First Paddle of the Season

Spring is finally threatening in the Bow Valley and we jumped at the chance to launch our canoes into the Bow River for the first paddle of our season. It was -5 degrees Celsius at sun-up and a forecast of +10 for the afternoon. On May first the Banff Springs Golf Club unlocks the gate to the road around the course and we were first in line to launch our boats. We call this paddle the Golf Course Loop. We launch our boats at the confluence of the Spray and Bow Rivers immediately below the Bow Falls.
Above is a Google Earth map of the Banff area with the canoe launch and take-out marked.


There was still three feet of candling ice on the shore as we launched. Fortunately there was a narrow beach so we could launch our two canoes and an inflatable kayak. After scraping over a few rocks we reached the Bow and began our paddle downstream

Our pilot dog Kira loves to be at the front of the first boat in the group and whines until she gets her way. She also is prone to leaping into the river at a moment's notice. You must always be ready to balance the boat or she can quickly capsize you.



The first part of the paddle is alongside of the Banff Springs Golf Club at the base of spectacular limestone cliffs of Mount Rundle

Part of the paddle is an area where the Bow River meanders through unconsolidated sediments left behind by the last glaciers that scoured this valley.





Note the Hoodoos in the upper middle right. Hoodoos are caused by wind eroding the glacial sediments. Mount Cascade rises in to the north.