CHURCHILL/STURGEON-WEIR RIVERS

THE PLAN
Paddle to Snake Rapids, (30 km)
Portages: 1 mandatory (50 m / 55 yd) and 2 optional (1,250 m / 1,370 yds)

MAPS Maligne Lake Settlement to Snake Rapids
Downloaded: No. 9-1, No. 9-2, No. 9-3
1:250,000 Series: 63L Amisk Lake
1:50,000 Series: 63L/15 Birch Rapids, 63L/10 Hanson Lake

NOTES

from

Marchildon
&
Robinson
unless otherwise noted Maligne Lake. Enter channel about 2 km (1-1/4 mi) south from bridge. Rapids start within 200 - 300 m (220 - 330 yd) after entering channel.

Leaf Rapids 100 m (110 yd) Class 2 rapids; can be run if scouted.

Start down broad tongue on river right and move left to avoid medium sized waves about half-way down rapids
Move right to avoid large rock near foot of rapids
Can run with advanced skills ; portage with modest skills
Leaf Portage, 200 m / 220 yds.

Trail head is river left about 20 m (22 yd) upstream of rpaids
Landing on low shelf of bedrock. Portage in excellent condition; bit stoney at end.
Scoop Rapids--Mandatory portage. Multiple drops and has "wicked" hole.

Scoop Portage, 50 m / 55 yd

Trail head river left in quite cove about 20 m (22 yd) above rapids
Excellent condition but can be muddy and slippery when wet.
Attree Lake

Sturgeon-weir enters lake midway down and then exits lake on river left aoubt 2.5 km (1-1/2 mi) later. Do not want to miss the exit
Peter Fidler stated "two bays in the river .. which a person is very apt to go into if not taking particular notice & throws one a good while out of a persons way as the bays either way extend to a considerable distance". Called it Grassy River.
Robert Hood (June 15, 1820) called it Hay River. Alexander Henry the Elder called it River aux Castors and David Thompson called it Grassy River.
David Thompson quote on moose "The flesh of a moose in good condition contains more nourishment than that of any other Deer; five pounds of this meat being held equal in nourishment to seven pounds of any other meat even of the Bison, but for this it must be killed where it is quietly feeding...The nose of the Moose, which is very large and soft is accounted a great delicacy. It is very rich meat. The bones of its legs are very hard and several things can be made of them. His skin makes the best of leather. It is the noblest animal of the Forest, and the richest prize the Hunter can take." (From The Lonely Lands)

Snake Portage, 1050 m / 1150 yd (63L 581572)

About 12.5 km / 7.5 mi from Scoop Rapids
Located before a bend leading to the rapids and about 500 m (550 yd) before rapids. It is aobut 100 m (110 yd) dowstream from a small stream
Trail head hard to see. It is a small grassy area surrounded by trees. Landing is a gental slope of mud and grass.
Snake Rapids. Two part, Class 2 rapids that can be run by advanced canoeists. At low water levels, need expert skills.

Upper section

Is about 200 m / 220 yds long. Shallow rock gardens mostly concentrated on river right
To run, start down broad tongue left of center but right of 3-m-long (10 ft) rock close to mid-channel. Make sharp left turn to keep in deeper water flow and stay on river left until past worst of rock gardens.

Lower section; more difficult

Located about 350 m (380 yd) below upper section.
Follow broad tongue on river left to avoid rocks, then go through about 100 m (110 yd) minor rapids to get to final section
Identified by another large rock in mid-channel
Possible to tread way throught rocks and medium-sized waves on river left
River right side of rock is obstructed by rocks that form a ledge. Can run with "some luck" by shooting a narrow gap just to the right of the rock
Good Campsite: About 1 km (2/3 mi) downstream of Snake Rapids on river left. (63L 592561)

THE TRIP

Hmmm, the information said "start down broad tongue on river right and move left to avoid medium sized waves about half-way down rapids...". What a way to start the morning! We were on the water by 7:30 and shortly came to Leaf Rapids. The information was correct, but those of us who were a little late in moving to the left experienced those "medium sized" or more accurately, four-foot plus rollers; all made it through but some bailing was in order for a couple canoes. From there we made it down to Scoop Rapids and the portage was completed as prescribed. The Sturgeon-Weir has considerable vegetation along the shores so finding a good lunch spot was not easy. We found a nice one, but it did involve paddling through bulrush to reach it.

We were then on to Snake Rapids where some were going to portage and some were going to check out the rapids. The water was high and the portage trail not well defined. It was not clear that what we saw was indeed the trail so we proceeded down the river and encountered some minor rapids. We continued on until we encountered some larger rapids which were scouted by the lead canoe. A path through was found and we started the descent with canoes well spaced. It was only when we entered the fast water that we realized we were in THE rapids. A big rock was avoided, kissed or sat upon, depending on which canoe you were in. From there a strainer had to be avoided and a quick draw into an eddy was required to avoid the huge rock in the middle (the one with the broached boat below). Everyone made it with varying degrees of frayed nerves and a great sense of relief and accomplishment.

Once past the rapids it was time to find a campsite. About 3:30 we found a "split" site...the main campsite was on river right and while some camped across the river. Dinner was served and Denny and Delores were recognized for being the true voyageurs they are...outstanding canoeing you two.

An amazing day--two challenging rapids successfully run, beautiful scenery, twenty voyageurs who stepped up, a true wilderness campsite and 21.5 miles canoed.

Pelicans everywhere
Parking for lunch

Where there is one there are two

Scoop Rapids
All our crew made it through Snake Rapids...some weren't so lucky

West side -- east side

Honoring two voyageurs at evening festivities--they came through those rapids like experts.

Aug. 12 (previous day), Aug. 14 (next day)