Clearwater River - (Contact Rapids to Fort McMurray) July 2006

Text Box:

Darin Zandee'z Site

It's all part of the adventure

Distance: 175 km

Start: Contact Rapids, Sask

Finish: Fort McMurray, AB

Flow: XX m3/s

Skill: Intermediate Open Canadian

Classification: Overall Grade II, Rapids I-V

Days: 4

Camping: Random/Remote

· Day 1 (54km)

Contact Rapids to Whitemud Falls

· Day 2 (18km)

Whitemud Falls to Cascade Rapids

· Day 3 (58km)

Whitemud Falls to Greentree Camp

· Day 4 (36km)

Greentree Camp to Fort McMurray

Text Box: At 4pm at the end of my work day I decided to go with Anne on her trip on the Clearwater. She was flying out at 7pm so I had to get home and pack in an hour to be ready by 6pm. The float plane dropped us in the middle of the river below Contact Rapids where we launched from the float. At Whitemud Falls we portaged the canoe and gear around then Anne found the perfect camp back up the trail so we portaged the gear back up. It was an awesome spot. The next day it took all our will to leave this spot. Next time we will spend two nights here. We ran the rest of the river (Cascade, Pine, and all the other rapids) Other than doing the canoe limbo under a log which spanned a side channel the river didn’t challenge us. We did not challenge the intense lightening storm that ripped open the atmosphere.

Date: July 14 to July 17, 2006

Text Box: Gear List Canoe Spray deck 60L barrels paddles Life jackets Bailers Whistles Throw ropes Hat Glasses Gloves Water pump Tent Mantis Tarp Bear Spray Camping Gear Maps/GPS/Compass All weather clothing Emergency Gear Survival Gear

1:50,000

780 743-0255 Fort McMurray or 306 235-4664 Buffalo Narrows

www.voyageair.com

Prices in a Cessna 185

2 people & 1 canoe

Lloyd Lake (2 weeks)

200lbs $947.64
Careen Lake (10 days) 170lbs $1041.22 incl. GST
Warner Rapids (1 week)

220lbs $828.56 incl. GST

Contact Rapids (4-6days)

$700

Air Mikisew

Ft. McMurray 780743-8218

Right Arrow Callout: Limbo Log