Topic: Beastfeast Aug 8th to 10 Bonnet Rouge on the Gatineau River

[LouisD]

Kelly and I made it for Saturday and had a very successful day!
Stayed long enough to enjoy some of the beast feast and good company!

Make sure you don't drive to the Gatineau for nothing as the group is based off River Runner on the Ottawa.

Water level was at around 14.5, great fun in McCoy, surfing Angel Kiss, riding through Lower No Name.
Paul, Grahame and I even enjoyed a joint triple surf on Upper No Name.
Also of note is the many firsts for Tibor, yesterday!
For me, my most successful day on the Ottawa for me; surfing everywhere, punching Sattler (NOT following Paul), a good run through my nemesis; Little Trickle.
Sorry; no swims, no heli, no lost boat, no sordid story to tell...at most; a 360 ender in Lower No Name...
Just good progress.

Have fun today, guys/gals!!!
LD

[juliahardwick]

Okay so I still haven't hit the sack. No one should meet me at 9:30. I won't be there. 10:30 is it.
Mother Heli

[Late Ray]

Hey All, since I hadn't heard back until  now, I have made plans to arrive for around 10:30 a.m.
Hopefully I will catch you guys...if not, Ray and Heather and Heidi and Dom said they'd watch for me...

Yeah, like I'll be on time.  See you at 10:30.

[juliahardwick]

I had planned on an early run...to be there by 9:30. If someone else wants to go  early then I'll meet you up. Otherwise, I'll tell my carpool buddy that I'm coming an hour later.
Please tell me if you want an early run.
Mother Heli

[Sandra K]

Hey All, since I hadn't heard back until  now, I have made plans to arrive for around 10:30 a.m.
Hopefully I will catch you guys...if not, Ray and Heather and Heidi and Dom said they'd watch for me...

Sandra

[PatB]

I will be there at 10AM. I hope that we can all meet up together as this would maximize the fun times this weekend. See you at the RR gates at 10AM.

Colin, call me if you are not going to meet us at this time since Steph and I definitely plan on paddling with you! 613.324.2462

Cheers!

[GrahameH]

10am should be good for most (let's say at the river run gates).

If you're early or later, it's easy to set up shuttle weekends on the Ottawa. 

The key thing is to all use the River Run takeout.

[PatB]

What time are we looking at going?

[Sandra K]

What time are we meeting at River Run for the paddle tomorrow??

Sandra

[darryll]

IMPORTANT NOTICEDue to the extremely high water levels we have decided to move the Beastfeast to the OTTAWA RIVER at RIVERRUN. The Gatineau is running at flood levels and may exceed 30 feet on the gauge this level is listed as expert on the website. I apologize for the inconvenience but the safety of our members is paramount. The format remains the same but could all club members please phone their paddling buddies and let them know.
For any further info you can call me 613 295-2046.  Darryll

[PatB]

I am 110% cool with moving it to RiverRun for safety reasons. I really want to run the Gatineau, but not if the level is too foreign to most in attendance.

I would rather have a great run down the Middle than start walking lots of stuff on the Gatineau because eveyone lacks confidence/knowledge of the river at these flows. Based on Graham's breakdown, it is running at almost double normal flows.

What are others thinking? I willl be away from my computer until this evening, but will check it out then and meet up with Beastfeast on Saturday morning.

Colin I will call you tonight to see where you are at if there is a divide on which river to run.

Cheers!

[cmnypny]

Well I am heading up this afternoon and will not have internet access.

Can we just make a safety judgement call and move the venue to River Run and have fun on the Ottawa for saturday / sunday?

I am leaving my dads place in Petawawa around 2pm and will check the board before I leave.

Colin

Note: since at RR I will be going there early saturday morning.

[GrahameH]

I haven't paddled it at this level, so i'm not an authority.  Just stating that low summer flows should not be expected for the weekend. 

It's been suggested that, for example, the normal center line by the log jam on "Bete de Corbeau" doesn't exist - sneak river left on the other side of the recirculating hole. 

Expect the unexpected. 

[PatB]

Is anyone leading the trip comfortable with these flows? Graham are you not planning on attending?

[GrahameH]

http://www.3200lakes.com/
10-20 are normal summer flows, and at 40, the town of Maniwaki is flooded - the level is right in between those two points... (it's at 30)

Caution should be taken, rapids should be scouted.  Your normal lines may not exist at this level.