'Go somewhere else': River too fast for Edmonton paddling enthusiasts
Thandiwe Konguavi | CBC News | Posted: July 22, 2019 7:03 PM | Last Updated: July 22, 2019
North Saskatchewan River too high to enjoy safely, expert says
Looking for tips on how to enjoy paddling the North Saskatchewan River right now?
Mark Lund's advice is simple: don't do it.
"The best thing is to go somewhere else," Lund, an avid paddler and author of Mark's Guide for Alberta Paddlers, said in an interview Monday on CBC Radio's Edmonton AM. "The river's too high."
The North Saskatchewan has been flowing at about double the typical speed for this time of year after a rainy start to summer, Lund said. But with better weather on the horizon, there are still some great river paddling opportunities ahead.
"Everything is high," said Lund. "I was just up paddling the Sturgeon River yesterday and the dock at the outlet of Big Lake is about six inches under water."
All streams get more dangerous as water levels rise, said Lund.
"That's one of the reasons we went to the Sturgeon because that stretch through St. Albert is quite flat. And yeah it's high but it wasn't flowing very fast."
Warmer days ahead
Saturday and Sunday marked the first two days in a row without rain in 35 days, Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips told Edmonton AM on Monday.
"It really has been one of the longest stretches of weather misery that Edmontonians have had to put up with," Phillips said. "It was just the day after day and it stretched into week after week."
Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park and much of the rest of northern Alberta were under heat warnings Monday. Temperatures in the city are expected to cool off mid-week, but warmer temperatures are around the corner, Phillips said.
"We still have the dog days of summer to come."
Paddling opportunities
Before taking to the water, Lund suggests would-be paddlers take advantage of educational programs, such as the City of Edmonton's river valley programs and local groups such as the Ceyana Canoe Club, which offer training to the public.
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"Some formal instruction is most worthwhile," said Lund. "And of course, the proper equipment."
The Epcor RiverFest, taking place this year on Aug. 10 at Laurier Park along the banks of the river, aims to put thousands of people on the water each year.
"And those people, I think many of them are coming back and continuing to paddle because the river is a unique and very pleasant way to see the [city]," said Lund.
Also this summer, the Alberta Masters Games will be taking place Aug. 22- 25 in Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County, with paddling and canoeing races among the events.