First order of business Monday morning was the big decision. We were clearly past half way, but the path back had dog tracks and our trails. Another inch of fresh powder overnight would make a difference, but not a show stopper, either. Going forward meant no going back unless something catastrophic got in our way, since every step pushed us closer to Saganaga and further from Moose. Our fearless leader seemed surprised when we unanimously agreed to push on, almost disappointed. He made it clear after making Knife in a day and Ottertrack day 2, there was no shame either way. Nevertheless, we were driven to not give up, having come so far. We could tell from the maps and previous summer crossings that we were in for portages and pinch points on day 3-open water. Going was tough from the start on day 3, with the fresh snow and no trail to follow, we started out and rechecked navigation as we neared each of the narrows. With an earlier 8:30 start, once we got going, we had photo ops near the high palisades. Pinch points meant open water and despite careful navigation, we got some wet feet and one guy had to do a gear change , falling through with one leg up to his hip. Just after 1, as our energy had started to fade, we met our match! Monument portage had until then just seemed like words on a map. We knew it was long, but didn’t recall the slope. Until we saw it. Looking up, it seemed like an ungroomed downhill course for extreme skiers, bolder-strewn and straight up. It took some serious effort to get up the bank to get a full look at the hill. Now what? Not an annoyed now what, but knowing we now were too far to go back and not sure there was any way to go up kind of now what? Two engineers and a numbers guy put heads together and determined 3 guys per sled and follow what seemed to be a game trail crossing the hill. Two pulling and one following and uprighting when the pulks tipped, we made it in 3 tough trips through the deep snow. Yes, the trail does go over there trough the woods on both sides and makes the slope almost tolerable. Ready to call it a humbled day after some photos with the monuments, the downhills to Swamp Lake went well and buoyed by the accomplishment and improving weather, we pushed on with hopes of making it to Sag. Navigation posed some challenges getting off Swamp. Navigating another pinch point, luckily with solid ice, we kept going with hopes of making it to Saganaga. It was clear our goal of America’s Point was unrealistic but if we got close, we could still get out the next day. We stopped just at the last pinch point onto Sag and set up camp. We were technically on our last lake, but too tired at 4 to make it to America’s point. We set up camp, hoping this would be our last night in tents. ~Ottertrack Lake, Swamp Lake, Saganaga Lake