|
Alaska waterways
|
Roy Sanborne, NPS, Alaska Task Force, Anchorage
Frank Bogardus, NPS, Alaska Task Force, Anchorage
Jack Durham, BLM, Anchorage District, Anchorage
David Dapkus, BOR, Alaska Field Office, Anchorage
Twelve-foot Avon Redshank rafts were used for the river inspection.
July 13
|
The entire crew flew with Charlie Allen (Charlie Allen's Flying Service) from
Lake Hood in Anchorage to Summit Lake in Lake Clark Pass. It took three two hour
round trips between 8 a.m., and 2:30 p.m., to transport crew and gear. The
Tlikakila River is a glacial river, starting from a glacier and fed along most
of its length by small glacial side streams. It has two major tributaries,
Glacier Fork and North Fork, both glacial rivers. According to the USGS maps and
to various other sources, the river supposedly flows out of Summit Lake
southwest into Lake Clark. Apparently due to the past year's glacier action,
however, we found that water from the lake ran northwest into the North Fork Big
River and eventually into Cook Inlet. Several small glacier fad streams from
both sides of the pass run onto a flat alluvial fan area and into the lake. We
inflated and loaded the rafts, and lined them up the nearest stream (flowing NE
into the lake) on the SE side of the pass hoping to cross the flat alluvial fan
and get somewhat close to the Tlikakila River.
(We had seen the river from the air, and thought it to start as one of the
glacier fed streams on the NW side of the pass about 1/2 mile from the lake.)
After about a 1/2 mile of lining, and much to our surprise, the stream became
the Tlikakila River. It starts from a glacier on the SE side of the pass, flows
down the mountainside and splits into two channels - one going NE into Summit
Lake and the other SW as the Tlikakila River. Water depth at the split was about
8" and water appeared to equally flow into each channel.
We then floated about two miles to the confluence of Glacier Fork, the river
gathering size from the many small side streams. We had seen a black bear sow
and two cubs along the Big River on the flight in. Saw one beaver near Glacier
Fork. The Tlikakila River valley was about 1/2 mile wide; lined with 6,000-foot
high snow and glacier capped mountains; and except for some small alder and
black spruce, the dominant vegetative cover was alpine tundra. These first two
miles of river were Class I whitewater with no obstacles, flowing about 4 mph,
about 50' in width, and 4' deep at Glacier Fork. Glacier Fork was fast (5/6 mph)
about 3' deep at its mouth, and braided with the main channel about 25 feet
wide.
The weather had been heavy, low overcast and rainy all day. Hiking in its alpine
tundra covered valley and in Lake Clark Pass would be enjoyable and not
difficult unless one started up the higher valleys and mountain walls.
July 14
We floated from Glacier Fork to the North Fork, covering about 12 miles. The
river continued to gather size and speed while becoming braided. Channels were
20' to 75' wide, a few inches to 6' deep, temperature of 46F, and traveling 5/6
mph. It was difficult at times to select the channel with the most water since
it is a glacial stream and one cannot see more than 2/3 inches into the water.
Although we did not encounter rocks, we began to cone upon submersion sandbars
both underwater and exposed. It can be difficult and dangerous getting off a '
submersion bar because it will not support a persons weight. This river section
had no rapids, was good Class I water. The North Fork flows through a 1/2 to 3 /
4 mile wide valley and across a 1/2 mile wide gravel alluvial fan about two
miles long just before dumping into the Tlikakila. It is braided with the main
channel about 25 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and flowing 5 mph.
We observed more than a dozen side stream waterfalls on either side of the
valley in this section of the Tlikakila River. Hiking is possible up some of the
side streams and along the river but generally is not good due to dense alder
thickets. Also spotted a cabin high on a flat ridge across the Tlikakila (south
side) from the North Fork. We saw three beaver lodges, and fresh and plentiful
bear and moose sign but no animals. There are many gravel bars along the river,
which usually have large stands of willow plus dead timber brought downstream
during breakup. These gravel bars offer excellent campsites with space for
several tents.
The vegetation changed between Glacier Fork and North Fork from exclusively
alpine tundra to dense stands of alder, willows, and black spruce along 'the
river and 3/4 of the way up the valley walls. There the vegetation becomes
alpine tundra, which finally gives way to rock and ice fields. Stands of white
spruce began at the North Fork and continued along the river to Lake Clark. The
scenery is grand along the river with rock, snow, and ice capped mountains,
numerous waterfalls and the varied vegetation.
The weather had been broken overcast with some sprinkles during the day, but it
cleared in the evening.
July 15
About 1/4 mile downstream from the North Fork the channels come together into
one 100' wide channel, probably 10' deep, creating Class III rapids for a
distance of about one mile. It remains one channel for the following three miles
creating good Class II rapids before again braiding into several smaller
channels. Neither set of rapids had noticeable rocks. The rapids consisted of
extremely fast water, and standing waves of 8 to 10 mph, 3 to 4 feet, and 5 to 6
mph, 1 to 2 feet, respectively. We floated about 12 more miles before making
camp, for a total of 16 miles. The rest of the river was good Class I water,
slowing to about 3/5 mph., the channels varying in depth from a few inches to
6', and in width from 201 to 100’, with occasional small whirlpools and large
eddies, and about six large (10-20 acre) islands.
The river valley remained about 1/2 mile wide with vegetation also remaining as
it was the previous day. Stands of white spruce were interspersed with thick
stands of alder and willow, and an occasional cottonwood on the valley floor.
This turned to alder/willow mix brush for 3/ 4's of the distance up the mountain
slopes before giving way to rock, then snow and ice fields. Wildflowers were
plentiful, and included dwarf fireweed, standard fireweed, wild rose and lupine.
Hiking was poor even along the river due to the heavy brush. The only wildlife
observed was a yearling bull moose. Saw an abandoned beaver lodge and dam.
The continuous array of jagged ice and snow capped peaks, glaciers,
waterfalls, caves, perpendicular rock cliffs, and glacial cirques are truly
overwhelming. We again camped on a large gravel bar with a plentiful willow and
alder wood supply. The weather had turned sunny and warm for the entire day.
July 16
We floated about 14 miles this day, camping about two miles downstream of Otter
Lake. Water temperature at this lower section of the river was 50°F. The river
remained braided with the main channel 75' wide, 3-4' deep, current fluctuating
between 2 to 5 mph. There were no rapids. This section of the river falls in
Class I on the International Whitewater Scale. We found it wise to avoid the
small channels because they were shallow, and of ten had submersion sandbars
covered with 2'' to 6" of water. We did not find, so far, any clearwater
tributaries as expected; fishing was non-existing.
We had contemplated, before leaving Anchorage, on trying to portage from near
Otter Lake on the Tlikakila River west over to the Kijik River. It had looked to
be a strenuous task, but possible, from the over flight and on the maps. The
alder and willow brush however, is so dense to make it difficult to move through
without backpacks, so a portage was felt to be extremely difficult and not wise.
We hiked in to Otter Lake which lies about 1/4 mile from the river. It appears
to be a 20-acre beaver pond; the outlet is a stagnant 3' wide ditch.
The river valley widens to one mile about 30 miles from the rivers source, but
otherwise remained in character. Vegetation became denser, but also remained the
same types. Campsites also remained plentiful on the numerous gravel bars. River
vista's continued to be grand with high snow covered mountains lining the river
valley, caves, tributary streams cutting narrow gorges through the rocky cliffs,
and numerous waterfalls.
We observed one beaver swimming up the river at camp, seven ducks, Arctic terns,
and fresh moose and bear sign. We had not yet been bothered by the fierce
mosquitoes, however, found them in full force and hungry at camp. Equal numbers
of no-see-em's also joined the bloodbath. The day ended as it begun with much
sun, a few high clouds, and warm.
July 17
The river had lost it braided character near Otter Lake, about two miles
upstream from the previous nights camp. It widen to about 100' deepen to 5' to
6', with the current staying at about 3 mph. There are many large wooded islands
in this lower end of the river. There were no rapids, all Class I water. We
floated six miles before reaching Lake Clark at noon and then paddled about 1
1/2 miles around the lake's north shore to a place we could camp and the goose
could land to pick us up. The river braids out across many (suspect submersion)
sandbars into Lake Clark discoloring the upper part to a dull dark green. We
still did not find any clearwater tributaries to the Tlikakila as we had
expected. But continued to cross-large covered submersion sandbars.
Vegetation stayed the same as the previous day, as did the grand views from the
river, except for the addition of several low wooded hills along the last three
miles. The river valley also remained about one mile wide and lined with
mountains. Beaver’s had been extremely active along the last few miles of river,
leaving much evidence in the form of low paper birch stumps and lodges. We did
not see any large animals although there was much sign of moose, lynx and bear
along the riverbanks. The sun shined brightly in a glue sky all day, making the
floating very pleasant.
July 18
The USGS map shows the main river channel flowing east of a low hill into Lake
Clark and several small channels flowing west into Lake Clark. We spent the day
exploring these small channels that are now sloughs. The entire area was covered
with dense vegetation-alder and willow brush, paper birch, white and black
spruce, wild roses, iris, and other flowers. Saw two beavers in one slough and a
great horned owl resting on a tree limb nearby. Fishing was not good in the
sloughs or the lake (probably due to the river’s influence).
July 19
The day began sunny and warm as we broke camp. The OAS goose arrived at noon. As
we flew back up the Tlikakila River, clouds began to form and the rain became
heavy. The overcast clouds were low and unbroken through Lake Clark Pass and on
to Anchorage. We arrived at Merrill Field at 1:30 p.m.
General
We covered the 50-mile long Tlikakila River in four easy days. It can e floated
in three days. It offers an enjoyable float trip, with mostly Class I water.
Just downstream from the North Fork there is one mile of Class III water flowed
by 3 miles of Class II. The current is fast in the entire river and extremely
fast in the Class III and II stretches. The only hazards are the numerous
submersions sandbars. They can be avoided however, if time is taken to recognize
them. The river is best floated by raft, but would be a good trip for the
experienced canoeist.
The scenery along the river’s narrow, mountain lined valley is the river’s
outstanding value. Glacier covered high mountains, perpendicular rock cliffs,
caves, waterfalls, varied vegetative cover and deep narrow gorges all add to the
splendor.
David Dapkus
Tlikakila River [708 kb]
List of rivers for which information is available on this website
Alagnak River | Alatna River | American Creek | Andreafsky River | Aniakchak River | Awuna River | Beaver Creek | Black River | Bremner River | Canning River | Charley River | Chilikadrotna River | Chitina River | Colville River | Copper River | Delta River | Fortymile River | Gulkana River | Huslia River | Ivishak River | John River | Kakhonak River | Kanektok River | Karluk River | Kasegaluk Lagoon | King Salmon River | Kobuk River | Koyukuk River North Fork | Little Susitna River | Mulchatna River | Nigu Etivluk rivers | Noatak River | Nowitna River | Nuyakuk River | Porcupine River | Saganirktok River | Salmon River (Kobuk) | Selawik River | Sheenjek River | Squirrel River | Talachulitna River | Tlikakila River | Togiak River | Unalakleet River | Utukok River
Back to the main river logs page
Where next on www.outdoorsdirectory.com?
Alaska hunting books, Alaska fishing books and Alaska travel books
Main Alaska boating page, main Alaska hunting page and main Alaska fishing page
General information about boating, hunting and fishing in Alaska with leads on where to find out more.
Fishing lodges, fishing guides, hunting guides, saltwater charters, air taxis, hunting transporters, tackle, and much more. Hundreds of listings throughout Alaska.
What is it like to hunt and fish in various areas of Alaska?
Forums: Alaska hunting, Alaska fishing, Alaska outdoors swap n sell, and Alaska shooting
Read what people are saying about hunting, fishing and shooting in Alaska. Post your own comments. Buy or sell Alaska outdoors gear.
Stories and information about hunting and fishing in Alaska.
