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Yukon Territory - North/Black/Liard River Canoe Trip, Paddling Time

Paddling time is the actual time we spent paddling on the water between different campsites. The time required to cover distance on the trip between the put-in and the take-out. There were several trip days where no travel occurred, plus extra paddling time we did that was not required in getting to the takeout. Most such sightseeing, or general poking about, is included in 'on-water time,' but subtracted from the 'actual paddling time' listed below.

I figure our travel time for the trip "started" on leaving North Lake and ended at the Upper Liard Village Alaska Highway bridge over the Liard River. The time we spent paddling on North Lake is not included anywhere below.

Trip Totals:

On-water time: 47 hours, 20 minutes
Actual paddling time: about 32 hours (31:45)
Trip distance: 157.3 mi (253.6 km)
Average paddling speed: 3.32 mi/hr (5.36 km/hr)

North/Black Section Only:

On-water time: about 30 hours (29:55)
Actual paddling time: (North lake to Black/Liard confluence) about 18 hours (17:50)
Section distance: 64.3 mi (103.7 km)
Average paddling speed: 3.57 mi/hr (5.76 km/hr)

Liard River Section Only:

On-water time: about 17.5 hours (17:25)
Actual paddling time: (Liard River only) about 14 hours (13:55)
Section distance: 93.0 mi (149.9 km)
Average paddling speed: 5.31 mi/hr (8.57 km/hr)

Discrepency in above paddling speed differences on the different sections would mostly be taking time in upper section to see what's going on, boat scouting, the scenery, fishing while paddling, etc. On the Liard, the scenery was usually wide open and we were just interested in getting out.

Raw Data:

Day 1. Sunday, 29 June 1997

No travel (no paddling) day. Arrived NLA float plane base just after 2:00 pm.
Sorted and repacked gear, loaded plane, John & Dennis took off at 3:15 pm, landed at 4:10 pm. Hank and Laurie took off about 6:15 pm, landed at about 7:30 pm.

Day 2. Monday, 30 June 1997

No travel day except for paddling up North Lake and back. I didn't keep time records on it, less than an hour paddle each way (3.2 mi, 5.1 km long, less than an hour each way).

Day 3. Tuesday, 1 July 1997

No travel day, except for paddling across lake to hike up to cirque, then paddled around on lake a bit to avoid bugs

Day 4. Wednesday 2 July 1997

Up at 7:00 am
Pushed off at 9:20 am
Spent 15+ minutes fishing on the small pond below North Lake
Spent extra 15 minutes in sieve wading, lifting over, slow going for 1/4 mile
Reached bottom of sieve at 10:40 am
30+ minutes for lunch stop
A few short bailing stops (10-15 minutes total)
Pulled over to camp at 2:30 pm
Bed at 9:00 pm to avoid bugs
On-water time: 5 hours 10 minutes
Actual paddling time (stops subtracted): approx 4 hours, 15 minutes
Distance traveled: 13 miles, 21 km
Average paddling speed: 3.06 mi/hr (4.94 km/hr)

Day 5. Thursday 3 July 1997

Up at 7:00 am
Pushed off at 8:45 paddled slowly
Reached Fire Lake at 9:20 (1.25 miles)
15 minute break to look at lake scenery
About 30 minutes fishing at North River outlet
Paddled lake slowly
45 minute(?) stop at vacation cabins at south end of lake
45 minutes(?) portage scouting time
Started portage at 12:30 pm, 3 trips
Finished portage at 2:30 pm
30 minute lunch break
Paddled 2 km
Pulled over to camp at 3:30 pm
Bed at 8:00 pm to avoid bugs
On-water time: 6 hours and 45 minutes
Actual paddling time (stops subtracted): approx 2 hours
Distance traveled: 7.5 miles, 12 km
Average paddling speed: 3.75 mi/hr (6 km/hr)

Day 6. Friday, 4 July 1997

Up at ?
Pushed off at 9:30 am
Maybe 20 minutes bailing and rescue stop
45 minute falls and portage scouting time
Portage time
30 minute lunch before pushoff
1 hour hike to scout rest of canyon
15 minute rapids scout/line time
Much slow going in braids
Pulled over to camp at 5:30 pm
Bed at 9:30 pm for ?
On-water time: 8 hours
Actual paddling time (stops subtracted): approx 4 hours and 15 minutes
Distance traveled: 12+ miles, 19 km
Average paddling speed: 2.82 mi/hr (4.47 km/hr)

Day 7. Saturday, 5 July 1997

Up at 7:00 am
Pushed off at 10:30 am
Paddled slowly
30 minute fishing stop at Black River confluence
Reached Black Lake at 12:30 pm
Didn't actually pull in to camp until about 2:00 pm, but all paddling after 12:30 was just finding the best campsite on the lake.
More paddling afterwards for sightseeing and fishing
Bed at ?
On-water time: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Actual paddling time (stops subtracted): approx 1 hour 30 minutes
Distance traveled: 5+ miles, 8 km
Average paddling speed: 3.33 mi/hr (5.33 km/hr)

Day 8. Sunday, 6 July 1997

Up at ? am
Layover day, no travel (though we paddled around on the lake some)
Bed at 9:45 pm

Day 9. Monday, 7 July 1997

Up at 7:00? am
Pushed off at 9:30?
Trolled slowly for fish on Black Lake
Extra 10 minutes fishing at outlet
End of Black Lake at 10:20 am
15+ minute break at potential campsite from 12:30 to 12:45 pm
No lunch
Pulled over to camp at 2:45 pm
Bed at 9:30 pm for bugs and rain
On-water time: 5 hours and 15 minutes
Actual paddling time (stops subtracted): 4 hours and 45 minutes
Distance traveled: 19 miles, 31 km
Average paddling speed: 4.0 mi/hr (6.53 km/hr)

Day 10. Tuesday, 8 July 1997

Up at 7:00 am
Pushed off at 10:00 am
10 minute photo stop half way to Liard
Reached Liard River at 11:15 am
10 minute break (stow spraycover)
Hasselberg Creek at 1 pm
1(?) hour lunch
Three 10 minute stops looking for a good campsite
Pulled over to camp at 4:00 pm
Bed at ?
On-water time: 6 hours
- Time on Black: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Time on Liard: 4 hours and 45 minuteso
Actual paddling time (stops subtracted): approx 4 hours and 40 minutes
- Time on Black: approx 1 hour 5 minutes
- Time on Liard: approx 3 hours and 5 minutes
Distance traveled 28 miles, 45 km
- Distance on Black: 6.5 miles, 10.5 km
- Distance on Liard: 21.5 miles, 34.5 km
Average paddling speed (for day): 4.66 mi/hr (7.5 km/hr)
- On Black: 6.4 mi/hr (7.3 km/hr)
- On Liard: 7.1 mi/hr (11.3 km/hr)

Day 11. Wednesday, 9 July 1997

Up at 7:00 am
Pushed off at 9:45 am
Passed Allen Creek at 10:15 am
30 minute lunch above Sambo Creek
Pulled over to camp at 3:00 pm (at Meister River mouth)
Bed at 10:00 pm
On-water time: 5 hours and 15 minutes
Actual paddling time (stops subtracted): approx 4 hours and 45 minutes
Distance traveled: 31 miles, 50 km
Average paddling speed: 6.53 mi/hr (10.53 km/hr)

Day 12. Thursday, 10 July 1997

Up at 7:00 am
Pushed off at 9:40 am
Reached Frances River at 11:30 am
20? minute rest stop
Rancheria mouth just after noon
1(?) hour lunch just below
Back on water at 1:20 pm
Pulled over to camp at 3:00 pm
Bed at 10:30 pm
On-water time: 5 hours 20 minutes
Actual paddling time (stops subtracted): approx 4 hours
Distance traveled: 27 miles, 43 km
Average paddling speed: 6.75 mi/hr (10.75 km/hr)

Day 13. Friday, 11 July 1997

Up at 6:30 am
Pushed off at 8:00 am
Takeout at 10:05 am
Pick up car, load gear, gas up and eat lunch, then on road by 1:00 pm
Bed at 10:00 pm
On-water time: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Actual paddling time (no stops): 2 hours 5 minutes
Distance paddled: 13 miles, 21 km
Average paddling speed: 6.4 mi/hr (10.3 km/hr)

Your actual paddling speed may vary from ours. Water levels will dictate differences in paddling speed. Wind on lakes or on the Liard may slow you down. Your portage scouting and trail finding time may be different than ours.

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