PORT ANGELES — After battling pounding surf, high winds and thick morning fog Tuesday, 25 canoes from more than 16 Northwest and British Columbia tribes arrived at the mouth of the Elwha River.
The canoes completed a 40-mile paddle from Slip Point to the Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation for a two-day rest along the route of the 2003 Paddle Journey.
The latest leg took between six and 12 hours depending on the tribe.
Three canoes from Quileute, Tulalip and Ahousaht tribes overturned after failing to navigate entry to the river in high winds.
A Muckleshoot tribal canoe was towed in after beaching several times trying to enter the river.
All canoeists — or “pullers” — made it to shore safely and received blankets, water, food and medical treatment if needed by Lower Elwha tribal officials.
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The rest of the story appears in Wednesday’s Peninsula Daily News.
