Posted By: kalobgrady
This past few months, several Airborn Team Members have made recent trips too the Rideau River. An amazing tributary to the Ottawa, with creeking and play boating options! These trips consisted of creeking to begin with in the fall, but as the water level has risen, new play spots have been revealed.
In November, 2009. On one of the last available paddling weekends before winter set in, team members Cooper, Kalob and Adam Chappell set out to run Hogsback Falls. With the local city folk watching, we dropped the 20 foot falls. As we set out for a second run, we heard sirens in the background, it turns out that one of the locals had phoned the city Rescue Response team about some people drowning in the water. I was already in the water with 2 other paddlers from CUKC, we saw the fire trucks/police cars arrive as we dropped the falls for the second time, we were making a break for the Carleton University campus, where we could take out with and excuse. The Cops were laid back about the experience and even admitted that kayaking is a pretty interesting sport!
The following day, Cooper, Adam and I returned to the Rideau River, this time farther downstream at Rideua falls, where the rideau runs into the Ottawa river. We scouted the 45 footer with a 5 foot boof beforehand, before deciding to Drop it. We dropped the wide drop with myself leading the way, with small matter of being sucked behind the curtain, it was a clean and successful run. Cooper followed with equal success. This capped off our first waterfall experience.
The follwing weekend, team members Keegan, Justin, Cooper and I, returned to Rideau falls, with a mission to run teh narrower falls on the opposite side. after setting up put in and cameras. I again led the way off Riduea falls. With the slight mishap of breaking my paddle. I thought it was a good run. Copper followed with a cleaner, more successful run. Keegan and Justin, ran too put in while Cooper and I manned the cameras. These 2 dropped with solid runs and high spirits! The small issue of Rideau falls being beside the French Embassy in Ottawa came into play. Again, the Police were called and we had a talking too. We got off with Warnings and a Great Experience!!!
Now, this past week, during Spring break, we returned to the Rideau, we had heard of a new feature now named CUKC (Carlton University Kayak Club)
hole, this hole is big and powerful, located right on the University campus! although the hole is the main attraction, there are steep, green waves right across the river that are equally amazing! No cops arrived this time around and we left the place, knowing we would return for another adventure on the Rideau River.
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