Guided
Adventure

History
& Archaeology

The 8-day Nistoyãhk Odyssey tour is a fully outfitted and guided canoe trip with all equipment, food, and transportation supplied. You provide your own sleeping bag, rain gear, and personal items. The program includes instruction in paddling, canoeing safety, wilderness navigation, campcraft, and environmental ethics. Campsites are undesignated wilderness sites with only natural amenities. The pace of the trip, and the nature of the route, make it suitable for novice canoeists. Being physically fit will enhance your enjoyment of the trip. Some basic paddling experience would also be an asset, but is not essential.

The tour starts and ends at the historically interesting Native Cree settlement of Stanley Mission (480 km north of Saskatoon) that once operated as a trading post and church mission during the fur trade era. The Holy Trinity Anglican Church located here on the banks of the Churchill River is the oldest church in Western Canada. It has been recently refurbished, and is open to canoeists to visit.

The route follows the Churchill River, one of the most famous voyageur fur trade routes in Canada. Centuries-old Indigenous culture and heritage is evident in the rock paintings on the Precambrian shoreline of the river. One of the most vivid and well-preserved Aboriginal rock art sites of many along the Churchill is located just upstream of Stanley Rapids. This is a short rapid that is easily portaged.

Solitude & Wildlife

The return loop of the tour takes in part of the historic La Ronge to Stanley Mission trade route traversing a series of small secluded lakes, portages and winding creeks with beaver dams and brilliant water lilies. Depending on progress and weather, a layover day is possible on an enchantingly scenic, isolated lake prior to paddling back to Stanley Mission. This break in daily routine provides a welcome chance to relax, swim, explore the lake or simply soak up the wilderness serenity before heading homeward.

Solitude and undisturbed wilderness are characteristic of the route once beyond the busy area of Stanley Mission.

Boreal forest wildlife typical of the Canadian Shield, especially larger birds like bald eagles, great blue herons, white pelicans, and northern loons, are abundant along the route.

Total canoe trip distance is 80 km, with eight moderate portages. This trip length is easily managed over eight days (7 days canoeing, 1 day driving), permitting a leisurely pace and time for instruction sessions en route. Of all the canoe routes available in the Churchill River area, this one offers perhaps the best variety in scenic, cultural and historic highlights.

Note: The route is circular and can be paddled in reverse order, depending on water levels and prevailing weather.

LAC LA RONGE PARK
PADDLING ODYSSEY
By Bryan St. George

Note: Click on any photo for a larger picture

Preparing for Adventure

Although I was raised on a farm and hunted in many places across Western Canada, I had never paddled a canoe. I was raised a flatlander without rivers or streams worth navigating. When I happened upon Cliff Speer's CanoeSki website it struck me that this would be an experience I should enjoy before I got too much older. I shared this with my 14-year-old grandson, Ross, and his Dad. We all decided that this would be a great way for Ross and me to get to know each other better. What a wonderful decision that turned out to be!

Within an hour of our plane arriving in Saskatoon, the adventure began after we repacked our personal items into the proper waterproof packs supplied by CanoeSki. With the canoes loaded onto the trailer, the five Adventurers, our Guide, Cliff himself, and all our gear skillfully packed into the van, we headed for the Churchill River country in northern Saskatchewan.

Our first night was spent at the Provincial campground on Lac La Ronge in order to give us all some briefing and training for the events to come. On the way, we checked in and registered with the La Ronge Tourism office to record our canoe route and the length of our trip as a safety precaution.

The evening was spent learning canoeing and camping skills. Ross and I learned a little about canoeing by upsetting and I discovered not to wear glasses, or better still, have them tied on! For the rest of the trip I used the "spares" that I had fortunately taken along.

The next morning we had a briefing on the trip route, did a map study and were given a map kit so we could follow the route on our own map. Cliff also reviewed the safety guidelines for the trip. With the foundation for a safe trip laid, we departed for Stanley Mission where we loaded and launched our canoes on the Churchill River. The other three Adventurers had some canoe experience, so Cliff split us up to allow Ross and me to paddle with more experienced members in the party.

Travelling & Camping
on the Canadian Shield

After paddling upstream on the Churchill for a while, we did our first portage that took us into Hunt Lake, a clean, clear body of water with many islands. Being our first portage, Ross and I stuck to hauling backpacks and the others handled the canoes. Our first wilderness campsite was on the 3-billion year old Precambrian Shield rock that is so prevalent in that area and readily visible along the shorelines of the lake. Off the rock shelf at our campsite we enjoyed a swim in the late afternoon sun, feeling refreshed and invigorated after the day's paddle.

The next morning when we left the lake, we portaged around a beaver dam to get onto a narrow winding creek that tested our steering skills while we paddled through a maze of lovely yellow water lilies. Another portage took us over the Stanley Mission road and onto Four Portages Bay where we saw wild rice in bloom. (The same northern Saskatchewan wild rice turned out to be part of our excellent menu). Here is where we also saw Bald Eagles that were nesting near the bay and Great Blue Herons cruising over the water.

The immensity of Lac La Ronge is partly concealed by islands, but when we ventured out onto the lake the next morning, it was evident from the strong winds and high waves that had built up across the expanse of the lake. For safety sake, Cliff guided us behind a finger of land for protection from the wind and waves. As we waited there, he took advantage of the time to give us a lesson on the use of our compasses. After lunch and a swim we decided to brave the weather that had abated slightly, and struck off, zigzagging across the bay in order to maintain our course without danger of being swamped by high waves hitting us from the side. That evening, for a change we camped on an island beach instead of the usual campsite perched on Canadian Shield bedrock. The beach provided another excellent place to wade into the lake and take a swim before supper.

Ross and Bryan taking a dip in Lac La Ronge

The following day we practiced using our maps and compasses to wend our way through the maze of islands to the outlet of Lac La Ronge. Along the way we greeted some of Cliff's American friends who spend the summer in the area. After a lunch stop along Diefenbaker Bay, we took advantage of a wind in our backs and sped along at about 7 kilometres per hour to the "railway" portage. This is an interesting contrivance actually consisting of light rail track upon which a trolley is pushed with canoes and gear on board. We set up camp for the night above the Rapid River, which is a lovely, scenic location overlooking rapids and the lake. There we swam, watched pelicans fishing, and a mother duck herding her brood upstream against the current.

Rapids, Falls & Voyageur Tales

After a short paddle in the morning, we hiked up to a cave and sacred site that are special in Cree mythology, and where we had a "birds-eye" view of the Rapid River both up and down stream.

From there we entered the only rapids we ran, which much to Ross's disappointment were not life threatening, but only skill testing. They were active enough for me; I did not crave white water! The fast water took us onto Iskwatikan Lake and we eventually arrived at the 1100-metre portage around Nistowiak Falls.

Nistowiak Falls

We stopped midway in the portage and visited the falls, which tumble wildly over the highly polished Precambrian granite to drop about 40 feet. They present a beautiful sight with plenty of foam and spray. This was definitely a photo-op.

An easy portage via the marine rail cart

At the end of the portage we stopped at Jim's Fishing Camp for cool drinks and to inspect a 34-inch Pike that a fisherman was proudly cleaning. The camp staff assured us this was not a record, but it was pleasing enough to the fisherman. That evening Ross was given the opportunity to set up and light the fire, which he proudly did with one match. In the bush, we spotted four unique looking critters that appeared to be babies of something like a ground hog, which none of us could identify.

After breakfast of fresh baked corn bread with raisins, which Cliff made on his reflector oven, we moved on to a unique purple sand beach to do some wading and to cool off. Camp was set up that afternoon on an island overlooking Stanley Rapids. From here we took a side trip and hiked about 200 meters up to an abandoned mine that was closed in 1954, leaving the buildings and machinery mostly intact. There were fully grown trees in the open pit and buildings which had their roofs missing. On this portion of the trip, Ross and I were together, and at the mine he indicated he did not like my handling of the stern, so we switched and he did a fine job of steering.

After the evening meal we set up a small campfire on a rock plateau overlooking the Rapids. Then Cliff, dressed in Voyageur regalia, treated us to a history lesson on those who traveled this waterway in fur trading days hauling trade goods west and furs east. With prose and verse he brought to life the days of yore.

Lessons in Archaeology & History

On our last morning we were treated to an exciting electrical storm after which we departed in light rain - the only serious rain during our entire trip. Shortly, we took the "roller" portage, which is a row of rollers along a wooden walkway around Stanley Rapids. Soon we came to the ancient Aboriginal rock paintings alongside the river. Although no one is certain of their origin, it is believed they have symbolic significance arising out of a visionary or spiritual quest. They depict animals and humans in various poses and activities.

Stanley Mission Church
on the Churchill River

Our last stop was the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, the oldest in Canada west of the Red River, and a Saskatchewan Provincial Historic Site. The church, located across the river from Stanley Mission, is surrounded by a well-kept graveyard. The building has been restored and is in use on a regular basis.

Throughout the trip we saw a great variety of interesting flora and fauna. I've referred to some of the wildlife we saw, but the boreal forest of northern Saskatchewan is a study in itself. All told, there are eight species of trees, including white and black spruce, jack pine, trembling aspen, balsam poplar, balsam fir, paper birch and small amounts of tamarack. We were able to observe and identify each of these with Cliff's help as we paddled along.

Good Enough to Go Again

Finally, and of utmost importance, I want to tell about the quality of guiding and food we enjoyed throughout. Cliff constantly pointed out features of interest as we traveled. When our "city water" ran out, he produced a filter that purified the lake water. Most used this, but I did not think this was necessary and drank the water straight out of the lake, with no adverse effects. Cliff worked tirelessly to provide us with the most nutritious meals, but did get us involved with kitchen tasks such as chopping greens for salads, grating cheese and, of course, washing dishes. This was not a requirement of the trip, but rather it added to the appreciation of the experience. The food was varied and tasty, including such treats as fruit salad, fresh vegetables, pastrami, pita bread, peanut butter cookies, a variety of cheeses, burritos, bagels, stew, Saskatchewan wild rice, homemade carrot cake, and organic 7-grain cereal.

Although I have tried, I know my words cannot adequately describe the experience Ross and I enjoyed. The bonding that took place between Grandfather and Grandson was remarkable as we journeyed into what, for us city-dwellers, was the unknown world. Ross's comment, "Let's go again next summer, Grandpa", for me, says it all!

 Dates & Costs