Some areas demand more respect than others.
It is especially important to avoid getting overtired in treeless mountains since finding shelter is difficult. We were on the river many years ago, paddling upstream in a race against current and a self-imposed time limit. Driven and encouraged by our older brother Ray in the stern, Julie and I paddled steadily, hour after hour as exhaustion slowly crept in and energy slipped out. Wind-driven rain soaked and chilled us as we inched along. We had several hours yet to go to stay on schedule when Ray drove the bow of the canoe against a sand bar.