Hi Folks,
This past June, I had the pleasure of travelling down the famous Hansen Chute. However, next year's mid-June trip has us travelling upstream at the Hansen Chute. Any advice if the current is strong? I've read people suggesting to travel up the right (south) side and then front-ferrying across to the portage. Is it possible to portage the chute if it's really bad?
Thanks,
Ian

Paddling upstream through the chute is possible, but not without a few challenges. The ferrying process is likely much simpler in a tandem than a solo (I travel solo).

But before you try it, reflect on the weather that has passed you in the previous few days. If there was heavy, sustained rain involved in the area, you could be looking at conditions that are unsafe when navigating the chute. I had the "pleasure" of trying it after maybe 5 days of on-and-off rain, some of which was relatively heavy. I'll also add that this was done before the portage was cut-in from the rock outcrop on the north side to the head of the chute (that was a bushwhack for me). I've also noticed that on some sources, the portage runs the full length of the chute. If so, this is relatively new. At the time I did it, I asked owners of the lodge on Hansen Lake if such a portage existed and they responded that they were unaware of any portage around the chute. (Keep in mind that this was back in 2010 and many things have change in the park since then.)

Good luck on your trip and safe travels.

dd

I am pretty sure that the portage was reopened in 2013.

Hi Marten

Are you referring to the tiny 10m portage around the rock ledge or one that goes the full length of the chute?

We've gone both ways on the chute...upstream in high water we were able to reach the flat rock outcrop where the portage trail starts/on the north side. It is possible to "eddy" out in the back water by the rock out crop, letting the bow slip to shore. You will probably have to draw or pry/depending on the paddle in the stern to get the whole canoe into the quiet water. One thing is to practice in the spring going up a moderate current as well as practicing an eddy out turn....Bill Mason's video: Whitewater/or something like that has excellent shots of the process.

The one change up might a downfall along the preferred route...in high water there has been enough time and room downstream to view such a challenge...and one can draw/pry your canoe to the shoreline on the north side below the take out/downfall.

We understand your concern....it is a small part of the trip...but challenging.
Also, if you can get a hold of the book: Complete Wilderness Paddle/Rugge and Davidson, they have some great comments, illustrations, besides a great story line that makes one laugh...they brace a lot in balancing in tough waters...which is something you can again practice on your local rivers.

We had the good experience of watching the water on the chute this September as we waited out a hail storm along this brief portage trail....at the time the water was low and we were downstream....but we still portaged the packs because of a small windfall in the river....

We've gone both ways on the chute...upstream in high water we were able to reach the flat rock outcrop where the portage trail starts/on the north side. It is possible to "eddy" out in the back water by the rock out crop, letting the bow slip to shore. You will probably have to draw or pry/depending on the paddle in the stern to get the whole canoe into the quiet water. One thing is to practice in the spring going up a moderate current as well as practicing an eddy out turn....Bill Mason's video: Whitewater/or something like that has excellent shots of the process.

The one change up might a downfall along the preferred route...in high water there has been enough time and room downstream to view such a challenge...and one can draw/pry your canoe to the shoreline on the north side below the take out/downfall.

We understand your concern....it is a small part of the trip...but challenging.
Also, if you can get a hold of the book: Complete Wilderness Paddle/Rugge and Davidson, they have some great comments, illustrations, besides a great story line that makes one laugh...they brace a lot in balancing in tough waters...which is something you can again practice on your local rivers.

We had the good experience of watching the water on the chute this September as we waited out a hail storm along this brief portage trail....at the time the water was low and we were going downstream....but we still portaged the packs because of a small windfall in the river....

CedarHillX: "Hi Marten


Are you referring to the tiny 10m portage around the rock ledge or one that goes the full length of the chute?"

The new Christmar map shows it as 50 meter rather than the old map as a chute.

I paddled it in a tandem in 2015 if I remember correctly. We were a group of two tandem boats, 4 guys total and didn't have a problem with it. It had rained the previous 2 days and water levels were moderately high.