[fiya79]

My crew and I want to step outside the box in 2015. We are all Idaho folk and are looking to get outside the potato. We are a solid class IV crew with rafts and cats. We have run the Grand Canyon, all of the salmon river system, selway, payette system, etc.

So we are looking for something with an expedition feel, class III or IV, 100-300 miles. Willing to travel to AK or Canada or elsewhere. Costs need to stay around $1500 each or under.

Thinking Tat, without the wait list.
Willing to do serious logistics legwork, drive, fly, grunt, sweat & bleed.

Alaska has decent beta but canada is like a black box. I know someone out there has a list that can get me started.

Thanks in advance.

Your input is appreciated.


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[Bruce from Canmore]

Well, I haven't done these trips myself, but on my current "To Do" list in BC I have:

-Babine/Skeena
-Nass
-Chilco-Chilcotin-Fraser

If you search through some of the commercial outfitter sites they will give you some ideas for BC or the Yukon. Try Rivers | Nahanni River Adventures & Canadian River Expeditions or Choose Your River | Expedition Support for starters.

It's not super detailed but the BC River Outfitters association has some key river details like length and grade of rapids (and their commercial guiding parameters) at: http://www.bcroa.com/provisions.php

Good luck with your trip planning!

-Bruce (Canadian guy who is going back the wrong way to Idaho this summer for rafting!)

 

[carvedog]

It's not super detailed but the BC River Outfitters association has some key river details like length and grade of rapids (and their commercial guiding parameters) at: http://www.bcroa.com/provisions.php

Good luck with your trip planning!

Wow that is an awesome resource. Thx.

 

[fiya79]

Perfect start. Thanks so much.


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[upshitscreek]

For the AK research, you may want to pick up the Karen jettmar book, if nothing more than weeding out rivers that don't fit the bill but may look good on a map and the info on planning and logistics. With Alaska, every bit of info you can get is valuable even in the information era.

From personal experience, about 8-9 trips up to remote rivers and peaks in ak , you may be in for some sticker shock as $1500 doesn't go very far when you factor in shipping gear in advance, possible rental gear, bush flights and general commercial flights. Just a heads up.

I can only think of two rivers off the top of my head for whitewater but they are both too short to fit the bill at 50 miles or less and I'm fairly certain the bush flight alone would blow your budget for one but descending from a volcano caldera lake to the ocean certainly has a ring to it, eh?

The trips I've done are more in the 50-120 mile range with few rapids and much fishing so not much personal ak whitewater trips so fwiw.

Also, If it's seldom run then always have saws and an axe too for AK stuff too.

Anyway, good luck.

 

[fiya79]

More great advice.

For me the price is a bit more flexible than for others in the group. I understand flying gear in and/or possibly out balloons quickly.

Between now and then I plan to marry rich.


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[openboat]

I've done the Tat/Alsek with Sobek company. The trip is about the distance you are thinking, and quite a float full of glaciers and grizzlies. Some hefty logistics getting to the upper Tat at Dalton Post in the Yukon and then after getting down the Alsek to its mouth at Dry Bay, bush pilots take you north to the airport at Yakutat to get you home. Not sure about the $1500, but maybe.