Little expedition to MooseFest this WE with a couple of other guys from Montreal; TJ, Garett from Base Camp and Jeamie that I met in Chile (Sandra will remember him) and also working at Base Camp. We stayed dry overnight at The Edge Motel on the West side of the Moose, a bit far from Old Forge (45min apparently) and the commotion, but very close to the Bottom Moose section.
We made good use of our late arrival on Saturday by jumping in the Middle combining it with a run of the Lower. Since none of us had done any Moose section our plan (well mine) was to do all 3 over the WE.
The Middle is definitively an entry level and short run (~3 miles). The Lower has 4 or 5 rapids in the class III/III+. With only the names of the rapids as guide we had fun trying to guess which rapid we were at. The first 2 paddlers we caught up with had no clue; "I don't know, but it is intense." Sure...
Well sure enough, it was intense for them, I thought as we helped them collect their gear and themselves out of the water at the bottom of that rapid. Welcome to MooseFest, kiddos, I guess...
Garett and I had quickly drop a car at take-out - where at least where there was a lot of cars around. So after what we thought was the last rapid with started to lot everywhere for a potential take-out... Visibility was down due to heavy and cold rain. But a bridge finally showed up with a bit of blue sky and we were reunited with our cars. While Garett and I were fetching the cars again, the rest of the group mingled and learn that the day had been more than exciting for the Bottom Moose.
With a level around 5.4, that section took its toll and no less than 5 ambulances were called in; dislocated shoulders and even a near-drowning/unconscious poor fellow that went down Crystal with Catherine on tow - actually reverse...She managed to stay upright holding his head above water most of the time in our hand and her paddle in the other. The poor fellow apparently tried to go around a dude being worked in a hole and got himself trapped for his trouble.
Catherine Blanchette said the unconscious guy came around and left in the ambulance with apparently no apparent side effect.
That evening, Catherine and other Montrealers (Pinso, Taxi, Damien, etc) gave us a good depiction of the day on the Bottom section; our target for the next day.
TJ was veto'ed out while sipping free beer from the hotel happy hour (lucky us) and instead of the 45min to the Old Forge and party to elected for a local restaurant with the whole Montreal gang (13). The next morning, news that the level were now at 5.8 and still going up, TJ was again veto'ed out and with went to a double feature (Otter creek followed by Independence) in much better weather.
Otter creek is a nice run, rarely run apparently and we were in lucky with good conditions. A couple of IV ledges, a good warm-up to the next item on the menu.
The crux is right after the Dam with a short steep slide (class V.1) with 2 big pillows; an easier class V for sure, easily walkable, but still potential for a lot of scraping if not handling the pillows right or going upside down. A bit like an easier/longer Eagle section on the Beaver. Another last IV starting with in a horseshoe shaped ledge with a few rebars sticking out at the lip. Better to scout that, or go just of right of middle and dance.
Next, Independence is only minutes away and others hurried up with the car shuffling this time.
Quick chitchat, eat a bar or 2 and then our national Late Ray showed up (late of course) to the relief of the rest of his party.
Off we went. Independence is definitively a gem; long rapids and a superb main slide (Fat Lady IV+ or V).
The start is very impressive and big water like. The rushing flows splits on a big rock with most of the water going into the slide.
A incorrect lean trows you backward into a creek type series of horseshoes and holes.
Too much lean or a poor exit from the first hole and you spend a lot of time upside down on the slide...
It was quite entertaining to watch the variations and we had at least 3 from our party of 13 walk this one.
I opted for a timid entry bypassing the main initial flow and taking me right onto the slide...
The beginning wasn't too glorious for me with a lot of pushing and a 360 until momentum could be achieved, edging the middle hole and down the rest of the slide with another serious pillow waiting below.
The last series of rapids were very interesting; more like a steep boulder field, ending with one last hole...waiting all day for papa Louis. Oh Well...
2 days, 4 sections, 4 new sections for me, 2 in the class V zone. The Otter and Independence are keepers. The Bottom Moose will have to wait.
I'd say it was well worth the trip...
Louis in Montreal
