Have you ever dreamed of canoeing and hiking in pristine wilderness?
Have you ever considered spending unforgettable days at a remote
wilderness lodge in the Canadian North? If you have, then you'll want
to be part of this unique experience! Spend your days under the open
sky on a lake as smooth as glass. Hike, fish and canoe at your leisure
with evenings spent around a cozy campfire. Enjoy paddling the waters
of an untouched river. Hike above the treeline in the Logan Mountains,
where you may encounter caribou, goats and eagles in their natural
habitats. Learn about wildlife and plants. Back at the lodge, enjoy the
comfort of a rustic life style: comfortable beds, shower, sauna and
great meals are a welcome change from your days out in the bush.
Requirements
for the 4½-day
canoe trip:
- Easy river trip over gentle moving water
(WW-Class 1+) with some flat water lake sections.
- No prior canoeing or wilderness experience
necessary, as an introduction to various skills will be part of the
tour.
- Up to 6 hours of paddling per day.
Requirements for the 4-day
hiking trip:
- Mountain hiking along narrow trails and in
trackless country (alpine meadows and boulder fields).
- You'll need to be agile and in good physical
condition for day trips of up to 6 hours and an 800-metre elevation
gain.
- On the first hiking day, you must be able to
carry your own
backpack with tent, food, sleeping bag and personal gear for about 3½
hours; the following days we'll be hiking with light day packs.
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ITINERARY
Day 1: Your hotel in Whitehorse
is conveniently located downtown nearby the mighty Yukon River. Spend
the day as you please: go for a relaxing stroll through the charming
city or take the opportunity to go shopping for gear for your upcoming
trip.
Day
2: In the morning we will pick you up from the hotel and
drive east along the legendary Alaska Highway. We'll make some stops at
interesting spots including the Wildlife Museum in Teslin, the
Rancheria Falls and the famous Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake. After
that, we'll continue on the Campbell Highway, a well-maintained gravel
road, north to Frances Lake. Finally, a 30-minute boat ride brings you
to our wilderness lodge where you'll be shown to your cozy, private log
cabin. After a hearty dinner in the main lodge, you can relax in our
comfortable living room or enjoy the lovely view from your cabin's
front porch, looking out across the lake and into the Logan Mountains.
Day 3:
Relax at the lodge or participate in guided excursions, go fishing,
paddle around the sheltered bay or stroll along the lake's beach. A
visit to the abandoned Hudson's
Bay Company trading post will carry you away into past times.
Take your time to fully enjoy your waterfront log cabin and let
yourself be spoiled by our kitchen's delicious creations.
Days
4 – 5: Early in the morning we will pack up and prepare for
the exciting 30-minute flight by floatplane to McPherson Lake. Here, we
will camp for two nights on a sandy beach and enjoy the simple life in
harmony with nature. There will be plenty of time to explore your
surroundings and practice the paddling strokes you will need for the
following days on the river. On excursions on the lake, we can often
observe moose, trumpeter swans and bald eagles, and in the evenings we
can be seduced by the quietness and calm. This is campfire romance at
its best!
Days
6 – 7: By now, you'll be well versed in the use of your canoe
and
we'll begin our trip down the Yusezyu River. This river is both
lovely and exciting, but without the dangers of a large and fast
flowing river. However, we'll have to look out for sweepers, rocks and
shallow spots, so stay alert! On a gravel bar along the river we'll
pitch our tents for the night and try our luck landing a trout. The
river becomes more gentle in the lower section, which is also home to
moose, beavers, otters and waterfowl. On our last night, we'll camp on
a
nice sandy beach at the north end of Frances Lake.
Day 8: A short paddle down the
northernmost part of the lake will bring us to our prearranged meeting
point with the boat, then it's a one-hour ride back to the lodge. Enjoy
the comforts of your cabin and take advantage of a hot shower and a
soft bed — not to mention our great home-cooked meals!
Days
9 – 10: Enjoy relaxing days at the lodge. Participate in
guided excursions or explore the neighbourhood yourself on foot and by
canoe. Observe bald eagles raising their young or beavers gathering
food. With a little luck, you can spot water birds, moose, caribou,
wolves or even bears! Shower and sauna are available anytime — with
cool-off in the lake...
Day 11: After breakfast, we'll
leave the lodge and take a pleasant boat ride up the East Arm of
Frances Lake. At the trailhead, we'll tie up the boat, shoulder our
packs and start climbing up to the treeline. We will be walking on an
old hunting trail that follows along a small burbling creek. It will
take about 3 – 4 hours to reach the campsite, which will be our
home for the next 3 nights.
Days
12 – 13: Day hikes across open tundra will introduce us to a
wonderful world of mountains, lakes and creeks. If we are lucky, we'll
see caribou, mountain goats and pikas, as well as a wide range of
beautiful flowers. Our itineraries are driven by the capabilities and
preferences of the group, and there are many possibilities for
discovering high ridges, plateaus and summits. We will be hiking mostly
in trackless country, but our efforts will be well rewarded by
incredible views across fascinating and endless wilderness.
Day 14: After enjoying our final
day camping, we'll take down our tents, walk down to the lake and by
boat we'll cruise back to comforts of the lodge.
Days 15 – 16: The last days at
the
lodge are yours to enjoy at your leisure. 
You may participate in a
guided excursion or
simply relax at the lodge and go fishing, hiking, swimming and paddling.
Day 17: It's time to leave this
wonderful place. By boat and car we will bring you back
to Whitehorse, where you'll spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
Day 18: Individual continuation
of your journey or flight back home.
THINGS TO KNOW
- All tours are personally guided by lodge owners
Andrea
& Martin Laternser.
- We are experienced, licensed wilderness guides and
First Aid-certified.
- We only take small groups with a maximum of 7
participants.
- Check out Equipment
List Lodge and Equipment List Tours for all
you'll need to bring.
- Any luggage you don't need on the canoe or hiking
trip can be left at the lodge.
- This trip can be split into 2 parts: canoe trip
only (Yusezyu
River) or hiking trip only (Mount Hunt).
- Normally we pick up our guests in Whitehorse or
Watson Lake and bring them to the lodge by car and boat. However, if
you would like to see the Yukon from the air, you can fly in by
floatplane — a spectacular alternative! Ask us for more information
about rates.
- Canadian legislation requires you to sign a release
of liability and waiver of claims form prior to the beginning of your
visit.
- Frances Lake
Wilderness Lodge & Tours is a licensed business under the Yukon
Wilderness Tourism Licensing Act and member of the Tourism Industry
Association of the Yukon (TIA) and the Yukon Wilderness Tourism
Association (WTAY).
DATES AND RATES
| Duration: |
18 days from/to Whitehorse |
| Dates: |
July 9 – 26, 2020 (or
by reservation) |
| Rates: |
for 3 – 7 guests |
$5150 CAD + GST per person
(double occupancy) |
| |
for 2 guests |
$6300 CAD + GST per person (double occupancy) |
| |
Single occupancy surcharge |
$600 CAD + GST |
| |
Fly-in from
Whitehorse or Watson Lake |
Rates available
on request |
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Terms
of Participation
RATES INCLUDE
- All accommodation (8
nights at lodge, 7
nights
camping, 2 nights in hotel)
- All meals during excursions and at the lodge
- Return transport from Whitehorse to the lodge
- Flight from the lodge to McPherson
Lake
by floatplane
- All necessary equipment for canoe and hiking
trips (except
sleeping bags and pads)
- Guided day trips at the lodge
- Use of lodge amenities including sauna,
library,
canoes, kayaks and angling gear
- Professional guide service by licensed
wilderness
guides
NOT INCLUDED
- Meals in Whitehorse
- Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks (the
lodge is
licensed and has a selection in stock)
- Angling licence (can be purchased at the
lodge)
- Sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Personal insurance (trip cancellation,
medical
insurance). We strongly recommend our guests arrange for sufficient
insurance coverage before the beginning of their trip.