Author Archives: Kamloops Kayak

On the River in March

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We try to get our kayaks in the water in the river as soon as enough ice and snow melts to allow us easy access to launch and land.   Our first choice is Pioneer Park.   In early March when the gate to the boat launch is still locked, we have to transport our kayaks on wheels down to the river shore, and on our first launch, we had to pull the boat over layers of ice to get to the open water.   In later paddling sessions, we were able to use the boat launch to unload and launch.   When we ready the kayak for a paddle, there are no other boats in sight, but dog walkers are common.    We launch and paddle upstream or downstream, alternating, but adjusting to wind conditions too.

 

The  most common route is to paddle upstream first.   It is 1.6 km to the Yellowhead Bridge.   There is some faster water in the big S-turn east of the bridge.   Turn-around spots vary according to the length of the paddle session planned and on wind conditions.   We paddle up for somewhere from 40 – 80 minutes then turn back downstream.

 

On a sunny day, the sun glares down as I paddle upstream, reflecting in the river.

 

On a day with no wind, the going is slower upstream, about 3.5 km per hour, but much faster downstream.

 

When the wind blows from the west, the paddle downstream can be slow too.

 

We also paddle down to the Confluence then west on the Thompson River and back upstream.   If we want a harder workout, we paddle up the North Thompson river and back.

Some Early season Paddling Tips:

  • The water is cold so either a dry entry or good boots helps to keep the feet warm.
  • to stay warm , we use a spray skirt, a paddling jacket, and paddling gloves.
  • If there is a cold wind, we usually wait for a better day.
  • Paddle close to the shoreline.   If you capsize, it will be better to go to the shoreline than to try a wet, cold self-rescue.

 

 

 

Phillips Lake

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Phillips Lake lies on the Skimikin Lake Road between Turtle Valley and Skimikin.   The fastest approach from Kamloops is to drive on Highway 1 East to Squilax and turn onto the Squilax – Turtle Valley Road.   Follow the valley toward Skimikin then turn onto Ptarmigan Road.   A good parking area and boat launch is located on the northwest side of the lake.

The whole lake is surrounded by reeds and rushes.   In fall, the lake was fairly quiet, but the lakeside would be full of blackbirds, marsh wrens, and ducks in the spring.

A paddle around the lakeshore is 2.5 km, but there is also marshland which can be paddled on the far end.   This would be better in the spring when there is more water and before the water lilies fill the channels.  In summer and early fall, an algae bloom also fills the lake.   Spring is the recommended time to paddle this lake.The lake sits between the Fly Hills on the south (see below) and Black Mountain on the north.   To the northwest are the rocky slopes of Squilax Mountain (seen above).

In fall, the Turtle Valley and the Squilax Valley were filled with color.   We continued east to paddle Skimikin Lake on the same day, another fine small lake for paddling.

 

 

 

 

 

March 2 On the River

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There was still ice on the shoreline and over much of the boat launch area.    I hauled the kayak to a patch of beach at Pioneer Park and paddled up the river.

That part was fine, but the prelude was more interesting – I drove down the boat launch to the edge of the ice and unloaded the kayak. I placed the kayak on the ice while I got out the rest of the gear. I heard a noise and watched with horror as the 18 foot boat slid along the ice and into the river. The river picked it up and it was floating away. I had my dry suit on so I started to run down the shoreline. I was prepared to wade and swim out to the boat in the cold water. But the ice was slick and I fell. As I got back up, a man walking his dog saw my predicament and luckily there was a small back eddy which spun the boat, so he reached over and pulled the boat out. I thanked him, then took a moment to realize how lucky I was. A few minutes later, I launched the boat and paddled upriver.

Lac le Jeune West Loop

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When we launch our kayaks from Lac le Jeune Provincial Park we can choose to do a loop east or west and if we choose to head to the West Lake we then have to paddle to the bridge underpass.   My loop route followed the north shore of the lake, then a circuit on the smaller lake, followed by a circuit of the south side of the main lake and back, a 5.5 km morning paddle.

In a year of high rainfall, the lake was full and that left minimal space to get under the bridge.   By removing my PFD and laying flat on the deck of the kayak, I pulled myself through (barely).

Winds made even the small lake choppy, but I headed around the lakeshore, watching for birds and wildlife.

There are some interesting channels in the marshes at the far end of the lake.   The waterway is the start of Meadow Creek which flows down to Logan Lake, then into Guichon Creek which flows south to the Nicola River.

Water lilies were in bloom on both lakes.

Goslings were steered by the mother goose in sheltered bays on the lake.

Silver light was cast on Lac le Jeune for the return paddle

Each summer I do a circuit of the area’s lakes, some of which are done every year (like Lac le Jeune), and some are in alternate years or every few years.   I try to do a few new lakes each year too, but this now means more traveling time, smaller lakes, or a challenging portage.   The overall goal is to get out paddling more than 50 times each year, and in 2021 it was 80 times.

 

 

 

 

Tranquille Lake

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Tranquille Lake lies at the foot of the southern end of Bonaparte Plateau.   Porcupine Ridge is due north and backcountry surrounds the lake.   The road ends at Wendego Lodge, the destination for most people who go to this area.   We drove through Lac du Bois, then took the Pass Lake Road and continued on the Sawmill Creek Road.until the 40 … Continue reading →

Paddling McGillivray Lake

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McGillivray Lake can be accessed through Sun Peaks.   Take Sun Peaks Road to the McGillivray Lake Forest Service Road.   It is a 5.6 km drive on a gravel road to the McGillivray Outpost/Boat Launch.   A paddle around the lake (inc. all the shallow bays) is 5.8 km.   On a sunny weekend with an early start there were only a small number of boats on the lake.

Tod Mountain stands to the northwest, here seen between two islands in the lake.

In summer the marshy shoreline featured yellow lilies, an osprey, lots of sweet-scented marsh orchids, and a number of sedges, reeds, and rushes.

water lily

osprey

marsh orchid

little green sedge

 

McGillivray Lake is one of the lakes we paddle every year.   Nearby Morrisey Lake is smaller and we sometimes paddle it too as a second stop in the area.

 

 

On Plateau Lake

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Plateau Lake lies in the hills of the Douglas Plateau, accessed on backroads from Highway 5A.     From the highway, it is a quick drive to Peter Hope Lake, but a slow and difficult drive over the hills to Plateau Lake.

It is not easy to get there.   There are several possible routes in, but Rec Sites and Trails BC recommends taking the Peter Hope Lake Road (from the south end of Stump Lake), then turning onto the signed Plateau Lake Road for 4.4 km then taking a right turn onto an unsigned secondary road.

This road was very narrow and very rough and it is definitely high-clearance, and but possibly 4WD.    If you go in that way, carry a chainsaw too.  Cross the power line and follow another rough road down the hill to the lake.   This is a total of 8.5 km of slow, careful driving.   On the way back out, I followed a different route, following the power line northeast to a junction and then following a much better (but longer) road back. to the Dardanelles Road.  From that road, it is possible to go back to Peter Hope Lake Road along the Plateau Lake Road, or down the hill to the north end of Stump Lake.   A GPS is helpful but if you use a map, the BC Backroads Mapbook is very unreliable for this area.

There is a good boat launch at the lake.   When I was there, there was no one else at the site, nor on any of the backroads of the area.

One of the features of this lake is extensive marl shoals.   The silt-mud bottom has lots of lime and calcium which clarifies the water.   The shoals had a clear yellowish colour.

The lake was very quiet with no noise from any direction.A paddle around the lakeshore is about 4 km, but there are lots of marshes to explore and it is such a pleasant spot that two loops of the lake makes sense.

With the clear mineral-rich water comes little lake weed growth, except for one bay where the sun shone on the emerging weeds.

There are 6 campsites at the site, all on flat ground.   This would be a fine place to camp, but I can’t recommend pulling a trailer down that road.   It is a good spot for a paddle if you have the right vehicle to get in to the lake.

More Information:

 

Paddle to and Hike Copper Island

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From the Scotch Creek Provincial Park Campground beach to the landing area on Copper Island is two km of lake paddling.    This can be a busy spot for power boats so it would be best to get an early start or do the paddle in the off-season.

A sign welcomes the visitor and we can hike on a good trail around the island.

There are several viewpoints on the 2.6 km trail around the island.

We have paddled and hiked this 6.6 km route several times.    A video of the experience is provided here:

 

 

Stake Lake Smoke Loops

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When the heat dome enveloped the Interior of BC, the forests dried out and forest fires multiplied, followed by smoky skies.    The high country south of Kamloops was cooler and less smoky so ti became our “goto” destination each day.    We paddled McConnell Lake, Stake Lake, Lac le Jeune, Paska Lake, Walloper Lake, Face Lake, Lodgepole Lake, and Surrey Lake and often combined a paddle with a hike.   On this day, we paddled twice around Stake Lake (1 hour) and hiked for another hour on trails in the smoke haze.

There is a large marsh on the northeast end of the trail system and our hiking route went right around it.

The lodgepole pine and douglas fir forests are dry here too so we hope that this area can avoid the threat of forest fires.

There were loons, ducks, and dragonflies on the lake.    On the trails were many wildflowers and pollinators, a few of which are shared here.

 

 

 

 

Floodlands Squall

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On a mid-July day, I launched my kayak at the Tranquille Wildlife Management Area and paddled out into Tranquille Bay. The plan was to paddle a large loop, crossing the river to the floodlands on the south side. After many days of paddling in the floodlands, I have developed routes through river channels and with the water starting to fall, I wanted to do a longer (10 km) loop. Under sunny-cloudy skies and light winds I did the 2 km crossing to the far-side channel, then turned east, upriver, winding through a maze of channels. The route goes all the way to the edge of the wastewater ponds. From there I follow a route out to the river and work my way back.

Some grey clouds were moving across Kamloops Lake as I crossed Tranquille Bay.

Cloud-filtered sunshine to the east created silver light on the river.

But blue skies over Mt. Mara looked like good weather would last for the paddle.

At the east end of the river channels some rain clouds moved in, bringing large raindrops

Geese and ducks headed for cover as I turned onto the stormy river.

Stronger winds and drifts of rain washed over the kayak as I paddled back across the river in choppy conditions.

Much of the squall hit the south side of the river and by the time I reached the north side of the floodlands some clearer skies broke through dark clouds.

The final part of the paddle emerged out of the rain showers into calmer conditions, some bluer skies, and easier paddling.

The 18 foot ocean kayak weathers wind, showers, and waves well. I have lots of experience in paddling in adverse conditions, I know and have practiced self-rescue techniquesl, I had all my safety equipment and I would have gone to ground on the shoreline if conditions were dangerous. I had my spray skirt on which kept my legs dry, but I got pretty wet on my torso and arms. Another adventure on the water.