Adventures in 2019

I quote" Kiteboarding in Squamish  has earned our community the rightful  reputation as a world class kiting destination. This is due to our unique weather conditions which provide a consistent wind flow in the summer months"

My holiday is coming to an end. I left Squamish prematurely due to weather, so it was fitting that I returned to finish my trip here. Walking will be my focus as the scenery here deserves more intimate attention that cannot be provided simply from a car window.

From bcrailtrails.com we have: The Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail and the Columbia & Western Rail Trail is the longest rail trail network in British Columbia extending from Hope to Castlegar. Once a comprehensive railroad system, the decommissioned tracks are now home to an extensive recreational trail providing almost 650 km (400 mi) of connected pathways throughout the region.

My next phase of my adventure holiday is cycling a walking.Today I head back to Canada to ride some of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.

Yesterday was exciting on the Canyon run and today we repeated that.  We learn about old and current disrespect of rivers

Today are are doing an actual pack haul along with the rafting. We will hike a couple of hours to get the most out of the Deadwood river (the name sounds sinister !). This was a fun packed adventure day.

The 12 days succeeding my Tatshenshini trip were kept free as I was uncertain of how I would feel after it. It turns out I felt great and still in the mood for some more packrafting. The Idaho Packrafting roundup was on and I was able to attend.

What a journey. I am glad that I was able to participate in this adventure. This experience is what I live for- adventure and that immersion in what nature has been providing us since our world began: a life. The packraft was a great variation to the trip and I am thankful I could bring it along, I am not one to sit down for long periods, the packraft provides me with the action and excitement I need.

I thought yesterday was something, today we headed into Alsek lake. Loaded with ice bergs,  glaciers thundering away as they collapse into the see. If yesterday was the main course, today was the dessert.

In "The Complete Guide to the Tatshenshini" there is a discussion about eyegasms and SOS - scenic overdose syndrome.  The skies are a bit hazy from the wildfires but I do get it. Hopefully my photographs on this post reflect that statement.

Today we see the spectacle of clear waters running down Melt Creek converging into the silt laden Tatshenshini river. The additional water pumps up the volume.

Let's get down to it straight away. This day had our hearts bleeding as watched a mother moose trying to keep her youngsters alive in the dangerous waters of the Tatshenshini river.

I had images of freezing cold nights, blizzards and all that is associated with a glaciated northern region. Did I expect and was I ready for hot summery weather ?  No.

I start the day well.  Donning my dry suit I forgot to zip it closed. This was an easy omissione, as the zip is on the back of the suit. As I often do, I did a test immersion, and of course the dry suit was now a wet suit much to the amusement of my fellow adventurers.

Before we set off on the river I had a chat with the guides Maxime and Bethany. They explained that the water was quite high and our first day is through a narrow demanding section of class 4 rapids. With only two guides in big rafts, support will be limited and most unlikely as far as my person if things go awry.

There is something special about a UNESCO. They have nailed their world heritage listings. The Tatshenshini - Alsek watershed is truly a marvel (refer to link): These parks comprise an impressive complex of glaciers and high peaks on both sides of the border between Canada (Yukon Territory and British Columbia) and the United States (Alaska). The spectacular natural landscapes ....

The Canadian Packraft Rendez-vous was the catalyst for my trip to Canada. I started packrafting in April 2018, did a wildwater course in October in Tasmania and was keen to go places. This event crossed my path at here I am.