The Kipawa is one of the best wild water rivers in the northern Quebec-Ontario/Temagami border region. When it is running in the spring, I prefer it over the Ottawa, and even at medium levels it is a river which I will travel a very long way to visit. (There are some medium level pics at http://www.geocities.com/~culpeper/kipphoto.html ). Hydro Quebec is planning to shut it off by diverting its flow directly into the Ottawa River/Lake Temiskaming. This will permanently stop paddling on the river. Mike McCubbin, the NOLAC gang, and Scotty Sorenson (a paddler who owns a lodge at the mouth of the Kipawa on Lake Temiskaming) are taking the lead in trying to convince Hydro Quebec to not to divert the river. Thus this year's Rally will be very different from those over the previous decade, for it will offer paddlers a chance to sit down together and work out a plan to save the river. NOLAC is trying to get folks from hydro quebec and some politicians to come along on a raft that weekend, so it would be nice to have the river full of paddlers. If you can possibly do so, get to the Kipawa on 20-21 June. Aside from having a tremendously good ww run, you will help save the river for our future and our children's future. Even if you cannot attend, please get in touch with Mike McCubbin at mccubbin_at_ntl.sympatico.ca Mike can e-mail you info on what is happening and get you in on the loop. If you have any particular ability, such as experience fighting hydro quebec, or good contacts with quebec paddling or environmental groups, please let him know. Any help would be appreciated. Info on the river and the Rally are quoted below. Richard Culpeper, M.A., LL.B. www.geocities.com/~culpeper culpeper_at_geocities.com Mike & Lesley McCubbin wrote: > Dear Paddler. > > On behalf of the Northern Ontario Liquid Adventurers Club (NOLAC), I > > would like to invite you to attend the 12th annual Kipawa River Rally on > > June 20 and 21, 1998. > > This is not a competition. The Rally was designed as a fun weekend where > > recreational paddlers and their friends and families can get together > > for river running and socializing. > > Most people attending will arrive sometime on Friday night and leave > > Sunday after boating for the day. > > The attached information package should provide you with all the > > background you need, but if you have any questions contact me at one of > > the following: > > Mike McCubbin - Home - (705) 273-2073 Work - (705) 273-2424 ext. 121. > > E-mail mccubbin_at_ntl.sympatico.ca > > In the Pembroke area call Ken Timmins at (613) 732-1267 E-mail > > kwt_at_fox.nstn.ca > > In Toronto call Gerry Bedard at (416) 694-8441. E-mail > > gb_at_grsearch.com > > Hope to see you on the river! > > Mike McCubbin > > NOLAC President > > Accommodation: > > There are three large cabins with numerous beds available on a first > > come first served basis. There is also a very spacious area for setting > > up tents. The cost for either is $15.00 per night. > > Food: > > You may bring your own food and use the propane stoves and B.B.Q's > > available at each of the cabins. You can also purchase meals from the > > owners of the lodge. There will be an "all you can eat" fresh pickerel > > dinner on Saturday night. (If the fishing has been good) Cost is > > usually $10.00 to $12.00. > > What's Happening: > > There is no set schedule for the weekend. We will be paddling the Kipawa > > both Saturday and Sunday and for those who arrive early enough on Friday > > there is usually a chance to get a run in before sunset. > > There are some great climbing cliffs along the Quebec side of Lake > > Temiscaming so bring along your climbing gear. Scott Sorenson, owner of > > the lodge, will boat you down to his favorite climbs. Wind surfing is > > good on the the lake and the sauna will be kept running all weekend > > long. The Saturday night party is traditionally a barn burner, like all > > NOLAC parties. > > Directions to Laniel: > > Find and get to North Bay. The take Hwy. 63 North and cross the Ottawa > > River into Quebec at Temiscaming. From Temiscaming take Hwy. 101 North > > to Laniel. Distance from North Bay is 119 km. Laniel is the start of > > the river which flows from Lake Kipawa down to Lake Temiscaming where > > the lodge is located. > > Directions to Kipawa River Lodge: > > Go north from Laniel on Hwy. 101 for approximately 11 km. Look for a > > gravel road going east (left side of the highway heading north) with a > > yellow sign which says Grande Chute. Take this road for another 7 km. > > After passing a sand pit on your right and the Grande Chute trail, keep > > going for another 1/2 km and you will find a trail/road on your left. > > Take this road until you can't go any further but don't come down the > > hill. Park at the top of the hill and carry your camping gear to the > > bottom. This is the take-out. Don't bring your boats down the hill. > > The Kipawa River: > > The 16 km section of the Kipawa River from Laniel to Lake Temiscaming > > has 18 individual rapids ranging from Class II to Class IV, one Class V > > and a 90 foot waterfall. > > Paddlers on the Kipawa should be intermediate or better. Beginners could > > run with expert supervision but walking would be required several times. > > The river winds through a beautiful forested area with mixed stands of > > White Pine, Spruce, Cedar, Birch and Poplar. > > Difficulties: > > The first rapid, Rock and Roll, is a challenging class IV that is > > routinely walked by intermediate boaters but is runnable. Run the two > > drops on the far left chute at low to medium levels, and move center to > > avoid the maze of pinning rocks at the bottom. At high water, run the > > right side of the main flow. Several Class II and III rapids follow, > > including the high water surfing waves at Tumbling Dice. > > The Class IV rapid called Button Hook is located about 1/2 km below the > > roadside park. It is very runnable and lots of fun. Some moves are > > required to avoid holes at medium to high water and rocks at low water. > > The Class II and III rapids of Three Blind Mice, Broken Bridge and > > Island Rapids provide play spots at medium water levels. > > A stretch of flat water followed by a short Class III drop called Log > > Jam marks the beginning of the steepest part of the Kipawa. The rapids > > which follow, The Zipper, Upper White Pine, Lower White Pine and Picnic > > are steep and sometimes pushy Class III to IV rapids. > > The take-out for the Grande Chute is marked by a widening in the river > > and a deep and distant roar. There is a trail on the right. USE IT. This > > is a dangerous waterfall preceded by a couple of Class IV Drops which > > run directly into the falls. There is not getting out once you are in > > the drops. > > Follow the steep trail to put in above Elbow Rapid just below the falls. > > Elbow is a class IV run that is difficult to scout. It is quite runnable > > but good eyes and quick moves are required to avoid very large holes and > > pour-overs. Generally speaking, start right of center and work left to > > the catch the large eddy just around the bend. This is followed by a > > long section of Class III waves and rocks. > > The last rapid on the Kipawa is a Class V called Hollywood. Scout this > > one. The top and bottom sections are runnable but the rapid is steep and > > continuous. Three drops in the middle of the rapid are only runnable at > > very low water and should be scouted carefully at any level. Figure out > > which eddy you want to catch and then catch the one above it. > > Take out at the lodge and jump in the sauna. > > Mike. > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > Man does not cease to play because he grows old. > > Man grows old because he ceases to play. > > Shaw > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > -- > Mike > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Man does not cease to play because he grows old. > Man grows old because he ceases to play. > > Shaw > ----------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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