The rain pelted the sides of the tent with such force, that Joey and Jack could hardly hear themselves talk. Finally they both agreed to quit trying, and they both turned in for the night. The rain lulled both of them to sleep. It continued all night, and into the early morning. When it stopped, it did so with such suddenness that the silence woke them both at once. "What time is it Jack?" asked Joey. "Ten after four" he said. "What are we going to do now?" "Let’s try and get some more sleep" said Joey. "Alright" said Jack, "but I don’t give it much hope." The next thing he knew, Joey was shaking him. "Hey!" he said. " Are you going to sleep all day?" "What time is it anyway?" asked Jack. "Man, it’s after 9 o’clock." "What?" yelled Jack. "Yeah" said Joey the day’s half over already, if we’re going to make the lake, we need to get started."

Joey and Jack were two members of a canoeing club in the local area. The club was divided into teams of two members each. This summer’s adventure was to see which team could get to the lake first and pick up a specified article and get back to the club before the rest of the members On the way back they had to get seven tags at seven different check points. Seemed like an easy enough task, except that each team had to portage their canoe from the base of the mountain to the lake at the top of the mountain. The lake was named Glacier lake, so named because it was the remnant of a retreating glacier hundreds of years ago. It nestled between three mountains. There were 28 teams, and each had been given a different starting point. They had to find their own way to the lake. Getting down the mountain was not a problem. A river ran all the way down right to the clubhouse dock. It was a good river to cruise if you liked shallows, rapids, waterfalls, deadfalls and other natural obstacles. Jack and Joey were seasoned outdoorsmen. Camping and canoeing were the mainstay of their free time. They thought for sure that they were a cinch to win the $1000.00 first prize. It was pretty good to get paid to do what you liked to do best.

As Jack gulped down some cold rations, Joey finished breaking camp. He struck the tent and stuffed it into his backpack. "You done yet?" he asked Jack. "We’re so late, we’ll probably be the last ones at the lake." "Naw!" said Jack, "I’m sure that we’re ahead of everyone else. And besides, we’ve got the easiest route, all paths nothing else in our way." Jack was proud of the route that he had chosen, an old nature trail wound around the mountain but led right to the lake. Both figured that they would make up for lost time by travelling quickly and not have to traverse over rough terrain. Instead of packing everything in the canoe, they put everything in backpacks, so that the canoe would be as light as possible. They made good time the first day. The second day they had to stop early because of the storm. And then Jack decides to sleep in. Now finally back on the trail, they were trying to make up for lost time. They were almost running as they hit the trail. Most people when they portage a canoe would carry the craft over their head. Jack and his partner however, had developed a method where they would hook their arm under the thwarts and let it hang on their side. They were so good at it that they were able to flip it from one side to the other without stopping. They could keep up this pattern for almost 4 to 6 hours before they would stop for rest. Today they went for almost seven hours before they stopped.

"The way I figure" started Jack, "We’ve got about 3 more hours to the lake" Joey , who was trying to catch his breath, just nodded. "I guess we’ll have to camp at the lake tonight and start down the river first thing in the morning" He said. "No way!" exclaimed Jack, "If we park there, tomorrow morning the river will look like rush hour downtown! " "But" said Joey, it will be dark an hour after we get to the lake. "I know, I know" said Jack, "but in that hour we can get downstream at least ten miles. It’s over 110 miles to the landing, and I don’t know about you, but I intend to be the first ones there." "Alright Jack" said Joey "Let’s get going , so maybe it’s not totality dark when we hit that first set of rapids.

Up came the canoe and away they went almost at a dead run. They made it to the lake exactly as they had planned. Finding the pickup point they prepared to depart down the river. "Are you sure that you don’t want to rest?" asked Joey. "Are you kidding?" replied Jack. We’re the first ones here, and we’re going to be the first ones there" he said as he pointed to the final destination on the map. "Let’s get going" he ordered. With a little over two hours of daylight left, the two set off down the river. Due to the heavy rains this year, the river was swollen well above its normal level. It made it harder to recognize the landmarks, made further difficult by the setting sun. There were seven stopping points on the trip downstream. At each point each team was to pick up an arrival tag. The object of being the first team to finish with the most tags. This new twist to the rules they didn’t find out about until they opened their instructions at the lake. This meant that the teams would have to pay attention not only to the currents, but to the landmarks as well.

The first stop was only five miles from the starting point. Jack knew just what to look for. The landmark was the upside down tree. This was unusual to say the least. The tree used to stand on a precipice over looking the river. Struck by lightning one summer it was knocked from its lofty perch and fell into the river like a spear. It stuck dead center of the main stream. The instructions said that the first tag would be attached to the roots of the tree. Now, approaching the area, each boy kept a wary eye for the landmark or in this case the watermark. Rounding the bend, Jack shouted that they were very close. "It’s gone!" Jack called above the roar of the river. The boys back paddled and let the canoe drift into an eddy of calm water. It was almost dark now. The moon was just starting to peek over the tops of the mountains. Jack, seeing that it was a new moon, knew that there would be enough light to see by and wanted to go on. But this time Joey said "No" and jumped into the shallow water pulling the canoe high up onto the beach. Tying the painter to a large boulder he began gathering firewood for a fire. Jack had no choice, he was outvoted this time. So he started to set up camp. Aware that there may be another rain storm, they made their camp high above the river on a flat plateau.

Joey came back with an armful of firewood. A lot but not quite enough for the night. "This was all I could find" said Joey. "Hey" said Jack I saw some logs down by the water. Maybe there’s some there we can use, I’ll be right back" "I’ll start the fire and get the stew ready" said Joey. A half an hour later, Jack came back to camp guided by the glow of the fire Joey had built. It was like a beacon in the total darkness of the high mountains. In his arms Jack held several small logs. "Hey" he said, "think this one will burn good?" He was holding up a jagged piece of wood with several things hanging from it. He turned one over and read "1st stop arrival tag". "Where’d you find those" asked Joey. "Downstream a way" replied Jack. "Looks like the high water may have dislodged the old tree and dashed it against the rocks and busted it up. "We’d better leave it where the others will find it " said Joey "What?" exclaimed Jack. "Are you for real? Remember the rules say you must have all seven of your stop tags to win" Joey was flabbergasted, "That’s not fair Jack, working harder and taking fewer breaks and even a few risks is OK, but this takes the cake. "So what do you want to do?" asked Jack, "Stick it on a pole so they can see it easier. " "Hey!" said Joey, "that’s a great idea, we can wedge one in those boulders next to the beach. It will be easy for them to land and get their tags, and if it’s near the end of the day like it is for us it will be a good place to stop. We can leave our extra wood here for them to make camp." "Ain’t no way!" said Jack, "why should we help the others?" "Well, let’s put it this way my friend" stated Joey, "Do you think you could finish the race by yourself?" All at once Jack understood completely. The next morning as they shoved off, the tags, minus one were in plain view tied to a pole.

The two friends had chosen the aluminum canoe, basically because of the weight as it was being carried on the trail. And also because as they hit rocks and submerged objects it dented rather than broke like a conventional fiberglass canoe. This became quite evident when they pulled out at stop 2 for and inspection of the hull. As they tipped it over they saw the result of chance meetings with those underwater obstacles. The keel had several good-sized dings in it and there was a series of dents all along both sides. Satisfied that they were still watertight, they hammered out the dents with a rubber mallet. Grabbed a quick bite, the stop tag and they were on their way again.

Stops 3, 4 and 5 were very easy. But stop 6 was going to be a bear. Actually two bears were perched on either side of the opening in the middle of the stream. The only passage for the canoe to get by. To make matters worse, the tags were duct-taped to the left boulder. The two animals were two male brown bears, very mature and very dangerous when riled. There they sat on each side of the opening waiting for unwary fish to pass within their reach. The boys, upon seeing the animals immediately paddled to an eddy behind a large boulder. Tying the boat off, they both climbed very slowly and carefully to the top of the big rock. Peering over the edge they watched for quite a while as the two bruins methodically caught and devoured fish after fish.

"What are we going to do now?" asked Joey. "I’m not sure" said Jack. " Normally I’d say let’s go around them but there’s one other problem." "What’s that?" asked Joey looking to where Jack was pointing. Directly under the rear paw of the bear on the left side of the opening was were the tags were duct-taped to the boulder. "I know" said Joey. "I already saw them there, I guess we’d better go back upstream a ways and camp for the night. I know It’s only 4pm but what else can we do? Those two don’t look like they’ve had their fill yet. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to be their desert for the night." " Or" said Jack, "Have either one or both of them for passengers going downstream." "Right" said Joey. This was probably the only time these two friends had agreed on anything this trip. The got the painter from the canoe, and as quietly as they could, as not to disturb the two bears, started pulling the canoe back upstream. Unknown to either of them, the bears actually had already had their fill and left only seconds after the boys did in the opposite direction.

The next morning, they stopped at the same large rock, climbed to the top and peered over the edge. Nothing, the way was clear. Jack scrambled back down and was about to join Joey in the canoe, when he heard a loud snort behind him. Turning around, he was face to face with one of the bears from yesterday. He pushed the canoe so hard that Joey almost lost his paddle. "Go!" he screamed. Joey did and the tiny vessel shot out into the mainstream current of the river. It was as if the bear knew where they were going, it started on a dead run towards yesterday’s dining spot. To him, this was just another meal from the river, so he was going to get it like he always did. The boys were pulling like their lives depended on it. Which they both were certain that it did. The bear was on the left bank and coming hard. Joey in the bow was trying to pull to the right side of the opening, while Jack was trying to guide them closer to the left side, so they could retrieve the tag. Just as the frail craft shot through the opening, Jack reached out as far as he could and connected with a tag. Unfortunately he also connected with the boulder at the same time. And at the same time ole Mr. Bear took a swipe at Jack’s head. Jack had ducked just in time, not to get out of the way of the bear but in reaction to the pain and now broken arm.

They were moving faster and faster, not because they were still paddling to escape being the bear’s main course for breakfast, but mainly because they were now caught in an overflow current. An overflow current is the amount of water that flows over a waterfall. That’s right, our two heroes were heading straight for a waterfall. They had only one hope. There was a cutaway that they needed to enter in order to go around the falls. However Jack’s forearm was now beyond use. The impact with the boulder had shattered the bone just below the elbow. The pain was so intense that tears filled his eyes. All he could do was hold the paddle over the right side and try to use it as a rudder to steer the craft to a safe passage. Without it they both would surely perish, and Jack was determined that he wasn’t ready to die yet. With all his might he shoved hard and Joe pulled with all his might, their frail craft finally started to turn towards the opening. Harder and harder the boys pulled and pushed. The bow had just started to enter the opening, when a giant spasm of pain shot through Jack’s arm. It was so bad that he could hardly stand it. However the alternative was far worse, so he gritted his teeth let out a groan and called for all his reserve strength he could muster. It was just enough, as the craft shot through the opening, Jack passed out from the exertion and the pain. "Hey! " shouted Joey, "Way to go man…", as he turned around the next few words never got spoken.. Quickly he got the craft to shallow water, jumped out and pulled the canoe up out of the water as fast as he could.

Two days later, Jack woke up in the local hospital. His arm was in a cast, the pain now dulled by medication dripping through an I.V. stuck into his other wrist. Joey was sitting in a chair next to his bed when he awoke. "What happened?" asked Jack. "You tell me" said Joey. " Remember, my back was to you the whole time. The last thing I remember was trying to outrun that bear! "

Jack recounted as best as he could about getting the tag and hitting his arm. "You mean this tag?" asked Joey, holding up the number 6 tag. We had to pry it out of your hand before we could set your arm." They both laughed, but then Jack got real serious. "I guess I got a little too involved in winning, I’m sorry. Who won anyway?’ Joey just smiled and took the check made out to the both of them out of his pocket. "We did!" he exclaimed. "How?" asked , totally puzzled. "It’s wild, but hang on and I’ll try to shorten it up a bit." Said Joey "Remember the first tag?" asked Joey. "Yeah" responded Jack, "the one we had to put up for everyone to see." "Right," responded Joey. "Well, everyone got that one and all the rest except number 6". "But, they were all taped to the rock," said Jack. "Were, is the key word here," said Joey. "When you grabbed this one from under the bear’s nose, he got so mad that he took a swipe at the others and knocked them all into the water, so no one else got any." "OK," said Jack so that gave us six, but if the others got all the rest then they have six also, so how’s we win with only six?"

Joey smiled and held up a tag, he tossed it on the bed. Jack picked it up. It was tag number 7. "How?" he began. Joey held up his hand and explained. "When I saw that you had passed out, I jumped into the water and pulled the canoe up on dry land. No one knew it but the cutaway was stop number 7. There was only one tag there for the first one, and that my son was us. We Won!"

Six weeks later Jack got his cast off and called Joey. "Hey man, I hear Northwestern Club is sponsoring another canoe expedition, are you game?" "What?" exclaimed Joey. " Are you kidding?" he paused and then shouted "When do we leave?"