Debbie's and Jeff's Nahanni Trip Itinerary

"We had been allowed to live for a little time in a world apart -
a lonely world of surpassing beauty, that had given us all things from the
sombre magnificence of the canyons to the gay sunshine of those
wind-swept uplands; from the quiet of the dry side canyons to the uproar
of the broken waters - a land where men pass, and the silence falls
back into place behind them.

- From the Dangerous River, R.M. Patterson

Some related links:

General map of Northwest Territories
Closer view, showing flight route from Edmonton to Yellowknife to Fort Simpson to Rabbitkettle
Interesting "slide show" about the Nahanni
Map of the area we'll be covering (we'll basically being canoeing within the green bit, from Rabbit Kettle to Kraus Hot Springs)
WEATHER: Fort Simpson
WEATHER: Virginia Falls (check here to see what weather we're experiencing on the trip!)

Day 1: Aug.16 Fly from Toronto to Edmonton (AC#159 leaves 5 pm, arrive Edmonton 7:02 pm), then to Yellowknife (AC#8957 NWT Air leaves 8:15 pm, arrive Yellowknife 9:55 pm). Accomodations at The Yellowknife Inn. Debbie starts to suffer Internet Withdrawal.

Day 2: Aug 17 Fly from Yellowknife (First Air #152 leaves 10:15 am, arrive Fort Simpson 11:20 am) to Fort Simpson, meet up with guides (Lin Ward & Al Pace of Canoe North Adventures, Dave Hibbard of Nahanni Wilderness Adventures). Lunch in Fort Simpson, charter flight into Rabbit Kettle Lake (1:30 pm). Overnight at campground.

Day 3: Aug. 18 5k hike through Rabbit Kettle Hot Springs and Mounds. 1 km portage to Nahanni River. First night camping on river!

Days 4,5: Aug. 19-20 (117 km) Flat water paddle through valleys of MacKenzie Mountains.

Day 6,7: Aug. 21-22 Arrive late afternoon at Virginia Falls. (weather). Two day camp here, with optional hike to summit of Sunblood Mountain.

Day 8: Aug. 23 (20 km) 1.2 km portage around Virginia Falls, paddle to Figure Eight Rapid. Camp above Rapid.

Day 9: Aug.24 (45 km) -- Jeff and Debbie's 8th wedding anniversary! Paddle down the Third Canyon through Funeral Range. Camp in the shadow of the Gate, optional hike above Pulpit Rock.

Day 10: Aug.25 (51 km) Complete Third Canyon, continue through Second Canyon, paddle through the Headless Range and into Deadmen Valley. The valley opens up with distant views of the Tigotsho Plateau. Camp at Deadmen Valley campground.

Day 11: Aug.26 (50 km) Paddle to First Canyon, which is dotted with hundreds of caves. Apparently canyon cuts through the Nahanni Plateau, creating spectacular views. Lunch at Kraus Hot Springs. Two of our guides leave us at this point! One guide left.

Day 12: Aug.27 (54 km) Paddle to Nahanni Butte near confluence of the Nahanni and Liard Rivers.

Day 13: Aug.28 (45 km barging) Travel for half day by barge into Blackstone Landing. Trip celebration! Overnight at Lindberg's Bed and Breakfast.

Day 14: Aug.29 Take van to Fort Simpson. Fly to Yellowknife. Overnight at the Yellowknife Inn.

Day 15: Aug.30 Depart Yellowknife on NWT Flight #8952 at 8:15 am, arriving in Edmonton at 9:50 a.m. Depart Edmonton 12 noon on AC#125. Arrive in Toronto at 5:20 pm.

Day 1: Aug.16	Fly from Toronto to Edmonton (AC#159 leaves 5 pm, arrive Edmonton 7:02 pm), then to Yellowknife (AC#8957 NWT Air leaves 8:15 pm, arrive Yellowknife 9:55 pm). Accomodations at The Yellowknife Inn. Debbie starts to suffer Internet Withdrawal.
Day 2: Aug 17	Fly from Yellowknife (First Air #152 leaves 10:15 am, arrive Fort Simpson 11:20 am) to Fort Simpson, meet up with guides (Lin Ward & Al Pace of Canoe North Adventures, Dave Hibbard of Nahanni Wilderness Adventures). Lunch in Fort Simpson, charter flight into Rabbit Kettle Lake (1:30 pm). Overnight at campground.
Day 3: Aug. 18	5k hike through Rabbit Kettle Hot Springs and Mounds. 1 km portage to Nahanni River. First night camping on river!
Days 4,5: Aug. 19-20 (117 km)	Flat water paddle through valleys of MacKenzie Mountains.
Day 6,7: Aug. 21-22	Arrive late afternoon at Virginia Falls. (weather). Two day camp here, with optional hike to summit of Sunblood Mountain.
Day 8: Aug. 23 (20 km)	1.2 km portage around Virginia Falls, paddle to Figure Eight Rapid. Camp above Rapid.
Day 9: Aug.24 (45 km) -- Jeff and Debbie's 8th wedding anniversary!	Paddle down the Third Canyon through Funeral Range. Camp in the shadow of the Gate, optional hike above Pulpit Rock.
Day 10: Aug.25 (51 km)	Complete Third Canyon, continue through Second Canyon, paddle through the Headless Range and into Deadmen Valley. The valley opens up with distant views of the Tigotsho Plateau. Camp at Deadmen Valley campground.
Day 11: Aug.26 (50 km)	Paddle to First Canyon, which is dotted with hundreds of caves. Apparently canyon cuts through the Nahanni Plateau, creating spectacular views. Lunch at Kraus Hot Springs. Two of our guides leave us at this point! One guide left.
Day 12: Aug.27 (54 km)	Paddle to Nahanni Butte near confluence of the Nahanni and Liard Rivers.
Day 13: Aug.28 (45 km barging)	Travel for half day by barge into Blackstone Landing. Trip celebration! Overnight at Lindberg's Bed and Breakfast.
Day 14: Aug.29	Take van to Fort Simpson. Fly to Yellowknife. Overnight at the Yellowknife Inn.
Day 15: Aug.30	Depart Yellowknife on NWT Flight #8952 at 8:15 am, arriving in Edmonton at 9:50 a.m. Depart Edmonton 12 noon on AC#125. Arrive in Toronto at 5:20 pm.