Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Woodland Caribou Provincial Park :: Chute from Glenn to Hansen
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Kiporby |
quote kanoes: "kiporby went swimming there." YES I DID! And after 3 others before me negotiated the rapid safely. :) |
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dentondoc |
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 |
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nctry |
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dentondoc |
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 |
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McVacek |
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Kiporby |
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. |
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Alan Gage |
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 |
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nctry |
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kanoes |
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Alan Gage |
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 |
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McVacek |
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nctry |
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nctry |
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Que |
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. |