Dubawnt River 7km Above Marjorie Lake - Dubawnt River at Moffit's Rapids
Distance 24 km [908 km]
Portage 1 [19]
Very Fast Water 2 [39]
Rapids 2 [35]
A great day! We woke early to blue skies, calm mirror like conditions and judging by the zillions of black flies and mosquitoes the promise of a warm day. John has a theory that we are following the new hatching north and I think he has a point as the numbers are unbelievable. Got away early accompanied by a cloud of friendly insects, who not only remained with us all day but joined forces with the locals to terrorise us once we reached camp.
The first five kilometres we paddled through a beautiful channel, hills on either side and a number of fast water sections to add to the enjoyment. The rapid at the entrance to Marjorie Lake was long, we started in the centre and unintentionally punched through a mid-sized hole followed by a lot of boulder dodging and some big waves.
Marjorie Lake was awesome. We had no wind and felt we were just sliding across its mirror- like surface, it was as if we were part of the elements of water and the sky.
Heading north on a mirror like Marjorie Lake
Lunch on a boulder esker 1km above Moffit’s Rapids
We reached a ‘bouldery’ esker just before Moffitt Rapids at the lake exit and stopped for lunch. Here we saw a second sign of civilisation, a river gauge on the far bank.
Moffitt Rapids were very messy. We scouted from the right but decided the left side was a better bet. We ferried across and ran RL, we then eddied out and lined to the top of some very nasty ledges and did a short but tricky portage. We completed the rapid by running RL. After a short paddle we came to a fabulous camp site on a section of ancient raised beaches. It had a cobble beach with a wide, grassed and flat bench directly behind, ideal for the tent. John spent some time climbing and exploring the raised beaches and had a close encounter with a large ground squirrel.
Unloading for the short carry around the main ledge, Moffit’s Rapids
Just as at Uksuriajuag Rapids, the ledges at Moffit’s rapids are deceptively high
Camp on river terrace below raised beaches just downstream of Moffit’s Rapids
Camp on the river terrace, a beautiful place but difficult to enjoy due to the black flies
Updating the maps, a pleasant enough job (as long as you had your bug shirt on!)
The door to the tent only had to be open for a second and the tent would be full of black flies, once inside however they spent the entire time trying to get back outside
John having a quick scrub in the Dubawnt, the cold water was prefereable to the black flies once you got back out!