Course Photos
Course Description
The Yukon Territory contains some of North America's wildest rivers The remote backcountry of The Yukon Territory have lured adventurers for years. From huge, braided glacial drainages to tight gorges and plunging waterfalls, the rivers of the Yukon offer varied features, perfect for learning and polishing skills. This course will begin in Haines, Alaska, and journey into the wild and remote territory of sub-arctic Canada.
The rivers of the Yukon Territory provide the perfect classroom. Whether you are a new and interested in gaining whitewater experience, or a veteran boater looking to upgrade their skills, this challenging expedition will facilitate growth and hone your technique. You’ll learn how to ferry across the current as a captain of a paddle raft, safely extricate a pinned boat, and the best way to rig a raft for an extended river expedition.
This comprehensive whitewater rafting course is the perfect setting to achieve your goals. The Grand Canyon, The Coppermine, The Snake and other wild whitewater rivers will be within your grasp after successfully completing this course. Including swift water rescue and guide training certifications, students will leave with the confidence to lead their own adventures.
Haines: Haines, Alaska is the starting/finishing place for this trip. Haines is a small community located along the fjords at the top of the Inside Passage. The natural beauty and wilderness access found here are responsible for its reputation as a center for wilderness adventure in Alaska.
The Tatshenshini River: you will begin your training on the Tatshenshini River, a Class III run, where you’ll get raft guiding and swift water rescue certifications. Dressed in dry suits, you’ll learn how to swim through rapids, paddle captain a raft and use safety equipment for extracting rafts and people from hazards.
The Tutshi River: Once you develop a baseline of skill we will head to the Tutshi river, with some class IV sections. This river will further challenge and develop your skills.
Our Instructors: IWLS instructors and guides are highly-trained professionals recognized as some of the best in their field. They have a wealth of experience from guiding throughout Alaska, Canada, and the world. They genuinely enjoy sharing their knowledge of the outdoors in the wild places that they love. Their experiences and leadership help our students to have the best possible experience during their course. Students' safety, education, and enjoyment are their primary goals. The International Wilderness Leadership Schools’ educational model nurtures leadership development and creates an awareness of the guiding mentality that is essential for leading safe, fun adventures in the mountains. The combination of technical skills training, experiential education and practical leadership experience make the IWLS curriculum world-class.
Experience Level: No previous experience is necessary for this course. However, with a desire to learn and an enthusiasm for adventure, you’ll develop the skills necessary for a lifetime of wilderness exploration.
Certifications: Upon completion of the course, participants may qualify for the following certifications:
Whitewater Rafting Guide Training Certificate of Completion
Swiftwater Rescue Technician Lvl. 1*
* Swiftwater rescue certification is through ACA or Rescue III Intl.
Course Itinerary (printable PDF)
Day 0: Meet in Haines for a pre-trip meeting and orientation. Students will be responsible for lodging and meals on their own this day.
Day 1 - 2: We’ll drive from Haines to the Blanchard River of the Yukon. After setting up our basecamp we'll begin covering foundational river skills on the Blanchard and Upper Tatshenshini.
Day 3-6: Continuing our training, we'll focus on getting everyone checked off on Swift Water Rescue, this Rescue III standard certification will ensure students feel comfortable responding to a variety of emergency scenarios. Once rescue skills are refined we'll finish out the first half of the program with basic raft guiding skills.
Day 6 - 9: We will spend the next 3 days rafting the Upper Tatshenshini River. This will be the perfect combination of our developed rafting skills and expedition camping skills. Once we have finished the river, we will hike out Squaw Creek to Dalton Post.
Day 10-11: We will transport from our base camp to the Tutshi River and prepare for another overnight river trip. We will raft the Tutshi River, which is mostly Grade III with a few sections of Grade IV and V.
Day 12: We'll wrap up on the final morning and drive back to Haines. Students will have an opportunity to ask any final questions and review skills learned through the course. Instructors will conduct a one on one final evaluation with each student.
IWLS General Curriculum outlines the essential components for effective outdoor leadership. Here are a few points that your course will focus on.
IWLS Whitewater outlines the essential components for effective whitewater leadership. Here are a few points that your course will focus on.
raft communicates to paddlers how to maneuver the raft. Learning how to paddle captain requires managing a group of paddlers to provide a safe, fun, and rewarding experience on the river.
What is included in the course price:
Students are responsible for the following:
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Feel free to call or email anytime if you have questions about your upcoming trip. Our team is excited to help you prepare for your adventure!