Evening paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir with JKK Supernova sea kayak – warm and calm with a beautiful sunset.

I did about 10 miles from the South Bay to Orchard Cove and back. There was a construction going on a hill slope in the South Bay. A helicopter was carrying a load of concrete from a highway uphill. If these are residential houses they will not be cheap … And, a surprise: I met a sea kayaker in the northern part of the lake . He was paddling from the Satanka Cove. All boat ramps were closed, so no power boats.

All pictures were shot this time with Pentax Optio W30 which remains my main paddling camera. I am a few models behind the new developments in the Pentax line of waterproof cameras. Certainly, the newest addition, Pentax Optio WG-1, with GPS and waterproof remote looks interesting. There is also a cheaper version without GPS.

Related posts and resources:
Horsetooth Reservoir map
9 Pictures from September Paddling in Northern Colorado
Early Morning Paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir
Springtime Paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir
Icy Horsetooth Reservoir – Opening Lake Paddling Season

November 12, 2011. A very windy afternoon on Beaver Pond in Arapaho Bend Natural Area in Fort Collins. There were wind gusts up to 50 mph. I paddled JKK Supernova sea kayak and Rob Bean his Sawyer Loon canoe. Most of the time were hugging the west shore to get some protection from the wind.

All pictures were shot with GoPro HD Hero camera set in an interval mode (a still picture every 30s). The camera was mounted on a telescoping mast and Sticky Pod suction cups nn the stern deck of my kayak. The mast was extended to about 50″ above the deck. The camera was looking forward first, then I turn it 180 degrees to look back. Unfortunately, the camera was collecting some water splashes due to high wind.

Related posts:
A Bird’s-Eye View of Kayaking with GoPro Hero Camera
First Snow Paddling with JKK Multisport Supernova Kayak
3 Kayaks: JKK Supernova, WSBS Thunderbolt-X and Sisson Nucleus 100
South Platte River with GoPro Hero HD Camera and Thunderbolt Kayak

My September paddling near Fort Collins in northern Colorado: three lakes and three different boats. All pictures were shot with paddling camera on duty – Pentax Optio W30.

I am a couple version behind the newest Optio models, but my W30 is still working perfectly. It’s always tethered to my life jacket, so I cannot lose it. I wonder if somebody has experience with the newer waterproof cameras from Pentax Optio W90 and Optio WG-1 Adventure Series, and, especially, with the waterproof infrared remote control. It looks interesting and is quit cheap (~$20).

Related posts:
Paddling Gross Reservoir near Boulder, Colorado
9 Pictures from Paddling Gross Reservoir in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains
Early Morning Paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir
Pentax Optio, Sisson Nucleus Kayak and 3 Pictures from My Paddling Pond

Last Sunday, when returning from the Colorado River Race in Glenwood Canyon, I drove over the Loveland Pass to avoid delays in the Eisenhower Tunnel. It didn’t help much. I was still stuck in a traffic below the tunnel. However, I enjoyed a few stops at highway 6 at and below the Loveland Pass. It was foggy, cloudy and mysterious. Time to time I could see the slow traffic on the Interstate 25 below.

This year, I paddled my Sea Wind Canoe in the Colorado River Race. I got a really good workout there. The race was dominated by SUPs (stand-up paddlers). You can find some pictures from the race and more commentary on the Fitness Paddling blog.

Related posts:
Colorado River 2011 Race Dominated by SUPs (Stand-Up Paddlers)
Slide show: Colorado River Race
10 Mile River Race in 60 Seconds – Thunderbolt Kayak in the Glenwood Canyon

Sunday morning, August 7, 2011. A loop around Boyd Lake – 9 miles in 2:15 hours in Sea Wind canoe.

It was my first paddling on the Boyd Lake this year. The lake is very full like many other reservoirs in Colorado. I launched the Sea Wind canoe at northern end of the park road – just a few steps across a bike trail at current water level on a sandy beach.

I paddled around the lake with a short stop for photography at the SE lake corner near the dam. There is a nice view of Loveland and Longs Peak from that spot. And, it seems that I am attracted to that concrete dam structure. A nice pattern of concrete elements. You can compare three pictures below with the pictures I shot at the same location 2 years ago, but from the shore.

Pictures were shot with my DSLR camera, Canon D5 M2 and EF 24-105 mm lens with a polarizer. Sea Wind canoe is a very stable platform for photography. So, for a easy paddling like today, I carry my Canon camera in Seattle Sport mini duffel. I don’t see that product in their catalog any more. I wouldn’t consider it waterproof, just splash proof. However, it offers an easy access to the camera even with a long lens attached. There is a room for an extra lens and/or flash or other accessories.

Related posts and resources:
Boyd Lake State Park
160 Lakes and Reservoirs of Colorado

Horsetooth Reservoir is very busy as usual in the middle of summer and boating season. Fortunately, it is possible at least to avoid using boat ramps to launch a kayak or canoe. I am using a newly reopened Sunrise Area. You can now drive down to a swimming beach and park close to water.

Numerous fishing reservoir provide opportunity for a more calm paddling. I often paddle Boedecker and Lonetree Reservoir southwest from Loveland (below Carter Lake). Pictures below were taken on two recent trips to the Lonetree Reservoir. Water level is still high. There is a lot of water vegetation in coves, but not yet too dense to stop paddling. I usually like to squeeze around trees and log jams to explore the supplying ditch all the way to the main road. The bridge has a pretty low clearance at this water level.

Related posts:
Fisheye Lens Perspective for Paddling?
Springtime Paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir
Icy Horsetooth Reservoir – Opening Lake Paddling Season
Paddling Horsetooth Reservoir in Winter Scenery
Early Morning Shot of the Horsetooth Reservoir and Paddling Links
160 Lakes and Reservoirs of Colorado
Horsetooth Reservoir map
WSBS Thunderbolt-X Kayak on the Lonetree Reservoir
Paddling through Forest and Irrigation Ditches

I love paddling the South Platte River in eastern Colorado. The further downstream from Denver the better. Evans to Kersey to Kuner is a popular river segment which can be paddled year around. Below Kuner the river is getting more interesting to me, but it is more difficult to find enough water there due to numerous diversion dams. The South Platte is filling up some big reservoirs including Empire, Riverside, Jackson and North Sterling. Frequency of dams is not really higher than between Evans and Kersey, but they can take much more water.

Weather and water permitting I am going to extend my South Platte River paddling guide all the way to the Cooper Bridge below Fort Morgan. I have never managed to paddle further downstream. Every 10 miles or so the river is crossed by a highway or county road, so there are many access points. However, planning a paddling trip below Kuner requires checking flow data and some flexibility.

On February 14, 2011 I did a couple mile paddling upstream starting from Masters. You can launch under the bridge (right shore upstream) on county road 87. You need to go over a bridge rail, but not over a fence. This is a new bridge with a plenty of room for parking, In my old reports I was talking about old very narrow bridge and road.

1/4 mile upstream of the bridge there is a diversion dam for the Jackson Reservoir canal. I believe that there is an underwater structure (gate) across the river there which can be lifted, but I have never seen it in an upright position.

Medicine Bow Arm of Seminoe Reservoir
Wyoming, June 11-12, 2010
read more

North Platte River from Bennett Peak to Seminoe Reservoir
Wyoming, May 22-23, 2010
read more

Texas Water Safari
260 mile nonstop race from San Marcos to Seadrift, 2001-2005
read more

Dismal River from Mullen to Thedford
Nebraska Sandhills, September 29, 2010
read more

Colorado River Race
10 miles in Glenwood Canyon from Dotsero to Hanging Lake area, 2002-2007
read more

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Did …

It was my first paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir this year. I launched Sea Wind canoe at North Eltuck Cove from Lory State Park just dragging my boat on snow like sleds. It was similar snow scenery as four years ago when I was shooting Colorado Winter Paddling video clip. Just an easy 6 mile paddling with a long photo session at Quarry Cove.

Colorado Lakes and Reservoirs. Fishing and Boating Guide.
2008, 9th edition, paperback, 216 pages, published by Outdoor Books & M
This book provides invaluable information for paddlers in Colorado. It is 9th edition and 3rd version I bought. I own also 4th and 7th editions. I have a pretty good knowledge of my local paddling waters, but this book makes me looking at some more distance paddling locations, especially, in the mountain Colorado.