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 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.
looking west down the lake
swamp reflections
the large marsh on the northeast end of the lake
bathymetry of Lac le Jeune
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.
I paddled Scuitto Lake in the fall, right before the colder weather set in as part of a video shoot with CFJC TV. I took some of my own video footage and some photos that day. A YouTube video highlights some of the on-the-water time on the lake:
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.
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.
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.
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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.
We camped at Monck Park and paddled Nicola Lake. It can be a windy lake, but it can usually be paddled in the mornings.
On this trip we paddled down the lake twice and up the lake once. The shoreline south of the campground is more interesting.
There are a number of rocky bluffs overlooking the lake and bays to explore.
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.
Our favorite part of the lake is the north end, accessed from a pullout on Highway 5A.
Your first question will probably be. “Where’s Desmond Lake?”
You have probably spotted it from the Coquihalla Highway as you climb the hill toward Surrey Summit. It lies below on the west side, a shallow, marshy lake on the Surrey Lake FSR. There is no launch and only marshy, muddy shoreline. A paddle around the shoreline is 2.2 km.
Much of the lake was shallow, but there were some marl shoals too, providing some clear water. Two loons fished on the lake in the deep area on the east side. Ducks and ducklings scuttled off as I paddled the shoreline.
It is probably rare for anyone to put a boat on this marshy lake:
I doubt I will paddle this one again, but I’m happy to have done it once…
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.
As the last days of paddling in 2022 approached, I found a calm morning on the river paddling from Pioneer Park. A paddling jacket, gloves, and a sprayskirt made this outing fine (for now).
At this time of year I have the river to myself, except for a few ducks, geese, and other birds.
By the end of October morning temperatures were cooler so monitoring forecasts for wind speeds is important. Water temperatures take much longer to cool so as long as we dress appropriately, it is warm inside the kayak. There were fishermen on the water on this cool fall morning.
Paddling around the lake, going into all the bays, takes just under an hour.
The morning sun was low on the horizon, filling the eastern skies.
Click an image for a lightbox view.
Jacko
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Jacko
Paddling season is winding down now, but there prime fall days will resonate for weeks to come.
On a mid-October sunny morning, we paddled Scuitto Lake. The lake levels had dropped quite a lot since spring from both evaporation and draw-down, but it was still a fine place to fish or paddle.
Early in the morning there was only one boat on the lake. More fishermen arrived later. All of them seemed to have some success on this fall day.
There is one larger island and two smaller ones. One of the islands is completely below water in spring. Along part of the southwestern side of the lake are a number of standing stumps. In spring, swallows nest in holes in them.
Some of the stumps and roots would fit into a sculpture exhibit.
A page on Scuitto Lake will be developed over winter. For now, we can reflect back to lakes we have paddled this year.
When we hiked in the Six Mile Lakes area, we called Morgan Lake “The Slough.” Before it was dammed it was a long marsh. Now it is a popular fishing lake. We drove in from the Tunkwa Lake Road.
We parked at the west end of the lake (by the old Trans Canada Highway track, now submerged below the lake. there is a good hand launch there. When we arrived there was no one on the lake, a rare occurrence in nice weather.
We had first paddled Leighton Lake then stopped down to do Morgan Lake too. A paddle around the lake is only 2 km.
Another great day of paddling, the 86th day of 2022.
