At the end of April the wind forecast for the area south of Kamloops was good so I drove south on Highway 5A to an informal launch on Trapp Lake. I had earlier paddled south from the spot on the point and for this day the plan was to kayak the north end of the lake. There was almost no wind when I launched as I … Continue reading →
On a Friday morning the forecast was for wind gusts starting at 10:00 am, so I loaded the kayak and headed up to Edith Lake early. The lake was calm, the first day like this since spring started. I launched into the lake and paddled the shoreline. For the whole loop, the lake was still. In the back bays, I enjoyed the reflection … Continue reading →
I paddled Shumway Lake on a spring day in windy conditions. The forecast called for stronger winds in Kamloops but lighter winds to the east and to the south. I decided to go south to paddle one of the lakes – Shumway, Trapp, Napier, Stump, or Nicola. I drove past Shumway and the winds drove the waves down the lake so I decided to … Continue reading →
In March, the first few times paddling are on days without too much wind and the time on the water is 1.0 to 1.5 hours, up and down the river. In April Part Two will be a time of kayaking on the Valley lakes – Kamloops Lake, Nicola Lake, Stump Lake, and Little Shuswap Lake. The lakes in the grasslands will open soon and they … Continue reading →
After weeks of wind, the temperature and wind gave us a break. I paddled upriver, then back downriver, past where the Red Bridge once stood. A cool morning, but okay for early season paddling. Ducks (mostly mallards), blackbirds, magpies, and gulls on the river or the shoreline, but no one in the green corridor at the bottom of the valley.
Continue reading →On the river for Day 2 of paddling… The boat launch gate was open today, but again no one else on the river. Geese, ducks, and an eagle spotted. A little colder and some wind, but manageable with the right gear. Up past the Yellowhead Bridge and back again… All went well, but on getting out of the boat, the place I stepped … Continue reading →
On the last day of winter, the weather was mild and there was little wind, so I brought my kayak down to the boat launch at Pioneer Park. The gate was closed so I wheeled my boat down to the shoreline. Ice bordered the river still, but I was able to lift the kayak over the ice to shallow water. The water is … Continue reading →
Hihium Lake is a fishing destination. Most fishermen go past Loon Lake, then on logging roads to the Hihium Lake Fishing Resort. Paddlers could bring their canoes or kayaks there, but it is a longer drive (Cache Creek > Loon Lake > backroads), a there will be a small launch fee. For Kamloops paddlers, we can instead take a shorter backcountry route to Hihium … Continue reading →
On an August day I drove east toward Chase and just after the Neskonlith IR, I turned south onto the Harper Lake Forest Service Road. The road becomes rougher, then at about 6 km from the highway, there is a small Rec Site, with seven primitive campsites and a small boat launch. The plan was to kayak the lake twice (6 km), once in each … Continue reading →
