You're here: MiBSAR's home page :: Trip beta page

10-day Dog River Canyoneering & Backpacking Expedition

August 5-14, 2011
Nimoosh Provincial Park
Algoma District
Wawa, Ontario, Canada

Last revised on August 21, 2016 4:38 PM

Notices & advisories regarding
Michael Neiger's
wilderness adventures

Forewarned is forearmed

A participant's failure to physically and mentally prepare for this adventure; acquire the necessary skills and equipment for this adventure; or recognize, take responsibility for, and avoid the unknown and unpredictable hazards and perils that will present themselves on this adventure will likely result in the participant's serious injury, paralysis, or slow, painful death.

Accidents and injuries

Wilderness adventures—especially remote, foul-weather travel; bushwhacking cross-country; cliff and steep slope travel; climbing; canyoneering; cave exploration; river fording; swimming; canoeing; portaging; skiing; snowshoeing; winter camping; ice travel; ice crossing; deep cold; high winds; etc.—involve unknown and unpredictable hazards and perils.

• Hypothermia • Burns
• Hyperthermia • Fractures
• Dehydration • Lacerations
• Frostbite • Joint injuries
• Eye injuries • Near drownings
• Flu • Falls through ice
• Colds • Car accidents
• Giardia • Et cetera

Accidents, injuries, and problematic incidents are not something that only happen on other people's wilderness adventures or to other wilderness trippers. They have happened in the past on Michael Neiger's adventures, and they may happen on this adventure as well. Click here to learn more about past accidents, injuries, and incidents.

Medical and dental exams

As with any strenuous activity, it is strongly recommended participants visit their physician to make sure he or she approves of their participation in this adventure. A dental exam is also highly recommended.

Safety glasses

It is highly recommended eye protection—safety glasses—be worn on this adventure, especially while bushwhacking, as several participants have suffered near-incapacitating eye injuries in the past.

Cotton clothing

Avoid wearing or carrying cotton clothing on this adventure as when—and not if—it gets wet, it will be extremely difficult and time-consuming to dry.

On past adventures, wet cotton clothing and its tendency to conduct heat away from the body much faster than other fabrics has led to numerous cases of hypothermia, which is the number one killer of wilderness trippers.

Clothing fashioned from nylon, supplex, polypro, fleece, microfibers, wool, etc., are much safer and easier to manage during prolonged bouts of foul weather.

Survival kit

An on-your-person (in-pocket), survival kit—folding knife, waterproof matches, firestarters, compass, mini-light, and whistle—secured with loss-prevention lanyards should be carried during this adventure.

Allergies to bee stings

If you are allergic to bee stings, consult your physician before participating in this adventure; inquire about carrying an injectable epinephrine unit—such as an EpiPen or Ana-Kit—in your first-aid kit.

First-aid kit

The only first-aid equipment available on this adventure is that which is carried by each participant. Consult your personal physician to determine what items, including medications, you should carry.

Emergency medical care

There will not be any doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, or other trained emergency medical personnel on this adventure.

No one will have first-aid or other emergency medical training. At best, other participants may only be able to render the most basic and rudimentary of aid.

Search & rescue

No one on this adventure will have training in rope handling, rappelling, climbing, caving, ice travel, high-angle slope travel, swift-water travel, etc. N

No one will have training in rescue from these situations either.

Insurance

No insurance coverage of any sort is provided for participants on this adventure. It is highly recommended that participants consider purchasing their own insurance policies:

  • Trip cancellation insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Medical insurance
  • Prescription insurance
  • Evacuation insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • Life insurance

Emergency communications

No emergency communications gear such as cell phones, satellite phones, or satellite beacons (ELTs, PLBs, & EPIRBs) will be carried during this adventure.

The only way to summon search and rescue personal or emergency medical personnel during this adventure will be for another uninjured participant to walk, snowshoe, paddle, peddle, etc. to a point where help can be summoned.

The wait for assistance may be very long—sometimes measured in days—and could possibly be very painful, maybe even fatal.

Since the evacuation process will be both very difficult and costly to arrange, participants should consider carrying their own communications gear as well as purchasing evacuation insurance, as noted above.
 

Current participant list:

• Ewa Roszczenko*, Livonia, Michigan
• Charlie Robertson, Middleville, Michigan
• Dennis Waite, Berrien Springs, Michigan
• Mary Powell*, Flint, Michigan
• Chris Ozminski*, Brighton, Michigan
• Michael Neiger*, Marquette, Michigan
  * Team MiBSAR member
 
 
 
Click here or on graphic to view high-resolution imagery of the Dog River's location in the northeast corner of Lake Superior (Cartography by Michael Neiger).
 
 
 
Dennison Falls, a 131-footer located a couple klicks (kms) upstream of where the mighty Dog River dumps into Lake Superior. Click here or on image to view high-resolution imagery. (Photo courtesy of Larry Ricker, Copyright © 2006, LHR Images, www.LHR Images.com, Rochester, Minnesota)
 
 
 
Lower Dennison Falls, a 10-footer located a couple klicks (kms) upstream of where the mighty Dog River dumps into Lake Superior. Click here or on image to view high-resolution imagery. (Photo courtesy of Larry Ricker, Copyright © 2006, LHR Images, www.LHR Images.com, Rochester, Minnesota)
 
 
Satellite imagery of 40-km Dog River valley route along the north shore of Lake Superior. Click here or on image to view high-resolution imagery. (Base satellite imagery courtesy of NavTeq via Bing; cartography by Michael Neiger)
 

The expedition

During this free, public adventure, we'll spend 10 days backpacking and exploring the lower 40 kilometers of the Dog River in Nimoosh Provincial Park.

For the latest info about this trip, visit the trip discussion thread on Backpacker Magazine's Midwest Forum.

The Dog/University River is regarded by many to be one of the most challenging whitewater rivers in Ontario.
—Mike McIntosh, Canadian Canoe Routes Message Boards

Situated along the north shore of Lake Superior, between Wawa and Pukaskwa National Park in Ontario, Canada, Nimoosh Provincial Park is a non-operating waterway-class park.

No one does the Dog!...
Too dangerous.
The few who've tried
had to be airlifted out by helicopter.
—Wawa-area outfitter, as quoted by Larry Rice's "The Dog" article in the July 1999 issue of the Canoe and Kayak magazine.

At 3,550 hectares (8,772 acres) in size, Nimoosh covers the geographic townships of St. Germain, Warpula, Groseilliers, and Franchere in the Territorial District of Algoma.

The Dog River—Rated Most Extreme Canoeing Challenge...Also winner of the awards for best place to lose a life or injure yourself, and the longest 5 km day. It is a debate among survivors whether the risks and pain of this one are worth the incredible scenery and life-changing after effects of this river.
—Dave Morin's Top Ten, Tumblehome

Nimoosh is Ojibwa for the English term dog. Many modern-day maps refer to the waterway as the University River.

Journals from Michael Neiger's prior summer Canadian expeditions

2010 :: 2006 :: 2005a :: 2005b :: 2004a :: 2004b :: 2004c :: 2004d :: 2002

The river is one of the
prettiest rivers I have canoed.
—Joel Cooper, Wawa MNR, 1985

Photo albums from Michael Neiger's prior summer Canadian expeditions

2010 :: 2006a :: 2006b :: 2005 :: 2004a :: 2004b :: 2004c

 

Itinerary

Thursday (August 4) lodging option: Those looking for lodging should consider the Voyageurs' Lodge and Cookhouse in Batchawana Bay.

This well-kept, squared-away operation is located along the east side of King’s Highway 17, on the shore of Lake Superior, about 45 minutes north of the Canadian Soo.

Voyageurs' Lodge and Cookhouse
Highway 17 North
P.O. Box 129
Batchawana Bay, Ontario, Canada POS 1AO
Toll-free phone: 1-877-877-7385
Phone: 1-705-882-2504
E-mail: info@voyageurslodge.com
Web site: http://www.voyageurslodge.com/
Owners: Gail and Frank O'Connor

Other lodging options:

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-area travel information
1-800-263-2546

Denison Falls....
One of North America's
10 worst portages
—Larry Rice's "The Dog" article in the July 1999 issue of the Canoe and Kayak magazine.

Friday (August 5) assembly location: Our 7:30 a.m. pre-trip assembly location will be the Voyageurs' Cookhouse noted above.

After waiver forms are signed and breakfast is enjoyed by those interested, we'll depart northbound on Kings Highway 17 until we reach Obatanga Provincial Park.

Once at the Park, we'll head southwest along a gravel haul road called the Paint Lake Road for about 26 klicks (km).

First ran the Dog in 1978. In summer of 1977, we read about a group in the local paper that lost all their boats and spent the next 2 week hiking out eating frogs raw for food....We were really surprised when the first rapid on the map was a 20 ft. waterfall and it only got worse. That trip was the most difficult and life changing I have ever done, I could write a book about this river. One last note: When my son was born in 1982, I said as he was being delivered, someday we will do the Dog River together. I waited 20 years to do it with him and it was a trip of a lifetime. He now knows where I want my ashes spread.
—AgawaBob, Canadian Canoe Routes Message Boards

When we're abreast the point along the west bank of the University River where we'll start our trip, we'll find a place to park our vehicles. After double-checking our rucksacks, we'll swim across the river and work our way downstream along its east bank.

Notice: This will likely be one of our most challenging expeditions ever since we'll be bushwhacking, climbing, crawling, roping, wading, floating, diving, and swimming our way along a notoriously-violent-and-unforgiving river, one that plunges toward Lake Superior through a deep, ever-constricting valley in the bedrock of the Canadian Shield.

Much of our route down the Dog River will consist of a nearly-seamless succession of some 85 rapids, falls, chutes, ledges, defiles, and rock-rimmed gorges, a challenging, potentially-dangerous undertaking.

Pinned and wrecked aluminum canoe. (Courtesy of motoscotch.blogspot.com)

Having tackled this river some 20 years ago—by canoe at high-water in May of 1992—its time to see it again, but in a less-stressful way. According to Environment Canada's archived hydrometric data for the area, the Dog should be near its lowest level in mid-August. Air temps and water temps should also be more forgiving.

At times, when we can't find another way around a deep, cliff-bound pool, we will have to float our packs and swim. We'll also have to cross the river repeatedly, particularly when a vertical cliff, logjam, or other impassable obstruction blocks our way. To accomplish this when we can't wade across the river, I will likely swim a floating zip line across the river so we can shuttle our floating rucksacks from one side to the other, one by one.

Once our rucksacks are across, each participant will then work their way across the river with an improvised PFD in tow, either under their own power, or belayed by holding on to a loop in the end of a rope (we'll never, ever tie ourselves to a rope as strong current will force one to the bottom of the river, where they'll be pinned until the rope rots through).

We'll most likely be the first party to have ever descended this waterway on foot, and participants should expect to come across the wreckage from numerous, ill-fated attempts to descend its nasty whitewater, including shredded canoe hulls, paddles, rucksacks, wanigans, barrels, camping equipment, fishing gear, and other detritus.
—Michael Neiger

Friday-Saturday (August 5-13) itinerary:

Click here to see expedition route itinerary overlaid on satellite imagery.

The Dog River:
Waking up to a dream
Videos by Dan Flath,
of Minnesota, 2008
Grab a cup of coffee,
find a comfortable chair,
turn up the volume,
and enjoy!
—See you in the bush
in August of 2011
for an outrageous
canyoneering expedition
down the mighty Dog River!!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Jimmy Kash River side canyon...If our progress down the Dog is not as difficult as expected, we'll hike up the Jimmy Kash River when we arrive at its confluence with the Dog. After traveling upstream about 4,000 meters and clearing the Jimmy Cash Canyon, we'll explore a couple of waterfalls, bivouacking near one.

The Dog River crank'n in May of 2007
 by Jay Hanks of Perry, Michigan

Photos Copyright © 2007 by Jay Hanks

 

Sunday (August 14): If all goes well, we'll be extracted from the river-mouth area or a nearby lake by a as yet-to-be-determined air or water asset.

Notice: The August 5-14 dates listed do not include travel time to and from the expedition, other than perhaps traveling home Sunday afternoon. In addition, the dates do not allow any additional days for bad weather, rough seas, heavy surf, asset mechanical problems, etc.

Considered to be the most challenging of Lake Superior's north shore rivers, the Dog River is rated for experienced whitewater paddlers only. Known for its continuous rapids and rugged portages the Dog River's payoff is Denison Falls, where 40 kms of whitewater and bushwhack portaging is washed away in a 131 ft. high cascade.
—www.northernontario.com

 

Participant requirements

Participants should be adults (18 or over) who are experienced, fully-equipped, foul-weather campers who enjoy wilderness adventures with hordes of biting insects and without campfires, tobacco or alcohol products.

Note: due to the nature of this expedition, participants must have completed at least one prior backpacking trip with the organizer.

Participants must be swimmers and in good physical condition as this adventure is not suitable for the unfit or overweight.

Bivouacs will most likely be in pristine, non-campground settings.

Camping permits: since the park is non-operating, each participant will need to purchase 8 night's worth of $10-a-day Crown Land Camping Permits prior to the trip.

These are sold wherever fishing and hunting licenses are sold. One of the best places to purchase them is at the Chippewa Trading Post, which is located along the east side of King's Highway 17, just as you are leaving Sault Ste. Marie, and heading north.

Chippewa Trading Post
1332 Great Northern Road
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 5K7
1-705-759-4518
Fax: 1-705-759-0887
E-mail

 

Specialized equipment

  • Water-hauling capacity: Everyone should have the containers—water bottles and bladders—to haul 4 quarts of water if needed. While we won't normally carry this much water, it may be necessary to pick up water in the afternoon for use at both dinner and breakfast if we end up bivouacking far from water.

    One simple, lightweight solution to this issue is to carry two, one-quart Nalgene water bottles and one, two-liter, Platypus-brand, 1.3 ounce, Platy Bottle (pictured at right) from Cascade Designs.
  • Water-fording footwear: In addition to hiking boots, everyone should consider whether they want to also carry footwear for fording waterways and flooded areas.
  • Safety glasses: Participants must have one pair of glasses for protecting their eyes while bushwhacking.
  • Survival kit: Participants must carry a survival kit on their person.
  • Rope: Participants must have one 50-foot piece of bright-colored,1/2-inch-diameter, floating rescue rope (yellow, hollow-core, braided-polypro rope is a lightweight option; ordering info). Please do not bring 3/8-inch rope as it's diameter is too small.

Equipment recommendations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attention!

Expedition advisory: This is an expedition, not a highly-scripted trek through well-traveled bush. The organizer has never visited or explored this bush, or talked with anyone who has. Like most of his expeditions, the route was laid out after pouring over detailed quads and reviewing satellite imagery. Come prepared for an adventure; expect the unexpected; be ready to improvise, adapt, and overcome...

Swift-water/deep-water crossing advisory: Since our area of operation is laced with lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls, steep terrain, and perhaps flooded slot canyons, we will likely be making numerous water crossings of lake narrows, rapids, river pools, and perhaps ascending or descending straight through flooded slot canyons. While some may be fordable, others may require swimming. Participants should be proficient swimmers—get in a pool or lake and swim a couple 1,000 meters so you are one with the water again before the expedition.

To float your ruck: Line your critical stuff sacks with heavy-duty garbage-compactor-type plastic bags; line your entire ruck with a heavy-duty contractor-grade plastic bag (the barrel-sized ones contractors dispose of building debris in); and wrap your ruck in a tarp or a full-coverage, watertight rain cover.

Improvised PFD: In the bush, fashion an improvised PFD by rolling up your closed-cell sleeping pad lengthwise, lashing it into a noodle and attaching a long shoulder loop of cordage so you can tow it behind you, always at the ready.

Warm clothing advisory: Bring plenty of warm clothing, as well as an extra set of essential clothing in case you get wet, as this area is known for its cold, windy, wet weather, due in part to its proximity to Lake Superior.

Campfire advisory: Do not plan on having warming or cooking fires as we will be working hard just to find body-sized bivouac spots in many areas. And much of this region is pristine, scar-free wilderness where it would be inappropriate. Also, the fire hazard may be high, perhaps so high that the Ministry of Natural Resources may have a full fire ban in place.

Bivouac advisory: We will be working thick, tangled, untrammeled bush, so all of our bivouacs will be challenging at best.

Rations required

  • Breakfasts: 9 days
  • Snacks: 10 days
  • Lunches: 10 days
  • Dinners: 9 days
  • Backup: 1 day

Land navigation info

Canadian 1:50,000 quadrangles:

Ontario Provincial 1:20,000 quadrangles:

  • 20 16 6200 53300
  • 20 16 6200 53200
  • 20 16 6300 53300
  • 20 16 6300 53200
  • 20 16 6300 53100 (ordering info)

Click here to learn more about land navigation gear.

 

 

Preregistration required

If you would like to participate in this free backcountry adventure, or have any questions regarding it, please provide your full name, trail name, city, state, e-mail address, and phone number to the organizer:

Michael Neiger
Marquette, Michigan
1-906-226-9620
mneiger@hotmail.com

Registration: participants will receive a registration form by e-mail prior to the trip.

Liability waiver: participants are required to sign a liability waiver prior to the trip.

 

 


 

 

Return to top of page  ::  Return to home page

In God's wilderness lies the hope of the world,
the great, fresh, unblighted, unredeemed wilderness.
  — John Muir, 1838-1914, Alaska Wilderness, 1890

If you've been able to read this Web page...
thank a Teacher;
If you've been able to read this Web page in English...
thank a Veteran.
 —Author unknown

• Copyright notice •
Content Copyright 1984 to 2011

By Michael A. Neiger

• All rights reserved •
No part of this Web page or this Web site protected by copyright law may be reproduced, transmitted, or used in any form—including graphic, electronic, Web, mechanical or other form—or by any means—including photocopying, recording, taping, Internet distribution, information storage retrieval system, or by other means—for any purpose, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages, without the prior, express, written permission of the author.

Comments? Suggestions?
 Dead links? Inaccurate info?
 Contact the WebMaster, Michael A. Neiger, at mneiger@hotmail.com

Web site URL: www.MibSAR.com

Return to top of page  ::  Return to home page

You're here: MiBSAR's home page :: Trip beta page