Canoe Trip - Middle Red Deer River

2002 August 30 - Sept 2 ... Fri - Mon
note that this trip was postponed from June due to low water conditions

Tour Co-Ordinator: Peter LaGrandeur

last update: 2005 Jan 29

River Put-In Point (Start): "Joffre Bridge" - Hwy 11 over Red Deer River south of Nevis. Contrary to the 'Start' point shown on this map, the trip was commenced from the Joffre bridge on Hwy 11.

River Take-Out Point (Finish): Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park.

Risk Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Self Responsibility

This trip is conducted with the understanding it is a Common Adventure where each participant conducts him/herself independently, makes his/her own judgements about safety and well being, takes full responsibility for his/her own actions, and contributes whatever he/she can towards the success of the trip. The Tour Co-Ordinator is not a leader or professional guide of any type and acts only to provide basic logistical arrangements for initiating and running the trip. The route, itinerary and all other aspects of this trip are only suggested and, as responsible tourists, each participant is expected to research everything prior to the trip to whatever extent he/she feels is necessary to determine that all is safe and suitable. Each participant is expected to possess any skills, equipment, fitness, common sense, etiquette, knowledge of applicable legislations, etc., to enjoyably and safely be involved in this activity. Each participant is the sole and final judge about his/her capability to safely proceed with this tour. All participants recognize financial loss, physical injuries and death to be real possibilities facing anyone in the sport of paddling and related activities and agree to assume all risks and consequences. Any person who does not feel confident or self reliant about their abilities or who does not agree with this philosophy should not participate on this tour.

Itinerary

2002 Friday June 14

• drive to Dry Island park and drop off car (~150km from north edge of Calgary)
• continue north on to Hwy 21 bridge over Red Deer River SW of Nevis (~75km from DIBJPP) and camp overnight at River Creek Campground. Leave vehicles there over Saturday night in locked compound for $2 per night per vehicle. If we have enough vehicles, we could also spot one at the Trenville Park camp site. Those not involved in shuttle may proceed directly to Content Bridge

• at 9AM, be ready to shove off. Plan for at least 6 hours on the river.
• camp at Trenville Park campground

• at 8AM, be ready to shove off. Plan for at least 6 hours again on the river.
• arrive at Dry Island park beach
• drivers go back to River Creek Campground and bring cars back to DIBJ beach - 1.75 hour round trip
• load boats and head back to Calgary

• If the weather is inclement or the water level is too low and slow to make enough headway, we can camp the first night on the bank above Trenville camp site and finish the next day at Trenville Park or Big Valley. As stated above, we could leave a car at one of the two mentioned campsites for contingency purposes.

Accommodation

2002 Friday June 14

River Creek Campground and RV Park 403.742.3343

$18 / night / tent

hot showers

picnic tables

vehicle storage - $2 per night in locked compound

washer/dryer


2002 Saturday June 15

Trenville Park campground 403.773.2273

$15 / night / tent

no showers

outhouses

fresh potable water

picnic tables

River Synopsis

Water is currently very low - only a foot deep in some places. See the flow data graph below for the Red Deer River at Red Deer for Monday, June 10, 2002.



See the Red Deer River at Red Deer city current Flow Report.

However, the camp ground operators along the route report groups of canoeists paddling this route down to Drumheller.

There are rumours the level in Glennifer Lake (Dickson Dam) upstream of Red Deer city is thirty feet below normal for this time of year.

Contact will be maintained over the week with Alberta Environment to be aware of any flow changes from the Dickson Dam that would affect this weekend's outing.

Maps

• "A Paddler's Guide to the Middle Red Deer River (Dickson Dam to Drumheller) by Clayton Roth of the Alberta Recreational Canoe Association. ISBN 0-9685200-2-2 ~$6.95 from places like Maptown (266-2241) in Calgary and Mountain Equipment Co-op (269-2420).
• NTS Topographic 1:250,000 "83A - Red Deer" ~$10.00 from places like Maptown (266-2241) in Calgary

Notes

• bring potable water in boats i.e. 10 - 20 litres each in case we end up camping on an island
• bring tarps in case of rain and wind (don't forget tie-downs)
• cel service usually at top of river valley
• bring clothes for any weather
• bring food for all meals from Saturday AM through at least Sunday lunch
• long range weather for the Stettler and Drumheller areas looks promising for the upcoming weekend.