The Seal is the largest remaining undammed river in northern Manitoba.  The occasional native fisherman and trapper may travel short sections of the river and a half dozen or so canoe parties, otherwise there is virtually no human activity along the 275km Seal River.

Designated a heritage river in 1992 and named for the harbour seals that are found 100-150km upstream from the Coast the Seal River descends through sparse spruce forest and endless fun rapids all the way to the tundra that boarders the coast.  Other than the few large lakes at the start the current is strong through most of the river and travel is fast.  In summer rapids vary in size from class 1 and 2 to some wavy class 3s.  All are normally runable so portaging is basically non existent.  We might have to line a few of the larger sets depending on conditions and group interest. The river's remote vastness remains home to spectacular wildlife such as caribou, wolverine, polar bear and even more important, the river's estuary is the calving and feeding grounds for 3000 beluga whales, part of the largest concentration in the world and the Seal is winter range for part of ...

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The Seal is the largest remaining undammed river in northern Manitoba.  The occasional native fisherman and trapper may travel short sections of the river and a half dozen or so canoe parties, otherwise there is virtually no human activity along the 275km Seal River.

Designated a heritage river in 1992 and named for the harbour seals that are found 100-150km upstream from the Coast the Seal River descends through sparse spruce forest and endless fun rapids all the way to the tundra that boarders the coast.  Other than the few large lakes at the start the current is strong through most of the river and travel is fast.  In summer rapids vary in size from class 1 and 2 to some wavy class 3s.  All are normally runable so portaging is basically non existent.  We might have to line a few of the larger sets depending on conditions and group interest. The river's remote vastness remains home to spectacular wildlife such as caribou, wolverine, polar bear and even more important, the river's estuary is the calving and feeding grounds for 3000 beluga whales, part of the largest concentration in the world and the Seal is winter range for part of the 400,000 strong Kamanuriak caribou herd.   Shethanei Lake is very reliable for trophy-size lake trout, and large northern pike, and grayling are present throughout the river

Hiking is excellent along the route as eskers, some as long as100 km, crisscross this pristine waterway, providing river travelers with dramatic views.  You can follow the timeless migration path of the barren-ground caribou or retrace the steps of Samuel Hearne by climbing the esker that was his vantage point on Shethanei Lake.  (Hearne, HBC, left Fort Prince of Wales, near Churchill, in February 1771, on his second of three attempts to locate the copper fields which were said to border the northern ocean.)  The Sayisi Dene, descendants of the people who assisted Hearne on his overland trek to the Arctic coast, continue to make Tadoule Lake their home.  There are a large number of prehistoric artifacts and archaeological sites along the Seal.  Fire rings, scrapers, flakes, projectiles and hammers may be found on the surface of eskers and campsites.  The age of these finds spans the Paleo-Indian peoples of 7,000 years ago, to the Taltheili Tradition of 1 A.D. to 1700 A.D.

Suggested Itinerary:

Meeting:  Meet in Thompson Manitoba the day before the trip starts (meet Aug 3, 2013)

Day 1:  Charter flights from Thompson into Shethanei Lake on the Seal River

Day 2:  We'll take the day to get oriented and to hike and explore the fantastic eskers on Shethanei Lake. Shethanei Lake

Day 3-5:  64 km of variable channels through numerous rapids and a narrow, deep gorge;

Day 6:  (Layover, the upper section of river contains the most likely chance of finding archeological evidence of past land occupation & use)

Day 7:  28 km of intermittent whitewater along the scenic channel of Great Island.

Day 8-11:  124 km of flat country, transitional subarctic tundra forest and boulder field rapids; 4 km through the estuary's marshes, Island and tidal flats

Day 12:  There will be a second a layover day somewhere in the 2^nd half of the trip.

Day 13, Boat Trip to Churchill.  (Friday Aug. 16)

Day 14:  (Sat Aug 17) This is an extra safety day in case of weather delays on trip or with eithe rthe plane or boat shuttle.

Sunday Aug 18:  We suggest you take this day to do the tourist thing in Churchill.  Activities in Churchill  include(Polar Bear Tours, Beluga Tours, historic fort tour). 

(note you pay for your own accommodations plus train home or flight home).

Logistics:

Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Thompson (accessible daily by Air) and home from Churchill (Via Rail or Calm Air). 

Train home is for Aug 19 (or flights depending on you schedule).  Many like to stay on in Churchill for a day or two to arrange beluga and polar bear tours.  You are responsible for your own transport home from Churchill.