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The Thelon River Canoe Trip (17 Days)
Northwest Territories Escorted Canoe Expedition
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Overview: The Thelon and Kazan flow from the heart of mainland Nunavut. The upper reaches of these Rivers traverse the transition zone between the taiga of black spruce and tamarack and the treeless tundra. Their pristine and undisturbed River corridors are home to the Qamanirjuag and Beverly caribou herds who together make up the largest caribou herd in the world. It is here that the Island Inuit and the Chipewayan native groups confronted each other for access to these waterways and the lifeblood of the land, the caribou. When exploring this River , special opportunities can arise to view active wolf dens in the sandy eskers. Raptors such as gyrfalcons, peregrine falcons, golden and bald eagles are common. Fishing is also excellent. The waters team with grayling and lake trout. Join us this summer on this seldom paddled River and a find a freedom that can not be described.
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Day 01
Meet at the Air Tindi float base in old town Yellowknife at 8:30 am. Charter flight to Hanbury River just upstream of the junction with the Thelon River. This 320 km (200 mi.) flight will take us over the East Arm of Great Slave lake and the Lakes which form the source of the Hanbury River. The view below takes us out of the northern boreal forests, over the taiga and treeline and onto the tundra just inside the Thelon Game Sanctuary. We will camp at our landing site and spend the day exploring the area on foot with a hike to Helen Falls on the Hanbury. Past trips have encounter numerous wild animals in this area.
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Day 02 - 05
Setting on the Hanbury River a short paddle brings us to the Thelon River. Looking upstream we see where this is now mighty river exits the a Thelon Canyon not far from the confluence with the Clarke River flowing in from the east. Following the Thelon we soon come to a stand of black spruce which is known as Warden's grove. This the cabin site and base for W.H.B Hoare, the sanctuaries first game warden. Hoare's and a few other cabins stand on this site. This part of the river offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing and we plan on taking advantage of this. Close to the half way point in this reach we visit Cosmos lake. The 1979 crash site if the atomic powered Soviet Satellite, Cosmos 954 which made headlines around the world. On day 5 we will reach Hornby Point and explore the cabin site and graves of John Hornby, Edgar Christian and Harold Adlar. Hornby, an eccentric Englishman ha lived much of his adult life with and in the ways of the Barrenground natives. On his last trip to the Arctic in 1926, he brought with him two young companions. Poorly provisioned, the threesome built a cabin at what is Hornby point with the hope of securing a winter's supply of meat from the caribou migration which failed to show in the fall of 1926. The story of their struggle to survive and their eventual starvation is told in the journal of Edgar Christian which was found in the cabin with the three bodies over a year following their deaths. His journal is a testimony to their efforts and relentless the Barrens can be.
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Day 06-10
Hornby Point to lookout Point For the next 100km (60 mi.) the Thelon area north and east with good current into the well treed centre of the Thelon Game Sanctuary. part of the Thelon Oasis, this growth maintains a large population of muskox which are commonly seen from the river. A days paddle before Lookout Point we will set out to explore Muskox Hill which is located about 4 km off the north side of the Thelon. The hill which can be see from quite a distance across the tundra is actually an ice polygon. probably the furthest south of any in the Canadian arctic. At Lookout Point sits another cabin of days gone by and an archeological site featuring a number of native camps.
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Day 11 - 15
Lookout Point to Beverly lake Through the past 100k ( 60 mi ) of our trip the Thelon swings north again and then east into Beverly Lake. We leave the trees behind and gain a true perspective of the barrens. The open hills provide improved opportunity to view roaming caribou which always seem to be on the move with the Arctic wolf not far behind. Bluffs along the river banks offer good hiking look-out points and ancient camps marked with tent rings, stone tool chipping stations and actual stone spear and arrow points.
Fishing for Lake Trout is quite rewarding in this area. At the Thelon Bluffs we find some fast water and waves as the river narrows and flows steadily to Beverly lake where we will camp in a secluded bay for our last night on the river. Large piles of drift wood from the oasis provide the fuel for a home built sauna followed by refreshing dips in the lake.
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Day 16
Our float planes from Yellowknife will arrive. Enroute we will make a stop at the mouth of the Hoare Frost River on Great Slave Lake for refueling. Back in Yellowknife we will find our way to our hotel. That evening we will celebrate our adventures with an enjoyable meal at one of Yellowknife's traditional eateries.
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Day 17
Breakfast together followed by farewells at the Yellowknife airport
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RATES IN CAD$
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TOUR DEPARTURES
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- Full information package
- Qualified river guides
- 6:1 guide / guest ratio
- Maximum group size is 14
- All road transportation
- Charter flights per itinerary
- Nutritious camp meals
- Beer/wine with some meals
- Inflatable rafts, rowing frame
- Canoes with full spray covers.
- Kitchen and camp equipment
- Deluxe Sierra Design tents
- Large dry pack
- First aid, safety equipment
- Baggage charges and freight
- Souvenir t-shirt, pocket knife
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