T2K June 29

T2K -- Boundary Waters Fur Trade (La Verendrye) Route

June 29, 2000

Location Distance To,
Miles Portage Length,
Rods Total Miles
Including Portages Total
Rods Portaged Comments

Grand Portage to old Highway 61 4.8 1536 267.9 5075 Left Ft. Charlotte at 8:45. There were some down trees across the trail. A grouse tried to prevent us from walking further on the trail. Ate lunch at old Highway 61.

To Grand Portage Depot 3.7 1184 271.6 6259 Arrived at Grand Portage Depot at 3:15.

Day's Total 8.5 2720

Maps: McKenzie 98

HISTORY OF ROUTE TRAVELED ON JUNE 29
La Verendrye first arrived at Grand Portage on August 26, 1731 accompanied by his sons Jean-Baptiste, Pierre and Francois, Father Mesaeger, his nephew La Jermeraye and a crew of voyageurs. (Ref. 16, p 8) On June 8, 1732 La Verendrye left with La Jermeraye, two sons and seven canoes. They "Took great care to improve all the portages by which they had passes." Grand Portage was a key location in the fur trade. Before the depot was moved to Fort William at Thunder Bay around 1803, annual meetings of the partners of the Northwest Fur Trade Company were held at Grand Portage. Voyageurs frequently stopped a short distance before arriving at a fort or depot to clean-up and change into their fine clothes. Macdonell states that "…Mr. McLeod and I shaved and shifted being the last night we shall sleep out, wind and weather permitting, this side of Grand Portage. Leaving pointe au pere we paddled two pipes and put to shore to give the men time to clean themselves, while we breakfasted - this done a short pipe brought us to Point au Chapeaux around which we got a sight of the long wished Grand Portage. The beach was covered with spectators to see us arrive, our canoe went well and the crew sung paddling songs in a vociferous manner." (Ref. 11, p 92) In 1768, John Askin cleared the site of Grand Portage. (Ref. 4, p 7) In the summer of 1775, Alexander Henry and Jean-Baptiste Cadotte arrived at Grand Portage. They found a handful of traders camped in ram-shackled huts. Henry wrote "I found the traders in a state of extreme reciprocal hostility, each pursuing his interests in such a maner as might most injure his neighbors." Their voyageurs spent seven days of "severe and dangerous exertion" carrying eight canoes and goods across the portage. (Ref. 9, p 213) Sir Alexander Mackinzie was a frequent visitor to Grand Portage. He probably first visited Grand Portage in 1785. References were found that he was also at Grand Portage in 1790, 1794, 1795-1799 and 1802. (Ref. 12) Monday, August 5, 1793, JMcD: John Macdonell, Cuthbert Grant and John Bennett walked over Grand Portrage. It "is full of hills". (Ref. 11, p 97) Alexander Henry, the Younger, left Grand Portage for Fort Charlotte on July 19, 1800 for Lake Winnepeg and beyond. (Ref. 16, p.6) After 1832, the American Fur Company had a post at Grand Portage. (Ref. 4, p 8)

HISTORY OF ROUTE TRAVELED ON JUNE 29

La Verendrye first arrived at Grand Portage on August 26, 1731 accompanied by his sons Jean-Baptiste, Pierre and Francois, Father Mesaeger, his nephew La Jermeraye and a crew of voyageurs. (Ref. 16, p 8)
On June 8, 1732 La Verendrye left with La Jermeraye, two sons and seven canoes. They "Took great care to improve all the portages by which they had passes."
Grand Portage was a key location in the fur trade. Before the depot was moved to Fort William at Thunder Bay around 1803, annual meetings of the partners of the Northwest Fur Trade Company were held at Grand Portage.
Voyageurs frequently stopped a short distance before arriving at a fort or depot to clean-up and change into their fine clothes. Macdonell states that "…Mr. McLeod and I shaved and shifted being the last night we shall sleep out, wind and weather permitting, this side of Grand Portage. Leaving pointe au pere we paddled two pipes and put to shore to give the men time to clean themselves, while we breakfasted - this done a short pipe brought us to Point au Chapeaux around which we got a sight of the long wished Grand Portage. The beach was covered with spectators to see us arrive, our canoe went well and the crew sung paddling songs in a vociferous manner." (Ref. 11, p 92)
In 1768, John Askin cleared the site of Grand Portage. (Ref. 4, p 7)
In the summer of 1775, Alexander Henry and Jean-Baptiste Cadotte arrived at Grand Portage. They found a handful of traders camped in ram-shackled huts. Henry wrote "I found the traders in a state of extreme reciprocal hostility, each pursuing his interests in such a maner as might most injure his neighbors." Their voyageurs spent seven days of "severe and dangerous exertion" carrying eight canoes and goods across the portage. (Ref. 9, p 213)
Sir Alexander Mackinzie was a frequent visitor to Grand Portage. He probably first visited Grand Portage in 1785. References were found that he was also at Grand Portage in 1790, 1794, 1795-1799 and 1802. (Ref. 12)
Monday, August 5, 1793, JMcD: John Macdonell, Cuthbert Grant and John Bennett walked over Grand Portrage. It "is full of hills". (Ref. 11, p 97)
Alexander Henry, the Younger, left Grand Portage for Fort Charlotte on July 19, 1800 for Lake Winnepeg and beyond. (Ref. 16, p.6)
After 1832, the American Fur Company had a post at Grand Portage. (Ref. 4, p 8)



Crossing Route 61 and heading for Grand Portage Depot	Canoes at end of trip at Grand Portage National Monument

RETURN TO SUMMARY

Details for June 12, June 13, June 14, June 15, June 16, June 17, June 18, June 19, June 20, June 21, June 22, June 23, June 24, June 25, June 26, June 27, June 28 or June 29

Intro, History, Equipment, Personal Equipment, Menus
Exit T2K

Last updated: December 26, 2013

Location	Distance To, Miles	Portage Length, Rods	Total Miles Including Portages	Total Rods Portaged	Comments
Grand Portage to old Highway 61	4.8	1536	267.9	5075	Left Ft. Charlotte at 8:45. There were some down trees across the trail. A grouse tried to prevent us from walking further on the trail. Ate lunch at old Highway 61.
To Grand Portage Depot	3.7	1184	271.6	6259	Arrived at Grand Portage Depot at 3:15.
Day's Total	8.5	2720
Maps: McKenzie 98