[Paddlewise] Kootenay

Snip
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Date: Fri, 02 Apr 1999 10:04:43 -0800
From: edward sullivan <sullivaned_at_pop.kpnw.org>
Subject: [Paddlewise] Kootenay

I might be driving an adventurer up to British C. in early May so he can
paddle down the
Columbia. Then I'll be there. Would like to paddle a few days in a nice
big lake in South
Central BC.  Kootenay looks good on the map. Any suggestions about it or
others?  A natural
lake would be preferable to a reservoir.
Snip



Spent 2 weeks on Kootenay Lake, BC last summer.  Incredible place.
Paddlewiser, Sylvio Lamarche may have answered you by now.  He lives
near the lake and gave me tons of good advice for my trip.
wgarden_at_cyberlink.bc.ca

After the trip I spent a few hours writing up an itenerary for a future
dream vacation with my wife, a double kayak, and bed and breakfast
stops. It has names, phone numbers, of B&Bs, resorts, prices, Kayak
shops, campgrounds, suggestions, etc. Wanted to get it on paper before
it left my mind.  One shore is mostly roadless and the other shore is
mildly developed with civilized accomodations. Be happy to send you the
Word Perfect 6.1 file -- or the hard copy in the mail.

I went south to north so the scenery got progressively more dramatic.
Two leisurely weeks covered the length of the lake.  Took a break in the
middle of the trip for some family duties (5 hour drive home). Also
spent a day or two in Kaslo -- a neat little town.  The water is cold,
but great for swimming in the 100 plus degree F. heat I had every day.
In early May, you will be paddling in water that was probably snow a few
minutes earlier. Mountain thunderstorms were real serious affairs in
August heat wave.  Don't know about May.  Mosquitoes were also serious
at night in August.

The scenery is both awesome and beautiful.  Lake lies between Purcell
and Selkirk Mts.  Can see a couple of glaciers near the north end.  The
arm of the lake with Nelson at the end is probably calmer water than the
main lake, but probably has more current in it. Definately has more
civilization -- but Nelson is a great little city.



Kinbasket Lake catches my eye on the map.  Roadless, wild, and big.
Also right at the foot of the Canadian Rockies -- glacier run off.
Weather can get very nasty very quickly any time of year. I'm saving it
till my paddling skills get better.

Okanogan Lake is big, and quite lovely.  Quite civilized -- far more
than Kootenay.  Much warmer than Kootany I assume.  Kelowna is a
pleasant waterfront city.  This is the warmest part of BC and a couple
of smaller lakes south of Penticton would be warmer still. There is a
Sea Kayak shop and factory  in Summerland (don't know the name).  Pretty
sure they have a web site.

Further north in the Cariboo Mts, I hear that the Bowron Lakes are a
great place for a circle canoe trip with portages.  Probably still
snowed in in May.

A somewhat different suggestion:  If the risk of freezing water temps
bothers you like it does me, come on down here to Lake Roosevelt on the
Columbia (150 miles long.  Typically 1 to 3 miles wide.  Sage covered
hills rise 1,000 to 3,000 feet above the lake.  In May they turn a
lovely pastel green and are filled with wild flowers.

Banks Lake is warmer still, and quite dramatic sitting in the Grand
Canyon (Coulee) of Washington.  Sheer cliffs 700 feet high and 30 miles
long. Interesting side canyons.

I live right at the base of the Grand Coulee Dam, and would love to show
you around or offer trip suggestions.  I hope to find water temps
climbing out of the 40s by May.

Let me know how your trip goes, or stop in and say hi.

Brian Heath

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