​​In The Shadow of Longs Peak

Seminole Reservoir

Seminole State Park, Wyoming

Friday 07 June 2019 thru Sunday 09 June 2019
Friday 07 June 2019
We left my place at 2:20 on Friday and proceeded north via 287  to 14th Street in Loveland, west to Wilson, then north on Wilson / Taft Hill, picking up 287 north of Fort Collins an on to Laramie and the boat inspection station.  From there, west on I-80 to the first Sinclair exit and fill-up on gas.  Then, we drove thru Sinclair and north on the Seminole Road (Road 351) to Seminole State Park.  We arrive around 7 PM and check out the campsites at South Red Hills.  None were appealing, so we headed over to North Red Hills.  This area is more appealing with a scattering of trees.  There were sites along the lake but none seemed to have enough flat area for 2 tents so we decide on one just up the hill a bit with a tree which serves at least somewhat of a windbreak as already there is a steady wind (it is Wyoming after all).

We do our usual get to camp routine, first unload, then setup camp (tent, pads, sleeping bags) then sit down to a dinner of sushi and cocktails.  Life is good.

Saturday 08 June 2019

We get up around 7.  Gary cooks up some scrambled eggs & sausage.  I have coffee.  We tidy up and head to the boat ramp.

The ranger comes by and asks where we are headed (in this wind) and suggested we head down lake to the dam which we do.  Being out of the wind is a plus. 

I take some pictures.  We turn and head back.  There is not much is the way of coves to explore but there is one we stick our nose into but do not stay long. 

We make a quick stop at the boat ramp.  I run up and get the AIS stickers and attach them to the boats.

We continue southward keeping to the west side.  Up ahead, we see a couple of beaches of white sand, reminding me of a dunes we saw on the way in (I should look into that Wyoming Geology book and see if these are mentioned at all). 

The wind continues to blow and it takes at least an hour to get to the beach.  We take a break, have some lunch.  The wind continues to blow steadily.  Dave mentions it registers at 13 mph.  I am surprised since it seems much higher.

Once done with lunch, we head back.  My first goal is a spit of land coming down into the lake across this first bay that is in the lee of the wind.  I pull in there and wait for Gary as it seems wise to stick together.  On observing the bay we are about to cross, it appeared there is a horseshoe shape where the waves we breaking so I try to go beyond it but never find an area where the waves are not breaking.  The tactic of paddling into the waves (staying perpendicular to them) then turning and going downwind a bit then turning back into the waves was very effective.  No doubt about it, this is a challenge but I am stable. 

We pull up to the ramp and unload.  My shoulders are sore but we have paddled 4 hours in a steady wind.  Life is good.

Back at camp, the weather continues to threaten.  We have beers then start supper and finish cleaning up just as it starts to rain.  We are in the tent by 7 PM.

It rains hard several times overnight and the wind continues to howl.  But everything is lashed down or tucked away.

Sunday 08 June 2019

Sunday dawns sunny and chilly; its gone down to freezing overnight.  Even in Denver, the weather radio mentions it’s only 40…very unusual!  But this is Wyoming, land of 2 seasons:  winter and frontier days.

I do not paddle today, feeling way too worn out.  My limbs are heavy and I am overall very fatigued.

Gary and Dave paddle but it seems like they are only gone a couple of hours.  I think yesterday wore them out too.