VA - check out this thread in the Manitoba Trip Reports folder for my trip report on the Bloodvein and some comments on the Pigeon -
http://www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtop ... 14&t=43329From Wilson's comments it would seem that the Pigeon is more of a whitewater river though the Bloodvein and its 80 sets of rapids from Artery Lake to Lake Winnipeg would certainly provide you with some challenges and potential drama!
Given that you live in Virginia, the 1800-mile and thirty-hour drive up to the start point would be the biggest issue. The best approach might be to get up to Matheson Island just across from Bloodvein First Nation and use Wamair to fly you to the start.
If it was the Bloodvein, you'd fly from Matheson Island to the Manitoba side of Artery Lake and, after a visit to the #1 pictograph site on the river at the east end of the lake, spend ten days going down the river.
I am assuming that Wamair does drop offs for canoeists. I may be wrong. Hopefully someone else can confirm - or suggest another air service. See this recent thread about this very topic for some info -
http://www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtop ... 13&t=42093Another possible river is the Missinaibi. You would drive up to Chapleau and use the outfitter there to shuttle you to the beginning at Missinaibi Lake and then paddle down as far as ten to twelve or a bit more days would take you. You would hit some whitewater that is certainly more challenging that what the Bloodvein has to offer. Ideally it would be great to paddle all the way to Thunder House Falls and perhaps use the same outfitter to arrange a plane pick up on the river a bit down below the Falls. As with the Bloodvein and the Pigeon, we're looking at a bit of $$ for bush plane service.
Never too early to be planting the seeds of another memorable canoe trip! Good luck with the planning...