The team of four will then take to the historic Chilkoot Trail crossing the border into Canada on foot. The trail was the treacherous route taken by thousands of prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush around 1897. These hardy folk had to climb the pass called The Scales with one tonne of suppliers to be allowed into Canada, perhaps covering the same bit of trail 30 times to carry their kit by hand.  Many lost their lives on the trail and on the whitewater on the rapids of Miles Canyon and Whitehorse.  The Chilkoot trail is punctuated by moments of living history with abandoned villages including Lindeman City and staging posts, Happy Camp and Sheep Camp.

Climbing to an elevation of about 1300 metres above sea level the team will then make their way to the lakes that join onto the Yukon River.  There is a real buzz of excitement about this expedition combining kayaking, hiking such a beautiful and wild location and then putting into the river in rafts. This final rafting stretch is particularly remote with bears, wolves and other wildlife. They do not expect to see many people during their trip.

The start time for the expedition in the first week of June 2011 is aimed to coincide with the end of the break-up.  This should ensure that there is still snow in the mountains but that the rivers and lakes will be melted.  In the event that the lakes or the river are still frozen then the team will end up being forced to trek further rather than use their rafts.  It will be touch and go with Richard and the team expecting some tough days carrying up to 70lbs of kit on the steep mountain trail.

The team will be carrying all their kit including food and rations and the Alpackarafts, the lightest expedition rafts in the world.  The expedition will take an estimated 10 days on the trail and paddling to allow the journey to be documented by video and images.  It promises to be an exciting trip linking different modes of travel in a beautiful vast wilderness.

As always Sponsors help fundraise for our charity and reduce our costs with donation of kit. We pay the core costs ourselves. Small price to pay when you are doing what you love doing.

Information on the trail http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/chilkoot/activ/activ1a.aspx