Tag Archives: paddling

Pass Lake Kayaking

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On a grey and drizzly morning I drove up through the Lac du Bois Grasslands and continued to Pass Lake  at 19km.    I drove down the short access road to the Pass Lake Recreation Site.     There are two boat launches and lots of parking.    I launched into the lake and paddled twice around the shoreline, a 5 km outing.    there were a few fly fishermen on the lake, but it was still a quiet spot.    There were loons, including a nesting one on the shoreline, an eagle, ducks, geese, red-winged blackbirds, marsh wrens, a painted turtle, and a fresh hatch on the lake

 

The lake was calm for the first third, then wind and rain passed through the area, and it calmed down for the final part of the second loop on the lake.

This lake is a good lake to paddle in the spring, one I will continue to kayak for the years to come.    More information – Pass Lake

 

 

 

 

 

Bleeker Lake Kayaking

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On a mild spring day in early May I drove gravel roads to the Roche Lake area, then turned onto the Bleeker Lake Forest Service Road to the BC Rec Site on the north side of the lake.      On a Sunday morning the Rec Site was full and there were three other informal sites nearby also being used, but when I launched the kayak, there were no other boats on the lake.      A paddle around the shoreline is about 4.5 km and it took me one hour of steady paddling.

Bleeker lake has shallow areas on either end of the lake, but it can all be paddled in spring.   With intermittent inflow, the lake drops significantly in summer, partly from evaporation and partly from draw-down (a dammed lake).    Large sections of the lake become choked with aquatic vegetation in summer.   The lake has also had recent winter kill, but there is an aeration system in the lake to support the fishery.    On this day there were many ducks on the lake, a loon, and a bald eagle watching for a lunch meal.

This is a lake I paddle each spring, but I do not return for a second day of paddling in summer or fall.    I will be back in May of 2025 (but I may go past Bleeker to brave the rough road into Hosli Lake).

A few images from the day’s paddling are shared here.    Click an image for a lightbox view.

 

 

More Information – Bleeker Lake

 

Nicola Lake (On April Fools Day)

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

On April Fools Day there was no wind forecast for morning in the Merritt area.     Nicola Lake is about 60 km south on Highway 5A so an early start ensured a launch time in calm conditions.    There are a few boat launches along Nicola Lake and the first one just off the highway has a picnic area and a gravel launch area.    there was no one else on the lake as I paddled south along the shoreline.    On this loop route I spotted ducks, geese, crows, and eagles.    The lake was flat and it was quiet, except when a truck went by the lake.     I paddled south then crossed the lake to come back on the other side.

 

There are a small number of summer homes on the northwestern shore, then a series of rocky bluffs.     Near the end of the lake are farmlands.

A few images are shared here.    Click an image for a lightbox view.

 

 

This was an 8.2 km paddle taking about 1.6 hours.    Finding calm water on Nicola Lake is always a blessing and the fine spring weather made this an ideal outing.      The goal is to paddle each lake at least once and the bigger lakes usually get more than one day of paddling, with subsequent days on a different part of the lake.

 

 

Paddle Bluff

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections: Edith Lake on a Grey, Windy Day

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

When the weather is marginal I got out to one of 4 lakes – Jacko, Edith, Paul, or Edith Lake.    On a day that was forecast for wind and rain, I got an early start.

On the open part of the lake, it was a bit windy and cool, but I did a counter-clockwise loop and entered the back channels, more protected from the wind.


There are two out-and-back bays on that end of the lake, both protected from the wind, but also hidden, with no other boats in sight.


The end of the back channel is surrounded by grazing lands.    I usually round the deadhead and return by the other shore.

A circuit around the lake takes about 50 minutes so I go around twice, once in each direction on some days.   On this day it was under an hour of paddling, a shorter outing for a busy day.

I will be back to paddle the lake again, then in winter to snowshoe around the lake.

 

Reflections: On Jacko Lake in the Rain

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

 

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

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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:

 

 

Around Gibraltar Rock

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

When we paddle on Paul Lake, we can pass close to the sheer slopes of Gibraltar Rock.    On a June day, I paddled a loop route on the middle part of the lake.

Some video moments of the paddle are captured here:

This day in June was the third day of paddling on Paul Lake for 2023 and the 26th day of kayaking in the year.    On to other lakes for the rest of the year…

Cold Winds and Fly Fishing on Jacko Lake

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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

Kamloops Kayak Posted on by

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: