THe BeGINNeR’S GuIDe TO
Downriver
Overnighting
By StEVE WhittAll
AN OVERNight KAyAK tRip may seem like a huge leap from downriver daytripping
or park-and-play, but try it and you’ll discover that overnighting just might be the ultimate
paddling experience. packing your kayak with everything you need to survive a few days—
or even just a single night between shifts—combines the fun and excitement of whitewater
with a grander feeling of independence, exploration and river travel tradition.
Start with a few easy overnighters, dial in a system and then keep everything you
need in a duffle bag by your back door…so you’ll always be ready when the levels are right,
your friends are psyched and the river is calling.
Six easy Overnights
For your first few trips, plan to run rivers that your guidebook—or another reliable source—indicates have good campsites and
portages. Even better, find someone who has run the river before to come along, or turn your normal day run into an overnight and
plan other activities like playboating, fishing, swimming and hiking to keep you busy.
Madawaska River, Ontario White River, British Columbia
Summer-long flows, superb campsites and over a dozen friendly class II-III rapids Well-defined features, fun surf spots and a remote setting make this two- to three-day
between Quadeville and Griffith make the 25-kilometre Lower Mad a weekend run in the mid Kootenay drainage a great choice for solid class III paddlers. Fed by
favourite in eastern ontario. snowmelt and glaciers, the 42-kilometre section of the lower White also has some of
Mattawin River, Quebec
the nicest wilderness campsites this side of the rockies.
the Mattawin has 18 kilometres of class III-IV boulder gardens, small drops and
New River, West Virginia
wave trains in a beautiful wilderness valley. Consistent gradient and dam-released Canoeist have long flocked to the upper New river, but the 30 miles (50 kilometres)
volume within a 2½-hour drive of Montreal make for a great overnight escape. of class II-III pool-and-drop rapids are equally enjoyable for first-time kayak
Whirlpool and Athabasca Rivers, Alberta
campers.
What these Jasper-area rivers lack in remoteness, they more than make up for in
Klamath River, California
arshall
spectacular mountain scenery, wildlife and varied whitewater. Put in on the playful, Moderate rapids, warm water, easy access, superb scenery and beach camping and
m
low-volume class II-III Whirlpool just below Moab Lake and follow down to the fairly light use make the Klamath a rarity in northern California. the Middle Klamath
G
inia
athabasca. Camp at Wabasso Campground, then continue down the large-volume provides 47 miles (75 kilometres) of class II+ float-and-boat; below this, choose
class I–II athabasca to Jasper. from a further 70 miles (112 kilometres) of class III rapids. —VM
photo: Vir
www.rapidmag.com 2
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