Richard B. Norgaard

Tatshenshini River Photography

From Dalton Post Yukon Territory to Dry Bay, Alaska was 125 miles of unknown river cutting through a major blank spot on the map. In 1972, no one had heard of anyone boating the Tatshenshini River that cuts through multiple mountain ranges including the St. Elias before reaching the Pacific Ocean. We had but four people and one 16’ raft. After arranging for a small plane to pick us up at the dirt airstrip near the ocean 8 days later, we set off into the unknown.

Read more about our adventure.

This was our first look into where we were headed on this adventure into the unknown. Weather did not look promising.

Tatshenshini Valley from Haines Cutoff

In late August, the Tatshenshini was a modest stream at the put in. Note that Marida is using a very small hand pump. The raft was a "Yampa" produced by Rubber Fabricators, Inc. in Virginia designed to replicate a WWII assault raft but made with nylon and neoprene rather than cotton and neoprene.

Inflating Raft at Dalton Post

Looking upstream from Dalton Post

Looking upstream from Dalton Post

With late summer low water, the first ten miles or so had quite a few easy rapids, but we were never sure that they would stay that easy.

Class II water in early canyon‑like stretch

Yes, I am wearing a very strange life jacket. The best available at the time were being made for speedboat races in Puget Sound. Peter has a slim kayakers life jacket, and Georgeanna is wearing the commonly available "toilet seat" jacket. Marida has walked around the rapid in order to take the photo. With only one raft, photography of the raft was not easy.

Pirate Creek Rapid, Class III

The river steadily grew as creeks added to its flow.

2nd Day River and mountain, not sure which

In the first ten miles or so.

2nd Day Canyon-like walls

Near O’Connor River

Striking Rock Formation

Taken at Henshi Creek Campsite. Rocks move downstream, this one from a different source than the others around it.

Henshi Creek, Rock from Somewhere Else

Taken at Henshi Creek

Another Rock to Admire

Taken at Henshi Creek

And Yet Another Rock

Glacial melt from the day before brought the river up at night and this complicated selecting campsites and securing the raft.

Georgeanna Davis Heading to River from Henshi Creek campsite

This shows the steepening of the gradient of the river as it cuts through the Noisy Range and then becomes less steep again.

Looking DOWN as we look down stream, river gradient is 75 feet to the mile between Henshi and "98R"? creeks

4th Camp

Mountains below 4th Camp

Mountains below 4th Camp

Lunch Stop Between Henshi and 98R Creeks

Lunch Stop Between Henshi and 98R Creeks

This is now called Walker Glacier?

Close Up of Ice at 5th Camp Glacier

Evening of 5th Day before reaching Camp

Evening of 5th Day before reaching Camp

Boot and Bear Print in Sand

I was standing on an island, Marida rowed the raft into stillwater for this photo.

5th Camp Glacier from river with raft

5th Camp Glacier

Looking up at lateral moraine

5th camp glacier

Walking on lateral moraine

5th Camp Glacier

Ice Ping and Walking on Lateral Moraine

Tent with Glacier in Background

Below 5th Camp, not 5th Camp Glacier

Looking Upstream at Left Bank Glacier

Looking Upstream toward 5th Camp

Georgeanna, Peter, and Marida

Looking Upstream toward 5th Camp

Richard Norgaard

Taken on 5th Day on hike up left bank cleared by an avalanche that cleared the vegetation and then on to the snow field.

Confluence of Alsek and Tatshenshini

Taken on 5th Day on hike up left bank sidestream / glacial alluvium

Noisy Range and Confluence of Alsek and Tatshenshini

taken from Gateway Knob, Novatak Glacier in Background

Entrance to Alsek Lake

6th Night? Mt. Fairweather on right?

Alsek Lake Camp & Mt. Fairweather?

Face of Alsek Glacier

Face of Alsek Glacier

Alsek Lake and icebergs

Alsek Lake and icebergs

Alsek Lake, Icebergs, Mt. Fairweather (right)

DC3 in background carried in ice and carried out salmon on ice

Dry Bay Fish Camp

The weather was bad, we could radio our LAB pilot but he could not pick us up, and so we scaled salmon for three days until he could fly in for us.

Dry Bay Fish Camp

DC3 at Dry Bay Fish Camp

DC3 at Dry Bay Fish Camp

Lynn Bennet was our pilot. We left our oars, frame, and dry boxes with the fisherman at Dry Bay, carried out our raft and personal gear.

LAB Flying Service