A portage of 62,720 rods
May 22nd, 2008 | by Andy Published in BWCAW, Canoeing
Think you've had a few grueling portages worth bragging about (or whining about)? Before you do either, meet Jim Kurz. The 63-year old resident of Ladysmith, WI is toting his aluminum canoe and 320 lbs of gear, on a very long portage to the BWCA. Seeing as how he's not been there since his days in the Boy Scouts, he felt was "time to take another look". Reportedly, he's done a similar cross-country jaunt to the Missouri River headwaters as well.
That's roughly 62,720 rods, according to my little friend Google. Thankfully, folks Kurz has met along the way have done him many kindnesses, from rides to brownies and milk. But if you see this man, please buy him some moleskins for the blisters. And please, out of mercy, tell him you're sure the end of the portage is just around the next bend.