West Magpie river 2019
General Information Number of participants: 3 Number of days: 12 Water Level: Low Trip Dates: Two weeks in the middle of September Total KM: 260 Total Elevation drop: almost 2000ft Maps used: 1:250000 (22P, 22I) 1:50000 (22P/13, 22P/14, 22P/11, 22P/6 22P/3, 22P/2, 22I/15, 22I/8, 22I/9, 22I/10) Gauge: https://www.cehq.gouv.qc.ca/suivihydro/graphique.asp?NoStation=073503 General weather: average for September. We did not get snow at the put in, or in the first few days. But we have heard of people getting it. We did have ice in our bottles one morning. Pace of trip: relaxed. More time to smell the roses. My veiw, why rush through such a beautiful place, its a vacation enjoy it. Campsites: The flat water approach has many beaches and lots of cozy pockets in the woods, great camping. The West Magpie has lots of great camping as well. Lac Magpie is absolutely stunning and has plenty of beaches. We found that the Magpie was not as nice camping. Whitewater overview: The West Magpie is steep, continuous mountain river, a lot can go wrong out there. Scout often! The West Magpie has also been known to flash flood with sustained large amounts of rain. At our levels, Entrance Falls was the second biggest rapid on the river, the largest is the final portage gorge. The Magpie has a more traditional big water feel. Sept Iles: Great Town to Start an expedition in. It has everything that you would need, Walmart, Tims Ext. Hot Tip, Gino's has really good pizza! To sleep; there is a wide variety of hotels and motels, a thriving Tinder scene, the Walmart parking lot, and a quiet little park near the train station. The Train: Take it!!! it is so beautiful out there, never once was our group board. The train ride in is absolutely stunning. The “flat” water is not really that bad as the river moves at around 2km/hr and has occasional rapids. It also gives you time to figure out your systems for your group; morning rituals, packing your boat and how your boat feels fully loaded. Lastly: YOU HAVE TO EARN YOUR TURNS!!! nuff said. The Train ticket is fixed, but your kayak can cost really what ever the person at the desk decides to charge you. Do not call it a kayak, do not call it a canoe. Say its a wave ski and its over 4ft long. Hopefully this will cost less then a canoe (140$) Day 1 HoW: 230-630 Distance: 18km Weather: rain,sun,tailwinds, cold Campsite: 214 443 22 P/13 end of the last rapid, Lovely taiga, and soft caribou moss. Tech:
Day 2 HoW: 1030-4 Distance: 25km Weather: sunny, tailwinds Campsite: 346 285 22 P/11 tucked in the woods back from a beach, also on caribou moss Tech:
Shallow meandering, but moving river (around 2km/hr). All narrows have swifts. Day 3 HoW: 1030-4 Distance: 29km Weather: cloudy, usual northern weather Campsite: 417 154 22 P/11 Island campsite, this is an established site. Tech: n/a Synopsis: A wee bit flat, but the the river is still moving. Also look out for the really, really shallow areas. Day 4 HoW: 1020-4 Distance: 23km Weather: really cold, rainy, tailwind Campsite: 457 943 22 P/11 river left at a small beach in the pool after the Entrance Falls gorge. Tech:
Day 5 HoW: 1020-350 Distance: 19km Weather: sun, warm, a bit of cloud Campsite: 543 852 Large flat rock RL after the river calms down. It is marked by two crossed paddles high in a tree. There is also a broken canoe in the bushes up the hill. Elevation drop: 250ft Tech:
Wow The West Magpie Speaks! The views are stunning, if you take the time to look around from the white water. We have the utmost respect for the canoeists and rafters who have walked down this river. Day 6 HoW: 11-4 Distance: 28km Weather: warm, sunny, bit of cloud Campsite: 607 592 Tech:
Day 7 HoW: 9:30-7 Distance: 22km Weather: cloudy, cold, sun, rain, literally everything Campsite: 815 547 22 P/2 Elevation drop: 500ft Tech:
A lot can go wrong today, take your time and scout. Day 8 HoW: 1-4 Distance: 12km Weather: Tailwinds, sun and cloud got cold at the end Campsite: 850 433 22 I/15 Tech:
Day 9 HoW: 1030-445 Distance: 23km Weather: hot, calm Campsite: 866 208 I/10 Tech: N/A Day 10 HoW: 1010- 345 Distance: 28km Weather: cloudy, chilly, head wind Campsite: 994 205. Should have pushed a little further, there would have been something nicer Tech:
Day 11 HoW: 10-345 Distance: 26km Weather: cloudy, slight head wind, warm Campsite: Bellow the massive Magpie Gorge 986 812 RL. There is also a camp 100m into the portage. Tech:
Day 12 HoW: 10-12 Distance: 6km Weather: grey, rainy Campsite: N/A Tech:
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