THE BIG FIR
I was invited to teach at Tom Elpel's Green University wilderness school in Cardwell, Montana. He had a cottonwood fall right along the Jefferson River, that he was hoping to use. Unfortunately, as I inspected her, she wasn't quite big enough. We searched far and wide, finally traveling to Mark's Lumber, in Clancy, Montana. Their only options were big Douglas firs!
Firs are much heavier, and the knots are incredibly hard. I thought we might burn it out, but knew we would have to use power tools on this one. Tom decided his chainsaw was the way to go, and we proceeded with the plan.
Once roughed-out, I usually used my trusted adze, while Tom used an unusual chainsaw attachment known as a "Log Wizard". Made for stripping logs, it proved to be very efficient at opening the canoe... particularly grinding the knots down.
Within the first few weeks, the canoe spoke to me. She was a beaver! This was most unexpected! It actually made sense, as I realized later on. Beavers lived along the Jefferson River, which was right across the field. Beaverhead Rock was nearby, and the Beaverhead River joined the Big Hole River above this area to BECOME the Jefferson! A knot on her starboard bow became her eye, and I worked from there. The bow line is in her teeth.
Students came throughout the month of May, and some worked on the canoe. Since power tools were a big part of the process, I couldn't get the children as much choppin' time as I would have liked. I improvised by explaining the process, and sharing a few river stories.
In early June, a mosquito invasion forced us to move the camp to higher ground! Taking the canoe to Tom's place, we finished her in Pony, MT. Tom and I took her on the Marias River for a week, a little before she was finished. A 20-footer, she handled us and our gear with no problem. We had all of our food, water, and camping gear for the week. Too much fun!
I had to proceed on, but Tom will be taking his new dugout canoe down the Mighty Mo' next Summer! I have a cedar waiting for me in Washington... Canoe! Canoe!
Firs are much heavier, and the knots are incredibly hard. I thought we might burn it out, but knew we would have to use power tools on this one. Tom decided his chainsaw was the way to go, and we proceeded with the plan.
Once roughed-out, I usually used my trusted adze, while Tom used an unusual chainsaw attachment known as a "Log Wizard". Made for stripping logs, it proved to be very efficient at opening the canoe... particularly grinding the knots down.
Within the first few weeks, the canoe spoke to me. She was a beaver! This was most unexpected! It actually made sense, as I realized later on. Beavers lived along the Jefferson River, which was right across the field. Beaverhead Rock was nearby, and the Beaverhead River joined the Big Hole River above this area to BECOME the Jefferson! A knot on her starboard bow became her eye, and I worked from there. The bow line is in her teeth.
Students came throughout the month of May, and some worked on the canoe. Since power tools were a big part of the process, I couldn't get the children as much choppin' time as I would have liked. I improvised by explaining the process, and sharing a few river stories.
In early June, a mosquito invasion forced us to move the camp to higher ground! Taking the canoe to Tom's place, we finished her in Pony, MT. Tom and I took her on the Marias River for a week, a little before she was finished. A 20-footer, she handled us and our gear with no problem. We had all of our food, water, and camping gear for the week. Too much fun!
I had to proceed on, but Tom will be taking his new dugout canoe down the Mighty Mo' next Summer! I have a cedar waiting for me in Washington... Canoe! Canoe!
Bella on the Marias River, in Montana.
