Last Edit 10PM Tuesday July 16. The MAD River today is running a flow that is double what it was two weeks ago when six of us successfully did the Carruthers Park (Airport Rd) to Concession 3 section. It is true that the river is running a lot more slowly this time of year than it does in the spring, but now is a good time to bring your skill set to a higher level by learning optimum channel selection and sharps turns in tight places. Cold. fast flowing northern rivers may not be so forgiving. Come and enjoy 5 & 1/2; hours (ten km or more) of technical whitewater paddling on the MAD River (Creemore Ont) in mid summer. Call it Class II and III light (trees and sticks instead of rocks and high water). At low flow levels, this time of year, the river is moving much more slowly than the spring, so inexperienced whitewater paddlers can come experience the thrill of "rapids" in a relatively more safe environment. (learn and refresh paddle handling skills in a more controlled environment than the raging. cold water of the Spring runoff) We don't normally get an opportunity to do good quality whitewater paddling in southern Ontario in mid summer, but Tropical Storm Beryl dumped two days of heavy rain on southern Ontario Wednesday and Thursday this previous week. . At a minimum the paddling group will get the same experience as the six very happy WCA paddlers who played on the MAD on Sat July 6. The water levels were only 1.8 cu Meters per sec. I expect the river levels will be almost double that, on July 20 after the rain the previous week. Every person who registers for this trip is subject to review and acceptance by the trip organizer, which includes having each paddler submit a canoeing / river resume of training and experience in canoes. (I mostly want to know this will not be your first time in a canoe. The trip organizer reserves the right to cancel the reservation of any paddler who does not comply with this request or refuses to answer follow up questions about their prior paddling experience. You will in turn be sent a summary of my paddling background. The Mad River is MAD when it gets MAD (levels change quickly in spring / summer rain storms. **** Intermediate Skill Level **** for this trip, it means you have high skill levels on big flatwater and are comfortable navigating lakes in windy conditions. I want you to be comfortable with your ability to paddle forward on either side of the canoe, back paddle, ferry, back ferry, draw, cross draw or cross bow draw. Your reaction time needs to be quick. I will teach you the white water part (the MAD way) . Whether we run the river from the top at Riverside Dr (14 km) or move down river (ten km paddling) will depend on flow levels at Put In time and the skill levels of the paddlers who sign up. Come play with me on Sunday July 14 2024. . I have my own tandem canoe and am looking for a partner. Can supply a tandem canoe if a team needs one. Tandem Canoes get Priority for signup. Some solo paddlers can come if i know you. For safety, the group requires at least two tandems for forward scout and rear sweep. I can bump up the canoe count from six if I get signups who have paddled with me already this spring. Looking for two to six canoes. I want at least two tandems. I will scout the river from shore again this week.
MAD River Creemore to Glencairn ( or more ) Saturday July 20
Submitted by HuetonAndy
on
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