Churchill River #3 Big Water Expedition
2024 Dates | # of Days | Cost | Skill Level |
---|---|---|---|
Available for private booking | 11 | $4495 | Intermediate |
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Available for private booking
Start Date
11
Duration (days)
$4495
Cost
Intermediate
Skill Level
Day 1 - Travel to Missinipe, SK
Make your way to La Ronge on Rise Air flight 502 from Saskatoon (Not Included), where our shuttle van will pick you up and drive you 80 km to Missinipe
Alternatively drive yourself directly to Missinipe Arriving by 6:00pm
Pre trip meeting, gear check, dinner, overnight at CRCO in Missinipe
Day 2 - Shuttle to Stanley Mission
Breakfast
Van Shuttle 80km to Stanley Mission SK
Canoe skills review
Visit Holy Trinity Church Historic Site (Oldest Standing Building in Saskatchewan)
Day 3 to Day 10 - Paddle the Churchill River
The unspoiled clear waters of the Churchill flow over a number of lakes and through rapids. There are many fun runnable rapids, and a few falls that we will have to portage. Each night, we will camp at a new site, surrounded by ruggedly beautiful scenery.
Day 11 - End of the Adventure
Arrive at Slim's Camp where you will board our shuttle van back to La Ronge Airport for the 3:55pm 502 flight to Saskatoon
(optional) Group Dinner and overnight in Missinipe (at your Expense) for those travelling by other means.
Itinerary
Guides
5:1 ratio
Meals
trail meals & snacks from Day 2 lunch to Day 8 lunch
Dinner & breakfast in Missinipe on Day 1 & 2
Canoeing Equipment:
Prospector expedition canoes
Paddles, PFD, helmets (you may bring your own)
Throw lines and other safety accessories
‘Kitchen’ - tarp, fire box, cooking stoves, utensils, dishes, etc
Safety Equipment:
First aid and repair kits, communications equipment (satellite phone)
Canoe rescue gear
Local Transportation:
Shuttle from La Ronge Airport at start of trip to Missinipe
Shuttle from Missinipe to Stanley Mission
Shuttle from Slims Camp to La Ronge Airport or Missinipe
Transportation of guides, group gear, canoe etc to and from trip
Accommodations
1 night in Missinipe on Day 1
What's Included
Saskatchewan tax: GST 5%, PST 6% of the trip fee
Personal clothing and gear - recommended clothing & equipment list will be provided
Travel between your home and the trip rendezvous - La Ronge, Saskatchewan
Accommodation in Missinipe SK after the trip
Any meals in Missinipe after the trip
Any additional expenses or costs incurred as a result of delays to the trip caused by factors beyond our control - i.e. wind, waves, unsafe paddling conditions, forest fire, pandemic, etc
Any costs associated with your emergency evacuation from the trip - please contact us at CRCO for more information
Gratuities - we recommend $20 per day per guide that went out of their way to create an extraordinary experience
Tents (Available upon request) standing custom expedition dome tents - 2 per tent
What Is Not Included
Let the aroma of a fresh-brewed coffee draw you from your tent to a buffet of fresh fruit and granola while bacon and eggs sizzle on the grill!
Shore lunches include a great selection of bread, meat, cheese, bruschetta or hummus, fresh veggies and of course, good old peanut butter and jam.
After a great day of paddling, enjoy a nutritious, hearty meal with a tasty dessert while you sit around the fire to tell tales of your adventures.
Our focus is on fresh local produce where we can combined with freeze dried and dehydrated food. Our fresh meats are sourced and prepared locally and you will taste the flavors of the boreal in our locally sourced wild berries, teas and mushrooms.
What is to eat?
Fly to Saskatoon SK (YXE), From Saskatoon Fly to La Ronge SK via Rise Air flight 502 on the fist day of the itinerary. You will be then greeted by CRCO staff and shuttled by Van to Missinipe which is our home base and the launch point the expedition.
How To Get To This Trip
So you have paddled the Upper Churchill and are ready for your next challenge? Join us on this expedition of the lower Churchill and experience spectacular waterfalls, incredible rapids and exceptional camping.
The section of the Churchill we will be paddling during this expedition is from Stanley Mission to Slim's Camp near the town of Sandy Bay. The trip is a total of 190 kilometers, paddling an average of 17 km a day, with 8 to 10 portages averaging 200 m. On this section of the Churchill we watch the river grow from a moderate sized river to a high volume river as 2 major tributaries, the Rapid River and the Reindeer River, flow in.
The route passes through some of the Churchill's most beautiful country. Photographic opportunities abound along the entire length of the trip. We will hike to the viewpoint at spectacular Nistowiak falls, lunch beside Potter Rapids, and wind our way through the channels of island-strewn Keg Lake to the powerful Keg Falls. You will see bald eagles and white pelicans fishing below rapids and if lucky, moose wading in the shallows, black bears wandering along the shore, and enjoy evening concerts by common loons at sunset.
As we trace the path of the Voyageurs east, you will see ancient rock paintings of the first inhabitants of the Churchill area, and learn about the flora and fauna that live in this unique boreal wilderness.
This portion of the Churchill River still flows free and clean. Surprisingly, by July the Churchill River's water temperature reaches 18 degrees Celsius, so swimming and bathing are a pleasure!
On our route we will see some outfitting camps and native homes, but once past Nistowiak Falls we may not meet another group of canoeists. In fact, the Voyageurs didn't have it that lonely! Yes, the Churchill River is still very much as it was 150 years ago when the voyageurs paddled it. For more information on this period of history before you paddle the Churchill, we recommend Sigard Olson's The Lonely Land.