Johnny's Lake

In early May, we put in at Johnny's Lake. The public access can be a bit tough to find so I have put directions here. I was out here last fall but the lake was too green to put in, so I put it on my spring list.

Lots of parking but no washrooms (or, alternately, infinite washrooms). You best bet for washrooms are over at nearby Star Lake. The launch was in better shape than in past years. I moved the wood that had washed in out of the way and we both managed to get in dry footed. 

If you're not into a mildly acrobatic entry, the area in front of my wife's boat has a very solid floor of gravel, maybe 5 inches below the water, so you can just set your boat in a wade a feet out to get in.

There were a huge number of gulls on the lake and the noise was amazing. Johnny's is not really a lovely lake, but it is interesting. there are rarely power boats here and there are three islands to explore plus a creek (and birds all the time). 

We passed between the northern two islands and paddled the west shore. 

The creek isn't hard to find but the duck blind below is a useful marker.

We went maybe 1.5km up the creek. Lots of birds and frogs.

Eventually, the creek got choked off and we turned around.

We went past this huge beaver lodge (right side, wife for scale) and the beginnings of a dam, maybe.

Then we toured the southern island. My wife csrae dup some ducks (just one the bow of her boat).

Overall, a lovely paddle early in the spring. The water was okay (mountain dew coloured) with no algae.

Muir Lake

In late April, we decided to roll the dice and see if a lake west of Edmonton was open. We landed on Muir Lake because it was close to home and there were lots of other lake options nearby if it was still frozen. 

Other than the boat launch gate being locked until May 1 (so we had a short carry), it was ready to go. The dock was in and the water levels were up. The pit toilets were also open and reasonably clean.

The county hadn't yet fished two large snow fences out of the water. These surround weak ice where they aerate the lake in the winter.

It was a gloriously sunny day, with lots of birds, including an osprey. Only saw one other paddler and a couple of walkers.

Overall, Muir was exactly what we wanted: a short paddle, sheltered from the wind, and close to town. That it was empty (it is a popular fishing lake) was a bonus. It looks lie the ice is mostly out on all the lakes so we'll try something a bit more adventurous next time.

Astotin Lake

In late April, work took us out past Elk Island Park. On the way back, we stopped at Astotin Lake to have dinner and see whether the ice was out. It was!

The main beach was clean and, miraculously, there wasn't too much wind. We decided to drive to the boat launch to avoid the long carry.  

The water level was low, which exposed big rocks right at the surf line. We would have been better off going off the beach. These rocks were a major pain last year as well and make the boat launch tricky to use, especially if you are coming hot with the wind behind you.

The water was the usual iced tea colour, and there was already hint of green in the foam.

We paddled along the north edge of the lake and watched this raven hassle a bunch of geese trying to nest on this little peninsula. It is usually too windy to paddle this part of the lake so it was nice to see a different part.

Eventually, the sun started to come out and the little bit of wind stopped.

We took a loop around this rocky island (probably a glacial moraine) and there was still snow in the shady part. There were lots of water fowl plus a heron with very nice blue plumage.

 

We then paddled over the High Island where all of the ice was washed up on the shore.

This picture gives you a bit of scale for the ice shelf that was left.

We were a bit tired after a long day of work so we watch the birds for a bit and then headed back.

Overall, the water quality was better than usual. The last couple of summers have been super green. It was nice to be out on a lake again and we saw a huge number of bison foraging on the shoulders of the road on our way home.

Even more of the Sturgeon

As we waited for the lakes to melt out, we were back on the Sturgeon last weekend, spending two-and-half hours paddling up and collecting garbage. We put in at Red Willow Park again. 

Street parking, then through the gates and the trees beyond, over the marsh and into the river from the bank. It was a bit muckier this time as the ground had thawed.

The water was at summer levels (so 12-36" deep). We chased two heron up the river for awhile (one is seated on the broken beaver dam below).

There were also ducks, geese, and briefly a bunch of robins fleeing some kind of small hawk.

Jenn managed to get a reusable shopping bag full of bottles and plastics (the bag itself also came from the river) before giving up. 

Round trip was about 6km. About 2 hours going upstream (current, wind, garbage picking) and 30 minutes back down!

Overall, it was lovely. We turned around at the Mission boat launch (below). The launch is far out of the water and pretty grown in. I would think a bank launch would be easier than using it. 

We had a lovely return trip. I managed to run around by taking the left change when the river braided. We also got to watch some guys in a canoe somehow dip their gunwale below the water and get wet.

Getting out was tricky because the boat kept slipping back down the muck when I shifted my weight to stand up. I also managed to cut myself (somehow???) getting out of the boat and left behind a small trail of blood for you to follow back to the river.

 

It looks like Astotin is open so I hope to hit that this week.

More on the Sturgeon

While we wait for the lakes to open up, we were back on the Sturgeon last week. I dragged the kid along and we put in again in Oakmont and this time went upstream a ways.

About the most exciting part of the trip was coming through this washed out beaver dam. Otherwise, the current was negligible.

The evening light was beautiful the whole trip and made it seem much warmer than the 10C that it was.

This vine was way up several trees as we paddled by.

 

The spiky fruit pods seem to suggest it is wild cucumber.

After about an hour of pretty relaxing paddling, we turned around and floated back. There were a small number of ducks and geese and such.

I didn't get a picture but Jess spotted a beaver swimming ahead of us and we got several tail slaps as we pulled into the landing.

Absent some rain, I think we'll be in for a short season on the Sturgeon as the water was pretty low.