Mountain River, NWT
| South Macmillan |
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The Nahanni used to be our favourtie river. In august 2010 we paddled the Mountain River and this river is a high contender for first place. There is continuous white water for much of its journey from the mountains to the confluence with the MacKenzie and the mountain scenery is really fantastic. As we started at Dusty Lake, we have numbered the canyons as we encountered them. Trips starting at Willowhandle lake have one less canyon to paddle. See also short video . August 7th - Fly in from Mayo to Dusty Lake over the Selwyn Mountain range
Campsite along the portage path between Dusty Lake and the river.
River is the small gorge in the landscape.
Dusty Lake in the morning 
Mountain river at the get-in by Dusty Lake
Camp about 20 km downstream from Dusty Lake
Canyon 1 above the join with Black Feather creek 
Drying clothes after a capsize in the canyon
Moonscape
Camp across the river from Cache Creek
Waterfall and tufamound in Cache Creek, about 1km from the river 
Entrance to canyon 2 just below Cache creek
Paddling just above Cache Creek 
Canyon 2
Exit of canyon 2. Stop to bail out the boats, despite spray decks.
Battleship rock marks the entrance to canyon 3.
Canyon 3 
Evening on the river below the confluence with the Stoneknife river
Helicopter rescue after capsize resulted in an injured knee and leg 
Entrance rapid to canyon 4
Canyon 4 
Beach and campspot (up in the trees) at exit of canyon 4
Middle canyon 5 below the entrance
Canyon 5 
Exit of canyon 5. Start of the lowlands.
Evening sunset 
Canyon 6
Sulphur spring at exit of canyon 6
Camp in the Mackenzie lowlands - cold weather! 
Confluence of the Mountain river with the Mackenzie
August 21st - Float plane lands to take us back to Mayo
Flight back to Mayo 
Moonrise on the Stewart river at Mayo (floatplane base)
Last update: sept. 09 2010 |
