Athabasca Landing, the initial point of the river route to the arctic. Looking south up Athabasca River at Grand Rapids. The fleet of fur transport on the Athabasca above Fort McMurray. tracking freight scows up the Athabasca River, between Fort McMurray and the Grand Rapids. looking south-east from Fort Simpson to the confluence of the Liard and Mackenzie rivers. Fort Wriglev, a typical fur-trading port in the far north.