Is there any record of travel on the James River (Nunavut)? It is the last main tributary of the Hood.

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http://www.canoebeyond.com

James asking about the James

I was on the mara-burnside last summer, and we chatted about the James, and I think someone said someone had paddled it. Is the western river also in that area?

sorry i can not be of move help.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca

 

I am not familiar with the Western River but I will look it up. Any idea who it was that mentioned someone had paddled the James?

Thanks for your help!

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http://www.canoebeyond.com

Yes, the Western River is in the same general vicinity as the James River. The Western R. lies further east than the James R. pouring into the southern most point of Bathurst Inlet. The James meets the Hood and teh Hood empties into Arctic Sound, Just West of Bathurst Inlet.

James asking about the James which is west of the Western....this could get confusing

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http://www.canoebeyond.com

If I had to bet on it, Jay and Carolyn Pritchett have probably paddled the James. Getting a hold them can be a very interesting exercise. Alex Hall in Fort Smith may have some info

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These waves didn't look that big when I scouted it!

Hi: Someone mentioned the Western.
I was on it in 1996 in my long solo trip from Yellowknife to Kugluktuk. A gem of a river with a couple of interesting canyons.
Expensive in-out unless you can spend all summer paddling.

That must have been an amazing trip George, Did you paddle the coast from the Mouth of the Western R. back to Kugluktuk?


I spoke with Alex Hall, he gave me the Pritchett's email but said he was pretty sure they have not paddled the James R. because it doesn’t really connect to anything, probably can only be paddled early season, and doesn’t make a good starting point for a trip. I'll wait to hear back from them.

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http://www.canoebeyond.com

Yes I did. Going on memory it was about a two week paddle including several windbound days along exposed stretches. Coronation Gulf has a varied shoreline and for the most part was interesting paddling. Numerous inside channels. A number of landmarks were named by Franklin in his near death trip.

My biggest 'risk' situation was deciding to paddle across the top of Arctic Bay instead of around its shoreline. Being solo the wind can really do one in. I did it in the evening, relatively calm, barometer steady, etc. Not being used to paddling out to sea to an invisible endpoint I found it a bit unnerving - but once one could see the other side it was less so.

James, my friend replied with,
George Luste, Bob Dannert and others have paddled the Western River.

Boyd Warner has told me that he has never heard of anyone paddling the James River. We flew over a portion of it one year and it looks like a lot of work.  Too much portaging for canoes.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca

 

What would life be like if we had no courage to attempt anything?
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)

My husband and I completed the James River this summer (2023) from the headwaters to Bathurst Inlet. We were dropped off by float plane and paddled two kayaks. Does anyone know if there is a previous record of travel, or are we the first?

Looking forward to the trip report!

There is no mention of the James River in the Hodgins & Hoyle book on river travel, Canoeing North into the Unknown, but it only covers the hundred year period ending in 1974.

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Brian
http://www.JohnstonPursuits.ca