Have you gone through the Canal? If so, explain what mountains you noticed.
I didn't see any mountains, but I did see and experience a "Cut". The cut
was a bit narrow, but not for a medium sized sailboat. We spent an
overnight in the big lake, caught a few fish, had a great dinner and pressed
on the following morning. The canal is not a navigational thing, it is
nothing more than mere piloting. That said, I'm aware the transit price has
gone up considerably since my transit in the mid "90's".