Author Archives: Kamloops Kayak

Cold Water Paddling

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

The ice is clear of the river for enough to go out for some early season paddling, but we have to ask ourselves, “Should we?”

The considerations are keeping warm and staying safe.

Keeping Warm:

  • A closed shell kayak is warmer than an open shell (ie Pelican or sit-on-top).    Legs are out of the wind and cold.  A full spray skirt can be used to keep the lower half warm and dry.
  • A full paddling jacket or dry suit is needed for cold winds.
  • There are several types of gloves, and some are designed for colder weather.    Pogies (an overglove) can be used if it is windy, but do we want to paddle in cold temperatures and winds?
  • Getting in and out of the water may mean wet feet.   Full neoprene boots are recommended.

Staying Safe:

I have seen paddlers out in open cockpit kayaks with no evidence of safety equipment.    I always want to ask them – “What’s your plan if you flip?”

  • Immersing in cold water may result in shock, which affects your breathing and your ability to think
  • In cold water I always use a full dry suit.
  • Without a dry suit, your chance of survival is lessened.
  • The safest plan is to stick very close to shore and if you flip, get out and immediately swim to shore, with or without the boat.
  • I always have a paddle float on top of the boat.    I know how to use it and have practiced many times.    I can be back in the boat in a minute.   It will be too cold to bail water (it takes time) so I would paddle to shore and tip the water out onshore.
  • Inflatable paddle floats are of little use in cold water.    Accessing them and inflating them takes time and hypothermia comes quickly.
  • Getting back into a flipped kayak is hard and it is even harder in cold water.   Survival is an issue in cold water.
  • Wearing a spray skirt means getting it off underwater.   Always have the pull tab in the right position and practice self-rescues.
  • I always wear a PFD, even in warm water.    I feel it is my responsibility to set a good example.
  • Even if you can get back into your boat, you will have to deal with hypothermia.   Are you prepared?

Even if you have a dry suit, a PFD, neoprene boots, a paddle float and you know how to do self-rescue, you are still at risk for surviving a cold-water immersion.    It might be best to wait for warmer conditions.

 

 

Reflections – Fall Mornings on Jacko Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

As the paddling season wound down, some of the lakes and rivers were paddled for a final time (or two).    Jacko Lake (along with Edith and Stake Lakes) is a “go to” spot for paddling each year, and for good reason.   Access is good (but a bumpy road), there is lots of room to launch and park, the lake is surrounded by grasslands, there are always lots of birds by the lake, it is close to town, and the lake has a number of shallow bays, suitable for paddling but too shallow for fishermen.   A paddle around the lake is 4.4  km, taking about 52 -55 minutes (per loop).


By summer the lake has become more shallow (evaporation and draw down) and aquatic vegetation fills the shallow bays so the paddling loop is farther from the shoreline.


There are some shallow arms/bays to explore that are usually occupied by ducks and muskrats,

On a calm and sunny day, Jacko Lake is a perfect place for a rhythmic quiet paddle in the Kamloops area.

Reflections – A Windbreak on Stake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a windy day, paddling on any open body of water is not easy and less enjoyable, but we can paddle a short loop on smaller protected lakes.    Usually i pick MCConnell, Stake, or Inks Lakes and do one or two loops around the lake, depending on the strength of the winds.   If I find the winds too strong, I sometimes do one loop, then I secure the boat and go for a hike.   When I arrived at Stake the winds were reasonable (10 – 15 km), but by the end of the lake they had picked up.

I picked a loop on the Stake Lake trails and kept my eye out for wildflowers, birds, and wildlife.    Lupines were in full bloom at the side of the trail.

After a month of rain, the ponds were all full.   The protected spot was out of the wind and provided reflections of the trees nearby.

I skirted the edge of several marshes and was pleased to find some green bog orchids starting to bloom.

This larger marsh was overflowing and all the low lands were flooded,

Common red paintbrush was also in full bloom at various locations by the trails.

In winter, we strike off the snowshoeing trails to cross the marshes, but on this day, I hiked right around the marsh in a large loop and then back to Stake Lake.

We are lucky to have a trails and a lake where we can paddle and hike on a windy day.

Reflections: Back to the Floodlands

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

As the snows melt in the mountains, freshet will swell the South Thompson and North Thompson Rivers and the Thompson River will flood the lands near Kamloops Lake.    From the start of June through the first week of July we can launch our boats near Tranquille and paddle various routes through the bays and channels.

In early stages, grasses and logs rise above the water.

As the floodwaters rise, there are more routes to paddle between the Airport and Cooney Bay.

On days with little wind, reflections onto the floodwaters give the area a dreamy effect.

Longer routes can be paddled of up to 11 km, but most days we paddle between 5 and 8 km, choosing an eclectic route through the channels:

Relive ‘Paddling the Floodlands’

Reflections: Badger Lake in Early Summer

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

I paddle some lakes every year and Badger Lake is one of them.   On this early summer day I drove past Knouff Lake and followed the potholed forest service road to the Badger Lake Recreation Site boat launch.

The launch spot by the campground was often full with awkward launching and poor parking, so a new parking area and boat launch was added south of the Rec site.

I launched the kayak and paddled clockwise around the lake (6 km).

There is a narrow passage into the back lake that can only be used by a canoe or kayak.   Sometimes there are some obstacles, but they usually be floated away.   There is another passage on the north end that small fishing boats use out and back.   I entered at the south end and paddled around the hidden bay, then exited through the north end.

The winds died down leaving me with a perfect day to paddle a quiet lake in the backcountry.

Another great day at Badger Lake…

Reflections: A Jacko Lake Summer Paddle

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a warm summer day I drove to Jacko Lake for an early paddle around the lake.    there was a light wind on the lake and a few fishermen were already on the water.

Jacko Lake is a favorite, one I usually paddle 3 or 4 times each year.    It is close to town, it is scenic, and there is lots of room at the parking area, at the boat launch, and on the lake.

I snowshoed to the lake last winter and will return again in 2023.   We are fortunate to have such a nice spot so close to town.   A huge mine adjacent to the lake would have ruined it.

 

Reflections – Lac le Jeune

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Reflections are look-backs, outings over the last year that had not yet come to a post.

On the first day of October after the warmest September on record, an early morning paddle had warm weather and calm conditions.   There was no one else on the water for most of the paddle to the end of the lake and back.

Lac le Jeune is a beautiful lake, but it can be an overbusy location in summer.   In October it is a quiet and peaceful spot for rhythmic paddling.    A few ducks, a loon, and a number of jumping fish paid me no mind.      With no wind, there were another set of reflections, the shapes of trees in the still water.

Reflections: McConnell Lake Paddle and Hike

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a cloudy summer day the plan was for a “duathlon” – a paddle around McConnell Lake followed by a hike around the lake.

McConnell Lake boat launch

 

It was an early start and there was only one other boat on the lake.

On McConnell Lake

 

The paddle around the lake was 3 km.   After securing the boat, and changing to hiking shoes, the hike around the lake was 3.5 km.

Similar paddle and hike combinations are part of the summer routine.   Other locations include Stake Lake, Lac le Jeune, Paul Lake, Isobel Lake, McQueen Lake, and Roche Lake.

 

Reflections – Early Morning on the River

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On an early October morning, the river was quiet and the sun was low on the eastern horizon.

The end of the season was about a month away, but this 80th day of paddling in 2022 was another great day on the South Thompson River.

 

Reflections – Paddling the Floodland Channels Across the River

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

At the height of freshet, all of the channels on both sides of the Thompson river fill with water.    We can paddle across Tranquille Bay to the far side of the river, and then follow channels upstream and back out to the river.

On a calm day we can enjoy the reflections in the bays and channels.

Navigating the maze of channels takes a while to learn, but its fun to try different routes.   A few video clips show the views on this 10 km loop route.

More Information:

  • Launch at N50 43.503 W120 30.293 (a small parking area near the junction)
  • Wind through the shrub islands to the river and aim across to N50 42.284 W120 30.985 (the west entrance to the channels).
  • Follow the channels east as far as you can, then turn north to the river.
  • Follow the river downstream to any open channel back into Tranquille Bay.

Reflections – Day 89 at Edith Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

In late October, it had rained overnight, but at Edith Lake there was some snow on the ground in shaded areas.   With winds forecast, I was on the water early.


A complete circuit of the lake can be done in less than an hour.   By the end the cold winds were blowing.

This would probably be the last day of paddling on Edith Lake for this year, but it was also the 89th day of paddling in 2022.

 

 

Reflections – Nicola Lake from Monck Park

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

We camped at Monck Park and paddled Nicola Lake.    It can be a windy lake, but it can usually be paddled in the mornings.

monck-pano-1brOn this trip we paddled down the lake twice and up the lake once.    The shoreline south of the campground is more interesting.

monck-paddle

There are a number of rocky bluffs overlooking the lake and bays to explore.

img_6712r

Although we have paddled out across the lake, it is best to check the forecast first.    It is a big, windy lake and rough water can be found in the afternoons.

img_6710rOur favorite part of the lake is the north end, accessed from a pullout on Highway 5A.

More Information:

  • Nicola Lake North
  • A page will be developed then published over the winter proving general information on Nicola Lake.

 

Campbell Lake and Scuitto Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Over the winter of 2022 – 2023, new pages will be added to the website with each page providing specific information (a summary guide) on the chosen lake.   Featured in this post are Campbell Lake and Scuitto Lake.

New pages were also added for these lakes – Heffley, Bleeker, community, Face, Glimpse, Isobel, Lac du Bois, Jacko, Little Shuswap, McGillivray, Lodgepole, Paska, Pat, Paul, Pillar, Pinantan, Red, Roche, Ross Moore, Stump, Sullivan, Surrey, Trapp, Tunkwa, Walloper Lake, and others.

See you on the water in March…