Coppermine River

KAMP (Kent, Al, Mark, Pete) trip down Coppermine River 430km from Rocknest Lake to Kugluktuk on the Arctic Ocean, August 2015

[@herrsteppsch29]

Watching this video after reading a book about Franklins first expedition (coppermine river expedition). Incradeble, what they have made through. Good clip. Greetings from Germany

[@kentorlando8676]

Greetings from Canada. It is barren country up there, but beautiful. There is also an interesting account of the Coppermine from the explorer George Douglas. His book is available online if you search “Lands Forlorn”. It talks about this search for Copper. If you get a chance, you should paddle the Coppermine or at least explore the vast wilderness of the Canadian North. Cheers

[@toggen1980]

Very nice movie! Such a beautiful river! Went there in 2010, want to go back. Thelon river cant compare!

[@boblatshaw]

I'm paddling the Coppermine this summer. I watch your video often. I can't wait for the trip. Thank you for posting this great video.

[@kentorlando8676]

Bob Latshaw Have a great trip! The river is wild and remote with lots of wild life and beautiful clear water. If you like to fish, it is truly world class for both Grayling and Arctic Char. We are doing the Keele this summer. The North draws you back.... can't wait!

[@jasonhallett696]

Hi Kent, I am also from NB. Just wanted to say what an amazing video/trip this is. Great stuff! Thanks for sharing!

[@paddyl8793]

Looks like the Copper mine has some great fishing, nice edit.

[@kentorlando8676]

Thanks. World class Grayling and Char fishing for sure. We paddled it again this past summer. It was just as good if not better fishing. I’m working on that video now. Stay tuned.

[@ot965]

The Coopermine was great, I was there in 1985 with Rubberboots.

[@kentorlando8676]

I’ve had the great opportunity to paddle it in 2015 and again in 2021. It is gorgeous country up there. Rugged and remote, with wide open scenery, abundant wildlife and fantastic fishing!

[@brianwraight4966]

@@kentorlando8676 Based on your two trips which a be the time to minimize the bug situation. Fyi I also did the Broken Skull, Mountain, Nahanni amazing country!

[@kentorlando8676]

@@brianwraight4966 we did both trips middle two weeks of August. It was cold and windy both times. Bugs only a problem when the sun was out and when wind died down. So maybe 3-4 days total out of both trips. Didn’t use bug spray or bug nets either trip, but on a couple of campsites we used the bug screen on the tarp. I would recommend going those dates or even later. Personally, I’ll take the cold over the bugs. 🦟🦟🦟

[@chaswarren7239]

Fascinating video, I'm trying to decide between the Coppermine & the Horton River. I really want to see Wolves & you seemed to encounter plenty. I would be interested in any advice on this please ? Kind regards, Chas

[@kentorlando8676]

We saw several wolves on the Coppermine throughout the trip in 2015. We also ran the river in 2021 and encountered them again, including a wolf den with 3 pups and a yearling. I have no experience on the Horton but it is on the bucket list.

[@amaliebasse5791]

Nice video guys! I'm planning to paddle the coppermine in the summer 2019. Can I ask you some questions?

[@kentorlando8676]

Amalie Basse - yes happy to answer.

[@amaliebasse5791]

Thanks! What plane company did you use to Rocknest Lake? Where did you rent canoes, and how were they transported back from Kugluktuk? Did you use any company to help you with the planning? Kind regards Amalie

[@kentorlando8676]

Amalie Basse We rented canoes from Overlander. They came with spray skirts. We brought all the rest of our own gear. We flew to Rocknest with Air Tindi whose float plane base is right in Yellowknife on Great Slave. The guy from Overlander met us at Tindi with the canoes prior to our departure. When we got to Kuhluktuk, we made arrangements to take the canoes to Buffalo Air to fly them back to Yellowknife. It was around $260 for that freight. Whoever you rent canoe from, would help you make those arrangements. We actually knew someone up there who took them to Buffalo. Regarding information about the river, we were self guided. We made a decision with the pilot about where to land on the lake as we scouted from the air. We had maps and a gps so just found our own campsites along the way. I would suggest you camp at the outlet of Fairy Lake River and the Melville River if you guys are interested in fishing. Although we didn’t, you could camp at Rocky Defile (river right) where you get out to scout. Just below Rocky Defile, the Kendall River joins and there is flat ground to camp there (although we didn’t camp there either, in fact we missed it altogether by accident lol). There are long stretches of this river that don’t offer much in the way of traditionally nice campsites, but you have to be creative and maybe prepared to hump gear off the river farther to find flat ground.