Tag Archives: kayaking

Eagle’s View above Clearwater Lake

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On a warm summer day in a part of the province that was not wrapped in smoke, I drove north through Wells Gray Park to the the end of the road.      At the boat launch I got into my kayak, then I paddled up the lake, heading north for 6 km.    The plan was to land at the beach of a marine campsite, then hike a signed trail up to a viewpoint overlooking the lake.   I had done this exact route a few years ago, but Clearwater Lake is my favorite lake, so it was a repeat, but one I was pleased to do again.   

The lake was calm as I kayaked to Divers Bluff Marine Campsite on the west side of Clearwater Lake.     There were a number of canoes on the lake heading up to one of 8 marine campsites spaced along the lake where there are beaches on the 23 km long shoreline, and a handful had landed on the beach for a break before moving on.      

After landing on the beach, I secured the boat, then started the hike up to the lookout.   The first part of the trail winds through cedar – hemlock – birch forest, heading northeast.    The last kilometer was steep,  and it has a couple of short scrambles to get to the top of rocky bluffs,  with views down the lake.     There are some glimpses to the east too, with Zodiac Mountain (2480 m or 8136 ft) and Azure Mountain (2495 m or 8185 ft), standing high above the forests, in inaccessible areas in the Cariboo Mountain Range.  

On the way up the lake more than 20 km away to the north are peaks above Azure Lake, with Mt. Huntley (2429 m) and Garnet Peak (2876 m or 9446 feet).    We once hiked up on to Mt. Huntley from Azure Lake, a very hard all-day hike and scramble.    

After having lunch on the beach and finding a geocache, I Ioaded the boat and started the journey back.   The 6 km back down the lake had a bit of afternoon wind, and it was done at a more leisurely pace.   This is a fine destination for a day in Wells Gray Park, but it is a long day, with many miles of travel required.  

Shared here are some photos from the paddle on Clearwater Lake and the hike up the Eagle’s View Trail.    Click any image for a link to the Google Photos album (inc. captions) or scroll through the slideshow, embedded here.

Two videos are available on YouTube – Eagle’s View Trail and a new one – Eagle’s View Trail above Clearwater Lake.

Downriver in Winter

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Mild winter weather arrived in February and the rivers became ice-free.     Paddlers can venture onto the water if the temperature is above + 3 and there is no wind.    Since the water is very cold still, we need to wear protective gear.     Neoprene boots and gloves and a dry suit protects the kayaker from cold conditions wading at launch and landing, and sitting in the boat while paddling.   Although a spill is unlikely, a dry suit and a PFD are the best safety measures.    The extra gear takes a bit longer to load and launch and reload again, but if the conditions are good, it is all worth the effort. On a pleasant morning with some … Continue reading →

Wavy Range Hike

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We have been to Murtle Lake a number of times and we have paddled both arms, staying at various marine campsites for a few days.    From spots along the lakeshore, we have hiked into the mountains, through the forest, and along rivers and creeks.   This is all remote backcountry so all of the usual precautions are needed. On one trip we paddled up the north arm and camped at Strait Creek.    We decided to hike the Wavy Range Trail.    We forded the creek and started the steep trail up through the forest to the open ridge ascent. There is a small backcountry campsite at about 5 km.   At 5.5 km, the trail enters the alpine zone with … Continue reading →

Stake Lake Thrice

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On a warm June morning I drove to Stake Lake to paddle and hike.   I got onto the water early and paddled twice around the lake, once in each direction.    Then I loaded and secured the boat, put on some hiking shoes and followed trails around the lake for a third time.   This has become a favorite outing in the last few years, one I will do again, but the hiking route is varied each time.    On other days I have paddled a nearby lake (Lodgepole Lake, McConnell Lake, or Walloper), then I made the short drive to Stake Lake for the hike. When I arrived at the lake there were two fishing boats on the lake, but … Continue reading →

Griffin Lake with a Folding Kayak

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In early May I drove up the Lac du Bois Road then turned onto the Isobel Lake Road and parked just off the roadside.    I had my folding kayak in a large backpack so I gathered my gear and then hiked to the marshy shoreline of Griffin Lake.   I had paddled the lake once before, hauling my kayak through the woods and into the lake, on rough ground, but this was the first time with a folding kayak. The distance from the truck to the marshy launch area was only about 150m, an easy hike with the boat on my back.    The boat (Oru Inlet) unfolds like an origami puzzle and then it has clips to hold the … Continue reading →

Five Bridges and Two Otters

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On a grey mild morning I launched my kayak from Pioneer Park then paddled down the South Thompson River.    I passed under the “Ghost Bridge”, the burnt and now removed Red Bridge,  and then continued down to two standing bridges and two other former (ghost) bridges.    There are a number of pylons just below the surface near the base of the stanchions on the CN Bridge so it’s best to stay midway between the pillars.   I continued downstream past Riverside Park, then under the Overlanders Bridge. Farther west I passed the stanchions of the Black Bridge, built in 1925, but abandoned and removed in the late 1960’s – early 1970’s. An older bridge yet was the White Bridge, … Continue reading →

Ross Moore Lake

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One of the lakes we look forward to paddling each summer is Ross Moore Lake.    It is a longer drive into the backcountry to get to the shores of the lake.   We can use either the Long Lake Road (from Knutsford) or the McConnell Forest Service Road (from the Lac le Jeune Road) to get to the Ross Moore Lake Road, then it is an additional bumpy 8 km route to the southeast end of Ross Moore Lake.     We can launch from the dam area or we can go to the rough track into the Ross Moore Rec Site where there is a hand launch and a small campground. A paddle around the shoreline of the lake is … Continue reading →