Earlier in September, Canadian River Expeditions hosted their annual Staff trip. This year it was on the Chilcotin river with 20 people making the trip out to enjoy the river. We traveled through a number of Indigenous communities in the Tsilhqot’in Nation. we put in just downstream of Tl’etinqox and traveled through or near the communities of Yunesit’in, Tl’esqox, and Tisdeldel.
Putting in at Hanceville, after we made the drive from Churn creek in the am. We had 7 rafts, 4 kayaks, an inflatable canoe, and an oc1. Leaving from the Bridge after rigging we were on to the river just after 1 pm.
The aim of the day was to make it to the Big Creek confluence camp. This is a pretty amazing spot that is steeped in rafting history with trips first being run by CRE on the river in 1972 with “Big John” Mikes, the first rafting company in BC and Canada. The area recently had changed with a flood coming down Big Creek and washing away a large section of the original camping area, large stands of trees, and farmland downstream. After a hike the next morning and it was off on the river again, heading to Sheep camp.
This was also the day we were running Farwell canyon. An amazing spot that has some amazing sand dunes and hoodoo features. Great images of this area are found on photographers Chris Harris‘s website. After spending some time scouting this feature from above, we made our way down to the river with all successfully running the rapids within the canyon.
Arriving later in the afternoon at Sheep Camp, the camp was set up and the margarita blender came out. Good stories and food were shared into the evening.
The next morning we loaded up and set our sights on making it to Tahiti beach on the Fraser River. The first section to make our way down was through Big John Canyon. This section squeezes the Chilcotin river between towering canyon walls and is filled with great whitewater.
Transitioning from the Chilcotin to the Fraser River as the river opens up and you get bigger boils and currents moving you around. A few rapids before the river mellows a bit and we float down to Tahiti beach. Conversations, good food, a few beverages, and glow-in-the-dark bocce made for a great time.
Was great to connect with some amazing people over a few days on the river and look forward to river adventures next summer with CRE/Nahanni. Check out the Website HERE.
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