Paddling the river with no name and the Thelon
When we arrived at the river with no name, the water was low and the winds were strong. The first three paddling days
we paddled mostly flat water with a strong head wind. This was exhausting.
The third day we got off to a late start as one of our trip members had to be evacuated due to serious illness.
The fourth and fifth day were much more interesting paddling. The wind was at our back and there were constant
rapids. Because of the low water level, Alex frequently stood up to get the best view of the course between the rocks.
Even with the wind at our back, we worked very hard pulling and pushing our paddles to navigate through the rapids.
we paddled mostly flat water with a strong head wind. This was exhausting.
The third day we got off to a late start as one of our trip members had to be evacuated due to serious illness.
The fourth and fifth day were much more interesting paddling. The wind was at our back and there were constant
rapids. Because of the low water level, Alex frequently stood up to get the best view of the course between the rocks.
Even with the wind at our back, we worked very hard pulling and pushing our paddles to navigate through the rapids.
The sixth paddling day, we arrived at the Thelon River. The Thelon is a very wide river and would have been difficult to
navigate in the winds that we had been experiencing. To our delight, the winds subsided on the fifth day.
Alex had told us that about two miles down the Thelon we would encounter a very powerful rapid. He would paddle the
canoes of the weaker paddlers--that obviously meant Jackie and me. But when we climbed to observe the rapid (below),
Alex said the river was down three feet from normal and said that we should paddle our own canoe by following close
behind him. Jackie noted that this rapid was the only time we ever saw Alex wear his life vest on two trips.
navigate in the winds that we had been experiencing. To our delight, the winds subsided on the fifth day.
Alex had told us that about two miles down the Thelon we would encounter a very powerful rapid. He would paddle the
canoes of the weaker paddlers--that obviously meant Jackie and me. But when we climbed to observe the rapid (below),
Alex said the river was down three feet from normal and said that we should paddle our own canoe by following close
behind him. Jackie noted that this rapid was the only time we ever saw Alex wear his life vest on two trips.
Above, Anne and Andy navigate a rapid as Jeremy looks back.
On the fifth day, we lined a few tricky rapids (below).
On the fifth day, we lined a few tricky rapids (below).
Towards the end of the sixth day, we experienced a fairly solid rain shower (below). That night a front came through.
The next day there were big white caps on the river. It was beyond paddling, so this was a hiking or rest day for the
group. With all the rapids behind us and a day off the river, Jackie was all smiles.
The next day there were big white caps on the river. It was beyond paddling, so this was a hiking or rest day for the
group. With all the rapids behind us and a day off the river, Jackie was all smiles.