During August 2023 I visited Horsetooth Reservoir several times with Starboard Waterline SUP, the same board I paddled in the Missouri River 340 race. It was rather a relaxed paddling with a lot of photography since I was recovering from the race which was very tough this year. I typically launched my board from Soldier Cove at Lory State Park, a serene and relatively uncrowded location, even on weekends.
Later in the month, my focus shifted as I prepared for the Middle Loup River Challenge in Nebraska. For this endeavor, I opted for my trusty 2014 Starboard All Star, which bore the battle scars and dents acquired from countless journeys through shallow river waters.
Open water swimming
I combined my recent stand up paddling with some open water swimming. At this time it was more about photography than fitness, but I am going to swim more even if I need to wear wetsuit soon.
I’ve been around water paddling and sailing for almost 60 years, but I must admit that I am not a proficient swimmer. I grew up in Sandomierz, a small town in Poland without a swimming pool. Fortunately, there was Vistula River, a smaller version of the Missouri River, partially regulated, but also with wild sections, sand dredges and barge traffic. So, I learned to swim by myself without any formal instructions in some old river channels.
I have additional motivation for open water swimming. Recently, I launch my battle against candida overgrowth. Swimming in chlorinated pools is discouraged in such situations because chlorine not only eliminates bacteria in the water but also disrupts the body’s and skin natural bacterial flora.
Navigational lights on paddleboard
I like to paddle late in evenings even well after sunset. In Horsetooth Reservoir I am using LED navigational lights by NaviSafe, the same as in Missouri River 340 Race. They are approved by the US Coast Guard for up to 2 Nautical Miles. These come with suction cups, but can be also mounted on GoPro type mounts. Suction cups don’t work reliably on decks of my paddleboards at least in muddy Missouri River, so recently I am using GoPro mounts. You can find cheaper and simpler lights, but I have been using NaviSafe lights without any problems with all my recent MR340 races.
In mid-June, I went paddleboarding on Horsetooth Reservoir, starting from Soldier Cove in Lory State Park. I believe it is the shortest walk from the park to the water and puts you in the middle of somewhat protected and quiet area of the Horsetooth Reservoir. It’s a convenient launch spot when the water level is high, but not as ideal when the water is low due to the longer walk and muddy shores. Currently, the water level is high, but it still can go a little bit higher.
Starboard Waterline SUP on Horsetooth Reservoir
I particularly enjoy paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir during colder seasons when boat ramps are closed and there is no power boat traffic. However, I often wonder why power boats feel the need to play loud and obnoxious music throughout the entire lake. Fortunately, the evening became quiet just before dusk, allowing me to have a pleasant photo shoot in South Eltuck Cove and enjoy the sounds of nature, including the birds.
This was my first time using the Starboard Waterline paddleboard on Horsetooth Reservoir. It is a fast and low-profile touring board designed for flatwater. I’m considering using it for the Missouri River 340 race later this year. I have previously paddled the Waterline on smaller lakes like Beaver Pond in Arapaho Bend Natural Area and Boedecker Reservoir. I also used it during the Mean Lamine race in Missouri back in late April.
During my paddleboarding session on Horsetooth, I encountered strong headwinds and waves earlier in the afternoon. The paddleboard was noticeably slower compared to calm water conditions. The narrow bow lacks buoyancy and tends to get submerged in larger waves. I still need to conduct further testing in various conditions and with heavier loads, as expected during the MR340 race.
I am currently in the process of editing video clips and time-lapse footage from this paddling session. I primarily used my “big” camera, the Sony A7R5, and didn’t have the opportunity to use my action cameras. I am adding above pictures to my stock photography portfolio and they are available for royalty free licensing.
I am relatively new to stand up paddling (SUP). Relatively … I mean I’ve been paddling for more than 50 years, but I started SUPing just 10 years ago. In September of 2012 I got my first paddleboard: 14′ Bark Expedition. Later, I did some long distance river races on different paddleboards including Missouri River 340, shorter races on the Missouri River in South Dakota and Chattajack in Tennessee. Perhaps, I should post some comments on my 10 years experience with stand up paddling.
Meanwhile, I just added a short video to my fitover67 Youtube channel – sunrise and morning in Boyd Lake State Park featuring my old SIC X-14.0 paddleboard. I believe it is similar to the newer SIC Okeanos series.? These were actually 2 or 3 morning paddling sessions in August 2019. This year Boyd Lake is much lower and my favorite tree is gone.
Please visit my channel. I would greatly appreciate any comments. I am going to create more content like this combining video, still images, music and sounds recorded outdoors.
I love paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir in cold season. Boat ramps are closed, no power boat traffic, usually quiet and calm. Snow and ice can enhance scenery. A great time to paddle, train, relax or photograph.
The Horsetooth stays ice free longer than Boyd Lake or smaller lakes in Fort Collins like Beaver Pond in Arapaho Bend Natural Area. South Bay freezes first, and than smaller coves. Don’t get discouraged by a webcam showing the South Bay. Very often you can still find open water in northern end of the reservoir at Satanka Cove.
In some years, I was able to paddle Horsetooth for the entire winter, in others till February. This winter season is somewhat unusual because water level is very high.
Earlier in a cold season I am using a wet suit, and later I am switching to supskin drysuit. I always paddle in life jacket and safety leash on paddleboards. I also carry the spot device for emergency, and always some sort of photo equipment.
This winter I am paddling mostly various stand up paddleboards and sometimes my expedition canoe.
Here are some pictures and comments from my paddling in 2019/2020 season. What is your experience from paddling Horsetooth Reservoir in winter? Any practical tips?
Horsetooth Reservoir in February 2020 as seen from a parking lot at Satanka Cove. A tip of that peninsula is a good place to launch when the cove is covered by ice. You can also take a shorter, but steeper walk towards the end of Horsetooth Dam.
A few time in late fall I launched my paddleboards from the Lory State Park at Soldier Cove. It’s a pretty short walk (~200 steps) to water protected from winds. Of course, later in winter is not an option. The picture above shows my last launch of 14’X26″ All Star by Starboard SUP there on January 12. It involved some walks around ice fields.
Occasionally, I am taking a walk between Satanka and North Eltuck Cove, just for fun and photography. Let’s call it cross training.
A thermos bottle with hot tea belongs to my standard equipment in winter paddling, since I often take longer breaks for photography. Usually, it happen close to sunset when it’s getting pretty chilly.
Experimenting with a low angle POV from a partially submerged action camera – Sony RX0 2. That camera has a narrower angle of view than GoPro and it doesn’t work so well as a bow camera on a 14′ paddleboard. A longer board needed!
Satanka Cove. First paddling in a snow blizzard. A great opportunity for photography.
Paddling along icy cliff in Sea Wind, a heavy duty expedition canoe designed and build by legendary Verlen Kruger. This boat is a great icebreaker, but it’s much easier and faster to load SUP on roof racks.
February 15. Northern part of the lake was still open. Trying a new board in icy conditions: 17.6’x24″ Mistral Interceptor. I needed something to much my Santa drysuit
The long, unlimited paddleboard (~35 lb) is more awkward to carry around than 14′ boards. And, even a safety leash attached makes it tail heavy.
Late March on Beaver Pond in Arapaho Bend Natural Area near Fort Collins. The lake was ice free for about two weeks. No green colors yet. Geese are still swimming, but starting to settle down on two islands. Muskrats are showing up near shores. I was visiting this area in winter time as well, but with my fat bike.
2018 model of 14×26 All Star SUP by Starboard.
It is where my last winter time on water, and then my first spring paddling took place. I was testing my new stand up paddleboard: 2018 14×26 All Star by Starboard in carbon sandwich layout. I’ve ordered it from Paddle Surf Warehouse in California – a great customer service, free shipping, a bag and a custom cut VESL paddle was included. The paddleboard was ordered on Monday and arrived in a good shape to my home on Friday.
2014 14×28 All Star stand up paddleboard
It is my second All Star SUP. The first one, 2014 model 14×28, I got in the fall of 2016. I used it for paddling workouts on my local lakes and rivers (with a pivoting fin), and for a few long distance river races in 2017: South Dakota Kayak Challenge, Fort to Field 50 on the Missouri River, and 31 mile Chattajack. 2017 MR340 race I paddled a heavy expedition board.
Racing plans for 2018 All Star SUP? Some shorter river marathons including Chattajack. I am not sure about MR340 yet. Maybe, I will have to sit down …
A photo session with the Starboard SUP
I don’t dress for immersion when paddling the Beaver Pond (or the shallow South Platte River). However, I am staying close to the shore at this time of year. I paddled Horsetooth Reservoir in winter, but always in Supskin drysuit. A photo session with the Starboard SUP
All pictures were shot with the mirrorless Sony A7R2 camera with Sony 24-70mm lens. The camera is mounted on a light Gitzo Mountaineer Tripod. This is my minimalist camera set for paddling, biking or hiking. I usually carry the camera in Ortlieb Aqua Waterproof Camera Bag. That bag can hold a DSLR camera with a zoom lens, so it is a little bit too large for my mirrorless Sony. I can add a small tabletop tripod to the bag.
A photo session with the Starboard SUP
Selfies were shot using time-lapse application on the Sony camera. Unfortunately, this approach requires sorting through hundreds of images. There is no need for an external intervalometer for Sony A7R2 or Sony A6000. I am not sure if this apps is available for the new Sony A7R3 yet.
Dusk after paddling
Typically, I am shooting pictures around sunset after my paddling workout. Wind calms down. Something interesting is going on the sky. I am included the above pictures in my stock photography portfolio. See, where to buy and license my pictures and video footage.
Are you using SUP as a platform for photography? Please share your experiences.
Waterproof Olympus Stylus Tough TG-5 camera on a deck of All Star paddleboard.
A few weeks ago I upgraded my paddling camera to waterproof and rugged Olympus Stylus TG-5. It’s the follow-up to the Olympus STYLUS Tough TG-4and features a new sensor and processor (but reduced resolution), advanced tracking capabilities, 4K video capture, Wi-Fi.
I’ve been using waterproof cameras from Pentax Optio series for years. The last one was Pentax Optio WG-2. It was followed by Ricoh WG-30w. I understand that these cameras are now discontinued, but you can still find them or newer versions on Amazon.
My main reason to buy Olympus TG-5 camera was its ability to record images in RAW format. I like to have a full control over processing my pictures in Lightroom and/or Photoshop.
I am not often using my iPhone when paddling. Typically, the iPhone is hidden in a dry bag or I am saving its battery for communication in longer trips like MR 340 race. BTW, you can get images in RAW format from your iPhone when using the mobile Lightroom app.
You can find many reviews of the TG-5 camera online, e.g.,
New Olympus TG-5 improves ‘toughness’, brings new sensor and tracking functionality. DPreview.com.
There isn’t a better rugged waterproof compact around than the Olympus TOUGH TG-5. Like all great cameras it gets the basics right – a bright, good quality 25-100mm f2 – 4.9 lens paired with a quality 12 Megapixel sensor and high performance TruePic VIII processor. It builds on that with a great set of features and shooting modes, including Pro capture continuous shooting, 4K video, RAW support, and superb macro modes. Finally, it provides the control you need to make the most of those features, whatever the environment. The only downside is the poor performance of the movie continuous AF. CameraLabs.com
I’ve got the camera just a few days before the 12th Missouri River 340 Race (nonstop paddling race from Kansas City to St Charles). I had only time to figure out how to use aperture mode with exposure compensation and ISO adjustment. Here are some pictures shot before, during, and after the race. The pictures on the Missouri River were shot with a harsh afternoon light while other with a much nicer morning light.
Starboard Expedition 14×30 stand up paddleboard during my last training workout on Horsetooth Reservoir before MR340 race.Half underwater picture of Starboard Expedition SUP on Horsetooth Reservoir, CO.Paddle, paddle, paddle – my mantra during the race (wisdom words by Verlen Kruger).Dundee sandbar – the last rest stop before reaching race finish at St Charles – 48 miles to go.Starboard expedition with the lucky number 13 at the finish of MR340 race in St Charles, MO. I’ve been using boat number 13 in all my Texas Water Safari runs, and then the number 0013 in all 10 MR340 races.My shuttle after MR340 race; the paddleboard in at a hotel in St Charles, the car is at a hotel in Kansas City, and I am boarding Amtrak River Runner at Kirkwood, MOBack to Colorado – rinsing Missouri River mud in Horsetooth Reservoir
I believe that image quality is pretty decent, good enough to include images in my stock photography portfolio, and certainly for web publishing.
Now the big race is over. I will have some time for a more relaxed paddling and photography. I am going to compare Olympus TG-5 to my old Pentax Optio, and perhaps, to GoPro HERO camera.
I wonder if anybody is still using this type of waterproof camera for paddling and other outdoor activities in the age of a smartphone. So, what camera are you using? Please share your experience.
January 3, 2016. First SUP paddle of the year with Rob Bean. We paddled 10 miles on the South Platte River from highway 58 to Kuner. Great weather, river flow ~900 cfs at Kersey, several bald eagles and hundreds of ducks. There are no portages on this river section since we started just below the Plumb Ditch Dam (the second diversion dam if you paddle from Evans).
We started from a gravel bar under the new bridge on highway 58 – a right river shore with parking on a wide shoulder, a shorter, steeper route with barbed wire fence on the upstream bridge site. Downstream bridge site may be more convenient without the fence, but with a little longer walk. You can reach the bridge by turning into the new highway 49 at traffic lights from Colorado highway 34 between Evans and Kersey.
Rob posted his pictures on facebook. They actually show much better our launching site.
I am paddling 10’6″ Badfish SUP during winter on the South Platte, typically, with a shorter 2″ NRS fin.
Start at gravel bar under the new highway 58 bridge
Somewhere on the river around Kersey
Ducks, ducks, and more ducks. Hundreds of them.
Finishing 10 mile trip at Kuner
A little bit icy landing at Kuner (left shore upstream of the bridge)
Confluence of two Grizzly Creeks 10 miles SW of Walden, CO – the beginning of the North Platte River
North Platte River is one of my favorite paddling destinations. Usually, I paddle various flatwater river sections in Wyoming above and below Saratoga. However, there is a 45 mile long river stretch in Colorado’s North Park before the North Platte enters the Northgate Canyon.
After some fall and winter scouting and a lot of time spent on Google maps, the exploration of the upper North Platte River finally took place during the Memorial Day weekend. Rob Bean joined me to paddle our inflatable Bordwarks SUPs: Shubu and Badfish.
Upper North Platte River on Google maps with some waypoints for access points and diversion dams.
14 miles of the upper North Platte River near Walden with the river beginning as a confluence of Grizzly Creek and Little Grizzly Creek
May 24, 2014 Put-in: Grizzly Creek at highway 14, 10 miles south of Walden (not much room for off road parking) Take-off: Co road 12 W, 8 miles west of Walden (official fishing access, parking near bridge, another fishing access with parking ~0.5 mile below the bridge).
GPS milege: 13.8 miles, time: 2:50 hours.
31 miles of the North Platte River from Walden to the Northgate Canyon put-in
May 25, 2014 Put-in: Co road 12 W Take-off: put-in for the Northgate Canyon run, 9 miles north of Cowdrey
Alternative put-in for a short 6 miles run: Co Rd 6, 2 miles west of Cowdrey (that run is described in Paddling Colorado book by Dunbar Hardy).
GPS milege: 31 miles, time: 6:49 hours.
River flow was rising from 3000 to 4000 cfs at Northgate during our two days of paddling. A lot of meadows in the river valley were flooded. Paddling speed: up to 9 mph.
The weather was challenging. We had a lot of thunderstorms around us during the first day followed by ~8 hours of heavy rain. We were lucky to finished our paddling before the rain. A beautiful weather on second day lasted till noon, then we experienced a storm with a small hail followed by heavy rain for the rest of the day. Strong afternoon headwinds put us on our knees, especially, during the second day.
Obstacles: diversion dams, fences across the river, low bridges depending a water level. No trees. No rapids (except dams). The river is wide and open, so you can see or hear all incoming obstacles well in advance. We never run into any troubles.
Most of the dams can be seen on satellite pictures. The dam a few miles below Co road 12 W is pretty big and always requires portaging (not comfortable on right). Other dams are primitive rock dams and often can be run. We portaged most of them to avoid big waves, but I would run more of them in a canoe. We managed to paddle around a few of them. It is easier to select a correct river arm on a map than in practice on the river.
We had to portage numerous barbed wire fences crossing the river. Some were in water and could be safely run over in a canoe, but we played safe in out inflatable SUPs. A few fences had only a single wire across the river and was possible to paddle under them. Always watch for these fences! You can notice stronger and taller posts on the shores and, sometimes, stairs over them, before seeing the actual wires over the river.
One or two low farm bridges in the upper section required portaging. All bridges in the lower section have a high clearance.
Wildlife: moose, bighorn, deer, elk (a herd was swimming across the river several times just in front of us), bald and gold eagles, pelicans, geese and other waterfowl, numerous smaller birds, curious cows.
Scenery: a wide valley surrounded by snowy mountains, crazy river meanders in the upper section, cliffs and rock outcroppings, just a few trees (often with eagle nest), higher hills with some forest in the lower section, a lot of water flowing around and flooding meadows, but, usually, not difficult to find a dry place to land.
Grizzly Creek looking upstream from highway 14
Grizzly Creek looking downstream from highway 14 – start of our adventure
North Platte River meandering near Walden
One of high cliffs
Going over a low farm bridge
One of diversion dams
North Platte River at Co Rd 12 W near Walden – the finish of day 1 and the start of day 2
Barbed wire fence across the river
Another fence across the river
And another cattle fence to portage
Lunch break – last minutes of nice weather
Hail storm over diversion dam
The last river section between Cowdrey and Northgate
Finishing in rain at the Northgate
The last look at the river – still raining
Ready to go home …
All pictures were shot with my current paddling camera on duty – Pentax Optio WG-2. I have been using waterproof Pentax Optio cameras for paddling and other outdoor activities since their first original model was released in 2005. The newest model from that series is available now as Ricoh WG-4.
Pixel, the Corgi, grew up with Dax, the Newfoundland, and he believes that he is a water dog. He was my paddling companion in many trips taken in Sea Wind canoe. We paddled together all local lakes and several rivers including South and North Platte, Dismal, and Niobrara.
A year ago I started stand up paddling and Pixel is paddling with me on calmer lakes. He likes to ride on a stern or on a bow. Badfish SUP, a stable, whitewater board is not a challenge for him. However, a narrower and slippery Bark Expedition SUP may be more tricky and Pixel took some swims.
I’ve got a life jacket for him and we will certainly try it since water is getting cold.
