Sometimes plans change, and so we ended up on the Canol Trail again. After cycling the Dempster Highway to Inuvik, we stuffed our bags with food and flew to Norman Wells.
Groceries for 12 days: cereals for breakfast and lunch, noodles for supper.
Canoe North Adventures - can`t imagine a better start on the trail!
Preparing for the Mackenzie River crossing.
Welcome to the trail!
Day 1: Mackenzie - Dodo Canyon
In 2013 about half of the 40km from the Mackenzie River to the emergency cabin at Twentyfive Mile Creek were literally unpassable, nothing but a torture. So we were really excited about the trail condition in this section ...
... and very glad to see that the trail was cleared and mostly rideable all the way ...
... except these wet stretches ...
... sometimes easy to push ...
... and sometimes hip deep.
The old emergeny tent shelter at Twentyfive Mile Creek, and a new one is just about to be built beside it.
See it?
Carcajou River
Camp at Dodo Creek
Day 2: Dodo Canyon - Little Keele
Pretty surprised to come across a lake in Dodo Canyon.
Grizzly on the run
Camp at Little Keele River
Day 3: Little Keele - Little Keele
Never encountered so many bears - and here`s the reason why.
Excellent riding on the sandy trail with the fat bikes. Although we made lot`s of noise, we startled another grizzly.
Anna and Shauna hiked the trail and swam the rivers. Wow!
Past this lake the road divides. The high route (left one) is supposed to offer great views.
Since we knew the low route, we checked out the the high one - and regretted it soon. This section is overgrown with alders, and pushing beside the trail over moss and lichens isn`t easy either.
Once your out of the alders, the road gets steep and really bumpy.
Great view from the top - no doubt. But is it worth it? Down to the Little Keele the vegetation is sometimes so dense, there`s no way to get through with a bicycle - meant we stumbled down the steep slope to the river as soon as it paralleled the trail.
The low route stays in sight most of the time and what we know now - the better choice. It`s a lot faster and easier to push or pedal. We probably lost half a day taking the high route.
Day 4: Little Keele - Andy Creek
There`s no trail left along the Little Keele, but pushing is quite easy. Enjoy the only stretch of trail about 1km prior to the pump station.
Pump station where the trail turns left up to the Plains of Abraham.
Up to the Plains, the trail is mostly in a very good condition and rideable.
Plains of Abraham
Camp at Andy Creek
Day 5: Andy Creek - Devils Pass
After a close encounter and a grizzly that kept on walking along the trail we decided for a big detour along the Carcajou.
After leaving the Carcajou River the trail follows the Bolstead Creek up to Devils Pass. Once again, there is two trails close to the summit. We chose the right one this time - and as we remember the left one is probably a bit faster. Camp below Devils Pass.
Day 6: Devils Pass - Twitya River
Entering Trout Creek.
Warming up after crossing the Twitya, days of rain meant a high and fast flowing river.
Day 7: Twitya River - Godlin River
Remains of the trail high abover the Godlin River.
Breathtaking scenery close to Godlin Lakes
Day 8: Godlin River - Mile 222
Caribou Pass
Around midnight and just a few km left to Mile 222
