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The Mountain River - River of the Mountain Dene |
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Trip Itinerary
 DAY 6 CONTINOUS TO DAY 11
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Trip Details:
Length: 12 days
Craft: Rafts
Start/Finish: Dusty Lake to Norman Wells
Distance: 310 km./185 miles.
Elevation loss: 1100 meters/3575 feet
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One of Canada's most spectacular wilderness rivers,
the Mountain River is traveled by just a handful of groups each season. Wild
and remote, the majestic Mackenzie Mountain scenery is breathtaking. It offers
sightings of caribou, Dall's sheep, wolf and moose, against a stunning backdrop
of colour. From high in the alpine taiga the river provides thrilling whitewater
with mile after mile of fun roller coaster like waves. From the first paddle
stroke to the finale at the confluence with the Mackenzie River, the current
never stops, weaving its way through seven dramatic canyons making the Mountain
River the best river for whitewater canoeing in the North!
The adventures starts with your flight to Norman Wells a remote oil town
established by Imperial Oil in 1919 on the banks of the mighty Mackenzie River.
Participants need to arrive in Norman Wells on day one of the Mountain River itinerary.
A second option is to arrive the day before the trip starts if you wish to check
out the town, its unique visitor's center or rest off some jet lag. Let us know when
you are arriving and we can meet you at the airport. We can offer suggestions for
accommodation in Norman Wells.
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Day 1:Following our pre-trip orientation
and the repacking of personal bags we will depart Norman Wells for a one hour charter
with North Wright Air to Dusty Lake. The upriver flight over the mountain and river
is almost as exciting as the down river trip so you will want to keep your camera
handy. Dusty Lake is set above treeline in a broad amphitheater of high peaks.
It offers the closest access to the heads of the Mountain River, just 20 kilometers
from the Yukon Boundary. Your guides will have flown in ahead of time to portage the
rafts and trip gear to the river. They will meet you upon arrival at Dusty Lake and
escort you along the half mile long portage that brings you to a camp site on the
Mountain River.
Note:In 2003 NWA pioneered raft trip access to the Mountain
River via Dusty Lake. The alternative used by other outfitters is a loud and intrusive
20-kilometer heli-portage from Willow Handle Lake that adds over $1000.00 CDN to the
trip fee.
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Day
2: With rafts inflated and packed we will shove off after a hearty breakfast
and feel the surge of the river beneath our rafts. With the use of oars the guides will
keep the rafts floating in the deeper water while everyone keeps their eyes peeled for
wildlife on the slopes above the river's willow covered banks. This is moose country.
In 2003, rounding a bend we surprised a cow and calf on a small island. Our group was
in awe with this close encounter. The cow, bristling, stood as tall as a thoroughbred,
her young calf darting back and forth between her legs. Further on we move through the
transition zone of willow into a mature conifer forest than boarders the river and spreads
out over lower elevations. As the peaks around us close in upon the valley a canyons are
formed at river level. In the afternoon we will float the first two of the Mountain River's
7 canyons. The rocky walls offer good nesting for raptors. Further excitement was created
in 2003 with eerie calls of a gyrfalcon in second canyon. Camp this night will be at the
confluence with Black Feather Creek from the Willow Handle Lake access from the south.
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Day 3/4: The Mountain River has now doubled its flow and
races through the Sayunei Range. Large alluvial fans open up the country and provide
vegetation and berries that are popular with bears. Today we will make good time as the
river races toward the colourful Ten Stone Range. We will stop for lunch at Shale Creek
flowing in from a lake of the same name from the north. Over the years Shale Creek has
been one of the better fishing tributaries. Fishermen in the group will have the opportunity
to add some grayling and Dolly Varden trout to our dinner. Pushing on through the afternoon
the Ten Stone Range looms high above the river. Ridges dipping into the valley display uncommon
rock sections of faded purple and gold. In the evening we will camp at what has become known
as the Moonscapes. In the evening we will have the option of exploring them on foot. The
Moonscapes are an unusual plot of pot marked land that boarders the west side of the river and
reaches back with a circumference of more than a mile. Up on the Moonscapes one finds an unusual
grey and weather worn soil, almost devoid of vegetation. So foreign is this land that many a group
has spent hours trying to unravel the puzzle it presents. A landslide is what most groups consider
most plausible. However the source cannot be found. The most likely theory, which came from an
associate guide, is that the Moonscape is actually a collapsed tufa mound. The soil closely
resembles calcium carbonate. The lack of nitrogen in these elements explains the near absents
of vegetation. There are other active warm springs with subsequent tufa mounds just a few kilometers
down stream. Anyone visiting the Moonscape will find the area similarly puzzling. Unusual wildlife
encounters have been had at the Moonscape. Once a red fox inquisitively walked right up to us.
Another time we shared the open land with a wandering bull caribou that showed little concern over
our presence. We will take a layover day here to enjoy exploring the area.
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| Day 5: Drifting through the gap in the Ten Stone Range and on towards
the Shattered Range the alpine vistas are simply stunning. At the junction with Cache Creek the
river has cut its way through the base of the Shattered Range to form the significant Third Canyon.
Gliding past the sheer and imposing walls of this canyon is climax of our day. At the exit to the
canyon the valley opens up again. We will camp on an open beach alive with pink flowers from broad
leaf fireweed.
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DAY 6 CONTINOUS TO DAY
11
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