Liscomb River Run - Seloam Lake Rd to Liscombe Lodge
Tristan Glen
Day 1 (April 7): 21 km
We drove out to the start point were Cameron Settlement Road (Seloam Lake Road) crosses the river just below Rush Lake (Rush Lake and Big Liscomb Lake were both frozen). The road in was mostly good, but the last 2 km are quite rough, and there were still trees across the road from Hurricane Fiona that we had to cut. We waited around, and then the rest of our party arrived after having done the shuttle. It was beautiful and sunny! The River was quite tiny, and the bridge was tiny - it was hard to imagine that this was the 'mighty' Liscomb River. By 10:45 or so we got going. The river was completely choked up with fallen trees for the first 2 km. It was super slow going, we cut out trees, and dragged over trees. It was good fun. Our group was big enough that we took turns being in front cutting out the river. The forests are completely devastated here.
We then paddled the Jordan Stillwaters and ran the riffle and then Archie Rips (Class 1 - 400m). There were then 5 riffles with pools in between then a short Class 1-2 Rapid and a Class 1 drop just before Golden Fleece Brook. We explored up Golden Fleece Brook and found the road that would work as the access (although it had many fallen trees across it). It was calm until Indian Rips (Class 1-2). We found a nice campsite where Crooked Brook flows in (North bank) then two short riffles right before Hunting Lake. We had a look at the old cabin on the north bank, just before Hunting Lake (between the two riffles) - it was in rough shape, but useable. We had a strong tailwind crossing Hunting Lake. We continued down the river, and actually took the long dead end in the Alder Ground WA by accident. The Dreadnaught is a short riffle, then a fun Class 2 rapid. We made camp on the western bank just past the Dreadnaught. The camp was mostly fallen trees, but worked great!
Day 2 (April 8): 24 km
It was a cold night, and we had a nice slow morning. We got going shortly after 10. It was a gentle morning. There was one short riffle before Devils Eddy. Devil’s Eddy was two short riffles, and three short class 1 rapids followed by a more swifts and riffles. At the Runaround rapids we stopped at the campsite and left our gear behind. We ran the rapid my boat swamped since we filled up with water.
There were a few Class 1 and Class 2 rapids (one long Class 1 - 500m) near the Glencross Rips. It was calm until the long 500 m swifts leading into the pond before Ladle Lake. Leaving Ladle Lake we had a long Class 1, a short class 2, a long class 1 and then a short Class 3. The rapids right before the bridge was a Class 4 that we portaged, but it is followed by a nice Class 2 under the bridge and around the corner. There is a nice campsite at the top of Camp Lake, but it’s near the road. A bunch of ATV’s stopped and watched Lukas paddle the big Class 4 rapid. Leaving Camp Lake there is a Class 2, then two 200m class 2 rapids at Rainy Valley Rapids. A few more Class 1 rapids before Findlay Island. We made camp on the north shore on the north branch. We had a nice evening..
Day 3 (April 9): 16 km
Another cold night with wonderful stars. We decided to track up and take the western branch around Finlay Island hoping it would be more runnable. The eastern branch has a class 4 rapid and the western branch has a tricky class 3 (with a big tree across it). We had to line around the Class 3 (Finlay Island Rapids). On we went, we lined and paddled cautiously, running the last two long class 2 rapids to the forks of the river. We then had a calm section for a while till Big Stillwater Lake. We had lunch at the southern end of Big Stillwater Lake.
It was then slow going; lots of lining, paddling and a few portages (one around the incredible falls at the fish ladder. We portaged down the cliff into the bottom of the waterfall by lowering the canoes on ropes. Lukas ran everything in his little kayak except for the big falls at the Fish Ladder. More fun rapids, some lining, and a 200 metre portage around Crooked Falls. We got to Liscomb River Lodge at 5 pm, Lukas and Noah ran the falls right by the bridge.
The Liscomb River is a fantastic trip, and it runs almost entirely in Wilderness Areas. Would strongly recommend. 
Dusan Soudek
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ejo...@eastlink.ca
Oh boy, this some good to read, Tristan! Loved the comment about the stars. Way to go…Eric
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