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PADDLERS WANTED: Lakewater Instructors Course

We still need 2 more bodies for the September Lakewater Instructor & Advanced Padding course. If you want to take the course and would like the additional 10% off we need your commitment by the end of July.

Please contact Bob or Carey ASAP to confirm your enrollment.

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Intro to Moving Waters - Trip Report

June 3rd, 2017

It was a cloudy Saturday morning with waters high on the Mamquam River in Squamish. About a dozen enthusiastic, yet nervous, new river paddlers met up at the put-in off Government Road under the train tracks.

Carey, Alain, and Claude were our instructors for the day and we gave them a workout - and what a workout it was. There were no shortage of dumps and rescues on the river including myself and my wife, but Claude and Alain were there to rescue every one of us each time. Thanks!

We learned a lot. Mostly, that we need a lot more practice. We practiced forward ferries, backward ferries, and spins in the eddies. We all practiced again and again but our attempts had Carey shaking his head many times.

 

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Nancy 

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LOST: Yellow PFD with Knife Attached

Lost my yellow PFD, womens fitted zip front, sharp knife attached to front. I lent it to a female member at Basic Paddlers. HELP!! I need it for Rivers Week.  Sentimental value.  Did that person give it to someone else??  Thanks, Christine Lambert.

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Terror on the Coquitlam River

Sweepers, water rushing at 9 cubic meters per second, and Bernard’s driving led to an exciting outing on the Coquitlam River last Sunday. With a meet up at the Port Mann boat launch at 10 am, and a shuttle organized by trip leader, Mike, a group of 10 Beavers and 3 non-beavers (plus one red-haired retriever in over-sized pfd) headed for the west side of the river by Kingsway Ave in Poco. There the intrepid Beavers launched into the rushing waters of the river. The old timers assured the newbies, Chris, Bruce and Jen (fresh off their Deer Lake Dunkin’ the day before: “Don’t worry you guys will be fine, it is only a class 1”.   With that, everyone headed out and proceeded to oh and aw!, and the river quickly drove them into a pileup on the west shore where three canoes were grabbed by two sweepers , but cool heads and helpful shouting prevailed, no one capsized. My feeling the cool heads were actually sleepy heads from Saturday’s pub nite so thus remained calm. The sun was shining and the gaggle regrouped on the East shore and had a post sleeper discussion, while the canoes were emptied of water. Back into the river and with a bit of addrenilin to sharpen everyone’s eyes it seemed that everyone was enjoying the current as they escaped the city in this gem waterway right in the middle of Poco. After some great paddling the group pulled into the west shore again to have a lunch break and everyone got to practice their new strokes to maneuver into the shore in a very professional way. Al and Trish having a gourmet blueberry salad. While Krista’s and Guy’s dog enjoyed the water and showed amazing dog paddling skills in the river. Back in the river we watched Lee maneuver her single person mad river rampage canoe like she was dancing on the water as she helped folks out with how to read the river tips. As we crossed under the Pitt River road Bridge we were greeted with a shout from across the river “how far have you guys come” to which we Beavers answered” Kingsway.” Our exited observer responding with an un-whelming “oh”.  

After the bridge we proceeded down now more meandering river enjoying the sun and April’s story of only ever being dunked once accidently.( we are trying to confirm this with Scott). As we neared the mighty Fraser and waved to the envious Colony Farm on-lookers we pulled into a small bramble creek . Where Mike explained the plan of of how we as a group now very experienced with river’s could easily handle one of the greatest rivers in North America , but please don’t hit the large toll bridge he added and stay out of the current as you may end up in New Westminster. We were ready and we headed into the Fraser in a nice orderly canoe line. Now I know how Simon Fraser must of felt as he saw the snow caps falling away into the ocean he new was near.   Then a red canoe ,went shooting by us all out in the current Bernard and Jen doing their jet boat impresession, In a bit we pulled into the boat launch in a pro fashion managing not to mess with any power boaters.   The boats were quickly brought out of the water with great teamwork impressing the boat trailer backing pickup drivers. James (the non beaver , but hopefully a new recruit, ) provided luxury shuttle service with his Jaguar.

It was a great sunny day on a river which seems a world away, hidden in the Vancouver suburbs ,hard to believe that in a day’s paddle we never saw one building until we entered the Fraser. Many thanks to Lee,Jen,James,Bernard,Bruce,Chris,Guy,Krista .April ,Pamand Trish for some great paddleing and especially to Mike our team leader for organizing this paddling escape from the city within the city.

Cheers All

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The author wishes to remain anonymous.

On May 27, 2017 a group of Beavers decided to paddle the Upper Seymour and arranged to meet at the gate at / am. The group Carey, Alain James, Jenny, Flynn, Denise and Phil and anonymous put in below the dam. The paddle started off splendidly but it was short lived

Not long into the first drop, anonymous dumped, and was re-entered using the classic canoe over canoe rescue we went. Before too long there were two further dumps by anonymous. By this time anonymous boat had a large crack and was letting in water. With pumps on full, tilted to the side to keep out water, anonymous stopped at the lunch spot at first bridge.

By this time anonymous was feeling rather banged up. Later he would learn not only did his boat crack; but so did his ribs. No problem with the leaking boat, Denise had “gorilla tape” which Carey ingeniously used to stop the boat leaking. Not so much could be done for anonymous whose ribs were just beginning to plead for him to stop.

Not wanting to wait at the lunch spot anonymous soldiered on and although the drops got steeper and the water rose except for one more dump anonymous made it. I should say it was a great day for everyone else.

Later anonymous would not laugh it off, as one cant laugh with cracked ribs, one can’t sneeze with cracked ribs in fact one can’t breathe well with and it turns out one can’t lie down either.

With a little help from everyone else Carey took anonymous’s boat to fix and anonymous took himself home via Einer place to borrow a body rap. The doctor later says”. ..who cares if ribs are broken unless they puncture an organ or just bruised it’s the same rest and wait. It takes 6 weeks if cracked 2 weeks if bruise and a lifetime to get over the humiliation and so anonymous waits for Rivers week with anticipation and with the firm belief that practice doesn’t make him perfect.

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Washington Rivers Week - July 22 to 28

Expression of Interest for Washington week of rivers Grades 2 and 3 July 22 - 28 Wenatchee, Warm, Wet Wild Washington Waters Contact Dave W at westell@shaw.ca

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Newcastle Island Family Camp - August 2017

Newcastle Island Family Camp - August 2017

August 19 – 20 – 21

Leave your car behind, and canoe to this unique Marine Park, just a 20 minute paddle from Departure Bay Terminal.  Spend a family weekend at the Group Camp picnicking under the arbutus trees, combing the beaches and exploring the coastline of the Salish Sea.  Register now.  For more information, email Dave W at westell@shaw.ca

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UPCOMING TRIPS

View Trips Calendar

Indian Arm

Put in at Deep Cove. Paddle to the Twin Islands or further. Explore the marine wonders in this glacial fjord.

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West Vancouver Shoreline

Enjoy a summer outing cruising from Whytecliff Park to Caulfield Park. See the sights of West Vancouver and homes on Eagle Island along the way. Bring lots of water if the sun is out! Trip will be dependent on wind with Plan "B" being a paddle at Cates Park.

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South Alouette

Clear, gently running river. Salmon viewing likely.

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