Part 2/8:
The adventure initiated in the breathtaking landscape of Montana, a state the narrator revealed was richer in hidden gems than he realized. The primary objective was to create a stable and wide raft, measuring 16 feet wide by 30 feet long, to ensure enough buoyancy for all passengers and equipment. Each of the 32 barrels selected offered a staggering 14,000 pounds of buoyancy combined—essentially enough to keep not just the crew afloat, but even several bison if the need arose.
The building process didn’t just focus on gathering materials; it blended creativity with humor. The team engaged in a tongue-in-cheek “barrel racing” contest, a rite of passage for any raft builder to maintain morale and camaraderie.