Sometimes the boats got away from the men altogether, running wild, finally lodging somewhere below to be found again with the contents missing.
Soon they had so many large holes in them that one, No.

3, had to be broken up to obtain materials for repairing the others.

Thus the party, by the time they had fairly arrived at the deepest and worst portion of this splendid chasm, were in a sad plight, but a plight mainly due to the original bad planning and mismanagement, and not necessary in navigating this gorge.

They seldom attempted to cross the river, working down along one side and never entering the boats at all except where absolutely necessary.* Thus they were greatly hampered in their movements.

With our boats we never gave the crossing of the river a thought, and were in them continually, except where a portage was demanded.