Dubawnt Gates - Thelon River, 10km Above Aberdeen Lake
Distance 42km [987]
Portage 0 [20]
Very Fast Water 1 [40]
Rapids 0 [36]
We completed the portage around the Dubawnt Gates down a very steep hill and were in the fast flowing river by 10am. The river ran between steep sandy cliffs until it reached the delta where it joins the Thelon. Just before we left the Dubawnt, a large white Arctic Wolf checked us out from the shore. We stopped paddling and let the canoe drift with the current and the wolf walked just ahead of us but far enough back for its comfort. Every so often s/he would stop and howl, This went on for several kilometres.
We have paddled the Dubawnt River in its many moods and changing character over the past twenty-nine days. It has been an adventure, it has tested us and taught us much, an adventure that we share with so few others but feel privileged to have experienced together. It is with mixed feelings that after weeks of travelling north we now turn east towards Baker Lake. We lunched and took a selfie to mark the milestone we had reached and then paddled out into the Thelon.
Dubawnt River approaching the confluence with the Thelon
Lunch stop at the Dubawnt-Thelon confluence
Selfie after 29 days on the Dubawnt
The Thelon is a very wide river with many bays and large sandy islands and beaches. It has a definite current but not as swift as the past few days on the Dubawnt. We paddled to a camp site a few kilometres short of Aberdeen Lake.
We both braved the water for a wash tonight and it certainly is not as cold as the waters of the Dubawnt.
Camp on the Thelon River about 8km above Aberdeen Lake