Yukon Wild Canoetrip , Canoe the Wind River in Canada

 

 

 

Wind River 

The perfect combination of canoeing on a swift clear mountain river
 with hikes across  the tundra and up incredible mountainsides
within breathtaking landscapes

Reservations

 
Upper Wind River short hike for a great viev of the upper wind river
Hard to say, what makes the Wind River so special. Is it the canoeing, the mountain hikes, wildlife viewing, incredible campsites ? Or is it the dramatic sunsets on the mountains ? No, its the combination of  all that

The Wind, only accessible by floatplane, starts in the Wernecke Mountains, and drains through the Peel and Mackenzie River eventually into the arctic ocean. Being close to the arctic circle, it never gets dark in the summer. That allows for ample time to explore. In the beginning of the trip, the tundra starts at the river's edge. This allows for easy access to the rugged mountains. Huge alluvial fans lead us away from the water and up the steep slopes.

On the first part of the trip, while we are in the mountains, we have shorter paddling days which allows more time for exploration on foot. 
On layover days we follow small streams up the valleys to  canyons and waterfalls, or hike up mountain ridges to reach spectacular viewpoints over the vast Wind River valley and beyond.

The crystal clear water of the Wind River maintains a good pace all the way down to the confluence with the Peel River. Often, the Wind braids substantially in many channels, that makes route finding interesting. With appropriate paddling skills, it's fun to switch channels and maneuver through turbulent water. Some tight corners, enlivened with sweepers add spice to it.
Date
July 17. - Aug. 5.  2008
Price
Can. $ 4.500 + 5 % GST
out of Whitehorse
No. of Participants 
5 - 7
Included in Price
3 nights in our guest cabin at Yukon Wild. 2 person tents during the canoe trip ( double occupancy, single occupancy upon request), all activities according to the  itinerary,  2 flights by floatplane, to and from the river, all required shuttles, canoes with spraydecks, complete cooking and camp gear, all meals during the canoe trip, experienced licensed guide, satellite phone for your safety.
Extra costs
Transportation to and from Whitehorse, alcoholic beverages, tips
Requirements to participate
Ability to paddle in fast moving water with obstructions ( WW class 2) We consider the Wind River more demanding than the Big Salmon River.

Hiking requires good footing and fitness. There are no trails, and steep and slippery sections are common. 

There is one short portage ( 200 m) to the river. After that, some lining might be required, depending on water levels

We stop numerous times to enjoy the mountains and the river valley. Sometimes the river requires our whole attention  and moves us forward too fast, to allow us to lean back and just admire the beauty of nature.
The Peel River is impressive with steep canyon walls, almost all the way down to the pick up point. In the Lower Peel Canyon the river becomes extremely narrow and the sedimentary rock formations are one of the highlights of the trip.
 

Lower Peel River Canyon

 Dramatic light before sunset on the Wernecke Mountains

More Pictures here
 

Reservations
Itinerary

 

Day 1 Arrival in Whitehorse, pick up at the airport. Time for last minute shopping before the trip. Afterwards drive to Yukon Wild Base Camp. Stay at our guest cabin or in a wall tent
Day 2 On a small river nearby we oil rusty canoeing skills and learn new  tricks. This is a great introduction to prepare for the Wind River itself.
Day 3 We drive up the Klondike Highway to Mayo. From here we fly appr. 45 min. with a floatplane from the Stewart River to Mc Clusky Lake
On the approach we will see the upper reaches of the Wind and the creek we will follow to begin our journey. In no time, canoes and gear are lying on the lakeshore, and  the plane has left. In peace and quiet we set up our first wilderness camp. The small mountain lake invites us for a leisure evening paddle.
Day 4 Our trip starts with a short portage ( 200m) from McClusky Lake to a small mountain creek, leading to the Wind River. Depending on the water level we may have to line the canoes from time to time
200 km of Wind River are ahead of us.
At the beginning, the Wind River is quite small and shallow. There are some tight corners with sweepers to navigate, and the current is fast. The valley becomes wide and open, allowing for distant views.
Day 5 - 11 Our attention is drawn by the turquoise color of the river, the rugged Wernecke Mountains, and the surrounding tundra. Gravel bars alternate with the grassy tundra . Each draw in the mountains calls for exploration. On a shorter paddling day, we hike up to a waterfall in a canyon, look for reflections in some tundra lakes, or climb up a ridge for far reaching vistas. At certain spots we stay an extra day for additional excursions on foot
Dall sheep, caribou and grizzly bears are quite common in that area. Because of the low vegetation it is easy to spot them in the distance. Around Bond Creek and Bear River we have extra time to relax in the midst of those colorful mountains
Day 12 - 15 Before the river leaves the mountains past Royal Creek, we take another day off to go on a ridge hike above the Wind. The river picks up more speed as it races towards the Peel. We navigate through a maze of river braids and shallows. Some turbulences and choppy sections make this part very enjoyable. Just before the Little Wind joins in, some standing waves present a class 2 rapid.
Mount Deception , an island peak  above the tundra of the Peel River Plateau, is our last chance for a day hike. From up top, we see all the way to the Richardson Mountains and down the network of channels from the previous day's journey to the end of the next paddling day.
On gravel bars we find coal deposits, washed out of the riverbank.
Just before we reach the Peel River, the wide gravel bed of the river changes into a narrow  colorful canyon. The Wind stays spectacular to the very last meter. Each bend asks for a photo stop before we finally set up camp at the confluence within the canyon section
Day 16 - 18 We leave the Wind River behind. For a while the Peel changes into a wide shallow river, before narrowing down to a  bottleneck in the Lower Peel Canyon. The folded sedimentary layers of rock of the black steep canyon walls catch our attention at the same time, as the standing waves are approaching in the fast current
Day 19 A gravel bar on the Peel River will be our last Camp on the river. From here we will be picked up by the floatplane. Yes, on this trip we will fly twice. With the tundra  and parts of the wind river valley below, we will enjoy a spectacular overview of the area we discovered over the last couple of weeks.
Back in Mayo we will start our journey back to Whitehorse by Van. Our last night will be back in the guest cabin of Yukon Wild or the wall tent
Day 20 Transfer to the Airport
 
Equipment List :

personal Gear you should bring along :

  • Sleeping bag, suitable for light frost, down or synthetic

  • Sleeping pad, preferred Therm A Rest. 

  • Waterproof bag ( Seabag) for your personal gear during canoe trip, min. 70 Liters

  • Daypack

  • Water bottle

  • Sewing kit

  • Sunglasses

  • Hat

  • Pocket knife

  • Mosquito repellant (  best, bought in Whitehorse)

  • Whistle

  • Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Soap ( biodegradable), Kleenex, Toilet paper ( 1 Roll), Towel, Sunscreen, Personal Medication

  • broken in hiking boots

  • Rain pants

  • Rain jacket - best bet : Gore Tex

  • Windbreaker

  • Neoprene Booties  with very firm sole for the canoe trip

personal gear you might bring along:

  • Foto - think about waterproof storage ( best bet : Pelican Case)

  • Binoculars

  • Underwear

  • 3 pair of socks

  • 2 long pants, fast drying

  • 1Longjohn

  • 2 T- Shirts

  • 1 long sleeve T- Shirt

  • 1 Long sleeve shirt, light one

  • Fleece Jacket, or sweater

  • light gloves for paddling

This list contains the basic equipment required to complete the trip comfortably. According to your personal preference, you can certainly substitute items, or add necessary things. But - please try to keep the amount of gear as small as possible. The tendency to bring too much is very common. 

Weight and volume are also a consideration because we fly with a small plane

 
 
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Adventure Tours Yukon Wild / Abenteuer Reisen Yukon Wild
P.O. Box 40132,  Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 6M8,  Canada
Phone : 867 668 5511

 

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