11APRIL2010 - Awakened at 5AM in a Great Falls hotel then went back to sleep, arising finally at 6:30. Out the window snow is coming down ... light and barely sticking. Felomina and I drove out to look over the Morony Dam launch site. A warning sign there states that one should stay left for the 7 miles to Widow Coulee unless you are an expert. I'm no expert and thankfully I know my left from my right ... I conclude I can do this.
Looking farther upstream we concluded that a portage around Morony dam is fairly easy. The next upstream dam (Ryan), however, has no portage at all. Knowing then that an overland portage would not be avoided, we set out to ascertain how many miles it would be. While Black Eagle, the most upstream dam, has a manageable portage, Rainbow dam is undergoing construction improvements and the site is closed to all public. The middle dam, Cochran, was not examined as it was obvious that a portage from above Black Eagle to below Morony would be needed.
Checking the route showed that one must exit the river on the north bank downstream of the US87 bridge, walk up the west side of Smelter hill, out across the wheat fields and down the coulee to Morony dam, a distance of approximately 16 miles. This being shorter than I expected and shorter than the portage from our house to Lake Helena, I am pleased to know that this portage will be accomplished by April 13th ... quicker if I feel the desire to do so.
Getting back to the Sun River I pushed off and paddled the 3 miles to the exit point in about an hour. It was extremely calm, only enough wind to shimmer the water. Snow was falling as I attached the portage wheels and pulled the canoe up onto River Road, east to Smelter Avenue, still uphill past the Black Eagle bowling alley, down Smelter Avenue, north on 20th past the Moose club and to the corner of 21st and Chicago.