Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Canoeing Bow River, Banff National Park: Castle Mountain to Massive Siding
Each year on Mother's Day Chip rallies some of her friends for the annual "float". This year Jill, Bryan and JimO joined Chip for what was more than a "float"! We launched our canoes into the Bow River at the base of Castle Mountain about 27 km upriver from Banff.
View Bow River Canoe Route Castle Mountain to Massive siding in a larger map
Chip and Jill appear to be "more than floating" down the Red Earth Creek rapids. Due to the very low water level (the mountain snow has yet to melt) we experienced rocks we had never seen before. In some cases we left some red paint on the protruding rocks.
Chip and Jill made a great team of paddlers in an Esquif Prospecteur 17.
Jill and Chip turn into an eddy with an impressive draw by Jill and a strong boat tilt to prevent a rollover! Note the falling snow.
Bryan sterned our canoe and was an expert at identifying shoals in the river.
An unexpected moose welcomed us and made our day! We were glad that it did not charge us as we took a photo.
Jill, Chip and Bryan at the Castle mountain put-in.
Instead of carrying all our gear from the river to the highway, Bryan tests a modified "Baby Burley" as a canoe trailer. The trailer is light, strong and is easily disassembled and carried in the canoe. The trailer is a copy of a Doug McKown original which worked so well it will probably ride with us again soon!
View Bow River Canoe Route Castle Mountain to Massive siding in a larger map
Chip and Jill appear to be "more than floating" down the Red Earth Creek rapids. Due to the very low water level (the mountain snow has yet to melt) we experienced rocks we had never seen before. In some cases we left some red paint on the protruding rocks.
Chip and Jill made a great team of paddlers in an Esquif Prospecteur 17.
Jill and Chip turn into an eddy with an impressive draw by Jill and a strong boat tilt to prevent a rollover! Note the falling snow.
Bryan sterned our canoe and was an expert at identifying shoals in the river.
An unexpected moose welcomed us and made our day! We were glad that it did not charge us as we took a photo.
Jill, Chip and Bryan at the Castle mountain put-in.
Instead of carrying all our gear from the river to the highway, Bryan tests a modified "Baby Burley" as a canoe trailer. The trailer is light, strong and is easily disassembled and carried in the canoe. The trailer is a copy of a Doug McKown original which worked so well it will probably ride with us again soon!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Yukon Polo - Bow Valley Kayak Club
The Bow Valley Kayak Club concluded their winter pool sessions with an actively contested game of Yukon Polo.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Banff Mount Norquay Cardboard Sled Races
On January 27th we enjoyed watching young people in the annual Cardboard Sled Derby. Apparently the rules are that each sled can only be constructed with cardboard, plastic garbage bags, paper and tape. Costumes added to the theme. Prize categories included highest velocity and best animation during the run. The following videos captured some of the excitement.
Shark Entry - check out the costumes and the fin hat!
The All Seeing Eye Team
This was the first heat. We were all amazed at the speed of the leading sled which eventually won the "Velocity Prize"
These Pirates are a long way from the ocean!
Shark Entry - check out the costumes and the fin hat!
The All Seeing Eye Team
This was the first heat. We were all amazed at the speed of the leading sled which eventually won the "Velocity Prize"
These Pirates are a long way from the ocean!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Chip's Birthday Present
Chip's interest in river canoeing has exploded over the last year. She has decided "I am no longer going to be a passenger/princess in the canoe. I want to be in control either in the stern or solo!" So Chip gets her own canoe for her birthday!
We bought this damaged Esquif Prospector 17 from the University of Calgary's Outdoor Centre. The canoe had been wrapped around a rock or some such obstacle resulting in hull creases and a broken gunnel. Chip left town for a week so we moved the canoe into our home, set it up on our dining room table and began work.
We detached the seats, thwarts and yoke from the damaged side. Thomas acted as supervisor. Our dog Kira, who is an avid canoe dog could not understand what was happening in our house.
We invited Bucky the legendary canoe guru over for a consultation and he showed us how to drill out the rivets and remove the damaged gunnel. Linda enjoyed hammering out the gunnel which came off fairly easily.
The hull was creased where the boat was bent back upon itself by the pressure of the river. The ull, which is made of Royalex, recovered most of its shape once the pressure was relieved. We will blast the creases with a hot hair drier to see if we can minimize the distortion.
The gunnel actually broke into two pieces above the crease and there was some minor damage to the rivet hole and the plastic wall of the canoe.
Thomas and I riveted on the new gunnel. We used C clamps to tighten up the space between the gunnel and the canoe side before riveting.
We bought this damaged Esquif Prospector 17 from the University of Calgary's Outdoor Centre. The canoe had been wrapped around a rock or some such obstacle resulting in hull creases and a broken gunnel. Chip left town for a week so we moved the canoe into our home, set it up on our dining room table and began work.
We detached the seats, thwarts and yoke from the damaged side. Thomas acted as supervisor. Our dog Kira, who is an avid canoe dog could not understand what was happening in our house.
We invited Bucky the legendary canoe guru over for a consultation and he showed us how to drill out the rivets and remove the damaged gunnel. Linda enjoyed hammering out the gunnel which came off fairly easily.
The hull was creased where the boat was bent back upon itself by the pressure of the river. The ull, which is made of Royalex, recovered most of its shape once the pressure was relieved. We will blast the creases with a hot hair drier to see if we can minimize the distortion.
The gunnel actually broke into two pieces above the crease and there was some minor damage to the rivet hole and the plastic wall of the canoe.
Thomas and I riveted on the new gunnel. We used C clamps to tighten up the space between the gunnel and the canoe side before riveting.
Jamie and Chipper
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