My Brand New Look!!

HOLY SHOOTENANNY!! The things you can do when you don't know what you're doing!!! Press a few buttons, check a few boxes, select a few colors, click a few bars...... then curl your toes, cross your fingers, close your eyes, hold your breath and push ENTER!!! 

POW!!! A whole new Blog look, updated and out of this world!! Look how big and beautiful the pictures are now! Plus a search box and counters for tweet thingys, facebook likes, and G whatevers.... WOW, I still don't know how I did that, but I'd better not push any more buttons for fear of screwing it up. APPARENTLY,  and this is not proven yet... but apparently, any reader can post a comment with this new format, not just my blog followers, so come on.... post me a comment, tell me if you like my new look and we'll see if it works :)

Ok, I guess this new site is confusing a few people... I am getting e-mails asking what the secret is for joining this Blog... guess I'm not the only technologically challenged person out there after all! LOL... hover your cursor over the narrow (and I mean narrow) vertical, greyish bar on the far right hand side of the Blog page and a menu will pop out.... hit 'followers' and go from there... hopefully it works!

The start of the Winter Season

Winter trips out in the backcountry of the Bowron Lake Chain are getting more and more popular with each passing year. Perhaps with better x-country skis and coldweather gear, more and more people are able to consider extended backcountry trips into BC's winter wonderland. Seems, quite a few summer paddlers will complete the lake chain to have their interest piqued as to what wonders winter might bring.... or they may read (or hear) about trips which other winter enthusiasts have embarked on.  I can only imgine a surge resulting from the current winter issue of BCAA's Westworld Magazine which, starting on page 28, features a multi page spead about a trip into Isaac Lake during the winter of 2011 and is accompanied by fabulous Chris Harris photos. This article can be found at  http://digital.canadawide.com/i/92267

The winter enthusiasts are starting their planning early this year. Already I have received several e-mails from interested parties wanting information about the winter conditions on the lakes. As I have mentioned to some... there is alot of information that can (and should be) researched before embarking on such a trip. Dave Jorgenson of Whitegold Adventures is a good starting point. He can give information on what to expect and how to plan, as he is one of the most frequent skiers in the Bowron backcountry. I am a good source for current ice and weather conditions as I live and watch the lake on a daily basis.... mind you I only see Bowron Lake from my window, and any 'guesses' I make about conditions on the other lakes are just that.... guesstimates resulting from past records, personal outtings and other skiers who are kind enough to share their trip reports.

A couple of things that I always stress to anyone wanting to complete the WHOLE chain of lakes are 1) don't get your hopes up... completing the WHOLE chain is NOT the norm and depends wholly on current conditions which can change daily... if not hourly; and 2) take more then one means of transportation....  this usually means taking skies and snowshoes, tho there was one year when the travellers sure could have used their ice skates! You just never know what you will encounter while you are out there. There are two trip reports posted on my website which illustrate how quickly the conditions can change. The Bouwmeester group headed out on Feb. 3rd 2007, and the Holmes group headed out on Feb. 16th 2007... both encountered completely different conditions resulting in very different outcomes. You can find these reports posted on my website at www.bowronlake.com  follow the path BRM Services & Prices > Winter Time and scroll to the bottom of that page.  

So back to my recent backcountry ski enthusiasts who are enquiring as to conditions.... I will try to keep the winter, weather and ice conditions posted here for your info. As you can see, I do not get to my blog on a daily basis but when there is something pertinent to relate I will post it here.... so keep an eye here, or as always feel free to e-mail me at sandy@bowronlake.com   If there are any skiers or off season visitors out there who have past trip reports they are willing to share, I always welcome any information I can get.... it really helps me to help others plan their trips.

 Today the weather today, Nov. 24th, 2012 is -1 celcius, warm; moderate wind; broken cloud... a great day for a liquid paddle as you can see in the pictures -- the ice and snow is REALLY SCARCE right now, so no skiing or snowshoeing yet!!! LOL  The close up shows Sugarloaf Mountain wearing her cloud veil.  

 

I can't believe it's NOVEMBER already!!

Last post was in June 2012.... and here it is NOVEMBER ALREADY??? Where DOES the time GO??? Regardless we had a wonderful paddling season this last year (2012).... seems every year the paddlers throw some kind of wonder our way! Here are some pictures, friends have shared with us during the 2012 paddling season....

Our first paddler of the 2012 season, most frequent visitor and good friend, Harald Kramer, shared these pictures from his trip, on which he embarked on the 16th of May, 2012... the ice had hardly even cleared from the lakes! The solitude of the Bowron Chain in May is definately evident with this striking photo of his kayak on Issac Lake.

Isaac Lake, Harald Kramer Photo, 2012

As I said, the ice was HARDLY cleared from the lakes.... and according to this picture it was obviously NOT cleared from the portages....


'Portage-Pulling' the Kayak over the Isaac/McLeary Trail, Harald Kramer Photo, 2012

A favorite rock for a lot of Bowron Paddlers... this little cliff face protruding from the edge of Lanezi Lake must be one of the most photographed 'rocks' on the chain. Historically, according to oldtimers from the 1950's, this cliff face is called 'Kaza Point', presumably because of  beautiful Kaza Mountain, which looms over Lanezi Lake.  

Kaza Point on Isaac Lake, Harald Kramer Photo, 2012

 Another magical Bowron Chain pictures from Harald Kramer. Thank you for sharing these Harald! 

Solitude in the Bowron, Harald Kramer Photo, 2012



Todd and Abbey Weisbrot, who paddled the Chain in July 2012, also kindly shared some of their trip with me. There is nothing like an empty, seemingly endless, peaceful Isaac Lake to make one feel like they are the only paddlers left in the world.

Paddling on Isaac Lake, Weisbrot Photo, 2012

Sneaking up on a moose like this is actually quite common in the Bowron. Having been a Provincial Park since 1961, and a Game Reserve before that (since 1925), over the years the moose have come to learn that these strange 'floating animals' they see drifting along the waterways pose no threat to them. Our moose can be quiet calm and may only be a danger to the person, when an anxious paddler wants to get around them, while they feel no need to move out of the way! 



Abbey and Mrs. Moose, Weisbrot Photo, 2012

Sandhill Cranes seem to be becoming more prevalent in the area. They first appeared about 5 years ago in the swamps just outside of nearby Wells. At that time, I had hoped that they would find their way into our fair Park, according to this picture... it looks like they have! Thank you Abbey and Todd for sharing your wonderful pictures!

Sandhill Crane on the Bowron Lake Chain, Weisbrot Photo, 2012

 A big THANK-YOU to Harald Kramer and Todd & Abbey Weisbrot for sharing these wonderful Photos.