Paddling with a Camera

Mon - May 5, 2008

North Platte River in Wyoming

North Platte River at Eagle Nest, Wyoming

North Platte River near Eagle Nest Rapid about 30 miles below Saratoga, Wyoming

The South Platte River in northern Colorado is running pretty low this spring. We had a tough 32 miles marathon race in the end of March due to low water level. Then, the river went even more down. Now, it is flowing a little better (~400 cfs at Kersey).

Much more attractive for paddling looks right now the North Platte River in Wyoming which has a good flow below Saratoga and between Glendo and Guernsey Reservoirs in Wendover Canyon. There will be the 2nd Wyoming Outback Challenge on the North Platte during the Memorial Day weekend - 48 mile race from Saratoga to I-80.

The above picture was shot during our weekend in Wyoming before the last year race. Camera: Pentax Optio W10.

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Posted at 07:12 AM |

Sat - April 26, 2008

Paddling the Horsetooth Reservoir and Looking for the Past

When paddling the Horsetooth Reservoir I am always looking for some traces of the past: old roads, fences, building foundation, sandstone quarries. I had a great time when the reservoir was drained a few years ago. You can see some 2002 pictures at Mountain Wayfarer. Paddling on the Horsetooth "river" was interesting too.

Yesterday, I enjoyed a short workout in windy conditions with my Thunderbolt kayak starting at Inlet Bay and going to north to the Quarry Cove where I had a longer photo session. I found an old barbed wire fence. Rocks were used to anchor that fence and it was tied to a huge boulder under a sandstone cliff.

I was shooting with Pentax Optio W30 camera. I would like to return back to this spot with my Canon DSLR and a tripod. Since I will need more than one lens (i.e., a bigger bag of photo gear) I will have to take the Sea Wind canoe instead of the Thunderbolt.

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Posted at 09:15 AM |

Thu - April 17, 2008

Springtime Paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir

My recent paddling is limited to short workouts on the Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins foothills - just 5 to 8 miles in Thunderbolt kayak. I am launching typically in the North Eltuck Cove at Lory State Park or in the South Bay, but today, I started in the Inlet Bay next to a marina. The reservoir is still pretty quiet. I saw only two motorboats tonight. You need to be prepared for strong winds.

These three pictures below I shot with Pentax Optio W30 in my turning point north of the Quarry Cove. This is one of my favorite spots on the Horsetooth with a small canyon and remains of a sandstone quarry. I had several photo sessions there a year ago.