Brick Mortensen and Magda Mische Remembered in River-running Film

Monday, Sept. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Orcas Center

By David Mortenson

Brick Mortenson in a photo from the 50s. River runners and replica boats are featured in the documentary film Big Water Runners of the Colorado River.

Learn the amazing attraction of running the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon on whitewater boats by two very adventurous people who called Orcas Island home.  They never knew each other but both had a passion for the Grand Canyon and running its mighty Colorado River.

V.R. “Brick” Mortenson who lived on Orcas from 1973 to 1998 ran down the muddy wild Colorado River when only 200 people had made that 280 mile journey in the 1950s and helped pioneer private river running so popular today.  Dr. Magda “Terry” Mische who lived on Orcas until her untimely death this last February was the manager of the famous Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon in the mid 1970s and was a modern avid Colorado River runner.

On Monday night, September 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Orcas Center, Dave Mortenson, son of Brick and friend of Magda, will be showing an amazing documentary film Big Water Runners of the Colorado River.  The free showing to honor Brick and Magda will include a display of two replica boats, historic items and the HD video using 16mm film and still images not seen in 50 years.

“Using modern HD video of three replica boats that we ran through every rapid combined with the historic film allowed telling of the fantastic true story of people who went on their three week annual vacation in the remotest part of the United States in the 1950s”, said Dave Mortenson.  He added, “The video also shows the modern attempt to run these replicas through every rapid without capsizing.”

This true story documents the amazing perseverance, hardships and triumphs of these early river runners to run on water levels that no one had every attempted.  There is a near drowning, boats being lost and even a Walt Disney connection.  This documentary also tells the modern attempt of Brick’s only granddaughter on only her second river trip, to run every rapid in the replica of the boat that her grandfather ran 56 years earlier.

Magda, before her untimely death in February, was assisting in the planning of this event because of her great passion for the Grand Canyon.  Magda defined her place Grand Canyon history when working at Phantom Ranch. She created the unusual and popular practice that river runners, hikers and tourist print on their letters and postcards prior to placing them in the mail pouch by stamping: “Mailed by mule at the bottom of the Grand Canyon”.

Historic River Boats Afloat is presenting this free showing but donations will be appreciated to cover presentation costs. All additional funds raised will be divided between two causes: For Brick – Orcas Lions Scholarship Program and for Magda – Power Past Coal Campaign.

To view the video trailer at:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBTKccHnDVY&feature)