Two scientists have conducted a new assessment of a remote waterfall, indicating that the relatively unexplored falls in the rugged boreal shield of northern Manitoba could be the tallest in the province. Alexander Martin and Lukas Olson utilized digital photogrammetry to measure Kapakaytay Falls on the Odei River. Their initial findings suggest a height of 16 meters, slightly surpassing the 14-meter height of Kwasitchewan Falls, located southwest of Thompson, which is commonly regarded as Manitoba’s highest waterfall.
Olson, a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia specializing in photogrammetry, mentioned their confidence in the measurement, with a margin of error of around one meter. The height of Kapakaytay Falls was previously recorded by the federal government several decades ago but has not been widely disseminated. Martin, a Winnipeg resident and ecology PhD student at the University of Oxford, expressed their interest in verifying if Kapakaytay Falls indeed holds the title of Manitoba’s tallest due to the lack of established height information.
Situated on the Odei River, approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Thompson and 690 kilometers north of Winnipeg, Kapakaytay Falls poses significant accessibility challenges. Martin described it as a remote waterfall hidden deep within fire-damaged forests, requiring advanced planning, whitewater expertise, and backcountry experience to reach. The researchers embarked on a paddling expedition in July, navigating through challenging terrain, rapids, and logjams to access the falls.
With the assistance of local guides from the Thompson area, Olson and Martin completed a 105-kilometer round trip to reach Kapakaytay Falls. Upon sighting the waterfall after days of paddling, they were captivated by its immense size and the powerful flow of water cascading over the rocks. The arduous journey to the site left both researchers physically exhausted and bruised, highlighting the demanding nature of the expedition.
The inspiration for Olson and Martin’s expedition stemmed from a prior trip led by Winnipeg resident Garrett Fache in June 2019. Fache, now the owner of Wild Loon Adventure Company, was part of a group that visited Kapakaytay Falls and believed it to be Manitoba’s tallest after comparing it to Kwasitchewan Falls. Utilizing over 1,000 two-dimensional images captured by a drone, the researchers employed digital photogrammetry techniques to reconstruct and measure the waterfall, incorporating laser measurements of surrounding trees and natural features into their model.
While the provincial government asserts that Kwasitchewan Falls remains the highest based on their data, Olson and Martin are working towards publishing their research findings. They hope that documenting Kapakaytay Falls will contribute to future studies of the site, emphasizing the ongoing opportunities for exploration and discovery in seemingly mapped regions.