Q on Approach to Waddington from Tatlayoko Lake

[zloi]

I'm trying to get some feedback re. the approach to the Waddington area from Tatlayoko Lake. Has anyone personally done this in recent years or know anyone who has? Details much appreciated!

 

-Tom

 

[Don_Serl]

tom,

 

it would not surprise me if no one has repeated the passage of the Homathko canyon that Davidson, the Neaves, and Secord accomplished in 1934. the core of the incident is to be found on page 44 of the Waddington guide, but for deeper insight (and a cpl photos) you need to read the account in CAJ'33 pg 35 ff. suffice to say that 25km in 17 days probably was FAST, cuz there was horse-trail in the upper 10km (almost certainly now fully bushed in) and a survey bridge from 1928 spanned the Mosley, saving probably another 2 days. in my mind this has always seemed directly comparable with the Shipton-Tilman penetration of the Rishi gorge to get at Nanda Devi, done at almost exactly the same time, and a legend of mountaineering history.

 

Mike King at Whitesaddle might have some info - i seem to recall he pulled some kayakers out quite few years ago who attempted (and failed) to run the canyon. the best local knowledge will be available from the Bracewell's, who run the ranch and lodge at the south end of Tatlayoko Lake. mail: PO Box 1, Tatlayoko Lake, BC V0L 1V0; phone: 250-476-1169.

 

you're gonna have to be as tough as nails shit out by an old grizzly bear to pull this one off, so here's to yah!

 

cheers, don