paddling with a camera

Tag: drone

  • Starting 2015/16 Winter Paddling Season on South Platte River

    Starting 2015/16 Winter Paddling Season on South Platte River

    A middle of November. It’s time to start my winter paddling season. Of course, Horsetooth and other local lakes in Fort Collins are still open, so I can continue my summer style paddling. Nevertheless, I took the Sea Wind canoe, Pixel (aka water Corgi) and went for the first fall/winter paddling on the South Platte River.

    We went to Masters and started to paddling upstream. However the dam just above Master bridge was closed and diverting water to Jackson Reservoir, so we paddled a couple miles downriver instead. Beautiful weather and a good flow of ~900cfs @ Weldona. Actually, I spent more time photographing than paddling.

    I am hoping to do more paddling on different sections of the South Platte River during the incoming winter season and, finally, update my river guide. Would you like to join me? The South Platte with a typical winter flow is just a wading river and suitable for safe paddling with any boat – kayak, canoe or SUP. Well, a paddleboard would require some experience and a short fin due to possible shallows. I don’t think that you need to dress for immersion, but I always take extra clothes for change.

    I am still sorting my blogs after migrating to a new server. If you encounter any problem or missing links please let me know.

    aerial view of eastern Colorado landscape with South Platte River, water channels, reservoirs and irrigated farmland
    South Platte River in eastern Colorado below Masters with Jackson Reservoir ditch, looking downstream
    aerial view of South Platte River in eastern Colorado with a canoe on sandbar, fall scenery
    Looking down from Phantom 3 drone. Can you see the Sea Wind canoe, me and Pixel?
    aerial view of expedition decked canoe on a sandbar, South Platte River in eastern Colorado
    Let’s look a little closer
    river sandbar texture and pattern - South Platte RIver in eastern Colorado
    and, even closer
    South Platte River in eastern Colorado between Greeley and Fort Morgan, a typical fall or winter scenery
    A typical fall or winter scenery on the South Platte lit by the low setting sun
  • Paddling and Flying with Geese at St Vrain and South Platte Confluence

    Paddling and Flying with Geese at St Vrain and South Platte Confluence

    During my last paddling trip I made a stop to photograph the confluence of St Vrain Creek and South Platte River below Platteville. It was just before sunset. Hundreds of Canadian geese were passing by. I had my drone about 8 minutes in the air and some of flying geese were captured in my pictures.

    Pictures of my drone (DJI Flame Wheel F550 with Panasonic Lumix GM1 camera) were shot earlier during my first stop at Wildcat Mound about 1 mile below the confluence.

    My next visit to this river section with be probably on SUP and without the drone. I paddle Badfish SUP with a short fin which is probably safer at some shallow and rocky spots below the confluence.

    South Platte River and St Vrain
    Aerial view of the South Platte River with Sea Wind canoe and a paddler/pilot.
    South Platte River and St Vrain
    Aerial view of South Platte River and St Vrain Creek confluence looking upstream, i.e., south
    South Platte River and St Vrain
    Aerial view of South Platte River and St Vrain Creek confluence
    DJI Flame Wheel F550 drone
    DJI Flame Wheel F550 drone with Panasonic Lumix GM1 camera on a sandbar
    hexacopter drone with camera and canoe
    Sea Wind canoe with DJI Flame Wheel F550 drone

    I am adding the above pictures to Aerial Landscape gallery in my stock photography portfolio. They are available for license and immediate download as royalty free images.

    Related posts:
    Aerial View of South Platte River at Wildcat Mound below Platteville
    Paddling SUP on South Platte River from Kersey to Kuner
    South Platte River below Denver – GPS/photo river guide




  • Aerial View of South Platte River at Wildcat Mound below Platteville

    Aerial View of South Platte River at Wildcat Mound below Platteville

    A stretch of the South Platte River along Wildcat Mound below confluence with St Vrain Creek is my favorite river section for paddling. It can be accessed from the county road 19.5 bridge on the St Vrain Creek (north of the power station). This river access is relatively easy without a need to climb any fences. From here you have 1 mile of paddling to the confluence. This may be a start of a longer downriver trip or just downstream/upstream workout. The St Vrain current is pretty mild and you can easily paddle upstream. The South Platte is, in turn, much faster with some shallows and even little rock gardens (easy to navigate). It is more interesting for paddling downstream and more challenging for paddling upstream than the river section below Evans.

    During my last trip (March 10, 2015) I shot some aerial pictures of the river at Wildcat Mound from a low flying drone. This place is about 1 mile below confluence. There is a shallow rapid just below the confluence. It gave a very good workout when I was paddling back upstream. River flow was ~120 cfs at St Vrain Cr and ~400cfs on South Platte at Ft Lupton (several diversion dams upstream). For comparison you can check pictures from my packrafting trip in June, 2011. The 2013 flooding cleared all previous log jams on the St Vrain. You can still see these huge cottonwood trees in the water, but they do not block the river.

    South Platte River aerial view
    South Platte River at Wildcat Mound looking up stream
    South Platte River aerial view
    South Platte River with Sea Wind canoe
    South Platte River aerial view
    South Platte River at Wildcat Mound with a little rock garden looking down stream

    I am adding the above pictures to Aerial Landscape gallery in my stock photography portfolio. They are available for license and immediate download as royalty free images.

    Related posts:
    Paddling SUP on South Platte River from Kersey to Kuner
    Opening 2015 Paddling Season on the South Platte River
    South Platte River below Denver – GPS/photo river guide




  • Winter Season Paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir with Sea Wind Canoe

    Winter Season Paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir with Sea Wind Canoe

    In a typical winter all lakes in northern Colorado are frozen, so I am paddling on the South Platte River. However, this winter I have not been on the river yet. All time I am paddling Sea Wind canoe on the Horsetooth Reservoir just west of Fort Collins. I didn’t paddle in January when the lake was partially frozen and there was no good access to open water.

    The ice on Horsetooth is usually starting from its southern end. So, if the South Bay is covered by ice it my be still possible to launch in the north at Satanka Cove from a boat ramp or rocky tip next to the Horsetooth Dam. Sunrise Area on the eastern side would be perfect for winter launching, but is closed for a cold season. You would have to use a cart to transport boats from a parking lot down to the water or execute a pretty long portage.

    Pictures below cover all my paddling from late November 2014 till late February 2015.

    winter paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir
    November 27, 2014 – Eltuck Cove
    winter paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir
    December 9, 2014: A quiet evening near Inlet Bay.
    winter paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir
    December 20, 2014 – Exploring Inlet Bay and Hansen Feeder Canal supporting water to Horsetooth Reservoir from the Colorado River through the Big Thompson Project (map)
    winter paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir
    December 27, 2014 – Quarry Cove in winter scenery, my last paddling in 2014.
    winter paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir
    February 4, 2015: Quarry Cove, a month later. My first paddling in 2015.
    winter paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir
    February 13, 2015. Eltuck Cove. Testing a new remote control for my Canon camera – CamRanger with iPod touch.
    February 13, 2015: Sunset over Horsetooth Dam seen from the ELtuck Cove.
    February 13, 2015: Sunset over Horsetooth Dam seen from the ELtuck Cove. Springtime weather.
    winter paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir
    February 16, 2015: Back to winter weather. It was snowing. Old sandstone quarry in Satanka Cove.
    February 18. 2015: Quarry Cove. Some multitasking: paddling canoe, flying a drone and shooting selfie.
    February 18. 2015: Quarry Cove. Some serious multitasking: paddling canoe, flying a drone and shooting selfie.

    And, winter is not over yet …

    Most of the pictures displayed in this post are included in my stock photography portfolio and are available for license and download as royalty free images. Some of them can also be purchased as prints, posters, cards and other art products.

    Related posts:
    Icy Horsetooth Reservoir – Opening Lake Paddling Season
    Winter Paddling with Sea Wind Canoe on Horsetooth Reservoir – movie
    First Snow Paddling with JKK Multisport Supernova Kayak
    3 Winter Paddling Hours on the South Platte River