[Awesome_Otter]

Well, like most of you, I once again struck out on permits and am looking for other options.

Has anyone done a self guided Babine Trip? We live in NW washington and would plan to drive to Smithers and depart from there. Specifically looking for if anyone had any input into raft rental outfits and possible shuttles? From my hour or so of research doesn't look like there is much in the way of easy logistics.

Same question for the Chilk/Chilcotin run.

Our crew has a good bit of experience on SW, PNW and AK rivers but would also be open to have someone else tag along if there was interest.

Best,

Matt

 

[SheepEater]

Hey Matt, I don't know much about the Babine other than some friends of mine wanted to do it a few years ago, but it never happened. I could be into this trip, depending on the dates. I live in Glacier, and have 14ft and 18ft multiday rigs, as well as a big diesel truck/trailer and a bunch of group gear. I also have some other non-permit season trips, maybe we could trade some spots. Don't know much about the Chilk/Chilcotin either, but I've also heard the Nass is pretty rad. Send me a pm if you're interested in talking more.

Ian

 

[ski_it]

Here is a link to the Nass (haven't run it), but I remember the photo of the log jam. You gotta check out the photo...wish I could figure how to copy and paste it..

Nass River

Epic Northern BC paddling with a great variety of whitewater along this major river.

www.liquidlore.com

 

[westwatercuban]

here is that log jam you mentioned....

 

[Awesome_Otter]

View attachment 73148

here is that log jam you mentioned....

Ha! Case of bar oil and a Stihl MS 881 and we'd be through that in 20 minutes. Hour tops.

 

[SpeyCatr]

Babine has been on my "radar" for quite a while (I'm in Vancouver, BC). But the Grizzlies have always given me an uneasy feeling. It's not just the rafting but also the steelhead fishing on this river that interests me.

But after watching this video it's kinda made me rethink my position on rafting the Babine. I highly recommend you take the hour or so to watch it, it's very interesting:

 

[Awesome_Otter]

Babine has been on my "radar" for quite a while (I'm in Vancouver, BC). But the Grizzlies have always given me an uneasy feeling. It's not just the rafting but also the steelhead fishing on this river that interests me.

But after watching this video it's kinda made me rethink my position on rafting the Babine. I highly recommend you take the hour or so to watch it, it's very interesting:

That's an awesome video. If anything it makes me more comfortable knowing that in 20+ years they have never had an issue with the bears attacking humans. I've got at least a thousand river miles behind me with >90% of that in Alaska. We see bears on every trip and have never once had anything even close to an issue with them. The river bears seem to have more food than they know what to do with and as long as you don't spook them its usually fine. I've had way scarier encounters with highland bears which fits most of the stories I hear about. Its typically hunters or hikers who spook a bear in thick brush.

I don't think the volume of bears on the Babine would deter me from a trip after that video. I'd for sure have spray for each tent/boat and maybe a bear fence but when you play in their habitat you will always be rolling the dice on something bad happening. I think raft strapped coolers and hung food would go a long way toward mediating any issue.

Thanks again for sharing that link. Fascinating hx of the river.

Best,

Matt

 

[Raft Dad]

Matt, due to lockdowns the last two years we stayed up here for our summer raft trips instead of our usual Idaho getaways. Last year we did the Babine from Babine Lake to Hazelton and the year before we did the Chilko from Chilko Lake to Gang Ranch on the Fraser. Happy to answer any questions you may have. DM me and I'll see if i can help you out. Ray

 

[Awesome_Otter]

Hey Matt, I don't know much about the Babine other than some friends of mine wanted to do it a few years ago, but it never happened. I could be into this trip, depending on the dates. I live in Glacier, and have 14ft and 18ft multiday rigs, as well as a big diesel truck/trailer and a bunch of group gear. I also have some other non-permit season trips, maybe we could trade some spots. Don't know much about the Chilk/Chilcotin either, but I've also heard the Nass is pretty rad. Send me a pm if you're interested in talking more.

Ian

pm sent

 

[Awesome_Otter]

Matt, due to lockdowns the last two years we stayed up here for our summer raft trips instead of our usual Idaho getaways. Last year we did the Babine from Babine Lake to Hazelton and the year before we did the Chilko from Chilko Lake to Gang Ranch on the Fraser. Happy to answer any questions you may have. DM me and I'll see if i can help you out. Ray

pm sent

 

[Rightoarleft]

Black bears seek you out and interject themselves into your business. They break into cars, ransack homes, climb onto boats, rip open hatches and invade camps. I can't count the number of bear encounters I know through personal experience and from friends. I generally avoid camps where bears are known to frequent because I don't like making eye contact with a creature that calculates if it's worth ripping your arms off for a bag of potato chips.

And then there's grizzly bears. I don't know grizzlies but I do know they have earned a dubious distinction from their nuisance cousins. I river with black bear. Would I river with grizzly? It would probably make for some uneasy camps. But we river or die trying. It's what we do. Just don't set the groover in the huckleberries. And I'd probably leave the smoked salmon at home.

Now that Babine has entered the radar, there will be a newsworthy encounter soon enough. 9 out of 10 grizzlies agree, buzzards are good eating.

 

[LZMJRAFT]

Our Babine trip seemed like more bears down on the Skeena, definitely more bear sign. Saw a few on the Bulkley too. If you're in Hazelton Bulkley great day run. We're in Eastern WA and have been wanting to do either Taseko/chilcotin or Chilko/chilcotin. All great late summer trips.

 

[Michael P]

Matt, due to lockdowns the last two years we stayed up here for our summer raft trips instead of our usual Idaho getaways. Last year we did the Babine from Babine Lake to Hazelton and the year before we did the Chilko from Chilko Lake to Gang Ranch on the Fraser. Happy to answer any questions you may have. DM me and I'll see if i can help you out. Ray

Hi Matt and Ray,
As another boater stuck on the colder side of the border, we did the Babine in 2020 and the Chilko/Chilcotin/Fraser last season. Logistics wise, I think you will find it very difficult to find rental boats in those areas but if you bring your own gear they are both great runs. Shuttle wise, the Babine is a much shorter shuttle and I would suggest contacting the Bulkley Valley Rod and Gun Club in Smithers who I think could arrange something for you. We used a bus company out of Williams Lake for our Chilko/Fraser shuttle and I can find that name if you decide that way.
Camping is a little more limited on the Babine but if your group is smaller it is fine.
I'm sure you have done some research but there is a very challenging class IV section of the Chilko that requires quite a high skill level and could result in a long nasty swim. ( I personally would not run it without drysuit and helmet ) There is a put-in below that section if you require.
Happy Boating
Michael

 

[Awesome_Otter]

Hi Matt and Ray,
As another boater stuck on the colder side of the border, we did the Babine in 2020 and the Chilko/Chilcotin/Fraser last season. Logistics wise, I think you will find it very difficult to find rental boats in those areas but if you bring your own gear they are both great runs. Shuttle wise, the Babine is a much shorter shuttle and I would suggest contacting the Bulkley Valley Rod and Gun Club in Smithers who I think could arrange something for you. We used a bus company out of Williams Lake for our Chilko/Fraser shuttle and I can find that name if you decide that way.
Camping is a little more limited on the Babine but if your group is smaller it is fine.
I'm sure you have done some research but there is a very challenging class IV section of the Chilko that requires quite a high skill level and could result in a long nasty swim. ( I personally would not run it without drysuit and helmet ) There is a put-in below that section if you require.
Happy Boating
Michael

Michael,

Thanks for responding. For some reason, I don't think my private messages are going through.

I've watched many videos on that canyon section and it looks equal parts amazing and terrifying. We would be fully rigged with suits and helmets. Our crew did the Grand last year but obviously, the remoteness and length of that rapid is a little different than those on the Colorado.

If you had the name of the shuttle service out of Williams Lake I'd love a PM with that info when you had the time.

Best,

Matt

 

[Michael P]

Michael,

Thanks for responding. For some reason, I don't think my private messages are going through.

I've watched many videos on that canyon section and it looks equal parts amazing and terrifying. We would be fully rigged with suits and helmets. Our crew did the Grand last year but obviously, the remoteness and length of that rapid is a little different than those on the Colorado.

If you had the name of the shuttle service out of Williams Lake I'd love a PM with that info when you had the time.

Best,

Matt

PM sent, you can find it in " Conversations "

 

[watergrl]

Well, like most of you, I once again struck out on permits and am looking for other options.

Has anyone done a self guided Babine Trip? We live in NW washington and would plan to drive to Smithers and depart from there. Specifically looking for if anyone had any input into raft rental outfits and possible shuttles? From my hour or so of research doesn't look like there is much in the way of easy logistics.

Same question for the Chilk/Chilcotin run.

Our crew has a good bit of experience on SW, PNW and AK rivers but would also be open to have someone else tag along if there was interest.

Best,

Matt

Renting boats in BC is not easy. You're better off to bring your own. One thing, you sure wouldn't want to run into one of these:

 

[LZMJRAFT]

Re the Chiko As Michael P said you can run day trips down to the confluence camp then load up and head downstream. For the day run we lowered rafts down the hillside a ways above Bidwell. Lots of bears and salmon in the fall if you hit it right makes scouting interesting. The Claudia Schwab guidebook has some decent directions.

 

[Andy H.]

Renting boats in BC is not easy. You're better off to bring your own. One thing, you sure wouldn't want to run into one of these:

Holy gas guzzlers. Those boats must have had about 300 gallons of gas each in the spare cans lashed to the decks... That said, it looked like a fun ride.

One would hope that if you met one of those guys doing an uprun, he could kill the power and float back down, and out of, the rapid while you came down it. Seems like there should some kind of etiquette on encountering a boat doing an uprun.

 

[MT4Runner]

They're pretty long relative to the width of the river....betting they wouldn't be eager to kill power, lose steering way and float back down with a risk of pinning on both sides of the river.

Wow, gorgeous water, though!

 

[DaveW]

Hi All,

I'm planning on doing a self-guided Babine June 26th - June 30th. Curious if anyone here would be interested in joining my friend and I? Also has anyone had any luck locking down a shuttle?

Ideally we'd drop a car in Kispiox and grab a shuttle to Lake Nikitkwa. All other beta welcome!