Wed - September 13, 2006

Shores of Colorado - Paddling Lakes at Foothills of Rocky Mountains



In late summer Colorado lakes (well, they are almost all reservoirs) are getting low exposing muddy, sandy or rocky shores. The first picture was shot yesterday on Lonetree Reservoir where I was paddling my 5 mile time trial for the virtual race. The water level went down so much that instead usual two loop around the lake I paddled 5 laps in the middle of it to avoid shallow waters. Even wider, but nicer sandy beaches were on the Douglas Lake where I was paddling and shooting a few days ago.

The portrait of my Sisson Nucleus kayak was shot on Beaver Pond in Arapaho Bend Natural Area in Fort Collins. This pond is a former gravel mining place and its water level doesn't change much (dropped down less than a foot during summer). So, there is nice natural vegetation on its shores.

I can see the Front Range of Rocky Mountains from most of my paddling spots. However, I don't see these mountains every day living in Fort Collins. They are obscured by a first range of hills with Horsetooth Rock. I need to drive a few miles east (away from the mountains) to see a scene like in the third picture.

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