On Little Shuswap Lake - Kamloops Trails

On Little Shuswap Lake – Kamloops Trails

Doug Smith  May 13, 2020 at 8:30 am

In April most of the lakes in the hills are still covered in ice so we do a rotation of the valley-bottom lakes first (Kamloops Lake, Little Shuswap Lake, Nicola Lake, Stump Lake, Trapp Lake, Shumway Lake, then move to the lower lakes in the hills.   When we paddle the larger lakes, we watch for a day with no wind.   Capsizing in cold water is dangerous so we try to follow the shoreline.   On this April day there was no wind I launched from Memorial Park in Chase in shallow water and angled across the lake, bearing northeast.

With no wind, the rocky hills above the north shore of the lake were reflected in the calm waters.

The long diagonal route took me to the north side where the rocky hills come right down to the lake.

I paddled about 3/4 of the way up the lake, then turned back to follow the shoreline all the way back to the start.   Reflections in the water create a type of optical illusion, affecting our innate sense of balance in the boat, especially when taking photos.

Along the lakeshore a few mergansers and other ducks scuttled away from the kayak.

The north side was in the sun and was from highway traffic so it is my usual route on Little Shuswap Lake.  I may return to paddle the other shore when fall colors border the lake.

 

 

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Doug Smith

Doug writes for Kamloops Trails, a not-for-profit (and ad free) website, offering information on trails, waterways, routes, featured spots, viewpoints, and explorations in the outdoors in the Kamloops area (and beyond).

Doug started exploring this area in 1976 and continues to follow tracks and routes wherever they lead, with the aid of map, compass, GPSr and camera. After many dead-ends, but also many discoveries, he chose to share this information.

The Kamloops Trails website has a massive number of interesting posts and would be of interest to anyone in Kamloops who enjoys the outdoors. Visit the Kamloops Trails website at: http://www.kamloopstrails.ca/

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