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Bowron Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia

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Preeceville, Saskatchewan Canada
When I saw Steve in Idaho's post about going to the Bowron Lake Circuit this year, I did a search on my computer, and found an old 1996 slide show of 115 slides. This surprised me, as I had never given a slide show on this trip before. So I looked in my slide trays, and scanned in the first 20. I posted them yesterday on Steve's posting in Canoe Destinations. This morning, I decided it would be better to post them in Canadian Trip Reports. So I learned how to share photos in this posting. Unfortunately, they all came out small. So then I decided to delete them, and just start over. I have been having trouble deleting them, and one still remains. If I can't get rid of it, I will just live with it, and start all over uploading to this thread. Frustrating!!
 

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Kathleen and I did this trip with one other couple, Brian and Marg. They were pretty news to paddling, and invited us to join them, not only for company, but also for support. Bowron Lake is a very popular destination. As you can see, the trip is a circuit that brings you back to the beginning. No shuttle is necessary.

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We began the trip on September 28, and finished on October 4. Total length of the trip is 116 km (72 miles).I didn't keep a diary or journal, so pretty much all I have are captions.

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There are several portage trails, and many people use carts. We rented carts at the park headquarters. As you can read in the sign, total load in the canoe must not exceed 60 lbs (27 kg). This helps to reduce wear and tear on the trails.

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Me starting to load the canoe.

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Brian and Marg beginning the portage of 2.4 km (1.5 miles) to Kibbee Lake.

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We have arrived at Kibbee Lake. I have not seen these images since 1996. I'm thinking that one reason we never gave a slide show to our canoe club, is that many of the images are very underexposed. I have tried to brighten them with "Preview," which did not exist in 1996.


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Kathleen preparing to depart on Kibbee Lake.

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View down Kibbee Lake.

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Kathleen on Kibbee Lake.

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Brian and Marg on Kibbee Lake. Finally a respectable image!

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Brian and Marg enjoying lunch between Kibbee and Indianpoint Lakes.

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Kathleen looking back up Kibbee Lake.

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Bear cache at camp between Kibbee and Indianpoint Lakes.

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Preparing to portage 2.0 km (1.2 miles) to Indianpoint Lake.

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Brian and Marg enjoying an evening paddle on Indianpoint Lake.

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Morning camp on Indianpoint Lake.

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View of Indianpoint Lake from camp.

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Following Brian and Marg on Indianpoint Lake.

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Enjoying fall colours on Indianpoint Lake.

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Brian and Marg in the west-pointing arm of Issac Lake after a portage of 1.6 km (1 mile).
 
Steve In Idaho. You need not do the trip. We have offered the pictures and given you a virtual journey.

Not;)
There are a couple of trips that I would still do now that I am old in the 70's . The Yukon River is one. This is the other.

One sometimes disses a trip as being "done". Both are trips I would gladly do again.
 
I love canoeing on lakes surrounded by mountains. In the U.S. you can do that in the Adirondacks, Maine and some other places in the East, but so many of the parks in Canada seem so flat, as is the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. So I like the looks of Bowron, but I doubt I'll ever get there. Speaking of mountains, PaddlingPitt, what are those slashes on the mountain in your last picture. I'd guess ski runs, but they look awful steep.
 
I love canoeing on lakes surrounded by mountains. In the U.S. you can do that in the Adirondacks, Maine and some other places in the East, but so many of the parks in Canada seem so flat, as is the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. So I like the looks of Bowron, but I doubt I'll ever get there. Speaking of mountains, PaddlingPitt, what are those slashes on the mountain in your last picture. I'd guess ski runs, but they look awful steep.

The Yukon is a Territory in Canada. Alberta is a Province in Canada, British Columbia is a province. Newfoundland and Labrador are provinces.. None are flat. Northwest Terr not flat. Quebec has the fjords and the Gaspe. Not flat. Lake Superior east coastline in ON not flat.
 
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This is our second day on the circuit, and we are enjoying lunch on Isaac Lake. All camping in the park is restricted to designated areas.

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We are now paddling toward Wolverine Bay, where Isaac Lake bends to the southeast.

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View from our evening camp at Lynx Creek on Isaac Lake.

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View from our morning camp at Lynx Creek on Isaac Lake.

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Lunch at campsite #24 on Isaac Lake.

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Lingering over lunch in this main arm (31.2 km; 19.3 miles) of Isaac Lake.

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Approaching the south end of Isaac Lake.

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Looking back up Isaac Lake. We have gotten out of the canoe to scout "The Chute."

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The Park brochure advises that "Inexperienced canoeists should portage (the chute). For those that do run the river, gear should be wrapped and secured in the canoe. This part of the Isaac River is navigable for 400 metres (somewhat more than 400 yards) ending in a large pool at the head of the Cascades."

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Kathleen and I ran "The Chute" first, eddying out in the pool on river left. Although somewhat new canoeists, Brian and Marg decided that they would also run "The Chute."

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Brian and Marg descending "The Chute."

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Brian and Marg heading toward river left in "The Chute."

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Brian and Marg eddying out on river left. Well done!

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We ended our third day camped on river left at the bottom of "The Chute."

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We enjoyed the convenience of a sheltered cook site here, at the end on Isaac Lake.

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Looking down the Isaac River where two more obstacles wait for us tomorrow: "The Cascades," and a waterfall.
 
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The next morning, Brian and Marg ferry out into the current below "The Chute."

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They enter the current of the Isaac River,

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And we all take the short paddle to "The Cascades."

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We look for the sign on river left,

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that points out the beginning of the portage trail around "The Cascades."

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Good thing we were paying attention!

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"The Cascades" would be quite the ride.

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Looking back up to "The Cascades."


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I'm taking a break after the portage (about 300 metres or yards) around "The Cascades."

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Brian ready to paddle on down to the waterfall.

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Kathleen prepares to ferry out into the Isaac River.

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And there she goes! (Note: Kathleen wasn't paddling solo. I was in the stern.)

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Brian and Marg paddling down the Isaac River on their way to the waterfall.

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The approximate 200 metre portage abound the waterfall takes us to McLeary Lake.

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We enjoy lunch at McLeary Lake.

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After lunch, we hike back up the trail to view the waterfall. That's me on the left.

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At the end of our fourth day, we set up camp at site #34, at Turner Creek on Lanezi Lake.

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Kathleen prepares supper at Turner Creek.

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The day had been dry and clear. The evening was warm. Perhaps the most enjoyable day on the circuit.

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Enjoying the contentment of a day spent paddling.

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Later that evening, another group of canoeists paddle by our camp - the first time we had seen other people on the trip. Only three more paddling days. We hope the good weather continues.
 
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The next morning, however, was cold and winter-like, as we continued west down Lanezi Lake.

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I was intrigued by the idea that a lake would have "Dangerous Rocks." After all, the lake is used only by paddlers. Not power boats.

That blurb in the box says that "Navigating the silt-laded waters of the Cariboo River requires care and attention. Canoeists must remain alert for sweepers, deadheads and other hazards at all times." We had paddled the 5.2 km (3 miles) of the Cariboo River yesterday, but took no pictures. As I post this 24 years later, neither Kathleen nor I remember anything about the Cariboo River. So it must not have been too difficult. Mason, jeffski and yellowcanoe have all paddled this circuit before. If any of you are reading this post, could you refresh my memory of what the river was like?

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We approach the Dangerous Rocks.

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Brian and Marg challenge the Dangerous Rocks.

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The Dangerous Rocks have been vanquished.

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Looking east, back up Lanezi Lake, while having lunch at camp #37.

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We have now entered Sandy Lake, after a 1.2 km (0.75 miles) run down the Cariboo River from Lanezi Lake.

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The moose paid almost no attention to us at all.

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We just silently drifted by in the autumn stillness.

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Resting at Babcock Lake, after a 3.6 km (2.2 miles) run on the Cariboo River from Sandy Lake.

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We have arrived at Unna Lake, our intended camp for the night. There is also a sign indicating the direction south down the Cariboo River.

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A very graphic sign. One must be very careful to take the turnoff to Unna Lake, and not head down the Cariboo River,

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as Cariboo Falls lie just around the bend.

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After setting up camp, we paddle across Unna Lake, and hike approximately 1 km (half-a-mile),

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to the 24 metre (78 feet) Cariboo Falls.

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Cariboo River below the falls.

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We end our fifth day at a very nice camp and sandy beach on Unna Lake.
 
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The following morning, we prepare to paddle over to Babcock Creek, which will take us to Babcock Lake.

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I think it's that way to Babcock Creek.

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Yep. Still going the right way!

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We approach the Babcock Creek Ranger Station.

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Kathleen at the Babcock Creek Ranger Station, which also had a phone. When we did the circuit in 1996, there are 6 phones along the way. I don't know if phones are still there, or if cell service is available now.

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View up Babcock Creek from Ranger Station.

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Me dragging up Babcock Creek.

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Me pulling up Babcock Creek.

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Brian & Marg dragging over beaver dam on Babcock Creek.

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Just about over!

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To protect the habitat on Babcock Creek, we were told that beginning the next year, 1997, there would be a portage trail along Babcock Creek.

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My brochure from 1996 indicates that canoeists would line 1.2 km (0.75 miles) up Babcock Creek. The following link to a current brochure indicates that canoeists would portage 1.2 km up Babcock Creek: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/bowron_lk/bowron_lk_broch_map_print_11x17.pdf

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We paddle 2.8 km (1.7 miles) across Babcock Lake.

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We begin our 0.4 km (0.25 miles) portage to Skoi Lake.

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I really didn't enjoy using the canoe cart. If I were to do this circuit again, I would just portage the old way. But that's just me.

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End of the 0.4 km portage. Dang, I look beat!!

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After paddling 0.8 km (0.5 miles) across Skoi Lake, we reach the portage to Spectacle Lake.

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Only 0.4 km (0.25 miles) to Spectacle Lake.

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For our last night on the circuit, we set up camp on Spectacle Lake. During dinner, these canoeists drifted by, only the second other paddlers we had seen in six days. They didn't even acknowledge our presence. Perhaps we didn't belong in their wilderness experience. Only one paddling day left to take us back to the Park Headquarters.
 
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Babcock Creek is now a portage, fairly long, too! It sure was fun years back tracking up the creek! I don't think the fish liked it though.
 
Babcock Creek is now a portage, fairly long, too! It sure was fun years back tracking up the creek! I don't think the fish liked it though.

Now you will get your ying yang docked if you wade it. It is stocked and there are warning signs that wading is not allowed along with the usual threats of fines etc.
 
Nice photos. Someday I'll try to figure out how to get my thousands of slides, if I can find them, into a computer.

I also like your Charlie Walbridge red Hi-Float whitewater PFDs. I have one of those.

What time of year was the trip and the temperatures? You all are pretty much bundled up on land and water.
 
Nice photos. Someday I'll try to figure out how to get my thousands of slides, if I can find them, into a computer.

I also like your Charlie Walbridge red Hi-Float whitewater PFDs. I have one of those.

What time of year was the trip and the temperatures? You all are pretty much bundled up on land and water.

Glenn,

My bad for neglecting to say when we did the trip. We started on September 28, and finished on October 4. The upside of a late season trip, was that we saw only two other canoes. During the height of the season, one often has to share designated campsites with strangers, albeit like-minded paddlers. A downside of this late-season trip was that the days were short, and the nights were very long. I didn’t record temperatures, but they were certainly on the cool side. I don’t remember if we had any frost, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Heavy dew most nights. Firewood was soaked, and very difficult to establish a true campfire. Lots of time in the tent.

Scanning slides is tedious. If they have mostly been stored, without taking them out of the tray, they are pretty clean. If they have been viewed over the years, they have lots of grunge on them. I might clean and scan a slide three, four or five times. Once I get it pretty clean, I give it to Kathleen, who uses Adobe Photoshop Element to sort of paste over the defect with surrounding background.

We still have those Hi-float PFDs. I keep meaning to replace them, as they are probably no longer high-float. But I always say, “Heck. They’re probably still good.”
 
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Our last (7[SUP]th[/SUP]) day, on October 4[SUP]th[/SUP], we head down Spectacle Lake in a drizzle that has continued since last evening.

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We are becoming wet and discouraged, and look forward to the take-out at the end of Bowron Lake.

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We continue to paddle in the rain, as we approach the north end of Spectacle Lakes.

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The rain continues as we paddle 7.2 km (4.5 miles) down Bowron Lake.

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Even our Goretex, only four years old, is now beginning to leak.

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We finally approach the north end of Bowron Lake.

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I carry the canoe back up the short portage to the van. I don't remember what I did with that canoe cart. I don't know why I didn't secure the painters within the deck bungees. Maybe it was the rain. I hate the rain. We were glad to have done the Bowron Lake Circuit. Everyone in British Columbia has done it. And now so have we. But Kathleen and I are not big fans of popular, and often crowded canoe trips. We rebel against areas that have designated camping sites. After all, that's why we became canoeists. To paddle down unending rivers. To camp where and when we please. To be free from the noise of civilization. To be emancipated from our fellow citizens, even though they be paddlers. But hey, that's just us. To each their own.
 
We did our trip late August. We had to share a site twice at the start of the trip then we saw no one.

I scanned some two thousand slides with a Wolverine. It only took two days to clean and digitize them. Some were from 1969. I wanted to bug my kids digitally now with baby pictures! The Wolverine was pricey but very easy to use. Now it needs another home
 
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