Section:
In Form and Function
Label:
The Adirondack region has hundreds of lakes and ponds, often separated by dense forests or mountains. The rivers or streams connecting them are often unnavigable by boat. To get to those waters, you must portage a boat and your gear over land. In the Adirondacks, a portage is always called a "carry" because the guideboat is traditionally carried.
You carry a guideboat on your shoulders using a carved wooden yoke. The yoke is placed at a balance point on the guideboat, allowing you to keep the bow up--so you can see where you're going. This photo, taken around 1940, shows Henry LaPrairie, Jr. carrying a guideboat. His hat just barely fits under the guideboat.
Most carries in the Adirondacks are less than a mile long, with a few that are longer. Sweeney Carry near Upper Saranac Lake, which is one of the longest, is three miles long! That is why the builders focused so much on making their boats so lightweight.
You carry a guideboat on your shoulders using a carved wooden yoke. The yoke is placed at a balance point on the guideboat, allowing you to keep the bow up--so you can see where you're going. This photo, taken around 1940, shows Henry LaPrairie, Jr. carrying a guideboat. His hat just barely fits under the guideboat.
Most carries in the Adirondacks are less than a mile long, with a few that are longer. Sweeney Carry near Upper Saranac Lake, which is one of the longest, is three miles long! That is why the builders focused so much on making their boats so lightweight.
Catalog #:
P007101
Slide #:
9 of 22
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