Tom Yates has submitted a trip-log of his group's river journey down the Petawawa Travers to McManus on the Petawawa - Aug. 2008.

"The water level was high because of all the rain this year so we were going to portage both Thompson's HOWEVER two of our members decided to give it a shot rather than carry. They had portaged the gear already so they were just going in the empty canoe. The results were less than spectacular as they dumped no less than 10 feet into the rapid and ended up on the far shore. They got in and proceeded to dump again and float down to the rest of us. A humbling experience for sure!"

Or .. you can access Tom's "Algonquin Park Stories" directly and read the trip-log at http://tommyfox.blogspot.com/2008/08/tom-yates-travers-to-mcmanus-on.html

Barry Bridgeford
(central York Region)

Thanks Barry!
sorry about the large file

I just got back last friday from Whitson Lake and can testify that the levels were high. I have been to Whitson 8 times now and have never seen so much water. Steve and I paddled solo as he was staying 1 extra night, the fast current and a 15km/h n/w wind made for a slow pace upstream. 5 hours later, we finaly reach our campsite and immediatly noticed that the water was about 2 feet higher than last year.

Steve was making his annual trip from Korea and wanted to try some whitewater..it was the time. We portaged 2 1/2 km up the five mile rapid and put in at a campsite. We scouted the one rapid that was narrow, fast and with some big waves. The rapid itself not being too long, was ok, if we stayed to the right. Not having much experience at this and both being fathers, we had decided to rent some helmets and to tighten our life vests.

Having read some basic rules in the Petawawa River Guide, we felt ready to conquer this big and dangerous, [just kidding], class 2 rapid. After just 10 seconds or so, it was all over, we survived this first challenge, [kidding again] and then everything went well through the smaller rapids back to our site.

Having decided to leave early friday morning, we got to see on thursday evening one of the most beautiful moon rise. As the sun was setting, the moon was rising behing some long, thin, pink clouds...it was picture perfect. At 8 am friday, I said good bye to Steve and paddled back to my car as it only took me 2 hours to get there, now, I had to pick up my kids, 250 kms away....but it was worth the extra night.

I have read your trip log and enjoyed it...I love that river.