Expedition One: The William River—Athabasca Sand Dunes, June 14-27, 2009

Chunks out of three bang plates, five cracked paddles and the bottom of our freshly re-coated Kevlar Hellman Prospector looks like Kojak. It was a tough, challenging  trip with easterly winds the entire time—and easterlies always bring bad weather in this part of the world. 

Click here for photos and more details: http://www.jasonschoonover.com/WilliamRiver09/WilliamRiver_2009.html

Expedition Two: The Cree River,July 5-18, 2009

Norm “Capt. Hook” Baker, Thor Heyerdahl’s first mate on the reed boat trips Ra, Ra-II and Tigris and one of the world’s greatest living adventurers and explorers, flew up from Connecticut in his Skyhawk for a second year looking forward to being wet, cold, exhausted, bug bitten and miserable. A dogged, if novice freshwater fisherman, Capt. Hook earned his river name from the innumerable times he hooked Saskatchewan.  Kam “Splash” Kahnamoui, our Iranian terrorist surgeon, was also a returnee (with his father-in-law Syl “Ziggie” Hawryluk, both from Ontario).  Splash, who set a fine record of five dumps in Paull River rapids last year, got off to a promising start by falling off the Turbo Otter’s pontoon at the put in. Ziggie’s paddling has improved, or else he’s not interested in taking the scenic route as much this year. 

Click here for photos and more details: http://www.jasonschoonover.com/Cree09.html

 

Expedition Three: My Solo on the Churchill River, July 28-August 3, 2009

After leading the two 12-person brigades to the William River/Athabasca Sand Dunes, and the second down the Cree River, I was hungry for solitude, where I wouldn’t have to worry about Cherry Popper and Bow Buba paddling off the edge of the world, or Splash and Ziggie going down and not coming up.  I headed back to Missinipe  and portaged up into Hayman Lake on the Churchill River system, doing a circuit around Two Lake Island,  returning via Sluice Portage and Corner Rapids.   About 20 miles.

Click here for photos and more details: http://www.jasonschoonover.com/Solo09.html