On our way to Little Sag from Kawishiwi we came to a backed up portage and Nate decided to wade in. He got one foot stuck in the mud in a foot of water and came down HARD with his knee across his paddle....SNAP! It was a quiet portage to the nearest camp site. Along the way Nate found a small pine log and picked it up. His mind working to salvage our trip. Nate is a carpenter...a craftsman I would say. He quietly worked making a splint for his paddle, (that's me in the background doing important work sewing buttons on my shirt).We took a much needed dinner break during the work. He worked almost until dark while Ben collected fire wood and kept a fire going...and it was finished. He fit the two pieces together and duct taped them. He the fit the two piece splint over the break and duct taped that...thank God we brought the tape. I'll never go on another trip without it. The next day was the big test. Inspection. Test run on the Kawishiwi River. SUCCESS!!!!! That's me and my sons together in the wilderness. I'm 67 now and we have enjoyed many trips to the BWCAW. Looking forward to September for another 10 days of heaven.