European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 21, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Natanni in Canada s Northwest territories can be travelled with a guide by anyone who knows How to Canoe and swim in a Pinch. Canada s unspoiled South Natanni River St Canoe trip by Christopher s. Wren new York times Here is something Beaul Lully final in certain phases of River travel you make your decision and pick your  that s How r m. Patterson a British born adventurer wrote of his first trip on the South Natanni River in 1927. You Are committed and there is no turning Back you must make it or swamp. The result is a supreme Peak of physical Effort and a split second awareness of changing water and mentally a sort of cold excitement and exhilaration a High Point of  nearly six decades later not much has changed on the Natanni As the River is called Lor Short our 17-foot Canoe Mammoth enough in the Overland Portage looked All too fragile when we stuffed in our packs and food containers and laced up the Spray cover designed to keep water from pouring in we look a breath gripped our paddles and let the current sweep us into the Rushing River. Behind us loomed 300-foot Virginia Falls twice the height of Niagara Falls and perhaps More imposing because of its isolation. The Spray that it threw off dampened our Lite jackets several Hundred Yards downstream. Ahead Lay five Miles of Limestone canyons through which the Chilly Brown water surged and swirled in a relentless succession of rapids that would daunt any Novice. I Knelt in the Bow. The standing Waves seemed to engulf the slender Canoe As we paddled hard to keep up our momentum. We surmounted the Crest of one dishwater coloured wave Only to plow into the trough of the next. The water splashed Over us As the Orange Rock Walls rushed past. Then abruptly the rapids were gone and we were floating effortlessly it seemed Down one of the most unspoiled Rivers in North America. Patterson had titled his Book about the Natanni the dangerous River but it was Safe enough. I h an experienced guide like Paul Mason controlling my Canoe s Stern the fiver offers what has been called the finest Canoe trip in North America because of the variety of River conditions and challenges it is largely unknown in the United states except to a few savvy canoeists. Last year Only 550 people stayed overnight in Natanni National Park spending an average of 10 Days. But the Natanni can be travelled with a guide by anyone who knows How to Canoe and swim in a Pinch. The Natanni Hows out of the snowfields High in the ragged Range of Canada s Northwest territories near the Yukon Border. It twists and bends for 200 Miles through Canada s Natanni National Park before joining the Liard River at the Small Indian settlement of Natanni Butte. Natanni is a local Indian word meaning people Over there far  we ran it from Virginia Falls to the Liard a distance of about 125 Miles. Natanni National Park was established in 1971 to safeguard 1,840 Square Miles of wilderness surrounding the River. Its Beauty is so spectacular that the United nations economic social and cultural organization put the Natanni on its world heritage list in 1978 As an exceptional natural site forming part of the heritage of  the Natanni is reached most easily from fort Simpson a Small town that sprang up around an old trading Post by chartered float plane that lands on two designated stretches of water within the Par Boundary. Our Cessna 185 flew a Scenic route Over the ram River which sparkled in the sunlight As it coursed through Steep Cliffs that evoked the grand Canyon the High plateaus were pockmarked with Small Ponds a page16 the stars and stripes sunday september 21,1986