Category Archives: Kayaking

Kayaking the lakes and rivers of the Kamloops area, the Southern Interior, and some farther paddling destinations from our travels.

Ready for Cold Water

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The first days of kayaking each year are done in cool weather and the water temperature is cold, dangerously cold if you capsize.    When I go out, I take the following precautions.

  • I wear a full dry suit.    These are expensive so not everyone has one.    I look at it as a one-time investment.      If I go in the water, the dry suit will prevent me from cold shock as long as I am close enough to the shore or I can perform a self-rescue.
  • I have practiced self-rescue many times so I can be back in the boat in a couple of minutes.    I carry a baler/pump, a sling for the self-assist, and I would then make my way to the shore ASAP.
  • I wear full neoprene boots to further insulate myself.    This allows me to get into the boat or out of the boat by stepping in the water.
  • I paddle along the shoreline every time in the early season.    I do not cross large lakes.
  • While paddling I wear paddling gloves and a toque or adjustable toque hat.
  • I wear breathable layers under my dry suit.
  • I always wear a PFD and I have the required safety equipment.
  • I do not paddle on windy days in the early season.    I use the limit of 15 km/hour.    Reasonably reliable forecasts can be seen on Environment Canada sites 24 hours in advance.
  • I keep the distance to 45 – 90 minutes in cool weather.
  • I pick reliable spots on the river or local lakes in the early season, preferably spots where I can be seen if something goes wrong.
  • I let someone know where I will be and I check in by text.
  • I haven’t tipped in by accident for 20 years, but I still take all the precautions every time.
  • When the water warms up, I can ease up on some of the extra safety precautions.

 

I was paddling on Paul Lake at the first ice off and there was a family with a Costco kayak there, taking turns.    No PFDs and paddling out to the middle of the lake…    I told the parents that if someone tips, that person would not survive and anyone on the shoreline would not be able to rescue them.    I was given a cold glare and no response.

 

On Lesser Known Lakes (2)

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Each year I try to paddle on some new lakes.    In this last year I paddled a few of them, including Black Lake and Fred Lake.

Black Lake is located in Roche Lake Provincial Park.    It is a destination lake for fishing, but the road in is very rough.    I have driven it, but regretted it and vowed never to do it again.    I have hiked the road a few times, usually on a loop route hike past a series of lakes.    I hiked in with a folding kayak in a backpack and paddled around the lake twice (4 km).    There were fishermen who had driven in.    I talked to one of them who was camped there.    He said he just drives very slowly in and out.    It is a very nice lake and one I will return to paddle.

Fred Lake lies in a forested area east of Lac le Jeune.    We can drive backroads (Ross Moore FSR), but the last access track is too narrow, overgrown, and rough for most vehicles.   I packed in my folding kayak and paddled twice around the lake (3.5 km).    It is surrounded by forest, but it may be a burned area now with lots of fallen trees.    It lies only 0.7 km from Ross Moore Lake.    Because of this, it may be a once-only lake.

More lesser-known lakes to come…

 

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.

 

 

The Oru Inlet Folding Kayak

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

When you have kayaked almost all of the lakes within a 2 hour drive and some of them a few times, we start to look for some new spots.     Different launch spots on large lakes is one good choice, but another is to do some smaller lakes.

It often seems to be “overkill” to haul an 18 foot kayak into a small lake that is only 1 km around the shoreline.   Sometimes the lake is a great spot so we can go around 2 or 3 times and at other times we can paddle the lake, then go for a hike.

Another opportunity is to paddle some lakes that have limited access.    Some backroads are rough and sometimes overhanging branches are a problem for a roof-mounted kayak.   A few lakes just have no easy shoreline launch areas.    For these lakes we need to haul the kayak by hand.     To this end, I purchased a foldable kayak, the Oru Inlet.    It arrived in the box, ready to set up.

Straps and a carrying handle make it easy to carry.    I bought a carrying bag too to sling it over my shoulder.    It weighs 20 pounds.

The first time I unfolded it and set it up took about 20 minutes.    The second time took 8 minutes.     It can be done in 3-5 minutes.

I carried it around the yard and onto the back deck.    It was light and easy to haul.

Some of the specs are:

  • 3m long
  • 30″ wide
  • 20 pounds
  • capacity – 300 pounds
  • water type – flat water

It is not a boat to take out across Kamloops Lake.    It is for the shoreline on any lake, except on windy days,  and it is suitable for any small lake.   I also purchased a spray skirt and flotation bags.   I will use my regular paddle and light gear.   I won’t get to test it out until spring, but in the meantime I can practice unfolding and refolding it.   Watch for some posts in the spring as it get tested on the water.

Here is Oru’s promo video:

On Campbell Lake

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In late summer each year I drive the backroads to get to Campbell Lake Rec Site to paddle the lake and, at the same time, spot and photograph pelicans and sandhill cranes.    I timed it right and saw both, along with eagles, an osprey, loons, many ducks, deer, and shoreline birds.   Campbell Lake is a pretty spot, with low hills surrounding the lake.

Paddling the whole lake shoreline is about 8 km, but some of the bays are very shallow in late summer so paddlers may need to adjust their shoreline routes.

There were about 10 pelicans standing on rocks or in shallow rocky bays on the south side of the lake.  To get good photos, we have to drift in, then use a good telephoto lens.

The  shallower bays were sometimes choked with aquatic vegetation, but getting closer to the sandhill cranes and pelicans means paddling through those bays, scraping the rudder in the mud.

About 20 sandhill cranes flew into the lake and landed on the shoreline at the end of a large muddy bay.

After spending some time watching the pelicans and cranes I paddled all the way around the lake, another great day of paddling in the hills.

 

 

End of the Kayak Season

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

We started paddling in the latter part of February and continued through to mid-November, but we are putting all the boats away for the winter now.   Some video footage of late paddles on the river, some more videos, and features on some local lakes will be posted over the winter::

Building a Better Kayak

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

We were fortunate to be given a tour of the production facility for Delta Kayaks in Maple Ridge and see the latest innovations in design.   The owner talked to us about how the kayaks have evolved over the years.   I had a 2006 Delta kayak and the new ones have a number of improvements.

“Its v-shaped hull, pronounced chine and moderate rocker offer paddlers a smooth transition to edge and impressive tracking. It features our Press-Lock hatch system, multi-position Contour II Seat System, front deck Day-Pod, dual-density soft grip handles and innovative bungee risers.”

  • Hatch covers improvements were welcome since neoprene breaks down over time and rigging can’t always hold the plastic covers in place snugly.
  • I recently replaced a seat in one of my kayaks.   I find the Delta seat to be very comfortable, but the ability to adjust it is also very welcome.
  • Strong handles are important for portaging, but also for everyday hauling.   The new handles are longer and reinforced at both ends.
  • A day pod is a small hatch in front of the cockpit.   I had one on another boat and it was a good place to put small items or a small
  • An 18.5 foot plastic high capacity kayak is great for storage, but it is harder to lift, portage, transport, and store.
  • The whole issue of portaging is important.  If we put a very long, flexible kayak on a tiny kayak cart, we are asking for flex-caused damaged.   The 18.5 footer will be repaired and restored, but a good rule of thumb would be to use a larger radius tire cart, a set of rear wheels or pick a stiffer boat for challenging portages (like Bowron Lakes).
  • The new 17 foot performance touring boat is 22.5″ across the beam which will make it faster through the water.
  • I have found the Delta to have a roomy cockpit, a comfortable seat, and great handling so I hope to test run the new 17′ at some point in the spring.

 

Plastic Portage Problems

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Portaging a kayak is always a challenge.   If the track is flat and smooth, the small kayak carts work fine, especially with a light kayak.   We have done a number of portages with relative ease, but we also had one hard portage when our cart had a flat tire on Murtle Lake.

We did the full Bowron Lake Circuit and were challenged by many of the portages.   The long (18.5 feet) plastic kayak was broken in 4 places getting through the portages.   Some thoughts on the challenges of plastic portage problems are offered here.

Weight Problems

  • Light kayaks are easier to pull and are less prone to damage.
  • One of the ways to reduce the weight is to go light – freeze dried food. small stoves, no fluids.
  • Another way to minimize weight is to use large portage bags to empty the boat and carry the weight on your back.
  • With a large portage bag, the kayaker can either hike the bag through, then jog back or she/he can wear the bag and pull the boat

 

Structural Problems

  • Some kayaks are just not designed to be pulled with a load along a portage track.  Rings are usually inserted into the top of the hull, but if the construction is light, they can pull out.   I pulled out both the front and the back on the Bowron Lakes.
  • A long plastic boat will have some flex and if the track is very rough (as per Bowron Portage #2 and #4), the front and back end of the kayak will “wow” and can develop cracks at the stress points, right at the edge of the kayak cart.  Two hull cracks let in water for which we did a backcountry repair.   We used Crazy Glue (thanks to Ian), kevlar tape (thanks to Bob), and duct tape (thanks to Shiraz).

 

Poor Portage Tracks

  • Although we liked some of the Bowron portages, we found some of them very difficult for a kayak.
  • Some were narrow and rough, hard to get a kayak around.
  • Portage #1 was long and had a lot of elevation gains.   This was hard, but reasonable.
  • Portage #2 was terrible.  The track from Kibee Lake to Indianpoint Lake has steep sections, is very rough, has muddy sections, and obstacles that the kayak must be pulled over (then dropped, where the damage occurs).   This is not a credit to BC Parks.   This section is embarrassingly bad and broke my kayak 3 times.
  • Portage # 4-5 was more than terrible.   It was awful.   There are two  portages from Isaac Lake down to McLeary Lake and the last one is rocky, rough, steep, and kayak-damaging.   This portage needs a total redesign.

 

Cart Problems

  • The kayak carts sold to kayakers are fine for shorter, groomed cart tracks, but are unsuitable for rougher, longer tracks.   Canoe carts have bigger wheels and go over the obstacles more easily.   The larger carts are a biut harder to load onto the backs of the kayaks though.
  • We used the puncture-proof tires and these are safer than the air-filled tires, but they are a little harder to pull over obstacles.
  • To avoid the bowing problems of plastic kayaks, back wheels can be used to support the back end of the kayak.
    Unfortunately, the wheels have small, hard tires and also don’t clear the obstacles easily.   Nevertheless, we will bring them next time we do the Bowrons to avoid the bowing kayaks and damage problems.
  • Pulling the kayaks isn’t easy.   Kayak manufacturers don’t design boats with good pull systems.

 

Repair Issues

  • In the backcountry repair is not easy.   We used Crazy Glue (recommended), kevlar tape, and duct tape.
  • What is your plan if the boat can’t be paddled?   The Bowron route is backcountry and very remote.
  • Redamaging the boat is an issue so emptying the boat is recommended.

 

We like the Bowron Lakes, but we will only return when we can resolve the portage issues.

 

 

Kayaking Face Lake

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If you have stayed at Mile High Lodge, you may have been on Face Lake, but if not, it is hard to get to. Drive up the Paska Lake Road and not far past, the road ends at the Mile High Lodge. You could park at the lodge and launch your boat, paying a modest fee, but if you want to find your own spot, you have to drive to the Face Lake Recreation Site on the northwest corner of the lake.

Right at the gate to the lodge, turn left onto a road that has a Dead-End sign at the start. A short ways up, look for another weather-beaten Face Lake sign that is easy to miss. This 2.2 km road is rough and is only suited to high-clearance vehicles. It eventually comes down to the Rec Site where there are 2 camping spots and a hand launch.

With two arms at the north end, the lake offers more shoreline to explore, although some of it is in shallow water, fine for kayaks. The launch is off a grassy bank in a quiet bay.

A small islet lies at the entrance to the west arm. It has a trail and a small informal campsite.

Shallow areas had lily pads and smart weed in bloom. Caddis flies and water boatmen were in hatch and fish were jumping. Dragonflies combed the surface. Chuwhels Mountain stands over the eastern side of the lake. All was quiet. This is a pleasant 6 km paddle. When the valley heats up in the summer, the 4800 foot high plateau lake is cooler and the fish continue to feed.

Enter the water gently. Paddle easily, drifting often to observe the creatures of the lake and the hum of life, surrounded by the silent green forests.

 

“Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad, whatever is done and suffered by her creatures. All scars she heals, whether in rocks or water or sky or hearts. “
– John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir, (1938).