The Petawawa | Algonquin's Whitewater River

A four day whitewater canoe trip in the summer of 2018 paddling the Petawawa River in Algonquin Provincial Park.

[@mrcanoe3]

I used to run the Petawawa every May long weekend with friends. Never saw it at low water, what a difference! Thanks for bringing me back 20 years....

[@wildernesscanoeassociation]

I would also like to compliment Ben's paddling in the bow, especially at Crooked Chute. It is refreshing to watch someone who really knows what they are doing, and is able to apply all the tools in the tool box with competent decisiveness.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks a lot. He is definitely great in the bow, knows how to read the river well, and makes a great paddling partner.

[@BurtReynoldstash]

Yep, I’d like that guy in my 🛶 paddling that. Top skills buddy

[@normanfred746]

I used this video with my granddaughter as a training film to show her just how a Crossbow Draw is done correctly. She struggles with that stroke but now she understands the position of the blade and the angle of the paddle shaft. She can't wait to get back on the river to use it. Nice video all around and good views of the lines you chose. On that one rapid where you caught the small eddy on the left ----- Hitting that drop at an angle to catch the small eddy at the bottom was very instructive to both of us. I have paddled with her mother, my daughter, since 1995. We have paddled some big rivers in CA and we once, on the Trinity River, we got rammed into an undercut cliff wall and then trapped in an eddy with a big logjam downstream because we hit a big hole a bit off center than we should have been. We have been reluctant to try that again. We got out ok but it was one of the worst situations we have ever been in on any river. Now I am paddling with my granddaughter and it's back to square one but it's still fun for an 85 year old man to be out on the river with a pretty girl with an awesome Draw Stroke in the bow.

[@Mainepolingguide]

Really enjoyed this. It’s nice to see canoeists running a river using skill mode rather than beast mode. Nice to see the real food enjoyed because of canoe tripping and the comfort and camaraderie that comes from taking the gear to have fun in rain and bugs that this affords. So many young people lack the river running skills so they carry the boat as much as they paddle it and because of this, do it with all hiking gear and food…(which works as well as hiking with canoe gear) missing out on what makes canoeing the paragon of wilderness travel. Signed an old Maine Guide.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks so much Lisa! Yes, the skills for canoeing seems to be lost more and more these days. It takes time and practice, and often instruction, which many are not willing to invest. It is an art form as well, as I also enjoy watching others skillfully maneuvering a canoe with a paddle. Thankfully there are still some of us committed to this way of travel/life. Thanks for swinging by, and your contribution to this art and tradition. 👏🙌

[@amonar2012]

Thank you so much for sharing this. Ive just re-discovered my passion for paddling. Bought an Esquif Pocket canyon, and am in NC exploring the rivers. This was the perfect addition to my journey.

[@terry3920]

Lots of fun to watch,thanks guys.

[@boblatshaw]

Excellent communication between bow and stern paddlers, very positive, lots of confirmation, makes for an enjoyable vibe.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks Bob, appreciate you watching and the nice feedback. 🙏

[@rorystibbs5164]

Good work guys , great footage ,. thank you

[@720flipUwish]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your adventures.

[@dannyboy8883]

I grew up in Petawawa. The only thing missing on this trip was the awesome fishing on this river. Walleye Bass and Sturgeon.

[@JimmyDCarter]

Wow! That's a great river. I haven't been on it but I loved to watch this video of you and your pals running those rapids.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks Jimmy! It really is a gorgeous river combined with great whitewater. No wonder it is a favourite of Bill Mason.

[@brigittejohnson1285]

Good to see another great video from you!

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thank you Brigitte! 😊

[@CanoeTheNorth]

Awesome paddling. I would say that 75% is more like 💯 with you guys in the canoe. Could watch that crooked chute all day. Ben looks like a beast in the bow. Great work. We just finished watching finding the line as well and I would certainly say that you guys have to chops!

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks Keenan! Glad we made it, or the video would have taken a different tone. 🤣 However we were optimistically confident. Yup, Ben is great in the bow! Thanks buddy!

[@lindascallon8960]

Ohhh WOW! Majestic beauty and exciting runs.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

😄 It really is a gem of a river to paddle!

[@AmyOutdoors]

That was so much fun to watch! Loved running all those rapids with you. 🤙

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks Amy! Looks like you're getting into some moving water yourself. 😉😊

[@AmyOutdoors]

@@ThePursuitofPassion hahaha... its a little bit swirly, nothing like the fun you guys have! Wish we had more of it over this way!

[@puddlejumper-sk]

Awesome Diamond Dave! LOL...my ass puckered up when Ben got out of the canoe quickly and didn't realize how deep it was. I've done that a few times and just about lost my left nut as it got caught between me and the gunwale😬😣🤢.......Ouch! Anyways, beautiful little trip! Making the trek from Saskatchewan to canoe one part of that park is on my bucket list! Cheers!🍻

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

😂 Dude, ouch is right!!! I would highly recommend the NE part of the park if you do come. Vice versa, there are some routes in your neck of the woods I would love to paddle We need to do an exchange program! Thanks buddy!

[@puddlejumper-sk]

@@ThePursuitofPassion Oh ya...I'm totally on board with an exchange! I would love a chance to learn in the TPP School of Whitewater. You bring the skill, I'll bring the KFC.

[@spotweld]

Great pic of you and Ben going down the rapids at the end of the video...

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

😄 Thanks Jeff! Appreciate you watching.

[@jacqueline7118]

Beautiful river for sure! Paddling, camping, good friends and great food. What more could a fella ask for? Thanks for sharing. :) :)

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

The epitome of canoe camping and whitewater. 😁 You're welcome Jacqueline!

[@JimmyJamesJ]

17:05 The bow paddler is fantastic. Having a bow paddler like that makes all the difference in the world. I love paddling from the bow like that but at 220 pounds I'm too heavy for it in serious rapids and the boat nose dives. I always end up in the stern wishing I had a better bow paddler.

[@jaysway2346]

Awesome video, you guy's got some real white water skills!

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks Jay! Lots of rivers, whitewater trips, and even lessons helped to get me where I am today. And lots more to come! 😉

[@reidgk]

do you remember roughly what dates you did this trip? Do you happen to remember the CMS was at the time?

[@untamedontario]

What fun! Great trip, David - and well-documented as always! …Craving the return of warm weather and wet water! 😉

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks buddy! You bet, it will be here sooner than we know. 👊

[@NobleEndeavours123]

It's wonderful watching you guys run the Petawawa. Hopefully I will run it for the first time later this year! Thanks for sharing! :)

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks a lot! That's great, you won't regret it. Have fun and be ssfe!

[@BOZOSMITH-xw3ms]

I have a set of the same NRS bags. Hope those are better than the ones I have. First time I blew them up the dump valve completely came apart. Same with a soft cooler of theirs, just fell apart

[@sstorm66]

What an awesome trip. That cliff face was gorgeous, I could use to views like that .

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks! The view from that campsite is a hard one to beat!

[@dwaynebarill3898]

Thanks for sharing buddy.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Anytime my friend!

[@milanf6926]

That was awesome!!! You paddled by some serious fishing spots though 😂

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks a lot Milan! 🤔 Hmmm, I guess I need to talk to you re 🎣 .

[@OpenAirOutdoors]

Looked like a fun time out there👍 Back in the day before Covid 😆 See you next time✌

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

It was a blast Marc! Definitely, the good'ole times. Thanks buddy!

[@angusxena]

Very different river in low water. Nicely done!

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks guys! You bet, but we made it work. 😊

[@canoepoler]

Well, that is about as good as it gets! Thanks for the share.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks Stephen! I'm sure you know that route well, with a pole too! 😉

[@canoepoler]

@@ThePursuitofPassion Nobody usually wants low water on a trip like that, but I'd love some for that reason... some day!

[@tailwindsnorth]

Great video and solid paddling skills!

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks a lot, appreciate you checking it out!

[@martincuda7947]

Looks like a really great trip. 👍

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Yup! It was really fun, despite the low water. Thanks Martin! 😊

[@TOOZECRUISE]

Great trip guys! Do you remember what the shuttle cost Dave?

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks buddy! Hmmm, I can't recall, but it was reasonable. The cost has likely gone up since then.

[@segundaordem]

really cool! are the canoes 15 or 17''?

[@retiredoutside]

Enjoyed that a lot, thanks David.. I need to run that river sometime. Nice to have water levels where you could run all the rapids, even if it was close to all-time low flow rates. They looked challenging enough. Did I recognize the view out the Wilno Tavern window behind the beers at the end there?

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks Bill. You sure do, a classic whitewater river with a lot of history. This was also the trip you met us on the river with Candace. That was a nice surprise. And yes, correct, Wilno Tavern it is! 👏

[@benpressman4752]

1:23 day 1 - travellers inn, breakfast in Pembroke 3:45 big Thomson rapid 7:50 grillaid rapids 11:06 crooked chute 17:27 second team crooked chute 24:03 roll away rapids 29:09 next rapids, two big ledges 31:12 camp site and dinner 34:02 view from lookout point 38:37 McManus takeout

[@simonbeck753]

love the videos man. just wondering we saw your group on the Moise River last summer. we were from a camp a group of 12. just wondering if there will be a video coming out on that sometime?

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks Simon! Oh cool! Ah, so were you the Kandalore group we ran into? I've unfortunately ran into some technical problems with editing the Moisie trip that I'm still trying to sort out (both video editor and video files) so at the moment, can't give you any timeline, but I have been reviewing the footage to hopefully start working on it soon.

[@simonbeck753]

@@ThePursuitofPassion yes we were the kandalor trip hopefully the footage works out as it's such a good river

[@florenceor.9002]

Thank you for sharing !

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

You're welcome!

[@stephenbouchard8075]

Great video David. Curious what white experience levels were all you guys at in this video.

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Thanks Stephen! It's hard to rate paddlers. Most times they state the level of rapids they can run, but I find it doesn't mean much. Jon and Dimitry had the least experience and they wouldn't have run Crooked Chute if it wasn't for Ben and I. Does that help?

[@stephenbouchard8075]

@@ThePursuitofPassion yes thank you. As for my self I’m definitely a beginner but would love to be able run some whitewater in the future

[@segundaordem]

how long is this canoe? 15''or 17''?

[@charlesshober8840]

it all look ez but fun good times

[@stephenelderkin5022]

What is the name of the pub where you enjoyed the pints?

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

Wilno Tavern. Wilno is a small town settled by the Polish during the logging era. We were treated to Polish cuisine and it was delicious.

[@JosephStealin]

1:10 beer is meant to be drunk at room temperature

[@georgevenckus]

When i win the lotto I’m buying you folks some spray skirts

[@ThePursuitofPassion]

😄 Thanks! However, we beat you to the punch. If you check out some other videos, we do use a spray skirt!

[@JimmyJamesJ]

19:15 Everything is easier in a Canyon, except for carving and turning.