"Therefore though the thaws of approaching spring greatly increased the difficulty of the way, interrupted as it was everywhere by marshes and rivers, to say nothing of the length of the journey, which is about five hundred leagues in a direct line, and the danger of meeting Indians of four or five different nations, through whose country we must pass, as well as an Iroquois army, which we knew was coming that way; though we must suffer all the time from hunger; sleep on the open ground and often without food; watch by night and march by day, loaded with baggage, such as blanket, clothing, kettle, hatchet, gun, powder, lead, and skins to make moccasins; sometimes pushing through thickets, sometimes climbing rocks covered with ice and snow, sometimes wading whole days through marshes where the water was waist-deep or even more, at a season when the snow was not entirely melted—though I knew all this, it did not prevent me from resolving to go on foot to Fort Frontenac, to learn for myself what had become of my vessel, and bring back the things we needed."
This from LaSalle, who walked, walked, from present day Peoria, Illinois to present day Kingston, Ontario, Canada in the winter of 1680. He left his fort on the Illinois River on 1 March and arrived at his fort on Lake Ontario on the 5th of May. LaSalle was accompanied by five employees or servants—four Frenchmen and an Indian—none of whom made it to Fort Frontenac. I do not believe that any of them died, but they became so worn down from the exertion that they could not continue. He left them to recover at various points along the way. LaSalle was a hard dude. Can you imagine working for him?
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