Topic: April 30 - Lower Bonnie brook, upper Pet

[robert monti]

No river trips for me this weekend unfortunately. But if I was paddling, I would be heading to the St. Regis near Potsdam. Short drive for 11 km stretch of Class III+ - IV continuous whitewater that only has about 100 meters of flat water in the whole run.  This rain will bring it up to a great level!  Should be a great weekend wherever you go!

[Todd]

Any interest in a Simon polar bear section / lower bonnie brook day?  Assuming water levels look good.

Rob, Ray, Jacques, Louis, others?

[Late Ray]

Todd, you'll be looking to do the Polar Bear section.  It's only 3km long.  The first 1.8km is continuous CIII-III+ eddie hopping, boulder and hole dodging.  Then you get 1km flat water.   It finishes with a fun, fair sized CIV rapid you can scout from the highway bridge at the takeout.  The last rapid runs between 2 Scandinavian style spas on each side of the river.  At high water the first section may bump up to CIV with bigger holes, but that wasn't the case while I've run it.

Google "Polar Bear's Spa" at 930 Boulevard des Laurentides, Piedmont, QC J0R 1K0, Canada.  That's the takeout (the 117 highway bridge).  Just follow Simon River road up about 4km until it it splits to the right.  You'll hit a bridge with flat water before it, and a rapid right under/after it.  That's the put in.

[coolfarmer816]

Hi Todd

The Simon from km 12 to the km 0 seems interresting (http://www.cartespleinair.org/)and the level is good (site of QuebecWhitewater)

if you what to go on saterday let me know

[Todd]

"Go to the Bonniebrook this weekend and HOHW next - join the Sunday mission to the Upper Pet! Lots of guides, lots of fun! "

That sounds like a pretty good plan! I would imagine levels will continue to rise with the rain this week.  A couple of laps would make for a nice day!

Do you have any info on the Simon Ray? 

Does anyone have any magical level forcasting for the bonniebrook?

[Joanne]

Www.liquidlore.com/HOHW/

Go to the Bonniebrook this weekend and HOHW next - join the Sunday mission to the Upper Pet! Lots of guides, lots of fun!

[Late Ray]

What Joanne said.  Upper Pet is around 13 rapids -- not sure where this mythical 26 comes from --  but it is still the best run in Ontario at the current water level.  If the roads are in the same condition as 1.5 weeks ago, consider a vehicle with some ground clearance as there was some major erosion in the road in parts, but the road and railway were all clear and open.

Scout Poplar as there was wood in a few channels when we ran it.

Another option for Bonniebrooke is to run laps of the lower.  Once you get the scouting out of the way, you can lap it pretty quick and save the last cascades for after you've done a warm up lap.  You can also try a  Simon/Bonniebrooke double if the levels are good on the Simon.

R

[Joanne]

I've never been able to figure out where all those 26 rapids are but the upper pet is still a spectacular run with the added benefit of great scenery.  Bonniebrook too. Good choices.
With this week's rain, water levels later in the week will probably help you choose!
I may be interested but will make the call of a river when I see water levels.

[Todd]

Anyone interested in some harder runs next Saturday?  I have two ideas, but am welcome to others:

The Lower Bonnie Brook has a several class IV drops, ending with a series of drops "that are each class four, but have class five consequences when taken together" - i.e. not a place you would want to swim.  I would suggest running the upper as a warm up. 

Another option is the upper Petawawa, I understand it it a great run, and should be at a good level next weekend too.  "The Upper Pet is fairly steep section with 26 rapids varying from class 3-5".  Not sure if it is possible, but we could also run the town section the same day if we were quick. 

These are not beginner friendly, or even intermediate friendly runs. 

Let me know if there is any interest in either of these and we can make a plan!