2. Rabbitkettle – Victoria Falls
Day 7 – Fri July 20 – go to Day 7, last day of 1st section.
Day 8 – Sat. July 21
Position: 61°51.727 N, 126°23.273 W
Elevation: 569m
Drop: 29m = 87′
Distance
We left rather late today – about 10:25 a.m. Everybody was moving rather slowly, probably because of the heat. We paddled & paddled & paddled & then rafted up for a long float, then paddled & paddled & paddled & rafted up…..etc. etc.
Most of our cnoes saw a giant bull moose peering out from the bush – I unfortunately didn’t see it since our canoe was last at that time.
We covered a lot of distance & stopped early – about 4:30 – at Flood Creek, which is a beautiful, clear, slightly warmer creek (60°F) Some of us sat in it, cleaned up & cooled down! Felt WONDERFUL!
We are no only 1 long day’s paddle from Victoria Falls so will probably put in a day either here or at the falls.
Day 9 – Sun July 22, Oxbow Lake
Position: 61°40.376N, 125°52.715 W
Elevation: 561m
Distance:
Today we got off about 9:40 a.m. & stopped shortly after 4:30. Mostly we paddled since there weren’t a lot of places to stop. We had lunch on the water & a couple of other rest stops (floating) but kept moving for the most part.
Most of the group saw a black bear in the bush but our canoe was behind (again) & by the time we caught up it was gone. We did see a juvenile bald eagle in a nest, an osprey nest & later another eagle. AND we saw a peregrine falcon!!
Finally, we turned at a little hidden creek on river left which led to a winding lake – an oxbow lae, originally the main river track. We camped near the end on a great site & all went swimming.
There was a beautiful gorgeous sunset since there were some clouds – it must have lasted over an hour & finally faded around midnight.
Day 10 – Mon July 23, Virginia Falls
Position: 61°36.390′ N, 125°45.438 W
Elevation: 560m
Distance:
About 10:40 a.m. we finally pushed off. We lounged around this morning, paddled out of our little lake & paddled about 12 km to just above Virginia Falls. We then hauled everything up to a Parks campground (really nice), had a snack & set off hiking to Morengo Falls.
The hike was EXTREMELY hot & was all bushwhacking (TIRING!) through moss & black spruce & Labrador tea bushes. Finally we got to the falls & it was worth the hike. We ate lunch below the falls & swam (62°F) & then hiked back. We left around 1 pm. & finally arrived back around 5:30 p.m.
Most of us swam again (in the river (Brrrr.) & then had dinner. After dinner a 20 year old Parks Dene worker gave us an interpretive talk of his people’s ways, background & culture. It ws pretty interesting but VERY slanted.
Day 11 – Tues July 24, Virginia Falls
Position: No change
Elevation: No change
We styed put today & did things around Virginia Falls. Seven went for a hike up Sunblood Mountain (Adam, Andrew, Wendy, Lou, Paul, George & Joe). The weather was not great….cloudy & drizzly off & on. Those who hiked up Sunblood saw 3 Dall sheep, ika & Arctic ground squirrels.
Meanwhile, those of who stayed in camp walked down to the bottom of the falls, portagin 1 canoe & 2 very heavy barrels. I unfortunately missed them, went to the lookouts & thought the trail would lead back to the portage trail – it didn’t! So I wandered on trails along the canyon, in & out, up & down for a very long time until I decided I was on a game trail. So, I retraced my steps.
Back at our camp, we talked & ate & cooked.