The river was wider than in the upper canyons, and while the low state of the water made harder work and pounded the boats more, I believe that on the whole it was an advantage.
The current was less fierce and consequently the boats were always more controllable.

Yet when the water falls below a certain point the danger of striking rocks is so much increased that a rapid which, at a little higher stage would be easy to run must be avoided entirely by a portage or a let-down.

The waves at low water are also smaller and hence less likely to upset a boat.
In many places we would lower a boat by lines near the shore, with two men in her, and when a rock appeared they fended her off, or jumped into the water and eased the craft along, touching bottom where they could.
This worked very well for this place and the stage of water, though on this river one must ever be ready to adapt himself to differing conditions.

Rapids were very numerous, but we succeeded in passing them in one way or another without seriously injuring the boats.

The walls grew to magnificent proportions.