BOATHOUSE DAYS, MY FIFTH SUMMER ON LAKE JENKINSON PART II

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability --- Sam Keen

Summertime and the livin' is easy," the popular George Gershwin song goes. On Lake Jenkinson at Sly Park Paddle Rentals, it definitely had that feeling when the blue skies and sunshine greeted me on the weekend mornings. The rains of June are soggy memory now through the end of August. It would be only sun-splashed days at the boathouse.

After 5 years, I've got my routine down, opening up my little boathouse. Make a list of reservations at home, grab the park radio at the front gate, and drive the 3 miles meandering through the park to Stonebreaker Boat Launch.
Once there, I would resemble a pack mule carrying a weekend supply of ice, food, and water down the long path to the boathouse. 

After a gulp of coffee, I would pull the stacked paddle boards out of the boathouse and line them up on the dock. Then knock a few kayaks off the dock into the water and stage an arm full of PFDS nearby.
Almost there. Next, I set up my flag and throw up my open sign that I'm ready for business.
If I was early, and usually was, I would save the flag and sign for later and enjoy a quick wake-up swim in the lake followed by breakfast with a cup of coffee.
"Morning simply isn't morning without a cup of coffee, but not just any cup will do," wrote canoeist and writer Jerry Dennis, "I want it black and strong enough to kick-start me into wakefulness."

If a Saturday or Sunday, y crew of high school kids, Walden and Noelle, jump into action outfitting the novices with PFDs and paddles.
Tandems and SUPs are the crafts of choice on these hot summer days. Canoes are still very popular for families with small children. Want to paddle on your own? Check out a single kayak.
While anyone can walk up and get a boat, reservations are encouraged. Since they have already paid for the rental and filled out the waiver, they are in the express lane to the water.

  

     
Friday, July 8...Busy start to my day. Dan and I had Great American Triathlon Training last night. We did the whole course. Afterward, I had to bring some boats up to Sly with me because our paddlers wanted to try them out on the lake. I suggested they come up to Sly Park. So, here I am, unloading two sit-inside kayaks. I dropped them off at the boat ramp and floated them over, thinking that the way winds work, they would be pushed over the rest of the way to the boathouse. It didn't happen, and I ended up swimming them over the rest of the way.
The water is very swimmable now. It's clear and refreshing. When I jumped in, there, of course, was a little shock of cold, but it quickly subsided as I swam toward the boats.
Last month I would have paddled them over but being so warm out, it's the only way to go.
All is well for Friday. I brought a good lunch and even dropped off some cookies at the front gate for the staff. Just a random act of kindness. It made his day. He was really hungry. 

Saturday, July 9...By far one of our busiest days of the season. It was a tandem day as every one of them went out. Some even went twice and three times.

The weather was perfect, with light winds and clear blue skies.
The only drawback was the lake was dropping. Our gangplank was even with the last cement block of our sidewalk. It won't be long till it's dirt.
The night before, I took a paddle and hike up to the falls just to see them flowing. I haven't been able to paddle to the bridge for a few years now. I have to remind myself over and over again of what it used to look like with water. Each year I say, hopefully, next season, we will have more water.
I'm so grateful that this view of Middle Earth did not burn up in last year's fire. It was so so close.
Sunday, July 10...We have a few reservations. But most of them haven't shown up yet. Some folks are like that. They'll rush to get here and run behind. When they get here. I tell them to take it slow and relax, you're at the lake now. 

“Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn,
 J.K. Rowling

We had a few days in the middle of July that was more than a little upsetting for me. Our boathouse and dock are an easy target for someone when it is unattended. Even with the gate securely locked, I've found muddy footprints, beer cans, and tangled fishing lines left behind on the dock. And while usually, the park brings in some great patrons, we did end up with the door kicked in this year, some boats taken on a joy ride, and on another night had a paddle board stolen off the deck. I would try to keep a look out for it for the rest of the summer.

In the meantime, it was always a great way to start the day with either; a quick swim, a canoe ride, or both before opening up. And at the end of the day, I would always paddle my kayak. Sometimes I would stay in the comfort of the upper lake by paddling up the creek or across the way from the boathouse to the wind-protected bay, while other times, I would head out across the big lake and round the island on the far west end. When there is enough water, it is two islands, but with the lake dropping every week, it has become one large one. It can be pretty bumping out there as I crash through the waves of motorboats. But the setting sun always makes the water glisten in gold. Coming through the narrows in the twilight, the water was very still and quiet.

 

 

I send all sorts of people away in boats. There are big people, small people, men, women, and kids. Some have paddled before, and some have never stepped into a canoe or kayak in their entire life. And yes, I think that is a little alarming when I think about it since I'm about to send them out onto the lake.
Good luck, I tell them. I hope you have fun. See you in an hour, and glad you signed the waiver.
My rescues are few. Most of the time, they come back safe sound, saying they had a great time. Sometimes they come back soaked to the skin, but they still say they had a great time.

 

Friday, July 15...Greeted today with a busted-in door and a missing kayak. What a way to disrupt my morning. 

Saturday, July 16...An eventful day yesterday with our door getting bashed in and a kayak pirated away. But we got it back, and the ranger came and fixed the door. The first one didn't work. Since I didn't want him to carry them up the hill, I stacked them on canoes and paddled them to Stonebreaker. 

Sunday, July 17...The start of another disappointing day as one of our SUPS was stolen last night. Thinking someone took it for a joy ride, I search and search along the lake shore early this morning with no luck.

Friday, July 22...A much better way to start the day at Sly Park. Quiet and uneventful. No break-ins, nothing stolen, just peace and quiet. 

After opening, I took a canoe out on the morning's breathless waters floating along, listening to the sounds of the forest. The swish of my paddle, the buzz of bugs, and the caw of crows.

Friday, July 29...SUP paddling is certainly all the rage right now. Here at the lake, I'm seeing more and more of them. Mostly inflatables, made with hard materials but easy to store and transport. They fit in the closet as well as in the trunk of a car. It's getting common to see folks pumping their SUPS up either by hand or with an electric pump either in the parking lot or right at the lake access, hooked up to a car battery. The sound of their electric pump's hums over the water. 

There are generally two types of paddlers for them. The first is there for a power paddle workout going from one end of the lake to another. The others are there as social paddlers more interested in rafting up in groups of 2 to 20, never leaving sight of the boat access.

Sunday, July 31...The lake is going down. It dropped, even more, this week. I had to start building a trail again.

Sunday, August 7...Quiet start to my day. The sign at the gate says the lake is 74% percent, but it seems to have dropped more overnight. The boathouse and dock keep sinking further and further into the lake. No telling what it will be in two weeks. But summers are like that now in the foothills.

Friday, August 19...Like always, the lake has dropped. Had to extend my little foot trail to the gangplank another six feet. Who knew that running a boathouse would involve trail building.

Not a cloud in the sky right now, and it's hot! I'm hoping for a breeze soon. It will be easy to cook my burritos by wrapping them in tin foil and laying them on the deck.

Later, I thought their tandem with two dogs was a little overloaded. They opted for a tandem boat. They had told me they rolled a canoe years before. Too bad they had the same result today. Not 100 yards from the boathouse. But I was quick to rescue everyone. I paddled out in a canoe telling everyone in a calm voice that they were all ok. I gathered up their dogs first. Then told the woman to swim toward shore while the gentleman needed a little help. I had him wrap his legs around the bow of the canoe and paddled him to shore. 

The rangers came, but it was all ok. We got everyone out of the water to shore. The PFDs worked like they were supposed to, giving us all a happy ending. I think they were both a bit embarrassed by all the fuss. But it all ends well.

It's a long goodbye to summer once the calendar rolls mid-August. The season that brought us warm nights, canoe camping adventures, and, of course, my great boathouse tan is quickly fading away.
While it's still scorching hot outside, the season is a time for folks to get back to normal. School is starting. There are games and activities to go to, and the trip to the lake is a summer vacation memory.

For the last few seasons, the path to the boathouse gets longer and longer as Lake Jenkinson shrinks and the boathouse and dock sink into the lake valley. The sidewalk leading to the dock dropped off sometime in July. Leaving me to continuously fashion a trail the rest of the way to the gangplank.

The lake was still a treasure for me. Morning swims, Paddleboard floats and ending every evening on the water with a kayaking experience taking out across the lake left.
At the boathouse, I found you have to be ready for anything, from a person forgetting their paddle at home, a canoe drifting away, or a boater's family being marooned on the other side of the lake, and another wildfire.

Sunday, August 21...The season is going fast now. School is starting, and folks are not thinking about coming to the lake. Yesterday was a busy day. Folks mostly wanted to rent SUPS.
I did have another boat rescue which is actually that. The boater could make it back from Stonebreaker access due to the fetch. So, I swam over and paddled it back.

 

Friday, August 26... It's the last weekend in August for paddling. We only have a few weekends left. But hey, last year, we had already been shut for a week due to the Caldor Fire and would never open again that season.
The lake looks great, considering what it looked like last year. It's at 69%, and the waterfall is still flowing into the lake. We'll take it.

Saturday, August 27...At close last night I paddled with Rob back to the main boat launch. He paddled with us at Current Adventures and raced during the Great American Triathlon. He often paddles here at Sly early mornings from one end of the lake to another and back. I met him on his return leg and paddled back with him.

Sunday, August 28... A sleepy start to the day. I did rescue a paddler who forgot his paddle.
Again, last night, I paddled to the other end of the lake. There was not a lot of boat traffic. It was nice not to battle their waves.
On the other hand, Stonebreaker has been busy this morning with the crew after crew unloading their SUPs and kayaks. A lot of folks with their own gear in this post-pandemic world.

 

Friday, September 2...It's going to be super-hot this weekend. Temperatures in the valley will be well over 100 degrees. It's even too warm up here. Escaping the heat is going to be a good plan for the day.
I dropped off a kayak and floated it over to the boathouse. Luckily, I still had to swim for it. It was the best part of my day.

Saturday, September 3... I did paddle up into what is left of Sly Park Creek yesterday. There is no backwater there anymore. Only a narrow bar of sediment about 6 feet tall between the stream and the lake. The upper end of the lake is dry indeed. 

Sunday, September 4...I started the day by giving her a canoe ride to Stonebreaker. She had rented kayaks for her kids and needed a ride to her kayak waiting for her. It was an easy trek, unlike last night when I had to paddle across and rescue a family.
I was just closing when a guy came up and said his boat had conked out and wouldn't start, and he couldn't get to his family on the other side of the lake. I called the rangers, but he said the boat patrol was off the water. So, I told him I would go get them in our canoes.
I lashed two canoes together and crossed the lake. I said, "I'm your Uber," once I reached the other side. They had lots of kids and lots of gear. I piled their cooler, tent, and kids into one canoe and tied on a water toy with two others on it. Then loaded the other boat with the other folks and told them to head to Stonebreaker.
We paddled across all the way laughing all the way. It was a great adventure for them all to be rescued by canoe. Dad was thankful and handed me a wad of wet cash. An unexpected way to end the day on the lake.

Monday, September 5...Labor Day. I can't believe the summer season is already over. It's not over in the temperature department. It's sizzling out there.

Friday, September 9...Well, I thought we would escape the fire season, but we didn't. Another one burns near Forest Hill. Last night my wife and I saw the smoke and glow of the fire from our Placerville home. It's too close for comfort.
I was greeted with heavy smokey skies this morning hanging over the lake. The park is quiet. The smoke will be keeping the folks away. It's too bad. It's great to paddle into the fall season, but not enough water and now smoke make it bad for business.

Saturday, September 10...Better day than before. Just a bit of haze on the lake. The sun was a glowing ball of orange rising over the lake. I have several reservations, but who knows who will show up.

Sunday, September 11...I'm seeing ash particles on the kayak seats, and I can't even see the trees across the lake. It's time to call it a day.

 

Saturday, September 17...Well, it's a wrap for the boathouse this season. I came to the lake to clean out the boathouse. Yesterday it was just too smokey. Today it's super windy, and tomorrow it is supposed to rain. So, we are calling it a season. 
I loaded all the kayak seats, PFDs, and paddles into a canoe and made four trips back and forth to Stonebreaker. Certainly, would have liked to end the summer on a high note. We will hope for better days to come.

The end of summertime is accompanied by a bit of sadness. However, this season has brought some great memories. I look back at those moments with gratitude. 

Thanks to Dan Crandall, the staff at The River Store, and all the rangers and park staff who helped us keep afloat during the season. Most of all, I'd like to thank our amazing customers for their patronage in making the long walk down the hill to our boathouse. 

We'll see you all next spring. 

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
 

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

BOATHOUSE DAYS, MY FIFTH SUMMER ON LAKE JENKINSON PART I

May the light that reflects on water be this wild prayer. May water lift us with its unexpected strength. May we find comfort in the "repeated refrains of nature," the softly sheltering snow, the changing seasons, the return of blackbirds to the marsh. May we find strength in light that pours in under snow and laughter that breaks through tears. May we go out into the light-filled snow, among meadows in bloom, with gratitude for life that is deep and alive. May Earth's fire burn in our hearts, and may we know ourselves part of this flame--one thing, never alone, never weary of life. ---Kathleen Dean Moore

It's been 5 years since I started working lakeside at the boathouse on Lake Jenkinson, renting out kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards to anyone who wanted to come out and paddle the lake. I have weathered a few storms, seen a lifetime of sunny days, and had way too many smokey days. I've seen enough water in the lake to paddle almost right up to the park's waterfall, and I have grimaced after seeing the lake level drop and drop and drop during these last few years of drought.

 

This year, I was happy to be back on the water at Sly Park Recreation Area's picturesque upper part of Lake Jenkinson near Pollock Pines, California, to start the season again at Sly Park Paddle Rentals. We had been unceremoniously closed in August of 2021 when the Caldor Fire raged nearby, forced evacuations, and closed the park for the rest of our summer.
When I opened the boathouse last May, I had high hopes for the season. And why not? The lake was sitting at 81% percent, Sly Park Falls was flowing strong, and I even had to bail out four nearly sunk canoes filled with rainwater after several inches of rainfall. Let's just say canoes make great rain gages.
Cool and cloudy mornings might not have been great for kayak rentals, but they allowed me to get everything for the upcoming season, while late evening paddles around the lake gave me a chance to get reacquainted with favorite spots at the lake.

Sunday, May 22...We are back on the lake today, open for business! It was a slow start with only a few reservations, but I took advantage of my time in the morning to clean up the boathouse and put everything in order. Also, later on, I bought down a boat from the parking lot along with a bunch of kids' PFDs. We will be needing more PFDs for adults, however.
The lake looks great to start the season. It is sitting at 81%. I also hear the waterfall is back, which is great for our paddling guests. I'll have to go up there and check it out next weekend when I'm here again.  

Friday, May 27...Well, we're kicking off summer and the Memorial Day weekend. It's a cool morning with a haze of clouds overhead. I brought up some adult PFDs and another boat today. The Ride Pescadores are very popular with my renting customers because they are so stable.
Last Sunday, I took a paddle up to the waterfall, or at least I tried to get there. The lake is 81% percent. While that's nice, it's not nearly full as it should be. A red bathtub ring borders the water and trees. I paddled past the buoys holding back fire debris but couldn't get much further. Sly Park Creek was a rocky rushing stream of water. So, I had to hike up the trail the rest of the way. Winding through the trees, I got a good view of Sly Park Creek as I walked to the waterfall. Past the bridge, I could hear the rumbling along with a group of men laughing and talking while standing under the fall. Knowing how cold it was, I wondered how anyone could stand to submerge themselves in the falls. Yikes! It's cold.
The water poured over the falls in white coursing foam. It thundered down, making the ground rumble. It's always very cool to see. The last time I was here, it was barely a trickle. But now, the jewel of the park glitters again. At least for now.

 

Sunday, May 29...At least the sun is shining today. I didn't see it much yesterday. The wind blew and blew so much. I was surprised anyone would want to go out on the lake. It was also really cold.
Today is a bit warmer and spotty with cloud cover, and the wind has already picked up from the west. The boats are rocking back and forth, and the dock is being pushed around.

Monday, May 30...Memorial Day. Quiet morning on the lake. Got up here early from my new house to get on the water for some canoe time. The lake was a glassy plane. It was like a mirror. No other boats, no loud noises, only stillness, and silence.
Took my breakfast out with me and coffee out in the middle of the lake, just floating along before we opened up. A pretty good way to start my day on the water.

The rains kept coming in June for two Sundays in a row. At first, the rains came down gently on the boathouse roof, before turning into a steady drumbeating downpour. As the deluge continued, water poured into the lake from all sides. Water flushed down the hill behind the boathouse. The soothing sound of millions of raindrops splashing into the lake filled the air. 

"How much good the rain would do, how fresh the water in every stream, how flowers would pop with the sun, the Linnaea, the anemones, the dogwood and everything else along the trails," wrote Sigurd Olson, while witnessing a similar spring rain. "The ferns on the rocks would begin to grow again, and the silvery caribou moss would be soft and resilient with just a tinge of green."
While the rain certainly took away any fire threat. But dampened the kayak rentals for the day. Only the hardiest of paddlers show up to paddle in the rain. So, after shutting down, I went out to kayak in the storm. The rain beat down on my face. The wind created swells across the water lake. An adventure for sure. Why not? Paddling in the rain can be a rejuvenating experience.

Friday, June 3...Very still and quiet morning. Bully the Bullfrog is making the only racket with croak, croak, croak.
Saturday, June 4...Rain on the windshield and sprinkles on the lake to start off the morning here at Sly. The weather hasn't been too kind to us starting this season. Calm winds, mostly, out of the east, which is a nice change.
  

Sunday, June 5...The day started with light sprinkles and turned into a real soaker at the boathouse. No idea if anyone will show up. It's pretty soggy out there. Even the fishermen are heading back in. On the bright side, there is no fire threat today, and the lake needs as much water as it can get.
By midday, it rained and rained and continued to rain. I had to dump out the canoes because they make for giant rain gauges.

June 10...I got a lot of minnows under the dock today. They swim less than a foot below the surface of the water. I don't remember ever seeing this many before. They swim underneath as the one bigger bass lurks even further below. It's not Roger, he much bigger. I have seen him a couple of times so far this year.
My other company this year is like always, the Candian Geese that don't migrate, and of course, there are plenty of ducks with their little brews swimming behind in a line. I haven't seen the eagles much this season. One did zoom by last week in the rainstorm, but so far, they haven't been hanging around this side of the lake much this year. I would love to see them up here on this side of the lake.

Saturday, June 11...I paddled out to the narrows and back down to Sly Park Creek just to hear its rumble. Then, I went back to the boathouse, where I watched a guy fishing roll his kayak. The fish, I'm sure, were laughing.

 

Sunday, June 12...Another rainy day at the boathouse. It looks like another soaker. It's welcome. But not good for the kayaking business. We need timely rains Monday through Thursday and bright skies all week.
I watched it fall from inside the boathouse. Only one reservation showed up, and I don't know why, but they paddled out into the storm on the lake and came back thrilled to be part of it.
When it was my turn out on the lake, it was still stormy and breezy. The rain pelted my face and waves broke over my bow, and the wind pushed me around. But I loved it. It was an exciting feeling to take on the storm. I was dressed for it, which always makes the biggest difference. I laughed at the rain.

From Father's Day to the Fourth of July brought in the summertime weather I was used to having on the lake. It brought a steady stream of paddlers to the boathouse. With an increase in business, I even got a few helpers from The River Store to help me on the dock. 

Safety is always our biggest concern. Yet every year, we have a few mishaps on the water. Some untimely dunking due to some paddling errors. What do you call people who stand up in a canoe? Why swimmers, of course. It doesn't happen very often. The crazy thing about it is they come back to the dock wet, sunburned, exhausted, and all smiles. No doubt about paddling is a fun way to spend the day.
I liked coming in early and leaving late to get my own time on the water. Because any time in a canoe is a good time. The morning might start with a swim and then some coffee on the dock.
My evenings would end with a kayak paddle around the lake. I would go to the far west end to see the mountains over the trees. I always wish I had that view. Then back to the quiet of the upper part of the lake. Most would consider paddling the lake after spending the day renting kayaks a little exhausting, but I can think of any other way to end my day.

Sunday, June 19...Father's Day. It's a bright beautiful day on the water. It's the first time in two weeks that it has not been raining or storming.

 

Saturday, June 24...Clear skies mean a busy day at the boathouse. Catherine came again up from The River Store today to help me out. She is a nice older gal who is set on helping out.
We had an exciting Friday yesterday when a bunch of guys spilled their canoe right in front of the dock. I had to jump in and pull it to shore, along with telling the guys to swim to our ladder. They were all laughing and were in good spirits about the whole ordeal. But I think, they were pretty bummed about losing a computer and camera to water damage. Who brings those things on a canoe? I felt a bit sorry for them and tossed in a free kayak rental because they were such good sports about it all.
The rest of that day was pretty relaxing. I took Catherine on a canoe ride up to Sly Park Creek and the falls, which is a favorite of mine. She had never been there before, so it was a nice treat for her and a good way to end the day.

Sunday, June 25...The lake is very swimmable now. The water feels good and refreshing. The lake traffic picked up today because with being so hot. The most popular craft on the water is the SUP at least that is what my reservations are made up of.

 

Friday, July 1...A nice and very hot day. Perfect for a day at the lake. It was such a good day. We welcomed two River Store and Catherine for the day. It's a training day. We will be opening up a boathouse on Lake Natoma soon. I'm sure these guys might be a part of that.
They were all good workers today. We had a steady line of business. Tomorrow will be very busy.
Another issue was our dock kept blowing out of place. The Ranger's patrol boat had to help put it back in place the first time. Next time I had to jump in and push it back in place. It is going to be an ongoing struggle all season for me and the rangers to keep the darn thing in place.

Monday, July 4...Independence Day. The lake is dropping on this holiday weekend. That is how it seems to be in Californian in these times of drought. The bathtub ring of the lake between the trees, and the water is getting larger by the week. The rangers say they hope it stays around 80% all season which certainly would be better than last year. It was a bit of a slow afternoon. It seemed everyone wanted to go home and see fireworks.

There was still plenty of summertime left after the Fourth of July. In the summer heat, Lake Jenkinson was a perfect escape for those looking for some good clean fun with or without reservations.

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
 

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

A WEEK IN THE SIERRA PART II

By far the greatest of all these ranges is the Sierra Nevada, a long and massive uplift lying between the arid deserts of the Great Basin and the Californian exuberance of grain-field and orchard; its eastern slope, a defiant wall of rock plunging abruptly down to the plain; the western, a long, grand sweep. Well-watered and overgrown with cool, stately forests; its crest a line of sharp, snowy peaks springing into the sky and catching the alpenglow long after the sun has set for all the rest of America. --- Clarence King

Each morning I'd peel open my tent fly and look out over the stillness of Pleasant Lake. I was at the far end of the peninsula on a flat spot, a stone's throw from a small cove less than a hundred yards wide. It was an easy swim back and forth, that I had done the day before. On the other side, a granite white and grey wall rise out of the water. The fissures and cracks in it made it look like a high-rise apartment. Its mirrored reflection in the water doubled its size. In the shadows of the morning, the wall appeared to glow.
The sun hadn't peaked over the ridge of Sierra just yet. The moon was fading into the western skies. My tent inhaled the cool dawn air as I climbed out of the tangle of my sleeping bags and put on my pullover and stocking hat.
I had the same feeling that naturalist John Muir described best on a July day in his book My First Summer in the Sierra, "Exhilarated with the mountain air, I feel like shouting this morning with excess of wild animal joy."
 

Paddling Pleasant Lake

It's a bit too early for shouting. Whispers were more in order, as I zigzagged through the brush and the hardier little Sierra Junipers trees and leaping sagebrush lizards to our Bayside Adventure Sports campsite. Where I found John Taylor already boiling a kettle of water. Nothing better to start the day than with a little pore over coffee. We've been bringing these faith-based groups from Bayside Adventure Sports for a week of outback camping to Loon Lake in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area for five years. As Muir put it so elegantly and simply, "And into the forest, I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” Our participants always return to the flatlands, refreshed and recharged.

Paddling along the granite shore of the lake

Throughout the week, during morning and sunset paddles on the upper part of Pleasant Lake, we'd explore the narrow coves, bays, and polished granite formations. Paddling here, one can see the mountains' history, through the stories left behind in the rock.

When Padre Pedro Font named the Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1776, they had already been around for a long, long time. The ice- and snow-covered sharp saw-bladed peaks, the Spanish padre, saw had begun forming under the ocean about 100 million years ago. Beneath the surface of the earth, the granitic rocks formed from molten rock that gradually solidified. Powerful geological forces then gradually forced the landmass up under the waters of the Pacific Ocean and below an advancing North American continent. As a result, plumes of plutonic rock were pushed up towards the surface, and sheets of lava poured down the slopes of volcanic chimneys rising to the surface.

 
  

Exploring the many coves of the lake

About 50 million later, the volcanoes were extinct. The erosive agents like wind, rain, and frost ate away the softer sediments exposing the salt-and-pepper speckled Granitic rocks containing minerals including quartz, feldspars, and micas.

As the world grew colder, beginning about 2 or 3 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada mountains were coated with an extensive thick mantle of ice. It covered much of the higher altitudes and sent massive ice-crawling glaciers down its valleys. The glacial ice quarried loosed and transported vast volumes of rubble along the way, scouring and transforming the landscape that we see today.

Paddling by the polish white granite boulders, it's easy to see the evidence of the path of the last glacier. Deep grooves are carved into the rock, and erratic and huge slabs of rock are left behind and out of place in a natural balancing act. To our delight, flat smooth polished boulders at the water's edge are perfect for sunbathing and drying off on a hot day after jumping into the cool lake.
 

At sunset the mountains of the Sierra glow red 

Only the bravest trees succeed in the summit crags along the lake, despite struggling against the wind and snow. We see the Sierra junipers growing on tops and ridges and in the splits between the glacier pavements of granite. Muir called them a sturdy highlander, "Seemingly content to live for more than a score of centuries on sunshine and snow...Surely the most enduring of all the tree mountaineers, it never seems to die a natural death."
Nestled in these trees and granite walls of the Sierra are these man-made reservoirs like Loon Lake and Pleasant Lake. After years of construction, they are part of the mountain landscape. These once meadows, canyons, and riverbeds are now glimmering lakes ready to explore and make part of a new history.

On our evening trek around the lake, we were able to paddle into a picturesque pond filled with blooming water lilies protected by steep walls on all three sides. It was only because the water level was still higher than normal this time of year that we were able to see the beautiful yellow flowers in all their glory in our kayaks.

  

A hidden coves reveals blooming water lilies

We paddled back to our camp in the twilight. The sky was ablaze with brilliant golden skies and orange-tinted mountains.
Back at camp, we lay on our backs staring up at the star-filled sky just as Muir did over a century ago. "How hard to realize that every camp of men or beast has this glorious starry firmament for a roof! In such places standing alone on the mountain-top, it is easy to realize that whatever special nests we make leaves and moss-like the marmots and birds, or tents or piled stone," wrote Muir, " " We all dwell in a house of one room – the world with the firmament for its roof and are sailing the celestial spaces without leaving any track.”

At 6,378 feet, we had no trouble seeing the heavens. We were dazzled by the Starlink satellites, a moving train of bright dots traveling across the sky. Blown away by an amazing streaking meteor that burned across the sky, from horizon to horizon, and later overwhelmed by the full moon rising over the silhouetted mountain top. In my tent, I looked over the lake as moonbeams glimmered off the still water before pulling down the fly. In the distant coyotes howling at the moon, I'm sure, with pure wild animal joy.

 

A beautiful sunset ends the day on Pleasant Lake

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A WEEK IN THE SIERRA PART I

I should be content forever. Bathed in such beauty, watching the expressions ever varying on the faces of the mountains, watching the stars, which here have a glory that the lowlander never dreams of, watching the circling seasons, listening to the songs of the water and winds and birds, would be endless pleasure.  John Muir

In 1868 a 30-year-old student of geology and botany with a deep affection for the natural world around him inspired by the likes of Emerson and Thoreau wandered into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He wasn't the first by far. Native Americans, explorers, and fortune hunters had been traveling throughout the narrow range in California's mountains for centuries. He would spend much of the next ten years exploring those mountains. He recorded his thoughts on his beloved mountains in journals publishing nearly 100 essays and articles for newspapers and magazines. His passion for the wilderness would inspire the creation of Yosemite National Park, found the Sierra Club, and set off a worldwide environmental movement that continues to this day. 

Getting ready to paddle Loon Lake

 John Muir is one of California’s most important historical personalities. The famous naturalist is synonymous with Sierra Nevada Mountains. Trails, wilderness areas, schools, parks, roads, and monuments, bare his name. A prolific writer, Muir's words describing still echo from the mountain tops,
"The Mountains are calling, and I must go," is one of his most famous quotes. It's a powerful call that many can relate to. It's the simple notion of the need to be outside, away from the confines of the world, enjoying the calm and splendor of nature.

At least, that is what I had in mind when I brought groups from Bayside Adventure Sports up for a week of outback camping to Loon Lake in the Crystal Basin Recreation Area. The mountains are calling. But throw in high a Sierra pristine blue lake, textured granite shores, starry nights, and awe-inspiring views, it's a perfect venue for kayak camping, offering a Muir-like setting for solitude and tranquility.
Sitting about 100 feet higher than Lake Tahoe at 6,378 feet, Loon Lake is nestled on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the Eldorado National Forest. It's not as large as Lake Tahoe, covering some 600 acres, and is about 5 miles long from end to end. Before the dam blocking Gerle Creek was completed back in the 1960s, a narrow ridge at the bend separated Loon Lake from its sister Pleasant Lake but the one now in the shape of an upside-down boot. The lake can easily be paddled in a day. It's even better for an extended along the lake shore camping trip.
 

Rounding the elbow of the two lakes

Just getting here has been a bit challenging. But we're in a wild place now. I reminded the people coming with me to put their phones on airplane mode while loading up at the south access. They wouldn't be finding any bars on their phone anywhere. There are no amenities at all. The nearest store is about 20 miles away. One would have to go further to find any gas or services. When you come to Loon Lake, it's because, you really want to be here and escape everything else.

It was still early in the day. Gentle swells bounded over the lake when we all got on the water. It's common in the afternoon for the fetch to pick up with southwesterly winds creating tiring and dicey waves at the far east end of the lake. Going out is great with the wind at one's back. Coming back, however, can be challenging in the wind-prone choppy waters.

 

John Taylor and a loaded canoe

Aiming for the far mountains to the east, I point out Brown Mountain south of the lake to my group of paddlers. I told them that when I first started coming there with Current Adventures, it always had snow on its top. I could remember feeling excited about being able to kayak with snowcapped mountains in view in August. However, in the last couple of years, the snow is no more. Drought and heat have made it tough on the year around the beauty of the mountains. Scientists warn someday, there might not be any snow in the Sierra as things warm up.

An early advocate for the preservation of wilderness, Muir did his best to hold off reckless exploitation of our natural resources by loggers, miners, am builders. He referred to the wilderness as "places for rest, inspiration, and prayers." He never had to think about global warming and climatic change back. Back then, the world was setting the stage for global warming as industrial nations were just beginning to ramp up the use of fossil fuels at the expense of our atmosphere. It's people now like Greta Thunberg who taking up Muir's fight not just for the wilderness but for the future of the planet.

The lake is really high this year. So high we would be able to get into coves and bays, I've never been able to explore by kayak. Usually, they are high and dry this time of year. We paddle toward the Buck Island Lake Tunnel, a four-mile underground aqueduct starting at Lake Buck Horn and ending at Loon Lake. It's part of the Upper American River Project bringing water and hydroelectric power to the valley.

It's a massive tunnel that I've seen at all stages of the lake's levels. I've paddled in it before using a headlamp for light to guide myself along the cavernous way. One extremely dry year, I climbed up to it and walked into the darkness of the tunnel big enough for a railroad locomotive. And like I said, with the lake this high, the entrance is only marked by the tunnel's warning sign, everything else is underwater.

Finally, the wind and waves come to end after getting around the lake's elbow as we paddled into the calmer and protected Pleasant Lake section of the lake. It lives up to its name after paddling along the wind-prone Loon. The water turns placid and quiet, and time here begins to slow.
 

Brown Mountain and Pleasant Lake

"Another glorious Sierra day in which one seems to be dissolved and absorbed and sent pulsing onward we know not where. Life seems neither long nor short, and we take no more heed to save time or make haste than do the trees and stars. This is true freedom." wrote Muir in My First Summer in the Sierra.

Our camping site is in view now. A great spot adjacent to the boat-in camping sites. A cove to land our kayaks and canoes, plenty of space to set our tents, and gorgeous scenery in all directions of the lake, forests, mountains, skies, and fresh air surrounding us.

Muir said, "Going to the mountains is going home.”
As we beach the boats with Muir like exhilaration, I say this will be our home for the next week. I would be looking forward to every day, if not every minute of my week in the Sierra.

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OVER THE BOW: LAKE JENKINSON

As the nation’s largest reservoir continues to dip to record low levels amid a worsening drought, Lake Mead’s receding waters are revealing a series grim of discoveries. Park rangers responded to reports of human skeletal remains uncovered at the lake's Swim Beach.

Located 20 miles east of Las Vegas, Lake Mead is formed by the Hoover Dam. The water source for millions of people, when full, it holds more water than any other reservoir in the United States. However, as the Western United States is plagued by an ongoing drought, the lake levels have fallen to historic lows.

Earlier this month, for the first time, Lake Mead was designated to operate in a Tier-2a shortage, which increased water restrictions for Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico. 

As Lake Mead dries up, it's revealing some historic and often grisly discoveries. According to MSN, four human bodies have been discovered in the lake. A set of human remains was discovered in a barrel that police believe belongs to the victim of a mob-related shooting.

Local resident Steve Schafer and the owner of environmental services company Earth Resource Group, which is working to uncover the bodies, think there will be many more.

"There are a lot of bodies which have still not been found at the bottom of Lake Mead. Most are just legitimately drowning victims. But, I'm sure there are some nefarious ones out there like the news is reporting and the [body in the] barrel. I'm sure there are going to be more," Schafer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Last season, Lake Jenkinson shrank to near record levels. While there were no grim uncovering's, outside the ancient tree stumps, fishing lures, and one long-lost paddle board paddle found near the boathouse of Sly Park Paddle Rentals, with each passing week, the lake's bottom became more exposed. 

The lake is nestled in the El Dorado National Forest south of Pollack Pines, California. When full covers some 650 acres. Water from Jenkinson Lake is used for municipal water supply, irrigation, and recreation. And like Lake Mead, as the area develops and the population grows, municipal and commercial water has increased. So as Northern California suffers through the year of drought, the lake's water levels are severally impacted.  

 

One year ago, the world watched as the Caldor Fire ignited in the Sierra Nevada foothills and burned up communities and landscapes in its path all the way to the rocky crest of the mountains of the southern shores of Lake Tahoe. Little did we know that the fire would abruptly end our season at the boathouse in mid-August and shut down Sly Park Recreation for next month. Instead of boats, canoes, and paddleboards on the water, fire trucks and helicopters were filling up with Jenkinson's lake water to battle the nearby fire. 

By the time I was able to return in late September to sweep away the ash and remove our paddling gear for winter storage, the water level had dropped ten feet and was just above 50% of its capacity. The boathouse and the dock had sunk deep into the lake, resembling a narrow river canyon. The lake's extended shoreline looked more like the surface of Mars with its dry red rubble bathtub ring wedged in between the water and trees lining the lake. The sidewalk leading to the gangway of the dock had come to an abrupt end during the middle of our season.  Now even the trail I had constructed had fallen short. 

Like an unlocked time capsule, the kayaks, and canoes were undamaged right where I left them the month and a half before. The only evidence that I had away was a layer of ash coating their hulls. Inside the boathouse, more ash-covered SUPs and paddles, a stack of unused waivers, and my left-behind coffee mug, to name a few. I only could stay for a while. I swept out the ash and gathered all the paddles to take out of the boathouse till next year.   

Last year's winter storms would yield much-needed moisture to help rebound the lake for much of our season. According to the Mountain Democrat, late spring conditions enabled the El Dorado Irrigation District to fill all its alpine reservoirs. Jenkinson Lake is 73% full, holding 29,970 acre-feet of water out of a maximum of 41,033. The lake is still receiving 14 acre-feet daily inflow from Camp Creek, and Sly Park Falls has stayed flowing much of the season.

That's good news for us at Sly Park Paddle Rentals as we head into September. 

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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SEASON OF THE CANOE

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--sailboats, or rainy green mornings in foreign places, or a grazing herd, or the ruins of old monasteries in the mountains. . . . Chances for being quiet nowadays are limited. ---   John Graves

It's not my first time across the lake. And it certainly isn't going to be the last time. Especially since I've been working at the kayak and canoe rental boathouse on Lake Jenkinson at Sly Park Recreation Area for the past five seasons. I'm used to it now. I remember when the lake was at bubbly high a few years and a dwindling low like last season. This year, I'm crossing my fingers in hopes the lake doesn't get any lower. But the long-running drought is doing any lake in California any favors. It has been the same for these past couple of seasons where I start with high hopes and watch as the lake shrinks in size by midsummer.

In the middle of the upper lake, just in view of the boathouse. From here, I can paddle out and look at the whole lake. In the west are the narrows and the large bowl of the lower lake. It's where the speed boats zoom along like on a racetrack. To my east, the mouths of Hazel Creek and Sly Park Creek with an extended rust-colored shoreline pinched in between. There is no mountain view like at the far west of the lake, where one can peer out over the whole lake and, on a clear day, see the Sierra Nevada Mountain range rising over the pines. I'm a bit jealous of that view. The lake's conifer wooded shoreline and glistening waters are my vista.

Although canoes are primarily used for transportation on lakes and streams, I'm not going anywhere as I shatter the stillness of the water's surface. I'm simply paddling for the enjoyment of paddling. Writer Jerry Dennis says that paddling makes you part of the lake, a willing participant instead of an intruder to the pastel dramas of the lake.

"A good canoe does not merely travel across a lake or river," writes Dennis, "It glides along the interface between water and the air, making hardly a ripple in passing, and is so silent that it blends with the world."

Out the lake, the canoe is timeless. It's amazing how much inspiration and direction we can learn from paddling a canoe. While floating along in the stillness, my mind wanders on how the canoe has become a proverbial direction for navigating the smooth and rough waters of one's life. How often have we heard the phrase "Paddle your own canoe?" It suggests how you paddle the canoe is all very relatable to life.
For me, it inspires a sense of unbounded range and freedom. Like my bicycle, while growing up, it was a craft that offered me unlimited movement and exploration. For others, it can rekindle a memory of carefree days gone by. When boarding my customers at the boathouse in a canoe, I've heard them say they haven't paddled one of these since summer camp.
Canoeing in summer is a rite of passage. No one will schedule a canoe trip in the winter. Not that you can't. It's just not done very often. You see, canoes are meant to be kissed by the rising or setting sun when the waters swirl in gold and red. A vessel for cruising lakes and exploring bays where you can sneak quietly on birds, deer, and beaver for an unexpected encounter. A boat for finding a secluded spot for a picnic or swim where all you hear is the whispers of your paddle gliding through the water.

The lake glistened in a golden evening glow as the setting sun silhouetted the castle of pines around me. Dipping my paddle, I inhale the view of tranquility in both its sight and sound. Across the lake, some stand-up paddle boarders, the new rage, were making their way back to the access, reminding the way the days of the canoe are fading. However, the magic summertime canoe paddle certainly, won't ever be forgotten.

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

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BACK ON THE WATER: 2022 GREAT AMERICAN TRIATHLON TRAINING

The peaceful evening river shoreline was shattered by Dan Crandall's epic battle cry. Somewhere between the Tarzan scream and the Rebel Yell, the sound pierces the quiet and echoes throughout the valley. Moments later, the paddlers he is leading chime in with their call. Crandall tells the group in doing the cry will ease their tension and freak out the racer in front of them on the river. It will also let folks know racing is back on the American River Parkway.

The Great American Triathlon returns this weekend in Sacramento. The race, formerly known as Eppie's Great Race, will have athletes run, bike, then paddle the American River. Organizers took two years off due to the pandemic, but this Saturday, they are bringing the 40-plus -year-old tradition July race back to the parkway. The race, formerly known as Eppie's Great Race, will have athletes run, bike, then paddle the American River.

Dan Crandall works with a paddler.

While most triathlons have participants swim along with a bike and run, the Great American Triathlon uses kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for the water leg of the race.

"It's definitely different. What I say is, you are on top of the water, not in the water. You can enjoy the view, talk to people while you are paddling," race director Nicole Young told KCRA-TV.

The kayaking portion does provide a different dynamic from other triathlons with its "no swim" competition feature, and with the two years break, some racers may be a little rusty when it comes to paddling the river.
Like in past years, to help people get on the water, Crandall, the owner of Current Adventures Kayak School and Trips offered an array of training nights. During the last couple of weeks, to get the participants familiar with the river, he and his instructors have shown them the fastest and safest routes on the water to ensure success come this weekend. Over the years, Crandall and his instructors have coached over 1,000 participants to build their confidence, paddling skills, and river reading knowledge.

"Keep those hands loose and drive your feet into the foot pegs to get your power," Crandall calls out to the boaters preparing to leave the Sunrise access, the starting point for the kayaking section of the race. Crandall reminds racers to focus on their pace and use more than just their arms to make the boat go. He encourages them to use their core for maximum power and endurance.

San Juan Rapids

The Boston Marathon has Heartbreak Hill. Great American Triathlon has San Juan Rapids. It's a rapid, where racers can lose valuable time and go from first to 31st by miscalculating the boil. During the practice sessions, the paddlers were encouraged to run the rapid a couple of times during their training sessions to familiarize themselves with its flow and circular eddy.

"Lean forward. It's more about finesse than muscle here," warns Crandall while approaching the rapid. "Let it push you around a bit. Just get through it, and most importantly, smile and show the river you are not afraid. If you show fear, the river will dump you for sure."

During each of the training nights, there were more smiles than swims as the boaters navigate the troublesome rapid and paddled downriver to the finish line at River Bend Park. For some, it's their first trip down the river. For others, they are looking forward to racing again after the 2-year break.

Crandall and the Iron Hussies

 The 2nd Great American Triathlon is sponsored by Innovations Health Systems, a Citrus Heights-based healthcare holding company and managed by Capital Road Race Management. This year’s triathlon is once again raising funds to support the American River Parkway Foundation and local children’s charities.

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

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