Jun Takahashi was taken aback by a social media post he came across. Recalling the moment, he expressed disbelief while speaking from his residence on Salt Spring Island, B.C. The post, shared on a Yukon paddling group page by Colin Abbott, detailed the discovery of a blue waterproof canoe barrel filled with camping equipment near the meeting point of two remote Yukon rivers. Abbott sought information from anyone who might have lost gear in Yukon’s Kathleen River in recent years.
Accompanying the post was a photograph showing the blue barrel, clothing, a sleeping bag scattered on the ground, and a flute in a case placed in the middle. Takahashi immediately recognized the flute, a cherished possession he had acquired in Japan and carried during his numerous journeys. The flute was ideal for remote canoe trips in the Yukon, easily fitting into waterproof barrels alongside other gear. Takahashi enjoyed playing it in serene outdoor settings to avoid disturbing others.
Having lost the flute in June 2021 during a canoe mishap on the Kathleen River, Takahashi had resigned himself to never seeing it again. Following the accident where he and a companion capsized their boat, they had to abandon their gear in the fast-flowing river while struggling to escape the icy waters. Subsequently, they turned to social media, offering a reward and requesting assistance from fellow paddlers to retrieve their belongings.
Takahashi had assumed that the lost barrel might have drifted far away into the Bering Sea or imagined whimsical scenarios like an Alaskan bear using his possessions. However, the barrel and all its contents were discovered not too distant from the confluence of the Kathleen and Dezadeash Rivers by Abbott a month ago. While tracking a moose in the wilderness, Abbott noticed a “patch of blue” near an opening, revealing the barrel.
Abbott, having navigated the Kathleen River himself and encountered remnants of previous river incidents, cautiously inspected the barrel before bringing it home as a surprise for himself, his partner, and roommates. Despite the camping gear and clothing showing signs of mildew, the most intriguing find was the flute, securely nestled in its case. Abbott sensed that someone might recognize the story behind the lost gear, prompting him to share the discovery online, leading to Takahashi reaching out.
A friend of Takahashi from Yukon will transport the flute and other gear back to B.C. during his next visit, much to Takahashi’s joy at being reunited with his beloved and well-traveled instrument. Takahashi expressed his delight at the prospect of playing the flute in nature once more, considering it a rewarding practice.