First Paddle of 2011 - The Lower Kananaskis

On April 22nd this brave group of canoers and kayakers defied the weather and launched into the Kananaskis River at Canoe Meadows, Alberta.


Driving to the river we passes hundreds of skiers heading to the ski at the resorts.



The launch started with a sleigh ride down to the river.

At one point a canoe got loose and would have launched itself, with most of our gear, except it hit a fallen log which saved an immediate rescue.



The launch was quite slippery because the sun had yet to melt a lot of ice on the shady side of the river.



Jim and Chip were inspired by the river, the weather and the company.



Jiri Stolarik, the new coach for the Bow Valley Kayak Club, escorted us down the river.

Linda showed her leadership to anyone downriver of her boat.

Jim and the dogs!

Jim and Kira keeping a lookout both for and aft.

Lower Kananaskis Paddle

Chip's mothersday's float has evolved into a Paddle down the Lower Kananaskis River from Canoe Meadows to the SeeBee "Pond" (Penstock)

Here we are at the take-out point above the Seebee Dam at the confluence of the Bow and the Kananaskis Rivers. Thomas is checking out the canoes. In the background the prominent vertical wall of Mount Yamnuska is formed from Cambrian carbonates of the Eldon foundation (deposited over 500 million years ago). The carbonates have been thrust along the McConnell Fault over Creatceous clastic sediments of the Belly River formation(depositied 80 million years ago).

Our paddling party includes kayaks and 2 canoes. Here we are at Canoe Meadows in Kananaskis Country. This is our put in for Chip's Mother's Day Float. The Kananaskis River flows out of the Barrier Lakes where it is controlled for hydro-electric purposes.

The launch point is at the bottom of the kayak racing course. Here Chip is presiding over colour coordination of the boats and the launch sequence!

Thomas is off like a shot out of the first eddy.

Everyone lined up to surf at the Holy Roller wave. Jim heads into the surf with a forward ferry.

A great exhibition of "hand rolling" by our safety boat.

Louise's boat disappears behind a wave.

Rob is very pleased with the outing and his matching kayak and paddle!

Chip and Becky happy after a busy paddle.

The kayakers line up to exit the last eddy in the shadow of the TransCanada highway bridge.