CdB Forum
CdB Whitewater Paddling Club Discussions => Paddling => Topic started by: Jeremy Poulin on November 02, 2012, 01:52:05 PM
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People have been asking me over the summer if/when it was coming up, and I was skeptical, but, ladies and gentleman, I'm proud to admit I was wrong, and the Pet is flowing! I don't know the level, (or where to find it lol) but judging by how it looked as I went over the town bridge, I'd say its around a medium ish level, mayb e just under medium, but looks fun! I'm going to try to make myself free for a sunday afternoon session. Anyone interested?? Way better than the Ottawa, and a super short shuttle, doing 2 runs (or more) in a day is no problem, as the run, with scouting takes no more than an hour. Also, there is a Tim's, and Mcdonalds on the shuttle, for those that need a hot drink between laps.
So, who's interested?
jer
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2.9 and rising (equivalent of ~70 cms)
was posted on the river rats page on FB yesterday, so that gives you a rough flow idea
jer
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Next weekend the upper pet??
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I've never done the Pet... but if you are willing to have me tag along, I would be totally up for it next weekend. (I would like to attend the annual club meeting though on Saturday, but that's not till 6PM).
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I've never done the Pet... but if you are willing to have me tag along, I would be totally up for it next weekend. (I would like to attend the annual club meeting though on Saturday, but that's not till 6PM).
Ha Ha! Thers's no doubt that you can do this run (the lower town section). As far as Bastien's suggestion, the upper section, that's another thing altogether. If some have never done it, much scouting will be needed, although Jeremy would be a top notch guide. The Upper Petawawa is a long day, even if you don't stop at all and boat scout everything, which only those who know the river well can do. It takes more than 3 hours to get to where you leave your car. Then a 4 km hike with boat and gear on an old rail bed covered in slippery slag, climbing at a low grade to get to the put-in. Then the run itself. At this time of the year, you'll be lucky to run the last rapid during daylight... And that's if nothing bad happens, which can't be guaranteed--every time I was there, something (bad swim, broken paddle, lost boat) DID happen.. Last time I ran the Upper Pet I was home around 11pm.
It's a great run at most levels (higher levels don't necessarily make it harder), but it's almost an expedition. Realistically, as the levels are rising at this time of the year, shorter runs like the Rouge are a better (and safer bet). Every time I ran the Rouge in November, the sun was setting when we did the last rapid and we changed into our street clothes in the dark...
That said, to get an idea of the Upper Petawawa, there's indeed the Lower (town) section! That is reasonable, you can even do it twice. I'd be there! And trust me, at a good level, it's impressive enough the first time... But the odds of being back around 6 pm are essentially zero.
Cheers!
--C.
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Totally agree with Christian. The town section is a great intro, and to do it 2 or 5 times during daylight (although I've never done it more than twice in a day) is totally doable. It will give you a taste of the Upper (although the Upper is just a little bigger, and much longer) Christian is right though, from highway 17 the put in is almost 70km (I think) into Algonquin park, a few km of shuttle, and 4 or 5km hike in. It is worth the drive, and hike for sure, as its an amazing river, but scouting is needed, and while I'd be fine with bringing solid boaters who ahven't done the Upper, I think Christian was exageratign just a bit on my quality as a guide lol, I don't know most of the rapids (although have done the river a handful of times and am confident on it, I'd have to scout most as a refresher) I think waiting til the spring for the Upper is a good idea. I won't be able to do it next weekend (but should be good to go for the Town section on Saturday) as I have to parade for Remembrance Day on Sunday (somewhere...yet to be detirmined lol)
That being said, a handful of us (or at least 2 lol) are planning on running the town section tomorrow...well, today, I suppose (sunday) around 2pm. So assuming you all check this as soon as you get up, like I do, thats plenty of time to get up here! Its supposed to be partly sunny, and about 4 degrees, can't ask for much more this time of year. And with the best shwarma I've ever eaten on the shuttle route, what else are you gonna do on a sunday?
Later
jer
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Dammn
Next spring for the upper.
I remember than the upper is a long run but so fuun runn
Jeremy poulin is a safe kayakist, I always follow his advise because he is solid and he play safe. I remember last time when we ran the park section on the petawawa he rescue DUCKY
From a several pinned luck for her as he was in the eddy behind the rock where she was pinned
last time we had Philip Compas as guide he knows very good the petawawa
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Totally acceptable. Except for the part where you're going today! ;)
Sadly I can't make that happen since I'm visiting my parents and then on business in northern Ontario until Wed.
Oh well, I'll watch for other trips in the future.
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a little look on the upper at 3m17 its me stocked in the hole ahahahaahah
http://vimeo.com/41260274 (http://vimeo.com/41260274)
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At 2:09, isn't it Jeremy taking his helmet off, and Shauna with her crazy helmet thing in the back?
The level is about the same as after HOHW III in 2011, I aslo have a video of this run from my helmet.
--C.
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Correction. In my video, the level is much higher. And Bastien's beatdown at 3:35 happens at the same spot as Todd's beatdown in my video... I'll try to find a way to upload it! --C.
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Nice one Bastien :P
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For the Upper Pet, from our carpool spot at the corner of Doran Rd and Baron Canyon Rd in Petawawa it is about a 2 hour drive to the put in, unload gear, 4km shuttle, followed by a 4km hike which takes about 45 mins your looking at 3.5-4 hours from the time of leaving petawawa to be on the river. The run takes 2-4 hours, followed by the 2 hour drive back out to Petawawa, total time ~10 hours. Definately a bit tight for a fall run, especially with daylight savings time.
The town section though is awesome, and as Jeremy said an excellent intro to the Upper as far as the same types of rapids/moves, and being as short as it is and right in town stopping for lunch is really convenient and doing upwards of 5 laps in a day is not out of the realm of possabilities.
The river right now is at 3.154, or 108.329cm/s (for reference this year summer low is about 2.1 or 4.5cm/s, spring high is around 4.2 or 340cm/s) Great level as all the rapids/features are in, but the water isn't too pushy so it's a bit safer.
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The river right now is at 3.154
I'd rather run the Pet at 3.1415926
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We could of course just go for the upper with a *really* early start?
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The river right now is at 3.154
I'd rather run the Pet at 3.1415926
The pool session will be in febuary :) :)
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Graham was posting above, here's my thoughts on it.
The sun rises at 7am and sets at 5pm that is 10 hours of daylight unless my math is off. The whole day shuttles and all requires 10 hours and daylight isn't a must to walk or drive.
The rail bed is not exactly what I would call slippery slag, more like railbed rocks aka not the most comfortable to walk on in thin shoes and has enough grip to take donations of hull plastic as you go. ??? If anything, one could argue that it would make the trails to walk a rapid slippery but frankly that happens at any time of the year with a little rain. The kipawa was particularly treacherous if my memory serves me as far as slippery goes and it was a good run regardless.
I really want to go, feel that it would be a great run as the level is great and the water is not yet freezing cold. However that being said, I would NOT recommend this river to un-experienced boaters who don't have a solid roll. It's not a place I personally would like to swim and it is fairly remote. That being said some sections can be continuous but it is broken up with pools of varying sizes. We're not talking BC steep creeking here.
This would mean a really early start, especially for those coming from afar. It's all up to you as to how much you want to run it and if an early morning is worth it to you. It is a great run and it's not one where there are groups going on a regular basis given the distance. I felt that it was a bit of a pilgrimage of sorts and totally worth it.
If Graham and I can muster the people we ARE going, preferably with more people than less. Hope to see you there :)
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"The rail bed is not exactly what I would call slippery slag"
Hi Shauna. Not to be too picky, but the Algonquin old railroad bed is precisely made of slag, a common use for this by-product of iron mining and refining which would otherwise end up as useless mounds. Go to Sudbury to see such mounds... Since it comes from the process of melting iron ore, this slag is less angular, rounder than gravel obtained by fracturing limestone, and is therefore more slippery. Not slippery as a banana peel, more like walking in the sand: every step wastes a bit of energy as the foot sinks a little bit. For this reason, wheeling your boat on a wheeled cart is not great, as I found out...
Cheers!
--C.
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Graham posting,
We know it's slag, but from our run in the spring I would hardly call it slippery, there was even some snow/ice still on the trail and it wasnt a bad hike at all! Brad Wipp used a C-tug for his boat with no problems at all, infact after watching him we're buying one for our boats. I didn't find any of the "feet sinking losing energy like sand" issues at all. Either way, all besides the point.
Were looking for people interested in the upper pet this weekend! likely Sunday, meeting at Doran and Baron Canyon Rd between 6 and 8am, Sunday is supposed to be 12 and sunny, though I know many of the military people will be busy, it may get shifted to Saturday depending on who can confirm.
From Doran + Baron Canyon were looking at a 2 hour drive, 45 min hike, 2-4 hour paddle, plus say an hour to sort gear out inbetween, an 8am meet should mean being off the water by 4pm. As Shaunna said, this is not a friendly run for beginners. It's a long river, many of the rapids are somewhat technical and will certainly provide a beatdown as a reward for mistakes. Given the remoteness of the river, that also adds a degree of difficuly as assistance is quite a distance away.
That being said, if interested let us know what day(s)/time(s) work for you!
Let the mighty Petawawa Pilgramage Begin!
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I agree with Shaunna and Graham. The walk in is not slippery (although some walk/scout trails may be). I might, MIGHT, be able to go saturday, and my thought on the matter is the earlier we start, the more time it gives us in case of an "oh oh" on the river. That being said, there is no need to drive into the park during day light hours (at this time of year, there will be no one at the gate anyways). Meeting at 7 would have us driving into the park as it gets light (for anyone concerned) and get us an extra hour of daylight. Yes, that means people coming from Ottawa are getting up at 4 or 430 ish, but there are more than a few Timmies along the way (and I get up at 5 every day, its not that bad LOL) and the river is worth it.
Personaly, I'd rather have an earlier start, which gives us some play, just in case of a swim, pin, injury or whatever...Just my thought (and yes, I'd make this same decision if I were driving from Ottawa, not Chalk)
As for Ryans comment about 3.145 level (yeah, I haven't figured out the quote thing) all I can say is, NERD lol
Thats my thoughts on the subject. As Graham said, we army folk have to parade on Sunday, so that won't work....unless people wanted to paddle monday? I'm not getting my hopes up there lol
later
jer
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Jer,
My preference would be a Monday run, but I may have my arm twisted into running with Brad and Graunna.
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Has anyone ever camped near the beginning of the railbed hike? There is remnants of paved roads, quite flat for any number of tents... Or at lake Travers. Drive up there in the afternoon, car camp with a good sleeping bag and run the river in the morning! Cool, litterally... --C.
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Falls, I can't paddle sunday, rememberance day parade. I'm not sure how I feel about the Graunna thing lol, why does everyone feel its necesary to jam two names together? Stupid brangelina lol.
Christian, thats a great idea, dunno if its been done. You'd have to buy an overnight pass at the gate though, not a day use, I'd think...mind you this time of year......I've got no problems driving in in the morning, but for someone coming from out of town its a good plan
later
jer
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Jer,
What I meant was, I'd go with you Monday if it was going to be more than just us. I like you and all, but wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea...
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I knew what you meant, fear not. I don't know how many people would be free for a monday paddle, but if there were people, I'd be interested!
Can't paddle saturday or sunday, so have fun and be safe any that go
jer
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Just got the best bad news. My friends had to cancel there trip for a visit, which leaves me totally free for a Saturday upper pet day.
Who's in?? Its getting close, lets get this sorted!
jer