Day paddle at the lake...

[Holmes375]

Alcova reservoir is a small body 30 minutes from my home. Its where I do my exercise paddling and stock my freezer with trout. This is the first time I've ever seen the small reservoir completely ice-free in March. The ice fishing season ended as quickly as turning off a light switch. The water level is reduced 12-15 feet for the winter season changing the shoreline noticeably. Its always interesting to paddle the lake in its altered form and near complete lack of vegetation. Almost an ethereal feel to it sometimes. Got a couple hours of nice sunshine and upper 50's on the thermometer before Ma Nature arrived and got huffy. Fought the wind for a mile getting back to the launch with winter dulled stroke skills. The Magic did a fine job though in the nasty, sure like the boat. Looking forward to getting the spray deck.

Made a few pics while the weather was nice. These illustrate the normal water line:
http://holmes.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v169/p189675146.jpg
http://holmes.zenfolio.com/img/s6/v146/p14016121.jpg

At normal lake levels I paddle right over these boulder formations:
http://holmes.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v166/p222489751.jpg
http://holmes.zenfolio.com/img/s6/v149/p296897904.jpg

The gull does not seem to be overly with my excellent canoe:
http://holmes.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v182/p453488664.jpg

The geese were wandering over many of the dead moss stretches snatching away at something they obviously found tasty. I have no idea what it might be as very little is alive this time of year here.
http://holmes.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v173/p50565262.jpg

Rugged surroundings:
http://holmes.zenfolio.com/img/s6/v150/p161420642.jpg

Nest weekend I plan to hit the other end of the lake and paddle up Fremont canyon if the weather permits. Very cool rock formations in that area.

 

[Alan Gage]

Very interesting. We certainly paddle in different worlds.

Glad to hear the Magic is working out. How about the varnished paddle shaft you wet sanded? At least I think that was you....

Alan

 

[Holmes375]

Very interesting. We certainly paddle in different worlds.

Undoubtedly. The high altitude prairie is a very hostile environment in the winter. This area should still be buried under ice & snow with near constant freezing wind. Weird year for sure. Its always amazing to see this little reservoir awaken each spring as the flora and fauna return.

Glad to hear the Magic is working out. How about the varnished paddle shaft you wet sanded? At least I think that was you....

Alan

The wet sanding worked rather nicely. I still prefer an oil finish for its silky texture but the lower maintenance varnish is attractive to a lazy booger like myself.

 

[balto charlie]

Nice pictures, I love the red/white rock contrast. I am surprised the lakes are ice free in Wyoming at this time. Maryland stuff is just now looking good enough to paddle. Winter has been long and hard here. I can see why folks move south. I'll stay here but longer trips to the south during the winter are in my future. 35F and rain just ain't fun. Today started out that way again.

 

[rpg51]

Great pictures - thanks for posting. I still have a solid covering of about six inches of snow and ice in my yard. Wont' have ice out in the northern part of state until May.

 

[Mihun09]

If we are very lucky we may see ice out end of April, but likely May as usual. Had another system dump 6 inches of wet snow today but with temps forecast for the 40's starting Saturday it should be gone again by mid next week. Most of the lakes we paddle have tea coloured water and dark bottoms so once the sun gets a peek of that it doesn't take long. It is only the big lake that will have to shed over 4 feet of ice still.

Karin

 

[Holmes375]

Nice pictures, I love the red/white rock contrast. I am surprised the lakes are ice free in Wyoming at this time. Maryland stuff is just now looking good enough to paddle. Winter has been long and hard here. I can see why folks move south. I'll stay here but longer trips to the south during the winter are in my future. 35F and rain just ain't fun. Today started out that way again.

That red/white break is the normal waterline level. This is the first March I've seen where the lake is not still frozen. Made for an interesting paddle though. Strange year for much of the States. Many of our ski resorts had to close early when the weather warmed up so suddenly and dramatically. I usually go snowshoeing in the Tetons in March... not this year!

Great pictures - thanks for posting. I still have a solid covering of about six inches of snow and ice in my yard. Wont' have ice out in the northern part of state until May.

That's how it should be here, too. Guess I'm getting an extended paddling season this year but I am concerned about the region's water levels.

If we are very lucky we may see ice out end of April, but likely May as usual. Had another system dump 6 inches of wet snow today but with temps forecast for the 40's starting Saturday it should be gone again by mid next week. Most of the lakes we paddle have tea coloured water and dark bottoms so once the sun gets a peek of that it doesn't take long. It is only the big lake that will have to shed over 4 feet of ice still.

Karin

Wow - 4 foot ice covers! We seldom get past 24-30" but our ice pack didn't last long enough this year to reach normal levels. Its so warm here right now they're flushing the North Platte river almost 2 months early. This is done to clear sediments and improve fishery habitat. The flush is done daily for 10 days. I live near the river and watch it go from 80 cfs in the morning to 4000 cfs by early afternoon. I broke out my ol' Odyssey 14 today and ran an 18 mile stretch during the flush fill and had a ball. It was the 8th day thus most of the trees and limbs had already been run downriver. Its weird to be paddling along and feel the river grow underneath you as the current picks up.

Hope everyone soon gets a chance to dip their paddles and enjoy the wet world