KLINAKLINI HELI-RAFTING PLANNING YOUR TRIP…. Thank you for choosing a R.O.A.M. wilderness rafting and hiking trip. We are very excited that you will be joining us for an unforgettable river trip through some of British Columbia’s most spectacular wilderness. In June of 1997, we put together an expedition team of professional guides for the first descent of this incredible mountain waterway. In August of the same year, we operated the first commercial trip with Men’s Journal magazine covering the event. In 1998, complete with supermodels, we operated the first all-woman descent in conjunction with the Donna Karan Corporation of New York and Marie Claire Magazine. Today, this carefully planned state- of-the-art expedition allows participants to travel where it was once unimaginable. If any of your questions remain unanswered, please don’t hesitate to call. We strive to fully prepare you for what to expect on your trip so you can spend your vacation thinking more about smelling the essence of a forest of old growth cedars or a field of Alpine wildflowers than whether or not you brought the right pair of shoes. The Terrain We Cover Rafting the Klinaklini River offers the adventurous traveller a bounty of images and experiences. Your rafting trip begins at the edge of the great interior plateau of British Columbia’s Chilcotin country, at Klinaklini Lake. This lake is a jewel encircled by pristine wilderness and it’s the perfect habitat for moose, grizzly bears, wolves, cougars and eagles. Enveloped by the peaks and canyons of the Coastal Range, you will be able to see Mt. Waddington, B.C.’s highest mountain, looming in the distance. The upper river is a narrow and intimate corridor that opens up exponentially as we descend downstream. For the next days your world is filled with new sounds and fragrant aromas. You will marvel at the simplicity of nature and remember how good it feels to leave urban existence behind. Four days in, we reach the upper end of the impassable Klinaklini Canyon. From here, your helicopter—a virtual magic carpet—whisks you away to untouched Alpine meadows, snow-capped mountains and ageless diamond- blue glaciers. We spend an unforgettable day hiking in the Alpine meadows and drifting beside the flanks of Mt. Waddington. At the end of this day of exploring, your helicopter lifts you to the next base camp, at the foot of the majestic Klinaklini Glacier. The final leg of your rafting odyssey begins with dodging icebergs and ends with gliding through giant forests and valley meadows as you are delivered to the head of Knight Inlet, a stunning fjord that penetrates 60 miles into the Coast Range. The rafts allow us to travel the path of least resistance into this beautiful wilderness. There will be plenty of time in camp for hiking and, conditions permitting, we are planning a layover day at the Klinaklini Glacier. You’ll always have the option of walking longer or shorter distances, and for the more advanced hiker, there are some challenging routes in close range. Options range from undulating meadows to steep ascents and plenty of options are available for those with sensitive knees. Getting in Shape Our trips are designed for people who enjoy the outdoors, rather than for fitness fanatics. Still, they are active holidays. Age is unimportant when it comes to your ability to do the rafting, walking and/or hiking—the more important consideration is your physical condition. If you haven’t attempted the kind of exercise levels required by our trips within the last couple of years, please be aware of the sort of trip you’re taking. It’s an active one, and you’ll enjoy it more if you’ve been doing some exercise before you go. Yet, no previous river experience is required. Your guides will give you an orientation to rafting and expedition practices on the first day and teach you all the basic skills you’ll require to safely enjoy the trip. Our prime consideration is to provide you with a trip that is as safe and comfortable as possible, while still maintaining the integrity of a wilderness experience. Activities that involve aerobic conditioning, such as swimming, walking, jogging, squash and tennis, are great for overall physical conditioning. Keep in mind the relative topography of where you live compared to the region you will be visiting. If you live in flat country, for example, consider supplementing your training with artificial hill training on a treadmill or stair-master. A Thumbnail Training Program • 2-3 months before the trips starts: try to do exercises that involve aerobic conditioning 3 times each week—swimming, walking, jogging, squash, cross-country skiing, tennis, biking; • 1 month before the trip: go for a couple of longer walks each week; • The week before your trip: try to go for 3 long walks; • Be sure to stretch before exercising—it reduces the chances of injury, muscle pain, stiffness and fatigue. Camping To ensure your comfort while in camp, our trips utilize spacious expedition tents, sleeping bag, a deluxe sleeping pad, wetsuit and paddling jacket and waterproof personal gear bags. In times of inclement weather, we deploy a series of tarps that cover the kitchen and eating areas, allowing a more comfortable and enjoyable camping experience. We are equipped with a propane kitchen, comfortable camp chairs and a portable privy. Because we carry ample propane, we will be able to provide clients with a reasonably hot shower each evening in camp. Expedition Equipment We use state-of-the-art, self-bailing rafts. These four- to six-person rafts have been designed with center- mount oar rigs and give participants the option of paddling or just soaking up the views. For those unfamiliar with self-bailing boats, the benefits are revolutionary. As water enters the boat, it collects on the inflated floor, which is attached to the side tubes above the waterline, then drains out through grommet holes along each side. Self-bailing boats offer invaluable advantages such as greater portability, stability, capacity and maneuverability. Fishing The Klinaklini is a good fishing river. In camp, you will be able to fish for rainbow and bull trout on the upper river, while record-size salmon spawn on the lower river. We suggest you bring a rod with case and the smallest of tackle boxes with the appropriate lures or flies. People wishing to fish should purchase a license in Vancouver or at Stewart’s Lodge. The Weather The weather is one of the few details we can’t control. That being said, we plan our trips at times when the likelihood of good weather is greatest. The upper Klinaklini tends to be dry in climate and much VANCOUVER warmer than the coast. Daytime highs in the interior can reach 85º F, and Month High Low the temperatures will drop a bit during the evenings, but not too °F/°C °F/°C drastically. However, evening Jul 73/23 54/12 Aug 73/23 54/12 2 temperatures when camping on the moraine of the Klinaklini glacier may vary with localized winds. Rain is always a possibility in British Columbia, but July and August are the driest months. Be sure to follow our recommended equipment list, as our experience suggests a multi-layering approach is best, with a range of temperatures and conditions in mind. What To Take While we encourage you to travel light, you’ll also want to be sure you pack all the essentials. We only average about four hours a day on the water, so we want to make sure you are prepared for both land and water environs. Most of the time spent on the raft will require a “farmer john”-style wetsuit with paddle jacket (these are provided), but much of the time in the raft you can wear splash or rain pants over some sort of synthetic underwear. The personal equipment list will address what you will need to wear in conjunction with our gear. However with the incredible hiking opportunities we need to be prepared for any environment, and for obvious reasons, laundry service is not available. At the same time, however, weight and volume restrictions come into play with our air charters. So please follow our recommendations closely. Equipment Notes The personal equipment list we provide you has been developed through years of practical experience. It is important that the clothing you bring will withstand the rigours of the trip. Your personal equipment should not weigh more than 40 pounds and all clothing should be quick drying and, ideally, made of synthetics. Warmth and comfort are the main objectives with this outline. In the North, weather conditions vary considerably. It is important to dress in layers so that you can maintain a comfortable body temperature, no matter what Mother Nature may have in store. The inner layer should move perspiration outside, where it can evaporate. The intermediate layer should insulate, while the outside layer should act as a barrier to wind and rain. Please Note: Your gear must be packed in soft collapsible duffels. Upon arrival at Stewart’s lodge, you will transfer your clothing into our waterproof bags. However, your soft, duffel will be coming down the river with us – PLEASE NO SUITCASES. Rain Gear In the summer months you are more likely to have the occasional shower than to have an entire day of rain. Still, you’ll be more comfortable if you stay dry and warm, so be sure to pack some rain gear-both tops and bottoms. A jacket is the most important item to keep your torso warm and dry.