Five Finger Rapids

Tuesday 30th June - 1st July

We had a new group for the next section of the Yukon from Catmacks to Dawson. Last night Bob and I had met our new fellow paddlers being Martin, our guide originally from Germany but had emigrated to Kamloops in BC and now was working as a guide. Also there was Rolf and Karen from Munich with whom I had paddled the Yukon in 2011 from Whitehorse to Carmacks and Jurgen from Potsdam in Germany so there was just six of us for the the next section.

We set off and passed under the Carmacks Bridge. Today was a purposefully planned easy day just in case we had novice paddlers in the new group which it turned out was unnecessary as only Jurgen hadn't paddled in canoes before but had river sense as he had paddled kayaks before.

We had an easy morning stopping at a First Nation fishing camp although it was not being used at this time of year. We had plenty of time so Martin and Karen fished and although it was a lousy place to pan, I tried anyway. The fishermen caught some fish but I got no gold.

That night we camped at the Five Fingers Coal Mine, a short distance above the Five Fingers Rapids.

The next morning was the moment when we were going to shot the rapids. There are only a few long shots as I was too busy paddling to be able to take photos as well. First through was Martin and Jurgen, then Bob and myself followed by Rolf and Karen who had a camera mounted at the front of their canoe to take some great shots. Once through there is also only a short distance before you hit the Rink Rapids  but after that it was plane sailing again. It was a great feeling  getting through the rapids but in retrospect they were relatively easy...but then perhaps that was because Martin was such a good guide.

You k now you are a Yukoner when....

...you have fallen off the roof trying to remove snow

...you have spent two hours putting out Christmas lights on your house when it is minus 30C

...your car battery has a blanket