UPDATE. The 2018 trip schedule is now available.
The Grande Prairie Canoe Club is fortunate to be situated in a geographic area that is surrounded by a great variety of rivers that lend themselves to multi-day canoe trips from smooth, easy flowing rivers to fast, exhilarating white water. If the water levels of a trip are inappropriate at that time we will attempt to substitute a comparable river.
2018 TRIP SCHEDULE
May 5
May 12 Redwillow River, Elmworth power line to Redwillow Campground
May 19-21
May 26-27 Simonette River, S.W. of Ridge Valley to Forestry Trunk Road
Jun 2-3 Beginner canoe lessons, Bear Creek reservoir and Simonette River
Jun 9-10
Jun 16 Wapiti River, Pipestone Creek to Canfor Bridge (Magoos Landing)
Jun 23-24
Jun 30-Jul 2 Murray River, near Tumbler Ridge, B.C. to East Pine Bridge
Jul 7 Wapiti River, Wapiti Gardens to Pipestone Creek
Jul 14-15
Jul 21-22 Two Lakes - camping, canoeing and fishing
Jul 28-29
Aug 4-6 Smoky River, MacLeod Flats to Hwy. 43 bridge
Aug 11-12
Aug 18-19
Aug 25-26
Sep 1-3 N. Saskatchewan River, Rocky Mtn. House to Drayton Valley
Sep 8 Wapiti River, Wapiti Gardens to Pipestone Creek
Sep 15-16
Sep 22-23 Athabasca River, Hwy. 947 Bridge to Whitecourt
Ready for your first canoe trip - what you should know.
Review the trip schedule and find a trip for which you have the necessary skill level. The skill level refers to the skill level of the combination of the two paddlers not to each individual paddler. Therefore a beginner paddler could go on a novice trip with a more experienced paddler who had the necessary skills. A more detailed trip schedule showing skill levels can be emailed to you if requested.
Call (780-532-5370) or email (hbiehn@telus.net) Harvey who will direct you to the trip co-ordinator. This person is familiar with the stretch of river to be paddled. They are volunteering to get paddlers to the put-in and arranging the vehicle shuttle to get everyone between the put-in and the takeout. They are not guides and they are not responsible for you but are willing to share ideas and suggestions so you have an enjoyable trip. If they have never paddled with you they make ask you about your paddling experience to ensure this trip is not beyond your capabilites. Contact them early in the week - Tuesday at the latest.
Gear and clothing. Refer to the Gear List tab. Quick dry clothing is best. Avoid cotton which is cold when wet and takes very long to dry. All gear that you do not want to get wet in case of capsizing should be in a waterproof dyrbag. A substitute for drybags is doubled heavy duty garbage bags inside of a duffel type bag to prevent punctures to the plastic. All bags of gear should be tied to D-rings glued to the bottom of the canoe and tied to thwarts so in case of capsizing nothing will get lost.
Vehicle shuttle. After all gear is unloaded at the put-in, all vehicles will be driven to the take-out and parked for the duration of the trip. All drivers will hop in a designated shuttle vehicle and drive back to the put-in. After the paddling is done, a driver and vehicle will have to haul the person and all his gear that was left at the put-in back there to retrieve the vehicle.
Pre-trip briefing. Before leaving shore at the put-in the trip co-ordinator will address the group about safety issues, river signals and what to expect on the river. Snugly fastened PFD's must be worn at all times when on the water. Rescue procedures for capsizes will be reviewed as well as appointing a lead and sweep boat. Which route will the lead boat be taking - the smoothest route by avoiding rapids or the thrilling route where rapids are run intentionally? All boats should go to the same side of large tree covered islands where the view between the two channels is obstructed. What time will we be stopping for lunch, what is the estimated time we will be getting to a campsite, and how many other breaks will there be? What do we do if a thunderstorm approaches? Etc.
Review the trip schedule and find a trip for which you have the necessary skill level. The skill level refers to the skill level of the combination of the two paddlers not to each individual paddler. Therefore a beginner paddler could go on a novice trip with a more experienced paddler who had the necessary skills. A more detailed trip schedule showing skill levels can be emailed to you if requested.
Call (780-532-5370) or email (hbiehn@telus.net) Harvey who will direct you to the trip co-ordinator. This person is familiar with the stretch of river to be paddled. They are volunteering to get paddlers to the put-in and arranging the vehicle shuttle to get everyone between the put-in and the takeout. They are not guides and they are not responsible for you but are willing to share ideas and suggestions so you have an enjoyable trip. If they have never paddled with you they make ask you about your paddling experience to ensure this trip is not beyond your capabilites. Contact them early in the week - Tuesday at the latest.
Gear and clothing. Refer to the Gear List tab. Quick dry clothing is best. Avoid cotton which is cold when wet and takes very long to dry. All gear that you do not want to get wet in case of capsizing should be in a waterproof dyrbag. A substitute for drybags is doubled heavy duty garbage bags inside of a duffel type bag to prevent punctures to the plastic. All bags of gear should be tied to D-rings glued to the bottom of the canoe and tied to thwarts so in case of capsizing nothing will get lost.
Vehicle shuttle. After all gear is unloaded at the put-in, all vehicles will be driven to the take-out and parked for the duration of the trip. All drivers will hop in a designated shuttle vehicle and drive back to the put-in. After the paddling is done, a driver and vehicle will have to haul the person and all his gear that was left at the put-in back there to retrieve the vehicle.
Pre-trip briefing. Before leaving shore at the put-in the trip co-ordinator will address the group about safety issues, river signals and what to expect on the river. Snugly fastened PFD's must be worn at all times when on the water. Rescue procedures for capsizes will be reviewed as well as appointing a lead and sweep boat. Which route will the lead boat be taking - the smoothest route by avoiding rapids or the thrilling route where rapids are run intentionally? All boats should go to the same side of large tree covered islands where the view between the two channels is obstructed. What time will we be stopping for lunch, what is the estimated time we will be getting to a campsite, and how many other breaks will there be? What do we do if a thunderstorm approaches? Etc.