Pontax River Canoe Trip:  The Pontax is one of the few James Bay rivers to escape daming by Hydro Quebec the Pontax offers incredible remoteness as it tumbles out of the Canadian Shield into the James Bay Lowlands. A small river by James Bay standards it nonetheless offers both challenging and technical class 2 and 3 rapids as well as fabulous wilderness camping sometimes beside stunning water falls. Our trip starts from the James Bay Highway and ends in the Cree Village Waskaganish at the mouth of the soon to be dammed Rupert River where we will have paddled along James Bay for the final half day. Here we will attempt to organize a visit to the traditional whitefish weirs up the Rupert. Along the trip route you will be travelling in an area used by Cree hunters for generations. Skill Level 2-3.

Distance Travelled: 138 km

Elevation Drop: 580 feet

Trip Duration: 11 days (includes one rest day, several half days)

Number of Portages: 3 plus several one must line

Suggested Itinerary:*

Day 1
Pontax Bridge to "Double Valve"
1 hr paddling, 4 km, "Double Valve Campsite" (on island)

We will meet for breakfast at the Hotel Metagami at 7am, hoping to depart around 8am. ...

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  Pontax River Canoe Trip:  The Pontax is one of the few James Bay rivers to escape daming by Hydro Quebec the Pontax offers incredible remoteness as it tumbles out of the Canadian Shield into the James Bay Lowlands. A small river by James Bay standards it nonetheless offers both challenging and technical class 2 and 3 rapids as well as fabulous wilderness camping sometimes beside stunning water falls. Our trip starts from the James Bay Highway and ends in the Cree Village Waskaganish at the mouth of the soon to be dammed Rupert River where we will have paddled along James Bay for the final half day. Here we will attempt to organize a visit to the traditional whitefish weirs up the Rupert. Along the trip route you will be travelling in an area used by Cree hunters for generations. Skill Level 2-3.

Distance Travelled: 138 km

Elevation Drop: 580 feet

Trip Duration: 11 days (includes one rest day, several half days)

Number of Portages: 3 plus several one must line

Suggested Itinerary:*

Day 1
Pontax Bridge to "Double Valve"
1 hr paddling, 4 km, "Double Valve Campsite" (on island)

We will meet for breakfast at the Hotel Metagami at 7am, hoping to depart around 8am. We will make one stop at the Rupert River Bridge to view the spectacular falls and snap pictures. We should be at the river by about 12:30 noon. We will only paddle a short distance (4 km).  We will encounter our first rapids after about 3km. There is a great site half way down this set of rapids where we will set up camp for the evening. This will allow us to practice in the rapids and have a relaxing first day.

Day 2
Double Valve to Labyrinth site
5 hrs paddling, 9.5 km, Labyrinth Campsite - excellent

Around the bend we run into "the Deek" a long technical R2 amongst many islands. That can be quite shallow. Below this is "Whip Lash Rapids" an R3+ with a fair drop at end. Thus ends the "Rapides Alikashekakamichisut" Complex. 5 km of calm paddling follows. In the afternoon we encounter an R2 rapid, followed immediately by the R3 labyrinth. This is really two R3's with a break in the middle. Around the especially with warm sun and open rock that we often elect to camp here.

Day 3
The Labyrinth to Island Hop or 4 km below.
7 hrs paddling, 17 km,

After breakfast we head onto the water and the R3 rapids. This 1st R3 is an enjoyable one with some waves and maneuvering. 4km down we encounter a small R1, followed by a complex of rapids and falls amongst the islands. River right involves some large drops (R4, R3, R4) so we take the left instead. First "Dog Leg" rapids, a technical R2, and then an R3-4 to be lined ("Walk the Dog"). Below this, small rapids continue for 3 or 4 km. Most are R1s or swifts with two sections approaching technical R2 level in the middle.  The river slows somewhat at this point until we reach Island Hop Rapids. Depending on the day we may camp here (it’s a beautiful spot but depending on group size may necessitate having tenting on one island and cooking on another) If not we will run this rapids and continue on about 4km to another campsite.

Day 4
Island Hop to the Xatnop Falls
6 hrs, 15 km, The Asteroid Belt - Great campsite (in very high water it might disappear)

There are several channels to choose from at Island hop rapids. Island Hop flows right into the next R1-2 the "stretcher". 3 km of calm paddling is follows, and then there is an R1 and R2. Another 4 km of flat paddling and we are into the "underbelly" an exciting R2 (3. This rapid is a big one with a series of R3 and R4 drops, including many ledges. There is a portage on river right, Depending on water levels and weather we may line our way through narrow channels and amidst the islands or we may take the portage on river right. It's about 2 km down to Xatnop falls, which is truly spectacular. It is really a huge R5 (6) rapids. The portage is on the

Day 5
Xatnop Falls to Lesser Pontax
8 km, 4 hrs

Strangely this portage ends before the end of the rapids and we are forced to put into a small rocky side channel which we will then bump and lined our way down. Presumably this is a winter trail used by snowmobiles. 1 km below and around the corner is "911" rapids. The top of this begins as an R3, but the final drops are R4ish and there is no good way out or to line once in the rapids. Portaging over the rocks on the left is probably the advisable thing to do. After the portage we will ran the R3 outwash. Below this is the "asteroid belt, one of the most enjoyable rapids of the trip. A very long R3 requiring much maneuvering abound rocks and pillows, which is great fun. Splash covers definitely help here as the river starts to get noticeably bigger. Three km down we reach the mouth of one of the minor Pontax's. There is an R4 ledge immediately before the confluence which we will line on the left. The Islands here provide an excellent site with fantastic whitewater playing opportunities. The camping is good. We'll stop and sped the afternoon playing in the rapids.

Day 6
The Lesser Pontax to Night Hawk Falls
7 hrs, 12.5 km, Night Hawk Falls - great site (tenting only mediocre, but worth staying anyway-we stayed two nights)

We'll head into the R2.5 around the islands and continue down another few hundred meters. This set flows immediately into "the Irritator". This 1 km + R3.6 rapid are just a bit too rocky and or large to run comfortably. We will hammy hamster our way down river left with the occasional line or drag. Below the Irritator is another 5 km of flat paddling. The approach to Night Hawk Falls involves about 500 m of R2, R3. Night Hawk Falls is itself a bit of a nasty drop (you definitely do not want to go over it - it’s a big drop with a very dangerous hole). Depending on conditions we may line the whole approach to the portage or we my eddy hoped our way down river left to the last bend above the falls and then carry the 100 m to the bottom. This is a truly beautiful spot and we will set up camp on the rocks beside the falls. We can find enough flat spots to scatter the tents around the open rock outcropping next to the falls. The multi levels provide a great kitchen and seating area.

Day 7
Night Hawk Falls to the Grasslands
5.5 hrs, 24.5 km

The 700 m below the falls is an enjoyable R2.5 which we run. Around the bend the rapids peters out to little more than a swift. Swifts continue for several km below. This is followed by about 10 km of flat paddling, although the current continues. We will then encounter a large rapid by an island. There rapid is an R4 on the right, but the smaller left channel is a technical R2-3 which we can bump our way down. Below the island, as it joins the other channel, it is again larger and a definite R3 having some good size waves and requiring maneuvering. Below is another island with rapids on both sides, we take the left side, which contains two R2 rapids, one near the top and the other at the bottom of the island, down 1 km to another similar R2. Camping is limited in this area but about 4km along there is a small beach with a band of grass behind where we often camp.

Day8
The Grassland to the Cabin
4.5 hrs, 11 km, Cabin Site - decent camping around the cabin, note that the cabin can not be seen from the water, one has to be looking for the path and know exactly where it is.

400 m below the site we come to the "The Rock Dodge". This is a biggish, technical R3, with some good rocks and holes to avoid. 300 m down is the next R3 ("the Brutal Scout). (The growth along the river banks of this river is quite dense and in this location there was no shoreline to speak off. Scouting is a real pain. The rapid is a run able R3. Then two km more to an R1 followed by a larger set. R4(3) This rapid is quite large in the middle (R4) (and another pain in the ass scout). Usually we can work our way down the right side through the whole rapid (R3). On another 2km to the next R2. The river widens at this point but the current continues. In the early afternoon, we will come upon a cabin back in the woods. It can't be seen from the river, so look for the trail, canoe rack etc. Because campsites are limit in this are we often choose to stay here. We will set up tents in the grass around the cabin (lots of room).

Day 9
The Cabin to Camp Pontax (James Bay)
5.5 hrs, 27 km, Camp Pontax - Cree Camp on James Bay, lots of room on the grounds, plus table and outhouses

About 1km below the cabin there is an R2 and R2+. On 4 km to another set R1+, another 5 km to the last set of the river a long R1 leading into a long R2. The river widens substantially below this, but the current remains strong. If conditions favour us we should be at the mouth of the river by mid afternoon. Heading south along the shore of the Bay for about 2 km we will encounter Camp Pontax, a Waskaganish hunt camp with about half dozen cabins and lots of room for tents on their lawn

Day 10
Camp Pontax to Waskaganish
12 km

Conditions on the Bay can vary greatly. In good weather the trip will only take about 3 hours, with wind or tides against you it can take longer. In extreme weather we don't move. Bird life is very abundant along the shores. We will likely also see Cree from the community out fishing or hunting.

Day 11
Depending on conditions this day may be used as a wind/weather day over the course of the trip or it may be taken as another lay over day, or we may spend it in the community of Waskaganish where we can pay the locals to take us out on a boat trip into the Bay or up the river to Smokey Hill Rapids. In the afternoon we will be picked up and transported back to Metagami.

Logistics:

Meeting Spot: Hotel Metagami, Metagami Quebec the evening before the trip starts. Trip finishes back in Metagami 11 days later.

Drop Off: Pontax River Bridge, James Bay Hwy, approx. km. 310 (N 51.44', W 77.23")

Pick up: Waskagenish Meeting Spot: Hotel Metagami

(*Note this is a suggested itinerary only, conditions on each trip vary)