On a cold November day, about 20 hardy souls volunteered to build a limestone retaining wall for the portage trail at Alden Iowa. This
allows canoeists on the Iowa River to safely pass around the dam.


During the high water last Spring, 2 canoeists died at this lovely place when they put in too close below the dam. This portage trail had been designated in a grant but had not been constructed.

The project director (Rod Scott) fell off a roof and broke just about everything, but he really wanted this wall built before high water could sweep away the rock slabs.

So we hauled rock and built the wall for paddlers, Alden and for Rod. Kudos to the Rivers Program staff who came out to operate the machinery and to the men, women and children who worked for several hours in the cold. And thanks to Rod for the hot lunch.