test on a larger body of water being 25 miles long and 5 miles wide. Joe is camped in the York Island Area, named by Lewis and Clark after Clark’s servant, York. Many thanks to Norm Miller for the photos, support, and documenting of the first day.