Tag Archives: kayaking

Paddle Bluff

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On a mild and calm day on the second day of spring, I drove down the bumpy road to Cooney Bay, then hauled my kayak down to the shoreline of the estuary.    I launched in a shallow channel and worked my way out to Kamloops Lake.    There were swans, geese, ducks, and gulls in the channels and on the lake.    With no wind and the sun breaking through clouds, it was a perfect day for a paddle.    I padded around Cooney Bay then continued along the bluffs going west.

The goal for the day was to paddle around the base of Battle Bluff, then turn around and paddle back the same way.

Kamloops Lake is often a windy area so when the forecast is for no wind, Kamloops Lake, Nicola Lake, Little Shuswap Lake. or Stump Lake are on the list for a longer paddle.    This one was about 1.5 hours.    the next time I paddle the lake, it will be from the west end.     Some images from the paddle are shared here.    click an image for a lightbox view.

 

 

 

 

 

River Daze

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The first few days of paddling each year are spent on the river, launching from Pioneer Park, Riverside Park, or Valleyview.     Once the weather warms and the winds abate, the valley-bottom lakes are next.    On a calm March morning the winds were light and the sun was out on the South Thompson River.

There were ducks and geese on the river.     On the shore were crows, magpies, and an occasional dog walker.     A swan flew overhead, heading upstream.     I paddled up past the Yellowhead Highway Bridge and turned around, happy with a one hour paddle on the river.

Three and a Half Bridges Each Way

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In mid-March the weather was perfect for an early paddle on the rivers.    From Pioneer Park, the route was downstream, under the Red Bridge, then under the Train Bridge toward the Confluence of the South Thompson and the North Thompson Rivers.

There are a number of sand and gravel bars at the Confluence so it is best to stick to the south shore, passing under a third bridge (Overlander Bridge) and beyond down the Thompson River to the old bridge pylons from the old (1925 to 1961) Black Bridge.

Beyond the pylons, we can still see the footings of the older-yet White Bridge (1901-1925).     At low water, these are rocky high spots in the river.    Paddling around these, I returned back upstream, paddling toward the morning sun.

There is a bit of turbulent water at the Confluence.    Progress upstream is slow.

Paddling down toward Rabbit Island and back is about 6 km.    This is a better paddle in the early or late season when there are no powerboats on the river.    Paddling on a day without strong winds is always a good practice.

Here is a good article on the bridges – The Bridges of Kamloops

 

 

 

 

Reflections: On Jacko Lake in the Rain

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The forecast was for rain and a bit of wind coming up late that morning, so I headed out to Jacko Lake for an early paddle in the drizzle.

There was one fisherman on the lake, but otherwise it was the swallows, eagles, blackbirds, sandpipers, American dippers. ducks, dragonflies, and one kayaker on the lake, in the rain.

Click an image for a lightbox view.

In spite of the rain and a bit of wind, this was a fine paddle, one of 78 in 2023.

 

Kayaking Nicola Lake from Monck Park

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On a fall day I launched my kayak from Monck Park and paddled south on Nicola Lake.   Nicola Lake can be very windy and even a calm day can soon turn into a breezy one.  

A short TikTok video shares some of these moments:

 

@dsmith941

Kayaking Nicola Lake (from Monck Park #paddling

♬ original sound – dsmith941 – dsmith941

Logan Lake

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On a fall day I drove to Logan Lake to paddle the lake, then I hiked one of the trails.    There is a good launch spot at the campground on the east end of the lake.

I paddled twice around the lake (3.6 km), then secured the boat to go for a hike.    A few images are shared here.   Click an image for a lightbox view.

This is a nice spot for a combination paddle-and-hike and is a recommended outing.

 

 

 

 

Nicola Lake from Monck Park

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On a cool, grey day with a smattering of rain I drove down to Monck Park and launched the kayak onto Nicola Lake.

Nicola Lake can be a windy spot and some cool winds were blowing down the lake so I stayed on the shoreline of the lake, enjoying the quiet paddle in spite of the conditions.

Nicola Lake is a big lake so I launch out of three spots (north south, and middle-west) and do different loops each time.    For 2023 this was my second time on the lake, day 67 of paddling.     After paddling I secured the boat, then hiked the trails.

A few moments from the paddle will soon be on the Ramble On YouTube Channel. 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool Fall Winds on McConnell Lake

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When there are winds forecast I try to get an earlier start because the winds get stronger by late morning.    I also chose a smaller sheltered lake and one of the best for this kind of day is McConnell Lake.   I launched early, the only boat on the lake that morning.

I paddled twice around the lake, once in each direction.    The wind was consistent at 10 – 15 km/hour.

Near the end of the second lap, the winds died down for a short time, but were back just after I finished the paddle.


After paddling I secured the boat, then went for a hike on the trail, exploring the forest before returning back to town.

A few moments from the paddle on the lake are shared here in a short YouTube video on the Ramble On Channel.

 

 

Kayaking Edith Lake

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On a cool, sunny late September morning I chose Edith Lake for an hour of paddling.    When I got there I found out that the World Fly Fishing Championships were scheduled for that day.   Eight women’s teams would be on the lake so I paddled out right away.

The back bays were quiet with no fishing boats, a perfect day for kayaking.

The competitors were clustered around the area out from the boat launch.    Fishing was slow, but the organizers were hovering nearby to count and measure the fish caught.    I gave the cluster of boats a wide berth as I completed a single loop of the lakeshore.

Edith Lake is one of my “go-to lakes.”    It is closest to home, the paddling is always good (except at the busiest times, which I avoid), and it is a scenic spot for an hour or two of paddling.

Watch for a short YouTube video on the Ramble On Channel.

 

 

 

Lac le Jeune after the Wildfires

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While the Ross Moore Fire was active, we avoided go to Lac le Jeune, partly because of smoky conditions, but we just wanted to stay out of the way too.   By fall the smoke had dissipated so we went to Lac le Jeune Provincial Park and launched from the beach.

On a mild day, the winds were light and we paddled around the shoreline.

A few moments from the morning of paddling are captured in this YouTube video:

 

 

Cold Winds and Fly Fishing on Jacko Lake

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Near the Fall Equinox  on a cool morning, I arrived at Jacko Lake to find it very busy.    The World Fly Fishing Championships was scheduled for September 24 to 30, but teams from around the world were arriving and practice rounds were on local lakes, including Jacko Lake.   When I arrived the French team and the Italian team were ready to launch.      I quickly unloaded and launched onto the lake, sticking to the shoreline, avoiding fishermen.

Winds were light at the start, but gusts started, blowing down the lake from the northwest.   Remnants of the rainy/stormy weather of the night before hung on over the hills.

The lake’s body of water was low and the bays had lots of aquatic growth, making the loop around the lake a bit shorter.     Jacko is ascenic lake so any loop is a rewarding one.

I left the fly fishermen to some hours on the lake and got out of the cold wind.    Jacko is a favorite lake, always worth my time, but I will avoid the crowds and the wind on upcoming outings.

More information on Jacko Lake at this link.

 

 

Stake Lake X3

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Although the Stake Lake Rec Site is officially “closed” because of the Ross Moore Lake wildfire, the gate to the parking area is open and lots of people are fishing or paddling the lake, and hiking, walking and biking the inner trails.   On a cloudy but mild September day I launched my kayak into the lake and paddled around the shoreline.

There was a breeze on the lake, but not enough to deter me from a great day of paddling on the lake.    I paddled around twice, once in each direction.    That takes about an hour.

After paddling, I secured the boat on the roof rack, then hiked around the lake, mostly using single tracks where available.

After a period of extended drought the forest is still very dry.    A few shrubs and perennials were still green if they were near water.

This is a favorite, three times around Stake Lake.      We will do this again in the fall.

Some moments of the three loops are shared here in a short YouTube video:

 

Kayaking Campbell Lake

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Sometimes there are pelicans on Campbell Lake in late summer or the start of fall.    We can never tell until we get there.   The lake was hit with winterkill, so the campground was empty and with so few fish in the lake, the pelicans may have gone elsewhere.    I did spot two of them on Scuitto Lake on the way in.     I launched my kayak on a grey, windy, slightly smoky day and paddled the lake.

Much of the lake has shallow bays full of aquatic growth so we usually paddle around the lake in an oval shape.

Campbell LakeThere were lots of ducks on the lake, but no larger birds and no fishermen.  It was a quiet paddle, mostly exercise and outdoor recreation; Day 57 of paddling this year.

I did a short video on last year’s paddle on the lake, provided here:

 

 

 

Pack and Paddle: Chuwhels Lake

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Chuwhels Lake is in a remote spot between Greenstone Mountain and Chuwhels Mountain.    It is accessed by driving up the Greenstone Mountain Road for 15.5 km then turning onto the Chuwhels Road.   A 1 km track (unsigned) bears east to Chuwhels Lake.

I put my folding kayak into a pack and hiked in to the lake.    The track is driveable, but a bit rough.    It is a dammed lake and the lake was down, mostly from evaporation.    I assembled the kayak then paddled around the lake, then hiked back out.

Some images from the pack and paddle are shared here.    Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.

Some of the moments of hiking and kayaking are found in this YouTube video:

 

Heffley Lake in the Rain

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On a June day I drove up to Heffley Lake for a paddle even though the forecast was not promising.    There was no one on the lake.    It was only a light sprinkle at the start.

After a few minutes the weather moved in and I was paddling in the rain.

I hung in for an hour of paddling.   A few moments of the kayaking on Heffley are captured in this short video:

When the weather is marginal – wind, rain, or cold conditions – it is always hard to know what to do.    This one turned out okay.

 

Kayaking Paska Lake

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Paska Lake is a fine destination for kayaking.    It can be a bit busier on weekends, but it is usually fairly quiet at other times.   There is a gravel boat ramp at the Rec Site.

A paddle around the lake is about 4 km.    If the back channel/lagoon is full of water, we can paddle an extra kilometer.   The lagoon is usually navigable in spring.  The first water lilies were blooming in the shallow channel.   By the end of June it will be shallow and full of aquatic vegetation.

There was a light breeze on the lake.    There was a great blue heron, loons, and some ducks on the lake.  There was one other boat on the lake and the campsite was mostly empty at the start of June.

More information can be found on the Paska Lake page (On the Lakes > Paska Lake).