Adiós and Vaya Con Dios

      

                         I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand
                         Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
                         Life is good today, life is good today --- Zac Brown

 

We lounged there under an umbrella gazing at the unmistakable aqua splendor of the Caribbean Sea. The salt spray of the breaking surf hung in the air gave our lungs an instant feeling of ease. The snow-white sand sifted between our toes when we dared to rush toward the curling waves. The rhythmic waves seemed to leaves in a hypnotized state. It was hard to not look away. Not to peer out and wonder. I can't quite explain it, but there's just something so magical about spending a day by the ocean. 

Cancun paddling

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.'' said underwater explorer and conservationist Jacques Yves Cousteau.

The trip to Cancun, Mexico, was the kickoff to our summer. And after the last 16 months of living in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was a pure pleasure to sit in the sultry sun relaxing at a luxury spa. I know I could get used to this all-inclusive lifestyle. We even got to kayak one day, where I looked down into the clear water and saw dozen of starfish just below my boat.
Our days in Cancun floated by quickly. Before long, we high in the sky, heading for North Dakota to see our granddaughter and attend to some family matters. It was followed by a cross-country trip in a U-Haul truck back to California back to reality.
There was little time for a return-to-trip hang-over. A day after unloading the truck, I packed up my camping gear and headed up to Sly Park and the pine-lined views of Lake Jenkinson and running Sly Park Paddle Rentals for a long weekend. I never had it so good. 

Sly Park Paddle Rentals

“Travel changes you," celebrity world traveler Anthony Bourdain said, "As you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.”

 

Here is a look at some of our favorite images from this year so far.

Slab Creek Reservoir

Lower American River

Lower American River with Bayside Adventure Sports

Rattlesnake Bar

Snowshoeing the China Wall with Debbie Carlson

Folsom Lake

The Lower American River

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PADDLING WITH SLY PARK PADDLE RENTALS

 

Sly Park Recreation Area is an idyllic summer setting nestled in the Sierra foothills near Pollock Pines, California. Offering something for everyone the park is the perfect spot to visit for a day trip or kickback for a long weekend.
Surrounded by a fringe of tall pines and rocky shores, Lake Jenkinson is reminiscent of those coming of age movies about summer camp. Certainly the jewel of the park, the lake provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating. In other words, it's a perfect spot to paddle away the day.

Divided by a narrow channel, the lake is divided into two components. The larger lower lake is home to speedboats, picnic, and campgrounds and a swimming beach, while the upper lake has an old-fashion feel being a bit narrower and much quieter due to the 5 mph speed limit that is strictly enforced.
The upper lake is home to Sly Park Paddle Rentals which offers canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards throughout the summer on weekends in the park. For the past two seasons, The River Store & Current Adventures Kayaking School & Trips has been operating the boathouse rentals.

The boathouses hours
Fridays 9 am-5pm

Saturday 9 am-5pm 

Sunday 9 am-5pm

To help you enjoy the paddling experience of Lake Jenkinson, while at Slay Park Recreation Area here are a few tips to get you on the water.

Before you go
Plan early. While Sly Park Paddle Rentals does take walk-ups, it's best to make a reservation to ensure you get the kayak, SUP or canoe you want for an hour, all day and even overnight. You can book online at Sly Park Paddle Rentals or call 530-333-9115 or email at info@CurrentAdventures.com.

Entering the park requires a day-use fee. Camping is also an additional fee and requires a reservation. You can book that through Sly Park Recreation Area.

Standup paddling boarding is extremely popular on the lake and the boards are always being rented on busy weekends. Tandem kayaks and canoes are also very popular for families to get their young children out on the water. Single kayaks are great for those who want to get out and explore while perfecting their paddling technique.
Boathouse staff recommends booking at least two hours on the water to keep having fun.

What To Bring
Sunscreen, sunglasses, snacks, and beverages (no glass containers), small ice chest(s), shoes, or sandals will make your trip more comfortable, and a COVID-19 face covering. PFDs are provided by the boathouse for both children and adults. Remember paddling even on lakes comes with inherent physical risks that can be minimized by wearing a PFD. California boating law requires every child under 13 years of age on a moving recreational vessel of any length must wear a PFD.
Also, Sly Park Paddle Rentals is implementing a few new protocols on the dock area to help keep the staff and the visitors safe and they are asking everyone to wear masks while on the dock area for everyone’s protection including our employees.

When You Are Here
Best advice, come early and stay late. The park is extremely popular on weekends and day-use quickly fills up fast. Expect a line to get in the front gate anytime after 10 AM on up to 2 PM. Beat the crowd by getting to the lake early to enjoy the best time on the lake.
Boathouse manager Nick Carlson says the lake is calm right at opening and in the evening.

"Early in the morning the wind is coming from the east, but a little after 9 it stops and the lake is like glass. It's my favorite time of the day and the best time to get on the water. Towards mid-day the wind starts up from west coming through the narrows." 

Beat the crowd all together by going on a sunset paddle on Friday evening when the boathouse is open till 8 PM. On both Fridays and Saturdays, you can rent your canoe, SUP or kayak after hours and return it the following morning. Check at Sly Park Paddle Rentals or call 530-333-9115 to check the availability of the paddle craft. What could be better than having a sunset paddle before returning to your campsite?

Parking is available at the Stonebraker Boat Launch, 2.3 miles from the park entrance. Sly Park Paddle Rentals is located near the ramp.

When You Are on The Dock
To help keep staff and visitors safe, Sly Park Paddle Rentals is asking everyone to wear a mask while on the dock to meet the State and local health requirements. Hand sanitizer is also available at the gate.

The staff will only allow one family or a group of friends on the dock at a time. Others will be asked to wait just outside the dock area until other parties left the dock to ensure safety.
Every adult has to fill out a liability waiver for themselves and their children. You can streamline this by filling out the form online when you make your reservation at Sly Park Paddle Rentals.

When on the Water
Getting on the lake is a great place to relax and have fun. Maybe take a trip up toward Sly Park Falls or just float around the narrows. However, during the current health guidelines please consider keeping a 6-foot distance between others and avoid large crowds.

If you want to go on a canoe or kayak trip at Sly Park contact:
Current Adventures Kayak School and Trips 
PHONE: 530-333-9115 or Toll-Free: 888-452-9254
FAX: 530-333-1291
USPS: Current Adventures, P.O. Box 828, Lotus, CA 95651
info@currentadventures.com
owner Dan Crandall dan@kayaking.com

 

This article was originally published Outside Adventure to the Max on June 26, 2020

We are always looking for guest bloggers to share the stories and pictures of their adventures.

Keep up with Outside Adventure to the Max, on our Facebook page and Instagram and now on Youtube.

EARTH DAY 2021, LESSONS OF COVID-19

Earth Day was this past week marking the 51st anniversary of celebrating our planet. Last year's event was observed in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic. Under normal circumstances, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day would have been marked with worldwide celebrations, festivals, and massive clean-up efforts. All while promoting a cleaner, healthier environment worldwide.
Instead, we were all celebrating indoors while practicing social distancing. Under the guidelines of stay-in-place restrictions, environmental groups canceled all their outdoor activities and events and chose to rally online.

Little did we know then, but it what was in store for the rest of the year. Annual summer holidays like Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, we were told to stay in place and avoid large crowds. Health experts said the risks of exposure were reduced while being outside. Soon, the great outdoors began attracting people in unprecedented numbers. Dispersed camping was all the rage as folks attempt to hunker down in the quest to flee COVID-19.
By the fall of 2020, it has seemed like the pandemic might never end. The death tolls continued to mount as holidays were put on hold. But now, as we celebrate another Earth Day, it a bit brighter than the last one. Vaccines have been developed faster than most experts had imagined, and more than millions of Americans have been vaccinated. Sure, health officials are still advising caution. But, they are saying by this summer, we might be able to safely gather in small groups again.
In the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly brought devastation across the earth. But it also showed us how billions of its citizens could come together to protect members of society and ensure that those who need medical care can access it.
It showed how quickly, through international cooperation and science research, a vaccine could be developed and delivered to its citizens.

"Like Covid-19, climate change is affecting us all. It is already devastating communities, impacting public health, and taking a toll on economies," wrote a research professor Robin Bell, at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, in an opinion piece for Undark, "And it is exacerbating disparities, with poor and vulnerable populations being affected the most. But the same tools that we have sharpened during the pandemic — a willingness to engage with scientific literature, the will to take action, a sense of global connection — can be used to help address the health of our planet."
 

Lake Jenkinson at Sly Park

For years scientists have warned us about the effects of climate change. In California, water officials brace for more drought-like conditions as the state ends its third driest winter season ever. Typically the wettest months of the year are December, January, and February, but this year rain and snowfall at higher elevations in Sierra fell below average month after month. That means less water during the summer months for the state’s parched reservoirs and rivers.

“California is facing the familiar reality of drought conditions, and we know the importance of acting early to anticipate and mitigate the most severe impacts where possible,” Governor Gavin Newsom said at a news conference at Lake Mendocino this week.
He said, “Climate change is intensifying both the frequency and the severity of dry periods. This ‘new normal’ gives urgency to building drought resilience in regions across the state and preparing for what may be a prolonged drought at our doorstep.”

But as we all know, it not just in California. Hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and floods continue to increase in frequency and severity around the world affecting millions of people.
If we have learned anything from the Covid-19 pandemic, is that we have to trust our science and take action globally. We must apply the same lessons used in solving our worldwide pandemic to address our climate crisis. It will only be through global cooperation that we will save our planet. Happy Earth Week. 

 

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KAYAK SUMMER 2020

Lake Clementine

Making storytelling photos has always been my mantra. Throughout my journalistic career to now, as I document my kayaking paddling days, on Instagram, and for my post in Outside Adventure to the Max, I want to tell you a story. Each day, I hope to capture in a photograph what the day was like and what did. Was it sunny and bright or a bit gloomy? Was I with or leading a group, or was I on a solo trek across the water?

Sunset Paddle on Lake Natoma

I love to shoot a lot of my photos in the so-called Golden Hour. I have a propensity to light and shadows and the mood it presents. I find it irresistible to let those magical moments pass without trying to catch just a part of it. I can not lie. It makes for beautiful pictures, especially when on the water. Those serene moments make my kayak tripping a bit romantic and picturesque.
Yet the storyteller in me also wants to share my so non-romantic things about my paddling days. The grittiness of the heavy kayak and steep portage to the sluggishness of sluffing boats at the end of the day at the boathouse, to the unplanned swims, Not all my paddling days are a memory of cool Kodak moments.

Summer 2020 was far from picture perfect and a bit more unalluring and unappealing than any photos can suggest. By most accounts, it was an unfocused and somewhat shaky ordeal that will be remembered more for what we didn't do rather than what we actually did.

Sly Park Paddle Rentals

For all of us, Summer 2020 certainly did not start all that well. The as the novel coronavirus know as the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly canceled and delay it from the start.
"Now we have something that turned out to be my worst nightmare," the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told CNN in June, "In the period of four months, it has devastated the world."

At the start of the summer season, self-quarantining recommendations and restrictions became the norm. Movie theaters, indoor restaurants, and churches were closed. Events and festivals were canceled, and stacks of guidelines were imposed, calling for "social distancing" by staying at least six-feet part from one another.
Across the country, popular national, state, and local parks and beaches were either closed or were limiting access as health officials raised health concerns about large, possibly maskless, groups of visitors arriving and potentially skirting social distancing guidelines.
But as we all know, going outside is good for us, especially in a pandemic. Being in nature and the fresh air can help us relax and feel less stressed, which is what we needed most both then and even now. 

South Fork of American River

So I took advantage of my free time to head to the Lower American River and even run the South Fork of the River with a couple of guys during the early days of the summer shutdown.

As the stay-in-place restrictions were relaxed, outdoor places like state parks suddenly become important in a new way. They were safe places, but only if people recreated reasonably. Masks for many became the fashion as we looked in either bandits or doctors when they arrived a the boat launch. At Sly Park Paddle Rentals, where I worked after the delayed start, I would give all the equipment a sanitizing bath in E-san 64 after each rental. As the pandemic lingered into the middle of summer, people continued to flock to places like Lake Jenkinson, giving me a busy and brisk business as folks tried to escape the routine of the pandemic by getting on the water. 

Loon Lake

But just the same, it was not all work and no play. The after-hours canoeing and kayaking sessions in the lake helped give me a sense of normalcy. An annual trip down the Lower American River and no-frills expedition to Loon Lake with Bayside Adventure Sports, a Christian based outreach group, gave me a chance to lead a great group of paddlers. Okay, okay! That week on the was close to picture-perfect as could be, for me and maybe all them. It was the highlight of my summer.

But with every high, there comes a low. And this seemly apocalyptic summer dished out a slew of record-breaking temperatures, devastating wildfires, and ghostly orange and Martian-red skies from the shadow of smoke blowing eastward during the ladder part of the summer. A mid-September camping trip to Sierra Mountains Silver Lake was called-off due to the threat of fire danger, and my days on Lake Jenkinson were plagued with smoke and haze. It led me to get some dramatic photos, but also a realization that with climate change being unchecked this could be a prelude of things annually. 

Lake Jenkinson

It's official. No matter how I regard it, this lost summer is over, and fall has begun. Time to start planning for next year. While for some, this ominous year of 2020 can not get over quickly enough as we all deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, and looming contentious election. As we start the Autumn season, we search for that silver lining.

“Our main job as artists is to make the art that only we can make, right now in the times in which we are living,” wrote California College of Arts Dean of Fine Arts Allison Smith to her students this past year. “The art you are about to make will be a source of survival, and it will change us all for the better,” she concluded. 

So in these crazy times, I look back on my summer 2020. I certainly will cherish all my photo moments, both good and bad, all the friendly faces, and all the memories of my time on the water. To help me and maybe even you cruise through to till next summer, I picked out some of my favorite images I created over the past few months to help recall the past season like no other.

Here is a look at some of my favorite images from this past summer.

Loon Lake with Bayside Adventure Sports

Lake Jenkinson

 

Sly Park Paddle Rentals

Donner Lake

Lake Jenkinson

Lake Valley Reservoir

North Fork of the American River

 

The American River Parkway

Lake Jenkinson

Lake Jenkinson

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OVER THE BOW: LAKE JENKINSON

“We come from a perspective, humbly, where we submit the science is in — and observed evidence is self-evident — that climate change is real and that is exacerbating this.”--California Gov. Gavin Newsom

I love to paddle in rain, fog, and snow. Weather for me is just a state of mind. As writer John Ruskin wrote, "Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating. There is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."
But, with wildfire erupting throughout the western states causing a path of destruction as it burns across million acres. Meanwhile, a hazy, milky overcast of smoke is choking us all. The climate is changing.

The governors of California, Oregon, and Washington have all said global warming is priming forests for wildfires as they become hotter and drier.
“What we’ve been seeing in California are some of the clearest events where we can say this is climate change — that climate change has clearly made this worse,” Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at the Breakthrough Institute, an Oakland-based think tank, told the Los Angles Times, “People who have lived in California for 30, 40 years are saying this is unprecedented, it has never been this hot, it has never been this smoky in all the years I’ve lived here.”
Scientists say wildfires are all but inevitable has plants and trees drying out due to climate change. Forest officials hope that implementing efforts to thin trees and brush through prescribed burns and careful logging will help prevent forests from being threatened with fire.

That was the case earlier this summer on the south shore of Sly Park Recreation Area's Lake Jenkinson as crews with a masticator cut, chopped, and ground dead and dying trees and dry vegetation into particles to reduce and inhibit the spread of a potential fire.
It was a disrupted noise to a usually peaceful lake scene. And when the winds were light a dust bowl like cloud darkens the lake view and faded the treeline. Paddlers floated in and out of the haze above the lake. But, at least it wasn't smoke from nearby.
Funding for the vegetation management project was provided by Cal Fire as part of the California Climate Investments Program.

Over the Bow is a feature from Outside Adventure to the Max, telling the story behind the image. If you have a great picture with a great story, submit it to us at nickayak@gmail.com

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COVID SUMMER

Believe in them, for they are the mountain-principles and alter-piles of life. Breathe the air that is freshened on their heights. Drink of the streams that flow fresh from the channels in their sides. And in every season of doubt, temptation, or despair, lift up thine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh thy help. --- Thomas Starr King

A week after my from returned from my annual week-long trip to a rugged Sierra Nevada mountain lake east of Lake Tahoe, I'm still in a bit of haze, if not a funk. The kayaking and campout trek to Loon Lake's pristine cobalt-blue waters, textured granite shores, and awe-inspiring views was my most anticipated trip of the summer. Who wouldn't feel a post-trip blues leaving such a place of beauty and tranquility?

Scott MacGregor called it a happy-sad period. "Happy because dreams came true," he wrote in Paddling Magazine, "Horizons were broadened. Challenges crushed. Confidence boosted. Friendship strengthed. But sad because it is suddenly over."

Lingering at the boat access looking over the lake last week, I relived the highlights of the trips through my mind. Our first-class steak dinner, those amazing sunsets, those pesky bees, one awesome hike, and a spectacular view of the Perseid Meteor Shower while lounged along the rocky beach looking towards the heavens.
Packing up the boats and driving away, it was time to slip back to reality. My escape had only been short-lived. And while the trip might have changed and recharged me, I'd still be returning to all the real-life pressures and stresses the world has to offer, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic.

In truth, I didn't even escape the effects of the pandemic while on the trip into the wilderness area. I was greeted by mask-wearing hikers and witnessed people camping, where in the past years those camping spots were always vacated.
"It's COVID," said a member of my group, "Simply put, there is not much to do this summer, except go camping."

Since early summer when many of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were eased the great outdoors has been attracting people who are out using the beaches, forests, and mountains in unprecedented numbers. Experts say if proper guidelines are implemented the risk of exposure can be reduced.
“The risk is definitely lower outdoors,” says Kimberly Prather, Ph.D., an atmospheric chemist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, told Elemental, “The primary reason is there’s just such a large volume of clean air.”

Camping and dispersed camping is all the rage this summer as folks attempt to hunker down in the quest to flee COVID-19. Campgrounds have been full throughout the summer including even remote sites normally overlooked.
"We’re seeing a level of use well beyond a normal year,” Oregon Parks and Recreation Department spokesman Chris Havel told the Salem Statesman Journal, “It’s like having the crowds you see for a holiday weekend, except all the time.”
With no amenities, the National Forest Service in some areas is struggling this summer to keep up trash removal when the campers don’t pick up after themselves.

Public officials have also expressed frustration with people who aren't social distancing amid the pandemic who are overcrowding California's beaches and riverways. Last month, After 313 vehicles were counted along a road that had space for 12 cars, an Auburn area swimming hole has been made off-limits to motorists while several beaches around the Monterey Bay Area will be closing this weekend to reinforce social distancing and reduce large public gatherings, as cities anticipate large influxes of visitors.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said, "We're not minimizing mixing. It throws shivers up my spine. Here we are making all this progress, and it can be done away," during a press conference after mentioning the crowds along the Lower American River in Sacramento recently made it look like "spring break."

My thoughts at the boat access persisted even into the next day while working at the boathouse at Sly Park. The summer season is slowly winding down. Autumn comes without warning even when the days are at their warmest. There’s something about the fall season that signifies all things new and a fresh start. But this year, as I all suffer the symptoms of COVID-fatigue, all I really want is for things to get back to normal.

It's a little bittersweet to say goodbye to the mountain lake. Hopefully, I can pack away enough memories to get me by until next time.

We are always looking for guest bloggers to share the stories and pictures of their adventure.

Keep up with Outside Adventure to the Max, on our Facebook page and Instagram and now on Youtube.

CANOE MORNING

Thus the Birch Canoe was builded

In the valley, by the river,

In the bosom of the forest;

And the forest's life was in it,

All its mystery and its magic,

All the lightness of the birch-tree,

All the toughness of the cedar,

All the larch's supple sinews;

And it floated on the river

Like a yellow leaf in Autumn,

Like a yellow water-lily.

  Paddles none had Hiawatha,

Paddles none he had or needed,

For his thoughts as paddles served him,

And his wishes served to guide him;

Swift or slow at will he glided.

---  from the Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It was another quiet early weekend morning on the lake that I have come to look forward too. Just turning my truck into the park and driving with the windows down along the lake's conifer wooded shoreline as giving me a feeling of jubilation as the earthy scent of pine delights my scent of smell. It's the perfume of the forest. So sharp, so sweet, and ever so refreshing as anyone who has taken a therapeutic walk in the woods will tell you.

Arriving at the boathouse and to access I gazed down the path to the water below. The lake glistened a golden glow in the bright morning sun silhouetted by the rising row of pines. Where there were ripples on its surface there are brief flashes of diamonds. I inhale the view of tranquility taking in both its sight and sound. It's time to reset my body, mind, and soul because my rush to the lake is over.

I'm not the first, nor will I be last to find that elation about the beauty of water the forest. A nineteen century Wesleyan Missionary in Northern Canada Egerton Ryerson Young called it one of those sights that seldom comes to us in a life, where everything is in perfect unison.

"I was entranced by the loveliness of the sight," Young wrote in his book By Canoe and Dog-Train Among the Cree and Saulteaux Indians, "The reflections of the canoe and men and of the island and rocks were vivid as the actual realities. So clear and transparent was the water that where it met the air, there seemed to be only a narrow thread between the two elements. Not a breath of air stirred, not a ripple move."


The upper lake part of Lake Jenkinson is much narrower and quieter than its larger sister lake nestled in the picturesque setting of Sly Park near Pollock Pines, California. Divided by a narrow channel, the larger the rounded lower lake is home to the speedboats, picnic, and campgrounds and swimming beach while the upper part features a path to a waterfall, two nesting eagles and in the morning when the lake is still, a place to canoe.

Where do we come from and where are we going?" wrote filmmaker and canoe guru Bill Mason, "There is no better place and no better way to follow this quest into the realm of spirit than along the lakes and rivers of the North American wilderness in a canoe.”

Pushing away from the dock at the boathouse, the Old Town canoe is transformed into a time machine with each quiet stroke of my wooden paddle as it takes me back to the way it used to be.  My morning solo paddles are a reflective time as I ponder the water, the trees, and the sky. In a way, it's sad that so many sleepy campers just up the way, miss this time on the water.

The calming emerald green waters design what looks like a moving painting as it ripples and shimmers and reflects on its fluid canvas. The gentle sound of my paddle dips and singing birds create soothing magic of serenity. But then again, I have had a few mornings when a hurried fishing boat passes by with its droning engine desecrating the morning's tranquility and sanctuary. At this time of the morning, the only way to honor the lake and its transparent placid flat waters is by canoe with only a paddle.

“The movement of a canoe is like a reed in the wind," wrote canoeist and naturalist, Sigurd Olson, "Silence is part of it, and the sounds of lapping water, bird songs, and wind in the trees. It is part of the medium through which it floats, the sky, the water, the shores."

Sweeping my paddle, I glide among the ducks and geese at the little bay across from the boathouse. Below, I can look down into its crystal depths and see a few fish darting away from the movement of the canoe. If I'm lucky, one of the neighboring eagles will fly over while fishing the lake from above. I can't really go much further, nor do I really want too.

I find solace in the just floating idly in the little bay watching and listening to the creation about me. As writer John Graves pointed out, "Canoes, too, are unobtrusive; they don't storm the natural world or ride over it, but drift in upon it as a part of its own silence. As you either care about what the land is or not, so do you like or dislike quiet things. . . . Chances for being quiet nowadays are limited.”

Of course, the time is fleeting on the water. As the sun comes up, the park wakes up, as folks seek the relief of the lake's cool waters to escape the summer's blistering heat. I take a few more sips of my coffee before I make one big giant turning stroke back to the dock.


If you want to go on a canoe or kayak trip at Sly Park contact:
Current Adventures Kayak School and Trips 
PHONE: 530-333-9115 or Toll-Free: 888-452-9254
FAX: 530-333-1291
USPS: Current Adventures, P.O. Box 828, Lotus, CA 95651
info@currentadventures.com
owner Dan Crandall dan@kayaking.com
Or book online at currentadventures.com

Keep up with Outside Adventure to the Max, on our Facebook page and Instagram and now on Youtube.

This article was originally published in Outside Adventure to the Max on July 26, 2019.

 

 

PADDLING WITH SLY PARK PADDLE RENTALS

Sly Park Recreation Area is an idyllic summer setting nestled in the Sierra foothills near Pollock Pines, California. Offering something for everyone the park is the perfect spot to visit for a day trip or kickback for a long weekend.
Surrounded by a fringe of tall pines and rocky shores, Lake Jenkinson is reminiscent of those coming of age movies about summer camp. Certainly the jewel of the park, the lake provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, and boating. In other words, it's a perfect spot to paddle away the day.

Divided by a narrow channel, the lake is divided into two components. The larger lower lake is home to speedboats, picnic, and campgrounds and a swimming beach, while the upper lake has an old-fashion feel being a bit narrower and much quieter due to the 5 mph speed limit that is strictly enforced.
The upper lake is home to Sly Park Paddle Rentals which offers canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards throughout the summer on weekends in the park. For the past two seasons, The River Store & Current Adventures Kayaking School & Trips has been operating the boathouse rentals.
Off to a slow start due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the boathouse opened for business in mid-June and will continue operating through the weekend thru fall.

The boathouses hours
Fridays 12am-8pm

Saturday 9am-5pm 

Sunday 9am-5pm

(During the July 4th weekend the boathouse will be extending its hours by being open 12-8 on Thursday, July 2 and 9am to 5pm on July 3, 4, 5,  and 6th)

To help you enjoy the paddling experience of Lake Jenkinson, while at Slay Park Recreation Area here are a few tips to get you on the water.

Before you go
Plan early. While Sly Park Paddle Rentals does take walk-ups, it's best to make a reservation to ensure you get the kayak, SUP or canoe you want for an hour, all day and even overnight. You can book online at Sly Park Paddle Rentals or call 530-333-9115 or email at info@CurrentAdventures.com.

Entering the park requires a day-use fee. Camping is also an additional fee and requires a reservation. You can book that through Sly Park Recreation Area.

Standup paddling boarding is extremely popular on the lake and the boards are always being rented on busy weekends. Tandem kayaks and canoes are also very popular for families to get their young children out on the water. Single kayaks are great for those who want to get out and explore while perfecting their paddling technique.
Boathouse staff recommends booking at least two hours on the water to keep having fun.

What To Bring
Sunscreen, sunglasses, snacks, and beverages (no glass containers), small ice chest(s), shoes, or sandals will make your trip more comfortable, and a COVID-19 face covering. PFDs are provided by the boathouse for both children and adults. Remember paddling even on lakes comes with inherent physical risks that can be minimized by wearing a PFD. California boating law requires every child under 13 years of age on a moving recreational vessel of any length must wear a PFD.
Also, Sly Park Paddle Rentals is implementing a few new protocols on the dock area to help keep the staff and the visitors safe and they are asking everyone to wear masks while on the dock area for everyone’s protection including our employees.

When You Are Here
Best advice, come early and stay late. The park is extremely popular on weekends and day-use quickly fills up fast. Expect a line to get in the front gate anytime after 10 AM on up to 2 PM. Beat the crowd by getting to the lake early to enjoy the best time on the lake.
Boathouse manager Nick Carlson says the lake is calm right at opening and in the evening.

"Early in the morning the wind is coming from the east, but a little after 9 it stops and the lake is like glass. It's my favorite time of the day and the best time to get on the water. Towards mid Day the wind starts up from west coming through the narrows." 

Beat the crowd all together by going on a sunset paddle on Friday evening when the boathouse is open till 8 PM. On both Fridays and Saturdays, you can rent your canoe, SUP or kayak after hours and return it the following morning. Check at Sly Park Paddle Rentals or call 530-333-9115 to check the availability of the paddle craft. What could be better than having a sunset paddle before returning to your campsite?

Parking is available at the Stonebraker Boat Launch, 2.3 miles from the park entrance. Sly Park Paddle Rentals is located near the ramp.

When You Are on The Dock
To help keep staff and visitors safe, Sly Park Paddle Rentals is asking everyone to wear a mask while on the dock to meet the State and local health requirements. Hand sanitizer is also available at the gate.

The staff will only allow one family or a group of friends on the dock at a time. Others will be asked to wait just outside the dock area until other parties left the dock to ensure safety.
You might also be asked to wait outside the dock area when groups are returning to the dock. Staff will sanitize all the equipment after each use before going out again.
Every adult has to fill out a liability waiver for themselves and their children. You can streamline this by filling out the form online when you make your reservation at Sly Park Paddle Rentals.

When on the Water
Getting on the lake is a great place to relax and have fun. Maybe take a trip up toward Sly Park Falls or just float around the narrows. However, during the current health guidelines please consider keeping a 6-foot distance between others and avoid large crowds.

If you want to go on a canoe or kayak trip at Sly Park contact:
Current Adventures Kayak School and Trips 
PHONE: 530-333-9115 or Toll-Free: 888-452-9254
FAX: 530-333-1291
USPS: Current Adventures, P.O. Box 828, Lotus, CA 95651
info@currentadventures.com
owner Dan Crandall dan@kayaking.com

We are always looking for guest bloggers to share the stories and pictures of their adventure.

Keep up with Outside Adventure to the Max, on our Facebook page and Instagram and now on Youtube.

TEN YEARS AS A PADDLER

Kayaking is my intimate relationship with water. I feel vulnerable and at the water's mercy. Sitting in a boat, only millimeters of carbon and fiberglass keeping me dry and protected, I am connected to the forces at play. I feel every ripple, every current and the slightest breezes. I am exposed to all elements and my inferiority is constantly being thrown at me.  For me, kayaking is a meditation of humility...Daniel Fox

We've all started our kayaking genesis for different reasons. For some, it's a fun and enjoyable low-impact activity, offering a great way to burn calories and tone those muscles. While others, like the camaraderie it builds on the water with other fellow enthusiasts. Others enjoy their escape into a stress-free world of relaxation and serenity of the peaceful lake. But for most, kayaking offers the ability to get closer to and interact with nature.

2010 Red River

Summer 2020, marks the tenth anniversary of my kayaking evolution. It has been an amazing journey. From Minnesota to California, I've paddled in some beautiful and amazing natural places over the years. I made some great friends, stayed in pretty good shape, and have enjoyed both the emotional and mental health benefits while on the water.
"It's my opinion," said Current Adventures Kayaking School & Trips' Dan Crandall, "That those who choose to get into kayaking are often subconsciously looking for that self-understanding and as their confidence builds, they become a better and happier version of themselves."

It feels almost like yesterday when I launched my first kayak ten springtimes ago. Minnesota offered clear and smooth rivers and lakes and plenty of sun dazzling days to begin my pilgrimage. June paddling meant exploring, camping, and family fun.

2011 Cuyuna Country

And the only reason, I can remember it so well is because that summer I began keeping a kayaking journal to keep track of my paddling experiences. throughout the day. Ever since I have chronicled every day in my life I have put a kayak in the water.

 June 16, 2010...It was a wonderful evening to nice to waste. We went on a short trip down the river to the First Avenue Bridge. It was the first day I kayaked in the sun for a long time.

June 16, 2011...After setting up camp we put in on Portsmouth Mine Lake. The weather is so calm today, hardly a breeze as we paddle across the lake. It's amazing. We saw ten loons all dancing, fishing, and calling to us out on the dark water. After the boys tired, I still needed more. I portaged over the highway and discover another endless line of lakes.

2012 lake Bemidji

June 16, 2012...The morning started out on the lake early off to the outlet for the Mississippi. Paddling is slow in the tandem. This boat is built for fun, not speed. I greeted a few loons couples along the way.




"When once a man is launched on such an adventure as this," wrote C. S. Lewis, He must bid farewell to hopes and fears, otherwise, death or deliverance will both come too late to save his honor and his reason."
Leaving my home of some 30 years behind in the midwest and loading up a van full of kayaks with my bride and heading to California was like going over a waterfall. But as Grand Canyon explorer John Wesley Powell said, "We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river to explore... Ah, well! we may conjecture many things."
It was a homecoming of sorts, to the places I had always dreamed about being. I wanted to see natural places with tranquil clear cobalt lakes and rushing wild whitewater and mountain vistas.

2013 Lake Maria State Park, Minnesota

June 16, 2013...We enjoyed the sun on our bodies and the warm temperatures of summer. We paddled around the whole lake and even into the marsh area where it's so narrow we had trouble turning around.

2014 Folsom Lake

June 17, 2014...A peaceful night on Folsom Lake. A little breeze, but not much. Not a lot of boats, meaning not a lot of waves. Some sea kayakers were practicing rolls when Debbie and I put in at Granite Bay. Some clouds in the distance over the Sierra, but clear and bright over the lake.

2015 Negro Bar

June 19, 2015...Taylor is here this week. He flew in on Tuesday and has been having fun with us. It great to paddle with him again. We unloaded at Negro Bar and paddled up to the cable. He said the walls on the canyon remind him of Duluth when we ent there to visit. The sun was bright and there was just enough of a cooling breeze.

2016 Lake Natoma

June 16, 2016...with Current Adventures as we start our Eppies Flat Water training on Lake Natoma. Kim is good spirits as he teaches the group of five a paddling refresher course. Most have paddled before and will be all taking part in the eppies Iron Man. we worked on some paddling exercises and balance.

2017 Lake Natoma

June 16, 2017...Up the canyon and back through the slough and around the bend. That's what it's about on Lake Natoma at Negro bar. It's a party place today. One guy in a kayak was playing loud music, a group of kids was jumping off the cliffs and paddle boarders were relaxing with the flow.

"Canoes, too, are unobtrusive," writer John Graves observed, "They don't storm the natural world or ride over it, but drift in upon it as a part of its own silence."
Paddling offers outdoor enthusiasts a wide range of experience. While I will always enjoy the heart-stopping exhilaration of whitewater rapids, the rush of paddling a sea kayak on a distance trek across the bay or big lake, my roots in paddling will always be with the canoe.
Like a souvenir from my childhood memories, my time on idyllic California's Lake Jenkinson will always rekindle those feelings of nostalgia while on its waters.

2018 Lake Jenkinson

June 17, 2018...Father's Day at Sly Park. I loaded up and headed to the park to work in the boat rental boathouse. Dan and Current Adventures took it over this season and business is good. It has three canoes, seven paddleboards, and a bunch of kayaks. It's all fun stuff and one of the area's most beautiful lakes.

2019 Lake Jenkinson

June 16, 2019...Father's Day at Sly Park. It was a very pleasant day with little wind coming through the narrows. As I look back on those days in Fargo, I could never ever imagine I would be working in the Sierra foothills on a lakefront as good as this. I mean who would have ever thought back then all this would lead to me. Life is funny indeed.

June 16, 2020...John and I decided to run the river last week and kept to the plan. Meet at Rossmoor, dropped off a truck, and return to Sailor Bar for a trip downriver. It's a beautiful evening for a paddle. Not too hot, Not too cold. Just right with a mild breeze and cloudless skies.

2020 The American River Parkway

As one can see, my kayaking evolution has not been solitary. It has only progressed through the continued support of my wife, family, and friends only with the paddling community.
This ten-year span is not out of the ordinary for many who call the water home with the need to push off the shore to see what is around the next bend. As the
Chinook Blessing says, "We call upon the waters that rim the earth, horizon to horizon, that flow in our rivers and streams, that fall upon our gardens and fields, and we ask that they teach us and show us the way."

We are always looking for guest bloggers to share the stories and pictures of their adventure.

Keep up with Outside Adventure to the Max, on our Facebook page and Instagram and now on Youtube.