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Homathko
River V-V+
A
trip on the Homathko River in British Columbia is an adventure of the
finest sort. 107 kilometers source to sea: epic wilderness, deep gorges
and tough rapids. The
run starts at Tatlayoko Lake, five hours west of Williams Lake on
Highway 20.
We exchanged pleasantries and continued down the thirty odd kilometer long lake. A short ways beyond the last house, the road has a major washout and we took a spur down the lake. There is a large parking area because it's a popular spot for hunters later in the fall.
Something feels wrong about the start. Looking East are smaller mountains, and to the West, giants rise above Tatlayoko Lake.
At the exit of the lake I was stunned. The Homathko is known as a big water river, but only 400cfs or so was flowing out of the lake. Retrospectively we actually had above average flows up top, which can be rather obnoxious at low flows.
Good weather graced us on the first day, which is really just a paddle in to a campsite above the good stuff. Once again, partly due to the weather, the scenery was interesting on every bend.
We cruised a quick eight miles to the first camp, taking breaks to document the beauty and scenery. Already the Homathko was topping my list as one of the most beautiful rivers I'd kayaked on. Our beta told us that we didn't want to go too far on the first day or the quality of camping would rapidly decline. We saw a beautiful beach on the right. Last bit of sunlight + beautiful beach = camp.
Coming
all the way from
California it was quite a trek for
us.
Once
we arrived at Tatlayoko Lake, the
roads got slightly confusing and
we had nothing close to a good map, but the locals are very friendly
and their dogs are too.
We exchanged pleasantries and continued down the thirty odd kilometer long lake. A short ways beyond the last house, the road has a major washout and we took a spur down the lake. There is a large parking area because it's a popular spot for hunters later in the fall.
After
three days on the road,
organization is a bit lacking.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the Homathko, but from the very put-in the scenery was stunning. Charlie Center about to launch.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the Homathko, but from the very put-in the scenery was stunning. Charlie Center about to launch.
Something feels wrong about the start. Looking East are smaller mountains, and to the West, giants rise above Tatlayoko Lake.
Katie
Scott. So we paddle through these?
We
had a delightful tailwind and made
quick time across the flat water.
Jonas Grunwald and Rush Sturges about to exit Lake Tatlayoko.
At the exit of the lake I was stunned. The Homathko is known as a big water river, but only 400cfs or so was flowing out of the lake. Retrospectively we actually had above average flows up top, which can be rather obnoxious at low flows.
Lake
Tatlayoko outflow.
Good weather graced us on the first day, which is really just a paddle in to a campsite above the good stuff. Once again, partly due to the weather, the scenery was interesting on every bend.
Rush
Sturges.
Just
a little ways in a tributary more
than doubles the flow. Charlie
Center.
We cruised a quick eight miles to the first camp, taking breaks to document the beauty and scenery. Already the Homathko was topping my list as one of the most beautiful rivers I'd kayaked on. Our beta told us that we didn't want to go too far on the first day or the quality of camping would rapidly decline. We saw a beautiful beach on the right. Last bit of sunlight + beautiful beach = camp.
Wolf
tracks were an added bonus.
A
nice day on the beach.
At least someone put two and two together about a short first day of flatwater and class II.
At least someone put two and two together about a short first day of flatwater and class II.