Kayak Hot Dogs: The Incomappleux Expedition: Part 3

Enter the Incomappleux: Part 3 – Till Rain Do Us Part.

Looking upstream at the 40' entrance falls to the upper canyon.

~Labor Day long-weekend, 2006. Myself and two area friends set out for one final summer adventure without any precise plan in mind. Parked in Nakusp, we begin flipping through the dog-eared pages of a faithful back-roads map book. With kayaks in tow, someone mentions the idea of heading towards the Incomappleux River, a destination none of us had ever been to before. Having heard something about rapids being near the access road, our interest spikes when the sight of a roaring canyon feature opens before us. Passing over a precarious section of clinging bridgework above, we’d yet to realize just how much the coming days would forever galvanize my interest in returning to explore the Incomappleux Valley. Of the many adventures available, the idea of a multi-day river journey starting high in the upper valley remained the most seductive. Seven years later, this idea would finally come to fruition.~

Day 6, Sept. 7th: The Box Canyon, Battle Brook & one last surprise:

Taking it in at the lip of the canyon entrance.

Following our freshly slashed access trail from the evening before, we’re inspired to see the river has dropped considerably. During a dash of morning sun, no more than 500 meters are paddled before arriving at the iconic entrance to the upper box canyon. Much excitement is felt as we finally get to assess whether or not the dramatic waterfall feature is at all safe to run. The weather on the other hand is not showing much consolation as yet another heavy rain begins to fall.

Standing directly at the lip of the 40-foot drop, we take in this wild spot for all it’s worth. Sharing this moment with the team on my birthday makes for an awesome gift. Unfortunately for us, another portage is in order. The rain has once again influenced our decision to walk, falling increasingly harder and nudging up the river’s flow.

Sludging through the dense woods we can’t help but peer over into the canyon’s gracefully flooded features. Appearing as though we could paddle its narrow course, the sheer walls prevent any form of safe entry. Eventually we find a put-in shortly before the confluence zone with Battle Brook. Having previously hiked up to this point from the valley below provides slight familiarity from here on in. After scouting below the confluence’s distinctive pinch feature, half of the team gives in to challenging the remainder of the canyon. With Steve in tow since the start of our day, this makes for some good photos as old-growth cedars circle all around. The remainder of us opt to portage but with intentions of finding a magical spring that according to memory is somewhere nearby. Unfortunately our hunt produces nothing but a knee-deep slog through a toad inhabited swamp while the others take pride in running the end of the canyon.

Scoping out 'The Pinch' below the Battle Brook confluence.

Reunited on the water, we paddle aimlessly into an illuminated wash of low hanging mist. Surreal as the scene is, our eyes end ears suddenly transfix on a river wide horizon and a loud rushing sound. Pulling out on both sides to get a good look, we are dumbfounded to see that a monstrous class V rapid sits before us now. Like a wrench in our gears we discuss several late day options. Split between wanting to push on and wanting to camp, we compromise by sneaking the rapid and then immediately looking for a place to camp. Striking up a good fire just as darkness falls we toast to the end of another hard day and likely our final night in the woods.

Day 7, Sept. 8th: The homestretch flats and final rapids.

A misty morning starts with dressing Steve in a drysuit and crossing him and his pack over to river left. His stashed mountain bike is not far down from us now. No longer having to worry about him, we settle into a long float through considerably different terrain. Trading the dense old growth for a succession of historical clear-cuts, the dramatic sight proves just how little of the Incomappleux’s original temperate rain forest remains.

Dissolving into mist shortly before the river's final rapid.

By mid afternoon we barrel into the first set of our final rapids. Situated in a canyon of sorts, we run everything but the canyon’s crux move due to an un-formidable river level. Concealed in the presence of river mist, we float the river’s final silent stretch. A snicker is cast as the sight of an abandoned, log snared canoe is momentarily passed by. Likely the untold remnants of yet another epic journey.

Foster and Boz feeling the river's final punch.

Just then it appears, like a fitting salute. The exit rapid, only a few hundred meters from our cars, yet large enough to demand a respectful scout. One by one we feel the river’s final good punch before regrouping on the beach in a celebratory embrace. A timely bolt of warm sun makes a break through the clouds, lighting our smiling faces as we pose for a team picture. Up at the cars we again erupt into cheer as Steve arrives just in time to share the cracking of beers on this, his 40th birthday. Toasting to the river and the end of this incredible journey, we then bid a rushed farewell in effort to make various appointments with warm showers and pub-grub feasts.

Conclusion:

It’s hard to describe the feeling of carrying out an adventure that took over your imagination for the better part of seven years. So when we began sweating it out up Flat Creek Pass, or crashing through bursts of new whitewater, I’d already done so in my mind, countless times over. Encapsulating all the necessary elements of an epic stature, our weeklong expedition down the Incomappleux River will certainly live on as a local legend for many years to come. And should another set of brave sole’s ever choose to follow in our footsteps, be sure to let us know… We have some unfinished business out there in that valley.

The 2013 Incomappleux Team:

Sean Bozkewycz, 29, Revelstoke, BC.
Sam Butler, 17, South Slocan, BC.
Stephan Paetsch, 33, Edmonton, AB.
Sven Perschmann, 30, Rossland, BC.
Sam Ewing, 28, Revelstoke, BC.
Christian Foster, 26, Revelstoke, BC.
Carl Jacks, 36, New Denver, BC.
Randy Speers, 44, Sandon, BC.
Steve Ogle, 40, Nelson, BC.

With special thanks to:

MEC for providing expedition gear and funding.
Endless Adventure for gear and moral support.
Valhalla Wilderness Society for their ongoing work to protect the Incomappleux Valley.
And all our families, friends, roommates and pets for being in full support from the very start.

Photos by Carl Jacks, Randy Speers, Sven Perschmann.