TASEKO AND CHILCOTIN RIVERS EXPERIENCE BRITISH COLUMBIA’S BEST WHITEWATER, MOUNTAINS, AND DESERTS National Geographic Adventure A FABULOUS JOURNEY THAT INVOLVES GENTLE 2009 Best Adventure Travel FLAT WATER FLOATING, THRILLING WHITEWATER Companies On Earth AND SUPERB HIKING IN CANADA’S SERENGETI! DAVE PROTHERO PHOTO TRIP DETAILS YOUR TRIP hoodoos and sand dunes, to towering 223 kilometres with an rock walls and canyons. Rich in elevation drop of 860 metres. cultural history, and present day use, Experience British Columbia’s the rivers in this area are of vital forgotten wilderness! With the very importance to the remote First Nations Through the course of our journey best of BC on offer this raft journey’s communities that rely on them for we will be on the territory of the many wonders include alpine scenery, subsistence fishing. Tsilhqot’in Nation. desert badlands, towering canyons, ancient and active First Nation’s Wildlife viewing opportunities abound SKILL LEVEL culture, wildlife and whitewater – this on this 8-day expedition – watch Beginner - The guides navigate journey has it all! - Experience magic bear, moose, California Bighorn with oars & paddling by of the grasslands, a serengeti- like sheep, eagles and other rare raptors, participants is optional for those landscape as diverse and ecologically and occasionally, pelicans and who want more activity! rich. sandhill cranes, as the river carries us downstream at its ever-changing pace. RENDEZVOUS POINT Extensive whitewater and rapids Williams Lake, British ensure each day is varied and active. Columbia Join us on this unbelievable wilderness ITINERARY journey, travelling 250 kilometres (155 DURATION miles) by river through the best of DAY 0 – WELCOME TO WILLIAMS LAKE 7 Days British Columbia. This is the first date listed for your Travel through the incredibly varied, TRIP TYPE trip. You’ll arrive in Williams Lake, dramatic landscapes this trip has to Raft BC. This is a small town in the offer, from forests and grasslands, to FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE THE FAQS AT NAHANNI.COM PAGE 1 interior of BC, founded during the Birds of prey will circle above while up for a stunning day on the water. mid-1800’s gold rush, and built on wild horses and moose range through Floating through deep incisions in the ranching and timber industries. the douglas fir. We will suddenly lava flows, we begin our journey into glimpse towering Ts’ilʔos, a sacred the canyon complex of the Chilcotin Increasingly, it is becoming known Mountain that marks the source of watershed. We will splash through for its impressive network of the Taseko River as we enter the many exciting rapids including mountain bike trails, challenging river valley. The Taseko demarks Taseko Falls and many unnamed rock climbing routes, and high- end the traditional territories of the Xeni features. After an action packed day custom log home construction. The Gwet’in and Yunesit’in First Nations. of whitewater, we will camp just pre-trip meeting will take place at above the junction of the Taseko and the Ramada Hotel at 7 pm. Your trip To the present day, this area provides Chilko Rivers. If weather permits we leader will review some of the final for the Tsilhqot’in. Their rich will take a short hike to a high point details of the trip before we head off culture is sustained in part through gaining perspective on this grand the next morning. fishing, hunting, and the collection landscape and the life it sustains. of medicinal plants. The area on the DAY 1 – NEMIAH VALLEY AND TASEKO west side of the Taseko River was DAY 3 – THE CHILKO TO THE CHILCOTIN RIVER the subject of the 2014 Land Title RIVER – THE HEADWATERS MEET, decision, which established land GRASSLANDS AND MIGRATORY BIRDS Your charter bus will arrive at 8:00 title for the Tsilhqot’in and is also am and we will load up for a scenic home to the Chilcotin Wild Horse Within moments of putting on the 3-hour drive. Beginning low in the Sanctuary. After a delicious lunch, water we will witness the mixing of Fraser Valley, we will then travel our rafting journey will begin as headwaters as we make our way past high up onto the Chilcotin Plateau. we push off from shore into the the stunning Chilko-Taseko junction. As we drive through several of the milky white waters of the Taseko Here the blue waters of the Chilko First Nation communities who are River. After a few hours of a relaxing River flow in from the west and our part of the Tsilhqot’in Nation – afternoon float into the wilderness, rafts will ride the contrast of the meaning “People of the Blue Water”, we will make our first camp amongst waters at the confluence. we will get our first glimpse of the ancient old growth Douglas Firs and rich cultural history of this area. vibrant green wolf lichen! We are now on the Chilko River. Immediately surrounded by evidence Our morning continues with some of First People, we will travel past (Breakfast not included on day 1) excitement as we thread the “Gap” pit houses and traditional resource – a very narrow bedrock chute in harvesting infrastructure. DAY 2 – TASEKO CANYONS AND CHILKO- the Chilko River. We will pause at a TASEKO JUNCTION traditional fishing spot, where we The Coast Mountains will rise in the will take a moment to discuss the distance, seeming to hold the sky After a tasty breakfast put together “dip-net” fishing technique. Along aloft on their glacial clad shoulders. by our talented guides, we will pack the banks of the river we can enjoy GLACIAL WATER CONTRASTS WITH A VIBRANT DESERT ECOSYSTEM ON THE LOWER CHILCOTIN RIVER. DAVE PROTHERO PHOTO FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE THE FAQS AT NAHANNI.COM PAGE 2 the vibrant leaves of dogbane, a DAY 4 – HANCEVILLE CANYON & BIG DAY 6 – FARWELL CANYON, SAND DUNES source of weavable fibre and a trade CREEK AND HOODOOS good that allows many First Nations to create incredible technologies. As the river valley narrows, we will As soon as we push our boats from descend into Hanceville canyon, with shore, we enter the exciting standing A few miles later the Chilcotin River its towering basalt rock faces! As we waves of mile-long Big Creek Rapid. joins the Chilko and we begin our negotiate the canyon, we’ll pass a Through the morning the scenery journey on the Chilcotin River. traditional fishing site – we may have changes again: desert hoodoos, fewer As we float past the large rock the chance to give a passing wave to trees, open sagebrush and cactus bluffs of Bull Canyon and into the local First Nation fishers harvesting country. traditional territory of the Tl’etinqox with dip nets. First Nation, we will keep watch for The air is noticeably drier and mule deer and black bears and learn Afterward we will race through fun warmer here, and the smells of the some of the strong oral histories of roller coaster rapids named “the sagebrush and sweetgrasses enchant the region. Goosenecks” in Hanceville Canyon. the senses. We’ll see bald and golden eagles and If we are fortunate we may witness keep our eyes peeled for black bears Before lunch we pass the intricately flocks of birds on the water and in and California Bighorn sheep. dovetailed log buildings of an the sky, geese, ducks, sandhill cranes In the afternoon we’ll set up camp at abandoned pioneer ranch. Prepare to or even American White Pelicans the confluence of the Chilcotin River have your breath taken away as we preparing for their migration south. and Big Creek, the heart of Big Creek enter the iconic Farwell Canyon, with There are a few species that show Ecological Preserve. its towering hoodoos and beautiful their adaptability by also inhabiting sand dunes, the largest in BC! the dry semi-deserts of the interior DAY 5 – LAY OVER AT BIG CREEK. along the Chilcotin and Fraser Rivers. Farwell was the site of a Chilcotin Some of these versatile creatures This is your day! Sleep in, swim, join village and is the location of an include bald eagles, black bears, your guides on a hike up “the Dome” annual First Nations salmon fishery. grizzly bears and cougars. We will or wander through the grasslands Pictographs are still visible on the make camp in the heartland of the and wonder at the resiliency and rocks. The rock paintings are still vibrancy of the ecology. Of course, Chilcotin ranching community. preserved in the dry, desert-like sitting creekside and taking in the While the plains appear to be simple climate. Images include Salmon, wonders of the wilderness is always grasslands, this area is part of the Bighorn Sheep and deer. most bio-diverse region of British an option! With a full day to prepare you never know what delights your Columbia and inspires comparisons guides might cook up for you! At lunch we will take some extra to Africa’s grand landscapes. time to hike high up a ridge into the towering hoodoos which make up the left bank of the river, or if you would REVEL IN THE NIGHT SKY AROUND A CAMPFIRE OF FRAGRANT JUNIPER. DAVE PROTHERO PHOTO FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE THE FAQS AT NAHANNI.COM PAGE 3 rather, relax on the sandy beach Once on the big river we can put up SUGGESTED READING with your toes in the cool water! our feet and take in the new scenery Camp tonight is amongst old growth while feeling ever so small in our Your guides will carry a small reference Douglas Fir just above the last canyon new surroundings.