Big Salmon River Expedition

"The man sized mountains palisade us round on every side;
The river is a flop with fish, and ripples silver clear;
The midnight sunshine brims."

Robert Service - The Spell of the Yukon

Step out of your busy world into the exciting waters of the Big Salmon River. Snow capped mountains surround you as your canoe glides through the pristine water. Starting at Quiet Lake in the beautiful South Canol region of the Yukon, you will admire the vast wilderness surrounding you, including grizzly bear, wolf, moose, caribou, wolverine, mink, bald eagle, merlin and beaver. A favourite past time after a day of paddling is casting your hook for “the big catch” of Lake Trout, Northern Pike and Arctic Grayling.

The Big Salmon offers great challenges for the intermediate paddler by dodging log jams, sweepers and maneuvering around tight corners and through large standing waves. The current is generally moderate but makes up for it in other areas as it twists and turns northwest towards the Yukon River. An exhilarating paddle beneath the “midnight sun”.

 

Trip Specifics

Duration:	14 days / 13 nights – Quiet Lake to Carmacks
Distance:	355 Kilometres (220 Miles)
Difficulty:	Intermediate Canoeist - Class II Rapids
Tour Dates:	August 6th (Thursday) to August 19th (Wednesday), 2009
Price:	$2,095.00 (Can) Per Person + 5% G.S.T.
Additional Cost:	Single Room/Tent $100.00 Per Person + 5% G.S.T.
Group Size:	Minimum 3 + Guide Maximum 10 + Guide
Maps	Don't have Google earth? get it here

 

Inclusions: Fully certified, knowledgeable and experienced river guide Rental and transportation of canoes, paddles and lifejackets Overland shuttle to and from the river Safety equipment including satellite phone All meals while on trip Airport shuttle pick-up in Whitehorse 1 night hotel accommodation in Whitehorse prior to trip 1 night hotel accommodation in Whitehorse after trip Tents, cooking and shared camping equipment

Exclusions: Meals while staying in Whitehorse or Dawson City. Transportation to and from Whitehorse Fishing license and fishing equipment Sleeping equipment (Sleeping bags and mattress) and personal equipment

 

Trip Itinerary

 

Day 1:

Arrival in Whitehorse. The Up North Adventures shuttle will greet you at the airport. Meet the other trip participants tonight, when your guide will verify your personal gear and go through any last minute questions. Participants are then invited to explore the City of Whitehorse, enjoy a good meal or take in some historic sights around town on their own. Enjoy your first night in Whitehorse in a hotel (included in price) located in downtown, within walking distance to all attractions and restaurants for your first evening.

 

Day 2:

Group officially meets at 9:00am at the Up North Adventure. After a quick gear review to assure participants are properly equipped, we will be shuttled by van to Quiet Lake, a three-hour drive, and the start of our Big Salmon adventure. The afternoon will be spent getting acquainted with our gear and boats and paddling Quiet Lake, the headwaters of the Big Salmon River. A relaxing evening will be spent on the shore of Quiet Lake complete with a roaring campfire and fresh grayling if our anglers are lucky!

 

Day 3:

Today we will be paddling through small lakes such as the Quiet, Sandy and Big Salmon and feeder creeks on route to the Big Salmon proper. We will be introduced to the wonderful world of swift water with an extensive introduction and/or review of whitewater techniques and safety.

 

Day 4-12:

As the canoe trip continues down the Big Salmon and Yukon Rivers, we may encounter wildlife such as grizzly bear, wolf, moose, and bald eagle.  For anglers on this trip, the river offers world class fishing opportunities for Artic Grayling and Salmon. Class I and II rapids will be encountered as well as beautiful mountain views. Camping in tents and eating by the campfire while under the “midnight sun”, provides the foundation for a truly unique wilderness experience. Other highlights include a visit to the ancient First Nations encampment of Big Salmon at the confluence of the Big Salmon and Yukon Rivers and Cyr’s dredge a derelict from the 1898 Yukon Gold Rush.

Day 13:

We arrive in Carmacks and the end of our Big Salmon adventure. The Up North shuttle will pick us up around 1:00pm and return us to Whitehorse. Arriving in Whitehorse late afternoon we say our goodbyes all around after the completion of a grand adventure. Participants will spend their last night at a downtown Whitehorse hotel (included in price).

 

Day 14:

Departure day. We will bring you back to the airport or you can start your next adventure.

 

*Note:Due to the expedition nature of this program, changes in the itinerary while on the river are a possibility, and are left up to the discretion of the guide. All attempts will be made to complete the trip within the outlined timeline.