Way back when Europe wanted beaver skins to make men's hats...the only way for voyagers/trappers to get their skins to Lake Superior was the Pigeon River shown here. They had to "portage" 8 miles around these falls. Then they would carry needed supplies on their trip back to the west and the north by river. This process developed into a large business - The Northwest Company and later, the Hudson Bay Company.
This is Case with a "portager" friend who carries 90 pounds on his back with a forehead strap. These portagers would carry supplies west and furs back on the 8 mile trail (16 total) in 6 hours. This photo taken illegally in the National Grand Portage Museum. I had to plead guilty to the curator and promise not to take anymore photos inside the museum.
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