tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17966993.post2750538994506975981..comments2023-09-24T06:59:26.545-06:00Comments on The Mundane Adventures of Bryan: Trip Archives: 2005Bryan Sarauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04501746182504085427noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17966993.post-10500353428827649632010-05-16T10:22:31.646-06:002010-05-16T10:22:31.646-06:00I forgot to answer your question about the shuttle...I forgot to answer your question about the shuttle. There are a couple of options. You can arrange to have the shuttle done by either Pawistik Lodge where the highway crosses the River, or through Angel's (?) Marina in Denare Beach. There may be others as well. These places will drive your veh vehicle to the end of your trip so it is waiting for you when you are done.<br /><br />We had 4 people on this trip that were driving up in two cars. So, we dropped off our stuff at the start, then two people drove two cars to Denare Beach and parked one of the cars there. The second car was used to return back to the start point and we set off. Once the trip was completed, we again had to run back to the start to pick up the second vehicle. It's a lot of driving, but not nearly so much as doing the full Sturgeon-Weir River.Bryan Sarauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04501746182504085427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17966993.post-71342977086858378832010-05-16T10:16:25.061-06:002010-05-16T10:16:25.061-06:00Hi,
The Sturgeon-Weir River is divided into two se...Hi,<br />The Sturgeon-Weir River is divided into two sections, the upper Sturgeon-Wer, and the Lower Sturgeon-Weir, meaning that section that is above Amisk Lake and below the lake, respectively. I've only done the Upper Sturgeon Weir. In that section we did, all rapids are portageable and the river between rapids is flatwater. This stretch of the river, from the highway down to Amisk (as described in my trip report) is suitable for the intermediate paddler. Whitewater skills are not necessary (if I recall correctly).<br /><br />Below Amisk Lake, the river gets into a different geological region (limestone?) and becomes a series of frequent rocky rapids. From everything I've read about that section, it is a lot more technical. It sounds like this section would be quite beyond your current skills. If you were travelling with others that were more skilled in whitewater, that may change things.<br /><br />Learning a few whitewater or moving water skills can be a real boon, even if you have no intentions of running whitewater. For instance, can you safely land at the portage above the rapids which often means landing in swiftly moving water? Can you do it in a high water year when the portage may be hard to find, and located in very fast water? Knowing something as simple as an eddy turn will open the door to more trips, and mean you can run through some of the easier stuff (class I+) without having to portage or line your canoe down. <br /><br />Regarding the spray deck, I don't think it is necessary, though they can be helpful. I do not use one myself, though I hope to make or buy one soon. Obviously they can be helpful for paddling big whitewater, but they are also helpful to decrease the effect of wind on a canoe, something that can be an issue while crossing Amisk Lake.<br /><br />The best resource for the Sturgeon-Weir trip is Laurel Archer's book, Northern Saskatchewan Canoe Trips: A Guide to 15 Wilderness Rivers. http://www.laurelarcher.com/canoebook.htm<br /><br />I hope this helps,<br />BryanBryan Sarauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04501746182504085427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17966993.post-34774992697283914352010-05-09T10:44:17.009-06:002010-05-09T10:44:17.009-06:00I have been eyeing the Sturgeon-Weir River trip fo...I have been eyeing the Sturgeon-Weir River trip for some time, and hope in the (likely distant) future to try it sometime. The Saskatchewan canoe trip guide suggests that "This trip can be recommended for canoeists of intermediate experience, or for novices with expert leadership". <br /><br />Not sure if I would fall into that category. I have done few overnight routes (Missi Island Loop on Amisk Lake, Churchill River to Nistowiak Falls, and Kingsmere-Bagwa loop in PA Nat'l Park), many day lake outings and one overnight river trip on the South Sask river.<br /><br />I have been wanting to try some more river trips but not necessarily to learn anything more than novice river running techniques (I don't paddle often enough to advance much in this area, and don't plan to spend the time at it). <br /><br />I am wondering if the Sturgeon-Weir would be a good "next step" for someone like me with no white water experience, assuming I would portage the rapids (4 to 5 portages listed), but wanting some variety and moderate new challenge from lake paddling? <br /><br />Based on my experience level, would more than the 4-5 portages be required? This likely depends on water levels of course. How many portages did you make on this trip? Did you take the optional 5th portage to Muskeg Bay? How was the Amisk Lake crossing (wind/waves)? <br /><br />How strongly would you recommend using a spray deck for this route (I have not yet canoed with a spray deck, but we've been fortunate with nice weather and minimal wind & waves so far)? How did you arrange to have your car ferried from start to end point?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17966993.post-75599661365595166432009-10-08T23:54:00.304-06:002009-10-08T23:54:00.304-06:00Thanks for the complement!
Saskatchewan is a grea...Thanks for the complement!<br /><br />Saskatchewan is a great place to visit. I have a handful of friends from elsewhere that have chosen to make their lives here rather than with their families in Ontario, the Netherlands, etc.Bryan Sarauerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04501746182504085427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17966993.post-24817289596621158402009-10-07T07:53:48.004-06:002009-10-07T07:53:48.004-06:00You have a very entertaining writing style that ma...You have a very entertaining writing style that makes for an interesting and delightful read. You really make me want to visit the vastness of beautiful Saskatchewan!<br />(Sorry I removed my last post due to a spelling error).BADGER® Paddleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11842073815134117991noreply@blogger.com