2022 wrap-up

This brings us to the end of the 2022 paddling season. I managed to get in 62 paddles this year (last paddles was right before Hallowe'en), including hitting 18 new lakes. We had really lovely trips to Waskesui (in Saskatchewan) and Lac La Biche.

I'm not sure what 2023 holds. I'm hopeful we'll get some additional time to explore the mountains and maybe head into the SE portion of British Columbia for a bit.

North Saskatchewan, Laurier to Dawson

In early October, we took a trip through Edmonton on the North Saskatchewan to enjoy the fall colours. This was also my 50th paddle of the year and, perhaps, our last (depending on what the weather does).

We put in at Laurier after lunch and the the launch and the river were hopping. 

Both the water and the leaves were great, although we ran into some headwinds as we made our way to the Groat bridge.

After that, it was pretty clear sailing. The water was shallow from the Groat to the Waterdale bridges.

I know the high level bridge is large but it always surprises me just how large the piers are.

The Edmonton Queen was moored back at its usual spot after two winters up by Fort Edmonton having its hull repaired.

We eventually pulled out at the Dawson launch (which was also busy). 

Overall, a very pretty run down the river at the height of the autumn colour. If that is the end of the season, I think we had a good one.

Lac Ste. Anne, West Cove Launch

At the end of September, I put in at the West Cove boat launch on Lac Ste Anne off Range Road 43 (green arrow). It looks like there is another launch a mile to the east, on what would be Range Road 42 but is called Boat Launch Road (pink arrow). Both give access to the second west-most basin of the lake (see below).

My plan was to paddle up one side of the long island (Farming Island) and down the other if the lake was calm. If not, I was going to go to the west side of the lake. It was quite rainy when I left town but the clouds cleared as I got there and the lake was glassy calm. 

There was no one at the boat launch (although there were a few cars in the lot). Launch has a small cement ramp, a gravely beach, a dock, garbage, and a pit toilet. There was just a tiny bit of blue-green algae in the water (looked like someone had sprinkled dill weed or grass clippings). The beach was shallow so I got in dry footed.

I went of the beach and crossed about 500m to the island and then went up the west side, Mostly a reedy shore.

The amount of algae increased the further I got into the lake and it was pretty green in places.

I worked by way to the north end of the island and the paddled across to the the Alexis First Nation shore.

There was a big beaver lodge here. I then paddled back to the island,

I noticed this sandy beach and grassy spot on the northern tip. This is probably the best spot for accessing the island that I saw.

I then went back down the east side of the island and, with the sun behind me and the smooth water, the colours were crazy pretty.

Maybe about 6km round trip. The picture below is the boat launch from the water.

A great paddle and probably one of my top three paddles of the summer.