Boats within the Breaks Kayak Race at Ft. Benton – Large Sky Walker
Signal me up!
The Higher Missouri River Breaks Nationwide Monument is a really particular a part of northcentral Montana that lies alongside a 149-mile stretch of the river between Fort Benton and Robinson Bridge. I’ve paddled from monument mile #41.5 at Coal Banks to mile #149 at Robinson Bridge throughout varied multi-day canoe or kayak journeys. My favourite stretch by far is the White Cliffs portion (between miles 41.5 – 88.5), which makes for a unbelievable three-day journey (see earlier weblog publish). Naturally, I’ve been curious concerning the first 41.5 miles of the monument, so once I noticed that the Mates of the Missouri Breaks Monument was internet hosting a canoe/kayak race from Ft. Benton (mile #0) to Wooden Backside (mile #20.3) I used to be desperate to take part.
Mates for 20 years.
The Mates of the Missouri Breaks Monument is non-profit (est. 2001) that works to protect and help this Montana treasure. They placed on the race to lift cash, generate curiosity within the monument, and rejoice their twentieth yr as a company. Regardless of the intense warmth, haze from distant wildfires, and low stream, we contributors loved a beautiful day on the river. Thanks goes out to Mikayla Moss (government director), Nora Harper (intern), and the numerous volunteers for placing on such a singular and enjoyable occasion. By the way, Nora was pupil in my freshman Earth Science class at Helena Excessive a number of years in the past – It was nice to see her doing such good work. (photo tour)
Darkish-thirty Saturday morning.
My spouse (Mardi) and I left Helena at 5:30 am and made the 140-mile drive to the Fort Benton Canoe Launch, which served on the staging space. There, contributors had been organized into 5 waves (teams). Beginning at 10 am, waves of 5-6 boats (some tandem, principally solos), had been despatched off each couple of minutes and instructed to remain collectively for the primary mile to the strolling bridge in Fort Benton. Then as every wave handed beneath the bridge, their race time began. Prizes had been awarded to the highest three finishers in each the pairs and solo classes. The winners in each classes completed the 20-mile race below 2:25 – I got here in at 3:09.
Rely it as a date?
After getting me squared away, Mardi went out for breakfast, watched my group go beneath the bridge, after which drove to the end space close to Loma the place she sat within the shade and browse. After ending the race, I loved a pair free beers, took a swim, and snapped some pictures earlier than we headed again to Ft. Benton to fulfill buddies and benefit from the festivities – stay music, meals distributors, extra beer. A great time was had by all!
Beneath: This map marks hikes which have been featured on bigskywalker.com thus far, together with a number of in Glacier Park – Choose full display screen to develop, zoom in for extra element, or click on on a marker for a hyperlink to the publish.
.
