This is a valley of rivers. In summer, residents and visitors float down the Lower Puntledge, look for fossils along the Trent and Puntledge system, and cool off at the many swim holes along the Browns and Upper Puntledge. Many of them aren’t aware that these waterways, so slow moving in summer, offer amazing whitewater paddling in kayaks, canoes, and rafts after the fall rains arrive. It’s all in the timing.
In spring, the Valley’s waterways are mellow, with sustained flows thanks to moderate precipitation and the annual snow melt. In our increasingly dry summers, water levels are low. As the leaves start to drop, clouds appear over the Beaufort Mountain Range and the rains come and bring the rivers back to life. In winter, the waters flow, cold and dark; paddlers tackle smaller sections in these shorter days, watching for elevated snow melt conditions.
The shift from summer calm to fall’s exciting paddling conditions
During the summer, paddlers take advantage of rivers still running on the mainland and beyond, while people tube the lazy Puntledge, jump off rocks, and enjoy the warm water.
When fall arrives, both paddlers and fish rejoice, sensing in their bones that once again the rivers will be full. For the paddlers, it’s about playing in the waves, chutes, and drops that develop. For the fish, it’s about the return journey to their natal waters to spawn.
The unpredictable nature of fall and winter whitewater paddling
The raindrops connect to form rivulets of water that will bring the paddling season. Different sections—hidden from view for many months—roar back to life. The rivers can be quite temperamental and spirited, with water levels rising and falling quickly as the rain falls, then stops.
Once again, paddlers gather in small groups and head out to different locations around the Comox Valley. There are runs on Dove Creek and the Tsolum, Browns, Trent, Tsable, Oyster, and Puntledge rivers. We wander the water’s edge, scouting out drops and chutes before descending these vibrant, sometimes turbulent spots.
Discovering challenging and scenic paddling runs in the Valley
I dream of a couple of these places through the fall and winter, thinking of my lines and watching water levels and weather apps. One of them is a section on the Browns River, below the Medicine Bowls. It cuts through a canyon around a hundred feet deep, with a number of tricky drops and chutes over 5 km before connecting to the lower Browns by Camp Gilwell. You put in at the base of a 30-foot waterfall with a feeling of commitment. From here, you paddle 100 metres downstream to portage a nasty pinch slot (where the whole river drops through a three-foot slot for 30 feet). Once past this there is a slide, a staircasing triple drop, and then a ledge drop. These lead to 4 km of consistent whitewater that keeps you on your toes for the entire run.
Then there are the wide-open and chaotic slides on the upper section of the Puntledge. It is always an interesting time picking your line as you see a 400-foot-wide horizon line open up before Nymph or Stotan falls. This section of river typically has six cubic metres (CMS) of water in it. It is great for paddling at levels above 80 CMS and amazing above 100 CMS.
Using hydrometric data for optimal whitewater paddling conditions
Whitewater paddlers scrutinize hydrometric data from different government and organization gauges on RiverApp to see when we can get on the water. Sometimes we get time between a river’s rise and fall; however, the smaller drainages can be good to paddle in the morning and no longer have enough water by the afternoon.
These sections are for skilled paddlers. Winter paddling is tricky, as the water and air are cold and days are short. Getting instruction before venturing out is a very good idea. Places you can get info and meet people on the island are the Vancouver Island Whitewater Paddling Society and the South Island Whitewater Club.
The shift from summer calm to fall’s exciting paddling conditions
All through the fall, winter, and spring, we organize ourselves to make the most of our time to paddle these beautiful and mystical waterways. Then it is time for the rivers to sleep—and for us paddlers to dream of dancing down the next wave or chute in the seasons ahead.
