Before you come
What to read:
- VKC's safety policy Safety Information
- Waiver of liability: Upon registration you will be required to sign a Waiver of Liability, where you'll take full responsibility for your participation in this event and give up the right to sue. Please download the registration form and read the waiver in advance. You will be asked to read and sign this legal document when you check-in at the festival.
- Emergency Action Plan (to be added soon)
What to bring:
- Own Water
- Own cutlery, plates, and cups for all meals
- Own meals for Friday and lunches for Saturday and Sunday
- Camping and kayaking gear
- Cash (Canadian dollars) or cheques from local banks (with ID) for registration and silent auction, raffle, or festival T-shirts
What to consider:
Carpooling! We strongly encourage people to carpool to the festival. This will not only prevent car chaos at the campsite, but will also reduce your transportation costs and increase your enjoyment on the drive out with extra company. Check out the following topic on the VKC Forum to arrange your carpool: http://www.vankayak.org/forum/index.php?topic=2934.0
At the festival
Registration:
Please park your car along the road to check-in at the registration booth before proceeding to your campsite. For those arriving late Friday night, if registration is closed, please check in at the booth on Saturday morning after 8am. Also available at the registration booth will be VKC memberships and festival T-Shirts. Only cash or cheques from local banks with ID will be accepted for payments.
Wrist band policy:
Each participant will be provided with a wristband. This wristband MUST be attached to your wrist and will act as your festival shuttle (for paddlers) and meal pass. Again, the wristbands are only valid for the registered participant.
Parking pass:
All vehicles will be registered and assigned a parking pass. This parking pass must be displayed at all times on the dashboard. It is non-transferable.
Campsite rules:
Please note that 'festival style' camping is included with your registration. Due to the number of people expected for this event, there will likely be at least two groups of people per campsite. Please plan tho share sites with your friends or make some new ones so everyone has a comfortable camp spot for the weekend. If you do not require your vehicle, please park off-site if possible.
If you choose to have your own fire, please buy firewood from the campsite hosts (1 bundle for $7, or 3 bundles for $20). Only burn wood which will burn completely. Don't leave any branches or half-burnt logs behind.
Please make use of the many garbage and recycling cans throughout the campsite.
Schedule:
Please check out http://www.vankayak.org/VKC/Festival#pro for the program. The schedule is subject to change. Updates will be posted at the registration desk. Note that dinner will be served between 7 and 8pm on Saturday evening.
River runs on the Chilliwack River:
This quick summary of river runs on the Chilliwack River is only a overview and doesn't replace a guidebook. To avoid incidents, please ask in advance for water levels and hazards at the registration desk and always watch out for wood and other obstacles on the river. Shuttle details and guided runs will be announced at the registration desk as they depend on water levels.
Grades are valid for low and medium water levels only!
| Section | Access Locations | Grade | Length |
|---|
| LAKE DOWN | Lake put-in to end of Paulsen Rd | IV | 1.9 km |
| POST CREEK | Post Creek to Camp Foley | III+ | 15 km |
| CANYON | Foley Creek FSR to Slesse Creek | IV- | 9.3 km |
| SLESSE DOWN | Below Slesse creek to Osborne Rd | III (IV-) | 14.8 km |
| *ALLISON POOL DOWN | Allison Pool to above Tamihi | III | 4.7 km |
| *TAMIHI | (can be easily portaged) | VI- | 1.2 km |
| *TAMIHI DOWN | Below Tamihi to Osborne Rd | III (IV-) | 3 km |
| LOWER | Osborne Rd to Vedder Bridge | II | 8 km |
| VEDDER | Vedder Bridge to Campground or Keith Wilson Bridge | II- | 3.5/5.8 km |
*sections on "Slesse down"
| SLESSE CREEK (walk in) | Slesse Creek PI to Chilliwack R | III (IV-) | 6.5 km |
Shuttles:
Shuttle vehicles will run continuous loops of the river runs throughout the day. They will most likely start from the Tamihi parking lot (not the campground). Only registered participants with shuttle passes (wristband) will be allowed. You are responsible to use the seatbelts as provided and to secure your boat and paddle in the correct trailer!
Safety:
Familiarize yourself with the Safety Information and the Emergency Action Plan posted at the registration area. All Paddlers MUST attend the Safety Meeting Saturday morning. If you have any concerns or questions, please ask. Remember that YOU are responsible for your safety at all times.
Off-river activities:
Please check out the schedule on http://www.vankayak.org/VKC/Festival#pro . There you will find some guided hikes (registration required) and some suggestions for self-organized activities.
Raffle/Silent Auction:
Check out the Raffle and Silent Auction items donated by our sponsors next to the registration tent. Buy raffle tickets or place a bid on a silent auction item. Check back regularly to make sure you win!. Join the excitement and attend the live raffle drawing on Saturday night. All proceeds will go to offset the costs of hosting the festival, with any other funds put towards stewardship projects and river access.
Surrounding Area:
Chilliwack has all service, many open all weekend. There are several banks with ATM’s on Vedder road (main road from the highway to the river) – in case you forgot money for the raffle or auction. You can also find a Wal-mart, Canadian Tire, several grocery stores, gas, etc. In other words, if you forget something, it can be found close by.
