Lake Sawyer (WA) - June 16, 2015
Getting ready3 (inset - IK floor partially delaminated. Easiest thing to try is reduced floor pressure, and just 'ride high')2
With Keith and Debbie on Lake Sawyer, with Mt. Rainier in the hazy background
Mt. Rainier closeup
Verification photo3
Looking back to launch and $5.00 parking fee
Water lilies at many places
Lake outlet
At the outlet3
Looking over edge of dam
Back to open waters
Under island bridge3
Little duckies
Quite enjoyable paddling day, until the motorboats and jet skis started just after 1:30pm (in violation of the 2pm rule)
Jun-26 Helicopter view4
Shadow Lake (WA) - June 30, 2015
After years of passing by it on the way to work, I finally decided to paddle Shadow Lake (Discover Pass req'd)
Access canal to lake proper
Duckies lead the way
They seem unaffected by my presence
Looking back to access
Mt. Rainier can be seen to the south
Surrounding lake properties
South end, in the lilies
Stitched panorama (3 frames)
Chatting with a 'local', he mentioned the earlier history of resorts and ballroom dancing
Return trip to access channel, following the same path as other to minimze the water lily damage
Spring Lake (WA) - July 2, 2015
Early 8:44am start at Spring Lake. Trying to beat the heat. High 93 F forecast
Not suprising, a Mt. Rainier view
Looking back to launch. Note that without the end covers, the boat is starting to fall apart
In the shade along the east side
Water lilies at south end
Stitched panorama (2 frames) looking north
At the north end, looking south. Not 10am yet and I'm already baking in the sun
Lake Desire (WA) - July 6, 2015
Sit-on and sit-in kayaks3
9am at the put-in again trying to beat to 90F heat. Keith joins me for the maiden voyage of the new kayak
Verification photo. Note scum line on new kayak3
Paddling along east side (no shade)
The scupper holes are mostly full of water. The scum later required Inflatable Boat Cleaner to remove
South end, in the water bog vegetation
Lakeside boathouse
Stitched 2 frame panorama (looking north)
Looking for outflow3
Paddling along apparent outflow channel
Only got in about 100 feet or so
Keith was wondering if I got lost
Mama protecting the nest
Keith's view3
Interesting house
Grass dock
Almost back to put-in. Others still fishing from dock
Looking south
Shady Lake (WA) - July 8, 2015
Trip #2 in the new kayak
Stitched 2 frame panorama (looking west)
'Purplish' water lilies in Shady Lake
Looking east. Perimeter is quite shallow, so residents moor craft a fair distance from shore
Chatted with a few of the local females
Not sure what this is. Water aerator?
Contrary to the name, there is no shade on the lake
Returning to access after 2 laps (counterclockwise, then clockwise). No slime to clean off the kayak this time
Lake Number 12 (WA) - July 9, 2015
Trip #3 for the new kayak
The east end is solid mass of water lily pads
Also quite hazy to the east
Looking west
2 of the locals are trying to bump a floating log away from their water intake
Looking east again. You can barely see the outline of the distant mountain. The haze is likely due to wildfires in British Columbia
Stitched 4 frame panorama (looking north).
The Puget Sound area's heat wave tied a 38-year-old record today when the temperature at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport reached 80 degrees for a 15th consecutive day. That tied a mark set in late July and early August of 1977
Fisherman putting in as I return to the access
Morton Lake (WA) - July 10, 2015
Trip #4 for new kayak, Finally cooler and overcast
Keith checks out the unique suspended boat
Placing the perimeter flags on the platform prevents the geese from pooping on it, so says the owner
That's what the owner claims. This is on the narrower south end
Stitched 3 frame panorama (looking north, wider end). Not as impressive when overcast
Lake Holm (Neilson) (WA) - July 14, 2015
Trip #5 for new kayak. Couple of kids fishing at the access. Mostly cured the 'wet butt' issue by plugging the scupper holes in the seat
Parked in a private alcove on the north end that doesn't show on the lake layout
Stitched 4 frame panorama (looking southeast)
Many of the residents have the exact same model
In the water lily pads at the southeast end, looking at the access after my second 'lap'
Looking northwest. Didn't find any dockside locals to chat with today
Lake Meridian (WA) - July 15, 2015
Trip #6 for new kayak. Arrived early today
Keith is on time
Geese surround me at the put-in
The geese are on many platforms
Some sort of private park
Goose poop
On a mission...3
Mt. Rainier view to the southeast
Northwest end is a vintage trailer park
'Trapped' in the water lily pads
Verification photo3
As mentioned, a trailer park
Keith enjoys the day
Stitched 2 frame panorama looking southeast
Float plane envy
Stitched 3 frame panorama looking northwest
Lake Meridian Park
Paddling towards assumed outlet
Kids feeding the geese
Checking out the outlet3
End of the road culvert. I've got to think eventually it goes to Big Soos Creek
Channel was quite shallow
Enjoying cool shade under bridge
Back to WDFW public access wedged between homes
Lake Wilderness (WA) - July 17, 2015
Trip #7 for new kayak. First visit to Lake Wilderness since 21-Jun-2012 when my IK floor first started to delam
Looks like some residents did some branch removal to get a lake view rather than cutting down the trees
Found a few locals to chat with today
Stitched 3 frame panorama looking north
Fair amount of downed trees in the lake
Lake Forest Estates
Fisherman paddled over from the same access I did
The normal Mt. Rainier close-up
Stitched 3 frame panorama looking south
Geese violate the swimming area
Guessing this has to be the Jenkins Creek outflow
Back to access
Nearby lakes recap - up until now, the lakes I have been paddling are all within 20 minutes of home. Now I'll have to drive a few more miles. BTW-Peterson Lake is a 4 acre 'puddle'
Shadow Lake (WA) - July 20, 2015
Trip #8 for new kayak is a revisit to Shadow Lake. Was overcast in the morning, and I wasn't enthused about kayaking, but once the skies cleared, this was only minutes away. In the WDFW access channel
Stitched panorama (3 frames) looking south with a very hazy Mt. Rainier barely visible
I've got to wonder if the intent here was to restrict access or block the lake view for the neighbors
Giant home or hotel? Who knows ...
North Lake (WA) - July 22, 2015
Trip #9 for the new kayak
Weather weenies promised it would clear by 11am
Water lilies in south end look high and dry, like the water dropped recently
Stitched 4 frame panorama looking north
Secluded alcove on the south end
Under the dock
Either this one is too high, or the others are too low
One less bass in the lake. Interesting boat name
Bottomed out in the marshy south end
Backing out the way I entered
Stitched 3 frame panorama looking south
WDFW access from parking area
24-July - Biking on the Cedar River trail. Stitched 2 frame panorama2
Steel Lake (WA) - July 27, 2015
Trip #10 for the new kayak. Waited until noon the the clouds to clear
Stitched 4 frame panorama looking west
Not sure what species of tree this is, but it growing in standing water
Eye level view of goose pooped dock
Was 4 turtles there as I was pulling the camera out, but 2 took a quick dive
Only 1 remained for the closeup
Hidden alcove/inlet on the west side. More than paddle deep
Alcove exit back to lake guarded by concrete piers
Stitched 4 frame panorama looking east
Steel Lake Park
UW Research buoy anchored in center of lake
Spring Lake (WA) - July 28, 2015
Trip #11 for the new kayak. Revisit to Spring Lake
Cut a trail thru the water lilies. Like paddling thru molasses. Probably 15 of the 68 acres are this way (my estimate)
Stitched 4 frame panorama looking north
Savoring shade under a high dock
Chatted with a long time local when he was staining his dock
In the reeds for a shade and water break
Stitched 3 frame panorama looking south (didn't overlap cleanly)
Ah, the Mt. Rainier view
Geese are lazing on the dock adjacent to the WDFW access
Rattlesnake Lake (WA) - July 29, 2015
Goal today was to hike to Rattlesnake Ledge then kayak the lake, but 3/4 of the way up, my left calf muscle started aching again, so we turned back. Bummer...
Trip #12 for the new kayak
Rattlesnake Ledge after launch
Big exposed stump
Keith is trying to keep me out of trouble today
Verification photo #13
Verification photo #23
Parked in a hollowed out stump
Keith's view3
Suprising side creek flow
Lots of stumps at low levels
Mt Si and Teneriffe in the distance
More side creek flow in southeast corner
Flotilla of kids canoeing
Stitched 3 frame panorama looking northeast. Taken during a brief shallow portage, and my kayak almost floated away!
Alcove in southwest extreme of lake
Hiker 'specks' on Rattlesnake Ledge
Navigating thru the low water stump farm
Stitched 3 frame panorama looking southwest
Back to crowded access. Given the overall number of people here, plus the fubar traffic on WA-18 to get here, doesn't make this a favorite
Swig of water before the takeout3
GPS Route for both hike and kayak. At the low lake level the northeast end is dry ground. The farthest point reached on the hike is 1.7 miles with 850' elev gain. So we still had about 0.3 miles and 300' of gain to do3
Credits:
- U.O.N., Olympus Stylus 770SW Digital Photography by William F. Smith (7.1 MP, 2304x1728 SQ1, 3X optical 38-114mm)
- Canon ELPH 150 IS Digital Photography by William F. Smith (20 MP, 3648x2736 M1, 10X optical 24-240mm)
- Panasonic DMC-TS25 Digital Photography by Keith Felderman (16.1 MP, 4X optical 25-100mm)
- Panasonic DMC-ZS25 Digital Photography by Keith Felderman (16.1 MP, 20X optical 24-480mm)