StandingWaves
First Descent On November 3, 2002, Brent Cooper and Paul Muegge claimed first descents of Ragged Falls.
The Holy Grail of Ontario’s creek boating, Ragged Falls is just a one-kilometre walk off Hwy 60, on the Oxtongue River just south of Algonquin Park. Cooper’s been scouting Ragged Fall for 10 years and said that low water levels and seeing what’s being run in other parts of the world spurred his attempt.
After two hours of scouting and setting up adequate safety on the icy and snow-covered rocks, Cooper and Muegge began running the middle sections working their way higher up the run, which drops 85 feet (26m) in less than a quarter-mile. To claim the full descent isn’t entirely accurate—the first 40 feet has yet to be run. Cooper explains, “I started just below the top chute, river right of the centre island. We didn’t run the narrow slot because of the almost 90- degree left turn and having to be set up for the next sec- tion.”
Cooper is content with his efforts and considers the water was slightly lower than ideal. “Someone will do it someday.” A crowd of local residents, paddlers and staff from nearby Algonquin Outfitters turned out for the occasion. Gord Baker, assistant general manager at Algonquin Outfitters, called the run an explorato- ry attempt during the falls’ most benign water level. “If it is in fact runnable top-to-bottom it would be a committing and dangerous undertaking, one with great risk of injury or death,” Baker cautioned.
Cooper runs Ragged Hog’s Back Paddlers
Win in Court On the day that three paddlers ran Hog’s Back Falls on Ottawa’s Rideau River last February, most Canadians were home watching the men’s hockey team clean up in Salt Lake. But one zealous conservation officer braved the cold to charge Paul Muegge, Gilles Durepos and David Hutton $100 each for trespassing on restricted National Capital Commission (NCC) property. On October 15 the three went to court and won. “We defended ourselves on the premise that the NCC does not own the waterway, only the land,” said Muegge. There are “no trespassing” and “no swimming” signs along the banks of the river near the falls but Muegge said they put in above and took out below this section. “We remained on the water in our boats. Since we never set foot in that ‘restricted zone,’ we did not trespass on NCC property.” This doesn’t mean that paddlers won’t be ticketed again in the future. “If you feel com-
12
www.rapidmag.com
photo Todd White
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52