1997 Home to Headwaters Expedition itinerary

July 3: Del flies to Seattle from Denver; arrives at PNW Branch

July 5: Organize for group arrival at NOLS/PNW in mid-afternoon

• Welcome and intro to NOLS/PNW
• Orientation of facilities
• Settle into Headwaters basecamp
• Get together dinner for Headwaters participants
• Logistics and planning for glacier training trip

July 6: Issue and food bagging

• Break out assigned tasks for gear, food, and logistics
• Review route and itinerary; discuss goals
• Training and journal time

July 7: Depart in early a.m. for glacier training trip

July 8: Glacier training trip

July 9: Glacier training trip; return to Headwaters basecamp

July 10: Afternoon packing and planning for departure

• Load vehicle and trailer
• Training and journal time

July 11: Depart Headwaters basecamp via North Cascades Highway

• Drive to Canada and find camping area

July 12: Drive to Parmont Springs Campground, B.C.

July 13: Drive to Golden, B.C. via Lake Louise and Lake Columbia

• Meet Bruce McClellan, caribou biologist

July 14: Meet with outfitters to arrange van shuttle; pack gear in kayaks; store personal gear. Outfitters shuttle to Mari Creek Provincial Park.

• Begin paddling 12 miles upriver to Quartz Creek
• Camp at Quartz Creek

July 15: Paddle 11 miles to west shore of McNaughton Lake

• Camp at Colpitti Creek

July 16: Paddle to base of Sentry Mountains

July 17: Paddle to Palmer Cree, 6 miles up Gold Arm on Gold River

• Set camp; transition from kayak to mountaineering gear
• Scout for caribou

July 18: Bearproof and cache river gear

• Begin bushwhack up Palmer Creek to Guardsman Glacier
• Sing Happy 43rd Birthday to Del

July 19: Continue bushwhacking; look for caribou

July 20: Camp on toe of glacier

• Refresh glacier skills; possible ferry of loads to higher camp

July 21: Establish high camp to assess peaks

July 22: Camp Revetta Mountain

July 23: Climb Mount Guardsman

July 24: Rest day

July 25: Summit bid on Mount Sir Sandford

July 26: Summit bid on Mount Sir Sandford

July 27: Move down to to valley

• Scout for caribou

July 28: Break camp; return bushwhack to boats on Palmer Creek

July 29: Arrive at boats

• Organize gear
• Paddle 15 miles to Olafson Creek

July 30: Paddle to Beavermouth, B.C.

• Meet van. Deal with packing gear
• Stay in Golden
• Phone calls, celebration

July 31: Begin drive down Columbia River to Grand Coulee

August 1: Return to Astoria, Oregon, via Columbia River Gorge to Headwaters. Celebration!

August 2: Clean and sort gear

• Debrief trip and experiences
• NOLS guides drive to NOLS/PNW to return gear and vehicles

August 3: NOLS guides deissue gear, return van; debrief with NOLS/PNW