All about Whitewater: River Information

The Kipawa River Rally

June 22^st-24^th, 2012, Laniel, P.Q


	Distance: 16 km (10 miles) from the village of Laniel to Lake Temiscamingue. Difficulty: Class III-IV river rating, Class III-VI individual rapids (volume dependent) Gradient: 30 feet/mile Volume: 20 cms (740 cfs) to 357 cms (13,209 cfs) Description: The Kipawa River is one of the best intermediate white water runs in eastern Canada. The first exploratory river trips on the Kipawa were made in 1971 in an open canoe by Jose Mediavilla and Joseph Jacob, both from Rouyn. Runnable at all levels, the lower Kipawa does not get above a Class III, with the exception of Pete's Dragon, the middle three drops in Hollywood rapid (a tight technical Class IV) run only at low to medium levels. The rapids were named by Peter Karwacki and Doug Skeggs in 1985. Put-Ins and Take-Outs: Road access at five locations includes, the Dam at Laniel, a roadside park at Hwy 101, and via Topping Road off Hwy 100 atBroken Bridge rapid , the Grande Chute (some walking required on a good trail), and at the take-out next to Hollywood rapid at the Kipawa River Lodge owned by Scott and Pat Sorenson of Orem, Utah, USA. There are 16 named rapids found in three identifiable sections: - Section I ...The Upper (Dam to Highway Park) - Section II ...The Middle (Highway Park to Island Rapid) - Section III ...The Lower (Log Jam to Hollywood) The Dam (Class VI unrunnable all levels):Exremely Dangerous – unrunnable. Rock and Roll (Class III-IV+ level dependent) Walk around Rock and Roll on river right, it’s routinely walked by boaters who don't like its steep rocky character. Typically enter right of centre, just to the left of a couple of very small holes reacting to a rock shelf near the surface. Move right then straighten out to run a narrow deep water channel that passes to the right of all the big holes out in the middle. Move left, back to the centre of the drop as soon as you pass the big holes. The alternative run at levels from very low up to 140 or 150 cms, is to enter just left of centre and work river left down a slide drop so that you work to the far river left of the rapid about half way through it, then run the bottom half hugging the left shoreline through a steep, abrupt hole. This is an easy run at low water when you can actually eddy out half way through. It gets progressively tougher the more water there is. Tumbling Dice (Class III all levels): The river bends below Rock and Roll and narrows a bit signaling the start of a long easy rapid called Tumbling Dice. The second portion of the rapid has a very sweet surfing wave called the Two-Four Wave developing above 120 cms and at its best at levels between 140 and 220. Tumbling Dice dog legs left and then into a series of easy surf waves that end with the beginning of a stretch of flat water that runs past a roadsite park area on Hwy 101. The park is no longer maintained but it is perfect for camping, very private, lots of parking, no camping fees, no one’s been bothered yet. Buttonhook (Class III-IV+ level dependent) At low water, Buttonhook reveals Kipawa’s rocky river bed - you just pick your way down. At high water, people who aren't comfortable being in big pushy water, call this rapid a Class V. A large hole runs river left to center midway down. At levels above 80 run the classic line starts left of centre, move almost immediately to the centre, move right towards the bottom of the upper section to get to the big eddy on the corner. Run the bottom section starting right, then working left at lower water, and staying right at higher water. Be sure to book a family stay at the Kipawa River Lodge! Les Amis de la Rivière Kipawa, c/o Francois Diebolt 5658 Rue beaulieu, Montreal Quebec, H4E 3E3 Huey, Duey and Louie (Class III all levels): Three little drops, sometimes called Sex, Lies and Videotape are easy. There is a small play wave on the left in the second drop. Broken Bridge (Class III all levels): Beneath the logging access road bridge is a glassy 3-boat wave that just won't quit. Enter from either side. Attainment may be difficult now that the new bridge is installed but the wave is a pleasure to surf between 80 cms and 220. Island Rapid (Class III all levels): Below Broken bridge the river splits around an island. River left is easier. River right is runnable at all levels but gets a little rocky at low water and requires more care. The river flattens out for 500 m. after Island Rapid Log Jam (Class III all levels): The river steepens here. The upstream side of Log Jam Island is undercut. Run with the main flow on the left side of Log Jam Island. Pick a line just right of centre for a best results. Zipper (Class III-IV level dependent): Home of the biggest wave on the river. Run with the main flow around the left side of the river. At the corner, a shelf forms a hole on river right and a wave on river left which is sometimes rolling back on itself but is always runnable. At levels above 175 cms, this wave gets big. At levels above 220 cms, it gets huge and above 315 cms, its.. Really big. You tend to get pushed left where the shore is rocky. If the wave looks pushy, hit it moving left to right for best results. Upper White Pine (Class III all levels): This is a series of corners and waves that is home of a small but very popular surfing spot. Lower White Pine (Class III all levels): Also know as Cattle Prod, this is a short steep frothy drop that is actually a five-foot ledge at low water. Good fun with diagonal waves and lots of quick action. Run left down the chute. Picnic (Class III-VI level dependent): Picnic, can be a problem above 100 cms. At 357 cms it can recirculate trees. At low water, pick a line and go. At medium to high water run from centre pushing right to hit right in the corner where the reactionary wave coming off the shore, joins with the edge of the big hole. Or run far left, careful for the ledge hole just below. Le Grande Chute This is true Class VI so don't even think about it. Its a 90-foot waterfall with three Class IV-V drops above it which have have been run only at low water. The lower falls were recently run by the team of Brent Cooper, Mike McCubbin and Ben Aylsworth at very low water in 2001. The walk is on the right. At low water there is a tall shelf rock at the base of the waterfall that is used for diving into the deep flat pool below. WARNING: scout for debris collecting below the falls. Elbow (Class III-IV+): Below the Grande Chute is Elbow Rapid. At 130 cms a large hole develops at river right at the elbow where all the water is going.. At low water, just pick your way down. At medium to high water, start right and work immediately to the centre, and then to the left as you hit the corner. The objective is to make the big eddy on the left side of the river. The bottom section of Elbow (175m) is straight forward with waves and small holes. Hollywood (Class IV-VI level dependent): Show time! Hollywood is a tough run, unfriendly to swimmers. At low water the rapid is runnable top to bottom. At all levels you can run from the top to take out above Pete's Dragon keeping in mind that you will need to get your boat into a small eddy river right in solid Class III+ water above a very serious drop. If you are not comfortable with that, best to do the carry right around the top of Hollywood else pause for a second above it every time to whisper to yourself ``ok, stay right, make the eddy" before starting out. The middle section, Pete's Dragon, has three drops. Run the first drop through a small chute on the right, through a small but steep hole that can mess with your line a bit (the tail of the Dragon) so most skirt the edge of this thing rather than punch it. Immediately follows the second drop. Run up onto the rocky pillow on the right then let your boat turn a bit and slip slide sideways to the left. You end up dropping down and bracing left onto a curling reactionary then right on the rocky slide in the last half of the second drop (the belly of the Dragon). Typcially try to end up in the big eddy on river right. The 10-12 foot fall is next (the mouth of the Dragon). The fall is less of a plunge the further right you go, its been run everywhere up to about 75 cms. You decide. At higher water take the short walk, river right, around Pete's Dragon, then back in your boat for the bottom half of Hollywood. Ferry out to the centre and then to the left side of the river. This is a challenging run in big swirling, churning water with surprisingly energetic waves in it. Run down the left side at the bottom, when most of the water is trying to talk you into going right where a dynamic large hole, Davey Jones Locker, has surprised a lot of paddlers. Beware the triangular rock at the bottom river left – Scott’s Knob it pops up just when you think you’re done. Cell Phones may be operable in the vicinity of the Kipawa Centre de santé de Témiscaming 180, rue Anvik, C. P. 760 Témiscaming (Québec) J0Z 3R0 Tél. : (819) 627-3385 Centre de santé Sainte-Famille 22, rue Notre-Dame Nord, C.P. 2000,Ville-Marie, Québec,J0Z 3W0 (819) 629-2420 Centre d'urgence 9-1-1 Be sure to buy gas, food and beer at the Laniel Depaneur! Camp 3 saisons inc. http://www.3seasoncamp.t2u.com 2011, route 101, C.P 39 Laniel, (Québec), J0Z 2K0 (819) 634-2582, 627-3737 (Été/Summer) Camp de la Baie Smith 2050, chemin du Ski Laniel, (Québec), J0Z 2K0 (819) 627-9858, 634-2425 Chalets Diane enr. 1948, route 101 Laniel, (Québec), J0Z 2K0 (819) 634-2576