I just learned that Mildred Counter formerly of Petersburg Alaska has passed away in Olympia Wa. I realize the name Mildred Counter does not ring with the same familiarity of an Ed Gullet or Freya but in her own way Mildred was a remarkable paddler. In 1939 she and her husband Vernon married at Bangor Washington. For their honeymoon they canoed to Alaska! That's right they paddled to Ketchikan in an open canoe! They chose a Willets Canoe (Cedar) made at Day Island near Tacoma. Mildred and Vernon felt it was the only canoe sturdy enough for the voyage. It was 17 feet long with a 34 inch beam. Vernon named the boat "Mildred". The trip took four months. They often stopped at light houses and homesteads and homeschooled the children while the parents went to town for supplies. For food they carried canned good and robbed sea gull nest for their eggs. The also purchased fresh food from the mail boats traveling to Alaska. Originally they planed to paddle to Sitka but learned on the way that the military was building a base there and there was no room for anyone else in town so they stopped in Ketchikan and rode out the winter storms. By spring they both had steady work and with the war looming decided to stay put. While she was still able Mildred talked to me about the trip. She never though of it as a great achievement but I was in awe of her story. I ask her once what was the hardest part of the trip, envisioning giant waves in Dixon Entrance. Her reply was with the war looming they had trouble getting accurate maps of Canada. One time she did admit to "needing to bail quickly". Unfortunately she was private and shy about talking about her life so the never talked in great detail about the trip. However her daughter just found their diary of the trip and plans to share it with me when the family comes up in May for the memorial service. Hopefully at that time I can write a more fitting story and tribute. I have always been in awe of the trip. Though many have made the trip in sea kayaks with their decks, water tight hatches and spray skirts few have made the journey in an open canoe. Such courage and spitit of adventure. She was a good friend and I will miss her. Bob *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 9:23 PM, Bob Carter <revkayak_at_aptalaska.net> wrote: > > I have always been in awe of the trip. Though many have made the trip in > sea kayaks with their decks, water tight hatches and spray skirts few have > made the journey in an open canoe. Such courage and spitit of adventure. > She was a good friend and I will miss her. > Thanks for posting this. It's important to recognize people who have done interesting things over their lives. And to recognize friendship, too. I'm looking forward to your story on her trip... and life. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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