That's awesome. Me and my wife were coming back from Drayton that day and she said to me when we crossed that bridge "there's a guy canoeing down there". Then today I see this video haha funny coincidence.
Yeah it is a good little section of river in the spring time. I'm pretty sure I was the only paddler on the river that day, it was very quiet. The only person I saw was a farmer cutting his grass. Thanks for watching, take care.
Hey Nick, again just awesome vids, thank you. So the rivers and lakes are nearly frozen here and I have time to watch my favorites again with a more critical eye and noticed that at 5:15 after turning to face upstream you were using a cross-forward stroke to do (I think) 2 things: 1. to get a little forward motion while 2. you tried to get over to the eddy on your onside (river left). One tip I received from a few world-class paddlers and have used often is leaning and reaching a little further forward on the cross-forward and actually dragging the paddle back toward you along the outside part of the gunnel (not the keel line) to help steer the boat over toward your onside while providing some forward motion. It is amazing how strong and fun that stroke can be. Cheers!
Hello. Yeah winter has set in pretty good here too, no paddling until April. Yeah I saw a tree laying across the ledge up ahead, made the turn, but turned a bit too far. I was starting to point back into the main current, so I had to get a couple cross-strokes in to get back towards river left. I was definitely rushing things a bit at that instant. I really like the stroke, mainly for keeping momentum without the need for correction strokes. My muscle memory for the stroke is getting there, but I can be quite sloppy sometimes. I have (partially) learned exactly what you suggest, but obviously it isn't very consistent at this point. I have many things to learn, and many things to improve on, especially in regards to whitewater. Thanks for the tips, I will be very conscious of it when the rivers open up in the spring. There are a few trips I have in mind, but I will need to practice a few things before attempting. It's going to be a long 4 or 5 months waiting. Thanks again, take care.
My son and I kayaked this river last Sunday, 27 May 2018! Amazing how quickly the level dropped. LOTS more rocks when we went through. We plan to come back earlier next year. Great video! Thanks for sharing!
Yeah it's definitely a spring canoe or kayak run. I went the first weekend after the ice retreated, and rocks were not an issue at all. I plan on going back every spring now. Thanks for watching, take care.
I've watched this one 2 or 3 times now and I think it's my favorite. Spring run, no crowds, good water, easy access, beautiful scenery, close to home, wake-up rapids after the winter doldrums, good weather, and can be done solo. Yup, it's my favorite. I don't know if you can access further upstream on the Lobstick but I sure would be interested in seeing it :) Take care.
Thanks very much, it was definitely an exciting paddle. Like most of the small rivers in central Alberta, the Lobstick only good for canoeing in the spring with higher waters. After that, it would be a difficult paddle with lots of rocks, shallows, beaver dams, and very slow current. I plan on going back every spring from now on. As for access upstream, I am not too sure... there is not much info out there. Just above where I put-in, the river meanders through farmland and a fairly big lake. Above that, into the foothills of the Rockies, I suspect it is more like a small creek, with lots hazards, and very little access. I will look into it though, not many things fascinate me more than the headwaters of rivers, and their upper courses. Thanks again, take care.
This is cool! I'm never really been on the water myself but I grew up in Wildwood and went to high school in Evansburg. I know two spots upstream basically right in the town of Wildwood you could get in (one is under the bridge on the road that heads north towards Chip Lake Park) I've always been curious to see what that adventure would look like and if the water is high enough!
good morning Nick. great to see you back on the river. i like your white water Mad River canoe. at first i wondered why there was no floatation but then i see you had some all along. looks like a great float. take care
Thanks Martin. Yes it was great to be back on the water. I started without the float bags. I put them in when I pulled over and video taped the ledge with the log laying across it. It was a very enjoyable first paddle of the season. Thanks again, take care.
Nice start to season. Looks interesting river for canoeing. My friends started season also yesterday but unfortunately I had work. We will try again next month.
another awesome adventure Nick ! wow the river was really moving , looks like you had to work at it a little here and there crazy fast ! lots of debris in the big river at the end ! thanks for sharing atb john
Thanks John, yeah it was an exciting first paddle of the year. Lots of rust to shake off. Definitely some ice and debris coming down the bigger rivers here, they are running quite high. I'm hoping to get a few more trips in this summer. Thanks again, take care. Nick
Yeah the bags are probably over-kill, but anything to make recovery easier if I have to swim alone. I paddled it again this year on April 6, and it was flowing nicely. Pembina River is rising now, but I'm not sure about the Lobstick's levels. Have a good run, it's a fun one.
Hay Nick Great seeing ya back on the river. @ 4:45 was that an Eagle or Osprey callin ya ? Sure was a wonderful trip with ya ! Be Well, Brother ATB Ter God Bless
Hello Terry, glad you could check it out. It was a very nice first canoe trip of the season. The weather was near perfect. I think it was a goose honking away, but it could be a bird of prey too. The call was partially drowned out by the sound of the water. I tried to get a quick look, but didn't locate it though. Thanks again my friend. Nick
Nice video Nick. Some stretches looked pretty rough, did you have to portage any sections. Still pretty early in the year, I can see the deciduous trees in Alberta still don't have any foliage. Good start for another season of adventure.
Thanks very much. It has good moderate whitewater in the spring. Later in the summer it will be almost impossible to canoe due to low water, vegetation and beaver dams. Yeah it's still quite dull and grey looking, no green at all yet. I have more than a few trips in mind, I'm hopeful I can get them done.
Really enjoyed that, just enough river to get the muscle memory up and running too. Never occurred to me there'd be icebergs on the river, obvious when I think of it but interesting nonetheless.
Thanks to you. Yeah it's a small river, the only good paddling is in the spring with the snow melt. Or possibly later in the summer, after multiple days of heavy rain . Very cold winter this year, the ice stayed a bit later than normal.
No, just from Hwy 22 to the Pembina. I've heard it is not a very exciting paddle from Chip Lake... but maybe I'll try someday. Thanks for watching, take care.
Hi Pablo, I've only paddled it the one time so far, so I'm not real familiar with the Lobstick. But the Pembina is high, so there is a good chance the Lobstick is too. There is no gauging station there unfortunately, the only way to know for sure is to see the river in person.
Was just going to paddle to the Lobstick this weekend! Looks like its flowing well and fairly clear of debris (unlike the pembina) besides the few sweepers and that one log jam. Approx run-time? debating running twice. Was the park gate open? I was planning on parking at the gate because of lack of access. Cheers Nick.
Hello Nigel. Yeah it's flowing nicely. As long as the Pembina is high, so should the Lobstick. Very clear except for a large tree laying across the top of one of the bigger ledges. Also a large tree on the outside of the corner immediately after that ledge (5:40-5:50). Looked like it would have been fun to run otherwise. The gates to the campground were locked. There was parking at the day-use area up-river, and at the top of the hill by the park entrance. I had to hike my canoe out and up the hill. Not too bad though. As for paddling time, I made a few stops along the way so I'm just guessing, but I think it was around 3 hours. Worth doing twice I'd say. I may go back again if the water stays up for a little while. It's a lot of fun, you'll enjoy it.
For day trips like this one, I use my bike to shuttle myself. Stash the canoe and gear at the start, drive truck to finish, and then bike back to the canoe at the start. For longer trips I get help from my dad, friends, or paid shuttles. Thanks very much, take care.
Thanks very much, it is a very fun run. Not counting putting in my float bags and scouting a couple rapids, I think it was maybe around 3 hours. I will likely go back there every spring.
👏👏👏 Good to see you back at it Nick. Nice run, I didn't realize that the lobstick was that rough. At 5:30 you didn't have that harmony sack in the front, and at 6:00 it is there. Was that some type of air bladder?
Yeah the Lobstick is very much like the Sturgeon. Good and exciting in the spring, and almost impossible to paddle by late summer. But obviously the Lobstick is rougher. At the point where I filmed the ledge with the tree laying across it, that is where I decided to put the float bags in. They make recovering the canoe much easier in the event of a capsize or swamping.
That's awesome. Me and my wife were coming back from Drayton that day and she said to me when we crossed that bridge "there's a guy canoeing down there". Then today I see this video haha funny coincidence.
Yeah it is a good little section of river in the spring time. I'm pretty sure I was the only paddler on the river that day, it was very quiet. The only person I saw was a farmer cutting his grass. Thanks for watching, take care.
Great video. Nice little river with some interesting channels and rapids.
Thanks very much Joe. Yes it is a great little river to start the season. I try to go there every spring.
Good to see you on the water again! Every time I see your videos it reminds me of the first explorers.
Thanks very much. I would have loved to have seen the rivers and landscape as the early explorers did.
Hi nick, great trip... It had to keep the heart rate up . Looked like you got a bit of water in you canoe... Enjoyed as always.. Jim
Thanks Jim. Yeah it was a exciting trip to start the canoe season. A good way to shake of some rust. Take care.
Hey Nick, again just awesome vids, thank you. So the rivers and lakes are nearly frozen here and I have time to watch my favorites again with a more critical eye and noticed that at 5:15 after turning to face upstream you were using a cross-forward stroke to do (I think) 2 things: 1. to get a little forward motion while 2. you tried to get over to the eddy on your onside (river left). One tip I received from a few world-class paddlers and have used often is leaning and reaching a little further forward on the cross-forward and actually dragging the paddle back toward you along the outside part of the gunnel (not the keel line) to help steer the boat over toward your onside while providing some forward motion. It is amazing how strong and fun that stroke can be. Cheers!
Hello. Yeah winter has set in pretty good here too, no paddling until April. Yeah I saw a tree laying across the ledge up ahead, made the turn, but turned a bit too far. I was starting to point back into the main current, so I had to get a couple cross-strokes in to get back towards river left. I was definitely rushing things a bit at that instant. I really like the stroke, mainly for keeping momentum without the need for correction strokes. My muscle memory for the stroke is getting there, but I can be quite sloppy sometimes. I have (partially) learned exactly what you suggest, but obviously it isn't very consistent at this point. I have many things to learn, and many things to improve on, especially in regards to whitewater. Thanks for the tips, I will be very conscious of it when the rivers open up in the spring. There are a few trips I have in mind, but I will need to practice a few things before attempting. It's going to be a long 4 or 5 months waiting. Thanks again, take care.
Thats some great canoeing !
Thanks very much Matt. It's definitely a fun paddle.
My son and I kayaked this river last Sunday, 27 May 2018! Amazing how quickly the level dropped. LOTS more rocks when we went through. We plan to come back earlier next year. Great video! Thanks for sharing!
Yeah it's definitely a spring canoe or kayak run. I went the first weekend after the ice retreated, and rocks were not an issue at all. I plan on going back every spring now. Thanks for watching, take care.
Wow dude what a ride! Like this is amazing. I have never canoed before but I live in the area. I need to get into this hobby. Amazing
Thanks man!! It is quite a rush. Canoeing is a great hobby... I wish I had started 25 years earlier. I highly recommend it. Take care man.
Great videos, thanks. A quick map shot would be helpful.
Thanks very much. I appreciate the input.
I've watched this one 2 or 3 times now and I think it's my favorite. Spring run, no crowds, good water, easy access, beautiful scenery, close to home, wake-up rapids after the winter doldrums, good weather, and can be done solo. Yup, it's my favorite. I don't know if you can access further upstream on the Lobstick but I sure would be interested in seeing it :) Take care.
Thanks very much, it was definitely an exciting paddle. Like most of the small rivers in central Alberta, the Lobstick only good for canoeing in the spring with higher waters. After that, it would be a difficult paddle with lots of rocks, shallows, beaver dams, and very slow current. I plan on going back every spring from now on. As for access upstream, I am not too sure... there is not much info out there. Just above where I put-in, the river meanders through farmland and a fairly big lake. Above that, into the foothills of the Rockies, I suspect it is more like a small creek, with lots hazards, and very little access. I will look into it though, not many things fascinate me more than the headwaters of rivers, and their upper courses. Thanks again, take care.
This is cool! I'm never really been on the water myself but I grew up in Wildwood and went to high school in Evansburg. I know two spots upstream basically right in the town of Wildwood you could get in (one is under the bridge on the road that heads north towards Chip Lake Park) I've always been curious to see what that adventure would look like and if the water is high enough!
good morning Nick. great to see you back on the river. i like your white water Mad River canoe. at first i wondered why there was no floatation but then i see you had some all along. looks like a great float. take care
Thanks Martin. Yes it was great to be back on the water. I started without the float bags. I put them in when I pulled over and video taped the ledge with the log laying across it. It was a very enjoyable first paddle of the season. Thanks again, take care.
Looked like a fun trip
Thanks for the video Nick
Hey it's my pleasure George. Thanks for watching.
Nice start to season. Looks interesting river for canoeing. My friends started season also yesterday but unfortunately I had work. We will try again next month.
Yeah it was a nice first paddle of the year, but lots of rust to work off. I hope to get a few more trips done this summer. Thanks, take care.
Such an elagant canoe
Yeah I love it. She's a beauty!! Thanks very much.
Well done brother Nick!!!...totally awesome...Five Stars...woods
Thanks very much Woods. It was a very nice first paddle of the season. Felt great to be back on open water. Glad you enjoyed, take care.
Nothing like a gentle float to start your year.
Yeah no kidding, plenty of rust to work off on this trip. All in all, it was very fun.
Wow it’s like you’re right in the canoe good stuff
Hey thanks very much Paul. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
another awesome adventure Nick ! wow the river was really moving , looks like you had to work at it a little here and there crazy fast ! lots of debris in the big river at the end ! thanks for sharing
atb john
Thanks John, yeah it was an exciting first paddle of the year. Lots of rust to shake off. Definitely some ice and debris coming down the bigger rivers here, they are running quite high. I'm hoping to get a few more trips in this summer. Thanks again, take care. Nick
WOW that was intense!! thanks for taking us with you
Thanks very much Thorn. Yeah it felt real good to be on the water again. It was a very long winter.
Another excellent video. Thanks.
Thanks very much. Glad you liked it. I appreciate the comment. Take care.
That looks like a fun little run at those water levels.
Yeah it's a nice little spring run, and close to home too. A good warm-up trip. Thanks for watching.
Good video ! Spring fever!
Thanks very much. Yes, definitely looking forward to spring, and open water. Take care.
Thank you so much for posting this video!!
My pleasure. Thank you for taking the time.
Great..never thought Evansburg that exciting!!
Yeah in the early spring, the little river comes to life.
Dude, there were some serious rapids! Well done! Cheers; Marc
Thanks Marc. Yeah it is a good river to canoe in the springtime when the snow is melting, lots of good flow.
You go man have fun
Thanks very much Brent. Yes this one is a lot of fun in the spring.
Great way to spend the day.
Most definitely!! I wish I could spend more days like that.
Saw you decided to inflate the bags. :-) Doing this run tomorrow.
Yeah the bags are probably over-kill, but anything to make recovery easier if I have to swim alone. I paddled it again this year on April 6, and it was flowing nicely. Pembina River is rising now, but I'm not sure about the Lobstick's levels. Have a good run, it's a fun one.
Hay Nick Great seeing ya back on the river. @ 4:45 was that an Eagle or Osprey callin ya ? Sure was a wonderful trip with ya ! Be Well, Brother ATB Ter God Bless
Hello Terry, glad you could check it out. It was a very nice first canoe trip of the season. The weather was near perfect. I think it was a goose honking away, but it could be a bird of prey too. The call was partially drowned out by the sound of the water. I tried to get a quick look, but didn't locate it though. Thanks again my friend. Nick
Nice video Nick. Some stretches looked pretty rough, did you have to portage any sections. Still pretty early in the year, I can see the deciduous trees in Alberta still don't have any foliage. Good start for another season of adventure.
Thanks very much. It has good moderate whitewater in the spring. Later in the summer it will be almost impossible to canoe due to low water, vegetation and beaver dams. Yeah it's still quite dull and grey looking, no green at all yet. I have more than a few trips in mind, I'm hopeful I can get them done.
Really enjoyed that, just enough river to get the muscle memory up and running too.
Never occurred to me there'd be icebergs on the river, obvious when I think of it but interesting nonetheless.
Thanks to you. Yeah it's a small river, the only good paddling is in the spring with the snow melt. Or possibly later in the summer, after multiple days of heavy rain . Very cold winter this year, the ice stayed a bit later than normal.
you should do the Freeman river start on highway 32 north and come out on the Athabasca at fort assiniboine.
I just watched a jet boating video of that river. Looks very nice... I'll have to look into a bit more. Thanks for the tip.
ever paddle from Chip Lake to the Pembina?
No, just from Hwy 22 to the Pembina. I've heard it is not a very exciting paddle from Chip Lake... but maybe I'll try someday. Thanks for watching, take care.
Hey Nick, great video again. Do you think the Lobstick is as high now with the recent floods?
Hi Pablo, I've only paddled it the one time so far, so I'm not real familiar with the Lobstick. But the Pembina is high, so there is a good chance the Lobstick is too. There is no gauging station there unfortunately, the only way to know for sure is to see the river in person.
Hey Pablo, I ran the Lobstick today, April 25th, and it was nice and high. Higher than in this video... some big waves in the II+ section. Super fun!!
Nick Harland hey man! Good to hear from you. I’m planning on doing that run this year. Maybe next weeken?!
Nice float! How do you find these places? Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much. I get most of my trip ideas from "Mark's Guide For Alberta Paddlers, 2nd Edition". It's a great guidebook by Mark Lund.
Was just going to paddle to the Lobstick this weekend! Looks like its flowing well and fairly clear of debris (unlike the pembina) besides the few sweepers and that one log jam.
Approx run-time? debating running twice. Was the park gate open? I was planning on parking at the gate because of lack of access.
Cheers Nick.
Hello Nigel. Yeah it's flowing nicely. As long as the Pembina is high, so should the Lobstick. Very clear except for a large tree laying across the top of one of the bigger ledges. Also a large tree on the outside of the corner immediately after that ledge (5:40-5:50). Looked like it would have been fun to run otherwise. The gates to the campground were locked. There was parking at the day-use area up-river, and at the top of the hill by the park entrance. I had to hike my canoe out and up the hill. Not too bad though. As for paddling time, I made a few stops along the way so I'm just guessing, but I think it was around 3 hours. Worth doing twice I'd say. I may go back again if the water stays up for a little while. It's a lot of fun, you'll enjoy it.
Do you get picked up or how do you get back to you car?. Take care and thanks for video.
For day trips like this one, I use my bike to shuttle myself. Stash the canoe and gear at the start, drive truck to finish, and then bike back to the canoe at the start. For longer trips I get help from my dad, friends, or paid shuttles. Thanks very much, take care.
How long did this take you? Just added it to my spring day trip bucket list :) thanks as always for the awesome vid!
Thanks very much, it is a very fun run. Not counting putting in my float bags and scouting a couple rapids, I think it was maybe around 3 hours. I will likely go back there every spring.
What canoe is this? Thank you
Hi Derik. This is a Mad River M.E. Built in 1988. Thanks for watching.
👏👏👏 Good to see you back at it Nick. Nice run, I didn't realize that the lobstick was that rough.
At 5:30 you didn't have that harmony sack in the front, and at 6:00 it is there. Was that some type of air bladder?
Yeah the Lobstick is very much like the Sturgeon. Good and exciting in the spring, and almost impossible to paddle by late summer. But obviously the Lobstick is rougher. At the point where I filmed the ledge with the tree laying across it, that is where I decided to put the float bags in. They make recovering the canoe much easier in the event of a capsize or swamping.
My Assault xx doesn't allow for dry testicles so I have to wait for much warmer water to start my season. 😳
Haha, yeah warmer weather will be nice. I had a wet suit on, but my feet still got quite numb. Doesn't take much with water that cold.
That escalated quickly
Yeah it's a fun section to paddle. Starts slow, picks up nicely after that. Thanks, take care.