Gold River is a pretty, small town on the northern west coast of Vancouver Island. It is also a paddlers dream. With one main river with 5 sections, and over 5 tributaries within a 20min drive from town there are a lot of options. With the use of Txt’s and Facebook Michael and myself were set to head north in the morning. The plan was roughly to meet a couple of paddlers at SPL and then head out to see what was paddle able on the Gold. The rain was coming down, the coffee was being refilled and the muffins were tasty.
We meet up with Paul and headed off to the Upper Gold section. It looked like it was medium-high. Upana creek was completely blown out with over 50-60cms coming down it. A normal level is 8 to 10cms. We put on and had a great paddle down the river. We came across one big log almost blocking the slot below guillotine rapid. We started to portage and then went to have another look… glad we did, there was enough room to slip under the left corner. That
Paul on Tombstone Rapid
Through tombstone rapid.
Log at the slot, at first we thought it was a portage… see next picture.
Portage? No back to the river
Paddling on the Gold
Middle Gold at peppercorn park
Shelter
Lower Canyon Crux rapid at 420-450cms
Having a looky loo at the Lower Canyon on the Gold
The Road Home
portage would have sucked. We continued down half the middle section and by the time we finished the river had jumped a foot or so. A beer at the finish, a meal at Piper’s Pub, another coffee and we headed back to the Comox Valley. More whitewater to come the next day.
Enjoy the Photos,
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