The 2024 Kayak Season is Underway

It's spring so the lake level is being raised, which began on April 1. The summer level will be established by mid June. Nearby launch sites are starting to be usable for small craft. The view below is of the Pend Oreille River looking west. Eventually this river joins the Columbia. So other than a few portages around dams, one could paddle to the Kuril Islands. Once there, one could search for the silver tinted bears. Are they related to the Spirit bears along the northwest coast of North America ... oops, I digress.

The lake water remains cold, just above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, so I not only wear a dry suit, but remain close to shore and only choose days with a mild breeze. The air temperature on my first two outings has been cool, so I was not tempted to forego the dry suit.

I've just made two trips so far, both in my very light composite Current Designs Squamish and using my Nimbus paddle, a quill design merciful to my arthritic left shoulder.

I wish the kayak had a day hatch, but am pleased that it does not have a fore-deck pod. Depleting my fleet, I sold a Current Designs Slipstream earlier this month, probably a boat that performs a bit better than the Squamish - but now that I am becoming ancient, the light weight of the Squamish is preferable. Further, the Squamish does not seem to weathercock.