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Welcome

These photos let new members and the public see what we do, where we do it and who we are. The photos are organized by the club's common trips and events, including descriptions of what to expect if you come along. Enjoy! www.beavercanoeclub.org

Mar 21, 2010

Photos: 1

Meet the Beavers

Various "people pictures" of club members doing their thing and enjoying a variety of club trips and events.

Mar 20, 2010

Photos: 50

Basic Paddlers

Get into canoeing or refine your strokes with the Beaver's annual 1-evening, 2-day course - it teaches you how to move your canoe around smoothly and efficiently, and gives you a great foundation to build on. Normally in late April at Deer Lake. The club prides itself on offering this affordable but high-quality training from qualified instructors.

Mar 19, 2010

Photos: 15

Intro to Moving Water

Each spring, usually on the lower Seymour in early June, the club offers a 1-evening 1-day intro course to paddling in river current. You'll use the current to ferry and learn to lean your boat correctly, and practice swimming in rivers. Soon after the course the club organizes some trips or other opportunities for new members to try more river paddling. If you get the hang of it, you'll love "Rivers Week"!

Mar 18, 2010

Photos: 9

Lower Seymour

Right in town! The winter classic. Class II and rocky at low water (2 on the rock or .85-.9 on the North Van gauge), or II+ and pushy at higher water (above 4 on the rock or 1.2 on the gauge). Great training ground - you can take harder routes to practice class III skills. Good surfing at numerous spots. 200 steps at a gate at the top put-in, or can use lower put-ins and various take-outs for mini-runs, play or practice. Pub near the take-out! Good for spring practice and winter runs.

Mar 17, 2010

Photos: 17

Mamquam

Class II river with boulders and waves to play in at the top put-in, excellent practice for eddy turns and surfing. Need a key from Valhalla Pure in Squamish to open the put-in gate. A put-in halfway down on river right at golf course can be used for practice. Good starter river for class II and play, often used as a mentoring river in May and June. Watch for wood in the lower sections.

Mar 16, 2010

Photos: 11

Action!

Various "keeper" surfing and action shots. Canoeisits having some fun (hopefully!).

Dec 3, 2009

Photos: 21

Pool Sessions

During the winter club members & friends head to local pools to try new boats and to practice rescues, braces and rolling. Most common session for open canoes is at Ron Andrews pool in North Van, at 10 PM on Friday nights, costs about $7.

Nov 27, 2009

Photos: 6

River Rescue Practice

The club provides opportunities for members to learn important safety skills from instructors and mentors. All river runners should have rescue skills, and the club tries to make time on the river and at the campsites to practice various techniques and skills. Members occasionally get together for private courses too.

Nov 15, 2009

Photos: 11

Upper Seymour

The Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve gives access to paddling clubs - and it's a gem! Trip leader must sign-in at gate. Best to keep groups relatively small and limit shuttle vehicles. Scenic & busy class II-III run, culminating a few steep drops. Experience required - you should paddle the Lower Seymour with ease before coming on the Upper. Although there is a part-way put-in at the Spur 4 Bridge, the upper section is a nice start. Can be a long day, especially in the cold rain, which is usually when we do it!! A level of 3-5 on the Lower rock-gauge is a good level.

Nov 1, 2009

Photos: 9

Tamihi Five-0 Slalom Race

Started in 2008 there is a slalom race for canoes, which many Beaver members contribute to and race in. Trying the gates is a great way to improve your paddling skills!!

Sep 20, 2009

Photos: 32

Kootenays

A great paddling road trip!! What a way to see this part of Beautiful BC. Done about ever-other year, depending on interest & leaders. Beavers hook up with the locals and hit a number of beautiful class II-III runs. Some long days in the boats & shuttle vehicles.

Aug 15, 2009

Photos: 15

Upper Tulameen

Called the"Tulameen canyon" run, this run catches the exit of a canyon (class II+) at Lawless Creek, then mellows (there's more canyon, class III+, above this put-in). "The Mystery Drop" adds some excitement. Various take-outs possible, including right back to camp at Granite City. Can be run from about 12 to 70 m3/s (Tulameen @ Princeton).

Jul 19, 2009

Photos: 7

Pig Roast

Building on an old tradition of a Kelowna club that hosted "The Pig Race" on the Similkameen for many years, the Beavers roast a pig and have pot luck supper during Rivers Week.

Jul 19, 2009

Photos: 7

Pancake Breakfast

During Rivers Week, Rose has been known to whip up a batch of pancakes (or as many batches as it takes). Sit near Anne & Alain for maple syrup!

Jul 14, 2009

Photos: 3

Lower Similkameen

A great class II run, from Bromley Rock to a campsite above Stemwinder. Golden Dawn rapid can be wet (class III) at high water. Run can be done at a wide range of water levels, 20 to 100 m3/s, good rapids & waves at 60-80 m3/s (Similkameen @ Hedley), great for learning & practicing at lower levels.

Jul 14, 2009

Photos: 9

Lower Tulameen.

A great run with poor take-outs. At/after the class III "House Rocks" it's either a 4x4 up & out, or a portage through a tunnel and back down to a slow finish into Princeton. Runnable from about 12 to 70 m3/s (@ Princeton), much pushier at high water. Great run for a mixed group - you can coast down safe routes, or challenge yourself with more difficult lines!

Jul 14, 2009

Photos: 10

Pasayten River

Just east of Manning park this class II run often kicks-off Rivers Week for the veterans. First run by the club in 1999 at high water, it has a bad reputation! It does have several sharp corners that can be tricky - and occasional hazards include logjams and man-made bridges or cables from mushroom pickers! - but a normal water levels, the run is a peaceful class II (with a few exciting corners).

Jul 14, 2009

Photos: 3

Lower Cheakamus

The Cheakamus is a beautiful and fun run suitable for intermediates. It's mostly class II corners with a class III drop and some good play spots. Steeper rapids if you continue past the take-out at the lower bridge and go down to the Squamish. Runnable from 20s to 60s m3/s or higher (Cheakamus @ Brackendale), often good mid-summer at 30-40 m3/s. Road to the put-in can get rough, but usually OK for 2WD. A few unorganized camping spots possible near the put-in. Strainers are not uncommon at some corners.

Jul 8, 2009

Photos: 10

Lower Nicola

Class II+ (III) boulder gardens, pretty continuous, lots of rocks and eddies to catch. Easier & fun at low water (as long as you don't pin your boat). Good from about 10 to 40 m3/s (Nicola @ Merritt). Various put-ins and take-outs, can allow a combo with part of the canyon run, or run down into the mighty Thompson. Often called "the lower lower" for some reason.

Jul 2, 2009

Photos: 5

Upper Similkameen

From Whipsaw Ranch to Princeton. Class II+ run with lots to play on. Good rapids from start to finish, little ledges, boulder gardens. Maytag-like surf wave/hole at lunch spot. Good levels between about 15 and 50 m3/s (Similkameen @ Princeton).

Jun 29, 2009

Photos: 12

Adams River

Class II run with a big class III (but harmless) canyon. Some good play opportunities - and photo opportunities! September long-weekend.

Jun 12, 2009

Photos: 19

Flatwater Trips

There are many many Beaver who members who enjoy the serene side of paddlers and do trips on various lakes and slower rivers, big and small.

Apr 13, 2009

Photos: 1

Lower Chilliwack

Class II run with nothing too heart-pounding (compared to the Upper Chilliwack!). Good practice. Watch for wood in the lower stretches! Play spot at put-in. Best from about 10 to 40 m3/s (Chilliwack above Sleese). Typically a popular warm-up run for the club in April, and also a nice fall run, depending on the fishermen.

Nov 10, 2008

Photos: 9

Wenatchee

An unofficial trip that many club members do annually to the Okanagan of the USA. Usually in early August.

Aug 3, 2008

Photos: 2

Assisted Paddle

Each July Beaver volunteers participate in a day of paddling at Deer Lake that allows people with disabilities to enjoy a summer's day floating in a canoe. Thanks volunteers!

Jul 16, 2008

Photos: 3

Spius Creek

A smaller tributary to the Nicola River, Spius Creek is a change of scenery when at the Nicola. A twisty class II+.

Jun 29, 2008

Photos: 3

Camp Scenes

Some typical shots of the club's car-camping trips on long-weekend and Rivers Week.

Jun 27, 2008

Photos: 6

Ocean Canoeing

Many Beavers enjoy ocean trips, here's a few of their photos.

Jun 10, 2008

Photos: 4

Lower Squamish

A great rip on a nice fall day. The Squamish offers gorgeous scenery for those with skills for basic moving water.

Apr 19, 2008

Photos: 2

Beaver Kids

A few pictures of some of the younger Beaver members enjoying canoeing & camping with their families and/or other club friends.

Apr 19, 2008

Photos: 4

Widgeon Creek

A canoeists classic in the Lower Mainland! Widgeon Creek at Pitt Lake is traditionally the first and last trip of the club's official schedule. A popular trip, especially if the weather cooperates - but the diehards go regardless!

Mar 16, 2008

Photos: 6

Upper Chilliwack

Class II-III. This club favourite has some challenging rapids for open canoes, including a few it's best not to swim! Requires a well-prepared group. Best at water levels of about 20-30 m3/s (Chilliwack above Sleese gauge), but runnable from about 5 to 50, depending on your interests - high 30s might be a good upper limit for a club trip. Typically run in April-May and from late July on. Good August run. Traditional put-in at Thurston Meadows is not great since the channel has shifted, but still OK, and there are alternatives possible above and below. After the club trip, continue through the longer, harder rapids below if you're up to it!

Nov 4, 2007

Photos: 7

Nicola Canyon

Class II-III. Starts slow, ends big. Fun run, and the canyon section holds its water well at lower flows. Good from about 5 to 50 m3/s, best around 30m3/s (Nicola @ Merritt).

May 20, 2007

Photos: 7

Coquitlam River

The Coquitlam has a small window between too high and too low, but requires lots of runoff. It has some "busy" spots, up to class III. Experience required, especially at bhigher water. Chance of wood. Start on the easier class II runs: Lower Chilliwack, Lower Seymour, Mamquam and Cheakamus. Scout at Gallette Rd. to get a good idea of the challenge. Try it with a small group when the other local rivers are flooding. Good between about 12 and 20 m3/s. OK higher, but few eddies.

Mar 18, 2007

Photos: 1

Upper Squamish

Class II-III big-water run. Beautiful & challenging, can be a long, cold day. Best in late summer or fall between 100 and 300 m3/s (Squamish @ Brackendale).