For some reason, I have got it in my craw to canoe to the Arctic Ocean,
perhaps on the McKenzie or the Horton, the Yellowknife looks too
technical for my taste/experience. I have done a lot of research, I
have the McCreadie book, I even made up web pages for a half dozen
rivers with a summary of my research, including links to good trip
journals, etc.

What I am short is a willing partner for a month long trip. I used the
web pages as a sales tool for some of my friends who I thought might be
game. However, it is hard to find someone who can take off that much
time.

I should say that I have some canoeing experience in Utah, etc., but
none in Canada or anywhere else north. However, I have considerable
experience with planning successful international mountaineering
expeditions, so I know how to do my research, develop a good plan, and
succeed far from home.

But anyway, my question is how I could find a suitable partner for such
a crazy trip? Do I need to join a local (Colorado) canoeing club?
Should I put up a notice at local river shops? The one thing I would
never do is sign up for a month trip with someone I had not done shorter
trips with, so finding a partner on the Internet doesn't seem like an
attractive plan, unless he lives in or near Colorado. (Also, the
partner would have to be a he, or I would be in deep trouble with my
wife). One suggestion has been to join a guided group trip, but I am
accustomed to small groups with cooperative joint leadership, also the
cost of a guided trip seems steep. (Floatplane costs are, however,
potentially a big issue on an independent trip). I have more time than
money. I would consider doing the McKenzie solo, but can't say that a
solo trip seems particularly smart or attractive.

Any suggestions on how to find a partner would be appreciated.

Richard

On 17-Dec-2003, Richard Ferguson wrote:

One suggestion has been to join a guided group trip, but I am
accustomed to small groups with cooperative joint leadership, also the
cost of a guided trip seems steep. (Floatplane costs are, however,
potentially a big issue on an independent trip). I have more time than
money. I would consider doing the McKenzie solo, but can't say that a
solo trip seems particularly smart or attractive.

I can't imagine that there'd be too many commercial offerings for such
a trip. Most concentrate on something more exotic than the Mackenzie.
If you launch from somewhere like Wrigley, you could drive all the way
in and skip the flight costs. Return to your vehicle would require
a flight, though. Even if you don't drive, finding a commercial flight
into, say, Norman Wells or Fort Good Hope, and leaving from Tuk would
avoid chartering a float plane. I don't know what kind of service is
available to those towns, though, so it might end up the same $ as a
drop in the middle of nowhere. Also, the tail end, getting to Tuk,
would be a hairy paddle in the Arctic Ocean. I'd do it in a sea kayak,
but not a canoe.

The Mackenzie is a big river and it flows fast all the time. You would
be able to cover a lot of distance without paddling. The north end is
interesting as I understand it - lots of shallows and stuff.

The Horton, OTOH, is in the middle of nowhere.

Victoria Jason paddled the Mackenzie and wrote of it in Kabloona In A
Yellow Kayak. She met a couple of guys in a canoe and described
the trip. One of those guys now works for Mountain Equipment Coop
and lurks occasionally on paddling lists.

If you find someone to go with, be forwarned - they'll be as crazy as
you :-) Good luck - it's a trip I've thought of ever since seeing the
Mackenzie at Fort Simpson (stopover on the way to Nahanni).

Mike

As far as the MacKenzie, I am skeptical about going to Tuk in an open
canoe also. One alternative would be to canoe out to some arbitrary
point where it looks like the ocean starts, and then paddle back to
Inuvik, or arrange a pickup in a boat or even a floatplane. A few hours
in Inuvik talking to people would probably answer the question about
what was practical.

One unusual solution to the shuttle problem involves using Yellowknife
as a hub, taking a bus from Yellowknife to Providence or Hay River, and
then flying back from Inuvik to Yellowknife. Easy if your canoe fits in
a duffel bag. (I have an Old Town 16 footer myself).

Putting a standard canoe on the airplane from Inuvik to Yellowknife is
apt to cost $500 US or so, based on a phone conversation with the
airline, but it can be done. Another option would be to abandon the
canoe in Inuvik. (I think I paid about that much for my canoe, used).

I agree that no one is probably guiding the MacKenzie, too long a trip,
not exotic.

One reason that the MacKenzie river sounds good is that I heard a
lecture and bought a book on Sir MacKenzie, quite a story that even most
Canadians don't know. But there are many other great rivers in the north.

Richard

--------------------------------------------------------

I can't imagine that there'd be too many commercial offerings for such
a trip. Most concentrate on something more exotic than the Mackenzie.
If you launch from somewhere like Wrigley, you could drive all the way
in and skip the flight costs. Return to your vehicle would require
a flight, though. Even if you don't drive, finding a commercial flight
into, say, Norman Wells or Fort Good Hope, and leaving from Tuk would
avoid chartering a float plane. I don't know what kind of service is
available to those towns, though, so it might end up the same $ as a
drop in the middle of nowhere. Also, the tail end, getting to Tuk,
would be a hairy paddle in the Arctic Ocean. I'd do it in a sea kayak,
but not a canoe.

The Mackenzie is a big river and it flows fast all the time. You would
be able to cover a lot of distance without paddling. The north end is
interesting as I understand it - lots of shallows and stuff.

The Horton, OTOH, is in the middle of nowhere.

Victoria Jason paddled the Mackenzie and wrote of it in Kabloona In A
Yellow Kayak. She met a couple of guys in a canoe and described
the trip. One of those guys now works for Mountain Equipment Coop
and lurks occasionally on paddling lists.

If you find someone to go with, be forwarned - they'll be as crazy as
you :-) Good luck - it's a trip I've thought of ever since seeing the
Mackenzie at Fort Simpson (stopover on the way to Nahanni).

Mike

Richard Ferguson wrote in :

As far as the MacKenzie, I am skeptical about going to Tuk in an
open canoe also. One alternative would be to canoe out to some
arbitrary point where it looks like the ocean starts, and then
paddle back to Inuvik, or arrange a pickup in a boat or even a
floatplane. A few hours in Inuvik talking to people would
probably answer the question about what was practical.


snip

You might try the website for Inuvik -- www.inuvikinfo.com -- to see
of they have any info that you could use. Also www.town.inuvik.nt.ca
might have some info.

As well, High Arctic Adventures, based in Inuvik might be able to
give you come information: or
www.arcticnaturetours.com or 1-866-TOUR.TUK (tollfree).

One mo Western Arctic Adventures & Equipment --
, www.inuvik.net/canoenwt, (867) 777-2594

For info on Tuktoyaktuk, their email is
, (867)977-2286

I have emails and/or phone numbers for a number of the towns/villages
in that area if you want to try them as well. Let me know.

HTH,
--
Darryl

I did the Horton last year with Nahanni River Adventures www.nahanni.com. My
travelogue is at www.philsego.com

Yes -- I looked into putting together my own trip and outfitting it myself.
But for the few extra $$, the outfitter/guide did all the work. I wound up
partnering with the trip leader, Les Parsons - although partnering with
anyone on that trip would have been fine.

It's definitely worth the trip!

-- Phil



"Richard Ferguson" wrote in message
...
As far as the MacKenzie, I am skeptical about going to Tuk in an open
canoe also. One alternative would be to canoe out to some arbitrary
point where it looks like the ocean starts, and then paddle back to
Inuvik, or arrange a pickup in a boat or even a floatplane. A few hours
in Inuvik talking to people would probably answer the question about
what was practical.

One unusual solution to the shuttle problem involves using Yellowknife
as a hub, taking a bus from Yellowknife to Providence or Hay River, and
then flying back from Inuvik to Yellowknife. Easy if your canoe fits in
a duffel bag. (I have an Old Town 16 footer myself).

Putting a standard canoe on the airplane from Inuvik to Yellowknife is
apt to cost $500 US or so, based on a phone conversation with the
airline, but it can be done. Another option would be to abandon the
canoe in Inuvik. (I think I paid about that much for my canoe, used).

I agree that no one is probably guiding the MacKenzie, too long a trip,
not exotic.

One reason that the MacKenzie river sounds good is that I heard a
lecture and bought a book on Sir MacKenzie, quite a story that even most
Canadians don't know. But there are many other great rivers in the north.

Richard

--------------------------------------------------------

I can't imagine that there'd be too many commercial offerings for such
a trip. Most concentrate on something more exotic than the Mackenzie.
If you launch from somewhere like Wrigley, you could drive all the way
in and skip the flight costs. Return to your vehicle would require
a flight, though. Even if you don't drive, finding a commercial flight
into, say, Norman Wells or Fort Good Hope, and leaving from Tuk would
avoid chartering a float plane. I don't know what kind of service is
available to those towns, though, so it might end up the same $ as a
drop in the middle of nowhere. Also, the tail end, getting to Tuk,
would be a hairy paddle in the Arctic Ocean. I'd do it in a sea kayak,
but not a canoe.

The Mackenzie is a big river and it flows fast all the time. You would
be able to cover a lot of distance without paddling. The north end is
interesting as I understand it - lots of shallows and stuff.

The Horton, OTOH, is in the middle of nowhere.

Victoria Jason paddled the Mackenzie and wrote of it in Kabloona In A
Yellow Kayak. She met a couple of guys in a canoe and described
the trip. One of those guys now works for Mountain Equipment Coop
and lurks occasionally on paddling lists.

If you find someone to go with, be forwarned - they'll be as crazy as
you :-) Good luck - it's a trip I've thought of ever since seeing the
Mackenzie at Fort Simpson (stopover on the way to Nahanni).

Mike

The Mackenzie is a big river and it flows fast all the time. You would
be able to cover a lot of distance without paddling. The north end is
interesting as I understand it - lots of shallows and stuff.

It's big AND boring. A big lake with a lot of current.

The Horton, OTOH, is in the middle of nowhere.

Did the Horton last summer, Horton Lake to the ocean in 21 days (it's
about 600 km). It's a Barrens trip, you gotta like solitude and flat
land. It's more about the journey than the scenery. A sat phone is a
must if you're worried about a quick rescue. Temps from 33C to 0C. Some
class 3/4 whitewater in the middle for a couple of days, otherwise easy
class 1 (assuming you're comfortable in moving water). We flew in from
Normal Wells on a float, out to Inuvik from the mouth on a Twin Otter
(wheels). Saw a few other people along the way. It's a lot easier with
an outfitter; arranging those 1-way flights and renting boats gets ugly.

(I'm only lurking here for a while, killing some time, after a long
absence; email if you want more info).

"Richard Ferguson" wrote in message
...
For some reason, I have got it in my craw to canoe to the Arctic Ocean,
perhaps on the McKenzie or the Horton, the Yellowknife looks too
technical for my taste/experience. I have done a lot of research, I
have the McCreadie book, I even made up web pages for a half dozen
rivers with a summary of my research, including links to good trip
journals, etc.

What I am short is a willing partner for a month long trip. I used the
web pages as a sales tool for some of my friends who I thought might be
game. However, it is hard to find someone who can take off that much
time.


Hmm. Lets talk. I'm a teacher, so I have summers off. I've done from the
headwaters of the Snake to the Peel to the McKenzie...it was 2 weeks.
Logistics are managable, but its a pricey trip. You'd want to have two solo
canoes, I think, to carry gear and to enable you to get out in case of
catastrophe.

What rivers are you thinking of?

--riverman

Riverman:

I guess I need your email and your real name. ;-) I am using mine.

I am retired (early), so I have time. Where do you live?

So far I have researched the MacKenzie, the Horton, the Coppermine, the
Yellowknife, the Thelon, the Nahanni, the Porcupine (Alaska), the Slave,
and the Yukon. I am not saying that I am enthused about all of them,
each has it's merits and demerits. The Thelon could be the most
expensive, high floatplane costs. The Yukon is probably 80 days from
headwaters to the sea, I could not be gone that long. Some, such as the
Coppermine, are more technical than I would be comfortable with,
especially with a small group in a very remote area. The MacKenzie has
a lot of appeal, due to the history, and all the logistics could be done
with public transportation, especially with a folding canoe, so probably
the cheapest. Some of the rivers, such as the Nahanni and the
Yellowknife, are fly in, but you can drive to the takeout, so cheaper in
that sense.

Not sure what the best catastrophe plan is. The MacKenzie has enough
traffic you should be able to flag down a passing boat of some kind,
especially if you had some signaling device. The Horton is the other
way around, you might have to wait weeks for a search party. Thinking
about one's survival skills is probably critical.

Richard



riverman wrote:

"Richard Ferguson" wrote in message
...
For some reason, I have got it in my craw to canoe to the Arctic Ocean,
perhaps on the McKenzie or the Horton, the Yellowknife looks too
technical for my taste/experience. I have done a lot of research, I
have the McCreadie book, I even made up web pages for a half dozen
rivers with a summary of my research, including links to good trip
journals, etc.

What I am short is a willing partner for a month long trip. I used the
web pages as a sales tool for some of my friends who I thought might be
game. However, it is hard to find someone who can take off that much
time.


Hmm. Lets talk. I'm a teacher, so I have summers off. I've done from the
headwaters of the Snake to the Peel to the McKenzie...it was 2 weeks.
Logistics are managable, but its a pricey trip. You'd want to have two solo
canoes, I think, to carry gear and to enable you to get out in case of
catastrophe.

What rivers are you thinking of?

--riverman

"Richard Ferguson" wrote in message
...
. . .
So far I have researched the MacKenzie, the Horton, the Coppermine, the
Yellowknife, the Thelon, the Nahanni, the Porcupine (Alaska), the Slave,
and the Yukon. I am not saying that I am enthused about all of them,
each has it's merits and demerits.

Hmmm. Anyone up for a MacKenzie/Peel/Rat/Bell/Porcupine trip?

Just wondering,
Fred Klingener

How does that trip work? How many months? I am not familiar with the
Rat or the Bell, where are they?

Richard



Hmmm. Anyone up for a MacKenzie/Peel/Rat/Bell/Porcupine trip?

Just wondering,
Fred Klingener