Whitewater Canoe TripWhitewater Canoe TripBatiscan River, QuebecBatiscan River, Quebec

11stst Merrickville Venturer Scouts Merrickville Venturer Scouts

July 1-8, 2010July 1-8, 2010

Adults VenturersStew Hamill Ben CattonAllan Yates Calvin Gale

Jennifer GaleGregory JackmanAlex McKayAdam SzalaiMax Taylor

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www.1stmerrickville.cawww.1stmerrickville.ca

River River LocationLocation

ItineraryItinerary1.1. Drive from Merrickville to Joliette (3-4 hours).Drive from Merrickville to Joliette (3-4 hours).2.2. Camp overnight at Joliette campground.Camp overnight at Joliette campground.3.3. Train from Joliette to Pearl Lake (4-5 hours).Train from Joliette to Pearl Lake (4-5 hours).4.4. Canoe from Pearl Lake to Rousseau (5 days).Canoe from Pearl Lake to Rousseau (5 days).5.5. Train from Rousseau to Joliette.Train from Rousseau to Joliette.6.6. Drive from Joliette to Merrickville.Drive from Joliette to Merrickville.

Route Route OverviewOverview

• Planned and actual Planned and actual campsites shown.campsites shown.

• Due to low water levels Due to low water levels and thus slow progress, and thus slow progress, the initial campsites were the initial campsites were much closer together.much closer together.

• We caught up with our plan We caught up with our plan by the end of the week.by the end of the week.

Batiscan River StatisticsBatiscan River StatisticsTotal river length 85 km (km 170 to km 85)Total rapid length 17 km (20% of the river)Total mandatory portage length300 mNumber of mandatory portages 1RapidsClass NumberTotal LengthLièèvre Noire

I 28 6,566m 30 - 3,529m 26 - 1,852mII 25 5,943m 34 - 6,824m 20 - 2,375mIII 18 3,396m 22 - 7,353m 4 - 345mIV 2 283m 9 - 1,941mV 1 50m

Portageskm 110 300m Mandatory, LV

LiningSeveral optional; depending on water level and participant skill level.

River Safety CourseRiver Safety CourseAdded based on post-mortem of previous years canoe tripOne day at Palmers Rapids.Professional swift water rescue instructor.Syllabus:

– Recognising and avoiding dangers (e.g. strainers, sweepers, ledges, holes). – Avoiding a strainer (e.g. aggressive swim launch). – How to get out of a hole. Circulation, lack of buoyancy. – Throw bag throwing. – Throw bag receiving. – Avoiding pinning/wrapping a canoe when broadside on a rock. – Foot entrapment, avoiding and rescue. – Rapid swimming (aggressive and passive). – How to avoid getting trapped in a canoe, how to extricate oneself, rescue knife

usage. – Lining canoes safely.– Live bait rescue.– V Lowers.

Very effective; the Venturers were much more comfortable in the water during the trip.

General NotesGeneral NotesPut-in points

– Pearl Lake for the full trip.– Jacques-Cartier Club and Miquick for shorter trips.

Campsites– While reportedly many campsites shown on the map do not exist, we found every one we looked for.– Lots of trees and deadfall for firewood.– Sites were generally quite large and well maintained.

Maps– Utilise the map from Charles Leduc, www.cartespleinair.com– All rapids and most campsites are accurately marked.

Access– While road access to the put-in exists, access by train is so much easier (and more fun!).

Wilderness Feel– No other paddlers or campers encountered.– Quite a few camps and hunting stands on the sides of the river.

Biting Insects– Lots of black flies and some sand flies at the top half, few flies at the bottom half.– Screen dining shelter appreciated.

No good jumping rocks found.One bridge found for jumping; not that high though and water too shallow.We had an odd number of people so we brought a creek kayak (sourced through Paddle Shack).We took a whitewater kayak play boat along.

– Well enjoyed.– A lot of the time somebody had to solo a canoe down a rapid so somebody else could take the kayak down.

Heat wave hit is so the kids spent a lot of time playing in the water at the campsites; best was campsite at km 88.On the last night, some of the kids hiked to the take out to try and find some food as we had run out!Baked cookies, brownies, and black forest cake.Very lower water level actually more difficult; much easier to pin canoes; 3-5 pins in total.

FinancesFinancesTotal cost for the trip was $2,097 for two adults and seven Venturers. Major items:Total cost for the trip was $2,097 for two adults and seven Venturers. Major items:

FoodFood $636$636Transportation (mileage)Transportation (mileage) $288$288 Two trucks ($0.25 & Two trucks ($0.25 &

$0.30/km)$0.30/km)Creek kayak rentalCreek kayak rental $163$163TrainTrain $668$668 $42/Venturer; canoes same $42/Venturer; canoes same

costcostCamping in Wildlife ReserveCamping in Wildlife Reserve $109$109 $8.25/adult/night, $8.25/adult/night,

$4/child/night$4/child/nightCamping at JolietteCamping at Joliette $39$39FireworksFireworks $138$138 Canada Day!Canada Day!

640km round trip driving from Merrickville.640km round trip driving from Merrickville.Creek kayak rented as we had an odd number of people.Creek kayak rented as we had an odd number of people.Cost per Venturer was $325.Cost per Venturer was $325.– Leaders didn’t pay; they gave up a weeks holiday.Leaders didn’t pay; they gave up a weeks holiday.

47 page trip plan and report available on our website.47 page trip plan and report available on our website.

Water LevelWater Level

Multiply water Multiply water level shown by level shown by 0.75 to get 0.75 to get water level water level referenced in referenced in documents.documents.

River is most River is most difficult around difficult around 70-80, and at 70-80, and at 100 few rocks 100 few rocks remain (after remain (after above factor).above factor).

www.cehq.gouv.qc.ca/suivihydro/graphique.asp?NoStation=050304www.cehq.gouv.qc.ca/suivihydro/graphique.asp?NoStation=050304

Example Map w/MarkupExample Map w/Markup