2023 Fall Gathering
Please join us at the 2023 WCA Fall Gathering
On September 22 to 24, 2023
Follow this link below to read about the event and sign up.
If you have any questions contact Terry Brayman (terrybrayman@gmail.com)
Bring your own food and drink unless noted below
Itinerary
Friday Night
We will pick campsites to be all together. Check bulletin board at center to find our site #.
We will catch-up around a campfire Friday evening. Early arrivals on Friday can say hello to old and new friends, go for a riverside walk, or dive-in to some recreational whitewater on the Gull.
Minden Whitewater Preserve.
https://goo.gl/maps/f4HXsbnYcvTdsgVk7
Saturday
Featured Outing: Burnt River Run
This is a relaxing paddle of just over 11km. It is mostly flatwater, with a few swifts and some bigger drops that need to be portaged (especially Three Sisters Rapids). We stop for lunch half way along, and everyone should bring their own food. There is no need for a whitewater canoe specifically, but all boats should be equipped with standard safety gear.
The put-in area is the Austin Sawmill Heritage Park, which is on the west side of the Burnt River accessed via Station Road off Kinmount’s main street (County Road 121). Our plan is to leave Minden at 9am to be at the Kinmount put-in by 9:30. We will head down the river once we have completed the car shuttle. (Note that the put-in spot is adjacent to the Kinmount Farmer’s Market, so bring along some pocket money if you feel that you deserve a treat.)
Put-in Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yCZTB3yxYa3bX4TNA
Take-out Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YZopimTSs6XC4DJ7A
Other Saturday Daytime Activities
Depending on turn-out and demand, other possible Saturday activities may include either:
- a Gull River whitewater session in which WCA members will exchange tips for refining ferries, eddy turns, and other manoeuvres; or,
- a local walk, including in nearby areas maintained by the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust, such as the Dahl Forest or the Barnum Creek Nature Reserve.
Saturday Après-Paddle
We are aiming to arrive back at the campsites around 5pm. Along with dinner preparation this time can be used for gear demonstrations and/or gear swap. Participants are encouraged to bring any gear in good condition that they no longer need, to see if anyone else can put it to good use. Have a look through your old stuff and see what might be of interest to other members – a great way to declutter!
The BBQ dinner for all participants will run from 6:00 to 7:30pm.
Our evening program will feature trip presentations in the Minden Preserve event hall. This will start at by approximately 8:30pm, and run a couple of hours. Even if you’re haven’t signed-up to present, feel free to bring some pictures on a USB memory key and share some memorable experiences.
Sunday
We will start Sunday with a group breakfast in the event hall with bacon, eggs, toast, orange juice, and coffee/tea provided to all participants. Breakfast will be served from approximately 8am to 9am.
Sunday activities will depend on group preferences. Here are a two options that may be of interest:
North of 45° Group Paddle. We will head north from the dam above the Minden Whitewater Course and keep going until we’ve crossed the 45th parallel (or reach our limits). This will be a relaxing social paddle to enjoy the scenery of Horseshoe and Mountain lakes. Expected duration: up to two hours.
Snowdon Park Wetland and Forest Preserve Group Hike. This will be a chance to preview fall colours in a mixed terrain setting including wetlands and forest. Different hiking trail options are available ranging from 45 minutes to over two hours. The Park is about 15km from the Minden Whitewater Preserve.
Gull River Whitewater. An informal session for members to practice their whitewater moves and exchange pointers. Activities will focus on the bottom section of the Gull with boats on hand to assist any unintentional swimmers.
Our Fall Gathering will wrap-up on Sunday, and people will have time after breakfast to pack their gear before participating in any of the group activities. Others may decide to head-off right after breakfast, particularly those with a long drive ahead. We will aim to conclude any of Sunday’s group activities by early afternoon.
