Home

10%

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

A month of climbing and packrafting in the north of Canada

By Récits Cap Expé

September 15^th, 2016

Starting from Whitehorse, YuKon

In August-September 2016, we climbed the Lotus Flower Tower in the Canadian Northern Territories with a challenging approach (and retreat) in packrafts on the Little Nahanni (95 km) and the Nahanni (450 km)rivers. Combining this climb with an approach in packraft is rarely done simply because it is long, totally remote and that the little Nahanni and the Nahanni rivers are simply one of the wildest on the planet with a lot of smelling grizzly bears, mad moose, nice wolves and angry bisons.

This was not just a big wall, it is a real expedition that requires a month of full autonomy with all the associated personal training, logistics, food etc. Most of it was done in advance from Belgium (e.g. dehydrating home made healthy meals), but we still needed more than a week to get everything ready in Whitehorse before hitting the road to the Little Nahanni. Whitehorse is the only city of the Yukon in the north of Canada. Arriving there is already an adventure. Organising all the the logistics of an expedition like ours from there is another one.

Matthias and Dom sorting and zip locking up everything at Whitehorse campground

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

The team

Starting at the end of Flat Lake

The Little Nahanni River

We knew the Little Nahanni was about to be the hardest part of our river trip, but we did not expect to run into a continuous rapid for 2 full days without hardly any pause and some real class III-IV rapids. And yes we were really heavy with more than 50 kg per person on each boat of food climbing and camping gear.

First camp, first tarp, ... right after the end of Flat Lake, our starting point.

First camp, first tarp, ... under the rainbow of the Little Nahanni.

Our first bear tracks, right next to our camp

Simon and the art of scouting wild rapids

Dom fighting the — Dom fighting the "Step" rapid on the Little Nahanni

Joachim about to drink tea on the Little Nahanni.

Joachim grabbing his raft and paddle but ignoring the security ropes thrown to him from the shore

The double rainbow farewell of the Little Nahanni

To Glacier Lake

After 2,5 days of packraft on the Little Nahanni and 2 days on the Nahanni, we arrived at the trailhead to Glacier Lake and Fairy Meadow. We left most of our river gear and food in a tree, out of bear reach. On the way, we stopped at the Moore’s Hotsprings which was more a mud spring full of mosquitoes than anything else, but was a lot of fun anyway. At Glacier Lake, we were happy to find canoes to cross the lake with our gear instead of carrying everything on our back.

Simon and Antoine, proud survivors of the Little Nahanni rapids.

Matthias and Simon enjoying the mosquitos and the mud of Moore's Hotsprings

Joachim trying to organize our hanging cache with all those heavy bags full of gear not needed for the climb

Trail to Glacier Lake

Glacier Lake: a first glimpse at the Lotus Flower

Canoeing on Glacier Lake

Matthias so happy to avoid bushwhacking along Glacier Lake with all our stuff.

Fairy Meadows in the Cirque of the unclimbable

It is a really long hike up to Fairy Meadows in the middle of the Cirque of the Unclimbables, but is really worth the effort. It is an isolated paradise with a strange rock formation and boulders to climb while waiting for the good weather window. One morning, we even had some beautiful northern lights above the Lotus Flower Tower.

The Pinguin at Fairy Meadows in the middle of the Cirque of the Unclimbables

Room with a view on a snowy Lotus Flower Tower

Reading time waiting for the good weather window

Simon giving it a try at the Pinguin

Matthias and Joachim bouldering at base camp.

Norther lights above the Lotus Flower Tower

the Lotus Flower tower Climb

Then we climbed the Lotus Flower Tower from Fairy Meadow. What a climb! We needed several attempts but four of us eventually made it to the summit and down in less than … 23 hours ;-)

Antoine hesitating at the bottom of the route: — Antoine hesitating at the bottom of the route: "Should I go or should I stay?"

Third pitch, arriving in the chimney.

Matthias leading the first pitch of the headwall

Four crazy Belgians in one of the most beautiful climbs of the world

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

Four Belgian climbers at the top (picture from Louis Barnes from Nahanni National Park Service)

Number four or number five?

The summit jubilation

To Virginia Falls

The Lotus Flower summit reached, we still had 13 days and 350 km left on the Nahanni river before arriving to Nahanni Butte from where we could hitch hike back to Fort Nelson and then eventually catch a bus to Whitehorse.

It was hard to switch our mind from the climb to the river again. But this is really were you get the opportunity to let the grandeur of this pristine wilderness enter and change your soul forever.

This journey culminates at the magnificent Virginia falls, twice the height of the Niagara Falls.

Antoine hiding in the Deadman Valley

Matthias in Deadman Valley

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

Dom breathing the sunrise at the top of the Virgina Falls

Ready to leave the Virgina Falls for the rapids of the Fourth Canyon

To Nahanni butte

After the Virginia Falls, the Nahanni crosses four wonderful canyons before arriving to Nahanni Butte, the small first nation village isolated from the rest of the world between the Nahanni and the Liard rivers. Of course along the way we stopped at Kraus’ Hotsprings.

Dom with his expedition look at Nahanni Butte

Joachim getting ready for an interview

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

Matthias at the Gate in the Third Canyon

Tea party at Kraus' Hotsprings

Simon at Kraus' Hotsprings, reflecting about why he capsized his raft twice in the last 24h.

Matthias testing a new hair cut at Kraus' Hotsprings

Last peanut butter stop before arriving at Nahanni Butte (seen in the background)

Northern Lights and Grizzly

Nahanni Butte welcomed us with some amazing northern lights.

On our way back to Whitehorse we saw several grizzly bears and some rare bison fights.

Nahanni Butte

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

A Lotus Flower on the Nahanni

Plus d'infos sur http://capexpe.org/groups/nahanni-et-fleur-de-lotus/

Footnotes

The picture with the climber on the top of the Lotus Flower Tower was taken by Louis Barnes (louis.barnes@pc.gc.ca), from the Nahanni National Park. We thank him for allowing us to use it.

FootNotes

The picture with the climber on the top of the Lotus Flower Tower was taken by Louis Barnes (louis.barnes@pc.gc.ca), from the Nahanni National Park. We thank him for allowing us to use it.

© 2026 Récits Cap Expé

La "Kungsleden des mères"

Saison 2 par Hilde

La "Kungsleden des mères"

Saison 1 par Muriel

partie 1 : Ireland

Traversée du Dammastock

La haute route Uranaise

Un petit jeu bien particulier

February 6^th, 2025

Une balade au Skierfe

Loading, please hold on.