A northern BC adventure. Remote and with only a handful of descents the Klastline is a good option for anyone who plans to be in the area and wants to run something other than the Stikine. Some class 4 bedrock rapids, 2 big waterfalls (one that has yet to be run) and some steep boulder gardens make for varied if not "ultra-classic" whitewater.
Class
V
Scouting / Portaging
Everything can be scouted. There are 2 large waterfalls that are most likely portages
Time
3 days
When to Go
Late August - early September, when the Stikine is in.
This is a remote adventure. Best run when the Stikine is at a medium flow. Fly in to Nuttlude Lake and spend around 3 days making your way to the takeout at the Tahltan/Stikine confluence.
The creek flowing out of Nuttlude lake is mostly meandering flatwater with one short bit of whitewater an hour before hitting the Klastline confluence. Not too far downstream of the confluence is a short canyon that begins with a waterfall.
Entrance falls to the 1st canyon
A short ways after the 1st canyon of the Klastline some class 3, vertical walls and a horizon line indicate the second canyon. The 2nd canyon has yet to be run due to wood but looks interesting. A 20 footer into a vertically walled gorge.
Entrance falls into the 2nd canyon
After the 2nd canyon there is some mellow whitewater followed by some really nice 4+/5 bedrock rapids. Not long after a beautiful 10 foot waterfall is the first big waterfall.
Beautiful 10 footer
Yet to be run big waterfall
This one has yet to be run and has been portaged on river right with ~1hr of teamwork and ropework.
Put in after the un-run waterfall
A section of fun boulder gardens leads to the 2nd big waterfall (also portaged on river right with teamwork and ropework, but slightly shorter than the 1st one). Keep on your toes between the waterfalls as the rapids get more difficult and continuous and lead right into the big one. It is actually a double drop, each ~30 feet tall and has at least one descent.
2nd big waterfall
View of the 2nd big waterfall from downstream
After the 2nd waterfall it is all boulder gardens to the Stikine confluence. Steep and continuous, these would become tricky to run safely at high water. stay extra alert for wood as the area had a huge fire which has created unstable slopes resulting in landslides bringing wood into the river. Once you hit the Stikine confluence it is all friendly big water class 3 to the takeout.
Credit to Jason Cathers, whose blog informed the first half of this description since the author accidentally flew into the wrong lake (we blindly followed the original blogpost which has since been corrected that named Buckley Lake as the put in, a lesson in doing your research when flying in to remote multi-days!) and did a day of bushwhacking down a wood infested creek and past a giant waterfall before hitting the Klastline below the 1st 2 canyons.
