In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Sunday 16 May 2010
The night was chilly (though we were warm and snuggly in our sleeping bags). And it was not windy, always a plus.
We woke up just after 7 AM to bright blue skies, chilly but not bad.
We decided to keep our camp here in the state park on the Colorado side of the lake and do day paddles so our first stop is the office where we sign up for 3 more nights and buy maps. Next stop is back to camp to install our stickers then on to the marina. Surprisingly, we don’t need to stop for a mussel check so we drive and park and unload boats.
Finally we are ready and head up lake -- so far, so good. It’s a little windy and there are a few waves.
We pass the Piedra River arm and continue up the San Juan River arm. It looks like we must be at the end but we go for what appears to be a river valley. The channel narrows considerably, but it still have that ‘lake look’ meaning no apparent current. The shore is made up of steep rock faces, tree covered ridges and rolling hills. Along the edge are willows, grasses, cottonwoods and aspens.
A few more strokes later, we are at a spot where we are definitely going upstream and pull off on a sandbar for lunch. Not much wind at the moment. But we have been forewarned by Eric Niles of afternoon winds and 3 foot waves. I am properly intimidated but I tell myself I did survive that afternoon of 35 mph+ gusts and swells.
We finish lunch, hop into our boats, and float easily in this protected area then start to paddle, slowly, steadily. Soon we are out of the river and into the lake proper. The wind is perhaps 10 mph, creating waves with very few breaking into white caps, so I am pleased.
Now we are at the Piedra Arm, start to explore but decided we are too tired plus the wind seems to increase ever so slightly.
Now we are in the breakwater of the marina…now we are in the marina…not a minute too soon as my arms are about to fall off.
A good day…time for a beer.
Monday 17 May 2010
I took this day off paddling and explored Chimney Rock.
Navajo Lake
15 May 2010 – 19 May 2010
Saturday 15 May 2010
Left my house, Friday Night at 7 PM; Arrive in Colorado Springs at Brian and Gail’s at about 9 PM, a typical length for this trip. 7 PM in the evening on a Friday evening is a good time to leave – after rush hour and after the Friday evening going to town traffic. It was raining cats and dogs when we left. Not a promising start to what I am hoping
A nice evening at Brian and Gail’s and I hit the hay early. Slept until nearly 9 AM giving us a leisurely start, though we still need to go to Whole Foods for lunch supplies and for supper. It is around 11 AM when we take off and head south on I-25 to Walsenburg. Weather is overcast to mostly cloudy, though not raining so that is good. And the forecast is for improving weather.
The scenery is outstanding and gets even better as we go west. The first pass is La Veta. There is a new dusting of snow and balls of newly plowed snow on the road.
We stop for gas at Alamosa, then head NW where we skirt the Rio Grande (a favorite river of mine even though I have not yet paddled it) and drive toward Del Norte. At South Fork, we move up Wolf Creek Pass. New territory for me – in all my years in Colorado, I have never been here. We pass the ski area which is still holding tons of snow and it reminds me of monarch – a wide, not so deep basin. Up we go, then down the other side;
It’s even more overcast and we spy moisture in the distance. Then it’s spitting snow and before I begin to have doubts about continuing, it stops. There is a rest stop in the distance, and we stop at a place called Treasure Falls. According to Legend, a group of Frenchmen in the 1700’s buried some gold close by. Need to go back and see what I can find out about this…
On toward Pagosa Springs -- another place I have never been. A very nice place and it’s turning warm and sunny. Once past Pagosa, our turn comes up quickly and we see Chimney Rock in the distance; This is the Chimney Rock I read about in House of Rain and there is something special about the solstice and the moon. Maybe we can stop there on the way back.
Now we approach Navajo Lake. The landscape is far different from what I imagined. I thought this would be in canyon country, somewhat like Powell. But instead, it is lush and green and the rolling hills down to the lake are covered in Ponderosa Pine. The lake is beautiful. Its warm and sunny.
Its about 4:30, so about 5 ½ hours from the Springs. Thus, from Lyons, it is just slightly less that the trip to Bullfrog Marina (plus we got to see Brian and Gail on the way)
Tuesday 18 May 2010
Anne and Jud paddled a little way up the Pine Creek arm. And back. Gary, Brian and Marsha paddle across and up the Francis arm. Strong winds on the way back providing an opportunity for folks to practicing hauling another boat in a strong wind
Wednesday 19 May 2010
Gary and I go for a paddle up into the Piedra Arm before heading home