BWCA Chute from Glenn to Hansen Boundary Waters Group Forum: Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
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   Group Forum: Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
      Chute from Glenn to Hansen     

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02/22/2013 09:16AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I had extensive conversations with DD and I think Marten about this spot before I went through there a couple years ago. And sure enough it was not runnable the first time I went through. I remember portaging around them and on the Hansen side it was quite the ordeal to get back in the canoe... I was paddling tandem. Last year I was looking forward to the same and was surprized to see it an easy paddle thru. I was wondering if anyone has any pictures of it in it's fury. I know soon after going thru it in June it rained a bunch. Here's my easy paddle thru this June...


 
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dentondoc
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02/22/2013 10:43AM  
Certainly doesn't look like what I remember when I ran thru there June 2010. It was ripping thru there pretty well, unlike the riffle you pictured, and there was something like a 1-2 foot sheer drop across the flow with what looked like some serious undertow. Maybe its lens distortion, but I remember the serious part being deeper into the channel (nearer Hansen).

In any case, before my exit, I chatted with the owners of the lodge on Hansen to ask whether or not there was a portage around the chute (I didn't have any marked on my map). They confirmed that there was no known portage there. They also remarked that under normal water conditions they could get a motor boat up the chute to fish the waters beyond (called that area the "walleye nursery"), but with exiting conditions, there was no way to do that.

So, on the exit, I got up as far as I could go, which would have been a rock on the left bank in your picture, then hoisted my gear up to "land level" from there to bushwhack back to the point in the background (left) in your photo. The problem is that much of that shore/bank is 4-6 feet vertical, with a few sweepers to also "entertain" you.

So, I'd advise anyone headed down the channel to do a bit of scouting before they commit. Clearly this spot is runnable under some conditions ... under others, not so much.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures there. I guess I was a little busy!

dd
 
02/22/2013 12:01PM  
kiporby went swimming there.
 
dentondoc
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02/22/2013 12:40PM  
quote kanoes: "kiporby went swimming there."

Truth be known, I did too ... but going UPSTREAM, not down. And, it REALLY wasn't my fault.

As I mentioned above, I talked to the lodge owners on Hansen. After a bit of discussion, they offered to tow me up to the chute and drop me off ... the outflow was a bit stiff to paddle against as a soloist. With trepidation, I agreed to take them up on their offer. (The trepidation was more a function of the rattle of beer cans in the bottom of the boat and the crack of fresh brews being opened than the actual tow ... it was before 10:00 in the morning!) They explained that they had seen canoeist take a track up the right side of the flow and then cut across to the rock ledge on the left, so that would be what we'd try. The tow down the lake and then up the channel was uneventful. All was going well until we reached the base of the drop off where, for some unexplained reason, the boat driver cut the motor and started to drift back. With loss of forward momentum, I also started to drift back and turn sideways. At that point, the driver jumped back on the throttle ... wait for it ... and since my canoe was more-or-less sideways, the bow of my canoe (along with the rest) smartly tipped over and immediately filled with the on-rushing water.

With my canoe still tied to the boat, they managed to drag my craft to the target shoreline, while I swam over. During the dunking, only one pack managed to work loose and drift down the channel. So, standing in the water, I passed wet packs up to one of the guys on shore and emptied my canoe, while the other guy went back down stream to fetch my still floating pack. The good news was ... feeling guilty about my dumping, they both carried a load of my gear down to the point on the far end of the channel so I could continue my journey ... only wish they had had a spare beer at that point!

dd
 
Alan Gage
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02/22/2013 12:46PM  
I went through that area late last September. Water levels were decent and although I considered running it I thought better of it. It looked considerably worse than the picture.

I've heard a few people mention how difficult it was to portage around, but I had no problem. Unload on the right side just above the chute, walk 30 feet to the rocks next to the chute and jump back in there on the downstream side.

Alan
 
02/22/2013 06:54PM  
quote kanoes: "kiporby went swimming there."


YES I DID! And after 3 others before me negotiated the rapid safely. :)
 
02/22/2013 11:27PM  
I too the year before didn't take any pictures because of being to busy portaging. It was like you say... considerably worse. There was a sort of portage on the north side, but was very difficult to reenter Hansen. Wasn't what I'd call a bushwack, but just the getting back on the water was tough. Couldn't imagine trying to get out going from Hansen.
 
McVacek
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02/24/2013 08:11PM  
Oh the chute! :) We have fond memories of nearly capsizing and being scared at the "chute." The water level was very high last August and our entry into Hansen was exciting. :) We did the mini bushwack (which was no fun) and then basically put the canoe in at the top of the chute and SHOT into the lake. Luckily we stayed upright and the dog managed to stay in the canoe. Can't image going up the chute upstream!!!
 
02/25/2013 08:03AM  
I actually ran the chute OK. A few gallons of water did go over my bow as I went through. The current pushed me off towards the left side of the channel where a tree was lying across the water. Got pushed into this limp, turned sideways and the current tipped me over.

Really sucked getting out of the water due to the steep shoreline. Luckily, I didn't loss anything. Man was the a cold paddle to a campsite on Hansen Lake. It rained that night. We managed to get a small fire going. Water in May is very cold! Never really warmed up until the next day.
 
Alan Gage
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02/25/2013 12:01PM  
quote nctry: "I too the year before didn't take any pictures because of being to busy portaging. It was like you say... considerably worse. There was a sort of portage on the north side, but was very difficult to reenter Hansen. Wasn't what I'd call a bushwack, but just the getting back on the water was tough. Couldn't imagine trying to get out going from Hansen."


Where did you put in at Hansen? At the rocks next to the chute or farther downstream? I portaged around the chute both ways on my trip and had little problem getting into or out of Hansen using the rocks right next to the chute.

There wasn't really a portage trail and I think I had to drag my canoe through a few feet of brush to get to the rocks but it was pretty easy and only about 30ft total.

I suppose with high water levels the rocks I used might be underwater, which would definitely change things.

Alan
 
02/25/2013 06:04PM  
In 2011 it was pretty high and boiling. I was a bit nervous with Denton Doc's ordeal the year before. We got out fine on the right shore coming from Glenn. It was only the part where we had to climb through down trees to get onto Hansen that was our concern. Wasn't a long portage at all. So I was surprized to see it runable this past June. I'm thinking that after the rain that followed shortly after we went thru there it got rough again.
 
Que
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02/27/2013 11:17PM  
Ah yes... the Hansen Chute. 2010 and 2011 were two years of floods in WCPP. The high water levels changed the waterways where otherwise tamed waters turned into roaring and foaming fast waters.

The Chute is usually as the photo shows. Several years ago, I cut a short port west to accommodate upstream travelers. I do not remember it as described here. It is perhaps not often enough used (normally paddlers can easily float through the chute) to keep clear and visible or perhaps trees have fallen across the way. I took note of your comments here and will ensure maintenance crews touch it up this spring.
 
02/28/2013 12:23AM  
Thanks Claire
 
McVacek
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02/28/2013 08:36PM  
Thanks Claire! :)
 
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