Category Archives: On the Water

Paddling routes…

On the River in February

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With milder winters, I have been able to get the kayak onto the river in February for the last two years.   In 2015 the last paddle outing was in the middle of November (although I paddled in New Zealand after that).   There is no one around this early in the season and if there is no wind, paddling is good.   The water is not too cold, but I wear neoprene boots and a good paddling jacket, but I am also protected by a good spray skirt.  I launched from Pioneer Park on a fine day at the end of February.

IMG_6410rWith no wind, the river was calm.  Paddling upstream is hard work, but the South Thompson is the best choice for an upriver-and-back workout.

IMG_6416rWith blue skies, the hills were reflected in the water.

IMG_6417rI went upstream for an hour then turned back for an easy return paddle downstream.

IMG_6422r

the prow of the new boat – a Current Designs 17.5 ft. kevlar heading downstream

By getting out early and paddling long slow distance, we can build for the endurance we will need in the main part of the paddling season.   We have planned to do the Bowron Circuit, Clayoquot Sound, the Wallace Island area, the Columbia River Reservoirs, and Murtle Lake, among others.   This was Day 1 of an estimated 70 days of paddling for 2016….

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Queen Charlotte Sound

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Queen Charlotte Sound in B.C. is the body of water between the end of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwai (Queen Charlotte Islands).   In New Zealand, there is another Queen Charlotte Sound that is part of a series of sounds (sort of drowned river valleys) that extend inland at the north end of the South Island, protected from the prevailing winds from the Tasman Sea.  For kayakers, there are 1500km of shoreline to paddle.   Queen Charlotte Sound is the most accessible.   The ferry from the North Island goes up the sound to land at Picton, where kayakers can also launch.   We launched instead from Anaikwa at the end of the Sound and paddled east out toward Picton, going in and out of bays along an out-and-back route.

We spotted sting rays under the water and shags (cormorants) nesting on the bluffs above the sea.   One of the bays was a sacred spot (tapu) where Maori warriors were purported to have eaten the hearts of their conquered enemies.   We avoided that landing.

 

 

The Sounds offer paddlers an opportunity to explore the ocean shores without the challenges of big waves and strong winds.  On the day that we ventured out, it was quite windy so we just stayed near the shoreline in our tandem.

The air in New Zealand seems always clear and fresh, surrounded by the ocean.   There are no cities in this area, only small towns and villages.   Our camp was in a small holiday park in Linkwater called Smith’s Farm.   This was a good basecamp to hike and paddle from.   In fact, we liked the whole coastline from Picton to Farewell Spit so much that we would happily hike and paddle in only that area in a visit to New Zealand.

The area is sometimes called the Marlborough Sounds, which includes about 4000 square kilometers of peninsulas, islands, and sounds. The complex and ragged coastline was formed by a combination of subsidence (sinking and the opposite – uplifting) and rising sea levels.   All of the sounds run southwest to northeast out to the Tasman Sea.   Some of the Sounds are only a hike over a low serrated ridge to the next Sound and where a lower area lies between Sounds a small community (like Portage and Linkwater) often serves as a base to support paddlers, hikers, fishermen, and tourism.   Hiking trails follow some of the ridges and one of New Zealand’s newest Tramps is the Queen Charlotte Track, a 70km trek from Ship Cove to Anaikwa.  We hiked one leg of the track (article to follow).

Visitors often drive off the ferry and continue all the way west to Nelson without stopping at the peaceful and scenic villages on the sounds.   For those who love to paddle and hike, the Sounds are a wonderful destination for a few days of exploration.

The North Thompson River

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The North Thompson River’s source is Thompson Glacier on the southern slopes of Trigon Mountain on the edge of the Premier’s Range and for 355 km it runs downstream to Kamloops where it merges with the South Thompson River to become the Thompson River.    Along the way are a number of landmarks, the subject of this article.

Downriver 3 Days 010rThe Source

  • Peaks surround the head of the North Thompson River Valley.   On the north side is a glacial cirque ringed by Trigon (2921m), Chilkst (2811m), and Chamberlin Peaks (2836m).   Thompson Glacier (8 sq. km) is the main source of the river, sitting on the southern flanks of Trigon Mountain.

trigon chamberlinThe Upper Valley

  • Km 6.0 – Tributaries join the river throughout the journey.   At this point Ella and Frye Creeks run north from the northern Wells Gray Peaks to become part of the river.   Just ahead, Blackstone Creek joins, draining Blackstone Glacier on Chamberlin Peak.   A remote backroad ends here, 230m up on the north slope.   One kilometer downstream the first cutblock can be seen, evidence of a history of logging on both sides of the river.
  • km 18 – Many creeks run off two mountain ranges to join the river – Stormking, Adolph, Pleasant, Manteau and dozens more.   The valley floor is not as steep here and the river meanders.

The Lower Valley

  • 28 Km – Just past where both Adolph Creek and Manteau Creeks run into the river, the river begins to meander
  • At about 38 km, North Thompson Oxbows Manteau Provincial Park protects the floodplain wetlands for the next 6km between backroads on either side.
  • At about 45 km North Thompson Oxbows East Provincial Park protects floodplains and wildlife habitat.
  • manteau
  • Many creeks run off the Cariboo Ranges to the south and north expanding the volume of the river.   Mt. Sir Alan McNabb is the last peak of this range before the river turns at the Monashee Range.

The Turn Between Two Mountain Ranges

  • At about 57km, the river enters another valley.   It heads east, running into the slopes of the Monashee Range, where it is turned southward.
  • Albreda Mountain (2613m), Dominion Mountain (3048m), and Mount Lempriere (3208) have large glaciers and snowfields and the eastern slopes drain down into the river.
  • From the north a major tributary is the Albreda River
  • At the turn of the river near the confluence, Highway 5 North crosses the river.   There is no community there (Gosnell is a railway “stop”).   It was originally called Thompson Crossing but was named after Provincial Archivist R.E. Gosnell.   There was a Japanese Internment Camp there during WWII.

gosnellSouth to Blue River

  • Along this section of the river, creeks and rivers run off the Cariboo Range to the west – Chappell Creek, Milledge Creek, Thunder River, and numerous smaller creeks and streams
  • From the east, steep valleys with fast flowing streams flow down from the crest of the  Monashee Range – Moonbeam Creek, Pyramid Creek, Bone Creek, and Hellroar Creek and others
  • High-clearance Forest Service Roads penetrate a short ways east and west into the mountains, but for the most part, the areas above the highway and railroad have few visitors.   Helicopter tours out of Blue River, backcountry enthusiasts on Mt. Cook and a few remote trails on Bone Creek Ridge and Mt. St. Anne, and snowmobilers on Mt. Chappell may visit these wilderness areas when conditions are right.
  • At about 100km, the river meanders again through Blue River Black Spruce Provincial Park.
  • At about 105 km, the Mud River joins the North Thompson River.   Mud Lake is just 600 m upstream.   Above Mud Lake is Mud Lake Delta Provincial Park.
  • The river passes the town of Blue River in the next few kilometers.   Blue River flows in from the mountains near Murtle Lake.   Blue River Pine Provincial Park is a short way upstream.

Downriver 3 Days 019rBlue River to Avola

  • Tributaries along this 40 km section coming in from the Cariboo Mountains are smaller creeks, draining a smaller area of lower mountains.  Much of the area to the east drains south into Raft River.
  • From the east are a number of steeper valleys with short creeks running down the east slopes of the Scrip Range.   Finn Creek is the largest tributary in this area and Finn Creek Provincial Park is a conservation area.Porte d'Enfer
  • Messiter Summit is a high point along the highway, climbing a shoulder of the mountain to climb above Little Hells Gate (Porte d’ Enfer Canyon).   The River flows through a 9m wide canyon there, best seen from a viewing platform off a side road.
  • The River flows past the community of Avola.   Employment in the area comes mainly from the forestry industry.   The Kinder Morgan Pipeline follows the river valley on the west side above Highway 5.

Avola to Vavenby

  • The hills are lower and more rounded on both sides of the river for the next 48km to Vavenby.
  • Tributaries in this section are mostly smaller creeks with the exception of the Mad River and Reg Christie Creek.
  • The CNR follows the east side of the river most of the way from Gosnell to Kamloops, but it crosses the river near Messiter and crosses back south of Avola.
  • Some longer Forest Service Roads lead off toward Adams Lake, up the Mad River Valley, and over to the Raft River with the more rounded, lower hills of the Shuswap Highlands in this area.
  • Logged cutblocks are visible from all along this section of highway next to the river.
  • The river turns west, then south, then west before passing Vavenby at about 196km from the source.
  • Vavenby is a community of about 700 people situated on the shores above the river.

Vavenby to Clearwater

vavenby

  • The valley is wider along this section and farmland can be seen on both sides of the river.
  • A bridge crosses the river at Vavenby and a Forest Service Road goes over the Shuswap Highlands and down to the Adams River.
  • The rural community of Birch Island is 15 km downstream (but northwest) of Vavenby.  There is a uranium deposit just east of Birch Island and there was some controversy about a proposed mine on Foghorn Mountain nearby.    Radon testing is routinely done in the area downstream because of leaching down the creek to the river.
  • At about 220 km, the Raft River flows into the North Thompson River, draining a large area east of Wells Gray Park
  • The North Thompson flows past Clearwater near km 225.   A bridge crosses the river and we can drive over the hills past Dunn Lake to Chu Chua and beyond to Barriere.
  • At 230km the Clearwater River joins the North Thompson.   This is the major tributary on its journey to Kamloops.   The Clearwater River runs 200 km north to south, draining Azure Lake, Clearwater Lake, Hobson Lake, and Mahood Lake within 10 000 square km of terrain, almost all within Wells Gray Park.

South to Kamloops

  • We paddled our kayaks from Clearwater to Kamloops this year and spent 3 days on the river noting all the features along the way.
  • North Thompson River Provincial Park lies just south of the confluence of the two rivers.
  • The river braids into multiple channels between Clearwater and Little Fort.
  • Just north of Little Fort is a corner of Dunn Peak Provincial Park which extends down to the river near the mouth of Dunn Creek/Joseph Creek.
  • At 257 km, there is a reaction ferry at Little Fort.   There was once a small fort on the east side of the river for the Hudson Bay company Brigade trail between the Cariboo and Fort Kamloops.   Little Fort today sits at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 24.
  • At 265 km the river flows through Chu Chua Cottonwoods Provincial Park, a series of pristine islands in the middle of the river (we canmped on them this summer).
  • Farmlands near Darfield surround the river all the way to Barriere.   At km 285, the river flows under a bridge over Highway 5 at the north end of Barriere, a town of 1700 people at the confluence of the Barriere River and the North Thompson.   Side roads lead east to the Barriere Lakes area or over to Adams Lake.
  • Highway 5 and the CNR both run down the east side of the river all the way to Kamloops from Barriere.
  • The small community of Louis Creek lies south of Barriere.   Louis Creek drains the highlands near Tod Mountain.
  • About 8km south of Barriere, the river runs through Fishtrap Canyon.
  • At 307 km the McLure Reaction Ferry connects Highway 5 to Westsyde Road.
  • The river runs for about 20 km down to the outskirts of Kamloops at Heffley Creek.
  • Heffley Rapids are met at km 327.  These can be formidable in spring and early summer, but are more manageable later in the summer.   It can only be traveled by river boats/jetboats or kayaks/canoes preventing upstream travel from Kamloops.   The rapids span about 4km on the river.
  • Below the rapids, the river runs wider and slower past Heffley, then Rayleigh on one side and Westsyde on the other.
  • North Thompson Jensen Island Oxbows Provincial Park is a small reserve, accessible by boat only.   Many years ago we ran and hiked in this area but private property now blocks access by land.
  • Old pylons stand in the river where there was once an old log booming operation where Rayleigh now lies.
  • As the river passes the Kamloops Indian Reserve, it flows under the Halston Bridge at about km 350, then meets the South Thompson River in Kamloops at km 354.
  • The muddier waters of the North Thompson mix with the clearer waters of the South Thompson to become the Thompson River as it flows west to Kamloops Lake, then southwest down to Lytton to join the Fraser River.
  • We spent a number of days paddling the river this year and will return to enjoy the rhythms of the river for more days in the next year.

North Thompson River 009r

Trapp Lake

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Trapp Lake is a long narrow lake right on Highway 5A.   It is surrounded by hills and rangelands, though there is some Crown land too.   It is not known as a fishing lake, nor does it see much recreational use.   There is a good hand launch spot for paddlers a short distance off the highway (at N50 27.931 W120 16.246).

Trapp Lake imageWe can go around the lake in either direction, but it will depend on the wind.   On this day early in the morning the lake was calm and the reflections off the hills were displayed in the lake’s surface.

IMG_6253rIt was almost a shame to paddle since the movement of the boat sent ripples into the reflections.

IMG_6254brThe grasslands stretch up the hillsides in both directions.

IMG_6256crThe water quality of the lake is not the best and there can be an algae bloom on the lake mid-summer, but in fall it is a quiet, cool, muddy lake down in the bottom of the valley.

IMG_6258rPaddling down one shore to the end and back up the other in a long loop is a 10.4 km paddle.   The highway traffic is the drawback, but on a weekday morning the number of vehicles was comparatively low and I just tuned out the noise.   In its own unique way, Trapp Lake is another beautiful spot in our area.

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Downriver Clearwater to Kamloops

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We launched our kayaks at North Thompson Provincial Park and paddled downriver to Kamloops over 3 days.  We spent our first night on an island in the middle of the river.

 

We launched in the morning on the second day and stopped for a break on one of the many sandbars along the route.

Downriver 3 Days 023rThis second section of the journey has many sections of calm water for a longer day of paddling.   The hills on either side rise above the farmland benches of Darfiield and Chu Chua.

Downriver 3 Days 024rCottowwoods line the river and sandbars are exposed in August.   when we paddled this route in June one year, the water ran fast and there were many side channels, but few gravel bars or sandbars above the water.

Downriver 3 Days 027rThe river moves quickly past Barriere and through Fishtrap Canyon.   The hills are barrne because of the 2003 McLure fire

Downriver 3 Days 028rThere are some bumpy sections of water through Fishtrap Canyon as we round Mount Goudreau and Skull Hill, offering some interesting and scenic paddling.

Downriver 3 Days 031rAt the bottom of Fishtrap Canyon there are some rapids and several islands.   In high water, there are three islands, but by August they are a single island.   There are some small bays and sandy beaches on the west side with campsites suitable for a few tents.

Downriver 3 Days 036rThis was our second night of camping, after a 39 km paddle.

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The third day is a slower paddle past McLure and Vinsulla towards a canyon north of Heffley Lake.

On the North Thompson River 023rAlthough the river seems to be moving slowly, we averaged 8.5 km/hour over the 36km distance to Kamloops.

On the North Thompson River 025brcThe Heffley Rapids are always an exciting paddle, but they are less formidable in August.   We stopped at the mouth of Jamieson Creek to scout the rapids and pick a route.   We opted for a route to the right and passed through without incident, but we also enjoyed the bumpy ride over a series of smaller rapids over a kilometer distance.   Below the rapids, we passed Heffley creek and Rayleigh with grasslands above the communities.

On the North Thompson River 055rOld log boom poles run down the side of the river in Rayleigh.

On the North Thompson River 060brWe landed in Westysde at Harrington Road, not the best place to haul the boats and gear, but Kamloops lacks good landing/launching spots on the North Thompson within the City’s limits.

The entire journey was about 112km over 3 days.   There are many good places to camp on islands in the river so the trip could be done in 2-4 days.   We had good weather and little wind so the days were long, but reasonable.   Camping on the river is a wonderful experience, one that we will paddle downriver Clearwater to Kamloops again in upcoming years.

Glimpse Lake

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Glimpse Lake is in the forest at the upper edge of the Douglas Lake grasslands.   To get to the lake, turn onto the Douglas Lake Road at Nicola Lake and climb through the ranchlands for 7 km, then turn left onto the Lauder Road.   Follow the Lauder Road for 16 km as it passes the Lauder Ranch and a section of the Nicola Lake Indian Reserve.   At the starting edge of the lake at a cattleguard, a signed sideroad goes into Glimpse Lake Southwest Rec Site.  It is a shady site with 8 campsites and a shallow shoreline.

The main road goes around to the north side of the lake and there is a good public boat launch for fishermen (electric motors only) and paddlers.   There is also an open-forested recreation site (Glimpse Lake North) farther along the road with 17 campsites.

Glimpse LakePaddlers can hand launch at either Rec Site, but the main boat launch is a good one and a better choice for both parking, launching, and landing.   The paddle around the shoreline is about 6 km.

IMG_6359rThere are extensive shallows in the lake and in fall, the lake was down a couple of feet so paddlers have to be careful to stay out of the reeds, milfoil, and mud.   The lake is popular with fishermen so it is best to pick non-prime times to visit the lake.   A sign at the boat launch states that 12 000 Pennask rainbow trout were stocked in the lake.

IMG_6361r IMG_6363r
IMG_0994r IMG_6364r

The paddle around Glimpse Lake is a peaceful retreat off-season and a good choice for canoes or kayaks.   In addition, the drive up the Lauder Road is a scenic one.   The Charles Beaks cabin is passed not far above the Nicola River.

IMG_6365brThe Lauder Road climbs up through the open grasslands of the Douglas Plateau.

IMG_6357rIt is possible to return by backroads past Peterhope Lake too, but bring a current topo map and/or a GPS to navigate that route.   I chose to backtrack, taking the time to enjoy the views along the way.

Surrey and Sussex Lakes

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Surrey and Sussex Lake lie near to the Surrey Summit (1444 m /4738 feet) on the Coquihalla Highway, but the access route is off the Logan Lake Road.   Going west towards Logan Lake for 7 km, we turn left onto the Surrey Lake Forest Service Road and follow the road up the hill for 6.9 km until it passes under the Coquihalla.   Watch for a Surrey Lake Fishing Resort sign and turn right onto that sideroad.   At 1.3 km, the Resort is reached, but look for another side road going to the right.   This narrow road follows the western shoreline of Surrey Lake and beyond to Sussex Lake.

Surrey and Sussex LakeI found 3 spots to park and hand launch on the side of Surrey Lake.   Paddlers could also ask to launch at the Resort which would involve a small day-use fee.   The shoreline paddle is 4.6 km, including the shallow bay on the northeast side of the lake.

IMG_0875rIn fall this lake was very quiet.   The cool morning temperatures left a few lingering mists, but there were some ducks in the shallow bays.   There are a small handful of cabins on the lake in addition to the fishing resort, but no one was stirring on this day.   Most of the shoreline is treed and even through there has been extensive logging in the area, most of the cut blocks are not visible from the lakes, except on one side of remote Sussex Lake.

IMG_0879rThe road continues over to Sussex Lake, but it is narrow and rough 0.6km to the Sussex Lake Rec Site.   Bring an axe or chainsaw for any fallen trees.   From Google Earth, there IMG_6618rappears to be another route through a cutblock to the west that will be fine for an ATV, but I did not try to bring the truck on the track.

The Rec Site sits on the banks of the lake.   There is a room for a few campers there, an outhouse and some user-made fire rings.   A small hand launch area makes easy unloading.   The paddle around the lake was 3.2km.   There are no cabins at Sussex Lake;   its just a nice high country spot for fishing or paddling.

After paddling the two lakes (7.8km), I came back down the FSR and stopped at Desmond Lake, visible from the Coquihalla.   This small, marshy lake would be better suited to a paddleboard in the spring when it is full (1.7km around the shoreline).

IMG_6619dr

Near Surrey and Sussex Lakes are more lakes – Frogmoore (a favorite), Bob Lake, and Mildred Lake, more spots for exploration in the High Country.

Isobel Lake

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Isobel Lake is a fine destination for a short hike or to camp at the redeveloped Rec Site.   Fishing is now restricted to youth, in this small, shallow lake stocked with rainbow trout.   All around the shoreline is quite shallow, but the middle of the lake is up to 25 feet deep.   For paddlers, the lake is only 2.5km around the perimeter, but it makes a quiet SUP choice for a cool fall day.   I parked and launched at the boat launch area on the northeast corner of the lake.

IMG_6563brIn a counter-clockwise loop, we pass a fishing dock, added for youth and seniors.  We then pass the Forest Inn, an outdoor shelter area for group use.   The west end is very shallow and surrounded by bullrushes and reeds.   The south shore has a number of small islands and logs to paddle around.   On the eastern shoreline, we can paddle around the island in a narrow and shallow passage through the bullrushes.

Isobel Google imageShallow water and pond growth extends far out into the bays around the lake.   Fall colors were emerging and three islands are passed on the SUP loop around the lake.

IMG_0865rIn the summer this can be a busy place and on some days school groups come over from nearby McQueen Lake.  On this last visit early in the morning, mist was still on the lake and there was no one around, with a few ducks on the lake to keep me company.

IMG_0860br

Murtle Lake West

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At the end of September and into the first days of October, we went into Murtle Lake for 4 days, paddling into the west arm.

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From Blue River we drove up the narrow Murtle FSR for 27 km to the parking area.   The parking lot is well-laid out and has information boards and an outhouse.   The portage in is 2.5 km and takes about 1.25 hours.   The Park Operator was working on the track and so it was a bit rough, but we appreciated the maintenance being done on the bridges, the parking area, the launch area and the portage path.

I used a kayak cart, but I could see that a canoe cart (with bigger wheels) would be better for a longer kayak and a bigger load.   Its still a good workout to get in to Murtle (and back out is harder after paddling).   Paddlers can rent a cart at Blue River or pick it up at the lake.

 

 

From the end of the track, we launched our loaded kayaks into Murtle Lagoon.   At the west end of the lagoon Snookwa Creek enters the lagoon, draining the southern slopes and the Stevens Lakes up in Indian Valley.   The distance through the lagoon is 1.6km.   There are two campgrounds right at entrance into the lake and we have stayed there before right next to the sandy beach.   This is a good choice if conditions are windy on arrival.   Paddlers either head north or west from this point.   The first campsite on the way north is Strait Creek, a wonderful spot.

 

This time we pointed our kayaks to the northwest with no winds to slow us down.   Our route passed Sandy Point Campground at 5.4 km.   The Wavy Range dominated views to the  east.

IMG_0891crAt 8.9 km we passed the point where the Park Operator’s cabin sits looking over the lake.  By going in straight line, we saved some distance and Fairyslipper Island was passed at 11.2 km.   There are 4 West Arm campgrounds not far past the island – Leo Island, Birch Beach, Cottonwood, and Tropicana.   We paddled down the middle of the lake and found Leo Island unoccupied so we landed and set up a base camp for the duration of this trip,  a first day total of 13 km of paddling.

IMG_6287r Leo IMG_6291r Leo

 

Leo Island has 3 designated fire rings with room for 2-4 tents at each.   There is also a bear-proof food cache and an outhouse.   The operator had left some sections of windfallen trees for firewood.   The beaches are sandy and the water is clear and clean, especially in the fall.

A sandy spit reaches out south from the campsite, but there is another sandspit on the other side too.   When I hiked the Central Mountain Trail on another trip, I could see the sand bars on either side extending toward the shoreline of the lake.

north side spit

north side spit

 Leo Island

 

Nearby are 3 alternate campsites:

  • Cottonwood Campsite (0.6k m north)
  • Birch Beach (1.0 km northeast)
  • Tropicana (1.3km west)

 

Any of these sites will make a good basecamp for paddling and exploration of the west arm (more information on where to go in the next story).

Murtle 9 DuskEastbr

To follow:

  • Murtle Lake – A Guide to the West Arm

Pass Lake

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Pass Lake is located on the Lac du Bois Road about 2.5km past the McQueen Lake-Isobel Lake turn-off.   Access is through the Pass Lake Rec Site.   There are 13 camping spots at this fishing lake and a good boat launch

Pass LakeThis is a small lake and I used the SUP to do a 2.5km loop around the lake.    Lakes with a perimeter of 2-4 km are just right for the board, leaving larger lakes to the kayak.

The shoreline is shallow but the water is about 30′ deep for much of the middle section of the lake.

IMG_6557rAt the west end of the lake is a former Agriculture Canada Field Research Station.   This was established in 1886, at first as part of a federal forest fire lookout station, but later was made part of the Ag Canada Station in Brocklehurst which then was closed by the Conservative Government in 2013.   The land is currently leased to local ranchers.   When I paddled by, it was actively being used.

IMG_0854rBeyond Pass Lake the road continues and becomes the Sawmill Lake Forest Service Road going into the high country near Saul Lake, Tranquille Lake, and beyond to Criss Creek.   Another branch heads over the O’Connor Road to Mt. Hyde and back to Westsyde.

This is a popular campsite fishing spot so paddlers are advised to pick less busy times to paddle the small lake.   On an early morning in September, there were no boats of the lake in an hour of quiet paddling.

Stump Lake

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We have hiked and biked around Stump Lake, but paddling the lake eluded us because of frequent strong winds.   I resolved to get onto the lake early in the morning before the winds came up, so I set out to paddle as much of the lake as I could.   To paddle the whole lake perimeter is about 19 km, a long stretch of paddling, but too long if the wind rises up.   The winds did come, but I managed to complete 14 km of paddling first.

The best launch spot is midway along the west shore where there is a designated rest area.

IMG_6260rSome of the shoreline has homes, but most of the southern shoreline has wetlands in the riparian zone and grasslands rising above.

IMG_0828rOn this early morning with some wind, there were no boats on the lake and little activity on the shoreline.

IMG_0824rAs the winds rose, I tucked into the more sheltered bays on the east shore, working my way south into the winds.   The shoreline paddle heading north was much quicker with a tailwind.

IMG_0819rThe north end of the lake will be another day of paddling.   Most of the larger lakes are done in 2 or more days, always watching the wind forecast.

IMG_6265rSailboarders and kitesurfers head to Stump Lake on a windy day, but paddlers have to watch for the wind forecast which comes out the day before.  The north end of the lake will wait until next year now.

IMG_6259br“The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature’s sources never fail.”   (John Muir)

 

Birch Lake

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The Interlakes Area of Highway 24 has many lakes to paddle and explore.   Birch Lake is found west of McDonald Summit (4300 feet) on the Nehaliston Plateau just east of Lac des Roches.   The turn off the highway is signed as Phinetta Lake.   It goes south to the Opax Mountain Resort which owns the campsite/launch area at Birch Lake.   Paddlers can stop here to pay the modest ($10) launch fee.   There was also a self-registration deposit system at the lake office.  The road goes down towards Phinetta Lake, then turns right where anarrow rough road leads us to the shores of Birch Lake.

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The Birch Lake Fish Camp has a nice boat launch in a scenic location.

IMG_6498rBirch Lake sits in a basin surrounded by forested hills.   The there are some shallow bays and one rocky island.

IMG_0837rThe lake was calm with blue sky and fluffy clouds.   The birch trees were starting to turn color on the western shores.

IMG_0843rThe paddle around the perimeter of the lake is 7.5 km.   This is a pleasant spot for paddlers.   On the way out, I stopped to look at Phinetta Lake and decided it would be better for a SUP with its smaller size (along with nearby Goose Lake).   The Phinetta Road continues on for 6km to the upper end of the Eakin Creek Valley offering an alternate route back east, coming out on Highway 24 highway at the bottom of the Big Hill.

There are a lot of rec sites next to lakes in the area.   For anyone who loves to paddle, there are enough lakes within an hour’s drive of Interlakes to keep us paddling every day for a couple of weeks (at least) – Lac des Roches, Phinetta Lake, Latremouille Lake, Crystal Lake, Sheridan Lake, Deka Lake, Sulphurous Lake, Lynn Lake, Wavey Lake, Sheridan Lake, Hathaway Lake, Drewry Lake, Needa Lake, Eagan Lake, Bonaparte Lake, Caverhill Lake, Akehurst Lake, Bridge Lake, Janice Lake, Emar Lakes Circuit, and many more.

Lac du Bois

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

Up to now, I have not attempted to bring the long kayak to paddle the smaller lakes, but with the addition of a stand-up paddleboard, smaller lakes like Lac du Bois, Pass Lake, and Isobel Lake are now on “the list” of lakes to be paddled.

The best launch spot is at the southeast corner of the lake.   Following the shoreline around the circuit is 3.3 km.

Lac du BoisThe long finger of land that sticks out into the lake is an esker, a winding gravelly moraine, formed by a stream running underneath a glacier as it retreated.

The lake is too muddy and shallow for fish.   It is more like a large lagoon with riparian growth around the shoreline.   I found a large turtle shell just above the northern shore and I have spotted muskrats swimming in the lake, along with ducks.   We could see a number of pond creatures swimming below the board.   Grasslands surround the lake on the north and east sides and a forested hill flanks the west side.

IMG_6522rWhen I paddled around the lake, there was no one around except for a few ducks on the lake.   The leaves were just starting to change color.

IMG_0849rWe have hiked past the shoreline of the lake many times, but this was my first time on the lake itself.   Shooting photos from the SUP was a bit of challenge.  I didn’t want to fall off the board into the cool, muddy lake so the steps of framing the picture, adjusting settings, focusing, and reviewing was hit-and-miss at best.    I suspect kneeling or sitting will be required to get the photos I want.

The original goal was to paddle 50 lakes, but with the SUP now available, many smaller lakes are now on the long list bringing it to more than 100 lakes.

Peterhope Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a morning day with winds predicted to pick up in the afternoon, I headed south to Stump Lake to paddle for a couple of hours, but the winds were already strong by 9:00 in the morning so I had a backup plan ready – to paddle Peterhope Lake instead.   Just past the end of Stump Lake is the Peterhope Lake Road.   This is a good gravel road and the lake is 7.5 km up the hill.  At the end of the lake is the popular North Peterhope Lake Rec Site.    There are two good boat launches, easy access for paddlers.

IMG_6241rThe lake has a few reedy bays to explore.   The north end is not used by fishermen since it is tooshallow.   The dam for the lake is at the northernmost end.   At the southwest corner is a narrow channel to a smaller lake, shallow but suitable for canoes or kayaks.

peterhope topoThere are some homes along the east and west shores, but it was a quiet spot on a weekday in September.   The distance around the lake, including the shallow areas was 6.75 km.

IMG_0812rThe campsite is a nice one with trailer access so it will be a busy spot on a weekend.    We  try to avoid paddling at busy fishing times so a weekday or off season would be a good time to choose to explore Peterhope Lake.

On the way back past Stump Lake, the skies were clearing, offering nice views down the lake.

IMG_6242brI stopped at the lakeshore to look out over the lake.   Its always windy on Stump Lake.

IMG_6246rThe plan is to paddle the north half of Stump one day and the south half another day, but windy days have been thwarting my plans.   Or maybe I should try a different activity?

IMG_6248r

SUP(pose)

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

After years of kayaking, I decided to give Stand Up Paddleboarding a shot.   The previous attempt had been on Kauai, where I was thrown around by the surf.   Without instruction or practice, I was launched a few times and ended the whole experience discouraged and unsure about SUP.

One of the attractions for me is the simplicity of set-up.   Hauling around an 18.5 foot kayak is always a lot of work, but once I am in the boat, I am happy to paddle for hours and the seaworthy kayak handles wind and waves well.   On the other hand, going for a quick paddle on a smaller lake with a paddleboard is a tempting alternative.

I decided to take a lesson before buying a board.   I called up PaddleSurfit at Heffley Lake and opted for a one-hour private lesson.   I arrived and Bodie gave me the introduction and stand-up-paddle-boarding-sup-vector-527638we were soon on the lake.   Shaky at first, with Bodie’s guidance I found the right stance and my balance point, but my paddling was awkward and ineffective, except for going around in circles.   I was guided in steps to the correct position and stroke, although it will take many hours of practice to make it natural and automatic.

By the end of the lesson, I was hooked.   The next step was to get a paddleboard.   From my research, there are no used ones in sight.   New ones range in price from $700 to $2000, but I won’t be racing, doing yoga, or surfing so I chose a long (14′) touring paddleboard.   Then there will be lots of hours of practice. Watch for me on a local lake.

IMG_6522rThe river slips through its silent bed.

Sway, Sway,

As the bubbles spray

And fall in tinkling tunes away.

And up the hills against the sky.

A fir tree rocking its lullaby

Swings, swings,

Its emerald wings,

Swelling the song that my paddle sings.

Pauline Johnson