Paddling the Poudre River at Nix Natural Area in Fort Collins

Where to paddle in Fort Collins in winter time when all ponds and lake are frozen? The South Platte River is usually the only open water in northern Colorado, but it is 30-40 miles of driving. However, it is possible to find short sections of our local Poudre River suitable for some paddling even if the river flow is almost nothing. One such a spot is about a quarter mile of the river above I-25 within Arapaho Bend Natural Area. You can access that section from the Strauss Cabin parking (the very east end of Horsetooth Road) through two small ponds. When these ponds are frozen the river access requires a pretty long walk (~0.5 mile).

The picture above shot in January 2007 shows another opportunity - the river above the Timnath Reservoir Inlet Dam between Lemay and Timberline Streets. Finally, I found a comfortable access to this river section from the Nix Natural Area and did some scouting with Seda kayak.

Here is the entry (fire lane gate) to Nix Natural Area from the Hoffman Mill Road (driving north on Lemay turn right just before the bridge into Poudre River Drive, and then follow Hoffman Mill Road until you pass a gravel quarry).

About 200 yards of gravel overgrown fire lane leads you to a bike trail and the river.

Then, you have about half a mile of the river with standing or slow moving water. A lovely scenery in fall colors. It may be also good for some winter paddling photography. You can paddle upstream almost to Lemay Street, but before the bridge you will encounter some shallows with a fast current. I did my paddling on October 14 with ~100 cfs of the river flow in Ft Collins. It was enough water to run through those shallow downstream. However, rocks were pretty slippery and water too cold too drag my kayak up the river.

My Photography During the 2010 Missouri River 340 Race

A waterproof Pentax Optio W30 camera was mounted on a bow of my Sea Wind canoe with Sticky Pod suction cup and a mini ball head. The camera was set in a lapse time (interval) mode to shoot a picture every 4 minutes ...

4 Years of the Missouri River 340 Race – A Slide Show

I just posted a new slide show in Fitness Paddling blog - 120 pictures selected from the four years of Missouri River 340 Race. This annual paddling race take place in July/August at full moon and runs nonstop across the state of Missouri from Kansas City to St Charles. This year the race was postponed for a month due to flooding conditions on the Missouri River. So, instead of driving to Kansas City I had time to go through my old pictures. A lot of memories!

Seminoe Reservoir – Medicine Bow River

Since Texas Water Safari was postponed due to flooding I switched to plan B, packed my camera gear and Sea Wind canoe and drove to Wyoming instead of flying to Texas.

In my desperation I ignored weather forecast. My trip turned to be shorter than planned. In Wyoming I experienced heavy rains, thunderstorms, hail, strong wind, cold, and flooding. Nevertheless, I achieved my main goal - exploring the paddling access to Medicine Bow River Arm of the Seminoe Reservoir.

First, you need to drive to Hanna, a small mining town (hwy 72 from I-80). Then, there is about 25 miles of a dirt road - county road 291, and then a short narrow road to a boat ramp. This is a good gravel road traveled by RVs and boat trailers. Of course, after heavy rains driving conditions may be more challenging.

So, despite of rain and some water flowing across my road I reached the boat ramp in a pretty remote location. There were some people there, but they were hiding inside their campers. I took a short paddling upstream the Medicine Bow Arm of the reservoir. The wind was quite strong, but not so bad (actually good for training). However, when I got surrounded by thunderstorms with intense lightning I gave up and returned to my car.

I decided not to camp there - I was afraid that the road could get too muddy or washout during night, so I drove back to Hanna and I-80. Finally, I ended up for night at a motel in Rawlins. It was raining all night and till noon of the next day. When rain was stopping it was cold and windy. So, I stopped at Fort Steele to see the North Platte River, and then return home.

Wyoming Introduces Fee for Paddling and Boating

It looks like I need to update my post Cost of Paddling – Access to Local, County, State and Federal Waters. Wyoming Game and Fish Department requires now Aquatic Invasive Species decal ( $5 for non-motorized watercraft owned by Wyoming residents and $15 for non-motorized watercraft owned by non-residents).

I paddle in Wyoming only a few times per year, mostly, on the North Platte River. If I need to pay for that sticker I will probably visit Wyoming more often to justify this extra cost. And, there are plenty of paddling opportunities there.

Related posts and resources: Zebra and Quagga Mussel Distribution in U.S. Lakes Paddle and Portage: The Floater's Guide to Wyoming Rivers Paddling Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Bennett Peak to Pick Bridge on the North Platte River, Wyoming - my last year paddling in Wyoming with more links related to the North Platte River

Paddling with Canon PowerShot G11 Camera on a Monopod Mast

I recently bought Satechi TR-C Timer Remote Control for my Canon PowerShot G11 camera. It can be programmed as an intervalometer, so I can use G11 as my Pentax Optio W series cameras. Well, almost. G11 is not waterproof.

The Satechi Timer Remote Control is a pretty big device as seen on the picture above, but it works as advertised. The only inconvenience is that it has no memory, so after each turning off/on it needs to programmed again.

I set up the Canon G11 on my camera mast - a reversed photographic monopod on the top of a suction camera mounts (my sticky pod). Its design remain the same as described in a last year post (Kayak Video Camera Mast). However, I added a small ball head which gives me more flexibility in controlling the camera.

I took the entire setup and CLC Patuxent kayak (much more stable than my racing Thunderbolt) for a test paddle. A swinging LCD screen of Canon G11 which can be set up at any angle appeared to be very useful since my monopod extends really high up to 50". With Pentax Optio I was forced to shoot blind at higher camera positions.

The camera together with the intervalometer worked pretty well. I enjoyed a shooting angle and perspective I could achieve with the mast. Unfortunately, the light was not so great at that day, so I used camera flash. Of course, it revealed every piece of reflective tape on my life jacket, spray skirt and a cup.

Related posts: Kayak Video Camera Mast – Sticky Pod Combined with Monopod