We take off from Missinippi at 8-9am. We are headed  to Stanley Mission for the Poker Derby.  We had guides lead a group of 28 riders aprox 35-40 Km past the community of Grandmothers Bay, down Otter Lake, thru a few portage to Mountain Lake, then into Harvesting Bay which is on the shores of Stanley Mission. From Stanley Mission the poker derby traveled over land for some segments then across small lakes. Eventually the trail led us to the 2nd check point on Stewart Bay. The trail then crossed Iskwatikan Lake past Abram Island, shortly after it went back to main land where there was a pull out to stop and look at the wonder of Nistowiak Falls. Having had been a guest there in the summer it was more spectacular in the winter, the whitest whites! Could of been a laundry soap commercial! The next check point was at the north end of the falls Fisher Rapids at Jim's Camp. In the background the Nistowiak Lake was pretty open! Good idea to have some guides when you are on the Churchill River system. We stopped again at Malachi's for the second last card, to get there we went up Coghill lake into Lamont Bay. From here it was Bliss Bay, Drope Lake then overland to miss the Stanley Rapids and onto the Churchill River to the original settlement of Stanley Mission the Anglican Church, which turns out to be the oldest building in all of Saskatchewan. The church was built from 1853 to 1856, the stained glass windows came out of England in barrels of tar. Construction was delayed in'53 because the first series of boats containing windows and hard ware was lost in some Churchill Rapids and had to be reordered. It was probably a year before the order was on it's way again since there wouldn't be a ship headed back to the U.K. until it was full of furs and seasonal goods.

The lodge at Missinippi

Our Premium sleds in the line-up!

Our base 500 sleds on site

We have stopped in front of Grandmothers Bay

Thru a few portages to Mountain Lake.

Nistowiak Falls

The whitest white in winter looks blue!

Nistowiak Lake