Bloodvein River, Canada

Day 5 – Goose Rapids – Rapid 37 (22km)

by Graham Rowe

Comfortable, dry night at a rocky Peninsula/Island Camp…

Pleasant morning and start, but a change in the weather was to come.

Ian is in the bow, and I am at the stern. We paddled down short easy water to Goose Rapid (rapid 29). The grade 5 of the first drop was an obvious portage, then put in for the straightforward second part at grade 2. The third part of the rapid, Nikki and Martin ran, but the awkward ledge within had Mike and Ruth, and ourselves lining to the right, then easily through the fourth element.

Round The Bend Rapid (rapid 30), labelled as a grade 2 was closer to grade 3 as we navigated our way around the river and between the rocks.

Rapid 31, grade 3 we all shot clean. Point the boat to avoid the following wave train, with the worst being a bit of a bail. The sky was changing by now, though what followed came quickly without much warning as it stayed longer than was hoped.

Crater Rapids (rapid 32) was too complex to unravel. Any one element would have a solution, but at the end of that element a big problem to be avoided… and the next, and the next. We portage the lengthy, well-worn route to the right, and halfway through thunder and rain set in. Elevenses at the put-in was a wet affair and though the heavy rain didn’t last much more than an hour the dampness stayed the rest of the day and through into the following morning.

Even though the rain wasn’t cold, it cooled things down. We pressed on with alternating head-breezes, slipping through rapid 33 (grade 1 but closer to a 2) to meet the confluence of the Gammon River from the south, and shortly after the easy rapid 34 (grade 2 but easier than the previous grade 1), then Stagger Inn (Bennet Trappers Cabin).

Chance for a stop, eat and explore. It was in as poor a state as documented the year before, and though sound in structure needed a solid dose of TLC to render it as luxurious as previously known a decade earlier. We signed the visitor’s book. People appeared to pass through every three or so days through the main season. We speculated somewhere between 180 and 220 folk undertake the descent each year. Considering the range of campsites we used, the impact didn’t hint at any more.

Steadily onwards to Rapid 35 (grade 2), and then the obvious choice of the North Channel option (A) at Rapids 36 A and B. Option B is an obvious do-not-run given what you hear from above, then looking back. A was a quick inspection then thread and manoeuvre through the three phases at grade 2 (1+).