On two recent paddling outings the noise levels were quite different. When we paddled downriver, there were the usual highway and railroad noises as we paddled from Lafarge to Kamloops. When the trains weren’t running it was relatively peaceful. As we approached Kamloops and the morning started to wane, the power boat and personal water craft crews started to emerge. …Continue reading…
In the last few years we have been able to get the kayak onto the South Thompson River in February. In 2015, it was Feb. 24 and in 2016 it was Feb. 29. If the ice doesn’t clear until later, we will have to wait until we get back from hiking in the Death Valley area. To paddle early we …Continue reading…
Each year the rivers rise in May and they usually peak in June. When both rivers rise enough, the area near the east end of Kamloops Lake floods upstream for a few kilometers. We can launch our kayaks and paddle from Tranquille Bay to explore the seasonal channels. In 2016, freshet was early and by the first of June access …Continue reading…
Surrey and Sussex Lake lie near to the Surrey Summit (1444 m /4738 feet) on the Coquihalla Highway, but the access route is off the Logan Lake Road. Going west towards Logan Lake for 7 km, we turn left onto the Surrey Lake Forest Service Road and follow the road up the hill for 6.9 km until it passes under …Continue reading…
In Kamloops, we can paddle on our rivers in 9 of the 12 months of the year. With a cool spring, the first day of paddling on the river this year was the last day of March. From Pioneer Park, the upstream paddle is easier when the flow rates are down. With a reduced current, we can progress east on …Continue reading…
Downriver paddling is one of the best outdoor experiences, but paddling in a shallow river with the salmon migrating upstream to spawn is a special experience. During the last big sockeye run, we paddled down the Shuswap River from the Skookumchuck to Enderby. The river runs faster at the upper end and slowly at the lower end over a …Continue reading…
May 3 Paddling up the South Thompson River into a strong headwind for 40 minutes took only 12 minutes back. Even the ducks and geese took cover on a blustery day. May 2 We paddled the North Thompson for 2 hours. An old boom logging operation on the east shore past Westsyde still has some poles and …Continue reading…
We launched out of Cooney Bay on a sunny, blustery day in October. Cooney Bay Road is a bit rough and it is a bit of a haul down to the muddy beach over logs. Once in the water, paddlers have to navigiate around the sandbars at the mouth of the river. It is much easier to round the point …Continue reading…