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.

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

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

As 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.

The 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.

Sailboarders 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.

“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)