July 9, 2023: Smoky Last Chance Camp

I woke from an anxiety nightmare about returning home (we were a day late and I was worried that Thurmon hadn't been taken out for a walk; we had rented out our condo to a friend who turned it into an Air BnB party place, and I couldn't find my Presto card as the streetcar was fast approaching...). The air is quite hazy with smoke and my throat is a bit sore. Maybe it will create a bit of cover from the sun at least.

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It was cooler, which was a relief, although a shame that our view of the landscape was so diminished by the smoke. We arrived at Last Chance Camp by lunchtime, after a leisurely stretch on the river. Miles and Kendra rode on a boat with Lauren, who kept up a constant stream of camp songs and games to entertain them. 

Smoky haze

Lauren and Maegan braid Miles' hair

There are clear wolf prints and several piles of bison droppings at our campsite, but no actual sightings of the animals - I'm sure our big, noisy group frightens them off. We did find a tiny frog, however.


We disassembled and deflated the rafts, as tomorrow we will be picked up by a jet boat to speed through the last section of the river to Nahanni Butte - the river current slows so much that it would be too much work for the guides to row us there.

Everyone piles on to help with the deflating

We finally held the much-anticipated talent show before dinner. Miles and Kendra were the MCs and relished their role. The performances were both funny and impressive, and it was a great, relaxed way to end our last day on the river.

Miles models a hat stack for the fashion show, hosted by Maegan in tent fly haute couture

Lauren pulls Kendra and Miles out of dry sacks - magique!

Frasier cracks up the whole group with his bushy-tailed squirrel song, complete with actions

Due to the smoke, flights out of Nahanni Butte are cancelled for the day, so we will be getting picked up in a van for a 4ish-hour drive back to Fort Simpson tomorrow. I'm actually happy to hear that, as the carbon footprint for the number of flights we've taken on this trip is at odds with preserving the beautiful environment we're visiting - a van ride for the one leg that's doable by vehicle is preferable.


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