• This expedition will provide senior cadets with an opportunity to practice:

• Leadership, • Navigation • Wilderness fieldcraft skills• Explore the unique culture,

heritage, geology & ecology while exploring Nahanni National Park by canoe and on foot.

2009 National Domestic Expedition EX. NAH?A DEHÉ

12 Day Expedition 23 August to 5 Sept 09

Expedition Aims

2009 National Domestic ExpeditionEX. NAH?A DEHÉ

• Classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and Canadian Heritage River.

• The remote location and unique features of this site make it an “adventure of a lifetime”

• Scope includes hiking mountains, exploring canyons, cultural activities and canoeing from Virginia Falls to Blackstone Landing, NT.

2009 National Domestic ExpeditionEX. NAH?A DEHÉ

SCOPE• The expedition would start in

Yellowknife with land transport to Fort Simpson, NT

• Air insertion to Virginia Falls• Combination of white water

canoeing down the South Nahanni River with numerous treks into the mountains and canyons along the way.

2009 National Domestic ExpeditionEX. NAH?A DEHÉ

Nahanni National Park, NWT.

Treks into the mountains and canyons along the way.

2009 National Domestic Expedition, Nahanni National Park, NWT.Location

• This area is an excellent example of Near Arctic Boreal Forest and Alpine Tundra, with species diversity of:

• 120 birds, • 40 mammal, • 13 fish and • 750 plant species. • The landforms in this region

escaped the Wisconsin glaciation (Beringia) and as a result there are over 40 species of plant found only in this region.

Landforms escaped the Wisconsin glaciation and demonstrate features dating back 200,000 years.Unique representation of Karst topography and a complex system of underground rivers, labyrinths, closed canyons and sinkholes

Day 3

• Insertion• Accessible by Twin Otter

floatplanes above Virginia Falls.

• Pax• Canoes• Pers kit

Day 4 Sun Blood Mountain(1555m)

Day 5 Canyon 4

Day 6 The Gate

• Canyon 3• 460 m• Pulpit Rock

Day 7 Hike Pulpit Rock

• Explore Gate Canyon• Hike above Pulpit

Day 8 Second CanyonDry Canyon Creek Hike

Day 9 Kraus Hot SpringsCanyon 1

Day 9 Leaving Canyon 1

Day 10 Splits

• River Meanders• River velocity slows• Bison• Nahanni Butte• Park Boundary

Day 11 Blackstone Landing End EX

2009 National Domestic Expedition, Nahanni National Park, NWT.

12 Day Expedition Itinerary 23 August to 5 Sept 09

• Cadet Requirements– Exposure to moving

water canoeing.– Physically fit– Swimmer– No serious medical

conditions or food requirements.

– Extreme remote location.