A canoe trip down the Yukon River - Brain storming.
 

I've got my mind set on taking a Canadian canoe some 1500-2000 miles down the Yukon River. Probably starting in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and finishing on the west coast of Alaska at the bearing straights.

I'm after any information and possible interest in joining/help planning this trip for 2013.

I know it's not a bike/4x4 so that's why I'm posting in the bar.

Well, I'm thinking of about two months for this trip in a group of between 3-4 people (One canoe) or 4-8 people (two canoes).

It would be all about wild camping, fishing, light hunting, bush craft and obviously strenuous hard work. I think it would be a brilliant trip.

I've got VERY little experience in a Canoe but from my research, it's a nice river to travel (technically) as the only rapids are just grade two's which are pretty much nothing at all. (I've rafted over grade fives before).

Anyway.. Feel free to post on this thread with any relevant information or interest in getting involved.

Ted

The Yukon, eh? A classic trip by any definition.

A good starting point is one of the more popular guide books, great for general planning, background info on the trip, gear requirements etc. You can supplement with some of the suggested historical books that tell the story of the river and the people.

Like any adventure, a shakedown trip of shorter duration will let you refine your gear list and practice a bit. If you have the time, there are some great trips here in B.C. that would allow you to do that, and in a wilderness setting which is one very important aspect of the trip.

I've got a canoe you can borrow for practice or for the trip. There are a couple of large lakes and rivers nearby that would allow for multi day or multi week trips.

Check out some of the options for canoe types. Most commonly you'll see tandem canoes out on the lakes and rivers. Good handling, plenty of storage required for all the gear, and light enough that a single person can carry if portaging is required.

Clipper Canoes - Home

The wilderness skills are harder to prep for and are usually only acquired through experience. It is by no means impossible, but wilderness camping has it's own challenges that need to planned for. The more a person does it, the better they get and the more enjoyable it is. It's not to be underestimated.

Oh and the mosquitos can be the size of eagles, bring plenty of deet:)

That's a good idea. I might just take you up on that...

Penny's permitting :cool4:

Interesting. I'm investigating feasibility of a kayak trip along beaver creek for 400 miles over 3 weeks.

And I thought that was ambitious!

Haven't got very far with research and planning yet, but will be very happy to share anything I learn.

We need a new forum section for boats. Why not?

Looks like a great trip Ted.
Can I recommend "Path of the paddle" by Bill Mason. This book is equivalent to say, Chris Scott's Adventure M/cycling H/book.
This will give loads of tuition on how to (on the rivers) and when not to, along with "types of canoe and wilderness camping", amongst many other bits of info.


Dont be afraid to wear buoyancy, it's akin to crash helmet, but much more.

Have fun

Socks

Ted, I have a copy of "We Live in Alaska", the story of a young couple who canoed down the Yukon on their honeymoon, in 1942. It's a terrific tale, they too wild camped, did a bit of hunting, stayed with riverside residents a couple of times.

If I remember correctly (not at home at the moment so can't look it up) they built their own canoe.
Despite it being 1942 I should think the info in the book would be useful, as well as the account of their experiences.

If you can find it for sale it should be about a fiver. If you can't and fancy reading it I can post you mine.

Look at www.abebooks.co.uk. I just found quite a few there.

Also there are some informative reviews of the book if you look up the title on amazon.com.

One thing I remember - they encountered life-threatening swarms of mosquitoes needing full head-to-toe netting.

Couple of years back I was in the large modern tourist centre in swinging downtown Whitehorse and got the impression that they have a mass annual paddle from there down the Yukon so a little e-mail to them might not go amiss. However, to add weight to a previous post, the Canadian blackflies/mossies/horseflies make their jock cousins appear amateurs in the biting, sorry, savaging, game so forget about the black and grizzly bears, most of the year they are veggies the flyboys are anything but. However (again) were I younger and fitter I would definatly pack my bugspray, dynamite and spare paddle.
Ride/paddle/survive safe.

Thanks for the advice and book suggestions guys. Just bought them both on Amazon for £16.

have a look at this 1 then ted to get some ideas.
https://s-external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe...%2Fdefault.jpg Mazungu - Canoeing The Congo
www.youtube.com Trailer of the 48 minute documentary film of Phil Harwood's five month 'source to sea' solo canoe expedition down the mighty Congo River in Central Africa. W...