When the summers get hot in Kamloops, driving to higher terrain may yield coller temperatures.   When the forest fire smoke fills the valleys, heading away from the source of the smoke may lead to clearer skies.    Lac le Jeune was a good spot in the dog days of summer.   We hiked 9 km through the hills, returning back to the beach at Lac le Jeune Provincial Park.

A paddle around the east end of the lake followed the hike, with little wind and warm temperatures.    Frequent splashes of lakewater on the head helped.

Damselflies hovered over shallow bays in the marshy east end of the lake.

Marsh cinquefoil was just starting to bloom along the marshy shoreline.

The lake was well-used by other kayakers, SUPs, fishermen, and swimmers on a hot summer day.   We hike, paddle, snowshoe, and camp at Lac le Jeune over most of the year, a close-to-Kamloops recreational retreat.