Video account of a Coppermine River canoe trip - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kerry · #1 02-12-2011, 11:09 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTaNPKMJUgU&feature=related

chasinthesun · #2 02-12-2011, 11:45 AM

Thats really liven life .Im seeing the values of the type of canoes their utilizing,you can pack them in and out,Neat stuff.

kerry · #3 02-12-2011, 12:07 PM

At the three minute point in the first video when the green canoe tips over, notice a couple of things: 1--they both quit paddling and take their paddles out of the water. Very bad move. If they had simply continued to paddle or low/high braced they would have made it through. 2--their line through the drop is off. They simply move very slowly down the left side from the left side. They should have started further right and powered left, cutting into the left curler at the bottom and driving just to the left of the big standing wave that gets them.

Those Pakboats seemed to hold up really well on that trip. I've never paddled one. Three 17' canoes will fit inside the Twin Otter that flew them in. Most people would paddle solid hulled canoes on that trip.

layback40 · #4 02-12-2011, 07:29 PM

Cant say I like the idea of soft hull. A decent sharp rock impact could hurt.
My fiberglass K2 is 30 years old. It would still handle that stuff. Dont like the idea of cold water though. Ambient over 90f suits me better.
There is some good footage towards the end, only low grade rapids though.

kerry · #5 02-12-2011, 07:46 PM

I think the cold water would be a small price to pay for visiting that region, although I would paddle in a wetsuit in the rapids. A long swim in that water could turn fatal. They did appear to be scouting the more difficult sections.
The bigger price to pay in my view would be the mosquitoes. I liked their tepee, in which they could build a fire for cooking. I'm debating whether a solid nylon tepee or a net tepee would be better? Maybe both?

Wondering if they gave any thought to West Nile Virus? It has certainly spread that far north and since they paddled for 4 weeks, a bite from an infected mosquito early in the trip gave plenty of the time for the disease to develop. Could be nasty.

layback40 · #6 02-12-2011, 08:15 PM

We have a couple of nasty viruses transmitted by mozzies down here; Ross River Virus & Murray Valley Encephalitis. This time of the year here the mozzies are that active they nearly pick you up & carry you away. Best to use insect repellent.
Its a wide deep river, makes the rapids a bit easier, not many big rocks to come unstuck on. Plenty of different paths to take.
I have a friend that tried a 6 day trip in a dancer in New Zealand. He lost it on day 2, had to be air lifted out, never found the kayak, probably jammed under a log down stream some place. I am too old for that sort of stuff now.

kerry · #7 02-12-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

. I am too old for that sort of stuff now.

I'm curious as to whether that applies to me or not. I don't have much question about a week or 10 days but a whole month?

layback40 · #8 02-12-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

I'm curious as to whether that applies to me or not. I don't have much question about a week or 10 days but a whole month?

After 4 or 5 days I find you get into a routine, its fine. The constant bashing from the rapids is what takes the toll. A couple of says of that will let you know your age. Flat water is better, could go for a long time.

kerry · #9 02-12-2011, 09:06 PM

Hmmmm? I was thinking the reverse. Long sections of ClassII+ easy but flatwater a big chore?

elchivito · #10 02-12-2011, 10:13 PM

I don't canoe, a nice raft can carry a whole lot more beer. Never the less, flatwater and a headwind or upcanyon breeze is no fun. I like big, class three and four water with lots of drops. Maybe it's a western thing.

kerry · #11 02-12-2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

I don't canoe, a nice raft can carry a whole lot more beer. Never the less, flatwater and a headwind or upcanyon breeze is no fun. I like big, class three and four water with lots of drops. Maybe it's a western thing.

I like that too. I've rowed the Grand Canyon in a raft. I've got a 16' Avon and 18 Achilles. But I still prefer canoeing.

layback40 · #12 02-13-2011, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Hmmmm? I was thinking the reverse. Long sections of ClassII+ easy but flatwater a big chore?

Most of our large rivers here are flat water but flow reasonably quick. The Goulburn in Victoria Australia flows at about 15 mph in some sections during the summer as it feeds to a large irrigation system. Its basically flat water, just need to steer. You can cover 45 miles easy in an afternoon with stops to cool off. The Murray flows much slower, maybe 3mph, again as long as you always go down stream its just a leisurely trip. Some of the smaller rivers & the headwaters of these 2 have plenty of grade 2 & 3 sections. The upper Murray has a section that has flat water & up to grade 2 rapids. Its a 10 day trip & most of it has no access, You go in at the top & plan on coming out the other end! It is a bit like the one in the video but not as wide.
We are lucky here with the main rivers supplying irrigation, it means good flows in the hot weather. Its only the dare devils that are looking for grade 3 & 4 rapids that are active in the mountains in the cold wet times of the year. They also play just down stream of the main water storage's outlets.