Allagash Waterway Part 3 – Shoot the ramps (ECT 214)

• Reco today: 14.1 miles

  • Stevie Allagash /Quebec National Trail Alternate (69.9 – 84)

    • Lake Churchill, the Allagash river (Chase Rapids) and Lake Umsaskis

• Total walking: 4,176 miles
• Total rowing: 139.2 miles

60-80 ° F, mostly cloudy, windy, clarified at night

Scofield Cove Campsite for Ferry Campsite

«Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river crosses it.»

– Norman Maclean (1976) in a river it crosses it and other stories

We both get up early this morning. After coffee and a breakfilized scrambled egg breakfast, we had to pack. It was an hour out of 7:35 am to us. Starting, we hug the coast.

There was a wind against while we continue north in Churchill Lake and we tried as much as possible to find any block. Dad saw this boy while we remote very close to the coast …

Above, when we went through a narrow section, there were some glorious Goosens walking through a gravel vacuum cleaner.

He took us about two hours to row the Churchill Lake and reach the launch in Churchill Dam. This would be our second holder of the trip and on the north side he waited for the largest and most complicated fast section of the entire trip. There is a ranger station near the dam and we had heard rumors that for $ 10 they would transport our most downstream equipment beyond the Rapid section. That rang well for us, so we went to look for them to find them.

Along the way, we find a small museum. Interesting history insurance …

After visiting the ranger station and not seeing anyone at home, Dad received some Intel from some nearby campers. It seemed that the Ranger was doing a transport race for another group and would return soon. We begin to organize our things. Finally, our Main Cameron rangers appeared and explained all things.

After reviewing our permission, he made us load all our things in his truck. We took the things we needed during the next 1.5 hours of rowing. This allowed us to be lighter, more maneuverable, and reduced the possibility that we lose things or soak it in the rapids if we turn. Our new friend Ranger gave us a career in class 2 Chase Rapids and offered some tips. For some strange reason, I felt safe, but I also had some fear. Maybe I was just trying to Psóquame.

After carrying the 110 yards kayaks on the north side of the dam, we prepare and review any last -minute strategy we had. The plan was that Dad was first and would continue closely. We wanted to stay close to shout any communication that we feel useful.

There were only short shapes of quiet water and then we were in it, shooting the ramps! The first fall was a wave walk and immediately dad and I sink. The water crashed on the top and inside the kayaks. It was fast and any maneuver seemed useless since the current was sucking us where we wanted us to go. Sometimes I came across and slim on barely submerged rocks. There was no way to guess where everyone was and maintain balance through the flood felt like the biggest challenge. In a moment, I shouted. I was having fun!

However, after the first two races, Dad found a place to throw aside. We had both acquired a lot of water, they so much that it was impossible for dad to go more. The extra weight made the container like a barge, simply praying and dragging through water. Together, we leave the boats and manage to tip and drain both kayaks. We talk through some things and prepare again for more to come.

Thinking to assume the third set of rapids, we immediately had to grow from the river to the right to the river to the left. There were so many rocks to try to dodge and became super superficial. And then, suddenly, Dad and Ellie slide to the right on a flat rock and in slow motion they began to bow. I was sure that the entire strength of the current was going to violate the upper part and immerse them both.

At the same time, not far away, Karl and I also got trapped in a rock. I observed how dad somehow managed to get his legs from the kayak and in seconds he was in the water standing. I also went out and spurred towards him. Somehow, we both clung to our kayaks and kept them afloat. Unfortunately, Dad’s palette and a bottle of smartwater had come down. I guess we were not exactly «stubborn to tear» (I heard that this is how the beams say «manipulated to turn»)! There was a brief moment that I thought about going after the palette, but it was too far and would have meant leaving Dad stranded.

Standing in the river shouting from one side to another about the sounds of the rapids, we came up with a chaotic plan. Putting it into action, Dad got into karl with my oar and continued downstream. I grabbed Ellie and started walking down the river slowly. The background was completely irregular, full of cobblestones and rocks and the current was rapid. Fortunately, none of that was super deep. It was slow, but I managed to maintain a stable rhythm. Dad had gone out of view and feared to come to a curve to find him overturned. There were so many rocks that I couldn’t imagine someone would happen without problems.

I’m not sure how long it took, but a while, and then I saw Dad greet me from where I had still found water. I was absolutely surprised that I had not only achieved unharmed, but I had also managed to recover the other palette! And I really found the water bottle while moving.

However, we weren’t out of that yet. After another collection and inclination to drain, we continue to go through faster. At this point, we had discovered things a little better and we managed to overcome the worst parts.

Establish again after our great chase rapid dilemma.

Here is a quiet riffle section. During the biggest things, there was no way that I was documenting sadly …

Only wild. We were very grateful to reach the old place of the Belsonnette bridge, where all our things had been left. It was supposed to be the end of class 2 rapids and we felt very fortunate to be safe and even with all our team and palettes and what not. Sheesh.

We had lunch there and I turned around (firing to swim a day in the Allagash). And we have everything drying as much as possible. Continuing, we had approximately 3.5 miles of pleasant river. This was more what we expected; Some rocks, clear, but those that we could react and row, not a glove like Chase Rapids. I admit it, maybe I bit more than I could chew with that.

We even had some soft sections where we managed to launch some. They did not catch trout, but obtained some kind of appearance, however.

Later in the day, we entered a part where the river braided some with some different channels and islands. Go ahead, I saw a great elce of cow ole, they are long legs that vade near the coast and then quickly climbed the bank with soft steps. Then, we felt that the wind got up when we entered the Umsaskis Lake. It was a great open body of water and the wind blow directly to us. He is already quite tired, we made a plan to go to the nearest store site. We had to row our hardest against the wind and waves to get there.

We arrived at the camp and it was pleasant, but we were a bit sad to discover that it was on a hill. Dinner was, of course, very tasty again, a creation of rice, beans and chicken with Mexican taste this time. Dad also got a surprise; I had hidden a Ron flask of Blackberry homemade celebration! We survived the rapids and were very happy to end them and move on. One thing worth celebrating, I would say.

You may not have the best presentation score, but surely it was delicious.

The beautiful sunset crowned with another wonderful day in the water …

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