Re: [Paddlewise] kayak trip information

From: Shawn W. Baker <baker_at_montana.com>
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:35:04 -0700
>How far west on the Missouri are you planning to start? Fort Peck
>Reservoir (eastern MT) or all the way back at  the Gates of the Mountains
>near Helena MT, or even further back like Fort Benton MT

Actually, Gates of the Mountains is upstream from Ft. Benton, which is
upstream from Ft. Peck Lake.

I think Gates of the Mountains is the most beautiful part of the whole
river, and is a must-see for this type of trip, but I'm biased, since I
grew up a little over an hour away in Great Falls.

If you start at Gates of the Mountains (Upper Holter Lake), you'll have
to portage Holter Dam, then 80 miles downstream, Black Eagle Dam,
Rainbow Dam, Maroney Falls, and Ryan Dam all near Great Falls.  You'll
paddle right past Giant Springs, which is between Black Eagle and
Rainbow, and is another neat place to see.

I don't think there are any more dams on the Missouri in Montana until
you hit Ft. Peck dam.  I don't know about the "dam" situation in NoDak.

Like Rich said, though, there are lots of power boats and jet skis on
the Missouri in the summertime--mostly just fishermen in the spring and
fall.  And yes, Ft. Benton was the head of navigable waters for the
steamboats.  They'd chug clear upstream from St. Louis.  Way, way too
many dams now!

There is a new Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls.

Shawn

-- 
Shawn W. Baker          0                                    46°53'N
© 2000            ____©/______                              114°06'W
~~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\  ,/      /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
baker_at_montana.com    0        http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/

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Received on Mon Mar 27 2000 - 09:09:26 PST

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