My Nahanni Dream Come True

In 1993, I purchased Neil Hartling's book "River of Gold, River of Dreams." Having been drawn to canoe tripping over the previous ten years, I liked to read and dream about trips in the winter months. Neil's book was very exciting...though just a dream.

In the spring of 1994, Hiker's Haven in Oakville was having a variety of outfitters presenting various trips. My son and I attended one on the Nahanni. I did not know it would be Neil. This was my first encounter with Neil who had flown in from Whitehorse to make a series of presentations. The slide show was excellent. I made mental note of his hat, which years later would lend to a chance meeting in Yellowknife. I left with thoughts that someday I would like to canoe the Nahanni (when and cost seemed to be the barrier)...and the dream was planted.

Over the next two years I kept thinking and dreaming of the Nahanni, reading all the publications that were available. I discovered a co-worker that had canoed the river 10 years earlier. He shared his experience, trip log and slides with me. That summer of 1996 I started to think seriously about going.

Sometimes in life if you focus on priorities and set goals, wish or pray for guidance, things happen. Both the time and the funds became available. That fall I booked for July 1997.

Do you know how often you plan a trip or holiday and when it finally happens you feel let down or disappointed? Not so this time! The experience was more than what I had anticipated. The details were expertly executed without surprise by the guides and Nahanni River Adventures. Every moment of the trip was exciting and enjoyable. From the float plane to the (grunt) paddle at the end I relished every moment.

There are not words to capture the awe of fourth, third and second canyons. First canyon was spellbinding silence. The beauty of the river and surroundings was every bit and more than what I had imagined or read. It was truly a trip of a lifetime...though I think there are still more lifetime trips to come!

I was staying in Yellowknife for a few days after the trip. Some of our group were waiting for a plane and were killing time in a coffee shop in downtown Yellowknife. I looked into the shopping mall from the coffee shop and spotted "The HAT" and remarked to my fellow travelers "if I did not know better, that is Neil Hartling." It was a pleasure to have a chat with him after our trip and before our departure back to Ontario.

I have written this for the use of Nahanni River Adventures as they see fit. I would recommend the river and the firm without hesitation. If you wish to talk to me personally, ask Neil to give you my number. I have many good things to say about the experience of the Nahanni and Nahanni River Adventures.

In the summer of 1999 my wife and I rented the Kitty Lake Ranger cabin. We love canoe-camping but thought we would try a few days of luxury in the cabin. One day while we were there, a group of youths came up and asked if they could look at the cabin. Earlier they had carved their initials on the outside walls and wanted to see them. They started to add and carve more. We were not impressed with this and asked that they not deface the cabin.

It was later that I recollected my canoe trip on the Nahanni. There is a ranger cabin at Klaus Springs that canoeists stop at. Over the years hundreds of carved miniature paddles and other items have been dated & hung inside the cabin.

This gave us the idea to carve a paddle and hang it in the cabin. On the wall we hung a note asking people to add their own carving instead of carving on the cabin walls.

This year (2001) we were camping at Shirley Lake and decided to take a day trip back to the cabin to see what had transpired. We could not gain access however we could see in the window where we had hung our paddle. We were pleasantly surprised and pleased to see perhaps 40 objects hanging in the corner window! In addition to paddles, there were also creative carvings of totem poles and a floatplane! What an exciting sight.

We thought we would write you this letter (for use as you see fit) to encourage other trippers to do the same. Perhaps it might spread to other park cabins thus discouraging de-facing the walls of these historic buildings.

Nahanni River Adventures, Nahanni offers exceptional expeditions by raft and canoe on the great rivers from Alaska to Nunavut including: South Nahanni River, Tatshenshini River, Alsek River, Firth River, Snake River, Wind River, Stikine River, Burnside River, Coppermine River, Horton River, Mountain River, Yukon River, Taku River, Gataga River and Sea Kayaking and whale watching at Point Adolphus, Alaska, over-looking Glacier Bay National Park.

Our expeditions encompass Nahanni National Park (South Nahanni River), Kluane National Park (Alsek River), Ivvavik National Park (Firth River), Glacier Bay National Park (Alsek River), Herschel Island Territorial Park (Firth River).

Nahanni River Adventures operates in Alaska (United States of America), Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and British Columbia (Canada).

Nahanni.com is the online presence of the company, Nahanni River Adventures Ltd.

Nahanni River Adventures works with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society to ensure the environmental integrity of our wild places.

Neil Hartling, founder of Nahanni River Adventures, is also the author of: Nahanni, River of Gold...River of Dreams. Alaska to Nunavut - The Great Rivers. Nahanni River Guide. These books may all be purchased through Nahanni.com.

Common misspellings of the name are Nahani, Nahannie, Nahanie, Nahoni, Nahonni.
Nahanni River Adventures.