Ceyana Canoe Club
We can't paddle all the time. Here's our dry-land events.
Come on out to the Pembina River for a long weekend of car camping at Pembina River Prov. Park (try to book a site down by the river... Lois & I are in site F 103, try for loops D or E... F was pretty much gone by 1:11 PM on opening day) at the bottom of the hill. We'll day trip/paddle reaches of the Pembina or Lobstick rivers, or maybe take a local lake cruise to check out the bird and wildlife. Yes... you are welcome to pack a picnic lunch and join us for the day too! Modest Intermedidate river skills required for the Pembina and Lobstick runs. Basic flatwater skills for the lake paddling.
The Wildhay is well know as a great little river for training paddlers. It is small, we usually paddle it between about 12 and 25 cms. It can be tight, bouncy, rocky, and it is very scenic. The Wildhay is for those who want to work on their river skills, and are prepared to swim when errors are made... yes you do need some basic river skills before tackling the 'Hay.
There is also some flatwater paddling nearby for those who would rather do some bird watching and don't really want the excitement of whitewater.
We'll be camping at Gregg Lake in William Switzer Park, book your campground in Loop B (powered) or Loop C (non-power) through the Alberta Parks Campground registration system.
This will be our fourth New Canadian Paddle. This is a paddling introduction for new Canadian immigrants organized in conjunction with Edmonton's Catholic Social Services. We require about 16-20 member volunteers who can help out with a variety of chores: leading our instructional stations, helping with equipment and boat selection and wrangling, and providing safety on the water. It is kinda like an expanded version of our Tuesday night drop-in sessions... but for way more novice paddlers. Then we finish up the afternoon sharing a light supper with them under the site #6 picnic shelter.
Knowing your way around canoes, and RPPC helps, but we will meet early and provide instruction -- Isabelle and Liz have prepared a great set of notes for the instructional and wrangling stations.
A fine morning to celebrate our fathers of our canoe club and families. We paddle, we brunch we have a grand time.
Our friends at Metis Crossing (south of Smoky Lake) in conjunction with the Metis Association are planning a modest 3-4 day brigade in late June (TBD) to celebrate the opening of their new Cultural & Community hall at the campground. The plan is to paddle over three or four days from Edmonton to Metis Crossing. As the details become available we'll update this post and in time organize a registration process and crew planning session.
Peace River Brigade has posted an announcement here: http://voyageurbrigade.org/…/30/2020-peace-river-brigade-i…/
Crew registration will commence in March, with initial registration by crew... individuals without a crew will be able to register in April. Ceyana has registered and paid a deposit for two crews. If you are interested in participating in the brigade July 6 to 14 or so, please drop <president@ceyana.ca> a brief note expressing your interest, your big canoe experience, and how you might contribute to crew leadership and crew support (transportation, group gear, etc.). WE NEED TO KNOW MEMBER INTEREST ASAP. Registration is $2000 per crew (split 8 - 12 ways) and other expenses will include travel, boat transport, and food. We have committed club members we will take the next steps in organizing our Ceyana crews for this brigade with an initial meeting in late April. In time we will use this page to register our Ceyana crew members and collect crew fees through the club.
Buffalo, warm sun, gentle breezes (most years), an hour or two cruise around the islands of Astotin, birding, laughing and telling lies. All to be followed with a fine selection of cakes that would please Marie A! Basic flatwater skills required.
This is one of the most scenic paddles, and maybe the best way to see the Bow Valley. The plan will be to do day trips, with camping at one of the "non-reservation" campgrounds along Hwy 1a/Bow Valley Parkway, likely Protection Mountain. Intermediate river skills are required, as the river all the way to Red Earth creek is fast, with fun riffles and significant rapids just east of Lake Louise, and at Red Earth Creek. And for those a little newer to paddling there is easy paddling upstream of Banff into Vermillion lakes, and the other lakes in the area.
The plan is to car camp at Poachers Landing and Day trip on the Athabasca River between Athabasc and the confluence of the Calling river. If time permits, or if a lake water run is the goal we can tackle Calling Lake, or one of the other nearby lakes. Basic River paddling skills is all that will be required.
The Kootenay River below the National Park is often referred to as the weekend Nahanni. It is a great tripping river, and requires good intermediate river skills... and river reading skills. This late summer or fall trip will be a lower water levels and thus not too intimidating for those familiar with the Horburg/Devil's Elbow run on the North Saskatchewan, or the upper Red Deer.
