Mosley Creek Day 1 Base Camp

After stopping over in Williams Lake, we made our way out into the Chilcotin Plateau. The weather in the interior was blustery and cold. We had trouble convincing locals of our plan to paddle out to the coast, most just wrote us off as foolish Americans.

Loaded up and ready to roll.

photo by Tommy Hilleke

After a 3-hour drive from the Caribou interior we arrived at the edge of the West Chilcotin Plateau.

photo by Tommy Hilleke

Mosley Creek where it meets the Homathko River.

photo by Tommy Hilleke

Conditions were bitter atop the plateau and team moral was dragging to a low point.
All of the lakes and rivers we drove past were either frozen or deep with snow on the banks. Our last push took us over the top and down into the White Saddle Ranch and Air Service. The climate down the hill brought our spirits up a bit. The air was warmer, a light rain was falling and there was no snow on the ground.

White Saddle Air.

photo by Tommy Hilleke

photo by Tommy Hilleke

Here are a few of the crew checking out the flow at the top of Mosley Creek.
“As low as the river ever gets", according to Grandma King.

photo by Tommy Hilleke

That night we were treated to a five star meal served up by Lauri King of the White Saddle Bed and Breakfast.

photo by Tommy Hilleke

After a fine meal the crew was ready to fly into the coast early the next AM.
Pat Keller getting swallowed up by his Nomad as he stows away his gear.

photo by Tommy Hilleke

John Grace sorting out his new HD Camera, aka “a $5,000 dollar suicide block".

photo by Tommy Hilleke

photo by Tommy Hilleke

photo by Tommy Hilleke

Pat packing his food.

photo by Tommy Hilleke

Johnnie Kern preparing his specialty, Peanut Butter, Honey and Nuttella Sandwiches, seven of them to be precise.

photo by Tommy Hilleke

Nervous energy was palatable as the six of us drifted off into fitful sleep; eager to see what we would find when we headed into the heart of Mosley Creek, one of the last great first descents in North America.