Chutes Lockbow
Posting about a short exploratory paddle and scout that I did three years ago near the town of Cheneville in Quebec. This paddle went down on April 29th, a date when the water on the Petite is usually quite high. In 2012 though Spring had come quite early, and flows in the region were well below average for that time of year. The river was flowing at 23 CMS at the gauge not far downstream from this section during my paddle and that is what is shown in the video below.
Riviere Petite Nation - Cheneville Section: April 29, 2012 from Dave Howlett on Vimeo.
A few weeks earlier I had been in the area and scouted out these drops. The river was flowing at ~43? CMS that day, and the still pictures on this post come from that day.
Putin waves below Chemin de la Presquile bridge: There is ~1.5 km of flatwater after this and one can potentially avoid that and find a alternative putin above the next drop (Chutes a Pontbrin).
Chutes a Pontbrin: I portaged around the top of this drop during my run as I was paddling solo and combined with the reset of the rapids it was quite a long one. It did look quite runnable though. Class 3+/4??
Below Chutes a Pontbrin
Lower Pontbrin
Lower Pontbrin: At the bottom of this there is reasonable chance for some play. Then there is a small pond and when the river picks up again it is a pleasent flow along swifts and some class 1 until the Chutes Lockbow.
Chutes Lockbow: I certainly walked this one. This slide has kind of two different angles of flow to it instead of just one primary one. Until it has been run I will call this one a class 5/5+
Below Chutes Lockbow: When I paddled this (at lower levels) there was a bad and well hidden strainer on river-right just above the bend. The strainer was a very large plank of wood and it may still be there.
