As fall approached, there were still a few more paddling outings to be done on the high country lakes.   McConnell Lake is a good choice on a windy day because the smaller lake sits in a bowl surrounded by trees,   Stake Lake is also okay in the wind, but will require more diligent paddling.    By this time of the yar, there are few paddlers and only a handful of anglers so it is easy to do two loops on the lakes, followed by a hike on the trails.  As the season becomes colder, we will move to the lower-elevation lakes.   We will finish thes eason on the river, probably the last one in early November.