Upper Stikine River

I had my eye on doing a long canoe trip up in Nahanni national park for some time. With Covid restrictions in the territories I felt it would be better to consider an in province option. The Upper Stikine was a bit shorter in duration, and after a long talk with owner/operator of Elements Adventure (great canoe company based out of Vernon) decided that we could probably pull off one last father son trip. My better half decided to pass on river canoeing in general and signed herself up for a mountaineering camp.

The trip began with a flight up to Smithers, we met with a few other guests and the next day took a float plane up to Tuaton Lake at the origin of the Stikin river. Its a very special area of the province, called the Sacred Headwaters with significant relavence for the first nations and the subject of a sucessful conservation effort. The rest of the group arrived after further runs of the float plane from nearby Tattoga lake where they had staged the night before. I went with a fellow guest and headed up a bushwaking trail to a nearby ridge for a bit of perspective on these headwaters.

The next two weeks were filled with excellent padelling, fun meals and stories on the shore and some great views. We ran a couple rapids, and portaged around two of the more challenging ones. With the guides help my stern canoeing skills really progressed throughout the trip. Was very interesting to see the river progress from little more than a creek to a roaring river as we travelled the 200+ km down stream. After the confluence with the Skeena it loses its clarity.