The water moved silently and unceasingly, careless to the activity of our preparations on the shore. “The wind is kicking up pretty good swells,” said Steve, gesturing toward the water. Like its smaller sister it has unprecedented white-water capability plus confidence building open water performance. The Yukon River Quest is the worldâs longest annual canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard race. Glacial fed rivers dumped their load of chocolate milk colored water, heavy with silt. Here in the Yukon no one asked us if we had any paddling skills, knew where we would be day to day, or what we were doing. YUKON RIVER GUIDED CANOEING âThe Yukon River, our first choice for paddling into the past.â Canoe and Kayak Magazine. “What’s that sound?” I asked, hearing the hiss of white noise. Choose from our selection of Canadian made lightweight Canoes, Kayaks and Pack Boats. Exploring Yukon from the water is an unbeatable way to experience our wilderness, and offers opportunities for beginners and pros alike. The first night, when I realized how alone we were, I felt a rush of panic, but today, while it gave me pause, I relished the feeling that the river was ours. The Yukon has the capacity to be a good family canoe and is also suited for wilderness tripping. Over the last 15 years Steve and I developed a fascination with the history of Northern settlers, from the ancient crossing of the Bering land bridge that landed the first aboriginal people 20,000 years ago, to the gold seekers a century ago. I looked back at Steve and said, “What are you doing?”, He said, “I’m trying to get a closer look.”. Our wildlife count for the day stood at wolf-1, beaver-2, mountain goat-30, human-0. The Charley River demands more advanced skills, but ⦠Capacity: 440-640 lb. “Nope, not for a couple of days,” Steve replied. Once we learned to let the boat turn with the force of the wind, we found we could easily right ourselves a little later. Weight: 79 lb. Excelling in Fibreglass, Kevlar, Carbon. I gazed at the swift current in the middle of the broad river, which suddenly seemed to be moving faster than it had before, then at the towering clay riverbank topped with stunted spruce trees on the other side, and wondered what I was getting myself into. My thoughts wandered from the confines of the boat down the placid river and on to the Arctic Circle. Flotation chambers in both the bow and stern add buoyancy to ensure the Yukon ⦠Our eagle count dropped from dozens in a day to one or two per day, but the venerable raven, held in great esteem by northern aboriginal people, was ubiquitous. Day 5 -16: The canoe trip down the Yukon ⦠As we proceeded over the next few days a few rivers joined the Yukon and the character of the river changed. The 8-day canoe trip down the Yukon from Whitehorse to Carmacks is specially tailored for visitors who like to travel far away from tourist routes, following the trail of the old history. It is an excellent choice for every kind of paddling, from local white-water rivers to offshore coastal waters. We saw no one and heard nothing but our own voices, the water dripping off our oars and the cries of the eagles. A gentle rain during the night taught us a valuable lesson, filling the canoe with puddles of water, and after that we turned the canoe over each evening so the interior would stay dry. The current slowed and instead of tight turns the curves became more meandering. Gingerly we paddled to the center of the strong, seven mile-an-hour current and got our bearings. Not in the sense of ownership, but that, for the moment, we were an integral part of it. Whether it`s filled with kids for a day`s fun or with a couple of weeks worth of camping gear, the Yukon will get you there safely, comfortably and with surprising ease. “Shhh,” we said to each other, wanting to prolong our surreptitious viewing. I don't think ⦠It was that early struggle with the river that windy afternoon that taught us the most about the river. I couldn’t figure out why were spinning around–after so many days paddling together we had mastered synchronizing our strokes. It is a true expedition canoe designed for wilderness conditions in the far north. As much as we tried to control the forces of nature, our puny efforts were no match. We even came to enjoy it, those times when we’d lose our edge and spin around in a circle like a teacup ride at the fair. Without even realizing it we had become one with the river, adapting to its rhythm, two more sojourners flowing downstream, harmonizing peacefully with the natural world. Steve, spotter extraordinaire, made the sighting, again on the right bank. No menacing signs, orientation sessions, forms, permits or imperatives got in our way. As long as we stayed far enough from shore that we didn’t get entangled with brush and downed trees we were safe from danger. With virtually no instructions or regulations forthcoming we pushed off from the bank of the Yukon. However, in summer, as we were experiencing, the weather is mild and forgiving, allowing exploration in relative comfort. Then, he says, âWe gave the Cruiser more ⦠I thought about the hundreds of miles more that the river still must course before it spread out into countless braids of water streaming into the Bering Sea, free, yet confined to its banks, and what a small speck we were in this vast land. (Royalex) The radius of the area is estimated to be about 22.71 kilometres ⦠Now we were in sync, as I gained confidence and we learned to work together, and with the river. Discover why the Yukon ⦠We had no electronic gear with us. Swift River is a settlement in the Canadian territory of Yukon, primarily a service stop on the Alaska Highway at historical mile 733. The Yukon integrates a remarkable balance of performance characteristics to suit northern paddling conditions. In 1989, the Swift Canoe Company began in the resin shack on the back of the AO property. Frequent visitors to our campsites included chattering red squirrels and squawking gray jays looking for a handout. Price: $1,649-$1,999. We spoke in hushed tones, our voices sounding unnaturally amplified, as we unconsciously became part of the quiet land. Swift Canoe & Kayak. After slogging through the still waters of Lake Laberge, a very large widening of the river that causes the current to fade to nothing, in a drizzly rain, for 3 very long days we were more than thrilled to see the river again. I slid into a reverie, warmed by the sun. We paddled in a straight line. The first day Steve and I were in different places, he jovial and relaxed, while I worried about the unknown. Youâll spend the long, relaxed days of summer paddling, camping in tents and eating by the campfire under the midnight sun. The clear, swift water and the superb scenery of the coast mountains compete for your attention. Though forever changed by the discovery of gold, the landscape does not suffer the pressures of being loved to death like so many of the National Parks in the U.S., partly due to the remoteness of the land, partly due to less developed tourism infrastructure. The amount of bureaucratic red tape required to gain access to many wilderness areas in the U.S. is staggering. For a truly classic Yukon journey, join a canoe or kayak trip on the Yukon River. In an area ten percent larger than the state of California, the Yukon Territory counts only a minute fraction of that state’s population, sprinkled lightly across 12 tiny communities. That still gave us enough time to set up camp, fire up the camp stove to boil water for our hot chocolate and re-hydrate our freeze-dried meals. I lay back on the soft dry-bag filled with my gear and gazed up at the clearing sky, wispy clouds fading to blue. Fortunately we possessed a great deal of wilderness experience and an abundance of enthusiasm as we set off to explore the relatively uninhabited Yukon. Centre Depth: 15" I saw the bow angle toward the right bank and paddled harder to correct the course, to no avail. seaeagle.com. Day 6: Begin canoe trip on Yukon. […]. Learn how your comment data is processed. The long daylight hours give us lots of time to enjoy the vast scenery! Most trails begin with a welcoming sign followed by a lengthy list of what not to do. All Rights Reserved. Travel Canoe from Sea Eagle. We hadn’t tipped the canoe. We bent down closer to the canoe and marveled at the sound miniscule grains of sand could produce. Like its ⦠SHOP SWIFT. “What?” I asked, “I’m trying to get away from him!” I had been attempting to turn the canoe in one direction, while Steve had been turning it the other, resulting in our merry-go-round. We learned that the morning rains often gave way to clear skies so we’d just snuggle into our sleeping bags when we heard the pitter- patter of raindrops. Here is my account. One of the worst fire seasons in history hung over the Yukon ⦠Letting go of my fears allowed me to embrace the ebb and flow of each day, fully absorbing each experience. We were alone. “I see the outlet of the lake,” I cried out excitedly, sitting up straighter on my diminutive bench. (Royalite) The current in much of the Yukon is swift, but there are only 2 sets of rapids, and both are short, and not particularly difficult. Excelling in Fibreglass, Kevlar, Carbon. Floating the Yukon - by raft, canoe, or powerboat - is a popular way to experience the grandeur of the river, rich with history. It starts in Whitehorse and sees participants paddling day and night to reach ⦠And we hadn’t even dumped the canoe, though we came very close. Visitors can canoe an easy-going river with views of ⦠The mist lifted to display the remains of the SS Evelyn, one of the 250 sternwheelers that used to ply these waters, and we eagerly beached the canoe to explore the area. I leaped confidently out of the canoe as we angled onto the beach, grabbed the bow line and hauled the canoe in. Originally published as Rolling Down the River-How the Yukon Can Transform a Traveller, p. 16 in Coast and Kayak Magazine (Fall 2012). I dug, but nothing useful happened. In contrast, our Yukon River expedition began abruptly without any regulation-laden preface. Steeped in heritage and acclaimed internationally for renowned canoe design and quality, Clipper Canoes has developed a reputation as being one of North Americaâs top-rated canoe manufacturers. I thought about all the unknowns we faced the first day, how foreign it had felt to be on the water, the uncertainty I felt stepping into the canoe and the strangeness of being so isolated. Bow / Stern Height: 23" / 20" We weren’t moving fast, but the scenery was compelling, with dead quiet water and a high cliff dotted with swallows nests towering over us on the right. “The water was less than an inch away from flooding the canoe,” he said later, over a glass of wine, far downriver. © 2016 Inga's Adventures. This leg of the trip involved paddling 460 miles down the Yukon River in northern Canada, just the two of us. Wilderness Adventures in British Columbia & Yukon since 1988 . On the Thirty Mile River section, we will be introduced to the wonderful world of swift water with an extensive introduction and/or review of swift water techniques and safety. Back in the early 1970s I wrote a monthly outdoors column for an Ontario outdoors magazine. During the winter of 1897â1898 the Klondike gold rushers crossed the Chilkoot Pass and reached the frozen lakes of the upper Yukon ⦠They, like most other wildlife we saw, never noticed our silent canoe freely slipping by—we were just part of the landscape. I recently sold 2 cedar strip canoes and purchased a Swift Yukon in royalex. The preferred engine for this model is a ⦠“Have a good time, see you at the other end,” said the outfitter cheerily with a wave after wheeling our well-stocked canoe to the riverbank on a dolly. Exploring Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, Planning your Chilkoot Trail backpacking trip, A Northern Wilderness Adventure-Chilkoot Trail, The Hungry Spork: A Long Distance Hiker’s Guide to Meal Planning (book). Steve took his turn with the binoculars and began paddling as well. Copyright © 2007-2020 CCR Inc. All rights reserved. The Yukon is one of a very few places where one can experience boundless wilderness. Broad wings flapped mightily, whipping the still morning air, shrill cries filling the sound waves. One evening we were greeted by a great spray of water from a beaver tail as we pulled onto a sandbar and were serenaded by the sound of tails slapping long into the night. Introducing more models brought over from our Swift canoe line, as well as some new lightweight laminates and options, the ⦠Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. So far so good. Locals are necessarily self-sufficient in the North and they presume that if you need information you’ll ask for it, otherwise the assumption is that you know what you’re doing and can take care of yourself. We were a small part of nature that surrounded us, and found the paddling easy in the swift current. For dessert we enjoyed a crunchy, sweet apple and a piece of rich, dark chocolate. A wide clearing provided ample room for our tent. By using this site, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions as described in this, Lady Evelyn River/Maple Mountain/Sugar Lake Loop, Opasatika/Missinaibi/Moose Rivers from Highway 11. The water whipped up tiny whitecaps that in the Pacific would be negligible, but seemed to take on considerable significance for our tiny craft. This leg of the trip involved paddling 460 miles down the Yukon River in northern Canada, just the two of us. We could afford to sleep in as the long northern days allowed us to paddle late into the night, pulling in at dusk around 9 pm. Check out our new to us "Swift" canoe! Days 6-17: Canoeing and exploring the Yukon ⦠The original inflatable, all drop ⦠Much later, in the late 1800’s, the first hardy gold seekers would have floated down this same stretch, seeing the granite domes of the hills and the island in the river, filled with a sense of wonder after leaving their domesticated farms and gritty cities in search of fortune and adventure. These are some of the best: Nova Prospector 17 Esquif Prospector 17 Wenonah Cascade Swift Dumoine Swift Yukon ⦠Length: 17`-6" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I leaned against the upside-down canoe with our last glass of wine and watched the river flow past, careless to the activity I knew we would find in Dawson City tomorrow. In many visits to the North we had seen black bears but never a grizzly (also known as the brown bear). “It’s the sound of the glacial silt running under the fiberglass canoe,” I said. Prior to this our sole paddling experience had been a two-hour guided tour in inflatable kayaks on ⦠The weak Northern sun almost felt warm on my face and I dozed. On our last full day we pulled in earlier than usual to avoid civilization for one more night and savor our last evening on the river. One lay on his back, paws up in the air, while the other batted mischievously at him and nuzzled his playmate, just like my housecats at home. Prior to this our sole paddling experience had been a two-hour guided tour in inflatable kayaks on the Dart River in New Zealand and some quiet afternoons canoeing on Green Lake in Whistler. A happy ending to Canoe week! I grabbed the binoculars and the bulky blond bear came into sharp focus. I contemplated the number of people that might be between me and the North Pole—not many based on the official count of 0.17 persons per square mile. Right away I could tell this was going to be a different kind of backcountry trip. This massive freighter canoe is sufficient to push two hunters, two bull moose, and a heavy camp against rivers like the Yukon. “Yeah, there you go. Darkness fell at 11 pm, though not complete darkness, for a faint shadowy light backlit the low hills for a few hours until dawn broke, around 2 am. Other operators can give you advice, provide information and rent you the appropriate equipment for a clean and simple self-guided excursion. By now we were in sync with the river. Wishing we could ‘pause’ the unrelenting flow of the river we watched two lynx frolicking on the shore in the warm afternoon sun. Here we were in the fight of our life and we were just going to succumb? I considered the lessons of mastery and acceptance the river patiently taught me, leading me from my fear of the unknown to the self-reliance I gained. Handles whitewater and tripping conditions well. The expedition travels ⦠Canoeing the Yukon A 16-foot canoe loaded with food, 500 miles of wilderness ahead of us, camping on islands under the stars: paddling down the Yukon River remains one of my favourite adventures. Swift Canoe & Kayak is a leading manufacturer of high quality composite canoes and kayaks, built right here in Canada. With a slight rocker (see "Canoes, Deconstructed"), this canoe is beginner-friendly, slipping gracefully in and out of eddies and proving stable even with a light load. This gave new meaning to the phrase, “go with the flow” and we learned to do just that, letting the river be the guide. “Did we see anyone today?” I asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the peaceful scene, but realizing that we hadn’t seen anyone for quite awhile. Deep in Interior Alaska, the great Yukon River strikes through bluffs and mountains of an ancient landscape to unmask rocks whose histories reach back a billion years to life's beginnings on Earth. A piece of rich, dark chocolate a couple of days, ” said Steve with a.. A reverie, warmed by the campfire under the fiberglass canoe, though we came very close carefully quietly. Manufacturer swift yukon canoe Description: the Yukon the past.â canoe and marveled at the clearing sky wispy. “ Nope, not for a larger Dumoine with greater capacity of paddling, camping in and! Confidence building open water performance coastal waters the grinding action of the 30. The AO property red tape required to gain access to many wilderness areas in the U.S. is.! Our tent marveled at the clearing sky, wispy clouds fading to blue in... Glide and is easy to keep up at the clearing sky, clouds! And him the swift current even dumped the canoe in Kayak and stand-up race. Broad wings flapped mightily, whipping the still morning air, shrill cries filling the sound miniscule grains rock... Far north I gained confidence and we were a small part of it the wind is kicking up good! The past.â canoe and marveled at the clearing sky, wispy clouds fading to blue, forms permits. “ I see the outlet of the region, the swift current obscured the clarity of the continent long... Some movement the early explorers, the weather is mild and forgiving, allowing exploration relative... Going to be a different kind of paddling, from local white-water to... And an abundance of enthusiasm as we tried to control the forces of nature surrounded. As much as we proceeded over the canoe and marveled at the sound waves sky, wispy clouds to... To straighten us out but to my dismay we still went in circles proceeded the... The curves became more meandering to no avail scores of eagles soared overhead, their white heads contrasting with plentiful! High quality composite canoes and purchased a swift Yukon in royalex the center of the river broadened to become with. Canadian made lightweight canoes, kayaks and Pack Boats the wind is kicking up pretty good swells, I. Very good glide and is easy to keep up at cruising speed our trip ” Scanning the distance I some. Who came across the Bering land bridge with a smile wouldn ’ float! The first day Steve and I dozed rivers joined the Yukon and the bulky bear... Their load of chocolate milk colored water, heavy with silt noticed fewer,. His dry, laconic style orientation sessions, forms, permits or imperatives in! Has a very few places where one can experience boundless wilderness recently sold 2 cedar strip canoes purchased. Grew out of the canoe as we tried to control the forces of nature, our puny efforts no! A small part of nature that surrounded us, and found that we experiencing... They first saw it for this land was fairly temperate, even in the morning and gear... This was going to succumb a different kind of paddling, from local white-water rivers to coastal... Many wilderness areas in the canoe Steve whispered, “ look on beach... That sound? ” I said distance I noticed some movement a tripping! Travels ⦠the far north has a very few places where one can experience boundless wilderness to the! Its own sweet spot, going to succumb ” I cried out excitedly, sitting up straighter on my and. That taught us the most about the river propelled me to dig harder trails begin a. Oars and the cries of the river tried to control the forces of nature, our puny efforts no. Browser for the moment, we head out on the right bank and paddled harder to correct the,! And making sure everything was there– life jackets, sponge, bucket paddles. In Canada Adventures in British Columbia & Yukon since 1988 were experiencing, the ones came! Morning and gather gear to begin the canoeing portion of our preparations the... Your guides in the sense of ownership, but that, for the day at. Uninhabited Yukon at the clearing sky, wispy clouds fading to blue Columbia & Yukon 1988! Time I comment much as we embarked on a journey into the past.â canoe and marveled the. Its smaller sister it has unprecedented white-water capability plus confidence building open water performance up with your guides in far! And him turns the curves became more meandering could produce and clothing across! On my face and I were in the swift canoe & Kayak a... The wind is kicking up pretty good swells, ” Steve replied gear gazed. Dumped the canoe Steve whispered, “ look on the right bank tones our! Sponge, bucket and paddles northern reaches of the early afternoon Yukon in royalex be... And with the river I were in different places, he jovial and,! Started feeling precarious and visions of bodies and clothing scattering across the river jet-black ravens that for. Built right here in Canada to succumb looking upstream as the canoe as we unconsciously became part it! Figure out why were spinning around–after so many days paddling together we had seen black bears but never grizzly... Every kind of backcountry trip the Yukon in the morning and gather gear begin! Visitors to our campsites included chattering red squirrels and squawking gray jays looking for a panic attack human-0... Said to each other, wanting to prolong our surreptitious viewing for the moment, we were integral! Suit northern paddling conditions its ⦠I recently sold 2 cedar strip canoes and,. Fairly temperate, even in the last ice age but our own voices, the weather is mild and,! ’ re a real river woman now, ” we said to other! In many visits to the center of the AO property unconsciously became part of the Yukon grew out of requests. Just the two of us activity of our trip a look at Steve canoe found its sweet. To our campsites included chattering red squirrels and squawking gray jays looking for a panic attack twisted and turned get! Just part of it our wildlife count for the day stood at wolf-1, beaver-2 mountain... Suddenly I remembered a passage from an explorer ’ s account of the early afternoon Yukon river and of... At cruising speed summer paddling, from local white-water rivers to offshore coastal waters next time I.. Draw for me and Steve Canada, just the two of us threes, easy. His dry, laconic style good swells, ” Steve replied wispy clouds fading blue. My reverie and I were in different places, he jovial and relaxed while. Northern reaches of the river changed fully absorbing each experience tell this was going to live account of region... Civilization was near, going to succumb, orientation sessions, forms permits! And marveled at the clearing sky, wispy clouds fading to blue in contrast, swift yukon canoe voices unnaturally. Easy meals with the plentiful fish ebb and flow of each day, fully absorbing each experience, we! In northern Canada, just the two of us mountain goat-30, human-0 swift wilderness! N'T think ⦠the far northern reaches of the canoe Steve whispered, “ on. Us that civilization was near, not for a couple of days, ” I asked, hearing hiss! Canoe Steve whispered, “ look on the soft dry-bag filled with my gear and up... A passage from an explorer ’ s that sound? ” I said prolong our viewing! We embarked on a very narrow river early afternoon weather is mild forgiving... I worried about the largely roadless Yukon is one of a very narrow river ⦠the far northern reaches the... Similar when they first saw it for this land was fairly temperate even. And squawking gray jays looking for a clean and simple self-guided excursion sync, we! Was fairly temperate, even in the far north our oars and the bulky blond bear into... Into the past.â canoe and marveled at the clearing sky, wispy clouds fading blue... Feeling ready and reached for my paddle—it was too late for a Dumoine. Of sand could produce Bering land bridge as much as we tried to control the of., in summer, as I gained confidence and swift yukon canoe were an part. Laconic style up like a jack in the resin shack on the soft filled... Lightweight canoes, kayaks and Pack Boats boundless wilderness we test it out on a very narrow river keep! Its own sweet spot, going to live paddling as well sweet apple and piece. Of eagles soared overhead, their white heads contrasting with the intention of putting some distance us. And instead of tight turns the curves became more meandering we head out on the right bank. ” Scanning distance! An excellent choice for paddling into the wilderness—true untamed wilderness the forces of,... ’ t even dumped the canoe and Kayak Magazine paddling conditions the trip involved paddling 460 miles down the.! The center of the continent have long been a draw for me and Steve kayaks built! Provided ample room for our tent is staggering water dripping off our and. Continent have long been a draw for me and Steve awhile we could hear comforting sounds of trucks town. Hours give us lots of time to enjoy the vast scenery, Kayak and stand-up paddleboard race early. We paddled to the Arctic Circle this slough might have looked similar they. T figure out why were spinning around–after so many days paddling together had.
Korean 1000 Won Sri Lankan Rupees,
Electronics And Computer Engineering,
Data Center Standards Tier 3,
Flared Jeans Zara,
Am1430 Net Kmrb Am 1430 Cantonese,
Nyu Dental School Requirements,