HEADWALL CANYON ITINERARY
		COST: $3,000 (includes charter float planes to the put in and take out and charter helicopter flight to the put in and take out. "In over 20 years of international travel and exploration, Headwall Canyon is the most beautiful place I've ever been. You wake up in the morning, look around and think you're on another planet." - Eric Hertz, President, Earth River Expeditions "This is really one of the jewels of the planet. I think anyone who comes here is going to put this on their top 3 list of most beautiful places on earth." - Robert Kennedy Jr., Senior attorney natural Resources Defense council, President Water Keeper Alliance (first commercial Headwall descent) "I've traveled the world for 6 years with National Geographic Television and have seen some special places but Headwall is unique. It's as magnificent as anything I've ever seen. A kind of undiscovered Yosemite. A modern day Shangrila." - Boyd Matson, host of National Geographic Explorer (first commercial Headwall descent) With it's sheer 6,000 foot, glacier-cut, ice capped granite walls, over a dozen magnificent, easy to hike to waterfalls of Yosemite-like proportions and massive old growth trees, Headwall Canyon in southwestern British Columbia is a master work of nature's artistry. There are few places on earth where one can see so much spectacular scenery in such a relatively small area. This is what Yosemite must have looked like long before the roads and concession stands. Named by Earth River on the first descent, this magical land lay virtually undiscovered until 1999. Dropped in by helicopter to the top of this magnificent wonderland, we will begin our 7-day journey, camping on white sand beaches and hiking to the base of some of the planet's most impressive rarely seen waterfalls. As guests of members of the Klahoose First Nation, we will share native American food and customs and learn first hand of their struggle to protect this magnificent sanctuary from the ravages of clear cut logging. FRIDAY, DAY 1: U.S. / VANCOUVER Today we fly from the U.S. to Vancouver. Arriving in Vancouver we transfer to our hotel (on our own) in the Richmond area. NOTE: We will not be meeting as a group until the following day at 12:30 P.M. at the Harbor Air Sea Terminal on the Frasier River in Richmond.. SATURDAY, DAY 2: VANCOUVER / HEADWALL CANYON At 1:00 P.M. today we meet at the Harbor Air Sea Terminal in Richmond. A spectacular 1 hour float plane flight over rugged snow capped peaks takes us to Toba Inlet. Here we board a helicopter for a breathtaking ride up and over one of the largest, southernmost ice caps in North America. The views from the helicopter ride are surreal as we follow a glacier vent of blue ice up thousands of feet to the top of a stark white snowfield and then drop us down into a lush green Headwall Canyon. DAYS 2 - 9: HEADWALL CANYON  For 8 days, members of the Klahoose First Nation, will escort us through this Shangrila. There is no other place on earth where one can see so many major year-round waterfalls in one canyon. Whether it's a sheer, 6000 foot ice capped wall, or a multi-thousand foot falls, drama unfolds everywhere you gaze. The scale of this place is so grand there is virtually nothing to compare it to. We will spend much of each day hiking to the base of some of the falls. Each is unique with some having so much spray, wind and power that it's difficult to get near, while others are more intimate, warmed by the rock on their long journey from the ice and afford the chance to swim at their base. On one of the days we will use climbing ropes and harnesses (no previous climbing experience is necessary) to ascend a series of intimate falls imposingly cut into the granite in a series of natural spigots and spouts. This trip will be a Klahoose first Nation experience and we will learn first hand about the Klahoose way of life both past and present from Chief Kathy Francis. Kathy was chief for 15 years and is one of the reasons this amazing place has never been touched by a chainsaw. Our evenings will be spent on beautiful beaches with gorgeous waterfall views, where we will feast on fresh salmon and other Klahoose staples cooked over the fire in traditional style. We will also listen to Klahoose stories and legends around the campfire. There will even be a chance to visit a new waterfall which has never before been explored. It is a rare occasion where one can stand where no has stood before, especially when it's at the base of a falls they would name a park after in the United States. (Note: On these hikes we will be forced to cut our own trail with machetes.) SATURDAY, DAY 9: HEADWALL / VANCOUVER / UNITED STATES In the early afternoon of the last day, a helicopter will pick us up and drop us off at Toba Inlet, where we meet the charter floatplane, fly back to Vancouver where we transfer to the airport (5 minutes) for the flight back to home. or transfer on our own by taxi to a hotel for the evening. SUNDAY, DAY 10: VANCOUVER / UNITED STATES For those people who spent the night in Vancouver, this morning they transfer to the airport for the flight back home. Space on this summer's expeditions is extremely limited. If you are interested in joining us or would like more information, please contact our office by e-mail earthriver@hvi.net or phone (800-643-2784).