A portage – paddle – camp – hike – paddle – portage adventure

• participants must have (or share) a canoe or kayak and be able to transport it
• in some cases, we can fit 2 boats on one vehicle
• Murtle Lake is the largest non-motorized lake in North America
• this is a backcountry route and none of it will be easy
• guided by the leader who has done this quite a few times
• I will not be organizing vehicles, boat loading, rentals, camping arrangements, meals, etc.   Someone else is welcome to do this.   Everyone needs to be independent with their own gear and basic arrangements.
• Article – Murtle Lake West
• Article – Wavy Crest Trail
• Article – A Guide to the West Arm of Murtle Lake
• This is a Requires Leader Registration event.   Use the email address to express interest and discuss.
  

Day 1

• drive to Blue River (230 km)
• since kayak or canoe carts are needed, we can stop at the Blue River Campground to rent them, if required
• drive up the Murtle Lake Forest Service Road 24 km on a good forest service road
• rig boats and bags onto carts for the 2.5 km portage
• the portage takes about 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the quality of the carts, the weight of the loads, and fitness levels
• repack boats at the launch
• paddle through the lagoon to the lake
• paddle up the lake to Strait Creek (7 km) along the shoreline
• set up camp at Straight Creek (cost is $5/person/night payable at the launch area)

Day 2

• hike the Wavy Range Trail (pending weather) to the upper ridge of Wavy Range Mountain (part of the Summer Summit Series)
• this is a long day hike with 975 m elevation gain to a very scenic area of the Cariboo Mountains deep in Wells Gray Park
• return to the camp in the afternoon

Day 3

• pending weather, break camp and paddle down the west arm to one of the area campgrounds
• establish camp, explore, fish, paddle, swim, relax

Day 4

• paddle to Diamond Lagoon at the end of the lake and hike the McDougall Falls Trail (5 km) and back
• return to the second camp

Day 5

•  paddle out, pack up, secure boats, then drive home

Requirements

• canoe or kayak with storage capacity (two to a canoe)
• safety equipment including a PFD, paddle float, tow rope, bailer, whistle
• paddle (we will have a spare with us too)
• canoe or kayak cart (or rental) and straps
• dry bags for in the kayak or on the canoe
• all weather gear
• hiking gear
• the ability to swim
• camping gear – tent, fly, stove, fuel, pad, sleeping bag, tarp, etc.
• some knowledge of paddling on large lakes and self-rescue, if needed (we will assist)
• the willingness to be guided while paddling and on backcountry hikes, for everyone’s safety

Options

• participants can opt in or opt out of the hikes and longer paddles and stay at or near camp
• if the weather is not right we can switch the schedule around
• participants can share camp gear and we will leave this to each person to make their own arrangements

The trip is dependent on reasonable weather and conditions which we won’t know until September.

This event is full.   Watch for cancellations.