Arctic Lake June 2009

The first part of this trip can really not be counted because I and my passenger (Brent's daughter) were being towed up the parsnip river.

The trip started on June 5, 2009 at what we called the first bridge on the Parsnip River. N54 21' 45.7" W121 49' 48.0".
2 hours and 45 min to get to the confluence of Arctic Creek and the Parsnip River. 16 km. Then another 55 min to go 4.7 km up Arctic Creek to the Rocky Point campsite.

June 6, all five of us went for a walk around a small lake near the campsite. There was no trail so the walk involved bush whacking, Devil's Club, rocky slopes and a bit of snow. I have only visited this area in the late summer so I very much enjoyed the area at this time of year. The smell of the emerging ferns was pleasant.

1.44 km, 2 hours total.

In the evening Jim and I paddled to the other side of the lake to check out other possible campsites.

1.67 km about 45 min.

June 7. Took 3 canoes to the end of Arctic Lake. Brent, and the girls in one, towed Jim and I in the second canoe and I towed the third behind us.

We carried two canoes the, more or less, 600m to Portage Lake. Then we paddled down Portage Lake, we picked our way through the log jam and down the short creek to Pacific Lake. The fishing was good. Snow banks are still along the south side of the lake and there were snow bergs in the lake.

The distance canoed down to Pacific Lake and back was 6.66 km. Moving time was about 2 hours 20 minutes.

June 8.
Brent and I went to explore the water fall at the end of Pacific Lake. Again we motored to the end of Arctic Lake and then walked the portage to Portage Lake. As Brent and I canoed toward a snow berg it slowly rolled over. I assume this is very much how an iceberg rolls over but on a much smaller scale. At the end of Portage Lake there is an active Eagles nest. We made our way through the log jam and down the creek into Pacific Lake. At the end of Pacific Lake a Common Loon swam by us under the water. This is something I do not recall ever seeing before. There is a beaver dam between the lake and James Creek. There are lots of rainbow trout visible in this area. When we went around to the southeast shore of Pacific Lake we saw a Black Bear on the shore. The bear soon moved off once it saw us. We put ashore not far from where the bear had been. We then hiked up to the waterfall. The hike took about a hour and a half even though it was only 1.5 KM. These are spectacular falls and they are even better up close so it was worth the steep climb. Canoeing to the end of Pacific Lake and back was a total of about 10 km over a time of a couple of hours.

June 9, 2009
We returned the way we came. The motor was available to tow us but we paddled quite a bit of the way, which I enjoyed.

The most excitement on this paddle was when all three canoes encountered a cow moose coming up the river with her calf. When the mother moose saw us she exited the river. The calf had considerable more difficulty and was not able to exit the river. The mother moose became very agitated which concerned Jim and Brent and me. We were concerned that the cow moose might charge into the river. If she were to charge a canoe there is no telling how much damage she would do. As it turned out she disappeared into the brush and stayed there as we slipped by in the canoes.

Of the 20 odd km traveled I estimate that we paddled 10km.

Canoe French Bay on Cold Lake, June 2, 2009

I had not canoed French Bay since about the 29th of October, 2008 so I was happy to have this chance. As you can see from the one photo the Marsh Marigolds were in full bloom. The water was clear enough that I could see the Yellow Water Lily, reddish looking leaves, emerging on the bottom of the lake.

For this paddle I canoed along the west shore of French Bay and then around the point and followed the shoreline past Pelican Rock. I didn't quite make it all the way to the mouth of Long Bay before I turned back. Naturally I had a calm day to do this but I did not want to push my luck. As it turned out a bit of a breeze did pick up but it did not cause me any problems.

I was struck by the amount of refuse that collects along the shoreline of the lake. Plastic garbage of all sorts and aluminum cans. I picked up some of it but there was lots that I couldn't reach. This can not be healthy for the plants and animals that live in the lake. You have to paddle the shoreline to fully appreciated how much garbage there is so I feel that perhaps people in power boats have less of a sense as to the amount of refuse is getting into the lake.

As a rule I do not make many notes about these activities and so I am relying on my memory recall a lot for what I observed. Beavers in the back bays of French Bay. A whole host of waterfowl, Grebes for sure. An Eagle on the first point coming out of the bay.

Total trip 13.1 km
Moving time 3 hours 20 min
Stopped time 24 min
My moving average was 3.9 km/hr

Astotin Lake, Elk Island Park

August 19, 2009 canoed Astotin Lake with Richard. I was surprised by how much the water level has dropped since August 14. Our track file is shown on the map. Heard a coyote barking and yipping to announce our presents. We tried to canoe up the NW bay but found it weed choked so I look forward to exploring this portion of the lake in the spring with higher water levels and before the weeds develop. Observed a number of Great Blue Herons.

Distance 9.3 km
Moving time 1 hour 49 minutes
Stopped time 8 min.
Maximum elevation 2335 feet

August 14, 2009. Canoed Astotin Lake. Also explored the picnic site on a point of land on the south shore. Sampled some of the parks Saskatoons and Raspberries. Observed a large number of Gulls floating on the lake.

Distance 6 km
Moving time 1 hour 23 min.
Stopped time 37 min.


May 30/09, Canoed Astotin Lake. Observed a Rednecked Grebe on a nest. I found it curious how the Grebe covered its eggs with vegetation as it left the nest.

There are a number of waterfowl that can be observed on Astotin Lake including 2 Pelicans.

Total distance 3.72 km
Total time moving 1 hour 4 minutes
Moving Average 3.2 km/hr

Upper Kananaskis Lake, May 26, 2009

I drove from Calgary to the Upper Kananaskis Lake and hiked the south shore of the lake.

There was still quite a bit of snow on the trail. Up to the Rawson Creek bridge the trail was not to bad to hike because there had been enough foot traffic to pack the snow down, but beyond that there was more snow, less packed and deeper, so I was breaking through more and floundering. I was able to walk the shoreline for a ways.


Total distance 5.42 km.
Total time 2 hours 45 min
My moving average was 3.1 km/hr

Islet Lake, (Cooking Lake Recreational Area)

August 24, 2009 Canoed Islet Lake. This was the time and place to go to see many beavers. As the canoe glided silently along the shore line a beaver, sitting on the shore was caught unaware and so we were able to view if from a few feet away. Also observed a Great Blue Heron land in a tree and perch there. The water levels in this lake are lower than I have ever seen them.

This was a very leisurely paddle.

Total distance = 4.17 km. , Moving time 1 hr. 34 min., Stopped time 12 min., Maximum elevation 2447 feet.

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May 22, 2009 Hiked the Highline trail listening for frogs again.
The Chorus Frogs were in full chorus. Just a few Northern Wood Frogs were heard.

total distance 2.4 km.

Calgary, May 20, 2009

Took a walk near downtown Calgary to observe Buffalo Bean, Saskatoon and Chokecherry.

About 1 km.

Islet Lake, May 13, 2009

I started out on the Highline trail and returned on the Middle trail and the end of the Lost Lake trail.

I was listening for frogs but I heard no frogs that evening. I believe the frogs were quiet this evening because of a significant drop in temperature. I did hear the first Morning Dove of the season though.

Total distance 4.93km
Total time 1 hour 30 min
My moving average was 4.1 km/hour

Campbell's Lake May 9, 2009

The Hamilton House Bed And Breakfast was generous enough to allow me to use one of their canoes so I left from their dock in Campbell's Lake and canoed for about 50 minutes. The distances canoed would have been 3 to 4 km.

A number of American Coots, and Red Necked Greebs were observed.