INCREDIBLE PEACE on the THELON RIVER

Territory of Nunavut, Canada

 

The Thelon is magic ... and it's the best! This incredible wild river flows 1000 km (600 miles) from its headwaters, and discharges in a sandy delta at Baker Lake, Nunavut.  From there the waters of the Thelon mingle with that of the Dubawnt & Kazan as they merge and flow eastward to Chesterfield Inlet to Hudson's Bay. On its long journey to the Arctic sea, the river penetrates the heart of the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary - the largest and most remote wildlife refuge in Canada.

'Hornbys' Place - photo by Donna Barnett

Bull moose feeding along Thelon River by Cosmos Lake / photo copyright Dave Huffman

The Thelon is home to a most unusual forest oasis far out on the tundra, and is designated as a Canadian Heritage River. Paddlers almost always encounter wild tundra wolves & musk-ox herds.  The upper Thelon area annually experiences  the migrations and convergences of the Bathurst & Ahiak caribou herds. Participants often see barrens grizzly - even moose way up here above the tree-line!

The Thelon offers an incredible diversity of bird life including peregrine and gyrfalcon, bald and golden eagles, rough - legged and other hawks .....plus a variety a variety of sparrows and shorebirds inherent to both the boreal forest and the Arctic.

Golden eagle nest at the Gap by Grassy Island  - Thelon River

 

Our Thelon trips are Class II & III (remote), and are suitable for all ages in moderate physical condition.

 

The CLARKE / THELON RIVER EXPEDITION

The route of this expedition occurs entirely within the boundaries of the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary.

Following shortly after spring ice breakup, this Class II un-guided paddle begins on the tundra of the Dubawnt 'Highlands'. From here you follow the beautiful deep-cut valley of the Clarke River with its many side-canyons with peregrine & gyrfalcon nests. We will then meet the majestic Thelon River at its canyon, and follow it past Wardens Grove, Grassy Island, Hornby & Lookout Points, Usus Islands, and to end at the historically-rich Inuit area of the Beverly Lake 15 days later. There you will be picked up bty chartered aircraft, and flown to the tradtional Inuit settlement of Baker Lake, Nunavut - and the end of this remarkable expediton!

'Project Oasis' canoe reserach expediton at the Gap-  / photo copyright Donna Barnett

Cows & calves of the Beverly herd along Thelon / photo copyright Maxwell Finkelstein

This trip is timed for the most likely chance to meet the cows and calves of the Beverly caribou herd as they migrate south from their calving grounds. We will likely encounter tundra white wolves during their den cycle, with lots of birding opportunities too for nesting shorebirds and raptors such as peregrine & gyrfalcon, rough-legged hawk, bald  & golden eagle.

You will start this unique canoe trip by boarding an aircraft at our starting point which varies from season to season (see www.thelon.com/map.htm); to fly 250 airmiles past the tree-line, and out over the remote Arctic tundra known locally as the 'Barrenlands'. Here we will land at the trip starting point on the Clarke River - one of the most isolated regions in mainland North America!

Once on the Clarke & Thelon Rivers, you will then spend a wonderful two weeks quietly paddling & exploring the countryside for musk-oxen, moose, and tundra wolves during the den cycle. We will see incredible archaeology and history deep in the heart of the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

Canyons of the Clarke River / photo courtesy Allicia Kelly

  Over the first 3-4 river days, we will paddle from the 'Dubawnt Highlands' down the beautiful Clarke River, with its incredible side canyons, sandy eskers and wildlife. While descending the Clarke, you will follow the gradual slope of the Thelon Valley. Then we meet the Thelon River at bits canyon with intense sandstone cliffs, riddled with falcon and cliff swallow nests. 

The next few days will bring you past several significant historical sites, including 'Wardens Grove' the original cabin, and the 'Dukesite'.  A few miles downstream brings us to 'The Gap', where you can visit a major Dene' archaeological site, and observe the progress of golden eagles nests. 

Wardens Grove / photo courtesy Allicia Kelly

Dickson Canyon of the Hanbury River / photo courtesy Bill Betzhold

Canoes pulled up for the night along the thelon /photo courtesy Allicia Kelly

Canoe group resting on Thelon beach / photo courtesy Oyvind Martensen

Canoe resting along central Thelon below Hornby Point  /  photo copyright Dave Huffman

It is from this area near Grassy Island, where hikers in the group will have the option to take a day trip hike (9 km.) to visit the incredible gorge cut by the Hanbury River at Dickson Canyon. Further down the river we will pass the recovery site of the Cosmos 952 Russian satellite, which fell from the sky here in 1978.

Another day downstream brings you to a hidden waterfall, and cairns marking winter travel from eons past. You can then visit the haunting cabin ruins and grave site of the ill-fated John Hornby party, whom all perished here by slow starvation in the long winter of 1927. 

canoe on Clarke River  / photo courtesy Allicia Kelly

Edgar Christian's gravesite / photo courtesy Allicia Kelly

caribou of the Beverly herd migrating along Thelon River / copyright Mawell Finkelstein
The Beverly caribou migration - click photo to enlarge!

Throughout the first week of this most remarkable journey, you will encounter several Dene' archaeological sites  that date back thousands of years. You can often find remnants of stone tools and spear points lying on the ground, left behind by the nomadic people who used to travel this region on hunting forays. 

The upper section of the Thelon River and it's sidestreams offer excellent fishing for lake trout, Arctic grayling and northern pike! 

Miusk-ox Pingo on Thelon River / photo copyright David Wellbourne

The second week of the trip will bring you around the Big Bend and Muskox Pingo. This stretch of river has several traditional water crossings of the Beverly caribou as they leave their calving grounds to the North. Weather and schedule permitting, we will spend a day of rest at Lookout Point, another famous caribou water crossing that has been used by both Dene' and Inuit hunters. You will have the opportunity to investigate many of their old encampments. 

you will then paddle through the Ursus Islands and the confluence of the Tammarvi River, a traditional site where the Inuit traveled hundreds of miles for thousands of years to obtain tent poles from the last stands of stunted spruce tree growth, and then follow along the last stretch of river to Beverly Lake. 

From here you will will leave the canoes behind, picked up by chartered aircraft or boat, and taken out to Baker Lake, Nunavut. This marks the end of what will, without a doubt, be one of the most incredible river trips of your life! 

 

The entire paddling length of this river expedition is 165 river miles / 270 river kilometres - class II, with no portages. As the river moves along at 3-4 knots, you can often cover our 10-12 mile days in the mornings, leaving you plenty of time for exploring, relaxing and fishing. This trip is suitable for all ages in moderate physical condition.  There are no portages on this trip...just some minor lining on the Clarke River. The entire trip is within the boundaries of the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary - and it's simply the best!

Click here to view route map


 

Clarke-Thelon River Expedition 2008
Departure Dates
Seats Left
Prices Rates do not include GST.
Jul. 18 to Aug. 1 - 2008
0
Single: $5,750.00 US - $5,750.00 CAD
Double:
$10,000.00 US - $10,000.00 CAD  


Click here to download & print the detailed trip supplement for the Clarke-Thelon River Expedition in PDF format

 

Clarke-Thelon River Expedition 2009 - from Baker Lake, Nunavut
Departure Dates
Seats Left
Prices Rates do not include GST.
Jul. 17 to Jul. 31- 2009
7
Single: $5,750.00 US - $5,750.00 CAD
Double:
$10,000.00 US - $10,000.00 CAD
 

 

 

Click here to view a large-scale map of the Thelon Wildlife
Sanctuary

 


More Thelon links worth checking out!

Thelon History

Kayak The Upper Thelon

2004 photo collection from Nestor Lewyckyj's Thelon canoe trip

Dr. Bryan Gordon's archeological studies on the Thelon

A history of - and some current issues about - the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary

Arctic Dawn - The Journeys of Samuel Hearne:

JB Tyrrell's Expeditions

Ted's Keresote's 1996 Sports Afield Magazine article about his 1998 Thelon River trip

Dave Huffman's 2001 photo essay of his Thelon River trip

Rolf & Debra Kraiker's 1996 Thelon River trip

Tundra-Treeline Paddle on the Eileen River

 

Click here for Conde Nast article.

Now on-line! Conde Nast Traveler controversial article 'Diamonds in the Wild', about the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary and the potential future effects of diamond and mineral exploration in our last great North American wilderness. Click here!

 




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