"As we sat around the campfire chatting about the day's adventures and discussing the plans for tomorrow I noticed something moving on the opposite bank. Just behind a small copse of stunted Sitka spruce I could see an animal darting about and sniffing the air.
Then it came out from the shadows, moving furtively towards the water, stopping every few paces to look around nervously and sniff the air for signs of danger. A wolverine! It made its way to the water's edge, took a drink, then rolled around in the dirt like a kitten for a few seconds before running off back to the trees".
(Excerpt from a trip diary, Canada)
There is no better way to experience the wilderness than in an open canoe. Stable, easy to manage, quiet and comfortable, these craft put you in the middle of the action and help you become part of the environment rather than an onlooker.
Camping out under the stars on a wilderness river is a great way to enjoy the natural world. Everyday worries evaporate with the smoke from the campfire, and the stresses of modern life disappear with the gentle sounds of the river running past the campsite.
Uplifting, spiritually rewarding, relaxing and awesome are all terms used by our clients to describe their experience of canoe camping with EB Adventures. Our 2007 calendar caters for everyone from canoeing novices through to experienced expeditionary; from weekends in France to 20 days in Arctic Canada, the choice is yours!
Also in 2007 we are providing the new holiday venue of Finland. Finland could have been designed for the outdoor person! Lakes and boreal forests, beautiful rivers, a jagged coastline and thousands of acres of pristine wilderness make it ideal for walking, sailing, skiing and canoeing.
Below is information on four of the canoe trips we are offering in 2007 on the Canche River, France; Bloodvein River, Canada; Green River, USA, and in South East Finland. For more information on these trips, or to find out more about the other trips we have planned and which ones will be most suited to your level of canoeing skills please contact us.
FRENCH CANOEING WEEKEND
APRIL 19th - 20th 20080 8
MAY 3rd - 4th 2008
MAY 31st - JUNE 1st 2008
Enjoy the beauty and tranquility of a Class 2 river that runs through the heart of the French countryside. Camp at a riverside campsite, and savour the culinary delights of genuine French cuisine in an ancient town with cobbled streets and fortified ramparts.
This two day adventure is ideal for novice and intermediate paddlers who want to improve their skills on a beautiful, friendly and interesting river, with some moving water and easy portages, just an hour's drive from Calais.
ITINERARY
Day 1
The adventure starts at Folkestone International rail station, where we meet on the Saturday morning at about 06:30. Once through the tunnel, it's a short drive (approx. one hour) to the campsite in Montreuil Sur Mer where we set up the tents.
Then it's straight to the put-in, and a leisurely paddle on the Canche. The river runs through broadleaf forests, taking us past meadows and pasture land, and around several mills and farms, until we disembark at the campsite. Mostly Grade 1, the river offers some moving water interest with several weirs, and two purpose-built slalom sites: for the less adventurous, the portages are all easy!
After the shuttle, a warm shower, and a change of clothes, it's up to the town for a well-earned meal in one of the many excellent restaurants. Following dinner, those who still have energy to burn can enjoy a stroll around the ramparts before returning to their tents.
Day 2
After breakfast, we head back to the river for a bit of a play until lunchtime. Following lunch, there's plenty of time to pack up, visit the town, or just chill before heading back to Calais.
COST: £196.00 per person
The price of your trip includes
• Campsite fees
• Tents
• Guiding
• Food (packed lunches, breakfast & evening meal), alcohol not included
• Coaching
• Canoes & equipment. (two person boats).
Please note: Other camping equipment available for hire
8 DAY TRIP BLOODVEIN RIVER, CANADA
Regions: Boreal Forest, Canadian Shield
Skill level: All skill levels
Access: Float Plane, Ferry and Van Shuttle
Distance: 115 km
Put in: Katunigan Lake on the Bloodvein River, Float Plane Access
Egress: Lake Winnipeg, Pine Dock, Ferry and Shuttle
The Bloodvein River is a perfect introduction to remote-river paddling. As the float plane vanishes over the horizon, so too, do your links with city life. Travel the Bloodvein River and re-energize your mind and body. The ochre rock paintings from the region's Aboriginal peoples are a silent testament to the long-standing importance of the Bloodvein for Canada's First Nation's peoples.
Background & description
Adventurous souls participating on the Bloodvein River Trip should be ready for 8 days of superb wilderness canoeing and camping. You should possess a reasonable level of fitness and have the stamina to carry your personal pack and group gear when a portage is required. Expect to spend between 4 and 7 hours a day on the water, and although experience in paddling and moving water is an asset, it is not necessary. Our guides are excellent canoeing instructors and will help you develop your newfound skill, or refine your paddle strokes.
Through years of experience our itinerary ensures the most scenic campsites on the river. Some are characterized by gentle rapids that are safe to jump in, others sit atop granite cliffs and offer a scenic panoramic view; all are beautiful. This is wilderness canoeing at its finest, surrounded by the pristine wilderness of Atikaki Park; wildlife spotting, fishing, cliff jumping and simply relaxing – all our campsites are a place for the adventurer to unwind.
Pre-trip
Guests should arrive in Winnipeg at least 1 day before your trip starts. We will escort you from the airport to your hotel, and give you the waterproof backpacks you will need for the next 8 days so you can pack your gear and make preparations for the start of your trip. We will be on hand to answer your questions and notify you of your morning departure the next day. Hotel guests can leave suitcases or personal backpacks at the hotel free of charge until their return. It is our pleasure to pay for your hotel, so there are no unexpected expenses.
ITINERARY
Day 1
We have an early morning departure from Winnipeg, and after the 2 1/2 -hour's drive to Bisset, our float plane will take you to Katunigan Lake. Once in the air, you will be treated to vistas of an immense expanse of pine forest, rock outcroppings, and a matrix of lakes and rivers as far as the eye can see. On the final descent to Katunigan Lake, you will be awed by this immense landscape that seems to
take you back in time. Smoother than any landing you will experience on wheels, the floatplane taxis its way to our rendezvous on the lake. Here you will familiarise yourself with the canoe and the equipment that you'll be using for the next 8 days. We will camp on the lake or at Drumming Sound Rapids depending on the time of our arrival.
Days 2-6
After a nourishing breakfast, you will set out to paddle down the Bloodvein. The river begins softly with a few rapids and many open tranquil sections requiring simple flat water paddling skills. By day 3 the Bloodvein changes moods as it twists and winds its way through narrow sections lined with steep granite cliffs.
Now rapids become more frequent and challenging. Over the course of your trip you can expect 25 rapids between Class 1 and 3 with the majority being Class 2. At typical water levels.
Throughout your trip you will enjoy a mix of tranquil flatwater and pulse-pounding rapids. Wildlife spotting, fishing, and cliff jumping - you will be seized by the challenge and exhilarated by the promise of mastering something you might never have done before.
Considered by many to be the most challenging rapid on the Bloodvein, Namay (Sturgeon) Rapids is a long Class 2-3 rapid that lends itself well to exciting water play. Similarly, test your mettle with Akeeko (Kettle) Rapids - a technical section of the river with big waves - named after glacial formations in the shape of cauldrons that cut into the granite along the portage trail A few kilometres from the Bloodvein First Nations Reserve we will visit Aboriginal pictographs – ochre rock paintings in the image of moose, human figures, and others.
Day 7
This evening we are the guests of Louis Young and Suzy Mercredi, when we make our camp on an island just across from the ferry dock at Bloodvein Indian Reserve. Louis, the former Chief of this Ojibwa communit,y will lead us through a sweat lodge ceremony, the foundation of many Aboriginal cultures. The closest comparison to a sweat lodge would be a sauna, but here the sweat lodge represents the womb of Mother Earth. The ceremony lasts approximately 1 hour. During the ceremony we pay homage to the four directions, the human race and the four-legged creatures. After the ceremony Suzy has prepared a feast featuring seasonal local cuisine, if we’re lucky, moose, pickerel, wild rice and bannock; a perfect conclusion to our wonderful journey down the Bloodvein.
Day 8
Today heralds our return to Winnipeg. We will embark the J. Edgar Wood from the Reserve at 11h00 to transport us across Lake Winnipeg. The ferry crossing takes approximately 2 hours, where our van will be waiting for us. We load up the canoes and camping gear and drive back to Winnipeg. We will stop for lunch and arrive at the hotel in Winnipeg at approximately 16h00. After a hot shower, we meet for a last meal together at one of Winnipeg’s fine restaurants. It’s our pleasure to pay for your hotel so there are no unexpected expenses.
Post-trip
In the event of arrival delays due to weather or other problems, guests should make flight plans to leave Winnipeg on the day after returning from the trip. We provide all transportation to the airport.
COST: £1,098.00 per person
The price of your trip includes
• Professional guides
• 2 nights' stay in downtown hotel Ramada Malborough
• All transportation services. (Ground shuttle from Winnipeg to Bisset and Pine Dock to Winnipeg, Float Plane Bisset to Wapeskapek Lake).
• Delicious food
• All canoeing equipment. (Canoes, paddles, life jackets, safety helmets and equipment).
• Camping equipment. (All cooking supplies, food packs, tent, tarp, waterproof backpack).
• Safety equipment
IMPORTANT: Please note that International flights are not included in the cost stated.
Dates:
Holiday 1: 13th – 20th June 2008
Holiday 2: 25th August - 1st September 2008
Holiday 3: 5th - 12th September 2008
PIGEON RIVER
July 8 - 13
Whitewater fun set in a boreal paradise
5 nights
The Pigeon River is one of canoeing's finest whitewater rivers. It carves a boisterous course through the Canadian Shield, a vast expanse of land characterized by granite islands, sweeping forests, and waterways unchanged since the glaciers retreated thousands of years ago. For those looking for whitewater thrills, the Pigeon River has been nicknamed Manitoba 's Colorado River. We offer the Pigeon as an intensive 5-night adventure, which includes the best of the Pigeon's whitewater and which allows you to experience this beautiful river in its entirety.
COST: £1,098.00 per person
The price of your trip includes
• Professional guides
• All transportation services.
• Delicious food
• All canoeing equipment. (Canoes, paddles, life jackets, safety helmets and equipment).
• Camping equipment. (All cooking supplies, food packs, tent, tarp, waterproof backpack).
• Safety equipment
IMPORTANT: Please note that International flights are not included in the cost stated.
5 Night adventure
Dates
July 8 - 13
The SealRiver
14 Nights
Polar bears, beluga whales and a depth of wilderness few can comprehend characterize this waterway. The Seal River winds its way through the venerable landscape of the subarctic before it spills into Hudson Bay. On the banks of the Seal River, you will camp on ancient eskers, age-old beds of sediment left behind by retreating glaciers. These eskers also allow for unequalled hiking opportunities that will let you explore this fascinating landscape. As well on this trip, you may well sight seals
(go figure), caribou, wolves,
bald eagles, and an
experience you will not
want to miss-beluga
whales.
COST: £2,490.00 per person
The price of your trip includes
• Professional guides
• All transportation services.
• Delicious food
• All canoeing equipment. (Canoes, paddles, life jackets, safety helmets and equipment).
• Camping equipment. (All cooking supplies, food packs, tent, tarp, waterproof backpack).
• Safety equipment
IMPORTANT: Please note that International flights are not included in the cost stated.
14 Night adventure
Dates
July 3 – 16
Hayes River
Immerse yourself in the history of this land.
14 Nights
While paddling the Hayes you are experiencing a piece of Canada's fur trade and settlement history. Like the colourful people who explored Canada's north, the Hayes changes personality many times; from a spirited river with pool-and-drop rapids to a great northern river, characterised by steep gravel banks and long, continuous Class I-II rapids. The Hayes flows into Hudson Bay where the oldest trading post in
Western Canada, York Factory, is situated.
Filled with relics from the
height of the fur trade era,
York Factory offers a glimpse into life as it was when the
Hudson's Bay Company was
at its most powerful. No other
river in Western Canada offers
the history and unspoiled remoteness of the Hayes
River. When you explore the
Hayes you are stepping back in
time and following the paddle
strokes of early explorers and fur traders.
COST: £2,590.00 per person
The price of your trip includes
• Professional guides
• All transportation services.
• Delicious food
• All canoeing equipment. (Canoes, paddles, life jackets, safety helmets and equipment).
• Camping equipment. (All cooking supplies, food packs, tent, tarp, waterproof backpack).
• Safety equipment
IMPORTANT: Please note that International flights are not included in the cost stated.
14 Night adventure
Dates
July 21 - August 4
FINLAND CANOE CAMPING
14 – 20 June, 12 – 18 July and 19 – 25 July
Finland is a truly beautiful, historic country that captures the imagination and stirs the soul. From the stunning Saimaa Lakes in the south to wild Lapland in the north Finland offers hiking, fishing canoeing and camping in the summer, with skiing, dog sledding and snow shoe trekking in the winter. It is the perfect outdoor playground for adventurers from all over the world.
Our summer canoe and kayak treks will give you an experience you will never forget, and one that you will want to repeat again and again. Led by an experienced Finnish guide you will paddle through the myriad of islands that litter the Saimaa Lakes region, camping on sandy beaches and enjoying the pleasures of the sauna along the way. On some of the treks our bushcraft expert will join you to teach you how to make fire by friction, purify water, make temporary shelters and cook in the outdoors.
At the end of your five-day trek there is a celebration party on a converted timber barge complete with sauna and traditional Finnish cooking. As with all EB Adventures group sizes are kept small so that everyone has the full adventure experience!
ITINERARY
Day 1
Arrive Helsinki and book into a local hotel where we will greet you and introduce the rest of the adventurers.
Day 2
Travel by minibus to Antolla where you will be outfitted and take a short journey to get used to the boats. Overnight in tents near a small cottage where we will enjoy our first finnish sauna.
Day 3
Trek through the Saimaa Lake region, visiting island sites and enjoying the stunning scenery and outdoor experience.
Day 4
A short days paddle ending at a traditional timber barge where we will enjoy a cleansing sauna before having a celebration party and an overnight stay.
Day 5
Return to Helsinki where you will be booked into a hotel for your last night in Finland.
EB Adventures are delighted to be able to offer this amazing holiday in a truly stunning part of Finland and we are proud to be working alongside an experienced and well-qualified Finnish guide who will be able to tell you about the geological, historical and natural history of the area.
COST: £952 per person (flights not included)
Dates:
Holiday 1: 14 – 20 June 2008
Holiday 2: 12 – 18 July 2008
Holiday 3: 19 – 25 July 2008
GREEN RIVER USA ADVENTURE
"No words, nor pictures can describe the beauty and grandeur of this area. Harsh and fragile, stark and beautiful - you have to see it to believe it" (John Wesley Powell 1869).
The Green River runs through a beautiful red rock canyon as it meanders its way toward the mighty Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. Suitable for novice or intermediate canoeists, this stunning flat-water canoe camping trip is a once in a lifetime experience.
As you paddle this stretch of the Green River you can feel the history wash over you. Five days of easy paddling, interspersed with treks to visit Native American sites, will bring you closer to the souls of previous travellers in this truly amazing landscape. Each night we will camp beside the river and our guides will regale us with stories from the past. Experience backcountry cooking at its best and enjoy the company of fellow travellers as the sun sets over the Buttes and Mesas of the surrounding desert.
ITINERARY (dates to be confirmed)
Day 1
Fly to Grand Junction, overland to hotel.
Day 2 - 6
Green river, Labyrinth Canyon canoe trek, last night to be spent in hotel.
Day 7
Overland to Grand Junction, fly to Heathrow.
COST £1095.00 per person (excludes flights)
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