Whitewater

The Opeongo River and the Madawaska River (Whitney to Madawaska) will still be running high, with volumes anywhere from C2 to C3 with some optional C4, hopefully featuring hot spring weather (we enjoyed a snow blizzard last year!) Camp at a beautiful spot to enjoy spring peepers and cherry blossoms, or stay overnight at Whitney.

Bill Ness, 416-321-3005, bness@look.ca, book before March 30 ----- As the weatherman refused to cooperate to allow us to run this trip as originally scheduled on March 27, we have move the date ahead a week. Join me on this classic early spring favourite of Toronto area paddlers. We’ll catch the Credit in Streetsville and run down to the mouth at Port Credit. The river is a delightful continuous class 1 to 2 with lots of play spots. However, as sweepers can present a hazard and the water will be cold, you should have solid basic moving water skills, and wear a wetsuit or drysuit. If we have a late break-up, can move the trip to April 3. On the other hand, if we get one of those early springs that we have been experiencing over the last few years, March 20 might work out better. So if you're interested in coming along, I suggest you let me know early, in case we do have to move the date forward.

This is a great course for canoe trippers who wish to develop their river-tripping skills. This course will be held at the Elora Gorge Conservation area and will be a co-ed event. We will spend two full days on the river learning to read and manoeuvre in Class 1-2 whitewater. This is a Paddle Canada certification and successful candidates will need to perform manoeuvres in both the bow and stern of the boat. If you just want to come out and learn more about paddling whitewater, but do not want the certification, you are also welcome to join us. Those wishing to camp with us/ eat with us will just split those costs accordingly. Price $80 (Course and Equipment only. Camping and food not included)

John & Sharon Hackert, 416-438-7672, jhackert@sympatico.ca, book before April 23 ----- A day of whitewater excitement for advanced paddlers. The upper Madawaska is a fast-flowing pool-and-drop river with quiet stretches interspersed with some very serious rapids. All rapids can, and some must, be portaged. Wetsuits or drysuits, helmets, and fully outfitted whitewater boats with full flotation are a must. Limit six boats.

John & Sharon Hackert, 416-438-7672, jhackert@sympatico.ca, book before April 23 ----- A day of whitewater excitement for advanced paddlers. The upper Madawaska is a fast-flowing pool-and-drop river with quiet stretches interspersed with some very serious rapids. All rapids can, and some must, be portaged. Wetsuits or drysuits, helmets, and fully outfitted whitewater boats with full flotation are a must. Limit six boats.

John & Sharon Hackert, 416-438-7672, jhackert@sympatico.ca, book before April 16 ----- A day of whitewater excitement for advanced paddlers. The upper Madawaska is a fast-flowing pool-and-drop river with quiet stretches interspersed with some very serious rapids. All rapids can, and some must, be portaged. Wetsuits or drysuits, helmets, and fully outfitted whitewater boats with full flotation are a must. Limit six boats.

John & Sharon Hackert, jhackert@sympatico.ca, 416-438-7672, book as soon as possible ----- This will be a challenging whitewater run suitable for advanced-level paddlers with fully outfitted canoes (centre bags for tandem boats) and proper cold-weather attire. Limit five boats

John & Sharon Hackert, jhackert@sympatico.ca, 416-438-7672, book as soon as possible ----- This will be a challenging whitewater run suitable for advanced-level paddlers with fully outfitted canoes (centre bags for tandem boats) and proper cold-weather attire. If the river isn’t open yet we could go back to the Moira again. Limit five boats

John & Sharon Hackert, jhackert@sympatico.ca ----- Book as soon as possible. This is a repeat of last week's trip. We will start at Chisholm’s Mill and finish at Latta in the morning, eat lunch in our vehicles and run Lost Channel in the afternoon. This is a good opportunity for new spring paddlers to introduce themselves and demonstrate their competence. The river is not particularly technical and we will only be about an hour from our cars. This trip is open to anyone who doesn’t mind swimming in ice-cold water. Tandem canoes must have a centre airbag. Wetsuits or drysuits are required. If winter is later and weather/water conditions are unsuitable, we will postpone the trip. Limit of six boats.

John & Sharon Hackert, jhackert@sympatico.ca ----- Book as soon as possible. This is our season opener and a chance to recover our skills after a long winter. We will start at Chisholm’s Mill and finish at Latta in the morning, eat lunch in our vehicles and run Lost Channel in the afternoon. This is a good opportunity for new spring paddlers to introduce themselves and demonstrate their competence. The river is not particularly technical and we will only be about an hour from our cars. This trip is open to anyone who doesn’t mind swimming in ice-cold water. Tandem canoes must have a centre airbag. Wetsuits or drysuits are required. If winter is later and weather/water conditions are unsuitable, we will postpone the trip. Limit of six boats.